How to be Smarter: I just started reading this at Borders the other day and couldn’t put it down. That show was such a big part of seemingly everyone’s childhood–the back story is really cool as an adult. 

How to be Prettier: Today, part your hair on the other side then you normally do. Your entire face will look just slightly different, which is interesting in a way that is noticeable, but no one will be able to put their finger on it. Mysterious is sexy.

How to be (less) Awkward: People can’t like you if they don’t trust you. Make people feel safe to share their secrets, never betray them, and you will have friends for life.

How to be Smarter: When a drop of water falls on some people, they look down so they don’t get more wet. When it falls on other people, they look up to see where it is coming from. If you look up to see what might hit you in the face, you can usually avoid it. If you just cover your head and don’t find out what really is falling on you, it will just keep raining on you.

How to be Prettier: It is summer. You have beautiful legs. And you are getting older, and, realistically, they will probably never get better. Show them off. 

How to be (less) Awkward: Everybody cheats a little in life. Whether is spray tanning or slightly embellishing the truth about what you really do at your job (fact: everyone spends part of their working day on facebook), don’t be the kind of person that calls people out on tiny lies. You know they aren’t naturally blonde, they know they aren’t naturally blonde, who cares?

How to be Smarter: Just because something is a scam (a job, a relationship, an overpriced online no-credit class, a Craigslist erotic service ad) doesn’t mean you won’t learn something from doing it. Disclaimer: I’m kidding about the Craiglist. 

How to be Prettier: I own this dress in three colors: basic black, which I wear with heels on Friday nights; sea blue, which I wear with a cardigan and flats for Saturday afternoons; and nude, for when I’m tan in the summer.

How to be (less) Awkward: There are two ways to be quiet. One, in the way that makes you seem mysterious, and two, the way that makes you seem creepy. Play the game the way that makes you seem mysterious.

How to be Smarter: Phone calls asking for second chances have to happen during daylight hours. A phone call at 3am asking for a second chance should be ignored; a phone call at 3pm should be paid attention to. 

How to be Prettier: Tighten your stomach as you spray bronzer on it; this will create a contouring illusion of a six pack (source: UsWeekly). 

How to be (less) Awkward: If something is important to you, you best keep your eye on it: you can’t be mad when the pizza is gone if you left the pizza in the back seat with the hungry kids.

How to be Smarter: Two facts: 1. Life is not always predicable, and that makes most people nervous sometimes, including me. 2. In the commercialization of the world, many of the brands and products you can buy in one place you can buy anywhere. Combining these facts, I create little routines for myself no matter where I am. Before I get on any bus, I always buy the same brand of pizza Combos. When I feel sick, I always buy the same brand of gingerale. I know any Starbucks will give me a tall hot chocolate before a job interview, and iced coffee soothes my nerves before a date. In a world, or even cities, where everything feels unstable, create tiny little ways of making your body feel the same and calming your mind. 

How to be Prettier: I’m not a relationship expert, but the only truth I see replayed over and over again is if they leave you once, they will leave you again. Even if they come crawling back, even if everything seems different the next time, even if they put a ring on it. If someone can walk away from you once, they can walk away from you again.

How to be (less) Awkward: There are certain foods that should not be eaten at your desk at work  because of the smell. Tuna and Indian food are two of them.

How to be Smarter: Every ninety days, surprise the stakeholders in your life with something impressive they didn’t think you could do. For most people, the stakeholders in your life are your best friend, your significant other, and your parents. If you keep this up, you will never stop improving and you’ll never cease to be interesting. 

How to be Prettier: When a boy makes you feel sad, listen to “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain. You are waiting for a guy like that; the others are just helping you get better at dating and pass the time. Don’t forget that.

How to be (less) Awkward: Everyone is a gambler. Some gamble on cards, some gamble with their health, some gamble with their future. It is okay to be a gambler–just be mindful of the question: why are you gambling with this item? Is it because you don’t care about it that much (cheating on a boyfriend) or because you care about it so much (quitting your job to pen a book that you feel you must write)?

How to be Smarter: Nothing bad will happen if you go an extra day or two (or three) between manicures. The amount of people that notice is small; the amount of people that care is even smaller. 

How to be Prettier: Try to avoid getting any ideas for your next meal from this site. 

How to be (less) Awkward: Umbrellas must be in proportion to your body. If you are a small person, you don’t need an umbrella to shelter you and half the block. Not only is it a safety hazard (poking out others’ eyes), but navigating crowded sidewalks is annoying for both you, and the aforementioned others.

How to be Smarter: I heard a fact once that you have to do something 37 times before it becomes a habit. Whenever I am scared of doing something, I keep a tally of how many times I have done it, and, without fail, by the time I hit 37 I am not scared of it anymore. 

How to be Prettier: No wearing shoes with an ankle strap that will cut off your ankles and make your legs appear shorter. Also, nude heels always elongate. 

How to be (less) Awkward: You can’t do the back-to-back phone call followed by a text if neither have gotten a response within the first two week window of meeting someone.

