How to be Smarter: Don’t let the amount of time you dread the task take longer than the task itself.

How to be Prettier: This entire site has beautiful earrings made especially for women with sensitive ears. I often wear dangly earrings at night as they are one of the easiest ways to go from a day look to a fancier look, and the long shape balances out my round face nicely. The particular pair I just linked to is mixed metals, which I love.

How to be (less) Awkward: If a hair stylist starts cutting and they are not doing what you had in mind, speak up after one or two snips. They will (usually) be happy to explain their methodology, and you can correct-course if it is not what you had in mind. Better to say something early on in the appointment, rather than leave feeling unhappy with the way your hair turned out. A simple, “may I see how much you’re cutting?” is usually all it takes for them to show you what they are doing.

How to be Smarter: A relationship is a puppy, not a houseplant: it needs daily, not weekly, care.

How to be Prettier: I received a pair of these sandals in the mail from Fibi&Clo last Thursday, and I’ve worn them 4 out of the past 5 days (!). They are incredibly comfortable, and the jeweled strap makes them appropriate for both running errands and a casual night out.

How to be (less) Awkward: If someone is explaining something to you and you are confused, it’s easier to ask for clarification at that time than to hope the point becomes clearer to you after you walk away (and the informed person is no longer available as a reference point).

P.S. I am speaking at the 20SB Summit Conference on August 19-21 in Chicago, on the Laying the Foundation/ Creating a Community Around Your Blog panel. Please let me know on Twitter if I will see you there!

How to be Smarter: You can have whatever anyone else has: you just might have to work longer, harder or smarter to get it. Just remember that whatever you are aspiring to (a great career, a great love, a great tennis game) will look different in your life compared to someone else’s, but that doesn’t make reaching for the goal any less special or any less worthwhile.

How to be Prettier: When you pour shampoo or liquid body wash into your hand, pour it into the shape of a heart. Then spend a second or two thinking about what you are grateful for and love about your hair and body.

How to be (less) Awkward: If you want to announce that you have reached a new level of Twitter followers (i.e. “I just got my 100th/500th/1000th follower!),  wait until you are 5-10 people over the number and then announce it, so even if people unfollow you after the announcement you will still have reached that goal number.

How to be Smarter: To be successful, you have to: 1. do something well and 2. do something well that other people can’t (or won’t) do. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

How to be Prettier: Eco-friendly Brands (!) + Private Sales = Loving Eco. 

How to be (less) Awkward: I use FaceTime, a video chatting device, to communicate with family and friends that don’t live in the same city as I do. My favorite funny, joke-y way to say goodbye via video chat is by making my voice sound like I’m falling off a cliff (“Goodddddbbbyyyyeeeeeee” as my voice gets fainter) while slowly moving out of the video camera’s range, and once I’m off the screen clicking “end call.”

How to be Smarter: In my experience, any ‘real’ problem always get sympathy and support from those you love. If you are finding it hard to get sympathy from others when sharing your problems, it might be time to ask yourself if what you are complaining about is valid. (A lack of sympathy from others usually means your problems aren’t that bad, which is a good thing).

How to be Prettier: Dresses and tops with open shoulders really work for me in the summer: breezy enough for hot weather but still providing some arm coverage when transitioning into chilly air conditioning.

How to be (less) Awkward: A way that works when talking through disagreements is to sit across from the person you are upset with, get a bunch of sticky-notes, and pass the notes back and forth with ideas and feelings written on them. You get the benefit of seeing the other person’s body language and instant reaction (which you don’t get with e-mail), but writing down thoughts can help the impulsive-talkers limit any too-harsh statements, and the shy feel more empowered to speak up via the written word.

How to be Smarter: In my experience, people with real power don’t need to act authoritative; it is the people who are insecure about their power that often feel the need to act bossy. I wouldn’t worry about what the loudmouth person screaming their opinions thinks of you; I would care more what the quiet person taking notes in the corner thinks of you. The chances are very real that the quiet person has more power.

How to be Prettier: My guest post on Allstate’s Good Hands Community about being a positive body image role model. [In exchange for sharing this content, GoodHandsCommunity.org has compensated me via cash payment.]

