My Actual Hangover

Ah yes, last night's decisions finally coming to light and catching up to this morning's nausea leaving you in a haze of almost-regret and self-pity. After recently celebrating my birthday, I was this feeble and pathetic picture of twenty-something delusions, curled up beside the porcelain throne, unable to do anything more than curse the mirage of fun that fills a shot-glass. Even worse than sharing my birthday with one of the year's most anticipated holidays, I was sharing my birthday with the floor. How did I get there? Oh, I knew alright. I wasn't fooling myself, nor was I trying to -- the day-after misery I was then feeling was of my own making. Was I proud? Not really, as it rendered me completely incapacitated. Another year older and hardly wiser, although I had learned enough in the past year to be accountable for my night of drunken fun and its subsequent "ralph" marathon. It was all my fault. You're right. I ruined my own birthday!

You could attribute this inability to hold my liquor to both my own stupidity and the fact that I have no "talent" for binge-drinking whatsoever (a low alcohol tolerance will do the trick.) Nevertheless, these small details conveniently alluded my ability to reason as I prepared for a night out with the gal pals in celebration of my birthday. Sequin-clad and donning a club-inappropriate polar bear hat, I was out and, little did I know, destined for morning-after-doom. Did I have fun while slowly approaching the most-awful-hangover? You bet I did. If I'm going to go down, I'll go down swigging (or is it, swinging?). Besides, it wasn't until the next morning that I realize how all of my mistakes would add up.

Cue Saturday morning -- the sun is shining, the anniversary of my birth is now upon the world, and I have developed a massive headache brought on by too much to drink the night before and a lack of proper hydration. What's first for the now-painfully-aware-of-her-mistakes-birthday girl? A two hour hair appointment, because nothing says happy birthday like inhaling hair chemicals with a potential migraine. To make things even better, I was running late to my appointment, but luckily, the nausea had not quite set in yet and I was only at the massive headache stage. Once I arrived (only ten minutes late -- birthday miracle), I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Really. Two hours of sitting, letting my hair fry and process, all while sweating out whatever toxins I had slugged the night before. Good idea, Angela. With only one trip to the bathroom to throw-up and giggles from my patient hairstylist, I survived. Then promptly returned home to throw up for the next seven hours. Happy birthday to me!

So why do I even tell you this story, you may ask? It certainly does not shed any charming light on me and God knows, I probably shouldn't let my young impressionable fans read this. However, I think it is very relatable, regardless of whether your post-fun-hangover was alcohol-induced, food-induced, what-have-you induced. We have all been there -- that night where you did something that was fun at the time, but had repercussions later. It is part of growing up, right? I realized, as I lay curled up in the fetal position watching terrible Jennifer Lopez chick flicks the next day, that I was in the midst of an important, if not disgusting, learning experience. Sure, the story is funny now, but it certainly wasn't funny when I threw up all of that Pepto Bismol. However, what are life's terrible moments if not educational?

Another year older and maybe none the wiser, but I spent the next day holding myself responsible for the mess I had created. I had to cancel my birthday dinner, couldn't make an appearance at a neighborhood party, and ultimately, didn't get to do anything I wanted to do that day, but I knew that I had only myself to blame. Throughout the past year, I think I have become better at holding myself to this same level of accountability and setting certain standards for myself. When I do something wrong, I need to admit it and I have been admitting it. If I wrong someone, I have been trying to find a way to make it right and genuinely apologize -- whether or not the recipient chooses to accept is something that I have to deal with as a consequence of my mistake in the first place and respect that. If I want other people to do this for me, then I owe it to them and vice versa. I should not hold people to standards that I wouldn't hold myself to. Maybe I still can't hold my liquor, but I am trying to mature and adopt this new self-awareness and responsibility that I know I had been lacking.

In this case, the one person I truly need to apologize to is to myself. I was really looking forward to taking my new pretty hair out on the town for a birthday dinner (with the roomies!) and the chance to celebrate with lots of food and dessert surrounded by my favorite neighbors. Also, I'm sorry that I watched that bad chick flick, I'll try to choose better next time.

In the Wake of My Post-Holiday Money Hangover

from someecards.com - so wise

If there was a Pepto Bismol that could cure the post-holiday money hangover, then I would need it. Maybe I should have taken my own advice and bought more budget-friendly gifts, or maybe I just need to have a budget. Period. Either way, I look at my bank account and wonder where did it all go wrong? I had good intentions. There were smiles on everyone's faces along the way. Yet, somehow, in the midst of my Christmas merriment and gift-giving haze, I left myself with an abysmal excuse for a bank account. Time to pick myself off of the proverbial bathroom floor, take two Advil and snap out of it.

Do I regret giving the gifts that I gave? Not necessarily. Like I've said before, there's nothing I enjoy more than giving gifts and watching my recipients' excited reactions. But at the same time, I realize that I am in this strange, strange place in regards to managing my money. On the one hand, I want to save my money. Isn't that why I have situated myself at home with the "roomies" for the time being? I wanted to give myself the opportunity to get myself in a better financial situation and prepare for post-life-with-the-parents. I've accumulated a decent amount of savings and even have a 401K started -- so maybe I'm not completely hopeless.

However, on the other hand, I have this uncontrollable urge to spend, spend, spend. Sure, you might be saying that I am a walking, talking, functional shopaholic, but I assure you, my desire to spend does not stem from the satisfying excitement of a new purchase (okay, maybe a little bit...) I think most of this wanting to spend -- especially on gifts for people -- comes from the fact that I have never had this sort of income before and can afford to do things and buy things. Yes, I am making an entry-level salary, but still, it sure beats getting paid minimum wage at the mall. For once, I have a steady income that allows me some wiggle room. I don't have to save up for months on end to buy one Abercrombie and Fitch shirt like I needed to when I was 14 years old. Instead, there are quite a few purchases that are within my reach, especially when you factor in a lack of major financial responsibilities. I have minimal bills to pay, since my "roomies" have been kind enough to let me crash at their place for a while, and because of that, I don't have to make the crucial decision between food for dinner and that little black dress I probably don't need.

But in this post-holiday-haze and with the approaching new year, I realize that if I want to become the adult I want to be, I should probably start by reflecting on my own spending habits. In the end, I know it is a matter of moderation: living within my means, making smart choices, putting money away to save, etc. and whatever else that gal Suze Orman suggests. However, I recognize (and you should too) that it is okay to spend some of that money you're working so hard for (and yes, that includes the hard work you put into making your boss coffee or copying hundreds of documents for hours on end.) Why have money if you're not necessarily going to use it? If you're like me, you're twenty-something and craving a bit of fun and adventure, but unfortunately, many fun and adventurous things and activities require a bit of money. So what? Plan in advance, put a little money aside, and go for it. Don't feel guilty.

I think part of being an adult is being able to recognize when spending money is worth it and when saving money is worth it. Saving money, for me, is worth it when you have an end goal in sight -- an apartment, a vacation, a car, retirement, etc. I don't think I'd be able to put as much money away if I didn't constantly think about having that particular dream apartment or going on an exotic getaway and reminding myself that it will be worth it. However, spending money is okay too -- and good for the economy! Splurge on things that you love and will last, but also realize that little things like a candy bar or nail polish can satisfy that urge to treat yourself to something special (and honestly, what is better than a Reese's Cup or Milky Way?)

