Sarah Then and Now

Hello everyone!

Between my classes, two internships and my job I've been... busy.

Senior year is in full swing and I'm at that weird point in the semester where throwing everything to the wind and calling it quits sounds very appealing, but I know that in doing so my last semester of college will be right around the corner.

That's just scary.

Is it just me, or have other people in my situation really thought long and hard about life after graduation? How does one find out what they want to do? And once that's settled, where do you want your mark on the geographical map to be?

See above: That's just scary.

There are so many places, and job titles I'll never know about. A handful of which, if I searched long and hard for, could actually be the perfect job for me! I may just never know about them.

Luckily, I've been to go to a school that has supported me in everything I've done and I know it will stay this way long after I graduate. The support system is there.

In one of my internship roles,  I get to ask prospective students about their lives and what they're thinking about doing with them. (Mind you, if I was on the receiving end of my questions 4 years ago, I would have been nothing short of terrified) This role has undoubtedly forced me to reflect; I've been able to think back to what I would have said and compare it to where I am now.

It's in those moments of reflection that I've realized that I'm a different person. I mean that in the best way possible. From shy and timid to confident in my work- I have changed. I have been challenged. By myself and by people who saw my potential long before I did.  I've realized that I've done a lot more than I think I've done. My little celebrations and hiccups throughout my life and in college have made me more certain of who I am or where my path may lead.

I guess this purpose of this post is to let you know that people will always be there for you, many people have been in your shoes before and that you are far more capable of doing things than you think.

This is to not only remind myself, but to remind you that we can all do great things, because whether your memory recalls or not, you've already done magnificent things to get to where you currently are.

Love,

My Favorite Online Resources

Hey guys!

I am online more than I'd like to be.  I don't need to tell you this though, because chances are you're in the same boat.

You know how awesome the internet is. 

 When it comes to crunch time, you know tons of papers, projects and assignments- productivity declines faster than the speed of light and somehow you get sucked into YouTube. Or Facebook. Or Twitter.

Hey, it happens.

However, there are things online that can actually increase your productivity- really. 

Here are my faves:

1. Trello

Upgrade your to do lists to the digital age. Create to do lists online and have them transfer over to Trello's handy dandy app! You can create different lists, invite other people to join them, color code them and more. Trust me, it'll make you want to get things done.

2. Self Control

If you have a Mac and happen to find your mind wandering more often than it should then this is the app for you.  Install this app and gone are the days of How am I on Facebook, I swear I was just writing my paper a minute ago??? It's time to be productive guys!

3. Thesis Builder

Have most of your essay mapped out, but not a thesis? Thesis Builder takes your main points and creates your thesis for you! Now there's no excuse to take social media breaks to "get ideas flowing." (guilty as charged) One of the toughest parts of an essay is done in 2 minutes or less.

4.TED Talks

TED Talks are fantastic resources. The topics and ideas shared are endless AND SO DIVERSE. I'm sure that you've watched tons in your classes, but have you ever watched any for fun? Or for inspiration? My goal is to start watching one a day. If you need help with research or finding particular topics, TED is actually a great place to start. Chances are someone out there did a talk on your very topic. If that's not motivation, I don't what is.

5. The Skimm

Although I'm a Com major, I really don't stay as up to date on the news as I should. Whoops. The Skimm is my life saver. Every morning I get an email with the biggest news stories over the past 24 hours. Not only that but it's all actually EASY TO UNDERSTAND. Less jargon and more humor. With one simple email, I'm in the loop and know all the important details without even having to search for them.

Have you tried any of these resources? Are there any I missed? Let me know!

With love,

Easy, DIY Graduation Gifts!

Hello there!

This is going to seem like a cliche, but it seems like just yesterday that I graduated high school and man, was I nervous. 

What's even more nerve-wracking is that my sister is now graduating high school and I'm halfway through my college career. Insanity.

With (high school) graduation parties right around the corner, I thought I'd take the time to find some of the best gifts to give the grad in your life. In lieu of a card- although cards and money are always greatly appreciated- these gifts will be memorable and functional as your grad starts a new chapter of their lives!

*Click the hypertext below to be redirected to the original post*

No desk is complete without some pictures of friends and family! This post all about geometric picture holders is sure to win over any aspiring designer or graduate who is always on trend.

I am loving this inspiration/ picture board tutorial. Leave it blank for college adventures to come or fill it up with pictures of your best memories together.

Mason jars. No one can get over them. Transform a few into  terrariums to bring the outdoors in. They're cute and require very little maintenance, perfect for any college student. The picture above is from CambrianCo.design, but a fabulous diagram all about terrariums can be found here.

