After reading Sonia’s wonderful post on Santa Barbara’s must-go beaches, I felt inspired to do a little shopping.  Okay it doesn’t take much to inspire me to shop but this time it was specifically about what to wear to the beach.  Although I’m dreading seeing myself in a bikini under the fluorescent lights of a dressing room, I’m hoping my newly enstated calorie counting and the diffusing glow of California sun will make everything better.  My favorite bikini trend right now is the mix-and-match bikini.  Here are a couple bikini mix-and-match sets I put together from one of the best bargain buy stops, OLD NAVY:

Old Navy Mix-and-Match Bikini Set #1:

Women’s Mix & Match Ruffle-Trim Bikini Top in Spring Valley Green ($12.00)

Women’s String-Bikini Bottoms in Black Jack ($16.50)

Old Navy Mix-and-Match Bikini Set #2:

Women’s Halter Bikini Top in Purple ($12.00)

Women’s Boy Short Swim Bottoms in White ($16.50)

Old Navy Mix-and-Match Bikini Set #3:

Women’s Bandeau Halter Top ($16.50)

Women’s Mix-and-Match Ruffled Bikini Bottoms in Peach Flambe ($12.00)

And for you single-piece gals:

Women’s Ruffled Swimsuits ($25.00)

Women’s Color-Block Bandeau Halter Swimsuits

xoxo, Vanesa

As a most matured senior resident (that means I have lived in IV for 3 years) of Isla Vista I very much understand the seductive power that commands you to stay within its cig butt, empty 30 pack  laden streets. There are free booze-filled parties, your friends as neighbors, and $5 IV Delimart sandwiches. Why leave?

Butterfly Beach

One thing I regret as I near graduation is not knowing about and visiting more of the impressive natural landscapes that Santa Barbara has to offer, especially in regards to its beaches. Don’t get me wrong I love Campus Point, but there are a few other sandy spots that are a must-see during your four (or five) year stint. So go! Bring sunscreen! And fruity cocktails in water bottles!

Hendry’s Beach:

I have only been here three times I think, which is a complete shame. This beach is adorable, clean, nestled hillside near outrageously lovely homes, and visited by lots of locals. Directions: Take 101 to Los Positas.  Turn away from the mountains. When you come to a T-intersection and turn right. Take the second left at the base of a cliff.

Butterfly Beach:

The first time I can here my girlfriends and I were gleeful at how wonderful of a swimming beach it was. We spent an unprecedented hour in the water, being obnoxious. No flies (that sounds silly, but it makes a difference), fine sand, and THE BEST SUNSETS! Go immediately. Directions: Take the 101 to Olive Mill Road in Montecito (few exits south of SB).  At the stop sign, turn towards the ocean (away from the mountains) and follow it a quarter of a mile along the coast. Beach is on your left. Parking is limited and will be packed most weekends. Park on either side of the street along the beach or drive up Butterfly Rd and park in the neighborhoods.

East Beach:

East Beach does not have the same pristine charm as Henrdy’s and Butterfly, but what it lacks in scenery it makes up for with activity. Beach volleyball, bike path, children’s play area, beach house, and snack bar.  Lots of stuff going on at this larger beach which makes for great people watching. Directions: East Beach is accessible from just about any exit along downtown Santa Barbara – Carrillo Blvd, Milpas, Garden, Castillo.  Turn away from the mountains and when you reach Carrillo, the huge beach is between Stearns Wharf and the bird refuge.

El Capitan:

So beautiful. Lots of oak trees and its off the path location make this beach scenic and private. El Capitan is a smaller beach, but there is still stretches of sand and it’s great for swimming, It is a state park, so there’s a five dollar entrance fee; its an all-day beach. Bring food and picnic on the state-provided tables! Directions: Take the 101 N past Goleta and drive until you reach the El Capitan signs. The road will take you right into the park.  The park is approximately 10 miles out of town.

Oh Santa Barbara, how I love you. You give me breezy, eighty degree days, miles of beaches, and the I Madonnari Festival. Mandonnari means street painter in Italian and on May 29, 30, and 31 the Mission plaza will be transformed by intricate, large-scale street murals.

Not your grandmother's sidewalk chalk.

