After College Tips!

Ever since the beginning of May, when I graduated from Ole Miss, I have been stressing about where my life path will take me. I have been applying to jobs, editing my resume almost weekly for any possible errors, and checking my inbox like it’s my job.

However, I have recently been trying to focus on bettering myself. What do I mean by bettering myself? I mean pushing myself, taking a leap and applying for jobs that I thought I wasn’t good enough for. I mean educating myself, finding out who I am and what’s going on around me, researching jobs, cities, companies, clients, and case studies. This has all been a lot of work but it has been very rewarding.

Today’s blog post includes three websites that have been very helpful for me and I am currently obsessing over.

Educate yourself:

I have been trying to educate myself by subscribing to companies such as GoTidbits and the Skimm and reading up!

GoTidbits is a website with “the inside scoop for the gal about town.” You can choose to subscribe to Tidbits for the inside scoop on a variety of cities such as: Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, San Antonio, and San Diego. Or you can subscribe to “everywhere” to learn the inside scoop on all of the listed cities! You can also choose to subscribe to Kidbits! I follow San Antonio Tidbits, Dallas Tidbits, Austin Tidbits, and Houston Tidbits because those are the primary areas that I am looking for jobs. When you subscribe, you will get free Tidbit emails sent to your inbox twice-weekly!

This is a great subscription if you are new to one of the cities listed above, or if you are simply wanting to get more involved! Tidbits has all the inside information about absolutely everything for women, including: local fashion, cuisine, cocktail culture, beauty, and tidbits. There is also TidbitsTreats which provides subscribers with coupons to places around town! Also, Tidbits has a Tastemakers section where Tidbits sits down and has a couple of cocktails with the stars! You can read interviews with people such as Bravo Star Brad Goreski, Lauren Conrad, Tory Burch, Brian Patrick Flynn, Jonathan Adler, and so many more interesting people! Tidbits is also in the process of creating a Social Diary, which is a social calendar with dates for sip and style events. This calendar is perfect for someone who is new in town and wants to meet people, or if you want to score some great deals at local stores!

To subscribe to GoTidbits, click here.

The Skimm is a free subscription that sends you daily emails Monday-Friday about what is going on in the world. If you’re young or in your early 20s like me, this is a great way to stay in touch with the news. My favorite thing about this subscription is that they do the reading for you, you just have to skim through! No need to go to several different newspaper website, or read through several different newspapers, but who reads newspapers nowadays? Sad, but true. These daily emails are a great thing to read first thing in the morning so that you are caught up and know what’s going on in the world around you.

Today’s Skimm included…

• A quote of the day, which was from Steve Martin (one of my favorite actors, he is such a precious old man).
• Lots of information regarding the Islamic extremist group, ISIS, and Iran.
• The World Cup news – who beat who, what teams are playing today, even a special term called a “hat trick” so that you can impress others in conversation about the World Cup.
• News about the Russian gas company Gazprom
• News about Kenya
• The death of Tony Gwynn (baseball legend)
• News about Argentina
• Things to know (Shangri-La is not a place, it’s a fictional paradise from a 1930s novel and is now a luxury hotel chain).
• Skimm Gift (enter to win a VIP trip for a two-night stay at The Breakers in Palm Beach, $500 Lilly Pulitzer Shopping spree, a $500 Travel Voucher, and more!!)

To subscribe to theSkimm, click here.

Both GoTidbits and theSkimm are great subscriptions to further your knowledge about what’s going on in your life, both locally and worldwide! Trust me, you’re going to want to subscribe to these two companies and you won’t regret it!

What’s your personality type?

Tonight I took a quiz that showcases possible career paths for different personality types from Good Co’s Personality Canvas. My quiz results were surprisingly very accurate! FYI the quiz is completely free, the website is not a scam (that was my first reaction when I saw a link for a personality quiz…which other companies actually charge to see results for).

