My sister and I just took our first trip abroad, to Cancun, Mexico. It was a little bit nerve wracking, not only to be out of the country, but to be out of the country alone. In preparation for our vacation, we received a variety of tips from friends, family and our travel agent. After collecting all of this advice, I've also added my own recommendations from our experience. For anyone planning to take an international trip soon, particularly to Mexico, here are some pieces of advice you should consider:

It was about this time one year ago that I got my first post-grad apartment in St. Louis and began my career in advertising & marketing. I've always been a pretty independent woman, but in this first year living on my own I learned the definition of the word. If you're in a similar point in your life, read on for some tips on what to expect, including: surviving in the real world, keeping your life & yourself organized, and even saving some money along the way! Aaaand cue Paramore, "Ain't It Fun".....