Best Summer Products for Looking GREAT!

Over the past month or so, I've been testing, trying, sampling all sorts of products so I could come back to you guys with a full report on the BEST products for great summer skin.  It's been an interesting experience to say the least... There has been some good ones, some losers (that came with some lovely blemishes!) and...some WINNERS!

Sooo...without further delay, here we go! Let's get you looking FAB for summer :)

#1 Summer skin saver: Exfoliate your face

~We all love the sun and the beach, but it comes with peeling, dry/dull skin and a bunch of other problems...here's how to save your summer skin!

Instructions:

a) Get all your makeup off.

* I love Neutrogena Foaming face wash (drug stores) it removes eye make-up easily and skin feels fresh.

http://bit.ly/NeurtogenaFaceWash ---at only $7.99 this product lasts forever!

b) Make sure your skin is REALLY clean

*I use Proactive Step 1 the gentle exfoliating cleanser and Step 2, the toner, to make sure that I have the most absolute cleanest skin possible. (you'd be surprised what comes up on the cotton swab after toning your skin)

http://bit.ly/ProactiveSkinCare

c) Time to Exfoliate your skin! 

*Serious Skin Care Glucosamine Acid-Free Phyto-Pumpkin Scrub.  This is my absolute favorite from ALL I've tried. It's from Home Shopping Network, of all places! You can do it in the shower or the sink. You apply to WET skin and rub it in. Smells great and gets rid of dry skin and impurities.. Leaves skin feeling baby soft and fresh and CLEAN.

http://bit.ly/PumpkinScrub --this is only $21 so I think its worth it!

#2 Summer Skin Saver: Get a GREAT Face Mask

Face Masks are great to use for a lot of different reasons.  They firm, tighten and refresh your skin.   Perfect to clear up acne and other impurities as well.  I use mine a minimum of once a week and definitely can notice the results!

*I like: Serious Skin Care's Triple Acting Glycolic Mask from (again) HSN! http://bit.ly/GlycolicFaceMaskHSN --its only $19.50!

Note: You will feel a slight burning sensation, doesn’t last long though and its worth it. Your pores are open, its perfect to get the last bit of dirt and oil out and firm up your face.  Remove when its dry with a face cloth and warm water.

#3 Summer Skin Saver:  A GREAT Moisturizer

I enjoy my Proactive Moisturizer, but sometimes with the summer and peeling its not heavy enough, SO I needed a good strong moisturizer that was heavy, but wouldn’t clog pores.

*Cetaphil. Ahh, the savior! Simple, not in a pretty package, BUT it is most recommended by dermatologists and a bunch of my friends and I use it and love it. It provides ample moisturize, doesn’t clog pores and its great!

http://bit.ly/CetaphilMoisturizer  --Purchase at CVS 16OZ for $13.49!  

I actually use a combo of both, proactive all over my face, then put the Cetaphil in the trouble spots.

Fresh faced summer makeup tips:

Face it, it's the summer, we like to go out more often, which leads us to looking tired in the AM.  Here are a couple of quick make-up tips to ensure you are looking bright-eyed, bushy tailed and no one will ever know how late you were up, ummm studying...right? ;)

1) First, moisturize! When you are a bit "hungover" or tired, your skin is thirsty, just like you!  Be sure to apply extra moisturizer to your skin, especially in the eye area.

2) Next up: Flawless Skin! Sweep a neutral shade of foundation on your face.  I specifically use Bare Minerals, in Medium Beige  

http://bit.ly/BareMineralsSephora

Extra Tip: Its ALL about having the right make-up brushes, I know its expensive, but its worth it! They last forever, if you take care of them with a brush cleaner such as this one from Sephora

 http://bit.ly/BrushCleaner

*First: Use the Full Coverage Kabuki Brush to sweep the product all over your face and neck. 

http://bit.ly/KabukiBrush 

*Next: Use the Concealer Brush to specifically apply concealer under under the eye area. http://bit.ly/ConcealerBrush

