Week One in Review

Well, one week down. I would say I did an okay job trying new things this week. I mean, I didn’t learn how to make sushi or macramé but I did attempt a new workout routine and freshened up my haircut.


So here are some highlights from my first week of change:


On Monday, I actually posted a blog entry on the day I had originally planned.  This is a huge deal for me. For some reason I will start writing a post and about three quarters of the way through I will start a second post or start brainstorming for another project. What can I say; I am easily distracted (or I am a mad genius, but who knows?). But not Monday, I was able to sit, write the entry, and post it all in one day! Success!


After work on Wednesday, I splurged on a haircut. Nothing too drastic as my hair is still adjusting to east coast humidity or as I call it, one of the devils many tricks, but I trimmed the bangs and added some layers to the back. I really just wanted a cut where I wouldn’t automatically throw it in a ponytail. (Note in the photos below my hair is in a ponytail twice … Fail!)


Thursday was a big day (not only because of the holiday). Since my husband and I were both home from work, we went to the gym together at our apartment. My something new … Crossfit! Not sure if it’s my thing in all honesty. I am proud of myself for trying though! Recently, my husband and I have started going to the gym together when our schedules allow. I was initially worried he would try to turn into a personal trainer and get all bossy with me. It has actually gone really well! I am learning new workouts and it’s a whole new way to spend time together. I also learned he is good at basketball which was a bit of shock. (This just proves that your spouse can still surprise you.)


So let’s recap, shall we? I met a deadline, tried a new haircut, and tried out Crossfit. Not too shabby in 5 days. Can’t wait to see what the next week holds.


Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

"Just Another Manic Monday"

Happy July, everyone!

Another month is upon us and half the year is in our past. If you are anything like me, you are seriously shocked. It’s July? What the hell happened to June? Time just seems to be flying by this year. Living in a new city and starting a new job has kept me very busy. So much so that I have let all my goals for this year fall to the wayside. I have gotten caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle and I am now feeling burnt out!

I am sure I am not the only one stuck in this same dilemma.  Get up, go to work, hit the gym occasionally, make dinner, go to bed, and repeat. The day to day drone of life can take its toll after a while. I often feel like I am running on autopilot. We all get bogged down in the details. I sit and watch sitcoms and I can never quite figure out how all those shinning happy people are busy with work and still seem so put together.

Below are some ways I believe we can all revamp our lives a little bit!

4 Ways of getting yourself out of your rut:

Take the scenic route

Have you ever been driving somewhere and you completely zone out? I am saying you literally arrive at your destination and have no memory of how you got there. If you answered yes, then, congrats because you are just like the rest of us. How about taking the scenic route? This weekend, when you are out running errands, how about taking the long way to Target or one day after work stop in a new neighborhood and walk around? I was out getting my hair cut last month at a new salon (PS- its s’cute) and I discovered the cutest street off of DuPont Circle; tons of restaurants and shops! Just by taking the long way around, I now have a new place to roam.

Try a new style

Now I am not saying to pull a Kardashian and dye your hair “blonde.” But what about last week when you saw that girl rocking a fishtail braid that you loved, how about trying that? I know it sounds confusing and like something you would order at one of those hip Asian-fusion sushi places, but it’s actually really easy to do! Just find a tutorial on the internet (I looked … there are 700 million of them). It can be daunting to try something new. You have hit your mid to late 20s. You think it’s too late to change up your style. Um, false!  Trying a new style and finding something new you love will only add more pep to your step.

Reorganize

We are all guilty of it. We hoard! If you were to look in my closet, you would find 1) at least 3 pairs of jeans that haven’t seen the light of day in 2 years, 2) a crazy trendy weird lace crop top thing 3) way too many shoes. Lighten the load a little bit and de-clutter. Throw all those unwanted, unused, and unnecessary items in a bag and donate them! By organizing your closet you will actually be able to see what you already own! Who knows, maybe you will be able to put together 10 new outfits just by going through your closet!

Work it, girl!

We all have a work out routine, whether it is hitting the treadmill 3 times a week or even if that routine is to put on yoga pants and watch a Friends marathon… Guilty! I know for a fact that LivingSocial and Groupon both have gym deals all the time. How about trying yoga or Pole Aerobics? Why the hell not? It never hurts to try these things once. (Well, falling off a pole could hurt, but it would funny!)

Really this all about trying something new, a new restaurant, a new store, any new experience really. 

Now something new for me:

I have decided that this time around I am going to take my own advice (which is something I rarely do in all honesty because though I am good at giving advice I am also very stubborn). For the next 6 weeks leading up to my 26^th birthday, I will be going through these steps to really overhaul my day-to-day life. I will post mini entries, hits and misses, and pictures along the way mixed in with my usual nonsense. I hope you all enjoy! I am going to be trying tons of new things: you should to! I triple dog dare you!

A whole new me in 6 weeks … sure, this should be interesting! 

