Making Your Clothes Last for Years

Recently I've found that my wardrobe is starting to look more like the business section in a department store compared to my usually overstocked sundress collection. I've learned (the hard way) that I cannot just throw all my clothes in one large lump into the washer like I once could back in my college days, or I'll end up with shirveled, shruken, wrinkled, distroyed piece of garments. Reading over Real Simple Magazine last week in the doctors office I came across some more then helpful tips on how to care for my clothes and make them last longer then one wash.



1. I own a few cahmere sweater, all which have been gifts. To make cashmere last years of use, you're better off hand washing. Repeated dry cleanings can lead to fiber breakage. A good old-fashioned hand washing surprisingly leaves the cashmere considerably softer. Use lukewarm water and a mild soap, such as the Laundress Wool and Cashmere Shampoo and lay flat to dry. Remove excess water by rolling the garment in a towel―never wring it(you'll ruin the shape forever).


2. Kathy-lee and Hoda were discussing the other day that women shouldn't drive drive in good heels. The floorboard scuffs the heel, and the pedal scratches the toe. Drive in simple flats, or try heel protectors by Smart Heel, which are plastic coverings that slide over high heels. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the smart heel, but give it a shot.


3. Never hang pearls, apparently this weakens the silk threads that hold the necklace together. Lay them in your jewlery box.

4. I have a terrible habit of overwashing my darks and killing the color. Black pants, in particular, can be worn several times before laundering. For best results when you wash, run darks on a short cycle in cold water and let them air-dry. Blot any stains with a tide pen, since rubbing will create a lighter spot.


5. With the above said, beware of the dryer. Excessive heat makes fibers brittle, causing the fabric to break down. Combat this by removing lightweight garments, like T-shirts and camisoles, and anything containing spandex (which can lose elasticity over time when exposed to too much heat) ten minutes earlier than heavy garments, such as jeans and sweatshirts. Most of the damage is done in the last ten minutes of drying.

6. Iron clothing inside out. Ironing can fade dark colors as well as create shine marks on fabrics with sheen, like gabardine, acetate, and polished cottons. Avoid damage by using the appropriate heat setting and pressing the item on the reverse side. Never iron a crease on a black garment―it can leave a permanent line, a difficult lesson I learned this week.

Golf Etiquette

Like I've mentioned before, I’ve recently taken up golf and I’ loving it. However, there are a lot of rules that go along with the game of golf that I was never aware of.

Experienced golfers take the sport very seriously. When you think about it, anyone who’s willing to spend 4 hours hitting a little white ball in the hot sun has to have true love for the game, so rules for women
are very important in the game of golf. I’ve had my recent oh-no moments this past couple of weeks while learning the art of golf.

q Don’t ever swing your club until you know that others in your group are a safe distance away from you, unless you’re the former Mrs. Wood s.

q Don’t hit the ball until you are certain that the group ahead of you is out of range. If you do, you’re going to get a very angry –argyle-wearing -group of men after you.

q If your ball appears headed toward another player or group of players, give them a warning and yell, FORE! (Not “ Ops sorry, or watch out)

q Keep your cart off the grass as much as possible. I learned this the hard way.

q Don’t spend all day looking for your lost ball, especially if you have people waiting behind you. I found out that you’re technically allowed 5 minutes to look for it. If you want to take the full 5 minutes, golf etiquette says you should let the group the behind you “play through.”

q Repair all divots you make. These are the holes and kicked soil and grass you make. I tend to make a lot of these, so I always have to remember to fix them back up.

q If you hit the ball into a sand trap, you have to rake up all of your footsteps; they are very particular about this rule.

q NEVER talk during a players swing. You will be scorned if you do so and swinging clubs are involved.

q Always be aware of your shadow on the putting green. Don’t stand where your shadow could be obstructing another player’s line of vision and putting line.

q Never walk through a players putting line. Your footprints could alter the terrain and path of the players putt.

I’m still working on my swing and my golf wardrobe, but I’m hopping I nail down these rules and get a chance to play with the big boys at my office and really become a working woman.

All Natural Beauty Remedies on a Dime

I’ve just moved into a brand new apartment in Hallandale and in the process of moving I’ve gone well, broke. I’ve drained my savings and paycheck on fee’s and new furniture and deposits and have definitely left myself rubbing 2 pennies in hopes of making 5 cents. To shave many of my expenses for the march of March and April I’ve come across some awesome at home (cheap) remedies for everyday things.

Seeing as my drugstore trips and beauty salon days have been stripped, I’ve found alternatives to beauty treatments in my fridge and pantry. Not only do they taste good, but they actually work.

