Monday Motivation

I am so late on getting this post written, but better late than never, right?

This is definitely one of those "duh" motivation posts but sometimes it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves that optimism and happiness go hand in hand.

So this week I challenge you to be optimistic even if you have no reason to be.

I'm optimistic that my child will start back sleeping through the night (eventually). I'm optimistic that my work week will have far more successes than failures.

What are you optimistic about?

Happy Monday!

Newsroom Fashion: Black and White

For some reason this week, I was all about black and white. I literally wore some combination of black and white every day this week. I guess that proves you can't go wrong with that classic color combination.

We had a nice little cold snap at the beginning of the week with temperatures dipping into the 30s overnight and only climbing into the 60s during the day. That makes it difficult to dress, or at least it does for me. A sweater is too warm but my Spring clothes aren't warm enough. So I pulled some inspiration from Pinterest and layered my favorite white button-down under this sleeveless black dress.

Details:
Shirt: The Limited
Dress: old Kohl's (similar, similar)
Shoes: old Cato (similar, similar)

Who doesn't love a good polka dot dress? I've had this one for about two years, and this was the first time I've been able to wear it since having the baby. When it comes to polka dots, I'm more into the smaller prints. I think the bigger dots look clownish on me, maybe because I'm so short. Anyway, this dress is a halter top with hook-and-eye closures around the neck, a cute bow on the shoulder and a hidden side zipper. It also has pockets!

Details:
Dress: old Elle c/o Kohl's (similar)
Sweater: old Wet Seal
Shoes: old Nine West c/o TJMaxx (similar, similar)

What I'm Watching: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (SPOILERS)

I am a huge Marvel fan, so when they started doing all of "The Avengers" movies (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and The Incredible Hulk) I was all kinds of excited. Then they branched into TV with "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." My husband and I were there for the premier episode and have been hooked ever since!

The beauty of the show is that you don't have to have seen any of the movies to follow along. But if you are into the movies, the show definitely follows the same time line. It's brilliantly done.

Here's the premise -- S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, is back to head up an elite team of agents in investigating strange occurrences around the world, including Hydra.

As of this season, the main cast is comprised of 10 people, including the previously-mentioned Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson. Chloe Bennet plays Daisy Johnson, known as Skye in the first two seasons. She's undoubtedly the lead female role; the first two seasons really center around her, particularly her true identity. Turns out, she's what's called an inhuman and has powers that she must learn to control.

Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) are everybody's favorite 'ship.' And in true shipper fashion, things just never seem to work out for the two geniuses.

Agent Melinda May (Min-Na Wen) is known as the cavalry. She's a certified badass, and her sarcasm is on point.

Grant Ward (Brett Dalton) is the perfect bad guy, and the writers set his character up so perfectly, making me fall in love with him before revealing his true self. For two full seasons I kept hoping Ward was really a good guy who had just been brainwashed. Now in season 3, Ward's body has been taken over by Hive, a really super creepy, evil alien bent on destroying the world.

My new favorite character is Lincoln (Luke Mitchell). He's funny in a dry way and his inhuman power is awesome. I also like the way he struggles right and wrong. It's very relatable. Plus, I like that Lincoln and Daisy are a thing now.

The other main characters of the show are Lance Hunter (Nick Blood), Alphonso 'Mack' Mackenzie (Henry Simmons) and Bobbi Morse a.k.a. the Mockingbird (Adrienne Palicki).

That seems like a lot of people to keep up with, but trust me, when you're watching the show it's really not that complicated.

If you're a fan of "The Avengers" movies, I highly recommend Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. If you're a fan of superheroes, aliens, good vs. evil -- watch this show! Even Rotten Tomatoes agrees with me, giving the third season a 100% rating saying the show "further hits its stride with a blend of thrills, humor, and heart."

You can watch every episode of AOS online at ABC GO.

This was written before tonight's episode of AOS, which will air on ABC at 9:00 p.m. EST.

