On Pause

Today's post is a really short one because I think I need to give myself some space from this blog for a few days. I have been really feeling the pressure to write content 3 times every week and at the moment I know I have been pushing myself to write even though I don't have much to say, and I think it shows in the quality of posts I have written. 

For the past month or so, I've been in a bit of a rut with this blog and so I don't want to push myself to write content when my heart's not in it. 

That being said, PLEASE let me know if you have post suggestions and things you want to see here on the blog! It would be truly appreciated in coming up with better content for this spring season.

Formatting Tips for Your BEST Resume

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Happy Monday! Daylight Savings is here and I am totally thrown for a loop now that it's so dark outside when I wake up. It makes me want to stay in bed forever! At the same time, I know that the time change also means that it will be light out so late, and that means that warm weather is coming!

 I have wanted to share my resume and job searching advice for a while now, and since I am back in the thick of the job search process, I thought it would be perfect timing to share. Today, I wanted to talk about a few tips I have specific to the formatting of your resume that really make a difference!

Stick to one page | When you are first joining the workforce, you should absolutely stick to a one-page resume! Longer CVs are great when you have years of work experience behind you and can talk about work that you have done for years, but as a new graduate (or even student) only include one page of information on the most relevant skills and experiences. Think through any past jobs, extracurriculars, and skills you gained from college that are actually relevant to the position but don't include anything that doesn't apply to the job you are looking for. For example, I was a member of a club within my major during college but I wasn't the most involved and didn't hold any leadership, so I opt not to highlight it on my resume where space is limited.

Clearly state your contact information | Make sure that your name, phone number and email are clearly listed at the top of your resume. When sending my resume on the computer, I always hyperlink my email address for easy replies and share my general location. I don't use my full address for safety reasons but always state my location (ie. Greater Los Angeles area) so that companies can know that I am in the same area where the company is located.

Use the right tense | When talking about your current experience, always use the present tense to describe what you do! This gives your resume a more active tone and helps showcase what you are doing and working on in your current role. However, when you mention something that you did in a previous role, you should always use the past tense to match the fact that you are no longer in that position.

Choose the right font size | It's easy to make the font size super tiny when writing your resume if you want to fit as much as possible on the page. But remember that someone on the other end of the line will be reading what you write! Either on paper or the computer, you want the font size to be something that will be legible to anyone who has to look at your documents.

Create a separate section for non-job experience | On my resume, I have a section specifically for work experience, but another that is dedicated to 'additional experience' that includes leadership roles I had during college and organizations that I joined where I developed skills specific to my career. I like organizing my resume this way because it allows me to still mention non-work experience as a recent graduate. I also have heard from a few people that this way of listing my experience is unique and it can help amplify my work experience as a new member of the workforce.

PDF vs. Word Document | Most of the time, I save my resume and cover letters in PDF format because it saves the formatting and will look the same on any computer. However, I have heard that it's better to use the Word format of your resume when it will be read by computer software since some softwares cannot read PDFs. I have not been able to test this theory myself, but I am going to do some more researching and report back! Another note on this is that I have heard the same thing about putting information in the header or footer of your document because some softwares cannot read those areas of the document, only the body. This could be important if you put your contact information in this section since a computer program then might not register any of your contact information. I'm definitely going to do some more testing of this theory but wanted to put it out there in case anyone was interested.

Happy International Women's Day!

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Today's post is going up late because I have been sick since Wednesday, but I quickly wanted to wish you all a Happy International Women's Day! This year, I feel like International Women's Day is even more important to me since my office does a lot of work preparing for the day and also setting up events in the coming weeks. International Women's Day was first celebrated by the United Nations in 1975, and now the entire month of March is dedicated to amazing programming. My office in particular is running an event that brings together company CEOs to commit to gender equality and women's empowerment in their offices. Wishing you all a happy day and a great weekend! 

What I'll be Doing for Lent

Happy Wednesday and more specifically, happy Lent! Today marks the beginning of the Lenten season, which prepares for Easter Sunday. It is typical during Lent to give up an activity or item to represent sacrifice, and today I wanted to talk about what I will be doing to celebrate Lent.

It has been many years since I celebrated Lent in this sense and as a child, I would often give up something silly like "soda," even though I rarely drank Coca Cola. We were always asked to do this during Lent during religious education classes, and it felt difficult to come up with something meaningful so an easy or silly answer always seemed like the best idea. 

As an adult, and after my year-long project in 2018 going so well, I wanted to be more thoughtful about how I approached Lent this year. One thing that I plan to do for certain is to read the She Reads Truth Easter plan, which starts on April 8th and goes through Easter. I enjoyed past readings I did, such as the plan for Advent during Christmas, and thought that reading the Lenten plan would be a good starting point for something to work on during the season, as well as being a goal that I think  I can actually accomplish. 

At this point in my life, there are not many things that I feel I indulge on, including clothes, sweets, sodas, or spending. If I wanted to improve in one of these areas, I would definitely try to align my Lenten promise (what I'm 'giving up') with one of those things. However, at this point I don't see myself being realistically able to work towards something in one of those categories, so I feel like it might be more appropriate to set a goal for myself or a habit that I want to create and work on that over the next 6 weeks instead.

I haven't come up with a definitive plan yet of what my next 6 weeks will entail, but some ideas I have include:

• Establishing a daily wellness habit like 5 minutes of meditation
• Being more conscious of single-use plastic in my life and trying to mostly give it up
• Doing a phone detox for a period of time
• Making firm plans to see important people in my life that I don't see often
• Decluttering my closet/belongings and donating items I no longer want

While these suggestions may not seem 'sacrificial,' I think that they still maintain the spirit of the Lenten season by allowing for personal growth, wellness, and reflection. And though I don't have it all planned out in advance, I am giving myself the flexibility to make changes along the way and adapt to what I need throughout the next month and a half. Especially since this is the first time I'm truly participating in Lent in a long time, I know that I can build and improve over the years to come as well. 

If you celebrate, what are you doing this year for Lent? What do you think about taking a more relaxed approach to the season?

