When it's zero degrees out, but you still have to trek outside

This week the East Coast is hunkering down for another polar vortex. I'd be okay with this, I fared the first polar vortex pretty well, except last time I was cozy at home and didn't have anything to do, anywhere to be. This time: it's going to be pretty bad. There are classes and meetings to attend at all random hours of the day, meaning I could be out walking fifteen minutes - about a mile - and freezing my fingers off.

That is, if I wasn't adequately dressed.

This is a peek into my wardrobe - pieces I will actually be wearing over the next few days until I can hunker down in my apartment next weekend. An accessories post will be coming up tomorrow!

My massive North Face puffer 

I'm only kind of joking when I said I could curl into this jacket an be ok for a few days. This is the most comfortable coat I've ever owned - but it's also my only goose down coat, which makes it lightweight but so warm.

This is perfect for walking against the cutting wind and protecting everything from my head to my knees. But it takes more than a coat to keep me moving. I also need to layer!

You can buy the North Face Metropolis coat here!

Tommy Hilfiger Long Sleeve Cable Crew Neck Sweater

I cannot survive State College, PA winters without my arsenal of cable knits. They provide the perfect amount of warmth to insulate the heat from my body while my North Face wards off any icy breezes coming my way.

The only downside to wearing such heavy sweaters is that I sometimes get to class only to find the building's heat is cranked and I'm suddenly uncomfortably warm. But, it's a small sacrifice.

The sweater is on sale at Tommy Hilfiger, and is also available in a few more colors!

J. Crew Skinny Jeans

Unfortunately, it's not socially acceptable for me to wear sweatpants around campus - and even if it was, I wouldn't because I cannot stand sweatpants beyonds the confines of my apartment. I'm not much a yoga pants girl either.

Thankfully, these J. Crew skinny black jeans are as comfortable as I need them to be getting from point A to point B.

Bonus: these are now in J.Crew's factory store - more than half off, from $80 down to $31!  

Tall Hunter Boots

Is it too much of a generalization to say this is quickly becoming the go-to snow/rain boot for women in the United Kingdom and United States? It seems like a solid 80% (an estimate) of the underclass female population relies on their pair of wellies.

Maybe they're brown, like mine - to match my jacket and my hair - or red to make a bold statement, but we rely on these shoes to keep our feet dry in the snow and gross slush that omnipresent from November to March. 

How to... Work Fast, Think Faster

At this point, it is a truth universally acknowledged that we all wish there were more hours in the day. More time to spend getting ready in the mornings, more time to drink more coffee to be more productive, more time to do just more. But, what we probably don't realize is that a lot of our time is being wasted thinking 'slowly' by not just focusing, but getting hung up on, one problem. 

There is an article on Entrepreneur about how to be, well, a productive entrepreneur. Even if you're not starting your own company, the infographic images can still aptly apply to your lifestyle. I particularly found the below image the most useful. I love to tense up to the point where my shoulders are by my ears during class, and I sometimes don't flip that mental switch as fast as I'd like to. 

You can check out the rest of the images and a brief explanation of them on Entrepreneur. 

  

First day jitters

I know I haven't updated on here in a few days. And I feel terrible about that. It makes me feel guilty, like I'm let down all the followers I don't have. But can't worry about that now - I'll push it off until this weekend when I can get my head back above water. 

Today was the first day of my last spring semester in college. And that feels really weird to me. I'll be done with my education in less that 52 weeks? I'm excited. And terrified. The thing is, I'll be spending all my time and energy to pushing that fear out of my mind to allow for more fun feelings - like thrill and anxiety. 

I've been in school for fifteen years, and I still can't shake the first day jitters. I've merely gotten better at realizing their effects and trying to turn the negative into a positive. 

Everything is moving really fast and I need a pause button to catch up. Instead, I think I'll head over to my inspiration page and hang out there. I need the reinforcement. 

Today's favs

That title needs work. I'll think it through a little better next time.

Smart Ways to play:

Have you seen this Australian advertisement, Dumb Ways to Die? It won big at the Cannes festival last summer and the three-minute video has 68 million+ views. The song is catchy and the characters die, frankly, adorably.

Well, today I received an iPad 2 and, making the jump from the original iPad, an entire world of apps opened up to me. Enter: the game Dumb Ways to Die. An extension of the advertisement, the free game pushes no agenda - the original ad was a safety warning about using the subway system - and is thoroughly, mindlessly, entertaining.

