5 Great Songs That Every 20-Something Needs in Life

Can you imagine a world without music? What a horrible thought! 

Music gets me through everything. Whether I’m arguing with my car to “Play track: Lollipop” or dancing around my apartment blasting Rihanna, music is always on. Don’t ask me to pick a favorite song, artist or genre, because that’s impossible. Instead, here are five great songs I think every 20-something needs in life:


Drift Out (Jessie James, Avicii and Coldplay Mashup) – This is the ultimate song for us 20-somethings. We’re young, beautiful, carefree, fresh out of school, and ready to take on the world. And there’s nothing wrong with dancing under the moonlight while we do it.

Moves Like Jagger (Sex Ray Vision Remix) – If you could instantly gain confidence from listening to a single song, this would be it. I fell in love with this song when Adam Levine performed it at the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. So if you ever need some Victoria’s Secret Super Model confidence, turn it up and move like Jagger!

Reckless (Aaron Watson)
Everyone needs to get a little wild and reckless sometimes…      

Red Light – THIS song is perfect. Life is so fast; things happen; things end; people leave; opportunities pass you by; and sometimes you just need a good song to remind you to slow down. Life is also beautiful. 



Sexy and I Know It – With all of life’s craziness and stress, everyone can use a hang-out-of-the-sunroof, dance-like-crazy, rock-out-with-your-guac-out kind of song to jam out to. (Even my dad likes this song, it’s hilarious!)

OK, what songs are missing? 

New Town: New Life: New Goals

After four years, three dorm rooms, two apartments and countless memories, it finally happened: college graduation. I’ve only had a few postgrad freak-outs and holy-crap-where-am-I-going-with-my-life-moments, but so far I’ve survived. I’ve been given the opportunity to intern at a PR agency in Dallas (and I’m loving it!). So I packed up my little Ford escape, and my dog and I moved to the big D. With the new apartment, new job, new clothes and new life, I have decided it’s a perfect time for some New Year resolutions. And maybe if I get them written down, I’ll be more inclined to remember them...

As in PR (or any business really) good goals need to be quantifiable somehow. In the past I’ve always made general goals like “try new things” or “be more confident.” Well who knows if I’ve succeeded or failed at those?! So it’s time to make some real, down-to-business, attainable and effective goals for my life, both in short and long term. On New Years Eve, (which is also my birthday!) I want to be able to see what I have accomplished.

So, here they are.  

Get published. I love writing. I love PR. I love food, traveling, running, trying new things... and the list goes on. When I think about it, writing helps me really discover what I love and what I’m passionate about. With past internships and a journalism background, I believe I have the writing skills and ideas to get published, whether it be a guest blog post or online publication, my goal is to have another published article by the end of the year.  

Attend my first Baylor Homecoming as an alumna. With all my Baylor pride and being a former intern at the Baylor Alumni Association, this may sound obvious, but attending homecoming hasn’t been high on my list of priorities. Time goes by so fast, I can’t believe it’s already October (man, a lot can happen in a year)! But I love Baylor football, I love to sic ‘em, and my little sister got me a ticket to pigskin, so I’m in! I’m so happy that my little sister is going to Baylor and we had one year there together. Who gets to go to the gym and have weekly On the Boarder dinners with their little sister in college? I did! She’s always been there for me and I just hope I haven’t been too crazy of a role model.

Reach above 110 connections on LinkedIn. Now here’s a clear, quantifiable goal. After the first few weeks at my new PR internship, I’ve seen how important networking is, and I’ve actually attended a few networking events with my boss and co-workers. LinkedIn is the Facebook of the professional world; it’s how you keep track of old and new business contacts without the fear of loosing business cards or forgetting classmates. My bosses are great at what they do and are extremely well connected – they have over 500 contacts on LinkedIn! I love social media, but if one area is lacking, it’s my LinkedIn account. Well that’s about to change. I’m ready to network and get my LinkedIn on. Connect with me!

