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Friday, March 6, 2015

Weekend



Happy Friday! This week actually went by fairly quickly, but then again a shorter week due to a snow will do that for ya. We had another 4 inches yesterday and now I am officially over snow and cold. I'm not a huge fan of spring in DC it's usually cold and rainy, but anything is better than this. As of late, I have no been making weekend plans and it has been really nice. We always end up doing things, but not on a schedule and let me tell you it's so refreshing. So I'll get to why you are really here and give you some of my faves from around the inter webs.


A look into Southern party and entertaining spaces here, including the fantastic cocktail tower Erin wrote about.

Channeled my classic prep side and ordered this great transitional sweater and these perfect flats.

If you frequent the cocktail menu, chances are you are seeing a drink labeled a "smash." Well I did some research and they sound delicious, especially this blackberry varietal. Enjoy!

From the logo perfection to its gorgeous packaging, cleverly names "Psycho Candy" is the perfect punchy coral hue. This is one not-so-budget friendly polish that I would actually break the bank for.

A sweet little reminder for when we get caught up in life's bullshit and negativity.

Two of my favorites: jerk spice and tacos come together in this recipe I MUST make.

It's never too early to start getting those arms into tank top ready condition.

In case you missed it, make sure you enter the JoyKatharine Knot Ring Giveaway here!



Have a great weekend! xx

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Thursday, March 5, 2015

A New Jewelry Staple & Giveaway





I am not one to wear a lot of jewelry, or new things for that matter. I like simple, dainty, transitional pieces that I can wear with pretty much anything. So when Joy of JoyKatharine Custom Jewelry contacted me about trying out her signature knot ring, I was pretty excited to try it out. I seriously wear this ring every day now. It has become part of my everyday jewelry, but also looks nice dressed up a bit.

Joy was kind enough to offer me another ring and I wanted to share the love with you, my amazing readers! See the Rafflecopter below for entry details. The giveaway will run today through 12:00am Wednesday, March 11th. Good luck!

**I was contacted and gifted a knot ring by JoyKatharine. As always, all opinions are my own**





Wednesday, March 4, 2015

On My Radar





Looking forward to springing forward! The picture is stoppable, so all you have
to do is click the item and you are on your way to product info!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Weekend Recap




My weekend was consumed by one, Mr. Francis J. Underwood. I'm sad to report that I was pretty disappointed by season three. As a die hard fan of the show, I know what it's capable of. Seeing the direction it took, and having it not work out was such a bummer. Obviously I still watched the whole thing, and love me some icey Claire Underwood more than ever, but there was much to be desired. Sigh.



We popped by the mall Saturday afternoon, and I fell in love with two new fragrances. Ladies brace yourselves, as these are not impulse buys at all, but they are signature scent/investment worthy. Tom Ford's Mandarino de Amalfi is bright, citrusy, and actually unique. If you like Tory Burch's fragrance, I highly suggest this one. The Tom Ford manager at Neiman's was VERY nice and sent me home with a huge sample (helps when your boyfriend spends a little money with her in men's wallets but I digress). If you are more a fan of florals, Aerin's Rose de Grasse is superb. The scent is so light and elegant, it can make even me feel classy. Who knew?




I actually took time to prep breakfast for the week and made Skinny Western Omelet Muffins. There were super simple and I used ingredients I already had in my fridge. A serving is two, but I'll stick to one and a green smoothie this week.


I hope you all had a great weekend, and have as good a Monday as your can because let's be honest: Mondays blow.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Weekend





Happy Friday! I don't have anything amazing or quick-witted to write other than I am so freaking excited that today is REX MANNING DAY (or as the rest of you know it to be the release of season three of my beloved House of Cards)! That's my plan for the weekend. Literally that's it, and I couldn't be happier about it. So I'm going to cut to the chase with my links


The movie, pardon my French, blew but the soundtrack is on point! Download it now!

Need a pretty thing to hold your other pretty things? There's a DIY for that.

A new Goop-esque lifestyle site is coming our way in May thanks to one, Reese Witherspoon. Would you check it out?

