LBD

   I can never get enough of a Little Black Dress. It's fail-safe - appropriate for work, a nice night out, parties... The only time I can think of that you shouldn't wear a black dress is a wedding, but more on that later. The fact remains, I love black dresses - perhaps a little too much?   I have more little black dresses than I need, I've been told. In my defense, I do wear all of them at least once a year, and I've had many for several years. I tell myself it's not wasteful that way, but I'm not about to go out and get another LBD. But if I were, these would be on my shortlist.

Leona Tunic Dress, Anthropologie, $148

Criss Cross Pleated Dress, An$128

Gwendolyn Dress, Kate Spade, $378

Geometric Jewel Diana Dress, Kate Spade, $428

 Alme Dress, Kate Spade, $385

   I like dresses with some structure, especially around the waist. Baggy clothes, to me, are for lounging around. What do you look for in a LBD? 

Bauble Bar

   Recently I've registered Bauble Bar (it's free, just give your email) - an online jewelry store. According to the site, they cut out any middle men, and thus bring down the price of their jewelry. No matter how they do it, they have some great values! I think it would be nice for not-too-expensive, trendy jewelry that you only expect to wear for a year, and a lot of them are look-a-likes for other, pricier name brands. Here are a few of my favorites:

$22

Compare to this, $725

Available in more colors, $38

Compare to this, $150

$24

Compare to this, $57, and this, $70

$32

Compare to this, for $200

$28

$50

Monday dog shaming, 2.0

   As promised, another round of dog shaming. With this dog (Sadie), it was tough to know how to shame her! And although she looks remorseful, don't be fooled.

   She is not sorry. She runs away at least once a week, but at least she always comes back. For shame, Sadie.

A few fashion faves

   I've never been one to pour over fashion magazines religiously, and my own style only changes a little from year to year. And on an intern's salary, there's really not a lot of room to have much fun with your wardrobe - on a budget, it's best to freshen up the classic pieces you already have with updated accessories. Looking forward to fall, here are a few accessories that will be on my radar:

Compass ring, Etsy, $75

Cluster stud earring, Piperlime, $20

Brick stud earring, Trina Turk, $50

Peyton watch, Michael Kors, $225

Runway watch, Michael Kors, $250

   The watches (and really, the ring too) are more on my wish list than my radar, but a girl can dream! I'm a huge fan of gold and tortoise shell together. What's on your fall radar?

Work Wear Wednesday Returns!

   Now that I am back to work, I am back to wearing work clothes. Here is an outfit from last week:

Please excuse my dressing room mirror pic!

Dress (only available in stores, sold out online)

Necklace

Belt (in mint, now on sale!)

Worn with black patent heels

Dog Shaming Monday

   Inspired by the fabulous Tumble blog, Dog Shaming, I've decided to bring you a few Monday's of dog shaming from my house. Meet Molly (right) and Sadie (left). Usually they are good girls, but sometimes they could use a little shame.
   This week, I present Molly's worst habit:

  I just do not understand this one. Mulch is decaying plant matter and dirt - and that's a delicacy? Every time we let her outside, she heads straight for the flower beds. Tsk tsk. For shame, Molly.

How to Cope with Accutane Side Effects

   I have had a lot of (not so wonderful) adventures with my skin, culminating in trying Accutane this summer (seriously, I thought I'd be done with this after I left my teenage years behind... I'm not so lucky). Usually, a dermatologist prescribes Accutane for certain kinds of acne that do not respond to topical or gentler oral treatments, and you take Accutane for 4-6 months. Because of two moves and a very sloppy, careless paperwork error by one of my dermatologists (which caused me to stop taking the medication for a month), I have had the rare "gift" of having started this high-powered prescription twice.
   Accutane basically blasts your body with isotretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A, with the goal of stopping acne forever. Along the way, it subjects your body to some pretty serious side effects, depending on how you react. Thanks to my experience starting Accutane not once, but twice, I've figured out a few ways to help alleviate the side effects.