How to be Smarter: Very few things in life improve by over thinking them–take what most people say at face value, especially when they are talking about their feelings. For example, if a boy says “no thanks–I don’t want a relationship with you” he is either telling the truth or has something else going on in his life that he won’t tell you. All the thinking in the world won’t answer that question, so move on. Reference: this day’s Smarter.

How to be Prettier: Dresses and shirts with zippers down the front of them are very now. 

How to be (less) Awkward: Butch Walker writes a song called “Hot Girls in Good Moods” because no normal human can shy away from a girl that takes care of herself and is happy. Brush your hair, pull on an outfit you like, and wrangle yourself into a good mood–everyone wins.

How to be Smarter: My favorite is the Bumpits. 

How to be Prettier: On apparel care: over-drying your clothes in the dryer causes colors to fade, and washing your clothes in cold water is better for the environment because it takes less energy to heat the water.

How to be (less) Awkward: I don’t think you need to type perfectly in an online conversation between friends. If you say “go” instead of “got” or “now” instead of “know,” your friends aren’t idiots. They know what you mean. There is no need to take the time, unless the misspelled word drastically changes the meaning of the sentence, to correct it. Same goes for texting with your buddies.

How to be Smarter: Sometimes in hot yoga, I feel embarrassed about lying down if I get too hot, because the teacher tells me to stay up and on posture with the class. But then I remember that I am paying for the class, and I could stand on my head the whole time if I feel like it. Whoever is paying the money is usually the one that has the power–don’t forget that. 

How to be Prettier: I really enjoy reading this blog, called Sex and the College Girl. She has a different perspective on realtionships then I do, and I always feel like her view is valuable. 

How to be (less) Awkward: I don’t endorse lying. But if you absolutely feel like you need to, keep it short, with one to two specific details, and that’s it. Anything more looks too detailed and is too hard to keep straight, anything less looks like you are hiding something.

How to be Smarter: Fun fact, every day. 

How to be Prettier: Ladies try to avoid fast food, but, if they must go, they don’t eat Big Macs. 

How to be (less) Awkward: If you are posing a question to a friend, such as “what is your favorite song off the Hit the Lights album?” and you think they may give the same answer as you, volunteer your answer first to avoid looking like a copycat.

How to be Smarter: On this day in history, July 13 1985,  – the Vice President George H.W. Bush was the Acting President for the day because President Ronald Reagan was in surgery. 

How to be Prettier: Summer weeknight date night outfit: this dress with these gem sandals. Lovely for cocktails down by the water or for skipping around a park picnic.

How to be (less) Awkward: Nobody likes the person that only takes the good nachos with all the toppings from the pile. You have to take a mix of the topping-laden ones from the top, and the plain ones underneath.

How to be Smarter: Don’t be an idiot– if you are only going out with the girls when your boyfriend is out of town, you’re not doing the balancing act between boyfriend and friends correctly.

How to be Prettier: My new favorite bag. So cheeky and so artsy–love it. 

How to be (less) Awkward:  Most of your friends are probably the same coolness level as you–thats how friend groups usually shake out. However, you need to have one friend who is–without a doubt–cooler than you. This friend will be how you found out about new fashion trends, ‘it’ websites, and hot spots. Keep this friend.

How to be Smarter: Article about blog readership levels.

How to be Prettier: Yellow mustard is the best choice for a hot dog condiment–it is low sugar, and usually lower fat than either ketchup or mayo. 

How to be (less) Awkward: Everyone runs into people that, for whatever reason, are intimated by you. These people could be rushees of your sorority, employees you are supervising, and/or shy younger second cousins. Make yourself appear more approachable by doing something that is human–blow your nose, trip a little, tell a funny story about something awkward and endearing you did that morning.

How to be Smarter: Celebrate today, 7.08.09, at 4:05:06 am/pm!

How to be Prettier: White leggings are almost impossible to pull off if you have pale skin. 

How to be (less) Awkward: If you hear the voice in the back of your head, saying something is not right, you must listen to it. If you don’t, you are settling. Settling is one of the worst things you can do for yourself, and the future of the life you are trying to create.

How to be Smarter: Networking is a two way street. Assumptions are usually made that networking is asking other people what they can do for you (“can you get me a job?” being the most common thing people associate with networking), but the best networking can be done by offering to do something for someone else (“may I write an article about you for my school newspaper?” “can I volunteer my services on your project?” “let me work on your cause with you”). 

How to be Prettier: The cutest little online dress shop I’ve seen in a while (with an adorably fitting name)!

How to be (less) Awkward: A cute spin-off to FML, this site makes me smile and feel less like a dork.

How to be Smarter: From a statistical standpoint, you will probably never be the prettiest girl at the party–this is more or less fixed from when you are born. But rather then this being a sad point, focus on the part of you that is entirely within your power–your personality. The people that matter would always take a outgoing, funny, sweet girl over just a pretty girl. 

How to be Prettier: Although I hate to admit it, paying the extra money for the 7 day Crest Whitestrips versus the 14 day Crest Whitestrips is actually necessary–the 7 day ones work that much better. 

How to be (less) Awkward: Taking the work that you do seriously is not a guarantee that other people will also hold your work at a high level. However, if you blow off the work that you do, others absolutely will too–that IS a guarantee.

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” –Erma Bombeck