Bird's Eye view of heaven

The second annnual event supports the Children’s Creative Project, a non-benefit education of the arts program.  To enhance the experience an Italian Market will be held next to the be-chalked ground. It sounds like the makings of a terrifically romantic weekend, so to star in your own rom-com don your prettiest floral, grab handsome yet quirkly intutitive date, and head to the Mission to enjoy a slice of Italy.

Let’s prepare ourselves for our indulgent adventure. Things I adore about Italy:

Cheese. Oh my, this little boot-shaped country is mother to some of the most fantastic mold I have ever consumed. Ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino, asiago, provolone, I LOVE IT ALL. (If you really want a kick, Wikipedia Italian Cheeses. You will be overwhelmed)

Sophia Loren. When I was a little girl, I saw a picture of Sophia Loren in my grandmother’s house. I had never seen a woman so beautiful. It was said that Cary Grant was initially doubtful of the actress while working with her on The Pride and the Passion, but once on set he apparently fell in love and proposed.

Beautiful Shoes. Dolce & Gabbana. When I saw these wedges I almost passed out. Suede and six inch platform? YES

Sprezaturra. I took an Italian Culture class my freshman year at UCSB and the concept of Sprezaturra always stuck with me. The term is from Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier, where it is defined as “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.” In 21st century terms it means having the ability to casually and subtly display one’s skills or talents so that those viewing are only aware of the aesthetic and the grace, not the individual. In our era of showmanship, where one can be infamous for simply being a ridiculous human being(cough anyrealityTVstar cough), Sprezaturra is a refreshing lesson on how to be a beautiful person and truly live La Dolce Vita.

Being a high-powered machine and conquering your workload is never easy.  It’s a finely mastered craft that takes years of experience and a Starbucks Gold Card.  I’ve never been one to be able to just sit down and hammer work out.  I need ambiance, I need inspiration, I need to get into the mood.  Here are are a few of my tricks to getting through the work:

1. Set the Scene: Whether it’s heading to your favorite spot in the library, a local coffee shop, or your desk space at home, make sure that your area is conducive to working.  Make sure the space has enough light, all of the supplies you need, and free of distractions.  This means if you’re at home, turn off the television!
   

   Student studying from m00by on Flickr

2. Have a small treat with you, and if you need it, make it a caffeinated one.  Everyone knows I love my Starbucks.  But I really do try to have some kind of enjoyable beverage while I work or study. It helps brighten up the situation so I don’t feel like my work is torturous.
3. Get the music flowing. The music you play shouldn’t be distracting.  But you don’t want to be put to sleep either.  I normally try to play something with a good beat to keep me motivated.  I’ve always found that great she-power rock gets me pumped to conquer my work.
4. Watch what you wear.  If you are in for a long study or work session, make sure that what you’re wearing is comfortable enough for you t focus but not so comfortable that you can slowly curl into fetal position and use your keyboard as a pillow.
   

   Hard work can Hurt from normalityrelief's Flickr

5. Take a few minutes between every hour to get up and stretch!!! Your body needs to move and blood needs to flow through your body.  Taking 10 minutes between the hours will help clear your mind and rejuvenate you.
   

   Namaste from Canon in 2D on Flickr

6. Schedule cell phone time.  While you’re on your ten minute stretch break you can also use this time to answer any social text messages or phone calls.  Create clearly defined times to get on your cell phone.  Otherwise you may use up all of your study time talking on the phone.  At 3 am you’ll wonder where all your study time went as you cram through your notes.
   

   Girl on Cell Phone from Billy D on Flickr

7. Start each session outlining what you need to get accomplished.  Break out time slots and assign what you will accomplish in that time frame.  Be realistic with yourself and prioritize what needs to be addressed first.
8. Pick your study partner wisely.  It’s great to have a study partner but make sure that your companion is compatible to what you are trying to accomplish.  The girlfriend who is going through a break-up and only wants to talk about her boyfriend troubles is not your best bet when trying to get work done.  You can talk to her on Friday when your mid-terms are over.  She’ll still have the SAME things to say.
9. Outline your workload.  Use a calendar to set goals of when you need to have projects, assignments, and papers done.  This way you can forecast what’s ahead.  You may find that you have 3 papers due in one week.  This way you’ll know which papers to get a head-start on during the weeks ahead.
10. Prepare for the next day.  At the end of every study or work session prep all of the things that you will tackle during your next session.  This will relieve you of any anxiety you may have over what is up in the air and what is not.  You’ll be able to go into your next session with a clear head and a  game plan of what to work on next.

