8 Tips for College Freshmen

Move in day is just around the corner for college freshmen, and this year is extra special for me because I'm going into my final year at NYU and my younger sister will be one of those brand new freshmen in less than a week!

As we've searched for the perfect duvet cover or picked out meal plans, I've had plenty of advice for my sis, but most of it has been pretty trivial. While gems like 'don't buy a white duvet cover' (you'll just spill on it) or 'force yourself to eat breakfast' (you'll be so much healthier) are important, I've slowly realized there a few bigger pieces of advice I want her to start school with. 

College is an incredibly exciting time of your life, and I'm already getting a bit emotional about my time coming to an end. However, it's also a time that you're sure to make plenty of mistakes. Every college student will experience a horrible exam grade or a rough reaction to a night of too much drinking, and while no one can stop you from making those mistakes it doesn't hurt to go in with some tips for how to navigate an entirely new world. 

1. Make your dorm room feel like home right when you move in

It’s easy for college to feel like summer camp, especially freshman year when you’re living in a small space with a lot of people - but you should make your dorm room feel like home as much as possible. Print out pictures and pick out decorations that you love and then put them up in your room as soon as you move in, so that your space feels like home instead of just temporary sleeping quarters. Before you know it, classes will start and you’ll have no time to slowly decorate the space like you might have planned.

2. Spend time getting to know yourself, don’t get into a relationship immediately 

One of the most important parts of college, arguably more important than the actual classes and degree, is getting to know yourself. If you’re like most, college is the first time you’re away from your family and the friends you’ve had since you were little. Instead of just going with the flow, take this time to get to know yourself. You aren’t who your parents think you are or the 13 year old your friends might still see, so do the things that make you happy and if you don’t know what that is, try out as many things as you need to find what you love.

3. Don’t stop making new friends

You’ll make a million different friends during your orientation week or first couple weeks of classes, but just because you have friends from the first few weeks of school, doesn’t mean you can’t keep making more. Too many people make 'enough' friends and then stop meeting new people and just stick with their clique. I've made some of my best friends in the last year and that never would have happened if I didn't make an effort to keep meeting new people.

4. Save your money by setting a budget

I went into college with a lot of money saved up from high school jobs, but had zero idea how to set a budget or follow one and ending spend way more money than I should have that year. At different schools you’ll spend money on different things, but whether it's eating out, alcohol, clothes, or weekend trips it’s important to start figuring out what you’re spending your money on and then create a budget. There will be big ticket items you’ll want to spend on, such as spring breaks and study abroad, so setting a budget and saving for those important experiences will make you feel way more secure when they actually come around. 

5. College is school, and expensive school at that, so make sure you study and go to class

Moral of the story: someone is spending a lot of money for you to go to college, so don’t ditch class even if you think you you can learn everything for the exam out of your textbook. Some of the most important things I’ve learned in my college classes have been stories of my professors' experiences, and that’s something you definitely can’t learn out of a textbook. It’s easy get FOMO if you’re not going out every night and studying instead, but you’ll thank yourself when midterms come around and you don’t have to read half a semester’s worth of textbook chapters in one night.

6. Let loose (but not too loose)

So this piece of advice is combination of my advice and a friend’s. His advice was purely to let loose, but I think the ‘not too loose’ part is key here. Like I said above, college is school and you have to spend a decent amount of time studying and getting involved, but the rest of the time you should go out and have fun. Spend weekends going out with friends and exploring everything around campus, but also make sure to be safe and smart. While you should never be afraid to go out and have fun, you should also watch out for friends and never do anything that feels wrong. 

7. Make alone time for yourself

Roommates, classmates, busy dining halls, packed library - it’s pretty much impossible to avoid people when you’re in college, but getting alone time is probably my most important piece of advice. Being around your friends all the time is one of the greatest parts of college, but if you don’t find a few hours a week just for yourself you’ll end up going crazy. Try spending a night in with your favorite show on Netflix, doing a long workout by yourself, or finding a secluded spot to read a book. 

