Cleaning House: Beauty Edition

Disclaimer:  This month has been pretty hectic. I was insanely busy at work trying to follow up with all of my customers as soon as the new year hit before I hopped on a plane on the 4th and spent a full 5 days in Atlanta Georgia for work.  I flew back home on a Friday and on Sunday night I got a call my grandfather had passed away. This past week has been full of training my partner in what I learned while I was away and just trying to hold it all together on the family front.  I honestly though this month would be full of posts and pictures and inspiration and so far it has just been full of stress and work and life.  Sometimes things happen and what you thought were your priorities suddenly change.

::Onto the real post::

In just the past two months I have acquired what you see below:

All from beauty boxes, and a few gems from Christmas gifts from friends.  (The few gems are a handful of lip products.  These beauty boxes are spoiling me with goodies.)

I decided I've had enough of my hoarding tendencies and started furiously going through my drawers and boxes and either throwing out, giving away, or re-organizing everything.  My poor mother is getting a bag full of hair products and a box full of makeup and skincare.  Sharing is caring!

Especially after these past few weeks I feel like I need a fresh start.  A clean out of all my old habits and things to make room to grow and really start to figure out my place. I started with my makeup, next is my clothes, and then for the less materialistic things in my life. Sidenote: My boyfriend LOVES that I suddenly want to clean.  Win win!

This is a super short post, a little update into my life, and a promise that next month will be filled with some pretty awesome things. Maybe I'll become a real blogger and actually start carrying a camera around with me.  Wouldn't that be neat?

Quick Post: Because It's Sunday

Because it's Sunday, and I feel like I completely muddled though September with barely any posts :slaps hand: , I've decided to keep on with a little tradition I started when I was in my teens.

I've never been huge into fashion and trends, but I always loved jotting down a list for the next season (not fashion week type seasons, but literal seasons like fall/spring/etc.)  and seeing how close I could get to what really came out on the shelves/into my wardrobe.  Seasons like fall/winter are usually the same from year to year for me, but I'm feeling a strong pull towards everything 90's grunge, and perfectly imperfect everything.

Fall/Autumn 2014

Tartans/Plaids

Navy

Lace

Ankle Boots

Leather (Brown Leather To Be Exact, Very Worn Leather)

Grunge/Smokey Eyes

Smudged Berry Lips

Rose Gold

Fringe

Large Knits (Sweaters/Hats/Scarves)

Long Loose Layers

Long Tousled Hair

Rose Lip Shades

Big Cocktail Rings

Delicate Necklaces

Earmuffs (Preferably Fur/Faux Fur)

What are your predictions for this season?  What trends do you find yourself leaning towards this fall?

What Not To Wear To An Interview

In a previous post I outlined what are some of the best things to wear to an interview, and now I am going to highlight some extreme no no's when it comes to interview attire. 

You mean this won't work?

Tee Shirts- Funny, witty, cute, solid, wild, whatever they may be, leave them at home.  Opt for a button up or a blouse.  Any applicant that walked in wearing a tee (or god forbid tank), was soon seen walking out without an offer or even a promise of a callback.  It can be seen as disrespectful for someone to be giving you their time to interview you and have you not even make an effort to look professional.

Jeans-  Dark wash, acid wash, skinny, flare, boyfriend, doesn't matter.  Don't wear them.  If you can invest in ten pairs of jeans in different styles you can buy one pair of dress pants to wear to interviews.  I promise you that jeans, even the darkest wash, don't impress anyone at an interview.  Please stop pretending they look super professional.  

Leggings- If you can't wear them to work why would you wear them to an interview.  They're too tight, most of the time see through, and altogether not appropriate for the workplace.  Please please please do not think this is acceptable to interview in.  (Unless they are sheer and under a dress in Alaska in the middle of winter.  Not even under a dress people.  Wear some pantyhose/stockings.)

Anything ripped- Please retire your ripped jeans, the jacket with a hole, the scuffed hem of your dress pants.  Nothing looks as unprofessional as showing up to an office, asking for a large salary, all while wearing clothing with holes in it.  If you only have one good outfit make it your interview outfit.  I am a huge fan of the Salvation Army for interview clothes when you have limited funds, and I promise you there are clothes there that can look good and don't have holes.  

Anything see through- I don't understand the see through trend. I tried to go shopping when I moved down to VA for clothes to wear that looked professional and dressed up, and even in the ladies section their clothes were see through.  Come on guys.  Think of it like this, if your father were a pastor and you were to come to Sunday service in see through clothing, would he be happy about it?  Probably not.  I don't want to see your undergarments, no one wants to see your bra or underwear or anything that could possibly be under your clothes.  If you showed up to an interview in see through clothing the first thing I would think was "excuse me but where are the rest of the fibers that belong in your clothing, and why do you deem this appropriate to wear today?"

