the color run.

Around this time last year, I made a feeble attempt to become a running fiend. Several months and one knee injury later, I was back to my anti-running ways.

Until now.

I am beyond excited to say that I’m officially signed up for the 2012 Chicago Color Run! I’m hoping its short distance (5K) and gorgeous location (I couldn’t resist an opportunity to visit one of my favorite cities,) paired with my love for neon colors and need for moral support (several of my closest friends are running the race, too,) will create the perfect combination.

My *official* personal training begins this week, so please wish me luck. Believe me; I’ll need it!

Running fanatics: What tips can you share with this first-time 5K runner? (For example: What should I eat? What are the best warm ups in town? If you dealt with a knee injury, how did you overcome it?)

project spotlight: loose change letters

Remember when I mentioned my lonely bedroom wall several posts ago? I finally stepped up and purchased a fabulous Ikea shelf for it; however, I quickly realized I don’t have anything to display on the shelf. I decided I’m not going to hang it until I get my act together and choose some decorative pieces.

While searching for cheap shelf decor ideas, I discovered this Pinterest image and instantly became intrigued. Pennies typically waste space without bringing much value, but this project made them look really cool. Many of us have some spare change lounging around the house and car, right?

(source)

I grabbed my mason jar full of spare change and got to work. Here’s how I made this idea my own:

• I purchased a paper letter for approximately $2 at Hobby Lobby. The letter was cardboard brown, so I covered it with two coats of white spray paint.
• I washed every nickel and dime I could find. (I didn’t use quarters; they’re precious commodities when you live in a city with metered parking!)

• Once the paint dried, I used a hot glue glun to adhere nickels and dimes to my letter. As soon as the glue set, my project was complete.

Some helpful hints:

• You could purchase any letter/number and paint it any color you like. Heck, you don’t even have to paint it. The world is your oyster.
• I washed my change with soapy water, but if you’re using pennies, rumors say ketchup brightens them up. Not kidding.
• Don’t be afraid to use a lot of glue! One small dab isn’t enough.
• If you want this letter to stand upright on its own, add extra coins to the back of the letter. Even though the back isn’t visible, it’ll help even out the weight.

It doesn’t get much easier (and affordable) than this. I can’t wait to see how this nickel & dime letter pops against my bedroom’s mocha walls!

2011 recap.

Note: 2011 is coming to a close, which means your RSS feed will be chock full of “New Year’s resolutions” posts for the next week. Instead of boring you with my lame-o health and fitness goals, I’m going to reflect on this past year. 

Isn’t it odd how the older you get, the faster time flies by? When I was in elementary school, 12 months felt like a decade. Now that I’m out of college and in my twenties, I feel like several months pass by every time I blink.

Throughout the year, I was reminded of how valuable time really is. I’m so thankful for those who chose to invest their time in me this year: whether personally or professionally. As the new year approaches, I’m reflecting on how I spent my time in 2011 and how I can ensure I don’t miss a thing in the upcoming year.

As a means to remember this year’s important moments, here’s 2011′s milestones and memorable moments:

Memorable moment one: Battling mononucleosis. 

My year started off a bit rocky. After a month of just “not feeling right” and constantly falling asleep on my couch after work (I’m not a napper, FYI,) I stumbled off to Urgent Care and found out I had mono. Seriously: Who gets mono after high school and college? Ridiculous. Many tests, milkshakes and pain killers later, I learned to stop being so stubborn about my health.

Memorable moment two: Starting a new job.

In early 2011, I left my first “big girl” job for a new venture. Despite my attempts to play it cool, I’ll admit that leaving a respected position with a great team was incredibly difficult. The transition from a state government marketing specialist to a private sector PR pro was rough, but I could not be happier with my decision. I learned that it’s important to trust your gut and take risks. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t step out on a limb and head toward the unknown.

Memorable moment three: Buying a new car.

After spending several years with my trusty Saturn Ion, I traded it in and purchased a Scion tc. I fell in love with the sporty little car as soon as I spotted it on the lot. Roxanne (yes, I name my cars) fits my personality so well, and its petite frame makes it a parallel parking machine.

Memorable moment four: Moving… again.

In 2011, I moved for the fifth time in four years. Despite the fact that I hate packing up my stuff and heading to a new space, I’m so glad I decided to make the move. I get to live in an awesome condo with a fabulous roommate and her adorable puppy. (FYI: I can also report that hiring movers is totally worth every penny spent.)

What were your most memorable moments this year? What are you looking forward to in 2012?

christmas decor.

Moving to a new place in late November definitely put a damper on my Christmas decorating.

It felt like it took weeks to get all my stuff in order, leaving me little time to focus on creating a winter wonderland. Plus: Anyone who’s moved recently knows it can take quite a toll on your bank account, even if you think you already own everything you could possibly need. Spending $100 on Christmas decor just seemed like another unnecessary expense.

While in a desperate attempt to create Christmas on a budget, I bought a string of white lights and hung them on my headboard.

See? $5 lights can make all the difference. Hello, Christmas.

P.S. Isn’t my headboard lovely? It’s a reclaimed storm window frame. My dad brought it back to life via paint and some chicken wire.

social media burnout and a much-needed break

Yes: I’m way overdue on a post, and I know it. Go ahead and slap me on the hand.

I’ve tried to write several brilliant, thought-provoking posts about post-grad life and my year-long transition from college student to young PR pro in a new city… I really have. But all my attempts turned out dull, cheesy and predictable. No one wants to read that.

If you typed my current symptoms into WebMD, I’m sure it would mention some form of social media/web burnout. Reading blogs and trying to keep up with social media networks (including my new favorite, @Pinterest) can be exhausting, and that’s exactly how I feel right now.

