Senior Year Room Tour + Bedroom Inspiration

Happy Monday! 

All of this down time has given me the perfect chance to finally getting around to sharing my senior year room with you guys! It's been a long time coming, but with move out in a few weeks, I had to capture my favorite cozy little room in our senior year house. Not only do I think it's fun to show you guys how I put together my room, but I love looking back on old posts and seeing a glimpse into my life at the time. It's really starting to hit me that I'll only be here at IU for a few more weeks, so I'm trying to soak up every moment and do everything I've been meaning to for the past 4 years. So, a room tour of my favorite little corner of campus is something I'm excited to share! 

First, I'm going to start with the inspiration for my room. As someone who has basically lived in the same house for my entire life, I really haven't had the opportunity to start from scratch on a bedroom (besides my freshman dorm of course). So, I was extra excited to come up with a color scheme and overall "theme" for my room. I started a Pinterest board last summer and slowly started accumulating pieces I liked from a variety of places. 

I wanted to bring a crisp, clean, and luxurious feel to my room. I'm lucky (but unlucky early in the morning!) that my bedroom is super light and bright from the sun, so creating a very white space was pretty easy. I loved the idea of a pop of color using a desk chair, and I added a cozy layer to it using a soft pink throw too. I also included several fur accents with another throw blanket and two pillows. For another color, I brought in gold accents through picture frames and jewelry organization. Then for a more personal touch, I love the idea of having a ton of photos around my room, whether they be from my travels or memories with my friends. Below is what I used as inspiration!

Now here's the finished result! 

Since it's so tiny, I'm obsessed with keeping it super clean and organized.  

I found a lot of my furniture for pretty great prices (ie. Target, Walmart, H&M, etc.), but at the same time I made sure I chose neutral colors so that I could use them in the future too. 

I am going to try my best to link everything I found below! Its been a while since I found them online, so if things aren't available online anymore I'll link something similar. Side note: my dresser was such terrible quality that I don't even want to link it - it'll be going in the trash after move-out!

This post also has a bunch of my smaller accessories linked! 

I can't believe senior year has almost come to an end and I'll have to leave our cozy little house for good. So many wonderful memories have taken place here and I'll always cherish the time spent in it with my friends! 

How I've Perfected My Morning Routine

With only one (!!!) semester left of college, I've decided that it's time to really develop a morning routine that gets me excited to wake up each day. I'll never have as much time to myself in the mornings as I do this semester, so I'm determined to make the most of it before I start my full time job in fall! 

I watch so many youtube videos about morning and night routines - for some reason, something about them really intrigues me. I think it's so fascinating to see how successful, productive people start and end their day. After doing lots of research, I've come up with a few new things to implement into my own morning at school: 

+ Wake up an hour before you need to 

This is something I started last semester on my busy class days (Tuesdays/Thursdays) and I've continued it this new semester as well. There's something so nice about having an entire hour to dedicate to yourself: from making coffee to watching youtube or listening to a podcast, I absolutely love my little time in the morning to refresh my mind. The key is to jump out of bed a few minutes after your alarm goes off so that you don't fall back asleep! 

+ Look forward to your breakfast

I've been making smoothies every morning and I seriously look forward to it every night when I'm going to sleep. If you have more time, avocado toast and an egg is so yummy too! Making something quick and healthy is the perfect way to wake your body up for the day. 

+ Read or listen to something motivational

This year, I've really been making an effort to listen to more podcasts because they are so much more beneficial for my mindset than music is (at least in my opinion). If I'm cleaning my room or walking across campus, I love listening to Gals on the Go, Happy Hour or Retail Gets Real. I'll also go on Pinterest for a few minutes and look at quotes or other sorts of inspiration for the day. 

+ Catch up on the news 

Something I really need to get better about is staying up to date on current events. Being at school, I feel like I'm trapped in such a bubble that is so distant from the outside world (just me??). We don't have cable at our house so I never watch the news and just feel very out of touch with things going on in the rest of the world. I've decided that the morning would be the best time to read a few articles whether it be about politics, pop culture or even things pertaining to the retail industry. 