*Last: Use the Flawless Application Face Brush to apply Bare Minerals all over your face to blend and set it all in. 

http://bit.ly/FlawlessFaceBrush 

Tip: If you have never used Bare Escentuals, and want to try it out, I would recommend the bareMinerals Customizable Get Started Kit for only  $49!!!
http://bit.ly/BareEscentualsStarterKit

Trust me...you already look better :)

3) Next up: Bronze your skin!  Reality is, when you are tan, you look more awake.  Use the Flawless Application Face Brush to apply the bronzer to your face (you only need a little bit!), and concentrate on forehead, temples/cheeks, nose and chin (think about the areas you get sun-kissed at the beach).  I LOVE Bare Minerals all-over face color in "Warmth"  as a perfect product! 

http://bit.ly/WarmthBronzer

4) Next up: Blush!  If you apply blush to the apples of your cheeks,  it will give you an appearance of looking more awake.  This is my favorite shade in this great line by NARS @ Sephora.  I'll let you click on the link to see the name of the color, rather than writing in it here...you will see why once you click.  Despite its "interesting" name, the color is great for all skin tones.   

http://bit.ly/NARSBlush

5) Let's make those peepers POP!  A quick trick is to apply a neutral colored eye shadow with a bit of shimmer to the inner corners of your eyes and on your brow bone.  I also highlight on my cheekbones for an extra pop.  I use this Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in the Malibu Strip shade and the 2nd color in the line is great for this use.  You can also use the rest of this product as eye shadow (use the darker shades in the crease of your eye) and its a bargain price!  

http://bit.ly/ShimmerStrips  

Extra Tip: Luscious lashes are key to making the eyes pop!  Give your lashes a great curl and apply 2 coats of mascara.  For additional volume, wait for the mascara to dry and give the lashes one more curl and then add one extra coat of mascara!

I've said before that I like drugstore mascara---specifically, L'Oreal Voluminous is my favorite. However, I do like using a different kind for the 2nd coat after my lashes have dried, to avoid clumping.  You should be looking for a brand that focuses on individual lashes vs overall volume for this "additional volume" purpose: Maybelline "Lash Stiletto" or "the Falsies" are picks I like...

 

*HOT Product*: This is a bit pricey, but is the BEST Eye-Lash Curler I've ever tried: 

 http://bit.ly/ShuUemuraLashCurler

HOT Extra tip:  Take care of your lashes!  If you use waterproof mascara in the summer, it can definitely have a negative effect on your lashes.  I like using a Lash Booster to ensure my lashes stay looking fabulous and full.  This is my favorite pick: Eyelash Lipocils  by Talika, available at Sephora.
http://bit.ly/LashBooster

6) Accessorize!  Now that your face is looking fresh and awake, make sure you look extra great!  If you wear a great necklace, funky earrings, etc. it will help even more to distract from that tired face and keep you looking extra polished and put together!  Forever21 has great cheap accessories!  

*Hidden Gem:  "So Good Jewelry" --you can get GREAT stuff and it's at great prices as well.   There is one in Downtown Crossing and another on Newbury Street as well. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best of luck looking GREAT this summer!  I hope you enjoyed this blog and appreciate your patience in waiting for this one!

Please share your comments and thoughts (you now do not have to sign in to make a comment!) 

~Jill

Next up:  On a mission to find THE BEST eye cream out there...in the research process now.  Stay tuned!!! 

Bachelorette Thoughts!

So I've been posting so many status updates about the Bachelorette, I thought it was about time to just share some of my thoughts and predictions on my blog.....

I've always been a fan of the show, but I think this past couple of seasons, its been taken to the next level... hmmm, I was thinking about why.  Well, Ali is definitely a big part of it!  From the beginning of The Bachelor "On the Wings of Love" when we first met Ali, all of MA was rooting for our hometown girl.  Now that she's our main character, we are all even more addicted to the pretty blonde girl next door from the tiny town of Williamstown MA.  Why are we all rooting for Ali so much?   Because we can all relate to her! She's not perfect... she's emotional, her hair is sometimes messy, her favorite outfit is jeans and a loose t-shirt and really seems to want to find the right guy.   Her flaws and her honesty is endearing and America has fallen in love with her!

