10 Tips To Keep Your Twitter Tidy

To many, Twitter has become a forum for expressing random thoughts, opinions and for logging minute-by-minute activity (or even second-by-second, for some). Whether from your computer, under contract, or with a T-Mobile prepaid phone plan, Twitter is so interactive that even celebrities can keep tabs on us seemingly insignificant users. If celebrities can Retweet and reply to you, think about how many future employers can do the same–don’t give them something to fire you about! Maintain a professional profile with CL’s Twitter tips.

 

1. Your display photo — It’s the first indication of the kind of person you are–after all, it’s displaying you! No matter how shiny your hair looks, avoid setting a photo of you at last night’s party, surrounded by red cups, dominating the Beer Pong table. Instead, crop out the cups, brighten it if it’s a bit dark, and choose one that puts your personal qualities forward, not what you like to do on weekends. Utilize sites such as picnik.com to edit your photos (but do it soon–Picnik is shutting down on April 19!).

2. Classy-up that background — Personalize your background with something to give visitors an idea of your interests. Avoid making your background a picture of a mostly nude celebrity, a photo of you and your significant other swapping spit, or a profane quote in crafty font.

3. Think of your bio as a resume preview — You only have 160 characters to do so, but show your prospective followers how well-rounded you are with a catchy, professional bio. Often times, users with jobs that have Twitter accounts will link to those pages in their bio, including a tidbit of their job description. Then there are others, who use their bio to downplay themselves with negative, unappealing statements. Don’t choose the latter.

4. Less is more — It’s easy to get carried away with this (especially if you’re new to the Twitter realm), but go easy on the follows. Following less pages than there are pages following you shows that you are a person with an opinion worth caring about. It also shows your interests are circulated around those specific people, organizations, or magazines you’re following.

5. What are you tweeting? – If you are looking to work in a specific field, get the attention of people already in that field with your tweets. Mention them and you may just get a reply back!

6. Who’s following you? – Users choose to follow other users based on what they’re discussing. If big-names start to take notice in your profile (corporations, verified accounts of fashion designers, magazine editors, CEOs…), you must be saying the right things.

7. Save those retweets — Don’t swallow your profile with endless amounts of retweets. See retweeting as what you do with statements that you can’t put into your own words. Meaning, don’t retweet something such as: “This donut is delicious.” What a waste of space!

8. Those #hashtags — CL sends a big thank-you to the genius who invented a new way to converse–the “hashtag.” Hashtags magically help you see who else in Twitter land is talking about the same topic. Use them with care and purpose, rather than to summarize your thought(s) with swear words or something similar.

9. Share professional links — Articles have Twitter applications for sharing them via other sites on purpose. Use them! Your followers are always curious to know what new discoveries you’re making and reading about.

10. Watch what photos you upload — Keep your stream of “Recent Images” classy by uploading pictures of you dressed nicely, looking happy (without unsightly red cups), and of things that make you happy, from friends to your pets!

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

CL’s Guide to Finding an Internship!

As a classy co-ed, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the internship speech a hundred times over. Parents and professors are constantly telling us the importance of finding an internship in college. While these speeches can get repetitive, they do have a point. Internships are the best way to get experience in a field you are interested in. And while they look great on a resume, they also teach you how to be a good employee, manage your time, and be a go-getter. The process of internship hunting can be a daunting task, but fear not, co-eds! CL is here to help you every step of the way!

To help you begin your search, here are CL’s suggestions on where to look for internships:

1. Your school’s career center: This suggestion may be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many co-eds never set foot in their school’s career center! Career centers exist for the sole purpose of helping students find internships and jobs, so take advantage! Meet with a career counselor and discuss your future plans. In addition to helping you find an internship, a counselor can help you with resume and cover letter writing and even set up mock-interviews for you to practice before you do the real thing! Many career centers also have online job boards where they post internship opportunities for students. Be sure to see if your school has one!