How to Bomb an Interview

We have all been there; the dreaded job search that never ends. Perhaps you just moved to a new city or you have parted ways with your last position. No matter the path, you have now embarked on the turbulent ride of unemployment. Ugh … it really is the worst. There is no getting around that.

Upon moving to D.C., I found myself in this very position. I spent countless hours fine tuning my resume. (Well… to be honest, I maybe spent an hour tops working on my resume because 1) I’m 25, I haven’t done much and 2) I am lazy) I did however spend days searching for open positions on the “web.” Do you even realize how many search engines there are for that? Monster, Indeed, Idealist, the list goes on and on. And, amazingly enough, there is not one job posting that is your dream job.

Once you locate anything even remotely interesting, you start to apply. And then … silence. It is dead air out there. Have all the cellular towers collapsed? Has the internet ceased to exist? Nope. Your resume has just been stacked on top of another pile, the height of which rivals the Tower of Babel. (Hey look … my college education hard at work; an obscure reference for everyone to enjoy) Nothing makes you question your self-worth like those automatic responses. “Thank you for applying. We have chosen a select few for interviews. Best of luck with your job search.” Hey thanks,computer,for your well wishes! 

But look, far off in the distance, ever so deem, a light at the end of the tunnel. You have been contacted for an interview. (Insert angelic song and clouds parting)

Truth be told, this in when it really starts to get tricky. I am not sure who thinks of these interview questions but color me impressed. There must be some sort of conspiratorial “think tank” working on these. Perhaps they work with the people who draft leases … but I digress. I swear each question is a little word jumble.

Below are a 5 of these questions I have encountered in the past. Here is how NOT to answer them.

1.       What motivates you?

          Bad Answer: Money, lots of money.

Well, no sh*t. Unless you have applied to work at a) a used car dealership or b) cold call sales, do not say that!

Yes, a paycheck is important. We all enjoy getting one! More often than not, they will ask you about your salary requirements during the interview or prior to hiring. Really think about this question. The interviewer is interested in what keeps you going during a long day or week at work; what gets you through a rough patch. Think of answers like “reaching a sales goal,” “succeeding at the goals I’ve set for myself,” and “knowing that I am doing my job efficiently and to the best of my abilities.”

2.       What office setting do you work best in?

            Bad Answer: Well I am really social so a large setting. (Insert long pause) Well a small            setting can be great too. (long pause) But, larger is good.

Wow, wishy washy much! Be honest. Giving a “non-answer” is the worst. If you prefer a large office with 50+ coworkers on your floor, say it.  If you work better in a small group, say that. If you have experience with both and worked well in either, say that. Honesty is the best route. Think about it. If you don’t like large offices and are stuck in a cubicle amongst 100 other people, are you going to enjoy your job?

3.       What management style do you prefer? 

            Bad Answer: I am fine with any style.

Oh really, any style works for you? I am going to call your bluff. Do you love when you have a manager who micro-manages everything you do? This is another example of a question which you need to answer truthfully rather than fishing for the right answer. If you don’t know, think back to a job where you where the happiest. What did your manager/boss do in the situation? In the job you hated the most, what was your manager like?

4.       What did you like dislike most about your last job?

            Bad Answer: Everything, hell on earth.

Okay, impetuous much? Please do not bad mouth your previous employer. They are asking to see what stuck out in your last position. It looks bad to speak negatively about a past employer. Think of things relating to their management style or client services. A good example would be a want for more contact between management and staff or maybe more in-depth training.

5.       Do you have any questions?

            Bad Answer: Nope, I am all set.

DO NOT SAY THAT! Do you really not have any questions? As much as it seems like you are on the receiving end of a verbal barrage of questions, you are interviewing the company as well. Even if by the end you are confident you want the job, ask some questions. Especially ask questions if you have written the company off. Ask about the things that are making you hesitate. Good questions include:

            1.       Why is this position open?

           2.       Is there room for growth from this position?

           3.       What was your path with the company?

Now, I am no expert. Feel free to ignore my advice. I find I ignore myself quite often. Just remember, you are awesome. You would not have been asked to interview if they didn’t like your resume. Grab your favorite Starbucks drink before, jam out to your favorite music on the way there, and walk in there confident.

Best of luck everyone!

Oh where, oh where has my inspiration gone?

As I settle into life in DC, I have been trying to sort out how to move forward with this blog. I know I am witty and hilarious and a genius and ... Where was I? Oh yes, what to write about. I love to write about random things that I find amusing but I feel like this blog needs a new direction. ( reference to teen pop completely unintentional)

So here I sit on the seemingly longest flight ever trying to decide what to write about.

1. Fashion:

To write on style, one must possess style. Well that counts me out. Okay, so I can manage putting an outfit together ... after removing every article of clothing from my closet and sending way too many photos via text to one of my best friends... fashionista I am not. Now, I do read a ton of magazines, mainly fashion. I know people say this but I seriously have an addiction. I get 10+ magazines every month! Lucky, Cosmo, Vogue, Glamour, Marie Clare, Vanity Fair ... the list goes on. But, alas, in no way does this qualify me to write a fashion blog, so that's out the window. 