So naturally, every Monday, there is a fury of status updates discussing her decisions and making our predictions. AND every Tuesday, there is office water cooler and cube gossip about what happened on the show last night!  And what's even better is that WE LOVE IT!!!

Here are my thoughts on last night's show and of the final 3 boys (and of the one she let go!): 

Frank:

Why why why were you wearing that creepy wife beater? You looked like an idiot! AND I was purposely watching Ali's eyes to see if she was looking at it strangely and she DIDN'T...did she not care??? Do we really think Ali is that infatuated with him or do you think ABC is playing it up because of the drama that's going to happen next week?

My opinion:

He is a weirdo...his eyes look creepy, I don't trust him and I think Ali likes him because he is able to go anywhere with her at this point in this life and likes that he is a challenge.  Do you agree???

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

  Roberto:

He is obviously HOT HOT HOT!  He looked amazing in the Baseball Uniform and he does treat her well.  They clearly have tons of chemistry, which is great.  BUT is there truly a long term connection here?  Would they really be compatible outside of the show or would it fizzle?

My opinion:

She didn't seem totally at ease with his family, although she looked like she was having fun. His Dad was pretty intimidating in the fact that he made it clear that he would want her to pretty much sacrifice her career to ensure that Roberto's career was priority. I sense that could lead to disagreements, because Roberto does take his Dad's opinion so seriously...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris:

How cute was he around his family? Ali really seemed comfortable and like she could totally be herself with him. Her hair was a mess and she totally didn't care and neither did he. He is totally in this for the right reasons, has his family's full support and would completely be devoted to her and I could see him picking him and moving across country for her as well.

My opinion:

She likes him, BUT she knows exactly where he stands and there really is no challenge with him. Could that be a potential turn-off for her? We all know that ladies love the thrill of the chase... I'm curious to see where things go with them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kirk:

Do you want to come see my basement? OMG~~ HOW CREEPY!!! I hope I'm not going to go hell for saying this, but his mom (although was SOOOOO nice!), was soooo stuck in the 80's and really needed a makeover. Ahhh, I really just wanted to run the straightening iron through her hair, take out the snooki poof, remove the blue eyeshadow and bright pink lipstick soooo badly. The sister was sweet and meant well, but the whole family was just a little off... She seemed pretty uncomfortable...

My opinion:

She made the RIGHT choice. I think meeting Kirk's family probably made a difference in her feelings for him, but in the end, you marry into the family as well... It must have been tough for her to let him go, because the last thing you want to do is offend someones family. OUCH!  BUT, she handled it with class and grace. Go Ali!

Do you guys agree or disagree??? Comments? Thoughts? Predictions?

Please post below!

xoxo ~Jill


 

What Employers REALLY Want...

An inside view from the Accounting & Finance permanent placement recruiters of Winter, Wyman & Company:

I split my time in between our Waltham and Boston offices and work alongside some of the best, brightest, most talented and well connected recruiters in the Boston area. My group ranges in age from late 20's to well... (they probably wouldn't want me to say) and their tenure ranges from 3+ yrs to 25+ yrs. I sit in a noisy cubicle with no privacy and everyone can hear every word you say. Let's just say that took some getting used to, but 6 years later, I love it. Every day I get to go to work and hear new things and learn more from everyone around me about the nuances, growth and life of the Boston job market.

What does that mean to you?

It means that all of our conversations provide each other a good indication of what's hot and what's not, which companies are hiring and which ones are in a holding pattern, and much more... In turn, that shared knowledge provides you with the information you need to start thinking about your next move. Should you go with a big company or a start-up? Are salaries on the rise or will you have to make a lateral move? Are stock options and/or sign on bonuses a part of the package anymore? Are bonus plans being reinstated?

