advice Tag

Consider this an incomplete list of things you should never do on a first date.   1. Oversharing Once I had a first date tell me about his fantasy role-playing shower games, where he would embark on a quest and do battle with the enemy. Oddly, we ended up dating (and I’m sure that says more about me than him), but you can see how that could be an issue, right?  If you can’t, you’re probably an oversharer.     2. Agreeing with everything your date says One of theRead More

Teaching you to be fearless Allowing fear to impact your decisions will always hold you back. If you grew up in a family that encouraged you to conquer your fears—flying, navigating cities, traveling alone, riding rollercoasters—thank them endlessly. You will never have to be one of those unfortunate people who kicks him or herself 10 years down the road for passing up an opportunity that could have lead them to amazing things.   Letting you wear that There are many reasons to be thankful for parents that allowed you establishRead More

A couple of days ago, a new Android app hit the marketplace. Called BroApp, it automatically sends your girlfriend text messages throughout the day so it seems like you’re not forgetting her (even though you are). These can be anything from generic to personal, and you can customize each message to say what you’d like. The point being, technology is starting to take the place of bros. SO DON”T LET IT! If you haven’t contacted your girl in a while, let your bro remind you to text her. That’s whatRead More

“So…what kind of music are you into?” It’s a stock question everyone uses to pry open that door of awkwardness in class or at a party. It could mean anything from “I’m bored and this silence makes me uncomfortable,” to “let’s bang in the bathroom between stats and psych.” It’s a safe conversation starter and it has the potential to make you feel instantly connected to someone if your playlists are divinely synced up (oh my gosh, you’ve heard of the Front Bottoms, too?) It also let’s you find out inRead More

Tinder can be a simple way to get attention, a date, or a hook-up in minutes.  There is something satisfying in being provided with a stack of people in your preferred mile and age radius while your besties are brunching with their beaus.  Yes, they may have shared bacon and mimosa-breath sex, but you have Tinder!  One can determine their attraction to another person with subtleties that can only be seen in photographs.   After a week plus some extra hours of Tindering, I have realized that there are some trendsRead More

1. You’ll learn to erase the word “embarrassment” from your vocabulary. Greatness and embarrassment are closely connected. If you aren’t willing to be vulnerable and take risks, you’ll never meet your full potential.   2. You’ll discover your non-negotiables.  We’ve all grown up being told that acting selfishly is not okay, but when it comes to your personal and professional life, sometimes it is. Each of us will learn that there are certain things that we just aren’t willing to put up with. And that’s fine. Realizing your non-negotiables willRead More

There was a point during Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak when somebody stole his lucky bat. Joe and his fans were devastated. How would he be able to continue? The magic was inevitably gone for Joe. Well, luckily the thief returned the bat the following day (not sure why, can you say eBay?), and Joe’s streak continued for a bit longer. But it makes you wonder, what was so magical about that bat? The answer? Everything, for Joe. They say a good tennis racquet should feel like an extensionRead More

We have a code that we all need to take a look at and abide by, ladies. Here are some girl-code rules that are critically important to remember.   #1 – Dance like nobody’s watching No shame in the dance game! Maybe you are a disco queen or a fool on the dance floor, but who cares?! Whip out what you’ve got when your favorite jam comes on. #2 – Stop hatin’ on each other Women are jealous, catty humans to one another, but we must ban together! It isRead More

As we all know, not much these days comes free. Far more things come incredibly expensive. And while the price tag on certain items can be reasonably justified, there exist innumerable products that are simply never worth the cash. The following six things are simply NOT worth ponying up lots of dough for, period. Some of them are quality products but can be replaced with much cheaper alternatives, some of them you have no reason to ever purchase. Just remember, kids: what you WANT and what you NEED are twoRead More

Think you know what will make you happy?  Science says you’re probably wrong.  The good news is you only have to be correct enough.   As Americans, we swarm for the latest mobile devices, new cars make us feel like new people, and the clothing sales ensure that we look like our friends.  Humans are pretty bad at determining what will give them lasting happiness or contentment, and because of this, there’s big business in cars, electronics, and jewelry.  There’s also big business in debt reduction, payday loans, gym memberships,Read More

You know what ultra-sucks? Not being a kid anymore. When you’re small, school is literally a bunch of games. Everything is interesting. You can get away with murder. I remember when I was at the zenith of my bucktoothed adorableness I broke into my neighbor’s house in order steal their kid’s kickball and got away with it (I also ate most of their peanut butter straight out of the jar. With my fingers. And I regret NOTHING). Yep, being a kid pretty much rules, and even angsty adolescents generally don’tRead More

Just a few days until THE DAY. For some of you, it’s the day that you’ve had high hopes for since February 15th of LAST year, but for some of you, it’s the day that you’ve been hoping finds you either A) single and happily unattached or B) ANYTHING but single and forever alone. Now, I’m not the most romantic female on the planet, but I am a woman after all, so I’ve got a little sweetness in me somewhere. I’ve been on both sides of the coin here- I’ve been blissfullyRead More

Occasionally, while scanning my Facebook timeline, I stumble upon an article that leaves me swearing at my computer screen, scratching my head, and questioning my online friendships. Elite Daily’s “Could It Be? Millennials Are The New Hippies But With Better Weed” is one of those articles. The article appeared on the website this week and quickly gained popularity for all the wrong reasons. I say that because, although author Lauren “LMoney” Martin (ugh) bills herself as a “comedy writer,” and the piece appears satirical, it seems that just about everyRead More

Writtalin’s very own Patrick Smith composed a poignant and touching ode to his past self a few days ago (okay it wasn’t an ode…wait, what is an ode? Ode, ode, ode. Haha. Funny word. Sorry.). In it, he endearingly reminisced over the olden days of high-school when everything seemed to suck a little better than it sucks now. I think we can agree that most of our hair-styles were fun while they lasted, along with the relationships, and the fears of never getting to second base. But hidden under the laughsRead More

This is a letter I wrote to myself after recently looking at one of my high school yearbooks.  Please excuse the language; I was wearing a lot of tie-dye in the pictures.   Dear Asshole, This is you, 11 years in the future.  First things first, you look fit!  Well done.  Keep it up.  It’s easy to stay fit.  It is hard to regain that.  So keep up the good work. Now, down to business.  Cut your hair, you look like an idiot.  Turns out that Mom was right whenRead More