Weekly Journal # 3

Wow, Is PBandJterm really coming to an end??

This class has completely changed the way I view Social Media.  Three weeks ago I had zero experience as a blogger and barely any twitter knowledge.  I now feel comfortable in these areas and have realized the value in each outlet.

 

One of my favorite parts of this week was having Derek Mabie come and speak to our class.  He taught us a lot about SEO and what Evolve Digital Labs (his company) does.  He walked us through a key word search and tricks to figure out what people are searching for.  I though it was interesting how our content can be tailored to the common search words that people use.  In order to get your website on the front page of google, these tricks are key.  We also spent some time learning about Google Analytics and how to build links that will ultimately give us a bigger presence on the web.

 

City In a Jar: Maddie Marshall and Jessica Leitch from City in a Jar also spoke to our class.  City in a Jar is a great blog containing things ranging from what to do in STL all the way to recipes, fashion, and inspiring running stories.  You can find a little bit of everything in City in a Jar.  These woman met at a Social Media event and became fast friends.  They decided to start a blog and have become a huge success.  They were very personable and asked me If I would like to get coffee and pick their brains about what it takes to have a successful blog.  I am so happy that I got to meet and connect with two woman who are passionate about what they do and can teach me so much about the blogging world.

The big move:

Michael Zandstra gave a presentation about moving from your free Word Press to your own domain.  He gave us some very useful tools and tips on how to have an easy transition as well as possible companies we might want to consider when buying our domain.  He also ended up helping me out with some positioning problems that I was experiencing on wordpress.  Talk about a helpful guy!!

Goodbye PBandJterm:

Over all this has been the most useful class I have taken at Lindenwood.  I have never learned so much in such a short time.  This class has inspired me to write about what I’m passionate about.  Fashion has always been one of my great loves, but I never thought that it was possible to integrate this into my career without majoring in fashion design.  Blogging is so much fun and I can’t believe that I could possibly get to do this for a living someday.  I was shocked by how quickly I could finish my blog entries and realized that it was because I was finally getting to write about something that interests me.  Thank you to my classmates in PBandJterm.  It was great working with people who are eager to learn and fun to work with.

Want to look your best? Dressing for your body type is the key!

In case you haven’t heard, woman come in all different shapes and sizes.  I know, shocker! Because i’m pretty sure that everyone is aware of this, why am I constantly needing to call the fashion police on girls who are not dressing for their body type!!! Technology is an amazing thing and it doesn’t stop at the iPad.  There are clothes tailored for EVERY body type and woman should never settle for an outfit that adds weight where she doesn’t have it or hide her curves.

Is there a circus under there?

I was in the grocery store the other day and couldn’t help but notice a curvy girl who was wearing an oversized shirt.  This would not have been a big deal if her chest was not huge and the shirt was not hanging like a tent making her appear to be about 50 pounds heavier than she actually was.  Some woman tend to go with fashion instead of fit.  Flowy oversized shirts may be in style, however, they are for woman with smaller chests and less curves.  Woman would kill for her curvy body! Why would she want to cover up her cute body by allowing her tent of a shirt to swallow her whole!? Ladies, do yourself a favor and buy clothes that fit you instead of hide you.

Can you even breath??

On the other end of the spectrum there are the woman who make the common mistake of buying clothes that are too small for them.  You may not want to admit that you aren’t a size 4 anymore but no one wants to see you try…trust me.  There is no shame in buying clothes that fit your body.  Clothes that are too small can actually add weight because they squeeze where they shouldn’t which creates bulges in all the wrong places. Clothing that fits the way it should glides over the body and shows off the pretty things about a womans body, such as her womanly curves (instead of her muffin top).

Lets figure it out:

This body type chart should help you figure out what you are.  Here are some easy tricks that will help you learn how to dress for your specific body type. For bananas you are going to want to accentuate your waist (this will create curves that you don’t have).  Apples carry all their weight in their stomach which means you should avoid tight fitted shirts that are going to accentuate this.  Apples normally have skinny legs so you should play up this positive attribute about your body by wearing skinny jeans or breaking out the skirts and shorts while paring them with looser tops.  Pears carry their weight in their hips and butt so dark colors are the best for the bottom half on these ladies so that their lower half is not more accentuated than it already is.  Pears generally have small waists so fitted shirts are a great idea.  Hour glass girls have curves up top and down bellow which means they should accentuate their waist so that their mid section does not get lost.

