BEAUTIFUL day, no?!

The Mister and I just got back from the gym and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at First Watch. We plan on cleaning this afternoon and I’m meeting Miss VeggieGirl at Whole Foods in a few hours!

Tonight the Mister and I are going to one of my favorite restaurants – Paladar. Help me decide what to order – what would you get? (I’ll obvi be getting some homemade guac!)

Anyway, onto today’s order of business… I didn’t receive any ‘jucy’ questions this week, so I figured I’d share some links from previous weeks:

Need help finding what to wear?
How should you dress for a funeral?
25 random things about me
I help you answer the question, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Hair styling how-to

I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend and hopefully enjoying some beautiful weather wherever you are.

Also — the Mister and I have planned some great roadtrips this summer! We’ll be traveling to NYC, Toronto, Minnesota and a few other hot spots! I’ve never asked this before, but if you feel comfortable (you can email me if you’d like), please let me know where you live in the comments. I’d love to meet up with some of you on our travels! (provided you’d want to meet up with me! )

I’m a little bit fashion-challenged and usually feel pretty uncomfortable out of my jeans-sweater-sandals uniform. I know have some good pieces (thanks to being a thrift store/outlet/clearance rack junkie) but could use some tips for how to combine them in a way that is a better reflection of my personal style.

Well it’s good to know that you have some quality pieces. As a reminder, the following items and splurge-worthy (or hopefully found out VERY discounted prices). You do not want to skimp on these items, as they will serves as the building blocks for incredible outfits.

1) Impeccably-cut pants. Whether they’re purchased at Saks Fifth Ave, Saks outlet, Banana Republic or Express, well-cut pants will never let you down. Always stylish and sophisticated, well-cut pants should never be left on a rack. if the fit you as they should, buy them. You’ll find you could wear them to work or pair with an elegant or detailed top for an evening look.

Examples of cuts:

Wide-legged editor’ pants: For the most part, these look nice on everyone. However if you are under 5 foot 3 inches, you may want to keep the width a bit more conservative– you don’t want to look swallowed up by the pants!

If you can pull off the long, lean skinny-jean, GO FOR IT!If IF you yearn for a pair but fear that your legs cannot quite pull them off pair them with heels to elongate the leg. Still struggling? Boot-cut pans in a nice fabric are a pretty good match for any body type.

2) Jeans. As with the two items above, just buy a decent pair that fit YOU. This does not necessarily mean spending $200. When you find a quality pair that fit, buy them. Just make sure you check the back view. Many times you’ll have to try on hundreds of jeans to find the right ones for your body type. It might be worth enlisting an HONEST friend, or even a sales associate to get opinions.
3) Jersey dress. Fabric is key as to how it drapes. If something feels slightly rough, it will normally turn out crumpled and not lookin’ too good after a few washes. Opt for a swingy’ cut that has some movement at the bottom of the dress, this will mean there is some movement sewn into the shape of the dress so it will not cling to any unkind parts. For those of you with curves, wrap dresses, made popular by Diane von Furstenberg.

I love jersey dresses, because they make fantastic transitional pieces. Pair with leggings and a turtleneck for fall and winter, but lose the layering and wear bare-legged with open-toed shoes in the summer.

4) Your ‘wow’ dress. This is an item that hides all your trouble spots. If you have a boys-figure, it gives you curves in all the right places. Perfect for a special date, fancy work dinner or event a wedding, this dress is so great because it fits perfectly, but doesn’t SCREAM for attention. To ensure the dress is a ‘classic,’ stay away from details (sequins. buttons, etc..

5) Jackets are worth investing in because they really put the finishing touch an an outfit and can dress up a casual outfit instantly. According to the experts, you should pay the most attention to the fit on the shoulders. Narrow shoulders look great if you also have narrow hips; the look you are aiming for is an inverted triangle, the point being your waist. Longer jackets work well for the lean look, so opt for this cut if you wish to downplay your stomach area.
Next we have the classics that you should try and find on-sale (because there are always great options out there)

The White Shirt. If you are anything like me, you’ll stain these in no time — why pay a lot of money for something you’ll end up having to replace tomorrow? Even the best cared for, high-end white shirts tend to dullen (i like making up words) after awhile.

When trying the shirt on, make sure you check how it fits in the shoulders- this will indicate how well it fits you.

A long-sleeved striped top in colors that suit your skin-tone: You’ll have many opportunities to wear this item but it need not be expensive! Think Target, Gap, American Apparel, J. Crew, etc.

Cashmere sweater: Yes, this is a luxurious item but I’ve seen them incredibly discounted at outlet stores and for reasonable prices at Gap, Express, J. Crew. Great layering piece. I look for bright colors that could add personality and pop to an outfit while still being functional (keeping you warm!)
T-shirts: Buy in many colors in lengths and NEVER spend a lot of money on these. You’ll wear them all the time, which means you’ll be buying them all the time. It’s a T-shirt, for cryin’ out loud! dDO NOT spend your money on T-shirts!
Printed silk scarf: These are everywhere right now and a great way to spice up an outfit. Wear draped over your shoulders, in your hair, around your waist, wrapped around your neck — the possibilities are endless.