This craft is so simple, you'll wonder how you didn't think of this before. Pair old shirts (or inexpensive ones)  with favorite sports teams, bands, etc. with a canvas for easy dorm wall art.

Bonus: This isn't a graduation gift, but rather a surprise to plan for a later date. College students love getting care packages and this list of ideas is sure to brighten anyone's day!

With love,

The Creative Class

Happy Monday!

How are you? It's been a while! The whirlwind of squeezing in the last few moments of summer, moving into a new dorm and training has come to a close. 

Today marks the first day of classes here in the green mountain state. There's a special feeling in the air when school starts and I could not be more excited.

To kick off classes starting, I wanted to share a quick story to inspire all of us to dream BIG. This year is a new chapter, the options are endless and you have the power to create something wonderful!

Date rape drugs, unfortunately, get associated with college campuses quite often. To help combat this issue college students Tyler, Stephen, Ankesh, and Tasso (pictured above) developed Undercover Colors: A nail polish that changes colors when exposed to date rape drugs.  The group thought of this idea after learning that they all knew someone who was sexually assaulted. You can read more about their innovative product here.

If you're also starting your classes I wish you the best of luck! This year is going to be your year.

Best,

Sarah

What Does One Bring to College?

Happy Monday!

Now that August is here I guess It's time to face the fact that school is just around the corner. I already have a year of college under my belt, but it still makes me sad knowing  that I leave my family and friends in just a few weeks.

In my first year of college I learned quite a bit (read the reflective letter I wrote  to my timid High School Senior self). One of the most important things I learned through out that year happened to be all about dorm organization.

Today I wanted to share the important items you'll need before you venture off to your new humble abode.

Bed:

A bedside buddy- my school had this on their list of recommended items and I bought one without even knowing what it was. A bedside buddy....uhhh ok. Turns out, it is single handedly one of the best things you could buy. A bedside buddy hangs off the side of your bed and has numerous pockets for books, tissues, a tv remote, sleeping mask- you catch my drift. It will hold anything you could ever need right beside you. If you plan it right, you may never have to leave your bed.

A mattress topper- Dorm beds are not all that comfortable so a mattress topper is important. They come in different sizes so make sure you get a twin XL. Some are made out of foam, some are more of a pillow type of material and  there's also an egg crate design. Whichever you choose, know that your bed as school will probably become comfier than yours at home!

A back pillow- Ok, so I'm sure a back pillow isn't the proper name for this pillow, but I use it as a back rest! Many nights of studying in bed (or browsing Tumblr) were spent leaning back on a pillow like this! This is also perfect for having group study sessions in your room and you don't want you friends to lean against a wall or be uncomfortable.

Organization:

Command Hooks- Command Hooks and strips are the best things for a dorm room! They are sturdy, easy to use and leave no damage behind when you have to take them down! I've used these babies to hang up picture frames, lights, bags, jewelry and more. They come in so many different sizes and colors. The possibilities are endless!

Stackable storage bins-  I brought a lot of storage bins with me to school last year. However, they cluttered up different places all over my room AND I had so many of them that I forgot where certain things were. To become more efficient this year I bought some stackable, clear storage bins from Walmart. Stacking them allows everything to be in one location and being clear allows me to easily find what I need without having to open every bin. To improve this one step further I am even going to use my label maker to label each drawer! (i.e food, cleaning supplies, maintenance etc.) 

A Trunk- For the things you don't want in the above mentioned clear bins. Last year, extra bed sheets, out of season clothes and extra beauty products were stored in my trunk. The added wheels make it easy to roll out from under your bed if you decide to place it there.

Odds and Ends:

(This is my side of my freshman dorm room. The quote you see is from The Maine. I typed up letters, printed them out and stuck them to the wall! Look at that wonderful glow!! Side note: This is also pre my one direction shrine- as the year progressed, I slowly added more and more pictures of Harry Styles' face near my bed. No Shame.)

 Two words: Christmas lights! If your school allows it, christmas lights are one of the best things to hang in your room. They make your room look magical at night. They also are super easy to hang with command hooks. There were times were I was going to sleep before my roommate or vice versa so we would turn off our main light but keep our Christmas lights on. They still give off enough light for you to see, but in cozy and subtle way.

Felt Hangers- Swap your old hangers for felt hangers. These can be found at Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Marshalls and Target amongst other places. Felt helps clothes from sliding off and they are more compact than regular hangers. In other words, that means more clothes can hang in your tiny college closet- hallelujah! (Read more about velvet hangers over on It's Tidy Time)

A full length mirror will be fully utilized at school. Hang it on the back of your door, prop it against the wall... it makes getting ready 10x easier because you can see your whole outfit in one shot. Just don't put it near your window. My room mate and I did that and as you can imagine, since we are in Vermont after all, the mirror cracked. Oops.

