I love three things about this cocktail: 1) How refreshing it looks, 2) Sangria is my favorite and 3) I get to use a melon-baller to make the garnish.  (When I was 10, my Nana ran a commercial kitchen and she used to let me make the watermelon baskets for the fruit salad. Early-90s haute cuisine at its finest.)

The recipe for Watermelon Sangria (and the photo) comes from the fine people at Food & Wine.  I think it would be perfect for a baby or bridal shower, or an al fresco brunch.  Now, where did I put that melon-baller?

Round of Applause Dress ($108)

I love the vintage simplicity of this bright pink frock.  I would probably take a seam-ripper to the tiny bows on the neckline, but that’s a small matter.

If you prefer a dress that’s more flirty and fun, I actually like the lacy cutouts on this Max & Cleo frock.  But if cutouts aren’t your thing, I like this dress with a pleated skirt and embroidery on the bodice.

Shopping in the under-$100 category?  You can buy this breezy dress or rent this gorgeous lace Milly dress.

Petite? This pretty Ralph Lauren sheath is great for work or dinner on the town.  Plus-size?  I love the texture on this Calvin Klein dress.

The answer: Don’t quit.

Like many women, the first two/three years of my post-graduation experience were rocky.  Managing finances, learning how to be a good employee, carving out a path for my career–it was all a bit more difficult than I imagined it would be.

I was almost completely alone in a city far from home, and I spent most of the first year thinking that I had made a big mistake, shaking the couch cushions for grocery money and thinking I’d never make it.  I cried.  I lost sleep.  I thought daily, maybe hourly, about packing it in.

Quitting would have been easy.  I had few connections to D.C..  I wouldn’t have been leaving good friends or a job behind.  It would have taken me half-a-day to pack my belongings, get on a plane and go back to what was familiar and easy.  But I didn’t.

I’m one of those women who doesn’t regret the mistakes she made, I regret the things that I didn’t try.

Had I left D.C. at that moment, I would have forever been a quitter.  I would have always wondered, “What if?,” and I wasn’t prepared to spend the rest of my life in regret.  If I was going to leave D.C. and give up this dream, then I was going to do it because I chose to leave, not because succeeding was too hard.

So my advice to the women graduating this weekend is that the first few years are always difficult.  Having big dreams and achieving them isn’t for the faint of heart.  There will be days when you’re sitting at the bottom of the well thinking, “What the hell have I gotten myself into?”  But if you can make it past those days, there are always better ones ahead.

You are stronger than you think.  You are capable of great things if you are willing to put in the work.  And if you get to a place where your “big dream” no longer feels right for you, then leave because you choose to do something different, not because the path to achievement was too rocky.  Don’t give up on your graduation-day dream, unless you find a new one that you want more.

1.) Buzzfeed has a list of the books you need to read in your 20s.  I couldn’t agree more with #58.

2.) I spotted this amazing Phillip Lim crossbody bag/clutch in Muleh the other day, and I cannot get it out of my head.  Some people get songs stuck in their heads, I have chic leather goods on repeat.

3.) Looking for a way to kill time on a lazy afternoon?  Check out The Hairpin’s feature on the scandals of classic Hollywood.  One peek into the skeleton-filled closets of a bygone era and you’ll be hooked.

4.) I wanted a jersey dress that was nice enough to wear to work on a Tuesday, so I picked up this Ann Taylor sheath.  It has sleeves, a waist-defining detail and costs under-$100…what more could a girl want?

5.) A few years ago, I wrote a post about how I refuse to donate hair or money to Locks of Love because they make recipients pay for the wigs they receive.  So this Forbes article detailing how the charity “misplaced” $6 million in donations and only turned 3% of the hair donations it received into wigs caught my eye.

Still want to donate your shorn hair?  Try Pantene Beautiful Lengths instead.  They have a higher success rate at turning donated hair into wigs, and best of all, the wigs are provided FREE of charge to people in need.

6.)  The only thing I like more than clothes and makeup is television.  I watch way too much, so the season ending episodes are always bittersweet for me.  Luckily, Michael Ausiello has enough spoilers and inside info to keep me sated until fall.

7.)  Have you seen the new collection from Kate Spade called Saturday?  It’s supposed to incorporate everything you love about Kate into younger, hipper clothing.  I’m not her target demographic, but I have found a few pieces to love.  The bright mint sandals are really fun, and this slouchy dress is perfect for Saturdays.

8.)  Eating healthy food is a challenge for me because all I want to eat are cheeseburgers, nachos and ice cream.  But if I keep finding delicious and healthful recipes like this Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad, I might be able to stick to it.

9.)  On reader recommendation I signed up for The Skimm, a daily e-mail that breaks down the top news stories of the day into digestible bites, and I love it.  You should seriously sign up.   I also love Jon Stewart’s take on the recent troubles at the IRS; I laughed until I cried.

