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This Week's Top 10


1. My roommate is visiting her boyfriend at school this weekend, and as much as I love her (seriously, we're best friends!), I'm kind of excited to have a room to myself for the weekend!!

2. I discovered a new-to-me "college blog" this week that has a ton of really helpful articles and gives great advice and tips. I really liked "four simple steps to doing college right"

3. On a similar note, I had my first midterm this week! I know I really overdramatized it with the Insta post and all of the Snapchats, so thanks to everyone who wished me luck. I think it went okay! Only two more this coming week and then my first set of college midterms will come to a close... yay!!

4. I had a super fun time this week hanging out with a reader, hopefully you saw my latest outfit post (and new fall transition outfit uniform!) right here.

5. Fall style really can't be beat. It's the best, and Blair Eadie and Barbour are quite the dynamic duo.

6. Speaking of, my Barbour is pretty much going to be my best friend this season.

7. I was a little surprised to see the off shoulder trend continuing into cold-weather wear!! How do we feel about this off-shoulder sweater?

8. Don't miss 40% off at Loft! 

9. One week until parents weekend!! I'm going to spend this weekend studying and preparing to knocking out my exams so I can get excited for a fun weekend next weekend!

10. So, tomorrow is October 1st. Wait, what?

xoxo

Finding Confidence Among Uncertainty


Today is my first college exam (shoutout to Econ 1) and in the process of studying for this horrendous seven chapter situation from hell, I'd like to quickly say that despite whatever my teacher says, this is not considered a quiz for normal people.

That's the thing about college. Everything is different... School is different, friendships are different, life is overall just different from how it is in high school. The only thing that makes being successful at the transition from high school to college is feeling confident and capable and making the most out of even extremely uncertain situations. Ever since I've been at school, I feel like my first reaction to everything has been to question if I'm doing something right, saying the right thing, wearing the right thing, etc. All this week I've been questioning if I'm studying the right way or studying the right material. At the end of the day, worrying about if I'm doing it all wrong would just be a waste of my time; being confident that I'm preparing myself in the best way possible, being confident that I'm doing okay at the college thing in general is what gets me through. 

When you're worried, you're focused on the future. When you're complacent and accepting of what you're doing and how you're doing it, you're focused on the present.

Focus on the present. Live in the moment. Feel confident in the decisions you make, and if that's not possible, make adjustments so you can reach that point. Feeling confident doesn't have to result from certainty that you're right, it just means faking it until you make it, or until you're at least comfortable with where you're at. The thing is, no one is perfect and there isn't one right way to do things. There definitely isn't an easy way to succeed when you're too worried about failing because making those mistakes and not being afraid to fail is how you ultimately finding the solution to uncertainty. 

The answers to questions reveal themselves in strange ways. It sounds backwards, but it makes sense.  It's like Thomas Edison figuring out the lightbulb! Try and try and try until you get it right, no matter how long or how many tries it takes to get somewhere. Never lose sight or lose confidence in yourself and the belief that eventually, you'll hit the point of success.

Fake it until you make it, be confident even when you're unsure of yourself, and good luck to everyone taking midterms!
xoxo

Transitioning to Fall



If you follow me on Snapchat, you know I had the pleasure of spending a couple hours yesterday with one of my readers chatting over tea and scones and shooting a couple of outfits together! She had emailed me a few weeks ago offering to shoot after I'd posted bout looking for a photographer, and I'm so glad we arranged a time to meet up. Getting to know you guys, form new friendships, and just connecting with readers and other girls (and sometimes guys!) with similar interests has definitely proven to be one of the most rewarding parts of blogging for me.

Recipes to Try this Fall

If there's one thing I hate about the dining hall set-up of college, it's that I really miss cooking and choosing what I want to eat. Don't get me wrong, the choices are almost infinite in the dining hall, but it's not always what I really am in the mood for, or as satisfying as I'd like it to be. 

