Let’s be real: The archetype of a bridal shower is not super exciting. No matter how much you love someone, watching them open up gifts for hours at a time just isn’t all that fun. At times, it can even be a bit awkward—especially when duplicate…

“Will you be my bridesmaid?” Few questions are more loaded than the one requesting the presence of a good friend to stand beside you on your wedding day. While the title of ‘bridesmaid’ ranks pretty high on the list of friend honors, it’s also a…

Growing up, my family adopted an adorable yellow Labrador mix named Candy. My parents weren’t necessarily "dog people," but my sister and I wanted a four-legged friend so desperately. Eventually, they caved. Becoming a pet owner was everything I…

The world is full of distractions: text messages, overloaded email inboxes, pop-up ads for flash sales at your favorite stores, clickbait headlines, social media notifications, and so much more. This became all too evident when I recently started…

Kate Campbell remembers her first day on a construction job site like it was yesterday. She walked toward a group of men with her head held high, tool belt on, knees shaking. And it was clear how — being the only woman on site — she stood out. As a…

Women love wine — at least according to the informal survey I took of myself and every woman I’ve ever met. That’s why I was surprised to learn that the wine industry has historically been a male-dominated field, and today, just 10 percent of lead…

From air pressure changes and cramped quarters to bumpy rides and delays, airplane travel can by trying — so just imagine what it's like for the pilots who deal with it every single day. It’s about time we start thanking these real heroes behind our…

Choosing a career is a huge decision. But if you’re anxious about the road ahead, know that your first job doesn't define the entire trajectory of your career. Perhaps no one knows this better than Neha Kulkarni. Though she currently holds the role…

As a running coach, I get tons of questions about the shoes I wear, what running-specific sneaker brands I recommend, and why. While I’ve run in many different types of shoes over the years, I’ve come to learn that my feet feel best when they’re…

Earlier this year, I packed what I could into three large suitcases, sold or donated the rest of my material possessions, quit my job, and moved clear across the country in search of a change of pace and to pursue a new career by going back to…

As kids, we’re often told that we can be whatever we want to be when we grow up — meaning that from a very young age, the whole concept of success is subjective. Whether the child version of yourself aspired to be an astronaut or a novelist — heck,…

Want to know a secret? Despite being an avid fitness enthusiast and a running coach with a full roster of clients, there are some days that even I can’t muster up enough motivation to go to the gym. It’s not that I don’t want to keep up a consistent…

In an era where “Busy!” is a standard response to a friend asking how we're doing, it feels easier than ever to get caught up in life's fictional timelines that tell us when to start a career, when to settle down, and everything in between. In fact,…

I remember a lot about my first internship — and most vividly, I remember what I wore. Following orders from a career counselor at my university, I went out and bought a pantsuit. I thought the outfit was a little formal, but my advisor was…

As a running coach, I get a lot of questions about the best gear options available for runners. While a good pair of running shoes is all you need to begin a regime, you won’t get very far without the right accessories or a place to keep your…

Though I loved writing in high school and pursued journalism in college, I had mixed feelings about the field. I felt like all the major news anchors and journalists at the time were men two or three times my age. I didn’t feel like I could relate…

When influential women hang out with Bustle editors, we want to give them the chance to leave their mark. Literally. So we hand them a pen, a piece of paper, a few questions, and ask them to get creative. The rest is up to them. In this special…

The road to trailblazing career woman is far from easy. After I graduated from college, I moved out of my parent’s house in New Jersey and into a very tiny apartment in New York City. It was way too expensive for my entry-level salary, but I was…

Filters and social media settings make it easy for anyone to pretend they’re an artist. But let’s be real: Unless we’re talking about a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, creating something that we’re proud of is really difficult! And it doesn't end…