Friday, July 13, 2012

How To Find That Perfect Self In College

(This entry was written in response to one of the most depressing pieces of journalism that I have ever read, you can CLICK HERE to check out what I am referring to)

How To Find That Perfect Self In College


We have four years in college; that is if you can afford to stay in school that long and you’re able to get the classes you need in time to actually finish in four years. Only four short years to grow as a human being, be exposed to the world, meet your best friends, explore your surroundings and convince your parents that it costs the same amount to live in Paris for a semester as it does to stay at your university campus.

 

That’s right ladies, four years to find yourself before you get smacked in the face with the real world where having cramps is no longer an excuse to skip out on your schedule for the day, you’ll have something called a job after all. Every ‘true woman’ knows how vital it is to find that person within themselves that they are happy to see in the mirror every day, that woman who has discovered herself through life experiences and has garnered respect from the most important source; herself. An American woman is nothing but the most blessed species in the world, from careers and family life to controlling our futures and determining our sexual identities, no other country in the world affords their women so much opportunity.

 

So ladies, take a deep breath, the clock is ticking, but honestly don’t be bummed if you don’t completely find yourself after reading and following these 5 steps. I am three years out of school and still trying to ‘figure it all out’. But hey, I love my job, I support myself and have the most loving friends a chick could ask for, so I consider myself pretty well along the way. At least far enough down the path to offer a few snippets of advice anyway.

 

Step 1: Stop being so dang judgy. I know this is going to sound like I stole some lines from Mean Girls, but come on girls, judgment and cattiness is going to get you nowhere. I know. I have experience. Take the story of when I met one of my very best friends in the whole wide world Freshman year, I didn’t like her because I was threatened by her, but I told everyone else it was because she was rude and after a boy I liked. Six months later she was, and is, my best friend and I can honestly say that nothing changed between us other than I started to learn to like myself and not be threatened by other young women who were prettier or richer.

 

Step 2: Travel!!! As Americans we are preconditioned to think that our way is thee only right way. I hate to break it to you, but once you have traveled to another country and truly immersed yourself in foreign cultures, you may just decide that the Italians really know what they are talking about when it comes to work schedules, the French public transit system is unparalleled, and shopping on a daily basis for fresh food in rambling farmers’ markets is the Spanish’s best characteristic.

 

Trust me, sleeping in hostels with travelers from all over the world and working to decipher conversations with hand motions and your pocket translator is the best way to unlock that worldly diva that is just dying to get out and go running with the bulls.

 

Step 3: Learn how to take care of yourself. Whether you have a simple cold or you are starting to notice that your Econ lecture slides are getting harder to read in your 500 person class, you need to learn the basic rule of putting your physical health first. I have come into my office too many times hacking like a banshee only to be sent home to bed to take care of my pre-pneumonia lungs. Please, please, please learn how to make doctor’s appointments for yourself, and to actually GO to them. Better yet, have a basket of remedies on hand, stock up on NyQuil, Mucinex, Tums, and Neosporin, these products will save you when the time of desperation comes.

 

Step 4: Open up. Finding yourself is a tough job, but it can be so much easier when you seek out counseling. I’m not saying you should run down to the campus psych department and spill your guts to whoever will listen. I simply mean, learn that it is okay to have hard times in life, and that if you cannot talk about issues you are having, experiences you don’t understand our fears that your harbor, you will never learn to find yourself. Find somebody that you can trust, whether it be a best friend, your mom (it is amazing how much going away to college can bolster a mother/daughter relationship) or a registered counselor, get things off your chest and free your mind for real growth.

 

Step 5: If he likes it, he better not put a ring on it until after you have graduated, found a career that you are passionate about, have spent a few years supporting yourself and can verbalize your feelings without feeling like ‘if I stand up for myself, he will leave me and I will be alone forever’. What kind of real man wants a girl who has nothing to offer to a lifelong relationship other than her tidy domestic skills and knack for crafting the ultimate door wreath? What kind of real man wants a girl who spent her college years prancing around campus looking for a husband rather than holing up in the library devouring volumes by her favorite literary heroes? What kind of real man wants to support a woman has demonstrated no real passion, dreams or goals other than to nab him and run down the aisle.

 

A real woman needs a real man, and no decent man would take baskets of baked goods at his fraternity house and the abandonment of all personal life ambition over a real woman who has spent her limited four years in college finding herself and learning what it means to have inner respect and excitement for where she will go in life.

 

Pardon my ranting, but I hope that this gives some insight into how to successfully navigate the next four crazy, exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime years.

