5 Things I Wish I Knew Freshman Year

I am graduating college in 9 days and I think I'm growing out of the "freak out and cry every time one of your friends talks about graduation" stage.

I'm not by any means saying I've accepted the fact that college is over (I don't think that will happen for at least a year!), but I'm coming to terms with it.

I was thinking back to my freshman year and there are so many things I wish some wise upperclassman had told me. Don't get me wrong, I think learning from your mistakes and finding your own way is a huge part of surviving going away to school, but there are some things that I want current/future freshmen to know so that maybe their experience is just a little bit better.

1. The people you meet the first week of freshman year are not going to be those lifelong college friends that your future kids call "aunts" and "uncles."  Yes, there are those rare circumstances where you get paired with a roommate who you absolutely love the second you meet her and never leave each others sides until the day of graduation, but chances are that won't happen to you.  You'll meet some party animals that only socialize under the influence of some sort of substance, a real bitchy girl that steals all the cute boys away, and of course the one kid that fails out after a semester.  All of these people will definitely make your experience memorable, but by no means will you be stuck with them for the next 4 years.  I didn't meet some of my closest college friends until I joined an on-campus organization in the middle of my sophomore year.

2. College friends are about quality, not quantity. I know it seems like you need to strut into the dining hall every day with a million other people or always head over to parties with the most fabulous group of girls, but you don't.  Making friends in college seems daunting, but don't settle for just anyone (see #1).  So find friends that you feel like you really connect with and don't worry about having a lot of friends.  Join a club, sorority, or intramural sports team and find people who share the same interests as you.  That way, you won't be stuck in a group of 20 people you don't know that well and wonder if any of them would really be there for you if you needed help.  Plus, the smaller your group of friends, the easier it is when you have to find somewhere to live off-campus! 

3. DO NOT buy all your textbooks brand new. I made this mistake my freshman year and could've saved a ton of money.  The school book store makes it seem like they are the only place to buy books in the world and therefore can charge an arm and a leg to get some books that you might only open once or twice over the course of the semester! Do some research and see if you can get used books or even rent from a place like Chegg.  That way, you save a ton of money and don't have a random Art History textbook that you paid over $150 for sitting in your dorm room unopened at the end of the semester.

4. Get involved. I cannot stress this enough.  My freshman year, I made friends very quickly my first week of school and felt like that was all I needed for the rest of my time here.  Fast-forward a couple months and I felt like I needed a little more than just a group of guys and girls that I ate meals with and went to parties with on the weekends.  So, my sophomore year I joined a service organization on campus and never looked back.  I made a ton of new friends in addition to my old ones and really felt like I was making something of my time here.  Although some organizations, such as mine, take up a large portion of your week and make it challenging to balance school, activities, and friends, I would never do it differently.  I also got involved in some other small projects and I found that by doing this you not only make tons of friends with the same interests as you, but you also get the opportunity to network and potentially make connections with future employers.  

5. Be open minded.  I had attended Catholic school my entire life, so going from wearing a uniform every day and seeing girls who all came from the same area as me to a public university's campus was a big culture shock to me.  You experience people from all different walks of life when you attend college, and I don't think I was really prepared for it.  I immediately made friends with people who were no different than any of my friends at home.  This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but I kept to myself and didn't really socialize a whole lot in my classes or anything like that for the first few months, and because of this I never really expanded my horizons.  After I joined my aforementioned organization, I realized how eye-opening and rewarding it is to socialize with people who weren't the same as me.  Experiencing people with different lifestyles teaches you a lot about yourself and if you take one thing from this post, just be open minded and accept everyone.  You never know, that girl who seems to have opposing views and lives a completely different lifestyle than you could end up being the best friend you've ever had. 

What do you wish you knew freshman year?

Want Free Glasses?

I'm super excited to share that an awesome glasses company, Firmoo, is giving away FREE glasses!

I first found out about this company when I desperately needed to replace my glasses last year.  I had worn the same glasses for over 2 years and it was definitely time for a change.  (Plus, did you know that we should have our eyes checked and glasses prescription updated once a year to reduce the risk of our eyesight deteriorating from using old prescription?! I know I didn't!) I checked out their website and their selection, customer service, and prices are all fantastic!  This is the pair I chose:

I can't find my exact glasses on the site because I got them so long ago, but here are a few other tortoise pairs that are similar:

1 | 2 | 3

Tortoise frames are so classic, and mine have a little bit of gold detail on the side that make them absolutely perfect! I'm extremely satisfied with them and may just get another pair in a different style :)

I'm also especially in love with these frames:

So take advantage of the Firmoo free offer!

