The Hemline: Lean in

Showing posts with label Lean in. Show all posts

2.5.13

Graduation Friday: May 3rd, 2013

Dear 18-year-old self,

Welcome to college. It’s quite a big place, ay? Deep breath,here we go.

Can I tell you something? It is not that scary. Cherish it.It’ll go faster than you can even imagine. These four years will teach you moreabout yourself and the world around you. Don’t think that all the learningtakes place in the classroom.

Go out and experience things. Leave your books in your room,go meet some people. When Mariah invites you to that ~~awkward~~ dance because she’sin the organization putting it on...GO! Go to the meeting the following week; go to the meetingalone. When they ask you to be in charge, kick ass at it. The people that comein and out of this meeting room will forever change who you are. This groupmakes college worth it.

Always carry a pencil and notepad. Don’t be afraid to bethat girl who knows the answer or has something to say. It is totally the “cool”thing to be the smart girl. Oh and stop saying the “cool” thing...It’s notcool. Being the smart girl is the greatest thing you will do for yourself.Library Girl is the best nickname you will ever get in your life. Don’t fightit. Embrace it. (Oh and learn your student ID number...You’ll need it all the time.)

Don’t pretend to love things that others do. Don’t be afraidto share who you are with the world. They will love you just as much as you do.This is the place where acceptance happens. Those ridiculous people you met onthe first day of Orientation? Love them. The amazing people you meet in thesefour years are your people.

For years you’ve dreamed of things: traveling the worldbeing number 1. Start freaking doing it. When Kaitlin walks into Spanish freshman year andtells you in two summer she’s going to England on some Literary Tour with some professor you've never even met. Go with her! It will be the best experienceof your life. No joke. Make sure you pack band-aids and an extra camera battery.(You forget them...it is less than awesome.)

Junior year will suck. It sucks for everyone. You are, by nomeans, alone. Keep studying. I know, I know, it is awful and zero fun but,Haley, you’re In Honoribus graduating self will thank you. When you get anopportunity to take a nap... take one. Okay, and don’t tell anyone this, but,um, you might actually want to read the chapters your professor assigns. Butsometimes, like when you’ve got three tests and a paper that week, SparkNotes istotally appropriate.

When you make it senior year, ~~you've made it; stop~~ keep going.This year is one of celebration. Stop worrying about not knowing what you aredoing with your life. You’re 21...You have plenty of time to figure it out.Just don’t forget to do what you love. That is all that matters. Oh and keepdrinking tea and keep reading Harry. You’re Harry-Potter-obsession comes inhandy.

Graduation day is tomorrow. The big day. Finally. Your gown is steamed. Yourdress is pressed. Shoes have been selected. (Go with the Mint, girl, please!)The only thing left is to walk across a stage and get that damn diploma and take on the world.

This place will change your life; allow it to.

Much love,

Yours xx

PS If my words of wisdom seem less than to you...listen to these women. I think they know what they are talking about...

(Sheryl Sandberg to an "enthusiastic" group of women on their college graduation)

You are the promise for a more equal world. So my hope for everyone here is that after you walk across this stage, after you get your diploma, after you go out tonight and celebrate hard--you then will lean way in to your career. You will find something you love doing and you will do it with gusto. Find the right career for you and go all the way to the top.

As you walk off this stage today, you start your adult life. Start out by aiming high. Try--and try hard.

Like everyone here, I have great hopes for the members of the graduating class. I hope you find true meaning, contentment, and passion in your life. I hope you navigate the difficult times and come out with greater strength and resolve. I hope you find whatever balance you seek with your eyes wide open. And I hope that you--yes, you--have the ambition to lean in to your career and run the world. Because the world needs you to change it. Women all around the world are counting on you.

So please ask yourself: What would I do if I weren't afraid? And then go do it.

(J.K Rowling's commencement speech at Harvard circa 2008)

1.4.13

March Favorites

WARNING: This post is quite lengthy but, it's a good one. I promise. The month of March is my favorite for several reasons: Spring has (officially) sprung, I turned 22 this month, my university had Spring Break, and my favorites are awesome! Without further ado...

Beauty and Body Care

For beauty products this month, you could say I branched out on a limb with the first one. I had never ordered/purchased a product from Lush Cosmetics and after using "Angels on Bare Skin" Facial Cleanser I wanted more and more and more....

For those who don't know, Lush Cosmetics are fresh, handmade cosmetics that use only natural ingredients. They are based out of Canada and, obviously, I don't live in Canada so I ordered from their website. Very quick and easy, might I add. I was on the hunt for a new facial cleanser that left my skin light and refreshed without being too harsh. I have fairly sensitive skin, so I always am a bit nervous about new products (tip: try a small amount on an inconspicuous bit of skin before trying all over your face) so I did my research and read lots of consumer reviews. And ended up with Lush! Wee!