Belt that makes a statement: An inexpensive way t instantly transform and outfit. Rely on urban outfitters and even Forever 21 for some fun options.

Sexy evening top: Buy something you are comfortable in and that makes you feel confident. Enough said.

Comfy sweater: everyone needs a comfortable piece that doesn’t make you look like a bum. Make sure the fit is still fairly structured and hits you in the right places, you don’t ant to look frumpy!

Leather jacket: Much like good wine wine, these improve with age so scour the vintage shops, eBay and/or mid-price range shops because frankly nothing is cooler. I CONSTANTLY throw my leather jacket on casual or simple outfits to give them a it of an edge.

Now, combine the pieces above with some of this year’s trends, and you’ll be good to go! Don’t try too many trends at once, I normally set a maximum of two per outfit, otherwise you just look like you are trying too hard.
Top Ten Fashion Picks for 2009

#1 Yellow and Gray
#2 Gladiator Sandals
#3 The Little White Dress
Pair it with a jacket or cardigan for work wear with a fun belt and hells for a night on the town.

#4 A Bright, Big Floral Blouse
Belt it over anything or wear it as a soft, flowing jacket over a simple dress.

#5 Pencil Skirts
Look for high-waisted silhouettes and below the knee hems. Pair with stilettos for a modern, chic look.

#6 Colorful, Oversized Handbags

#7 Floral
Pair small prints with large bold stripes and pair bold prints with neutral colors or smaller detailed patterns.

#8 Animal prints
I like to use animal prints in my accessories, not necessarily the whole outfit. Think shoes, belts, purses, etc.

#9 The Boyfriend Jacket
The mid-thigh length and rolled up sleeve give it signature style.

#10 High Impact Jewelry
Think big. Think bold. Think bargain.

The easiest way to add personality to an outfit is through accessories. Look for shoes and jewelry that resonate with you and pair them with your classic pieces to create a unique look that’s totally you! Have fun and happy shopping

This cold has really gotten the worst of me and my voice sounds pretty horrendous — Kind of like a dying cat if you want a better idea. Needless to say, I won’t be able to cantor 5:00 mass tonight ;(

For now, the Mister and I are off to the gym and breakfast! Then I’ll probably hang out with my parents for a bit and the Mister and I have two parties to attend tonight – a housewarming and a birthday — should be fun!

I didn’t get any questions this week — you guys are a truly functional and worry-free group — Kudos!

I did get a few requests for fun surveys, but many came in at the last minute so I’ll take some time with those and post them next week, along with my usual daily routine and “how much I eat in a day” – many of you are curious about both of those things!

In the meantime, check out my guest post at Girl Get Strong for some yummy pizza – healthified!

Have a great day!

I received a question this past week regarding funeral attire and wanted to use ‘Solve it’ Saturday as an opportunity to address the concern.

The days of having to wear black from head-to-toe are over, and while it’s important to be respectful, wearing all black isn’t required — in fact, some funerals request that people wear their loved one’s favorite color in order to celebrate their life. It might be wise to take a moment and consider what your loved one and their family would appreciate.

Honestly, I think you being there is what matters most, and the very fact that you asked the question implies that you’ve got enough common sense to wear something appropriate.

But I’ll give you some insight….
I’d avoid bright colors and stick combinations of gray, navy, black, white or brown…anything with a neutral palette. The point is that your funeral attire needs to be respectful – you don’t want to draw attention to your dress when you’re honoring the loss of a loved one. Don’t wear anything daring, revealing, or showing too much skin and you’re probably good to go.

As far as accessorizing is concerned, I’d keep it simple. Nothing too flashy. Pearls or simple gold or silver are always safe choices.

Just use your judgement and remember that the important thing is that you are spending your time with the family and paying your respects – that’s what people will remember.

Alright, well I am off to run some errands and do some grocery shopping. Veggie Girl and I are hitting up Whole Foods this afternoon and I’m really looking forward to catching up with her. Tonight the Mister and I are making dinner for some friends and going out to see Wolverine (should be interesting…) I’ll let you know how everything goes — I’m cooking up a tasty lil feast

What are you doing this weekend?

So while I didn’t get any hearty questions (jeez, you guys must have everything figured out – awesome!), I did receive a few survey requests.

I’m sure many of you have seen the ’25 random things’ survey, and I got a few requests to fill that out. I also got a few requests for the ’8 things list’ that many of you throughout the blog world have already participated in. I think I’ll save that one for next week.

For now, I give you 25 random things about me:
1.) I believe anything happens for a reason. Call it cliché, trite, cheesy or lame. I don’t care.

