Lindsay from Sugar & Something

Happy Friday all! Today Lindsay from Sugar & Something is guest posting for me. I met Lindsay late summer last year, and we quickly became friends! She has the BEST style, and is one of the nicest people I've ever met. (Seriously, I text her the most random questions sometimes, and she's always the best about it.) She has some amazing tip for starting a blog that you can use throughout your blog life- let's get reading!

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Hi there!! My name is Lindsay Emow and I blog over at Sugar & Something! I am so excited to be guest posting on Dress In Sparkles today! I "e-met" Kylie quite some time ago now and we became fast and great blogger friends! It's funny how the blogging world works and how someone who you never would have known about or met in the real world can walk into your life over Instagram. I am so thankful for it! 

I wanted to introduce myself and give some advice on starting a blog. I am sure  there are many people out there that want to start but really don't know where to even begin. I was definitely in the same boat. Four years ago I became completely and utterly obsessed with blogs and that was what I spent my spare time doing, reading, swooning and dreaming about blogs I began following. I knew I wanted to be in the writing industry but didn't really know how or where to start. I took my love for blogging and writing and decided to give it a shot. Now Sugar & Something has morphed quite some bit from the Baking and DIY blog it was from day one but it's still has the same heart. So what advice to I have for beginning your journey in the blog world? 

1. Know your brand- This one took me a really long time. I was all over the board with colors, names, logos, etc. I can honestly say it took me until very recently to find my brand. Sugar & Something was pink and sparkle covered and I sat down and really thought about my style and my personality and I realized that wasn't me at all. I am a minimalist who veers towards neutrals, blacks and whites before I would ever grab a bright pink peplum top. Once I realized how wrong my branding was it didn't take long to figure out how to make it right. So sit down and really think about the message you want your blog to give off, and go from there. 

2. Invest in your hobby- Yes blogging may just be your hobby, but doesn't any hobby deserve some investment. You wouldn't pick up kayaking and decide it was okay to buy the cheapest equipment with holes in it. So why do that with your blog? If you are a style blogger, invest in a good camera that shows off your style, if you're a food blogger invest in a good pair of pans, you get the idea. It's okay to spend a little hard earned money on something that truly makes you happy. Who knows- you may see a lot of return on that investment :)

3. Be social!- Don't be afraid to reach out to followers, fellow bloggers, brand, etc! It is a really great thing to have a solid network of people that are at your finger tips. I go to my blogger friends constantly for advice, motivation or even to grab a quick drink after work. Say thank you to followers for commenting on your photos, check out other blogger's works, look at new products from brands and share your love for their work! 

4. Don't be afraid to be yourself, and always try your best!- It took me awhile to stop comparing myself to other bloggers (I still find myself doing it sometimes) I often would catch myself saying "Her pictures are better," "How did she get to work with that brand??" "My hair will never have that perfect look in my photos" so on and so forth. We all are different people so to compare yourself and try to be someone else is impossible. Show your own colors because the more genuine and true to yourself that you are the more people will positively respond to your posts. 

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share some insights! Happy Blogging!

Dani from Drafts and Crafts

Today we have Dani from Drafts and Crafts guest posting! You might remember Dani from when I blogged about her adorable 'listaholic' notepad and 'champagne' print back in February. We've become good friends since then, and I knew I had to have her guest post! And when she suggested doing a summer cocktail recipe, I knew I had made a good choice! I absolutely cannot wait to make this! YUM!

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Let me begin by saying, I was so excited to write a post for my gal pal, Kylie, on Dress in Sparkles! A blog is like your little baby, so I was honored that Kylie asked me to create a guest post! Networking with her over the past year has been wonderful! 

With that being said, have you been to Target lately? The shelves are already lined with school supplies and I even saw a few Halloween items… that is just craziness if you ask me!! I am over here like can we just slow things down, it is still summer for over a month! I plan to enjoy the rest of my warm summer days with the help of my homemade watermelon-lemon mojito recipe.

{Kitchen tools}

Muddle utensil

Large cocktail shaker

Measuring cup

{Ingredients}

2 squeezed lemons

½ cup mint leaves

2 cups watermelon cubes

1 cup simple syrup (see how to make you own below)

¾ cup white rum

hint: have a little extra mint, lemon and watermelon for garnish!

