Conquer Your Laundry

This may seem pretty basic, but many

young women still seem to think that
throwing everything in the washing ma-
chine, dumping in some detergent, and put-
ting it on cold works for all types of cloth-
ing. Here are a few basic rules for washing
your threads:
Dont wash colors with your whites.
This is a great way to turn your favor-
ite white blouse blue, probably not the
look youre going for.
Treat stains as early as possible.
Even if you dont get to washing it
right away, putting some stain stick on
a coffee spill will help it come out a
lot easier when you fnally get around
to it. If you let it sit there for a week,
theres a good chance that stain will be
there to stay.
Hang clothes up right away. This
is the best way to avoid wrinkles and
keep you looking presentable.
Become Friendly with a Needle and
Thread
Have you ever been about to head out
the door and realized your favorite top has
a snag? Instead of tossing it aside to have
your mom fx it over break, this is some-
thing you can easily repair with a basic
understanding of sewing.
This DIY sewing board on Pinterest has
all sorts of great tips for beginners. Small
sewing kits can be found at any craft store
for around $2. They include a few needles,
around eight different colors of string, and
a measuring tape. This is all you need to
repair a hole in a skirt or attach a rogue
button.
Cook a Real Dinner
My cooking skills consist of throwing
something in the microwave, or boiling
water. Going beyond that is asking for
trouble, says McKenzie Carlton, a senior
at the UO. Having at least one great recipe
is mandatory. Aside from the possibility of
6 Things Every Modern Woman Should Know:
The basic capabilities a college girl should have for success in the real world.
by Rebecca Gibson
Her Campus
March 6, 2013
M
any of us are rounding the corner, at a breakneck speed, from depending on mom and dad, to tak-
ing on the responsibility of the real world. As we slide into adulthood there are some abilities we
should have mastered by now.
Yet somewhere between taking 20 credits a term to graduate, and living on caffeine and pb & js for
the past four years, some basic skills may have slipped through the cracks. Its okay to be proud of your
knowledge of which breweries have the best happy hour, or your ability to avoid your past hook-up en
route to class, but these probably wont apply to your everyday life after college ends.
The essential skills below are what every modern woman should know by the time shes 25.
Cooking Collegiettes. Many college women shy away from
cooking, but its an essential skill to master. Photo credit: cre-
ative commons.
scoring you some romance (food really is
the way to a mans heart), making a great
meal is perfect for a girls night in. Try
making dinner for your parents to show
them Look! I really am growing up, even
if I still gave you a handmade card for
Christmas.
Taking the time to prepare a meal gives
you the chance to unwind from your day
and will almost always be healthier than
going to a restaurant or thawing something
from Costco. Here is my go-to recipe for
easy, healthy lasagna. Serve with garlic
bread, a side salad, and let the compliments
commence.
Budget and Balance
Since youre going to be making big
money in the real world, youd better know
how to manage it. Okay, well most likely
be making peanuts after graduation, but it
will probably still be more than weve ever
had. Many young women fall prey to the
appeal of credit cards and end up with a
mountain of invisible debt. While gaining
credit now will pay off later, spending more
than is reasonable for your budget will just
leave you stressed and without things you
really need.
Think about what your paycheck will go
towards: rent, utilities, car insurance, cell
phone, and etc. and plan ahead. You can
download the app Mint that helps you track
and chart your expenses to help you stay on
budget.
Once you know exactly how much you
need to cover important costs, you can start
saving for a trip to Spain, or know if you
have enough to treat yourself to those Jef-
frey Campbell boots youve been eyeing.
Put Together a Big Girl Ensemble
Yes, Im sure you looked absolutely
jaw-dropping in your 21st birthday dress
from Vegas, but that will probably never
be appropriate anywhere else. As the year
wraps up, there will be (fngers-crossed!)
interviews and professional events to attend
as the job search begins.
If you look in your closet and see mostly
yoga pants, Duck gear, and dresses that
could also act as long shirts, its time to put
your big girl pants on! But dont worry, this
doesnt mean you have to dress like your
grandmother.
Heres a polished look for a professional
setting that still allows you to show that
you have wonderful style and taste.
Pair a feminine dress with a modest
neckline with a blazer, black tights, fats or
ankle boots, and your favorite accessories.
Outfts like this will give oII the 'Hire me!
or Take me seriously vibe, instead of
leaving people wondering if you have other
skills aside Irom maximizing skin expo-
Blazer by Lauren Conrad for Kohls: $21
Pleated Dress, tobi.com: $35
Flats, Steve Madden: $22
My cooking skills consist of
throwing something in the
microwave, or boiling water.
sure. Meanwhile, youll still get to enjoy
your own personal style.
Go on a Date With Yourself
After the past four years of creating a
social circle and a family away from home,
many of us will have to start all over in a
new city. Once we enter the workforce,
its quite possible well be relocating
somewhere we dont know anyone. While
moving to a new city is daunting, and the
thought of not being able to pop down to
your best friends to watch Pretty Little
Liars every week seems lonely, being the
new girl gives you many opportunities.
You can be whoever you want. You es-
sentially have a clean slate and can start
wherever you`d like. Yet the frst Iew
months in a new town can make you feel
isolated. Before moving, its important to
know how to feel content by yourself.
So much of college is wrapped up in
social events, and were usually surround-
ed by people. Challenge yourself to go out
to dinner, a movie, or an event alone. This
way when you get to your new city, you
wont be afraid to venture out. If you take
the initiative and explore your new place
alone, you are likely to meet new people.
At the end of the day, when friends and
boyfriends come and go, and your fami-
ly is across the country, theres only you.
Theres no better time than now to begin to
love hanging out with yourself.
Realistically, were not going to have it
all fgured out by 25, or 27, or maybe even
30. But with these six basic skills, you`ll
be the one everyone is asking for quick
fxes and great ideas and the journey to
becoming a capable, independent woman
begins.

Essentials for a Professional Woman

Black tights. These are necessary
Ior the oIfce where bare legs may
not be acceptable.
Tailored slacks. A staple to pair
with different blouses or blazers.
Mid-height pumps. Unless your
job is working the catwalk, a com-
fortable but stylish pair of pumps
will serve you better than seven
inch stilettos.
A tted trench coat. You will look
more put together and professional
with a ftted trench or peacoat than
your neon rain jacket.
The perfect red lipstick. Finding
the perfect shade for your skin tone
will add a pop of color to any en-
semble. MAC has a 'one size fts
all shade available at Sephora.
A smile. No matter what youre
wearing, a smile will always be the
best accessory, letting your and
confdence shine.