Nike Free:

I am terrible at replacing things when they need to go. Whether it be contacts that overstay their welcome or changing my Britta filter, I wait until the last possible moment to upgrade. Did you know that you're supposed to get new sneakers every six months or so? Unless you're running insanely long distances, I think that's a little unreasonable. The sneakers I've had for two years have been working just fine - no holes, they protect my feet like they're supposed to - up until recently when I've been experiencing some killer knee pain.

So, I decided to hunt (aka, go to my nearest Nordstroms) and seek out the best sneakers for my needs. Treadmill runner, not a marathon, flat feet in dire need of support, and wide feet that can't be squished into a narrow shoe. The saleswoman directed me to the Nike Free 5.0 running shoe. Fun fact: the 5.0 means there's 5mm of cushioned support under my heel.

I tried on a pair, and was already in love with the bold color, and my feet felt like they were walking on well-structured clouds. Sold.

I'm not suddenly Usain Bolt, my mile times were the same today as they were yesterday, but I could notice a difference in the way my feet reacted to the treadmill - like they are more in control of their movement. It sounds weird. I love it.

Book Recommendation Wednesday

Good evening everyone! I realized too late last night that I forgot to blog, but you know what? I'm ok with that. I'll commit to blogging regularly, but not everyday. I will figure out what will be my 'off' day soon, promise.

Meanwhile... I've been spending much of break catching up on my massive To Read pile. This past week I devoured Mad Women by Jane Maas. 

Being an advertising major, a major Mad Men fan, and someone who looks up to powerful women, I knew this book was a must-read and I was not disappointed.

The 1960's were a wild and raucous time in New York City, particularly in the advertising industry. Jane Maas, a full-time working mother of two, delves into her daily life as account manager at Ogilvy. From the truth behind three-martini lunches, to the amount of sex that was happening in the offices (and the suspiciously timed divorces and remarriages and promotions), she debunks the myths Mad Men has fostered, but cautions she didn't always know what happened at other agencies.

But she also goes into detail about her life once she clocked out at work and shifted into Mom-mode. Despite having Mabel, a full-time housekeeper Monday through Friday who did just about everything - from helping raise Maas' two daughters, to doing nearly all of the housework, Maas clearly worked just as hard at home than she did in the office - even mentioning slipping out of the office to watch her daughter preform at her school. Maas and Mabel's relationship outlasted Mabel's employment, and they have been there for each other, as friends, for years since.

Despite its reputation for having nearly perfect detail-oriented portrayals of the time period, she points out the few errors Mad Men has had. For instance, Peggy Olsen definitely would have worked everyday wearing a hat. And while Don Draper may drive into work at 9AM, only to be a few drinks in by 10AM, Maas says that the earliest people at her agency would break open the liquor was noon. But Ogilvy was a bit more conservative than the agency the show is based off of, Young & Rubicam.

I loved reading this book because I found such a heroine in Maas - she is strong-willed and could hold her own against some of the best advertising men (and women) of the past century. Funny and demure, her position as a powerful advertising women in a time when women were expected to go to college to graduate with a diamond ring on their finger and take on the role as housewife, Maas creates a role model out of herself for young professionals such as myself.

A short blurb about Mondays

Is alliteration too 2008? Still working out the kinks here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful first Monday of 2014! I am one of those weird people who love Mondays. We all spend so much of our time dreading Mondays and resenting the first day of the work week, but why? It's our chance to start the week anew. Instead of staring down the barrel of five days, I think of it as the opportunity to set a high standard for a productive week. Anyways, one of 52 Mondays - complete.

There would be more to say, but I'm afraid with the weather being as it is (COLD), I haven't done much/seen much to note beyond the online sales are hopping and there's not better excuse to stay in, drink coffee and catch up on Netflix.

Do I post on Sunday?

It may be Sunday evening on the calendar, however I have another full week of winter break until I return to school, and therefore, well, this entire week will feel like a Sunday night, to be honest.

As I adjust to all the work I'll be doing in just a few short days, I realize it's important to set up a weekly posting schedule for this website. That will be coming whenever I can figure it out, honestly. For now I just feel like the dust is settling.

Do I have to post everyday? Should I feel obligated to stick to a stern schedule? I suppose a regular schedule is important - readership retention and all that. Thought, at this point, my 'reader retention' is strictly related to how often I can get my website tweeted by much more impressive people than thyself.

Hope you all had a good weekend and an even better first Monday of 2014.

Website name change... it's a marathon, not a sprint

I am very indecisive. It might be one of my worst qualities (right up there with the classic 'I'm too much of a perfectionist'), but it takes me ages to decide to do something. I'm a disaster at trying to pick Instagram filters. I'll have five options for dinner and it'll take me all afternoon to decide which to cook.