2.) The Mister is the best thing that has ever happened to me. period. He is my soul mate, best friend, lover, partner in crime and the only person who understands me better than I do myself. (in a non creepy way ). P.S. you can read our love story here.

3.) I miss performing. I hope I one day have the time to be in more shows. There are few things in this world that are better than the feeling of being on stage.

4.) I am incredibly not graceful. Clumsy, klutzy, awkward, dorky, you name it. If you don’t know this about me by now, I have you fooled. me-1; you-0

5.) Put me in a room with a rat and I will literally go insane. Bonkers — straight to the loony bin. I HATE them. HATE. seriously, grasp the hatred…

6.) I’m kind of obsessed with living healthfully. I HATE when people judge me because of it and I HATE food pushers. I don’t want the other brownie because I don’t want a big butt, OK? Why is that so hard to comprehend? Also– to those who “love” exercise: you lie. Well maybe not, but when I say it I’m kind of lying (at least I admit it, right?) Exercise sucks (p.s. when I refer to exercise I’m mainly referring to ‘the gym,’ because I do really love outdoor exercise like hiking, walking, etc,) — it hurts. we sweat. we make weird noises. we look gross. What we love is RESULTS and the feeling we get AFTER we exercise. But if that’s what you need to tell yourself to get it done, fine, I won’t call you out (I do it, too, it can be our secret).

7.) I think know I am going to make an awesome mom and I can’t wait to have kids . I know the Mister will make an amazing father and I can’t wait to one day have our own little clan (scary, huh?) Two of my very best friends (T&P!– love and miss you xoxo) have the most beautiful baby girl (who I love to pieces). I am secretly jealous. I know after the Mister and I spend a weekend with them we have ‘baby’ on the brain. They make it look so easy! (People, I know having a baby is hard work, I am not suggesting it’d be easy)

8.) For those of you who know me well, you know that when I was a little kid I used to want to be a famous actress. I was so convinced that I would be. I mean I TRULY believed it. I even tape recorded myself on my karaoke machine practicing my Oscar acceptance speech (it pains me to type those embarrassing words, but yes, it is true). I have no doubt in my mind that I could have done it. It’s not arrogance or having a big ego, it’s confidence. I seriously KNOW that I could do it (maybe not the oscar, but at least star in a few films). So what changed, you ask? Priorities. It’s just something I don’t WANT anymore.

9.) I hate talking on the phone. I don’t even like ordering pizza. It’s really bad. I’m trying to get better. I’ve slowly progressed to actually being able to order food AND ask a question. I still put up a fight anytime the Mister wants me to call somewhere. It’s a work in progress. Also other than my family and the Mister, or if I am expecting the call, I send every phone call I get to voicemail. Take no offense, I have issues.

10.) My mom is my best friend (I’m not just saying this, my mom really is my best friend in the entire world. If you met her, you’d try and steal her to be yours — love you momma ) and my dad is my hero. My brother is pretty sweet, too. My family is so important to me and I am so thankful for the relationships I have with each one of them. Side note: I ADORE my in-laws. They rock. I am so grateful they accepted me into their family with open arms. And, I have sisters now! Good People.

11.) I love good food. Even unhealthy good food – everything in moderation, people! My favorite foods of all time — Pasqualles bread sticks WITH dipping sauce, Westerville, Ohio; Ginos Pizza, Ithaca, NY; Giordonos Pizza, Chicago, IL; Pita bread and soup — TAZA, Woodemere, Ohio; Fried Banana, Amazon Trail, Twinsburg, OH (RIP); Carmel Corn, Solon Movie Theatre (also at Chagrin); Pumpkin Ice Cream with Marshmallow Swirl; Handel’s Ice Cream; Character Cookie, Giant Eagle; Pretty Woman Sushi Roll, Sushi Rock, OH; Pancakes (various flavors); The Bongo Room, Chicago, IL. ‘The salad‘; Stone Oven

12.) I hate that people judge me before they get to know me. I am a nice person. I am a good person. Don’t judge people based on pre-conceived perceptions or rumors, judge them by the interactions you’ve actually had.

13.) I converted our 3rd bedroom into a closet. It still isn’t big enough.

14.) My life is better than I could have ever imagined.

15,) I look forward to getting older and all the experiences the future will bring.

16.) I am terrible at ‘grown-up’ stuff. I’m really unorganized with bills, receipts, etc. I procrastinate having to do anything like making doctor’s appointments, etc (I think this is mainly due to my phone phobia). It drives the Mister CRAZY.

17.) I can fall asleep anywhere, anytime.

18.) Although it didn’t really come across this way, I didn’t really like high school. I love everything I did – activities, etc. But I always felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere. I hated all the drama and couldn’t wait to get out. I only talk to about 3 people I went to high school with.