Mayonnaise

I won’t be affording any deep conditioning treatments this month, but if you like mayonnaise on your sandwich, trying putting it in your hair. Mayonnaise is an amazing deep conditioner. Coat your strands with it and cover with a plastic shower cap for 15 minutes then rinse. Voila! You have luscious beautiful hair.

Eggs

Whip of one egg white and spread it on your clean face for a firming mask that fights oily skin, add a few drops of lemon juice to fight those nasty blackheads. If you’re more like me and have dry skin, use an egg yolk with a spoon of honey instead.

Oatmeal

I love eating oatmeal in the morning, but it can also be used as an awesome face mask. Mix half a cup of oats with hot water and let it cool. After it cools spread it all over your face. It will act as both a skin smoother and a mild exfoliate. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse.

Milk

Pour a mixture of 3 cups of milk and a half cup of honey to your bath for the best soothing soak that will leave your skin baby soft.

Aspirin

I love getting pedicures weekly, but seeing as that’s not going to happen. I discovered that aspirin softens calluses on your feet. Take 5aspirin pills and crush them in a bowl with a half teaspoon of water and a half teaspoon of lemon juice. Coat your calluses with the mixture and cover with a warm cloth for 10 minutes. The solution softens the calluses and makes it easy to remove with a pumice stone.

There are so many tricks and tips that I’ve come across from making your own moisturizers and face masks to great sugar body scrubs. Check out Sheet U Deep or My Homemade Beauty Remedies, a great blog I follow.

Natural Beauty Tips

Building the Modern-Girl Wardrobe

Fess up. We all open our closets and see 3 groups of clothes: the clothes we don’t wear, the 6 pieces we do wear and the 3 “skinny outfits” we store whenever we get our jaws wired shut, get a case of food poisoning or decided to go on that fade liquid diet for 2 weeks.

While going through my closet this week I thought of ways to cultivate a great wardrobe without buying a million new pieces. I realized that the key to a great wardrobe is classic pieces that mix and match well together, giving to the illusion that you have a fat wallet. These are the pieces that I think every girl needs.

Dark Denim Jeans That Make Your Butt Looks Like Beyonce

Every woman needs a pair of semi-dressy, slim fitting jean that you always feel great in. These jeans should be versatile and booty slimming. Some great brands I would recommend are Joe’s, Citizens of Humanity, Diesel and Seven Jeans.

High Quality T-shirts and Camisoles

They go under everything from my work blazers to sweaters and are pretty inexpensive. Try buying a few daring colors to add a pop of color to your outfit.

Crisp White Button-Down

Carolina Herrera is one of my favorite designers and has always made the button down look phenomenal. These shirts are a simple clean must have in your wardrobe. I love throwing one with my dark denim jeans and heels for a sophisticated casual look.

Fitted Blazer

A fitted blazer adds sharpness to any outfit, as well as an instant slimming effect. Opt for styles that clinch in the waist and have well defined lapels. Don’t go for boxy numbers that could cut you off at the waist.

One Fabulous Suit

My job requires me to wear a suit all the time, but even if your job doesn’t require you to wear a suit, still suit it up. Every modern girl should own a lightweight suit in black, gray or my personal favorite navy blue. For even more versatility, get a suit jacket that matches with a pencil skirt and trousers. You never know when that interview of a lifetime could spring up.

Trench Coat

Nothing elevates a woman’s status like a trench coat. I have 2, a navy blue and a khaki colored one. They are staples in my closet and completely dress up any outfit I’m wearing. Go for a more traditional color versus a trendy colored one. You can throw the coat on with anything from dresses to jeans and look fabulous.

Stylish Daytime Bag

A great tote is the easiest way to pull an outfit together. The perfect bag will be roomy enough to fit your life, but structures so you don’t look like Mary Poppins. Camel, brown, black are safe colors because they’re neutral and can match with almost anything, but don’t be afraid to be daring and go for an eye-popping color like red, or cobalt blue like mine.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Gas Prices Through the Car Roof, Start Saving.

As we can all see, gas is up to $3.60 per gallon, nationally, and I’m afraid to say it, but there looks like no relief in sight. Like many of us, we can’t skip the pump, but we can maximize ever little drop. Here’s how: Auto experts at Edmunds.com tested some old road tricks and found some awesome gas savers.

Try to brake less. When we stop hard and speed up quickly, we burn right through fuel. Ease up on the lead foot and yo

u could save an average of 30% of your gas.

This one is a toughie, but slow down. Those speed limits were created for a reason, so stick to them, by doing so, you reduce gas consumption by about 10%.