 

Remember girls, the time is now to strike, keep your eye on your future, stay focused and go find yourself! 



Ciao

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Back in Action!

Holy 2012, I’m back! I’m probably writing this little diddy to an empty blogosphere, as I committed the cardinal sin of blogs….and abandoned my little space for a long 4 months. Whoopsie daisies! But believe me, I was so uninspired over the last few months, you probably would have gotten tired of my drivel and left me anyways! (Yes, I said drivel, I happened to replace blogging with reading more…don’t I sound smarter?!)

I have so much to catch you up on… but for now check out my outfit today! Sacramento weather has been super weird lately, read: freezing my booty off in the morning and night, and sweating balls during the day under my heavy peacoat and sweater tights. This leads to a serious wardrobe predicament, and I for one refuse to sacrifice fashion for comfort! I think today’s choice was a super comfy happy medium…



Dress- Forever 21 (ages ago);  Jacket- Heart Boutique;  Boots- Coach; Bag- Kate Spade

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Y’all come back now ya’ hear!???? Especially since tomorrow will be re-launching ‘What I Wore Wednesday’!!!


Ciao

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What I Wore Wednesday: Cheap Chic


I’m not going to lie, life is super different as of late. Less stress, and more me time has def resulted in some serious out of body-holy moley-I have time to spend doing what I love moments, annnnddd of course this usually leads to me grabbing my purse and bee-lining for the nearest shopping district.

Last Saturday my good ol’ Southern Princess and I found ourselves doing exactly that. With the sun on our shoulders and the vibrant hum of shoppers all around, we headed for the glorious outside shopping kingdom also known as Broadway Plaza.

While downtown Walnut Creek certainly has it’s uppity-skeeze factor, we were on a mission… make it past the ridiculously expensive stores and launch a full on assault on the Forever 21 to find cheap classy-sexy outfits for her birthday party….

The result of our trip can only be described in one word

SUCCESS!

While I don’t have any pics from those outfits that are approps to post on my bloggy J  I do have a sample of some of the cute work approved pieces I got for super cheap!

Check it out!


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Blazer. Forever21, t-shirt. Victoria's Secret (most comfy tees on the face of this planet!) Skirt. The Limited (old) Heels. Cathy Jean (old)

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Mid-day Starbucks break! Necklace. Forever21


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Ciao

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Claire Pasta


Between my 7 friends and I, we have 5 very specific dietary restrictions that force us to be ultra picky when deciding a meal plan for our get togethers

Lindzy- Little miss seliac’s cant have pasta, bread, flour or any sauce with thickener in it…sad

Marie- keep those dairy products away from the lactose intolerant chick

Claire- while she eats fish, this veggie girl steers clear of anything that had feet at some point

Anneka- homegirl carries an EpiPen in her purse, and has instructed us all how to dispatch it, should she come in contact with any soy or nut product

Me- while I used to love it, shellfish makes my face bloat up like a puffer fish….

So to recap:
No fish
No pasta, bread, flour
No super pasteurized  dairy products
No meat
No soy or nuts
No shellfish

Basically all we are left with in the end is tacos, tacos, and more tacos…

While I love me some Mexican food….let’s just say it is not always the best pre-going-out-dance the night away before meal…

Enter…Claire pasta.

This yummy pasta dish can be made with gluten free noodles, and with a basic pesto sauce, sans the pine nuts or walnuts…

Talk about incorporating the season’s best ingredients, this pasta has endless options!

Check out the recipe and some fun pictures below from the last time we made us some Claire Pasta:

Ingredients
(please feel free to substitute any and all veggies, get creative!)

1 box of whole wheat Barilla spaghetti
Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic
½ white onion
Red pepper flakes
5 button mushrooms
1 package cherry tomatoes
3 ears of fresh corn
1 squash or zucchini

Pesto Sauce
1 bunch basil(you can also use spinach or any other green)
1 cup parmesan cheese
3 tbsp olive oil
½ cup pine nuts or walnuts
Salt and pepper to taste

1.    Set a pot of salted water on the stove to boil for the pasta

2.   Gather basil
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We are proud mama's our pot of basil that we raised from seeds on our scorching hot Sac baclcony!
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Marie picks the fresh basil

3.   Finely chop garlic, and onion…fry garlic and onion in frying pan with 2 tbsp of olive oil, mix in 1 pinch red pepper flakes, cook until onions are soft


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4.   Shuck corn, halve cherry tomatoes, slice up squash and mushrooms
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Cute as a button!
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Claire can get carried away with how much she loves her veggies!...yummmy raw corn

5.    When pasta water is boiling add spaghetti, and through remaining veggies into pan with garlic and onions, cook pasta until al dente and veggies until soft

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6. For pesto sauce, combine all ingredients in a food processor…leave out nuts for guests who may have allergies. Pulse until sauce is a thick enough consistency to stay put on a spoon
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7.   Combine all ingredients and mix well…serve with a nice bottle of chilled white wine and some yummy olives and cheese!


