tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10813624000096123822024-02-19T13:49:32.763-08:0020-Something AmbitionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-24519216768294326712012-11-04T13:14:00.001-08:002012-11-04T13:14:10.915-08:00The Importance of Family<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It took me about 22 years to realize the importance of family. Until I graduated from college and moved out permanently, my family was more of a burden than a blessing to me. In my eyes, all they ever did was tell me what to do, and yell at me, and I was beyond ready to move into my own place and get away from it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But since I moved out almost a year ago, I've gotten closer and closer with my family, finally realizing how much they've actually done for me and how much that means. I spend time with them whenever I can, and now I view them as close friends rather than enemies. This weekend, I went home to spend it with them, and as always, I had a great time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I got to their house on Saturday, my mom and I immediately took off to go shopping. Over coffee, we discussed the path I want my future to take, and instead of resenting her for her opinions and advice, I realized I was actually taking what she said seriously, and I was grateful for her point of view. While she and I may still differ on what we believe is best for me, instead of immediately shutting her out, I'm much more likely to thoroughly consider her opinions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At dinner later that day with both of my parents, we had some conversation about friendships and loyalty, and the kinds of people I should have in my life. They helped me to realize that not only do I not WANT bad friends in my life, but also that I don't DESERVE "friends" who treat me poorly. It was then that I determined that if I had actually listened to their advice and wisdom my whole life, instead of just recently, I probably would have avoided some of the messes that I got myself into and saved myself a whole lot of stress and heartache.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One point that really drove home the whole element of family this weekend was a line from the movie Dark Shadows, that we all watched together Saturday night: <i><b>"Family is the only real wealth."</b></i> I believe this is incredibly true, because no matter what is going on in my life, I know that as long as I have my family I'll be alright.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So as I watched my parents bicker this morning about how to best take the door off of the refrigerator before I left (they're currently remodeling their kitchen), I smiled, and realized that in my them, I already have everything I need to be happy. And at the end of the day, that realization is enough for me.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-68669255984363602012-10-28T16:30:00.001-07:002012-10-28T16:30:57.662-07:00Kate Spade Love<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's no secret that I'm absolutely in love with everything <a href="http://www.katespade.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Kate-Site/default/Home-ShopHome" target="_blank">Kate Spade</a>. If I could only wear one designer for the rest of my life, this is obviously what I would choose! Lately, I've been obsessing over so many things (both ones I've purchased and those I'm still lusting over!).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5EW1xbN-CqllJT-szlxzuO2iSrxq9ET8cb_2GfQuugVSCIAbfOHdXBkxE8P27HzKnDH10NxPIBODW_EBHKiF_8pmi60WxE8J1GSoXKRRtXVTzXDrTsh0kWNEJJdjRzB1c6uLR_FTD7Gk/s1600/292788_10151435405633986_65479931_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5EW1xbN-CqllJT-szlxzuO2iSrxq9ET8cb_2GfQuugVSCIAbfOHdXBkxE8P27HzKnDH10NxPIBODW_EBHKiF_8pmi60WxE8J1GSoXKRRtXVTzXDrTsh0kWNEJJdjRzB1c6uLR_FTD7Gk/s320/292788_10151435405633986_65479931_n.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.katespade.com/randi-too/S011117,default,pd.html?dwvar_S011117_color=984&start=22&cgid=shoes" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Randi Too rain boots have proved to be perfect for puddle jumping!</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Katespade/WBRU5389_711?$s7productdetail$" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Katespade/WBRU5389_711?$s7productdetail$" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.katespade.com/this-is-the-year-to-idiom-bangle/WBRU5389,default,pd.html?dwvar_WBRU5389_color=711&start=27&cgid=jewelry" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This Is The Year To bangle has so many fun ideas!</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.katespade.com/blocked-freyda-dress/NJMU2075,default,pd.html?dwvar_NJMU2075_color=960&start=65&cgid=new-arrivals" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Katespade/NJMU2075_960?$s7productgrid$" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.katespade.com/blocked-freyda-dress/NJMU2075,default,pd.html?dwvar_NJMU2075_color=960&start=65&cgid=new-arrivals" target="_blank">This Freyda dress is so colorful and playful, I'm in love!</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you love Kate Spade? What products are your favorite? If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life, what would it be?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-66917656632757314982012-10-25T17:11:00.001-07:002012-10-25T17:11:27.175-07:00Election Red White & Blues<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've got the election red white and blues. I'm so sick of hearing nothing but politics, and the constant bashing of both political parties is really starting to bring me down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're only 12 days from the election, and I couldn't imagine getting more tired of the political banter than I already am (but inevitably in the next week and a half that will happen!). I can't remember being this fed up last election, but I was also a freshman in college, didn't watch the news, and people around me cared more about parties than politics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But this time, it's different. Whether it's discussions among people at work, news stories, or the constant smear commercials on what seems like every channel, it's virtually impossible to escape it all. And not only is it the bombardment of electoral materials that's getting on my nerves, but the sheer ignorance and rudeness coming from both parties. There are some nights I just have to avoid Facebook and Twitter entirely, simply because I can't stand to see the terrible things that people are actually saying.