A while back I wrote the article How to Impress a Potential Employer, but only lightly touched on interview attire. Presentation is such a huge part of impressing your potential employer and snagging that dream job. Underdressing, and sometimes even overdressing, can very easily be the deciding factor in whether or not you get the job.

If you can, find out what the dress code is like at the place you are about to interview at. Once you have that information, try and dress just a little bit nicer. Not only will you be following the company policy, but you will stand out as very professional, dedicated, and that you plan on taking this job seriously.

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Black is always a safe route to go, it is clean and classy. Too much black can be overkill though, and you don’t want to look like you are going to a funeral. Pair a black dress or skirt with some mauve colored tights to lighten up the look.

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Pants should be well tailored and professional looking. Sticking with neutral colors like brown and tan, and adding a bright pop of color is classic, easy, and clean looking.

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Don’t be afraid to show a little bit of your personal style. Make sure it is toned down slightly, and dressed up. Adding elements of your own style will help you stand out in a crowd.

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♥ No jeans, ever. I can not stress this enough. Denim has such a casual look about it, that even when it is dressed up, it usually looks more like you are about to go clubbing, than sit down at a desk in an office. The same goes with t-shirts.

♥ No sleeveless. Even if they allow it for their employees, cover up the armpits when you go meet with the boss!

♥ Nothing too revealing. This should be pretty obvious, but you don’t want to walk into an office looking like you are about to apply at a strip club. Keep skirts at a good length, and try not to show too much cleavage.

♥ Keep accessories on the down low. While it is definitely good to accesorize, don’t overdo it. Stick with one or two simple pieces that add to your outfit. Big bulky pieces may distract the employer.

♥ If you are interviewing at a more formal place, always wear stockings with your skirt or dress. Also, do not wear open toed shoes.

♥ Wear makeup, but keep it at a minimum. This isn’t a good time to experiment with that new blue and yellow eyeshadow you bought.

♥ Let your hair down. Make sure it is cleaned, styled and professional. If you prefer to wear it up, make sure it looks neat. Avoid wearing ponytails or sloppy buns.

Photo by SqueakyMarmot

A while back I wrote the article How to Thrift Like a Pro. Since then I have had several requests to do a follow up, and share some more tips for successful thrifting.

Every time I go into a thrift store now I make myself stop and think about my actions, which sections I hit up first, what I look for, when I shop, and why I do all these things! With these tips I hope you can all go out and find your own dirt cheap treasures!

♥ Compile a mental list of things you are looking for, but don’t be too specific. If you know ahead of time that you want a cardigan and a floral dress, diving into these sections at the thrift store will be much easier. However, don’t feel disappointed if you don’t find them, just keep them on the list for your next trip.

♥ Read the tag before you buy. If you aren’t willing to make regular trips to a dry cleaner and you won’t do more than throw the item in the machine then only purchase items that don’t require special care.

♥ Don’t buy for nostalgia. Did you just happen to stumble across the My Little Pony lunch box you carried in first grade? Just because it brings back memories doesn’t mean you need to own it again.

♥ Look in all sections. In the men’s section look for shirts that fit through the shoulders. Sleeves can be altered or rolled up to make it look more feminine. Want some great fitted shirts? Scan the children’s section for some amazing tees.

♥ Get creative. See an amazing print on a long skirt that you would never wear? Turn it into a strapless dress. Throw a belt around the waist, and you are set to go!

♥ Look for lengths. If you have long arms, you can quickly scan the jacket isle for the sleeves that hang down further than the rest. Looking for things that stick out saves time, and is a very easy way to zone in on things that fit. Scan the pants, skirts, and even shirts for longer lengths.

♥ Peek beneath the racks. Clothes fall off hangers all day long, and depending on the amount of staff, may not get cleaned up until the end of the day. Who knows what treasure may have slipped off its hanger and is hiding under the rack and away from sight.

♥ Don’t be afraid to stalk an item. Did you see the most incredible vintage woven granny purse across the room, but weren’t able to scoop it up fast enough? Keep your eye on whoever picked it up and see if they put it back. I am one of those people that load my cart with tons of things then before I go to check out I put back about 75% of it.

♥ Look for items that are not only your size, but larger than your size as well. A lot of clothes can easily be taken in a size or two.