Style Me Pretty interviewed one of my favorite artists. Smart, down to earth, and so talented, my kind of girl.

I die for this flowy, feminine top AND it's on sale!

I'm over our typical take out options, and am thrilled to try this dish at home. Later delivery man!

Moscow mule madness is here to stay especially with 14 variations on my favorite cocktail!

A little more barre via YouTube. No excuses, play like a champion.



Have a great weekend! xx


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Friday, February 20, 2015

Weekend + Links

Happy Friday! Ugh let me first just say, I suck. Life gets in the way and the first thing to get neglected is this blog. It's tough when you have the best of intentions to write, bring fresh content, and even have post ideas only to find you are strapped for time and energy. I have got to figure out a better way to manage my time. I know I have it, but where the heck is it?

I started meal planning, and eating well again this week. The first few weeks always seem really daunting, and always full of doubts like "can I stick to this" or "how long will this last." But negative self talk is what got me into this mess, and I'm pretty determined to kill that crap inner voice of mine. Declining numbers on the scale helps a ton. Even the small amounts count! Another thing I am so happy about that I also accomplished this week was reaching out to old friends. It's amazing how true friends will always welcome you back in.

I teamed up with some awesome blogger babes for another awesome giveaway. I want to give back to you, my readers, who have given me so much. That information is posted below this weeks links. Dear Readers, I am SO sorry. The giveaway organizer had some issues and officially cancelled the giveaway. I have removed the raffle copter and took the image off my Instagram. If you have questions, please let me know. I am very sorry for the confusion and for the sudden removal of the giveaway.

  • I saw this dress on Kate, and I knew I had to have it. It's so feminine and gorgeous, perfect for spring and summer weddings! Literally cannot wait to wear it!
  • A great youtube channel for at home workouts since going outside in the DC version of "Frozen" is just not going to happen.
  • Tacos are a delicious, easy, meal that you can make pretty healthy depending on your ingredients. A slow cooker carnitas recipe for awesome tacos, bowls, and carnitas salad will be added to the rotation! 
  • I liked this post from Julia about dressing for casual (startup) work environments. I currently work at a super casual office, and struggle with being laid back but still put together.

Have the best weekend, and see you next week! xo



Friday, February 13, 2015

Weekend + Links



It's just another weekend for us, but I get to cash in my Christmas present from the guy. I asked for a fun cooking class we could do together, and he just so happened to pick one on Valentine's Day. It's an entire menu based around peppers and chilis and I am beyond stoked! I'm actually looking forward  to down time this long weekend so I can do some cleaning, clear out the kitchen, plan meals, and do a big shop. I find knowing what I am going to be eating for the week therapeutic and removes a lot of the stress as I am an impulse snacker. Finding things that taste good, are good for me, and are portable is not always as easy as you think. I'm still holding out for healthy chips, cheeses, and bacon, but also won't hold my breath either. Let's get to the links!


I read Molly Sims' new book last night cover to cover. I was skeptical, but it actually had approachable ideas and advice. Also enjoyed the "realness" of it all.

I'm on the hunt for healthy delicious recipes, and this looks positively decadent without the guilt.

One of my goals this year was to stick to a skincare regimen. Luckily, one of my faves Sam posted her skincare routine and it was pretty insightful. Now to tailor it to my atypical skin...

A fan of Jeff Lewis? I personally love his aesthetic, and died over this home tour of his recently flipped project.

It is freaking freezing here in DC but thinking about sangria, especially this one, makes me hopeful for some warmer spring temperatures.

Things everyone can do to live a happier life. Why not?


Have ana amazing weekend! xo

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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

On My Radar




It was just a matter of time before I brought you some new offerings from two of my faves: Drybar and Bluemercury! Both are absolutely killing it lately, and if you aren't lucky enough to have both close by you can easily peruse these great new offerings online.