2. Cooking:

Unless its two main ingredients are garlic and olive oil, I can't make it ... so pass! 

3. Military Wife-ry

Hahahahaha yeah right! I have no advice on how to be a military spouse. Um... try having a positive attitude? Avoid the commissary on pay day?I have so much respect for my fellow military spouses and more power to ya if you want to blog about it but its not for me. 

4. Career advice

One must have a career first! 

Well friends, what does that leave me with? Political commentary? Save me now if that's all that's left.

Well I guess I'll close up shop. Sad!





Just kidding! Jeez relax! I like to hear myself talk way too much to even consider stopping this blog. I guess I will see where my (slightly loopy) mind will take me. And if you have any brilliant ideas of what to write about, please share! 

Xoxo, Gossip Girl

Sorry- I've always wanted to sign off like that on one of these post and I'm using my travel exhaustion as an excuse! 

A Whole New World

Well … I guess I need to admit it this point. There is no denying it. I am a horrible blog writer. It has been many months since I have posted anything. Not an amusing comment on pop culture, not a blurb, not even a poorly written haiku. Le sigh.

I have been meaning to post for forever but have yet to find the time. Now that I am mindlessly watching Buffy, Season 4, for the 700^th time, I have no excuse. My hundreds of followers (well that’s just a tad hyperbolic) deserve a batch of my hilarious sarcasm and an explanation why I have been absent. My life of late has been rather hectic. And here is why:

Shortly after my last post, my husband returned home from his deployment. General merriment ensued. Life was returning to normal and we were preparing for the holiday season when things got a little crazy. He received word that we would be moving to DC … in just 4 weeks! I left my job and said goodbye to my friends (albeit reluctantly). I never thought leaving the desert would be difficult. I mean I cried when we first arrived. The Target was an hour and 15 minutes away for goodness sake. But, upon leaving, I realized how much I would miss my life in the land of eternal sunshine and fat pants wine night.

Over the last month, my husband and I have been settling into our new life in the city. We downsized from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom apartment. I am slowly developing a love/hate relationship with the Metro system. While my husband started a new job, I am realizing how boring unemployment can be. (I am also remembering how much I love to watch all my old TV shows … Buffy! Dawson! Friends!)

Now that 2013 is upon us and we are slowly approaching spring, I hope to gain back my dedication to this blog.

New city, new life, same sarcasm. 

Why Hocus Pocus is the Best Halloween Movie of all Time

It is that time of the year again. The weather changes, Starbucks brings back the Pumpkin Spice Latte, and the seasonal programming begins. But, for me, it really isn’t fall and the start of the holiday season until I have watched Hocus Pocus. I have watched this movie every year since it came out in 1993. (Thank you ABC Family for always playing it … repeatedly) No matter how many Pumpkin Spice Lattes I have had, which is inevitably a lot because I love them; I am not ready for Halloween until I have had the joy of watching this movie.

What could be better than watching the trials and tribulations of Max Dennison? Answer: Nothing could be better.

Below are my top 5 reasons why this movie is the best. 

1.       The little girl’s name is Dani

Okay, so this may not be a big deal to everyone out there. But, for me, it is huge. I never hear my name in movies. Dani in this movie has a cool older brother, gets to hang out with a cat that is actually a transfigured boy from the 17^th century, and gets to have an adventure with witches. Epic at any age! I am still jealous. Oh, the actress is Thora Birch. No kid was cooler in the 90s.

The only other Danielle/Dani from a move that I can think of is Danielle D’Barbarack (spelling?) from Ever After … but that is fodder for a whole other article.

2.       Amuck, amuck, amuck

Oh come on! Who doesn’t quote this movie on a daily basis? “Go to hell! Oh! I've been there, thank you. I found it quite lovely.” 

3.       There is a musical number

Not enough movies these days have musical numbers. And, I ask you, why not? I cannot be the only person who thinks this. Half the crap that comes out of Hollywood would be exponentially bettered with a little singing and dancing.

4.       And … Bette Midler is singing!

The only way to make a musical number better would be to include Bette Midler. Oh wait, they already did that. Thank you, Hocus Pocus.

5.       SJP rocks!

No matter how many SATC movies come out, this is my favorite Sarah Jessica Parker role of all time. She sings, she runs a muck, she is ditzy and hilarious.

Side note – 2^nd favorite SJP movie would have to be Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Trust me … rent it and you will love it.

And, on top of all that awesomeness, there is a talking cat, a friendly zombie named Billy, and the best use of salt I have ever seen.

So, my friends, stop whatever you are doing and watch this movie. Then go decorate for Halloween because no one likes a naked house. And then go get a Pumpkin Spice Latte because, well, why not?