If you have long commutes, then cruise around. Using cruise control on longer trips saves 7% on average.

Shut your car off. Are you waiting on someone, while they run in the store to grab something? If it’s more than 60 seconds, turn off the engine and save up to 20%.
With all the craze of the smart phones, why don’t you download these great gas saving apps. Your wallet will thank you.

	GasBuddy and Cheap Gas let users upload gas prices—use them to find the cheapest gallon wherever you are.
	Mileage makes it easy to track your fuel economy.

Also, some places like Winn-Dixie have partnered with gas stations, and give customers discounts off the per-gallon price—and in some cases, the discount grows, the more you shop at that store during a given time period.

Can Men and Women Just be Friends ?

Recently I've taken up the game of golf and signed up with a golf pro named Michael. I didn't realize it at first, but eventually I found myself very attractive to Michael. I didn't know if it were appropriate to cross the line, or even how to approach the subject. We have weekly lessons and always go out with a group of his golf pro buddies to the bar for a drink. We've developed a a great friendship and now I wonder, can men and women be just friends?

Often, when men and women become friends it's because they’ve worked closely together, met each other through family members, or known each other since childhood. Whatever the circumstances, the familiarity makes them feel more like siblings. You usually find that you can act more like yourselves around each other and you don’t feel pressure to impress them, or to look your best all the time.

It's a lifelong question whether men and women can really be friends, for the most part, men aren't usually looking to add female friends to their roster of buddies and vice versa. When you break it down to the opposite sex, we're usually all looking for the one. Until we find our one and only we tend to enjoy casual dating and flings.

If you have a male friend that you love to hang out with ( for me, it's Michael), one of you may want to keep the option open for some sort of connection( that would be me in this situation,) if not right now, then perhaps some time in the future. Most mixed friendships start out as friends with the possible chance for something more, that’s why what makes them so tricky.

Friendships are based on mutual attraction and compatibility and because it’s fun to spend time together. The potential for romance is ripe. Attraction and compatibility are the foundation for close relationships, so the bridge from friendship to romance is technically already built. The question is when, if ever, it will be crossed.

More often than not, we are afraid to take the chance to find out. You don’t want to risk or lose the friendship that is already established and rather live out the possibility of it in our heads.

The bond between friends is forged with acceptance, understanding, respect, trust, and compassion. These are the same ingredients that make for a more serious relationship based on love. For many friends, it’s a endearing moment, a small gesture of affection, or a thoughtful act that sparks the flame and takes them across the bridge.

So, the bottom line is that men and women can be friends, but the bridge to romance – and the possibility of crossing it - almost always exists. I'll just have to wait and see what becomes of my friendship.

Making a Spending Plan

The key to budgeting and making it

work is working with what you have and making a flexible plan that works for you. Often the inflexible nature of budgeting can be a frustrating and a turn-off. Even if you've never been one for budgets it doesn't mean there isn't hope for following a plan that will get your finances on track. I'm not fond of the word budgets, I like my freedom and I think of budgets as a bore,so let's call this a spending plan. A spending plan is a better solution than a traditional budget for those who want a less rigid method for managing your money. It's all about giving your dollars some direction and taking control by taking these 5 simple steps to creating a spending plan.

1. Calculate — Determine your incoming income with a quick calculation: take your monthly income after taxes and subtract your fixed expenses like rent, insurance, and bills. The money left over is your discretionary income.
2. Think Ahead — Look into the future expenses and pick out any expenses on the horizon like vacations, car maitenence, appliance replacements and any other things that you know will put a dent in your wallet.

3. Save — Set aside a certain amount of your discretionary income for savings and for the things you identified as future expenses. I try and save 15-20 percent of my paycheck for what I call "uh-oh expenses."
4. Make a List — After you've deducted the amount you plan to save from your income, make a list of all the things you need on a weekly/monthly basis and another list of all the things you want. i.e. a new suit, a fancy dinner, a facial. Then prioritize your list.
5. Keep Track — Keep track of your spending by checking off any needs or wants that have been fulfilled. That way you can decide quickly if you have the extra funds to catch that concert this weekend with friends. Another great thing too is that you can re-prioritize. You can always save some of those wants for another month and save It's an easy way to get a clear picture of what you can and can't afford.