Homemade Simple Syrup: This is a little trick that is good to know incase you want to throw a sip together but do not have simple syrup on hand, which numerous drinks require. It is 1 part sugar to 1 part water ratio. I put half of cup sugar and a half of cup water and slowing bring it to a boil. I added an extra tablespoon of sugar because I threw in a few ice cubes at the end to make the syrup room temperature. 

1.   1. Begin by squeezing the two lemons into the shaker. Then, place the mint and watermelon cubes in the shaker. Muddle these three ingredients.

2.    2. Place simple syrup and rum into the shaker. Shake well!

3.    3. Pour over ice and garnish with extra mint, lemon, and watermelon

Tip: If you hate anything with a few chunks, you can make this recipe in a blender.

This sweet sip will come in handy when entertaining at any summer social!

The watermelon-lemon mojito would be amazing with a Taco Tuesday or a weekend BBQ. So, Kick back, relax, and enjoy the rest of those long summer days! Thank you for featuring my cocktail! You can find more recipes, outfits, and DIY’s on my blog, Drafts & Crafts. Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram for more fun ideas, @dccold.

Keep in touch,

Dani

Darcy from A Memory of Us

Next up in this week of guest blogging is Darcy from A Memory of Us! I started following Darcy over a year ago because I absolutely loved her style, and she was always just so sweet! We quickly became good friends in this blogging world, and I knew I wanted to have her be one of the guest posts this week! 

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Hi everyone! My name is Darcy and I blog over at A Memory of Us. I am a Midwest blogger based out of Kansas City, Missouri. Most of my posts are simply my outfits, but I always try to include some personal details as well! I want my blog to be a place where I document my outfits, but also a place where I get to document what is happening in my life.

 I am super excited to be guest posting today for Kylie! Kylie and I "met" through blogging awhile ago and have quickly formed a good friendship! We have a ton of similar interests such as our love for dance, Disney, and of course fashion! 

On my blog, you will find fashion posts where I talk about my favorite trends! Most recently, I styled this white on white look and loved it!



I am a newlywed and got married in April of 2015. It was the most perfect day! I have done quite a few posts about wedding planning and have plans to share more tips as time goes on.



One of my favorite things to do is travel. I love exploring new places! I have even gotten my husband, Tyler, in love with it. We probably add a new place to our list each week! I always share my trips and experience on the blog!



Recently, I also started a YouTube channel and have been sharing my videos on my blog as well! YouTube is such a fun creative outlet for me because I get to do all the editing, find music that fits, etc.



I hope you will head on over to my blog and get to know me a little bit better. Blogging is a huge passion of mine and I am so happy to share it with other people! Thank you to Kylie for letting me take over your space on the internet today!

I would love it if you would follow me on GFC or Bloglovin'!

Michaela: How Blogging Made Me Brave

Hi all! I am so happy to say that it is my final week in my accelerated nursing program! It's been a long, crazy, insane, hectic year, but it will all be worth it in just a few days when I'm DONE! (And once I pass the NCLEX and become a registered nurse, and then start pediatric nursing!) So since I'm going to be pretty busy this week, I decided to get some of my favorite blogging ladies to guest post for me!

First up we have Michaela, who I absolutely love! I started following her because I loved her edgier style, and how she could could make everything look classic and put together. And when she started showcasing her art, I fell in love even more! She's probably annoyed of all my "LOVE THIS" comments on all her art posts! ;) But seriously, she is so incredibly talented, and I knew I wanted to have her guest post so everyone else could see her amazing art! (But I'm calling dibs on the Haunted Mansion painting, so don't get too attached ;))

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How Blogging Made Me Brave

Before this post turns into an article I want to thank Kylie for allowing me to post on her lovely blog! She is so kind and seriously one of my favorite internet friends. I adore her!

Now onto what the title implies, or proclaims rather. Yes, blogging made me brave. When I refer to such courage I am far from comparing myself to war vets, or even hinting that I have conquered my fear of flying and/or spiders. Ha. When I say bravery, I mean confidence. My blogging career began shortly after college with my best friend who suggested we combine closets and play dress up. This was before influencers had assumed a third of all fashion week's seats and had larger followings than movie stars. For us, it was just an excuse to hang out more and keep our writing skills fresh. That venture eventually evolved into a hobby which led to collaborations, brand partnerships and friends like Kylie! 