♥ Don’t shop on a Monday. Weekends by far are the busiest days and quickly get picked over by shoppers. By Monday morning the store has a very low selection. Wait a day or two while they restock the store.

♥ Go with an open mind and no expectations. If you don’t expect to find a dress like the one you saw in the pages of Vogue, and you do find it, won’t that be a happy little surprise?

Now– go, go, go! Get to your local thrift store and start finding those great deals. Then report back here and tell us all about them!

xoxo,
Cedar

Photo by Perfecto Insecto

With the whirlwind of things to do, it often isn’t until long after the move that one starts feeling the emotional symptoms caused by moving. Uprooting your entire life, and starting from scratch is one of the most difficult struggles one will have to face in their life. Getting situated and used to a new house, job, and school, while at the same time coping with loneliness, and trying to meet new people, can be exhausting and extremely difficult. Staying positive and making a real effort to become a part of the community will make the transition much easier.

♥ Unpacking. When it comes to unpacking get it done, but don’t make yourself sick over it. Set yourself goals to get done on a daily and weekly basis. Until it is finished do a regular amount of unpacking every day. Allow yourself time each day to relax, and do some things that will take your mind off the move and eliminate stress.

♥ Make your new house your home. If your landlord permits paint the walls. Hang up photos and artwork. Begin personalizing your home as soon as you get there. At the end of the day, when you feel lost, sad, or lonely, returning to a home that reflects who you are, and is filled with the things you love is the least you can do for yourself to feel more comfortable.

♥ Pick up where you left off in your old home. Were you half way through a novel before you left? Do you do yoga every morning before breakfast? Do you have only one sleeve left to knit on the sweater you are making? Unpack these things first and work on them in between spurts of unpacking your home. Doing things that you would have done in your old home, will not only help you relax, but also aid in making your new house feel like home.

♥ Make friends. This is probably the hardest part of a move for anyone. As children we were able to make friends with everyone on the playground simply by joining them in a game of tag. As adults it is much more difficult. Our personalities and interests have developed and finding others who’s interests compliment ours is much more difficult. The only way to really start making friends is by getting involved in activities, and getting out there. Yes, it may be easier to sit around the house watching reruns of The Office, but by taking a risk and striking up conversations or complimenting people around you, you are one step closer to a potential new friend.

♥ Get Active. As soon as you get to your new destination start getting out in the community. Enroll in a dance class at the local community college, join a gym, or go to art openings. Not only will this take your mind off the stress of your move, but will most likely speed up the process of making friends. Look for a free local publication that lists events in the community. Look for fliers for shows when you stop in to get coffee in the morning. Look on Craigslist for weekend events, and search Yelp for good music venues. Find a place you like, and become a regular there. Over time friendships will naturally develop.

♥ Get to know your new town. Spend time every day becoming more well acquainted with your new surroundings, the local movie theatre, where the closest park is, what streets are dead ends, etc. Get in the car, and drive around various neighborhoods. Don’t be afraid to get lost. I find that I learn the most about a city when I do get lost. Use the luxuries of the internet to help you find establishments that interest you. Look up all the coffee shops or sushi restaurants in your area, then do a drive by with each one on your list.

♥ Stay in regular contact with friends and family back home. Write emails, talk on the phone, and send snail mail. Make it a point to talk to family and close friends at least once a week. If you get free weekend minutes on your phone plan this is a great time to take advantage of them, while at the same time catching up with loved ones. If sudden bursts of loneliness come on, don’t hesitate to call up someone you miss, and tell them how you are feeling.

♥ Start planning a visit home. By planning a date of when you will return back for a visit you will greatly eliminate the initial shock of leaving. Letting others know when you are going to see them next will give you and them something to look forward to.

♥ Start a blog devoted to your new life. Take pictures of your journey to your new home and write a short entry every day. Post photos from when you painted the walls, the mess of boxes in your living room, and how it gradually comes together. Write about how much you miss having lunch on Fridays with your cousin. Before you leave give out the address to all your friends and family so they can follow along and comment on everything you are doing.

Ok now it is your turn, to those of you who have made a big move, what has helped you the most during the transition into your new home and life? What advice would you give someone who is making a huge move for the first time in her life?

xoxo,
Cedar

Photo from Reversible Skirt

I had such a wonderful visit up in Northern California. I got to spend a lot of time with two of my favorite people in the world; my mother of course, and my good friend Sharise. My mom was so sweet, she drove me around to about twenty different thrift stores in several different areas of the Bay Area. She took me to all her favorites, and then we discovered a few new ones we had never been to. The Bay Area is such a large place that there are still tons and tons of stores waiting for me to discover them! Next trip up there I will definitely do a follow up with more reviews!