Tip:

Next time you go shopping, bring a friend.  Let me be more specific, bring an honest friend.  Show her everything you try on and ask her these simple questions..”Does this accentuate my most flattering elements or hide them? Does this pinch anywhere it shouldn’t? Is this slimming or does it add weight?” Soon you will master the art of dressing for your body type, however until this happens,  you will most likely need backup.

Lets embrace shall we?

Because we are all unique and different, lets decide to stop trying to be something we aren’t. Whether you’re curvy as can be or skinny as a rod, you have the option to either embrace what you have been given or fight to be a woman who you were not created to be.  Your clothes reflect a lot about you so decide here and not to wear clothes that flatter your figure, not hide or suffocate it

.

High fashion hair: How to get the look

Lets talk hair:

One of the simplest ways to look put together is your hair style.  Hair is a great accessory because the possibilities are endless. Whether you are going for flowy and girly or edgy and chic, your hair can help you achieve the look you want to create.  One of the reasons that I was excited to write about hair is because of my lack of talent in the art of hair.  The good news is that there are simple, yet effective ways to get the style you crave.  Here are three different hairstyles that look daunting, but with a little bit of practice are surprisingly easy!

Beach Waves:

One of my favorite hairstyles is simple beach waves that look natural.  This look is simple and all you will need is a thick curling iron and some hairspray. Ready? Lets get started. Step 1: Split dry hair into sections that are that are about 1 to 2 inches thick. Step 2: Leave your curling iron closed instead of opening it and wrap each section around and hold for about 3o seconds.  Step 3: After you are done curling all of your hair, take your fingers and loosen the curls so they look more natural.  Step 4: take a light hairspray that has flexible hold and spray your curls.  Sometimes I like to flip my head upside down while I spray the curls for added volume.

 

 

Sock bun: The sock bun is a little hard to explain so I found this great tutorial that will take you through everything step by step.  I love the sock bun!

 

 

 

 

Not just a ponytail:

Sometimes you just don’t have time to do your hair so in these time crunches there is a way to add the illusion of being put together and its so simple.  step 1: Pull back your hair into a ponytail, you can choose to have a loose pony or a more sleek pulled back look. Step 2: take a section of hair from the bottom of the ponytail and wrap it around the hair tie so that it covers it. Step 3: pin the access hair under the ponytail and secure with either a small clip or a bobby pin.  Step 4: Hairspray and you’re good to go!

Healthy hair:

I know, healthy hair isn’t a hair style but it’s so important! Healthy hair is always in style and will help your hair look its best no matter what style it’s in.  The best way to achieve healthy, shiny hair is by eating right and drinking plenty of water.  It might be a good idea to take a multivitamin that contains biotin which will help your hair grow and stay strong.  If you tend to use a lot of heat on your hair, you might want to try a protective serum or leave in conditioner to prevent dryness and breakage.  Winter is extremely hard on hair and I recommend getting a good hair mask or hair treatment that will revitalize your hair and give it the moisture it needs.

Hair has never come naturally to me but I’ve tried all of these hair styles and if I can do it so can you!

7 Small details that make a huge difference.

Many women underestimate the power of a accessorizing.  Accessories have the power to change a boring outfit into something unique and original.  Some of the best outfits I’ve put together involve simple idems such as a simple flowy shirt and skinny jeans.  The magic happens when I throw on a beautiful scarf and some chunky bracelets or maybe some earings and an intricate headband.  The possibilities are endless and there are so many tricks that can add magic to any wardrobe. I can’t wait to teach you how to spice up your wardrobe so you can say goodbye to mediocre fashion for good!

1. Scarf it up:

Scarves are one of the easiest ways to change an outfit.  There are all kinds of styles and types of scarves.  I typically wear scarves during fall and winter but I’ve recently found scarves that would even work for spring.  Scarves have the ability to take a boring outfit and give it an interesting twist while adding dimension. Whats not to love?

2. Bracelets and watches:

Watches are my new obsession.  I recently recieved a vintage watch from my mother that she wore when she was my age.  The watch is so fun to wear because not only does it have a history, it also adds character to my outfit with its rustic vibe.  Watches can be worn on their own or paired with other bracelets to for a stacked look.

