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Advice to my 18-year-old Self

In just about four hours, I’ll be 28. It’s hard to believe I’m ten years removed from becoming an adult, graduating high school and starting my college journey. Looking back, there are a few things I wish I knew, such as:

  • Those “best friends” you think you have? They’re nothing compared to the best friends you’ll meet in the future. Except Jackie. You may have battled from EIC, but those incredible St. Patrick’s Day parties are worth it. 
  • Enjoy your body. When your cheering four nights a week, running to and from choir, student council, newspaper and yearbook, you don’t have time to overeat, but you should make time to admire those size 4 pants. After all, you won’t see them again.
  • Skip the heartbreak. Boys will come and go, and they are just that – boys. One day you’ll walk into a hockey rink bar, see a blue-eyed man and your life will never be the same.
  • Enjoy every single moment of your teenage years, your college years, your post college years, and your 20s. It continues to get better, then worse, then better again. 
  • Listen to your parents. They drive you nuts now, they’ll drive you nuts later, and you won’t be able to live without them.
  • Treasure your relatives. They won’t be around forever.
  • Skip the TV. You can catch up later. (Seriously.)

Cheers to 28 years!

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bucket list Uncategorized

2017: Thoughts & Things

I’ve mentioned before that resolutions aren’t my thing. So looking ahead to 2017, I’d rather jot down some thought starters to help me get off on the right foot in the new year.

  1. Find your balance. It’s pretty bad when your masseuse, in the middle of your massage, bursts out, “Do you ever relax?!” Unfortunately, she’s right. The only time I feel truly relaxed is in yoga. My instructor, Thomas Fortel, begins every class talking about the chitta – the inner mind – and how important it is for us to keep balance between the inner body (peace) and outer body (social interaction). So for 2017, I need to work on finding my balance – in my schedule, in my home life, and most importantly, in myself.
  2. Put on some lipstick and pull yourself together. I think Elizabeth Taylor knew exactly what she was saying. As someone who wears the bare minimum when it comes to makeup, I often find myself feeling underdressed or worse, unpretty. I’m making it a goal for myself to wear lipstick at least 3x a week. Whether I’m in a slick black dress or a hoodie & jeans, a pop of color is key.
  3. I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection. Has anyone read Emily Ley‘s “Grace Not Perfection?” I’m only half way through, but girlfriend gets it. If we keep focusing on perfection, we’ll never be happy. Simplifying what we can and focusing on the key moments in life are more important than spotless floors or well-behaved puppies.
  4. Wag more, bark less. With two dogs in the house, it’s easy to get frustrated at every unexplained bark or misplaced toy, but goodness gracious do these two love us unconditionally. There isn’t a better feeling in the world than walking through the door to a wagging tail. They’ve taught me it’s okay to put down the phone, roll around on the floor, and stop to smell the roses on every trip. 
  5. You can do anything, but not everything. Amen. This is the background on my phone, work laptop and home computer. I may even get a print made to hang in my bathroom. No is not a bad word, and needs to be used more frequently as I work to free up my time for what matters most.

Do you make resolutions? Bucket lists? Let me know below in the comments!

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Target + TOMS: A Match Made In Retail Heaven

In case you missed the news, Target and TOMS will be teaming up this holiday season to bring customers a limited edition collection benefiting both TOMS One for One initiative and FeedingAmerica.

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All In One (Social) Rhythm – The 2014 FIFA World Cup

As seen on Twist’s Blog

The World Cup began yesterday, and you don’t need to be in Brazil to feel the excitement. For the first time in World Cup history, social media networks have transformed into a hub of country support, score updates, and conversations surrounding the largest soccer event in the world.

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Social Media Advice for the Graduating Class of 2014

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a sponsor for UMSL’s Digital Marketing Conference. In case you weren’t aware, the University of Missouri St. Louis has a fantastic Digital Media Marketing program in their School of Professional and Continuing Studies, and host an annual conference discussing the State of Digital Media, job advice, and more. My company, Twist St. Louis, had a booth at the conference, providing me with the opportunity to meet and talk with a ton of fantastic professionals and students.