5 Truths About Studying for the Bar Exam

1. Comparing your study plan to the study plan of others is the worst thing you can do. "What?? You studied 32 hours yesterday?? I'm slacking!"

There aren't 32 hours in a day and even attorneys who are not math wizards can figure that out, but come bar prep, somehow, we start believing what everyone is saying. As I study (granted a ton of hours a day but definitely less than 32), I quickly came to realize that it is about quality, not quantity when it comes to the hours spent. Sometimes I read and read and take quiz after quiz and at the end of the day, I couldn't repeat a word of what I had been "studying" all day. Figure out what is best for you and do it. If you need breaks, take them. If you are a morning person like I am, wake up at the crack of dawn and finish early. If you come alive when the moon decides to shine, whip out those books and study underneath the moonlight. At the end of the day we all take the same test with the same information. How you learn it doesn't matter.

2. There are times you will contemplate murdering your loved ones.

As a disclaimer let me say I would never ACTUALLY murder anyone (if you are studying for the bar, I would bet your brain just went through the different types of homicide and the elements of murder), especially those I love, but there is something about sitting at a desk all day and cramming your brain with information that makes you hate people. It is not their fault, but it is hard to remember that. I have come to the point where if I hear anyone talking as I am studying I just think they are so selfish....but they aren't, I am the lunatic who will burst into tears if I find it hard to focus because my neighbor decided to work on some construction project in the middle of the day (as normal people do at a normal hour). While studying for the bar, we must remember, the world doesn't revolve around us. People's lives continue even though ours are put on hold. Oh and by the way, those around you probably hate you at this point as much as you hate them. They are tired of hearing us complain about how hard it is or how tired we are.

3. Finding an outlet is necessary in order to avoid losing your cool.

At the moment, I have tons of things to do, but I stopped to write this because I was about to cry. Literally, I was going to just lose it. I am studying at home but since school is over, my little cousins are  here. They were soon followed by my mom, my brother in law, and my sister. All Cuban, all loud. I stormed out of the room  to pack my lunch and head out for my lecture earlier than I had planned because I was overcome with frustration since I couldn't focus on finishing the practice test assigned for today. Before heading to class and staying angry, I sat here to write. Writing is cathartic for me. It provides me peace and calm and a way to speak my mind. I have also been using exercise. After sitting on your butt all day, it is good to sweat it all out and end your day releasing the stress toxins from your body.

4. You aren't going to look cute for 98% of the 2 months you are studying.

Fact: Most days, you will look hideous. It is a sad truth we must live with. Studying takes priority and lets get real, my computer and my grandparents who see me every day don't care, and love me sweatpants and all. It is important though to try and look like a decent human being who can contribute to society at least 2% of the two months. Your significant other, your friends, your family, and most importantly, you will appreciate looking nice sometimes. The bonus comes with the fact that if you have seen me looking like a sad lunatic for 10 days, if I slap on a dress and some make- up on day 11....boom bombshell!

 5. It is worth it.

Okay, so we have to spend a summer ignoring invitations to go to the beach and to take vacations....but do you want to also do that in the winter? If we pass this hideous, annoying, grueling, two day hell hole of a test, WE WILL NEVER HAVE TO SEE IT AGAIN! Now, that's not to say that you won't have to turn down invitations with your friends in the future because you are being overworked as  the newbie at a firm, but at least you will be getting paid!

Well, back to the books. If you are taking the bar good luck!! If you aren't sorry for being a lunatic. Please support my random outbursts and snippity comments. I'll invite you to dinner once I am employed.

Thanks for reading!!

How Social Media is Crushing Goals

Hello ladies (and gentlemen, if you are reading this, thanks for the visit), today my post won't be about clothing (although I have a great one coming, just wait for it :)).

I wanted to take a second to talk about goals. In a world where social media rules, I don't think enough people are reaching high enough in some important aspects of life. Not enough people are realizing their potential, because reality is skewed by followers, likes, shares, and double taps on Instagram. Now don't get me wrong, social media is great I just think we have to be careful. As I scroll through my Instagram feed and Facebook wall I realize my "friends" (whatever that means on the internet) are divided. There are those who inspire me, the men and women who are studying, traveling, spending time with family and friends, living full happy lives, and then there are  those who choose to post half naked pictures or talk about how high they are getting. Sure, that sexy booty shot got you 110 likes but so what? Unless you are a legitimate model (which in that case, more power to you),  is that picture going to get you employed, are those who double tap that image going to pay your bills, reach out to you when you are in need, or give you a double tap on the back when you do something good for yourself?