Berkeley

Goodwill 2058 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA This is a nice big store. Unfortunately we were on our way to lunch and I only had a chance to look through a small portion of their clothes. The prices are about the same as most shops in the area, and though I didn’t find anything spectacular, I think it could have just been an off day. I will probably go back if I happen to be in that area again.

El Cerrito

Good Stuff Thrift Store 10313 San Pablo, El Cerrito, CA This was one of those thrift stores that is so tiny that it is near to impossible to find anything at all. I could probably count the number of dresses on my fingers and toes. They did have nice items that were in good shape, but nothing that really stood out as extraordinary to me. I doubt that I will go back by this little store.

Oakland

Clausen House Thrift 4834 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA I went to this thrift store a while back with my mom and had some pretty good luck finding good items. This time around, the whole store looked different, and while more organized, I didn’t see a single thing in this tiny store that so much as caught my eye. I would only go back if I were walking by and needing to kill a few minutes.

Saint Vincent de Paul Outlet Store 9235 San Leandro St. Oakland, CA This was a funny store, and one that would be incredibly easy to miss. I’m not sure how my mom found it, seeing that the outlet is in back of another store, which you have to walk through to get to. They had a fair selection of clothes, were very well organized, and not too overpriced. There was a huge selection of furniture, and only one other shopper in the store, which was kind of strange, but we had lots of room to look!

San Leandro

Thrift Town 16160 East 14th St. San Leandro, CA I absolutely loved this thrift store. It was huge, well organized, and packed full of fabulous items. I had a hard time finding much clothes that I liked or that were not outrageously priced. I did find some great slips here, so it could have just been an off day for the clothes I looked at. They had a wonderful selection of books, household items, vintage shoes, and luggage. I definitely, definitely am going back next time I make my rounds up North!

Salvation Army 2179 E. 14th St. San Leandro, CA The day we went to this thrift store turned out to be 50% off day, and it was a zoo! Despite the fact that I didn’t buy anything they did have a great selection of items. There was a full wall full of dresses, and a lot of nice ones in there. The prices were pretty fair on most of the items, though I did stumble upon some things that seemed way too high for what it was. Next time I stop by this store I want to go the night before the sale.

Goodwill 14750 E. 14th St. San Leandro, CA We happened to stumble across this thrift shop while in search of Thrift Town, and both my mom and I were pleasantly surprised. They had tons of clothing, and a lot of really nice vintage pieces (unfortunately none my size!). The prices, though higher than I’m used to paying in San Diego, were very reasonable. I bought an incredible vintage leopard print cape, which unfortunately my mom kidnapped from me.

Goodwill 14410 Washington Ave. 11 San Leandro, CA I hit the jackpot in this store. There were hardly any shoppers, which I always like because I don’t feel the need to race around and beat everyone to the good things! I bought some vintage clothes here and a wicker bag. There were lots of things to choose from, and the prices were good. I definitely will stop back by here.

San Francisco

Thrift Town 2101 Mission St San Francisco, CA This thrift store is enormous, it is two levels of rows upon rows of clothing. I have bought things here before, but didn’t find anything this trip. They separate out their vintage pieces on another rack, which makes for easy browsing, but they cost a bit more than in other shops. The line in here is always so long that I often feel intimidated when I go in there. I hate waiting in line!!

Community Thrift Store 625 Valencia St San Francisco, CA I have visited this store a number of times, and with only a little luck. It is in the middle of town, and swarming with hipsters. The prices on clothes are so high, I would say skip the clothes and head to a vintage boutique, though they occasionally have a few nice items. They have a great selection of housewares, books (tons and tons!), records, and

Goodwill 1700 Haight St San Francisco, CA Despite that this store is in the midst of a very popular shopping area, I have always found good stuff in here. Of course it is competing with several vintage shops, so the prices are high on their vintage clothes, which they have a decent selection of. From what I have noticed the other items in the store are much more reasonably priced. Last time I was up there I bought a wonderful knit hat for only $3. I will definitely stop back by here on my next trip to the Haight.