My Results

My results:

• I am both an idealist and an advocate. But I am more of an idealist. My idealist side says that I am innovative and tolerant. My advocate side says that I am empathetic, reliable, and pragmatic.
• My unique strengths are that I am warm, fair, patient, friendly, steady, and methodical.
• My unique idealist traits are that I am someone who is very understanding and tolerant.
• My ideal organizational archetype: Nuclear Family. According to the website, the Nuclear Family is, “Like the Brady Bunch of the working world, the Nuclear Family is fun, creative, and collaborative. Although they’re quite innovative and enjoy a family-like atmosphere, they maintain a structured environment and adhere to a clear employment hierarchy. Employees can expect fair compensation and opportunity for advancement based on seniority (groovy bellbottoms not included).”
• My workplace approach: “You tend to be conscientious, accurate, and methodical. You like to stick to the plan. You are likely to be well-organized. You are good with deadlines. You tend to always meet your obligations. You will more often than not do your share of the work. You hate to let others down. You are likely to be a team player who doesn’t seek personal glory. You prefer your role to be clearly defined. You tend to be more of a persuader rather than a dominant leader. You are very encouraging of people. You are good at delegating work and getting people involved. You are likely to be friendly and relaxed with others. You tend be among the most likeable on a team.”

But the website doesn’t only give you results, it gives you lots of other information regarding your personality type in the workplace!

The website also tells you about your…

• Social type (mine is motivating!)
• Work type (mine is collaborative!)
• Key trait (mine is curiosity!)
• Famous celebrities (celebrities with your personality traits)
• Career tips (for people with your personality type)
• Ideal jobs
• Work style
• How to communicate with people of your same personality type
• How to handle conflict with people of your same personality type
• How your archetype works with others (i.e. rock, technician, humanitarian, dreamer, go-getter, socialite, protector, strategist, inventor, straight shooter, advocate, maverick, caretaker, visionary, and mastermind)

Once you have found out your archetype you can…

• See fit with your job – See how well you fit with your company and manager at your current job (anonymously).
• Find peer compatibility
• Understand your team
• View company cultures – Find somewhere that lets you shine, discover companies and teams that match your work style.
• Explore high-fit jobs – Discover jobs that are in-sync with your personality, skills, and ambitions.

You can also share your quiz results via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or email so that prospective employers can learn more about you!

I hope these websites interest you and help you out as much as they have helped me out!

xoxo, Megan

Beauty: My Recent Favorite Products

Today I went to Ulta for two things: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in ‘Foxy’ and bareMinerals Original Foundation in ‘Medium Beige.’ However, I left with only one item on my To-Buy List (unfortunately they were out of the eyeshadow I needed). Although, I did leave with three other items that were not on my list, because isn’t that what you’re supposed to do when you go shopping? Buy things you don’t need, or at least that you think you didn’t need.

I ended up buying Essie Quick-E Drying Drops Solution, bareMinerals Redness Remedy, and bareMinerals Multi-Wrinkle Repair (pictured below).

 

I am now in LOVE with these products!

Essie Quick-E Drying Drops Solution helps your nail polish dry fast, protects polish from smudges, dents, or scratches, and is easy to apply! Essie also makes several other quick-e solutions for stronger nails, shine, and more! You can get them all at your local drugstore. I used these drops after painting my nails and I went to bed 30 minutes later and when I woke up I didn’t have any “sheet smears”!! I usually never paint my fingernails because I always end up messing them up, but now I can save so much money on manicures and do it myself at home! Thanks to Essie Quick-E Drying Drops Solution!!

I have only been using these two bareMinerals products for a couple of days now so I don’t have any major result reviews for y’all yet, but I can tell you what I like so far!

The bareMinerals Redness Remedy helps reduce facial redness on contact and over time. It is powered by the bareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, which instantly minimizes the appearance of broken capillaries and brightens skin for a healthy-looking, more even-toned complexion. The Redness Remedy also comes with a antibacterial-treated Soothing Compress Brush that is super soft! If you use other bareMinerals products, then I can tell you that it is very similar to the bareMinerals foundation. It is a powder that you tap into the lid and swirl around, similar to other bareMinerals products. When you dispense it in the lid it has a yellowy color to it, but it does not look yellow on your skin! It is a very light product, it does not feel greasy or anything negative. After using it a couple of times, so far, I have noticed that it instantly reduces the redness on my face. I wouldn’t say that I have rosacea by any means, but whenever I work out I get very red, like I would be humiliated to see someone I know after a workout. So I’m hoping that this remedy helps with that over time.