I've been pinning a ton on my Pinterest lately and some of the recipes I've come across seriously make my mouth water!!! I miss delicious, high quality, real food so much! Consider this my fall wish-list, food edition ;)





xoxo

This Week's Top 10


1. Ahhh!!! I booked my plane tickets for fall break on Wednesday and I'll be home in exactly three weeks! I know I've only been at school for a month, but I really can't wait to be home for a few days.

2. Sarah Vickers and Gigi Hadid in one place. What more goals could you possibly have?!

3. I shared a few of my favorite study songs yesterday, so check out this post if you haven't yet! I know a lot of people having tests and exams coming up so you might find this helpful.

4. Another academic note... I slept through my first class yesterday. It's the first and only class I've missed yet (knock on wood) and I kind of freaked out about it! Has anyone else been a victim of oversleeping lately?

5. Okay, I'm obsessed with this dress. Which color is cuter?

6. Here are 20 things to do this fall! I'm excited to go to the Lehigh vs Princeton home game this weekend!

7. Paris in Four Months is actually one of the most beautiful blog's I've ever discovered.

8. This sweater is a major staple for fall

9. And you can shop my full fall wish-list right here!

10. Have a great weekend and happy official start to the season of fall! 

xoxo

Study Playlist

I have spent a lot of time in the libraries at school since I've been here and I always wind up on Pandora with my headphones in cranking out work for hours once I get in the zone. Getting in the zone of focus means getting out of the zone of distractions, so for me, it is essential to block out any and all outside noises and listen to low-key music that I enjoy but all doesn't distract me. My go-to Pandora station is Alt-J, because I love that the songs are chill without making me tired or having distracting lyrics, they're more just cool beats and vibes that make studying so much easier!

Enjoy the playlist below (it's organized by song title//artist), and throw any song suggestions my way! I love discovering new music and I want to know what you're all listening to!


xoxo

Dreaming of Fall

As much as I love summer and all it entails... vacations, birthdays, sunsets, no school, morning runs and beach afternoons... fall is still my favorite season. Something about the weather and the layering up in cozy sweaters and boots just makes me fall in love with the whole atmosphere for a few months. I'm also a sucker for pumpkin anything (call me basic) and the smells of spices and leaves.

The outfit below has me dreaming of what I'll be wearing once the awkward transition weather passes through and I can wear a sweater and jeans without melting in the afternoon!

fall 2016

sweater // necklace // jeans // flats // watch // satchel

What are you dreaming about wearing this season?
xoxo

This Week's Top 10


1. My dorm room reveal went up this week!! Did you read it here?

2. It's been four weeks of dining hall food and this pasta would just really hit the spot.

3. Speaking of my dorm, if I could wallpaper it, I so would. (And here's how!)


5. These navy booties are perfect for fall.

6. All of Liz's outfits lately have been amazing.


8. Such a cool twist on a workout tee.

9. This dress paired with riding boots would be such a unique fall look, and so comfy.

10. I have another crazy busy weekend at school filled with brunch plans and homework and other endless to-dos. I'm hoping to find a photographer so I can get back 

xoxo

J. Crew at NYFW

I mentioned on Friday that I planned to go to the Reward Style party Monday night for fashion week, but as the event came closer, I realized I really didn't want to spend 5 hours on a train round trip for only 3 hours in the city. As disappointed as I was to have gotten my hopes up, it still is always fun to see the shows and looks on Snapchat, Instagram, and blogs, even if not in real life!

As usual, one of the best shows I've seen so far has been J. Crew's collection. Just the fact that J. Crew ditched models to cast real people for their presentation makes my heart happy, and then on top of that, the collection features some of my favorite colors, materials, and textures. I mean, the linen, the satin, raffia and pom-poms in shades of neons, neutrals, and blues are swoon-worthy!

 






You can find the in-depth article and more photos on J. Crew's blog right here. I am so obsessed with those satin bow wrap around heels!