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/profitminded/donkey_elephant_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/profitminded/donkey_elephant_sm.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo from <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1C1CHFA_enUS485US491&biw=1240&bih=735&authuser=0&tbm=isch&tbnid=h-qUu2lTa6UQpM:&imgrefurl=http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/blogs/profit-minded/economist-small-businesses-not-job-growth-engines-232446833.html&docid=iKSMxxRLBtUX_M&imgurl=http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/profitminded/donkey_elephant_sm.jpg&w=190&h=135&ei=DtSJUOn0IePs0QHIzICABQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=156&vpy=358&dur=1146&hovh=107&hovw=152&tx=118&ty=77&sig=103736394554169867321&page=2&tbnh=107&tbnw=152&start=22&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:20,i:144" target="_blank">Yahoo</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you think about it, what has the election caused? A complete and utter rift in our country. Now to me, that doesn't seem very productive. And no matter what party you affiliate with, I think you can agree that all this fighting over who will be king of the mountain is really distracting us from the dire state our country is in. It's almost like distracting a child who falls and scrapes his knee. Yes, he stops crying for a few minutes and ignores the wound, but as soon as he loses amusement with the toy you gave him, or the show he was watching ends, that wound, and the pain that comes along with it, is still there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I generally make it a point to avoid politics in general. Yes, I do my research on the candidates and the issues, and know which party I align with. And of course I vote! But I don't feel the need (as so many do) to go posting/proclaiming/insulting/badmouthing/persuading all over the place. To me, that's just not classy. I think you can be perfectly American and exercise your rights without being downright disrespectful. And I think that's what many people in this country (BOTH candidates included!) need to learn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Red rover, red rover, can the election PLEASE be over? That was my two cents, and you may now return to your regularly scheduled political bashing.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-49997451237694147412012-10-20T16:05:00.000-07:002012-10-20T16:05:12.404-07:00Review: Moo Business Cards from Klout<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently, I received a perk from <a href="http://www.klout.com/" target="_blank">Klout</a> for 50 free business cards (plus shipping) from <a href="http://www.moo.com/share/6zmdp6" target="_blank">Moo</a>. Shipping was only $5, so I figured why not? I decided to tailor my business cards around my <a href="https://twitter.com/grlwithambition" target="_blank">Twitter account</a> and blog, that way I could try to start building a bigger following.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you create your business cards, you can upload your own images. My cards also have the Klout logo on them (a condition of the perk). I chose a few of my favorite photographs I've taken in the past few years. On the back, I put my name, <a href="https://twitter.com/grlwithambition" target="_blank">Twitter handle</a>, blog URL, and email address. I chose the glossy cards, because I thought they would be prettier that way.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d9ekbQ8zIbXdU3r2NPXurmspR-giycqmNDXEP83Nt_xKbXo2gV7izqawqn06LPZN2yqoOHMPZXOwiNhegcvt3_tr45cuFDV2pdtlAMNjHI-6mTBARjK-QLbqb96l6wgSZWCBF5o-fzVG/s1600/DSCN2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d9ekbQ8zIbXdU3r2NPXurmspR-giycqmNDXEP83Nt_xKbXo2gV7izqawqn06LPZN2yqoOHMPZXOwiNhegcvt3_tr45cuFDV2pdtlAMNjHI-6mTBARjK-QLbqb96l6wgSZWCBF5o-fzVG/s320/DSCN2065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture doesn't even do them justice! So pretty.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I received my cards in the mail, I was FLOORED. They were amazing, and way better than I thought they would be! I'm so happy I went with the glossy, and my photographs looked amazing as images on the cards. I think they'll definitely stand out amongst other plain, standard business cards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm so happy I got this perk, and I'll definitely reorder more cards from <a href="http://www.moo.com/share/6zmdp6" target="_blank">Moo</a> in the future. They also make postcards, stickers, invitations, etc.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHHzH0io5Tz4lcj4W_XSeEpzmDsUthe4Ci331fvbB7gQ0I_dIHFhRDIga_T87vPTfcjxBhCvcrgmj8J91H80V0Zvq39dJOHFKBZqUZbgiBNAhpdj21Sj8jn37H_lYVXwUnZpImEVADHMu/s1600/slideshow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHHzH0io5Tz4lcj4W_XSeEpzmDsUthe4Ci331fvbB7gQ0I_dIHFhRDIga_T87vPTfcjxBhCvcrgmj8J91H80V0Zvq39dJOHFKBZqUZbgiBNAhpdj21Sj8jn37H_lYVXwUnZpImEVADHMu/s320/slideshow.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of Moo's amazing work!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you have business cards? Are they for work or for personal ventures?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">**<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;">I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.**</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-74195246649648997902012-10-17T17:16:00.000-07:002012-10-20T06:15:09.487-07:00Building Good Habits<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today I learned that it takes 21 days to turn something into a habit. This really got me thinking. 