April Favorites

Considering it is halfway through May, I can definitely say the past month has been a whirlwind. I feel like I say that every month, but in this case it's really true! I had a trip home for last-minute interviews, enjoyed my last few weekends in Bloomington, had fun at Little 500 and wrapped up senior year. Man, did it fly by! As always, check out some of the things that were particularly special in the month of April.

Casual // This isn't the actual dress I was in love with this month. I got the real thing a few summers ago when I worked for J.Crew. I've worn it so many times since then because it's such a classic shape. Plus, you can't go wrong with the neutral navy hue. I love to dress it up with a bright statement necklace or make it more casual by tying a chambray over top. // J.Crew Maxi Tank Dress

Professional // Let me start by saying: I am not a heels girl. I'm already 5'11" so I don't really need the height, plus I'm not that great at walking in them. But these heels are the heels that are unlike any other pair of heels. They are super comfortable and easy to walk in, plus they are in a oh-so classic shape. I wore these for graduation (read: on my feet for an hour and then up and down and walking around for another two hours) and had no blisters. Woop! // Cole Haan Chelsea Pump

Book // This is a really geeky admission, but I am in love, love, love with this book! I watched the movie while I was home for an interview and knew that I had to read the original. I am probably so obsessed with it because of my recent love affair with Rome but the book is just so well written. It is intellectual, (tons of art references!) yet easy to read. Plus, it really makes you think about the relationship between science and religion. A definite page-turner! // Angels & Demons

Fun // I got this color last year and the shade began my love affair with Essie nail polish. I used to be a strictly OPI girl but I absolutely love the pastel shades from Essie's collection. This one is a good mix between a mint and turquoise but is neither too bright nor too dull. Perfection. // Essie Turquoise & Caicos 

Wildcard // My mom bought this necklace to go with the outfit she was planning on wearing for my graduation. But it turns out, I liked it a little bit more than she did so I stole it! I have gotten so many compliments on it and have worn it so much lately! It's a good basic but yet is dramatic at the same time. The dean of the School of Journalism even said she liked it while I shook her hand on stage at the Honors Convocation. It's a keeper! // kate spade new york 'capri garden' oval frontal necklace

Beauty // I heard about highlighting powders from my favorite YouTubers but never knew which ones to try or if it is something I even needed to use. But after a trip to Ulta, I fell in love with the concept as well as this illuminizer. It gives you the perfect glow in pictures while also brightening your face without appearing greasy. The only downside is that it often leaves my hands covered in glittery specs. You can't see them on your face, but somehow they always miraculously end up on my hands. // It Cosmetics Hello Light Powder Illuminizer

PR Advice // Anyone in PR knows that appearance is everything. As sad as it may be, we are often judged on our first impressions and these include having the perfect manicure and well-coiffed hair. This doesn't mean that you have to dish out tons of money to look good, but appearing clean and put-together is a must. These 15 basic tips will keep you looking (and feeling) your best. // 15 beauty tips every PR pro must know

The Lasts

A couple hours ago I just got back from my last day of classes...ever! I've already experienced some of my lasts this year - last Little 500, last PRSSA meeting, last class presentation - but this last has got to be the strangest. The past 17-ish years of my life have revolved around sitting in classes for five (but lately, two) days of the week, taking notes and preparing for exams. And all of a sudden, that is over now.

I thought I would be more sad at this fact. After class I just walked out the door like any other day, grabbed lunch and went home to watch an episode of Parenthood like a typical Thursday afternoon. It didn't feel any different. I didn't break down into tears when I left Ernie Pyle Hall. Vitamin C didn't play the Graduation song. It was just a normal day - and I kept on going.

Graduation always seemed like such a far off occasion when I started at IU four short years ago. But with the date looming - the countdown is in the single digits, people - it's becoming a lot more real. I can't imagine what it's going to feel like in August when I'm not preparing for another semester or getting excited to be reunited with my friends again.