The bareMinerals Multi-Wrinkle Repair helps diminish the appearance of forehead wrinkles, brow furrows, crow’s feet, and frown lines. This treatment is created to work on multiple surface layers of the skin and is powered by the ActiveSoilTM Complex, anti-aging peptides and plant extracts, each key ingredient has been carefully chosen to target specific wrinkles while addressing new wrinkles before they become more evident. The results include fine lines instantly softened, the length and depth of wrinkles are noticeably reduced, and skin looks smoother and younger over time. I know I’m only 23 years old, but I am already insecure about my forehead wrinkles, brow furrows, and frown lines. Why not start getting rid of them as early as I can!

xoxo, Megan

The Pros & Pros of Birchbox

Yes, yes I know, technically this should be titled “The Pros & Cons of Birchbox” but there aren’t any cons! Really! I signed up and received my first Birchbox in September. I have received several Birchboxes since then and I have loved every one of them!

I highly recommend getting a Birchbox because it is a fun and easy way to try new beauty products! Personally I don’t always have time to search through magazines and websites to find the latest and greatest beauty products. And frankly, not everyone has heard of some of the products — a lot of the products are new! Birchbox provides you with sample-sized products to try and eventually love! If you love what they send you, you can go to their website and buy the full-sized product!

Like I said before, I have received several Birchboxes so far. And so far, I have LOVED everything! Some of my favorite items that they have sent me are facial masks, leave-in conditioners, perfume, and lip gloss! I have bought one full-sized item from Birchbox and that was the Folle de Joie fragrance by Joie, which I adore. I spray it on my bed sometimes before I go to sleep because it seriously smells that good.

In my most recent Birchbox I received:

• Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil
• Color Club Nail Polish
• Derma E Soothing Skincare Collection
• Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Noir fragrance sample
• Mox Botanicals Coconut & Vanilla Bean Bath Milks sample

I like to take my time trying out these products because you only get one Birchbox per month, gotta make it last! I can’t wait to try the Mox Botanicals Coconut & Vanilla Bean Milks sample because, like most women, I love a nice bath.

How To Receive a Birchbox:

• Request an invite! Go to the Birchbox website.
• Create an account with Birchbox
• Sign up for your Birchbox subscription, fill out your beauty/grooming profile
• Wait for your Birchbox!

What’s In a Birchbox?

The women’s subscription Birchbox includes 4-5 grooming products that include products from skin care to makeup, as well as exciting non-beauty items! These products vary in both brands and categories (skin care, lifestyle, makeup, fragrance, hair care, etc.).

How Much Is a Birchbox?

The women’s subscription for Birchbox is $10 per month, which is a great deal for such an awesome variety of sample products!

FYI:

• There are men’s subscriptions for Birchbox — a great gift for your special someone, or even a family member!
• Try to be specific while filling out your beauty/grooming profile and try to be open when choosing what you want Birchbox to send you! Remember, it is all about trying new things, so you want to have an open mind!

Now go out and buy yourself a Birchbox subscription!

xoxo, Megan

Why YOU Need to Rent The Runway

This year I became a debutante for the San Antonio German Club. I have used Rent the Runway for every single debutante party and have had such a great experience! A lot of these debutante events require a floor-length gown and my mother and I both agreed that there was just simply no need to buy multiple floor-length gowns that I was only going to wear once. Therefore, I discovered the wonderful Rent the Runway website!

If you don’t know, Rent the Runway is a website that has everything from dresses, jewelry, and essentials such as Spanx, fashion tape, adhesive bras, and more. Just like their name says, Rent the Runway offers designer items that you can find straight from the runway!

I personally am obsessed with Rent the Runway because it is the perfect way to wear a fabulous dress to a special occasion, and not be tempted to outfit repeat. Not only is it great for avoiding an outfit repeat, but it is also great for when you need a certain dress, such as a formal gown, that you will probably only wear once and there’s no need for you to purchase it and have it sitting in the back of your closet sadly gathering dust.