5 Ways to Make the Most of a Spring Snow Day

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March has decided to bring more snow along with it! We have gotten more snow overnight than the past few snowstorms combined, and I am getting to the point in the winter where as soon as I see sunshine, I want to put on a t-shirt and banish all my turtlenecks to storage.

If you have a snow day today like the one that's happening in my town, here are few ways to keep yourself dreaming of spring even in the cold.

Give yourself an at-home manicure and paint your nails a bright, springy color. Manicures are hard to maintain on a regular basis unless you get into the habit, and there is no better time to start than now! Pick out a bright red, fun blue, or pastel purple to really amplify the spring vibes.

Read a book that you would normally pick up for a beach vacation. I don't often reach for fiction or beach reads in the middle of the winter, but put yourself in the mindset of warm, sunny days by grabbing a light book to read, whether it's a new pick or an old favorite.

Do an early spring cleaning and make a list of the items you need to add to your wardrobe. Hopefully in a few weeks, we'll be pulling our spring clothes out of our closets for good, so get a head start by going through what you have. Anything that doesn't "spark joy" can be put in a donate pile, and hang the rest in your closet so that it will be ready when the first warm day strikes. If you find gaps in your wardrobe once you get rid of what you no longer want, create a list of items that you need to purchase for the season.

Check in with or start your own bucket list. A day off is the perfect time to check in with your goals and see how the past two months have gone. If you haven't started a bucket list, it's also not too late. You still have 10 months left for a yearly bucket list or create a 101 in 1001 list that will last you for a few years.

Watch a movie set in the spring or summertime. Sometimes watching a movie or show is the best way to escape our current weather for something different. There are so many great movies with spring or summer settings, and watching something on TV is the best kind of luxury to enjoy during a day off.

Bold Career Move: Reach Out

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Happy Friday! This week, I made the switch from full-time to part-time for my internship since I am buckling down and really getting job applications written and sent, and so I have done a lot of thinking this week about how to apply for jobs and the best tricks I have learned over the past year or more.

I plan on doing a full post about my internship at the end of my experience, but in the meantime, I will be sharing some more of my tips and tricks for writing resumes, cover letters, and applying for jobs in general. Today, I want to talk about something that I finally took the plunge to do, and that would be reaching out to old friends, acquaintances, and connections to learn more about jobs.

Generally speaking, I am a pretty outgoing person, but I really dislike having to reach out to people with whom I have lost touch to ask for a favor. I have never been able to put my finger on exactly why that is, but I value genuine contact and never want anyone to think that I am using them for information. As I was applying for a few jobs this week, I found out some old acquaintances from high school work at some of the companies I was looking into, and I hemmed and hawed about shooting them a message on LinkedIn.

But, I decided that it was worth a shot and I had very little to lose since I hadn't been close with any of these connections in quite some time. And as it turns out (big surprise here), everyone was really helpful, glad to hear from me, and not scary even one bit. I'm super glad that I took a chance on reaching out to a few old friends because now it will be less scary to reach out to people I know even less! Plus, maybe reconnecting with one of these acquaintances will lead to a great new job offer?!

The moral of the story is this: if you have been nervous about reaching out to someone, whether it be someone you have never met or an old friend with whom you've lost touch, now is your chance! It just might be the push that lands you your next dream.

Feeling Uninspired

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Since September, I have done an awesome job of posting three times a week with no breaks. I am super proud of that fact! College was rough for this blog in the sense that I would post like crazy in the summer and stop dead in my tracks once the semester hit. My growth took a serious hit because  I wasn't posting consistently, and though I can't change the past, I'm really happy with what I've accomplished with my blog since graduating.

Despite this, I need to admit that I have been having a difficult time coming up with engaging ideas for blog posts the past week or so. I go through spurts where I can think of a million ideas (like during the holidays) and other times when I just can't think of what to post. I am currently in one of these ruts, and I need your help! 

If you love reading my blog and have an idea that you want me to talk about, send me a DM @enviherment on Instagram or via email to enviherment@gmail.com. While it can seem like blogging is a total one-man show, the truth is that blogging takes a village! It makes the world of difference knowing what kind of content your readers love, and I want to continue posting three times a week for you all. So help me out and let me know more about what YOU want to see here at EnviHERment!

6 Career Books on my To-Read List

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As you probably know by now, I absolutely love GoodReads and have been tracking all my books read for the past year. In 2019, my goal is to read 30 books and I am feeling pretty confident about hitting that goal. I just finished reading the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy over the weekend and the next book that I picked up to read is the 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris. Career, leadership, and personal development books are some of my favorites, and I have so many on my list that I want to check out during 2019. Today,  I wanted to share a few of the books that I am most excited to read!

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

"Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until Emotional Intelligence, we could only guess why. Daniel Goleman's brilliant report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new insight into our “two minds”—the rational and the emotional—and how they together shape our destiny. Through vivid examples, Goleman delineates the five crucial skills of emotional intelligence, and shows how they determine our success in relationships, work, and even our physical well-being. What emerges is an entirely new way to talk about being smart.  The best news is that “emotional literacy” is not fixed early in life. Every parent, every teacher, every business leader, and everyone interested in a more civil society, has a stake in this compelling vision of human possibility."

Getting from College to Career by Lindsey Pollack

"How do you get a job without experience and get experience without a job? It's the question virtually every college student or recent graduate faces. In Getting from College to Career, Lindsey Pollak offers the first definitive guide to building the experience, skills, and confidence you need before starting your first major job search. Her 90 action-oriented tips include strategies ranging from the simple to the expert, including: Avoid the biggest mistake in career prep and job hunting, Subscribe to a daily newspaper, E-mail like a professional, Make every event a networking success, Practice the eight essentials of internship achievement, Perform five minutes of stand-up, Overprepare for interviews, Persist. Getting from College to Career gives you the essential information and guidance you need to get your foot in the door of the real world. Don't start your first job search without it!"