21 days is only 3 weeks, so a new good habit could be only 3 weeks away! That seems like such a short amount of time for something that could really impact your life. Immediately I started thinking of new habits I wanted to develop, envisioning myself successfully acting on those habits without a second thought in 3 weeks time. But as I sat there thinking of my long list of desired habits, I realized that I can't do them all at once. I have to choose somewhere to start and build from there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But what habits to start with? Which are the most important to develop? Health and fitness habits? Financial habits? Organizational/work/study habits? All of the above?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think this all depends on the individual. Someone working to lose weight would highly value health and fitness habits, while someone with credit card debt might really crave better financial habits. Some people who are fairly balanced in all of these areas could still strive to improve in all of them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After some serious thought I decided to work on two main habits first: going to the gym three times a week, and putting everything back in my apartment where it belongs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've never been athletic, or a gym-rat. I would work out occasionally, but never anything on a regular basis. I know that I feel good after I work out, and it's great for my health, but I never wanted to take the time (or energy!) to do it. I've decided that I'm going to start going to the gym right after work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This way, I don't have time to go home and get trapped in the black hole that is my couch. If I go on my way home, the energy I get from my workout will be enough to carry me through the evening until bedtime. No more evening naps for me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also lazy in terms of putting things away. If I get a book out of my bookshelf, I usually end up leaving it on my coffee table long after I'm done with it. I throw my keys wherever (and often can't find them the next time I need them!) and I have a terrible habit of leaving dishes in the dishwasher and laundry in the dryer. I also have random shoes scattered literally all over my apartment. I want to be organized, but every time I try I seem to fail. But making a conscious effort for 21 days doesn't sound too hard, and if I succeed my apartment will look so much nicer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So here goes my 21 day habit creation sprint. Hopefully at the end of this, I'll have created some lasting habits that will really benefit me and improve my lifestyle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(And by the way, I DID go to the gym after work today, just in case you were wondering ;) )</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-40874352841082404122012-10-14T16:03:00.004-07:002012-10-14T16:04:00.950-07:00Candles, Candles, Candles!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am absolutely obsessed with candles. I love the flickering, dim light they give off. I love all the scents they come in. And call me weird, but I even love the smell of the smoke when you blow them out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was never allowed to burn candles in college because of dorm room policies, and my family never burned them too often either. So when I moved out after graduation, I immediately started stocking up! I've taken to lighting a candle or two shortly before I go to bed. I turn the lights down and just watch the light dancing around the room, which relaxes me before I go to sleep. The best thing is when the scent is still lingering when I wake up in the morning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get candles from everywhere, and I've listed some of my recent favorites below.</span><br />
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<a href="http://bbw.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pBBW1-13191831v275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bbw.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pBBW1-13191831v275.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Slatkin & Co Cinnamon Nut Bread from <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13103882&cm_vc=200" target="_blank">Bath and Body Works</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/60/01/83/0007600183767_500X500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/60/01/83/0007600183767_500X500.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Mainstays Hazelnut Cream from <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-3-oz-Candle-Hazelnut/16780322" target="_blank">Walmart</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://bdkz.typepad.com/.a/6a00e398257f7a88330154364f16ea970c-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bdkz.typepad.com/.a/6a00e398257f7a88330154364f16ea970c-800wi" width="260" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Yankee Candle Cherries on Snow from <a href="http://www.yankeecandle.com/detail/cherries-on-snow/1218451" target="_blank">Yankee Candle</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you like candles? What are some of your favorite candle brands/scents?</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-30296014094525191662012-10-11T16:58:00.002-07:002012-10-20T06:15:53.621-07:00Power Songs<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that everyone has a power song. You know the one. That song you randomly start belting out in the shower, walking around your house, and even the middle of a store. This song doesn't require a music cue, the lyrics just come. And when they arrive and you start singing, you start to feel really happy for some unexplainable reason.</span><br />
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Your power song isn't necessary the "song of the moment," but it can be! I certainly would't consider Call Me Maybe in the running for my power song, but if it's yours then sing it with pride! Some power songs have special meaning or make you recall a memory, whereas others you have just latched onto because you love them!</span><br />