Read at least five biographies. Okay, I don’t know if it was graduating from college and finally having the time to read, or the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, but I’ve started hitting up iBooks and Barnes and Noble. And my favorite genre of books: biographies. I love reading about people and their life journey. Yeah, I could read Twilight or The Hunger Games (which I’m probably the only person in America who hasn’t) but I would much rather read about living, non-vampire people overcoming hard times and reaching success. People are just fascinating. I’ve already read Marilyn Monroe’s bio and I’m currently enjoying Rob Lowe’s “Stories I Only Tell My Friends.” He’s not just a pretty face in Hollywood; he’s a great writer! Hm, I’m thinking of reading George Bush’s bio next… Any more suggestions? 

And my last goal for the rest of 2012 is to have a completely carefree, spontaneous moment. I love making plans. Plans are clear, safe and functional. But I’m turning 23 at the end of this year (OMG #postgradfreakout), and I need to make something spontaneous happen. I don’t know what yet – because that would be planning and hence, not spontaneous – but it’s going to be something great, I know it.  

My 4 favorites: Social Media done right!

I’m very much a brand loyalist. I have a mild addiction to shopping at Victoria’s Secret, Whataburger is the only hamburger I know, Dos Equis is the only beer I would ever consider ordering, I never leave the house without a spritz of Burberry, and if Nike was considered business casual, I would wear gym clothes every day. And let’s not forget my strong devotion to Starbucks; on a road trip, I once drove 30 minutes off-route just to grab my favorite double tall, non-fat vanilla latte.

Brands create lifestyles. And with social media, now we can easily connect and engage with all our favorite brands from anywhere. 

Here’s a look at some of my personal favorite brands to follow on social media. Take notes because these places are doing social media right!  

Apricot Lane – Best. Fashion. Facebook. Page. Ever. Seriously. This fashion boutique carries all the favorites from MissMe jeans to cute tops and dresses that fit just right. But aside from the great apparel and accessories, the store’s social media strategy is excellent. As a regular shopper, I remember when I was first given a heart-shaped “Like us on Facebook” flyer with my receipt. (BTW that’s a great idea for launching a new social media page and raising awareness!) As a recent college grad in Public Relations and a social media lover, I checked out their page right away. The best feature: the store regularly posts pictures of the newest arrivals and updates on the sizes available. When I saw “Only one small left!” posted on a picture of a beautiful two-toned cocktail dress, I was there that afternoon to buy it (and it ended up being the perfect graduation dress). If there is an award for the best fashion retail timeline, Apricot Lane should win! They talk and engage with their fans, and the Apricot Lane in Dallas even has an interactive “Shop Now” tab on their Facebook page. Apricot Lane definitely knows who their audience is and how to engage them. 

NBC DFW – Breaking news, local news, Hollywood news, cheesy morning-show news, consumer news, you name it, I’ll read it. In today’s world, you have to be on top of the news if you want to survive. So how can you manage all this news without losing your mind? Yep, you guessed it: Facebook and Twitter. Even while living in Waco, I’ve always loved following @NBCDFW or the station's Facebook page, for two distinct reasons. Relevance and entertainment. As I scroll through my Facebook newsfeed or Twitter timeline, posts from NBC DFW always catch my eye or make me smile. One of my favorite features is the daily “Caption This” photo, where viewers send in cute or goofy pictures, then Facebook fans comment and suggest clever captions. It’s a great way to involve the audience! And if fans are lucky, their caption will appear on the NBC Weekend show. The key to connecting with social media followers is having a voice. A real-life, human voice. Instead of constant automated news headlines, NBC DFW talks to their audience, asks questions, shares interests and shows emotions. It really shows that they value their audience and viewers! And NBC's DFW station has over 23,000 followers on Twitter and over 92,000 fans on Facebook; they definitely know social media.

(Texas Monthly and The Dallas Observer are great to follow too!)