Are you as obsessed with your daily routines as I am? 

xoxo

My Sunday Routine

Now that I am a senior in college, I feel like I've really found the value in a good Sunday routine. There's always been things I like to do on Sundays to feel more prepared for my week, but now I literally look forward to waking up on Sunday morning and getting things done. There's something so satisfying about having all of your ducks in a row for the upcoming week! Below are a few things I make sure to do every Sunday to feel organized and relaxed for Monday morning. 

+ wake up and workout

One of the best ways to start the day in my opinion is to roll out of bed and to get in a good sweat sesh. I've recently become someone who loves to workout in the morning because you get it over with right away and it sets up the rest of your day in a productive way! I never like to do anything too crazy on Sunday mornings but heading to the gym with a friend or two to get in some steps is a great way to get your day started. I've also been going in the sauna for 15 minutes at the end - I've heard that there are great health benefits and so far I love it! 

+ grocery shop and meal prep

I'm weird and kind of don't hate grocery shopping (just me?), so heading to the grocery store is kind of therapeutic to me. I don't always meal prep, but I do like to try to plan out what I'll be eating throughout the week so that I can buy accordingly. It always feels so good to have this taken care of going into the new week.

+ deep clean my room
If my room is a disaster, I always feel like a mess (a bit dramatic, but true!). Sundays are my favorite time to get everything in order (laundry, put things away, etc.) I also looove taking a few anti-bacterial wipes and wiping down my desk, dresser and bedside table. It's insane how much dust accumulates over the week - quickly doing this will instantly give your room a little facelift!

+ light a candle and plug in my salt lamp
Ok I always used to think that those Himalyan salt lamps were kind of odd, but after hearing so many people (including my own roomies) rave about them, I decided to give one a try. I got this one and so far I love it! It was only $12 and it adds the perfect little accent to my dresser. Before bed I'll turn off all the lights and plug this in and it creates the prettiest pink glow.

+ peruse Pinterest
I've recently become more into Pinterest than usual - whether it be for motivational quotes, style inspiration or recipe ideas, Pinterest is my favorite way to find a little inspo for the new week. Follow me if you don't already!

+ plan out my week
Whether it's in my planner or on this notepad (I've used it for years and love it!), something I like to do is write out what I have going on for the week. It really helps me sleep well Sunday night if I know what is coming up in the next few days.

Do you do anything specific on Sundays to prep for the new week?
xoxo

Sneak Peek at My College House with H&M

The back to school season is officially here and I could not be more thrilled for my (last!) year of college. It is so crazy senior year is finally happening and that my best friends and I moved into the house we signed 2 years ago. This was our first time fully decorating a space all by ourselves and we are so excited to make it feel like home. While it is still coming together, I wanted to give you a little sneak peek with some of my  favorite new pieces from H&M. I always go to H&M for back to school shopping (I think they have some of the best basic pieces at great prices), so when I found out they have a whole line for home as well, I was so excited to add some pieces to my bedroom here at school. I already had big ticket items like my bedding and headboard, so I got a few cute decor items that really added a chic feel to my (rather tiny) room. 

As you can tell, I'm going with a white, pink and gold color scheme with hints of fur, leopard, tassels and bows. H&M had a bunch of fun little things that are perfect for this year, but that I know I could use in the future too! 

Doesn't the pretty blush color just add the perfect pop of color to our neutral bathroom?!

Metal Table Mirror in Gold / Handwoven Cotton Rug in White /  Jacquard-weave Throw in Dusky Pink / Shower Curtain in Antique Rose  

It's slowly coming together but I think I've made some good progress!! I'll definitely be showing more photos in the near future once everything is perfect. 

Have you bought anything from H&M's home line before? Definitely go check it out because I had no idea how much they have for such great prices (aka ideal for college students!). 

xoxo

Junior Year Update + What's to Come in 2019

I know I say this every post as of late, but hello it has been a minute! Happy 2019!

