How to be Smarter: You’re not getting any younger. If you want to be write a book, you better start today. If you love someone, you better tell them now. If you want to be healthier, put down those sweets in your hand. Whatever you’re afraid to do, it’s certainly not going to be easier to start tomorrow.

How to be Prettier: The best toothbrushes are the ones that come with a tongue cleaner on the back of the brush. Like this one or this one.

How to be (less) Awkward: Pretty fun tool to use, whether you are thinking up band names, character names, blog names, screen names, or twitter names.

How to be Smarter: I am not the world’s best eater, but I try. But I have fallen in love with these bars. I mean, FALLEN IN LOVE. I already read Oh She Glows (Angela’s blog), so when I ordered a batch of Angela’s Variety Pack of Glo Bars, I was excited. The second they arrived however, I could not stop eating them and immediately ordered two more batches. They are delicious, and I can’t speak highly about them enough–and they are actually good for you.  

How to be Prettier: Lately I’ve been craving summer-ish khaki pants that are structured enough for work wear but relaxed enough for summer. These fit the bill perfectly.

How to be (less) Awkward: Food can be pretty, too.

How to be Smarter: There is no point in going on a vacation you can’t afford, or buying an outfit that doesn’t fit your budget. You will be too unhappy with your financial choice to ever fully appreciate what you bought.

How to be Prettier: The best subtle self-tanner I’ve come across. You can buy it at a drugstore, it doesn’t smell horrible, and the color doesn’t look fake because you build it up day by day.

How to be (less) Awkward: Don’t title an email with “Sorry.” Chances are whatever you are apologizing for–be it your phone dying when you were in the middle of the conversation, or for accidentally forgetting something important at work, the thread will continue after the apology has been offered and accepted. And then for the rest of the thread, going back and forth, when you see the email come into your inbox you (and the other person) will be reminded of the mistake.

How to be Smarter: I do not know the science behind this, but a cold ginger ale in the morning when I wake up feeling less than ideal makes me feel 100% in no time.

How to be Prettier: Crop tops, half-shirts, belly shirts– whatever you want to call them, they are having a moment right now in fashion.

How to be (less) Awkward: If you find yourself  nagging your significant other, I suggest you reevaluate–quickly. Nobody wants to be a nag; nobody wants to be with a nag.

How to be Smarter: A really easy to follow daily food plan for more energy.

How to be Prettier: I’m predicting that this  is the hot new color for the upcoming season.

How to be (less) Awkward: It is more or less implied you are proud of someone you love when they have a success in their life. “I am so proud you got straight A’s,” “Great job landing that design internship,” etc. But it much more powerful to say, outloud, that you are proud of people even when they are not having classically defined successes. “I am proud of you for getting out that harmful relationship,” “I am proud of you for sticking through that tough time at work,” etc. When you love someone remind them often and frequently that you are proud of them for all the things they do — all of the things.

How to be Smarter: Can you afford a dog? A simple calculator to help you decide.

How to be Prettier: Don’t leave your fluffy powder brushes loose in your makeup bag—they will soak up the dirt and other grime in the bottom of the bag.

How to be (less) Awkward: Before You Were Hot.

How to be Smarter: Wearing very conservative items (crew neck top, long pants) in bright colors makes them seem trendy; wearing very flashy items (cutout dress, tight v-neck) in neutral colors make them seem classy.

How to be Prettier: I love this dress–the navy is subdue in the front, but the red is exciting in the back. I’m still trying to find shoes to wear with it, but in the meantime, I’m going to lust after these.

How to be (less) Awkward: In a group conversation, never let anyone become an island. Always be working to make sure everyone feels connected, involved and included  in the conversation.

Check out my interview today with Alex from  The Urban Dater!

How to be Smarter: Asking for help — in any area of your life — isn’t shameful. I don’t worry about people that have reached out and asked for help–I feel worried about people that are too prideful or ashamed to ask for help.

How to be Prettier: Putting a drop of Visine on a pimple will reduce its redness. This is a good tip to share with the men in your life who can’t wear concealer like girls can to cover up.

How to be (less) Awkward: We all love Awkward Family Photos, but their new offshoot has me laughing just as hard.

 How to be Smarter: Some of the most important chatter about a group or office project happens before the meeting actually begins. Grab a tea and show up five minutes early to the conference room or library and see what others are gabbing about. You will probably learn ahead of time about any brewing problems, and you will feel more “in the know” on a personal level with your group members or co-workers.

How to be Prettier: Getting your eyelash curler warm before you use it will allow the tool to curl your eyelashes better. Just run your blow dryer over the curler for a few seconds, making sure not to get it too hot, and then use  normally.

How to be (less) Awkward: Even if you are not in this stage of your life, I like this website because it celebrates the idea that you can do things differently, trust your instincts, and still be ok.