19.) All of my best childhood memories were in the company of my very best friend, Tracy — truth or truth, dirty dancing routines, ghostie, rachelle, ‘put the song in my hand,’ snow white, cheese pickles ketchup and tomato, ouija, elvis’ ghost, california raisins, teddy and hannah, “walk? now? halfway? bye.” the list goes on…. I miss you

20.) My best friends are usually guys. ‘Girly girls’ can be catty, judgmental, jealous and annoying (no offense). I did however meet two of the most amazing girls in college. I have no doubt that they are 100% of the reason why I loved college so much. We are so much alike and different enough to keep things interesting. I miss you girls more than you know. I love you to death and really hope we’ll get to see each other more often. SMA.

21.) The summer before college was probably the greatest summer EVER. Scavenger hunts, late nights at Denny’s, weekends at the Cocos, spending $5 and sitting at Friday’s for 5 hours, Josh having to wait 12 hours in a car garage, getting stranded in Columbus, movies in my parents basement- guys, thanks for the memories. And thanks for accepting me into your family

22.) I can’t wait to REALLY travel the world with the Mister. There are so many things I want to experience with him. So many things I want to see. I can’t wait.

23.) I think know I am the best wife in the world. Don’t get me wrong…I wouldn’t be the best wife to anybody, that’s not what I’m saying. But for the Mister? I’m the best wife in the world. That makes me so incredibly happy. If I tried to explain it to you, you’d puke. I love our relationship and I love that we’re crazy, madly, deeply, wildly in love. Because really — is any other way worth it?

24.) My father is the best man in the world. He can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes. I have so much respect for that man and anyone who meets him always feels the same way. He is the most selfless, gracious, humble and generous man I have ever met. The fact that I have made my father proud is one of my biggest accomplishments. I will always be my daddy’s little girl — breakfast every Sunday, stamp collecting, ‘Goodnight Moon,’ Indian Princesses, camping (side note: I’m fairly certain my dad HATES camping), the list goes on. I love you, Dad.

25.) I earned my black belt in karate. Even though I’ve been out of practice, I know I can kick your butt. I’ve broken a guy’s arm before…that’s another story, though.

That’s all. I’m off! Have a fantastic day — it’s beautiful out there!

Your turn, tell me one random thing about YOU.

Hi Shannon,

I have recently been introduced to your blog and have really enjoyed it. I have recently been laid off from my job and am at a kind of crossroads, my company has offered to hire me back on in August (when my position regains funding – weird budget sched.) and as much as I loved it, I am not sure that I want to keep on the same path.

I graduated with a degree in Comm. Studies focusing on gender studies and worked for a sustainable living community resource guide for a year. It turned out to be a lot of sales (which I really hated) and the owners were not all that nice. Toward the end of that year I got married to a wonderful guy and realized that I wanted to start our married life with a job I didn’t hate, so one day my supervisor was being quite rude to me over the phone and I informed her I had some thinking to do and didn’t appreciate the way I was being treated. I sent my resignation letter the next morning (after a lot of tears and a glasses of wine:)), sans new job. My husband and I took a month and traveled to N. Wisconsin (his parents cabin) and Illinois to hang out with his family. When we got back I found my next job which I loved, and was there almost a year. I was the Rebate Administrator for the city we live in where I worked with the elderly, disabled, and low-income population. I really enjoy helping people and I can start working the same job in August again but I am not sure I want to take the easy road… I am a runner, gardener (as much as I can in our apt.), a local foodie, and all around health nut! I just felt like some insightful questions, like the ones you wrote, could really help me identify what steps to take next.

– Confused in Colorado

Read my answer to ‘Confused’ after the jump!

Confused,

You certainly have a lot going on right now! It sounds like you have many interests, which is great! It give us many opportunities to explore. However, keep in mind that just because you enjoy doing something as a hobby, doesn’t mean you’ll actually like the behind the scenes work that a job centered around that hobby might entail…

I personally think it’s easier if people were to just STOP thinking about job titles. Try not to think of how you fit into the perfect job. Instead, focus more on YOU and see what job best fits your dreams, lifestyle and overall mission in life.

First of al,l I would recommend reading the book, “What Color is your Parachute,” by Richard Nelson Bolles. It is a FANTASTIC book for anyone at a crossroads in their life, personally or professionally.

So #1, read the book.

In the meantime, I can help facilitate a few key exercises that will help guide your thinking and get those gears turning.

First of all, have you ever taken a career test? YIKES- I know that word ‘test’ is scary! But they actually can be quite helpful and provide a context with which to discuss and examine your career.

I recommend taking the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and the Myers-Briggs (MBTI).

Now, I want to make something very clear. no test can measure YOU. It simply describes what group you belong in, much like a family or club. Yes, you’ll have many things in common with the group, but a few things will stick out as traits that you do not possess or typically go against. That’s OK, for the most part, you will fit in to the group you are placed in.

Instead of trying to articulate exactly what it is you want to do, I find the most helpful excercise to be drawing. Simply draw the life you want for yourself. That’s right, get out your crayolas some scented markers (LOVED those!) and get to work.