How to Land Your Dream Job

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could just jump into our perfect career paths and have everything seamlessly fall right into place? Maybe you know what you want to do but you’re not sure what to specialize, or maybe you know what company you want to work for but you don’t have any contact there. Well don’t let little road blocks get in your way. You can have the career of your life and here’s how.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

College contacts are easy contacts for nabbing interviews in your desired field. Contact your university alumni network, your universities career center, and keep in contact with many of your professors and ask if there are workshops, lectures, or networking events in your field that you could participate in. Another option is to email everyone you know. Make sure it’s a tastefully done email asking if anyone has contacts in your desired field. You never know if your friend has a cousin who has a husband that could put you in contact with someone or give you some helpful pointers. Lastly, don’t be afraid to be social at the gym, weddings, and cocktail parties. You can often make the best contacts in relaxed non-working environments.

If you’re currently unemployed, have a set of personal business cards made up with your name, e-mail address, phone number and the general field you’re in like “writer.” It looks professional and don’t have to scramble for a pen and paper that could easily get tossed.

Look for looking networking event in your area. I’ve used Meet Up to find some great women’s networking groups in my local area. You can also find some other pretty cool groups too, it doesn’t always have to be about business.

Make sure to follow up with contacts too. People tend to have a lot on their plate most of the time, so polite follow ups are always great ways to keep you in on someone’s radar.

SEEK OUT INTERNSHIPS

For me, an internship was what opened the doors for me. Yes, it does often mean little or no pay, but if you stick around long enough, do an excellent job, have a good attitude, and impress the right people, you could be offered a full time position, or a freelance job.

As an intern at NBC I didn’t get the producing internship I had originally wanted, but instead got an internship in the marketing department. I only had to complete 100 hours on interning, but by end of summer I had racked up over 300 hours and interviewed for a full time position that had just opened. I ended up getting the job because of the work I had done and for the relationships I had made internally.

Companies are usually flooded with interns during the summer and are dying for help in the fall and spring. If you have the time, those are the best times to apply and remember work hard, it pays off.

Writing a Knockout Cover Letter

A cover letter is basically a one-page sales pitch selling you to a company. It’s not about restating everything that’s already our resume. It’s a chance for your future employer to get a taste of your personality and goals. Always send a personalized cover letter with your resume; most companies will toss your resume if a cover letter isn't attached. Your cover letter should go a little something like this.

The first paragraph introduces who you are, what you currently do, and how you heard about the company. If you were referred by someone, you can say, “Shannon Fallon of NBC Miami suggested I contact you about the position you have open in XYZ.”

The second paragraph describes what you have to offer the company, based on your key skills and experience but keep it interesting. Remember your resume will spell out exactly what you do.

The third paragraph explains the action you’re going to take like, follow up with a phone call ina week. Lastly, always thank them for their time and consideration. The best ways to close would be “Sincerely,” or “Best regards.”

Another great reference for cover letters is going to your local universities career center. There you can find great resources, have your letter critiqued and proofread and get tips on how to better your letter.

The Simplest Burger

I had a little dilemma this weekend when I was invited to a BBQ. Like a good guest should, I asked the host if I could help them with anything. They asked if I could help make the burgers, of course it was the one thing I've never done. I always left grilling up to the men and catered to the potato salad. I admitted to my host that I couldn't help with the burgers, but I’d love to watch and learn, so I did.

Combine 1 pound of ground beef, 1 egg, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1/8 teaspoon salt , and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce in a medium mixing bowl, using your hands.

Form the meat mixture into 4 patties, each ¾ -inch thick in the center and the edges. Spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook both sides until they are medium-to medium-well done (about 5 to 7 minutes on each side). Remember to cook the burgers to at least 160 degrees to protect against E.coli (ew). The juices should run clear when you pierce the meat with a fork.

Voila, simple perfect burgers. Now grilling isn’t just for men.

Another great idea is to make the little mini burgers. They're bite sized and delicious.

If you think you're ready to take it to the next level of burger making, Rachel Ray has great simple recipes that are easy to follow and have delicious results

Furniture Shopping

I’ve had a few anxiety attacks this week as I've been furniture shopping. I didn't realize how organized you had to be and how expensive furniture really costs. In order to make sure I was making the right choices, Cindy, a sales associate at City Furniture suggested that I go home and get these essential things before I even started to break out the credit card.

Digital Camera

Before you head out for an entire day of browsing, take pictures of your empty room (all angles). We sometime tend to over estimate how much space we really have to work with, having those pictures handy will remind you of what you’re working with. Also snap pictures of all the pieces you find that you really like, this makes it easy to compare.

Tape measure

Embrace the tape measure, love the tape measurements. I never thought I’d ever say that. Measure your room and write the specs on a reference sheet to take with you shopping. Make sure to measure your hallways and doors too. Remember the furniture is going to have to squeeze through those spaces too.

Pen and Note Pad

Use them for writing down tape measurements of the pieces you like, the stores name, and most importantly, the price.