Our team has the inside scoop and as you start thinking about your next move, it is worth connecting with Winter Wyman to get a pulse on the market. I thought it would be great to use my blog to share some perspective from each person on the Accounting and Finance team here at Winter Wyman so you can get inside access to some advice and start to get a better feel of this changing market as things continue to turn around...

So here we go everyone, let's meet the team! You will see our funny and our serious sides at the same time...

Our fabulous managers first of course:

Ken Martin, Sr. Partner & General Manager

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Ray Liotta, because I'm a bit paranoid just like Henry Hill in Goodfellas

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

When making any career related decision always take into consideration the long term impact your decision will have on such things as promotability, marketability and career stability. Often decisions are made taking only short term gains into consideration.

Ken's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/KenMartin

Carrie McGrath, Partner & Co-Manager (Waltham Team)

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Sandra Bullock, why indeed? Because she rocks. She continues to display what a strong and powerful woman she is.

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

Do your homework ahead of time. There is so much available to you via the internet now, there is no excuse for not having thoroughly researched the company you are interviewing with and coming up with some good questions regarding their business. You also should ALWAYS send follow up thank you notes. It does make a difference to many and often distinguishes you positively from the competition. Think of it as a follow up selling tool as well. Last chance to make a good impression!

Carrie's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/CarrieMcGrath

Andrew Finn, Partner & Co-Manager (Waltham Team)

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would be it be?

Anthony Michael Hall

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

Take your search seriously. Put the time and effort into it that it deserves. Do your homework, be prepared, and take pride in what you do.

Andy's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/AndrewFinn

and the fabulous people who keep our managers looking good... :) in no particular order:

Jane Durant CPA, Partner

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Laura Linney, because she has a similar physical appearance and she is a great actress.

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

Have GREAT questions to ask each interviewer!

Jane's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/JaneDurant

Glenn Freedman, Manager

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Billy Crystal because he's pretty funny and a bit cynical

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

Do your research before the interview so you are prepared to demonstrate how you can add value to the company if hired.

Glenn's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/GlennFreedman

Elizabeth Gormley, Sr. Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?
Jessica Biel - She seems to be grounded and someone that takes her job seriously but is playful and adventurous on her own time. When I look at Jessica I see a well-rounded woman who is approachable and has a natural confidence about her.

What is some advice would you give to a job seeker that is currently working?
Make sure you are mentally prepared to conduct a search, ask yourself WHY you are searching and WHAT it is that you are looking for. Do you have time to dedicate to a search? Let's be realistic, interviewing will all take away from your current work schedule (never mind the preparation and research you need to do beforehand!), so make sure you have reasons to be taking half days here and there. What is most important is to be yourself. The bottom line is that companies hire people they want to work with and people that they like. So take a deep breath; muster up that confidence and walk into the interview with a clear head so you can get that job!

Liz's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/ElizabethGormley

Scott Gottesman, Sr. Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Andy Garcia because it's all about Jimmy "The Saint"!

What is one of the most important things that companies are really looking for?

Culture fit and the future impact / added value the candidate could bring to the table down the road.

Scott's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/ScottGottesman

Kimberly Keough, Research/Marketing

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Johnny Depp...there isn't anything he can't do, would love to see him play a woman, and I never get tired of looking at him :)

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

When applying to an open position, tailor your resume and cover letter to the role in which you are applying. Also, if you are an out of state candidate, but are specifically planning on relocating to the area, address that in your cover letter (or the body of the email).
Surprisingly, many candidates don't do this and submit a generic resume/cover letter that isn't relevant to position or the company to which they are applying...even though they may be well qualified for the role. Employers receive hundreds of resumes everyday and sometimes only have the opportunity to spend less than a minute with each resume. Don't give them a reason to rule you out before they rule you in; make those few minutes count and make yourself relevant by clearly aligning yourself with the position requirements and stating up-front what makes you the candidate they're looking for!

Kim's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/KimberlyKeough

Ryan Ledger, Principal Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Jeremy Piven

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

In this difficult market, where there is a lot of competition, it is important to partner with an experienced recruiter that can help you not only find your dream job but be an advocate for you and work together to ensure you are the candidate of choice.