I'm not one for Valentine's Day, but I am one for pretty new things and if they happen to come out around V-Day then so be it. Ok so maybe Drybar and their coasters aren't new, but their new heart shaped gift card with it's catchy phrase was too cute not to include. Pick up one for yourself or a few for your gal pals to show them how much you love them!

Bluemercury never disappoints when it comes to new arrivals. Back to your locks for just a moment, this Blow Dry elixir keeps your hair in tip top shape for up to three days and protects from UV damage...yes your hair needs sunscreen too! I listed this Diptyque candle last week, but had to post about it again because it smells heavenly and would look perfect on any surface. Lip trends are a changing, and the folks over at Bobbi Brown came up with some perfectly sheer and shiney nude glosses for the perfect pout. And while you're channeling a natural look, get inspired by this gorgeous, serene eye and cheek palette.


I was contacted to write this post, but as always all opinions are my own.



Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Spa Life




Since a full spa day isn't the cards for me for a while, I am dreaming of luxurious spa treatments at home. A gorgeous robe, some great smelling body products, and a killer mask would be more than welcome. 


SHOP the POST 






Monday, February 2, 2015

Thoughts on Monday




Happy Monday! Sorry for my annoying enthusiasm on the saddest day of the week, but it's basically my Thursday as I am off to Breckenridge on Wednesday for an extended weekend skiing trip. Also, I went crazy cleaning the apartment/doing laundry for two days and honestly having things neat and tidy does wonder for my mood and clarity. That was even obnoxious to type, but it's true. I STRUGGLE with keeping things in order, mostly my clothes so I am trying to adopt better habits other than throwing crap on the floor. Honestly, it's scary how at times my room can remind me of my room in the sorority house #NeverForget.

I've got some exciting things happening on the blog this week and next! Stay tuned for a big group giveaway tomorrow, a little giveaway I am hosting for my current favorite piece of jewelry next week, and if you care to venture on over to my Instagram there's a fantastic Kate Spade loop giveaway! Sidenote on the loops, it's a crazy-ass process and I had been curious about them for a while but I won't be spamming you all with them constantly. Just wanted to try one out for fun.

Well I am done rambling for the moment. Have a great Monday and an even better week!

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Friday, January 30, 2015

Weekend + Links




Yay for the weekend! Ugh and don't those croissants look divine? I'm in love with the concept of a wonderful cup of coffee and a fresh croissant on a leisurely morning. Unfortunately, most weekends we just truck it up the block to Bruegger's :( . Oh well. I am really looking forward to some down time because I have a million errands, need to do massive amounts of laundry,  and have to back for our trip to Breckenridge next week. So looks like I'm doing links again, but I'm not sure if I want to keep it on Fridays. Maybe I'll play around with that. Anyway, here are this weeks links!


I want to start every morning this way!

Thinking about streamlining your wardrobe? Erin made a great list to do it the Parisian way.

Serial obsessed? Check out these books sure to please your inner detective.

Suffer from Sunday Panic? Try these nine things to make your week go a little smoother.

Heard of a wealfie? Bloggers, including me, seem to be pretty guilty of it.




Wednesday, January 28, 2015

On My Radar




All this cold and snow has me daydreaming of long, sunny, tropical days. So while we are elbows deep in winter, let your imagination and these summery picks take you away!



Shop the Post



Monday, January 26, 2015

Get the Look





Monochromatic is back in the best way possible. I love this polished, casual look for the office or for weekend pursuits. Click the items in the collage for more information.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Tips and Tricks for Interviewing




I was very happy to announce last week that I had started a new job. As thrilling as that is to be able to say, it was six months of hard work. Work along the lines of research, emails, phone calls, letter writing, resume fixing, preparing, meetings, interviews, and many sleepless nights. I'm not the best at writing or selling myself for that matter, but one thing I am good at is interviewing. I am a nervous wreck prior to interviews and don't sleep well at all, but when it comes down to it I can magically put my game face on and answer questions like a boss (why can't I always be like that is beyond me). I have yet to interview where I did not get some sort of kudos at the interview for my stellar performance, or in a follow up call/email. Seriously. So I wanted to share with you my tips and tricks that I have been using over the past few months of interviewing that I wish someone would have shared with me.