Tight revealing clothing-This is not cute, and will not get you a job.  It looks desperate and like you are hoping a horny teenage male will be interviewing you.  Wearing this type of clothing will not get you a leg up, or an advantage over other "frumpy" applicants.  Stoppit. 

Cleavage- Just, no.  Cover up.  Like wearing tight and revealing clothing, showing off the ladies is cheap looking and not something people want in their applicants. They want to be looking at your resume and not your chest. 

Sandals- Dressy sandals, flip flops, sandals with a heel, any concievable type of sandal is a no go.  Opt for a flat, or closed toe shoe, or wedge.  No one wants to see your foot at an interview, and just like a good pair of shoes can pull together an outfit, a bad pair can ruin it.

Sneakers- For the love of all that is holy please do not come into an interview in your workout sneakers or your latest Nike purchase.  Even a black on black pair.  This can be okay depending on the place you are interviewing if you are a male, but in an office setting you better walk in the door with a pair of dress shoes or heels/flats if you are a female.  Like I said, shoes can make or break an outfit and sneakers always fall short when in an interview situation.

Messy hair/makeup- Take a little time today to spruce yourself up. Wash and comb your hair, put on a dusting of blush and some mascara.  Put your hair in a low ponytail, pin it up in a bun, braid it (no pig tails please), straighten it, put some product in it, just make a little effort.  The more you look put together (even if it's only one day and the rest of the time you come to work with hair in a pony tail everyday or left to it's own desires), the better your chances are at landing a job.  I know this is probably extremely superficial but sometimes we have to come to terms with the fact that interviews are your first ever impression to a company, and they do care about how you look.  You will be a representation of their brand, and if you come in looking like you just woke up and fell into ill fitting clothes with some of last nights makeup still holding on for dear life they will judge you.  It's a fact of life.  If you are morally opposed to the above statement I am sorry, you can come in with no makeup and three day old unwashed hair and try and prove me wrong.

Crazy/over the top jewelry-  Don't let your several bangles and ten rings take over the interview.  Jewelry is a great conversation starter at a party, but at an interview it's your work experience their interested in. Tone it down and wear one statement piece to bring out your personality, not overshadow it.

These are just my opinions and not proven fact, but as someone who has worked in the HR position during a hiring season these are the things that people come back and say "you would not believe what that person just wore".  A visual impression is the first impression you get when interviewing.  Even your resume is a visual impression of your work skills.  Don't let your clothing and personal image jeopardize your resume and personality.

New Series Alert!

I read a lot of blogs.  By a lot I mean I am following over 100 different beauty and lifestyle blogs.  That may sound a little insane but it helps me get new ideas to try out and new products to add to my wishlists.

Now because I read what sounds like an insane number of blogs I do feel like there is a missing segment of posts.  I like to call them posts for the real person.  Or posts for the non-beauty blogger. It consists of hairstyles you can actually wear, makeup from the runway that can be worn to work everyday, the not so high praised products of the drugstore, how the heck do you shop at Sephora, and the like.

With that being said a new series of posts has been born on Hey There Dollface.  This series will be titled "Things I Wish Beauty Guru's Covered".  Or something like that.  I'll come up with a better title I promise.

Happy Thursday Everyone!!

Motivational Wednesday Week #3

Motivational Wednesday is the one day of the week I give you guys a quote or phrase to help you (but mostly myself) get through the week.  This weeks quote is all about support.

 

I am one of those people who finds themselves every so often shedding old acquaintances and focusing on those who bring out the best in me.  Just last week at lunch I told one of my very good friends that I needed people in my life who were focused on the world around them and not on themselves.  If I am going to get out of my little turtle shell I need people around me who want to experience life, and not those who can't see past their own nose.

Who we need in our life varies from person to person, and changes with time.  I've had the "cool" friends, the "edgy" friends, the friends who were always up for a drink, or the friends who were always available to come hang out after work, and even the friends who suck everything out of you and you keep them because you need to feel wanted.  One thing they all had in common?  They all pushed me up, they all supported me, and at that moment we were each others family and we made each other better.  

When you look for new friends, or even at the ones you've had for years, the one standard should be that they pick you up and make you the best version of yourself.  Gone are the days of keeping people around just because you ride the bus together, or sit near each other at lunch.  Find those true friends (chances are there will only be a handful) and give them 110% just like you want them to give you. 

You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Motivational Wednesday

 

 We spend most of our lives worried about the past or stressing about the future. Our past haunts us and keeps us up at night, and our future weighs on our shoulders.  Why can't we just let it all go?  Why can't we just move past our pasts and stop worrying about what the future may or may not hold for us?  Why must we always stress about things we have no control over?