8. Don’t try to grow up too fast

In my experience, college gets better and better every year so you have a lot to look forward to, but try to slow down and let yourself just experience your freshman year. College truly flies by and there’s plenty of time your junior and senior year for worrying about internships and your career. For now just worry about having fun and getting to know your school, because soon you’ll be starting senior year and it will seem like it’s all ending way to fast (aka how I feel everyday). 

8 Tips for College Freshmen

Monday, August 22, 2016

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5 Tips for Getting Back Into School Mode

It's that time of year again, when freezing January weather finally sets in and glorious winter break ends just a little too quickly. If you're anything like me you've spent your winter break getting some R&R after a busy semester and doing almost nothing productive. While it's pretty easy to fall into a routine of Netflix binging and forgetting to set an alarm, it's almost impossible to get back into 'school mode' as my mom always used to say.

When I was younger my parents used to make my sister and I start getting up earlier and earlier the last few weeks of summer so that we were ready for the early mornings when school started again. We would always moan and groan, but my parents (as they often are) were right. Taking the little steps to get back into a productive routine really did set us up right for the whole year. So, as we all get back to school and waking up before the sun is even up I have 5 tips for getting back into school mode without hating every moment of it. 

1) Get up at the same time every day, even on the weekend! 

As much as I love sleeping late on the weekends or on days that I don't have an early class, the key to not feeling like a zombie every morning is keeping a consistent sleep schedule. In my opinion this can fluctuate by about an hour and still work! My goal this semester is to consistently wake up between 7:30 and 8:30AM. 

2) Stock your kitchen with healthy and delicious snacks. 

I've mentioned it a few posts recently, but I'm really trying not to eat out or snack on unhealthy foods this semester. I'd say I've been doing decently well so far, but only when I ensure I have the right food around. When I have food in my apartment that I want to eat I don't need to order food from around the corner. A few of my favorite things to keep on hand are Fage yogurts, Boom Chicka Pop lightly sweet popcorn, and ingredients for the easiest quiche recipe (hold the crust to make it even better). My downfall is eating out for breakfast so making a delicious quiche at home packed with spinach is the best way to curb my bagel cravings. 

3) Set aside specific times for relaxation. 

I'm notorious for binge watching shows on Netflix and I'm currently battling a Walking Dead addiction (hence the zombie reference above), but I find setting a specific hour during your day to really just de-stress is the best way to get things done. Whether you like to read a trashy novel, take a long bath, or cook a fancy dinner having some 'me' time is important to everyone's sanity. Plus, when you're working on an essay or writing job applications you'll be able to push forward because you know that relaxation time isn't too far off. 

4) Figure out the best times to go to the gym, do your laundry, go grocery shopping, etc. 

Aside from school and work there are still so many other things to get done in a week. Instead of ending up with no food in your fridge or a pile of laundry schedule these to-dos just like you would a meeting. I touched on this in my recent post about getting healthy as well because I really believe that writing your workouts or laundry loads into your schedule will make you more accountable to getting them done. 

5) Actually do your required reading and plan out your assignments. 

The biggest joke in college are the readings that are supposedly required for each class, but that no one ever does until the night before the exam... I'm sure everyone has at least one experience reading every article assigned throughout the semester when they should only be reviewing and I can say from experience - it sucks. I was so impressed last semester when a friend told me she did a huge case study analysis weeks before it was actually due because she had a lull in her workload and knew she would be busier later. We all know the beginning of the semester is the easiest, so why not take advantage of less work and more free time and get ahead instead of falling behind?

Wishing everyone a great start to their semester!

5 Tips for Getting Back Into School Mode

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

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Getting Fit in 2016

If there is one topic I avoid on this blog like the plague it would be health and fitness. I have never been a serious athlete and my plans to stay in shape have honestly never lasted more than a couple of months. The fact that I hate working out combined with a schedule that allows very little time for exercise or healthy cooking and you get a very unhealthy lifestyle.