Probably the weirdest part of all of this is the fact that I don't know when I will see a lot of my friends again. For instance, I know I will regularly stay in touch and eventually see my roommate, Carmen, but I have no idea if it will be in a couple months or a couple years. It was so much easier with friends from high school because even though we all went to different schools, we would all come home for holidays and be instantly reunited then. But with college, all of my friends came from different places and are all going in different directions after graduation. Just a very scary thought.

But at the same time, all these lasts pave the way for a whole lot of amazing firsts. My first apartment. My first real paycheck. My first day back at FleishmanHillard with the health and wellness team. Meeting new friends and keeping up with the old. I guess what I'm trying to say is that although this is a slightly scary (and mildly depressing) time, there is so much ahead that is incredibly exciting. And for now, I'm trying to focus on all the new things ahead of me instead of dwelling on all of my "lasts."

How are you coping with graduation? What are your most memorable lasts?

March Favorites

March has been one crazy month to say the least! The first half of the month was spent in eager anticipation of my spring break trip to Italy (if you haven't already, read about my time in Rome and Florence). Then the remainder of the month was a big catch up session after getting back (and some depression about being back in the States, not gonna lie!). I've been back and forth to Chicago for interviews, which is very exciting, but at the same time I haven't really been able to settle back into life in Bloomington. Anyways, here's to a wonderful March and looking forward to an even better April!

Casual // I've had this bag in black for some time now. In fact, I bought it over spring break last year, but only really started using it last summer. I brought this bag to Italy and I was in love, love, love with it! It's the perfect travel bag because it can fit a camera and other essentials (ahem, hand sanitizer) but is a crossbody so you are hands-free when exploring the city. While black is a great classic, I love the turquoise/mint color for spring. Plus, it's on sale right now at Nordstrom! // kate spade new york 'cobble hill - ellen' leather crossbody bag

Professional // I was tempted to make my favorite this black pencil skirt that I got over the weekend, but decided that was too boring. But if you are in the market for a timeless skirt, though, I would highly recommend it! Instead, I went with this pretty nude polish. I borrowed this color from my roommate, Carmen, because I knew it would be a great shade for interviews. I hate having bare nails for interviews, but at the same time, I don't want to wear anything distracting. This shade is the perfect compromise because it looks clean but still has some color. // Essie's Sand Tropez

Fun // Have you heard this song? I'm seriously in love! I originally bought it on iTunes because I liked how it sounded and wanted new music for Italy. But I quickly fell in love with the lyrics as well. It's all about how it's fun to be a part of the real world. With graduation quickly upon me, I'm getting more and more excited to be a "real person" and this song is the perfect pump up song for my future. // "Ain't It Fun" by Paramore

Beauty // I'm not very good with fragrances. For every day I love my Chloe perfume, but I didn't want to bring my full-size bottle to Italy yet still wanted to smell nice while walking around the city. Truthfully, I found a sample of this fragrance in my bathroom and just threw it into my makeup bag for the trip. But it turned out that I really do love the smell! The fragrance has notes of bamboo, nashi, lotus flower and balsa wood. It's very feminine and airy, which was the perfect light fragrance for traveling. And now it reminds of me of being in Italy. I love that fragrances can do that! // Bulgari "Omnia Crystalline"

PR Advice // Having a clean online reputation is essential for both corporate and personal brands. Especially when looking for a job, it is imperative that you have an online presence that is professional (aka free of drunk photos of you from spring break!). While the tips in this article are geared for corporations, I think they could equally be applied to cleaning up your own personal brand. // "8 Steps to Clean Up Your Online Reputation"

Wildcard // I've talked about my obsession with YouTube vloggers before. They are actually what inspired these "favorite"posts! But I've recently gotten more into beauty vloggers, especially vloggers from the UK. I enjoy hearing about the different products they love (and hate) as well as learning new tips and tricks. I'm currently working on mastering the feline flick (otherwise known as a "cat eye" in the States). Plus, let me just tell you that the accents really do make a difference. It's thoroughly fueling my desire to go back to London, which is both good and bad. My current favorite British vloggers are Fleur De Force, Amelia Liana and Essie Button. // YouTube Beauty Vloggers

