Keep On Keeping On

This past week and a half has been super tough. After four days of on boarding, I finally started my internship last Friday. School started on Tuesday. I had planned to do all my reading Monday, but my boss asked me to come in and work. The bookstore was sold out of a book I needed. My friend unexpectedly showed up in town from Boston and wanted to plan her wedding. Life started piling up way too fast- the good, the bad, and the ugly. I started to feel really overwhelmed. I felt like I didn't have enough time for anything, let alone the next five things that were headed my way. As much as I wanted to crawl under the covers and hide from the world in my bed, I knew I couldn't.

Sometimes the best you can do is just keep going. I started Monday with a gigantic coffee so I could put a smile on and kick ass at work. No matter how tired I was, or how concerned I was with getting my reading done, I want this internship to turn into a real job so I need to impress my boss. As worried as I was about school, the best I could do was take advantage of my hour long lunch break by reading my casebook in the lunchroom. I needed to just be in the moment and give the contracts and assignments in front of me the best effort I could. All I could do was keep on reading, scanning, and emailing until the clock hit 5.

As soon as I got off work I went home and spent hours reading for my classes the next day. When I couldn't read anymore I went to bed and woke up early to make coffee and finish reading before my first class. I wanted to watch tv, finish reading my novel, shop for new shoes - but I knew that I couldn't. As long as the cases were, I just had to keep on going. And when I had four classes that day, I knew that I had to keep on. When my friend wanted to get together and talk about her wedding, I knew I needed to show up and be there for her. As stressed as I was, it's more important to be a friend. Sometimes even the good things are just another thing on your plate that needs attention. I needed to remind myself to appreciate our time together.

Life isn't always easy. You don't always get to schedule everything and can't always anticipate or account for the unexpected. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just show up, put a smile on, and keep on going. But here's hoping that next week slows down some!

How do you deal with being over scheduled and overwhelmed? All I could manage this week was showing up and trying to do my best. I fell short plenty of times, but I kept on going!

Wish List Wednesday: Trench Coats

Fall is definitely on it's way if the past few days of weird temperatures and pouring rain are any indication! The cooler temperatures have me thinking about how I'm going to cover up when the go even lower in the coming weeks. One piece I always love is a trench coat. They're classic, but plenty of designers offer fun twists - fun patterns, fabrics, and colors. I have three already (black, khaki, and red) but love them so much I'm tempted to add a fun one from the selection below to my growing collection!

Calvin Klein Double Breasted Trench Coat. When fall brings those yucky, rainy days what could be better to cheer you up than this cherry-red number?

Burberry London Double Breasted Trench Coat. Burberry is THE name in trench coats. Theirs are expensive, but absolutely the authority on classic design and quality - They're out of my student budget right now, but I plan on treating myself to one when I get my first big-girl job!

Ann Taylor's Edgy Trench takes the classic trench silhouette and adds leather accents to take it up a notch. The black and khaki go with everything, but are far from boring!

Ann Taylor Loft's Cotton Plaid Trench-I'm a sucker for plaid in the fall, and I love this lightweight option from Loft. It's muted color palette keeps it from being too loud, but is still a step up from a solid black.

Ralph Lauren Slim-Fit Cotton Trench Coat. One problem I sometimes have with trench coats is that they're cut too wide or too long for my frame. I'm tempted to try the slimmer lines of this trench and add this more tailored classic khaki one to my closet.

Rachel Zoe's Christopher Tweed Trench Coat. This coat is probably my favorite of the ones I've seen for this fall season. The tweed and leather combination could carry me all the way through to March when the temperature (finally!) comes back up. I wish they hadn't sold out of my size or I'd have this on with my black Frye boots and tights!

Does anyone else love trench coats as much as I do? I think they're the perfect transition piece for those awkward summer to fall temperatures and, in the right material, carry right on through winter!

Wish List Wednesday: Fall Booties

Sorry I haven't posted in a while- I just got moved to my new apartment and with all the other students moving in, it took a while for the cable company to come install my internet. Regardless, now I'm all settled in, have wifi, and can go back to thinking about my back-to-school wardrobe. It's only in the 60s here today, which makes me start thinking about putting up my shorts and getting ready for fall. I'm obsessed with the high-heeled ankle booties that are popping up all over the place and can't wait to wear them with everything from dark skinnies and oversized sweaters to my chambray shirtdress and leggings. Here are some of the styles I've been looking at:

Kate Spade's Lanise Boots. Love at first sight. Who couldn't love ankle booties with a bow on the back? Especially someone like me, with a weakness for Kate Spade shoes.

Banana Republic Meelia Chelsea Boot:These pretty babies have memory foam inside, ensuring that even the 3 3/4 inch heel won't be hurting you at the end of the day.

Cole Haan's Cassidy Buckle in Sequoia: I almost bought these last year (didn't have a buckle) and they were the most comfortable boots I tried on during the fall season. I regretted not buying them when I had the chance (only one pair left! They were my size!) but looks like I have a second chance this year.

Livvy bootie by French Connection from Sole Society. I like the slightly Western look of these booties and that the heel is covered in the same suede as the boot itself. I also love that they have loops at the top to help pull them on and off- there's nothing worse than booties that you have to struggle with.