Before the Interview

Congratulations! You made it past the initial phone screening, and now you are on your way to a face to face interview. First and foremost: do your homework. You should know about the company, be able to talk about what they do, and talk about timely relevant information. Check the company blogs, media clips, and social media channels if applicable. Use resources like Glassdoor to get a deeper dive into the company culture. You most likely will be told who you will be interviewing with prior to coming in. Look that person/people up on LinkedIn. Find out what they do, their background, and their affiliations. You can use in this information as talking points, conversation starters, and also to show how you prepare and research topics. 

Prepare yourself for commonly asked questions, and memorize at least five questions you can ask your interviewer. Almost all interviews at some point will ask the typical behavioral questions, so make sure you think about answers to those questions. If you're not sure what they could ask, do a google search of commonly asked interview questions. Conversely, there's nothing worse in an interview when a candidate has nothing to ask at the end, it looks like you are disinterested when in reality you should be trying to get as much information as possible. Do yourself a favor, and familiarize yourself with universal question that can be applied to all your interviews.


Common Behavioral Questions:

Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult coworker/client/manager.
What would you say is your greatest weakness?
What are things you don't like to do in your current position?
Why are you looking to leave your current job?
What interests you about a career at (insert company name)?


Questions I ALWAYS Ask My Interviewer:

What about my background and qualifications make you think I could be a good fit for this position?
What do you like most about working here?
What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the person coming into this role?
How is success measured in this position, and at the company?
Are there opportunities for professional development and additional training?
What are the next steps in the hiring process?



During the Interview

Arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time. The old adage is true: "If you are early you are on time. If you are on time you are late. And if you are late don't even bother." Your interviewer still has work to do and most likely will not be ready to receive you too much before your scheduled time, so do them a favor and cool your jets. If you happen to get there really early hang out in your car, a nearby coffee shop, or the building lobby. Just make sure you are checked in prior to your start time. You are being judged before they meet you, remember that.

Shake hands with each person interviewing you and look them in the eye when doing so. I know this can be uncomfortable for some, but it really starts your interview off on the right foot. Be confident, they brought you in for a reason. Then proceed with the interview at the interviewer's pace. Be thoughtful in your answers, and genuine. Make sure you answer questions thoroughly and to the best of your knowledge, especially if it's something that can be checked. Lies are never a good idea. They will always ask you if you have questions for them once they are done interviewing them. This is the time to ask the questions you have prepared. Then thank them for their time and be on your way.

After the Interview

I cannot stress this last step enough. ALWAYS follow up with a thank you email to each person you met with. Email is quick, makes sure it gets to the right person, and effective. Don't just use a template you find online either. Make it personal, and touch on points that were discussed in your interview. This makes your note personal and shows your interviewer you are interested. If you interview with multiple people, make sure each note is different. On the rare chance they compare, you don't want them to find a canned thank you that you send to everyone. If you did not get cards from the interviewers, email their HR department and ask for the emails or if they would forward them on your behalf. Below are two examples of thank you notes I send out, feel free to use them. 

Example 1

Dear Interviewer,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the insert job title with Company X. It was a pleasure speaking with you and your team, and I truly enjoyed learning more about the role and the company. After our discussion, I am confident that my skills and experience are a great match for this opportunity and that I can quickly become a valuable member of the Company X team. 

I am very enthusiastic about the possibility of a career with Company X, and look forward to hearing back from the hiring manager about the next step in the process. Thanks again.

Regards,

Your Name


Example 2

Dear Interviewer,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. After speaking with you and your team and learning more about the job title position, I am even more enthusiastic about the possibility of working at Company X. I particularly enjoyed hearing about insert specific example of something discussed during your interview.


If I can provide you with any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a great weekend.