1. Get ahead! Start preparing for the side effects as soon as you start taking the medication, even before you start feeling the effects.
2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I originally thought my naturally (moderately) oily skin would protect me - no luck. I suggest a gentle soap on your face and body, and lotion at least once a day (I use St. Ives Oatmeal lotion)
3. Lips: everyone has their favorite brand of lip balm, but I swear by Bag Balm. It healed my chapped lips (which took weeks to heal the first time) in one weekend!
4. Scalp: this one surprised me! Again, like my face, my scalp has always been a bit oily. 24 hours, and I needed to wash my hair. Not so with Accutane. I suggest trying a dandruff shampoo to help with dryness and flaking. Not sure about buying a whole new shampoo and conditioner? Head & Shoulders makes a travel size! It should last for almost a week, so you can see if it's working.
5. Sun sensitivity: I didn't notice this so much, except when I went to the beach. Just use general good sun protection a little more vigilantly - reapply often, sun hat, etc.
6. Headaches: I have yet to find a great cure to this side effect, but Tylenol usually helps, and it is easier for your Accutane-blasted body to handle (unlike Advil).
7. Queasiness: even if you don't usually eat breakfast, you really should start! Even just a granola bar or a banana helps - you don't want to take Accutane on an empty stomach. My favorite breakfast is a banana and peanut butter - healthy fruit and protein to keep you full until lunch.
8. Moodiness/depression: I was always very careful about this side effect, since my family has a long history of depression. I did experience a little moodiness the first time, but it passed. My best advice is to ask a trusted friend, parent, or significant other to keep an eye on your moods. They have to be someone that you trust to tell you difficult news, even if you don't want to hear it. If your moods seem to change or worsen without reason, they can tell you. If you think you may be depressed, talk to your doctor about stopping Accutane and trying another treatment. 
9. If you fall behind and don't treat side effects until they show up, don't worry. With persistent care, you can catch up and get back to something close to your normal self.

This is not an exhaustive list, and it's not meant to replace a doctor's opinion. There are just a few, hopefully helpful, tips from someone who's been there before - twice! I hope this advice can help make your transition easier than mine. Good luck!

Intern-itis

   Due to the less-than-stellar job market, me and quite a few of my peers have what I like to call Intern-itis, or chronic interning. Remember when the statistic came out in the spring, saying 50% of recent college graduates were unemployed or underemployed? We are the "underemployed" group (well, us and the baristas and the waitresses and the retail workers). Maybe I should go sit in a park with a "I am the 50%" sign... although that would get in the way of my chronic interning.

Anyway, in the industry I've chosen to go into, it's now normal for recent graduates to intern for 3, 6, 9 or even 12 months after graduating. Eventually, someone will hire you, and the key is to be persistent and not give up. As I gear up for my second post-graduation internship, I keep repeating a few helpful tips/giving myself a daily pep talk:

1. Persistence, persistence, persistence. In my industry, this is the way to get your foot in the door. For others, it may be the only way to gain "real world" work experience. Bite the bullet, and pay your dues - it won't last forever.
2. Network, network, network! While you company may not be able to hire you immediately, maybe a coworker's friend's company can!
3. A companion point to #2 - never ever burn a bridge. Resist the urge to talk back when you have to do the millionth grunt-work task, because these are the times where you prove how much you want it and what a great work ethic you have (and because your supervisors will remember your good attitude when they are asked about you!).
4. INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS. It's a jungle out there - you have to work hard to get a (good) job. When companies get thousands of resume's in a month (or less), having someone there who has actually talked to you is crucial. Whether it's a casual coffee or more formal, in-the-office interview, an informational interview gives you the chance to discuss your experience with your prospective employer, and it gives you a chance to see if it's worth trying to get a job there - maybe it turns out that you would hate it there!
5. Build your portfolio. Keep a log of all of your duties, even the daily ones, so that you can speak clearly about your experience in cover letters and on your resume. While you're at it, ask to keep work that you're proud of as a sample to show prospective employers.
6. IGNORE the people younger than you who have jobs - they are probably not in your field, and you would probably not do well/not enjoy their field. There is a reason you aren't a software developer/accountant/IT professional/real estate agent, etc or whatever careers sound awful to you (those lines of work sound particularly awful to me personally, but if that's you, great for you!)
7. IGNORE the people who say millennials are lazy - remind yourself that you are not just playing video games in your parents' basement, you are doing whatever it takes to get a job, and hard work is respectable.

In short, to all of the other post-college interns out there - persevere! We can do it! Work your butt off, and people will recognize and respect that. And remember - we are the 50%! There are tons of other smart, talented people in your situation. Solidarity, my friends.

Back in the Dorm - Cooking, Part II

   My second part of my dorm cooking recipe series is Creamy Pesto Orzo with Chicken.  I found this recipe on Pintrest (albeit without the chicken), and since pasta recipes are particularly one-pot friendly, I played around and came up with this!  It's super comfort food, in my opinion.

