Exciting News

Ok, so I know I JUST said that I wouldn't be blogging until next week. But, I decided to take a quick study break. So, I'll share some exciting news. This summer I'm going to be living in New York and interning in Manhattan at New York Family Magazine. I'm reaaaaallly excited to have my first internship, live in the city and, of course, go shopping there. I hope that some of the NY fashion rubs off on me and that I purchase some great finds. The best part is that a bunch of my friends from school live in the New York area, so I'll get to see them much more than I normally would! It's going to be a busy few months and definitely different from the summer that I'm used to, (which is working at a camp and going to the beach...) but I'm sure it will be the best summer I've had so far...

here are some of my favorite pictures of New York!

via google images 

It's That Time of Year Again

My last day of classes for junior year is tomorrow (can't believe it.) I'm excited for summer, but not for my upcoming final exams. Since I have all of my exams by Wednesday, I will be doing a lot of studying and not so much blogging. I'll be back after Wednesday when I'm officially on summer vacation!

For now, check out my latest CollegeFashionista post featuring my really cool roommate!

Nailing the Interview

Whether we're trying to get a summer internship or a real big girl job, this is the time of year when college students are going to interview after interview.

Half the battle of nailing the interview is dressing appropriately.

We all know the basic rules, such as wearing knee length skirts, tights, closed-toed heels, etc.

BUT...

there are other rules about interview attire that are equally important, yet less well known. 

Here they are!

1. Keep jewelry minimal. Rings and chunky jewelry can be distracting, and it doesn't look professional. If anything, wear a watch to show that you're timely.

2. Nail polish should be simple. Either a clear coat, french manicure, or a light, neutral color is acceptable. Even red nail polish can be inappropriate.

3. Don't try to dress overly stylish. Even if you're interviewing at a fashion magazine, professional is better. It's ok to show some personality, but even employers at Vogue have said that it is completely inappropriate when the students they interview are trying to look too stylish.

4. As a general rule, less is more for interviews. This includes makeup. Keep it minimal and in conservative shades. 

5. Don't wear heavy perfume! You shouldn't go in smelling bad, but too much perfume might be even worse!

Good luck!

Image Via Collegefashion.net

The Look for Less

You know what I love? Shoes. Specifically, I really love these shoes... (below)

You know what I don't love? The price tag. These Michael Kors pumps will run you about 120 dollars. That's 120 dollars that most college students cannot pay (guilt-free) for a pair of heels.

Luckily, I found an incredibly similar pair for WAY LESS at DSW. These pumps only cost $49.95. I can deal with that.

They look pretty much the same to me. What do you think? Sorry, M. Kors. I think you're great, but I don't know many college students who can afford you.

So, for any girl out there who has ever fallen in love with a pair of shoes, only to look at the price tag and get a sad, sinking feeling in her heart, remember that you can probably find a comparable pair for much less expensive. Every once in a while, (but definitely not all of the time) you might be sacrificing quality. Weigh your options and see if the money saved is worth it, but do keep in mind that there's always a more affordable shoe out there for you to fall in love with.

Dresses and Prints

Dresses are my favorite things to wear in the summer. Besides being feminine and festive, they are simple to throw on when in a rush. A dress can easily be transformed and worn many times in different ways with a simple cardigan, belt and/or accessories. This year, dresses can be found with intricate prints, ruffles and unique sleeves. Here are some of my affordable favorites for the summer...

Vestique: $39.50

Vestique: $64.00

LuLu's: $42.00

Forever 21: $19.80

Forever 21: $19.80

Nordstrom's: $44.00

Team BaseDogs!

Oozeball is a UConn tradition. We just really love playing volleyball in the mud here. Normally, oozeball is played the last weekend before finals, which is generally a warm beautiful day. This year, we played it on a particularly lovely day....windy, cloudy, and 50 degrees! Woo! Nothing like wearing shorts and a tee shirt, while rolling around in cold mud when it's freezing out! My roommate/teammate and I decided to run to TJ Max quickly before our game to buy an inexpensive pair of sneakers to play in so that we wouldn't ruin our nice ones. The cheapest ones we found were some pretty cute (not) slip-ons that I had to get two sizes too big because they didn't have my size. Unfortunately, slips on that are too big get stuck in the mud much easier than normal sneakers. I didn't really think of this prior to my purchase. My roommate and I ended up completely unable to move the whole game. My shoes were so stuck in the mud that I walked right out of them and ended up losing my socks. Then, I had to dig out my buried sneakers. Even though we had a great time laughing and pulling each other out of the mud....we lost...and cold mud on bare feet doesn't make for a pleasant walk home. 

I'm really sad that we didn't take pictures this year since no one wanted to get their camera muddy, but here are some from last year (when it was sunny out!)

That's me sitting in the mud right after I fell...

