Networking 101: Follow, Join, Connect

Managing your social media accounts is no longer just a leisurely task to keep up with your friends and favorite celebs, but it is an essential daily activity for a young professional. LinkedIn and Twitter are creating a new playing field for job searches. If you do not have both of these accounts yet, you're getting behind! Go ahead and create these free accounts!

LinkedIn is an easy alternative for employers to the traditional resume. An employer has easier access to your information through your account than sifting through the company's database. Get serious about your account! If you're new to LinkedIn or haven't completed the process yet, get your profile "connection ready"! Make your profile appealing and informative before making connections or applying for positions. People notice the first line of your profile most, so make sure you have a professional head-shot along with a broad description of who you are!

Twitter is a great resource for learning more about potential employers. Many companies tweet valuable information to keep those following in the loop. Twitter is a great way to keep up to date with current events and news, tweeted by potential employers, making for a great conversation starter for meet & greets. If you have a twitter account, create a list with a title reflecting your career or interest and then follow potential employers; make sure those on your list are completely career related. This list will be your go-to for keeping current!

We also suggest following up with connections you have made through LinkedIn and Twitter. Planning a lunch or coffee meet & greet is a great way to discuss opportunities with potential employers. This can also strengthen your networking connection with a potential employer.

Join LinkedIn & Twitter today for greater networking opportunities!!!  

Trendy Thursday: Sail Away

As those of you who are Pirates know, we are currently on summer break and in between spring and summer semesters. With the break in classes, Calyn and Jennifer both have a few days off to relax, hit the beach, and get ready for their busy summers ahead. But, we didn't want to leave you without a Trendy Thursday, so here's my stab at continuing on Calyn's post from last week on nautically inspired outfits!

I absolutely love nautical influence, especially in summer clothes! As Calyn mentioned last week, sticking with your color theme of navy, white, yellow, tan, and coral will help keep your easy, breezy summer look, even without incorporating some of the accessories like the star sail bag, starfish clutch, or anchor ring. If you happen to see me around campus or town this summer, you can bet I'm probably wearing some version of the above. In fact, as I'm writing this, I'm wearing a navy and white large leaf print dress, white sweater, and red flats! Best to you all for a fantastic summer!
Liz

Get Inspired, Start Crafting!

It's so easy to allow yourself to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for summer jobs, internships, and classes that you forget you're actually on a break! While an aspiring professional's work is never done, we need to take a little time for ourselves every now and then. Personally, I have lived in my house for a year and it still looks like I just moved in! I love crafting, but it is a time consuming task that I sadly do not pencil in amongst everything else in my schedule. I have found some really great easy, cheap ideas for a college budget to jazz up my decor to make my space a little more welcoming. I've postponed these crafts long enough and this summer is the time to get it all done!!


Everything starts with pallets! I found quite a few projects that use pallets, and they can be found relatively cheap or even free! Check with local business or your free section for your area on Craigslist to find pallets.

Patio Furniture

Patio sets run from $100 & up or your grandmother is getting rid of her old one that's not in the best of shape anyways. You may need to purchase a few brackets to piece the pallets together, but this should only run you about $15 for a custom patio set with a rustic flare. Cushions can be found cheaply at most dollar stores.
 
Painted Signs
Another use for your recycled wood- break them down and paint them up! Find some cute phrases that fit your theme and personality to hang around the house.

Put a wreath on it!
The front door is a focal point of any home or apartment, so add a welcoming accessory! I love seeing all the creative, fun holiday themed hangers, but on a tight budget it is okay to stick with seasonal themes.



 Use your green thumb

 Brighten up your space with some potted plants. Get a hanging fern, window planter, or set some flowers by the front door. I planted an arrangement to place on our front porch! The goal is to keep them alive!!

  Many fabulous ideas can be found on Pinterest for those of us who naturally lack the creative touch. Most of the projects are broken down into easy to follow steps that make it very user friendly. Add a personal touch to your home with some homemade crafts! Make it a goal to complete one project a paycheck if you cannot do them all at once, and by the end of the summer you will have them complete!! As always, have fun!! 

                                                                                                                     
                                                                              XOXO, 

 

                                                                                                        

Trendy Thursday: Saltwater & Sunshine

It's finally summertime!! Time to pack those bags, hit the beach, and soak up the sun! Every year the hot summer trends change up a bit, and we have to make sure we're up to date on what's in this year. One trend we can undoubtedly count on year after year are the nautical outfits! There are several ways to add your own personal flare to this preppy, naval style, but a few key aspects should be taken into consideration.

• Stick to the color scheme! Red, white, blue, khaki, and yellow. Keep your colors bright and clean. Don't be afraid of patterns either, even mix them like this outfit!

• Keep it light and wrinkle free. When stepping into this timeless trend, keep your activities in mind. Going sailing, shopping at the local farmer's market, or checking out the shoppes in town, make sure you and your outfit keep that fresh look all day!
• Accessorize! This marine related trend comes to mind, and the look cannot be complete without a fabulous bag and hat! This is a great way to add your own twist to the timeless trend. Find a bag that's going to stand out, monogram your shirt pocket, be a little mysterious under your floppy hat!
  
  We all have those mornings where figuring out what to wear is almost as difficult as solving world peace, but you can rest your mind with a go-to oceangoing fashion. Even if you're miles away from the coast, be there in spirit when you slip into a nautical combination. Let your outfit create a vacation!!
  
  

                                                                                                                   XOXO,

 

Trendy Thursday: Graduation Day!!

