This I Believe is My Dream Job

This I Believe is My Dream Job 

September 19, 2012
By Emily Canterna

I believe that tall is beautiful: not necessarily the literal height of a person, but the posture that comes from a confidence from within.

Much of my life has been spent believing that my above-average height is a major disadvantage. No matter how much I insisted on despising this feature of mine, my mom never failed to remind me that “tall is beautiful.” Her comforting words made me think: society tells us that it’s natural to dislike something about ourselves, but I believe that it should be natural to embrace what’s natural. What was natural about me was my height. My qualities make me different, make me marketable, make me proud. They allow me to contribute to the world what someone else cannot. 

It took me many years to finally accept that my height was something I could not change. After all, why did it have to be such a bad thing? People notice me and they remember me.

Most recently, college has been a place for me to accept who I am on my own. My mom no longer needs to remind me that my individuality is special; I am reminded of that daily as I strive towards the goals that I have set for myself. I choose to stand tall and refuse to slouch. Each step I take with shoulders proudly pressed back is one step closer to the dream that I will achieve.

Standing tall is about knowing my best qualities and using them without hesitation. It’s about running after my goals with the confidence that they can be achieved. Feeling tall means that nothing can stop me from choosing what I want to make of myself.  I believe in pursuing my dream job.   

My dream job is to be a broadcast journalist for the television network E! News. In front of a camera, there will not be much from which I can hide. But I no longer want to disguise my height, because it makes me beautiful. It has been the blessing that has forced me to stand proud and upright and never hide. My confidence, perseverance, and acceptance of the qualities that set me apart are the driving forces toward my pursuit of this dream job. 

 

Being tall is not just another obstacle in my way of reaching my dream; it is quite the opposite. Beyond the significance of my physical height, the ability to think tall has allowed me to reach beyond what I ever dreamed capable. As for the pursuit of my dream job, my height just means I won’t have to reach as far.

 

 

 

 

Bargaining Bliss

September 18, 2012

By Emily Canterna

 

Think about that funky vintage necklace you’ve been dying to have; that one that you can’t seem to find in any store or boutique. What if you could just go down the street and pick it up for a buck? That’s right, one dollar. Well, there is a way to find it without driving any far distance or searching online. It’s my best kept secret: garage sailing!

My tricks-of-the-trade have come from years of experience garage sailing with my mother who does not take her treasure hunting lightly. Here are a few tips for beginners and connoisseurs alike:  

1.       Study the garage: You can tell a lot about a person’s things from the places where they keep these things. If the garage is dirty and cluttered, there is a good chance that the items at the sale have been hiding in the mess for quite a while.

 

2.       Get to know the seller: Find out If the person who is having the garage sale once worked for a makeup company, or is a collector of designer bags. This can indicate the quality of items as well as the value of these items to the seller.

 

3.       Be prepared to walk away: Garage sailing is all about walking away with the confidence that you got a deal. If you feel like you could find that scrapbooking set for a dollar less at another garage sale, you’re probably right! Have a set amount of money that you are willing to spend and stick to it. You will be more likely to buy something at a lower price if the seller knows you only have three dollars to give them instead of the five that they are asking.

Most importantly, garage sales should be a fun and light-hearted experience! Your own neighborhood could hide a special treat among other fun gadgets and toys. Garage sellers feel pride in the cleaning of their closets and passing their once treasured items onto to someone who will appreciate them. Reminiscing with your neighbors on their used things often makes the story behind the bin full of Barry Manilow albums or the antique typewriter better than the actual purchase.

So scoop out that change from your pocket and explore the neighborhood! What will you find?

 

 

Class Act

September 17, 2012

By Emily Canterna

In light of Kate Middleton’s recent topless photo scandal, the standards of the Duchess of Cambridge are being challenged. Is she still the classy royal that the world has grown to love, or has the current gossip tarnished her image?