3. Rings:

Rings are a very small, but can add an interesting element to your outfit. You don’t have to go overboard with rings on every finger, however, I am a fan of multiple rings. I have a simple ring that I like to pair with a statement ring on the other hand.  I’ve seen girls wear multiple rings on one hand and if done right it can look really fun.

Necklaces:

There are lots of varieties in the necklace department of accessorizing.  My favorite at the moment are pendants which are usually a small shape, stone, or diamond (if you’re lucky) at the end of a chain.  My favorite is a small feather that is silver with a silver chain.  I also enjoy wearing big chunky necklaces that are statement pieces.  My only advice with these kinds of necklaces is to wear them with a simple top because a busy background against a busy necklace could be too much going on and cause the outfit to look overdone and cluttered.

5. Headbands:

Headbands vary between the seasons. I tend to wear lace or plane headbands in the colder months while bringing out my hippy, excentric headbands in the warmer moths. You can do so much with a headband and it really does change the look of any outfit.

6. sunglasses:

Sunglasses turn normal days into edgy looks.  No matter what you are wearing, sunglasses turn boring into exciting as soon as you put them on.  They always add an element of mystery which I love.

So there you have it, 6 ways to use small details to spice up your wardrobe.

Check out my prezi about my upcoming fashion blog called Black and White Daisies!

Here it is!

Weekly Journal # 2

Fine-tuning

Throughout this week we have mainly focused on fine-tuning our blogs and LinkedIn profiles.  There are so many little things that can help create more professional and attractive blogs and profiles.  We learned how to delete things such as the “hello world” post on Word press.  It’s the small fine-tuning that can transform armature blogs into more professional and aesthetically appealing creations.  It is very helpful to have the class review my blog because they catch things that I might have otherwise looked past or not realized.

Widgets

Widgets were one of the first things we learned this week.  They are very helpful and allow bloggers to make it easy for their readers to have access to things like your twitter, recent posts, and archives.  It was not a hard process and really improved the function ability of my blog as well as its appearance.  We learned how to embed things into our blogs and add links to sights like prezi.  I also learned that it is better to link my prezi presentation to words, rather than simply leave the URL code for all to see.

LinkedIn

Nick Gilham came to our Personal branding class and gave a well-done presentation on LinkedIn.  He has LinkedIn down to a science and shared some very helpful tips on how to make our LinkedIn profiles look more professional and represent us in the best way possible.  He has a very impressive and well- done LinkedIn profile and it made me realize how much further I can take my profile.  Gilman pointed out simple things that can make a big difference.  He showed us where it is wise to expand and elaborate as well as improvement tips on areas that can give us a cutting edge over our competitors.  The Presentation was both informative and interactive, which made it very enjoyable and a great learning experience.

Finding My Niche

This week we were given the challenge to do some sample blogging about our Niche that we have chosen to do for our final project.  I have decided to do a fashion blog.  Many students had trouble deciding what to write about, however, I knew exactly what I would enjoy writing about.  This project is fun because I have a passion for fashion and it is so much easier to write about things that you actually enjoy and have a genuine interest in.

Lets Get Started

I was happy about this assignment because I had been thinking about starting a fashion blog and kept putting it off.  This class forced me to start brainstorming and begin the process of finding my niche.  I am both challenged and inspired by this assignment.  Inspired because of the endless possibilities and directions I could choose for my blog and challenged because of how many fashion blogs already exist.  In order to stand out I am going to have to find a way to stand out and get notices.  As I blog, my hope is that I can stay true to who I am and focused not on the possibility of money, but the possibility of reaching others in a new and creative way.

Do I dare step into the crazy world of fashion?

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Once upon a time there was a little girl who sat watching her mother at her vanity.  As she watched she was mesmerized by the deep red lipstick and the way that her eyelashes were slightly curled and fluttered as she blinked.  Her mother stood up and gazed at herself in the mirror.  She wore a black dress and pearls that wrapped around her elegant neck.  She knelt down to slide on her black high heels and smiled as she caught her little girl spying on her from across the room.   Her little girl dreamed of the day when she could own her own set of pearls and become a beautiful woman just like her mother.