If you are a first time customer at Firmoo, you can get your first pair for free . Only pay a minimum $6.95 shipping fee.

AND, for those of you who missed the free pair, you still don't have to be discouraged because they have another limited time offer which will save you 20% on frames + total shipping fee!

So be sure to enter the contest here: http://www.firmoo.com/z/crazy-giveaway.html

Good luck and comment below to let me know which pair of glasses you like the most!

New Obsession: Let's Cha Cha

I've always been a big fan of Lilly Pulitzer.  Although my budget never allowed me to go on any major Lilly dress shopping sprees, I purchase small things from time to time just to add a little color in my life.

If you've ever tried to explain Lilly prints to someone, you'll notice it's very challenging.  Of course, the words "preppy" "nautical" and "summery" come to mind, but you just have to see them for yourself to truly appreciate their quality.  The print designers are so talented, and that's why I always look forward to the patterns they come out with each season.

This season, I'm absolutely head over heels for "Let's Cha Cha."

The second I went on the website to explore the new prints, I immediately decided I must purchase something from this line.  It's the perfect combination of colors and just the right amount of subtlety that it won't drown out any accessories you add.

I predict this print will go down in history as one of the most timeless and iconic prints that Lilly has ever created, but that may just be my obsession talking ;)

These are some of my favorite items in this print:

Delisa Dress

Eliza Dress

Sarasota Tunic

Shoreline Tote

Because I feel as though it's necessary to purchase something in this print, I am seriously considering buying this tote for myself! At $78, it's not too bad (in comparison to a Longchamp or other high-end tote of this nature) and it's so incredibly perfect for summer.

But wait, there's more! 
Not only is this print incredibly lust-worthy already, but Kiel James Patrick is now teaming up with Lilly to feature these amazing bracelets in my new favorite pattern and is giving only 5 away to some lucky ladies!

How incredibly cute are these? You can enter to win one on Sarah Vickers' blog here! 

Have you checked out Lilly's new prints? Which one is your favorite?

Fun Little Friday Finds {On Sale}

If you haven't signed up for Shop It To Me yet, I highly suggest you do.

[Don't know what it is? Read this.]

I receive emails from this awesome site about twice a week, and they always provide a nice little break in the day for me to browse through some cute items.  Today, I thought I'd share some of the best deals that showed up on my feed today!

Kate Spade "Rise Above" Idiom Bangle

I now own a Kate Spade bangle (thanks mom) and I can attest to their quality.  It may seem like $25 isn't exactly a great sale price, but for a high quality piece of jewelry as versatile as this bangle, it is. I also love the "Rise Above" engraved on the inside of the bracelet;  it's such an adorable and unique way to give you that daily reminder :)

Urban Outfitters Macaroon Lip Balm

At this point, everyone has seen pictures of indulgent macaroons from quaint little bakeries in NYC or maybe you've been lucky enough to even have one.  These precious pastel lip balms are cute, French-esque accessories to keep in your purse or to give as a gift - and for only $3!

Urban Outfitters "Tiny Bit of Love" Bracelet

I've seen these bracelets all over the place, but never in my life have I seen it for a price this low! Snatch them up while you can because building your stack with a cute bracelet like this is the perfect spring addition to any wardrobe.  

Sperry Topsider "Audrey" Boat Shoe

I don't think I've seen a shoe as cute as this in a long time.  The pastel combination is absolutely perfect and they would look so cute with a pair of white shorts and a cute top this summer.  Sperry's are usually between $70-$80, depending on the style you want, so getting these for 40% is an absolute steal! 

Green 7FAM | Blue MK | Burgundy Madewell | Pale Pink Limited

So, all of these colorful jeans showed up in my Shop It To Me "Threads" and I couldn't pick just one! I love all of these and they're all offered at great prices. 

[p.s. The Michael Kors pair is offered in 2 additional colors and they cost even less!]

So get to shopping! After all, it's Friday and if you survived this week, you deserve it!

Which of these is your favorite "fun little find"?

Mint Madness: The Sequel

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may recognize the "Mint Madness" title. Well, that's because I had an identical post a few months back.

I just can't help it, I seriously love mint. I color coordinate my closet (is that weird?) and the mint/green section has grown exponentially in the past few months.  I don't know whether it's the light, airy feel it gives my outfits or how forgiving it looks on my pale skin, but if I could only wear one color the rest of my life, this would be it.

Check out some of my favorite mint pieces for the upcoming season below:
[and in true budget-friendly form, they're all under $50!]