And don't get me started on purses and shoes. I'll fall in love with a bag in a store, leave it, think about it for a month or two or six, and then get it. But, this also shows I'm careful, tread lightly where it counts, and have that 'if you think about it three times after you see it, you know you really want it' mentality.

Anyways, as I have mentioned this blog name will likely change - as it already has once (from Sparkly Bows and Cable Knits, for those wondering). Call it indecisiveness, call it an evolutionary process, but I've been toying with names for two months and think I'm finally happy with what I have - Ampersand New York - but I do not like the image I created. Those rings (yes, those are rings on my finger in that image) were gifts for Christmas and I just love whatever it could mean - like there's Something & New York.

This is the full image that I had to cut it way way down to make the header image. I'll be playing with some other images for who knows how long, but I think I'm finally happy about the site name. Baby steps. Rome wasn't built in a day. 

A new page on the blog!

Only four days in and I'm already expanding. No - I've merely added a new page, Need Some Inspiration?, as a Pinterest-esque inspiration page filled with images of New York City and posters, all the stuff that comes with motivation.

I'll definitely refer to it as a reminder that I'm doing all this for a reason and that there is some merit to blogging out into the unknown. Also, I'm glad to finally have a place other than, well, Pinterest and a folder on my computer, to share all these.

Also please note: I unfortunately cannot take credit for these beautiful images. I merely do not have the Photoshopping skills that these creators do.

My favorite?

New blog, same story

Hello and welcome to Sparkly Bows and Cable Knits! This is my first step into this new journey, and I thank you for joining me on this adventure. If you're returning from my 101 in 1001 Days post, thank you! If you haven't seen that post, I encourage you to check it out and consider setting some goals for yourself. 

I've tried to write this post a few times already but I haven't been happy with the results, so I decided to change the format a bit, making the intro a bit more Q&A. Consider it an About Me page (in fact - this will probably transition onto that page in a bit.) Okay, let's get started!

Who are you?

I am Kristina, a junior/senior studying advertising at Pennsylvania State University. I like to focus on the expanding digital communications and social media sectors of the industry. I currently write for the entertainment website, Hypable.com, wherein I discuss on-going news and cover many television shows. I really like to talk to people about just about anything - particularly themselves and their interests. 

If you're already writing for a website, why start this?

Because this is a different corner of the internet. I have another blog, www.kristinalintz.wordpress.com, that has become strictly professional. It's where I write about my current search for internships or share my musings about advertising and the like.

This website will have a lot of different content - a smorgasbord, if you will - of anything I come across in my daily life that strikes my fancy. A interest pin or certain outfit, it'll all be here.

So, it's a fashion blog?

I'm hesitant to call this a 'fashion blog' because as much as I'd like, I know I cannot dedicate the time necessary that a fashion blog requires. This is an outlet for me to post photos of (what I think are adorable) outfits, or certain products such as my weakness, handbags, that I covet. Maybe there's a song that's really inspired me lately, or a book I want to recommend, this will be the place for me to do so. 

Like I said, smorgasbord. 

How can I contact you to give you my opinion about this? 

Well first, I'd like to say thanks for contacting me! I love feedback - good and bad. You can interact with me on all the lovely social media channels, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. I also monitor comments on here.

What's your bottom line?

I don't like negativity and have no room in my life for it. However, I do have copious amounts of positivity and happiness to spread around. I really like things, and I really like sharing and talking about those things. You've got to eliminate the negative, accentuate the positive, as good ole' Paul McCartney once said. 

I'm starting this blog at the top of 2014 and I hope that over the course of this year, I learn some stuff (I hate that word - it's such a placeholder, but holds so much weight, 'stuff'), meet some people and enjoy everything that's in store. 

101 things in 1001 days

So, after seeing some blogs pick up on this list trend, particularly this amazing list over at Mini and Modern, and Mackenzie Horan's,  I've decided to create my own. It's scary - the next 1001 days, 2.75 years, will be the biggest transitional period in my life so far. It'll be September 2016, I'll be nearing my 23rd birthday and will have been out of college for nearly two years. 

I liked this exercise, it forced me to think in realistic terms and set defining goals - for instance, I said 'get a job' but that is so vague, I revised it to 'find a job before I graduate college.' It sets a time limit and gives me something to look towards. 

I know this may seem rushed - publishing a list as extensive as this without anyone really knowing who I am on this site yet - but it is the first of the year and that, to me, brings hope and the promise of a very amazing 2014. Some of these will be easy to scratch off the list, some will be harder, but I've got 1001 days to do them all. You may notice as the list goes on, it delves deeper in the darker corners of my wish list. 