Take a large piece of white paper and draw a picture of your ideal life–
Where do you live? Who is with you? What’s your house like? Where are you vacationing? Lose all sense of reality when making this list. If you could close your eyes and wake up with you ideal life, what would it look like?

What, you can’t draw? Me neither. That’s OK. Use symbols, doodles or sketches (label everything so remember what it is!)

While this exercise may seem elementary it can actually prove to be quite helpful. The reason is that it’s a ‘right-brained’ exercise which forces you to focus on your experimental self, rather than reason. Sometimes we just have to step outside of logic, which often sets up nasty barriers and limitations of achieving what we want in life.

Next you’ll want to take a look at who you are and why someone (or you) would care.

Who are you? A woman? a loving person? a health nut? a lover of the outdoors? strong-willed?

If you had to pick 10 traits to describe yourself, what would they be? Now, WHY are those things important or why should anyone care? For example, what about each of those things excites you?

Example: a loving person
what excites you about this? being emotional or vulnerable, adoration, playfulness, happiness, sharing moments with someone else, kissing, etc.

Example: health nut
what excites you about this? trying new foods, feeling great about myself, being healthy, raised self-esteem, recreation

Now are there any common denominators? Any phrases or words repeated? Common themes? GOOD! You’ve finally begun to identify some things that your job needs to give you to make you feel fulfilled, excited and effective.

Looking at these common themes and responses, what must your career include to truly excite you?

One more exercise — an approach based on intuition, or gut — often the most effective!
What are your favorite interests – if you could talk about something with someone all day, what would it be? If you have more than one, think of it this way: if you were having a conversation about those topics, where would you try and steer the conversation?

What are your favorite subjects? What excites you? What types of magazines do you pick up? What types of seminars or events seem to reel you in?

Now of the lists above, which ones fit best with your skill set? Can your pair your interests with your skills?

After you’ve completed the surveys and exercises I’ve outlined above, hopefully you have a better sense of where you think you should be headed. Or perhaps there is a job you always thought you’d like? (you mentioned nutrition and wellness) Do you know anyone in that profession? If not, contact a company you’d be interested in and ask for an informational interview. Just let them know you are re-evaluating your career and that you’d like to learn more about their job and industry. People LOVE talking about themselves, so it shouldn’t be hard to make a meeting with someone. When you get them, ask them questions such as:

How did you get into this job and why did it intrigue you?
What do you like best about it?
What do you like least?
What would you say are the top three traits someone with this job should have?
How do I get into this type of career and is there a demand right now for this type of work?
What do you suggest I do to learn more about this career?

I think one of the best questions to ask yourself in self-evaluation and job discovery is: How do you want people to remember you?

Want to make an impact, cause a change?
Want to be known as a master in something?
Want to be remembered as a great listener?
Someone who brought beauty to the world? (think gardener, painting, designing, etc.)
Someone who was in the spotlight?
Want to be remembered for your leadership?

How do you want people to remember you? What types of words would you be proud to hear tied to your name?

But the job isn’t everything. You also mentioned how much the people you worked with RUINED your first job. Keep in mind that even if you have you DREAM job, that can be completely moot if you are working with someone who makes your life miserable.

Complete the sentences below to explore your preferences related to your work environment.

I prefer an organizational culture which…

I prefer a manager who is…

I prefer coworkers who are…

I work best in an environment that is…

My ideal work setting would be…

When your looking at potential places of employment, be sure to consider these questions…

And finally, ask yourself: when you were little, what did you want to be “when you grow up”?

OK, so maybe you wanted to be a ballerina. While that might not be a realistic career right now, there was a reason you were drawn to that as a child, Did you like expressing yourself creatively? Maybe you liked being seen as graceful and confident? See where I’m going with this?

Now, has that changed and why?

Oh my goodness, as you can see I can go on and on and on about this for hours! I’m making myself stop. I think I’ve given you a great start. Like I said, I would really recommend picking up some additional reading, such as the book I suggested. I think it’s really important to remember that we are all on this journey. You might have your dream job now, but things change and priorities shift. What may sound ike a great job may throw your work-life balance out of whcak! It’s all about evaluating priorities, staying true to yourself and your interests. We never have it all figured out, and as soon as we think we do, life normally thros us a curveball. As long as we stay true to ourselves, embrace our interests and strengths and surround ourselves with people we love, we can’t be too far off — right?

Where are all of you on your career journey? Are you doing what you thought you would? Do you work just to have a job and focus your passions and skills on your hobbies? Are you on the oath you envisioned?

What road are you on? (image credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/)

I received a few emails and comments about my hair and how I wash it, style it, etc.

First of all I only wash my hair (at most) 2 days a week — sometimes less.

Please don’t be disgusted, I promise I’m clean!

My hair does not have many natural oils and if I were to wash it every day it would become dried out and brittle. Even after 5 days without a wash, my hair doesn’t look oily. For example, the Casual Friday pictures I posted yesterday? My hair hasn’t been washed since Tuesday. I’ll probably wait until tomorrow morning. If I were to wash it every day it would become extremely dry and unhealthy and I’d look like someone who left her finger in the electric socket.