Because we're human that's why.  It's our flaw, one of many, but one that can be managed.  We HAVE to let go of the past.  We have got to stop obsessing about what may happen.  Truth is, we all want a reason to feel bad about ourselves.  Whether it be looks, a memory, or a situation we have been placed into.  But it's not healthy.  It only hurts us in the end.  It leads to us sitting on the couch eating a bag of chocolate and watching lifetime movies. 

Here's to letting go and keeping present.  Meditate, drink some tea, and even if it is the darkest day find something to smile about.  Put a picture of your favorite baby animal on your computer.  Burn a candle that makes you think of sunshine and happiness, and wear clothing that makes you want to take on the world.  Think positively, and smile.  Above all else smile.  It instantly cheers you up and makes those around you happier.  Remember that when you're starting to stress out and over complicate your life.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!  Keep present and positive!

Starting The New Year A Little Early

Hey There Dolls,

This time around I'm starting the new year off early and making some resolutions while I have them fresh in my mind.  

1. Smile more.  People always say they never see me without a smile, and I was always called bubbly by my teachers growing up.  Lately I've lost that smile and I am determined to get it back.  Even if it means smiling like a crazy person all the time, I'll make it happen.

2. Read more.  I read blogs, texts, billboards, directions, but rarely books.  Growing up I read like a madman and was always looking for the next literary adventure.  I have decided I need more adventures and novels in my life, and will hopefully be writing up a little snippet on my favorite book of the moment on here once a week.

3. Eat better.  I am borderline celiac, and feel much better when I cut wheat out of my diet, so starting today I am going gluten free!  It's a big life change, and since I believe the word diet to be one of the devils words I will not be calling this change a diet, I will be calling it healthy eating.  Even my boyfriend is getting into the g-free spirit (while I'm around anyways) and he has agreed that while food costs may be higher, we both need to get healthy.

4. Blog consistently.  I actually like writing out blog posts and thinking of what I want to share with you guys.  It keeps my mind occupied, and gives me something to do that combines my passions of writing and pretty things.  I have started to shift the blog away from makeup and into more lifestyle posts lately and I like how that feels.  Don't get me wrong, I have a bunch of products that still need review, but I find it infinitely harder to write product reviews over anything else.

5.  Make the most of my day.  No more sleeping until 12pm.  Even if I don't get to bed until 3am I am going to make a conscious effort to be up by 7am every day.   The worst feeling is waking up and feeling lazy because you overslept.

These few things are just the start of my journey to a better me, and a better self.  By the end of this month I am sure there will be even more resolutions I've made for myself, but hey, life's about growing right?

Happy Monday Everyone!

Christmas Tag

Hi There Dolls,

I was browsing around in the blogosphere and I found this cute little tag on Makeup Pixi3's blog and just had to take part in this.  It's a Christmas tag, which she opened up to everyone, and I am opening up to everyone as well!  

Here it goes:

1.  Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Synthetic.  A one time buy that you can tuck away in a closet every year.  I worked in a home improvement store that sold real trees and loved the smell, but hated the cleanup.  Also I'm not a strong person so I could never cut the damn things.  The thought of having to freeze my toes off every year to cut down a tree never appealed to me, even being from the north and spending six months in the cold weather.

2.  You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

Peppermint Hot Cocoa.  I drink coffee everyday, so I'm pretty boring with my coffee choice.  I like it strong, with cream, and no sugar.  But around holiday times they bring out the hot cocoa with peppermint and I just can't resist. 

3.  Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

White and blue.  If I could have a tree with white lights and blue ornaments on it every year I would.  If I was forced to change it up the ornaments would be purple, but the lights are always white. 

4.  Giving or receiving?

Giving!  I love the look on peoples faces when they open presents.  I put a lot of thoughts into what to give people so that they light up when they open their presents. 

5.  To mince pie or not to?

Never had it.  I don't really have any want to try it.  I'm a pumpkin and blackberry pie girl.  Not pumpkin blackberry... seperately of course.

6.  What's your traditional sunday lunch?

If you mean what do we eat on Christmas that would be ham, meatballs, rolls, sandwiches, cookies, and pies.  Super unhealthy, but still a tradition. Christmas eve is steak, crackers, cheese, pigs in a blanket, a veggie tray, any kind of finger food basically. 

7.  Christmas day fashion

Sweaters.  Everyone wears sweaters and jeans.  When we used to go to church on Christmas we used to wear dresses and nice clothes and looked presentable, and as soon as we got home we would change into sweaters and jeans and open presents. 

8.  What's your favourite Christmas song?

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  Silver Bells.  Every Christmas song ever.  I love Christmas songs.

9.  What's your favourite Christmas film?

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snowman, The Year Without A Santa Clause.  All the stop motion classics.

