One and Done

I’ve kinda disappeared a couple of weeks ago. Which probably makes me a bad blogger. But seriously, finding sleep at this point is difficult, let alone blogging.

 

So I thought I'd update you on what has happened in my life the last two weeks or so.

 

Since the end of June I've been in a ton of pain. At first I thought it was just a stomach ache, then I thought I was allergic to Dr. Pepper. Then I went to the doctor and they told me it was a kidney stone. I thought I passed the kidney stone but then started having symptoms pretty similar to a UTI. They tested for it, found out I actually had bacterial vaginosis (BV). Experienced even more and worse pain, finally got meds for a UTI. Then had even worse pain. And passed the kidney stone...six weeks after my first symptoms. This took place all of July and most of August. The funny thing about all that, is besides the BV, every symptom was just kidney stones. While it hurt a lot, I would say that it's not the worst I've ever experienced. So either I have a high pain threshold, or it just didn't hurt me like it hurts others.

 

Two days after passing the kidney stone, I moved back up to college. It was honestly bittersweet. I keep repeating what my boyfriend told me a couple months ago: "To let it all sink in. Enjoy it. Because a lot of people would love to have this experience, and it's almost done." But I'm also caught in just wanting to be done. Senior problems I guess.

 

Sorority work week has come and gone in a huge busy, hot, sweaty blur. But it was a great week getting to know sisters I didn't know very well before.

 

I now own my very own hammer. Oh the adventures of hanging a curtain rod. I need to marry a handy husband, because I'm definitely not a tool person.

 

I got to see my boyfriend for the first time in 5 weeks. It was way too long without seeing his handsome face. I can't wait until we can see each other more frequently. I can't believe it will be two years in just a week or two.

 

Two days before my first day of school, I started feeling yucky...no not kidney stones again. This time a fever, sore glands, sore throat, and achy. I had a fever of 101.7 and was feeling miserable. Only I get sick for the first day of school.

 

Despite feeling under the weather, I went to my first day of senior year anyway. I can't believe that it's my last first day on a college campus.

 

My semester is going to be insane. Two days a week, I'm with a class of cute second graders for my practicum for my elementary education major. The other two days I'm in class from 9-3:20 everyday for my methods courses.

 

My room is super cute and I can't wait to share it with you! I just have a last few finishing touches.

 

I'm literally so excited for fall. I'm obsessed with all things fall. The Starbucks drinks, scarves, sweaters, candles, everything!

Hopefully I'll find some more time to blog here and there. Hope everyone's first days back were great/ will be great!

 

First Day of College Advice

With college quickly approaching for a lot of people, I thought it would be fun to whip up a little post about my advice for your first day of college classes. I think a lot of emphasis is often placed on moving into the dorms or getting acquainted with aspects of college life, and people don't often talk about school or classes.

Looking back to my first day of college, which literally feels like forever ago, I was really nervous because my first class that I ever attended was World Geography 210. And being the anxious college freshman that I was, I was terrified because it was a 200 level class! I thought for sure I would be the only freshman in the entire class of 60 and that it would be hard and intimidating and the professor would look something like Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World.

Let me tell you, boy was I wrong. At least three fourths of the class were freshman first of all, so they were just as nervous as I was. My professor was pretty much the most awesome professor you could have on the first day. He looked like the lead singer of the band the Bare Naked Ladies first of all (no, seriously he did). He was wearing distressed jeans with Converse and a T-shirt. No bow ties. No stuffy accents. He actually opened up with a bunch of jokes and showed the class a list of classes that we could be taking if we had gone to other colleges around the country (he then inserted a list that showed some classes just dedicated to Lady Gaga and to other random stuff).

Then he explained the class. He told us that geography is all around us, and then showed us a map of the US and all the area codes that Ludacris raps he has hos in. I seriously didn't expect my first class of college to be like that.

It was awesome and I can't explain how fun and exciting it was to be in a new environment, one where teachers can wear tennis shoes and cuss in.

While you may not have a professor that first day as laid back and awesome as mine, I did think there were some important things you can keep in mind.