Eye Candy

Bring ripped out pieces of room ideas that you love. It will help the sales person get a better idea of what it is you want. I tried explaining to the sales associate the type of bed I was looking for and no one could see the vision I had. When I showed them a picture of it off of google, they new exactly what I was looking for.

The Right Kind of Sneakers

Sometimes a great motivator for working out is a great pair of kicks. If you’re working out on a regular basis, top-of-the –line sneakers are a great investment. Old worn out sneakers can lead to blisters, muscle strains, sprains, and micro-tears in your foot tissue (ouch). Buying the right kind of sneakers is the key for a successful workout.

First off, before you go running to the cash register with the first pair of shoes you see, measure your feet. It is common for women to have a half size bigger foot than the other. My right foot is a size 10, while my right foot is a 9 ½ . When you buy sneakers, judge the fit by your big foot. You want a little toe room in your athletic shoes ; your feet swell when you workout so you want a little breathing room

Think about making an investment if you’re a runner. If you’re like me and run more than 2 miles every day than you’re really making your shoes work. Try and replace your running shoe every 4 hundred miles or every 6-9 months.


If you find yourself lost in the sneaker isle trying to figure out what's the best kind of sneaker for you, go for a cross trainer sneaker. This kind of sneaker is versatile and can be used for running and weight training.

Make sure you get ankle support. If you have weak ankles, a mid-height shoe will give them more support, which means less of a chance to twist your ankle.

If you can buy two pairs of the same sneaker and rotate them every few workouts. Yes, it sounds funny and expensive but you will actually save money by prolonging the lives of your kicks.

Don’t forget athletic cushioned socks too!

When Good Make Up Goes Bad

Unlike food cosmetics aren’t by law required to have an expiration date posted on them. However, from the moment that you open makeup, bacteria will start to grow and its effectiveness will decrease. So when should you throw your make up out ?

Concealer should be replaced every 6-8 months, foundation every 3-6 months. Powders can last a year.

Toss your mascara after just 2-3 months. By that time your tube is teeming with bacteria, thanks to the pumping action of the brush. Throw out powder eye shadows every 9-18 month and cream eye shadows every 6-12 months. Dip your eye pencils in alcohol every week to kill germs.

Lip gloss and lipsticks can last a year. I usually use mine all up before a year.

Remember that any cosmetic that changes in texture or smell should be discarded immediately.

Organizing Your Closets

I’m currently organizing my apartment for a big move next week and I needed to hit my biggest problem, my closets. Yes, I have multiple.

I vowed long ago to keep my closets neat; a few weeks later that vow went right out the window. So now, I’m preparing for a big move to Aventura and I’m in desperate need of organization and downsizing or my wardrobe. So this past weekend I de-cluttered my closets and used these helpful tips.

Take the “iffy items” out
It’s better to have a sparse closet of must have essential pieces then to have a closet stocked full of random items from when Clinton was in office. Whether it’s the jeans from your freshman year of college you’re still hoping to fit in to, or those trendy impulse buys it’s time to toss it. If you really loved it you probably would have worn it at some point during the year. Break out the trash bags and start filing them up and think about donating to Goodwill, a women’s shelter, or if you have some really great pieces even consider a consignment shop if you want to make a few bucks back.

Grouping
Arrange your clothes by pants, skits, coats, and tops. This can help you easily put an outfit together in minutes. Subdivide into blouses, button-downs, tanks, and swanky evening stunners. Split up your suits and matching suits pants into their proper categories – you’ll brodan your wardrobe options.

Shaping

Wire hangers are a no-no. They usually come from the dry cleaners and are the cheapest, but they will ruin the shape of your clothes and leave indents. They can also rust and stain your clothes. Opt for felt or wooden hangers, they’ll improve the life span of your clothes.

Lighting

Your closet should be dark, dry and clean. Your closet will be much happier and the life span will last longer with minimal lighting. Too much artificial lighting can fade your clothes, as well as increase the temperature, which can invite mildew and moths. (yuck)

Storing

Look for creative ways to neatly pack your things away. I love the Container Store or Ikea for great ideas for storing things like my shows or hats. It makes searching for things so much easier.

Shopping for Sheets

In the midst of my shopping for my move I realized that I need to up my game in the sheet department. Yes, I love a comfy set of jersey knit sheets, but I think it’s time to make the jump to something more sophisticated them my college sheets.

There are 3 things to keep in mind when your sheet shopping: thread count, fiber and finish.