Crunch Time

My summer vacation starts exactly three weeks from today. I really can't believe it. It seriously feels like it was just summer 2010. This semester flew by, but to be completely honest, I can't wait for it to be over. This has been by far the hardest semester I've had in college so far, and I am looking forward to a much better one in the fall (no monday or friday classes.) The end of the semester is always crunch time at UConn, especially as a Communications major. All my friends and I have a million group projects and two million papers to write. I'm really looking forward to Spring weekend, which is in 7/8 days (depending on when you consider the beginning of the weekend.)  Even though police are being wack and allowing no guests/no fun this year for the coveted Uconn "holiday," it will still be a great weekend filled with outside activities and relaxation before we all have to kick it into finals mode. Until then, the only thing getting me through these papers and projects is a good playlist. Since listening to music while doing homework is so college, I'll share with you some of my current favorite songs...

(I think this a pretty versatile list. Sorry if T-swift is overrepresented. She's my girl.)

If I Die Young: The Band Perry

Rolling in The Deep: Adele

Jar of Hearts: Christina Perri 

Moment 4 Life: Nicki Minaj and Drake (LOVE this music video)

Little Bit Stronger: Leighton Meester

Mean: Taylor Swift and Whiz Khalifa 

The Lazy Song: Bruno Mars

Stuck Like Glue: Sugarland

Last Kiss: Taylor Swift

American Honey: Cover by my friend Nikki and her ACapella group Rubyfruit. I think it's better than the original, and I listen to it all the time.

E.T: Katy Perry and Kanye West (even though I do not endorse Kanye)

Crazier: Taylor Swift

Gravity: Sara Bareilles 

Lucky: Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

Monday Morning: Maria Mena

Anything But Mine: Kenny Chesney 

Leave Me Alone: Pink 
Love Whiplash: Jaymee Dee

Anyone have good song suggestions??

Keep Calm

Posters are a significant part of college decorating. My freshmen year, I purchased the most random posters in all different colors (a black and white picture of Paris, a colorful beach scene, Fenway Park...etc). I had way more than what could possibly fit on my tiny wall space, and none of them really matched each other or my bedding. Plus, I bought the least expensive ones, so they all ended up ripping. After my John Mayer poster refused to stay on my wall this year, I decided to end my relationship with posters for good...

Until I realized that next year I'm going to have my very own big bed at school and my very own room. I really want to transition from the bright pinks and greens I've been using in my dorms for the last three years into something a little more soothing like the cream comforters I showed here. To go along with that theme, I couldn't help but think how well a "keep calm and carry on" poster would fair. Since I have two papers to write, I was naturally  searching for the best color to get this poster and instead came across some really funny variations. I like the first one below so much that I'm seriously tempted to buy it instead of the real thing. 

Save it for a Rainy Day

Surprisingly, the weather in Connecticut has been beautiful the last few days. But, everyone knows that April showers bring May flowers, which is probably why I see plenty of rain in the ten day forecast. I never mind the rain in April because it's accompanied by warm temperatures and a bright future. The only problem is that knee high lined rain boots do not work so well when it's 70 degrees and raining (like is predicted for tomorrow.) So what do I suggest to keep your feetsies dry in April without suffocating your legs? Waterproof boat shoes. Sperrys, the quintessential boat shoe, can be slightly expensive, but they come at a variety of price ranges and are long-lasting...

Women's Bahama, $55

Women's Bahama, $55

Women's Montauk, $90

Women's Authentic Original, $70

Women's Angelfish, $75

(I have these!)

Roommate Secrets

Check out my article about roommates on lovelyish.com! 

Me and my roommate! 

Let Loose!

Check out my latest CollegeFashionista article here!

"Like" it through the site!

Wise Words

When Oprah asked Maya Angelou what she thought of getting older she said, 

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

I just came across this and thought I would share. Everything she says is so true. What a lady, huh?


It also made me think of how much I would freak out if I lost my luggage, and I got a little embarrassed. Maybe my girl Maya has inspired me to loosen up a bit.

Proud

I couldn't be prouder to be a Husky than I am now. Our men are going to the 'ship and our women play in the Final Four tonight. I have never seen as much school pride as I did last night when hundreds of students were gathered together at Ted's restaurant and bar on campus to watch UConn take on Kentucky. 

(Side note: Ted's has the best BBQ chicken pizza I've ever had the fortunate opportunity to taste).

 When we won the game, I actually feared for my life because of the ridiculous excitement in the bar. Luckily, I managed to celebrate the win with everyone without experiencing any serious injuries. The only damage done was to my vocal chords, but I had to join in with everyone chanting and singing our fight song (which I still don't really know the words to. whoops.) There is a rumor going around campus that if both the men and women win the national championship title, our classes are canceled Wednesday. I'm not sure if this is true, but I'm pretty excited to find out. 

What I do know for sure is that I am ready for tomorrow night's game and prepared to take my car as far away from campus as possible to avoid everyone who enjoys burning and flipping automobiles to celebrate big wins.

GO UCONN!