It is all another one of life's great lessons and finding a balance between being a Scrooge and being an absolute money pushover. I don't think I can commit to balancing budgets as my new year's resolution -- I want something realistic and with less of a learning curve. However, I think being aware of what I'm spending my money on and why is the first step to getting my finances in order and lessening the blow of all of those big purchases. In the mean time, I will be determinedly gathering my funds together for some sort of expensive pair of shoes. A girl can dream...

How to Make Friends

Friendships: an important component of our lives from the very first day we meet someone who is neither imaginary (sorry folks) nor our parents. Once we hit school-days, we go on a friend binge -- suddenly, every person you meet has the potential to be your "best friend forever," a phenomenon that happens regardless of whether you're in first grade or a freshman in college. It seems as though every time you enter a new phase in your education, you're faced with the prospect of new friend-making. These people would be your "elementary school friends", your "middle school friends" and then even your "high school friends". Of course, there was overlap if you stayed in one place for your whole life or if many of your friends went on to the same secondary school with you, but each time, you were creating your inner-circle.

 The same thing happened when we went to college. Just think about freshmen orientation, for example: you participate in icebreakers, learn too much about everyone in your group, and then are encouraged to meet as many people as possible in your first few weeks of school with the countless numbers of activities being held for you and your fellow college peons. It is a phase of binge friend-making -- sometimes these friends stick, sometimes they don't, but regardless, within four years, you have now added a group of "college friends" to your relationship repertoire. But outside of these friendship-forging institutions, is there room for new groups of friends?

I constantly think about this as someone who admittedly loves to meet new people, go on first dates and strike up conversations with strangers. How do I integrate these new people into my lives? Is there more room for me in their life that is already divided into "home/high school friends" and "college friends?" Sure, some might say "the more the merrier," but when your loyalties have been to these groups for so long already, is there a way to add your new post-grad friends to the mix? And even more to think about: how do I meet someone and let it be known that I want them to be my new, adult friend?

It may seem silly to think about, but it's not like dating. You meet someone at a bar, it's clear that you two have some sort of attraction, and then you go on a date. Can this happen for making friends? I like the concept of a "friend-date" in theory, but that doesn't mean that the person I want to "friend-date" is going to like it as well -- and more so, they'll probably think I'm a weirdo. But why can't this happen? Essentially, you could meet someone at work, at a bar, in line for coffee, and hit it off. Sure, it isn't romantic chemistry, but it is a sort of friend chemistry, the one where you bond over something and realize that you've developed some sort of rhythm that could translate into a potential friendship. Then what? Can I ask that person to hang out? I feel as though most people would think I am hitting on them -- regardless of gender. 

Don't get me wrong, I have made some friends since graduating, and it did happen organically. Although, I will admit, these were all work-relationships at first. For example, my time spent in retail was made exponentially better by my fellow mall-slaves. We all happened to be the same age, started chatting and took our work-relationship outside of our fish-bowl enclave in the mall and to a restaurant for after dinner drinks. We realized that "hey, this is fun!" so we did it again and eventually we had developed a new friend group -- work friends (despite the fact that few of us actually work there anymore).

But outside of work, how do you do it? I feel like it can be inevitable to befriend someone at your job out of the sheer fact that you spend so much time there and it makes the work experience better. However, friendship can be created outside of the cubicle walls, and how do you take it to the next level -- from well-acquainted stranger to new pals? 

Sometimes I feel like it can be difficult to do this, since people do have many of their friendships in place. Heck, most people already have their best friend set and secured by the time they're ten years old -- how is a new person supposed to weave their way into your life when there is seemingly little to no apparent vacancy? I guess you could counter all of this by saying that if someone wants to be your friend, it will happen and I don't need to go around having this existential friendship crisis, but presumably, people have certain friend roles already filled at a certain point: the best friend role is usually taken early on, as well as all of those other token friend spots (your go-to shopping friend, your go-to partying friend, etc.). Is it even possible for a new friend to have an important role in your life if those roles were given to earlier friends based on longevity? Can someone you just meet have the potential to be a best friend -- even if you don't have years of loyalty (yet)? Similarly, is it possible to become part of an already established friend group, or will you always feel like an outsider?

After all, as post-grads, we're (most likely) in our twenties and that means that we have years and years ahead of us. This also means that we are going to meet many more people in our lifetime and add some more friends to our circle. We are hopefully a bit more wise than we were in years before and are also better equipped to choose our friends and weed out the frenemies. What do you think about making friends as a post-grad? I realize that this post provides more questions and speculation than answers, but I think these questions are all valid. Sure, maybe this all sounds like I'm a whiny loner and am incapable of socializing (this would explain why I have a blog). However, I'm excited about the prospect of adding more friends to my life as I survive the post-grad years. Is it okay for me to apply my skills of "seduction" to the realm of friend-making -- modifying my flirtation to imply a wanted friendship (I know how creepy that sounds)?  Or am I just over-thinking it and need to let things happen organically? I'm assuming I should go with the latter, but given that a friendship is agreed upon, will I ever be able to hold an important role in that person's life as a new friend?

Alright, alright. Enough with my questions, I know. With all of this over-analysis and mumbo-jumbo, I will leave you with this:

Winter Whites & Budget Blues

‘Tis the season for empty wallets, family feuding and broken dreams – otherwise known as the winter holiday season for post-grads. Alright, I realize that may sound a bit overdramatic (typical for me, am I right?), but when you’ve just started paying back your student loans, attempting to move out and battling with bills, Christmas time becomes serious crunch time.

Gift-giving has never been easy on your wallet; as a student, the main concern was schoolwork rather than making bank and parading around town like Santa Claus come December. Yet now, as a post-grad in an entry-level job, is it that much easier? For those of you who are privileged with cushy jobs and fat paychecks, maybe it is easier. But for what I’m assuming is the majority (and maybe that will make an ass out of “u” and “me”), we’re stuck in that place in between affordable and overwhelming.  Ideally, at this point, we’re getting consistent paychecks that does make gift-giving possible. However, at the same time, we’re dealing with real-life costs: rent, bills, groceries, insurance, etc, for presumably the first time. When you’re forking over a couple of hundred dollars for your student loans on top of everything else, how do you budget Christmas?

I know that when I first started getting a regular paycheck, I was excited about the prospect of the holidays and finally being able to give the sort of gifts I wanted to give. Despite the over-commercialized force-fed obligation to buy gifts that advertisements and department stores may seem to demand of us, I find myself enjoying gift-giving. With Christmas, I meticulously mull over what to buy my decided recipients. Most of the time, I find it difficult to keep my mouth shut about what I buy people because I’m so excited to give them their gift (this is true for all other times of the year – birthdays and random gift occasions included – I strangely love gift-giving) with a tendency to blurt out the surprise ahead of time (oops). That is how gift-giving is supposed to make you feel. It certainly isn’t supposed to stress you out. Friends and family members understand that money may be tight, especially since most people are doing their own penny-pinching these days.