· Choose a 200 to 300+ thread count (this indicated the total number of threads woven per square inch). The higher the thread count, the bigger the price tag. But you also want to look at the ply. Single ply tends to be softer, as two ply is made from yarns that are twisted together. Don’t be deceived by high thread count on a two ply sheet: a single 200 –count sheet will be the same softness as a two ply 400-count sheet.

· Make sure the fiber is silk or cotton (preferably Egyptian cotton) Egyptian cotton is the softest and most durable. Skip polyester blends and satin sheets- they don’t breathe well, which means you’ll be sweaty. (gross)


· A sateen finish will give your sheets a silky smooth quality. For a crisper sheet, choose a combed all- cotton percale with a thread count of 250.

· Don’t forget to change your sheets every week and your duvet cover every two weeks. Also take the time to look for great pillows.


For great selections try a Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, that's where I was most successful.

How to Tip

Over the past months through my various business travel and experiences with a few phone calls to mom and dad I’ve figured that these are the appropriate amounts in tipping. Remember no one likes a bad tipper. I sometimes will use a tipping calculator to help me with my math.

Tipping at Bars:

15 to 20 percent of the bar bill (but never less than a dollar)

Valet Parker:

$2.00

Coat Room Attendant:

$1.00 or $2.00

Ladies Room Attendant:

$1.00 or $2.00

Your Doorman:

$25-$40 at Christmas

A Doorman at a Hotel:

$1.00 or $2.00

Your Cleaning Lady or Nanny:

One week’s salary if she’s been working for you for a year or less; after that two week’ pay is a
bit more appropriate at Christmas.

Hotel Bellman:

$1.00 per bag , but never less than $5.00 if they’ve come all the way up to your room and shown
you around.

Hotel Maid:

$2:00 per night stayed

Cabbie:

Always round the bill up by a dollar and the change. In other words, if the cab is $5.50 then leave $7.00. Once you pass $15, tip 15 percent.

Paying Attention While Driving

If you’re anything like me and trying to manage your personal life, and work life and sometimes find yourself swerving on the road because your sending an email, inputting an address on the GPS, talking on the phone, checking your lipstick and trying to change the song on the iPod, than you need to STOP now.

For work, I’m always on the phone and I’m always on the road. Recently, I found myself doing all of these hazardous actions at the same time while driving, which is wrong, wrong, wrong. I’m endangering myself and others on the road and asking for a catastrophe. Driving is a huge responsibility as is, and full attention is always needed on the road. So this past week I decided to prioritize my actions and figured out some ways to handle my situation.

Set up a hands free Bluetooth in your car.
Most new cars are now including hands free Bluetooth capabilities in the cars, my car however did not come with one. I researched if I could get one installed and found that you can buy hands free speakers that sync up to your phone through Bluetooth. I immediately bought one and set it up and it works phenomenally.

Stop emailing

I have vowed not to email or text while driving. If I receive an email or text that I need to respond to immediately I’ll call the person using my hands free speaker and give my response over the phone or tell them that I’ll get back to them once I’m off the road with whatever ever it is they need. It’s dangerous to text and drive and we all know that.



GPS

I’d be lost without it, no seriously, I would be lost. I now take my GPS into work in the morning and add all my stops for the day at once, so I’m not trying to type addresses in while switching lanes.

IPod

Make playlist on your IPod according to your moods. My moods always vary when I’m in the car, so I’ve started creating mood playlists that allow for the type of music I like according to my mood, so that I’m not hitting the next button every 30 seconds.


Organization
I just got this rubber pad that keeps all my electronics in one place and I love it. I’m no longer reaching down to the floor while driving and looking for my IPod whenever I drop it. It’s convenient, and functional.

First Date Dressing

There are three extremely difficult times to choose the right clothes for the occasion: job interviews, first dates and the dreaded meeting the parents nights. This week my girlfriend Taylor tackled the perfect outfit for a first date.

First date dressing can be a toughie; you usually don't know your date well enough to predict what will be attractive to him. You want to look extra fabulous but not too over the top, stylish but not too trendy. Here are some tips on how to prepare you for that first big date.

Where to ?

Try and have a pre-date conversation and find out where you're going. Be simple and polite about asking, you don’t want to sound too bossy. Try and get a sense of the formality of the occasion. Find out if you will be walking, and if so, how far. Nothing is worse than having to trek through the dirt of a carnival or mile long festival in six inch heels. I usually will carry a pair of foldable flats in my purse just in case. After you’ve gotten the 411 on where your big night will be, you’re in the right mindset to get the perfect outfit together.