10.) Given that my new apartment is much, much warmer in the summer than my old apartment, I need some warm weather pajamas.  I was originally thinking about this set from Eberjey, but I’m a stomach sleeper so buttons are not the best choice.  This Donna Karan shorts-set is the cutest.thing.ever, but my pjs shouldn’t cost as much as my work clothes (same goes for this Hanro set).  So I think I’ll go for this pretty crochet set in ivory.

11.)  Now that the weather is heating up, I’ve started carrying a perfume rollerball in my purse for touch ups.  Sephora has a great selection of travel size fragrances that won’t spill in your purse.  Citron de Vigne is a favorite, but I also like the mix of scents in this Vanilla Grapefruit rollerball.

Elected Official

Coach Tanner Perforated Mini Tote ($268)

Hill Staffer

French Connection Leather Shopper ($168)

Paid Intern

Mango Perforated Tote Bag ($69)

In the under-$150 category, I also found this black satchel with a really cool dome/pyramid shape and this $25 taupe satchel.  Prefer a bit of color?  This Orla Kiely satchel is pretty and fun.  And if you’d rather just have a little clutch, this pleated clutch is a great choice.

I had last night all planned out.  Dinner at 6:30.  Home by 9:00.  Blog.  Bed.

Then, things went a little sideways.

My relaxed dinner with a couple of friends turned into an early birthday celebration (it’s not for two weeks), bottles were popped, desserts were eaten, cocktails were had.  And yours truly strolled home at little before 11:00 on a school night in no condition to write the English language.  (Friends don’t let friends drink and blog.)

I’ll throw up the Two Ways post for the peplum skirt when I get home tonight, and then we’ll be business as usual tomorrow.  Sorry for the delay.  Have a pleasant Thursday!

xoxo

Belle

I tried the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, and while I liked the color a lot and the coverage and staying power were top-notch, I couldn’t get the pencil to stay sharp, which made precise application impossible.  But given that I hadn’t found anything better, I kept using it.

Until this week.

Sumita Color Contrast Liners (set of 4 mini-liners, $21)

Given my fruitless search for a new pencil eyeliner, I was glad when Birchbox asked me to try their new Sumita liners.  But when I actually tried to use the pencils, my attitude went from glad, to thrilled.

First off, the color and coverage of these liners is really good.  The pigments are bold, and the coverage is buildable.  Unsurprisingly, my favorite color is the dark purple, but I also tried out the blue hue and was surprised at how much I liked it.  (The kit comes with black, purple, blue and grey.)

Secondly, the ease with which these liners are applied cannot be overstated.  They glide onto the skin with no pulling and little pressure, so your delicate lids don’t feel abused.  And the tip gives you a medium-fine line that you can thicken or pull into a thinner line for perfect “winged” liner.

Additionally, one of my biggest problems with the Bobbi liner was that it was difficult to smudge or blend.  The Sumita liners are easily smudged but also long-wearing, I have no idea how they pulled this off.

As for removal, it did take a little more work to cleanly remove these liners.  Typically, I can take off the Bobbi liner with a sweep of my Say Yes to Blueberries wipes, but for the Sumita liners, I needed a true eye-makeup removing solvent.

I couldn’t be happier with the Sumita liners.  The colors are great, and I can’t get over how the product glides on like velvet.    Plus, the price point on these liners is a lot more palatable than other brands I’ve used.  I think I’m officially converted.

Birchbox sent me a set of Sumita liners to try.  This review reflects my true opinion of the product, and no limitations were placed upon my review. 

Black Peplum Skirt ($35)

Peplums are a trend that has sustained far past when I thought it would.  However, peplums are hard to pull off for apple and pear shapes.  The solution?  A peplum that adds volume in the front, but keeps things sleek in the back.  Otherwise you end up adding volume where none was needed, or even worse, creating the look of having to rear ends.  No thanks.

Luckily, this skirt gives you the look of a peplum without the extra weight.  And at only $35 it’s a great deal.

Frankly, I like peplum skirts. They add a bit of vintage whimsy to an otherwise staid work wardrobe.  And I think that if you’re willing to try on a few, you can find one that enhances your figure.

I also like this Kensie skirt with a longer peplum, under-$50.  Also, if you want color, try this bright pink peplum ($23), this teal peplum ($35) and this cobalt skirt ($35).  And if you don’t mind a mini-skirt, I LOVE the clean lines, 2001-Space-Odyssey styling of this orange skirt from The Limited.

Plus size?  I didn’t find a skirt that I loved, but I did find this under-$100 peplum dress.  Add a belt and this dress is money.  Petite? How about a $17 skirt?  Or this pretty pink dress?  Dealer’s choice.

Hi Belle,

I follow you on Instagram and I’m wondering where you find the dresses you always wear on weekends? 

Liesl

I like to wear dresses on casual days because it allows me to dress nicely without overdressing.  Just add a pair of flat shoes, some sunglasses, a good bag, one accessory/piece of jewelry and you’re done.  Here are the places where I find most of my casual dresses:

Zara.  A great place to find stylish dresses that you can wear for just one season, or longer if you wish.  Right now, I’m embracing their 1970s, Pat Nixon in Palm Springs vibe.  I love this printed shift and this long caftan.

