Don’t Cry Over Spilt Pearls

I did it. I have successfully completed one full week as an intern in corporate America. Although I still have a large amount of knowledge to understand for my specific department, I would like to think I have learned a couple small things since my start the previous Monday.

Monday

1. Get your nails done for your first day.

I can’t quite put my finger(nail) on it, but I tend to feel a little more professional with a manicure and pedicure. My mom was very kind to treat me the night before I started my internship.

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2. Take some time to really get to know your fellow interns at orientation.

I have already made a few good friends to get coffee and lunch with every day, and I really look forward to spending time with them during my breaks and in group project meetings.

3. Bring a little school spirit with you when you’re nervous.

My BC portfolio (with a legal pad inside for jotting down notes) always comes with me on interviews and important meetings. It’s comforting to know #WeAreBC wherever I am.

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Tuesday

1. Make fitness a priority.

I am not going to lie. I would rather be playing intramural soccer or working out with my ultimate team than be going to a gym. However, if I am going to be doing the latter, I am happy to be doing it at Equinox this summer. My sister, Kerry, has very generously agreed to split the cost of gym membership with me as an early birthday present. Working out consistently has definitely been easier when I have someone to make me go with them…especially at 5 AM when all I want to do is go back to bed!

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2. Have your outfit ready the night before – shoes & accessories too!

The peace of mind, let alone the time you save rushing in the morning, makes it worth having your outfit laid out the night before. (This is one lesson I definitely wish I had started to follow this past school year!)

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3. Enjoy dinners at home with your family.

As my brother, Sean, has been living in Texas for approximately the last 5 years, any time he and his lovely boyfriend, Blake, come to visit, it is really a treat. I cherish being able to end my day with a nice meal, (usually chicken parmesan whenever Sean is home!), laughter, and the never-ending supply of support my family provides.

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Wednesday

1. Don’t cry over spilt pearls.

It was probably inevitable that something was going to go ridiculously awry during my first full team meeting. While I was casually switching my pearl bracelet from one wrist to another, the entire bracelet, suddenly, broke apart. Smooth, Erin. Pearls scattered onto the table and all across the floor. Although I was frozen with panic at first, I realized the best thing to do was to quickly apologize and just put the pearls into my pocket. I may have felt my cheeks flush, but at my welcoming lunch later that day, it was a moment that my team was able to laugh with me about. Ironically, this unfortunate blunder actually made me feel like part of the team more than anything else during my first week.

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2. Show your appreciation to your co-workers.

My four team members really did everything possible in my first week to make me feel like I belonged. I tried to make sure I said thank you for significant actions, like our team lunch at Papa Razzi for chicken club sandwiches and hand-cut fries, in addition to the smaller gestures, such as picking me up at my desk on my first day, explaining important acronyms specific to our company, and encouraging me to ask questions whenever I was uncertain about something.

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3. Indulge in a little retail therapy.

As Kerry is currently apartment hunting in Montclair, we decided to have dinner there on Wednesday night after she had checked out an open listing. While we waited for our table at Raymond’s, I wandered into a little shop called Oasis. I have been looking for the perfect black maxi skirt for the summer, and I think I found it here. The store boasts an interesting collection of clothes that, hopefully, I will be featuring sometime in July!

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4. Sit outside after a long day indoors.

Even just the simple act of eating dinner outside really did have a strong positive effect on my mood after being indoors for most of the day. Sitting outside at Raymond’s was pleasant as many people were out and about, seemingly happy not just with the weather but also with the company they dined with.

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Perfect Meal: Field Greens & Vegetarian Chili

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5. Talk to your loved ones who are far away from you.

This, for me, is the most significant part of my day. It makes me feel connected to those I care about most, even though they are thousands of miles away.

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Thursday

1. Engage in a little TBT to stay connected.

I love posting pictures of my day, and I love seeing other people’s pictures on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Texts and emails are great, but I really enjoy a visual representation of someone’s current thoughts and life moments. #TBT is one of the greatest excuses to share embarrassing, hilarious, adorable and/or nostalgia-inducing photographs that both your friends and family love.

My #TBT upload this week, in honor of Father’s Day, was dedicated to my dad, John.

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2. Don’t let the weather get you down.

Of course. It is always a bummer when it rains. I find that going for a quick dinner at a place like Panera with the ladies of your house on a night like this makes you feel a little less dreary. I think it is scientifically proven that cheddar broccoli soup can cheer anyone up.

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3. Be silly with your sisters.

Somehow cleaning out my closet on Thursday night became a fashion show. My mom snapped this photo while Kerry and I were trying to help Meghan zip up a potential prom dress for next year. I wore this blue BCBG dress to my senior prom. It was one of those nights where everything was just hilarious, and it started my Friday morning off on a great note looking at the pictures from the night before.

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Friday

1. Read the Tailour Intern Guide for fabulous tips and style inspiration!

After obsessing over this guide, especially the fantastic dresses, stay tuned for my “Tailour Tuesday” post, which will feature an interview with both female co-founders and a special surprise from the company!

2. Determine my goals for the week, the month, and the summer.

I am happy my program stresses setting goals for the entirety of the summer. I have decided it will be best to break these goals up into smaller steps, in order to make them more manageable.

3. Pat myself on the back for completing the first week.

Send me on my way into the weekend where I can enjoy being able to sleep in and spend time with friends and family. TGIF!

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Good luck to anyone who is currently working an internship over the course of the next few months! What did you learn after your first week on the job?

Stylishly Yours,

Erin ★