Happy Sunday

What a week - here's a recap. 

1. \\ Check out the huge report my work just launched on inequality [it's a big deal].

The New York Times called it "a deeply serious document - one of the best overviews of income stagnation and inequality."  

Also - check that unruly blonde bob live tweeting away - you guessed it - my first CSPAN appearance

2. \\ These dogs exist. 

3. \\ This hysterical insta post curtesy of @alexlaughs

4. \\ This laptop case that is everything I could ever want.  

5. \\ Leading ladies _ ancient world edition 

have a lovely weekend ! 

TEDx Chester River 2014

This past weekend I gave my first TEDx talk. 

Eeeek! 

A few weeks ago I was sending TED talks to my Business professor when she suggested that I join their team for the TEDx Chester River weekend.  I joined the group just 1 week ago and when asked who would give the presentation, I jumped at the chance!  We are hoping to write up a paper on our ideas and have it published.  This was such an amazing experience and I'm so excited to post about it.

Lord & Taylor was having an ah-mazing sale the other week, and I found this perfect black shift for work, interviews, life.  

We heard from Mary Daley Yerrick, the Co-Founder of Vital Voices, married couple, writer Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr of Idiot's Books, Robbie Blinkoff the Cultural Anthropologist, and Washington College professor, Kaitlin Thomas.  The speakers at TEDx Chester River were so inspiring and thoughtful.  I can't wait to see the videos when they are published!   

Have you ever been to a TEDx talk?

Smart Girls

Calling all Smart Girls, have you heard of The Smart Girls Group?

I'm so excited to finally announce that I'm working with the Smart Girls Group on their exec staff as their Bookings Director.  It is such a LOVELY sisterhood and an amazing magazine that brings some of the best women together to learn and grow.  We had our first meeting tonight over Google Hangout and it's amazing knowing that I'm connecting with women in NYC, Austin, and Paris to collaborate on this wonderful mission: to empower the next generation of super star women who make the world a better place.

In addition to my #SmartGirl project, I've taken on communications and strategy work for a Congressional Campaign, and political research for a Women's Magazine called Vitamin W.  

I was worried that I was taking on too much, and then I saw this on Pinterest, and now I'm not so worried.  I'm doing things that I love & I'm so excited to be a part of them! 

img 1

What new challenges and projects have you guys been taking on lately?   

Muse

         

Monday inspiration from Pinterest this morning. 

img 1 / my comfort food

img 2 /  my next project 

img 3 /  something new I want to try

img 4 /  where I wish I was at all times

Storify; #GovernmentShutdown

Who doesn't love a little twitter satire?

Exciting News

My my how things change.

Yesterday I woke up and kicked my funk to the curb.  

I woke up at 7, went for a run & got my supervisor breakfast and splurged for the large coffe all before coming to work for the day.  Boom.

  I was finally feeling like myself when, 

my inbox changed my mood.  

I've been following/reading/loving/drooling Sweet Lemon Magazine since its conception.  I was a big CollegePrep fan and was really inspired to start blogging, writing, styling, etc.  @SweetLemonMag put out a request for writers, I applied with no hope or expectation. 

That all changed yesterday when I got my email from @Paris [the editor-in-chief] that I had been selected as a Staff Writer.  

I just finished writing my first post and I'm still blushing.  #TeamAli

Make sure you check out their latest issue; it's their best yet! 

But wait, there's more.
I was accepted to be a member of CapFabb! CapFabb is an online blogging community for bloggers in the DC, NOVA, MD area.  Bloggers can collaborate, connect, and plan events together to network.  Through CapFabb we are able to connect with local business, designers, and bloggers.  It's a seriously cool group & I'm so honored to be a part of it.

Check out our members & apply if you're a blogger in the area.  

It's been a good end to the week to say the least!
I'm excited to relax, catch up on work, & visit with my family this weekend.

Did you have any exciting news this week?  Big weekend plans?! Tell me about it below! 

PS. Be on the look out for my first post on Sweet Lemon about the #sharknado [lol]

Govloop & GLAM

Yesterday was another exciting day in the District. 

It started off with my caffeine fix at Bagels & Baguettes and some work from home (which I love).  I've got my little nook set up here in the WISH row house, and when you live with 8 people, its nice to have the space to yourself with the morning sunshine.  

Is that too 'only child' of me?

Anyway, I Uber'd (I hope that becomes a verb, can I paten that?) over to a conference at the District Architecture Center which was gorgeous!  It was such a fresh and bright space.  I was there for Govloop's event, "Doing More with What You Have: WordPress in Government."  