What do you think of the collection?
xoxo

Dorm Room Reveal

I'm so excited to reveal my dorm today with you all, because the process of designing, decorating, and executing my dorm room has been a long time coming, and I am so happy with how it turned out! I plan to do another post on how I organize my wardrobe and desk with you all, so for now I'm just sharing my bed and nightstand.

Products are tagged below the photos to shop! I apologize in advance for the lighting/filters on my photos. The lighting in my room is horrible, so I really struggled with editing these photos! Hopefully you get the gist of the look I was going for though.











I was originally really worried about having the side of the room with the shelves, but I have come to love the way it looks to have my pillow and matching storage bins all on display. In fact, both the pillow and bins were gifted to me by the Annie Selke brands, and I am seriously obsessed with how they pull together the look of the whole room. I really feel like without them, the mint elephant sheets and mint string lights would be so out of place!! 

My roommate did different bedding, but overall our whole room is black/white/grey with mint as our accent color. I know I've also shared my rug a million times, but you can find that here if you want to check it out! It's a little random having a hot pink rug, but I really love it and I think it's so, so cute.

I am thinking of framing something above my bed, but I haven't decided what to do yet and I wanted to share the reveal before waiting any longer. Soooo, if you have any ideas, send them my way :)

What does your dorm look like if you're in one?! I would love to see!
xoxo

What I Learned in My First Week of College

Hello, hello! Happy Monday! This is my third week of classes, but I already feel like I've been at Lehigh for months! I've definitely come to a lot of realizations about college since I've arrived, and I wanted to share a few of these along with some tips for any other college freshman (or future college freshman!) out there.


Don't make decisions for yourself based on what other people want you to do // It's so easy to feel pressured to go out every single night because you want to meet more people, look good for the sorority girls, meet a boy, or maintain your new friendships. It's only been two weeks for me, but I learned on my third night here that I do not need to go out if I don't feel like. College is exhausting, and if you're tired and not in the mood to go out, then don't go out! The parties are never going to be that much more fun or exciting on the nights you miss out, and you'll feel so much better in the morning for getting in extra hours of sleep and avoiding a hangover or any other morning-after feeling. I've actually been staying in about equal to how often I go out, and I think the balance is perfect because I'm having fun while also getting enough sleep and getting my work done. It's hard every night to explain to your friends that you're staying in again when you told them you'd go out, but they always understand the next day when you're feeling good and they're way too tired from being out late.

It's okay to be homesick // Going off of the first one, college is a big change in a lot of ways. Doing what's best for yourself if the best thing you can do! I can't tell you how much I've been calling my mom, my boyfriend, and my best friends and saying I want to come home. I love my new classes and I'm having so much fun meeting a bunch of new girls and forming a friend group here, but it's true that college is hard and it involves a lot of independence and new situations that aren't the easiest to adjust to at first. There are good days and bad days, so taking time for yourself is so important, telling people you miss them really goes a long way, and always remember to try and make the most of college. It can be the best time if you take advantage of it, but if you're feeling homesick (like I am!), keep in mind that you're still adjusting and getting comfortable takes time, but you'll get there! If it helps, I have been talking to a bunch of my friends, and even older girls, and I have found that everyone really does feel the same way too.

Making healthy choices in the dining hall shouldn't be that hard // The dining halls at Lehigh have a ton of options for every meal for all sorts of food, as I imagine most dining halls do. The ice cream bar, custom crepe station (oh yes, we have one of those), pizza, burger and pasta stations, and the cases full of cupcakes and cookies are all available at one's excess every single day. However, so is the salad bar, custom omelet station, selection of fruit, wrap and sandwich station, etc. If you fill up a plate with fruits and veggies (sautéed or roasted mixed veggies are almost always available next to the main courses as sides) and then some other healthy proteins and starches, you can eat your meal, feel full, and then go for a cookie if you're still craving one. I personally eat breakfast in my dorm, so when I am at dining hall for lunch and dinner I usually get some sort of quinoa/farro salad (they're always serving some variation of that mixed with veggies which is pretty yummy!), a piece of fruit and peanut butter, and then something random that's available that day like a quesadilla, wrap, or slice of quiche. It's really all about balance, so making sure you're not eating the pizza everyday along with having the crepe lady make you a crepe every time she sees you, you should be good ;)

