Smart Pretty and Awkward

“More than anything I want to see you, girl / Take a glorious bite out of the whole world” — “You Could Be Happy,” Snow Patrol

How to be Smarter: Some amount of luck probably got you to where you are today, but you can’t build luck into your life plan moving forward. Things happen because people make them happen. If you don’t make anything happen, most likely nothing will happen.

How to be Prettier: Keeping a packet of face wipes on your bedside table makes it much easier to take your make-up off on nights you have forgotten to wash your face until after you’ve crawled into bed.

How to be (less) Awkward: How common is your birthday? [This is a cool little info-graphic that’s fun to email to friends/crushes/sweeties to break up a work day].

“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

How to be Smarter: Having a time limit on something you are nervous about or not looking forward to doing makes it instantly more tolerable. Whether you tell yourself you’ll stay at a party for “just an hour” or that you will clean your apartment for “just 15 minutes,” having a deadline in mind makes a task you are dreading more tolerable because your mind can wrap itself around the parameters of the event. You can always extent the time frame if you find yourself having fun or hitting a good groove.

How to be Prettier: Asymmetrical hemlines are everywhere right now: shorter in the front, and longer in the back. (With offbeat hemlines, I favor neutral, solid colors).

How to be (less) Awkward: When a far-away friend has a birthday, a fun way to bridge the distance is to send a hourly text or email with either a fun fact about their new age (“cool things about the number 23″) or about a characteristic you like about them (“reasons you’re awesome”) throughout the day.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”

— Robert Louis Stevenson

New York, NY

Photo credit: http://www.joliejamie.blogspot.com/

“I’m going to write an essay about you someday and not change your name” — Lena Dunham

How to be Smarter: I read this entire book over the past weekend: it’s extremely interesting, it covers many favorite television shows, and it’s written in a very accessible, almost script-like style. I highly recommend.

How to be Prettier: If you want to be more creative with your outfit choices, limit the pieces available to you. The fewer choices you have, the more imaginative you will be forced to become with the pairings and color choices. (A natural way to do this is to wait a few extra days before laundry day).

How to be (less) Awkward: The song “It’s Amazing” by Jem, about pushing through walls to reach dreams, is one of my favorite calming songs when I’m thinking about the future.

Main Site: http://smartprettyandawkward.com/

“The world is extremely interesting to a joyful soul.”

— Alexandra Stoddard

“I think for the most part, if you’re really honest with yourself about what you want out of life, life gives it to you” — Ted Mosby, “How I Met Your Mother”

How to be Smarter: You can change your whole life in a big way just by changing all the little ways and routines you have developed. Shaking up your life dramatically isn’t just about changing your job, significant other, or city, it can also be changing every little thing in your life except for the “big things.”

How to be Prettier: An SP&A Exclusive Discount code: With the promo code SP&A, you can get 10% off your order at Chromatic Gallerie. I’ve worn the Eggplant a Kiss heels twice this week, as they are subdued enough for work, but more summer-like than my usual black heels. (Coupon expires 6/30).

How to be (less) Awkward: How to make friends. [A Flash Friday Christina from 40:20 Vision and I wrote].

Main Site: http://smartprettyandawkward.com/

Saturday night song to get ready to!

“THE TRAGEDY IN LIFE DOESN’T LIE IN NOT REACHING YOUR GOAL. THE TRAGEDY LIES IN HAVING NO GOAL TO REACH” — BENJAMIN MAYS

How to be Smarter: You know how when you were little and you didn’t want to eat something, you would be encouraged to try “just one bite”? Keep that habit up as an adult. Before deciding something is not for you, try it for a second just to be sure it’s not you’re new favorite food/activity/website/author/nail polish/etc.

How to be Prettier: If you layer two pairs of tights, any holes won’t be noticeable as two different pairs rarely get snags in the same places. (The tights need to be thin and the same color for this to work).

How to be (less) Awkward: In an email conversation, it helps to end each email with a question to keep the conversation moving.

—

P.S. This month, Smart Pretty and Awkward turns 3 and a half years old! And one year ago today is also when I launched the newsletter Coffee with Molly…thank you for your amazing support. (As always, you can follow SP&A on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin’). xo, Molly

Main Site: http://smartprettyandawkward.com/

“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT FAILING AT SOMETHING, UNLESS YOU LIVE SO CAUTIOUSLY THAT YOU MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE LIVED AT ALL – IN WHICH CASE, YOU FAIL BY DEFAULT” — J.K. ROWLING

How to be Smarter: Build a life so uniquely yours that no one can imagine anyone but you living it. Make your choices so intentionally and specifically tailored to your personality and your goals that it is impossible to conceive of anyone but you living the one specific life that you live. Your life should not be interchangeable with anyone else’s–and that’s a good thing because it means you are listening to your own specific heart, mind and values.

How to be Prettier: An SP&A Exclusive Discount code: With the promo code SPANDA10, you can get 10% off your order at Messes of Dresses. I have my eye on the Envious Bow Dress, the Sunflower Shirt, and the Marcel Loafers. (Coupon expires 5/14).

How to be (less) Awkward: A really cleverly written article on dignity [some profanity].

Main Site: http://smartprettyandawkward.com/