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

"When our embarrassments and fears lie, we often listen to them anyway. They thwart our gratitude, acceptance, and compassion—our goodness. They insist, “I am not worthy.” But we are worthy—of self-discovery, personal growth, and boundless love. With Brené Brown’s game-changing New York Times bestseller The Gifts of Imperfection—which has sold more than 2 million copies in more than 30 different languages, and Forbes recently named one of the "Five Books That Will Actually Change Your Outlook On Life"—we find courage to overcome paralyzing fear and self-consciousness, strengthening our connection to the world. A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living, rather than just the average self-help book, with this groundbreaking work Brené Brown, Ph.D., bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an “imperfect” life and embracing living authentically. Brown’s “ten guideposts”  are benchmarks for authenticity that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty—a perfectly imperfect life. Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to “dig deep” and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can’t hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection."

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

"You Are a Badass is the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don't want to get busted doing it. In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you've never made before. By the end of You Are a Badass, you'll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can't change, how to change what you don't love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass."

WorkParty by Jaclyn Johnson

"First, we leaned in. Now we stand up. Jaclyn Johnson—the founder and CEO behind Create & Cultivate, the fastest growing online platform and conference for millennial women in business— offers a rallying cry for a new generation of women who are redefining the meaning of work on their own terms: WorkParty. Women who want it all and more, and guess what? They can have it. Jaclyn suffered a massive blow in her early twenties. She was on an upward career climb and confidently moved across the country for a job—and then, was abruptly let go. Attempting to turn that closed door into an open window, she launched a company with a trusted business partner. Soon after, she discovered said business partner had made detrimental decisions to the company without her knowledge. Before she knew it, she was in the throes of a brutal business partner break up. She was only twenty-four. Determined to bounce back, Jaclyn overhauled the mess that was her life and by the time she was in her early thirties, she had sold a company and launched the much-buzzed about Create & Cultivate platform—and advised and invested in multiple million-dollar projects at the same time. So, how did she do it? In WorkParty, Jaclyn shows how she turned distrust into determination, frustration into fuel, and heartache into hard work—and how you can, too.  With stories from leading female entrepreneurs including Christene Barberich (co-founder of Refinery29), Alli Webb, (creator of Drybar), Morgan Debaun (founder of Blavity), Jen Gotch of Ban.do, Rebecca Minkoff, and Kendra Scott, you will learn the tips and tricks from the best in the business while cultivating the passion and happiness you need to succeed. By embracing failure and reconciling your femininity with being a boss, you’ll join the movement that is WorkParty—and have fun along the way."

You're Not Lost by Maxie McCoy 

"A tough-loving guide to figuring out your next steps and believing in yourself enough to take them. If there's one phrase women’s leadership expert Maxie McCoy hears over and over again in talking to young women, it's "I'm so lost." Not only do they doubt the direction their lives are going—they don’t even know where to start making changes. This book provides a straight shot of encouragement to change that. You're Not Lost is the manifesto for a generation of women who don't have the self-confidence to trust their instincts and go for it. This compelling guide gets to the root of the problem, showing you how to drop the panic-inducing, big-picture obsession over "Where am I going with my life?" and instead shines a spotlight on the small yet impactful decisions that will take you from lost to found. With step-by-step advice, thought-provoking exercises, and real-life stories from Maxie and other inspirational women who have been there and succeeded, this book is an energizing action plan for getting to the amazing career and life you deserve."

2019 Oscar-Nominated Movies I Saw this Year

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Happy Friday! Sorry for another late post this week, but I am still recovering from being away last weekend and didn't have time to schedule my posts in advance like I normally do. Since this weekend is the Oscars, I wanted to share a few of the movies that I saw this year which are nominated for awards. I'm not a huge movie person, so I really haven't seen most of the films this year, but here's an overview of the few films I did go see that managed to be nominated.

Bohemian Rhapsody

I am a huge classic rock fan and Queen is one of my favorite bands from the 70s. I really, really enjoyed this film and thought that Rami Malek did an amazing portrayal of Freddie Mercury, but I think I would have loved this film regardless even if only for the music.

First Man

Space movies are another one of my favorite genres of film (I also love Gravity and Apollo 13, and really need to see Hidden Figures and Interstellar!), and I love Ryan Gosling so this film was another favorite of mine this year. Space always gives me space for reflection because you really get a sense for how small you are in relation to the world. Plus, the added storyline about Neil Armstrong's family life and the loss of his daughter added another layer to his story that was new to me.

Christopher Robin

I saw quite a few Disney movies this year, one of which was Christopher Robin. I definitely didn't love this film as much I as truly love the original Winnie the Pooh movies, but the movie did do a great job of combining live action and animation, so it is clear why it is nominated for visual effects.

Incredibles 2

I was never a big Incredibles fan, but I did enjoy this second movie (despite how creepy this is). This was a classic feel-good Pixar film and had such major hype around it that I'm not surprised that it was nominated this year.

Bao

Bao was the short film that accompanied Incredibles 2 and it was so cute! I loved this story about family and growing up, through the lens of food. So many of my family memories are related to the food we eat both on a daily basis and at holidays. Pixar always makes excellent short films, and this one was no exception!

Green Book (partial)

Last weekend while I was away, I caught the last 30 minutes of Green Book while some friends were watching. I can't speak to the movie too much since I didn't see the film in full, but I am always intrigued by films that show Italian-American families and the stereotypes and prejudices that are inherent in these familial relationships. Without seeing the film in full, it's hard to give a particular opinion on the movie, but I did enjoy the part that I saw.

Crazy Rich Asians (not nominated!?)

I LOVED Crazy Rich Asians. I have read all 3 books and loved them, but the movie is what truly blew me away. I am so shocked that it was not nominated for a single Oscar! Given its important place in history with the first all-Asian cast in 25 years, I was certain that Crazy Rich Asians would have won itself a spot for Academy Award nominations. I'm excited for the sequels to come out in theatres, so I have high hopes that Crazy Rich Asians will steal the Oscars spotlight at least once before the series is over.

