Donni’s Dash of Sparkle

“Leave a little sparkle where ever you go.”
These posts are sprinkled with Donni’s dashes of sparkle on a variety of topics included but not limited to beauty, food, and yes – sports.

The Bachelorette and Breakups

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I’ve spent approximately 25 hours in the past few months watching Rachel Lindsay as The Bachelorette. I avoided every spoiler and blocked any mention of Reality Steve from popping up on any of my social media feeds or Google cards the entire season, but had my guess which man would get the final rose.

The Bachelorette and Breakups - The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

The final episode aired what Chris Harrison would say was one of the most dramatic breakups in Bachelor history. I haven’t seen every season but it was pretty emotional and I think there are some real world takeaways regarding breakups. Okay, but before I get to the real world application I have to admit I was #TeamPeter.

The Bachelorette and Breakups

PETER

 

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The entire season I fell for what the producers wanted America to see of Peter: perfection. Perfection that came in the form of a former model, with the cutest gapped-tooth smile, salt-and-pepper hair, and swoon worthy moments. Please see the evidence of my infatuation:

And even watching Monday night’s finale, I was all the way here for him making breakfast shirtless and giving Rachel forehead kisses for the rest of their lives. Alas, Peter would not be the last man standing/kneeling and Twitter was outraged.
However, I think Rachel made the right choice. Through editing we only saw them swapping kisses, but it was clear she lit up around Bryan. We’ll have to see if they will be one of the few Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor in Paradise couples to make it, but I’m rooting for them.

THE BREAKUP

Many people were calling Peter reasonable for not wanting to propose after a short amount of time. I applaud him, but I think people are forgetting he was completely aware of how the show works. I saw tweet after tweet and many articles calling Rachel a ring-chaser or claiming she was just after a proposal. It was more than that. Peter’s reluctance wasn’t just about not wanting to rush things. He was actually saying, “I’m not sure I will ever be ready to marry you.”

Rachel had every right to be frustrated that after being very clear of what she wanted, and not wanting to peer pressure him into proposing. That was her decision people. Homegirl, said I’m 32 and I’m over being someone’s girlfriend with no promise that they’ll ever want to commit to me.


Yes, sis!!
She asked for what she wanted and would not be persuaded of otherwise.

PETER THE PETTY

After a lot of back and forth about this process ending in an engagement and what the future would like, Peter hurled one of the cruelest, f*ckboy statements out at Rachel: “Go find someone to have a mediocre life with.” My immediate thought was how could Perfect Peter say something so mean to the woman he’s allegedly in love with.  It also took reminded me of a breakup where I was lashed out at. Instead of telling me to go have a mediocre life, I was told I would never find love. Anyways, the format of the show is obviously not made for someone like Peter. So if he’s the next Bachelor, I call shenanigans and will be convinced he used Rachel. Compare Peter to Eric (who was rocking a sexy revenge beard), who struggled at the beginning with the format of the show, but eventually came around and took a leap of faith.

The Bachelorette and Breakups: Real World Application

In Rachel’s post-finale interviews she mentions of how she felt manipulated by Peter. He would give her just enough to keep investing in him and then pull away. I’ve been Rachel. Maybe you’ve been Rachel. Not arguing over a proposal, but commitment. Peter is the guy who talks about your future together, but still has Tinder on his phone. Peter is the type of guy that will stay with you for seven years and make a statement like: Why do we need a paper/ring, I already feel like I’m married to you. To be fair, this could be a guy or girl, purposefully stringing you along or saying just enough to keep you. The argument is that Rachel settled for Bryan (for a ring). I think she was always ready and willing to be with Bryan.

So take Rachel’s lead: Be firm in your expectations in a relationship. Don’t settle for the emotionally unavailable man or woman you have to work for.

Any advice on The Bachelorette or breakups? Leave a comment below!

Simplify Your Life Week – Blog Roundup

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I recently learned that the first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week. Now I know there are national days and weeks for just about everything, but a little late-summer simplifying will be a great excuse to declutter as fall approaches. However, as I talked about in the minimalism challenge simplifying your life isn’t just about removing the physical clutter out of your closets and cabinets. Minimalism pushes us to examine our lifestyle and eliminate the things that keep us from truly enjoying life.

Simplify Your Life Week: Blog Round Up - palmsinatl.com

While there isn’t just one way to simplify your life, I’ve pulled together a list of blogs that may help you in a pursuit for a simpler lifestyle. First up are a few of my blog posts to get you started:

Minimalism 101 | The Art of Decluttering |  Decluttering Challenge

Simplify Your Life Week – Blog Roundup

The Minimalists 

If you’re going to start anywhere, I would suggest The Minimalists – Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. They’ve got books, a podcast, and a documentary that will help you understand what minimalism is all about.

Un-Fancy

Un-Fancy was one of the first blogs I found on the topic of simplifying your wardrobe. I’m still battling with this because I love clothes. However, if you’re interested in capsule wardrobes – this is the blogger for you.