Goodwill 1700 Fillmore St. San Francisco (415)441-2159 I was definitely surprised by this thrift store. Usually when you see others dressed in a similar fashion as yourself, you can bet that it is pretty picked over. They had a good selection of everything; lots of shoes, books, bags, belts, and clothes. I had limited time in here, so I didn’t even get a chance to check out the housewares, but next time I am in the neighborhood I will try and give it a second look.

Alameda

Saint Vincent de Paul 2315 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA This was my second time in this store, and both times I have had really good luck. They have a good selection of books, furniture, clothes, and more. Unlike other thrift stores, Saint Vincent de Paul has very consistent pricing. Slacks are all the same price, belts all the same price, and tees all the same price. I find that comforting, as they don’t jack up the price on something they think someone may want. Definitely give this one a try, this is where I found my 25¢ dress!

Goodwill 2319 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA I wandered into this shop, after hitting up the Saint Vincent de Paul next door. This is a decent sized store, with a decent selection of clothes. I found a few things I was sort of liked, but not enough to buy. Prices were about average. I’ll probably come back, but only because of the Saint Vincent de Paul next door!

San Bruno

Salvation Army 300 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA My mom and I were wandering around wasting time before she dropped me off at the airport when we stumbled upon this thrift shop. It was a really great one. They had a lot of clothes at reasonable prices, and a fair amount of vintage. They also had some really fabulous mid-century antique furniture, which I loved, and wished I could have brought home with me!

Photo by Zophos

A short while ago, one of my dear readers sent me a sweet little note requesting that I write an article on how to feel less concerned about feeling nerdy.

This question is very near and dear to my heart, as I spent many years feeling exactly the same way. I was always an awkward kid, and as I started to mature a bit more, I become an even more awkward teenager. I was painfully shy, and had only a single friend for many, many years. I spent a lot of my free time locked behind books, and as soon as computers started becoming household items, I spent all my time staring at the computer screen. While there really is nothing wrong with the way I was, I always felt embarrassed and unsure of everything I was doing.

While I had many of the same interests then as I do now, at that time I felt that my interests were so different from anyone else’s, and the last thing I wanted was to be further separated from my peers. However it is only now looking back that I realize that the more I tried to fit in with others, and change myself, the less happy I was, and the less people liked me.

All that being said, I learned the long and slow way about gaining confidence, and learning to feel comfortable with who I am. Naturally, feeling confidence in yourself is something that takes time to attain, and you probably won’t realize until much later when you finally get it.

♥ Stop trying to change yourself. Each and every one of us has our own set of interests, beliefs, and values. No two people are exactly alike, and that is the beauty of life. These days it seems so easy to get sucked into popular culture, and with what is being played on the radio or television, people are in a way expected to like a certain demographic of interests. If none of those things being broad casted to you peek your interest, let it go. Let your uniqueness shine through. Be the only girl on your block who prefers music from her parent’s (or grandparent’s!) era to her own!

♥ Learn to accept your failures. So maybe you aren’t the best artist, failed your last test, or have had the worst of luck in the relationship department. Don’t let it get the best of you. Rather than pushing those things away from you, or feeling embarrassed or ashamed by them, it is good to recognize what went wrong, and learn from your failure. Using that information can help you do better in the future, and gain confidence in what you are doing.

♥ Realize that each and every person alive has their own set of insecurities. Whether it is in the way they look, or their lack of certain skills, or just an all over lack of self esteem, these insecurities usually stem from past failures. By realizing that others have their own insecurities about image, it is easier to view ourselves as equals to those around us.

♥ Act like a confidant person. Even if you are not quite there yet, pretend to be confident, as much and as often as you can. Tell yourself in the morning, “today I am going to act with as much confidence as so and so has”, and start by doing your tasks as well as you can, without doubt, and unafraid to take risks. With your new confidence (even if it is faked), people will likely start to treat you with a new sense of respect, and with enough practice, this confidence will start becoming more natural, and less forced.

♥ Spend a bit of extra time in the morning on yourself. Take ten extra minutes, carefully plan out your outfit, play with your makeup, or curl the ends of your hair. This isn’t to say you don’t look good already, but by putting even more energy into how you look, and feeling that much better about your hair, makeup, or all over style, will give you an extra boost of confidence. While we all say image isn’t everything, we also know that we tend to feel better about ourselves when we look fantastic on the outside.