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I found myself singing my power song in the shower less than 30 minutes ago. I also have it set as my alarm to get me pumped up in the mornings. Singing this song just makes me feel more positive about whatever situation I'm currently experiencing.</span><br />
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So what is my power song? Don't laugh at me, it's terribly 80s. It's We Built This City by Starship.</span><br />
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I am absolutely in love with this song. The beat, the lyrics, the girl singing the high pitched "oooOOOoooOOOOO" in the middle, all of it. It's great for driving, cleaning, just about everything. It's always been my power song, but a few months ago some memories became attached to it when my friend and I played it over and over on vacation. I also freaked out when they used it in the Muppets movie!</span><br />
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Even though this song was once rated as the number one worst song of the 1980s, I will always love belting it out to brighten my mood. And that's what a power song is all about.</span><br />
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Do you have power songs, and what are they? Are they as embarrassingly horrible as mine?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-74250742148832380632012-10-11T15:52:00.001-07:002012-10-20T06:15:24.457-07:00I (Heart) Influenster!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever heard of Influenster? It's a program along the same lines as Klout and Sumpto, but in my opinion SO much better!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you've got a high social media presence, love writing reviews, and like answering product questions, Influenster is for you. Based on these things, they calculate an Influenster score for you. Based on your score and the themes you are heavily involved in (beauty, food, decorating, travel, etc) you can be eligible for what they call VoxBoxes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">VoxBoxes are great boxes full of full-size and sample size products. My last one included a Kiss Nail Dress and a bar of Ghirardelli chocolate, among other great things! It's basically like a Birchbox on steroids, and falls into many categories other than just beauty products.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the whole program is absolutely free. Since they select you for a VoxBox, you never have to worry about trying to scramble to sign up before it's full (like Klout).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They've also recently revamped their website and upped the number of VoxBox programs they offer, so it's a great time to join.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think you're influential enough for the job? Log on to <a href="http://www.influenster.com/" target="_blank">Influenster</a> and sign up!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-24107006195711263642012-10-09T17:20:00.000-07:002012-10-09T17:20:36.253-07:00Falling for Fall<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cooler weather, crunchy leaves, scarves and sweaters, pumpkin EVERYTHING. I have officially fallen in love with fall!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In past years, I've dreaded this season. Fall meant back to school, trekking through the cold to class, and having to put away my flip flops. But this year I am obsessed with this season. With a full time job and grad school year round, the changing of seasons no longer brings about a feeling of dread. I've since moved away from my school in the mountains, and my only necessary treks in the cold will be from my apartment to the car and from the car into my office. And as for flip flops, I've abandoned those suckers for some adorable boots!</span><br />
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<a href="http://img4-2.southernliving.timeinc.net/i/2009/10/pumpkins/pumpkin-topiary-l.jpg?400:400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img4-2.southernliving.timeinc.net/i/2009/10/pumpkins/pumpkin-topiary-l.jpg?400:400" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo from <a href="http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/halloween-pumpkins-00400000054772/page20.html" target="_blank">Southern Living</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fall also comes along with a lot of fun activities. Hay rides, pumpkin patch visits, corn mazes, and haunted houses galore. With my busy schedule, I'm trying my hardest to live fall to its fullest and take time to experience everything it has to offer. I've already been to some haunted attractions, and they really got me into the spirit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also love fall fashion. In college I never took the time to dress cutely when it was cold out. I stuck on whatever I could to stay warm (ie jeans, a thermal, and a hoodie) and went on my merry way. Now I'm experimenting with scarves, leggings, and cute coats. I've learned that there is definitely a way to look adorable and still be warm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How do you feel about fall? Do you have any fall activities that you love to do, or fall clothes that you adore?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-9050672622989872282012-10-05T18:03:00.001-07:002012-10-05T18:04:40.988-07:00Celebrate Little Victories<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've always been a believer in celebrating. If there is a reason to celebrate, I probably am doing so. Of course, you HAVE to celebrate the big holidays: Christmas, New Years, Halloween, etc. Then there are the other obvious celebrations: birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, new babies, weddings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But those things have never been enough celebrating for me, so I've adopted the habit of celebrating little victories in my life. Sometimes the celebrating makes sense, like an idea of mine being well received at work, or getting a good grade on a homework assignment. But other times, it seems less logical. You can celebrate the last pair of shoes on the shelf being your size, or getting a parking spot in the front row. I've frequently started celebrating simply making it through the work week!