Creamy Pesto Orzo with Chicken


Ingredients:
1 cup orzo
3 tbsp pesto (I use jarred pesto), or more, to taste
Grated parmesan cheese, to taste
1 chicken breast (optional)

Use your pot to "saute" the chicken.

Cook the orzo as directed.  While it is cooking, cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.  Drain, and return pasta to the pot.  Stir in parmesan cheese and pesto, to taste.  Let sit, and you have what I like to think of as mac and cheese, only better.

Back in the Dorm - Cooking, Part I

   While I've been interning, I've also been living in Intern Central - the dorms of The George Washington University in DC.  GW rents out their rooms, interns get a 3 month lease, and everybody wins.  It's not the Ritz Carlton, though - although I have my own room, I share a bathroom with about 15 other girls, and I share a kitchen with 30 other people.  I still love to cook, but this means that I need to make my meals using as little space as possible, which means one pan or one pot (and incidentally, that's all I have with me).  Here is the first of several meals I've made in one pot or one baking pan:

Roasted Chicken, Potatoes, and Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 1/4 lb. small red potatoes
• Asparagus (however much you want)
• One chicken breast
• 2 tsp iced garlic (I buy it premade, in a jar)
• 5 tsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp dill
• 3 tbsp. whole grain mustard, or more to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the over to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line a baking pan or sheet with parchment paper.

Dice potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes, and toss with whole grain mustard, one tablespoon of olive oil, and salt to taste.  Place in one third of the baking pan or sheet.

Coat the chicken with dill, olive oil, and 1 tsp garlic.  Place in the baking pan or sheet.  


Bake for 30 minutes.


Meanwhile, toss the asparagus with 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste.  Add to the pan after 30 minutes.


Bake for 15 more minutes, and then serve!  Feeds one, with enough leftovers for lunch the next day.

What I've Been Up To Lately

yes, I did take this

   I must truly be the worst blogger ever.  After faithfully posting nearly every day last summer and into the fall and winter, I went over four months without touching this blog.  But now it is summer again, and I've got time on my hands, and so here I am, again!
   Since my hiatus, I have been busy.  I've run a half marathon (under two hours, baby!), graduated from college, and started an internship in Washington, DC.  I absolutely love this city, and in the nearly two months that I've lived here, I've learned a lot.  In the upcoming weeks, I hope to share a bit of it with you all!  For starters, I've come up with a list of tips for DC newcomers, like myself.

1. Traffic signals are just a suggestion (unless you hear sirens).  If there are no cars coming, go ahead and cross,
2. Learn the "inside" of the metro - the area where all the lines start to cross each other and get tangled up - first*  
3. Yes, it really is important to add NW, SW, NE, and SE to any address
4. Anything in Foggy Bottom or around Farragut Square is going to be expensive.  Try Dupont Circle, or even better, Adams Morgan for younger, cheaper things.
5. Georgetown is the only place where taking the bus is really a good bet, in my opinion.
6. It is a 5 mile loop from the Lincoln memorial to the Capitol and back - great for running!
7. You can never try too many gourmet(ish) burgers or cupcakes.  I recommend Good Eats (by Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelson!) and Crumbs bakery - but many more are great too!
8. If you find a good Mexican restaurant, let me know.
9. While you're here, network, network, network.
10. Soak it in.  This is a city with a huge amount of influence and possibility, so make the most of it!

*And you only need to know the stops you tend to go to.  This will help you navigate faster - if you know what direction you need to go, you only have to look at the station at the end of the line in the direction you need to go, and figuring out which train to take will get easier.

Spring Nail Polish

   I've decided that Essie's Cajun Shrimp is my new spring nail polish!  This red-orange reminds me of the "J. Crew Red" and tangerine colors that are so popular this spring.  

Sock Bun

   Way back in January, I promised a post about my sock bun (featured in this post).  Finally, I've gotten to it.  Here is what I did:

1. Cut the foot off a knee-high sock
2. Roll the sock into a donut shape
3. Pull your hair into a pony tail
4. Thread the pony tail into your donut-shaped sock, rolling hair under as you go
5. Continue until the sock is right up next to your head
6. Secure with bobby pins and/or hairspray

If you'd like some more detailed instructions, try this video tutorial here, to just search YouTube for "sock bun tutorial".  Helpful hint - try to use a sock that matches your hair color, in case it peeks through!

Brace yourself...