♥ Get involved and be active. By joining groups or clubs that focus on things you love to do, all your concentration will be on what is going on in the moment, not allowing yourself time to think negatively about yourself. Allow yourself to do things you like, even if they are considered ‘nerdy’ to some. Join the book club, or a local knitting group. Not only will you be able to make incredible friends that way, but sharing interests with others and knowing there are others ‘like you’ will be a big esteem boost.

♥ The most important, and definitely hardest part of feeling more confident about yourself as a person is learning to love yourself. This can easily become a life long struggle, but by realizing that this is what you want to accomplish, will make your goal one step closer. For more on learning to love yourself, read my article; How to Gain Confidence and Learn to Love Yourself.

In my opinion nerdy girls are the cutest girls. I say, take advantage of it, and go all out geek-girl style!

What things have helped you in the past in feeling more confidence in your image? What have you learned over the years, that you wish you would have known about how to feel more comfortable in your own skin??

xoxo,
Cedar

Probably the hardest thing about scoring a date is figuring out what to wear. You want to look good of course, but you don’t want to dress inappropriately for the occasion, nor do you want your date to get the wrong idea about you from what you are wearing!

On a very casual dinner and movie date night, comfort is incredibly important, and looking pretty, sexy, yet not too over the top is the best way to go. Dressing up a nice pair of jeans is perfect for this sort of occasion.

Top, Bag, Shoes, Jeans, Earrings, Bracelets

When you don’t know where you are going on your date, it is good to ask ahead of time how you should dress. In the case that you have absolutely no clue, it is good to mix and match casual looking fun items, with a few elegant pieces, and comfort is key on this one!

Coat, Shoes, Dress, Earrings, Bag

For a slightly more upscale dinner and dancing date, a nice comfortable, yet classy dress that is easy to move in is your best bet.

Necklace, Shoes, Dress, Bag, Ring

If you are lucky enough to snag a date with Mr. Millionare, who wants to take you to a very exclusive, upscale restaurant, where they serve eight coarse meals, and have more silverware on the table than you have in your kitchen drawer, then go all out! It doesn’t matter if your diamonds aren’t real, so long as you look fabulous, and like you belong in this five star restaurant!

Shrug, Earrings, Dress, Clutch, Shoes

Some tips to keep in mind:

♥ Though this is not always true, if you are unsure about shoes or a bag a good rule of thumb to go buy is; the more formal the event the higher the heel, and the smaller the bag.

♥ If your date planned something more active, such as mini golf, or a trip to the boardwalk, stick with the first outfit, and bring a cute pair of sneakers for when the going gets tough!

♥ You want to look sexy, but you don’t want to look like a girl who has been around the block and back. It is better to throw in just a little bit of sexiness, and tone it down with less revealing items. If your legs are showing away the girls!

♥ If your have a lunch date it is best to go more casually than an evening date. Also lighten up the colors. A black dress is much more of an evening dress than say, a pale yellow colored dress.

Best of luck to you!
xoxo,
Cedar

I’ve been wanting to subscribe to a magazine lately, but I have no idea which one. Any ideas or mags that you love? I’ve done vogue and elle before, so now I’d like something a little more…realistic. Or just something totally ridiculous. Thanks for the help!

I understand completely! While I love to browse the pages of huge fashion magazines such as Vogue and look at all the gorgeous pictures, they are incredibly unrealistic. When was the last time you walked down the street wearing an outfit featured in Vogue?

While I love browsing almost any type of magazine, I find myself subscribing to the ones that aren’t just fashion, or aren’t just cooking. I like the magazines best that have stories, fashion tips, recipes, and tons more, all wrapped into one nice little bundle.

♥ Nylon. Somehow along the way I got a free subscription to this magazine, and completely fell in love. It has a good deal of fashion, makeup tips, music reviews and stories that always seem to peek my interest. It is one of the more realistic fashion magazines in my opinion, as I could see myself actually wearing the stuff on the pages throughout.

♥ Bust. I love Bust, and have been reading it for many years. I love their ‘anything goes’ attitude, and their feminist outlooks on things. Their articles are witty, and often times a bit off the wall, but that is part of the appeal. Great magazine, though possibly not for everyone. Check it out at your local bookstore, for some good laughs!