Tory Burch Margaux Brushed Bootie: I bought last year's version of these at Nordstrom Rack (for $50!) and love them. It's been so hot this summer there hasn't been an opportunity to try to work them with a sundress or anything, but I cannot wait to wear them in a few weeks to football tailgates. Tory shoes are always well made and I love the elastic panels that keep these from slipping.

Are you loving the high heeled ankle booties as much as I am? 

My Own Two Feet

One thing I've been focusing on in my life lately is learning that I can do it all, have it all, and be it all - all on my own. As Jane Fonda says, "standing tall on my own two feet." On Tuesday, I received a formal offer for the internship level of my dream job. Not only was I so excited to get the offer, I felt even more empowered because I had sought out and landed the job on my own. 

I had heard from a friend of mine who moved home after college that the company he works for had a legal intern this summer, who would be returning to school out of state soon. So I asked for the head legal counsel's email. I didn't tell my friend why  I was asking for it or what I wanted to email him about; I wanted to sink or swim on my own. So I attached my resume and writing sample to an email bragging on myself. That last part has always been something I've struggled with. While I know that walking into an interview or writing a cover letter detailing personal accomplishments is easy for some people, I was raised not to brag, so it's against my nature to say those sorts of things. But I did it. I told him that I've always been interested in this company, that I want to stay local, but do international work, and that I saw their company and my interests as being aligned. That I thought I was the perfect person for this job. Within an hour I'd gotten an email back from him saying that Recruitment would be in touch to schedule me for an interview. In two days. While it was hard for me to put it all out there, I realized that no one would know if I failed but me and the guy I emailed. 

I gave it my all- the full pitch - and I got it. 

When I went to tell my friend that I had been offered the job during the interview, he was surprised but oh so excited for me. He explained that he'd been so busy with work he hadn't thought twice about why I was asking for the legal counsel's email, but that it made sense. He told me that he would have been more than happy to go ask for a job for me, but that he was proud of my for doing it on my own. As someone who's known me since the eight grade (forever!) he knows that I'm not always the boldest, most assertive person. So it made me feel so good to have dinner with him over the weekend and hear him say that he had so much respect for the way I had handled myself. And that's such a great feeling. 

Putting it all out there is hard. Rejection is the absolute worst, especially when it's for a job you really want or something you're really invested in. But when you work hard, lay it all on the line, and it pays off-- it feels so so good. I could have asked my friend to help me get the job. I could have used his name in my email and tried to get the job based on knowing him- but I know that I wouldn't feel as good as I do now, knowing that I did it all by myself. Even though I haven't always been great at it, I'm learning that I can, in fact, stand tall on my own two feet.

Wish List Wednesday: Work Tote

This past week I got offered an internship for this fall semester (more on that coming soon!) and realized that my current work bag just isn't going to cut it any more. I've gotten by the past few years using my favorite Longchamp Le Pliage tote that I've carried since high school- but eight years down the road it's starting to look a little too well loved. And as I get closer to graduating and having a real job, I've realized that it's time to invest in a nicer, more adult work tote that will help elevate me from intern to associate. I generally choose black for my suits, so most of these totes stick to that color, but are available in others if black isn't your thing!

Kate Spade's Cedar Street Medium Harmony. At 13.3 inches wide, this tote is just wide enough to fit my laptop. I love that the bag is super basic and unassuming but very well made- I know with KS I don't have to worry that my bag is going to tear up before my internship is over.

Loeffler Randall's Walker Tote from Piperlime.  I love the interesting but still neutral print on the front of this bag. It amps up an otherwise plain work tote, but doesn't cross the line into being so distracting that it's not work appropriate. It's also slightly larger than the KS bag above (so I can stuff even more into it!)

GiGiNewYork's Gates Satchel. I love love love the color blocking on this bag (which also comes in four other color options!) At 13 3/4 inches wide, it's just wide enough for my laptop and since it's five inches deep, I can stuff all my files into the remaining space. It also has an interior zip pocket as well as slip pockets, ensuring my cell phone won't be lost and crushed on the bottom. And it's monogrammable! Am I waxing poetic yet? This bag may be the winner!

Coach's The Borough Bag in Colorblock Boarskin Leather. A simple bag done real really well. I love the color blocking here as well - no need to worry that it won't go with whatever suit-heels combo I'm sporting that day. Coach describes it as having an "accordion-like interior" which means pockets!

Fossil's Vintage Re-Issue Tote. I love the woven leather and that Fossil says it will fit laptops up to 15 inches- I think this bag may be perfect for my sister in her new job. I would probably put this tote away later in the fall since I feel like the woven style makes it look more summery, but it would make a great bag for summer months and look perfect with the tan Tory Burch Reva flats I live in.

Michael Kors Fulton - Large Quilted Leather Tote. I included this tote for another brown option, but I just don't think that I'd invest in a tan one first (just personal taste- I wear so much black.) But it's a gorgeous bag- I love the quilting and the dainty chain straps.

Tory Burch's Robinson Double-Zop Tote. I love that this tote has both top handles and a longer optional strap for those moments when I need another hand free (for that oh-so-essential cup of coffee). It has plenty of pockets and is 14 inches wide, so it will easily fit all the essentials - laptop, files, and thermos!

Where do you shop for work totes? I feel like by the time I stuff my laptop and files in mine, I need a huge bag- but I still want it to be pretty in additional to functional!