College Wardrobe Essentials

Hey y'all!

I love writing college posts on my blog. I know that I was definitely searching for thousands of pins before my freshman year looking for any information I could! I've already done Shoe Essentials Every Collegiate Needs, and I figured it was about time for a follow-up post.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you don't need to overpack clothes in college. If you're planning on joining a sorority, then definitely don't take a ton of t-shirts with you to school. You're going to end up with plenty! I've compiled a list of essential wardrobe items that you should consider taking to college with you.

How to Maintain Mental Health in College

Hey y'all!

Mental health is important, I think we can all agree on that. I think we can also all agree that it can be hard to make time for dealing with your mental health whenever you've got over 100 assignments, 3 tests, and a paper due.

Sometimes, we find ourselves being stressed and overwhelmed that we put our mental health to the absolute bottom of our to-do list. Sorry bud, but that's not going to help you.

It should always be your number one priority. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do a project because it would stress you out too much, but sometimes you can skip a night of textbook reading to just relax and watch Netflix.

Study Tips for Your Best Semester Yet

Hey y'all!

I'm always constantly asking my friends for study tips. Is it just me or did high school completely not prepare me for the amount of studying that college requires? Not that it's hard, but it definitely takes time to learn how to study effectively.

Now that I'm a junior (wow that's still really weird), I'd like to think I can give some sound advice on some really great study tips. Everyone is different, so something to keep in mind is that you can pick and choose what you want to do or even do a combination of all of these tips!

Why I Went to College Out of State

Hey y'all!

I love my school. I love it so much. I'm the annoying girl who brags about how amazing it is, how great our programs are, how beautiful the campus is, and how talented the football team is 😉. If you're new here, then you wouldn't know that I go to the University of Alabama. 

Since my family still lives in Texas, it's a 10 hour drive or an hour and a half plane ride for me to go home, which really isn't that bad. I personally really enjoy long distance driving but my dad always tries to make me stop halfway. And flying is great, except for the fact Birmingham airport is tiny so you have to shell out big bucks for a ticket.

I'm sure you're wondering how did I find out I wanted to go to the University of Alabama when I lived in Texas? Well, thanks to football, I was able to find my dream school.

10 Tips for College Move-In Day

Hey y'all!

College move-in day is stressful for everyone involved. For me, it was even more so. I go to school 12 hours from home, so I had to pack EVERYTHING into two cars.

And then I had to move all of that home. Most of it having to fit in my Jetta.

But the best part? I then had to move all of my stuff BACK to Alabama for my apartment the next year. So I'd like to think that I have some expertise on moving.

Easy Budgeting Tips for College Students

Hey y'all!

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a college student calling themselves broke, then I wouldn't be a broke college student myself. Your early twenties is the time when you get to learn about a not-so-wonderful thing called a budget.

Although a large majority of us are still under mom and dad's wing, we still have to mostly fend for ourselves. Some of us learn the hard way when we run out of dining dollars only a month into the semester, and then there are those of us who very wisely choose to use our money to do laundry instead of going to the bar for the fifth time this week. (even if there are $3 shots)

I'm definitely a mix of the two. I don't waste my money on dominoes every night, but I've had a few times where I've held my breath while scanning my debit card. It's all about balance, right?

What Not to Pack for College

Hey y'all!

I'm sure we've all seen the typical campus checklists for freshman going to college. Dorm life is exciting, but it's always important to keep in mind that the rooms are fairly small. I was lucky enough to live in apartment style dorms so I had a big room to myself, but most college students don't!

Since you have limited space, you really don't want to take stuff that you won't use. If you feel like there's something you actually do need, you can purchase it when you're already at school. I'm here to help you with what you 100% won't need to take to college with you. You can thank me later.

How to Avoid the Freshman 15

Hey y'all!

I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of the "Freshman 15", but if you haven't...

Freshman 15 : when a first year college student comes back the following year and appears to have gained about 15 pounds from eating too much and not enough exercise. - Urban Dictionary

I think a lot of people think it's a myth, but it really isn't. I have so many friends that have felt discouraged because they gained weight during their freshman year (or the sophomore 30). A lot of the time, weight gain sneaks up on us and it's not until we look back at a picture and think "wow, I used to look like THAT?"

Well, I'm lucky enough that I actually lost 5 lbs when I was a freshman in college! So I hope that you take my advice because it's a lot easier to be proactive and avoid gaining weight rather than to gain it and try to work it off!

How to Create the Perfect Class Schedule

Hey y'all!

I know before college orientation, I was really worried about signing up for classes. I had no clue what to expect, and I'm definitely the planning type so it stressed me out not knowing my schedule at the beginning of summer. When I finally sat down at the computer where I was going to sign up for my classes, it went by so quickly and I didn't really feel confident in the classes I had selected.

I really wish that I had looked into advice before I signed up because it definitely would have saved me from signing up for a 9 am class on Friday mornings (it was miserable, to say the least 😭). I hope my tips can help you to create the perfect class schedule!

Shoe Essentials Every Collegiate Needs

Hey y'all!

Shoes are such an important part of any wardrobe and can make or break an outfit. But when moving into a dorm room, minimizing the number of shoes you have is essential. Since you won't have much space, picking out shoes that can be versatile and comfy is definitely key! I have compiled a list of shoes that work for every occasion. I personally own almost all of these and highly recommend!

How to Plan Like a Pro in College

Hey y'all!

Today we are talking about one of my absolute favorite things, PLANNERS!! Don't worry, I'm not an over organizer where I decorate my planner with stickers and such (been there, tried that, too much to keep up with), but I'm definitely a huge believer in writing things down.

Since it's the beginning of a new year AND the beginning of a new semester, I thought it would be super fun to share with you how I use my planner. 

As everyone begins with their New Years Resolutions, I know a lot of people have "get organized" on their to do list. Hopefully my tips can help you out since I'll also be sharing how I stay organized during the school year. 

The Four Types of College Roommates

Hey y'all!

The best (and worst) part of college is having to have a roommate. Whether they're randomly assigned or you met via Facebook, you're bound to end up having some issues with them. Maybe they leave dirty dishes in the sink, or even worse, they try to join in on every plan you make with your actual friends. Either way, you're probably stuck with them for the year...unless things get REALLY bad.

How to Earn Free Stuff by Staying Off Your Phone

9 Dorm Room Essentials You'll Actually Use

Hey y'all!

My freshman year is almost over, unfortunately! I have loved every second of it. I would give anything to go back to this time last year and get to relive my freshman experience all over again. If you're about to head off to college, get ready to have the best year of your life!

By far, the worst part about going to college is having to live in a dorm. I'm fortunate enough to have my own room because I live in a suite style community. So I asked my roomies' opinions on this list and we have compiled some things that we are thankful for bringing to college!

A Peek Inside of My Freshman Year Dorm Room

Dorm Sweet Dorm

Hey y'all!

Every summer brings an entirely new class of kids heading off to college. New faces, (possibly) new places, and new surroundings! It's possible with all these experiences that one can get a little homesick.

So how do you make your dorm room feel a little more like home? Well, you decorate and personalize it, of course! It may not be perfect, and let's be honest, the rooms can be pretty cramped. But why not have fun with it?

Below I have included some tips and tricks with click-through links of examples! Then some pictures from my dorm Pinterest board to help inspire you to create your perfect little home-away-from-home.