How to be Smarter: When making a decision that I want others’ input on, I like to reach out to a combination of friends, family, and acquaintances or networking connections with specific subject matter knowledge. My friends and family offer feedback that is more personal (‘I don’t think you would do well with that choice because of your [personality trait]‘), and the experts give a broader picture overview (‘that career move is strong because the field is growing rapidly’). Merging the personal and the big picture outside perspectives helps create clearer feedback for the decision.

How to be Prettier: A loose tissue tee becomes an on-trend new classic in a neon color; I’ve been finding a surprisingly high number of occasions (read: for three days straight this week alone) to wear this hot pink tee (which came into my life via my Easter basket!).

How to be (less) Awkward: Hit Teleport on the right-hand side, and this site will teleport you to a new Google maps location.

How to be Smarter: The brighter-colored your wallet, the easier is it to find in your bag.

How to be Prettier: New favorite reasonably-priced online site: Francesca’s Collections. Some standouts: this skirt, this watch, and espadrilles.

How to be (less) Awkward: Super-awesome birth announcements (they also do wedding and birthday party invites).

How to be Smarter: People always wonder that if they make a change and they hate it, they will always want to go back to the way things were. But to go to the other extreme, what if you make a change and you love it so much you never want it to end? If you’re going to worry about hating a change, try to also balance that view with the thought that you could love the change a million times more than you might hate it.

How to be Prettier: On Wednesday, I wore an outfit I really liked so I thought I’d share: I layered a bright yellow cap-sleeve tee shirt (mine said Jamaica down the side, but no one saw that….) under a tan shift dress (mine was also Ann Taylor; this is almost an exact match). It was muted enough for work, but still really bright and I loved wearing the burst of yellow. Take your own sleeveless work dress, layer a bright cap-sleeve tee shirt under, and you’re good to go (if your dress is v-neck, it helps to make your tee shirt v-neck as well to to avoid the tee-shirt bunching up by your collar).

How to be (less) Awkward: Focus on being a whole version of yourself rather than a fraction of someone else.

How to be Smarter: You have to walk the balance, each week, each day, each moment, between what will be good for you in the long-term and what will be enjoyable in the present. Some days the focus is 90/10 on the long-term (spending the day at work so you can afford the weekend getaway), and some days the balance will be tipped the other way (letting the laundry sit in the hamper one more day while you curl up with a favorite book).

How to be Prettier: In honor of upcoming Earth Day, classically-shaped, bright earrings made from recycled glass windows.

How to be (less) Awkward: Below is a basic HHH (Hi, How are you, Host) outline to use when leading off a conversation with someone new at a party or social gathering. This method works for both new friends and potential romantic interests.

1. “Hi, I’m _____!” (shake hands, they will introduce themselves too)

2. ”How are you?” (they will most likely say something nondescript like ‘good’ or make some sorta funny joke like ‘fighting my way through the crowds for a piece of cake’; react to what they said, i.e. ”I know! It’s packed in here!”) Then transition into…

3.  “So, where do you know [Host's name] from?” (If they are part of the host’s family, ask what the host’s hometown is like; if they are from the host’s office, branch off into a discussion about that line of work; if they are from the host’s sports team, comment on what sports teams you play on or follow, etc.)

From there, you are off and running in a conversation with someone new; at that point, just remember the LLL‘s: be Lighthearted, Listen to what they are saying, and try to keep them Laughing.

How to be Smarter: 6 Tips for Traveling. [From someone who did what I think a lot of us wish we could emulate: travel abroad extensively in her 20's, on her own money].

How to be Prettier: It’s tempting to buy tons and tons of warm weather items now, but if you hold out six weeks you can take advantage of the Memorial Day sales. Dig through your closet for summer pieces from last year you might have forgotten about, and focus on those for the next month until sale time.

How to be (less) Awkward: If you and a friend are making plans for dinner but are feeling indecisive or sheepish about being the one that makes the final choice, split the duties: have one person come up with a few dining options, and the other person picks from that list [works whether you are planning on heading to a restaurant or cooking at home].

How to be Smarter: If you’re feeling stressed about something non-important, ask a friend to do a ‘worry swap’ with you. Just ask her what she’s stressing about today (the boy she likes won’t text her? her grade on last week’s exam?) and tell her you will worry about that for her, if she will worry about whatever you are over-thinking about. Sometimes it just helps to be able to share your worry with someone else, and let them ‘handle’ worrying about it for you.

How to be Prettier: I find wedges a lot more comfortable to walk in than heels: these are springy, floral, and available in both low and high heights. Purchased! (I got the higher ones).

How to be (less) Awkward: It’s a little creepy, a little cool, a little artsy: Girls with Steve Buscemi’s eyes.

How to be Smarter: There will never be a convenient time to make a change; but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right time to make a change.

How to be Prettier: Everyone loves the Toms’ company philosophy (for each pair of shoes purchased, they give one pair to a child in need). But I am especially loving this glitter pair–sparkly enough to be fun, but low-key enough to be worn with skinny jeans to class or on Casual Fridays.

How to be (less) Awkward: This is just fun.

How to be Smarter:  In relationships, the problem isn’t that life is too short, it’s that life is too long. Life is too long to spend each day staring at a phone that doesn’t ring; life is too long to spend each day silently wishing your boyfriend or girlfriend treated you better; life is too long to come home to a house each day and be unhappy with who you are sharing it with. Life is too long to be unexcited about who you share your heart with.

How to be Prettier: If the current colorblocking trend seems too bright or too bold for your closet, start small. Instead of your usual white cardigan, grab a pale yellow one; instead of your usual black blazer, try a red one; instead of your usual nude shoes, switch to cobalt blue ones. Simple swaps from neutral colors to bright ones can revamp a wardrobe, and as long as the pieces are in classic shapes, they can remain in your closet long after the colorblocking trend is over.

How to be (less) Awkward: If you are planning on getting a pedicure post-work, but still want to wear tights to your job, stirrup tights are your new friends (I own that pair in black!).

How to be Smarter: Don’t be Jealous. [Great read].

How to be Prettier: When shopping online, I skip all the ‘new arrivals’ sections and head right to the sale section, immediately sorting things in order from Low Price to High Price. I almost always find items I love on the first couple of pages of the lowest-priced sale items, which are usually dramatically reduced; plus I don’t tempt myself by looking at full-priced things that are usually for next season anyways.

How to be (less) Awkward: Cat Lover? Money Lover? This site is for you. [What doesn't the Internet have?!]

How to be Smarter: People always think of life-changing decisions as really big changes. But in many ways, the most life-changing decisions are when you decide not to change: not to try a new city, not to try a new hobby, not to try something new. Keeping things the way they are is just as life-changing as deciding to change them–for better or worse.

How to be Prettier: It can be overwhelming to tell yourself to go to the gym a certain number of times a week or month. So just make a simple rule with yourself: when a friend invites you to go to the gym, you will always go. And once you start becoming gym buddies with someone, you will both start going more often.

How to be (less) Awkward: Great April Fools’ Pranks in history.