2. Internqueen.com- Intern Queen Lauren Berger had 15(!) internships in college. She now runs her own website that helps college students find  internships. Her website features internship postings from all over the country and a variety of different fields. Also, she recently wrote a book that gives advice on everything related to internships. Check out CL’s review of her book “All Work, No Pay”.

3. Internships.com- This website features internships from all geographic areas and disciplines. You can type in what field you are interested in as well as your location, and they will give you internships that match your criteria.

4. SimplyHired.com-This awesome site also allows you to search by geographic area, field, or even company. You can also get daily e-mail alerts when internships that match your criteria are posted.

5. Career Fairs- Does your school have any career fairs this semester? If so, go to them! Put on your best professional outfit, print copies of your resume, and go impress those company representatives!

6. Networking- As a classy co-ed, you are sure to learn the importance of networking if you haven’t already! Network with your professors, friends, family, and anyone else you can think of! Does your dad have a friend who works at a company you are interested in? Ask him to introduce you! Another great group of people to network with is your school alumni! Seek out alumni who work in your chosen field and ask them for advice. They went to your school, so you already have something in common! Also, most alums love to help kind, ambitious students in any way can.

7. The CL Internship and Job Bank- That’s right, College Lifestyles is now also a great place to look for internships and jobs! The CL Job Bank will be up and running by the end of February. It will contain positions for all disciplines. Be sure to check back next month to see if there are any positions you are interested in!

I hope these resources help you in your internship hunt! Find opportunities that catch your eye, then go wow those potential employers! Don’t be afraid to apply for positions that are known to be competitive. Put your best foot forward and always remember, you are amazing!

 

 

Rachel Osman is a sophomore journalism major at Indiana University. She hopes to get a magazine internship in New York City this summer. 

All Work, No Pay: CL Reviews The Intern Queen’s New Book

If you’re in college, you’ve probably heard of Intern Queen, a website that helps you find internships and blogs helpful internship tips (including some from our very own CEO!). The Intern Queen herself is Lauren Berger, so nicknamed because she had  a whopping 15 internships in college. Early this month, Berger came out with a book, All Work, No Pay: Finding An Internship, Building Your Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience. So now the big question is – should you buy it?

Pros:
Internship Focus.
There are countless career books, but a book focused solely on internships? Now that’s new. The Intern Queen brings her expertise to the table and spares you the advice that might be useful later but is totally unnecessary now.

Organizational Tools.
When a girl lands 15 internships in college, you know she’s organized. Berger gives the reader the Intern Queen Dream List, a spreadsheet used to keep track of all your applications. But if, like me, you bought this book on an E-Reader, you’ll have to make it yourself. Not that it’s complicated, but hey, I’m in college. I’m lazy!

Tone. Despite all that she’s accomplished, Berger is only 25 years old. Her age shows in her work, which is a good thing. Berger avoids the stuffy tone of many career advisors, and her book is both packed with information and easy to read. Many of her examples stem from her own personal experience or that of her contacts, which serve as a source of inspiration.

Legal Advice. All Work, No Pay has a chapter devoted to the legal issues surrounding internships, and Berger herself deems it “one of the most important chapters.” Berger breaks down the Fair Labor Standards Act from the US Department of Labor, providing a list of the intern’s rights at chapter’s end. It’s the kind of thing that you could and should do on your own, but you know you won’t, so this chapter is incredibly helpful.

Chapter Essentials. At the end of each chapter, Berger provides a bulleted list of its most important points. Not having to go through every single page of the book to find one piece of advice is a major plus.

Cons:
Basic. All Work, No Pay is geared towards newbie interns. So if you’ve been interning a while, or if your school has an excellent career center, much of this information will be repetitive.

Verdict:
Even if you already know the information, it’s nice having it all organized in one place. And if you’re new to internships, this book is indispensable. Buy it.

Already have an internship? Check out the Top 10 Intern Fashion Must-Haves or Ways to Plan Out Your Day: Clutter Free.