Mary Poppins Returns

Lastly, the new Mary Poppins movie is one that I have been DYING to see but just haven't had time for. This movie has a few nominations and I am curious to see how well it holds up. As a Disney purist, I have a hard time imagining anyone other than the beloved Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, but I hope that Emily Blunt surprises me and really knocks it out of the park when I finally get the chance to watch!

Weekend Update: Visiting my College

Hope everyone is enjoying their week! This week is a little bit short for me since I took Monday off for President's Day. I went back to my college campus to visit my friends and help my dance team with some choreography for their showcase. I had the most jam-packed weekend ever and am feeling super tired, so I'm going to do a mini update and share what I did during the weekend.

I got in on Saturday afternoon and spent the day exploring campus, hanging out with my sorority little and seeing a few of my best friends who graduated with me. I tried one of the new counter-service restaurants that opened up right near campus, which was a yummy kebab place. I wanted to make it to our lacrosse game, but unfortunately, I didn't end up going and it was so cold anyway that I probably would not have wanted to sit there. In the evening, I went out with friends for pho and Vietnamese food; I'm not the biggest pho fan so I got the shrimp fried rice with coconut curry sauce and it was SO good! Then, of course, we stopped at The Charmery for ice cream and 13.5% Wine Bar for drinks.

Sunday was a full day of brunch at the wonderful Miss Shirley's Cafe, followed by a dance rehearsal, catching up with friends, and going to my sorority's chapter meeting. My intention in going was to see as many people as I could in one place, but I was so glad that I decided to go because I felt right at home with all of the sisters and got to see our beautiful new member class! Some things about chapter were certainly different as an alumna, but it was also nice knowing the full routine and all the ritual that goes into chapter meetings. As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same!

Monday was another full day of working in the morning, followed by meetings with two of my old professors and more dance practice. I am so impressed with our team and can't wait to see how they perform at our show. Last year, our major auditorium on campus was under construction so we had to have our showcase at an outside venue, but this year the building is finished and absolutely stunning. As you can see from the photo above, they added a bright mural highlighting our university's crest that really makes the building stand out. I hope that I can attend the show in person to see all the updates made to the inside of the building as well!

All in all, the weekend was so full of fun and friends that I really can't wait to be back for our homecoming once it's a bit warmer outside. The campus truly comes alive during the spring semester and I find myself more and more thankful every time I go back to visit. Hope you all had a lovely President's Day!

Pre-Spring 2019 Moodboard

Good morning everyone! I'm here live from Baltimore where I spent this past weekend. I came back to school to choreograph for my dance team (#90 on my 101 in 1001 list!) and visit all of my friends who are still in the area. We have had on and off great weather, especially days that are super cold but also sunny, clear and bright outside. It makes me want spring so badly! 

I absolutely love being outdoors during the springtime since the weather is perfect for sitting outdoors without overheating. This season, I am truly excited to embrace the seasonal feel of new beginnings and wear a lot more brights and colors than I do during the winter. I love my turtlenecks but I'm ready to put them away! 

Some other things I'm excited about are trips to the beach even if I'm in a sweatshirt, sitting outside reading, and driving with the windows down. I am also the MOST excited to be home for Easter after 4 years of being in school during the holiday. What about spring are you looking forward to?

Reviewing my Current Haircare Routine

Over the past eight months or so, I have been sharing honest reviews of my different beauty routines, including my skincare and makeup. Today, I wanted to add another installment to this series by sharing a little bit about what I have been doing with my hair. I used to have the longest hair EVER and cut it very short after my sophomore year of college, and have kept it at a shorter length ever since. Right now, I am growing my hair out, but come summertime I am sure that I will cut it again.

Since my last haircut, which I believe was in July 2018, I have stopped using conditioner in my hair. I was having difficulty styling my hair when it was short and my mom recommended that I cut out conditioner, which can weigh your hair down. I haven't had any problems styling it since, and also haven't noticed any major tangling, either.

I also have avoided washing my hair every day. Typically I wash it every other day or every third day depending on how greasy it looks/feels. It is often suggested that over-washing your hair can be damaging, and this also helps me have shorter (more eco-friendly) showers.

I began taking biotin during the summer because I have very weak nails that often break or peel, and I wanted to try out vitamins that would help with this. I have noticed positive results with my nails from taking biotin, but I have also gotten comments about how my hair looks shiny and healthy, which might also be because of the biotin. Additionally, I feel like my hair is growing pretty quickly and biotin may also be the cause of fast growth.

I'm not too picky about the products I use in my hair, and right now my shampoo is Keratin Komplex Keratin Care Shampoo. This was recommended to my sister by my hairdresser, and I have been using it as well since it's already in my shower (lol). I don't use any other products in my hair, and I usually let my hair air dry about 85% of the way before blowdrying on the warm setting. When my hair is shorter, I blow dry right away, or else my hair is very difficult to style. When it is time to style my hair for a special occasion or holiday, I will either use this heated hairbrush or a basic flat iron to smooth my hair and make it really straight. However, that is a rare occurrence that I will maybe do 10 times a year maximum, and the results often last more than one day.

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I never expected to have the kind of low maintenance hair routine that I do today, but I honestly am super into it! I love that I only use a handful of products or less and that I am getting more skilled at styling my hair quickly when it is short. The few products that I do use are not natural, which is something that I would like to test out in the upcoming months and years as I hope to become more eco-friendly. But for now, I am very impressed with the simplicity of my routine and the results that it has given me.

Spring 2019 Inspiration

Last weekend, I was in the mall shopping and every store that I walked into had completely flipped their displays to have spring clothing. All the fabrics were light and airy, the patterns and colors were getting brighter, and it had me dreaming of warmer days. Despite the snow day I had yesterday, I am trying my best to keep up the positive mentality and will spring to come faster than ever. I am more excited than ever to break out my warm weather clothing, KonMari the heck out of my old pieces, and add some new things to the mix. 

