The Art of Listening, Or How to Avoid a Holiday Horror Show

Do you ever feel like everyone seems mad at you at the same time, and you can’t seem to make anyone happy? You hear criticism from every angle – especially around the holidays, and every step you take is deemed a misstep by people around you. (Or maybe you’re actually the judgmental one.) Well, it’s…

How I’m Wired: Inside the Mind of an Introvert

I’m the girl at the office who gets labeled “the quiet one.” I’m often passed over in social situations by more charismatic, loud go-getters. I’m not what you would call the “life of the party.” But, I am thoughtful and studious – the book nerd – with my head down working and writing frantically all…

Cheating the Fashion Industry: Size 16 Style and Shopping Advice

I'm a size 16 – the new national "average" size of a woman. What it's like to be a sexy size 16 is different for each individual woman. I'm grateful to have good health, friends, and a great career, but when it comes to my personal style, it can be a challenge. The fashion industry is…

Sexy Size 16: The New American Woman Claims Her Curves

In the last decade, women’s body measurements in the U.S. have drastically changed. While the “average” size was a 14 in the early 2000s, the new average American woman is now a size 16 or 18, which falls at the low-end of what retailers consider “plus-size” clothing, according to a study in the International Journal of Fashion…