Like always, I could give a ton of reasons why I haven't been blogging: a busy semester, a lack of inspiration, a shattered computer (yikes)... the list goes on and on. To be honest, there isn't one big reason why I haven't been blogging, but rather priorities in my life have just shifted these past few months. When I started my blog, I was a high school student eager to share my passions of organization, fashion, health, and general musings. I craved a creative outlet and found blogging to be the perfect way to channel these interests given a very traditional high school curriculum. I truly love citrus & style and the community it has created (especially all of you amazing people!!), but recently I have found so many other things I am passionate about too. From being the Director of Branding for our Retail Studies Organization to the Apparel Chair for my sorority to even my classes this semester, I have been able to channel these interests in a new and exciting way. And as you can imagine, blogging has taken a bit of a back seat.

Now that it's a new year and I'm finding a desire to get back into it, I have decided to look at c&s in a new way. Instead of an old hobby I am trying to get back into, I want to think of it more like a diary, sharing fun and exciting things as they come along. When I try to keep myself on a strict schedule of posting X times per week, it isn't as fun to me anymore because it feels more like a chore than anything. I have some exciting updates for you if you read on and I think these new changes in my life will be the perfect way to get me back into blogging! So without further adieu, let's get into a Junior Year update and preview of what's to come in 2019!

Get ready for a novel :) 

To read about the second semester of sophomore year and my summer, click here!

Junior Year first semester was probably the most unique semester I've had so far in college. It wasn't bad by any means (I adore IU and all of my friends, my classes, etc.), but it was just different than the others so far. For me, this semester was my lightest load I have had academically, so I often found myself with a good amount of down time. On the other hand, most of my friends are business majors and had their notoriously difficult semester called i-Core which gave them far from any free time. As a really social person that thrives off of the energy of others, I learned to enjoy alone time and also became even closer with a few other girls too! 

 On top of classes, Junior Year is often known as the big internship hunt for students in business/retail/etc. I was really fortunate to have seen so many companies through career fairs, networking events, externships and industry seminars prior to this year, so this semester was more of a waiting game for me than anything else. I interviewed, completed final projects and traveled to final round interviews for a few companies and am so grateful to have an internship at a retail company I absolutely love this upcoming summer. I could have seen myself at several internships, but I have a gut feeling that this was the perfect fit for me. More on that in a little! 

Lastly, this was the third semester I had been living in my sorority house, and as much as I really enjoyed my time being in the DG house, near the end I was honestly starting to get sick of being under the same roof as 115 other girls. If you get the chance to live in a sorority house or with a ton of people, I highly recommend it - you get to know so many people on such a personal level and I wouldn't trade it for anything! For me, 3 semesters was just the right amount of time, and I'm really excited to live in my senior year house with 9 other girls next year! 

Now, let's skip next semester for a moment and talk about the summer. 

As you can probably tell from the photos above, I am going to be interning at American Eagle Outfitters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! I am so excited and fell in love with their company and headquarters the moment I got there. It's funny, the moment I first stepped foot on Indiana University's campus, I knew it was where I would end up going to school. AEO was really similar and I felt at home right away! 

To be honest, AEO wasn't a company I really thought much about career wise until the end of sophomore year. However, after learning that I didn't see myself in New York City right out of college, I was able to narrow down my options a lot and it became clear what was a good fit for me and what wasn't. I was fortunate to have participated in their externship in July, so this gave me the perfect sneak peek into what it could be like to intern there. I recruited on campus, took a retail math test, flew out to Pittsburgh for the final round interviews and was over the moon to find out I had gotten an offer! I met so many incredible people there and felt like it was an awesome place for me to start my career in retail. 

If you guys are interested, I am thinking about writing a post with all of my tips for recruiting, interviewing, career fairs, etc. It can be intimidating to start and I've had a lot of practice over the past few months! 

Ok so before I move to Pittsburgh this summer (!!!), I have one more semester left of Junior Year. Except, I won't be returning to IU. Instead, I'll be studying abroad in.....

... Florence, Italy!