With the new year I am challenging myself to broach topics on this blog that have seemed off limits in the past, and the first one up is getting in shape. In October, I finally got back on the work out wagon and it has felt amazing. I never really understood people when they said they felt like they 'needed' to work out, but after getting back into a regular routine I started to get it. After spending just 45 minutes on the elliptical each day, my body felt better – I slept better, I intuitively ate healthier and I felt stronger.

Getting Fit in 2016

Monday, January 4, 2016

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A Look Back at 2015

I've been putting off writing this post for days now because I don't really know to summarize 2015.  I was talking with a friend the other day about how 2015 has been an incredibly confusing year and came to the conclusion that it has really been about growing up. I moved into my first real apartment, spent the summer away from home, and have started to really think about what I want the rest of my life to look like. All of this was both terrifying and incredibly exciting, and I've definitely been tested over and over again. I can tell you that the there were many lows this year, when I realized just how lucky I am to have friends that I can call crying anytime, but there were also many highs that will go down as some of the best days of my life. 

As the year comes to an end though, I want to take a moment to look back at some of the best parts of 2015 because, while the stressful and scary days will fade away, the amazing memories truly will last forever. Make sure to read to the bottom for the three most important lessons I've learned this year. 

A Look Back at 2015

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

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HOLIDAY 2015: Giving Thanks

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by family or friends every year around this time, so even when the rest of my life is crazy they remind me to be grateful for everything I have. This year I'll be spending Thanksgiving with both family and friends sitting around a huge table filled with more food than we could possibly eat and that alone is something we need to step back and remember to be thankful for. 

HOLIDAY 2015: Giving Thanks

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

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Redefining Luxury

You know those days when you're inspired to dream further and work harder than you ever have? Well, Friday was one of those days for me. I got the chance to attend NYU Stern MBA Luxury & Retail Club's Redefining Luxury Conference. The conference featured Mary Beech, the CMO of Kate Spade, the founders of Soul Cycle, and Rebecca & Uri Minkoff. While the big names drew me into the conference I honestly didn't realize how inspiring these people really would be. 

Redefining Luxury

Monday, October 19, 2015

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An Old Classic Completely Rebranded

Yesterday I had a surprising debate with friends while at work. While it isn't abnormal for us to strike up a funny debate (the Dunkin Donuts in NY vs. Boston argument is the usual), it is surprising for it be about Abercrombie & Fitch...

An Old Classic Completely Rebranded

Friday, September 25, 2015

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Apartment Tour: My (Tiny) Bedroom Escape

I can't even tell you how excited I am about today's post! I moved into my first real apartment at the beginning of June and it's been a serious work in progress since then. Switching from a college dorm (albeit a very nice one) to a walk up apartment was definitely a big change, but it's made me feel even more at home in New York. While my bedroom is smaller than some many people's closets it's my escape and I love getting to come home everyday. 

Apartment Tour: My (Tiny) Bedroom Escape

Friday, August 28, 2015

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Back to College: Tote Bag Essentials

With school just a couple of weeks away my mind has been on getting organized for what is sure to be a busy semester. Once you're finished packing for school and planning out your schedule it's time to start thinking about your on-the-go organization. 

Back to College: Tote Bag Essentials

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

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10 Must-Haves for Every College Wardrobe

Back to school season is in full swing and it's hard to believe that some people go back to school in less than two weeks. Luckily, I have until the beginning of September to relax and refresh before a hectic school schedule begins! In preparation for going back to school though, I have my top ten pieces for a college wardrobe. One of the most common questions I hear from soon-to-be college freshman is what to pack for school and while my dorm room packing list covers most everything, it doesn't cover clothes. While not every school is the same and you'll need more then than items in your suitcase, these are the pieces every girl should have. 

10 Must-Haves for Every College Wardrobe

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

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Exciting News

The days are getting longer and with the extra sunshine and warm days a lot has been happening! I know Peachy Keen has been a bit slow the last week or so (make sure to check out my last post), but that's actually been because so much is happening in the real world. 