Scruffy Murphy’s – If you went to Baylor or have had a night out in the wonderful town of Waco, Texas, you might be familiar with this neighborhood college bar. Scruffs. The place full of Baylor pride and good times. During my last semester as a student, good ole Scuffys got a Twitter, and surprisingly, he’s an expert tweeter! So what makes @ScruffyMuphys1 so special? Replies and retweets. Twitter is all about engaging with followers, and Scruffs gets that! Throughout the week, I’ll see retweets that look something like this: “Wish I was at Scruffs right now!” or “Couldn’t get my Scruffs stamp off, must’ve been a great night!” (and FYI, that stamp really takes a lot of effort to get off!) The bottom line, Scruffs knows their audience and promotes their events accordingly. They support Baylor University athletics via Twitter and always retweet or reply to their more than 1,300 loyal followers (who are in turn, loyal customers). If you follow Scruffs, you will know when it’s party time with their hashtags, like: #karaokewednesday or #happyhour. Whether you’re daydreaming during class, cheering on the Baylor Bears or getting ready for a night out in Waco, Texas, Scruffs will be there to serve and retweet you! It’s a great example of social media engagement and customer loyalty.

And the best part about all these social media tactics: mobility. When I first moved into my apartment, I was without cable and wifi for over two weeks, which must sound unthinkable, but with iPhone apps and my favorite brands on social media, I didn't miss a beat, post, tweet or opportunity.

Okay now it’s your turn, what are some of your favorite brands to follow on #socialmedia? 

Social Media Dos and Don’ts of Great Profile Pictures

With every tweet, wall post, YouTube video, LinkedIn discussion and Facebook check-in, our online appearances are worth more than we might think. And with how valuable social media is with networking and job searching, it’s important to have the best online impression possible!

CBS did a segment about “putting your best foot forward inthe social media world” with some Do’s and Don’ts about profile pictures. It’s about a five-minute long discussion about what most of us already know. I agree with the advice, like “don’t have inappropriate or nude photos,” no cartoons, and avoid keg-stand poses – duh, that’s pretty obvious.   

So future bosses, co-workers, friends, family and even potential lovers, are going to be looking at your social media pages – but that doesn’t mean you have to hide yourself. Your profile still needs to represent the real you! So, how can you keep your profile pictures on a professional level while still letting your personality shine?  

After some research, casual googling and personal experience, here are my dos and don’ts of great profile pictures.  

Do sparkle and shine. Smile! Social cues 101: you never walk into a job interview, date or party without a smile. Same thing applies to your profile picture. A smile lets people want to click on you and learn more.

Some facial expressions you want to avoid are: kissy lips, throwing up the gangsta deuces and the serious-I’m-trying-to-be-sexy face. Unless you’re a Victoria’s Secret angel or auditioning to be a Vegas show girl, it’s best to stick to smiles.      

Do show your interests and activities. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why not show off your favorite hobbies and unique interests. You love to travel around the world? Great, show it off with the picture of you at the top of Mount Everest or skiing in the Alps. OK, we haven’t all been to Everest, but you know what I mean. Your picture should make people excited to get to know you. Show what you love – and remember to keep smiling. 

But don’t show every interest. Let’s be honest, our profile picture isn’t the place for showing that you know how to get down and do “the wobble” every Friday night or have a butterfly tattooed on your hip. Those are things I’d keep on the down-low.    

Be real. So you do like to wobble? Well don’t hide your fun, goofy side. Have pictures laughing with your friends, dancing at the beach, playing with your dog, running a marathon, cheering at a football game – show yourself. Just remember to keep it PG and smile.  

And be creative. Adobe Photoshop, Picnik, or even Instagram are great ways to edit photos and add your own flavor to them. For more creative ideas and incorporating Facebook’s new cover image,  check out these 10 FacebookTimelines That Will Blow You Away.

So, is your social media profile picture the best it can be?  

Who makes the top of your Most Inspirational People list?

I'm a picky person sometimes. Like with food, I might die if I find an olive in my salad or if my salsa isn’t spicy enough. Everyone has their preferences right? Being picky identifies you – the food you eat, the car you drive, the clothes your wear or the places you go.   

I’m especially picky when it comes to the people I let in my life. Still wrapping my head around the fact that I’m 22 years old, I’ve realized the people you surround yourself with should inspire you to be the best person you can be. Fact.