Throughout the next few months, I plan to step away from social media so I can do a lot more listening and a lot less talking. I need to read hardcover books while basking in the sunshine. I need to divert my free time toward more face (or phone!) time and less Facebook time. I need to subscribe to more magazines. I need to discover Columbus’ nooks and crannies. And I need to rediscover what I’m passionate about.

I’ll be back to blogging once I gain a new focus for this crazy, scrambled blog of mine. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me via email!

derby, number three, to show.

Don’t fret: I’m working on a new post.

In the meantime, I thought I’d entertain you with a photo from this year’s Kentucky Derby.

food for thought: may 5 edition.

“Change is the engine that either carries you forward or runs you over.” -Unknown

puppy envy.

The transition from Ohio’s cold, gloomy winter to warm, crisp spring is absolutely, positively one of my favorite parts of the year. It’s like the world comes alive as soon as the grass turns green and flowers peek up and show their true colors.

As a novice city dweller, I love the sense of community that blooms with spring. It’s fun to see so many neighbors out walking, jogging and biking around the block. But this season also brings out the worst in me, as I deal with a terrible condition.

I suffer from severe puppy envy.

I blame my puppy envy on a pet-free childhood. My parents’ first dog passed away when I was just a little tike, and they refused to purchase a new one. I then spent years pleading them for any and every pet: a horse (because my family’s 50-acre lot shouldn’t go to waste, right?,) a cat (my parents finally let me get one when I was 13, and it was hit by a car several months later) and a goat (this request didn’t fly too well.) My parents laughed and reminded me that I could get any animal I wanted when I “grew up.”

I found this shelter pup last summer, and I wanted it more than anything. Adorable, right?

Let’s fast forward to adulthood. When I graduated from college, my post-grad goals (other than getting a job, of course) were to buy a new couch and get a puppy (see this post here.) But to much dismay, every apartment I’ve lived in hasn’t allowed animals. I tried to find a pet-friendly place when I was apartment hunting last August, but time was fleeting and I couldn’t find one  in my price range.

This spring, my puppy envy is in full force. You can’t blame me for wanting one of those cute little faces to greet me when I walk in the door, love me unconditionally and allow me to strut it around the town.

So for now, I guess I’ll suck it up and play with the puppies at the park. My puppy parenting days will come someday.

the sharing epidemic.

Every time I log into Facebook, I’m overwhelmed by a stream full of personal life details.

A childhood acquaintance shares every little detail of her pregnancy. A college classmate complains constantly about how much he hates his job. Another friend shares a stream full of passive-aggressive tweets, which seems to point to a lack of closure post-breakup. Another woman shares way too many details about her failing marriage. And a friend-of-a-friend uses his status to declare his love for his girlfriend and his intent to be with her forever and ever.

When I scroll through my news feed, I get this overwhelming feeling that I’m intruding on people’s personal lives. It’s slightly annoying: and if we’re being honest here, it’s a little uncomfortable.

I don’t think sharing nitty, gritty life details  is a bad thing; social networks are all about connecting with people in a more personal way. But I’m starting to realize that maybe- just maybe- we’ve gotten too comfortable with allowing acquaintances to join our networks and delve too deep into our personal lives.

The instances I mentioned above, like the pregnant woman or the individual going through a divorce, are using Facebook to share tidbits that would normally be shared with a tight-knit group of trusted family members and friends. But instead, they’ve decided to entrust their intimate moments with a wide network of acquaintances and friends-of-friends: including me.

When posting, I think it’s a good rule of thumb to ponder: Does everyone I’ve allowed in my network need to know this? If the answer is no, then feel free to share your information with friends and family via email, texts or Facebook messages. Believe it or not, e-mail isn’t extinct, my friends.

So what do you think? Have we lost the point of social networks? Have we let too many people into our personal lives? What’s the fine line between being personable and sharing too much?

job search perils: some advice.

It’s hard to believe my post-college job search was in full force this time last year.

I’ve said it before, and I still think it reigns true: The job search feels like a full-time job. So when you mix job searching with finishing classes, interning and trying to enjoy the last few months of college, surviving past graduation can feel like an impossible feat.

In honor of my job-searching friends back at Kent State, I’d like to offer a few tidbits to make your search semi-manageable:

Devote scheduled time to job searching every day.

If you don’t manage your time, you’re going to become overwhelmed. (Believe me: Wasting hours per day on job boards is not worth your time! I know from experience.)

Set aside a certain time period every day (perhaps half an hour in the morning and 45 minutes in the evening) to search job boards, follow leads, fill out applications and write cover letters. Your sanity will thank you.

Narrow your target location.

My friends who said they’d move “anywhere” were the ones who had the most problems finding full-time, permanent positions. Being flexible is great, but applying to every job that comes across your computer screen isn’t an effective strategy. Narrow your job search to a few target locations.  This will make it easier for you to find relevant positions and activate your network in those areas.

Tell everyone you’re looking for a job.

I’m not kidding. Tell your hair stylist. Tell your chemistry professor. Tell your best friend’s dad.

People know people who know people. Simply mentioning you’re searching for an entry-level position could lead you straight to your dream job- or at least to valuable connections who will help build your network.

Schedule informational interviews.

If your dream employer doesn’t have any available positions at this time, don’t sweat it. Schedule an informational interview. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and make a connection. Who knows! That company might have an opening in a few months, and if you took the time to make a connection, you could be the first candidate who comes to mind.

Harness the power of a hand-written note.

Don’t underestimate the power of a hand-written note! Thank everyone who helps you throughout your job search, whether it’s a young pro who proofreads your cover letters or a contact who helps you receive a phone interview. Stores like Target and Hallmark sell inexpensive thank-you note packs, so invest today.