With only about a month left in my school semester my plans for the summer are finally coming together and I'm so excited to share them with you all :) In the past week two very exciting things have happened that have made me so ready for summer to begin. First off, this week I will be signing a lease on an amazing apartment in SoHo where I'll be living (with two friends!) for the next year. The apartment is in the location of my dreams and means I'll be a five minute walk from Washington Square Park. Once I'm moved in and have been able to do some decorating I'll share my (very small) space with all of you. Secondly, I have a job! I'm not ready to share most of the details about my internship, but I will say it is for a boutique PR agency and I couldn't be more excited. I'm looking forward to a new experience and learning about a new facet of marketing.

What all this really means though is that this summer is shaping up to be pretty amazing! With the weather finally looking up and my semester winding down I can't wait to share my adventures in and around NYC this summer. 

Exciting News

Monday, April 20, 2015

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Inspired to Work

The main reason for my trip to DC last weekend was to attend the GWU Women in Business Spring Conference. I am a huge fan of attending conferences and panels whenever possible because not only will you usually gain knowledge about the industry you want to go into, but I'm always re-inspired to go out and work for what I really want. As far as conferences go, this one was probably the most inspiring so far, so I thought I would share a few things I learned throughout the day. 

The opening keynote was Aliza Licht, who you might know better as DKNY PR Girl, Aliza really was the start to the fashion industry on social media which means she really knows what it means to build a brand (both for yourself and a company) through social media. The most interesting she said (which all you bloggers will appreciate) was that she has never had a content calendar because she believes that creating one would be like going into a conversation with notecards, a really stupid plan. 

As she went more into personal branding Aliza said that you really have to step back and take a hard look at yourself on social media. Your profile picture, bio, and posts are all incredibly important to building your personal brand, so you should align these things with what you want people to think of you. Align what you think of yourself with what others think of you. I couldn't get enough of her advice, which was why it was amazing when we all received advanced copies of her book, Leave Your Mark. I've been flying through the pages as fast as my school schedule will allow.

Jumping to the end of the day, the closing keynote was Gillian Gorman Round, President of The Lucky Group. Gill has had one of the most interesting careers starting in beauty in the UK and ending up in fashion media in the US. Hands down, the best piece of advice she said was to always keep your hands dirty. Work the hardest and don't expect a thank you or a good job and you will succeed. Us millennial are seen to be somewhat arrogant and self-important. While that isn't true for everyone out there it is the stereotype and we do have to fight it. By working the hard jobs (retail, waitressing, etc) and showing you have worked hard for something you disprove the belief that this generation is entitled and do better because of it. That's all a bit serious (and you could tell the room was a bit freaked out), but at the end of her keynote Gill reminded everyone that you still need to have fun. If it isn't fun then what you're doing probably isn't right for you and it's ok that you haven't figured it out yet. 

Overall, the conference was just an amazing experience and I give a lot of props to the committee that put it together. I really think (outside of actual work experience) the best way to figure out what you want to do and then figure out the best way to get there is to always attend opportunities like this conference. You never know if in one of these panels you'll find a completely new career path that is the perfect one for you.  

Inspired to Work

Friday, April 3, 2015

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Spring Cleaning For Your Life & Closet

It finally felt like spring this week in NYC and after walking home from class one day all I wanted to do was rip everything out of my room and start anew. Now part of that may have been my desire to procrastinate studying, but mostly the beautiful weather just put me in a spring cleaning mode. While I like to make new years resolutions, the middle of the winter is not exactly an inspirational time in the Northeast. However, when spring hits so does the inspiration and I start changing everything. If you're like me (or if you're the total opposite) and want to do a little spring cleaning in your life or your closet I have a few tips. 

For Your Life

1. First, bring out those New Year Resolutions you made in January. Did you want to go to the gym more or start cooking everyday? Remind yourself of the changes you said you were going to make and recommit yourself!

2. Start walking everywhere! The weather is finally getting nice again, which means your excuses to take the subway, bus, or a cab are gone. Not only will you feel healthier, but also getting fresh air is the best way to wake yourself up in the morning. 

3. Read every morning. Getting up and reading the news, even if you just quickly read The Skimm will put you ahead for the rest of the day. My daily ritual includes coffee, reading The Skimm, checking my Bloglovin' feed, and a quick look at AdWeek. 