How to be Smarter: June is the season when flower shops begin to clear out their spring inventory–this is a great time to go pick up a discounted potted plant for your apartment or windowsill.

How to be Prettier: On days when drinking enough water is hard, remember that watermelon is about 91% water.

How to be (less) Awkward: Recently someone asked me why I was wearing mint green nail polish because “it matches nothing”; but if it matches nothing, doesn’t it match everything? Along the same lines, I can’t think of a situation where these would be appropriate; but then again, I can’t think of an office supply/packing/moving event where they wouldn’t be appropriate.

How to be Smarter: The policeman in Monopoly’s real name is Officer Edgar Mallory (Source).

How to be Prettier: Three big things happening in fashion right now are bows, pale pink, and polka dots. I love how this skirt combines all three.

How to be (less) Awkward: Some questions are scary to ask. But the chance of the answer to your question being “yes” is zero percent if you don’t ask. “Would you like to have coffee with me?” “Can you please regrade my paper?” “Would you consider me to intern for you?” It can only go up from zero if you ask. Just ask.

How to be Smarter: Social Media facts that will blow your mind.

How to be Prettier: This entire shops specializes in Out of Print book tee shirts–here is one of my favorites.

How to be (less) Awkward: I find it so embarrassing when I get into a car and the whole car shifts under my weight. By easing my body into the car, all my weight doesn’t land on the seat at once and the other passengers already seated don’t feel the car move under my weight. Follow this order to ease in: 1. Two feet on the ground. 2. Lift one leg up and put half your body into the car. 3. Ease into the seat; transfer your weight from the ground to the car slowly. 4. When 80 percent of your body is in the seat, lift the final leg up. By following this, the car has time to adjust to your weight without any embarrassing bounce back.

How to be Smarter: I think one of the nicest things you can do, after finishing a book that you enjoyed, is to take the time to find the author’s contact information and send them a quick email expressing your thanks for writing something that made you think/made you happy/made you laugh/made you feel less alone. Take a few minutes out of your day to thank them for the time they took out of their lives which they spent writing something that moved you.

How to be Prettier: My favorite brand of shoes + My favorite type of shoes + My budget = Bandolino Wedges

How to be (less) Awkward: One of the quickest ways to draw other’s out of their shell is to ask about people important to them in their life. When someone asks me what’s new, and I’m feeling shy, I usually just say “oh you know–same old!” But if someone asks me what’s new in my best friend’s life, or how my sister likes college, or if my roommate has gotten a dog yet–I go on and on. When I feel shy, I find it is so much easier to talk about others rather than myself, and so I imagine others feel the same way.

How to be Smarter: Focus on being interested in others, rather than being interesting to others. By being interested, you instantly become interesting.

How to be Prettier: I think if you can look at this ring — or her entire shop — and not smile, you have no soul.

How to be (less) Awkward: I think self-help books get an unfairly awkward reputation. What is wrong with brushing up on some books about workplace communication or managing relationships? I challenge you to spend some time in the self-help/advice section of your local bookstore. Even if you don’t buy anything, paging through a few books on topics you already “know” can be pretty fun and informative. Disclaimer: this is what I do almost every Friday afternoon, and I look forward to it all week.

How to be Smarter: Great bargain-hunting site with lots of deals in your neighborhood, and a convenient search feature for today’s deals at the top.

How to be Prettier: Lulu’s dress for a night on the town.

How to be (less) Awkward: Is it better to be truly sad for a bit and then move on, or better to have a dull ache of sadness forever, because you were scared to move on?

How to be Smarter: The title of this is what caught me, but the story is what moved me.

How to be Prettier: If you have to invent a situation to wear the outfit in the fitting room, it is probably not worth the money. I think every girl has bought an outfit to wear in the South of France while drinking a pineapple fruity drink on a long beach vacation, and I think 2 girls in the whole world have actually done that.

How to be (less) Awkward: Amusing site that lets you type in a blog’s name and it will “analyze” that person. Funny to do on either your own blog, or someone else’s.

How to be Smarter: Drinking cold water, instead of room temperature, helps raise your metabolism and can help you burn more calories over time (source).

How to be Prettier: This is the calendar I stare at on my desk each day, and it makes everyday seem a little…sweeter.

How to be (less) Awkward: If the table is bigger than six, you don’t need to wait until everyone is served to start eating. Smaller than six, you must wait unless given instructions by the person waiting for their food to start.

How to be Smarter: A significant other doesn’t need to just show a passing interest in your friends; he needs to show a desire to impress them to be truly invested in your relationship.

How to be Prettier: Polka dots are the “it” pattern for the summer–whether them on everything from dresses to flowy tops.

How to be (less) Awkward: It is easier to get away with a dress that says “I want to swap spit” if the way you carry yourself says “I want to swap reading lists.”