Book // Ok, I understand that Frozen is not a book. But I wasn't able to get much reading done in March, aside from the Glamour I read on the plane. However, I have been able to watch Frozen a couple times throughout the month. A bunch of my friends on the Italy trip and I decided to all watch Frozen on the plane at the same time and it was so much fun to experience the movie with my friends. I was even able to convince some skeptics to give it a shot - and they of course loved it! I'm obsessed with the movie, the music, the message, everything! If you haven't seen it yet (I don't know why?!) but you should! // Frozen

What were some of your favorites from March?

Under the Tuscan Sun

Seriously could my post titles be a little bit more cliche? Probably not, but I'm fine with that. With Rome behind me on spring break, I was really looking forward to checking out Florence. I had heard that it was a little less touristy than Rome, and I was excited for that change. Florence is also considerably smaller than Rome, which provided a bit more authentic Italian experience.

Day One // It was adventure getting to Florence to say the least. For future reference: trying to travel by train with 18 people (plus their huge suitcases) is not easy to do. Especially when you miss your train, miss your stop and miraculously end up in Bologna. But when we finally got to our destination, we could not have been more excited. What was even better? This was the day we would visit the vineyard, Castello di Verrazzano.

Our professor had really talked up our guide, Gino, and I was so excited to meet him in real life. When our bus finally made it up the windy hilltop to our destination, words couldn't describe our excitement. The view was amazing - the Tuscan countryside really is something! While we were busy snapping pictures of the landscape, Gino politely instructed us to put our cameras away. He was more focused on us truly experiencing the vineyard rather than just getting a few good shots of the view. He told us a poem in Italian and although most of us had no idea what he was saying, we understood that it was about really taking in the landscape and the overall experience of the tour.

After showing us around the grounds, we embarked on one of my favorite parts of the trip: the wine tasting. Gino told us how to tell the difference between the color, taste and smell of the chianti wines we were trying. We were assigned a different wine with each course and I was eager to take it all in. The first course was an antipasti (I seriously lunched up on the bread), then we had delicious pasta and then finally a meat course with sausage and ribs. Oh and how could I forget to tell you about the life-changing balsamic vinegar and sheep-milk cheese we tasted? I'm seriously drooling thinking about it now. On top of the food, the laughter and love that surrounded our experience was impeccable. Gino really did create an experience that was unlike any other - and one that I will never forget!

When we got back to Florence, we explored a bit but then collapsed from our exhausting day of travel.

Isn't Tuscany beautiful?

No one knows wine like Gino

Another vineyard in the distance - castle and all

We learned a little about wine making at the vineyard as well

All for me?!

The group after an amazing day of wine tasting (Photo credit: Maggie Bakle)

Thanks for a great experience, Gino!

Day Two // The next day started with some shopping in the morning. From the gold shops on the Ponte Vecchio to small leather shops and more, Florence really knows the way to a shopaholic's heart. Plus, shopping in Italy feels so much classier than in America. I wish it was always acceptable to enter a store with a friendly "Ciao" and leave with a wave, saying "Grazie" - so chic!

That afternoon, we had a tour of the Uffizi Gallery. There were so many beautiful pieces of art from Botticelli, da Vinci and Raphael, just to name a few. We were all exhausted by the time the tour came around so it was hard to really appreciate the amazing pieces of art, but the Uffizi is an experience I won't forget.

That night, we had a group dinner at Trattoria La Casalinga. The food was so fresh and delicious! There's nothing like bruschetta made with real Italian tomatoes and basil. Plus, their pesto pasta was amazing! I literally was in food heaven. Afterwards, we explored the city a bit and then headed back to the hotel.

Ponte Vecchio

View of the Ponte Vecchio from inside the Uffizi Gallery

View of the Duomo from the Uffizi

Fake David statue - unfortunately, we didn't get to see the real one

I think I can die happy now!