4. Eat more fruits and veggies! It is the season of fresh fruit and vegetables, so eat more of them. The holidays are over (including Valentine's Day + Fat Tuesday), so it's time to get back on the healthy eating track. 

For Your Closet

1. Take out everything and sort it into piles. This may seem like an overwhelming task, but cleaning out your closet by removing everything first really is the best way to do it. 

2. Try defining what your style is in three words (this can be really hard) and then pick out the pieces in your closet that stick with this style. Your whole closet doesn't have to be pieces that fit this style, but understanding which pieces do will help get rid of the 'I have nothing to wear' feeling. 

3. Put together three outfits for the days when you have no time to think about what you're wearing. My go-to is a striped tee, jeans, and a blazer so I make sure that I always have clean back ups of this outfit. 

4. Write out a shopping list for the season. Again, know your style and buy around it. I like sticking to a color palette or feeling for a season. This spring I'm feeling black, white, blush, and denim (with maybe a little navy blue). It will be a lot easier getting dressed when all your pieces work together.

5. Organize. Organize. Organize. When putting your closet back together create an organization system. Whether you organize by type, color, times you wear, season, or any other unique system, stick to the system. I like to organize by color and type. I start with light sleeveless going all the way to dark jackets.

Good luck with all your spring cleaning goals! If you have any other tips for spring inspiration or getting back on track please share them with me :)

Spring Cleaning For Your Life & Closet

Friday, March 13, 2015

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Getting Organized With Sunrise Calendar

I've written about my scheduling and organizational tips on her a few different times, but after finding Sunrise Calendar I had to share it with all of you (FYI this is not sponsored). I've always been a pen and paper kind of person with my planners and lists, but as this semester began I found that my planner was overflowing and organized and my lists were getting too long and jumbled. I was struggling keeping up with everything I had to do, and it was mostly because of my horrible organization. 

Then thanks to an amazing friend (who I owe my sanity to at this point) I discovered Sunrise. Sunrise Calendar pulls all your calendar information from Google Calendar, iCalendar, and Facebook (if you choose to connect them all), while also allowing you to create events right on the app. My biggest problems with online calendars is that they either have to be up in an browser tab, are poorly organized, or just completely confusing. Sunrise is none of those things and I am obsessed. All you have to do is go to the app store (either on your mac or on your iphone) and download it!

The weekly view is what I usually stick to and adding your events is incredibly easy. I started out by color coding a few things; grey = class, green = marketing society, and purple = admissions ambassadors. Plus, since I connected my Facebook all the events I join on Facebook also show up automatically. There is also a great space at the top of the calendar where I add specific to-dos for each day. While I don't include everything I have to do in this space I do put down due dates for assignments, social media posts I have to do for clubs I'm apart of, and scheduled posts for Peachy Keen.

I really never thought I would leave the land of paper and pencil when it comes to planning out my schedule, but with this new tool I've become so much more organized and less forgetful when it comes to planning out when I'm free. Sunrise has the advantage of being both a mobile application and a desktop app and the set up and organization is better than I've ever seen on a online calendar. I love that I will always have my calendar/schedule with my on my iPhone, but at the same time I also have a larger look at everything when I pull out my computer.

If you try out Sunrise let me know what you think! And if you find any fun or new tricks on it definitely tell me about them. Hope you all have a great (and warm) weekend!

Getting Organized With Sunrise Calendar

Friday, February 20, 2015

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Day in the Life

Now that I'm back to my semester routine I thought I'd share what a day in my life looks like. Of course, when I thought about how I wanted to share my day with you I knew I had to do it Hallie Wilson style aka minute by minute (though no one could ever be as funny as Hallie).

Wednesday January 28, 2015

6:30 a.m. The alarm on my phone starts to go off and I scramble to turn it off before I wake up my roommate.

6:32 a.m. Still lying in bed thinking there is no way in hell I can go to the gym right now.

6:33 a.m. I can hear my suite-mate (and gym buddy) putting her shoes on in the kitchen so I pull myself out of bed and change into gym clothes.

