Goodbye 2012

I'm not much of a reflector. I don't think I've ever looked back on the goals I've set for myself and determined what worked, what I'm proud of, or what didn't and how I should reevaluate that goal to make it achieveable for me. That's not to say I'm not successful. I am proud of everything that I've accomplished and of the person that I am. Sure, not all of my goals are fully realized, but in some way they've worked themselves out.

Because I don't necessary 'reflect' in the way that most people do, I miss out on acknowledging all the great things that I've done. I forget to slow down and be proud, give credit to myself. It seems that each time I start to achieve one goal I've already moved on to trying to achieve the next one. While I think it's great that I'm driven and constantly trying to move forward, I think it may prevent me from fully focusing on the current goal.

Something I've really been focused on lately is trying to stay present. I don't want to be constantly looking back on the past, but I also don't want to focus too much on the far out future. I think the forward looking part is going to be the most difficult for me, especially since in just four short months I'll be starting a brand new life! It's exciting and scary and it's hard not to think about it. But I have to continually remind myself that I'm still here! I haven't moved to the next step yet. I'll have to strike a balance between preparing myself for the next step but still living in the moment.

On that note: I'm not much for 'resolutions,' I prefer to set goals. My goal for 2013 is to stay present and soak up every moment. To let the small things go and realize everything doesn't need to be planned out. I want to be a bit more spontaneous and less worried about the little things. I know I can't let go of planning for the future and setting future goals. I don't want to. It's part of who I am and I love that about myself. I'm just going to modify it a little bit. I want to set a future goal and then create milestones that will help me achieve it. I want to focus on each individual milestone instead of the big goal.

I'm still working on my goal and each of the milestones that will help me get there. My official "New Year" doesn't start until the spring semester does, so I have a week to iron out all the details and be prepared to tackle what I know will be my biggest year yet!

Great Expectations

"We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes expectations sell us short. Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You got [sic] to wonder why we cling to our expectations, because the expected is just what keeps us steady. Standing. Still, the expected's just the beginning, the unexpected is what changes our lives." - Meredith Grey; Grey's Anatomy

In the past few weeks I've been having an existential crisis. Okay, maybe it's not quite that dramatic, but it's seems like a big deal now, in the present, especially during the moments of my day where I'm not fully engaged, like when I'm watching a movie or trying to fall asleep at night. Until recently, I had a plan - a darn good one at that. I had my life mapped out for the next year, a five year plan and a goal for where I'd be in 10 years.

But then, that plan changed. Overnight. I won't go into the details but a string of unrelated events occured and I realized that circumstances were now different. I had expectations that my life would play out just so, I was going to be in control and it was all up to me. I discovered though that this great plan I had laid out for myself, carefully designing it to be what I wanted, wasn't something I made to be in control of. I had systematically "planned" to not be in control.

The point is, I learned something new about myself and the way I think: my whole life I have followed "the rules." I have always had a "next step." I went to high school, I made great grades, I had a job, an internship and was a cheerleader. Then I went to college where I picked a competitive major, joined a sorority, rocked my internships, assumed a leadership position in a campus organization related to my field of study and always made the Dean's List. But here's where it gets tricky - what do I do now? There isn't a logical "next step" for me now. I could start a job, I could get my master's degree or I could stay in school for a full four years of college. I could live in Tallahassee, where I've called home for eight years, or I could move anywhere in the world. That's a lot of power for a 20-something (okay fine, I'm trying to sound worldly, I barely make the cut at 20).

These are big choices and to be honest, I'm afraid of what they mean. I've never lived more than a 30 minute drive from home. I've never left my bestfriends. I've never lived in an apartment and I've never lived on my own. I've never had to make all my own meals or clean my own place by myself (living in a sorority house is a spoiled life). I've never tried to go it alone. I feel like I'm on the edge of the bird's next and I'm getting ready to jump for the first time.