Your self worth and confidence should not be tied to social media. There is a certain happiness that can only be achieved when you realize you have done something you never thought you could, when you struggled to get a project done and you finally finish, when your blood, sweat and tears actually mean something. Ladies, GOALS ARE SEXY! Having a plan and making things happen for yourself, being the master of your own life is a beautiful thing that those important people around you will appreciate and admire.

When you are out looking for a job and the employer asks what type of person you are, why they should hire you, what will you say? "I take selfies like a champ!". Will you give your boss a list of your Twitter followers as references? (maybe they know you better than anyone else).

I guess my point in writing this post is that I believe in our generation, I believe that it is filled with hard working, smart people and we shouldn't let that go to waste by not realizing our potential. I'm not saying someone can't post 10 selfies a day and still be a thriving, successful person, I just think it is important for us to know that success and happiness should not be tied to the response we get. I read a story about a boy who attempted suicide because he couldn't take the perfect selfie and I don't know if it was a hoax or not but either way, it got me thinking about the value we place on what our "followers" think of us. Who we are is not measured by our social media presence. You are defined by the work you do, by the kind act you did when no one was watching, by the love you share with those around you, the smile you gave the stranger on the bus, by the advice you gave a friend in need.

There is no edit button or filter feature on real life. We make mistakes, we don't always look good or feel great and that's okay. Just don't settle. Be proud of what you did today and know that you can do even better tomorrow :)

Thanks for reading! Until next time :)

Skinny Dress Pants: Fashion Do or Don't?

Hello my beautiful professional readers! 

Recently, I had to attend an Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium that I helped organize. As I was searching my closet and trying out outfits, I realized that my black dress pants were too big and needed to be replaced. I thought, it's just black dress pants, I will be in and out of the store in no time! EH! Wrong! Apparently boot cut or slightly flared, good old professional slacks are a rarity. First I went to TJ Maxx and realized all the pants were skinny so I moved on to another one of my favorite stores, Marshalls, and it became clear that skinny pants are "in". Running low on time and funds (as usual), I decided to give them a try and ended up buying the ones pictured below. I am torn however, as to how appropriate and professional these pants really are. I am all for new, young, hip looks (that's what this blog is all about), but I also think it is important to keep things professional because I rather my employer recognize my work ethic and smarts than my fashion sense (or lack thereof if they are not a fan of the skinny pant).

In the end, I was comfortable with the outfit and I didn't feel out of place at all surrounded by well dressed attorneys. Overall, I would say go ahead and rock the skinny dress pants as long as you tone down your outfit. Make sure you are wearing close-toed shoes and a jacket (especially if you are working in a corporate office). I would also suggest shoes with a pointed toe, it creates an illusion (especially for shorties like me) that the leg is longer.

Outfit above: Shoes and Jacket (previously featured), Top: Marshalls $14.99, Pants: Marshalls $16.99

Above is an example of how you can take the outfit from the office to happy hour or a dinner date by just having an extra pair of heels in your car.

So, what do you think of the skinny pant for work? Professional or better left at home during the work week?

Thanks for reading and remember, you can look like a million bucks without blowing your budget!

Shopping for a Bargain (as usual)

Hello Readers! I know it has been a while since I last posted, but it has been a busy couple of months. I am in the final semester of law school and and things are exciting and scary all at once. Despite all that, this blog is still very important to me and when my mom told me she needed to shop for professional clothing I knew it was the perfect opportunity for a new post. We went to Sears, a hidden gem for low priced professional clothing. Below is what we found:

Top: $12.99 (obviously, this is in a dressing room but I would stress that it is never okay to go to work with such a wrinkled shirt)

Pencil Skirt: $25.99

Dress: $39.99

This dress is very versatile and can be worn with a different colored jackets and belts. Black and white is great to accessorize. 

Dress: $39.99

This dress can and should be worn with a jacket for those working in a more conservative environment

The suits below were great quality and there were on SALE (arguably one of my favorite 4-letter words). Each suit had 3 matching pieces: jacket, pant, and pencil skirt and was priced at $16.99 and $29.99. I was so surprised and happy when I saw this because I have come to realize that full matching suits for women are increasingly more difficult to find (unless you are willing to spend more than my budget allows).

 The suit pictured above was light grey and is paired with a blue button-down priced at $17.99

The suit pictured above was a beautiful navy/grey color and was paired with a hot pink button-down shirt also priced at $17.99

The dress above is just an example of all the great ones they had for sale. I love that it is colorful and patterned. This is great for the young professional who wants to look nice but who also wants to step out of the box. The dresses ranged in price from $24.99 to $44.99

The happy, colorful blazers above were all on sale for $18.99. I am a big fan of dressing in a neutral color and adding a pop of color with either my blazer or my shoes.

