weekly jams.

Music easily falls on the list of “My Top Ten Favorite Things”. In a short list of things I couldn’t live without, my Spotify account would make the cut.

When it comes to discovering new music, I am fortunate to have several friends who are as into keeping up on the music scene, as I am into following fashion blogs. That is to say, it’s a daily thing.

These people always seem to know about the best up-and-coming artists, just-released tracks, and the occasional well done YouTube cover. Thankfully these friends are generous when it comes to linking me to videos, SoundCloud tracks and the like.

Here’s what made it on to my Facebook wall this week:

 

Icona Pop, I Love It
{this one is anthem status, if you ask me. it’s been in heavy rotation on nights when I’m getting ready to go out.}

Rita Ora, How We Do (Party)
{who doesn’t love a good party jam? start playing it now, and it will forever remind you of summer 2012.}

LP, Halo (Beyonce Cover)
{halo is one of my very favorite beyonce jams to belt out while i’m alone in the car. but this cover gives it a more folksy feel.}

Beyonce, Halo
{for good measure i included the REAL Halo, so you can get your Lady Bey on.}

Thanks to Brandon Johnson and Taylor Spencer for the jams.

Happy Hump Day!

the job hunt

Job-hunting can be an overwhelming, frustrating, sometimes miserable task.

As a job seeker you are operating with the knowledge that any given job post has probably received more than 100 responses. Then there is the irksome fact that in most cases your resume isn’t seen by human eyes, but is sorted based on specific keywords through a computing system.

This being my second time on the prowl for a “real job” I’ve done my fair share of research into the matter. Coming out of college I had absolutely no idea what went into applying for a professional job. A bit of a problem, no? It was through the powers of the Internet that I taught myself to write a cover letter. By now I’ve read dozens of articles and blogs dictating the process, and would like to think I know what I’m doing.

Here are a few tips I came up with to help others:

Set a goal.

I’ve promised myself I will apply to at least two jobs per day. It takes time to weed through all the posts to find jobs you are both qualified for and interested in.

At least for myself, I only want to apply to jobs I will actually like, and that are in line with my professional goals. Better to send in your resume for two or three promising positions, than 10 posts you hardly read or researched.

Not qualified?

This happens all the time. I’ll find a position or company that intrigues me, but they’re looking for someone with more experience. Instead of indulging in a two-minute pout before moving on to the next post, I check the company’s Careers section on their website. Chances are they have another position open you are qualified for, or they provide an email address where you can send a resume to be considered for future openings that better suits your experience level.

Still nothing? Make note of the company (I have a running list in my Notes on my iPhone), so you can remember to check back from time to time to see if anything opens up.

Make a list!

I have another list going in my iPhone of proven job boards that I should check regularly. (Clearly, I have a bad memory and should start doing crosswords or something. Moving on…) Instead of opening seven tabs at once, as I have a tendency to do, I start at the top of the list and go through one by one, searching through the most recent posts of each, before moving on to the next site. Much less overwhelming.

 

Have your own job-hunting tips? Send me some! And keep your fingers crossed that I get an email back about one of these jobs, won’t you?

some photos

{some very patriotic flowers!}

 

{street signs honoring the presidents, from the National Museum of American History.}

 

{CAN YOU DIG IT? easily my favorite from the collection of past posters used to encourage young voters.}

 

{yo welcome!}

 

On July 3rd we went to visit the National Museum of American History, which was a HUGE mistake. With all the tourists in town for the holiday, the place was a mad house. We had been excited to see the First Ladies’ dresses, but with people pushing all around you and constantly stepping in front of you, it was really a less than stellar experience.

wardrobe update

One of the first things I realized upon moving to the Washington, D.C. area was that my bright green, extra short, cut-offs weren’t going to cut it as appropriate attire. With the record high temperatures and new-to-me humidity, pants are absolutely out of the question, and other than a few dresses my summer wardrobe isn’t very “DC”.

After living my whole life in a city that didn’t have so much as a Forever 21 until 201o, I was very much looking forward to the fashion scene a larger city had to offer. I love seeing all girls when they’ve just gotten off work, in their colored pencil skirts and shift dresses. I wish it was socially acceptable to just walk up to people and ask them where they bought their top/shoes/bags, so I could have some idea of where to start!

Unfortunately it’s not, and even if I could ask them, my lack of income sort of prevents me from that level of wardrobe overhaul. Still, Melissa and I went shopping in a state of desperation, and seriously lucked out thanks to the pre-4th of July sales.

I picked up two pairs of shorts from The Gap, for $11.80 each! I also got a loose, plain gray tank, a pink sundress, a nice yellow top and a blue plaid button down, that will be perfect tied up, or as a light cover up (maybe months from now when it’s not 100 degrees until 9 p.m.).

{the ikat canvas short, original price $49.95}

All in all, it was a pretty solid start to building up my DC wardrobe!

the first week

{my first metro card! i ended up deactivating THREE of these because I kept putting them next to my cell phone… whoops!}

 

{the tacky orange construction sign directing us the the memorial. the reflecting pool has been empty since 2010, because they are reconstructing a leaking panel.}

 

{stopped by this random fountain to eat our street cart hotdogs.}

 

{roaming around Georgetown during DCHH. cheap beers all around!}

i’ll never forget that tree on m st.

Today Melissa and I made a trip to Capitol Hill for a “Welcome to Washington” breakfast with Harry Reid. It’s really not as glamorous as it’s made to sound – but we did have to go through security and receive an official pass to get there.

(Fun detail: Before we walked in through the security entrance we saw all the news crews on the law preparing to report on the Supreme Court decision.)

There is something to be said for Nevadans who make it a point to visit Harry Reid during their short stay in Washington, D.C. The brazen, stout woman with the pocket-sized Constitution was definitely my favorite. During the question and answer portion of the event, she was easily the most outspoken of the group, and unabashedly asked the Senate Majority Leader what he was planning to do to get the Verdi Post Office reopened. Forget those t-shirts they sell in the Union, this woman is the one who really “makes Nevada look good.”

I’m easy to please, so I was thrilled by the whole experience. However, the most exciting moment of the trip happened before we even got to the Capitol. In a scene I hope I never forget, Melissa totally vommed on a tree, in the middle of a public sidewalk, while I stood just off to the side trying to Google Map “Bathroom.”

It goes like this:

Melissa and I left the house just slightly behind schedule at 7:32, ready for our first metro ride during morning commute hours, including a transfer to the Red Line.

Excited for doughnuts at the breakfast, Melissa determined that we didn’t need to eat before we left the house. I suppose it’s worth mentioning that our main source of hydration has been two beers a day for the past four days. Last night we decided tack on a few extra, and a “rail” drink (well drinks, to those of us on the West Coast/Best Coast) for good measure. Apparently the body needs more than alcohol to function? News to us. But combine this with the humid, hot air that hit us when we walked out the door at 7:32 a.m., the inconsiderate guy with smelly food on the metro, and you get Melissa bent over a tree on M St..

Slowly, but surely we made it to the Capitol building, where poor Melissa ended up being escorted from her bathroom hiding spot to the nurse’s office. Diagnosis: dehydration.

I don’t know that she finds it funny now, but I fully intend on re-telling this story for the rest of my life, and using the image to give myself a little laugh whenever I’m feeling down.

 

Happy Thursday!