If you asked me in high school if I would study abroad in college, I probably would have told you no. I love to travel but honestly consider myself somewhat of a homebody and couldn't picture living outside of the U.S. for 4 months. As college progressed, I heard more and more about how valuable studying abroad is and every single person I talked to raved about how it was the best few months of their life. Since I am ahead on credits, am able to take classes for my major there, and the cost is very similar to a normal semester at IU, I decided to take the leap and do it! I would be lying if I told you I wasn't absolutely terrified to move to another country, especially since I have never been outside of the U.S. and don't know a single person in my program, but I think it is just the change of pace I need at this point in my college career. I am so excited to take classes like Product Development, Trend Forecasting and Visual Merchandising in such a stylish place in the world, and I'm eager to learn another language too! 

If you've been to Florence or have studied abroad, please comment below or  shoot me an email with any tips or advice you have - I am anxious to learn as much as possible before I leave at the end of the month! 

If you've made it this far, I'm honestly impressed! We had a lot of catching up to do :) Thank you so much for reading along and I hope you're excited for some new content around here very soon! It means so much to me that you take the time out of your day to hear what I have to say and I look forward to sharing these next few exciting months with you via my blog and Instagram! 

Here's to 2019 and the adventures ahead!

xoxo

Sunday Night Rituals

Summer Sunday nights have come to be one of my favorite things during the week. There's something about spending some time outside, having a healthy dinner, being productive and getting to bed a little earlier that just sets you up for such a great week. There are certain little ~rituals~ I like to do every Sunday and after seeing similar blog posts and Youtube videos, I thought it would be fun to share my own! This was my first Sunday night back at school and I'm excited to get into my little night routine again. 

via
+ face mask

I never remember to do a face mask but lately it has become a Sunday night tradition! Over the summer my mom and I had been testing out a ton of different ones and loved doing them together on Sunday nights. It's such a nice little treat for your face and inexpensive indulgence!

+ long shower

I always feel rushed when I shower throughout the week as it's usually in the morning before work during the summer or right before dinner at school. Sundays are the perfect day to spend a little more time pampering yourself. I love blasting some music and taking a warm shower on Sunday nights for a little extra TLC.

+ tidy up

Whether it's a pile of workout clothes on the floor or makeup products scattered across my bathroom counter, I love putting things away and wiping everything down with a little Windex. Waking up on Monday morning is so much better with a clean space!

+ to-do list

I usually have a ton of things I need to do going through my head during the weekend, so it really helps to organize my thoughts by writing a big to-do list for the week. Maybe it's just me, but writing out everything makes me want to be more productive and check them all off the list!

+ laundry

This is probably obvious for some people, but even if I have a few things I need to wash for the week (ie. socks, etc.), I really try to get that done on Sundays. It's so refreshing going into the week with everything clean and put away.

Do you have any Sunday night rituals you've found yourself doing?
xoxo

My Back to School Must-Haves

I can't believe I'm halfway done with college... it's so crazy to think that I'll be completely finished with school in just two short years. AH! But junior year is going to be crazy busy and packed with a lot of fun things so I'm really eager to head back to Bloomington in 2 days! Back to school shopping has been one of my absolute favorite things for as long as I can remember. Getting our "school supply" lists from our teachers and heading to Target for new binders, notebooks and pens was always the highlight of my summer (pretty sad, I know). These days back to school shopping consists more of clothes and various essentials rather than supplies, but the excitement is still the same! I made a list of new pieces to stock up on for the new school year and I thought I would share them with you guys.

+ A New Pair of Sneakers

I wear a pair of fun sneakers every single day to class, so I've been searching high and low for a new pair to invest in for this semester. The winner was this pair of olive I-5923s and I can't wait to wear them with shorts, leggings and jeans! They are so light that you feel like you are barely wearing anything on your feet - perfect for walking around a big campus like mine. I found them for a great price on Amazon and couldn't say no.

+ Basic Tees

My school "uniform" is a pair of leggings, jean jacket, sneakers and a basic tee, so buying a few more tees to add to my collection is a must. American Eagle's Soft and Sexy tees are my favorite, so I'm thinking of buying one in almost every color!