10.  Open presents before or after lunch?

Both.  Like I said before when we used to do church in the morning it was after lunch, but now we all open presents in the morning in our respective households, and then all congregate at my Grandmothers house to eat food and exchange gifts among the family.

I love tag posts.  They seem really fun and give a little insight on the individual as well.

If you see any other tags out there let me know!

What To Wear To An Interview

When dressing for an interview there are a few things to consider.  Some questions you should be asking yourself are what is the weather going to be like, what is the atmosphere of the company I am interviewing like, what position am I looking to achieve, how do I want to be perceived.

These are things I have learned from my own experiences and the general do's and don'ts associated with that.

Now keep in mind the length of these items may be shorter and longer based on the time of year:

Blouse- If it is sheer you should always wear a camisole underneath.  No interviewer wants to see your undergarments.  Trust me. This should also not be a cleavage revealing blouse.  Typically when you walk in and the first thing that is seen are the tops of your breasts you already start at a disadvantage.

Button up shirt- If you have a fitted or collared button up shirt, and do not feel comfortable wearing a blouse, go for it.  I find plain colors to be the best, but I always like long sleeved better than short.

Jacket- This can vary depending on the weather.  If it is hot you can wear a short sleeved jacket, and in the winter a long sleeved one.  I do suggest you make sure that the jacket is the correct size.  Too small and it will be too revealing and very uncomfortable, and too large will be slouchy and look unprofessional.

Dress pants- These should fit you properly.  Usually the colors black, navy, and khaki are the way to go.  Try not to wear bright or patterned slacks unless you know the environment you are going into is relaxed or "artistic".  It may sound silly but since there are so many styles and cuts of dress slacks/pants out there it is very hard to "mess up" wearing them.

Skirt- Preferably pencil as I feel they are the most professional, anything that is of knee length and lower is generally acceptable. Some professions prefer suits as opposed to just a shirt and slacks, so dressing it up with a skirt is another great option to look sophisticated and professional.  You don't want your hem line to ride up when you sit down exposing your thigh.  You want the interviewer focused on what you are saying and not what lies under your clothing.

Heels/Dress flats- It is always nicer to wear heels, even a small kitten heel, as opposed to boots or sneakers.  If you can't walk in heels then I suggest a very nice pair of flats.  Nice heels elongate the legs and add confidence to your walk.  I know it is a stereotype and can be considered sexist, but someone who comes into an interview that is wearing a small heel looks more professional and confident than someone who wears flat shoes.

Minimal Jewelry- Wearing a statement necklace and a simple ring, or a chunky bracelet with a delicate necklace is the way to go.  Make one piece of jewelry the focal point and mute or discard the rest.  Your jewelry should accentuate your outfit, not take away from it.  I would also suggest wearing something that looks of quality, and not six rubber bracelets or mardi gras beads. 

Minimal makeup- You want your makeup to look smart, not overwhelming.  A smoky eye, a light pink/nude lip, mascara, and some blush are all you need to look smart and sophisticated at an interview.  If you don't know how to apply makeup, today is not the day to try a full face of it, just stick to mascara and some lipgloss.  The worst thing was having someone come into an interview looking like they wore all the makeup they had in their collection.  It is not flattering and detracts from the focus being on your intelligence, not your looks.

Sweater Weather Tag

This tag has been floating around YouTube but I finally saw it on Thee Optimists blog and just had to do it.

 

The Sweater Weather Tag

 

1. Favorite candle scent?

Black Orchid and Amber by Illume.  It smells cozy and warm and it fills the whole apartment in just minutes.  

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

Coffee.  I have about six different flavors in rotation for my Keurig.  If I don't have a cup in the morning it takes me forever to wake up.

3. What's the best fall memory you have?

Jumping in the leaves.  My parents used to make us rake the leaves from the trees around the yard and my brother and I would jump in the piles afterwards before we bagged them up.

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner? 

Winged eyeliner.  I wear winged eyeliner daily (or every day I wear makeup).  I feel naked without it, and after about four years of wearing it daily I have gotten quite good at making it look nice without any help from tape.

5. Best fragrance for fall?

Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture.  It is my favorite all time scent, and it has just enough warmth to be worn in the fall without feeling like I'm trying too hard.

6. What is autumn weather like where you live?

Typically it is warm until late November, but this year it got cold around September.  It's not rainy, and it rarely snows even in the middle of winter, so it's mainly just chilly.  Sweater weather during the day and jacket weather at night.

7. Most worn sweater?

I would have to say a plain black sweater I got at the thrift store about two years ago.  It is light enough to be worn in the early fall, and it looks "professional" when paired with a statement necklace and some skinny jeans with a cute pair of boots.