Anyway, I love baths, so that’s what I do to wash my body. If I don’t have time for a bath I go old-fashioned and just use a washcloth and soap to clean myself.

When I do wash my hair, I use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Sometimes I put a small dollop of Selsun Blue (or other similar product) in my shampoo, as well. My skin (and by proxy, my scalp) in general is very prone to dryness, so I like to take all precautionary measures — you can never be too moisturized!

If I’m wearing my hair straight and curled-under, I blow dry my hair upside-down with a wide paddle brush. After it’s dry, I use hot rollers all over my head, using wide sections. I have very thick hair, so I have to utilize all rollers. Some people may only need a few. I like big, soft curls and recommend using sections of hair that are about as thick as a pencil. I go around the crown of my head first (top layers) and then do the bottom two. Some of you may only have two rows of rollers.

For waves: my hair is naturally a bit wavy, so this is a bit easier for me than it will be for those of you who have straight hair. I blow dry my hair upside down scrunching it up with my hands toward my scalp. I do not dry it all the way through. I scrunch LIGHTWEIGHT curl refining gel through. Do not overdo it; I use a dollop the size of a pea.

I then pull my hair into a high ponytail and scrunch all the hair into a bun. Using two pony tail holders, I wrap them around the hair making sure the crisscross over the hair in multiple areas. I let my hair sit like this overnight or while I’m watching TV, doing dishes, etc. If you are pressed for time, you can blow dry your hair while it’s wrapped like this.

Once it’s mostly dry, I take it down and use a curling iron on a few key sections. Sometimes I like the way the hair falls naturally, but when I’m looking for a more polished look, I take about 10 small sections and independently wrap them around the curling iron — like this (technique is shown a bit before half-way point). Use wider barrel curling iron for looser waves, and a smaller barrel for tighter waves.

I like to curl the hair in multiple directions so that it looks natural.

That’s it! Let me know if something was unclear — it’s hard to describe something on a step-by-step basis when you are so familiar with it!

Also, I’m really hoping some of you come out of the woodwork next week and bring up some communications/relationship or balance issues you are struggling with. For those of you struggling with balance in your lives, try the following exercise from my first post ever.
Try a self-evaluation exercise (adapted from Natalie Gahrmann):

1. Draw a large circle on a piece of paper and divide it into 8-10 pie wedges.
2. Label each section with an area of your life that is important to you. Examples: family, friends, health, work, recreation, money, personal growth, spirituality, romance, physical surroundings and more.
3. Rate your satisfaction in each area of your life. Think of the circle’s outer edge as total satisfaction and the center of the circle as total dissatisfaction. In each wedge of the pie, place a small dot to indicate your relative satisfaction in that area of your life. (For example, if you are just moderately satisfied, place your dot in the middle between the center and the edge.
4. After rating your satisfaction in each pie wedge, connect the dots to create a new outside perimeter for your circle. If you were to roll your circle like a wheel would it roll smoothly or be bumpy?
5. To have a balanced life, tend to the areas where the greatest gaps exist. The key is not to focus on each individual area of your life but to focus on your life as a whole. (Changing your perspective of your life is another important tool to gain balance.)

Balance is a continuous process. As you evolve you’ll find new ways to integrate the different aspects of your life into a whole. How you combine your significant other, children, and work is a personal process.

Everyone’s chart will look different- and that’s OK! We all rank our priorities differently. But how does your satisfaction look? Are you content in the areas of your life you’ve labeled as ‘most important?’ Notice the areas in which you ranked lower. Are you OK with this? Do you know why this area of your life carries a level of low satisfaction? Identifying these areas is the first step in boosting that satisfaction level! Think about why this may be a problem area for you and brainstorm a few short-term and long-term goals that might help you reach satisfaction in this area.

Does this help? Do you have any other questions or need any other help in this process?

What about other communications/relationship/balance concerns? Trust me, I can help!

The lovely Kristen from Eating R.D. sent a list of questions, which I am excited to answer and spread the love! Just let me know if you would like to be interviewed in the comments. . . .

1. What is your all-time favorite recipe or type of cuisine that you could have over and over again?

Gee this is TOUGH. I LOVE food. love it.

lemme break it all down:

Favorite food from restaurants: Pasquales garlic twist rolls (I could honestly eat these for the rest of my life. When I go to this restaurant I order a dinner salad and an entire basket of rolls. best. meal. ever., Right, Tiffany? ); Roasted Chicken Romaine from The Stone Oven; sushi at any good, quality sushi joint, chicken nine vegetable soup with the most amazing pita bread ever made at TAZA — (I’ll feature this in the Daily Delish soon)

My favorite recipes: Shrimp risotto (I’ll feature this on make it soon!), Italian Turkey Burgers, Healthy, no-guilt chicken Parmesan (I’ll also feature this recipe soon)

Favorite go-to quick meals: PB and banana waffles; salads of any kind; turkey, hummus, tomato, lettuce and cheese sandwich on a pita and breakfast foods

Favorite Cuisine – Middle Eastern and Italian and BREAKFAST food

2. What is your best advice for shopping for fashionable clothes on a budget?

Use what you have! You have no idea how many outfits you can make with some classic staples from your existing wardrobe. Have a black dress you never wear anymore? Pair it with a new belt and colorful pumps and voila! New outfit.