Bangles

Maggie Mint Bangle | Bauble Bar Mint Striped Bangle | Fornash Pharao Bracelet

Earrings

Kate Spade Bow Earrings | Kate Spade Mint Studs

Necklaces

Bauble & Beads Necklace | Mint Swirl Necklace 

Shoes

Steve Madden Swinger Sandals | Little Luxuries Bow Flats

Nail Polish

Butter London "Fiver" | Essie "Mint Candy Apple"

Clothes

"Destined for Achieve-Mint" Dress | Full Tilt Mint Dyed Sweatshirt

What's your favorite summer color?

My Favorite Apps: Songza

So I just discovered this app about 2 days ago and I am officially obsessed. 

Songza is a music app (and website for those of you without smart phones)  that has the same basic concept as Pandora but, in my humble opinion, is sooo much better.

I've always liked Pandora and I still do, but Songza is great for people like me that can't really put their finger on what type of music or which band/artist they feel like listening to at the current moment.  With Songza, you open the app and it gives you these options depending on what time of day it is:

So basically, you just pick what you're doing at that current time and it will give you a few options of playlists to choose from to cater to your listening needs - simple as that! My friends and I have used it a lot since I've discovered it this week and it's so awesome. You discover new music, step outside the box and listen to different genres, and have a fun time picking which activities and playlists are your favorite!

Also, the choices for each time of the day crack me up.  I mean look at Friday night - a sweaty dance party?! Too hysterical.  I personally love the option it gives you on weekday afternoons called "Quitting your Job."

You can also choose music based on your current mood, or just browse through popular playlists. The potential of this app is never ending!

Also, what's great about Songza is that it has the same basic functions at Pandora in that you can choose "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" for songs that you like or dislike, and it begins to build a profile that helps them better match your taste in music! This app seriously couldn't be more perfect if it tried.

So, download Songza and tell me what you think! I promise you won't regret it :)

4 Ways to Easily Improve Your Day

Happy Monday is kind of an oxymoron, don't you think? I mean, I've never met anyone who enjoyed Mondays.

This semester I was lucky enough to be able to have a class schedule that allowed me to only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I still dread Mondays.  There's just something super depressing about your weekend being over, even if you spent the entire time laying around and watching "Girls" reruns with your roommates and eating Chines takeout (guilty...)

Well, if you're having a bad case of the Mondays today, I can't cure it. Unfortunately, scientists still have not found a cure to this debilitating ailment.  But I can give you a couple things that I do if I need a pick-me-up that should help you out, even for a just a moment.

1. Get a little treat for yourself in the middle of the afternoon.

Any time one of my roommates or I have a not-so-great day, we always find ourselves in Dunkin Donuts. Personally, a DD French Vanilla Iced Coffee can cure any sort of problem in my book. Coffee, a small candy bar, or any little treat can brighten up the rest of your day and make it seem a little less dreary.  However, I wouldn't recommend buying, say, a 6 pack of cupcakes from the grocery store or a pint of ice cream.  I don't know about you guys, but if something like that is sitting in front of me, there's a good chance I'll eat the whole thing, and that will make you feel even worse. 

2. Give yourself a manicure

Sure, going to get a real-life manicure or pedicure is definitely way more relaxing than attempting to paint your own nails, but I'm trying to be realistic here.  I know I don't have the kind of money to do that once a week. As annoying as painting my own nails is, it has a sort of weird soothing aspect to it as well.  It gives you something to concentrate on other than work, school, etc. and provides a nice break from whatever you're doing. 

3. Listen to your favorite song or playlist

I know when I find a song that I love, I listen to it non-stop.  While I'm getting ready in the morning, in between classes, at the gym, and while I'm doing work: it's always on.  And, no matter how many times I listen to it, it always makes me feel good (until it gets old like 2 weeks later and I can't stand to hear it ever again.) So, if you're feeling tired or gloomy, put on a song or Pandora station that you've been loving lately and jam out! Need a playlist suggestion? Check some of these out: 1 | 2 | 3

4. Read a magazine

Normally, I'd say take a break and read a chapter of a book, but there's just something about reading Cosmo, Us Weekly, or Life & Style that makes you feel good.  Now I can't really justify buying these on a regular basis because come of them (cough COSMO) are a little expensive for something that will give me reading material for an hour or two, but once in a while is fine.  So grab one and read "What Your Guy's Underwear Says About Him" or how Brad and Angelina are reportedly getting divorced for the 47th time and relax. 

Heck, if you're having a really bad day, combine 2 or 3 of these.... or do them all! Talk about a great day: Painting your nails while listening to your favorite songs and then reading a magazine and drinking iced coffee while your nails dry. 

So pick one, or do them all. Whatever floats your boat.  Just do something to try and alleviate your case of the Mondays.  Remember, no one likes a Debbie Downer ;)

What do you do when you're having a bad day?