One thing about me is that I try really hard not to shop on a frequent basis and try to adopt a seasonal mindset when it comes to buying new clothes. I'll make the occasional trip if I want a new item for an event or function, but for the most part, I'm a 4x-a-year kind of girl. The major downside I've found with this shopping pattern is that when I do find a piece that I love, I wear it quite literally to death until I never want to see it again. I know that every year come spring, I will reach for the same few items like my white blouses, lighter wash jeans, and my pink loafers. After a while, I try to update these basics in my wardrobe because I know that I will get my wear's worth out of them. Last year, I bought an eyelet Madewell blouse that I love and wear to pieces, which is why I'm linking a similar option below (and in the image above). I also love updating my jeans collection since I wear jeans on an almost-daily basis and including fun statement earrings since that is my go-to form of jewelry when I want to dress up an outfit.

This year, I can't stay away from all the florals, gingham, and pastels! I'm eager to incorporate some color back into my wardrobe after a winter full of my usual rotation of turtlenecks in the neutral family. My dream outfit for spring is literally a white blouse with a pair of light- or mid-wash jeans, slides and an accessory like big earrings or a fun hair scarf. What everyday spring uniform are you dreaming of this year?

Sustainable Product Swap: Makeup Eraser Washcloth

Swapping out my beauty routine for sustainable products is one of my big goals for 2019. Around Christmas time, I had heard a lot of things about the Makeup Eraser washcloths and saw videos of them truly melting away people's makeup with warm water and nothing else. I was skeptical of this at first but was so glad when I received two Makeup Erasers for Christmas, which meant that I could give them a try for myself.

I have to say that I am a total convert! I don't wear a ton of makeup on a daily basis (you can see my makeup routine for work here), and these cloths are perfect for wiping away every last drop of makeup that I wear. I will usually take my makeup off with the Eraser before going in the shower, where I will wash my face more thoroughly. Though I haven't tried heavy duty makeup removal with the Eraser, I am confident that it would take off everything or almost everything rather easily. I probably use each cloth for a week before I put it in the wash and use my second cloth (the perk of having more than one) but you can wash yours more or less frequently depending on the amount of makeup you wear and how often you do your laundry. 

Here are the before and after shots of my Makeup Eraser washcloth! The before image is right out of the wash, and the after image is after using the cloth for a few days to take off my makeup which, as you can see, is mostly mascara. 

I really, really love this washcloth for removing my makeup! Not only is it so soft and great at removing my makeup gently, but it doesn't contribute to landfill waste like normal makeup remover wipes do. Most regular makeup wipes take around 100 years to decompose in a landfill, and though the Makeup Eraser will still require you to wash either by hand or in the washing machine, the footprint that one Eraser cloth has on the environment is far less than all the Neutrogena wipes I've used in my lifetime.

A small caveat here: the Makeup Eraser is made of polyester, which can take 200+ years to decompose, but ultimately is a single purchase that will last years and years, if not a lifetime. By comparison to the disposable wipes, the Makeup Eraser is more sustainable by a long shot, but it would be great to see the Makeup Eraser technology being used on natural fabrics, like cotton, that will decompose over time.

My overall opinion is to highly recommend the Makeup Eraser if you are looking for a way to swap out your routine purchase of makeup remover wipes by the case-full. The cloth is so soft, gentle on skin, and not stripping at all, plus the environmental impact it will have on keeping wipes out of landfills is worth it!

Is There a Difference Between Intuition and Emotional Intelligence?

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The first time I ever took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was in high school for an English class. I had never heard of the indicator before but quickly came to appreciate it when I found out that I was an ENFJ (Extroversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging). I felt like this designation made so much sense and really used my results as a tool to guide the way I understood certain situations that I found myself in throughout high school. In particular, the "intuitive" part stood out to me because I always felt that I was very skilled at reading people, picking up on emotional cues, and showing empathy for others. 

It wasn't until I was a junior in college when one of my favorite professors literally laughed at me for saying that I was "intuitive" according to Myers-Briggs that I had to start reconsidering how I defined intuition in my life. In general, intuition is defined as "quick and ready insight" or "the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference." But, when it comes to Myers-Briggs, intuition means something a bit different.

According to the Myers & Briggs Foundation, intuition is the opposite of sensing, and explain opposing ways of how we pay attention to the world. With sensing, we use our five senses and focus on the details of an event or occurrence, while intuition focuses on patterns and impressions. People who are intuitive generally prefer abstract ideas to concrete realities. 

As an extremely detail-oriented individual (and someone who has taken the Type Indicator multiple times), I now realize that my preferences lean more towards sensing than intuition, but at times I can swing more towards the N side of the dichotomy. I often find that this correlates with events going on in my life, and periods of stress versus calm sometimes cause me to sway one way or the other.

However, I have spent a lot of time over the years wondering why it could be that I feel so intuitive if I really am a senser. While I truly disagree with the idea that your Myers-Briggs type is permanent and never changes, I think that ultimately my feelings of intuition are really strong capabilities in emotional intelligence.

Popularized by Daniel Goleman, who wrote a book of the same name, emotional intelligence is "the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically." Sounds an awful lot like the intuition I was describing above, right? Well, the Emotional Intelligence Network says that emotional intelligence is a head thing, while intuition is a heart thing. And in a post on Daniel Goleman's website, a colleague says that the set of skills we would associate with being able to read a room or have an intuition about an environment is a type of sensing. So in the end, this ends up being a pretty confusing distinction. Right now, my opinion is that intuition, in its most popular definition, is more of a "sense" and that emotional intelligence also falls into this category, while intuition as Myers-Briggs defines it is definitely a different concept altogether. Leave it to MB to choose the most confusing wording EVER. (If you are interested in learning more about the history of Myers-Briggs, this book was great and full of really interesting information!)

I have yet to read Goleman's book, but it's at the top of my to-read list, so I will definitely update you all on anything I discover by reading it. I'd love to hear what you think about intuition, sensing, and emotional intelligence. Can they coexist? And how do you feel about the way Myers-Briggs defines these words?

Book Review: Give A Sh*t by Ashlee Piper

If you are looking for a great introductory book about being sustainable and environmentally friendly, RUN (don't walk) to your nearest public library and pick up a copy of Give a Sh*t by Ashlee Piper!