For more information on "Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2364582/

Monday Motivation

I thought I'd give you a little food for thought to start the week. Dealing with criticism is tough, but in my chosen career it's something that comes with the territory. (In fact, I wrote a post about it awhile back that you can check out here.) I've gotten better at handling criticism over the years, mostly by trying to view all criticism as constructive -- even when it isn't meant to be. I try to look at criticism as an opportunity to be better, even if it's just being the bigger person.

Happy Monday! Hope you all have a great week!

P.S. I also wanted to take this opportunity to give you all an update on my mom. She recently had surgery to remove a lymph node and it came back negative for cancer, meaning she is officially cancer free!

Weekend Wrap

I hope everyone's weekend is off to a good start. Maybe your brackets aren't too badly busted! March Madness made for a nice end to my week. Because of the basketball games, we didn't have a noon or 6:00 show on Thursday or Friday, making the 5:00 a breeze to produce because it was full of reporter content. On the home front, we've been battling a stubborn stomach bug that just doesn't want to go away. There are a lot of events scheduled for this weekend -- festival season is starting -- so we've got plenty of options for entertainment. I wasn't too active online this week outside of Tuesday night when I joined in the Shadowhunters chat on Twitter, but here are the things I did like and share!

Guess which dog has never seen the ocean. Three seconds of joy.

Random celebs spotted at the airport - The one about the Duggars made me genuinely LOL

New X-Men: Apocalypse trailer

Another Indiana Jones film is in the works, and yes, Harrison Ford is involved.

A photographer gave his grandfather a makeover and the results are so dapper.

A bomb squad created beeping Easter eggs for hearing-impaired kids.

My thoughts about this election cycle.

Newsroom Fashion: Lace + Peplum + Dots

I think one of the hardest things about newsroom fashion is that often times it's very formulaic. No matter where you work, there is some level of expected professionalism. Many newsrooms have a dress code with very specific guidelines. Men generally have it easy - they wear a suit. For women it's a bit more complicated, and sometimes it can feel like your personal style is being suppressed. But I'm here to tell you that it is possible to express your unique style and stay within the constraints of your respective dress code.

I bought this dress for an Associated Press awards luncheon two years ago. Then I got pregnant and couldn't wear it. It's a solid color so had I been on air the day I wore this, I would have been within the boundaries of my station's dress code, but the muted pattern of the lace makes the dress not boring. The finished touch are my shoes. They're the one detail that lets my personality shine without being overwhelming.

Details:
Dress - Ross old (similar)
Shoes - Target

This entire outfit, with the exception of my shoes, came out of the clearance section. I used to think I couldn't wear peplum, but then I tried on this shirt and realized how wrong I've been. It's hard to tell in the picture, but this shirt has a nice bit of texture to it. It's also a nice sturdy material. I've been trying to find more ways to wear it other than with this camel pencil skirt or jeans. For me, peplum is the perfect silhouette -- it creates the impression that I have a waist even though mine is basically non-existent, and it perfectly hides what I like to refer to as my "mom tummy." This outfit made me feel professional but still feminine. It also didn't hurt that when I stopped at a convenience store to get a drink that morning, the clerk told me I looked like I was going to take over a company.

Details:
Shirt - Liz Claiborne c/o JCPenny (sold out but lots of pretty options here)
Skirt - The Limited (similar)
Shoes - Rack Room old
Purse - Tommy Hilfiger c/o Marshall's

Every piece of this outfit is old. Part of the point of me starting this weekly series is to hopefully show you guys the importance of buying classic, quality pieces that will stand the test of time. These cropped pants (that fit me more like ankle pants because I'm short) will be in regular rotation all Spring and Summer. These black loafers are my go-to flats for when I want to feel polished but don't feel like wearing heels. This sleeveless polka dot blouse goes with more than half of my skirts and pants. And like I said in my Basics Every Female Journalist Needs post, a black blazer provides the perfect finishing touch.