Great news for UCSB;  May 22 American Apparel has decided to haul its trendy self to the cliff side town to have a Rummage sale.

Although the brand has been of stigmatized as providing the essentials for an overpriced hipster uniform, I find that many of the pieces make for perfect basics that you can be really creative with. I have a pair of AA black cloth running shorts that I literally wear three times a week: under dresses, over tights, with a structures shirt.  And in this instance you won’t have to worry about paying $30 for a glorified Hanes, because there will be mind-blowing deals: up to 85 % savings with swag starting at $1. Also, they are bringing obscene amounts of inventory that will be rotated throughout the day, so there is no need to wake up at 5 a.m. to stand in the chilly morning air, glaring at your consumer competition. Talk about turnover!

Here are some fantastic ways to wear American Apparel pieces, courtesy of two of my favorite fashion blogs: Fashion Toast and Stylorectic.

Rumi in AA dress. layered under a gray Tee

Eszter in AA skirt. She layered it over a dress, Brilliant!

Eszter in AA mesh bodysuit and thigh high black socks.

Eszter in AA peach lame leggings. Killer color.

I hope you are inspired by these gals intuitive approaches to making slightly altered basics exciting. You can create multiple fun looks after this weekend!

Details, Details, Details:

Saturday May 22 and Sunday May 23. 10:00 am-8:00 pm

Old Von’s Parking Lot
Corner of Chapala & Victoria
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Admission is FREE. Credit, debit, and cash accepted.

Click here for a map of the event. Plan your attack.

Cheers,

Sonia

Dennis Hoffman and Katharine Ross escaping the clutches of Mrs. Robinson

The Graduate is one of my favorite films. I always felt that Dennis Hoffman’s predicament of entering into young adulthood amidst the sometimes ridiculous fanfare of adult expectation was so distant from my own experience, but now that I am in my senior year the exciting yet stomach-churning feeling I imagine Ben Braddock feeling is hitting a little too close to home

For those of us who have been expanding our minds on the UC’s  quarter system, the end of Spring 10 is near. And for those of us who have expanded our academic records to the sum of 180 units, the end of our college experience is looming. As excited as I am to enter our current state of economic disparity, I am finding that there are a lot of things to think about even before I receive my diploma. I did a litle research and then sat down to organize my graduation to-do list.

1) Bucket List. This seems a bit cliche, but as my last year winds down I find my friends and I sitting around our living room talking about all the things we still want to do while we occupy our little college town. Pick 5 or so things (don’t overwhelm yourself, it’s finals!), make a list, and stick it somewhere visible. The girls and I have brainstormed wine tasting, a hike called Seven Falls that is supposed to be really beautiful in spring, watching the sunset form the 8th floor of our Library, and skinny-dipping in the ocean. Take advantage of where you live!

2) Make sure you academics are in order. If you are unsure about your graduation status, make an appointment with your counselor. The end is nearing, but it is always better to know your situation now versus receiving an email telling you that you actually have one more teeny tiny GED requirement to fulfill. Also, don’t forget to pay any bills or parking tickets, you can’t graduate with debts. Well, debts to the University at least.

2) Letters of recommendation. Most students have one or two Professors with whom they have developed relationships with. Educators are valuable resources, so use them. Ask  a Professor who you admire or who’s discipline you excel in to write you a letter of recommendation. They may not be able to get to you immediately as we are rounding the corner of files, but getting your request in early can assure that you will eventually have one on file as you apply to jobs in the real world.

3) Hotel Reservations. If your family is anything like mine, they are coming in mini droves to Santa Barbara to see me in an unflattering black robe. Oh, and celebrate my academic achievement! Unless your want your Aunt Terry crashing on your couch, looking into alternative accommodations is good for your reputation.  I’ve used the site localsguide.com a few times, prices and distance are easily visible and its super-user friendly. Spend a few minutes browsing then send a mass email to your family.