With that said, to blog one must be resilient. Whether you are a fashion blogger, a food blogger, a mommy blogger, whatever, you are putting your interests, tastes, thoughts, etc. out into the world. A virtual world where anyone can cycle through your very personal and original content and form their own opinions about you and your writing. (That includes friends, family, frenemies, ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends, whomever. It. is. scary.) 

Yet, and I am sure many of my fellow bloggers would agree, that once you get over that hump of embarrassment and fear of judgement you are free, you are confident, you are courageous enough to partake in any sort of work that tickles your fancy. That is exactly what happened to me. 

Blogging served as my creative outlet for many years, but is was always a place holder for my long suppressed dream of becoming an artist. Finally with encouragement from family, friends and you guessed it... fellow bloggers, leapt into the realm of self-employment. Without learning confidence from blogging, in other words how not be afraid of negative reactions, I may have never been brave enough to make art for a living. 

So to all you bloggers out there that made it to the end of this post or even the ones that read the title and got the point, keep it up. Do you. You never know where this hobby or job will take you, but I promise at the very least fear will no longer hold you back from your dreams.

xo Michaela

Art enthusiasts, be sure to check out my instagram and website! New paintings will be available Thursday July 30th. And for those of you who are curious, here is my old blog. xo

guest post: sequins and sea breezes

I am so excited to have Pamela from Sequins and Sea Breezes posting for me today! I absolutely love her style, and she is definitely a blog that I check every single day! I'll be back for good tomorrow, but until then, enjoy my last guest post!
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Hi dolls! I'm Pamela from over at Sequins and Sea Breezes! I'm super excited to be guest posting on Kylie's blog while she's taking some time off! Over at my blog you'll find me posting about fashion, lifestyle, fitness, and occasionally a rant about one thing or another. Since I'm taking over Kylie's blog for the day I decide to share with you some of my must have fashion pieces for spring/summer and some of my favorite outfit choices from my favorite boutique, Sophie & Trey. 

1//2//3

4//5//6   Seriously, how fun are all of these amazing outfits? And yes, that last picture is me :) I had to throw that one in there since that is one of my FAVORITE dresses I've gotten from there lately. If you can't tell I also have quite the obsession with crochet right now. I feel like crochet is such a fun, feminine (and flirty) look. I'm also obsessed with bright colors and fun prints for this spring/summer because what better way to show off your summer tan than in a sexy, bright patterned romper? I love outfits that can be carried over from day to night (no one likes having to run home and put together a whole new outfit and potentially miss out on the fun!) so I love that all of these outfits can be worn both day and night.    It's time to start sprucing up that spring/summer wardrobe so for the month of May all of my readers get 10% off any order of $50 or more and I decided to share that with you guys as well! The 10% off code is STPAMELA and is case sensitive. Happy shopping! :)    It's been fun taking over Kylie's blog for the day and getting to share some of my favorite spring and summer pieces with all you lovelies! If you liked my post I hope you'll stop by my blog sometime!     

guest post: kortneyskollection

Time to head back to Bloomington! I had an amazing time at home, but now it's time to head back and get started on summer jobs! (A mix of babysitting and working at the rec center. Busy, busy!) Plus, I've already made lots of plans with friends, and I can't wait to have a fun summer!
Today's guest post is Kortney from her instagram kortneyskollection! I worked with her before on the Striped Shirt 3 Ways post, and I'm so glad she could guest post for me! (PS keep a look out for the new blog she's starting this summer!)
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Dress Up Your Little Black Tee {LBT}

I am so excited to be guest blogging today on Dress In Sparkles! Kylie contacted me awhile back & asked if I wanted to post for her while she was busy during graduation! I was so excited when I got this invite & knew I had to say yes!