Minimalist Baker

Dana and John, a wife and husband duo, create recipes that consist of 10 ingredients or less, require a single bowl or pot, or takes 30 minutes or less to prepare. Can someone say: Amen!!

Save. Spend. Splurge.

 Ok, one other area to consider simplifying – finances.  Sherry, of Save. Spend. Splurge , managed to pay off $60,000 in just 18 months. So if you’re looking to live more minimally when it comes to financial aspects this is the blog for you.

Lavendaire

Lavendaire is a lifestyle youtuber and podcast host. She writes and vlogs about ways millennials can embrace their true potential and create their dream life. She has some great organization and minimalism videos that I love.

Happy Friday, peeps! I hope you find some of these blogs interesting and informative. If you have any favorites send them my way. 

Donni Siggy--The Palmetto Peaches

Milk and Honey | A Review

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I kept seeing posts on Instagram like the one below. Who is this Rupi Kaur I would say?  making a mental note to look up the poet. I would forget until another poem would appear on my feed. When I finally did my homework, I immediate ordered Milk and Honey, Kaur’s first collection of poems.

Milk and Honey…that sounds nice

this is the journey of
surviving through poetry
this is the blood sweat tears
of twenty-one years
this is my heart
in your hands
this is
the hurting
the loving
the breaking
the healing
– rupi kaur

The poem above is featured on the back of the book and is a brief synopsis of the book. Do not let the brevity of the poems fool you. Rupi’s poems are experiences. They are honest. Kaur breaks her book into four parts: the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing.

Review: Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur

The Hurting

The hurting touches on topics of rape, sexual abuse, and abusive parenting. It describes feelings of emptiness and suppression, however, also the ability to transcend the hurt with kindness.  It describes the fractured relationship left as a result of abuse.

you have sadness
living in places
sadness shouldn’t live

The Loving

The loving section of Milk and Honey is about love, hope, sex, intimacy, women’s bodies and being consumed by a relationship.

you might not have been my first love
but you were the love that made
all the other loves
irrelevant.

The Breaking

The breaking is about heartbreak, the bitter aspects of relationships, and relationships that break you down or cause to be someone you aren’t.

i am a museum full of art
but you had your eyes shut

The Healing

The healing is about loving yourself, openness and kindness.  It’s about celebrating and supporting other women’s successes and celebrating feminine beauty in all its different colors, shapes and sizes.

our backs
tell stories
no books have
the spine to
carry
-women of color

 

#Summer Reading List

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What have been your favorite reads this summer? Leave a comment below!

Donni Siggy--The Palmetto Peaches

TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate

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 As you may know by know, I have strong thoughts on fictional characters: fictional crushes, fictional deaths that crushed me, and favorite couples. While I’ve shared my love for Pacey and Mr. Darcy, I’ve yet to share the TV boyfriends I loathe, but also have at some point liked.TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate- The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate

Logan Huntzberger, Gilmore Girls

TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate- The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

To be fair, I actually liked Logan on the show and the damn reunion ruined him for me. So Logan turns up engaged and still hooking up with Rory. I mean yes, he treated Rory well and I loved that outing with the Life and Death Brigade, but at the end of the day, no one likes a cheater. C’mon man! Also, Logan seriously gives me Mr. Big vibes. (P.S. Keep scrolling)


Lucious Lyon, Empire

TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate- The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

Lucious has put Cookie through everything…including jail time. He is a terrible father. He loves them certainly, but good goodness. I’m still not over him putting Jamal in a trash can for wearing heels. As much as I kind of want Cookie and Lucious together, I know he’s bad news bears and will only do something else unforgivable. His problem is that he carries his hate, greed, and desire for power like a badge of honor. Over the course of the show, he has moments where he seems to temporarily let that go, but he picks it up again. Hopefully, the new Lucious fresh from a coma will be different. 


Fitzgerald Grant III, Scandal

TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate- The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

Say what you want. I am tired of Olitz and this isn’t because I am and will always be #TeamJake aka Pillow Lips. I was the happiest when Papa Pope read him to filth and I was most upset when she ran out to the White House Lawn to kiss him. That Olitz music kills me.

Fitz is domineering, arrogant, and child-like. Let’s talk about how they got together. Fitz seduced Olivia during the campaign despite her trying to be professional. That’s called sexual harassment people. As an employer you should not do that. Also, I guess I missed the obvious, he cheated on Mellie (and other women) to be with her. Thankfully, the upcoming seventh season is the final and I wouldn’t be upset if the chopper Fitz is on blows up on the way to Vermont.

Mr. Big – Sex and the City

TV Boyfriends We (Love to) Hate- The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

I can hear some of the complaints now, but I don’t care. I was never and will never be a fan of Mr. Big. Before I even mention that time he was a runaway groom, let’s talk about how utterly disappointed I am in him as a match for Carrie. As if it isn’t very obvious- I am very much still #TeamAiden. I’ll take him, Pete, and his lovely handcrafted furniture any day.