It's a scary, scary thought, but each day I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of letting go of those expectations. It's not something that's going to go away easily, after all I did invest a lot of "me" into those plans and goals, but I'm starting to get a little excited to turn all of those I've never's into I have's.

So re-evaluate your expectations, because it's the unexpected that changes our lives. And remember, God has a plan: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Summer Suit-up

Last summer I was a nanny for two adorable children! We did all kinds of fun things: movies, parks, crafts and a visit to the pool almost every day. I loved always being in a bathing suit!

This summer I'm working in an office each day - so my 'summer suit' is a little bit different. While most of the time I'm wearing a skirt and jacket, I'd rather be in my bathing suit!

These are some of the bathing suits I've picked up at Target this summer. I LOVE TARGET. Their bathing suits are great. They always have the latest trends and the things last forever. I still have Target bathing suits from middle school that have held their shape really nicely. 

Fringe Top

Beaded Top

Floral Top

Multicolor Bandeau

Multicolor Strap 

(this one can be made into a really cute one shoulder by tucking in the strap!)

Braided Bikini

(The strap on the right is removable so it can be worn one shoulder!)

I love my new bathing suits! I've only gotten to wear two of them so far! But I have five more weekends of summer to break in the others!

Do you like to get your bathing suits from Target? Do you have any of the ones above?

P.S. The last suit is from the 2013 Swim Preview. Target does a Swim Preview every year. Some of my most favorite bikinis are from this line from years past.

Fornash

Fornash is a jewelry and accessory shop everyone should know about! I love their nautical inspired, preppy motif. Their jewelry is perfect for summer and goes great with everything - including Lilly!

Fornash only has their store in Virginia, but they sell their merchandise online and through many local retailers. In Tallahassee, local boutique and monogram shop Loli and the Bean sells Fornash jewelry.

Here are some of my favorite Fornash pieces I own:

Confetti Necklace

Enamel Starfish Earrings

Gecko Bangle

And here are some pieces I'm lusting over:

Cabana Chandelier Earrings (I love all the colors!)

Spade Bangle

The Capri Necklace

Do you love Fornash? What pieces do you have? Which ones are you wanting?

Ooh-la-la Rue-la-la

Rue-La-La is an invitation only shopping website that has great deals on designer brands you love! It's like an on-line TJ-Maxx, but better! RLL features new designers and sales every day. The boutiques open at 11 a.m. and last for 48 hours before closing.

RLL has great features like text and email alerts for boutiques you don't want to miss and reminders when a boutique is coming back that you purchased from before. It "learns" what you like! RLL also has a free iPhone and Android app.

RLL has a great shipping deal too - on your first purchase you pay $9.95 for shipping. Then you get 30  consecutive days of free shipping before you have to pay $9.95 again! They also do free returns if you'd like RLL credit, or they will do a full refund if you pay the return shipping.

Their customer service is fantastic! They ship with UPS so my shipments generally arrive at least a day early - and it's usually within a week! Other online shopping services can sometimes be slow, so props to RLL for their speedy shipping!

I recently got this great dress from a RLL boutique. It's a Sue Wong reception dress, but I think it will be great to wear to a semi formal or as a flapper costume! I love the drop waist - it's so flattering!

Sue Wong Backless Ivory Reception Gown

Do you Rue-La-La? Here's your free invitation to join! 

Road Trippin'

This weekend I am headed to Louisville for the 138th Run for the Roses! We are driving (!!!!!) so it is going to be a long, long weekend. Tonight we are going to Nashville to break the drive up a bit. It takes almost 12 hours to get to Louisville, Ky from Tallahassee, Fla.

On a road trip, it's important to stay entertained, especially since we will be in the car for a whole day! I like to bring plenty of snacks and drinks so we can keep stops to a minimum. A blanket and a pillow are musts, I'll definitely sleep a little bit in the car! However, the most essential item on a road trip is music. And lots of it.