Sasha Graffagna is a junior Journalism and Comparative Literature major at New York University. She is currently on exchange at La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

3 Comfy, Cozy, and Classy Looks To Rock This Winter

Everyone has his or her own opinion of winter. Some love it, others despise it, and many are in the middle. Personally, I’m not a fan of the cold, but it gives me excuse to bring out all of my warm and comfy clothes, including my favorite, Ugg boots! For my three fashion choices I decided to pick items that are flattering for everyone and that you can get almost anywhere for a good price.

My first outfit incorporates items from my favorite store, Victoria’s Secret! Their Pink collection is perfect for college students. It allows you to feel comfortable all day from class to class without feeling like you woke up late and threw your outfit together last minute. In particular, the sweatshirt and sweatpants combo I chose is in a bright color reflects girly and fun style. In addition, I like the store is that they hold sales and specials all the time! Since I live in chilly Ohio, I paired the ensemble  with the staple in every ‘northern and Midwest’ co-ed’s closet, Uggs may be expensive, but they are an investment piece that will last a long time!

My second outfit has what I consider to be one of the smartest fashion developments in recent years, jeggings, aka jean leggings. They resemble jeans and are as comfortable as your favorite pair of sweatpants.  From plain, to pockets, to buttons, jeggings offer selections for all. I paired it with a North Face pullover hoodie. When recreating this outfit the hoodie can be any one you choose. I personally like North Face, and unlike the jackets and fleece coats they sell this hoodie is only $40! That is still a splurge, but considering the brand it’s a steal. I paired the outfit with Nikes because I think the bright colors show a little edge compared to a plain sneaker.

My last outfit was probably the most daring. My biggest dilemma,  what to pair with the star leggings? An oversized hoodie of course!  The fantastic star leggings so cool, you would never think of just paring them with an oversized hoodie. Patterned tights are one of the biggest trends right now and better yet, they are only $12! They are perfect for any young fashion risk taker. The oversized sweatshirt gives the outfit a cool ‘80s vibe. I paired it with look-a-like Ugg yarn boots, showing you don’t always have to splurge. In the yarn material especially, similar boots are easy to find.

Winter is all about snuggling up, drinking hot chocolate, sleeping in, and giving you a break. Choosing to look presentable and stylish does not always mean comfort goes out the window. It’s about finding a happy medium. My hope for this article is that it allows you to expand your winter wardrobe, and let’s be honest, what girl doesn’t want an excuse to shop?

 

Forever & always a fashionista,

 

Fashion items featured in this article:

Outfit 1: Sweatshirt ($30) – Victoria’s Secret, Sweatpants ($30)- Victoria’s Secret, Ugg boots (about $150) – Nordstrom’s

Outfit 2: Hoodie ($40) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Store, Jeggings ($58) Abercrombie, Nike sneakers ($85) – DSW

Outfit 3: Nike sweatshirt ($50) – Nike, Leggings ($12) – yesstyle.com, Yarn boots ($50) – DSW

 

For more help finding the clothes used in this article CLICK HERE!

Ways to Plan Out Your Day: Clutter Free

Many of you have headed back to school this week anticipating the long study hours and “sleepless nights”. This spring semester is a new opportunity to stop the bad habit of  procrastination. Procrastination comes in many forms with excuses ranging from what others know to be procrastination, to what you have programmed in your mind to think about yourself. The number one cure for procrastination is planning out your time and being organized. Allow me to assist you!

It is not difficult to keep a to-do-list or planner of tasks, responsibilities and personal goals, but it can be difficult if they are not used as should. In order to see the effectiveness of your to-do-list, consider these steps:

The first tip is to keep three planners with attached calendars. Did your eyes stretch wide when you read that last sentence? I had the same response when I realized how three planners helped me to achieve my important goals. As an organized young professional, it is important to know what duties lay ahead and keep to them. A planner should be kept for every huge sector of your life.

Planner number one should be kept for all school work. For all of your classes this semester, look through the syllabus and transfer all of the information from the syllabus onto the calendar. This should include exam dates, and due homework assignments. Make sure to specify what class the work is for. For example, One of my classes are entitled “China Today”. In my school planner you would find on the date of February 20, 2012 “China Today: Midterm exam 1”. If the class title is too long, make a shorter name.  Organizing your school work is giving you a head start on breaking procrastination. With this organized school calendar, you can see the due assignments with a flip of the calendar booklet.