8. Must-have nail polish this fall?

I have been wearing a lot of light pink polish this fall, but my favorite polish would have to be the butter LONDON This Old Bill.  It is a nice coppery gold metallic polish that goes with all of my cold weather clothes.

9. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?

 Nowadays I would say neither.  I don't understand football, and am much too old to be jumping in the leaves without hurting myself.  

 

10. Skinny jeans or leggings?

Leggings.  I don't like the way my legs look in skinny jeans unless I'm wearing my big boots, but as it is not winter those never come out of my closet.  I have been wearing leggings daily since I've been out of work and find them extremely comfortable.

11. Combat boots or Uggs?

Combat boots all the way.  I would love to have a nice pair to walk around in, and hopefully my wish will be granted sooner than later.

12. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?

As far as smells go I like pumpkin scented candles, but food wise I can't stand pumpkin spice.  I think it is overhyped and overrated and it's nothing I look forward to when fall comes along.  I much prefer peppermint.

 

13. Favorite fall TV show?

The Originals, Haven, Elementary, Nashville, Scandal, Supernatural, the list goes on.  If it is on primetime TV this time of year you bet I'm watching it.  

 

14. What song really gets you into the fall spirit?

Sara Bareilles Hercules.  This song has been my fall anthem.

I really love tag posts, and though I never get tagged I will continue to do them.  If you guys see a post out there like this let me know!  

 

Happy Wednesday all!

Motivational Wednesday

Every Wednesday I try to put up a motivational quote or saying to help get everyone through the rest of the week, and this weeks theme is friendship.

 

I am one of the lucky few people who gets to say my best friend actually became my family.  Not just in the metaphorical sense, but the legal sense.  

I have known my best friend Brenda since we were in elementary school, and through growing up, moving around, and all of the crazy things that go on when you grow up, she has always been in my life .  Over the course of our friendship she found the person she chose to spend the rest of her life with, who just happens to be my brother.  Now not only is she my best friend, and we have been claiming each other as family for years, but now she is going to be the mother to my nieces and nephews, and the person who makes my brother the happiest person I know.

Mushy story aside, we all have that one person who is our other half, our best friend, and part of our soul.  Without that person we don't feel as whole, or as secure.  They are the person we call when we have a bad day, they tell us exactly what we want to hear no matter what it is, and exactly what we don't want to hear no matter how much it hurts.  They are our therapy when we need it without the huge bill that comes at the end.  The person who will drive hours just to make sure we are okay, and give up any amount of time to make sure we are alright.  They are our "person".

Here's a shout out to all the best friends out there! You're awesome!

Tell your best friend you love them today! Happy Wednesday!

Motivational Wednesday: The Late Edit

Hey There Dolls,

I decided to post a Motivational Wednesday post to help get you guys through the rest of the week.

 

I, like many people in this day and age, rush about doing exactly what my parents and bosses tell me to do just trying to get ahead, and not rock the boat while doing it. That mentality folks is just wrong.

You never know what tomorrow will bring.  We are all raised to save for the future, but that doesn't mean we should sacrifice our todays to do that.   We were all told to be proper little humans and act a certain way, but why hide who you are and how you feel to fit that mold?

Your future doesn't start tomorrow, it starts today.  So who do you want to be?

Fall Outfits

Hey There Dolls,

Fall is upon us and that means a quick wardrobe change to everything cozy, comfy, and cute.

I'm not a very formal person outside of an office, even when I go out with friends or out to dinner it's always very casual and comfortable.  My biggest annoyance is when I'm wearing something that rides up, or is too tight, and all I do is think about my clothes, and miss having a good time.

Fall by carmor-1 on polyvore.com

Now, none of these things are things I own (Insert hundreds of sad faces), but all things I want to own, or I want to own things like these.  You will also notice how most of the pants are flared.  Those are the only type of pants I wear, unless it's too cold and I need to break out my Syracuse boots. 

What are some fall staples for your closet?

Enjoy! 

Follow Up Post: What Not To Do When You Leave Your Job/ Get Fired

Hey There Lovelies,

As a follow up post to What to do when you leave your job/ get fired, I decided to write a list of what not to do in that scenario.  This one will be a little more fun, because I may or may not have done all most of these things, so this post may just get a little comical.

Do Not:

1. Do not drink yourself to sleep for the first few weeks.  You wake up hungover on your couch, or in your bed, fully clothed, at four in the afternoon.  Drinking away your problems does not help.  It makes them worse, and you usually end up looking like the living dead.  Not pretty.  Not helpful in getting a new job either.  If your own spouse, boyfriend, room mate, etc, looks at you with pity and offers you water and tylenol, your potential new employer will most definitely feel like they want to do the same.  Then they will never call you back. 