Because I know that we all want to make sure to include our best friends and family members on the “nice” list this year, I think it helps to get creative when giving gifts. I find that there are ways to make Christmas budget-friendly while still being able to feel as though you gave something thoughtful to those you love the most. Some of my favorite ideas are below:

• Memories in gift-form:  I find that the gifts I love the most are the ones that reflect the amount of careful consideration given by the gift-giver (awwww). Why not remind your loved-ones of your favorite memories with them? Whether this is by making them a picture collage or picture book, framing one special picture of a favorite moment, this gift will show that you want to remember that time at a baseball game or that night out dancing together – and reflect just how much you want to preserve that memory. For Mother’s Day last year, I gave my mom a picture book of our family vacation to Puerto Rico, coming in under $30. It’s something my family takes out again and again to share with friends and to remember our vacation. Finding a way to compile your photos (there are plenty of frames with space for multiple photos, or try a shadow-box to add additional saved mementos) makes for a great way to remember good times and do something budget-friendly. Plus, your recipient will have a picture of you -- let your inner-narcissist run wild.
• Throw a party: Okay, so technically this isn’t a typical gift and II know that you’re thinking – “I have a tiny apartment!” or “Parties are expensive!” I can assure you, a party can be had just about anywhere or just about any budget. Throwing a party is a great way to get everyone together and give them a time to remember (and take a photo to later put in a frame for next year’s gift!) In lieu of a tangible gift, you’re giving people the gift of FUN -- and who doesn’t like that? To keep things inexpensive, ask people to BYOB (naturally…who can afford to keep a bunch of 20-somethings liquored up?) and take either an appetizer or dessert. Of course, you should provide a few snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, but hit up a local grocery store, and you can get all of those things for a low-price. Getting everyone together usually is a sure-fire way to have fun and spend time with the people you love the most – the thing is, few people rarely like to step up and host a party. Be that person! You can never have enough FUN with your best friends, so why not provide your friends with a good time and have them looking forward to making this an annual thing.
• Gift-giving games: I wish I had the budget to give gifts to every single one of my friends, but unfortunately, that just isn’t realistic. Until I hit the jackpot, I find that a great alternative is to host and participate in gift-giving games. This can be combined with my prior suggestion of throwing a party. Have everyone participate in something like a Secret Santa or a Yankee Swap (you can Google the rules -- or check out this site: http://www.secretsanta.com/). Set a limit on how much participants should spend. Since you only have to buy one gift as opposed to multiple, you can choose a price that works for you and the rest of the group participating. You’ll have just as much fun picking out a silly gift as you will exchanging with your friends. Again, we’re all about making memories (sappy, I know) so what you may sacrifice in number of presents you make up for in laughs (even sappier.)
• Give the gift of time: Honestly, this might be my favorite gift idea because it’s a win-win for everyone involved (assuming the person you give this “gift” to actually likes you and enjoys spending time with you.) Because everyone is so busy all the time, what is more valuable than time? Invite your grandma out for a one-on-one brunch or tell your best friend that you want to have a girls’ night in with your favorite movies and wine. I get that this might seem lame because you can’t necessarily wrap this up with a bow on it, but this is a gift you both can benefit from. Your friend/family member will feel special because you put in the the time and effort to plan something specifically for them, and you will get to be with someone you care about. Sure, you could get someone a gift card, but what’s the use of having $25 to IHOP if you’re not sharing a triple-decker stack of pancakes with someone you love? Ultimately, the best moments are those shared with friends and family -- get into the spirit of Christmas, people! Show people you love them not by giving them thoughtless gifts, but by giving them your most valuable asset: time. You only have so much of it per day, so choose an afternoon/night and make it all about being with them. Assuming your friend is not Scrooge, I think they will appreciate it.

So start jingling your bells, laughing merrily along the way and spreading Christmas cheer without getting charge an overdraft fee this year. When you’re focusing on the real meaning of the holidays -- being with the ones you love and allowing yourself to eat obnoxious amount of holiday-themed treats (naturally) -- you will actually be able to enjoy it. Plus, you will be able to avoid crazed mall crowds and whining children. And remember, every time a bell rings, you should down some more spiked eggnog.

Is that how the saying goes?

Also … enjoy this Christmas song. It ends with a twist on Toto’s “Africa.” Yes, I am serious, and yes, you will love it.

All We Need Is Just a Little Patience... Right?

im·pa·tience

  [im-pey-shuh ns]  Show IPA

noun

1.

lack of patience.

2.

eager desire for relief or change; restlessness.

3.

intolerance of anything that thwarts, delays, or hinders.

In today's society, everything is a click/push/(insert onomatopoetic verb here) away. Every song and book you could ever want can be purchased and downloaded within a few seconds. Tired of those pesky kids asking how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Google it and instantly be enlightened (although... they only offer a range -- the world may still never know). Information travels faster than the speed of light, so it's only natural that the expectation of instant gratification would trickle down into the psyche of post-graduates. As much as we might be fooled by the false sense of appeasement and comfort that instant gratification offers us in other situations, we most certainly cannot expect for success to follow as "instantly" or immediately upon graduation day. Should we be discouraged by this in the midst of everything else being accessible within minutes and seconds? Or should we settle for a certain degree of complacency that is required to "pay our dues?"

I often find myself wondering if  I should quiet my inner-restlessness in the name of patience. I recognize that as a recent graduate that I am going to have to "pay my dues" so to speak. To me, this means getting an entry-level job that doesn't necessarily satisfy all of requisites for a dream career and job environment. In fact, by this definition, it means that I might (and most likely will) have to take a job that I don't like or isn't "perfect" just to get some experience. While gaining this important work experience, should I be patient, bide my time, give it a year or two, and then get back out there? Or should I continue to let that restlessness grumble until it becomes a full-on roar?

I think what I'm trying to get at is that it's hard to silence the part of you that wants to have the dream career immediately, which can make it difficult to accept that you're going to have to settle at first. However, I think this isn't a bad thing per se -- in fact, it can be motivating. If a part of you is never complacent, then you're actively trying to make good things happen for yourself and if you're always trying, it's gotta happen eventually, right? One would hope.

Despite this impatience for "the dream career," I think it's important to recognize that you do still need to focus on the "right now." You can't always wish your current life away, impatient for what's going to come next and for your life to start. Fact of the matter is, your life is happening right now, and the key is to make the best of it right now. This doesn't mean that you can't prepare for the next chapter, but there are lessons to be learned and mistakes to be made (cliche, yes, I know, wah wah) In truth, this sort of patience is required so that you can gain valuable life experience from doing something that you simply don't want to do or aren't entirely interested in. By "settling" for now, you do learn something about yourself and what you want out of your next job and even out of life in general. Life is full of things that will happen to you that you just don't like or that isn't what you wanted, but you have to learn how to deal with them -- that's what makes you grow as a person. In the mean time, we can use that dissatisfaction and restlessness to motivate us and to focus on how to take the step towards something that will meet more of our credentials.