With planner one, school work, do not fail to make a to-do-list. If the calendar organizer you brought has paper for a to-do-list to be attached, this is great! Your to-do-list should be composed of weekly tasks. Keep in mind that this to-do-list is only for school. DO NOT mix in any extra curricular activities. We will get to that later in the article. An example of the to-do-list will be the following:

To-Do-List

Read chapters 1-3 for China Today (2)

Watch Assigned Youtube Videos for International Wealth and Power (3)

Pick group topic for Wednesday’s class- American Foreign Policy (1)

This is just an example. You can also mark, next to the items on your to-do-list, what items you will complete first. I have shown you in the above to-do-list example.

Planner number two should keep all work/intern responsibilities. For this calendar include your work schedule and/ or intern due dates for particular assignments. This keeps me very organized while interning for College Lifestyles!  Also include a to-list-do to go with this calendar of work/intern responsibilities. The to-do-list should be the same  as the to-do-list used in the school work planner. It should be composed of weekly assignments numbered the way they will be completed. Again, do not mix other information that does not have to do with your work and/or internship into this to-do-list or calendar. If you do not have an internship, please stay tuned for latter articles I post.

Planner number three should be used for clubs and organizations. As a young professional, being involved on campus is the prime way to network and to be noticed by other young professionals. In this calendar include meeting times, locations, and  be specific on what organization the meeting is for. Do not fail to include a to-do-list. This is important especially if office positions are held. As an officer of an organization, staying organized is the best thing to do. This planner for organizations can also be mixed with personal tasks. Personal tasks can include going to your sister’s baby shower, getting your nails done, or making a specific date to go grocery shopping. A to-do-list for something like this might include a personal facial time!

Lastly, keep important times entered into your phone to remind you of important events that require time notice. If your sister’s baby shower starts at three in the afternoon, do not plan to meet up with someone at two in the afternoon for something totally different. Although you are learning how to be more organized this semester with separating different sectors of life, it is pivotal to also learn that it is okay to have gaps in your schedule. Use those gaps for study time or my personal favorite, “Me Time”!

This article gives great ways to stay organized. Remaining structured is the key to ending procrastination as a bad habit. Through experience, I have learned that separating sectors of my life is the best way to remain organized and I am sure you will find comfort in this technique. I never try to mix personal with business, and through this I have remained healthy relationships with those who I would have risked it with being too consumed on one sector of my life. Be more organized, and find yourself having more time! <3

Said with love,

Charlene Alexander is a Professional and Relationships Writer, Social Media, and Special Events Intern at College Lifestyles ™. Charlene is a Mass Communications Undergraduate at University of South Florida. Miss Alexander is an analogue girl in a digital world who enjoys writing.

Health, Nutrition, and Food – So you Want to Be a Dietitian?

Nutrition lover.  Foodie.  Health educator.  Chef.  Health promoter.  Wellness counselor.  Diabetes educator.  Health reporter.  Teacher.  Spokesperson.  School nutrition.  The list goes on and on and many of these individuals have two letters behind their name, RD – Registered Dietitian.

As a registered dietitian, I am often posed questions many questions about the field.  ‘What do you do?’  ‘What was your major?’  ‘What classed did you take?’  ‘How did you get into writing and media?’

I am here to clear up the confusion on our fabulous profession and tell you a bit about the basics on becoming a registered dietitian.

 What was your major?

I have a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.  My Bachelors is from Nicholls State University and my Masters is from Louisiana Tech University.

Do you have to participate in an internship to becoming a Registered Dietitian?

Yes.  In order to site for the RD exam, one must participate in an accredited internship approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration.  I completed my internship through Louisiana Tech University.

 Do you have to have a Masters Degree to become a Registered Dietitian?

No.

What type of classes did you take to become a Registered Dietitian?