You may have seen me on Dress In Sparkles before. About a month ago Kylie, Amanda, & I all realized through our Instagram accounts {mine is @kortneyskollection} that we all had purchased the same striped shirt from J Crew Factory. When we realized this we decided to show you guys three ways to wear the striped shirt! That collaboration was so fun & I hope that there are more in the future. :) 

So today, I decided to show you a simple way to "dress up your little black tee." I would think that any girl would have a little black tee in their closet. But how do you make a plain tee acceptable to wear to a dressy event such as church, etc.? I am thrilled to show you one example today! 

First of all I wanted to keep this outfit simple, yet classy. I think that is just how it turned out! 

- Once I grabbed my LBT I immediately grabbed my favorite pair of rhinestone jeans. I wear these jeans probably once a week. They were purchased from Buckle along time ago, the brand is Antique Rivet. 

- Next I picked out my Crystal Sparkler necklace from Purple Peridot. 

- To go along with my necklace I wore my Kendra Scott Danielle black earrings. Kendra Scotty earrings are my favorite, I can't wait to get more!!!

- Now for the shoes, I purchased these black wedges recently from Target. They are awesome! I love the gold zipper! 

- My hair...I decided to go for a simple, but cute messy bun! 

 

Overall, I loved how this LBT look turned out! Tell me what are your favorite ways to wear your LBT? 

XOXO -Kortney

guest post: gold-hatted lover

Today, we have the always lovely Mary-Katherine from Gold-Hatted Lover guest posting! I was so happy when she agreed to this! She is absolutely one of my favorite blogs and she is beyond sweet. Plus, I found her blog through a guest post, so we're really coming full circle now! ;)

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well hey there, friends of kylie!  i am mary-katherine and i blog over at gold-hatted lover.  kylie is one of my sweetest readers so i was really touched when she asked if i would take care of her space while she took a much-deserved break. 

a little about me: i am originally from wine country california but came to the midwest for college where i found the love of my life and decided to make kansas home for now.  my happy place is j.crew and i love nothing more than a hot day.  i am an amateur foodie with a major case of wanderlust.  

while i love few things more than a trip to j.crew, i would not say that my style is strictly j.crew because i like to switch it up.  isn't that the best thing about fashion?!  we can dress however we feel and change it up on any given day to reflect how we feel or what we want to portray!

here are some of my favorite recent outfits, hope they give you a little taste of me!
 BOHO

PREPPY

GRUNGY

CASUAL

GLAM

 TOMBOY

thank you so much for having me kylie!  be sure to follow me on bloglovin' or come visit me over at gold-hatted lover to see more outfit posts and fashion inspiration, i love making new blog friends!

guest post: parksama

For the next guest post, we have Amanda from her instagram, parksama! I've worked with her before on the Striped Shirt 3 Ways post, and I knew I wanted to have her guest post for me while I'm traveling! Enjoy her post!

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Hi, I’m Amanda! This is my first ever blog post, so please bear with me. I met Kylie through Instagram and she asked me to guest post. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. One thing I know Kylie and I have in common is our love of fashion. Since I don’t blog, I meet most of my fashionista friends through Instagram. It’s a great way to interact with other people with your same interests, share looks, gain inspiration, and if you’re like me, stalk other people’s closets (Totally kidding about the stalking…maybe). So, I thought for this post, I’d compile a few photos of my style journey, so to speak on Instagram.

 

In the beginning on me posting outfits about a year ago, my style hadn’t really evolved much since college. I knew pieces I liked and had a lot of clothes, but really didn’t know how to style them. I would’ve never take on pattern mixing, contrasting colors, bright colored pants, etc. I started out reading fashion blogs and getting inspiration from bloggers. I then began a Tumblr account where I could compile my own pictures. Tumblr got kind of boring rather quickly, so I gave IG a spin. I love it! It took some time to get going and gain followers, but when I did, it was wonderful! I have met so many great ladies through IG that inspire me daily. Here are a few pictures from the beginning of my IG style journey after getting up the courage to pattern mix and wear lace & plaid together. I think these outfits turned out great!