4) Graduation Party. Graduating from college isn’t as climatic as high school. I remember my senior year of high school my friends and I would be attending one another’s celebrations weeks after school ended. I recommend keeping it low key with either a dinner, bbq, or picnic. Since most ceremonies are earlier in the day, getting some simple food spreads and going to a park or house with a decent backyard is a great, casual option to spend time with family and friends. Don’t forget the champagne! On the other hand, if you are like me and enjoy being served food taking your family to a restaurant and having a lovely meal is another option. With a big group of different tastes, I like to pick a genre of food that’s not too trendy and has options, like a sweet Italian place or a steak and seafood restaurant.  Just make sure to call ahead of time and make a reservation; the early the better so you can meet up with your friends after.

5) What to wear. My favorite part! As is old, academic tradition, you and the members of your graduating class will be swathed in over-sized. boxy gowns. However, underneath the unfortunate drapery is an opportunity to wear the first spring dresses of the season. Vanesa wrote a  fun post on nude dresses here that I feel would be really lovely for a May or June graduation. Mind  the weather also, look it up ahead of time so you don’t freeze or melt.  Keep your hair and make-up simple; you want to look like a fabulous version of yourself, not yourself in Vegas. Plus you will be wearing the goofy hat for the ceremony (bobby pins?) so teasing your hair to Snooki proportions would be a futile effort. And lastly shoes! I will use any excuse to put on a platform, so I know I will be wearing heels. However my ceremony is outside and I don’t want a repeat of my high school graduation where my heels were sinking continuously into the astro turf, so I plan to go with a wedge instead. Another great option I saw whilst browsing the shoe section at Nordstrom is embellished strappy sandals; a bohemian and comfortable option that would still be event appropriate. (SB girls stay tuned my girlfriend who works in BP shoes tipped me on an awesome sale they are having soon. Post to follow!)

I hope this mini checklist provides a bit of calamity during this hectic time. Grad prep is pretty straightforward, and I am looking forward to getting all the logistics out of the way early so I can focus on what’s important in the last few weeks of my college experience. Go Class 2010!

Cheers, Sonia

Lately I’ve been spotting a lot of great nude dresses. I always find nude, skin tone, blush dresses to be so beautiful.  They say so much by saying so little.  Remember Carrie and Big’s first date when she wears the “naked dress” and she thinks he’ll always remember her “that way”?  Am I going overboard with all of the Sex and the City references lately? (I’m sorry, I can’t help it.  But it’s the only thing that I can equate to my real life on television, other than the two men with the Asian baby on Modern Family.)  To avoid any Carrie-isms with the “naked dress” scenario, make sure to wear a more demure cut when sporting this color block.  Otherwise people may think you’re actually naked.

A few fabulous nude choices from Asos.com:

ASOS Dresses from Left to Right, Top row to Bottom row:

ASOS Mesh and Slinky Drape Dress ($64.25)

TFNC Scatter Sequin Open Back Dress ($67.64)

TFNC Bead Embellished Layered Chiffon Dress ($67.64)

ASOS Tailored Linen Pencil Dress ($54.11)

ASOS Ruffle Organza Tipped Edge Bandeau Dress ($93.00)

Very by Vero Moda Contrast Tulip Dress ($84.55)

More Nude colored dresses with demure cuts:

TARGET: Merona Collection Beaded Neckline Dress in Desert Sand ($39.99)

KOHL’S: Dana Buchman Linen Dress (On Sale $49.99)

KMART: Speechless Glitter Knit Illusion Straps Satin Inset ($49.99)

xoxo, Vanesa

I started off this post thinking I would compare all the new E-Reader devices out there….Sony Daily Edition, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad (as an E-Reader), and then I realized that I’ve never really used any of these readers.  ( So if any of the above would like to send me a FREE one, I’m available!)  My second realization was that when it comes down to it, I’m really not going to spend the $500 on a device that hasn’t quite been perfected yet.  I learned that lesson with my first generation iPod.  But I will spend a few dollars to add a reader app to my iPhone.  So here are the top apps to consider:

B&N eReader by Barnes and Noble for iPhone (FREE)

While this app gives you the opportunity to purchase books within the Barnes and Noble library and share these books with friends, the reviews come in that book prices are a bit high.