Along with my university requirements, specific nutrition courses I took included:

• Food and Nutrition
• Applied Nutrition (Lab Included)
• Nutrition and Health Education
• Nutrition and the Life Cycle
• Community Nutrition
• Meal Management
• Medical Nutrition Therapy
• Food Science
• Institutional Planning
• Organization and Management
• Quantity Food Production
• Methods

Please view the Nicholls State University dietetics catalog for a description on each course.

In addition to the nutrition courses, I took various biology courses/labs and chemistry courses.

While many programs vary on their nutrition offerings (for example, some may offer sports specific nutrition courses and counseling), the nutrition basics are quite familiar.  In addition, various health and social care courses vary university by university, so make sure you understand the program coursework.

 What was your favorite class in undergrad?

My favorite class was Quantity Food Production.  Think of it as running and promoting a restaurant.  Weekly we prepared and served food (all healthy) in relation to a specific theme.

 What was your favorite internship experience?

One of the competencies was to complete a ‘Theme Day’ for the employees at a hospital.  I was very lucky mine was at a Children’s Hospital (Shriners), and we went with a ‘Football Theme.’  We served traditional tailgating food and was able to get hospital permission to wear jerseys.  In addition, I had arranged for local dance teams to perform for the kids.  It was wonderful!  This introduced me to the fabulous world of PR!

 

So you graduated in dietetics and now are the Editor in Chief of College Lifestyles?  How did that happen?

Lots of hard work!  I always loved PR and media, and I was fortunate enough to serve as a spokesperson for the Louisiana Dietetic Association.  I learned how to pitch media, as well as put together TV segments.  I took the work I learned and developed the then blog, College Lifestyles.  From there, we moved up to the site we are now!

 

 

So, You Want a Career in PR?

PR.  2 letters which spell a wonderful career field for some.  Does the world of PR peak your interest?  Do you see yourself executing events and planning press releases for small businesses and non-profits?

College Lifestyles receives a number of PR questions – and many of our interns start out with College Lifestyles and have moved on to jobs in the magazine and PR industry!

But how does one start?  Are certain classes required for a career in PR?  College Lifestyles turned to 2 experts in the field of public relations to answer your burning questions on getting started in the field of PR.

Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper have a combined 30-plus years experience in the public relations industry, having worked both in-house and on the agency side.  Kleiman is currently VP-public relations for Hearst Magazines, one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines.  Meryl Weinsaft Cooper is a co-founder and principal of Allen/Cooper Communications, a marketing, exhibitions and events company with a focus on art and lifestyle brands.  Both are authors of the book, Be Your Own Best Publicist:  How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired and Rewarded at Work.

(A Side Bar:  Be Your Own Best Publicist is used in lesson plans with the College Lifestyles interns due to its amazing, realistic content one can relate to in both work and personal life.  Mine is personally full of sticky notes and fully highlighted.)

 

Jessica and Meryl took time out of their busy schedule to answer our questions on the field of PR.

CL:  What are personal characteristics and strengths are needed for a career in PR?

Jessica and Meryl:  An outgoing nature, ability to be creative and strategic (in Be Your Own Best Publicist, we call it “streative“), persistence and a thick skin (because you have to deal with a lot of rejection!).

CL:  What are professional characteristics and strengths are needed for a career in PR?

Jessica and Meryl:  Knowledge of the media who covers your particular area, a nose for news, social-media savvy and strong writing and editing skills.

CL:  Should students focus on particular classes/internships for career in PR?

Jessica and Meryl:  Not every college has a PR major or even classes in the discipline (University of Michigan, where Jessica went, does not; Meryl’s alma mater, Ithaca, does) so you should just make sure you have a good foundation of writing and communication skills, regardless of your concentration. Internships have become increasingly important because your resume these days is your calling card; going to a good university helps get the attention of potential employers but if you can come in with some practical experience, that will make you a more attractive entry-level candidate.

CL:  What are your biggest tips on getting started in a PR career?