When I was putting together a playlist on my iPhone for our trip, I came across this website with 885 road trip songs. That's a lot of music y'all! I thought it was fun to read through the first 100, but I didn't make it past that!

It's so important to have a wide variety to listen to on a road trip - you don't want to get bored because all of your music starts to sound the same!

For this road trip, I just downloaded a new app - Road Trip Scavenger Hunt. When you were a kid did your parents ever print out scavenger hunt papers for you to complete on your road trip? It helps pass the time! I'm hoping this app will be a good one, and will keep us entertained in the car!

Have you use the Road Trip Scavenger Hunt app? Any tips for taking a long road trip?

iResume

An interactive resume is an online page where you post information that could be found on your resume and anything else you'd like prospective employers to see. Through the school of communication at FSU, each student has the ability to create and host an interactive resume on the school's server for up to 5 years after they graduate. You might ask, why do I need an interactive resume, and what makes an interactive resume any different from a completed LinkedIn page?

An interactive resume is a great tool for students who are looking for a job. The interactive resume provides an opportunity for you to showcase your abilities to use technology and to stand out from the crowd. Many students have LinkedIn profiles (if you don't already, you need to get one), but not many have a website. Also, many people on LinkedIn don't take the time to fill out their profiles like they should. Even if you don't fill out your LinkedIn completely, there is an option to add a website to your page, where you can add your interactive resume.

When you are creating an interactive resume, keep in mind that it is not a blog. It is a professional representation of you for prospective employers. A photo may be appropriate, or even a video introduction on the home page, but keep it as professional as possible. When you're deciding on a color scheme, keep it simple. An interactive resume should be clean and easily navigated. Also, double triple check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Just as you wouldn't have any on your resume, your online presence should be just as carefully monitored.

Unlike a traditional paper copy resume, an interactive resume can contain so much more information. I recommend uploading a PDF version of your paper copy resume so that it can be printed out. After all, it is a resume. You can also add links to the website's of former or current employers, so that prospective employers can learn a little bit about where you've gained experience. Perhaps the most useful tool an interactive resume provides is the ability to upload samples of your work. You can create a portfolio page on your interactive resume where you can upload samples of work you have relating to your job search. You can even upload recommendation letters that are applicable. 

So, what if your school doesn't offer an interactive resume service? You can still create one on your own. FSU uses a custom WordPress interface for interactive resumes. It's incredibly easy to use and very user-friendly. To make an interactive resume, simply create a new blog in WordPress. In an interactive resume, you won't make new posts, but rather create static pages. 

In my interactive resume I have one post, which is the landing page welcoming visitors to the site. It doesn't ever change, although I do update it when necessary. All of my information, like my contact info, resume link, work samples, etc. are held on their own static page. 

While I don't recommend an interactive resume to be used in place of a paper copy, I think there are a lot of ways to use it as a supplement. Since an interactive resume is online, you can create a QR code linking to it and place it on the back of your business card. When you're networking with professionals, it's not usually possible to hand out your resume, and oftentimes people won't have anywhere to put it. If you give them a business or networking card with a QR code linked to your interactive resume, they'll have a chance to see so much more and will still have access to your paper copy (since you uploaded it as a PDF).

My last suggestion: when you create your interactive resume, be sure to disable all comments. Spam is common, and it will look incredibly unprofessional if you have it all over your interactive resume. If someone wants to contact you after seeing your interactive resume, they'll do so by the phone number or email address you've posted to your site.

Here's my interactive resume if you'd like to see an example.

School's Out For Summer

Yesterday was our official last day of classes at FSU. Next week is finals week and I only have one this semester!

I'm happy to report that this summer I'll be working at Ron Sachs Communications and staying here in Tallahassee. I know it's going to be a great summer and I can't wait to see what's in store.

Is your school out for summer? Is finals week stressing you out?

Peach Daiquiri

I love Essie polish. It's the only kind I wear! It's my favorite nail polish! Hands down.