    ...because this is kind of a gross post.  There's no blood or gore, but if you're squeamish, you might want to skip this one.
    With my disclaimer out of the way, I can get on to the real subject of the post: toes.  Specifically, bruised big toes.  When I say bruised, I mean really bruised.

    Apparently, this is a pretty common injury among soccer players, whose toes get stepped on, jammed against their cleats as they kick, and stubbed in all kinds of creative ways.  However, despite my three years on the soccer team, this is new to me.  My toes gradually got this bruised in the course of training for a half marathon.  Grinding out all of those miles doesn't sound too dangerous for your toes, except for one thing - when I was fitted for running shoes a few months ago, the associate who helped me gave me shoes that are about 1/2 a size too small, and my feet have no room to move around or even swell a little bit on long runs, and consequently my toes jam against the shoe with every step, eventually creating these bruises.

   Fitting running shoes is a little tricky because you don't exactly wear your normal shoe size.  Always order either half a size or a whole size up (so, since I usually wear a size 8, I bought size 8.5 running shoes).  If you have any questions at all (and even if you don't, it's a good idea), go to a specialized running store (Austinites, I recommend Luke's Locker - the staff are very experienced and all runners).  

  What to do if you end up developing bruises anyway?  If it hurts, ice it.  If you are worried about losing the nail (which is always a possibility), wrap your toe in gauze and athletic tape.  Take a day off if you feel like your toenail is really in danger.  Always, always, always keep your nail short!  Consider visiting a podiatrist, and finally, get new shoes!
   Update: after finally seeing a podiatrist (fun fact: they have a different degree than a regular physician - not an MD, but they still have plenty of training!), here is what he told me to do.  If the bruising really hurt, he could remove my nails, but since my toes don't hurt, he wants to let them fall off on their own, so that the new nail will grow in a little and my toes won't be completely naked.  In the meantime, he prescribed an odorless, colorless anti-fungal medication (called Ciclopirox), so that when they do fall off, nothing gets infected.  You paint it on just like toenail polish, it comes off with nail polish remover, and it can be applied over nail polish!  How cool is that?

Tess Dress

   Is anyone as excited as I am for the return of Mad Men (March 25 - 17 days away - but who's counting)?!  I am thrilled that the show is back, 60's fashions and all.  Banana Republic produced a (somewhat disappointing) Mad Men-inspired line last spring, and I've spotted 60's trends inspired by icons like Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn all over the place (at least, I credit Audrey with all the cropped pants I've seen recently, whether she deserves it or not).  To date, my favorite homage to Mad Men and 1960's style is from Theresa Kopecky of Tess Dress.  

So Joan Harris!

How cute!

   I love that while Tess Dress' style is classic and retro, it is not weak.  Designer Theresa Kopecky was in the Air Force, and stresses strong women through her clothes.  Kopecky describes the "Tess woman" in an interview as: "She’s a grown-up. She’s a professional. She may or may not be a mother; it’s up to her. She’s a pioneer; a modern-day equivalent of the WASPs, Rosie the Riveter, and the pioneer woman on the wild frontier. She’s the go-to woman in the office; strong, but always a lady. She always cares for her family." All this in bright, happy colors at a fair price (dresses start at $160, and are all handmade in Austin).  Add to all this, a no vanity sizing promise, and I'm sold!  I can't wait to see what comes from Tess Dress next.

All images from the Tess Dress website.

Trash Dance. Yes, you read right.

    What happens when you combine a choreographer, a UT film professor, and the City of Austin sanitation department?  Trash Dance.

Trash Dance teaser from Andrew Garrison on Vimeo.

   In 2009, Allison Orr of Forklift Danceworks choreographed a dance for 24 City of Austin sanitation workers and 16 trash trucks.  Sounds goofy?  Keep reading.  

   Orr spent a year convincing the sanitation department to agree to the project, and then spent a year getting to know city sanitation workers and learning each job.  As you can see from the trailer, she faced some doubt from the sanitation workers themselves, but all of these groups combined to produce several standing-room-only performances at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (where else can you find enough pavement to maneuver 16 trash trucks?).  "Trash Dance" sounds goofy, but touched thousands of audience members.
   University of Texas film professor Andrew Garrison produced a documentary about the Trash Dance project, which demonstrates the transformation that Trash Dance started.  The project gave sanitation workers pride in their jobs and abilities, and helped audience members gain a new respect for the men and women who provide a key service for the city.  In short, I think the project made everyone involved a little more human.  I, for one, cannot wait to see the documentary when it is released in DVD!  For now, Austinites can see the world premier of the documentary on March 10th at SXSW.  For more updates, visit Garrison's Kickstarter fundraising page.  This project is a great testament to the way that the arts can enrich everyone's lives, no matter how unlikely a participant they may be.