There needs to be some sort of merging of both extremes and both ends of the spectrum. It's time to find the middle man, use our desire for change and life to get moving to actually get moving and, at the same time, recognize that it is going to take hard work, self-realization and just a bit of patience (and maybe even luck) to make the step towards something great and better.

The Post-Grad Dating Dilemma

After approximately four years of living in a residence hall of some sort (give or take a semester or two), surrounded by a plethora of your peers, living in the happy-go-lucky college bubble, the concept of dating, for recent grads, has been completely distorted. In fact, if you think about it, we haven't even needed to participate in the whole dating ritual. All of our dating options have lived comfortably next door to us, down the hall, or just a hop, skip and a jump away for the last few years, making the dating process null and void, and essentially obsolete...

That is, until we graduated. What happens then? How does one meet a potential boyfriend/girlfriend when they're not served to you on a silver platter: attending a program your RA plans, assigned to work on a group project with you, or roommates with one of your friends? Cue the panic. 

The dilemma that we, as recent grads face, is a very real one. Within two weeks of being a college freshman, I had a boyfriend. I plopped down in my sociology class, was forced to introduce myself to the guy next to me as part of some sort of activity, and then voila! Two weeks later, I had myself a full-fledged relationship with the greatest distance between us being the freshman quad. Does this sort of event happen outside of the college bubble? Eh, perhaps, but those people are generally crazy and shouldn't be trusted (just kidding...sorta). The truth is -- it doesn't -- and it's even worse when recent grads don't know where to begin. We haven't had to participate in the dating dance that post-grad life requires in order to meet a new person. Heck, you don't even really need to put that much effort into meeting someone and getting a phone number when you're in college. Chances are, you're already Facebook friends with that pseudo-hipster who just hit on you at the dining hall.

What's a gal to do when she finds herself with a lack of tricks up her sleeve, ill-equipped to handle the challenges that come with actually needing to engage in awkward small talk and make a move on a guy at a bar/concert/bookstore/anywhere? While I am by no means an expert in dating (although, I have had my fair share of meet cutes -- more on that another time), I suppose I can outline a few tips for the especially hopeless.

• Get used to making small talk with strangers: I get that this can be extremely uncomfortable for self-proclaimed introverts and people who lack social skills. However, if you want to meet people, you're going to have to talk to them. Unfortunately, most people don't possess telepathic powers, and therefore, you are going to have to resort to old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.

• Just start talking about anything... relevant: My general strategy for starting conversations with people is to be opportunistic. I have started many a conversation with someone while standing at a bar -- you're there getting drinks as are they (presumably), and while you're waiting for the bartender to get you that  embarrassing pink drink you just ordered, you might as well chat someone up. Case in point, I was standing at a bar once to order a drink and the guy next to me said that he had been there longer than me. Being the sassy gal that I am, I decided to respond with a simple "I bet you he'll serve me first," which opened the flood gates. Comment on his drink, the fact that he's double-fisting two Cosmos, or even that Psy's "Gangnam Style" is on and some old creepy guy is attempting to dance to it -- anything. If he wishes to engage in this interaction, he will. If he doesn't want to? You're already drinking -- order yourself another one and move on.

• Don't take everything so seriously - this is dating, not a colonoscopy: I've heard the same complaints from my friends: "But dating can be so awkward!" They then proceed to pick out several outfits, over-analyze text messages and revert to 7th grade ways (i.e. "So, I saw this guy I liked. I think he's cute. He smiled at me the other day, but then today he didn't say hi or even look at me. Why didn't he say hi to me today?!" or better yet, "I can't talk to him first. Maybe I should chat with him on Facebook instead?") Let's be real, ladies and gentleman, dating is supposed to be fun. If someone likes you, great! If not, whatever, who's next (new blog title?!). Not everyone is going to like you, but when you find someone that does, don't stress out about it. There's nothing worse than someone who's got sweat stains BEFORE the date even begins.  Relax. Have fun. Remember what a date actually is? Oh, you don't? Well, let me tell you...Prior to a date, both parties have, to a certain extent, expressed romantic interest in the opposing party. When this interest is made clear, a date is planned, and both parties attend the date in order to gain more information to determine whether subsequent dates should follow (as deemed necessary) and also to determine whether this opposing party could be a potential match for a romantic relationship. You go on your first date, and if you both have fun and want to know more about the other person, you go on a second date (novel idea, right?) If the second date isn't as successful, you don't go on a third date. If the second date is successful, you go on a third date. Revolutionary -- lather, rinse, repeat = relationship. It doesn't need to be so gosh darn stressful. I get that feelings can muddy things (damn those emotions), but you need to keep things in perspective. If you adopt a relatively carefree attitude, you won't come off as desperate, needy and flat-out annoying. Would you want to date someone who  exhibited any of those qualities? No. (Sorry, no offense)

• Go on a real date: This is probably most important for people making the dating transition from college to real life (yes -- REAL LIFE). A real date does not include (and is not limited to): group outings, sitting in at someone's parents' house watching TV, Skype, etc. The point of a date is to evaluate this person's compability with you. You need to go out (just you two) somewhere that enables you to learn about the other person. Whether this learning experience happens over dinner and a movie, rock-climbing, attending a concert, going to a museum -- I don't care! There just needs to be the opportunity for good old-fashioned getting to know each other. Yes, a date can happen at a bar, but I would say that it is helpful to be able to hear what the other person is saying. A successful date occurs when you are able to go home later that night, know the person's last name, and know something about the type of person you just spent the last X hours with: what their interests are, what some of their goals are, what they like/dislike, their blood type (just kidding, don't ask them that) -- essentially, what makes them tick. What do you need to know about a person to determine whether you want to spend more time with them or not; whether you like them or not? Figure those things out, and then find it out on your date. It doesn't need to be philosophical, but go somewhere and do something that will reveal more about the person you've decided to go out with.

• You are a pretty cool person, and if someone doesn't want to date you, so be it: Of course, this is far easier said than done, but essentially, why waste your time with someone who doesn't recognize that you're an amazing person just as you are? The world's population is inching closer and closer to seven billion people every day (I just Googled it to double check), and you're hung up on ONE person who "is just not that into you"? You don't have time for that. You're too busy being awesome. Move on and find someone cuter (or maybe just more compatible).

There you have it. Some of the basics for post-grad life according to someone who has been unsuccessful in love thus far (eh, actually, that's debatable -- ask my boyfriend?). Maybe that diminishes all of my credibility -- but does it, really? I've been on countless dates, good and bad, but the fact is, I have dated outside of college. I've done it. It's worked! Eureka! What's even more miraculous about all of this? Despite some of the failed dates, missed connections, breakups and what have you, I still live to tell the tale -- and the thing is, you will too. So even if you have a bad date, keep trucking along. Eventually it will work out.

Eventually.

Life with My "Roomies"

I always find myself telling people stories about my roommates. I have two roommates -- and they're pretty fun, as well as also being helpful, generous and smart. One of my favorite anecdotes I like to share is the one where I found my two roommates spooning in my living room while watching the Kardashians. To most people, this seems odd. Not just because people still actually watch the Kardashians, but because I walked in on my roommates spooning. Frankly, I'm glad that walking in on them spooning is the most intimacy I've had to witness. For those of you who are uninformed of my current living arrangements  I will admit it: I live with my parents.