There is no denying the fact that as a woman of great influence, sunbathing in the nude, no matter how private the area was supposed to be, may have been a poor lapse in judgment. But, in my opinion, her intentions were not deliberately indecent.

Being the poised woman that she is, Kate Middleton continued to hold her head high for the rest of the South Pacific tour. Sure, she would be expected to handle the incident as a lady, but it is her confidence despite her embarrassment that is so mesmerizing. Could it be that Kate Middleton is simply comfortable with her body? Unfortunately, that would be a shocking assumption in today’s image-obsessed world.

While it may not be advised to mimic the Duchess’s behavior, as a woman I admire her positive self-image and the graceful way that she handled herself post-scandal. It is incredibly challenging to appreciate our bodies with society constantly telling us what can and should be fixed. It seems that now, more than ever, poor self-image is beginning to start at a much younger age. Necklines are getting lower, hemlines are getting higher. So where is the line drawn between confident and distasteful?

What we need more than ever is another Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, or Grace Kelly to prove that classiness is always beautiful. These women embraced their bodies, using clothing to compliment, not exploit their bodies. They used their beauty, sophistication and grace as inpiration for what a woman should be.

 

 

Despite this embarrassing setback, Kate Middleton still has the potential to be like the iconic women that have come before her. She can rise from this incident gracefully and prove to the world that what is beautiful on the outside is only a sneak-peek of the beauty that lives on the inside.

Real Women Wear Pink

September 16, 2012

By Emily Canterna

 

Every woman can use a little pink in her life. It can be to the simplest accent or boldest burst of color in any look. Pink can be used to highlight, blend, pop, anything!

One of my favorite makeup tricks regarding this dazzling hue is highlighting. This easy- to- use method can define cheekbones that you never knew existed, while leaving others under the impression that you have not applied any makeup at all. The product I use to highlight my cheekbones is High Beam by Benefit. Blend a small amount onto your cheekbones, or even brow bones, before and after applying blush to give your makeup a glowing finish.

One obvious place where pink should make an appearance is the lips. All too often, we hesitate to wear lipstick. But why? Sure, it’s a bold statement, but if a bold statement should come from anywhere it should be our mouths, right? A bright shimmer of pink plays up your girly side and proves your dazzling confidence.

But if a bold lip color still makes you nervous, start with a nude lipstick and a touch of gloss. In fact, the trend of nude lips graced the runways for the debut of Tory Burch’s 2013 Spring Collection during New York Fashion Week, exaggerating the au-naturale craze this season.

 

This sheer look allows the other features of your face to pop, especially in the sunlight. Dusting some light pink blush on top of the apples of your cheeks to finish the look would make your skin look irresistibly soft and sweet.

So, go grab that lipstick that has been hiding in your drawer and put it to good use! Who ever said pink wasn't your color?

Embrace the Season

Saturday September 15, 2012

By Emily Canterna

 

 

As the fall season quickly approaches, we begin to pack away the tank tops that summer once encouraged and prepare for the approaching nip in the air. So while the cool temperatures force us to bundle up, how can we continue to glow like the summer sun?

It’s all about adaptation. Call upon the colors of your surroundings to inspire your look. Stand out by blending in to the scenery. You’ll be surprised at how liberating it is to wear what nature has already provided. Let your cheeks be blushed and your hair be tousled by the chilly winds of autumn.

So, for example, base your look off of Starbucks’ seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte to warm up your wardrobe and make you feel cozy and radiant from the inside out. Be inspired to rock a burnt- orange lip color paired with a brown fringed bag to match your zesty drink.

The key to balancing your look with that of the season's is focusing on one feature at a time. If you feel inspired by the changing colors of the autumn leaves, try the ombre hairstyle which emphasizes a shift from a light to dark color as hair gets farther from the roots. Or maybe add one of fall’s striking orange, red or yellow shades to a piece of your wardrobe, like a bold chunky necklace.

 

So, this fall, don’t stress about what to wear or how to do your makeup; let your surroundings be your inspiration. Chances are you won’t have to look farther than outside your window.