Archive for March, 2011

“Any closet is a walk-in closet if you try hard enough” — Steve Connelly

Posted on March 30th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: As a music-lover I’m always happy to pay for the privilege to listen to an artist’s work. But before I buy a song on iTunes, I always give it one or two (free) listens on YouTube first to make sure I enjoy it enough to own it before spending the money [...]

“I sweat. If anything comes easy to me I mistrust it” — Lilli Palmer

Posted on March 28th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: A nice rule about what makes sense for the size of the day’s To-Do List. How to be Prettier: In Texas last week, I found a roadside stand in Smart Pretty and Awkward’s colors, and if you look closely, you can see that even the pink curtain has little polka dots on it [...]

“I always tell my kids if you lay down, people will step over you. But if you keep scrambling, if you keep going, someone will always, always give you a hand. Always” — Morgan Freeman

Posted on March 25th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: A placeholder job, school, or relationship can usually become an ideal job, school, or relationship with just a little extra effort and a little extra courage. How to be Prettier: I bought this long jumper about a month ago when I was in a big cobalt blue phase. I was planning [...]

“Screaming is bad for the voice, but it’s good for the heart” — Conor Oberst

Posted on March 23rd, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: A read to make you think–the most common end-of-life regrets. [Best quote: "health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it"]. How to be Prettier: The next big hair thing will be feather hair extensions, which is exactly what it sounds like: getting feathers put into your [...]

“The mark of a true crush… is that you fall in love first and grope for reasons afterward” — Shana Alexander

Posted on March 21st, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: You will never regret getting one more magazine before the flight. How to be Prettier: For the past few days, I’ve been enjoying Austin, Texas with great friends and great music. My daily staples were this nail color (my favorite!) and these studded boots, with a rotating cast of lightweight rompers and shift dresses. [...]

“There comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear” — David Mahoney

Posted on March 15th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: When letting someone choose what gift you will get them, ask them to give you a few different options. That way, the present is something they like but also somewhat of a surprise since they won’t know the exact item you chose from their list until they open it. How to [...]

“There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them” — Claire Boothe Luce

Posted on March 14th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: The quickest way to feel trapped is to become dependent on someone else for something you know you can do yourself; the quickest way to feel free is trusting in your ability to learn new tasks (whether the new tasks are as simple as managing the monthly household cable bill or [...]

“If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?” — Author Unknown

Posted on March 9th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: Sometimes it can feel like you are walking deeper and deeper into hard times. But along the way, at some point, you cross the halfway mark and are actually walking out of the hard times and into a brighter future. The halfway mark might have already come and gone, and a [...]

“I am glad that so much movement happens in this stillness” — Richard Land

Posted on March 7th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: In business, the concept of ‘trapped value’ refers to areas in the firm that have value but are not being properly utilized. I challenge you to think about the areas of trapped value in your personality, abilities, and interests that could be tapped into and unleashed today. How to be Prettier: [...]

“I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum” — Frances Willard

Posted on March 4th, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: Instead of focusing on whether you are first-string or second-string, remember that sometimes its just an honor to be on the team. How to be Prettier: No one has ever leaned across a dinner table and asked me what I’m wearing retails for; they have just leaned across and told me [...]

“A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap” — Mitch Hedberg

Posted on March 1st, 2011 by by Molly Ford

How to be Smarter: If you are upfront about what you want in the beginning, the middle and ending are usually a lot more pleasant. How to be Prettier: If you are tempted to eat too much of a friend’s dessert, instead of asking for a bite right when she gets her food, ask to [...]