This book, which Piper describes as a practical handbook, is hands down the best book I've read so far about how to live a sustainable life. She absolutely nails the idea that you don't have to do it all in order to be eco-friendly, and that even just trying to stick to one or two things, like not using single-use plastic or eating mostly meat-free can make a huge impact on your environmental footprint. 

Give a Sh*t is broken down into 5 categories, In your Home, In the Kitchen, In your Closet, In the Mirror, and In the Wild. Each chapter mixes whimsical anecdotes, mind-blowing facts from credible sources, and a boat-load of sass, innuendos, and curse words. I haven't laughed so hard reading a book about the environment ever, and Ashlee made me want to tear apart my closet, purchase a reusable straw, and only use homemade cleaning products for the rest of all time. I really believe that her laidback approach to the topic is what makes Give a Sh*t so great — so many environmental guidebooks are serious, dense, or specific to a particular topic (like Wear No Evil by Greta Eagan), but Piper captures just enough of everything and doesn't make you feel bad if you can't do it all. 

Now, if impolite vocabulary is not your cup of tea, I completely understand! But I think that there is still a lot to learn from this book. I don't generally prefer mass use of curse words for no reason, but Piper strikes a unique balance that made me totally okay with her choice of language. There's really no harm in giving this book a shot! Just make sure to borrow, rent, or digitally read the book so that you're not wasting paper. 

Overall, this book was an 11/10 for me, and I can easily see this becoming a go-to gift for people who are looking to be more conscious of their impact. I haven't purchased a book in quite some time, but I could even see myself purchasing this book because I think I would reference it a lot. If you need a head start on making your life more sustainable, this book is an absolute MUST.

Pink and Red for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is in 10 days! I wanted to share an outfit using one of my favorite color combinations of pink and red that I would wear if I was going out for the holiday. I think that this pairing of colors is so chic, but I can never find an opportunity or the right pieces in my own wardrobe to wear them together. I am also the biggest fan of the thin turtleneck (in any color) so this outfit really nails my ideal going-out uniform. Plus, I have been coveting a pair of patent leather boots, and while red wouldn't be the most practical for day to day, the ones above are seriously so amazing! 

Sustainable / Ethical Products:

Turtleneck from Everlane, Ring pictured from Mejuri, Nail polish from Zoya

My Top Twenty Songs of ALL TIME

Happy February! Wow, I can safely say that time goes by even faster in the working world than it does during college... not sure that I'm happy about that but regardless, this month went by too fast!

This week has felt like it was an entire month long itself, and a few lucky texts kept me from missing my bus stop multiple times. I normally listen to podcasts during the mornings, but this week I have been opting for music instead since I generally like to hear my podcasts instead of falling asleep during them! My Spotify Student subscription also ended yesterday, and so I wanted to make the most of my ad-free music. I have so many playlists that I rotate through, and I try to make a new one each season, but I also have a generic one with the best of the best songs that I love. This is what I will play on road trips, when I don't have a particular mood in mind, or if I can afford to be easily distracted (aka this is not what I would play while studying). While the full playlist is almost 15 hours long, I listed out my top songs of all time above. Some of these are songs that remind me of a specific person or place, and others are ones that I have loved for years. You'll notice that I listen to a lot of "dad" music, such as classic rock, but it's classic for a reason, right? And then, of course, I threw a few oddballs in there like New Rules, which is a very different vibe but a great anthem nonetheless. I'm sure this list can and will change over time as new songs make their way into my life, but for right now, this is a pretty solid playlist of what I would consider the best of the best. As always, there are always some close seconds including Party in the USA, Mr. Brightside, and Wagon Wheel ;) 

What is your favorite song of all time and why? Let me know!

My Routine for Dry Winter Skin

Today is COLD, everybody! I hope you are staying warm and dry this week and taking lots of time for yourself over the next few days. I know I have been dealing with lots of dryness this month, and the freezing weather certainly doesn't help. Spring cannot come fast enough!

As for my skincare routine, there are lots of products that I have been using to do whatever I can to keep my skin moisturized this season. Another note that I think is super important and really stood out to me while I was making this graphic is the fact that a lot of the products I use right now are in my routine because I want to be conscious of using what I have before I purchase new things. I can't say that all of these products are the best for the job, but I think it's important to be honest about what I use as well as encourage you to take advantage of what's already in your bathroom cabinet before dropping major $$ on new products. Plus, it's way more sustainable that way!

For my face, I use an exfoliator maybe once a week. I have been using the Neutrogena Hydroboost with SPF recently during the mornings because I had it in my cabinet waiting to be used and I liked that it has SPF. It's not my favorite but it gets the job done, and it allows me to use less of my Saturday Skin moisturizer. I have been saving that one to use at night because it has a thicker formula.

For my lips, I have been LOVING the Laneige Lip Mask at night, which makes my lips so smooth! I also use regular Burt's Bees throughout the day and sometimes will use the ELF scrub when I need extra exfoliation.

On my hands, I have been using whatever hand lotion I need to use up and the Bliss cuticle oil since my cuticles are probably the driest right now. To exfoliate my body, I use the Tree Hut scrubs on my arms, elbows, legs, and even armpits! Then I will use Bliss body butter (I have a million of these from when I did this campaign) or the classic Cerave cream on my body. Last, I think that it is soooo worth it to talk about the Baby Foot Peel and similar products -- I used one for the first time this summer and it was honestly amazing. Definitely a little gross, but amazing nonetheless. I get horrible calluses and this is the best thing that I have used for really getting rid of dry skin on your feet.

Based on the weather forecast that I can see for next week, we are supposed to get a lot more rain but the temperatures are going to be a little warmer! At this point, I am counting down the days until spring and have my fingers crossed for warmth ASAP. In the meantime, what are your favorite products for dry skin?

A Postgrad Take on Why You Should Join Greek Life

At my sophomore year bid day

Happy Monday and happy first day of the spring semester to many of you! I feel like I say this constantly, but I really can't believe how fast the last year has flown by. So, if you are a second-semester senior, take advantage of every second you have left on campus because those days will be gone before you know it.