+ Sleek Backpack

Last year I used the Madeline & Company gray faux leather slim and could not even tell you how much I loved it. I was planning to use it again but Madeline recently reached out to me and showed me their new slims that can be monogrammed, so you know I'll be snagging one of those and using it this semester!

+ Distressed Jeans

I'm not sure why, but I can never seem to find a good pair of distressed jeans. I'm so picky about where the rips are, so it makes finding a pair kind of difficult. But investing in a new pair of jeans or two is perfect if the students at your school dress pretty casually like mine. American Eagle has some really fun options! 

+ Agenda

Agenda shopping is my absolute favorite thing on the planet. My planner is like my bible all year long, so I look everywhere to compare different kinds. I haven't quite decided which one I'll be using this year, but I'm kind of in the mood to try a new one! This Day Designer one is beautiful. 

+ Travel Mug

This year I'm going to start being more money savvy and using K-cups in the morning instead of constantly buying coffee from the library. I got in such a bad habit of buying a $5 cup almost every day, so popping a cup in the Keurig every morning will be a much smarter move. But, that means I need to find a good travel tumbler to bring my coffee in! I love Ban.do's mugs (especially this one) and think I need one of these this year. Any ones you recommend?

Any back to school must-haves I'm missing?

xoxo

Internship Recap + 6 College Room Pieces to Invest In

**Note: I've been getting requests to do both a post talking about my summer internship as well as some pieces I think it's important to have for your space in college. I'm combining these two ideas into one giant post for you today! Hope you enjoy xox

I'm back today with another college interiors post for you guys! This summer, I have been interning at a furniture company here in Wisconsin called Steinhafels. It has been such a cool experience learning about merchandising, advertising and set styling at Wisconsin's largest furniture and mattress retailer! I have always been interested in the interiors side of retail, and this summer made me realize it's definitely a part of the industry I could see myself working in the future.

As an Apparel Merchandising major, I always assumed that post-graduation you would just get a job in the fashion category. What I didn't realize until this year is that there are so many different parts of retail (whether that's apparel, furniture or other goods) - you can do buying, product development, marketing, copywriting, store development, media... the list goes on and on. This summer, I really was able to see a ton of these different departments in action. I worked on set styling in the photo studio, wrote product copy for new merchandise, put together an outline for the next season's new trends and product lines, and wrote for the company's blog, just to name a few projects. I am really grateful to have been able to get a little taste of several areas this summer. Before the internship, I thought I would end up doing either buying or product development after college, but now I think it would be so fun to do a combination of several of these areas!

at my cubicle - my home away from home :)

I haven't talked about it a ton, but I also did shorter externships at Ross and American Eagle Outfitters this summer. Besides furniture (and shoes like at my internship last summer), these two externship experiences taught me about off-price retailing (Ross) as well as specialty retail (AEO). I can totally do a separate post talking about these if you guys are interested. Just let me know!

Now, let's get onto some pretty furniture and accessories, shall we?

As an incoming junior at Indiana University, I like to think I have a pretty good grasp on which essentials you need for college. After surviving the cinderblock dorms and then a crowded sorority house, I've found that it's important to invest in simple, quality pieces that will last your entire college career. Since my internship ends today, what better time to share a few pieces from Steinhafels with you! All of these pieces are pretty neutral and can match nearly any color palette you are working with. Not to mention, greys and whites add a luxurious feel to your college space!

Jewelry Armoire

Stash all of your jewelry, accessories and cosmetics in a pretty jewelry armoire like this one. Extra storage is always helpful in a small space, and a jewelry organizer is sometimes something people forget about! I love the classic silver finish on this one.

Grey Pouf

Something I've found is that a pouf doubles as décor and seating in your space. This one is neutral and will match everything! Whether you need a cute ottoman or a place for your friend to sit, this pretty pouf is perfect.

White Fur Pillow

Don't you just want to cozy up in your bed with this furry white pillow?! A little touch of white fur adds a chic, put together look to your bed or sofa. I totally overpaid for the one I have - this one is so much more affordable.

Gray Area Rug

A simple rug is a great investment in your space. I love how cozy and plush this one is - perfect for movie marathons or late night chats with your friends. And the darker color will help hide stains over time.