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Buon Apetito! 
PS- Check out this other awesome recipe guide from Food Network to find easy to prepare meals for all of the dietary restrictions in your life!
Ciao

Friday, August 12, 2011

Smile...It's Friday!

Wahhoooo! We made it through the week! Since I am out traveling for business today, I thought I would share with you something that put a gi-normous smile on my face when I came across the post on Pinterest....Happy Weekend!



Ciao

Thursday, August 11, 2011

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.- 'The Help'

Last night my roomie and I had a fabulous girls night date, with awesome artisan pizza and a whole smackin’ bottle of sauv blanc at Pizza Rock, followed by a stroll to the theater where we caught opening night of the screen adaptation of ‘The Help’.




Having both read the book, we are of course extremely skeptical of how the screenplay would portray the characters and heartbreaking epic that we had fallen in love with.

No sooner had we cracked open our bag of pretzel m&m’s , then we were sucked back into 1960’s Jackson, Mississippi. From the rockin’ sweet southern harmonies of the opening soundtrack, to the breathtaking scenic backdrop of the antebellum deep south, we knew we were in for a treat.

And let me tell you…we were NOT disappointed. The film delivered every ounce of heartbreaking racial prejudice and class struggle with squirm in your seat worthy character interactions. From the impeccable casting of southern bells and the strong, resilient maids indentured to serve them, this film went above and beyond the basic delivery of a well written script.

While the film is understatedly thought provoking, it also delivers a pleasing aesthetic and comedic undertone. You will not be disappointed by the stunning mid 60’s period pieces, hair and makeup, and what the maids and their families lack in aesthetics, they more than make up for in personable traits and humor.

This film left me dreaming about these women and how they dealt, on an individual level, with their lot in life. It also made me so thankful to be blessed with the freedoms that I experience on a daily basis, and the privileges of pursuing my passions.
I would be re-miss if I didn’t share with you the most memorable line of the movie, and hope that you take this into account in your everyday interactions with life….just remember,

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”- Abilene, maid reminding her little “white baby” about how much she loves her.

Bottom line…’The Help’ is a MUST see!

But speaking of passions…how about a little dose of my roomie date night outfit of choice? Enjoy!

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Thanks for the awesome shot Claire!
Scarf. some little store off the alley in Rome Dress. Modcloth Sunglasses. Marc Jacobs (via Nordy's) Bracelets. Roman flea market (red enamel), Banana Republic Factory Store (glitzy glam bangle)


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I love this dress...it can go from business casual to roomie date night in a heartbeat! I bought it last year, but they still have them in stock at Modcloth!
Boots. Coach


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I'm a sucker for showing off the booty shot...sorry!


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Yummy bread at Pizza Rock on K St., they drizzle honey all over it and it is theeee most phenomenal mix of salty and sweet! Yumsters!


Ps- check out what other girls are thankful for today, and link up your own blog here!


Ciao

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

What I Wore Wednesday: Maxi Dresses and Feathers

Today is a Wednesday disguised as a Monday, ufff talk about rough day! Even my fun accordion maxi dress couldn’t pick me up out of my funk!

Needless to say, I needed a break, and a Venti Passionfruit Lemonade from Starbucks to work out those mid week kinks!



My Starbucks walk it out sesh turned into an opportune photoshoot for my What I Wore Wednesday post, while my fun dress and sassy Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-esque ring couldn’t pull me out of my funk, I still had fun putting together the outfit!

Hope you enjoy…


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Isn’t this jewel toned red just the lovliest pick me up ever?

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Check out my new feather! If you live in Sac... you have to go see Candice Campbell for all your hairstyling needs (she's kind of bomb.com)...
Ring. Kate Spade (via Nordys) Vest. CAbi (a couple of seasons ago)


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I love my maxi dress, it makes me feel super pretty!
Dress. Modcloth Belt. Banana Republic Factory Store


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Once again, cheers to awesome Target shoesies! These suckers have lasted 3 seasons of constant wear!


Ciao