Day Three // Our last day in Florence began with an agency tour at Tuscana Promozione. It was interesting to see how Tuscany and Lazio position themselves differently in targeting tourists. The agency in Tuscany emphasized the importance of creating an experience for tourists to buy into before they arrive in Italy, while the agency in Lazio seemed to be promote the destination (Rome) above anything else.

After the agency tour, we had free time to explore. We grabbed a quick pizza lunch at Gusto Pizza and then shopped a little bit more. I ended up buying a brown crossbody leather bag that I am in love with. It wasn't too expensive and whenever I wear it back in the States, it reminds me of the amazing time I had in Italy. Plus, the leather smell is exquisite!

At night, we had our last dinner in Italy at Trattoria Anita for truffle pasta that was to die for! We played the "thankful" game at dinner and reminisced about a trip that was truly life changing. It was definitely an experience I won't forget any time soon. Afterwards, we capped our Italian adventure off with gelato from one of Florence's best gelaterias, Grom. Then we walked with our gelato to the Duomo, and it was the perfect way to end a week in Italy.

You just can't get pizza like this in the States.

Yummm - truffle pasta with mushrooms

The perfect end to a perfect trip

Italy was everything I could have asked for and more. I was wow-ed by the people, the food, the sights and so much more. I really miss it each and every day but that just means I will have to go back sometime soon. Who's with me?!

What did you think of Florence? Where else should I go in Italy?

When In Rome

To say that my spring break in Italy was one of the best spring breaks ever is definitely an understatement. From the food (obviously!) to the sights to the amazing friends to the beautiful weather, I couldn't have asked for a better week abroad. I've been having serious withdraws lately so this post is helping me relive the magic a little bit. Take me back already, please?!

I've struggled with how I should format this post, but decided to stick with just a day-by-day breakdown of everything that I did. I'm going to split my trip into two posts, one for Rome and one for Florence. Sorry that this post is super long and photo-heavy, but I really wanted to virtually take you along on my trip. Let's get started!

Day One // I'm skipping our (essentially) two days of traveling, because most of those days were quite boring. We took four flights to get to Italy so by the time we got there on Saturday, everyone was extremely jetlagged and exhausted. We had a delicious dinner at a restaurant across the street from our hotel and then collapsed.

For our first full day in Rome, a few of my friends and I went exploring in the morning. We ended up walking around and seeing a ton of amazing shopping and beautiful sights. In Rome it seems that no matter where you look, there's something ancient and beautiful to see. We stumbled into a church at one point and it was just stunning - places like that just don't exist in America.

Then we embarked on a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum with our trusty guide, Franca. She was the cutest little Italian woman with her matching lip and nail color! So chic and sassy. She showed us around the sights and it was really nice to have a guide because otherwise I wouldn't have known what I was looking at! Everything was so old and amazing, I just couldn't get over it.

For dinner, we headed to this restaurant in Campo dei' Fiori called Pizzeria da Baffetto. The pizza was so delicious! The whole thing was probably bigger than my head and you bet I ate the whole thing! After that we finished off an amazing day with the most delicious gelato at Frigidarium. I'm still dreaming about it now! Delish.

Just another church we stumbled into

Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II 

Italy left me with a new appreciation for ceilings

Piazza del Popolo

Just some casual shopping

Inside the Colosseum

Isn't Franca the cutest thing?

Outside the Colosseum

I quickly fell in love with Roma

Can I have this for every meal?

Literally life changing!

Day Two // We started our second day in Rome with an agency visit. I traveled to Italy with a journalism class (you can read some of our blogs from the trip here) about tourism communications. As part of the class, we are learning about how Italy markets itself to tourists. The different regions in Italy are in charge of promoting themselves to tourists across the world. We went to an agency that promotes the Lazio region, which is where Rome is. It was really interesting to learn more about tourism marketing, especially from a place that clearly knows how to attract tourists.

