Work is good

Just a quick update. Work life is still an awesome life. 

I love my job.

I've met so many great people, learned even more about my state, politics, policy, and communications. I'm writing an article about my experience and more for Sweet Lemon Magazine...so stay tuned!

I work in the most amazing, historic building in Atlanta - the State Capitol - and I'm constantly in awe. I love roaming the building during my lunch break and walking around outside (City Hall is right across the street). I still have a few more months left of my fellowship, but I already know that this is the field I want to work in, it's a dream come true. 

I feel like I really am living my dreams.

I'm headed to NYC today for the long weekend. Can't wait to share details of my trip when I get back on Tuesday.

Keep up with me on Instagram & Twitter!

What's your dream job?

Devin Downs "Pull Over"

One of my closest friends, Devin Downs, has released his first single! He's extremely talented as a vocalist, dancer, and artist in general. So, a lot of people have been waiting for this moment. Devin Downs released his first single, Pull Over, yesterday and I love it!

Play the snippet of the track above then you can download the full thing in iTunes here!

I'm so proud and happy for Devin because he's worked really hard to make his dream happen!

You can keep up with Devin through his Facebook page here.

What do you think of his first single??

Going back to NYC

I'm headed to NYC this weekend and I'm SO excited.

I visited The City That Never Sleeps back in February, but it's been too long!

I can't wait to see some family, some friends, and my best friend!

I've been to NYC several times, but I know there's always something to see and do.

What should I see/do while I'm there this weekend? 

Leave a comment or tweet me with some suggestions!

Back to College {posts collection}

It's a new week and more people are headed back to college, yay! I graduated from Georgia Tech in May and it's so strange that I'm not returning back to school this semester.

I hope it's a great school year for everyone. I've put together the most popular college/school related posts to help my college readers have a great school year. Enjoy and have a wonderful school year!

 Don't forget to enter my C. Wonder Giveaway!

Above are tips from my book, a survival guide for college and tips on maintaining your happiness while achieving success in school. It is possible!

The most popular posts:

The back-to-school to-do list

Things 20-Year-Olds Don't Get

Backpacks vs. Totes

Create your own fresh start date

Dorm room decor ideas

IKEA College Checklist

Google's College Tips

Academics

Final exam study tips

Organizing my Lilly P agenda

Motivation

Discovering your passions

No regrets

And for all of you graduating seniors...

How it feels to be graduating...

Grad announcements and thank you's

Get LinkedIn!

You can order a copy of my book here

Eating in ATL {New Orleans Snoball Cafe}

I went to New Orleans at least five times during college and my favorite thing about that city is the delicious food! One food item they're known for in The Boot State? Snoballs. Luckily, New Orleans Snoball Cafe has an Atlanta/Decatur location, so a piece of NOLA is here in ATL. And I approve.

It's shaved ice topped with flavors...and you can even get it "stuffed" with ice cream (shown above). Sooo good. Yesterday was my second visit this month. 

I stuffed mine with vanilla ice cream and topped it with strawberry, cotton candy, and peach flavors.

They're so great for a warm day and pretty cheap!

The store is totally New Orleans/Louisiana/Mardi Gras inspired with 

LSU decorations everywhere.

I went for the first time with my friend Tyler & we both loved it. 

I got chocolate flavors that time, yum.

Tyler's snoball, yum!

And, they sell beignet mix from my favorite place in NOLA, 

Cafe Du Monde. Perfection. Try it, now! :)

Other places I eat in ATL:

No Mas! Cantina

Busy Bee Cafe

Yard House

Taqueria del Sol

Figo Pasta

South City Kitchen

Bone Lick BBQ

The Silver Skillet

Fellini's Pizza

Zen on Ten Asian Bistro

Señor Patron

Flying Biscuit Cafe

Bone Garden Cantina

Urban Pl8

Perla Taqueria

Southern Art

La Tagliatella

Cafe Sunflower

Hankook Taqueria

Across the Street

Sublime Doughnuts

Cafe Lily

Yeah! Burger

Do at the View

Chow Baby 

Have you entered my C. Wonder giveaway yet?

Eating clean for rookies {part 6}

I absolutely love doing these posts because it forces me to eat healthy foods and make an effort to eat clean on a daily basis! I'm still doing two clean meals a day & starting a new fitness plan next week to help increase weight loss. Stay tuned for that!

Here's what I've eaten recently...

Fruit smoothie! Banana, watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, strawberries. Sweet fruits are always delicious when blended together - perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

Green beans with onions - a great lunch or dinner dish

I pack salads for lunch with fruits and veggies. This one has carrots and strawberries in a spinach salad. I love putting lemon juice over salads for some extra flavor!