This week is also another exciting time on many college campuses and that is sorority recruitment. A lot of colleges choose to host recruitment during the spring so that students have a full semester to adjust to college life before jumping into a major extra-curricular commitment, and now is finally the time when sororities around the country are going to welcome new members into their sisterhoods. 

As someone who sat on my sorority's cabinet (I was online media director) and our Panhellenic executive board (as Vice President of Marketing), I spent a lot of time engaged in the Greek Life community at my school and can say that I absolutely recommend that everyone go through sorority recruitment during their college years. The commitment is not binding until you are initiated into your organization, and so there is truly no harm in testing the waters -- you just might find that you truly love it!

Now that I am graduated, I still find that there are so many benefits to being in a sorority, and today I wanted to share my perspective on why I recommend joining Greek Life. Also, I'm sure that I would write the story a bit differently now, but I shared my recruitment story here if you want to know more about my experience!

I met my closest friends in college from joining a sorority. Many of the girls that I met through my sorority experience were people outside of my major, students that I would have never been in a class with, or met through my dance team. Many of my sorority sisters are engineers, aspiring doctors, and pursuing amazing careers that are unlike my own journey. I am a better person because I learn so much from my sisters every day, and the people I am closest with are the people who I met through joining a sorority. 

I was able to be part of the history of our organization to make the most of my experience. When I joined my organization, it was new on our campus and we had full reign over how we wanted to make our legacy last. It was exhilarating to brainstorm creative ways to make our sorority the best experience possible, and I love seeing the ways our new sisters continue to grow our chapter. 

I was able to gain leadership roles that have benefitted me in the real world. Because our chapter was new, it gave members a lot of chances to develop leadership skills and take on additional responsibilities. I have been able to talk about my experiences with rebranding, designing graphics and more during interviews, in cover letters, and in job applications.

I took a chance on something new that was the highlight of my college years. After reading my recruitment story, it's clear that I took a chance on something that I wasn't 100% sure of when I started. So many people in my chapter felt this same way for one reason or another (lots of girls who said they "would never join a sorority" and ended up LOVING it), and I think they would all agree that being part of the Greek Life community was such an important part of their college experience. If you are hesitant to join because you don't think it's for you, I would once again encourage you to give it a shot!

I gained access to social events and bonding activities. Going to a high-stress university meant that there weren't a ton of opportunities for social activity since most of our free time was spent studying or in the library. As a member of a sorority, I had an immediate group of friends to do social things with, whether that be grabbing lunch together between classes or hitting up the town on the weekends.

I had a network of people to help me with work and studying. One of the academic benefits of joining a sorority is that so many older members have taken the classes that you are currently taking, which means you can get help on homework or gain insight about which classes and professors are great. After graduation, many sisters will share if their employer is hiring, or help you by reviewing your resume and proofreading your emails for you. (I'm looking at you, big 😉)

I learned a lot about myself and grew from the highs and lows of being in a sorority. While there were lots of great times being in a sorority, there were also some not so great times. I never wrote about it here on the blog, but one experience that was particularly difficult at the time was not being chosen as president of my sorority. But, it led me to more new experiences, like joining the Panhellenic executive board and helping run recruitment, being chosen as captain of my dance team, and studying abroad in Copenhagen, which was when and how I discovered my dream career!)

I joined a group of incredible, successful women including Tory Burch, Melinda Gates, Whitney Port, and Sheryl Crow. All of the above women, and many more, make up a great professional network of people who are members of my sorority. Because our organization extends across the country and even has chapters in other countries, there are so many ways to get involved as an adult. I have friends who have moved far from home and gotten involved in alumnae chapters to make friends and others who have used sorority connections when looking for jobs and roommates.

 I could go on and on about more reasons why joining a sorority was so beneficial, but I hope that this helped you a little bit if you are still on the fence or even want to know how Greek Life goes beyond college. Below are some other posts I've written in the past about sorority life:

+ 5 Things I'd Tell Freshman Me about Sorority Recruitment

+ My Recruitment Story

+ Dealing with Sorority Disappointments

+ Tips for Being Your Best Self During Sorority Recruitment

+ The Do's and Don'ts of Going Greek

+ The Greatest of These is Love

An Exercise in Self-Discovery: Let Yourself Obsess

Happy Friday! This week has been pretty quiet around my office but I am still sooo sleepy and can't wait to stay in and be cozy this weekend. (The photo above was from a delicious dinner in Copenhagen that had all the hygge vibes, which I'll be channeling starting approximately 6 PM today ;) hahaha) One of the things that I hope to be doing a lot of over the weekend is reading and catching up on books that I have had checked out of my library for over a month now. 

Recently, I have also found a few excellent articles online and thought that it would be great to explore them further and dive a bit deeper here on the blog. Earlier this week I shared an article from Man Repeller on my Instagram stories and I have been thinking about writing a full post about it since! In particular, I want to incorporate lots of personal growth and self-discovery content this year and I had the idea to tackle different components of this journey in a blog series.

The article that I'm referring to is entitled What If You Already Are Your Best Self? and the main premise is that often times, the parts that we "hate" most about ourselves are the things that make us most unique and celebrating those qualities will allow us to truly be our best selves. I absolutely loved reflecting on this the past few days! 

It's so easy to write ourselves off as weird, awkward, or strange if we have a quality that we think other people will not like. But when we lean into that quality and let it steal the spotlight, I think that we get a much clearer understanding of who we (and other people) are. I've had friends that label themselves as weird because they have a goofy sense of humor, and those are definitely not the same. In my own life, I have a few really niche interests (soil profiles and the history of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, to name a few) that other people might not understand, but I think they're cool nonetheless. And when you embrace those parts of your personality, you offer the world a more accurate representation of who you really are. 

One of my best friends wrote this article a few years back about what it means to let yourself be obsessed with something. In many ways, I think what she says there holds true for this conversation. We don't want to let ourselves obsess over the things we love because we are afraid that they will be deemed uncool, and so we revert them to the back of our minds and make them out to be our "worst" aspects. We tell ourselves that we are weird for really caring about the process of what went into writing that song, or thinking that soil profiles are beautiful for informing us of the earth's health and history. 

