6 Ways to Reduce Stress

Like it or not, we all have stress in our life. And as much as I would love to sit back and watch episodes of Gossip Girl all day, I will never have a stress-free existence. Working, going to school, and holding a position in my sorority sends all sorts of stress my way.


So how do you reduce your stress? Here are 6 ways that will help you calm down and prioritize without loosing your mind: 

1. Get moving! There is nothing better for stress than a good jog or aerobics class. I make sure I hit the gym at least 4 times a week. This will keep your body in shape and ready for everything you throw at it- including those 4am cram sessions. 
2. Get enough sleep. Getting enough z's at night will do wonders for your energy and mood!
3. Make a to-do list. Keep everything in check, this will also help you prioritize your most important tasks. 
4. Write a journal. Write down what you feel, even if you never look at it again. 
5. Spend time with those you love. Laughing makes you live longer, and it never hurts to have a shoulder to cry on, I always feel better about a situation after venting for a half hour to my boyfriend. Sometimes saying something out loud helps to put a situation into perspective. 
6. Make some time for yourself. Paint your nails, read a non-school related book or even just lay on your couch for a half hour. If you don't save any time for you, you will end up burnt out faster than you can say 

What do you think? What are some ways that you de-stress? 

Sincerely Yours, 

The Twenty Something 

Got some free time? Put down the remote! Books are better than TV

Although I admit to watching the occasional episode of Jersey Shore or Keeping up with the Kardashians, I believe that reading is a better way to spend my free time. Reading not only widens your world view and improves your language skills but it can be widely entertaining.

If Catcher in the Rye in high school was the last novel you opened, it is best to start with material that will grab you and keep you reading. “Chick-lit”, as it is called by the literary community, will make you smile, cry and laugh out loud. I typically read 2-3 of these kinds of book a year, mostly after exams to refresh my mind with some ligh-hearted reading material. Below are some of my favorite books and series.

Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella (There are 6 books in total and I suggest reading every one of them- do not be scared off by the movie, the books are much better!)

Everyone worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger (The same author of The Devil Wears Prada, witty and charming writer)

Something Borrowed/Something Blue by Emily Giffin (This is a two part series, I would also suggest anything by this author. I nearly jump for glee when she releases a new book!)

What do you think? What are your favourite books to read in your pastime?

Sincerely Yours,

The Twenty Something 

How to spot a "Stupid Girl"

This post is inspired by "How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World"... If you are looking for some light reading, look no further than this delightfully entertaining "how to" book. 


"Stupid girls" flock my university (yes, they go to university) campus on a daily basis. There are so many of them it is sometimes hard to spot the ones who are only going through a "stupid" phase opposed to those girls who will give our gender a bad name for years to come. "Stupid girls" are the ones who use "like" or "um" in every sentence, or who think that acting dumb is "cute". You know them, you hate them and you are "friends" with them. Here is a way to spot them from a far. I like to call it my "Stupid Girl" checklist: 

1. She is almost always overexposed. This can relate to clothing (hello, it is NOT okay to show your underwear to the general public) and personal life (I didn't really want to overhear a description of your sexual tryst last night either). 
2. She speaks like she's a member of the Clueless cast: "like totally" and "um" can only be used so many times in one hour. 
3. She measures herself in terms of looks and boyfriends. You blonde hair or your hot boyfriend doesn't really make you a proactive and contributing member of society. 
4. Her conversation points consist of what she saw on TV last night. Having more to talk about than pop culture is a major bonus and will get you very far in life and your future career. 

What do you think? Do you have anything to add to my list? 

Sincerely Yours, 

The Twenty Something 

Standing out in your cubicle!

Although I am currently a student, I am also enrolled in the co-op program at my school. So, right now I am working full time at an internship in Public Affairs- which I love! 


However, the one thing I noticed about working in an office that is not related to the fashion industry is the constant urge to be lazy and slightly unfashionable. I love to express myself through what I put on, so to me, this is extremely worrisome. To avoid this possible dive into a blah-ish work ensemble, follow these steps: 

1. Buy work clothes that are classy and sophisticated, but tell the world a little something about your personal style. I love very girly things, so when I find a nice silk top with a bow on it to wear under a blazer or cardigan I buy it right away! 
2. Try to plan your outfits in advance. It can be easy to get lazy when you are waking up at 7am and throw on a pair of dress pants with a standard sweater. If you have to do this, throw in a dazzling pair of earrings or a cool watch! 
3. Always be confident in what you wear. Don't let a suit wear you! You need to walk with confidence and poise in everything you put on, this not only will exude personal style, but your co-workers will be in awe about how confident you are. 

