Just like everyone else, this year I pledged to finally start working out and eating better. Part of it is vanity — who doesn’t want to look good in a bikini at the beach this summer? — but the other part is knowing that, as I get older, I have to start taking care of myself if I want to live a long, healthy life.

The problem is, I’ve always had a hard time getting (and staying) motivated — but not anymore! I recently signed up for an online fitness tool, MyFitnessPal, which helps me eat better and lose weight by keeping me accountable for what I’m eating.

When you’re creating your free account, MyFitnessPal will have you input your current weight and then enter your weight loss and fitness goals to come up with your calorie goal for the day. Note that this is only a suggestion and you should find what works best for you based on your lifestyle — I actually raised my calorie goal a little bit because I felt mine was too low and I was starving, and now I’m having no trouble staying within my allotted calories (and I’m still losing weight).

Then, just log all the foods you eat into your food diary (there are thousands of foods in their database, and you can even add your own if it’s not listed). My favorite thing is logging the calories I burn after doing cardio exercise — I love that it gives me a little extra wiggle room if I feel like having dessert (or an extra glass of wine)!

MyFitnessPal is more than just an online food journal. Additionally, it’s also a great web community where you can connect with other like-minded individuals that are trying to get healthy. Read blogs and tips from other MyFitnessPal users and connect with friends to motivate one another. A few of my work friends are on MyFitnessPal, and we’re always talking about our own progress and goals, and it’s nice to see each other’s progress. Plus, losing weight and/or trying to get in shape is so much easier with friends, because you have a support system that keeps you motivated!

This is the longest I’ve ever stuck with any weight-loss regimen — I’ve been sticking with MyFitnessPal fairly religiously for almost a month now, and I’m loving my results!

Laura is a St. John’s University grad who spends way too much time watching TV and imagining the characters are her best friends. She’s addicted to online shopping, dessert, and Pinterest. Follow her life at @lkdondero.

Valentine’s Day is a week away, and I’m going to confess that I’m pretty excited about it. I know that it’s sort of over-hyped, but I just love that there is a whole day out of the year celebrating love! So of course I take full advantage of Valentine’s Day fashion: red, heart overload, and romantic details! If you’re as much of a hopeless romantic as I am, then you’ll love these great fashion finds for Valentine’s Day — and even if you’re not, you’ll love the prices!

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With so much going on in our lives, it’s almost impossible to remember everything you have to do. Sometimes, things just slip through the cracks. While it can’t help you with everything, FollowUp.cc can help make sure you don’t forget to follow up on any important emails.

Here’s how it works: when you get an important email you want to remember to follow up on, just send the email (either as a forward or BCC on your response) to one of the many reminder email addresses FollowUp.cc has. For example, if you want to remember on Friday, send the email to friday@followup.cc, or if you want a reminder on January 31, send it to jan31@followup.cc, etc. (there are lots more examples on their site).

When you log into the site, you’ll find a calendar with all your upcoming reminders. The calendar also integrates with iCal, so you can access your reminders on your phone or computer. The site also features “Snooze Links,” which allow you to snooze a reminder and get back to it later.

Try it next time you get an email from your professor about changes to an assignment or when you get word about an internship you’d be perfect for, and never worry about missing out on something important ever again!

Laura is a St. John’s University grad who spends way too much time watching TV and imagining the characters are her best friends. She’s addicted to online shopping, dessert, and Pinterest. Follow her life at @lkdondero.

One big trend from last season that has carried over to this year is python print! Like other animal prints, python adds a fun edge to your outfits. Whether you choose an allover python-print dress, a pair of python pumps, or a fun belt, just remember to keep the rest of your outfit simple!

Here are some of my favorite python pieces, all of which are as affordable at just $20 or less each!

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I love cooking, but sometimes I find myself lacking culinary inspiration. This happens most when I’m craving something in particular, but either I don’t have the ingredients I need, or I don’t feel like making the same dishes over and over again. Luckily, I’ve found dinner-inspiration help from Gojee.

Gojee is a recipe search engine that features handpicked recipes from some of the web’s most popular food bloggers. Simply type in an ingredient or dish that you’re craving, and Gojee will return a photo slideshow of recipes to satisfy your cravings. You can also type in what ingredients you already have on hand to filter the results to show only recipes you can make right now. You can further filter the recipes by eliminating all those that contain ingredients you don’t like.