My style just got better from there and I found a groove. I plan my outfits the night before and lately have been participating in style challenges. If you’re on IG and love fashion, I highly recommend a style challenge such as @hilaryrushford #styleme series. Each month, she posts a new “calendar” of what to wear on each day. For instance, florals on the 1st, heels on the 2^nd, and so on. It’s a great way to remix your closet and get inspiration from others. Secondly, I participate often in the #pinneditspinnedit series created by @jro1583, @aem8168, @stylejourney1, and @badaburnt. It’s an awesome challenge completely inspired by Pinterest. The ladies have compiled a calendar with an inspiration photo for each day. Then, you try to come up with your own version of that pin. I love looking through the hashtag every day to see what everyone came up with.

And lastly, sometimes we just come up with things on our own. I know Kylie has talked about our striped shirt, 3 ways post before. It was so much fun to see how she and Kortney syled the same shirt. I hope we can do another one soon.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed my rambling. Find me on Instagram @parksama.

Until next time,

A

guest post: cherworksitout

I'm graduating college today, wahoooo! I am so ready for this, and can't wait to start on the next part of my life! 
I'm headed home for about a week for some relaxing and time with my family, so I thought it'd be fun to set up some guest posts for the days I'm traveling! First off we have my best friend Cher, who started her blog Cher Works It Out around the same time I started mine! 
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Hello! When Kylie asked me to guest post, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to do for you all – I tried to think of what exactly I could offer to the wonderful readers of Dress in Sparkles. What exactly is my expertise? I may not necessarily have one that translates fully to a blog post, but this is what I can tell you: I get a lot of compliments on my makeup. I’ve never been entirely sure as to why – I don’t have a very long makeup routine, and unless I’ve gone totally out of my way to do something out of the ordinary, it’s usually pretty straightforward. I suppose growing up around a bunch of cosmetologists has its perks, though – I’ve managed to get my everyday makeup routine (consisting of some quick tricks that I’ve picked up over the years from watching others get their makeup done and doing it myself) down to a cool seven minutes. I figured that’s what I could share with you – so, without further ado: Seven Minute Makeup!

1. Prep Your Skin 

We’re going to start by preparing your skin for the day – makeup doesn’t last nearly as long as it can if you don’t do at least a bit of prep. The first thing I do is moisturize. If I get nothing else through to you in this post, let it be this – moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Your skin will thank you later! My prep routine consists of three steps: priming lotion, tinted CC cream, and eye primer.

Apply sparingly – you don’t need a ton, just enough for a thin layer over your skin, to protect it and to help your makeup stay on.

Use the lotion all over, and with a BB/CC cream, highlight your cheekbones, t-zone, and chin. Prime your lids with an eye primer, and you’re ready to move on! All in all, this takes me around a minute and a half, if not less.

2.  Face

People tend to neglect their face makeup, just slap on some foundation, coat bronzer all over, and call it a day. That’s not the way to do it – there’s a way to use way less product and make the most of it. Using a larger brush (I used the brush on the left), apply a powder foundation (mine is Mac’s Studio Fix, but any that works with your skin tone will do) in circular motions over your face and neck. Applying it straight is not necessarily the best way to do it – it can get cakey – so the circular motion will give it a nice, light look.

Next, we move on to bronzer. Bronzer mystifies a lot of people – I had so many problems with it for the longest time, but I was given a really cool contouring tip just a few months back that I’ll share with you. Start at the temple and trace along the side of your face in the shape of a number 3 (temple, around the eye to the mid cheek, back down to the chin) on each side, and then apply a light coat to your t-zone. If you need to blend a bit here, go right ahead – but not too much, or you’ll lose your contour lines. Next, you add blush – rather straightforward, but if you have problems with blush, smile! Then, apply to the apples of your cheeks with a quick swipe. Above the cheekbone, with a smaller brush, apply a light layer of highlight – this can be done with actual highlight, or a light shimmery eye shadow.

3. Eyes

Eye shadow is probably my favorite part – it’s less about covering the lid, and more about making a shape for your eye. My eye shadow routine is quick – a lot like the step by step kits they sell, but I use different colors almost every day to spice it up.

1: Trace along your brow bone – this should be with a flesh-toned color – and then sweep the lightest color in your palette all over your lid.

2: With the second lightest color, go along your lid, working towards the outer corner. Avoid going up to the brow bone at all costs!

3: Work your third lightest color in the same direction of the color before, and then gently trace along your upper lash line, curving around to your crease.