This living arrangement is one that's met with divided reaction, by the general public and myself alike. Society has ingrained into us that once you're done with school - whether it be high school or higher education - you now must move out and forge an independent life in separate living quarters from your parents or guardians. In doing this, you have made the complete transition into adulthood and can now embark on that adult life free of supervision, curfews and your mom folding your underwear. Unfortunately, with the current economic climate and the overwhelming necessity for student loans, this rite of passage is being delayed by many fellow  post-grad adults. How are we expected to afford to live in an apartment paying hundreds of dollars (assuming you can find roommates) when you've also got hundreds of dollars going towards that education of yours -- you've got the diploma stashed away somewhere under your bed to prove it, I bet?

The fact of the matter is: many of us can't. I know that I certainly can't afford to pay for rent with my entry-level income, let alone furnish that shabby apartment, drive a car and pay off any accumulated debt. What about food, you may ask? Forget that. My private college education fed my soul, so certainly, that should be enough to keep my hunger at bay. What about having a social life -- it does cost to go out, you know? Well, if I can't get free drinks, then I'll just have to be satisfied with a non-existent social life because I can't afford a $10 cover charge and a $10 beer. 

I realize that this may seem overdramatic. And to a certain extent, it is. Plenty of recent grads find a way to make it work and thrive, even with a limited budget. However, I find myself asking the following question (and I know many other people have asked the same thing) as a twenty-something living in her childhood home: does living with our parents stunt our transition into adulthood or can it be seen as a very strategic, adult decision being that it is fiscally responsible?

My life at home is pretty cushy, I will admit. My parents don't charge me rent or ask me to pay for food. My mom still does my laundry and packs me a lunch for work (the shame is overwhelming even as a type this). My dad will bring my car to get gas if I'm feeling too lazy (although, I do give him money to pay for it!) or pick up a prescription for me at CVS. And on top of all of that, they're fun to be around. I go out to dinner with them, we watch TV together, and we share many a laugh over the funny things that my dog does. But in the midst of all of this, I wonder if I am regressing towards my childish ways.

I have a full-time job equipped with benefits and a 401K. I commute into Boston (about 1.5 hours each way). I have to navigate around my own schedule, balancing work, running my errands, seeing friends, etc. But that still doesn't mitigate the reality that I am living with my parents. I am not embarrassed that I live with my parents, though. Since graduating last December, I have saved up a considerable amount of money and have been able to contribute more money towards paying off my car loan. I am trying to set myself up to be successful once I do leave the nest, so that I don't have to come fumbling back, hands outstretched begging for money and for my mom to separate my lights and darks.

I like to think that I am still facing adult problems and have an adult life -- but it is a modified version of the stereotypical post-grad life of ten, even five years ago, when jobs were a guarantee post-college and debt wasn't necessarily so overwhelming. I do want to move out of my house eventually, but I want to do so at a time where I feel as though I am more financially stable. Does that make me childish? Or does that mean I am making an adult and responsible decision?

For now, I'm going to enjoy the perks of living at home and continuing to save my money as I prepare for my next big adult steps. I might as well enjoy it while I can and savor this special "roommate" time. Besides, I'm pretty sure my "roommates" love having me home: who doesn't love to do an extra load of laundry!

Choosing a Path

Today, I had a few brief, but very poignant conversations with two different friends (at two different, unrelated times) about figuring out one’s path in life. I realize this sounds incredibly philosophical, which might deter half of my readers (leaving me with a fraction of a human being), but I assure you, despite however philosophical it might seem, I guarantee it is a subconscious question posed to yourself every day.

With friend one, the question was not even trying to be deep or insightful -- the topic of “figuring out one’s path” blossomed from simple, polite, small talk. You know the kind: “Hi, how are you?” and “How’s your job?” This, inevitably, will be answered either with “The job is great -- I love it!” as a way to placate your partner in conversation and steer them onto a more interesting topic (unless your job is really interesting) OR, if you’re like me, you will be brutally honest and respond with “It’s boring. Hate my commute. I need to find something else.” Of course, therein lies the issue: what is next? Clearly, we all know I have a problem coming up with the answer to that question, since my blog’s premise embodies exactly that question; however, it is something that everyone asks themselves. What sort of job do I want to do next? What will make me happy? Should I go to Dunkin Donuts and get a coffee? What should I do with my life after I get that coffee?

My friend offered some practical advice: talk to people who are in a field/industry that interests you or who have a job that you could potentially want and figure out what you have to do to get there. This isn’t a job interview, by any means -- just a simple conversation with someone who has experience and insider information who can provide you with advice on how to forge a path for yourself and figure out if their path is something you might want to mimic or learn from. When my friend told me this, I responded with a resounding “Hmph.” It’s like that moment when you’re watching an infomercial and you think to yourself: “Well, gosh, I could have come up with that! Why didn’t I think of it first?!” But you didn’t. And this is why you need to seek advice from people who might know better.

Later in the day, I was talking to another friend. This time, amidst a conversation that stretched from discussing a funny video on YouTube to the contents of our lunches, the dire and depressing notion of not knowing what to do with our lives became a topic. A mutual friend had just found a new job and was moving on, leading my friend to pronounce “I have no path” -- a very dire and depressing notion. This statement snowballed into not knowing what sort of path she wanted to be on, and I admit, I could relate. Being a 20-something, there are only few things we are certain of: student loans, still being regularly carded and usually not falling prey to some sort of acid indigestion.

Being certain of exactly what sort of path we want to be on is rare. And you know what? I think that’s okay. Knowing what path you want to be on requires knowing yourself to a certain extent, and at 22-years-old, I don’t think I can say I know myself to the point where I can be 100% sure of what it is I want to do with the rest of my life. That’s a lot of pressure for someone who can’t even commit to a hair color for more than a year, don’t you think?

I think the best one can do is zero in on what we are good at and what we are passionate about and hope to pursue those things. At least if we’re figuring out our strengths and weaknesses, then we might be in a better position to learn how to capitalize on those strengths and improve upon those weaknesses and find a path that allows us to accomplish both of those things.

For now, I am still trying to determine which path I should pursue. I know that I am not exactly happy with where I am now -- but I do think that is part of figuring it all out. I at least have learned enough to know what I don’t want, and slowly, but surely, I am compiling a list that will enable me and empower me to pursue the path that will lead me to happiness.

Sorry -- that got a bit philosophical at the end there, but hey, I did warn you. Sort of.

150 days late and a dollar short

I realize it has been about five months since I last posted (although, that last post consisted strictly of haikus, so I don't even know if I should be allowed to consider that a post), and in internet-land, that is pretty much the kiss of death. You just can't abandon your blog and your followers like that, even if your following is a mere six people on a good day.