</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/69454019223738758_3XKnVAsf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/69454019223738758_3XKnVAsf_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo from <a href="http://www.someecards.com/" target="_blank">someecards</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are lots of ways to celebrate little victories. Some of my favorites are:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Going to my favorite bake shop and getting myself a cupcake on the way home from work</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Taking a night off from school work</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ordering dessert at dinner</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Buying a new little goodie (like a nail polish, lipstick, set of pens, or magazine)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've found that by celebrating the little things, I am happier and cheerful. If you are constantly waiting around for the "typical" reasons to celebrate, you'll miss out on a lot of chances to celebrate small things that actually do mean a lot.</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/60657926201344496_tOE82O1U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/60657926201344496_tOE82O1U.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This habit has worked so well in my life that I want to start applying it to the lives of those close to me. For example, if my dad plays a really good golf game and he happens to mention it to me, I'll send him a little card. This is a really easy way to brighten up someone else's day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you celebrate little victories, and how do you do it?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-20299223759906320232012-10-02T16:51:00.000-07:002012-10-02T18:22:11.972-07:00Let It Be<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever found yourself stressed and overwhelmed over something that hasn't even happened yet? Have you ever said to yourself, "I can't do this" before you've even tried?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is one of my biggest problems, and I'm trying really hard to remove the negativity from my thought process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For example, this evening I checked my work email, and was immediately bombarded with an onslaught of communications, from questions to requests, meeting invites to FYIs. Immediately I started stressing out. Thoughts of "How will I get all this done in the morning? Why me? I can't deal with all of this!" began running through my head. I had to tell myself out loud to calm down and breathe. This is not a situation for now, it's an issue to tackle in the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oddly enough, this particular situation happens to me all the time, and I always have the same freak-out reaction. The fact that I've handled this same situation over and over again seems to escape me, and I go into panic mode before I've even considered everything. If I took the time to assess the situation for seriousness before going crazy, I've realized that a lot of them aren't nearly as urgent or stressful as I make them out to be.</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/224546731391039110_XAOxslBF_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/224546731391039110_XAOxslBF_c.jpg" width="218" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo from <a href="http://embrace-hope.tumblr.com/post/19693962714" target="_blank">embrace-hope</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I spent my whole evening stressing out over those emails, I wouldn't get to relax at all. In the morning, I would go into work even more stressed out, and would not be thinking in the positive mindset required to successfully handle them. Instead of continuing my freak-out, I put away my phone and moved on to doing something else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When faced with a problem, difficult situation, or issue, make sure to take the time to assess it, and don't immediately jump to the "OMG" reaction. The situation is what is, so let it be. All you can change is how you react to it. In the end, you'll be a lot more relaxed, and can tackle the situation from a calmer place.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081362400009612382.post-25548814906216907722012-10-01T18:01:00.003-07:002012-10-01T18:04:48.317-07:00My New Project<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Welcome to 20-Something Ambition! This is my new project, a blog that details life as a 20-something trying to make my way in this world and follow my dreams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo from <a href="http://www.littlebgcg.com/2011/10/words.html" target="_blank">Little BGCG</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For a little bit of background, I'll give you some details about my life in its current state.</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">My name is Amanda, I'm 22, and I live in Richmond, VA</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">I'm a Virginia Tech graduate, with a bachelor's in Communication (emphasis in PR)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">I'm employed full-time as a project manager at a major financial company</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">I'm also working on my master's in Public Relations and Marketing through an online program</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this blog, I'll chronicle the ins and outs of life as a 20-something with ambition. From accomplishments to failures, struggles to successes, I'll reveal little lessons that I learn in my everyday life. I'll also be including some other elements, such as makeup, fashion, music, art, travel, and advice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My goal is to make this blog a resource for 20-something women looking to achieve success and follow their dreams. Will this work? Who knows, but it's worth a shot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Live with purpose,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amanda</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17170555184374188830noreply@blogger.com0