Last but certainly not least.....my new babies. I bought these beige pumps with a black ankle strap at Burlington Coat Factory for $9.99 so I just had to sneak them into this post!

Again thanks for reading! Happy shopping, happy saving, and happy job hunting! Until next time!

A Response to “23 Things to do Instead of Getting Engaged Before You’re 23”

*Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with "How to dress professionally" but I was inspired to write it, so here it is

Yesterday as I scrolled down my endless Facebook news feed, I couldn't help but notice how many of my friends had shared an article entitled “23 Things to do Instead of Getting Engaged Before you’re 23.” As someone who recently became engaged on my 24^th birthday, I was curious to read the article everyone was so quick to share. As I read it, frankly, I was disappointed that I had wasted my time. The article goes on and on judging couples who choose to get married early, referring to it as a “cop out.” Yet, I still wanted to give the article the benefit of the doubt. I thought, it’s called “23 Things To Do…” so maybe the awesome list of “musts” would justify her moody, judgmental article. Then, I was disappointed again.

The list includes things such as “start a band”, “cut your hair”, and “sign up for CrossFit”….what?! 1) who says I want to do 90% of the things on this list, and 2) Why can’t I do the 10% that seems semi-interesting with the person I love?

Look, I get it, it is important to know who you are before you meet someone and spend your whole life with them because forever is a long time and we all owe it to ourselves to be who we are but not everyone is meant to do the same things. It is difficult for me to understand why someone would write an article clumping all young couples into one category. The article states that marriage:

“… is a way for young people to hide behind a significant other instead of dealing with life’s highs and lows on their own. It’s a safety blanket. It’s an admission that the world is just too big and scary to deal with it on your own; thus, you now have someone that is legally obligated to support you till one of you dies or files for divorce.” She goes on to say it is "insane that I have already experienced more of the world in the last 22 years than my married peers will ever experience in their life"

I think that is ridiculous! Sure, there are young couples who get married for all the wrong reasons, but there are also 30 and 40 and 50 year olds who get married for all the wrong reasons (you can be lonely,  a gold digger, or a lunatic at any age). What I feel that this girl doesn't understand is that yes, her life is great, and good for her, it’s not easy to be in another country alone exploring and living and I respect her for that, but my life is just as awesome, and I bet many of my married and engaged friends 23 and under would say the same.  I have traveled, been away for college, I am continuing with higher education (which according to the article is not a "trend" when you are young and married or engaged) and I do not plan on stopping because I all of a sudden have a ring on my finger. My sister got married at the age of 22, yes, I agree she was young, but I have literally never seen her happier. She lives a full life with love and responsibilities and she knows EXACTLY who she is, her marriage never stopped her journey to self-discovery.

I have been in a relationship for 7 years. We found each other at a young age, some would say it is too young but what the author of the other article fails to realize is that when you are in love, truly 100% in love and devoted to someone, life is better with them than without them. I would give up 10 trips to China to spend a full day with my fiancée, and if I ever had the opportunity to travel somewhere, I would enjoy it so much more if I could share it with him. I know who I am. Marriage is not a cop out, marriage is difficult, marriage is work, but people do it because it’s worth it, because their significant other makes them better. If you find the right person, they should not stop you from growing and learning, they should love you for who you are at the moment as well as for who you will grow to be. The article suggests waiting even if you think that you have found the one, but why? Life is short and you never know what can happen so I say, if you are single, live your life, travel, explore, read, learn about different cultures and languages, meditate, “start a band” if you so choose and if you are engaged or married, do the same because no one is stopping you.

Outfits: Internship Week 7-10

Hello my fashionistas on a budget! Below are most of my outfits from the past four weeks. I have lost track of the days so the pictures are not labeled as usual but who cares about the days right?! What matters are the prices so here we go!

Above: Top H&M 12.99, Brown pants and brown heels were previously featured. This top is fun to add some color to your wardrobe but as usual, I would suggest having a jacket handy. Since, as I have said before, I work in an athletics office, I am usually overdressed (on purpose-remember, dress for the job you want, not the job you have) so a jacket is not a necessity most of the time but it is good to have one with you.

Above: All of these pieces have been previously featured. I chose to pair this tight fitting pencil skirt with a looser fitting top because I do do not think it is appropriate in the work place to be showing all your goodies, you know what I mean? It is important to look professional at all times.