PerezHilton.com recently presented a list of the World’s Most Inspirational People. We need to find people that make our own list of Most Inspirational People. It’s so important to have those special people in your life that support and encourage you no matter what! Here are three beautiful individuals in my life that inspire me every day and I can’t imagine who I’d be without them.

Smile. People in your life should put a smile across your face, even when you think it’s impossible. Now some may not classify my sweet yellow lab, Dakota, as an inspirational person, but she sure is in my book. From the moment I wake up to all the walks on the beartrail, playing around Baylor Campus and cuddling after classes, she inspires me every second I’m with her. She reminds me to smile. In the midst of all the chaos and daily routines, life is beautiful and you need people in your life to remind you of that!  

Dance. Life should also be fun. It’s about having fort parties, water balloon fights, birthday limos, jazzercising, Pinterest parties and dancing everywhere you go. One of my best friends, Nicole, is by far the most inspirationally fun person I’ve ever known. She has a beautifully “goofy” personality. Being around her, you will, without a doubt, laugh and have fun. Everyone needs a Nicole in their life.       

Believe. The most inspirational people in your life are the ones that tell you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it. They are the people to tell you when you have boogers hanging out of your nose and bring you your favorite Starbucks after a bad day. They’re always encouraging and supportive, even when you don’t understand why. And I’m thankful enough to have an amazing sister, Buzzy, to do just that. Being an older sister, I try to be the role model, but really, she is the one that inspires me. She believes in me more than I believe in myself. Maybe she’s seen me cry too many times, but she’s always inspiring confidence – and it’s working!  

I truly can’t imagine what my life would be like without these beautiful people in my life.

Who makes the top of your Most Inspirational People list?

3 Websites College Seniors Should Follow

Graduating soon? Believe it or not, senior year is flying by and the pressure is on.

If you’re anything like me, between all the upper-level courses, group projects, presentations, internships and job applications, you may have a new understanding of the word anxiety. The years of sitting through one-hour classes, working out at the Student Life Center and studying for finals are about to be over. What is this “real world” people talk about? Well, we are about to find out.

Since May 2011, I’ve had the opportunity to intern with an amazing marketing team at Profiles International and have a sneak peek into the business world. As a public relations intern, I’ve been involved with social media and blogging. The Profiles blog offers great workplace advice for people of all ages and experience levels. From that, I researched and discovered some more insightful business blogs – ones that will especially benefit us, the younger recent college graduates. You don’t want to miss these three great sites, check them out:

·        Under30CEO. One of my favorites, you can tell from the title, Under30CEO is aimed for young entrepreneurs and recent college grads. It’s a leading media site featuring news, advice, trends and events for young men and women entering the business world. Whether you want to start-up your own business, become a CEO, network or just learn more about the corporate world, this site is perfect.  They offer great articles on topics like leadership, balancing work-life, personal branding, marketing strategies and more. After celebrating my birthday, I loved reading “8 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 22” and check out their most popular posts too. We’ll be ready for the real world in no time!

·       Forbes. OK, I’m sure you’ve heard of Forbes, the leading business news magazine, especially popular for its list of billionaires. Well I’m not suggesting this site solely because of its information on America’s single, most eligible millionaires. If you love slideshows and top-ten lists, Forbes has them! As we are graduating and deciding where and what to do with the rest of our lives, Forbes offers interesting slideshows on things like: “The Best Places For Business and Careers” and “America’s Most Promising Companies.” These are definitely things you want to keep on your radar.

·       Harvard Business Review. Now I know what you’re thinking, but no – you don’t have to be from an Ivy League school to appreciate the Harvard Business Review and you don’t have to subscribe to the magazine to enjoy its articles. Its online posts are all about being successful in the business world! Want advice on being a great leader, a better communicator or more productive? Well look no further, Harvard Business is sharing all their Ivy League ideas here.

Follow these sites and you’ll be ready for the business world in no time!

P.S. If you don’t have a Twitter already, get one! It’s a great way to connect with news, business, job searches and whatever else it is you’re interested in. And now you have three more sites to follow @Under30CEO @Forbes @HarvardBiz