"Whole Lotta Lovin'..."

    Hello everyone!  After a very busy few months, I am back to blogging, and I have a "whole lotta lovin'" for everyone who reads this.  What exactly do I mean, you ask?  First, I mean this guy:

Gary Clark, Jr.

   I'm writing this from Austin, which is gearing up for the annual South By Southwest music festival (abbreviated SXSW or South By).  I have already spotted a bunch of "SXSW staff" jackets, and we are about to be inundated with thousands of folks from NYC, LA, and every other corner of the globe.  Although SXSW has evolved over the years and now features "Interactive", Film, Comedy, "SXSWedu", and "Eco" portions of the festival, the cornerstone is still music.  In fact, you could say that Austin's whole cultural cornerstone is music (although the subject of tomorrow's post might get a little offended...).  

   At any rate, Austinites in general (and Austin Monthly magazine in particular) have been raving about Gary Clark, Jr., latest in a line of great blues musicians to hail from the (self-proclaimed?) live music capital of the world.  He is a fabulous guitarist, and his voice is just perfect.  The Washington Post reports fans awed into silence and Alicia Keys agrees.  I've been listening to his YouTube playlist all morning, and I couldn't agree more.  See for yourself!

All Dressed Up

Last night, I had the chance to watch a great friend of mine perform in Thoroughly Modern Millie. It's a cute, cute show, and I highly recommend it! A few girls and I decided to make a night of it and go to a nice dinner, too. Here is what I wore. Look for more on the hair style soon!

Macaroon Making

   Every so often, I see these adorable cookies pop up on the internet, and I have always wanted to try them (especially since they are gluten-free, so all my friends can enjoy them).  Since I got back to school early and had a few days to kill, I thought I'd give it a try!  I found this recipe on Epicurious.com, and tweaked it a little.  Here is my version:

Raspberry Chocolate French Macaroons
For macaroons
6 oz sliced blanched almonds (not slivered; 2 cups)  OR 6 oz almond flour (from blanched almonds)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 large egg whites
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Red or pink food coloring

For chocolate raspberry ganache
3 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (60 to 64% cacao), finely chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1/16 teaspoon raspberry extract (preferably McCormick brand)

Special equipment: parchment paper; a gallon-size sealable plastic bag (not pleated)

Make macaroons: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Pulse almonds with 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a food processor until very finely ground, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a bowl 

OR mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar with almond flour, stirring together. Sift in remaining cup powdered sugar, stirring to combine.

Beat egg whites with salt in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. 


Add granulated sugar, a little at a time, beating, then increase speed to high and continue to beat until whites just hold stiff, glossy peaks. Add drops of food coloring to reach desired shade and mix at low speed until evenly combined. 

Stir almond mixture into meringue with a rubber spatula until completely incorporated. (Meringue will deflate.)

 

Spoon batter into bag, pressing out excess air, and snip off 1 corner of plastic bag to create a 1/4-inch opening.  

Twist bag firmly just above batter, then pipe peaked mounds of batter (the size of a chocolate kiss) onto lined sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Let cookies stand, uncovered, at room temperature until tops are no longer sticky and a light crust forms, 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 300°F.
Bake cookies, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until crisp and edges are just slightly darker, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on sheets on racks, about 30 minutes.

Make ganache while macaroons bake: Melt chocolate with cream in a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water or in top of a double boiler, stirring until smooth. 

(Bowl should not touch water.) Remove bowl from heat, then add butter and raspberry extract, stirring until butter is melted. Let stand at room temperature until cooled completely and slightly thickened.

Assemble cookies: Carefully peel cookies from parchment (they will be fragile). Sandwich a thin layer of ganache (about 1/2 teaspoon) between flat sides of cookies.

Helpful hints:
I baked my cookies at 325, for about 10 minutes in the bottom third of the oven.  The most important thing is to check them often, so check them well before you expect to switch the cookie sheets.  Also, the sooner you bake them after piping them out (after waiting 30 minutes for them to set, of course), the better.  I found that if I waited too much longer than 30 minutes, my cookies cracked.  But they still tasted great!  Good luck and bon appetit!