Kindle by Amazon.com for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch (FREE)

This is one of the most popular apps because of the ability to play with font size and color, access to the Amazon bookstore, turn pages, and add notes/highlights. Reviews come in saying there are problems in syncing to other reader devices and you only have book options, no magazines or newspapers.  Also it does not allow you to share books with friends.

eBooks by Kobo HD for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, or Palm Pre (FREE)

It seems like our non-iPhone friends have been neglected in the eReader app world and that’s where Kobo steps in.   Not only is the app available for multiple platforms, after you download your book you are able to read it in other platforms as well, not just the device you downloaded it on.

There are parts of me that are very techie and can find myself browsing through the book selection on my iPhone while standing in line for a latte.  But the other side of me is championing for the survival of the good ole book.  Turning the pages, dog-earing memorable selections, and writing notes in a favorite book will never be forgotten on me.  Here is what I’m currently thumbing through:

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

I can’t precisely say that I’m reading through this book.  The truth is I keep this book in constant contact, often looking up pages, quotes, stories that I find truth in.  How many times have I read this book? About 592?  I always find the answer in Elizabeth Gilbert’s approach of having none of the answers.  I’ve found that this book is extremely dividing amongst people.  They either love it, or hate it.  If you don’t love it, you’re not ready for it.  When you’re ready, you will love it.

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands by Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler.  One night stands. Midgets. Vodka. Distasteful humor.  All I can say is that you will laugh your ass off and I warned you.

Food Matters by Mark Bittman

Mark Bittman is and has been the acclaimed writer of “The Minimalist” in The New York Times for the past 11 years.  In this book he focuses on how food plays a major role in our body’s health as well as the earth’s health.  As Mark states on his website,” Food Matters presents a series of easily adaptable strategies—along with meal plans and recipes—for eating sanely, judiciously, and consciously.”

xoxo, Vanesa

My entire life I dreamed of an international life.  I’ve pieced together all the scenarios of how I could live and work in San Sebastian, Paris, Tokyo, or London.  As much as American girls fantasize about life in other parts of the world, there are just as many girls around the world thinking about a life in America.  Here at Campus Confidant we’ve been blessed to have the wonderful help of an exchange student named Nancy.  A former model and currently finishing up a stint at an international school in Santa Barbara, Nancy has given us a beautiful glimpse into the world of a young woman from across the globe.  I’ve asked Nancy to share her thoughts on her experience.  We will miss her dearly when she returns home later this month.

xoxo, Vanesa

Being an exchange student in the USA is a genuine experience, a unique project you know you may not do again before a long time. In my case, after 4 months of living in Santa Barbara, I have definitely changed my way of thinking toward everything I knew before about the world, but especially toward this multi-cultural culture; which is America.

I have never experienced such an extreme, mind-blowing, different, wealthy and amazing way of living, thinking and being.  In contrast to the countries I’ve been to already, in Europe and Belgium, the USA has this power, strength, and potential I’ve never seen before. The American dream I heard about so many times in my history lessons seems to have had a real impact on me.

I think that the USA has always fascinated the “old continent”. Engineers, doctors, ambitious independents, artists, investors, or just ordinary families have been migrating in masses to the United States with the sole purpose of “seeking a better life”.

But why the USA? Why the USA and not China, Africa, Oceania or Russia? The world is so big…After a couple of months spent here I think  I’m getting closer to the answer.  America allows you to realise the craziest dreams you’ve ever had and it can give you the opportunity to travel almost all around the world, by staying in your own motherland.  Nothing is too much and too much is nothing.

Wherever you come from, whatever you are and whatever your convictions might be, as soon as you’ve crossed the American border, you become an American citizen.  And this is exactly what makes it so special.

Even though there were some hard times, having the blues and being homesick, I have never felt so “at home” even though I was abroad.  I had the chance to travel through California and every single place I went there were different people, landscapes, influences, historical backgrounds, concerns, and politics.