Ryan's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/RyanLedger

James Mellon, Sr. Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Vince Vaughn, because he is a funny guy and doesn't take himself too seriously.

What is one of the most important things that companies are really looking for?
I think one of the most important things a company looks for is someone who not only has a good skill set for the position they are looking to fill, but also someone who is going to be a good company culture fit. 50% of the interview is the company trying to decide if the person they are meeting is going to be well liked and fit in with the existing team. I think a person should try to bond with the interviewers as much as they can by being personable, finding commonality and convincing them that they are a team player. This should of course be in addition to selling themselves on why they are a good fit for the role itself.

James' LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/JamesMellon

Jen O'Brien, Principal Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Julia Louis Dreyfus...I have always heard that I remind people of her..maybe it's the characters she plays. I see her as upbeat, energetic, sharp witted and can also be a bit kooky.

What is one of the most important things that companies are really looking for?

Desire to work at their company in this role! Demonstrated passion for your profession, focus (knowing what you want), positive attitude and high energy. Lighter candidates who show this level of interest and enthusiasm are far more likely to get an offer from the company than someone who looks good on paper but doesn't convey these qualities.

Jen's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/JenOBrien

Bill O'Connell, Partner

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Mark Harmon

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

Don't get discouraged if things don't happen quickly. Most qualitative searches take time. If the right job comes up right away that's great, but if it doesn't, don't panic and take something that's not the right role.

Bill's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/BillOConnell

Bill O'Neil, Principal Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Matthew Broderick because people tell me I'm a dead ringer for him and I'm as savvy and creative as his character Ferris Bueller.

What is one of the most important things that companies are really looking for?

Companies are really looking to hire people with great personalities (as long as they have the relevant skill set to do the job). If you can connect with a hiring manager on a personal level you have a great chance of getting the job.

Bill's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/BillONeil

Mark Rosen, Partner

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

James Woods - Poker playing actor (and taller than Jason Alexander!!!)

What is one of the most important things that companies are really looking for?

Companies are looking for the right personality fit. At the end of the day, you spend more hours awake each day with your co-workers than you will with your spouse. There needs to be a good fit; a match of personalities and communication styles.

Mark's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/MarkRosen

Kristin Scott, Sr. Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Jennifer Aniston because she is genuine, down to earth and stays true to herself. For someone who is already gorgeous, she keeps getting better with age. Who wouldn't want to be her?!

What one piece of advice would you give to a job seeker?

Be the most excited, enthusiastic version of yourself in an interview. Companies like candidates who are generally happy & excited to be there and are presenting themselves in a professional manner. Looking your best in your nicest suit is key as well.

Kristin's LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/KristinScott

Jill Shaneck, Principal Recruiter

If anyone could play you in a movie, who would it be?

Katherine Heigl. She is sassy, funny, smart and not afraid to speak her mind, which is a lot like me!

What is one of the most important things that companies are really looking for?

Confidence. It's all about the delivery of your answer. If you believe in what your saying, the person you are interviewing will believe it as well!

My LinkedIn Profile: http://bit.ly/JillShaneck

I hope you found our tidbits to be helpful and I also hope you enjoyed my team as much as I do. Please look us all up on Linked In. We look forward to connecting!

Stay tuned for more blog posts! As always, I welcome any feedback.

~Jill

Smart Shopping Tips!

How to be a smart shopper: What's worth it to splurge on and what's not?

Dressing great is easy. Dressing great on a budget, without people knowing you're on a budget, not so easy.

I will admit it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to shop. I mean, who doesn't? For me, it was really easy to get caught up in the fun of the experience of shopping and the ease of the swipe of that credit card. Then BAM: Reality check. Those bills, they add up.... FAST! Then the "fun" of the experience goes away pretty quickly. So, I vowed to myself that I would become a smarter shopper.