Above: This was a casual Friday look. Dark pants: Forever21 $7.99, Grey T-shirt: Old Navy $4.99, Blue/Grey Jacket and flats were previously featured. I also want to make a note that all my pictures are taken at the end of the day so the wrinkles are a product of my work rather than a lack of ironing :)

Above: Black Slacks and Black heels previously featured. Top: Burlington Coat Factory $12.99

Above: This dress has been previously featured. The picture makes it seem a but short but in person, the dress falls a little above the knee. Rather than wear it with my black jacket and heels as I did in the past, today I chose to tone the look down a bit by pairing the dress with nude colored flats. (Previously featured from Old Navy)

Above: Another casual Friday look. Dark denim paired with a black long tank, black linen jacket, and tiger printed flats. All of the pieces have been previously featured except for the black linen jacket which I bought at TJ Maxx for $16.99. Pairing a simple outfit with bold shoes is a great option when you want to look professional but still young and trendy.

Above: Today I has no one to take my picture so I improvised. All pieces have been previously featured. Featured- Navy pumps and navy pencil skirt with a yellow flowy top.

Above: Black slacks and black shoes previously featured. In the past year have lost some weight and have found that all my dress pants are now way too loose and I was in desperate need of a belt. Who knew that this would be so difficult to find?!? Belts for women are harder to find than belts for men and apparently very expensive but I figured that at the moment it would be cheaper to purchase a belt than the replace all of my pants. I FINALLY found this black one on sale at Target for $7.99. Top: Marshalls $12.99

Above: Top and shoes were previously featured, Black Pleated Skirt: Marshalls $14.99. A skirt like this is a great way to look professional while stepping away from the traditional pencil skirt.

Above: Again, excuse the wrinkles, these pictures are all taken at the end of my day. Every item here was previously featured (white tube top, blue/grey jacket, beige dress pants, navy pumps). It is nice to step out of the usual black, white and grey we find in the workplace and step into something lighter.

You may have noticed how 90% of the pieces above have been previously featured but none of the outfits are the same, that is the joy of mixing and matching. Mixing and matching is essential for anyone on a budget. Again, thanks for reading!! Until next time :)

Top 5 Ways to Get Noticed and Move Up in Your Entry Level Job

Hello readers!!

Today we have a very special guest feature from a long time friend of mine, Andrew Hernandez. This morning I got a text message from him letting me know that he had a great idea for my blog. Considering the fact that not only have I known him for 16 or 17 years, but also that he too is a young professional, I was all ears! 

He sent me the article below and told me to feel free to add/change  what I wanted but I thought it was great so I only added some pictures and my input on the section regarding women's clothing as I was asked to do. (My contributions will be in pink).

Top 5 ways to get noticed and move up in your entry level job:

So, you just graduated from college, and landed your first entry level job. Four years of countless hours studying, caffeine binges and late nights that resulted in waking up, literally, in between your books and Macroeconomic literature imprinted on the side of your face. You just feel you are worth more than the mind numbing tasks they have you completing at your new workplace. To add insult to injury, your debt from student loans is worth more than your salary. You’re not alone, but, the job market has become so competitive, that a Bachelor’s degree is basically just a piece of paper that will give you an opportunity to get an interview, having a degree will not automatically land you the job as it would before. As the great Bob Dylan would say, “Times, they are a-changing” 

What do you do when the job market makes the Hunger Games look like a Disney flick? You stand out. Here are five tips to help you with that:

1. First One in, Last One Out

Arrive 15-30 minutes early every day, and stay till your superior has left. This doesn't mean you’ll be working overtime and not getting paid for it, it just means you care enough about your job to take the extra initiative. With your new-found time, you can make your morning coffee (From that addiction you picked up in college) read the local or national news (preferably something that relates to your field of work) and answer those ticky tac e-mails that seem like a waste of your 10 gigabyte inbox, but merit an answer nonetheless. Just settle in, you’ll feel more relaxed, and won’t be rushing to make it “in time”. (Remember there’s a difference between “on time”, and “in time”) Find your morning routine.

2. Dress For Success

This seems fairly obvious, and probably has been reiterated to you a thousand times over your college career. Still, I cannot stress this enough.

Men:

-          Learn different knots on your tie.

         Here are four simple knots (image is from http://willowbrookpark.blogspot.com/2010/03/fashionable-man-and-his-dressing-room.html)

-          Own “Power Ties” for important meetings and interviews. (Vivid Reds, blues, and yellows)

-          Match your belt and shoes. The cardinal sin of fashion is wearing a brown belt and black shoes, or vice versa.