Jessica and Meryl:  Network, network, network! Get in touch with alumni in the PR field and ask for informational interviews. Most people love to talk about how they came up the ladder and would be happy to give a future publicist career advice. Attend events put on by professional organizations such as Women in Communication (they often target college students and, in fact, give Matrix Award scholarships every year – find out more at www.nywici.org) or join the PRSSA at your school if they have a chapter. Intern in the field, even if you can’t afford to live in New York City for the summer — there are usually PR agencies in every local market.

CL:  Any other suggestions you have? 

Jessica and Meryl:  Don’t give up!  It’s a tough job market out there and not an easy time to be looking for internships or post-graduation positions but if you make as many connections as possible, build up your personal profile and get some PR experience while you’re still in school (even if it’s volunteering to promote your sorority’s charity event!), you’ll have leg up versus the competition.

Stay connected with Jessica and Meryl through their website Be Your Own Best Publicist.  

To order a copy of Be Your Own Best Publicist, follow this link to their website and/or to our book on Amazon.

 

Jessica Kleiman is currently VP-public relations for Hearst Magazines, one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines. She has guest lectured about publicity at NYU and the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Columbia University and has written for various newspapers, Web sites and magazines.  A graduate of University of Michigan with a BA in Communication, she started her career at a magazine publicity firm and then served as director of PR at The Knot, a wedding media company. Kleiman lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter and enjoys posting words she finds funny on Twitter, Facebook and her blog, Funny Word of the Day.

Meryl Weinsaft Cooper is a co-founder and principal of Allen/Cooper Communications, a marketing, exhibitions and events company with a focus on art and lifestyle brands.  Previously, as managing director  of the DeVries Public Relations‘ Home & Lifestyle division and as SVP-Partner at LaForce+Stevens, she led programs for a variety of hospitality and consumer brands including Veuve Clicquot, Viceroy Hotels, Vikram Chatwal Hotels, BR Guest Restaurants, Tourism New South Wales, Magnolia Bakery, Belvedere Vodka, Pepperidge Farm, Samuel Adams Beer, New Amsterdam Gin and Ecco Domani Wines.  A graduate of Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications, her PR experience includes stints in art, music and entertainment, including time at the Screen Actors Guild’s New York office.  She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and dog, and spends her spare time writing and producing films as well as seeking out the best culinary, travel and art experiences, which she documents in her blog, Searching for Jake Ryan.

Both authors are contributing bloggers on Forbes.com’s Work in Progress section.

Style by the City: Rome

Dear CL-ers,
Welcome to the 4th installment of Style by the City! Today, we cross the Atlantic Ocean to Roma, Italia, and find some inspiration from some of the best-known landmarks in the world.

Casual Outfit: Spanish Steps

Ring, Bag, Khakis, Top, Shoes, Coat, Photo Credit

Now an important landmark, the Spanish Steps were once important as a new way of connecting the Spanish Embassy to an important church atop a steep hill. Nowadays, the Steps still take some effort to climb with 138 of them. Make the trek easier with some cute ballet flats, yellow in homage to the Spanish flag. A bright yellow peacoat also keeps you warm and brightens up a dreary winter day. Still, these steps are in Italy, where they bleed red, white, and green. Add a red-and-white striped top and a green Murano ring. (Murano glass is a type of crafts native to Venice, not Rome…but shhh!) With so many colors, you’ll need some neutrals to keep the look from overwhelming you. Try a plain black bag and some wide-leg khakis, and set off to conquer the world! Or perhaps just your 8AM class. They’re equally important, right?

Date Outfit: Trevi Fountain

 

Shoes, Tights, Bangle, Bag, Jacket, Skirt, Earrings, Scarf, Shirt

One of the many reasons that the Pantheon is so famous is because the distance from the floor to the top of the dome is equal to the dome’s diameter, giving the temple perfect balance. So any outfit inspired by it must be just as harmonious. Start with a plain white T-shirt. Then, since the Pantheon is a mishmash of geometric figures, have some fun with texture. Here we’ve selected textured polka-dot tights, a lace jacket, a patterned scarf, and a boucle mini. Add some microphone earrings, in honor of the great orators who used to memorize their speeches at the Pantheon by assigning a paragraph to a particular spot. (Also a great study aid, if you can study in your exam room.) Tie the look together with a gray suede bag, and don’t forget a spot of color to keep the look from getting too dull! Try a pair of crimson Mary Jane pumps.