What do you think? What are your rules for rocking your personal style? 

Sincerely yours, 

The Twenty Something 

Studying Already? Here's how to make the best coffee!

I am only in the first week of classes and I have already spent way too much time hitting the books. The one thing that keeps me sane during those long hours is a nice hot and bubbly cup of coffee or a creamy latte. However, living on a student's budget makes it hard for me to run to the corner Starbucks and pay for a 5 dollar caffeinated treat every time I need a boost, so I have learned to be my own barista. Here are some tips on saving money on your java but still enjoying every sip: 

• Buy an espresso maker (if you are a latte lover or crave cappuccinos). Sure, there are a lot of machines that can have a price tag reaching $1000, but I grabbed my espresso maker at WalMart for a mere $130 and it works just as well (and has lasted me over a year so far). This will enable you to pull espresso shots and foam milk, the moves required to create a latte, americano, cappuccino or anything else you crave from the Starbucks menu. 
• Buy fresh beans and a coffee grinder. Ground coffee beans only stay fresh for a few days, so instead of asking for your beans pre ground, buy whole beans and a grinder, your coffee will taste MUCH more fresh. Plus, whole beans stay good for a few months. 
• Get some tasty syrup. This is something I only just started doing, the syrup adds that extra shot of flavor to your cup of joe. You can pick up any flavors like vanilla, hazelnut or mint at your local coffee shop. 
• Splurge on quality beans. There is not much to say to this one, find beans that you like and that have been roasted correctly... In other words- beware of the supermarket. 

Those are some of my ideas for making coffee shop- like- coffee in the comfort of your very own home. Believe me, you will never want coffee from anywhere else! 

Sincerely Yours,

The Twenty Something 

Keeping Focused- 5 ways to stay on track this year

Hello readers,


Since the theme for many of my posts has been getting back to school and accepting an end to the summer months, I thought I would share with you some of my tips for staying focused and on track through school while still maintaining a social life. 

1. Keep an agenda. If you will walk away retaining any of these tips, please let it be to get an agenda. You cannot possibly remember all your assignments, appointments and professors' office hours... so write it down! I like to write down when things are due as well as when I should be working on them. 
2. Cut down on the four day weekend binges. Believe me, when monday coming rolling around and you realize you have a final in 2 days that you haven't started studying for you will regret it. Having fun is defiantly part of the college experience, but hardly anyone I know can get work done when they are nursing a massive hang over. 
3. Get involved. There is nothing that will take you off track more than having too much free time, this will lead to procrastination- the evil enemy that every college student faces. Plus, extra curricular activities will look great on your resume or application to graduate school. 
4. Study in the library or in a place you can focus. When it comes to studying to each his own, but I find that when I am studying somewhere that I cannot do anything else it helps me to get a lot more work done. Set a time for yourself (say you will be at the library from 9am-3pm) and after that you are free to do your own thing. 
5. Get organized. Make sure you have all the resources you need at your finger tips at all times. Spending two hours looking for your first year economics text book will take away from your studying time, not to mention drive you crazy. 

There are some of my tips for staying on track, does anyone else have tips that work for them? Share with me! 

Sincerely Yours,

The Twenty Something 

Internship: Things to to before it ends

So today marks the last day of my summer internship. I have learned so much through the last four months and could not be any happier with my experience. While in the process of leaving, I have made sure to do the following things:

• Ask for letters of recommendation. In my case I had about 5 managers and supervisors whom I reported to, you may be in the same situation; in this case ask for letters from those who know your work the best.
• Write thank you letters to your team/managers. This is common etiquette. Frequently your team or managers will do the same. Thank them for taking the time to teach you new things and guide you through your internship (lord knows they probably had something better to do).
• Take all personal files with you or delete them. If you have a file from school or your resume saved on your corporate desktop, its best to erase it or transfer it to a USB for your personal use.
• Leave your workstation as you found it (provided it was clean). Even though you may never work here again, you want to leave a good impression with everyone you worked with. This includes not creating any extra work for anyone.
• If you plan to apply for another internship soon (which I do), make sure you ask your supervisor if you may list them as a reference.
• Update your resume. I typically do this within the first month of my internship; but nevertheless, your tasks and projects are still fresh in your mind so now is a good time to summarize them.
• Collect all contact information of managers. It is a good idea to write down your managers’ emails and phone numbers. It would be nice to send them occasional updates on yourself or greetings to keep in touch.

I have really enjoyed my internship. I learned to use my schooling in a practical environment and made some valuable contacts. Now I get about a month break before I will start applying to my next one…

Sincerely yours,

The Twenty Something