How to be (less) Awkward: If I’m trying to decide whether to do something, I imagine what I will feel like if miss the chance to take the opportunity. For example, I imagine the person I’m thinking of talking to at a party walking out the door, or someone else taking my place at a dinner. If I don’t care when I imagine the opportunity leaving me, I move on.

How to be Smarter: I rented this documentary two weeks ago and was glued to the screen the entire time. I am not a singer or a musician (or 16) and I was still so empowered by the message of: anything is possible.

How to be Prettier: A style rule I always recommend and follow myself: In general, fitted looks better than either snug or baggy.

How to be (less) Awkward: Nobody ever got annoyed at their roommates/classmates/sisters for asking first before borrowing; plenty of people get annoyed when you borrow first without asking. Just ask before borrowing something–it’s as simple as that.

How to be Smarter: Before I move out of any apartment, I like to walk around and take pictures of the little things: the knick-knacks inside my nightstand drawers, the images I had in my desk frames, even what the Post-Its hanging next to my computer say. After you leave a home, you will probably be able to think back and remember the big things, like furniture placement, but it’s the small details that fade from your mind and are the most interesting to look back on 3 or 4 years later.

How to be Prettier: Instead of decorating rooms around a specific color, I like to decorate around specific patterns (like polka dots or stripes).

How to be (less) Awkward: An apartment or house guest book can be a nice centerpiece at a house party, as it serves as a conversation-starter and gives guests something to do while waiting for others to arrive. A well-designed, beautiful guest book can be a replacement of a coffee-table book in your living room, which (usually) no one opens anyways.

How to be Smarter: Keep 20 dollars in your wallet for emergency money at all times; bonus points if the $20 is broken down into 1′s, 5′s, and 10′s so you can use it for tipping if need be.

How to be Prettier: There is an adorable pink checked pattern on this dress. (It seems ideal to me as something you would wear to meet your new sweetie’s family).

How to be (less) Awkward: I really love this DIY Flow Chart, to use when deciding whether or not to undertake a project (via this guest post on 100 Layer Cake).

How to be Smarter: How to Talk to Little Girls. [Interesting article, which has sparked good conversations among my friends].

How to be Prettier: I recently swapped out my desk chair for an exercise ball, and I’m loving how much more active I am during the day because of it. If you are embarrassed about using an exercise ball for a desk chair at your day job, you can always just make the change for your desk at home.

How to be (less) Awkward: I use these customized countdown calendars for all sorts of events; if I’m looking forward to having friends visit or an upcoming family vacation, then I create a countdown and email it my pals or family as a way to say: I can’t wait to see you!

P.S. On Friday, Christina from 40:20 Vision and I launched Flash Fridays, which will come out on the first Friday of every month. This month’s Flash Friday topic is Dating in the Workplace.

Happy Fourth of July! Have a wonderful day.

xoxo,

Molly

Today Smart Pretty and Awkward turns 30 Months Old!

As always, thank you for your continuing support and readership; I truly believe I have the best readers on the Internet.

[As a reminder, if you are interested you can follow SP&A on Twitter, Facebook, by RSS Feed, Bloglovin', or the newly created SP&A Tumblr.]

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Today Coffee with Molly turns 2 Months Old!

[For new blog followers, Coffee with Molly is a paid subscription newsletter that comes out 5-6 times a month via email. Some of the content for last two months has been: outfit posts from Easter and around downtown NYC, links to my blogroll, a What's In My Bag? feature, a call for packing and moving tips as I moved cross-country, links to my top 10 beauty and relationship SP&A tips, and discount codes to Lodis and Francesca's Collections.]

I’ve been getting really great, fun feedback on Coffee with Molly – it’s quickly become my favorite blog-related side project. I love sending out an email newsletter and getting immediate replies; I’ve found out about so many new sites, tips, and blogs from reader-friends.

If you are interested or want more details on Coffee with Molly, you can email me at molly@smartprettyandawkward.com or subscribe here.

Here’s to a great July!

xoxo