After we grabbed a quick lunch, we met up with Franca again at the Vatican for our tour. It was so beautiful, I could not get over it. Franca took us around to the different gardens and through the different galleries. Everything was so incredible! We walked through the Sistine Chapel as well. I couldn't imagine someone painting that all by hand - so remarkable! What really got to me was St. Peter's Basilica. With the sunlight streaming through the dome and the choir singing in the background, it was just an amazing spiritual experience and I'm not even Catholic! The whole tour was so informative and interesting.

That night we had another group dinner at the restaurant across from our hotel. Later that night, we celebrated my friend, Eliza's, 21st birthday. Can you think of a better place to celebrate a birthday than Rome?!

Gnocchi for lunch

Garden in the Vatican

The Pietà

Inside St. Peter's

Isn't the sunlight stunning?

In St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Square

Day Three // Our last day in Rome was complete with a Baroque tour of the city. We saw the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. My favorite part of the tour had to be the Trevi Fountain. It's one of those sights that you see in movies (ahem, the Lizzie McGuire Movie) and pictures, but you can't seem to truly grasp its size until you are standing in front of it. Truly amazing! We first saw it in the afternoon, and it was packed with tourists. We still managed to get a few of the classic coin-throwing photos, though! We also had time to grab a gelato, which made for an true Italian experience.

After the tour, we grabbed dinner and headed back to see the Trevi Fountain at night. It was a little less crowded then which was much more enjoyable. Surprisingly enough, it was even more beautiful at night. My friends and I just sat there watching the water and soaking up the fact that we were in Rome. It was definitely a "pinch me" kind of experience.

Trevi Fountain

One coin to come back to Rome, two coins to find love

A Trevi experience would not be complete without gelato

Outside the Pantheon

Piazza Navona

My friends and I taking on the Trevi at night (Photo credit: Maggie Bakle)

Rome quickly became one of my favorite cities. Although it was jam-packed with tourists the whole time, I loved that no matter where you went there was always something beautiful to see! The food was amazing and made for an awesome first Italian experience. While I was sad to leave Rome, I was very excited for the next part of my adventure, Florence. Stay tuned for more!

Have you been to Rome? What were some of your favorite sights?

February Favorites

February was an insane month, but it was over super quick. I'm on the Bateman case study competition for PRSSA and February was our implementation month. It really flew by in a blur (can't say I'm disappointed by that, though)! But I still can't even believe that it is actually March. When did that happen? Time needs to slow down! Without further ado, here are some of my favorite things from the month of February.

Casual // My mom got me these jeans for Valentine's Day and when I got them, I was super skeptical about whether they would work. Good-fitting jeans can be tricky for me to find. A pair that's the right length, has just the right amount of stretch and has a good shape is hard to come by. But these jeans are everything I could have asked for and more. I have literally been wearing them for days on end. No shame! When they work, they work, right? // Cookie Johnson 'Faith' Straight Leg Jeans

Professional // I might be late on the game here, but cashmere is literally a miracle fabric. Like wearing pajamas out in public, but even more comfortable because lately I've just been wearing free Kilroy's shirts to bed. Lord & Taylor had a bunch of cashmere sweaters on sale when I went home a few weeks ago, so I stocked up. I'm in for a very comfy future with all these sweaters! // Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan

Fun // Over winter break, I was at lunch with my team from last summer, and they were all talking about this show. I was looking for something new to watch and decided this one was worth a shot! Seriously, I got through the first four seasons in probably a month. Such a good show that focuses on the amazing bonds between and within families. // Parenthood

Beauty // I talked about one of my favorite mascaras in my December Favorites, but this month I tried a twist on my favorite. I got a sample of this Smashbox mascara in an eyeshadow palette I bought over winter break. When I tried it on its own, I was not entirely impressed. But when worn on top of the Maybelline mascara, my lashes are seriously perfection. Is it a thing to layer mascaras? It should be! // Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