White Faux Fur Throw

Nothing is better than snuggling up after a long day, and this chic faux fur throw is just what you need for the job. This one is big, cozy and the prettiest cream color.

Cream Table Lamp

I was always on the fence about buying a lamp for my room at school, but I honestly regretted not making the investment after seeing that almost every other girl had a cute one on her desk! A simple, neutral lamp will match your décor for a long time and I love this one.

 

Thank you so much to Steinhafels for such an awesome sophomore year internship experience! If you guys have any questions about internships (how to get them, tips for being an intern, etc.) totally feel free to email me - I'd love to help you out.

Also, be sure to check out my post yesterday about what I'm using for my senior year house!

xoxo

Senior Year Bedding with Annie Selke's Bed 101

At the end of last semester, my friends and I signed our lease for senior (!!!!) year. It may seem super early, but students typically do it about a year and a half in advance, especially when there were 8 of us that wanted to live together! We found the cutest little duplex right next to campus in the most adorable neighborhood. To say I'm excited to live there (and decorate it!) with 7 of my friends is an understatement.

Right after we signed the lease, I started putting together a Pinterest board with decorating ideas. I absolutely love shopping for interiors - from the bedding to the wall décor to accessories... it makes me so happy to piece it all together. I already have a theme in my head for my bedroom in the house and I can't even contain my excitement to start shopping for it. When Annie Selke coincidentally reached out to me to collaborate with them on their new Bed 101 collection right around this time, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to pick out bedding for the house!

I had a bunch of cute things in my dorm from them (read: these striped bins and this pink and white pillow), and I couldn't wait to see their new line.

Bed 101 is their new line that offers the Pine Cone Hill quality but at lower prices. If I was a little older and had a steady income, my entire house would be Pine Cone Hill because it's so beautiful and amazing quality. But since I'm still a college student, Bed 101 is the perfect solution! It's simple, stylish, easy to mix and match and perfect for college students like me, a first apartment or a first house. They have a bunch of different bundle options with pieces ranging from duvet covers to quilts to sheet sets... you can pick which one works best for you.

I chose the Load it On Set along with their pom pom throw, rose shimmer velvet pillow, laundered linen white decorative pillow and sheepskin throw in dark linen. These accessories are such pretty, simple basics that I can't wait to use for years to come, no matter the current interior trends.

Since I'm only going to be a junior and obviously can't show you all of these goodies in my new house yet, I set it up in my bedroom at home to give you the general idea! I love how chic it all looks - I can build off of it however I want to senior year but I can tell I won't get sick of it any time soon.

Here are all of the pieces broken down in case you want to shop what I chose:

-Duvet Cover in White Percale in Full/Queen

-Essential Percale White Sham in Standard

-Essential Tipped Percale Grey Sheet Set in Full

-Washed Linen White Quilt in White in Full/Queen

-Washed Linen White Quilt Sham in King

-Rose Shimmer Velvet Decorative Pillow 

-Dark Linen Sheepskin

-Gray Pom Pom Throw

-Laundered White Linen Decorative Pillow

Have you checked out the new Bed 101 line yet? 

I'm Back + A Summer Update

Hello hello I'm back from the dead!

I so apologize for the silence around here for almost two months. With finals, moving home, 2 weeks in New York, getting adjusted to my new internship and starting a pretty awful summer class, I've been a bit swamped!

So you're probably wondering what the heck I've been doing since April when I posted last. Well, here's a bit of an update.

Sophomore year was honestly my favorite one so far both academically and socially. This past semester I took some awesome classes like Visual Communications, Marketing, Retail Professionalism and Intro to Media. Needless to say, I seriously enjoyed my school work and all of the fun projects on my to-do list. I can confidentially say that I am totally in the right major and minors for me, and I am so excited for the fun courses ahead too. (For reference, I'm majoring in Apparel Merchandising through the School of Art, Architecture and Design and then minoring in Marketing through the Kelley School of Business and Media and Creative Advertising through the Media School.) Then socially, I definitely found my people this year. I was always so nervous about being in a sorority because I thought I would get sick of being with so many girls all the time, but it has really been the biggest blessing I could have ever imagined. Moving home was such an adjustment because I wasn't used to not being with 5 of my best friends at all times! From late nights chatting about life to ice cream runs to studying at the library, this past semester was one of the best of my life. I soaked up every moment with my people and can't wait to move back so we can do it again.