INVEST in classic pieces. When it’s OK to splurge: perfect fitting black pants, jeans, white button down shirt, black dress, pencil skirt, cardigans

Now that you have high-quality basics, no one will notice if you are wearing a cheaper scarf, belt or tank. Pairing less expensive accessories and accent pieces with quality clothing makes those cheaper accents look just as expensive as the key pieces.

But you don’t have to spend a ton of money on the classics, either. I frequent SAKs outlet, Nordstrom Rack and TJMaxx on a regular basis. You never know what you’ll find. These stores have designer brand names at discount prices. I’ve gotten Armani pants for less that $30. I’ve gotten Marc Jacobs pieces that cost more than the clothes at Khols.

Speaking of Kohls, have you seen Vera Wang’s line? It’s pretty spectacular. Great silhouettes. Big designers have been teaming up with budget-friendly department stores. I’m sure you all know the relationships H&M and Target have with big name designers. You can find some fantastic things.

In the end, buy clothing that fits. Anything looks 10x better when it fits nicely. The most expensive designer jeans will look horribly on someone who buys them 2 sizes too small. Don’t worry about the number on the tag. If they feel great and look good in the mirror, purchase!

3. What does a typical day consist of for you? I think your career in PR/advertising/communications among the many others would be so neat!

Hmmm typical day. Let me give you a brief summary.

5:30 a.m. wake up thinking, “Already?!”
5:31 a.m. wake the Mister up
5:35 a.m. wake the Mister up again
5:40 a.m. peel the Mister out of bed
5:50 a.m. leave for the gym
7:00 a.m. return from the gym
7:15 a.m. shower and get dressed
7:45 a.m. make myself a quick and healthy breakfast of one of the following: eggs in a basket, PB and banana waffle or oatmeal
8:00 a.m. leave for work

Work day: Get in and check email (normally about 35-100 pile up overnight). Prioritize. Normally at some point during the day I am: approving advertisements, coordinating photo shoots, strategizing PR and ad campaigns, approving ad copy, writing press releases, pitching the media, writing case studies, meeting with my client to explain our creative rationale, meeting with media reps to determine which magazines my clients ads should run in, sending ads to said magazines, brainstorming new ideas for my clients, coordinating media and consumer events, eventually traveling to said events (this year it is NYC- twice!, Chicago and San Francisco)

4. What was your favorite photo shoot spot? Or what would be your ideal modeling job?

It’s funny because modeling comes across so much more glamorous than it actually is. Most of my shoots are done in studios, which aren’t too exciting! Shooting outdoors is fun, but it brings a whole new round of complications. For example, one time I had a bathing suit photo shoot on the beach, sounds fun, huh?! Well the ad was due out in June, which means we had to shoot in MARCH (not exactly tropical weather conditions). See what I mean?

My favorite shoots are when I get to shoot with the Mister! Did you know he’s a model, too? We’ve done a bunch of greeting cards together, as well as an ad for French Vanilla vodka, and a few others I can’t think of at the moment. Nothing beats getting paid to make out with the boy you love

My favorite acting job was the movie House Arrest. it’s terrible, by the way. I only had a few lines and get this — they got cut! I was also a stand-in for the lead girl. That means that I came into the shot to get the lighting and angles set up and then the REAL actress came in to shoot the scene. But it was so much fun! I got the star treatment, made some great $ and I got to meet Jamie Lee Curtiss and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

My other acting jobs: Commercials – Sea World, Blue Cross Blue Shield Hospital, McDonalds, Hardees, Stand (Anti-tobacco), Kronheims furniture, Subway, Ohio Lotto; Film – House Arrest and a few independent films you’ve probably never heard of.

5. What is the best way to find balance for you among your busy schedule?
PRIORITIZING and getting it done.

I’m a do-er. I get stuff done. I power through, eyes on the prize. I don’t waste time complaining. (I don’t handle whiners well). I’ve found that just getting started is half the battle. Yes, those who know me know that I procrastinate (what can I say, I work best under pressure ). But at the end of the day, I get it done.

I also trick myself into thinking I’m not busy. I give a lot of credit to my parents for this personality trait.