-Even upperclassmen arrive to class on the first day. Living on campus, about five minutes away, I'd say the best time to leave was about 20 minutes prior. This allows you to be on time and get a spot.

-Find your classes the day before so you can just go to class without being flustered. I've learn from experience, because the time that you don't go before looking for your class, it will be the most confusing and hard to find room on the entire campus.

-Don't bring your textbook to class, unless your teacher tells you otherwise. You might be thinking I'm crazy, but I'm serious. The first day the teacher will read off the syllabus, probably do some sort of ice breaker, and that will be about it. Bringing your textbook is just a pain that first day.

-Wake up a little earlier. Despite the stereotypes that college students just roll out of bed, on the first day no one really does. Dress up! Wear that new cute top or a sundress. It's your first day of new impressions.

-Eat breakfast/bring a snack, especially if you have a long day ahead of you.

-Listen to your professor that first day and decide whether you mesh well with his/her teaching style and what the course is about. Some professors are super disorganized and just let the class lead itself. Others have every due date set in stone before the first class is in session. Pick what works for you, the add/drop deadline is generally a week into the semester.

-Introduce yourself to the people you are sitting next to. Trust me, they are probably intimidated freshmen too (or maybe just a friendly sophomore) and won't think you're weird at all. Those first attempts of getting to know the people around you are the most important because they could help you arrange study groups or have a group to work with on projects.

-Wanna know a piece of advice on professors? 9 times out of 10, they will take notice of you going up to them the first day after class and introducing yourself. Seriously, it looks super good on your part. Walk up to them (unless they look like they are in a hurry to get to the next class, then you probably won't want to bother them) and just say "Hi, I'm (insert name). I enjoyed class today and can't wait for the rest of the semester." And already you've made a positive impression.

I hope this advice helps! Good luck on all your first days out there!

 

Manicure of the Week: Perfect Pear-ing

Recently I showed off my nails with Sally Hansen's Peach Beach. Well, this week on my nails I sported another new color from the Xtreme Wear line: Perfect Pear-ing. 

Perfect Pear-ing & Peach Beach!

 (this is the truest swatch of both of them)

When I first saw this color in the bottle, I was a little shocked. I thought it would be more of a minty sort of green like  Essie's First Timer. However, it showed up so much more green, with less of a minty/turquoise edge to it. I wasn't too sure of what I would think of it. 

But after wearing it the past few days, I love it. It's such a unique color. Truly unlike any other green nail polish I own. It also is extremely difficult to photograph. I have no clue why, but no matter the lighting, it always comes out very minty. Yes it has a little mint in it, but it is nowhere near being Essie's Mint Candy Apple. 

I'm going to include several swatches of it, but honestly, this color is much brighter, slightly more neon, and definitely more green than it appears in pictures. 

Overall, it's a cute color. I'd repurchase it for sure. The staying power is that of the Sally Hansen Xtreme collection (so pretty good for only $2.50). Make sure to pick this color up!  

New Touches

My room at home is a never ending work in progress. Hopefully others feel this way about their space, but it seems like the to-do list for this space never truly ends. It’s like I work in little vignettes in this space, completely one fraction of it, while the other parts sit in mindless chaos.

I’ve perfected my bedding, my curtains, and other aspects. They have sat finished for a year now, while other portions of my room are just being worked on now for the first time.

On Pinterest this picture from my bedding is quite popular (it shocks me actually). I didn’t think it would be so popular honestly. The feel of my room is supposed to be a little cottagey mixef with a smidge of nautical (living in Colorado, I feel a little odd going full on nautical). It's a theme of white, navy blue, and yellow. Which is so cheerful and pretty!

The area above my dresser (and on my dresser), has been a mix match of utter disasters. This summer (the little of it I got because of summer school), I wanted it to finally be a little bit more put together. So here is the space above my dresser, the newest portion to be finally finished. 

So this is what it looks like. I didn't have a before picture, but it was pretty bad. 

On the wall I have a canvas that I just covered in chevron fabric from Hobby Lobby, painted a C and stuck it on it. Then I have a plain cheap white frame from Target filled with yellow dot scrapbook paper (Hobby Lobby), and a small round navy blue mirror from Target (last summer). 

