How to be Smarter: Amusing BBC article about people with names that have a double meaning.

How to be Prettier: A flower clip! I can’t wait to pin this in my hair and prance about town on Saturday night.

How to be (less) Awkward: Some people have more time on earth, and some people have less. Some people want to spend most of their time laying in the sun, and some people want to spend most of their time climbing corporate ladders. Neither way is right, and neither way is wrong. But be wary of hitching your wagon to someone whose choices about how they spend their time are dramatically different, or at odds, with yours.

How to be Smarter: There are so many girls that I think are so cool, and wish I could be more like. Instead of being jealous of them, or spending hours stalking their facebook pictures wondering how I could be as awesome as them, I try to focus on what exactly about them I find so interesting, and make it applicable to my own life. Do I want a job like theirs? Time to update my resume. Do I want to look as fancy as them when I go out? Time to get a new pair of heels. Is their hair beautiful? Time for a trim for me. Try to focus on what can actually be changed to be a better version of yourself, instead of hoping you’ll wake up someone else.

How to be Prettier: A cute coin purse, hidden inside your professional-looking work purse, will make you smile each time you reach for it.

How to be (less) Awkward: Great site of all things retro, including my favorite, ’80′s commercials.

 How to be Smarter: If someone was talking badly about your best friend, you would defend them. If someone downplayed your little sister’s accomplishments, you would correct them. You always stand up for people, and are loyal to people, that are important to you. So if someone is speaking ill or incorrectly about you, correct them. Nicely. But correct them. Don’t be afraid to be loyal to yourself and your intelligence and your heart—stand up for yourself. You know what you are capable of better than anyone else.

How to be Prettier: Combining fashion and literary pursuits, books that are purses.

How to be (less) Awkward: One of the biggest compliments someone can give your relationship is to say that you are not a “clingy couple.” Clingy couples always seem insecure to me—like they are clinging to each other because they don’t have many other friends, or are afraid one of them might stray. Be an independent couple. Trust the other person to make the right decisions when you are not around. Remember that spending a weekend night apart every now and then isn’t fatal. And every once and a while, fall asleep without having a goodnight phone call. If you are with the right person, they will still be there to answer your good morning text the next day.

How to be Smarter: Here’s a fun news story to include on your email chain with your friends today.

How to be Prettier: Thinning out your closet is one of the fastest ways to become more stylish. The more clothes I have in my closet, the less creative I tend to be with my outfits.

How to be (less) Awkward: Winters are hard because you can’t wait for summer when the days are longer. But everyday it gets lighter for two or three minutes longer, and thought you don’t notice a change, over time it adds up. I tell myself it is that way with everything. You don’t fall in love in an instance, you fall in little ways and over time love grows. You don’t become a whiz at Excel in a day, you use it everyday for work and over time you learn all the shortcuts. You don’t wake up and have a beautiful wardrobe, you build your personal collection piece by piece, over time.

How to be Smarter: Spend money on things you use everyday, like a down comforter for your bed, or a high-grade toothbrush. It makes more sense to do this than spending money on things you use less often, like a very expensive luggage set or a ballgown dress you only have occasion to wear once a year.

How to be Prettier: Tasteful enough for the office, but stylish enough for Happy Hour.

How to be (less) Awkward: If a boy is texting you on days he knows he can’t see you (he’s on vacation, he already knows you have plans, etc.), he likes you. And once it crosses the threshold of texting more than 4 out of 7 days a week, it is getting serious.

How to be Smarter: For those of you that are super organized, and for those are you that want to be, I present to you: a site that helps organize your to-do lists.

How to be Prettier: Spending my spring vacation trotting around in this dress (in light pink or aqua).

How to be (less) Awkward: Moving forward is a choice. Staying still is a choice. Falling backwards is a choice. And deciding not to make a choice, is making a choice.

How to be Smarter: My girlfriends and I have been passing around this article, published in The Atlantic, and discussing it in-depth. Makes for good conversation about what to expect in a partner.

How to be Prettier: The 5 minute Crest Whitening Strips actually do work a lot better than the normal ones you leave on for a half hour.

How to be (less) Awkward: Read this funny site about workplace goofs, and be happy your job isn’t that bad.