2. Do not lock yourself up in your house for a month.  It does not help.  You need to be out, seeing people, seeing the sun, trying to get yourself back on track.  You do not need to be hungover (see number 1), pale, full of anxiety and depressed feelings, alone in your own home.  It's not good for you.  Take some vitamin D if your country/home lacks sunlight this time of the year, and go outside to breathe.  Make a lunch date with a friend every week, or go out and visit a shelter and pet some kittens.  Just get out of your house.

3. Do not feel that because you don't have a job you get to live in your sweatpants and sweatshirts, let your hair fade, and generally be lazy.  Yes this works well for the first few days, but then the house becomes a mess, you start to smell, and your bed and couch get divets from your butt in them.  Get up, get moving, and wear some real clothes, and a bra, especially if it's chilly out.  Impose a no sweatpants after 10 AM rule.  It not only will make you feel better, but it will keep you from sleeping all day and eating take out.  Trust me.

4. Do not live off take out and junk food.  Eat a salad, drink a smoothie, try and be healthy.  This rule goes along with the no sweatpants after 10 AM rule.  Your sweatpants won't tell you if you're gaining weight unnecessarily, but your jeans sure will.  So will your friends when they see you three months later... Yep.

5. Do not alienate your friends or your former co workers.  They don't think less of you, and they don't want to make you feel any worse about your situation, they just want to be your friends and support you, so let them.  Don't feel like a burden, or like you should be ashamed of yourself and cut out everyone from your former life.  Right now you need support and connections if you ever hope to pull yourself out of this funk, so cutting everyone out is not gonna help you feel any better.  Also, your friends are a huge source of self esteem.  They will come over and tell you how pretty you are and help you apply for new jobs and pick out clothes. 

6. Do not think that retail therapy will help you overcome your sad feelings.  Same goes for late night Ebay shopping after a half a bottle of wine.  Don't do it.  You end up broke, crying over your dwindling bank account, and your lack of current employment to fix the gaping hole you just put into your savings.  Instead window shop, or make wishlists on your favorite sites, and come back to them in a day or so.  If you still desperately need seven things of eyelashes, and four different color shirts that all look exactly the same, so be it, but chances are you won't.  (I ended up with seven different sets of eyelashes, a headband with cat ears, and a comb shaped like a gun in my basket that I almost bought.  Always hide your credit cards at night.  )

7. Do not do a massive life/look overhaul.  It is not a good idea to decide that because you are currently unemployed that if you change how you look/dress/decorate your living space your life will dramatically improve overnight.  This is how you end up internet shopping your savings away to become "hip" and "interesting".  Cutting off all your hair and dying it a drastic color (ahem dark brown, which is what happens to my red hair when I get sad) will not make you feel better.  It will make you feel like a stranger to yourself and cut down your confidence and make you resentful and prone to drinking/eating binges.  You are lovely just the way you are. 

8.Do not procrastinate on getting a new job.  If you need the income, don't wait months to put yourself back out there because you're scared.  The longer you go without looking for a new job, the harder it is to put yourself back out there.  The worst any company can say to you is no, and eventually that no will turn into a yes with some other company and you will have another job.  Don't get discouraged.  Everyone starts at the bottom to work their way up, so even if it isn't your dream position now, some day you can work yourself up into the big office and the nice assistant. 

9. Do not get desperate in your search of a new job and undersell yourself when an opportunity comes along.  AKA do not offer to follow your boyfriend around and work for him when he is a construction worker and you are a weak little girl.  Yes I offered to do that, yes his boss said I could because my boyfriend is amazing and everyone always loves him.  No I did not go to work with my boyfriend because he never woke me up and left for work without me.  I guess me working on roofs didn't appeal to him.  The lesson still stands though.  Don't undersell yourself in a big way JUST to have a job.  As I said in number 8, it may not be your dream job, but it should also be something you want to be doing.  Do what you're good at.  Don't be desperate.  You won't work up to your potential and you will just be wasting peoples time if you don't actually want to be at work.

10.  Last but not least, do not, and I repeat, DO NOT fall into a pit of despair and sadness and bad feelings.  People love you, that situation wasn't for you, and you WILL find something else.  The last thing I want anyone to take away from this post is that while losing a job is hard, and while being jobless is not ideal or fun or enjoyable, it is not the end of the world.  You will find something else, and you don't need to be destructive or self loathing if you find yourself in my position, or the position many young people now find themselves in.  We put a lot of our self worth into our positions in society and the jobs we hold, but that should not mean that if we fall down we should give up. 

Good Luck Everyone!

Navy Blue : Pinterest Edition

Hey There Dolls,

I've been sitting here for hours trying to find a motivational quote, or an idea of what to post today.  My skin is flaring up, my hair is acting like it wants to belong to a lion, I woke up way too late to wear real clothes and put on any makeup, and I found nothing in my pinterest archive as far as quotes go.  