Who am I?

If you hadn’t guessed, I am the little girl in the story.  From a young age, I had a fascination with beauty and style.  Many girls share this passion, however, many girls do not look at it quite the same way as I do.  Fashion is an art form that expresses emotion and can tell you a lot about a person.  I know what you’re thinking… Hey! It doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, you are supposed to tell us that it’s all about internal beauty!  This is true, I believe that you will never feel or express beauty until you are at peace with what is inside because true beauty comes from within.  This being said, fashion has the ability to speak to others before you even have the chance. Now that is powerful.

Your clothes are speaking

Just think about it, if a girl walks in with a leather jacket, Smokey eyes, and biker boots you have automatically assumed things about her lifestyle and have probably already made predictions about her personality before you have even had a conversation.  Now imagine the same girl walks by wearing a pastel cardigan with a sundress.  Odds are you will have predictions about what she is like and what kind of girl she is.  We have the power to express ourselves in so many different ways.  Fashion is an unspoken language; your clothes and how you present yourself are in constant communication with the world.  Because of this fact, I am both intrigued and curious about the world of fashion.

Source: Uploaded by user via D.L. on Pinterest

Golden rule

Can I ask you a question? When do you feel the most confident? I bet you have already though about a certain piece of clothing that makes you feel pretty.  Maybe it’s a dress that fits every curve, or maybe even a pair of jeans that are the perfect fit and make you feel amazing.  I have a very wise Nana (grandma) and she always told me to never let my clothes wear me and to always make sure that I wear my clothes.  Too many woman buy clothes that don’t fit them or accentuate all the wrong places.  You could be wearing the best designer clothes on the planet, but if they don’t fit and wear you… who cares, you still look bad and the worst part of all it that you paid money to look that way!

Join my passion for beauty, hop on the fashion bandwagon, and see what you could learn.

Weekly Journal #1

This week has been both challenging and exciting.  Because of my beginning skills on twitter, I was forced to play catch up with some of the more advanced students in our class.  Now that I am beginning to understand Twitter, I realize what a powerful and vital tool it will be in furthering my personal brand.  The concept of social media can intimidate and scare me because it is always changing and just when I think I’ve mastered one aspect, a new avenue arrives full of new tricks and alternative ways to project yourself to the world.

Throughout this week I have never stopped learning. I was challenged by the synopsis assignment because I am currently a student without sold career experience.  It made me realize how important getting an internship and furthering my resume will be in my future success.  I am learning so much and I feel slightly overwhelmed, however, I am curious and excited to see where my path will lead me and how my personal brand develops over time.

Lets Blog

Throughout this week I have learned so much about the world of blogging.  After my presentation about Darren R. Rowse, I was shocked by how much I have to learn.  Rowse is incredible and has influenced the way people view their blogs.  He mainly focuses on how to turn a blogging hobby into a full-time career.  He has so many helpful tutorials and his book is said to be an extremely helpful resource.  Fashion blogs are a passion of mine and the possibility of my hobby turning into a career inspires me to pursue  blogging.

Twitter

During our presentations I also learned about how powerful Twitter can be.  Students are tweeting about the top leaders in personal branding and getting personal responses from these individuals.  Twitter connects people who otherwise would never be able to have a conversation.  I used to think that Twitter was simply on more way for people to write pointless information on-line, but now I see its potential influential power when used correctly. Here is a great article to further you knowledge about twitter and what it can do for you.

HootSuite I Love You! 

The first day of class we were told to create a Hootsuite, which I had never heard of before this class.  I am new at twitter and can’t imagine what it would be like to not have  Hootsuite along with Twitter.  Hoosuite organizes twitter into categories so that it is easier to keep track and follow others conversations about the class and other important topics of personal branding.  Now when my friends ask me about twitter I will point them to Hootsuite because it makes everything so simple and organizes everything for its users.

I am overwhelmed by the amount of information I have taken in this week and could honestly say that if I were to stop at this point I would still feel like I have learned more new information than I was expecting.  I have high hopes for the knowledge that I will attain in the next two weeks. If it is anything like the first week I will be well equipped in the area of personal branding by the end of J term.

Darren R. Rowse Presentation

Click right here!

Wordle