You'll do a lot of walking, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise or eat unhealthy // Lehigh is situated on a mountain so I swear, it doesn't even matter where I'm trying to go, I will probably have to walk up some stairs to get there. Of course, this means I'm burning a lot more calories than I would be otherwise in high school just walking short distances from period to period. However, once your body gets used to walking uphill or walking a lot all of the time, it won't register as exercise anymore, and it'll just be more of your daily habits. This means that getting into the groove of continuing a good exercise regimen and eating healthy will keep you in better health in the long run. Not only that, but exercise and a good diet are so beneficial for keeping stress levels low and brain function high, both equally important in being a successful student academically!

Do you have any first tips for college freshman?
xoxo

This Week's Top 10


1. Happy weekend! I am so excited for the kickoff of NY Fashion Week, and to announce that I'm going (!!!) for the first time on Monday!

2. Speaking of NYFW, did you hear about how Kanye's show was a hot mess?

3. This appetizer looks phenomenal.


5. When I have a daughter, I'm throwing her a party like this every. single. year.

6. On a similar note, Rach Parcell had her second baby this week and her Instagram feed right now makes my heart melt!!!

7. I am so envious of Julia's latest trip to Hawaii... this post is vacation goals.


9. I also am loving this scarf.

10. The perfect shorts for campus.

xoxo

Fall Wish-List

Although it's still in the eighties in Pennsylvania, I can't help but crave the weather that's just around the corner... the time to break out boots, sweaters, skinny jeans, and cozy layers is almost here!! Being someone who is always cold, it's a little hard to believe I'm actually saying that, but something about fall just carries such a wonderful ambience that I can't resist. With a new season also comes a wish-list of pretty pieces that I'd love to add to my wardrobe...

What's on your fall wishlist?
xoxo

Comfy for Class


Now that summer is officially over, this is probably the last post where you'll see me in shorts! I wore this outfit on the last day I hung out with Carin before we both left for school, but I think it's definitely a look that I'll pull together again for a day of classes while it's still warm out. These shorts are so incredibly comfortable and so, so cute, and I love how they look paired with my favorite sandals of the summer. As usual, I'm sporting my favorite everyday leather tote and my favorite white t-shirt.

What Food I Keep in My Dorm

Heading into college, one of my biggest fears was gaining the Freshman 15. However, as soon as I arrived on campus, I realized that it's actually pretty avoidable, especially in my circumstances given that Lehigh is so hilly and I really can't go anywhere without walking up or down a few flights of stairs. That said, college still isn't a free-for-all, and overdoing it on sugary drinks at parties, 2 AM post-drinking feasts, and making unhealthy choices in the dining hall all can contribute to poor health..

Since my schedule is so busy, I don't go to the dining hall for breakfast, and I usually get hungry between lunch and dinner. I stocked my dorm with healthy snacks and breakfast foods so that I can always eat breakfast and make sure there are always a few options for a snack when classes end and I'm back in my dorm for a few hours before dinner.


I love that my room is full of healthy options so I can eat something whenever I get hungry and not have to feel guilty about it! Lime La Croix is seriously my favorite thing to drink so I almost have a can open on my desk. Before bed I usually want something sweet and I'll opt for a cup of my favorite tea and some dark chocolate almonds. For breakfast I usually have greek yogurt and granola, or a banana with peanut butter. After classes I'll go for an apple and peanut butter, or carrots and pita chips and hummus. Our fridge is stocked with a ton of random fruit too to mix and match as well! 

Above are a few of my favorite combos and they're all full of protein and fiber! Check out this post for more healthy snack ideas.