The first thing that literally confused me as I arrived was the friendly, laid-back, and open minded way of living people had in California.  A “ Hi, how is it going today?” when you get into a grocery store or a supermarket wouldn’t have been given the slightest in Europe. “Why are you asking such private questions when you don’t even know me? It doesn’t make sense,” we would have said.  But this friendly way of starting a conversation is nothing but an amicable and usual form for saying “Hello”.

Thanks to all these wonderful people I have met, the places I have been, and the things I have learned, the general impression that will always stay in my heart is nothing but positive and my return to the so-called “Land of the free”.

To finish up this article I would like to thank Vanesa for having been one of the first greatest person I met in the US, the one who gave me a quick but pleasant glimpse of the way you work and finally the one who accepted me spontaneously onto the team.

Thank you for having me here,

Nancy

Nancy in Hollywood

Recently, the line-up for UCSB’s 2010 Extravaganza was released. I have been more and more impressed with the past line-ups, and I am super stoked for this year’s!

EXTRAVAGANZA 2010

FEATURING…

DRAKE
http://www.myspace.com/thisisdrake

CHROMEO
http://www.myspace.com/chromeo

EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS
http://www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe

SUPER MASH BROS.
http://www.myspace.com/sprmshbros

SOUL MINDED (Winner of Battle of the Bands 2010!)
http://www.myspace.com/soulmindedmusic

Last year's Extravaganza during Girl Talk. It was drizzly.

Extravaganza is an opportune time to showcase your new breezy spring tops and strappy sandals. Vanesa wrote a great post on how to dress for Coachella here, so check it out if you are at a loss for ensemble inspiration. I would recommend adding  something like a leather jacket or over-sized cardigan to the mix as our seaside school tends to have chillier nights.

The event is set for May 15th and doors open at Harder Stadium at 1:00 p.m. There will be vendors selling swag as well as  food and drink so cash is always a good thing to have on hand just in case. Other than that this concert is FREE! So support the AS Program Board and all their hard work in securing these hip and fairly diverse acts.

I think I am most excited about Super Smash Bros and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s. I heard they were awesome at Coachella so I am anxious to see them. Hope to see you all there!

Cheers,

Sonia.

Hello Campus Confidants,

I know you’ve all been waiting with baited breath to find out what the surprise is that I mentioned last week.  I would like to expand Campus Confidant to include more and more direct user-related content and I hope this surprise will be the next step in our great adventure.  So now…drumroll please…I want to introduce all of you to our “girl on the scene” at UCSB, Sonia!  She will be contributing to Campus Confidant specifically on UCSB topics and I know you will enjoy reading her musings.  She’s written an introduction below and you will have the pleasure of reading her very first post later today.  If any of you are interested in being the Campus Confidant on your campus send me a note through the Contact Us page.

xoxo, Vanesa

Hello All!

My name is Sonia Lucyga and I am a senior English major at UCSB. I found Campus Confidant while combing the web looking for editorial internships and completely fell in love with this pithy lifestyle guide on how to be utterly fabulous in college! As a newly minted intern, I am tingly with excitement at the prospect of getting to do sophisticated girl talk on a virtual level.

I am originally from Northern California and love it but the central coast has been good to me these last four years. I am an avid thrifter, poodle lover, obsessed with platform heels (I think my true height is 5′9 when I clock in at about 5′6), consume way too many fashion blogs for my own good, and will cry laughing while reading David Sedaris. When I was a freshman at UCSB I would take the 24x to State Street and wander around downtown as to become acquainted with the shopping, ahem, scenery. I think those trips really foreshadowed what I have come to adore most about Santa Barbara (besides the beach and ridiculously beautiful people).  I continually discover something new and more wonderful about this sun-drenched town every week. I am so excited to share what I have learned and will continue to uncover with all of the Campus Confidant readers!  Feel free to contact me through the Contact Us page.

Cheers,

Sonia

Image from freedigitalphotos.net

If you’ve landed a new job or internship there are a few things you need to know to start your job on the right foot.  You want to come off as professional as possible and even if you’ve never worked a “real job” before, you want to make it seem like you have.  This way, your management won’t regret hiring you on day two mumbling the words, “But they were so great in the interview…”

1. Answering the phone: Your work phone and your personal phone are two very different monsters.  “What’s up?” and “Hey” are not the verbal welcome your office will want to convey.  If you haven’t been directed on how to answer the company phone then the safest answer for a ringing telephone would be stating the company name and then your name.  For Example..[ringing telephone] “Campus Confidant, this is Vanesa.”