I bought this color late fall 2010 or early spring 2011 and I wear it all the time. It's a perfect spring and summer color, but I wear it year round. It's one of those colors that makes me happy!

Essie Peach Daiquiri

When it comes polish colors in the winter, I typically use neutrals or pale, pastel colors. I don't usually like my fingers to look too crazy, so I stay away from dark colors. However, I do like bright colors in the summer! Peach Daiquiri is definitely my signature mani/pedi color.

I'm pretty traditional, so I do like my nails to match, call me old-fashioned. I think neutral shades look strange on a pedicure, personally, so when my nails are neutral (if I'm going on a job interview) I don't worry about making my toes match.

What's your favorite nail polish brand? Favorite color? Do you like your fingers and toes to match?

Florida Public Relations Association

I'm so excited to announce that I'm officially a member of the 2012-2013 Executive Board for the Florida Public Relations Association Tallahassee Student Chapter.

During the next year I will be serving as the Professional Liaison to FPRA's Capital Chapter. I am so honored to be serving in this capacity, and can't wait to see what FPRA does in the next year with the help of its new leaders.

FPRA is the oldest public relations association in the nation, and is exclusive to Florida. The Tallahassee Student Chapter is the largest in the state. You can learn more about the Tallahassee student chapter at fprastudent.com 

My Computer

I got a new computer last November and it is like my second child. (My first being my iPhone.) I take it everywhere! It comes with me to class, work and my internship.

Because I take it everywhere with me it's important that I have a bag big enough to carry it. I love big bags so it's not a problem for me. My mom tells me I carry a suitcase!

It's also important that I keep it protected in my bag, so I have a neoprene sleeve on it at all times. I got it from Target two or three years ago and it still works wonderfully. It's also my favorite color..PINK!

Because my computer comes with me everywhere I like that I've personalized it. I have my pretty pink case, but it's also plastered with stickers. It's a teensy bit of personalization that shows it's mine!

I love having my computer with me at all times. I always have all of my projects to reference if necessary, and I'm an abuser of the sticky note feature! I have five on my desktop now and I just deleted a bunch the other day. They really help me to keep on track with things going on during the week, but also for long term deadlines that I need to be constantly reminded of. Once a sticky note goes up, it doesn't usually come down for a while.

These are sticky notes from Windows 7!

The only thing I dislike about taking my computer everywhere is that I often leave my charger behind. I seem to forget it at my internship all the time! I really should invest in another one, after all I have more than one phone charger.

Do you tote your computer everywhere? Are you a fan of sticky notes? Do you have two chargers in case of emergency?

Tough Times

It's the end of the semester, which means there is a lot of work piling up at once. My major doesn't really require finals - I only have one this semester. It's all about projects. Big projects. Projects that I will add to my portfolio and will one day help get me a job in a big city.

Therefore, it's really important that I do well on these projects because I want to move to a big city and embrace the PR and marketing world, where you work around the clock. Or do I? It's all very overwhelming making these plans at the ripe age of 19. Am I making the right decisions that will help me to be fulfilled in my career 10, 20 even 30 years down the road?

I'm also waiting to hear if I got into graduate school. Since I'm graduating a year early I want to take another year to finish my master's degree, and I'm beginning that course work this fall. But what if I don't get in?

When I'm facing a lot of decisions about my future it's hard for me to not know the answers and to not be in control. But ultimately, I realize it's not up to me. This bible verse, from Jeremiah 29:11 helps me remember that. I find comfort in this verse and I know everything is going to be okay.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

Jeremiah 29:11

Do you have a lot going on at the end of the semester? Is the uncertainty of decisions in your life making things tough for you?

Hoppy Easter

It's the greatest day of the year! Easter is my favorite holiday, and coincidentally (or not) I was born on Easter!

Easter is my favorite because of the fun things, like the bright colors, candy, egg-hunting and dying and new dresses, but mostly because of the message.

Easter is a time of renewal and hope. It is a reminder that Christ died for us so that we may experience forgiveness and eternal life.