Loft.  If I’m going out-of-town to visit family or see friends, I pack four or five dresses and call the matter closed.  One of my favorite places to shop for easy, breezy vacay dresses is Loft.  This striped t-shirt dress is an instant staple, and this twisted tank dress could be accessorized for a relaxed dinner or used as a swimsuit cover-up.  Oh, and the details on the bodice of this bright orange dress, super cute.

Banana Republic.  The BR sale rack is my favorite place for great finds.  This polo dress is a preppy classic.  And this red cap sleeve dress would be great for casual Friday or weekend barbecues.

French Connection.  If you want a dress that’s a little nicer, say for brunches or casual dinner dates, French Connection is the place to go.  This printed scoopneck dress is so chic, and could work under a blazer for the office.   And if you like stripes but want a more modern, interesting shape, this is the dress for you.

Uniqlo.  Are you drawn to the look of Band of Outsiders or Rag & Bone or Opening Ceremony?  Then Uniqlo should be right up your alley.  Their dresses have clean lines, modern details and a vibe that’s lightly hipster, but without the acrid after taste of American Apparel.

The prices are phenomenal and even my structured/pretty aesthetic can find pieces to love.  The shape on this dress is to die for, and this cotton short sleeve dress is voluminous and comfy.  And this shirt dress would look great with a men’s leather belt and some woven sandals.

Plus size?  Try Macy’s and ASOS.  Petite? Try Target and Dillard’s.

It takes awhile to build up a good selection of casual dresses, but most of mine come off the sale rack.  Dress them up with accessories for going out, or just while them when you’re running errands.  For me, they’re the perfect alternative to shorts.

Trying to decide if now is a good time to ask for a raise?  This flowchart from Lifehacker can help you suss out what factors might make now a good time to ask for a raise.

If you’re seriously considering asking for a raise, the first place I would go is to the Levo League.  Because as the site says, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you ask for.  They have helpful tips and videos to get you thinking about how much you should ask for, how to ask and how to move forward with a negotiation.  And should you feel like you need some in person coaching, Levo is having an event this Thursday in D.C. to help school young women on the art of salary negotiation.

Another great website to visit is Glass Door.  If you work in the private sector, it can give you a better sense of what others in your field are making.  They also have a great blog where they provide valuable tips on asking for a raise.  I found this post on not making the first move in a negotiation particularly helpful.

As for my own advice, having been on both sides of the desk for a salary negotiation, I can tell you that the best thing you can do is come into the room confident and prepared.

Asking for a raise is nerve-wracking.  I’d rather take part in a live fire exercise than sit across from my Boss and explain why I’m worth more money than he’s paying me.  And when I was younger, I would let that internal weakness undermine my negotiations.  Twice, I took less than I deserved because that little voice in my head said, “You’re lucky to have a job at all, take the first offer so you don’t offend anyone.”

Later on, I realized that that little voice is a wimp and a liar.  As long as you handle your negotiations with strength, class and professionalism, you won’t offend anyone (unless you boss is the most sensitive human alive, he/she will understand that dealing with raise requests is part of the job).  And if you know that what you’re asking for is fair, in line with other salaries for your position and justified by your value to the company, then you’re not wrong to ask.

So before you go into the room, spend a solid hour thinking about your request, things to say to your Boss and answers to his questions.  Think of counterpoints to common arguments like, “now is a really bad time” or “you know the office is in a tight financial spot.”  As Monster points out, negotiating a salary, esp. in a tight fiscal climate, means that you need to be prepared to demonstrate your value to the office with evidence of your worth.

Lastly, this article from Forbes lists out seven no-nos when asking for a raise, which can help focus you on the right things to do.

In closing, I’ll say it again, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you ask for.

Dear Belle,

The pile of fashion magazines on my nightstand says that tie dye is back in style.  That can’t possibly be true…can it?

Hanna

River Island Tie Dye Mirror Print Dress ($43)

Why, yes, tie-dye is in style this season.  But this is not necessarily a bad thing.

The dress above is a cool mix of Alexander McQueen’s prints and the freeform pattern of tie-dye.  Even name designers like Elie Tahari, DvF and Tory Burch have embraced the power of tie-dye.  And the colors of this strapless dress from Intermix are sublime. But since I don’t think this is a trend with multi-season sticking power, let’s keep to the less expensive choices, shall we?

I like this London Times dress, this flirty orange dress and this purple maxi.

If you’re not looking for a dress, I love the mix of colors on this top and this cowl neck top would look nice with navy or bright separates.  I also like the colors on this tie-dye maxi.  Or if you just want a hint of tie-dye, try this BCBG scarf.

Plus size?  This INC dress has just a hint of pattern on a solid field, it’s really pretty.  Petite?  I like the mix of colors and textures on this crewneck tee.