PR Advice // There is no doubt that phone interviews are one of the trickiest kind of interviews. I'm always afraid of talking over the interviewer and never know whether I am fully answering their questions without being able to see the person on the other end. In essence, it's just really hard to connect. That's why when I saw this list of "don'ts," I knew I had to share. Good luck! // "6 ways to ruin a phone interview"

Wildcard // My trip to Italy is coming up in less than two weeks, and I could not be more excited. While I've heard that a lot of people speak English in Italy, I wanted to make sure that I knew some common phrases so I'm not totally lost when I get to Rome. This app is super helpful (and free!), but is also really fun. Tons of great vocab words and verb conjugations! So far my favorite phrase is "I eat fried cheese" or "Io mangio il formaggio fritto." I have a feeling I will be using this phrase a lot. // Duolingo Italian

Book // Along with learning the language, I've been reading up on the attractions in Rome and Florence for my trip. My uncle gave me these books as a gift, and I love how thorough they are! Packed with budget-saving tips and ways to maximize any trip. I might be guilty of skipping straight to the food section, but we all know that's going to be the highlight of the trip anyways. // Rick Steves' Rome 2014

What stuck out for you in February?

Wednesday Funnies

It's Wednesday! Yay! Half-way through the week. In case you need a little pick-me-up, here are some totally unrelated/slightly unprofessional links I'm loving right now. Just couldn't keep 'em to myself!

One // If you know me, you know that food is my everything. No shame there, whatsoever. If you feel the same way (and I know so many of my friends do!), check out this incredibly hilarious Buzzfeed article, "25 Signs Dieting Just Isn't For You." Numbers 10, 14, 15 (hello, this post was all about vacation-eating!), 16 and 22 especially resonate with me. Nom, nom!

FOX / Via postgradnej.tumblr.com

Two // Continuing with the food theme (again, no shame here), "Chicago's Year in Fat: Our 10 Favorite Fatty Foods From 2013." Word to the wise, don't look at the calorie count underneath the pictures. It will definitely kill your buzz. Regardless, how I have lived without trying a Chocolate Pretzel/Nutella Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich or Mac Attack Burger? All ten of these foods are on my must-try list now!

Three // So much truth in this Thrillist post, "18 Things You Have to Explain to Out-Of-Towners About Chicago." I always feel like I have to explain that yes, there are indeed beaches in Chicago. And yes, the lake is very big. They don't call 'em the Great Lakes for nothing! One thing to add to the list: Chicago is not called the Windy City because of the weather. It's because of the crazy politics, people!

Four // If you have been counting down the days until February 27 just like I have, you have to take this Buzzfeed quiz to find out "Which 'Scandal' Character Are You?" I'm conflicted on the accuracy of Buzzfeed quizzes, but regardless, I had to take this one! I got Olivia Pope, which I was obviously excited about (you know how much I'm obsessed!). Although I might be slightly guilty of trying to rig the results to get that response. Now let me just put my white hat back on...

Five // My roommate, Carmen, showed me this Buzzfeed post, "15 Olympic Sports Any Twentysomething Could Totally Win," the other day and I was literally cracking up about every one of them. Although I am kind of glad the Games are over this year, I would be totally willing to train for the next four years if speed hating, speed stalking or Netflix half marathon were sports. 

AMC / Via humorinrecovery.tumblr.com

Happy Wednesday! Have you stumbled on any funny Buzzfeed articles? Share 'em!

Extra, Extra, Read All About It

If you have ever interviewed for a position in public relations, you have likely been in this situation. Your interview is going really well (hopefully!) and you've knocked any question about your previous work experience out of the park and even fielded the dreaded "So tell me about yourself..." question with ease (hint: check out #12 for tips on how to nail this question). Then the interviewer asks, "Tell me about a recent campaign that you admired." Cue the deer-in-headlights look.

It is easy to let this question stump you. But it is even easier to deliver a thoughtful response that shows you know what's going on in the industry. If you can sail past this question, employers know you are interested in the career path you've chosen and that you will be able to stay abreast of client news when you (knock on wood!) get the job.