2. Outgoing message setup: You will want to make sure that all of your outgoing message responses are setup.  Make sure your voicemail and your email signature now have all of your information and not the person who held the position before you.

3. Signing emails: Many companies are different on how they write emails.  In general always make sure you have a signature to your messages.  ALWAYS sign off with a “Sincerely”, “Best”, or “Warm Regards”.  Since you are an entry level employee it sometimes can come off as rude or arrogant not to have a signature line.

4. Email signature: Make sure that after you sign off your email that you have an email signature.  That signature should include your name and contact information for work.  DO NOT put your personal contact information or social networking sites such as your Twitter or AIM handle, especially if it is not work related and you have some crazy name like “Sweetcheeks143″.

5. Writing professional emails: Yes this is the electronic age but in the business world you can come off flaky and immature if you treat your emails as a Facebook comment.  Write complete sentences, and well organized thoughts.  Do not overload your email with LOLs and emoticons.  This is business, not an RSVP to an Evite.  Make sure that you are writing in a manner that you can be taken seriously.

6. Attire: I’m surprised I even have to write this but people just do not get it…especially our demographic of young women.  At the office, cleavage is distracting, short skirts are distracting, Gwen Stefani acrylic nails are distracting, sloppiness is distracting, stripper shoes are distracting, and peek-a-boo underwear is distracting.  If there is any place in the world that you want people to take you seriously and respect you it is at your job!  You want a career right?  (If not, you’re on the wrong blog.  You can head to that Investment Banker’s Girlfriends Anonymous site.)  Even if your peers joke around with you for your outfits, you should always dress for the position you want not the position that you are.  If you want the corner office part of it is making the hire-ups believe you belong there.  While the girl flashing her leopard bra and slit up her ass may get attention she certainly is not getting promoted.  Save the sexy getups for the clubs where you can actually do something about it and not get in a lawsuit.

7. Analyze the environment. If your office is quiet, don’t be a loudmouth.  If everyone on your team is staying till 6pm, don’t leave at 5 pm.  Make sure that you survey the scene and are flexible enough to ease into the culture.

8. Diligence, Diligence, Diligence. One of the very first times I had to “manage” someone was during an internship in college.  The other intern I managed always had 300 questions, only completed 50% of her projects, and then would come to me and tell me how she couldn’t finish her work.  It’s not that the other intern didn’t have as much knowledge as me or that I had easier projects, it was that she wasn’t diligent.  When she got to an issue she didn’t know the answer she would just ask me.  Before asking me she should have searched through previous emails, used Google, or went through her notes from our meetings to see if she could find the answer on her own first.  If she would have taken 5 extra minutes to try and get as many details as possible on her own she would have saved us both more time and made herself more of an asset than a liability. In the end, I got hired full time, and she was back to being unemployed.

9. Show up. I mean this in so many ways.  If you are going to take a job then show up for it.  Be on time, be prepared, turn in your work, spell check, go through your work with a fine tooth comb before submitting, wait to take days off or a vacation until you’ve really put in your time with the company, engage 100% of your mind and body to your job when you are there. Show your commitment, show that you can be trusted, SHOW UP! You will without a doubt make mistakes but if you are constantly trying to put your best foot forward those mistakes will serve as lessons and not points toward firing someone who always half-asses everything anyways.