After I moved home, I had just a few days before I headed to New York City for two weeks. The first week was for what was called the New York Field Seminar which is an application based 3 credit course that about 26 of us attended. I only knew one girl going and it was so fun bonding with everyone over running around the city going to appointments at different companies. We went to some awesome companies like Nike Swim, Club Monaco, L'Oreal and the Kohl's Design Center, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go. That weekend, I took the Jitney to the Hamptons because one of my best friends from school lives there. Even though the weather was cold and rainy, we had so much fun shopping and spending way too much money on food. And then the second week, I attended the Ross Sophomore Externship back in the city. There were only 11 of us there and it was awesome getting to see what buyers and planners really do on a daily basis. I used to be hesitant about wanting to potentially intern or work full time in NYC, but both of these weeks made me think: why not?!

What have I been up to since then? Well, my brother graduated high school the day after I got back (yay Chuck!) and I started my internship at a furniture company about 40 minutes from my house the week after. I'm working in both the buying office and advertising departments and have gotten to do some awesome things like write product descriptions and help design the set for commercials. Unlike last summer where there was a whole intern squad, I'm the only intern this summer so I've been super busy working on a variety of projects. I'm learning a ton and have quickly discovered that coffee every morning is veeery important :)

So you're probably wondering now... is she back for real or what? Well, I do plan to post as much as I can, but with my summer class (which is getting pretty hectic since it's crammed into 8 weeks) and my internship, I'm not going to promise 3 posts every week because it's just not realistic at the moment. But, I do have some fun post ideas in the works that I think you guys will love! I'm trying to really think about what content I love to read (and watch on Youtube because it's my latest obsession), and I can't wait to share them with you. I've been trying to live in a more healthy, balanced way this summer, and I want to share these ideas with you guys too!

As always, let me know if you have any post ideas - I love hearing what you guys want to read!

Happy Hump Day!

xoxo

How My Sorority Has Changed Me for the Better

When I decided on attending Indiana University as a senior in high school, one of the questions a lot of people asked me was: "so are you going to rush?!". It's no secret that greek life is pretty prevalent here at IU, and I'm not going to lie... I was really hesitant about rushing and the potential of joining a sorority. I would consider myself a pretty outgoing and social person, but it always takes me a bit of time to warm up to people. Not to mention, I had no idea if I would be able to handle living in a house with over 100 girls. (I'm not sure how other schools do it, but most houses here have a 2 year live in requirement, so nearly all of the 22 chapters have sophomores and juniors live in.) Since recruitment doesn't take place until January here, I decided to not really think about it and instead see how first semester went. Fast forward to December of freshman year, and I honestly could not have been in a happier place. I loved my girl friends, had made some really awesome best guy friends and absolutely loved living in the dorms. I wasn't sure I really wanted to rush, but since all my friends were doing it, I decided to give it a try too. I didn't know many girls in houses here, so I went in super open minded (aka I didn't think much into the "tier system" at all). After the frozen tundra, little sleep, and health nightmare that was recruitment, I ended up in a chapter that I absolutely love. I already knew a couple of the girls in my member class, and we all became friends pretty quickly. However, even though I loved spending time with all of the girls, being able to come back to the quiet dorms with my friends from first semester was really nice. As someone who needs alone time and a break from all the craziness, it was perfect. That being said, I was super nervous to move into the house as a sophomore and be around over 100 girls every day. Now that I'm over half a semester in, I can confidently say that I'm just as happy but in a different way! 