Here is what I did on my self-analysis. First off, you need to think about your job and what you wear on a day-to-day basis. For me, it's dress clothes, so I did need to concentrate on that first, since it's something I'm wearing so much of my time. Having a sharp work wardrobe is important, so it should take a good chunk of the clothing budget (but not all of it!)

I call this first category "Staple" clothing items, basically things you wear every week. Staple items are an item you should definitely invest in, because you want quality materials that you can wear over and over again. If you buy something cheap, it will likely need to be replaced sooner anyways.

My favorite stores for my "Staple" clothing items:

*S*P*L*U*R*G*E*

1. Best Dress Pants: Banana Republic (Martin Fit): It is a great cut for all body types, the quality is excellent and although the price is a bit high, the value is definitely there. http://bit.ly/BananaRepublicPants

Added perks: You can purchase the matching suit jacket if you want and you can get different sizes in top and bottom. They also come in short, regular and long. They also have great skirts in different styles that match with the jackets and you can get them in pencil or A line, depending on your body type.

2. Best Work Clothes: Ann Taylor Loft: I love ALL their clothes, especially their sweaters, cardigans, and dress shirts. What I love about them is that they are classics that will never go out of style. They are a bit pricey, but again, quality is great and I have some pieces from years ago that I still love to wear.

Looks I love:
http://bit.ly/AnnTaylorLoftCardigan -I love the Blue Depths color... it's perfect for all seasons and versatile to wear over a dress or over a tank!
http://bit.ly/AnnTaylorLoftSweater -I own this and love it in the tropical green color!

TIP: Sign up for email lists for your favorite stores. I watch for special online savings and ONLY purchase when I know there is special discounts, such as free shipping and promotions. Save your bulk buying, whether it be in-store or online, for when the stores are having a promotion!

OK so now that you have your "Staples" all set to go, it's up to you to mix and match items from a bunch of different places to pair with your Staples for work. Also, you gotta have stuff for fun, of course. So how do you find great pieces at reasonable prices? Here are some of my favorite places...

My favorites stores for "Non Staple" items:
*S*A*V*E*


1. Hidden Gem: INC: International Concepts- @ Macy*s: I love this department at Macy*s! They have cute clothes that not everyone is already wearing. Prices are decent, quality is great. Steer clear of the pants, but dresses, skirts, jackets and tops are very cute! (and yes, some of the stuff is a bit cheesy, but the diamonds in the rough are so worth it, so you have to bear with me on this one!)

Looks I love:
http://bit.ly/INCMacysTop - I own this top (in white), it is so cute and you can wear a jacket over it for work or out on the weekend!
http://bit.ly/MacysINCJacket - I own this jacket as well and love it! Its flirty and fun!
http://bit.ly/MacysINCDress - I own this dress in Black and in Navy and White striped. It fit flawlessly and is perfect for summer to dress up or down.

Tip: I used my Macy*s card and saved an extra 20% off my purchase (then paid the bill right away so I wouldn't forget later!)

2. TJMAXX: We all know that TJ's is a great place to find bargains, but sometimes its a bit frustrating to pick through those racks. So, you can bring a friend and make it really fun, or go by yourself and be "on a mission" to get through those racks. It's worth the time and the effort.

However, I'm not going to leave you with just that... I did some digging for you, of course!
I spoke with my good friend Jennifer Casey who is actually a Buyer at TJX Corporation to try and understand where we can really get the most bang for our buck! When I asked her for some links to some products for my blog (hey, I'm thinking, why not? free publicity to my ummm 7 readers, ha ha), she explained that they actually don't have online shopping or pictures online because they have contracts with the vendors that they do not advertise the actual labels /specific products that they have at the stores. Ahhhh, so that's why their ad's are always so generic! But it makes sense right? The designers don't want it to be advertised that they ordered way too many of something, but of course they want to sell it to TJX to make money. Hence our surprises when we go to a store and strike gold!

She was able to recommend the top stores in the Metro Boston area to most often find good stuff!
Jen says: Framingham MA store and the new Newton MA store: They have fabulous stuff because they are top volume stores and are constantly getting in new goods! :) Thanks Jen!