Well, I wish I had a good excuse for it, but I don't. The fact of the matter is part of this whole navigating post-grad life thing is figuring out how to fit all of the things you want to do into your life and new routine. Once I got a job, I realized that some of the things I had more than enough time for began to fall lower on my priority scale as a lengthy commute and long day drained any and all motivation I had to do the things I used to do all the time, such as go to the gym and blog. Factor in trying to maintain the same social life I had prior to 40-hour work weeks, and I would return home after work and a night out exhausted, only to be wishing for more hours in a day.

So where does that leave me now, you may ask? Since starting my job in April, I have been just another cog in the 9-to-5 machine. I have to leave the house at 7:30AM every morning to make it to work by 9, spend eight hours in the office, and then once 5PM arrives, I leave the office and make it home usually around 6:15. From there, I usually choose between two options: 1.) eat dinner, shower and go to bed OR 2.) eat dinner and then go out to meet up with my friends/boyfriend/etc. Usually, I choose option #2, considering it helps to maintain some sort of semblance of my sanity. It is all very routine and very tiring. I realize that everyone does this. All of America gets up, goes to work all day, goes home and then has to get up and do it all again the next day. But I feel like something's gotta give. I don't want to be driving for three hours a day to get to work, only to get there and feel dissatisfied with what I'm doing. I most certainly don't want my commute to be the most work I have to do all day either. I want to feel like I'm doing something.

I guess I am at the point where I am trying to figure out what's next. Yes, I realize that I was asking myself that same question almost a year ago as I was approaching the end of my college career. However, I feel like I'm at that same place again -- despite having applied to jobs and grad schools last year, finding a job (two jobs actually) and working, I still feel like I don't have any more direction than when I began that bit of soul-searching.

I realize that this has become a sort of rant and good luck to those of you who were able to follow it, but I suppose the point I am trying to make is that maybe I do need to start blogging again if only to find my voice that I seem to have lost along the way. And maybe finding that voice will allow me to figure out what it's going to take to make me happy in all aspects of life -- work, play, and whatever else seems to fall in the middle of all of that.

Thank you for bearing with me... Now, let's see if I can make this blogging thing a habit again, right?

Working Girl

I did it -- I survived my first week (well, three days) of work! Does this make me a full-fledged adult? Maybe not, but I certainly seem more like one. I will be getting a regular and consistent paycheck, making a commute into the city and becoming part of a new team. I can't say I'm not looking forward to a bit of consistency and stability. I can finally add something new to my resume, afford to buy that new car and gain a bit of financial independence in general. Though I am excited to move on to a new chapter in my life, I have to admit that the transition from college life to work life is a challenge. I spent my last semester enjoying the perks of a late morning start, being with my friends all of the time, and immersing myself in my classes. Now, I have to be up and in the car before 8 o'clock to insure a punctual arrival to work and spend the day inside an office. It's a shock to my system, to say the least.

I suppose I'm being faced with this reality much sooner than my other 2012 counterparts, but I know that everyone else has and will go through this. My four month stint of unemployment lulled me into a false sense of comfort. Even with my part-time job, I had minimum responsibilities. I could stay up late, wake up late, leisurely go about my daytime schedule and still have time to spare. Now, I'm adjusting to a brand new routine. I've never had to factor a lengthy commute into my day and plan my lunches ahead of time. Sure, I realize that all of this might sound petty and trivial when pretty much everyone needs to work, but I only mean to say that I was used to one sort of lifestyle for basically 3.5 years and now, that semi-flexible schedule has turned into a regimented dosage of reality. I have no doubt I can do it and adjust -- I am a hard-worker and I am determined -- but that doesn't mean it's not a challenge.

One day in particular was especially hard. I'm still a bit unfamiliar with the area I'm working in, so I need to use my GPS to help navigate around the city. I was late to work that morning due to traffic and it took me an hour and a half to get home that night (without traffic, I live about 20-30 minutes outside of the city.) I was so frustrated. All I wanted to do was get home, go to the gym and eat dinner, but I saw my time frame to do those things getting pushed back as my car slowly inched along. By the time I got home, I was beyond stressed out. I went straight to the gym to try to exercise my frustration away, then came home, ate dinner by myself, showered and basically went to bed. I know that, for many people, this is reality, but this hadn't been my reality before. I felt slightly imprisoned by my own schedule -- but I knew that I was going to have to make a new schedule and get used to my new daily routine.

I'll admit, this whole change is overwhelming. My entry-level job isn't exactly what I thought it would be. It isn't a bad job -- but I think I failed to take into consider what an entry-level job is: a point of entry into a career. I'm not going to get a ton of responsibility or exciting assignments because I haven't had the chance to showcase my capabilities yet. That responsibility may come eventually, but it won't come in a week, and that's something I'm going to have to work towards. I did really well in school -- I have the GPA to prove it -- but that's because I was so good at it and I knew what I needed to do to excel. This job thing is a bit different. I'm tackling a few new elements here: a commute, an office environment, new people and a whole new set of tasks.

I will call upon a ridiculously hackneyed, yet useful saying for now: Rome wasn't built in a day. I'm not going to become suddenly acclimated to my new routine. BUT, in time, it can happen -- and it will. It's certainly a learning process for me, but then again, what in life isn't?

I'll be sure to share more of my work week with you in the mean time... I will have to figure out where blogging fits into my new routine :)

What a Tangled Web We Weave

Now that you're all caught up with my vacation adventures, I suppose it's time to fill you in with the latest in my job search. After all, this blog is supposed to document my ups and downs of job hunting as a recent grad, right? I digress.
A little less than a week before leaving for Puerto Rico, my job hunt took an interesting turn in a matter of about fifteen minutes or so -- all while brushing my teeth in the morning. If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I've been working part-time at the mall. This was filling up my weeks quite nicely, and that morning, I had to be at work by 9AM, so as you can imagine, I was busy getting ready. However, during my morning frenzy, I got a phone call regarding the manuscript assistant job I had interviewed for a few weeks ago -- I got the job. I was excited. Just about three or so months of job hunting and I was being offered full-time employment -- that was a huge step. Of course, big decisions should not be handled lightly, and now that my employment opportunity went from hypothetical to realistic, I had to reconsider all of the pros and cons. I hung up the phone, picked up my toothbrush and was now brushing my teeth with a sort of vigor that could only be attributed to the butterflies in my stomach and the urgency to get to my current part-time gig on time.
Of course, as I alluded to, mid-brush, only a mere minute or two after my first phone call, I was getting another phone call from a number I didn't recognize. My mouth filled with toothpaste, I obviously wasn't going to pick up the phone and I did have somewhere I needed to be in about 20 minutes (at that point, that was my job and my commitment and I couldn't let my excitement get the best of me). I let the caller go to voicemail and then played it on speakerphone while finishing up my morning routine. On the phone was a woman from a communications company asking if I could come in for an interview for a publicist position. I was in shock. I had gone from working part-time at the mall to being offered a job and an interview opportunity in less than five minutes. This other job had great potential and room for growth, so I greedily decided that I would take the interview.