4: Finally, with the darkest color, gently dab a bit of color into the outer corner of your lid, and then line your crease.

Line your water line, your upper lid, fill your brows if necessary, and add mascara to your liking – and ta da! You should have a shape!

4. Lips & Finishing Spray

 

I always use a lip balm – my latest purchase is an Eos in Sweet Mint, and I’m so happy with it – prior to putting on all my makeup, and then apply lipstick at the end.  My only lipstick trick is this: apply once, blot, and apply again. The color will be even more vibrant than if you just apply it the once, and it’ll be somewhat more even.

Finishing spray has recently become my greatest love. I adore De-Slick from Urban Decay, it gives the face a bit of a dewy look while sealing your makeup in for the day.

Here’s the finished look!

And there you have it! This takes me roughly seven minutes (five on a good morning), because I’ve got it down to a science – it could easily take longer, and it’s okay if it does! Find a routine that works for you!

-Cher

interview do's and don'ts

With graduation happening on Saturday, it seems like the only thing on people's minds are all the interviews they're going on and how they hope they get a job (thankfully, I get another year before I have to drive myself crazy with this. yay, second degree accelerated nursing program!). But with all this craziness that surrounds everyone at college graduation time, I thought it'd be smart to get some interview tips from someone who has done a lot of interviewing....aka, my dad. My dad has always helped me with my own interviewing skills, as well as helping me make a legit resume (it's really fun to impress people with an awesome resume when they don't expect it!). So I asked him to share some of his major tips with us! Hopefully this can help anyone who's in the midst of the craziness of interviews or wanting to prepare for the future (like me!)! 
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When Kylie first asked me to offer my thoughts to candidates heading to a job interview, I first had to think whether or not I could add value in this area.  Having conducted well over 10,000 interviews in my career- spanning retail, manufacturing, creative and consulting businesses - I have been able to observe some of the best candidates in the marketplace, and what made them successful during the interview process; as well as those that just missed the mark for not thinking through the process before showing up for the interview.  With that background, I think I can offer a fair perspective on how to effectively present yourself during an interview, and where you can fall dramatically short.

So . . . here are some pertinent points to ponder and remember before heading to your appointment; or shall we say, a listing of Interview Do’s and Don’t’s:

