Because America

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So I know we are all still mourning that loss yesterday afternoon, but July 4th will still go on as regularly scheduled. I think this iPhone and Desktop background may be my favorite yet, so much so that I made it my Facebook cover photo, and included that for you to download as well. I hope you guys like it as much as I do! 

Before I bring you a guest post from one of the most patriotic (and hello, coolest) girls I'm happy to call my friend in blogland, I thought I would share a funny little thing that happened to me last night...

How does this even happen? I'm not entirely sure where I went wrong here. And to preemptively answer your question, yes, I used dishwashing detergent, not dish soap. The same dishwashing detergent I've been using for the past two months. #argh. Thank heavens I'm moving next week. I'm just going to grab those dishes and act like I had no idea anything was wrong with the dishwasher. Good plan? YUP!

Oh and, Tim Howard. Damn.

Now I would introduce Steph, from Not Entirely Perfect, but you already know her from this post she wrote that was practically Pinterest famous overnight. I've been following Steph's blog for like, ever. She's hilarious, clever and what I like most, genuine. And did I mention she's a girl after my own heart, I mean, she's showing us how to make alcoholic cupcakes...

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I love the 4th of July.  Love it.  I also love baking cupcakes full of booze for holidays.  So if you've ever been around my blog, you may have seen these.  It was one of my first posts ever, although now I've had time to perfect it.  Cotton candy vodka cupcakes.  They are glorious, and easier to make than you'd think.

Ingredients you will need:

- 1 box white cake mix + ingredients to make the cake, like eggs.  Alternatively, just mix cake mix with 12 ounces of pop like 7-up and it'll bake right up, no additional ingredients needed.  You're welcome.

- 8 ounces white chocolate, if you want to make the filling, but it's of course optional in a pinch.  It just adds more booze.  So wait, I take that back.  Not optional.

- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

- 2+ cups powdered sugar

- 1/3 cup butter, at room temperature

- Blue food coloring

- 1 jar of cherries

- Sprinkles.  Possibly mixed with pop rocks, because that would be perfect for the 4th.

and of course, the booze.  Whiskey for the cherries and cotton candy vodka for the frosting and filling. Oh yes, you heard me, cotton candy.  Pinnacle makes cotton candy flavored vodka.  It was even on sale for $10 a bottle at my local Binny's.  It's delicious.

First things first - take your jar of cherries, dump the liquid, fill with Jack Daniels honey whiskey.  Put the lid back on and stick it in the fridge until the 4th so the cherries soak up all the booze.

Alright, when you're ready to make the cupcakes, either on the 4th or the night before:

(1) Bake cupcakes according to package directions.  Let them cool completely.  Then, use a scoop to take the centers of the cupcakes out.  A spoon works just fine.  Not all the way to the bottom, we're just filling little holes.  A center surprise, if you will.

(2) Chop the chocolate and place it in a bowl.  Boil the cream on the stove and pour it over the chocolate and stir until all the chocolate melts.  Add 2 tablespoons of cotton candy vodka.  Give it some time to cool and thicken so it won't just leak out of the cupcakes.

(3) Spoon it into the cupcakes.

(4) In a separate bowl, beat the butter until it's smooth and fluffy.  Slowly add in 1 to 2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/3 cup of the cotton candy vodka.  Mix in the blue coloring.  Adjust to your liking - more powdered sugar equals thicker frosting, more vodka will thin it out.

(5) Frost away!  And then top with your sprinkles and the cherries you soaked in Jack (or your liquor of choice.)

Obviously I haven't made this year's cupcakes yet, but I'll take some better photos when I do!

Happy Birthday America!

For more of Steph's boozy cupcakes, click here. 

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Tips for Getting and Nailing an Interview: Choosing Your LinkedIn Profile Picture

You guys might think I'm crazy, but I started writing a general "LinkedIn Tips" post, then realized I could build an entire blog post addressing the Do's and Don'ts of choosing a profile picture! So I guess this series just keeps growing. For Part Three (of four, five, six... ?) I bring you, "The Do's and Don'ts of choosing a LinkedIn picture!" 80% are doing it wrong. And yes, I just made that number up.    Part One of this series can be found HERE Part Two of this series can be found HERE 
Do's and Don'ts: Choose the Right Picture This drives my mom bonkers, and I see her point. Profile pictures where you immediately think, "oh my gosh, what are they thinking by making that their image?", should not be used. Here are my do's and don'ts of choosing an image for your profile picture. Because, it matters. 
  Don't use a car selfie:  Maybe we can get rid of these across all social media?! Please? 

  Don't use a cropped out group photo: I see this one quite often. These can cause serious pixelation and just doesn't look professional. Plus, it is distracting when you can see even a sliver of someone else's face in your photo. 

   Don't be an egg I say "egg" because of twitter. I just call anyone without a picture, an egg.

  Don't be goofy  Yes, you're adorbs. But they can learn that about you later. For now, let them view you as a lean, mean, working hard, serious machine! 

  Don't include friends in your photo You're the star of this LinkedIn show, don't share the spotlight. 

  Don't include your boyfriend No, this is not my boyfriend. This is the naked cowboy in NYC. While this picture is freaking awesome, I'm aware, it doesn't belong anywhere near LinkedIn. Or your grandmother. 

  Which leads me to my next don't...   Don't use anything sexy or even remotely revealing If you would be embarrassed / feel awkward blowing it up, framing it and presenting it to your grandmother as a Christmas gift, don't use that picture.  

  For those of you who were anxiously awaiting a sexy example "don't" picture of me, I'm sorry to have disappointed all none of you. Stewie will have to do for now. 

Don't be invisible  Ok but, we still have no idea what you look like. You might as well be an egg.

  Don't show us your nose boogers  Can we just go ahead and say no selfies at all? This is your career for pete's sake, put in the effort and have someone take your photo. 

  Transitions for the win.... Don't pose with the pups or with the kiddos Yes, I know you love them. I love them. We all love them. Except for hiring managers. They don't love them. 

  Don't use old photos  Limited Too clothes are so last season. 

  Don't use wedding photos  Yes, you looked gorgeous. More gorgeous than any other day, ever. In the history of ever. But unless you're bragging about your MRS degree, professional is the name of the game.  

  Yes, I know this was the Kentucky Derby, but it looks a little bridal, right?  Also, no booze. But pretty much everyone knows that....

:::Now for the Do's:::

Do use professional photos if you have them. Do grab your iPhone, a friend and business attire, and go take your picture in a professional setting if you don't have any suitable images already. Again, this is your career here. Put in some effort.  Do use Groupon / LivingSocial. I often see headshot photography as the deal of the day.  Like this one! Do smile big and pretty

So what are your Do's and Don'ts of LinkedIn profile photos?  Do you agree or disagree with my choices?  Oh, and of course, come LinkIn with me! 
Oh, and I'll just leave this here. Because, America.  Thanks for the opportunity, Korked Bats. I look forward to hearing back from you in a timely manner.