The first 20 or so were easy - they're what I often think about (ranging from things I have to actually make happen, and things I know are a pipe-dream, see 11) - but around 40, it got harder to think, ok, what do I really want to do while I'm in my early 20s? Obviously (or perhaps not), 'get married' is not on this list because that's something I could see happening maybe in my later 20s - if at all. You'll notice when I get into a groove of thinking. 

1. Build this blog into a strong following.
2. Inspire someone else to write their own 101 in 1001 list. 
3. Finish my NaNo book.
4. Self-edit it.
5. Send it to an agent.
6. Hopefully get it published, or self-publish it. 
7. …and then break ground on my next book.
8. Find someone to sublet my apartment for Spring 2015. 
9. Learn how to take decent pictures with a DSLR.
10. Find a job before I graduate college this December.
11. Earn more money than I spend. 
12. Buy a pair of Louboutins.
13. Move to New York City by March 2015. 
14. Eat a cronut.
15. Read the Game of Thrones books.
16. Finish LOST and Homeland. 
17. Visit Boston. 
18. Go gambling in Las Vegas.
19. Reach 500 followers on Twitter.
20. Figure out what my go-to 'I can make that!' food dish is.
21. Attend a Friendsgiving.
22. Establish a post schedule for this website.
23. Like weekly book recommendations.
24. And selected outfits of the day and Instagrams.
25. Get ahead on my Hypable articles.
26. Run a 7 minute mile. 
27. Find my favorite type of wine.
28. Break in my new heels.
29. Learn how to make gifs.
30. Watch at least one Ted Talk a week.
31. Organize all of my jewelry so it's not a cluttered mess.
32. Organize my purses because, same.
33. Apply to at least 10 internships by January 15, 2014.
34. Land another incredible NYC summer internship.
35. Eat out at interesting restaurants.
36. Branch out of my food comfort zone.
37. Go to London 
38. … And Prague.
39. And Italy.
40. Basically just travel around Europe.
41. Learn conversational Czech.
42. Not stress over the little things as much.
43. Nor the things that are out of my control.
44. Visit the Newseum in DC.
45. Meet Mindy Kaling.
46. And/or Tina Fey.
47. Sit in on a television writers room. 
48. Become an assistant to someone in television.
49. Get a passport. 
50. Read 100 books.
51. Get paid to write online.
52. Discover a new band live by accident.
53. Keep my phone's photos organized.
54. Venture around Brooklyn.
55. Go to a beer brewery. 
56. Take an impromptu day trip somewhere.
57. Go skiing somewhere in the Northeast.
58. Learn how to code my own website.
59. See two Broadway shows - preferably Kinky Boots!
60. Go to a trampoline bounce house with my friends.
61. Work in the fashion industry in NYC.
62. Go to a karaoke bar. 
63. Be in 'the moment' more.
64. Decorate my apartment with cute lights and washi tape.
65. Suck it up and really chop my hair off.
66. Successfully create a multi-tiered cake.
67. And decorate it.
68. Drive to New York City by myself.
69. Have professional photographs taken.
70. Roam around Central Park.
71. Have my friends visit me, wherever I end up, after graduation. 
72. Attend my friend's graduations.
73. Participate in Cafe 210's end-of-semester celebrations.
74. Hike Mt. Nittany. 
75. Donate $1000 to THON. 
76. Brunch for an entire Sunday in NYC.
77. Have a reason to celebrate with my friends -engagement, wedding, job promotion, etc.
78. Befriend strangers on the floor of my building. 
79. But not get murdered. 
80. Meet my Hypable friends on the West Coast. 
81. Attend San Diego Comic-Con. 
82. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with friends. 
83. Be in the audience for Saturday Night Live. 
84. Master beginners yoga and/or Pilates. 
85. Figure out the right balance between this site and my Wordpress one.
86. Purge my clothes of items I haven't worn in years.
87. Attend a Kentucky Derby party.
88. Organize my nail polishes so that I can see them all.
89. Buy flowers from the farmer's market just because I can.
90. Stop procrastinating writing the 'fun' things (like this!) 
91. Be interviewed for a blog or magazine or website for a good reason.
92. Befriend some bloggers that I currently idolize. 
93. Create a header image for this website.
94. Create a logo or image for my brand.
95. Learn which clothes get dry cleaned and which are fine to wash.
96. Give back to my hometown and to my university.
97. Go paintballing.
98. See all the YA movie adaptations in theaters (The Hunger Games & Divergent) 
99. Get to know the people on my block - the bartender, barista, bodega owner.
100. Take a few chances, stick my neck out, and see what happens.
101. Put $10 into savings for every goal accomplished.