Classic Dinner Date

The little black dress, also known as the LBD, is a staple in every woman’s closet and was created to impress. It’s simple, flattering, and easy to do. If you don't have one, get one now. Add a clutch (Mary Poppin bags are always intimidating to men), pumps and a cardigan to carry and you’re all set.. What’s great is you can change up your jewelry and accessories, to add a splash of color and showcase a little bit of your personality and style. I also would consider your nicest pair of jeans and a suitable blouse and heels. You can’t go wrong with simple.

Daytime Dating

Day time dating takes the pressure off of formal dating, so if you find yourself going on a daytime date, know it’s going to be more casual. The key to day time dressing is to be neat and pulled together. My go to outfit is a white cotton sundress and flat sandals. I think it says, girly, functional and relaxed.

Sporting Events

If you’re invited out to a sporting event, the key is comfort. A t-shirt, Jeans or shorts, a hat, and a sweater. Nothing too sexy and provocative and nothing that can't be washed if you have beer spilled or you drip ketchup down your shirt.

Extra Tips

Don't Dress Too Sexy, It's tempting, but sexy has a way of turning sleazy when you least expect it. You want to dress to impress and save what’s underneath for another
fun filled night at home behind closed doors.

Always bring money with you. I’m a big believer in have men pay for me on a date. However, it is in your best interest to always have money on you in case of emergency.

Taking on Your Taxes

Now that I’ve started working and receiving a steady by-weekly income my fina
ncial responsibility has shot through the roof and I haven’t liked it one bit.

With financial stability come taxes, and lots of them. I remember getting my first “big girl” salary pay check. Yes, it was more money then I had been making serving cups of coffee three days a week, but holy Mary mother of all that is good did they take a chunk of money out for taxes. They could have feed a small orphanage in Ethiopia with that kind of money.

The good part about giving up all those taxes, is that some of it come back to you, at least that’s what I was hoping when I sat down this past weekend to do my taxes for the first time as an –independent, no longer a dependent on my mother. (She’s still currently jumping for joy at the re-established income she’s gotten since she’s stopped financially supporting me.)


There are a few ways to do your taxes:

· Turbo tax or similar online programs that you can purchase in store or online for about $30-40

· H&R Block or similar walk in places that’ll do your taxes for you at areasonable fee, depending on who and what you're claiming

· Accountant or CPA , a more costly investment


Seeing as I don’t trust myself doing my taxes on my own because I’ve seen one too many movies where the IRS comes after people for back taxes, I decided to opt out of doing them on my own. I’m scared of not doing them correctly and not getting all the money that I can possible get back, so I did a little research for myself.

There are so many kinds of over looked deductions according to your career and income, they all vary per state, your best bet is to do some state research and see what kinds of deductibles you can get in your area.

Be prepared with all your forms and your account number for your refunded to be directly deposited into your account. I used a tax checklist to make sure I had everything ready. I also used a tax calculator to estimate my return.

I still don’t own a home, I have no children, and I’ve only been working for six months, so I decided to go H&R Block and meet with Mary, a tax preparer. She walked me through my forms and also pointed out areas where I could be saving more money, such as the miles I drive back and forth to class can be added as a deductible, as well as the books I purchased for class or any kind of seminars that I have to attend for work are considered higher education and can also be deducted.

After going through all the forms and coming to the end of the process, Mary helped me get a whole two months of pay back from my taxes. I also had a coupon for $25 dollars off and through my tuition tax forms I was able to waive another $30 off my tax preparation fee. My total cost ended up being only $75, which is nothing for the peace of mind of not having the IRS come knocking on my door.

Now to figure out how to investment that money, hmmm. That's a topic for another day.

As for an accountant or CPA, these are the guys you go to when you have a multitude of investments, your own business, or you make a substantial amount of income. I have none of the above, so I'll be sticking to Mary at H&R Block.

Happy Tax Season!

A Personal Touch

Technology is great, it’s something that has become integrated into our daily lives, but it leaves people increasingly disconnected. There once was a time when personalized letters were the only form of communication between friends, lovers and family.

For my 22nd birthday, my mother gave me the greatest gift, a box of old love letters from my father. It inspired me to bring that tradition back, not only in my personal life, but as well as in my professional life.

When you write someone a letter you show that you care. It shows them they’re worth your time. Your able to share your ideas, your innermost thoughts, things that have been going on in your life, and more. It is much more intimate than an email or a text.


Letters and notes also help develop vocabulary and expressive language. It isn’t uncommon to write better than one speaks. Technology has, unfortunately, become written speech; we now write fragments and do not use proper grammar or punctuation. Letter writing is a way to
put proper language skills into practice.

Personalized stationary allows the writer to express themselves not only with their writing but with their choice in stationary.