3. Outlet stores: You can get GREAT bargains at the Outlets, but the quality is still there, since its still the name brand. I love the Gap Outlet in the Watertown Mall. They have great deals and you can totally stock up on lightweight cable knit sweaters for work + great lounge clothes. Wrentham Outlets are of course fabulous as well.

4. Old Navy: Keep an eye out for their sales. You can get SUCH great bargains there.
Looks I love:

http://bit.ly/OldNavyFlipFlops : So comfortable and SO cheap! Starting at $1.49!
http://bit.ly/OldNavyTank : Again, so comfortable and SO cheap: starting at $6.50! Great for the gym, lounging and for layering. With so many colors you have so many options! You can actually wear one with a skirt and funky accessories to dress it up or easily wear tanks layered with jeans or shorts as a cute dressed down look.

Old Navy is an old faithful for great summer clothes that are lightweight, comfy and cute! Be careful, they tend to run slightly large in shirts and dresses...

I hope you enjoyed my tips! Stay tuned for more. :)

*Jill Shaneck*

*Principal Recruiter * Accounting & Finance Division *

Winter, Wyman & Company

JShaneck@Winterwyman.com

7 deadly sins of interviewing (...and how to fix on a budget of course!)

7 deadly sins of interviewing
....and how to fix on a budget (of course!)

#7 Good Vibrations?:

Turn your cell phone off or do not bring it with you. No vibrate, no silent, no nothing...OFF OFF OFF!!!

#6 Bubblicious?:

Do not chew gum (yes, they will notice). Save your $$$ and yourself from looking unprofessional. Ditch the gum before you go in.

#5 Sweating to the oldies?:

Sweaty hands and weak handshakes aren't a good first impression. I understand that interviews are nervewracking, but if you are someone who gets sweaty palms, a simple fix is applying some baby powder (unscented) to your palms prior to your interview. With your added confidence, you can add power to your handshake and impress the hiring manager with your solid and dry handshake!

#4 Scuffled Sally?:

Please, please, please shine your shoes (yes, men and women). You can do it yourself with cheap products you can buy at your local drugstore. Try an express Shine Sponge that you can take with you on the go! The brand Kiwi has some great products for leather: http://www.kiwicare.com/US/Products/Leather/

#3 Roll out of bed?:

Please iron your clothes. It makes a huge difference. Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes. If you interviewed someone with wrinkled clothes, what would you think? Lazy? Would you want to rely on (aka hire someone) that can't get up an extra 5 min early to iron their clothes? I wouldn't...

#2 Overdone ~ You're going to an interview, not a nightclub, right?:

Yes, you want to dress to impress, but don't take that too literally! You want to look conservative and professional; no bright colors (no, you are not the cool guy if you wear the bright pink shirt, trust me!)

Women: Polished hair style & minimal makeup, closed toe shoes, nylons, blouse under your suit, no distracting jewelry, etc.

Men: Get a haircut a couple of days ahead of time, shave that morning, do not wear a funny tie (think conservative!).

Both: Dark colored suits. Take out any visible facial piercings.

Drumroll please.....

#1 Skinky stink?:

Watch out about how you smell. Gotcha! I wasn't talking about that kind of smell actually... Skip perfume/cologne/aftershave, etc. A lot of people are allergic to perfume and cologne and you do not want that to kill your chances of getting the job. Also, some restaurants or foods can stay on your clothing, so watch out what you cook or where you go before you interview. You want to smell neutral to avoid any issues, just in case!

Hopefully my tips help you land the job... and a laugh!

Stay tuned for more blog entries.

Jill Shaneck

* Principal Recruiter * Accounting & Finance Division*

* Winter, Wyman & Company*

JShaneck@winterwyman.com

My Favorite Products: Splurge vs Save!

My secrets: What products I used this past recession to stay looking polished and professional on a budget!