♥ Real Simple. This is just an all around fantastic magazine. There is a little something for everyone in their. With little bits of fashion, recipes, useful tips, book reviews, and tons and tons more, I am always happy when this arrives in the mail. It is the perfect magazine for someone who may have just moved out of mom and dad’s house or for anyone looking to manage their daily routines more quickly and efficiently, in fact, I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t get something out of reading this.

♥ Cooking Light. Don’t let the title of this magazine fool you. Though a good deal of the magazine is dedicated to cooking healthy, there is a lot of other stuff packed in their as well about living a healthy life. The recipes are fantastic, and they have a lot of little tips on entertaining a few or many.

♥ Imbibe. This is a really fun magazine, all about drinking, and no, not just liquor! There is all sorts of fun drinks in every issue, coffee, tea, juices, mixed cocktails, flavor infused liquors, etc. Definitely worth checking out if you are like me, and like fancy beverages, or if you love to host cocktail parties!

♥ Juxtapoz. An all around really great magazine that features a ton of up and coming artists. I love looking through and getting inspiration from other’s works.

I am still really upset that Jane magazine went under, that was such a fun magazine.

What magazines do you guys subscribe to or love dearly?

xoxo,
Cedar

Photo by Alone…

We all know at least one person in our lives who is a complete Negative Nelly. Whether they are complaining about the weather, bitching about their weight gain, or making snide remarks about your choices, everything in their life is horrible, and everyone else needs to feel their pain. As nice as it would be to sometimes to write them off completely, a lot of times that is not possible.

If it is someone near and dear to you, helping them to become happier is probably incredibly important to you. Before you can even make headway however, this negative person needs to know that their outlook is affecting themselves, and those around them.

♥ Let them know in the nicest way possible. Sit them down when you have some time to talk, and tell them how much you care for them, but that it is very hard to listen to all their negativity. Tell them what an awesome person they are and that they deserve to feel happy all the time. Let them know that you truly want the best for them (and for you!).

♥ Encourage positive activities or changes in the person. If they seem to show a little interest in the knitting group you go to once a week, invite them along. If they start finding things they do like, then odds are they will be happier all around.

♥ Negative Nellies tend to gossip a lot. In their mind, talking smack about others makes them feel validated, and can heal their own insecurities. If they start to say bad things about others to you, kindly tell them you would rather not talk about that person in such a harsh way, and move on immediately. Let them know you don’t gossip, and don’t want to hear any of it whatsoever. With no one to tell it to, they have no choice but to stop!

♥ Every time this person says something negative, reply to them with something positive about their situation. For example, if your sad cousin Sally always says something like, “Ugggh, I am so ugly, no boys ever like me,” you can respond by saying something like, “oh hush, if you were so ugly would people always compare you to Natalie Portman? She doesn’t have a boyfriend either”. This will help them think about their situation differently, and with enough practice they may start thinking that way about things on their own.

♥ Ignore it. There are times when this is the only thing that can be done. Put up a wall and tell yourself, the only reason they are making me unhappy is because they are unhappy. Remind yourself of that every time they start bringing you down, just repeat; “I will not let their attitude affect my day” until it works.

♥ No matter how upset you get with this person, do not argue with or insult them. This will only further provoke their negative outlook on things.

♥ Be your happy and loving self. Talk positively about your life and activities to them, even when you talk of negative subjects. In your own way show them that you have been in poor situations as well, and that it has made you a better person today. Once they see how happy you are, and that it is possible to learn from their misfortunes, rather than harbor the sadness, they may want to try to find their own happiness.

We are all guilty of it. At one time or another everyone has left the house in clothes that they had been lounging around in. While some are worse than others (please don’t tell me you go outdoors in your bunny slippers!), when it is just a short trip to the store, what is the point in changing? Well, I am a firm believer in that we should all put our best face forward. Who knows who you may see out, or what may pop up along the way. And as much as I hate to say it, people do judge books by their covers.

With a few simple additions to your wardrobe, or thinking about your outfit in a slightly different way, none of us will be guilty of leaving the house in sweat pants again!