There are some awesome resources to help you stay current on what's going on in the PR world. Whether you want to learn about a particular agency or just read about new social media trends, I rounded up some of my favorite PR-related news outlets. Check these daily, or just read their tweets, and you will be able to rock any interview.

One // Ragan.com is my first stop for PR news and industry trends. I subscribe to their daily email newsletter that compiles all the latest articles and is sent to your inbox. I like to skim the headlines every day and if I see something that is interesting, I'll read the whole article. This is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about the communications industry. Plus, the articles are easy to read and concise.

Two // If tech and social are more your thing, check out Mashable. You can subscribe to their daily newsletter too and get the most current news sent directly to you. I signed up for their "Mashable Velocity Alerts" that send articles that are about to trend online straight to your inbox, which is super helpful when big news breaks.

Three // I'm particularly interested in working in a public relations agency, so it's important I stay current with what's going on in the agency world. If this is your interest to, I recommend following the Holmes Report. This is a great tool to learn about a new business opportunity an agency won or to hear about an award an agency received.

Four // If you think that advertising might be for you, check out Ad Age. From marketing to advertising to digital, this is a wonderful resource for learning about what's going on outside of public relations. Great information about campaigns and social news here as well.

Five // For those interested in corporate communications, Bulldog Reporter is an excellent resource. You can sign up for their "Daily 'Dog" service that sends top headlines straight to your inbox as well. They also offer webinars on topics ranging from travel PR to strategies to create viral videos.

Six // PR Week and Media Bistro are other great tools to learn more about PR.

Seven // Shameless self-promotion here. Follow @iuPRSSA on Twitter or "like" Indiana University PRSSA on Facebook for your daily dose of PR news. Our Director of Communications, Cassie, is killing it on social media! She posts awesome articles and videos on a wide range of topics and industries.

Bonus tip: If you see an article you like online, tweet about it or post it on Facebook. When employers check you out on social media (trust me, they will!), this shows them that you actively seek out the news and want to share it. Add your thoughtful two cents on the article and employers will know you have an opinion and stay up-to-date on the news, two important qualities for a potential new hire.

What are some of your favorite sources of PR-related news? I'm especially dying for some 

new PR blogs to follow!

Burst of Spring

I am in desperate need of a break from this dreary, cold weather. We just got more snow over the weekend. And. I. Am. So. Over. It! This week's forecast has a day in the 50s, so I am beyond excited! I might even break out one of my maxi dresses just to celebrate. It's the little things, right?!

With my sights set on warmer weather, I have been browsing online for graduation dresses. It's so scary that it's finally that time! It definitely feels like I just got here and was picking out my first day of school outfit freshman year. While I am dreading actually leaving Bloomington, I've got to admit that it's been fun to look at bright, spring dresses lately.

Below are my top four choices, but I need YOUR help to decide which one is best. I love fit and flare styles, so I started there. Coincidentally they all involve lace, which is a tad out of character for me, but I'm just really feeling it this season. I want a dress in a bright color but that I can also wear to work over the summer. With this in mind, I would love your thoughts on the following options. Can't wait to hear what you all think!

One // I've got to admit, this is one of my favorites from the start. I love the royal purpley-blue color, and the lace detailing is feminine without being granny. The length is perfect and I could see this dress worn with a blazer thrown over it for the office. // Ivy & Blu

Two // This poppy (they call it geranium) color is just perfect for spring. I had to include the back view so you could see the cute cut-out that is flirty without being too revealing. I love that this dress has sleeves, which makes it automatically work appropriate. // Plenty by Tracy Reese

Three // You are probably getting sick of the lace already, but I just couldn't stop. Plus, you know pink is one of my favorite colors. Not sure if this dress is too "garden party" or matronly for what I'm going for, though. // Eliza J

Four // The navy is a bit darker than I was hoping for, but I really love the pretty halter detailing and the scalloped hem. The dress might not be the best for the office, but the modern shape and fit would make it perfect for graduation. // Eliza J

Which dress is your favorite? I need your help!