Remember today to open up your heart and let the Lord set you free from your burdens. After all, it's why he died and rose again.

So, Happy Easter. I hope you enjoy your day filled with friends and family, good food and fellowship and white clothes and shoes!

Time hippity-hopping

Yes, another cheesy Easter reference. I promised they would keep coming!

Timehop is a social media tool that's just plain fun! You link up your Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Instagram accounts to your Timehop. Then, each day you posted in the last year, you get an email. In the email are all of your posts, pictures and check-ins.

This is my Timehop for today!

At this point, Timehop doesn't seem to have a purpose other than reminding you of the day you had a year earlier. But it's fun and brings me back memories that I had forgotten. I think it would be cool if you could set the Timehop feature to go several years back (blast from the past, anyone?).

On another note, Abe the dinosaur is just plain cute. Especially when he's dancing.

Do you have Timehop? What do you think of it? Will you get one?

New Pants Dance

This weekend I went to scour the mall for ankle pants. (I wish Tallahassee had a J. Crew!) I ended up stumbling across these at Banana Republic...for $69.50! Now, that's a lot for a pair of trendy pants y'all! I tried them on and I didn't have to have them, so I put them back on the rack and promptly forgot about them.

Sateen Crop - Bird of Paradise 

Then, on Wednesday morning I got an email from BR with a 40% off one full-price item. Immediately I thought about those pants! All day I was thinking about them, and after I left my internship at 5:30 I hopped (cheesy Easter reference - more to come!) over to the mall and snatched them up!

I wore them today to work and class with a black 3/4 length T shirt from Old Navy, a red coral necklace from Narcissus, and black flats from Old Navy.

What do you think about brightly colored pants? Do you like the cropped length, ankle length or full pant?

How Appreciative You Are, My Dear!

It's big appreciation at Pi Phi!

Big appreciation is a three day period where little sisters in the newest pledge class give gifts to their big sisters to thank them for being a supportive friend during their first year transition. It's very exciting to walk downstairs in the morning and find presents with YOUR name on them!

Since I have two little sisters, I have two best friends to thank for my wonderful gifts. Kathryn and Georgia, you girls are amazing. I can't even begin to tell you how much your surprises have improved my hectic week!

Here are some of the great things I received this week from my fabulous "kids".

Candles

I love candles, air fresheners, dryer sheets and anything that generally makes a room smell nice. I can go a little overkill sometimes. (Fun Fact: I'm allergic to Febreeze!) My littles got me this melon candle for Our Own Candle Company, and these things smell great! It has honeydew melon, summer melon and watermelon sections. I can't wait to experience the different scents.

Twizzlers

It's no secret I love Twizzlers. My sister and I once found these extra long Twizzlers in a Walgreens near my dad's house. The whole package was gone in three days. Yikes!

Tote Bag

I love oversized bags. I love totes. I love monograms.When they are all combined, I get giddy! Especially when you throw in a great spring color, like this gorgeous green! This is one of the most practical gifts I received all week. It's plenty big enough to carry my computer (which I take everywhere) and all my books, and would work wonderfully as an overnight bag.

Michael Kors Perfume

I'll admit, I've never been very interested in perfume. It's just not something I think about in my daily routine. I still have perfume from a year years ago. I'm talking sophomore year of high school old. I should probably go home and throw that away...

So perfume hasn't been such a big part of my life, but lately I've been thinking a lot about it. I want to find a "signature scent", but I just don't know where to begin. The whole idea seems very intimidating to me, which is why I was ecstatic to find this gem among my gifts today! 

I may have spritzed a few too many times (I'm still thinking middle school "body spray" y'all!) but I absolutely love the scent. It's light, fresh and definitely sophisticated. The MK perfume is just my style.

Do you have a big appreciation week at your chapter? Do you have it in the spring or in the fall? What's your favorite scent- for day, or night? Let me know in the comments below!