6:45 a.m. I start pushing my feet to turn the elliptical on as I look for the next episode of Serial on my iPhone. I'm currently obsessed with Serial and would love more podcast suggestions.

7:05 a.m. I'm 2/3 of the way done with my workout... and I kind of feel like death. The only way I'll work out is if I do it in the morning, but it s.u.c.k.s. a lot.

7:30 a.m. Into the shower I go. Thank god for warm morning showers. (I still want to crawl back into bed though)

7:45 a.m. The best part of the day - Breakfast. My current go-to is vanilla greek yogurt, strawberries, a little Kind granola and a slice of multi-grain toast with butter.

8:30 a.m. I've been procrastinating for the last half hour and now I have twenty minutes to get dressed, do my makeup, and put by bag together. oops.

8:50 a.m. I head into the freezing arctic island of Manhattan and slip and slide through the snow and ice as the wind slaps my face. Yeah, no fun whatsoever.

9:30 a.m. My first class of the day, Economics of Global Business, begins as I shut my computer after reading The Skimm.

10:45 a.m. EGB is over. Woooooo.

11:00 a.m. Movie Marketing, my favorite class this semester, starts off with a few hilarious trailers. My favorite is the trailer for Ben Hur from 1959.

12:15 p.m. My stomach is grumbling as I walk to my Marketing Society meeting where we will be playing a fun brand logo game and snacking on delicious dumplings.

2:45 p.m. I arrive at my Admissions Ambassador shift just in time! Thank god the building my classes were in are connected to my work building because I'm dreading going outside.

5:00 p.m. I leave work and swing by Toby's Estate quickly to get a boost of caffeine before another meeting.

6:00 p.m. Last meeting of the day! Brainstorming ideas for the USWIB conference that is just a few weeks away. I cannot wait to go home.

7:05 p.m. I'm finally heading up Broadway on my way home and it is freakin' cold. The food in my fridge is the only thing getting me through this weather. Chicken and rice here I come!

7:45 p.m. Yes. Food. I couldn't be happier as I sit at the kitchen table catching up with my roommates and checking my email.

8:30 p.m. All I have to do is finish up a few projects for Dressometry and I'm home free.

9:30 p.m. The semester has just started which means I have nothing to do yet for class so I settle into my bed with an episode (or a few) of Friday Night Lights.

11:10 p.m. Lights go off and I am out. The only good thing about working out in the morning is by the time I go to bed I am conked out.
____________________________________________________________________________

Phew. That was kind of a lot of information... and luckily that was one of my busier days. Plus, after a busy Wednesday I usually have a very easy Thursday. Hope you enjoyed this look into my day and let me know if you want to see more!

Day in the Life

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

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5 Steps to Starting the Semester Off Right

Spring semester is fast approaching (and for many of you I'm sure it has already arrived.). The best way to achieve your goals is to start the semester on a good note. So, I've put together the 5 most important steps to starting your semester off right!

1. Sit down and pre-write events for the semester in your planner

You know those meetings in a month or the conference you're attending in May? Well they may seem far off now, but time will wiz by so take time now to write everything down in your calendar or planner so that you don't miss anything important. Plus, it's always good to know how your schedule looks in the long term. You may not have even started thinking about that crazy important english paper due in two months, but if it's written down in your planner you'll know not to commit to a huge event the weekend before. 

2. Write down your weekly schedule

As important as it is to look forward you must also know what is happening on a weekly basis. I like to start the semester off by creating a weekly schedule image with all my classes, club meetings, work meetings, and shifts for admissions ambassadors. The first few weeks I check this schedule all the time, but as the semester continues having things written down makes it easy to remember when you are and aren't free before you make commitments.

3. Create a plan for each of your classes. 

Are you going to use your computer or a notebook for notes? Which professors are going to give out handouts and which expect you to write your own notes? These questions can usually be answered after your first class so during the first week of school make sure to figure out your plan for each class so that when the real work comes along you are already organized. 