If that didn’t already sound awesome, the more you use Gojee, it learns what you like and don’t like, so you’re more likely to find recipes you love, without having to sift through things you’d never eat.

I’ve already found a ton of great recipes that I can’t wait to try! The only problem with Gojee is that the images are so delicious-looking, just browsing makes you hungry.

Also, as an added bonus for all you aspiring mixologists out there, Gojee has drink recipes too — ranging from the tried-and-true to the o-m-g!

Laura is a St. John’s University grad who spends way too much time watching TV and imagining the characters are her best friends. She’s addicted to online shopping, dessert, and Pinterest. Follow her life at @lkdondero.

When I first started shopping for appropriate work attire, I stocked up on basics like button-down blouses, classic-fitting slacks, cardigans and pencil skirts in neutral colors. After I was working for awhile, I started adding in more fun pieces like different color skirts and cardigans and fun printed tops. My favorite new item of clothing, however, is my cropped trousers! They come in so many different styles, from skinny-leg to brightly colored to cuffed, making them a fun alternative to ordinary work pants! They’re not just for work, either – there are some great casual cropped pants that you can wear anytime you’d wear jeans. Here are some great choices for less than $20!

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Lulu’s is one of my favorite online stores. They have a great selection of unique clothes and accessories from emerging designers. I love their dresses and jewelry the most, but they also have amazing tops, skirts, bags, shoes and more! And the best part is, their prices are pretty affordable! Check out my $20 and under picks, which are all available now at Lulu’s!

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I have a confession: I’m sort of obsessed with lists. Whether it’s a shopping list, top 10 list or to-do list, organizing the things in my life into lists keeps me sane. But making lists really helps me out: I find if I don’t write out everything I have to do (errands, school work, chores at home, etc.), I’ll forget.

I’ve recently discovered a new way to help me organize all the things on my to-do list: Clockblock. Clockblock is a site that aims to help you manage your time better by prioritizing your to-do list.

What’s great about Clockblock  is that it’s quick and easy to use. Unlike other to-do list or calendar programs, Clockblock just asks three things when creating a list item: what is it, when is it due, and is it important? The site then sorts the list for you, based on due date and importance. Important tasks are in larger boxes, and the tasks due soon are nearest to the top and lightest in color, making it easy for you to see what needs to be done with just a glance.

You also have the option of creating a number of different lists, so you can have one per class or maybe one for school, one for work and one for home. It’s a great way to keep from getting overwhelmed by having too many items on one list. Plus, you can choose a different colored theme for each list, which can help you keep track of which list is which.

I love how easy Clockblock makes it for me to keep track of everything I have to do. And it also makes it hard for me to procrastinate with the bright colors and large boxes showing me what’s urgent. I can see myself becoming more productive already!

One trend that’s been popping up over and over again in stores and on runways the last few seasons is textured clothing. This could be items with appliqués, all-over beading or sequins, added ruffles or fringe, and even (hopefully faux) fur – anything that adds dimension and interest. These are some of my favorite textured pieces that you can find in stores now, which are perfect for all sorts of different occasions and cost just $20 or less each!

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For many college students around the country, this is one of the last weekends of winter break — which means it’s the last time to have fun and party before the pressures of the school year start again. So what are you going to do to close it out with a bang? If you don’t have any plans yet, you should check out The Weekend Map for your closest city.

The Weekend Map helps you plan your weekend by searching sites like Meetup, Eventbrite, Songkick, Seatgeek, Active and Groupon to provide you with a comprehensive list of events for the upcoming weekend on a map of your chosen city (of 27 cities across the U.S.). The Weekend Map also color-codes them according to popularity, and you can refine the list according to certain parameters, for example, if you’re only interested in one type of event (i.e., concerts, food, sports games, etc.) or only events on a particular night (Friday, Saturday or Sunday).

Underneath the map you’ll find listings of all the events with all the important details, such as date, location and time, as well as a how many people have currently RSVP’d and a link to the event on its host site.

The Weekend Map will come in handy the rest of the year, too! Any weekend during the year when you don’t know what to do, just check it out and you instantly have plans!