Honestly, living in the house has really surprised me in the best way possible. I am not only more social because I have my sisters around all the time, but I am actually even more motivated than I was last year. Constantly being around my friends that are really productive and focused on their classes, clubs, etc has been a great way to keep myself on track. All of my friends are really involved in a bunch of different clubs, so it has encouraged me to get out and try new opportunities too. We live really close to two different libraries, so it's so easy to get a group of girls together and walk to and from the library every night. As far as working out, we live near two gyms as well, so a bunch of us will go workout together too. I think what has been so nice is how my friend group has kind of fallen into a routine of studying together, eating together, working out together, and then going out together. I've always been a really independent person who loves doing things on my own, but having other people keep me accountable has been a unique change that I think I've actually benefitted from. Plus, how often do you have the opportunity to live with so many amazing girls for two whole years?! 

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on being in a sorority... Comment below! I'd love to hear what you think.

xoxo

My New Favorite Laptop Case

After hearing about so many incidents of people dropping and shattering their laptops in the past year, I've decided that it's finally time to invest in a sleeve to protect my computer. In high school I always made sure to carry one, but for some reason in college I haven't at all. It adds extra weight to my backpack that I don't need walking all around campus! Lately, though, I've decided it's time to take proper precautions. I seriously don't know what I would do without my laptop (I'm on it 23 of the 24 hours of the day, I swear), so making sure it is protected has become a pretty high priority for me. Buuuut, this doesn't mean it has to look ugly!

Marley Lilly has an awesome array of sleeves that I swear would fit any size laptop. I love that they're super cute and classic, but neutral enough where you wouldn't get sick of them. I'm obsessed with the tan check one I got - they also have navy stripes, black stripes and black quatrefoil! And one of the best parts? They're so lightweight that you barely realize you're carrying one with you. They also have a pretty roomy pocket on the front where you can keep a notebook, papers, etc. 

What's your opinion on laptop sleeves?

xoxo

4 Workout Ideas (That Don't Include the Gym!)

Lately, I've really made a stronger effort to get in some sort of exercise at least 5 times a week. This isn't always possible due to midterm season and a lot of responsibilities for my sorority and the clubs I'm involved in, but I've really been trying to schedule a workout in most days like I would for a meeting or class. Last week, I made it to the gym nearly every day for an hour, doing lots of cardio and strength (legs, arms and abs). However, I had a good amount of free time on my hands so it wasn't hard to fit in! Even though I like going to the gym, the changing leaves are so colorful that I've been trying to spend as much time outside as possible. This season is so short that I want to take advantage of our beautiful campus! So, I did a little brainstorming and came up with 4 workout ideas that don't include the gym but will still get that daily exercise in. 

*via

+ Call a Friend While You Take a Walk

Ever since coming to college, I have become a huge fan of phone calls to catch up with family and friends. When I'm on the go walking from building to building, I'll often call my mom or a friend from home to make the walk a lot more enjoyable. If I'm in the mood for a walk but don't want to hit the gym, I'll sometimes go outside for a little extra cardio in my day. You'll be totally into the conversation that you'll forget you're even getting exercise! There are a good amount of hills on IU's campus, so this also provides some good incline intervals too!

+ Play Tennis

Even if you're not really good at it, playing tennis is such a fun way to get some extra steps in. I played in high school and haven't really since then, so I'm extra anxious to get back on the court. My friends and I were dying to play on the courts near our dorm building last year but we never got around to it, so it makes me want to go play one day even more. If you don't have a racquet with you at school, you can most likely rent one out at your rec center or gym. 

+ Go for a hike

There are a bunch of beautiful places for hikes around Bloomington (Griffy Lake is a big one many people love!) and my friends and I finally took advantage of it a few weekends ago. Fall is the perfect time to go explore some trails because of the beautiful foliage and breezy weather, so check out the available hiking areas near where you live! 

+ Walk to Brunch or to Get a Smoothie

My sorority house is really centrally located so we're lucky to be close to Kirkwood Avenue (where all of the restaurants and shops are in Bloomington). We're fortunate to be able to easily walk to dinner on the weekends or to get a smoothie during the week - yummy food is awesome motivation to get in a few steps during the week! Even if you don't live super close to a ton of places to eat or shop, try to venture out and explore because you'll have fun while getting exercise. 

Do you have any other ideas to add to the list?

xoxo