What do you keep in your dorm?
xoxo

Labor Day Sales Round-Up

Happy Labor Day! To anyone with the day off, I hope you're enjoying your long weekend! Don't miss out on a chance to score some great deals today to celebrate all of the hard workers in the USA!


Bloomingdales: Take an extra 20% off a great selection of sale & clearance items.

J. Crew: Online only: 30% off your order of $200+ or 25% off your order of $125+.
 Use code SHOPMORE

Gap: 40% off with code PARTY

Old Navy: 50% off all jeans, dresses, and tees

Tuckernuck: Extra 20% off sale. Use code FINALSALE
there's a bunch of Barbour in the sale right now!!!

Mark and Graham: Extra 20% off sale. Use code EXTRA20
my favorite everyday leather tote is included!!!!


Madewell: 30% off right-now picks + extra 30% off sale. Use code DOUBLEUP
my favorites from the "right-now picks":



Anthropologie: Extra 40% off sale

Target: 25% off clothing, shoes, and accessories. Use code LABOR25
+ up to 30% off and extra 10% off home items. Use code HOMEDEAL
i am obsessed with some of the throw pillows- i want to get a few for my dorm!

Urban Outfitters: Buy one, get one half off on all tees and tanks

xoxo

This Week's Top 10


1. Lehigh's first football game is tomorrow! I'm so excited for it.

2. Speaking of football, how cute is this tailgate sweater?!

3. I love this outfit on Liz! The glitter flats are such a fun touch.

4.  One desk, four ways. Such a fun and creative post.

5. I have a thing for jewelry trays and I want to add this one to my collection.

6. ...any tips for organizing jewelry in a dorm?!

7. I feel like the whole cinderblock cell living has really been inspiring my current Pinterest board.

8. I can't even imagine how good a macaron candle must smell... I wish we could have candles in the dorms!

9. Speaking of my dorm, I love this pillow (c/o) I have.

10. Also, would you guys be interested in a dorm tour? Let me know and I can try to get one up soon!

Have a great weekend!!
xoxo

Quick Hello from Lehigh

It's hard to believe that I have only been at Lehigh for a week when I think about everything that I've been up to... orientation, almost a whole week of classes, making friends, getting settled in my new room, going out to parties, coffee dates and BBQ's with sorority girls, the list never ends! A million and one things have been keeping me so crazy busy that I feel horrible about how blogging has dropped off of my list of priorities. Just last night (keep in mind that it's only "syllabus week"!!) I had over 100 pages of reading, a two hour French assignment, and other things to finish up as well. I mentioned in this post that the party scene is huge at Lehigh, and the Princeton Review confirmed us as the #4 party school, so balancing going out with a whole new school life has been another stresser to add to the list.


As September is starting today and my first week of classes are finishing up (I can't believe I have all five classes tomorrow, ugh), I'm excited to finally feel more settled in. I have established a friend group of girls that I am loving getting to know, and although it's only been a week and I've had more mental breakdowns than I can count, I'm excited to really get into my routine here and continue to make memories. It's so crazy how much you can read about what freshman year of college is like, but until you arrive, there really is no way to prepare!

Have a great Thursday night everyone! I'm finishing up some homework as we speak and then heading to dinner and a Louis the Child concert on campus that Lehigh is hosting for us. I will probably go out tonight, which means heading to the frat parties just off campus and popping into a few of those. My earliest classes are 9:10 AM's, so even though I have five classes tomorrow, I haven't gone out since Monday and I've been able to finish my work and catch up on sleep. Tomorrow night, of course, will be super fun too, and then Saturday is the first football game! Lehigh tradition on Saturdays is to party all day, go home and take a nap, and then wake up and keep partying... haha I guess we didn't earn party school #4 for nothing ;)

Anyone else wrapping up their first week of freshman year or just moving in? I hope anyone else in my position is settling in, powering through the rigor of college courses (it's only the start after all!), and starting to feel at home. I know a few of my friends are just moving in this week too, so to anyone just beginning their journey, best of luck to you!
xoxo