My dresser is usually the storage spot for most of my beauty products and makeup, so I bought the cute white metal bins from World Market (14.99 each). They hold my body sprays, dry shampoo, brush cleaner, everyday makeup bag, makeup remover wipes, toner, and other odds and ends. I absolutely adore my Ikea candle holder/pencil cup to hold my makeup brushes. 

In front I have a ceramic bird tray from World Market to hold my favorite perfumes. I also have the yellow World Market Egg holder to hold earrings, bobby pins, hair ties, and lip balm (these are so handy for storage in college). And of course I have the current candle I'm burning from Bath and Body Works (Lilac Blossom). 

Overall I love it! It's functional, cute, and finished! 

Make sure to read this post the first time about my room at home! 

July Favorites

I really can’t believe that July is over! I’m really not even ready to get into August because that means that once again I’m moving into another place and beginning my senior year of college, as well as my final semester in my college town!

Anyway, I have a few favorites for the month of July, so let’s take a look at them!

Suave Moroccan InfusionShampoo & Conditioner, Essie Hip Anema, Covergirl Shimmering Sands, Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser and Mask, Stila Kitten, NARS Orgasm Blush, L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess, Market Peach Candle

 

Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo & Conditioner

I raved about these haircare products last month too, but I really just can't get over how amazing this products are! Not only are they inexpensive, but they work better than all other drugstore and high-end shampoos and conditioners combined! It leaves my hair silky and smooth and super easy to work with! I love this products!

Essie's Hip Anema

This was a nail polish that at first I wasn't too sure about. I'm not a huge fan of orange, and this color is definitely on the orange-y end of red. However, I think this is an overall great red color for summer!

Covergirl Shimmering Sands Trio

I've talked about this eyeshadow trio a ton before, but this month I rediscovered it. I think these are the most perfect neutral eyeshadows! The middle color is particularly my favorite, which has actually hit pan for me, so you can tell that I'm obsessed with it.

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser and Mask

So I've been loving this cleanser and mask since about April, but I thought I'd finally talk about it this month. It's been so humid and hot here that like most people with exceptionally oily skin, I thought for sure my face would be covered in a million huge red blemishes. However, it hasn't! Now it's always a combination of factors, but I thank this product in large part for keeping my face mostly blemish free the last few months. I love that this skincare product can be used two ways. The everyday cleanser is great and about once a week I do the mask, which tingles and makes my face feel so clean and fresh! It's been a summer must-have for me!

Stila Kitten

In June I finally purchased this eyeshadow and fell in love! I adore champagne/pinky colors and this one is gorgeous! Unfortunately midway through July I dropped it and it broke! I was devastated! It's such a soft eyeshadow and I knew before I even purchased it, that it often does that. So I went out and bought a second one and have made sure to be extra gentle and careful around it. This and Urban Decay's Sin are my two favorite all over eye colors! I love pairing this with Naked 2 and Faint from the Naked Basics palette!

NARS Orgasm

In July, I found myself often reaching for what I consider to be one of the best summer blushes ever: NARS Orgasm. This shade is light and so pretty for summer! Although I often grumble about it's staying power and how it's a little too subtle for me, this shade went perfect with my summer makeup looks. You can get a better peachy-pink than this.

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara

This month I tried a new mascara, and if you read my review of it, you know that I love it! I'm a huge fan of L'Oreal mascaras and this one definitely doesn't disappoint! It leaves my lashes long, dramatic, and voluminous! Even though it's not waterproof, it stays all day but is not a hassle in the least to remove. Plus it has cute packaging! I'm kinda in love with it, honestly.

Bath and Body Works Market Peach

I don't know about you, but late in the summer like this, I'm totally not sure what kind of candle scents I want to use. Because of the heat, sweet scents are often a little annoying to me because they are so heavy. Nothing screams spring to me more than flower scents. So that pretty much just leaves fruity scents, and in my opinion, none are better than Market Peach. This just screams late summer for me. While I love this, I really can't wait to get my hands on some fall candles though!

 

Check out June's favorites and my July lusts too! Thanks for reading!