I have special corporate station with my companies’ logo that I often send out to clients and partners thanking them for their help or business. I also have fun more feminine stationary I use to send to friends to just say hello or to congratulating them on a promotion or just for being a great friend. I love sending old fashioned post cards, or even taking a photograph and using it as a postcard.

You can get personalized stationary almost anywhere they sell greeting cards. However some of my favorite stationary comes from Etsy. It’s all handmade by real people and it’s unique and allows for a lot of expression.

Get your own stationary and write someone a note. You're sure to always get a smile out of them.

Jump on It

When you’re crazy busy and in a rush it can be easy to forget to turn things off whether it’s the TV, the coffee pot, or even the lights of your car.

I did just that this past week. After getting caught in torrential down pour I was so busy trying to devise a plan of escape so as not to be late for an early morning meeting that I thoughtlessly left the lights to my car on, and you guessed it, I killed my battery.

I made it to my meeting on time but then wasted an hour of my workday looking for jumper cables until finally scoring a set from Jenna in finance. I realized that after finding a pair of jumper cables I was clueless on where to put them without frying myself to death.



Embarrassed at my lack of knowledge on automobiles, I hesitantly asked a co-worker if he could teach me how to jump my car as well as lend me his car for power.




How to jump start your car:

1. Every woman should have her own set of jumper cables; I purchased mine at target at a great price. The jumper cables should be heavy gauge, copper, and at least ten feet long. They’ll have pinchers that look like hair clips at each end. Two of them are red (positive) Two of them are black (negative).

2. Before you start, protect your eyes and skin from battery acid that can seep. Use your sunglasses and gloves, if you don’t have gloves you a cloth or a sock before you touch the battery.

3. Have the helping car park as close as possible to your own car. Hood to hood is ideal.

4. Put your car in park and set your emergency brake.

5. Pop the hoods of both cars and locate both batteries. Now it’s time for to kiss. Place one red clamp on the positive post on your own dead battery. (Look for the “+”sign) Place the other red clamp on the positive post of the “good” battery.

6. Hook the remaining black clamps to the “-“post of the good battery.

7. Hook the remaining black clamp to the engine or to something metal (non-painted) surface of your car. Keep it as far away from the battery as possible, and make sure the cables aren’t in the way of the engine.

8. Have the person who’s helping you start their engine and give it a little rev. A minute or so later start your car, and give it a little rev as well. Once it’s running, remove the cable clamps. (No worries you won’t electrocute yourself). Remember to take the clamps off in reverse order that you put them on. Or if you forget, remember black-black-, red-red, starting with your engine (black), and ending with your battery (red).

9. Cruise in your car for at least twenty minutes. If possible take it on the highway.



Learning how to not look like the Bride of Frankenstein.






After this little incident, I learned my lesson and bought a pair of jumper cables and a car kit for my own car for fairly inexpensive. Thankfully I was at work and in a safe location. Another alternative that I think every woman should have is an AAA membership, entirely worth the cost.





My new car kit I purchased.

Bake with No Effort

Having a few signature dishes is essential for the single woman who doesn’t have neither the time, nor the patience to grocery shop for ingredients she’s never heard of and finger through complicated recipes.

As a social single professional you’ll frequently be invited to everything and anything someone merits as a celebration. Whether it’s a housewarming, a promotion, an I’m newly single and back on the market or even the I have a new boyfriend and I want you all to meet him party. As a proper guest should, it’s always polite to bring a gift, nothing out the pottery barn catalog but something that can be consumed for the celebration. The most common of them , being a bottle of wine ($15-20).

I started to catch on that apparently every other single professional had the same exact idea when I started seeing that the designated food table started looking more like a wine bar and everyone had starved expressions and or/ was getting intoxicated at a more rapid pace.
So after too many nights of depriving myself of food , I decided to look up easy recipes that I could make as an alternative to my lazy, poor excuse of a gift , as well as look like the domestic goddess I wanted everyone to think I was.

I decided on baked Brie that had a whopping 5 ingredients and took 5 minutes to prep and less than 30 minutes to bake, leaving me hands free to put myself together. As the kicker, I stocked up on inexpensive glass dishes that I make the Brie on and leave as a gift for the host. Voila! I was genius and now you can have a fabulous brie too. You can even garnish the dish with some sliced green apples, strawberries or french bread.



This past weekend at a wine tasting dinner party.


Everyone will be beyond impressed not only with your faux domestic ways, but they’ll melt over how delicious your dish is. Now, you’ll be praised for your efforts,but no need to tell them how easy it was, let them think you worked a full day, slaved in the kitchen and managed to show up perfectly put together. They’ll be dying to know how you do it all.