4. Organize your desktop. 

Go through last semesters desktop folders for your classes and then consolidate them into a 'Fall 2014' folder. Delete any work that you'll never look at again or draft versions of essays so that your archives aren't full of junk. Then set up new folders for your classes and projects this semester. I also like to create subfolders for certain classes such as Problem Sets, Essays, etc.

5. Get into a healthy daily routine. 
If I don't get into a healthy routine the first week of classes then it isn't going to happen all semester. Starting off the semester by eating three healthy meals, getting enough sleep, and going to the gym will set you up in the best way possible to continue those healthy habits for the rest of the semester. 

5 Steps to Starting the Semester Off Right

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

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A Complete Guide to Packing for Study Abroad

Since getting home in December I've been preparing to write this post and here it finally is! Packing for my semester abroad was stressful and I have no doubt all of you starting to pack are feeling the same way. I spent over two hours with a friend trying to figure out which shoes each of us were going to bring for the semester. We definitely talked about our packing as if it was life or death. Almost every girl I know has too many clothes and shoes to bring everything they love abroad with them, but hopefully with this post I can help you pick what to bring and what to leave at home. 

Choosing Suitcases:

When it comes time to pack for study abroad, one of the biggest decisions you'll make is which suitcases to bring with you. I know some people who can get away with one checked bag and one carry on, but for most of us that would be an impossible feat. I originally wanted to bring one extra-large suitcase, a medium sized suitcase, and a carry-on duffel, but luckily I was reminded of the ever present weight limit of 50 lbs. An extra-large suitcase will easily go over weight, so if you're going to bring more than one checked bag opt for 2 medium (25in) suitcases and a carry-on duffel bag. 

When you start packing those suitcases remember that you are going to buy so much stuff abroad that will weight a lot and take up a lot of space. If you don't want to pay for expensive shipping to get everything home leave plenty of space and weight in your suitcases. On the way to Madrid each of my suitcases had extra space and only weighed about 37 lbs. On the way home each suitcase was filled to the brim and weighed 49 and something pounds. I'm telling you, when you get bored of the clothes you packed (and I promise you will) and decide to go shopping you'll be thankful for the extra space. 

Bringing some type of duffle bag is definitely important, which is why I used mine as my carry-on. For everything weekend trip you are going to want something bigger than just a backpack (though I did use a backpack for one trip) and smaller than a carry-on sized suitcase. Even if you aren't flying on budget airlines with crazy luggage restrictions, chances are you'll be carrying your luggage a lot as you check in and out of hostels/airbnbs etc so you aren't going to want anything heavy.

Clothes:

I am no light packer, but everyone must make some compromises when it comes to the clothes you pack for study abroad.

- Know the weather of your study abroad location and where you'll be traveling

- Only bring what you wear at home, not the things you wish you wore. Living in a new country won't suddenly make you wear that jacket that has had the tags on it for 6 months. 

- Pack plenty of your favorite basics. Striped tees, grey and black sweaters, skinny jeans, leather jacket, etc

- Pick 2 or 3 special tops that might only work in one or two outfits. You will get bored of the basics and those fun tops will be perfect for a night out. 

- Colorful layers are your friend. My maroon blazer, army green vest, and other almost basic layers made me feel like I wasn't wearing the same thing everyday. 

- Have a few different tops and bottoms for going that can be mixed and matched. I always go with all black, it will never look the same!

By the numbers... 4 jackets, 1 vest, 2 sweaters, 3 cardigans, 2 blazers, 5 pairs of pants, 5 skirts, 4 dresses, and as many tops as I could fit while stilling staying under 40lbs :)

Shoes:

Shoes are easily my weakness and it took me a long time to figure out which shoes to bring and which to leave at home. 

- Again, know the climate you'll be in. I brought more sandals and flats with me to Madrid than my friends studying in Prague and they brought more boots than I did. 

- Comfort isn't everything, but it's important. The thousand year old cobblestone streets are not a joke and you are going to want to be wearing supergas instead of slippery sandals when you're walking around all day (speaking from experience here).