While most of the content was above my head in terms of tech, coding, and web development, it was still extremely resourceful from a local government perspective.  

We heard from lead developers at WordPress, GovDelivery, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, however I was most excited to hear from Melissa Bell, the Blog Engagement Director at the Washington Post.  She gave a fantastic [Prezi] presentation on how WashPost uses WordPress for most of its content and blogs.  

Part of me felt a bit like a traitor, since I just moved my personal blog back from WordPress to Blogger to start over design wise, but nevertheless it was a day of learning and networking.  

Last night I attended GLAM LLC [Give Labels A Meaning] Summer Fashion Event.  GLAM is a nonprofit that works to give back to the Washington, DC community.  The event's procedes were raised for Safe Shores DC which is a children's advocacy group that helps fight trauma and promote healing of children who previously faced abuse.  A great group for a great cause & great fashion?  

Simply perfect.

 The lights and table arrangements were perfect for this space, it had a great energy last tonight on H street NE! The Bishop Boutique from Alexandria had the most gorgeous shoes as well as Milly bags.  I might be making a trip there before the summer ends; a pair of patterned moccasins that live there are calling my name.   

When I say they OWNED the floor, they owned it.  Gorgeous outfits.

^^ These models worked it all night!  Absolutely adored the pink two sided crop top.  That looks like something I would wear to work!

^^ I could get over this vendor.  I've seen her before at Eastern Market and her jewelry is just to die for, every Pinterest lover's dream.  I found some amazing pieces of jewelry for about a quarter of the price they would normally go for elsewhere.  I frequented this table all night but sadly left empty handed.  

It was a seriously great day, lots of business cards swapped and lots of emails to write!
Congrats GLAM LLC! 

Looking forward to spending the night in Baltimore for Crabs & Boh's for my best pal's 21st birthday!  

Did you have an eventful week?  How are you spending your weekend?  

Personal Social Media Practices

I talk a lot about social media at work.  

I write about social media a lot at work. 

And I write for social media at work. 

I think what I do is a great fit but I enjoy it on a personal level, however the more I think about strategy for my non profit in terms of social media engagement, the more I think about my own use.  As someone who has always had an interest in journalism, social media, and engaging a community, I love new media.
I remember when you had to be asked to join Facebook (circa 2006) and when you had to invited to Pinterest (circa 2011).  The dark days of selective, secretive social media.  

No more!

I find that I check Facebook everyday, multiple times a day and use it as a means for communication, direct, private messages.  I have it on the tightest security controls ever..as in no one can write on my wall and I don't use FB chat.  Yet, I could not imagine my life without it.  I'm at the point in my life where everyone is getting engaged and its exciting..like, make some popcorn and scroll, exciting.

Tumblr is my outlet for relaxation.  I love scanning through and reblogging things that inspire me and make me smile.  It is definitely my favorite outlet

Google+ is where I post interesting reading or articles that I don't want to post to Facebook, but I still think the world needs to know about.  I only post something on the FB if it is of dire importance.
I'd really like to turn that into a section on here, my collected reading for the week, stay tuned. :)
I also LOVE google chat...that is my jam.

Pinterest is something I love to look at during my lunch break and 'like' because it's mindless.  I usually go back later to pin to my boards.  Does anyone else do that??  I recently renamed my boards and picked new cover photos for each.  It felt like a cleanse.  I have lots of 'likes' waiting to be sorted.

Polyvore I hardly check; its nice to see the jump in set views when you haven't checked in awhile.  I have the polyvore plug in linked up to my Google Chrome so whenever I see something I'd like in my closet, I clip it to my polyvore.  I can then go back and design my own sets which I post on my blog.

LinkedIn I adore.  It took me awhile to come around to it, but I'm on the LI train and I love it!  I love seeing where everyone works and what everyone does with their life.  It's exciting and fantastic for networking!

TweetDeck is what I use at work.  I'm normally hooked up to another twitter account crafting tweets but I love tweet deck for my own personal use.  I know it is typically used for work related accounts but I just love it.  I especially love the layout.

Springpad is where I save things I need.  I have a thing against bookmarking.  I think I had a bad experience once and lost all my bookmarks back in the day.  I seriously love Springpad!  I can keep myself organized as I plan out future stuff for grad school, blogging, and just websites that I like.  In the last 3 weeks of my internship, I've discovered so many great organizations and non profits through research that work for concepts that I love, like citizen engagement, transparency, and community development.  I am able to store all my info in my virtual binders on Springpad.


Do you have your own social media ritual?
Do you use something that I don't?  Tell me about it!
I'm always looking for new ways to stay connected and engaged!


xo Hil