Well here we are, October. P&S Co. has been working together for over a year now! Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s been a wonderful journey with a group of strong ladies. It is however, still shocking that it’s already fall (where did summer go?!).
The good news is pumpkin spice season is in full swing and we are embracing the fall foliage, cooking and fall outdoor activities. We’ve got some new tech backgrounds for you linked here. And of course we have our featured contributor of the month, Reilly. She has written about recipes, homeschooling tips for beginners and some life advice. You’ve definitely seen Reilly’s beautiful food (I know it’s October but her Valentine’s Day at home menu is GORGEOUS). Check out for instagram @pinup_pantry for more of her beautiful eats or check out our feed for some of her P&S Co. featured recipes.
Without further ado, meet the lovely Reilly (she’s also pretty and smart among a few other things).
Name or nickname if you have one:
Reilly Dwyer
Zodiac sign:
Taurus (I think)…
Where do you live and what do you do:
I live in Brockville Ontario and work as an MCTS Officer for the Canadian Coast Guard. It’s an incredible job that not only lets me be a part of safety on Canada’s waterways, but also allows me sufficient time to pursue legal studies on the side!
What makes you feel pretty and smart/what does it mean to you:
To me ‘Pretty and Smart’ is all about self-improvement. New achievements boost my self-esteem and make me feel great from the inside out. It’s addictive! Once I stopped seeing work as a hurdle and started understanding it as a skill-building opportunity, everything changed.
Every task, no matter how small, contains an important lesson or skill. Sometimes (often) the lesson is about patience. However, you would be amazed what you can learn when you’re ready to listen. No one feels smart all the time. Building your intelligence requires the vulnerability to admit what you don’t know, and the strength to ask for help.
Intelligence takes hard work, but being ‘pretty’ isn’t easy either. It doesn’t come from aesthetics alone, and requires immense dedication. A pretty face is one thing, but it’s your personality that shines the brightest. That’s why I feel pretty when I act pretty. That means building others up, and displaying the characteristics that make me proud.
Overall, pretty and smart is a lifestyle based on dedication to self improvement while demonstrating the virtues to use those skills well.
One piece of advice to your younger self:
Fear of failure isn’t a reason not to try. Just because it isn’t easy, doesn’t mean it isn’t for you.
What you’re reading/watching/listening to:
My lectures! Most of my free time is dedicated to school right now. Since I work full-time I have to get creative with my education. That means listening to lectures like they’re podcasts. In the car…at the gym…cleaning the house…
Favourite thing in your closet right now:
Grippy socks…I need fashion help…
Biggest role model or icon (fashion, career, fitness, personal or otherwise):
Marie Henein! (The Beyoncé of Canadian lawyers). Although her clients are often unsavory people, Henein is an exemplary defense lawyer who shows incredible dedication to her work.
Best word to describe you and why?
Ambitious (sometimes to a fault). I always have my eye on bigger things and am looking for ways to improve the world around me. At times it means I bite off more than I can chew, but I’m working on that!
What is your fitness or wellness routine:
I go to the gym 6 days a week (except when I’m on night shifts). I try to focus on heavy weights but use the stationary bike when I have a lot of reading to do (it helps me focus believe it or not).The pandemic has thrown a wrench in the works, but I’m getting back into it!
What is your favorite thing to write about?
Food! I love playing with flavours and creating new recipes. You can convey a lot through food, so I never really get bored.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Apple toaster strudel. It is garbage and I love it.
Favourite quote:
“You can ignore reality, but you can’t ignore the consequences of ignoring reality”.
-Ayn Rand
What is your favourite piece you’ve written for PSCO?
Probably my recipe for amaretti cookies! I love them so much… Linked here. Try them. Thank
https://prettyandsmartco.comeasy-recipe-chewy-amaretti-cookies/
Where can people find you online? What is your handle?
Twitter: @reilly_dwyer
Instagram:@pin_up_pantry
To our readers, if there’s anything here we haven’t covered or you’d like to know more about Reilly – feel free to ask her anything in the comments below.