-          Have a good ratio of shirt and pants combinations.

-          Dry clean your clothes. I know this  can get expensive, but dry cleaning at least once a month will keep your clothes in good shape. A cheap alternative is self-dry cleaning products like Dryel, Which can be found at a local CVS for under $20.

-          Splurge a little at one of Jos A Bank’s sales (3 dress shirts for the price of 1? Which usually comes out to $30 for a top of the line dress shirt.  You can’t beat that)

-          Invest in 2 or 3 pairs of shoes, shine them, and keep shoe trees in them to maintain the shape.

-          Ditch “Jean Fridays” for a pair of Dockers, or Khakis and a polo.

 Women: Ladies, please don’t dress like you are going to LIV Nightclub ** trying to woo the bouncer with your short dress, and cleavage hanging out, just to gain entry to the nightclub. (Sam, feel free to add whatever else you’d like, I’m not an expert on women’s fashion)

Well, I would't say I qualify as an expert on women's fashion either but I would say that the "rules" I've mentioned before are applicable here. Yes, you want to stand out at work, but you want to stand out for the right reasons. You want your co-workers and superiors to talk about your work ethic and professionalism, not about how hard it was to talk to you without staring at your cleavage. 

As I have mentioned before, keep the pencil skirts no shorter than right above the knee. If you are going to go sleeveless, keep a jacket near (you never know who is going to walk in or what important meeting is going to pop up). As for shoes, no strappy sandals. Keep you shoes either close -toed or with a tiny peep-toe. Finally,  keep your nails clean. No nail polish is better than chipped nail polish. If you look like you don't care about yourself, your superiors aren't going to think you care about your work.

Andrew and I spoke about this and are in 100% agreement that you should ALWAYS dress for the job you want, not the job you have!

 3. Never, EVER, say “That’s not my job”

This is possibly the worst thing you can say at a workplace. Especially if you’re clawing through blood sweat and tears for a promotion. It shows a lot about your character. I understand sometimes other co-workers and colleagues might take advantage of your inexperience and rookie status, but superiors hate hearing those words. When someone asks you to do something for them, even if that person is not your supervisor, take it in stride, learn from the situation, and offer your best advice for a solution. Remember, you want to be part of the solution, not the problem. If you happen to find yourself on the other side of the situation, ask for help in the most humble way you can. Don’t EVER tell someone what to do, even if you ARE a supervisor. Explain that you feel a certain talent or knowledge that your colleague possesses might be beneficial to the project or task at hand. This way you maintain a healthy and smooth relationship with your co-workers, and/or subordinates.

4. Offer Help Whenever Possible

If you find yourself completing the mundane tasks that are beset upon you, ask your boss if there is anything else you can help with. Doing this will show your boss you care about your job, company, agency ,etc.. and as mentioned earlier, could be a learning experience, or a chance to gain insight on your boss’s job, knowledge, or expertise. (We are trying to get promoted here, and learning your boss’s job is one of the best ways to do just that) Also, offer help to your other co-workers. This will result in team work and efficiency, and your superiors will definitely notice this. (Think about that Christmas bonus too) And you just never know who will be your supervisor one day, people remember good deeds.

5. Own Up To Your Mistakes

Face it, you’re fresh out of college, and everything is new to you because of your inexperience. You’re going to make mistakes. Everyone will, it’s what makes us human. If you find yourself in a situation where you've made a mistake, you can’t change it. Nevertheless, you still have a chance to fix it, and get the desired results you wanted. Don’t make excuses for it, that will just make you look weak and selfish. Instead, own up to it, tell your colleagues you will find a solution (Even if it means staying late, See item #1) and learn from it. Nothing is worse than having two problems; The initial mistake, and a twenty-something year old punk making excuses, leading the superiors to believe they hired the wrong candidate and they need to find another twenty-something year old punk.

I hope my humble 2 cents helps any young professional out there, aspiring to achieve success in this cruel, vicious world. You will often feel undervalued with your new entry-level job, but maintain a relentless hunger for prosperity, and approach each day as an opportunity to be better than you were the day before.

Godspeed,

 Andrew T. Hernandez

                               ** LIV is North America’s most popular nightclub

I think our generation gets a bad rap. People say that we all want things to be handed to us, and we idolize reality TV stars, wishing we could get our own show so we could be showered with money and fame. Yes, there are those who expect success without hard work but I believe those people are outnumbered by those of us who understand that hard work and professionalism are necessary and definitely rewarding at the end of the day.

Thanks for reading, and thanks again to Andrew for thinking of me, my blog, and ways to help my readers! Until next time!