• Do Your Research – go into each interview with a good healthy knowledge of the company.  With Google and the internet available to everyone, you can always find out a lot of information about a company, and it also helps you in the development of the questions you may want to ask the interviewer.  There is no excuse for going to an interview without knowledge of the company – if you do, the interviewer will know it immediately!
• Know Your Faults – every interviewer will present you with some sort of question that asks you to tell him/her about your “weaknesses,” or those items you might change about yourself.  There is nothing worse than saying to the interviewer that you 1) don’t have any faults or weaknesses, 2) are not sure, or 3) begin a diatribe of all of the many things you would change!  Be prepared with a couple of simple items that you are working on, without sharing lots of detail, to show you are insightful about yourself.  Let’s face it – none of us are perfect and we know what we need to change about ourselves.  If you are still at a loss, think about what your friends would say about you if asked the same question!
• Let The Interviewer Ask Their Question Before Answering – interviews are an anxious moment for you (and some inexperienced interviewers!), and you will find that you are equally eager to offer your responses to questions.  But for courtesy sake, let them ask the complete question before answering.  It gives you a moment to formulate your response, and shows them you have good interpersonal skills.  I had one candidate that kept giving me answers to the questions they assumed I was asking, though their answers never addressed the questions I was asking!  And for goodness sake, don’t repeat their question in order to buy yourself some “thinking” time.  Be prepared!
• Don’t Overtalk – there is a fine line between being too short with your responses versus talking too much.  The key to your success is to be succinct and complete in your response, making sure they see your passion and knowledge, and addressing the question being asked.  Overtalking makes you appear to be scattered in your thought process, and less likely to be focused.
• Forget The Word “Like” – for some reason everyone injects the word “like” into every sentence, and quite often, as every other word in the sentence.  This practice is quite distracting and shows immaturity.  Practice answering questions by purposely not using that word in any of your conversation.
• Practice And Video Yourself – with today’s technology and advanced smart phones, videoing yourself doing a mock interview is simple, and a very effective tool.  Video yourself with your phone or computer answering questions asked by a friend or family member, and you will be surprised at how you come across.  Answer questions at an even pace, slow passion when sharing, and answer completely.
• Be Honest – nothing is worse than to get caught in a fib during the interview (I had one candidate start the interview using a British accent, and was at a loss when I pointed out at the end of the interview that he had miraculously lost his accent!); or for your “interview lie” to be exposed soon after you start.  The best policy is to be honest in an interview – not brutally honest, but honest regarding the questions being asked.  And please, if you are asked about a skill you do not possess, don’t lie that you have that skill.  I would rather see someone who admits they don’t have the skill, but convinces me they have the talent to learn and develop that skill in short order!
• Don’t Chew Gum – pretty self explanatory, though it happens in almost half of the interviews.
• Dress Professionally, but Appropriate to the Culture – I once had a candidate show up for an interview in a tank top, torn cutoffs, and flip flops; and of course had an attitude to match.  I can assure you that the interview was over before it even began.  You certainly don’t have to wear your best dress, or a suit and tie for every interview, but you better dress to meet the culture when you go to the interview.  A good rule of thumb is to ask what the company dress code is when setting up the interview, and to dress appropriately.
• You Are Not Entitled for The Job – despite what Generation Xers and Yers believe, you are not entitled in any way when it comes to an interview, or for an opportunity to work for a company.  You are a candidate, and your success will completely depend on how well you present yourself during the interview. Show up with an attitude, or act like the company owes you the job, and you will have a quiet ride home with no job in hand.
• Be On Time . . . In Fact, Be Early! – again, this may seem like an obvious point, but you would be surprised at the number of folks who show up late for a scheduled interview . . . and think it is OK.  I always suggest leaving for the interview earlier than you normally would in order to compensate for traffic, road conditions or anything else that may impede your trip.  If your interviewer is experienced, I can assure you they have heard the phrase “I’m sorry I was late, but . . . (followed by an excuse blaming everything other than the fact that the candidate did not arrive on time!).”  Show them you care and get to the interview 10 to 15 minutes early!
• Prepare a Good Resume – many interviewers use your resume as the guideline for their interview, and will spot inaccuracies and lack of detail immediately – including spelling errors.  If you do not have a clear and concise detail of your work experience, there are hundreds of companies that will assist you at a nominal cost; and their effort will yield a tremendous return on your investment.
• Have Good Personal Hygiene – I know, another of those obvious points, but maybe not as obvious as you think.  An interview is a pressure situation, and your body reacts to that pressure.  You perspire more and your mouth gets dryer – both of which can be a cause of unpleasant odors.  Despite all of your great work background, or your delightful personality filled with passion, having bad breath in the interview, or having any offensive body odor, will turn off the interviewer faster than you can imagine; and that image of you does not go away.  Take some extra time in your preparation for the interview to account for the anxiety you will feel during the interview.
• Ask Questions – every interview ends with the interviewer asking you if you have any questions.  This is your chance to learn more, so take it.  When you simply respond, “Uhh, no, I don’t have any questions,” you leave the interviewer perplexed.  How could you possibly not have questions about the company or the process?  A good rule of thumb is to prepare some questions ahead of time, either by writing them down or just remembering them; and then asking them if they have not already been answered during the interview.  I enjoy it when someone tells me they have a list of questions to ask, and opens a notebook with good, detailed and pertinent questions.  It shows they are interested, and are prepared!
• Send A Thank You Note – this practice seems to by dying, and it does not mean sending an email.  Take the time to hand write a Thank You note thanking the interviewer for their time, and expressing your interest in working for the company.  My advice is to write the note and get it in the mail as soon as you get home from the interview. 

This listing could go on forever, but I think you will get the general sense of what to do, and not to do, from the key points I have shared.  As a final point,

• Enjoy Yourself!  - OK, I just mentioned the pressure and anxiety one goes through during an interview, so how does one enjoy themselves?  Embrace the opportunity to share your skills and talents that can be utilized for the open position, and do it with gusto!  Be yourself, be positive, be enthusiastic, and let the interviewer know that nobody is better suited for this position than you!

GOOD LUCK!!

-Kylie (and my dad!)