- Bring fewer heels. I love heels as much as the next girl, but it's not worth it to bring 3 pairs of heels when you will only break them out occasionally. Try bringing a pair of heeled boots or low wedges that can be worn for multiple occasions. 

By the numbers... 5 pairs of flats, 1 pair of moto boots, 1 pair of heeled boots, 2 pairs of sandals, 1 pair of wedges, 1 pair of casual sneakers, 1 pair of athletic sneakers (I should have eliminated 1 or 2 pairs of flats)

Bags & Accessories: 

- When it comes to bags keep it simple. Think 1 small, 1 medium, 1 large and then be done. 

- Pick-pocketing is a real threat in many countries. I had far too many friends get wallets, phones, etc stolen because they didn't have safe bags. 

- A small crossbody should be dressy enough to wear out at night but still casual enough to be worn during the day while traveling. 

- A medium sized crossbody that can hold a umbrella, sweater, etc is also a must-have for travel and local sightseeing. 

- A larger tote bag is great to use for school (and safer than backpacks against pick-pocketing). 

- Scarves (for both warm and cold weather) are great for adding color/pattern to basic outfits
- If you like accessorizing with jewelry then bring a few of your favorite pieces, but leave behind your most precious/expensive pieces. 

Everything Else:

- Only bring school supplies if there is something sold in the US that you cannot live without. You will be able to find some version of school notebooks and binders in whatever country you are going to. 

- Same rule goes for makeup and other beauty products. Bring enough of your favorite foundation and concealer for the semester, but don't bring a 4 month supply of shampoo. 

- An external hard drive is a must-have. You will be taking hundreds of pictures and will easily run out of storage space. Instead of dealing with subscribing to a cloud service while abroad just bring along a small external hard drive. 

- Don't forget an umbrella... I did and definitely regretted it when it started pouring on me.
- If you're going to a country where english isn't the local language bring one or two of your favorite books. When you're home sick having an old book you've read five times will be really nice (especially if you can't go out and buy a new one).
- Bring more than one adapter/converter. I spent the entire semester getting annoyed that I had to switch between charging my computer, phone, and camera all the time. There are plenty of cheap american to european adapters out there so make sure to buy one or two extra on top of a great travel adapter.
- Save space and needing an additional adapter by buying a hair dryer when you arrive. While you might not want to risk having a bad straightener a good hair dryer can be bought anywhere. 

The most important thing to remember when packing for your semester abroad is that almost anything you forget can be brought abroad and on top of that, the things you pack aren't even what matter. I won't lie and say you won't think about the pair of boots you left at home every once in a while, but I can promise you won't be thinking of them when you're traveling to new cities and making incredible memories. You will forget about everything you left behind the moment you get to the airport (unless you forget your passport. Don't do that!). Study abroad is about pushing yourself, learning that there are plenty of things you can't control, and so much more. The first step to learning these lessons is packing your life into two suitcases and being ok with it! 

If you have any specific questions about study abroad packing please shoot me an email or ask in the comments below!

A Complete Guide to Packing for Study Abroad

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

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Shop: 2015 Agendas

Lilly Pullitzer // Kate Spade

Moleskin // GiGi New York

Jonathan Adler // Kikki-K

The new year is quickly approaching and while my mind is pretty much focused on last second Christmas shopping I have remembered that I need a new agenda for 2015. I almost always get a simple-no nonsense agenda, but this year I'm thinking of switching up my routine. My planner is always with me and it is the place where everything I need to do is written, so it is important I have a great one. While I've tried to switch over to iPhone/online calendars I always come back to paper and pencil. 

Pros of simple agendas (like the red, pink, and black ones above) are pages with plenty of space to write notes and a streamlined look so that is fits in any bag. On the other hand planners by Jonathan Adler, Kate Spade, and Lilly Pulitzer are full of inspiration to keep you going throughout the year. I love the fun quotes for every month of the Kate Spade planner and the cute drawings/collages on the pages of the Jonathan Adler and Kate Spade agendas. 

Which type of planner do you use to stay organized throughout the year?

Shop: 2015 Agendas

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

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