Sasha Graffagna is a junior at NYU majoring in Journalism and Comparative Literature. She is currently studying abroad in Buenos Aires.

CL Interview: The Lingerie Addict

The Lingerie Addict started out as one woman’s humble journey into the world of lingerie. Today, it is the top-visited lingerie blog on the web. Check out our interview with Founder and Lead Editor Treacle on all things lingerie and independent blogging.

CL: How did you get started on The Lingerie Addict?

Treacle: I started blogging (first as Stockings Addict, then as The Lingerie Addict) because I was dating someone and wanted to buy some lingerie to enjoy with them, but I had no idea where to start. I searched for product reviews or suggestions about how to buy lingerie, but I couldn’t very much information on the subject. So I just started writing reviews of things I was buying and mini-blogs of pieces I wanted to buy, and things just took off naturally from there.

CL: Did you expect it to be the success it was today? How have you been dealing with that success?

Treacle: I had no idea my blog would ever be as successful as it is today. I never started blogging with the intention of becoming popular. I started because I was getting all this cool new stuff I wanted to talk about. The fact that it’s become a success is really just an added bonus.

In terms of dealing with the success, I don’t think anything has really changed. I started off blogging about things that interested me, and I still blog about what interests me. The only difference now is that I talk to way more people than I did when I first started!

CL: Do you have a day job? How do you balance your blogger and professional life?

Treacle: I had a day job until very recently as a crisis counselor. As of September 2011, I blog and consult full-time. When I was holding down a day job and blogging, I balanced the two by working like a maniac. Seriously…I would get up early in the morning before work to blog, blog during my breaks and lunches, and then come home after work and blog some more. Once I reached the point where there were no more hours to cram in before and after work, I realized it might be time for me to try blogging full-time.

CL: What advice would you have to a college student who wants to blog for a living?

Treacle: My advice would be to 1) choose a subject you’re completely and totally passionate about, 2) be consistent about updating your blog…choose a schedule and stick to it, and 3) interact and connect with other bloggers, whether that’s through cons, conferences, or guest blogging.

CL: What are some common misconceptions about lingerie?

Treacle: Some of the most common misconceptions I run into from my readers are that 1) you have to have a lot of money to buy beautiful lingerie, 2) lingerie only looks good if you’re thin, and 3) lingerie is for men to look at only.

You don’t need a lot of money for gorgeous lingerie; there are wonderful pieces available at every price point. Lingerie comes in all sizes to flatter all body types. And I firmly believe that lingerie is all about women first, and their partners second.

CL: What is the biggest mistake people make when buying/wearing/caring for lingerie?

Treacle: The biggest mistake people make when buying or caring for lingerie is 1) buying something that doesn’t fit them perfectly and 2) putting their bras in the tumble dryer.

If something doesn’t fit right in the store when you’re trying it on, it probably won’t fit right at home and then you’re stuck with lingerie you don’t love.

If you stick your lingerie in the dryer, you’ll wear out the elastic quicker and need to replace your lingerie much faster than if you hung it to air dry.

CL: What is the proper way to know how a bra fits? – from a CL reader

Treacle: There are a few key signs to know if your bra fits. The first is that the underwire in the cups needs to lie flat against your ribcage, not against the breast tissue on both sides. The second is that the bridge of the bra (that center piece connecting the cups) needs to lie flat against your sternum, not raised up off your body. The third is that your band (where most of the bra support comes from) needs to be straight across in the back, not riding up or digging in. And, of course, your straps should lie flat as well, without slipping off your shoulders or digging into the flesh.

CL: What basic/must-have items should be in a college student’s lingerie wardrobe?

Treacle: I think every college student needs at least 4 different kinds of bras: a t-shirt bra, a sports bra, a convertible bra, and a soft or wireless bra.