1. Sunglasses from Top Shop 2. Hand Necklace from Plasticland 3. Bangles from Net-A-Porter 4. Shoes from Zappos 5. Dress from Browns Fashion 6. Acorn Necklace from Bunny Hug 7. Bag from Top Shop

1. Shirt from Wet Seal 2. Earrings from Buckle 3. Bag from Bag, Borrow or Steal 4. Jeans from Kohl’s 5. Sweater from Dorothy Perkins 6. Necklace from Style.it 7. Shoes from Piperlime

1. Purse by Miss Selfridge 2. Sandals by Top Shop 3. Dress by Net-A-Porter 4. Hat by Miss Selfridge 5. Necklace from Forever 21 6. Bracelet from Gargyle

♥ Accessories are key. Keep the outfit simple at the house, but throw on some jewelry, a hat, or some stockings to pull the outfit together before heading to the market.

♥ Loose fitting cotton dresses are a dream. They are comfortable enough to veg out in front of the TV, but nice enough looking that you won’t be embarrassed when spotted out running errands.

♥ Skip the full face of makeup. A little mascara works wonders, doesn’t weigh your face down, and takes minimal time to apply.

♥ Shoes can change an entire outfit. Some cute ballet flats almost always look more fashionable than sneakers, and are just as comfy if you aren’t planning on running a marathon.

♥ A quick tousle of the hair is all that is really necessary. Bed head is sexy, and almost always looks better than a ponytail. Not that there is anything wrong with ponytails, but more often than not (at least for me, when I had long hair) ponytails happen out of laziness, and that is not one look worth going for.

Photo by FantomDesigns

“He that can have patience can have what he will.”
-Benjamin Franklin

In the crazy fast paced world we live in now it is easy to get caught up in the excitement, and lose track of what is really important in our lives. With so little time to accomplish everything we need to do, one mistake often can set us off track for the remainder of our day, and make us angry and agitated.

Patience is an attribute that takes a lot of work to gain. It is not something you can attain overnight, and is definitely not something that comes with age. By becoming a more patient person we not only improve the quality of our lives, but the quality of the lives of those around us.

♥ Learn to calm yourself down. When the going gets tough, and it seems you are about to blow steam, take a few minutes to yourself, where you can stop, take some deep breaths, meditate for a few minutes, and gather your thoughts. Getting away from the situation for as little as two or three minutes will help you reacess the situation, and give you a clearer idea of what needs to be done.

♥ Get exercise every day. There is a reason that exercise seems to be the solution to everything-it works. Getting even just ten minutes of cardiovascular exercise helps calm you down, clear your head, and get your frustrations out.

♥ Realize that you can not change others, you can only change yourself. As nice as it seems like it would be to change people into exactly how you think they ought to be, each person only has the power to change them self. Learning to change views on other’s flaws will help keep you from getting angry or impatient with them. In this way you can remain calm and work with the person who is frustrating you, to help them see your view point, and to get the task completed.

♥ Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. If it is a person you are upset with, imagine how you would have acted under the same circumstances. Realize that they most likely did not do it deliberately, and that there is most likely a reason behind whatever their actions were. Perhaps they were not having a good day themselves, and are unintentionally taking that stress out on you.

♥ Learn to accept complications or change. Things don’t always go as planned, in fact more often than not in my life, I get thrown for a loop. I create a list of things to do each morning in my head, then in the blink of an eye something will come up that makes it impossible to finish everything I had scheduled. It is so easy to get flustered and frustrated, since change could mean less personal time, or not being able to do something you really needed to do. Realizing ahead of time that you may need to be flexible in case something does change will make you much more prepared in rescheduling your day.

♥ Look for patterns. Does you mood usually take a turn for the worst mid afternoon? Do you usually get frustrated after someone flakes on you or when you get cut off on the freeway? By noticing patterns in when you regularly get frustrated you will be better prepared for the next time you are in a similar situation, and know what changes to make before the problem arises next time.

♥ Be able to move on. We all get cut off in traffic, friends flake on us, and people say things that may upset you. Allow yourself a few seconds to be upset, then move on. Tell yourself, yes that was really bad, but as long as I am physically ok, it will not affect the way I do things today. Someone who cuts you off on the freeway does not deserve the glory of affecting how the rest of your day goes.

♥ Make mental notes of what you absolutely have to do, and what is not as important. Knowing before hand that you could wait an extra day or so before running to the bank, or to the supermarket will help you remain calm when the day starts to get hectic. It will also give you time to take a break or stop for coffee if your day get too crazy, and you need to take a breather.