We all know the past year has been tough for everyone; people have been through layoffs, salary cuts, countless interviews, unemployment, financial struggles, etc. Our normal nights out of dinners and drinks with friends have turned into pizza and movies nights in. Yes, we have all needed to adjust, including myself, but what this year has really taught me is that when the going gets tough, the tough keeps going! In a role where I am interviewing applicants and meeting with companies every day, first impressions and looking professional is an important part of my job.

When you are happy with how you look, you feel better and will have a more productive day; so how can you look great without breaking the bank?

Tip #1
Only use your salon brand/expensive brand shampoo/conditioner for special occasions, such as an interview, an event or party, etc. Find a drugstore brand you like.
Save: I like Dove Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Shampoo/Conditioner! Free sample:(http://bit.ly/b11fq8)
Splurge: Frederic Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo/Conditioner (http://bit.ly/ddy3iy)

Late night? Use dry shampoo in between washes. It creates a polished look and ensures you wont have oily hair whether you stick it in a pony or wear it down. Suggestion: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo in Powder form, not spray. I love it and it won an Allure beauty award as well! (Sephora: http://bit.ly/5En5sb)

Tip #2
Drugstore Makeup works just as well as designer makeup. Keep a combo of the designer stuff you can’t live without and substitute drugstore makeup for the stuff that you can.

The things I have been able to substitute are:

• Mascara – I actually love drugstore mascara. My favorite is L’OREAL Voluminous in Very Black or Carbon Black. Use an Eye Lash Curler first and apply two coats and your lashes will look great. CVS (http://bit.ly/9XzZDU)


• Eye Liner – I love this brand called Milani. It has great retractable eyeliner (no sharpening!) that lasts all day and doesn’t smudge. I like the color Espresso for a professional shade. (http://bit.ly/bOvNRZ)


• Lip Gloss – Yes, if we could all afford the Chanel lip-gloss I’m sure we would, but you can easily substitute at drugstore. Milani has great lip-gloss as well. Bee Mine is a nice shade to add a bit of color (CVS)

No substitutions:

• Foundation - You want your skin to look gorgeous and flawless and I haven’t found a good drugstore substitution for this one, so I think it’s really worth it! I absolutely love Bare Escentuals – just a brush of the powder over my skin and in trouble spots creates a flawless finish and it has SPF in it. It works wonders and is worth the money. I use 2N Medium Beige (Sephora). Starter Kit: ( http://bit.ly/drT6n8 )

Tip #3
Skip the dry cleaner and do it your self. I have been using Dryel; it is simple, effective and you would not believe the money you can save! (http://www.dryel.com/get-free-coupons/ )

• Running late? Use the wrinkle release setting on your dryer instead of breaking out the iron!

Tip #4
Do it yourself manicure and pedicures. I know it’s so great to have it done for you, but this can save so much money if you do it yourself. Of course, get your nail polish at the drug store! Sally Hansen is my favorite for a 5-step manicure in a bottle. (http://bit.ly/9NXxMK )

Tip #5
Instead of buying new shoes, go to the cobbler and get your old ones repaired. I was always so quick to throw my shoes away, but now I have saved a ton of money and kept my favorite shoes looking great through multiple seasons with some quick trips to the cobbler!

• David's Instant Shoe Repair @ 101 Federal Street in Boston if great, quick and has friendly service! (617) 951-2349

Tip #6
Invest in good skincare solutions, but do it smartly: Proactive Solution~ It works well and keeps me breakout free. Tips on how to get the most out of utilizing this product.

• Have it your way: You have the ability to customize the delivery frequency of certain items in your order via their website or by calling customer service. i.e. if you go through the lotion quicker than you do the toner, you can choose to have 2 lotions and no toner in your next shipment (as long as 3 items are in each shipment, you can change it up any way you choose)

• Only purchase it when there is a sale going on. If you pay more than $19.95 for the 3-step kit, there is a problem! http://www.proactiv.com/ or 1-800-235-6050

Hope you found my tips helpful. I welcome any comments of feedback.

*Jill Shaneck *Principal Recruiter, Accounting & Finance *Winter Wyman & Company*

JShaneck@winterwyman.com

www.winterwyman.com