Graduation is here! You've spent many of hours working extremely hard to get to this day, and everyone is proud to celebrate your success!! Picking out the perfect outfit for this momentous day is a task within itself! What color to wear? How do you fix you hair with those hideous caps? What shoes wouldn't make me fall on my face walking across stage? These are concerns Armstrong grads must resolve in just 2 days! Hopefully, you are all ready for your big day, but here are a few last minute tips to look stunning at you commencement ceremony!

• Make sure you choose a comfortable AND conservative dress. You're not going to wear your gown all day, so make sure your wardrobe is appropriate for grandparents and professors!
  
• Practice the walk in your shoes! If you bought a new pair of shoes, take a test walk to make sure they don't slide off and you're able to walk in them proud and confident...we don't want anyone falling as they receive their diploma!!
• Wear some statement pieces! Everyone will look exactly the same during the ceremony, but make sure you stand out after its all over. Let everyone know you're ready for the real world!
• Get a mani/pedi!! Relax a little, you deserve it! Coordinate your toes, but keep the nails natural. You don't want to regret the color choice looking back at all your pictures holding your diploma!
• Don't be the smelly kid at graduation! Don't apply too much perfume, and PLEASE do not forget to wear it all together! You're sitting next to someone for a very long time, be considerate!
• Create a natural look. Soft eye makeup, light blush, don't over power your natural beauty with a dramatic smokey eye. 

Congratulations Class of 2013, you did it!!!!

                           
                                                                                                        XOXO,
                      

Highway Getaway

After a chaotic spring semester, it's time to relax & unwind! This may mean throwing out those planners for a few weeks and catching up on your latest Netflix series, or this could be an opportunity to go on a spontanious adventure! After sitting at the house doing nothing for a few hours tends to make us extremely bored rather quickly. Take a day or so to regroup from the lack of sleep you'll experience this week during finals, then call up some friends and take off!! For a short notice, low budget excursion, The Posh Pirates present to you:

Top 6 Highway Getaways

Atlanta, Georgia

1. Atlanta Braves: enjoy a day or night game; after all this is braves country!

2. Zoo Atlanta

3. Shoot the ‘Hooch: what better way to enjoy the great outdoors than to float the Chattahoochee river

4. Georgia Aquarium

5. Six Flags over Georgia Amusement Park

6. World of Coca-Cola
Drive time: approximately 4 hours

Charlotte, North Carolina

1. Mint Museum of Art

2. Carolinas Aviation Museum

3. Carowinds Amusement Park

4. Charlotte Nature Museum

5. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater: enjoy an outdoor concert with many to choose from

6. Charlotte Knights: spend the day cheering on this minor league baseball team

Drive time: approximately 4 hours

Saint Simons Island, Georgia

1. St. Simons Lighthouse Museum

2. Fort Frederica

3. Fishing Charter: enjoy a day deep sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean

4. Sea Palms Resort Golf Course: spend the day golfing

5. St. Simons Island beach: relax beachside

6. Tour the island via trolley

Drive time: approximately 1 ½ hours

Jacksonville, Florida
1. The Wave Masters: Time to Surf- host 300 amatur competitors, join in the fun or cheer on the competition
2. Zoo and Garden
3. Jax Beaches
4. The Core: Jacksonville's nightlife attractions located Downtown Jacksonville. Downtown Throwdown is hosted every 3rd Thursday with free entry and live music at the top 10 happening locations!
Drive time: 2 hours

Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, Florida
 Feed your adventurious side with some outdoors fun
1. Fishing Charters
2. Hang Gliding
3. Beach Horseback Riding
Drive time: 2 hours

Charleston, South Carolina
1. Shopping on King Street!
2. Plantation and Home Tours
3. Fort Sumter Tours
4. Party at the Point: Every Friday at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina
5. Winestock: May 11th- think of it as Woodstock with wine & Firefly tastings
6. Great Eats! Enjoy some of the South's most fabulous dining.
Drive time: 2 hours

Beach Bag Favorites!

With only 8 school days until classes & finals are complete for the semester, many are planning trips to the beach to relax after a chaotic academic term! The Posh Pirates present:

Top 10 Beach Bag Favorites:
1. Swimsuit: You can't go wrong with any style, color combination, or pattern this summer. I love mixing solid tops with patterned bottoms. These floral bottoms fit perfectly with the new 2013 fashion trend!
2. Cover-up: Make sure it's something light weight and easy to put on; this will allow you to be comfortable and cute at the same time!
3. Hat: Regardless if you choose a floppy beach hat or a baseball cap, you don't want to forget this! A hat is a great way to look cute (even when you're sweaty) and keep the sun out of your eyes.
                     **If you don't like wearing hats, sunglasses are also a great accessory!**
4. Lip screen/chap-stick: Often forgotten, the lips can become sunburned too; don't forget to pack lip screen or chap-stick with SPF!
5. Sunscreen: An essential & hopefully staple item in your beach bag. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from the suns harmful rays (UVA&UVB). Make sure to buy a new bottle every year, as last years bottle has probably expired. I also make sure to buy sunscreen specifically for my face.

6. Water bottle: Make sure you are staying hydrated! This is very important as severe dehydration will cause serious health related issues!!
7. Bug spray: It's always a good idea to be prepared as you will encounter bugs at the beach.
8. Book/magazine: When you aren't busy playing in the ocean, why not relax & read a good book/magazine.
9. Beach towel: Good for relaxing, tanning, & keeping sand from sticking to you; especially after swimming in the ocean.
10. Frisbee: Light-weight and lots of fun!      

What are your beach bag favorites?