How to be Smarter: Labeling theory essentially states that what you call people is what they become. Call a kid kind, she will share her toys more. Call a boyfriend sweet, he will rub your back when you feel sick. Call a sister a good friend, and she will become a better one. Compliment people on what you want them to be more of, instead of demanding they act differently.

How to be Prettier: An extra layer in the winter over a long-sleeved tee shirt dress, or over a sundress in the sunshine of May. It looks like it was taken out of your Mom’s closet, and is already soft and worn-in.

How to be (less) Awkward: Nobody says your socks need to match to be respectable, or that you have to lose five pounds to be attractive, or that you need to go to an Ivy League to succeed. Well, some people say it, but I find the happiest people are the ones who don’t make dumb rules like that for other people to follow.

How to be Smarter: Don’t just follow mindless celebs on twitter: 20 Inspiring Women to Follow on Twitter.

How to be Prettier: Getting your hair completely wet and soaked through before you apply shampoo makes for a cleaner wash.

How to be (less) Awkward: If you see someone you semi-know, and they see you, but you are both being too awkward to say hi, be the one that steps up and throws them a smile and a wave. No need to get into a big long conversation–a smile and a wave does the trick.

How to be Smarter: Interspecies mating.

How to be Prettier: I can see myself prancing around in these gray leather shoes (on sale!) with a flouncy skirt and floral top.

How to be (less) Awkward: You pack it, you carry it through the airport. With no complaining.

How to be Smarter: Make Mondays the day of the week you really work on correcting your posture. Every time you glance at the time today, whether on your cell phone in class or on your computer screen at work, reposition your posture and make sure you are sitting up straight. If you do this enough, it will become habit.

How to be Prettier: Cutest baby girl shoes for any little ones in your life.

How to be (less) Awkward: Pretty much the quickest, easiest way to make your closet look neater is to purchase all identical hangers.

How to be Smarter: If someone buys you a drink or a shot at a  bar you do not want to drink, feel free to politely decline. If they press you, simply say you are allergic to that type of alcohol. And never accept drinks from people you do not know! Ever.

How to be Prettier: Pajamas don’t have to be sexy to be cute and warm! I love this pair with the light dots on it. So fun and cozy.

How to be (less) Awkward: If somebody asks to share your seat with you on a train or a bus, social rules dictate you pretty much have to say yes. But if you are engrossed in eating food, people are less likely to want to sit down next to you because they don’t want to disturb you.

How to be Smarter: Putting “*” around both sides of what you are typing in gChat bolds it: *hi jeff* becomes bold when you type it in. Other cool gChat symbols.

How to be Prettier: Flowered, zippered minidress: I am going to wear this with tights, heels, and a leather jacket for now, and with bare legs and dainty jewelry this summer.

How to be (less) Awkward:  Everybody likes to talk about themselves. Ask a million questions to somebody, and they will like you a million times more then if you answer a million questions that weren’t asked.

How to be Smarter: Dating is one long waiting game. Waiting to meet him, waiting for him to call, waiting to be exclusive, waiting to get married. You can either enjoy the waiting, or spend the whole wishing you were at another step–only to arrive there and wish to go back a step when “things were simplier”. Be where you are, physically and emotionally.

How to be Prettier: Navy is the new black this spring. Navy tights, navy heels, navy dress. So classy, so stylist.

How to be (less) Awkward: Hipster puppies. I died laughing.

How to be Smarter: A silly site with facts about giraffes for those who love the creatures as much as I do.

How to be Prettier: Being healthy is as important to looking pretty as make-up and wardrobe choices. This is a helpful article on diet soda and its effects.

How to be (less) Awkward: When you come onto a work conference call with multiple parties, always state your name and the department or company you represent.

How to be Smarter: Listening to the “Beach Boys” on your iPod while walking in cold weather is one of the quickest ways to warm up.

How to be Prettier: This jewelry site is divided into three categories: Bohemian, Retro, and Romantic. I really like the bracelet sections especially-I think this one is my favorite–it is very February-themed!

How to be (less) Awkward: Lay your silverware in the 3 o’clock position on your plate when you are finished eating to signal to the server to take your plate away.