10. Check your attitude. Your job is not an episode of “The Hills”.  Put your big girl panties on and act like one.  I say this over and over, but you need to be the person that people will want to deal with first thing in the morning at 9 am, even before they’ve gotten a latte.  On the other hand, don’t be a kiss ass.  No one likes a kiss ass and if you start building your career on this practice at the beginning you’ll have nothing left of yourself by the time you’re 30.

xoxo, Vanesa

Oy! What a crazy week it has been.  Sorry for leaving up the heinous photo of Cinco de Mayo jello shots as your first glimpse on the site.  Ya’ll deserve some pretty so I’m gifting you some Beyonce “Why Don’t You Love Me?”-Video-Vintage-Feel-Goodness for the weekend.  I’m off to a charity event tonight but I’ll be back with a few great surprises next week especially for all my Santa Barbara Campus Confidants.
xoxo, Vanesa

Image from Wikipedia.com

Do I dare file this post under Culture, Food??  I can’t help myself.  Sure this isn’t the classiest post I’m ever going to put out there but we live in a world where a girl named “Snooky” is making way more money than the average working girl.  Plus I went to UCSB where Cinco de Mayo could qualify for official school holiday status, right up there with Halloween.  On top of it I’m a Southern Californian and the public must give props to our neighbors down south through some fiesta fun time.  So here it is, Cinco de Mayo jello shots found on the aptly titled website, www.jello-shots-and-shooters.com, (and here you thought icanhascheezburger.com was the most trivial thing the web had to offer).  Before I continue with the recipes remember DRINK RESPONSIBLY!!!! No one needs to get hurt and no one needs to do the walk of shame in the morning  in 5 inch platforms and a sombrero.

MARGARITA JELLO JIGGLER SHOTS:

Start by pouring 1 1/2 cups of boiling water into a large glass measuring cup. Dissolve 4 packages (3 oz size) of Lime Jello for about 2 minutes. Add 2 oz of Tequila and 1 oz of Triple Sec and 5 oz of cold water and stir well. Pour the liquid directly into a 9 x 13 inch pan and chill until firm (about 3 hours).

The number of servings entirely depends on the size that you cut your jigglers – adjust as needed for your party.

TEQUILA SUNRISE JELLO SHOTS:

Start with a large glass measuring cup and measure 3/4 cup of boiling water. Add 1 package of Orange Jello (3 oz) and stir at least 2 minutes until fully dissolved. Next, add 1/2 cup of cold water, 1/4 cup of Grenadine and 1/2 cup of Tequila. Stir until completely combined and cool before pouring into jello shot cups.

This recipe makes about 10 shots – adjust as needed for your party.

TIJUANA TAXI JELLO SHOTS:

Start with a large glass measuring cup (at least 4 cups in size or bigger if you have it) and measure 2 cup of boiling water. Dissolve 2 packages of Lemon Jello (3 oz size) and stir at least 2 minutes until fully dissolved. Next, add 1 cup of cold water, 1/2 cup of Tequila, 1/4 cup of Blue CaracaoTropical Fruit Schnapps. Stir until completely combined and give it a chance to cool before pouring into jello shot cups. and 1/4 cup of

This recipe makes about 18 shots – adjust as needed for your party.

It was the “Carrie spots Big with Natasha for the first time in the Hamptons then runs to the beach to throw up” moment.  Except I was still the 20-something and there was no Natasha, just the spotting of the ghost of someone I once gave my heart to.  It happened so unexpectedly.  This was my side of town, not his.  This was one of my local restaurants, not his. But the sheer sighting of him made me want to run and hide.  I had done everything to hide the evidence of his existence and there he was two years later standing in front of me ordering a chopped salad.  I panicked and found myself stuttering to my girlfriend,Laura, “Put your sunglasses on!!” Once Laura figured out who and what was going on she began to mock me relentlessly.  She had never seen me lose my cool (especially regarding the opposite sex), nor had she ever seen me want so desperatly to go unnoticed.  After he whisked away, salad in hand, I spent the next few days wondering why I a)was so bothered and b)had absolutely no desire to approach him with all the overly audacious updates of my current fabulous life that had since outgrown him.  Isn’t that how the fantasy always plays out?  Ex is spotted and ambushed with all the wonderful details of the life he could never again be a part of?  I finally figured out it wasn’t him.  It was the girl that used to be with him.  The older me wanted to protect the younger me that once dated him.  I wanted to protect the girl that was with him and felt fat when she was skinny, the girl who felt stupid when she was smart, and the girl that felt unlovable when she was lovable.  He made her feel all of those things and she had come so far that I no longer wanted him to have the pleasure of getting the chance to meet all that she had become. And so they never met again and the princess lived happily ever after.

xoxo,

Vanesa