Regards,

Your Name



And there you have it, the steps to crushing your interview. It seems like a lot, but with a little time and preparation you can be confident in all stages of the hiring process. I've been through my share of let downs with jobs (final rounds with two companies and weeks of interviews only to be passed over for internal candidates), to making the choice to turn down offers because they didn't feel right. Always listen to your gut. It is the hiring managers job to make positions look appealing, but if you get a bad feeling in an interview address it and walk away if you need to. 

I'd love to know if you have any can't fail tips for the interview process. Also, if you have other questions about interviewing or job hunting feel free to send them my way. I would be happy to help out!


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

The New Favorites






The holidays are a great time for acquiring stuff, and if you're lucky stuff can be really good. I thought I would share some of my new favorites.

Sorry if this is dramatic but I don't know how I lived this long without the Dior  glow products. The nail glow has been such a life saver as I am incapable of keeping a manicure past a few days, and this stuff is easy to apply and makes my nails look amazing. The glow balm adjusts to the ph in your lips and becomes the most perfect pink for your pout. Some other things I love include a new night face treatment, amazeballs blow dryer, healing face mask, the most bonkers smelling shampoo, and a crazy albeit somewhat creepy charcoal tooth whitening powder.

You want to know what I hate? Adjusting athletic pants during yoga class. These high-waisted yoga pants literally have you covered. I struggle with earbuds not staying in my ears and knocking them out accidentally with too much arm movement, these bluetooth gripping ear buds will allow my special self to feel more normal. I won't wax poetic about this bracelet, just know that I could... pretty much ALL DAMN DAY. I love it, it does with everything, I want to be buried in it. No explanation needed for the freshy fresh kicks. They make me want to work out. HAHA I can't even type that without laughing.

You may be thinking my home faves are very beverage centric, and you would be correct. We have majorly upgraded our libation game with a few choice pieces. I somehow miraculously won a Nespresso and it is literally the shit. The coffee is sooooo good. Get one. I was the worst at drinking enough water (like perpetually dehydrated to the point where my doctor lectured me), but since I've gotten a soda stream and I have wonderful bubbly water on demand I can't stop drinking water. That's a win in my book. A Rewined candle is not news, but their newest scent Rose is and it's positively heavenly. Buy one. The rest are pretty glasses that make me feel like an adult because 1.) I have stemware and 2.) my shit matches but most importanlty 3.) WE ARE DRINKING ALCOHOL WITH ITS CORRECT AND CORRESPONDING GLASSWARE. Drops mic.

Now it's your turn. What are some of your recently acquired items that you can't imagine living without now? Please do tell!

Monday, January 5, 2015

New Year, New Gig




Hello friends! I am back from my holiday hiatus, and I really really needed it! I can finally share the news I alluded to back in early December: I got a new job! I start today and I am all sorts of excited, nervous, scared, anxious, happy, etc. Not only is it a great step up for my career, but I am going into a new industry that is very important, timely, and literally booming these days. I will tell you more about it later, but it's one of the reasons I walked away from the blog for two weeks. Just to getaway, relax, take everything in, and hopefully be refreshed and ready to tackle the new challenge.

I feel like this is happening at such a great time with the start of the new year. New job, new outlooks, and hopefully new habits. I'm horrible at sticking to resolutions, probably because I make giant lists of things I want to do, try, tackle, change, but ultimately it's just too much. I can tell you that getting healthy is number one. My new job is literally less than a mile from my building so when the weather permits, I am going to walk to work. Also now that I am getting at least an hour back each day due to zero commute, I have vowed to make that hour productive. Hopefully I will use it for exercise, but if it gets used to do some tasks or read a book I consider that success too. 

I would also like to recommit myself to the blog, and find out just what that means to me. I want to have a schedule I stick to so you know what to expect from me on each particular day. I want to bring you great content, and I know for me that means stepping back or not posting every day to keep the quality up. This is still in the works, but I'll get back to you.

So rather than spew out tons of things I resolve to do, I want to take some time to think about it and ultimately set myself up for success. I welcome you sharing your resolutions and goals for the new year as I often get great ideas from my readers and other bloggers. Also if you have tips for staying on track with goals please please please throw them my way! Have a great Monday!

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