I managed to schedule an interview for the next day and went in to discuss the potential job opportunity. Some of the pressure was off, I'll admit. Even if this interview didn't work out, I had another job waiting for me, and by the same token, not only was it good practice to interview, but I could potentially have an even better offer. However, I couldn't help but wonder if I was engaging in some sort of job taboo. I was delaying my decision of the other position pending more information from the interview. Was it wrong for me to do that? When I thought about it, I decided it wasn't. A friend of mine put it in perspective for me. He said, "Don't you think that if the CEO of a company had to choose between him keeping his job and you keeping your job, he'd let you go in a second?" I had to admit it; he was right. Entry-level employees can sometimes be expendable and replaceable. Sounds pessimistic, but in this economy, it's true. If you're not contributing, you can be replaced with someone better and/or cheaper, and when it comes to your own career, you do need to be a little selfish (though I wouldn't advocate selfish motivation as a prime motivator). It's just another lesson learned as I go through the job search.

So you might ask now, how did the interview turn out and did I accept that other job offer? I thought that the interview went well. I was really interested, but when I asked about benefits, including salary compensation, I wasn't thrilled with what I could potentially be offered. In an effort to jumpstart my career and my independence, I decided to accept the initial job offer and let the cards fall where they may (sorry for a cliche!). You never know until you try and I figured it was time to give this whole full-time employment thing a shot.

I Left My Heart in San...Juan

view from our hotel room

Well, folks... I am back. My flight touched back down in Boston Sunday night and I returned a much crispier version of my former self. While on vacation, I certainly had a few goals in mind: relax, have fun and enjoy spending uninterrupted time with my family. Did I do all of those things, you ask? I believe that I was able to accomplish all of those goals and more. I'd like to share a few highlights from my trip with you:

Me ziplining with my family of exclamation points.

Zip-lining:
I have zip-lined before -- but never on this scale. My family and I booked a trip to go zip-lining at La Marquesa Forest Reserve in Guaynabo city, which is around 20-30 minutes outside of San Juan. All of us were at different comfort levels. My brother was seemingly fearless, I was excited-nervous as was my dad and my mother was absolutely terrified. Despite all of this though, it was such a fun experience. All of us were able to challenge ourselves to some degree. I was finding it especially difficult to learn how to brake. I knew what I was supposed to do to brake, but my reaction every time was getting in the way of that process. My brother seamlessly zipped from perch to perch, while on the other end of the extreme, my mother was just thankful to get to perch to perch. The whole time, we were zipping through the forest, weaving between the wildlife. All of us learned that doing something like this requires support and encouragement and a little bit of bravery.

Please excuse the terrible quality of this video... I was using my point-and-shoot camera.

But just wanted you to get a feel for walking for a little bit through Old San Juan

Shopping in Old San Juan:
While we spent most of the time hanging out on the beach or walking around our local area by the hotel, my mom and I decided to break from the rest of the pack and visit Old San Juan. The area has a European-charm with its colorful buildings accented by white, sun-bleached trim, crowded streets and small piazzas. Unlike Europe though, there was a sort of vibrant, friendly flavor enhanced by the locals artisans' friendly smiles or the latin music pouring out of restaurants and cafes. It was a nice afternoon, but the scorching heat definitely meant that we couldn't spend too long hopping from shop to shop. My mom and I enjoyed lunch looking out at the neighborhood before heading back to the hotel in need of serious rehydration and a dip in the pool. My favorite part of our early afternoon trip though was getting to buy a few trinkets from artisans, who explained to us how they made each of their items and were enthuasiastic to share their stories.

Just hanging out in Old San Juan

Dancing Queen:
One of my favorite nights during my trip was hanging out at the hotel bar. Doesn't sound too exciting when I say it like that, and in truth, it wasn't too exciting in the beginning. After a long dinner just outside the hotel, my brother and I weren't quite ready to call it a night so we decided to hang out in the lounge/bar in the hotel lobby. There was a DJ and a dance floor, but minimal dance activity save for two girls who were going off and on the dance floor depending on the song. Now, I don't know about you, but I love to dance -- especially when it's a song I love. So the combination of vacation mentality + good music (+a teensy bit of alcohol) was surging in my system and I now had this mission to dance -- and to get everyone else to dance too. At some points, it was just me and my mother (by force) dancing and goofing around on the dance floor. Other times, me and those two girls. But eventually, my shameless dancing was somehow inviting other people to dance and I started encouraging those lingering on the outskirts of the dance floor to join in. I had made the dance floor go from empty to filled -- and filled with energy at that. I even managed to get an impromptu latin dance lesson from somehow who seemed to dance flawlessly. Between twirling and laughing, I was basically a professional. By the end of the night, both my brother and I were not only having a great time, but making new friends in the process. It really shed some light on the phrase "dance like no one is watching," because just a teensy bit of bravery on the dance floor allowed everyone else to let loose and enjoy themselves as well.

Family time:
Obviously, my vacation in Puerto Rico was made possible thanks to my parents. They generously shared what probably should've been a vacation for just the two of them (as they were celebrating both a wedding anniversary and a birthday milestone) and it turned out to be a really great time. With both my brother and I having spent the last two years or so in college together at the same time, getting the four of us under the same roof can sometimes prove difficult. However, here was an opportunity for the four of us not only to be together, but to relax and have fun together. Sure, the trip wasn't without its squabbles, but for the most part, we were able to put that aside and soak in some sunshine and some especially good memories. I sometimes think as we get older we become more apprehensive to go on a family vacation and instead, opt for more trips with friends or even boyfriends/girlfriends. But I think there is something special about a family who can still have fun together and enjoy each other no matter what age -- and I think my family was able to do that.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Since my life has gone from zero to 60 in a matter of a few weeks, I have been trying to find a routine that works for me. However, amid the endless emails, constant tasks and various shifts at the mall, I have been patiently (well, maybe more like, impatiently) awaiting the day I would be leaving the currently cold and gray suburbs of Massachusetts and migrating to warmer climates.

Yes, you heard me! I am going on vacation. Despite my title's homage to John Denver, I do know when I'll be back again... so while I know I have been slacking with my posts, I promise that I will return from my beach vacation in Puerto Rico well-rested and ready to blog! So in the mean time, get excited for posts filled with my latest of life's pickles, beach pictures and anecdotes about my family vacation...Just the kind of amusement and anticipation you have been waiting for!

Prints Charming...on a Budget

Assuming that you have read at least one post from my blog -- or at the very, very least, have read the heading -- then you have come to understand that I have recently graduated from college and have been job hunting. Very good. Now, with that big life transition comes little money in my pocket, especially when, as of late, you've been working at the local mall and you have a propensity for spending on things like, oh, I don't know, the occasional restaurant meal, an adult beverage or two, and most importantly, shoes.

This would all be very fine and dandy if I had a full-time job that paid me bundles of money, but the truth of the matter is, I'm living at home with a limited budget. My new status as a semi-employed post-grad couch potato has forced me to be much more careful with my money and how I spend it. Luckily, I don't have an addiction to caffeine and the delicious drinks both Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks supply (granted, it's delicious to those who like it.) Unluckily, even with my limited budget, I still yearn for a new pair of shoes or a sparkly top every once in a while... and by every once in a while, I mean a lot.