Mr. Big cheated on Natasha with Carrie. And we all know the saying: Once a cheater, always a cheater. There were definitely commitment issues on both sides, but Mr. Big was the worst. He basically only wanted Carrie when he couldn’t  have her. The minute she would move on, he would suddenly come back into the picture. I’d like to also casually mention he had not one, but two failed marriages. Bruh, it might be you.

One of the biggest pro-Big arguments I hear is that Aiden didn’t give Carrie butterflies. Well and this is more than just a comment about fictional relationships:

Did you ever stop to think those “butterflies” you’re feeling is just anxiety generated by an unreliable guy?

The other pro-Big sentiment: but he changed in the end. That’s all that matters. Let’s be real, he didn’t change which is why we have two SATC movies where their relationship is rocky and not some storybook ending.

Who are some of the TV boyfriends you love to hate or just hate? Leave a comment below!

Donni Siggy--The Palmetto Peaches

7 Things to Remove From Your Résumé

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I was recently asked to review a the résumé of a recent grad. I am not a HR specialist, but upon quick glance there were a few items I noticed that could be removed from his résumé, which made me think about putting it all together in a blog post.

7 Things to Remove From Your Résumé - The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

1. Objective Statement

Ultimately, your objective is to get hired.  Usually people use this section to tell the company what they are looking for in a position. Here’s the thing ladies and gents that company’s main concern isn’t what you a looking for. Also, you are taking up precious space on your résumé with an objective statement. I have heard that an executive summary or personal profile can replace the objective statement. However, I say use your cover letter to talk about yourself.

2. Passive Language

If you are updating your résumé, Google action verbs for résumé first.  You want to always use action verbs when describing what you accomplished at your previous job. Now with that being said don’t just drop a bunch of fancy action verbs all over the document. Using non-conversational words doesn’t make you look smart. It makes you look like someone who spends too much time in a thesaurus.

3. A Photo

I’ve seen some creatives include photos so I don’t think this necessarily a hard no. However, there are other ways you can get employers to view your picture without having to add your photo to your résumé. Consider including the URL of your LinkedIn profile. Although, unless you’re an actor, the employer shouldn’t be judging you based on your looks.

4. A Bunch of Short-Lived or Unrelated Jobs

Your résumé is not an autobiography of every job you’ve held in life. Include the relevant ones and delete everything else. You don’t want your résumé looking disjointed. Also, employers are not interested in achievements or abilities that are not applicable to the job. Think about if you’re applying for a public relations job and all of experience is in the healthcare. One exception, is to, if possible, highlight transferable skills.

5. Really Obvious Skills

The last time I updated my résumé this was the first thing I removed. Look –  proficiency in Microsoft Word and basically all of the Microsoft Office suite is kind of expected. Substitute these basic skills with less common skills or more technical skills that will make you stand out from other applicants.

6.  References available upon request

You don’t need a line that states the obvious and takes up valuable real estate for the accomplishments you really want to highlight on your résumé!  Like are you going to refuse to give references if they ask? The answer is no. Employers today expect you to offer references when requested, which is typically during the latter part of the interview process.

7. Personal Social Media Accounts

If you take nothing from this post. Remember this: keep it professional, people! Don’t give that hiring manager a reason to dig into your personal life. The red solo cup picture as your Instagram profile pic may not be the best idea, but don’t go broadcasting it on your  résumé. At most include your LinkedIn profile and leave everything else.

Let’s chat! What has worked for you when creating and/or updating your résumé? Leave a comment below. 

Donni Siggy--The Palmetto Peaches

Summer Anthems – #AllSummer17

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You’ll need some summer anthems while you’re living your best life this summer.  So while the temperature is rising and you’re sipping your rosé (or frosé) you can blast these songs or check out our other playlists.

 

Summer Anthems - #AllSummer17 - The Palmetto Peaches - palmsinatl.com

 

Summer Anthems – #AllSummer17

  • Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Migos – Slide
  • Drake – Passionfruit
  • DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne – I’m The One
  • Kendrick Lamar ft. Rihanna – Loyalty
  • SZA ft. Travis Scott – Love Galore
  • French Montana ft. Swae Lee- Unforgettable
  • Zedd ft. Alessia Cara – Stay
  • 2 Chainz ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz & Jhene Aiko – It’s a Vibe
  • Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne – No Frauds
  • DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
  • Jidenna – Bambi
  • Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, & Justin Bieber, – Despacito (Remix)
  • Sean Paul – No Lie
  • Lorde – Greene Light
  • Major Lazer Ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR & Nicki Minaj – Run Up
  • Firfth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – Down
  • HAIM – Want you Back
  • Bruno Mars – Chunky
  • Bruno Mars –  That’s What I Like

Let’s keep the playlist going! What are your summer anthems? Leave a comment below. 

Donni Siggy--The Palmetto Peaches

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