What if we all let ourselves let go of the "worsts" and allow them to be our best, most interesting and most defining characteristics? According to the Man Repeller article, everything gets just a little bit clearer when we give ourselves the space to accept all these parts. Freeing ourselves of that extra weight might just be the key to unlocking our full potential -- and it was inside of us all along.

What do you think? I'd love to hear something you obsess over in the comments below! 

My Top Nail Polish Colors for Year-Round

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Hi everyone! I have been meaning to do a few more updates on my daily routines, one of which is my nails. I have been painting my nails every week now (usually on Saturday or Sunday) for the past 4-ish months and I am really getting the hang of painting my own nails. I still need to figure out my routine for maintaining my cuticles and hands in the winter because I get SO dry, but for now, I am pretty happy that I'm developing this skill. I have even gotten to the point where I barely get any polish on my skin from mistakes and slip-ups! I think this partly has to do with the brush size, and each brand's is a little different. My favorite is from Essie, and I love their selection and that I can find them at my local CVS, Target, and nail salon. But, I would love to explore more sustainable nail polish brands too, so if you have a favorite, let me know!

I have a few colors that I use on a regular rotation, and since I mostly like classic colors on my nails, these suit just about any occasion that I could have. Here's what I use most often, plus the BEST top coat to use with any polish if you want a long-lasting manicure:

Most of the "colors" aka non-neutrals that I go for are either summery coral-reds or almost-black darks like deep green and burgundy. But, I have been seeing a growing trend towards lots of neons this winter and I just might need to try something super bright to cure the January blues. Right now, I have a brighter pink on my nails because I could have sworn that it was spring the other day when it was supposed to be blizzarding here in NJ. We're quickly approaching Groundhog Day and maybe Puxatawney Phil will tell us that spring is coming early this year!

Introducing enviHERment!

Hi there! If you're a long-time reader of this blog, then I'm sure you've noticed that things are looking a bit different today, and that's because I've officially rebranded!

I have been thinking about doing this for a while now and came up with the idea of 'enviHERment' back in the summer. I had started deviating away from regular fashion and preppy content, and wanted my online space to reflect what I studied in school and am passionate about -- sustainability, social impact, and personal development. I had started writing about all of those things the minute that I graduated, but I held on to The Scalloped Edge for a long time because I was hesitant about doing another blog rebrand.

Back in 2015, I rebranded to The Scalloped Edge around the same time that everyone was deleting the word 'prep' from their blog and Tumblr URLs. It was what I came up with at the time, but for a while now I've felt that it wasn't the most thought out rebrand. If I was going to make another switch, I wanted it to be well thought out and carefully planned so that I knew I liked the name and would stick with it for the long haul. 

Because this is an online space for women who are looking to continuously grow and educate themselves to reach their highest potential, while also exploring the journey of becoming more sustainable every day, I knew I wanted to incorporate the environment and add a female emphasis to my new blog name. Then one day I realized that the way I pronounce environment -- more like 'en-vi-er-ment' -- gave me the perfect excuse to throw an H in there and change everything to enviHERment! 

 I was shocked to Google this term and find that nothing comes up in the search! I was totally convinced that someone else would have scooped up this play-on-words long before I thought of it, but I'm so glad that it was still available. 

I just wanted to pop in here today to say that if you are a regular visitor here, barely anything is going to change. I am still planning to post 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) with content related to my sustainability journey, personal development tips, and more.  But now I feel more at ease that my branding as a whole truly reflects what I'm all about!

Do you like the new name? Let me know in the comments!

How to Choose A Word for 2019 + My Word for the Year

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We are more than half-way through the first month of 2019 and I that means that everyone is in the swing of the new year and getting settled back into a routine after the holidays. The first few weeks of the year are always an adjustment after a long break, and so now is the time to really hit the ground running for 2019 and setting your goals!

Last year, I decided that I wanted my 'word' or intention to be timing. As a second semester senior in college, it was hard not to worry and compare myself all the time with how quickly I was making progress on my "real-world" journey. It was important to keep in mind that everyone was moving at different paces, and I didn't need to jump at the first job or make any major decisions just because I wanted to keep up with my peers. I really tried to trust in the timing of the year, and it worked out because I ended up with a super cool work opportunity that I would not have found otherwise.

Last year was amazing, and I knew going into 2019 that it was bound to be a year full of progress and eventfulness. I was in a happy place in my life but I only wanted to grow and make this happiness even better! When I thought about my overarching goals for 2019, I kept coming back to the word invest. I am really looking forward to investing in...

+ my career path and finding the best job ever

+ growing my blog by adding resources and committing my time

+ relationships with friends and family, and making more plans

+ personal development through reading, self-care, and ongoing education

via Pinterest

The process of deciding my Word for 2019 was actually much simpler than I thought it would be. Here's what I did when reflecting on the previous year and determining my new goals.

1. I started by thinking back on the past year, recalling my previous word and judging how well that word served me in 2018. I was pretty happy with the word that I picked and thought that I made lots of great progress in that department during 2018, so that was great! I made note of things that I did well and things that I needed improvement on so that I could use those to fuel my 2019 intention.

2. I spent a few days thinking about what I wanted to accomplish in 2019. I struggled a little bit at first since 2018 had been wonderful and I wasn't looking to make any major changes. But, I managed to come up with things that I wanted to pursue, such as the blog growth and commitment to making plans that I mentioned above. 

3. I brainstormed words that related to these topics and wrote them all down in a note on my phone. Some of my initial words included rise, reach, and manifest.

4. I wrote out a list of how each of my potential words could be used in a variety of contexts. With the word reach, for example, I wrote things like reach out, reach for the stars, and reach new heights.

5. Based on these lists, I was able to determine which word most closely aligned with the goals that I wanted to accomplish from Step 2. 

I hope this helps you if you are still thinking of your word or intention for 2019 -- there is never a wrong time to start making progress on your goals! Let me know your word for 2019 in the comments below :)