Growing up, I was extremely busy. I modeled a few days a week, having to get pulled out of school every now and then. I danced competitively, starred in many of my high school musicals, was a member of show choir, earned my black belt in karate, cantored at my church and still went to school and got good grades. I’m not saying this to brag. because to me, it really wasn’t a big deal. My parents never acted like it was a big deal. it’s just the way it was. For awhile I thought everyone was doing the same thing. To hear that someone sat home on a school night baffled me. It just wasn’t the norm. I think this mind-set has carried through to my adult life and I guess I thrive when I’m the most busy.

Prioritizing is huge for me. I ALWAYS choose the Mister and my family over anything. Because without them, who am I? You are the company you keep. If I have a lot of work to do, I still make time to check in with him, talk about our day and have ‘us’ time. It makes getting the ‘other stuff’ done easier.

The Mister will always be my number one priority. He keeps me sane, keeps me smiling, puts up with me, knows me better than I know myself and instead of trying to change my idiosyncrasies and flaws, he loves me more because of them. I love you, honey

Also — remember to breathe and appreciate the little things — sometimes they are what get you through the day!

If you would like to be interviewed:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” If a few people want interviews, I will randomly pick 2.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with my link and answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I also received a question from Sophia:

I have a different question: where did you get a degree in communications? what made you choose this field? how do you like it so far?

I went to a small, private liberal arts school near Columbus, OH (for privacy reasons, I’d prefer not to mention the exact school )

I was actually originally accepted into the vocal music program and received a scholarship. The first day of classes I knew I was in the wrong place. Music theory? piano? opera workshops? NO THANKS. I love singing. It was such a huge part of my life, but it was something I enjoyed and suddenly it wasn’t feeling like that anymore. I quit my majr the first day. (Let’s just say I nearly gave my mom a heart attack when I called her bawling and explaining my situation).

I had always been interested in the field of communications — PR, advertising, comm. theory, journalism, writing, speech and relationship studies were so intriguing! I switched my majors and LOVED my classes from the get-go. I was sold. I would be a ‘communicator.’

But what is that exactly?

Well the nice thing about the field is that there are countless opportunities! It’s such a broad topic and have so many real-world applications.

I love the field. LOVE IT. 

I knew right away that I wanted to start out as a PR/advertising practitioner. I love the daily functions of my job and areas of interest I get to explore. Writing, strategizing, coordinating events, creative planning and innovation make up the bulk of my day-to-day work. Because I knew I was committed to the field, I wanted to get my Master’s degree.

I graduated with my Masters in December 2008 and am now looking forward to one day receiving my PhD.

When I was in both undergrad and grad school, I had the privilege of having a few professors who had a profound impact on me. I was so impressed with their infectious passion for the field and they motivated me to soak up everything I could. They made class interesting and engaging. They helped me realize how much I loved the field.

I want to be that person to someone else.

Which is why I want to get my PhD. I can’t wait to teach college students and share my experiences and passion for this industry I have grown to love. 

I like that every day in my job is different. I like that I am challenged to come up with new innovative solutions for my clients. And I like knowing that I don’t know where the road in this field will take me. As long as I’m a communications practitioner, I’ll be happy

Which leads me to my next point…

NO JUICY questions this week! ;(

While I love answering your other, personal questions, I’d really like to dive into some deeper issues. Like I said, feel free to email or contact me anonymously. You guys must be such great communicators that you don’t have any issues! LUCKY!

Anyway, if you think of a communications issue, please let me know. Remember, you can send any type of question to me throughout the week and I’ll address them next week on ‘Solve it’ Saturday!

My friends and family have caught on to this little trait of mine. My secret’s out. Instead of being able to just focus on my own problems, I have to fix things for other people! It’s OK because 1.) I’m nosey and like that I get secret glimpses into people’s lives; 2.) I’m really good at it (there, I said it). And don’t most of us like doing what we’re good at?

Due to my background/Master’s of Communications and my experience working with many different walks of life, I think I’m best at relationship advice.  This is not limited to boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. Is your mom driving you insane? Having issues with the Mother-in-law and her (lack of) boundaries? Is your boss difficult to please? Trying to work up the courage to ask for a raise?

Let me help.

If you want to keep things anonymous, send your question to my email address:

info@thedailybalance.com

I promise not to post any names. You have my word.

I’ll feature one (or two) questions, complete with my solution, each Saturday. We all have similar problems, so I’m hoping this will not only help some people out, but show others that they’re not alone.

While I’m no expert, I did mention that others have found my advice to be extremely helpful. At the very least, it’s always worth hearing someone else’s perspective. Plus, who doesn’t feel better after getting their concerns out in the open and venting a bit (in some cases, a lot). Like I said, I promise to keep this confidential.  

Feel free to use this as an opportunity to ask any personal questions, as well. Want to know if I have any tattoos (I don’t, sorry to ruin the surprise)? Maybe you want me to teach you the art of yodeling upside-down (again, sorry to disappoint, but I can’t do this). You get the point. I’ll answer (almost) anything you’re interested in. Modeling stuff/diet and exercise/relationship milestones/etc.

The floor is yours….