What I did find however is inspiration for a new series I want to do on the blog.  I want to put up little snippets of my pinterest account pertaining to a theme I'm currently loving in my life.  At the moment that theme is Navy Blue.  Most days all I wear is Navy Blue, I want my wedding colors to be navy and yellow, and it's the exact color I want as my bedroom walls in the apartment.

 

 

 I'm absolutely obsessed with Pinterest. It's more addictive to me than Tumblr and Instagram and Facebook combined.  Go check out my Pinterest, and if you follow me I'll follow you!

What's your favorite color this fall?

Young Adults: What To Do After Leaving Your Job/Getting Fired

Hey There Dolls,

This post is something I've been wanting to write for a few months now, and especially at this point in my healing process I think it will give me the extra push I need.

In April of this year I was given a promotion at the company I had been working for for three years.  It was a huge step for me, and one I was more than willing to accept.  I went from being a regular Joe to someone with some influence, and a lot of responsibilities.  At the time I was bright, chipper, and so enthusiastic about adding to the new chapter of my life, which started when I moved to Virginia.

Around the same time as I got my new position, I also started to have some very personal problems.  After about four months of working in my new position, the stress and my insistence on being perfect added to the problems I was having, and I left my dream position to work out some kinks and get myself back on track.  On my birthday I put in my two weeks notice, and cried for days.  

My anxiety kicked itself up a few more notches in the next two months, and finally after some soul searching, books, tea, and a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally decided I needed to pick myself back up and put myself back out there.  This leads me to the real part of my post: What to do after you leave a job/get fired. (AKA what my next month will look like)

First things first: 
 Breathe.  It will be okay.  You will get another job, you are not alone, and you are not a failure.  If you need a few days/weeks/months to pull yourself together, then do so.  As long as you can afford your hiatus it may not be a terrible thing to get your mind in the right state before you start looking for a new job.  Take this window to figure out what interests you, how much money you want to be making, are you a full time job person or a part time job person, are you willing to travel, do you want an office 9-5 job or a fluctuating schedule.  Figure out the kind of work environment you want to be in and what you liked/didn't about the job you had before.
Then follow these few little steps to get you started on the next part of your life.

1. Write your resume.  I can not stress this enough.  I had my resume written a full month before I left my position, and kept tweaking it until it was something I felt proud to put out there.  Even if you have minimal work experience don't let that stop you from creating a resume.  Your resume is a reflection of you.  It should be thoughtful and direct, and a representation of how you want the working world to see you.  It is the first and sometimes only thing a potential employer will see before they schedule an interview with you.  Don't lie on your resume, but don't sell yourself short either.  It's also never a bad thing to have a few people look over your resume before you put it out there.  They may be more eloquent than you, or if they are managers themselves, they may know what companies like them are looking for in a resume.

2. Put that resume everywhere, and get involved in social media sites.  Put your resume on Monster.com, jobs.com, theladders.com, careerbuilder.com, etc.  Join linkedin.com and even search Facebook to find potential employers in your area.  It is a great way for you to see all of the jobs open in your area, and for employers to see you. 

3. Take a risk.  Apply for jobs that interest you.  You're more likely to get a job in the field you are looking to pursue if it is something you like doing.  If you want to work in fashion, apply for internships, temp agencies, newspapers, magazines.  If you have no idea what you want to do apply for big businesses you have always desired to work for, and small home grown projects to fill your soul. 

4. Always always call the companies you are really interested in working for and have applied to.  Companies want to know you are interested in working there.  You need to be invested enough in the positions you are applying for to make the effort.  From working in an HR position I know that the candidates that kept calling me and asking for an interview were the first on my call list when a position came up.  Yes it was annoying, but I knew they wanted to interview enough to keep calling me, and that meant something.

The key thing to remember is to not get discouraged and to keep at it.  Don't think losing your job, or leaving a job, is the end of the world.  It is a new beginning.  A difficult, time consuming, scary, expensive beginning.  If you treat it as a chance to start over, to make yourself into the person you want to become as an adult, it can be a positive experience.

Keep an eye out for more job related posts coming up soon.  Like what not to do after you lose your job, how to dress for an interview, some tips for interviewing, and more. 

Happy Hunting Everyone!