How Rent the Runway Works:

• Choose your “Rental Delivery Date”  — exactly which month/day you want your item(s) to be delivered and sitting beautifully at your doorstep. *Note: I would choose your items to be delivered one or two days before you actually need to wear them, just in case there is an issue in delivery.
• Choose your size
• Type in your zip code

You can then choose…

• Your price range! — One of my favorite tools while shopping online, that way you can avoid temptation (I clearly have too much temptation while shopping online) of items that you just can’t afford.
• Color/Print — This is a great way to avoid wasting time looking at things you might not need, if you’re shopping in a hurry! For instance, trying to find a dress for a Valentine’s Day themed party and only wanting a pink or red dress.
• Length of Dress (if you’re shopping for dresses) — You can choose short: mini, mid-thigh length, knee-length, or tea length. Or you can choose to search for long dresses!
• Trend — Choose from a wide variety of today’s trends such as: beaded, burgundy, color-block, cut outs, emerald, jumpsuits, lace, maxi, metallic, peplum, or sequins! It’s practically like a personal shopper telling you exactly what is in-style!
• Body Type — Which includes: apple, athletic, bump friendly (for the women that are expecting out there!), full bust, hourglass, pear, petite, and straight & narrow.
• Occasion — Which includes: date, formal affair, party, vacation, and wedding.
• Sleeve — Which includes: 3/4 sleeve, cap sleeve, long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless, and strapless.
• Neckline — Which includes: boat, cowl, crew, halter, high neck, off the shoulder, one shoulder, scoop, shirt collar, square, straight, sweetheart, and v-neck.
• Age — Which includes: teens, early 20s, late 20s, 30s, and 40s +
• Style — Which includes: classic, edgy, feminine, preppy, and trendy.
• Designer — Which includes a long list of great designers from A-Z!

How You Rent Your Item(s):

• Select your size (if it isn’t already there)
• Select a second FREE size — This is a great bonus!! I know that shopping for clothes online can be scary because every body is different, but this free additional size makes trying on dresses from the Internet easy! Plus you can measure yourself using the size & fit notes
• Select the days you would like your dress to arrive — You can choose either 4 days or 8 days. Be sure to choose it before your original scheduled delivery date, I would say a day or two before your scheduled delivery date just to be safe.

What Happens Next?

You’ll receive your item(s) and love them, that’s what happens next! But really, you will, and you will also receive a pre-addressed envelope for when you need to send your item(s) back to Rent the Runway.

What I Love about Rent the Runway:

• Free additional size, need I say more?
• You don’t even have to dry clean the dress before sending it back, again, need I say more? One less thing to pay for!
• Speaking of one less thing to pay for, Rent the Runway includes a pre-addressed envelope for when you need to send your item(s) back! I personally dread going to the Post Office to return items because sometimes it’s just a hassle, but this pre-addressed envelope makes it all so simple! You just put your item(s) in the envelope and drop it off at the Post Office, that’s it!
• Customer photos — This might be my absolute favorite part about Rent the Runway. All dresses look good on a model, we all hope they’ll look the same on us but let’s face it we’re not all a size zero. Customer photos allow you to look at tons of pictures that real customers have uploaded onto the Rent the Runway website. These reviews include photos, what size they bought, sometimes their body type or size even, the extra size they ordered, and a detailed but brief review about what they liked/disliked and what worked/didn’t work. I usually read reviews before I buy anything online, and I always submit reviews after purchasing items online, but, in my opinion, Rent the Runway truly “takes the cake” for best review method. Their customer reviews really do help!
• Avoiding the temptation to re-wear an outfit — Let me make myself clear, I absolutely 100% am an outfit repeater. However, for big events such as a party or wedding, I really try not to repeat a dress (at least within the same year). I think a fancy dress is such a beautiful thing and so memorable that it needs one and only one magnificent debut, and then it can be saved for a later date. Although, I do break this rule when it comes to solid color dresses. You can easily “change-up” a solid color dress with new jewelry, a new clutch, or unique pumps! But with patterned dresses I try to stick to my rule of not re-wearing the outfit.
• It’s perfect for ordering something in advance, and not having to worry about it when it comes close to that special occasion.

I hope this helps! Now go rent yourself something special!!

xoxo, Megan