Blueberries, broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini -- some of my favorite healthy foods

My new favorite morning smoothie - spinach, blueberries, strawberries & some ice to add some water to my mix. If you like a thicker smoothie, don't add ice :)

Tomatoes are great in salads or on top of any protein and other veggies

Zucchini are great raw, steamed, or grilled

I love raw broccoli alone, but also love it in salads. You can also steam or grill broccoli with other veggies & add lemon juice for more flavor.

How is the clean eating going for you? Any tips you've discovered?

See more:

My clean eating inspiration

Clean eating part 1

Clean eating part 2

Clean eating part 3

Clean eating part 4

Clean eating part 5

Benefits of blueberries

Follow @RCSOATL on Twitter

Like RCSOATL on Facebook

Follow Vett on Pinterest

Have a great weekend & be sure to enter my C. Wonder giveaway!

State of mind {necklaces}

Dogeared is a company that specializes in USA handcrafted jewelry. They have a line of necklaces that I love love love called State of Mind necklaces.

With friends and family moving to different states, these are the perfect gifts to help a friend remember where her heart and mind is, regardless of where she moves. The necklaces come in silver and gold, and they're all so cute!

Of course my personal favorite is the Georgia necklace, in gold.

And for all those who wander (but aren't lost)...they have one of the entire USA for you ;)

Which state would you get?

Have you entered my C. Wonder giveaway yet?

C. Wonder in ATL {giveaway}

The C. Wonder store in Atlanta has been open for a while now and I'm still so obsessed with it. First of all, the actual store is beautiful. It's like a dream closet.

And, they have super cute clothes, shoes, and accessories! 

I'm doing a giveaway to let more of my readers know about C. Wonder and spread the word about RCSOATL! Enter today and tell a friend - I'm giving out TWO gift cards that can be used for online shopping at C. Wonder. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be announced and contacted on Aug. 28

Office party idea {Coke float party}

Because having cake for every office party gets old...am I right? I've only been at my job for about two months and we've already had about six birthday celebrations, all involving cake.

My friend at work and I decided to have a little celebration for our intern returning to college. But instead of just bringing in a cake, we went for something different. Our intern loves Coca-Cola, so we threw him a Coke Float Party! I'm not a soda drinker, but I made an exception on this day.

It turned out to be such a fun, easy, inexpensive, and different office party! And it was delicious.

What you'll need

Coca-colas (one can = 2 servings)

Vanilla or chocolate ice cream

Medium sized cups

Spoons

Straws

Suggest this fun idea for your next office or organization party! :)

Create your own "fresh start" date

Today is the first day of classes at my college...and I think it's finally hitting me that I really graduated. That still feels weird to write. I started thinking about how today is such a special day for the students at my college and their big "fresh start."

But then I realized that today is just like any other day on the calendar, and has the same opportunities as any other day on the calendar. Like Oprah says, "every day really can be a fresh start on expanding what is possible."

Day 1's are always so exciting. I'm always anxious, eager, uncertain, and determined to accomplish whatever it is I'm starting. Whether it's the first day of school or work, it's thrilling!

So why not create our own Day 1's whenever we want? Why can't we decide when to start practices in our personal lives like others decide when we start new experiences in our academic or professional lives?

This includes starting new eating habits, creating and executing new goals, joining new organizations, spending more time doing the important things in life. 

I have created my own personal "fresh start dates," and so can you.

Once you decide that you're ready for that new change in your life, you can officially mark your personal new beginning. It's really all about perspective.

A fresh start should be based on the courage to change for the better, not on a date.

So today actually is my first day...my fresh start...a new beginning. But it's not because some school administrator chose this date for me, but instead because I have chosen to change for the better starting today.

What's something you'd like a fresh start on?

Leave a comment or tweet me at @RCSOATL

Eating clean for rookies {part 5}

It's been a little while since my last clean eating update. It's still happening! :)

I'm at the point of losing about a pound every week now, with eating clean 2 meals a day and drinking water!

Check out some of my recent clean meals

Morning fruit blends are still 

my go-to for getting fruit servings in, early

I loved this peach and blueberry combo, yum!

I add about a handful of blueberries to each blend

Final product, 2 servings of fruit first thing in the morning

Strawberries and blueberries: perfect in blends, 

eaten raw for a snack, or added to salads

Mushrooms with herbs

Added some mushrooms to broccoli and topped

 with black pepper and lemon juice

For people who may not have time to prep and cut fruit: most grocery stores sell them like this. This makes it easier to pack meals and snacks with servings of fruit.

How is the clean eating going for you?

See more:

My clean eating inspiration

Clean eating part 1

Clean eating part 2

Clean eating part 3

Clean eating part 4

Benefits of blueberries

Follow @RCSOATL on Twitter

Like RCSOATL on Facebook

Follow Vett on Pinterest