Details:
Shirt - Cato old (similar)
Blazer - Worthington c/o JCPenny (similar, similar)
Pants - Kohl's old (similar, similar)
Shoes - Payless old (similar, similar)

Alexis - 11 Month Update

Helping mommy pick out her clothes for work.

Getting a kiss from Jackson.

Standing up like a big girl.

Mommy made me my own special spot in the living room.

How has it been nearly a year since my baby was born?! We're crawling all over the house, wanting to eat everything I'm eating and chattering all the time. As you can tell from the photos, we've created her own little space in the living room, not that her stuff stays confined there. She's standing on her own and really close to walking. She loves the dog and is constantly talking to him through the back window/door. She's all go-go-go from the time she wakes up 'til the time she goes to bed. It's been a whirlwind of a first year and I've learned so much along the way.

Monday Motivation

I need to print this out and frame it, hang it on my wall, have it on my desk and carry a copy with me at all times.

Goals for this week -- get enough sleep; don't let chores pile up; write (outside of work and this blog).

Hope everyone has a good week! Happy Monday!

Newsroom Fashion: Keepin' It Casual

TGIF! It has been a seriously long week. I mean, you know you're in trouble when Tuesday feels like Friday. Anyway, I kept things pretty casual all this week, mostly because I've been having some trouble with my left ankle (old cheerleading injury) and was giving the heels a rest. I think it's important for people who want to work in this business to know that you can keep things casual without losing your professionalism. In fact, there will be days when a more casual outfit is better suited to what you're doing.

I actually wore this for a day of reporting. My story was outside, at a state park actually, and I did a good bit of walking, so heels weren't really appropriate. Everything I'm wearing, with the exception of my watch, is at least a year old. It's like I've been saying -- you can't go wrong when you invest in classic, good-quality pieces. (I couldn't find anything similar to my shirt to link to.)

Details:
Shirt: old The Limited
Skirt: old The Limited (similar)
Shoes: Target

This is a pretty basic spring/summer outfit combo for me -- dark-wash jeans and a printed shell paired with a blazer and heels. It's simple and comfortable but still appropriate when representing the station. My shirt is a couple of years old as are my wedges. My jeans are new and rolled under to show a little more of my ankle. This is my favorite black blazer (I have three). It's the easiest to wear casually because of the cuffable sleeves. I love the small striping detail!

Details:
Blazer: Worthington c/o JCPenny (similar, similar)
Shirt: old Lauren Conrad c/o Kohl's (lots of pretty options here)
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: old Cato (similar, similar)

Newsroom Fashion: Basics Every Female Journalist Needs

photo via WeHeartIt

There are mornings I wake up and decide that what I picked out the night before is definitely not what I want to wear that day. There are some mornings where I go through five outfits before I decide on one. But I haven't always had the luxury of multiple outfit options, especially when I first started. If I could have been given any clothing advice back in those days, it would be to start with the basics. There are, I believe, a few classic pieces that every female journalist (or woman who works in a business-casual setting) can't go wrong with. In this post, I'm sharing my closet must-haves, those pieces I find myself reaching for over and over again. These are pieces I spend a little more on because I want them to last. (Disclaimer: the closet in the picture above is not of my closet. I wish it were though!)

 

 ONE // TWO

THREE // FOUR

1. BLACK PANTS
Every professional woman needs a good pair of black pants in her closet. Not jeans, not leggings (although I do own both). Pants. It doesn't matter if you prefer ankle pants, straight-legged, bootcut or flares, black pants are always professional and can be paired with nearly any top.

ONE // TWO

THREE // FOUR

2. BLACK SKIRT
A black skirt works the same way as black pants - instant professional. There are some things to remember, though. First, no mini-skirts. As a rule of thumb, your skirts should always hang longer than your fingertips when your arms are hanging by your side. With that being said, your black skirt doesn't have to be boring, as you can see from the final two options I linked to above.