I purchased Angels on Bare Skin from Lush because it was their best seller and was made for all skin types. It is very exfoliating which I find to be nice after my face as been put through the ringer I put it through everyday. Plus, it was cleansing and quite soothing. It makes my face feel like it has been blessed by Angels (ay, ay, see what I did there..? :O).

While Angels is my favorite cleanser, I needed something to take my makeup off before cleansing and I'm loving Maybelline's Clean Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. It's not greasy at all, which as been a consist problem for me with makeup removers. It literally takes one swipe and my eye makeup is completely gone! I love it!! (PS I'm on my second bottle already.)

Speaking of eye makeup, I purchased a bit of a splurge birthday present for myself: Urban Decay Naked Palette. This palette is like the holy-grail for me. It has neutral matte colors for a simple everyday look as well as sparkly neutrals and colors to create the perfect smoky eye. I'm obsessed and have basically used it everyday since it arrived on my doorstep. (I purchased mine from Amazon, in case you were wondering).

Now, I've been a Moisturizing Chap stick girl for, like, ever so in the rare event that I find a lip balm or chap stick that I love more it is kind of a massive deal.

Dearest Nivea Lip Butters, you have found a home in my purse, makeup bag, backpack, beside stand (read: everywhere). I adore you to no end. You look so adorable in your little tin. You're not shiny, and yet add color and not only do you smell like absolute heaven but, you are moisturizingly thick, without caking. I love you.

Food and Drink Favorites

Food, everyone's favorite and between eating birthday cake and Easter candy, this section could turn into a bit of a circus act but these two products have stuck by me all month long and I adore them for it.

The Brookside Dark Chocolate Goji with Raspberry are indulgent and perfect. The dark chocolate is thick

but doesn't overpower the fruit pieces inside. To me, they seemed like Fruit Gushers without that awful sugar syrup oozing out of the middle.

Tazo Passion Tea has been a favorite of my for quite a while but this month I got the tea bags as a birthday gift with my lovely tea kettle. (Yes, I'm practically a 80 year old woman, between my tea kettle and knitting hobby, in a 22 year old's body. Do I care? Nope.) It is fruity and sort of, mm, tangy? Yeah, tangy. I've been making it hot with the tea bags but, also, I've been making it cool by taking two tea bags and hot water, placing it in the fridge for about 2-3 hours, and pouring it over ice. I'm obsessed.

Music Favorites

All you need to know for this section is this: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE. Please, listen to this. Buy it. Download it. Whatever. It has been playing non-stop on my iTunes since arriving on the scene. I regularly jam to "Let the Groove Get In," "Pusher Love Girl," and "Don't Hold the Wall."

This next girl group from the UK, I found because of Little Mix (please go get on the Google right now if you don't know these girls. I love them to know end.). They have this awesome 90's type, hip-hop vibe. And this song! Sometimes music, like books, find you, ya know?

M.O. - Ain't Got Time

Books and Movies Favorites

For the first time, I listened to an audio book from Audible.com. I listened to "BossyPants" by Tina Fey on my road trip. This book is hilarious, which was too be expected. But also enlightening. It was a lot about female empowerment, which apparently I've been obsessed with since I this month I also read Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In." This read, readers, it is a-maz-ing. She talks about women in leadership roles, women in the work place and encourages women to "lean in" in all things. I highly recomme

nd this read to anyone!

Oh and Girls. Lena Duhman knows my life. It is Sex in the City but with "real" girls in their 20s, navigating life. Hmm, I wonder why I could relate?? :)

Thanks for reading, y'all. Anything you've been enjoying this month? Let me know in the comments!!

Yours xx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money and all opinions are mine. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.

29.3.13

Fashion Friday: March 29, 2013

The reality is I have no idea what I'm doing. I've got no idea what I'm doing, regardless of how much I plan or organized. Not knowing what I'm doing, I've discovered is how most everyone feels. If you are one of the lucky ones who know exactly what you are doing each and everyday: Congratulations. (I genuinely mean that.)

For a long while, especially this year, this unknowing-ness really really freaked me out. But, oddly, this blog, and my creative writing class which requires me to journal, has been my saving grace. I've had to actually sit down and write, unflinchingly, twice a week. I've learned more things about myself than I actually knew was all up in my mess of a brain. So, regardless if anyone is actually reading this and relating, even just a little bit, I just want to say: Thank you and you are not alone.

Now, enjoy!!