 

The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag

Hey There Lovelies,

I found this cute idea for a post when I was browsing around BeautyBroadcast.net's blog and decided to give it a shot.  I really like doing things like this as I think it gives you guys a different look into what I'm all about and who I am.  So without further ado, here is The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag:

The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag 

1. Name a beauty regime that you rarely do?
I honestly never blow dry my hair and I rarely get it cut (you and my split ends can cringe from that one).  I think blow drying my hair is pointless.  I never need it to be dry for an event in five minutes, and I don’t do much in the way of styling so I don’t worry about hot tools hurting my wet hair.  I am very minimal with my hair upkeep, and am much more of a wash, apply product, and go kind of person.  Along with never blow drying and rarely using hot tools on my hair, I rarely get it cut.  Every few months I notice that my hair is splitting at the bottom and I go and get a trim.  Since I don’t really use hot tools often the damage from my hair is from pinning it up and coloring it.

2. Is washing your make-up brushes something that you do regularly?
Sadly no.  I use my fingers more than I use brushes, so the only brushes I wash on a semi-consistent basis are my eyeshadow brush, my crease brush, my powder brush, and my brow brush.  Especially since I haven’t consistently been wearing makeup those brushes get washed maybe once a month (after only about 5 times use).  With regular use however they get washed every other week, or more often if I can sense my skin getting too oily or dry.

3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?
Days.  Just kidding, probably two days.  When I was a teenager I loved the look of my chipped black polish, I thought it added to my “edge”, but the older I got and the more my polish collection grew I decided to just retire the polish on my fingers and pick a new color for the week.  Having brittle nails means my polish chips more often than I would like, and usually ends up with me snagging my nails on things and causing more damage, so after two days I take it off and hit up Pinterest for the next look.

4. How long will you put off buying/replacing a beauty product, even if you need it?
Back ups people, always have back ups.  I don’t ever wait for a product to be completely finished before I buy a new one.  I get anxious about what I will do if I run out of my mascara or a face cleanser so I usually always have two or three back ups in my drawers just in case.  The only thing I have ever run out of before I bought a new one was hairspray, and that was once when I was a teenager and used to back comb the heck out of my hair, which led to an immediate rush to the nearest Walmart for a huge can of hairspray and a vow to never run out of anything again. 

5. What is your worst beauty habit?
Using too much foundation.  I always think more is better, but in reality I just look clownish and it ends up sliding down my face in the Virginia heat.  I used to cake on the palest shade I could find when I lived in NY, and summer or winter I always looked like a little ghost with a powdery face that would get on my black shirts, and anyone I hugged.  After I moved down to VA I realized that less is better and opted for a smaller amount of product on my face, but some days I can still be caught with just too much foundation if I’m having a bad skin day.

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?
Decorating our apartment.  We have been here a year and our walls are still white and we have minimal decorations up on the walls.  I don’t know if it’s lack of inspiration, or fear it won’t look nice if I put up the stash of decorations I have hidden around the apartment, but it still hasn’t gotten done.  With winter approaching fast I know it needs to get done before it’s too cold to paint, and I finally have the colors and some idea of how it will look, so ::fingers crossed:: it will happen in the next few weeks.

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready to the last minute?
Yes.  Well, half hour before we have to be out the door.  It never takes me long to get ready, even for weddings or going out to the bar, so I feel like giving myself two hours will just end up with me playing around in my makeup stash, and trying out some crazy hair idea I found on Pinterest.  Less time to get ready the better in my book, unless you have your girlfriends with you and then by all means pop a bottle of champagne and take four hours to get ready.  No shame there.

8. Can you commit to spending bans?
Spending bans are like diets, I hate them, think they are naughty words, and don’t ever pretend I would commit to one.  I do believe in saving money for rent and car payments and things you NEED to pay for, and I also believe out of every paycheck you should do something nice for yourself.  That can mean getting a coffee before a stressful day at work, renting a movie out of a Redbox (only a dollar!), or even splurging on a new compact you saw in the store.  If you withhold things from yourself you are a lot more likely to go overboard (like spending $80 at the bar, or buying everything that has polka dots on it from Forever 21) than you are if you treat yourself to something small but nice every week.  I’m not saying dig yourself into a hole here, but you work hard for your money, don’t be ashamed of buying a coffee or a bottle of wine sometimes.

9. How organized is your make-up and nail polish collections?
Makeup, kinda.  I have a little organizer with all my samples in it, and all of my lip colors in a box, as well as all my compacts in a little box.  That’s organized well enough for now that I can find everything I’m looking for.  Nail polish… does having it all in a pile in a cute basket all in one place count as organized?  Probably not.  I do hope to one day find a wall organizer to put next to my desk is I can show off all the pretty colors I have hiding in the bottom of the basket, but until then I have nothing  to organize them with, and like a little mystery in my life, so I’m okay with my system.

There you have it!  All my bad beauty habits and my thoughts on them.  I think everyone should take their turn at this post.  It was fun and really opened my eyes up to some of the things I need to work on (ahem, cleaning my brushes).  I hope you all enjoyed it!

Happy Monday Everyone