 

ONE // TWO

THREE // FOUR

3. WHITE BUTTON-DOWN
I can't say enough about the versatility of a classic white button-down shirt. You can wear it with virtually every pair of pants or skirt in your closet. It adds polish to a pair of jeans. You can even wear it under a sleeveless dress in cooler months. I recently found my perfect match at The Limited (option one).

 ONE // TWO

THREE // FOUR

4. SOLID-COLOR DRESS
I know they say every woman needs a little black dress, and that's true, but every working woman needs at least one go-to solid-colored dress. I have two - burgundy and black. My preference is for sleeveless to wear year-round and to non-work-related functions, but you can really go with any style you prefer.

ONE // TWO

5. NEUTRAL HEELS/FLATS
The most neutral of colors is definitely black, but that's not necessarily what I mean here. Neutral can also be brown, nude, gray or in some cases leopard print. The point of this entry is for you to identify which neutral would best match the majority of your closet. For instance, my black d'orsay pointed-toe heels are my go-to neutral shoe. For the sake of fairness, I also have a nude and leopard print pair, but I've had years to build up my shoe collection. I've only linked to two options because each of these options have multiple color options.

 ONE // TWO

THREE // FOUR

6. BLACK BLAZER
I actually have three different black blazers in my closet, along with a variety of other colors and patterns. But when you're just starting out and have to pick just one, always opt for solid black. On days when you're not sure how to finish off an outfit, a black blazer will almost always work. Plus, they always look so sleek and polished. All of the ones I've linked to are under $50.

7. TENNIS SHOESTrust me on this one. You will want a quality pair of tennis shoes, especially if you're a reporter. Just an FYI, carrying around 50 pounds of camera gear is not fun in heels. I highly recommend the Sketchers Go Walk with memory foam. Seriously, why did it take so long to put memory foam in shoes? And why don't all my shoes have it? I didn't want to limit myself on options so I didn't link to any, but you can shop the pair I own here.


8. QUALITY UNDERWEAR
For this last one, I'm not posting pictures because I think it would be weird recommending underwear for another person. However, what you wear under your clothes is just as important as your clothes. Nothing ruins an outfit faster than a rogue bra strap or panty line. If you're a fan of Victoria Secret but not their prices, I would encourage you to check out AdoreMe. The quality is comparable but the prices are about 50% less than VS.

Monday Motivation

Too often I think people put aside their own happiness - for their job, for their spouse, for their children. I also believe it's easy to get so caught up in life's trivialities that we forget about ourselves. Regardless if you fall into one or both of those categories, stop! Taking care of yourself, mind, body and soul, is so important. Stop letting others dictate your happiness. Make yourself a priority, not an afterthought.

 

Happy Monday!

Weekend Wrap

As Rhianna would say, cheers to the freakin' weekend! It has been a long week on my end. Super Tuesday threw a pretty big monkey wrench into my normal schedule, and I still haven't recovered from having to work a night shift in the middle of the week. But I survived another night of election coverage. Looking back at my Facebook and Twitter feeds for the week, a majority of what I shared was news related. On Twitter, my biggest day/night by far was Tuesday. Facebook activity was pretty even throughout the week. Here are some of my favorite finds from the week. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!


Morgan Freeman narrates pedestrians with selfie sticks - Morgan Freeman's voice is instantly recognizable. On Jimmy Kimmel this week, the actor narrated pedestrians walking on the street. The result is hilarious. Warning: there is some ugly language.

Don't want to stay in the country if Donald Trump is elected? Don't worry, this Canadian island is accepting Trump refugees!

Blakely Theatre renovations - Okay, so this one is shameless self-promotion. This week I did a story on the renovations of a historic theatre in my hometown.

Guys, I love political cartoons. This one from Politico depicting Fox News' next debate format made me literally LOL.

And, I'm saving the best for last. This video isn't new (it was originally posted in 2013), but one of my Facebook friends shared it Friday. I'd seen it before but laughed just as hard at it this go 'round as I did the first time, so I had to share it again.


Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Newsroom Fashion: Spring is Here

Spring has finally sprung in southeast Alabama, which is awesome because spring is my favorite season for clothes! I love the bright colors, fun patterns and breezy silhouettes. To be honest, our springs are so short (like 1 month max) that my spring and summer wardrobes are basically identical. About the only thing that changes are my shoe choices.

Let me start by saying that this mirror needs a good cleaning! I didn't realize just how spotted up it is until I took this photo! I've been a fan of the chevron print for awhile but this is the only thing I own with it. This is another eBay find by my husband. The quality is surprisingly good for something that came from China; the length is perfect and it's not too tight. I'm wearing a large. Since it's got spaghetti straps, I paired it with these crepe white peplum jacket I found at the end of last summer. It's the perfect finishing touch!

Details:
Dress - eBay
Jacket - Worthington c/o JCPenny (similar, similar, similar)
Shoes - old Cato (similar, similar)

When I saw this shirt at Target last weekend, I had to have it. (Target has some really cute new stuff right now, by the way.) I love this shade of blue but didn't have any in my closet. I spent more on it than I usually would on a shirt, but after wearing it today I don't regret it because I will be wearing this shirt for a long time! I've had this pair of white pants for about a year now. I got them not long after having the baby, and to be honest they're a little too big now (wearing size 8 short). I've had this pair of caged heels for awhile now and wish I had bought the brown pair too! They're definitely on my wish list for this spring/summer!

Details:
Shirt - Target
Pants - Worthington c/o JCPenny
Shoes - old (similar)

But First, Let Me Post an Update

My least favorite part of this job is the internet. It's this living, breathing thing that you can't let out of your sight for more than a few minutes at a time. What many of you see as an entertaining portion of your day, I see as a job. From posting new content to updating old stories and moderating comments, it's a never-ending task to keep the WTVY website and our social media sites up and running.

When you work in this business, you hear the phrase "feed the beast" a lot. It used to refer to finding content to fill your shows. Now, I consider our website, Facebook and Twitter the beast. It's always hungry and can have a particularly nasty bite.

More and more people are active online every day. According to Leverage, there are 1 billion active Facebook users sharing 2.5 billion pieces of content every day. Twitter's 560 million active users send 5,700 tweets per second. We use social media to get new information to our viewers quickly.

Society has gotten used to having instant access to information. In fact, you guys expect that instant gratification. Many of you carry smart phones, tablets and/or laptops everywhere to stay linked to the world. You get email on your phone and are constantly updating your Facebook status or sending a new tweet. The media is expected to have that same 24/7/365 connection.

That's why when we have breaking news that isn't close to show time, we update our social media pages first, then the website and finally we add the story into our shows. Back when I first started five years ago, the order was reversed. In fact, our Facebook page was barely a year old and I don't think we even had Twitter yet. In the past five years, I've watched our online presence grow.

We get a lot of clicks on wtvy.com. However, comments aren't plentiful. We're lucky if we get one or two per story on a good day. Our Twitter page is still a work in progress, mainly because we had to recreate our account and lost thousands of followers.We're now up to 1,887 followers, but that's a number we're continuing to grow.

Our Facebook page, on the other hand, is a beehive of activity 24 hours a day. Some days, the activity is limited to likes. Other days it's comments galore. On the worst days, our fans attack one another, use profanity, are vulgar and seem to forget their decency altogether. That's when I, or someone else in the newsroom, steps in and has to delete comments and in some instances entire threads.

There is no situation in which I or anyone else can post something to one of our sites and then just leave it. We must revisit every post dozens of times a day to make sure people are behaving. Therein lies my dislike for the internet when it comes to news - it turns me and the rest of my team into babysitters. And that's a profession I gave up after high school.

Originally posted on my now-defunct professional blog, Lessons From the Newsroom.