However, I've come to realize that it's okay to splurge every once in a while as long as it's balanced out by maybe a weekend staying in or an incoming paycheck (however small that may be.) This way, I don't necessarily have to compromise on my love of footwear, but can still feel as though I'm being responsible with my money (somewhat.)

Cue the newest additions to my closet. Fairly budget friendly, my new kids shoes were all under $70 each and, after careful consideration and justification, can be integrated seamlessly into my wardrobe.

Shoes: Kelsi Dagger

Purchased a few months ago on a trip to TJ Maxx, these cheetah print bootie-meets-dominatrix-heel were $20. At first glance, I thought "I must be certifiably crazy," because even though I consider cheetah print to be fairly versatile and great for spiffing up that old t-shirt and jeans combo, these shoes are... just say it... out there. But you have to admit, despite all that they've got going on, they're pretty fun. And for $20? As Tim Gunn would say, I can make it work.

Loafers: Express

Ah...yes. Cheetah print makes a return to my shoe family. You may say that having too much cheetah print is not economical, but to that, I say: nonsense! I've already worn these puppies with my skinnies jeans and basically any old striped shirt. It's a safe way to get in on the trend of mixing prints. I managed to use a coupon and take advantage of an online sale to get these for around $30. When I get a new pair of semi-practical shoes (cheetah loafers are practical right?), I tend to want to wear them as much as possible after purchasing them. I can honestly say, I've probably worn these almost every day since I've purchased them. Cheetah print loafers are now the new sensible shoe.

Wedges: Gap

These are not quite as "sensible," but these wedge sandals are definitely fun. My family is taking a trip next week to Puerto Rico so when I was killing time prior to a shift at the mall and saw these, all I could think of was how great it would go with all of the brights I packed for my vacation at the beach. They're sassy, colorful and you know what, easy to walk in. Say it with me: score! Coming in at a whopping $70 (I know, I totally splurged), these canvas beauties will take me all through the summer. I only had a slight tinge of shopper's guilt post-purchase just because...well, they're floral wedges, you see them. But I felt as though I needed a reward for my first full week of work. Maybe that makes me an enabler of my own so-called "problem," but I just see that as good self-motivation.

I normally consider myself more of a "basics" girl. I like to take the standard t-shirt and jeans combo and step it up a notch with fun little details: funky ring/bracelet, killer jacket, bright colored shoe -- so I thought that maybe adding some fun prints to my wardrobe via footwear would be another way to take something from classic to creative. Hopefully I can get some pictures up of these babies in action...but for now, just some shoe "porn" for your weekend. Enjoy.

Bloggers Gone Wild (But Not Really...)

Great quality photo of one of the panels via my Blackberry at the Blog Better Boston Event

As mentioned in previous posts, I attended Blog Better Boston on Saturday, March 24th all day in Cambridge, MA. Since I would classify myself as an amateur blogger with big aspirations, I thought the event would be the perfect way to network and learn more about something that I really enjoy...and I was right!

The event brought together over a hundred bloggers and consisted of several panels and workshops ranging from "blogging basics" to "how to monetize your blog" to even "food photography." When not in sessions and learning how to "blog bettah," I took advantage of the free food and goodies courtesy of the great sponsors.

As seen above: canvas bag from Lyst, another canvas bag as decorated by Picasso (aka ME), a t-shirt from Roster, and a whole bunch of other gift cards and samples .

Now, I don't know about you, but I built my gym/sleepwear wardrobe off of free stuff thanks to three and a half years of college. When I get free stuff, I get excited! Not just normal excited, but "OMG a free bottle of seltzer water! This is so great!" excited. We had breakfast courtesy of Dunkin Donuts (bloggers run on Dunkin too) and lunch thanks to Au Bon Pain (that's French for yummy...just kidding).

My favorite part about the event was probably getting to hear from other bloggers and their experiences, whether it was working with a brand or building a community with their followers or other bloggers. I've only had this blog for a few months and kept my other blog, Boston 2 Britain, as a means of keeping in touch with friends and family at home while in London, so I don't consider myself a pro by any means -- maybe an advanced amateur (oxymoron?) -- but definitely someone who is eager to learn to better serve her loyal and wonderful readers.

Jess from The Cat's Meow looking fabulous and me, looking as though I just rolled out of bed
Photo courtesy of Jess (thank you!)

I think this was after I ate lunch, but I still look like a zombie... with cheetah print loafers

Another favorite part of the event was actually meeting and talking with other bloggers. As much as I enjoyed being talked at for the sake of learning, there's nothing like creating connections with other people with similar interests. While it was a bit difficult for me to break out of my shell at first (I'll blame the exhaustion...), I ended up meeting some really great people. Everyone was really nice and made me excited to call myself a Boston blogger! I might be a newbie, but maybe someday, I could be one of the panel speakers. Hopefully, by then, I'll know how to take a better picture...

Overall, it was a great experience and I felt inspired and excited to be a part of the blogging community. I wouldn't exactly classify the event as "wild" in the way your dirty mind might be thinking, but it was wild that so many people with seemingly little in common could come together and be a part of a single, cohesive community. That might not be your idea of a "wild" day with bloggers, but hey, maybe you should get your mind out of the gutter.

Being a Busy Bee

Cute AND capable of helping you sort out your life. That's legit.

I can't believe it -- but I have actually been busy recently. I know, I know. Pick your jaw up from the floor and continue reading, if you can push past the awe and amazement. It's true. My days are no longer consumed by boredom, endless internet job searches and chit-chatting with my dog. Instead, I have been spending most of my time at the mall in my new sales associate position and in between shifts, eating, sleeping and catching up on my reality TV.

I feel like I'm old me again. I bought a really cute planner from Lilly Pulitzer and for a while, I worried that the only thing I'd be able to write in it was "go to gym," "take dog for walk," or even worse, "remember to change out of pajamas in the morning." Lately, my planner has been filled with my work schedule, my impending vacation days (going to Puerto Rico next week!), seeing the Hunger Games, a second interview for t hat manuscript assistant position and a day of learning how to blog bettah with other Boston bloggers (more on that in a later post, I promise).

While in school, so much of my identity was tied to the fact that I was a student pursuing a particular degree, but now that I am out of school, I am trying to figure out how exactly to identify myself now. I can't cling onto my intended major or even my student status in my post-graduate heydey. Instead, between my newfound busy schedule, I'm constantly re-evaluating what it is I want, like and am. Generally, that is a bit overwhelming, and even more so when doing all of that heavy thinking in the midst of an ever-changing schedule. I have so many things happening at once -- a new job, interview for another job, maintaining somewhat of a social life -- that even putting it into my new planner doesn't necessarily mitigate the stress.

One of said busy weeks filled with lots to do... Ask me if I did everything I had set out to do...

For now, I'm trying to take things one day at a time. My job search is certainly not at its end. I have big plans ahead -- grad school and, improving my blog (for all of my lovely readers, of course) to name a few -- and I want to make sure I'm in an advantageous position to get where I want to be. Being busy is great, but only when keeping my eye on the prize... which is still yet to be entirely determined.

You can tell when I actually started getting busy/got the planner...