CL:  What are some affordable places for college students to buy lingerie?

Treacle: I’m a huge fan of buying online because of the range of styles, sizes, and price points online boutiques offer. My faves are Figleaves.com, BareNecessites.com, ASOS.com, and HerRoom.com.

CL: What is the proper way to care for lingerie, and how often should one wash bras?

Treacle: The best way to care for your lingerie is to handwash with a specialty lingerie wash and then to hang your pieces up to dry. However, I know not every woman has the time to individually handwash her intimates, so if you’re a little pressed for time, putting your lingerie in a delicates bag and machine washing it on gentle is an acceptable substitute. You can also use baby shampoo if you don’t have a special lingerie wash. But you still shouldn’t put your intimates in the dryer!

CL: What is your favorite piece of lingerie, and why?

Treacle: I love vintage slips. They’re versatile, sensual, totally classy and very inexpensive.

CL: Is there anything that I haven’t asked that you think is important to contribute to this interview?

Treacle: If you’re new to lingerie, I recommend checking out this list of the most popular posts on my blog. It’s a great place to find lots of timeless advice to help you on your lingerie journey.

Want more? Check out TheLingerieAddict.com. You can also find the site on tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter.

Sasha Graffagna is a NYU junior studying Comparative Literature and Journalism. Currently abroad in Buenos Aires, she loves The Lingerie Addict and hopes you’ll enjoy it as much as she does.

College Lifestyles Winter/Spring Internship Applications Available!

Looking to jump into the world of writing, PR, and social media?  College Lifestyles is currently accepting applications for its virtual internship for the Winter/Spring 2011 year.

College Lifestyles is the premier nutrition, etiquette, career, and lifestyle firm for savvy co-eds and sorority ladies.  College Lifestyles prides itself in bringing the most current information on nutrition, the sorority experience, etiquette, fashion, health, careers tips, lifestyle, and image to it’s readers through our website, e-newsletter, Facebook page, Twitter, tumblr, collegiate/sorority programs and presentations.

Internship positions we have available:

• Writer/Editorial Interns
• Social Media Interns
• PR/Event Planning Interns
• Advertising Interns

Currently, College Lifestyles is on the ‘look-out’ for interns to share some fantastic stories and PR work!  In particular, we are looking with interns who need writing experience for a portfolio for class and/or looking for a future career in writing, social media, advertising, and PR.  Our greatest need for writing is fashion and sorority life writers.  If you have a knack for fashion and want to give tips on the sorority life experience, this is the place to showcase!

We are looking for interns who are ‘go-getters’ and who are not afraid to set up interviews with classmates and professions, perform interviews for posting on our website, discuss College Lifestyles with friends, family, and sisters, those who can develop media and advertising packets.

Interns can range from freshman to graduate students and can be any major; but we would prefer the following majors:

• PR/Marketing.
• Business.
• Nutrition/Dietetics/Health.
• Fashion Merchandising/Design.
• English.
• Journalism.
• Mass communication.
• Advertising/Business.

Requirements for internship include:

• Daily internet/computer access with access to Facebook, Skype, and Twitter. (please do not apply if you do not have any of the above social media accounts)
• Camera (for snap shots/pics).
• 20-30 minute biweekly SKYPE calls with our CEO and CL Interns.
• 5 hour week time commitment.
• Understanding of technology
• Represent the College Lifestyles brand at your university

While we are open to all styles of writing, we will only accept those interns who fit the mission and brand of our organization.  (Please read the about page on our site to learn about our mission and brand).

Applications are due by 11/30/11 (or sooner!) via email to info@collegelifestyles.org.

While this is not a paid position, students will gain worlds of experience to build your portfolio, working with teams (via email and Facebook), networking with peers, interviewing some pretty ‘great’ individuals, share your talents with the world (!) and showcase your talents.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, we encourage you to ‘Spread the Word!’ on our internship!

For an application packet and full description of our Intern responsibilities, please email Shelly at info@collegelifestyles.org.

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