A towel wrap- Target has the cutest towel wraps around. It's made like a towel, but has velcro. Easy to throw and walk back to your room in after you take a shower. The added pockets are a nice bonus. Don't be the one that gets locked out of their dorm room!

Desk:

A desk lamp with charger- Target sells relatively cheap desk lamps that not only have a spot for pens or pencils, but also for electronics. You can work at your desk and charge your laptop or phone at the same time. I have the white lamp and love it!

Buzzfeed, of course, has a fantastic post on how to make your dorm feel more like home. See the list of 37 awesome ideas here. (My roommate and I are looking into trying idea 9 this year!)

More fun dorm ideas and college facts in general can be found on my College board on Pinterest! Is there anything in your dorm room that you think is essential? Let me know!

Have a lovely week!

Best,

Sarah

Freshman Year: What I Learned

This time last year I was just a timid High School Senior. 
The most important thing on my mind was prom. I quickly dodged any and every question regarding graduation, where I wanted to go to college and  more importantly what I wanted to even do with my life.

Just what did I want to do for the rest of my life? That was a huge question for me and something just too vast to wrap my head around. I'm not going to lie, that question still intimidates me.

Many tears were shed during my college process and I was never scared of anything more in my entire life.  I just didn't want to admit to myself that it was time to grow up.  My last week of High School was hard. My graduation was hard. Saying bye to my friends was hard and moving 6 hours away from my family was hard.

Yet as the famous phrase goes "Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it" and in retrospect I find truth in these words.

If all those moments weren't scary for me, I wouldn't be where I am right now.
 So, to timid Sarah from 9 months ago, I want to tell you just what you learned during your first year of college.

*

Sarah, this is lesson one. Like everything else  you will survive. Give it two weeks and the rest is history. Quite possibly the greatest thing you will learn all year - you will survive. Seriously. 

Another lesson that just can't be taught in a classroom, it will be hard to keep in touch with people. Your friend's stories will be vastly different than your own. Gone are the days of gossiping about high school events. However, you live in the era of technology! You need to start investing a little bit of your time to shoot someone a text or even- dare I say it- call someone. Stop being lazy and tell someone how important they are to you. It will make both of your days great.

Teachers will no longer baby you. You know, guide  you through every single project, test and homework assignment. Most teachers plop a syllabus on your desk and it's solely up to you to keep up with what is due. Stressful? Of course it will be at times, but you have been organized and you will stay organized. Yes, even if you don't want to be.

While on that topic, teachers may not baby you, but they want you to succeed. They will put in their own time and effort to help you BUT only if you do the same.  There will be classes you hate ( Ahem, 8 am public speaking) and the funny thing is that you'll realize those classes are more beneficial than you think. Reach out to teachers,  your RAs and your peer and academic advisors if you need help or better yet want to network yourself. 
Wait- that's actually possible? You better believe it, Sarah.

Things will be stressful at times, but there is still time to have fun. Go out and do the activities put on by your school. ( Sarah, you won't believe how much money you'll save on going to the movies!) Go join clubs even if you are unsure about them. The worst thing that happens is that you don't like it. If you're not having fun, let it go. Clubs allow you to meet so many great people. Everyone comes from a different place and you can learn a lot from them.

 Keep your sights on things that may seem out of your reach. Keep making goals for yourself.  What  do you want to accomplish in a month, semester or in the grand scheme of things? You will get there. I know you will. Your biggest obstacle is yourself.

The last important thing you will discover,  when you practice the before mentioned lessons, is just how at peace you will be.  You learn to let  the little things go. You live in a beautiful place and you need to enjoy it. Life is too short to only cling on to the negative, sad or even stressful things you may face. Focus on what makes you happy.

Look at the sunset as frequently as you can- one day it will no longer be that scenic. Get up early and get the most out of your day. Enjoy your alone time. Enjoy the time you get with your friends. Enjoy this great opportunity you have been given! Put effort in everything that you do and you will  be surprised what doors  will open for you.

*

College has treated me very well so far and I have to admit, I'm a little sad that I have to leave it for four months. I've learned more in and out the classroom than I could have ever imagined.  There are so many things I've done that I didn't think were possible a year ago. 

And this is just the beginning.

Best,
Sarah

Best College Pins on Pinterest

"Girls go to college to get more knowledge..."

* Correction: girls actually go to Pinterest. Am I right?

 Pinterest is one of the most useful applications out there. There is always some kind of useful tidbit on the site every time you go on. It amazes me how creative, crafty and intelligent people are! I often think to myself, "I can't believe I never thought of that before!"

Over the summer, as I tried to prepare myself for the big milestone that is college, I didn't really have anyone to turn to on what to bring or what to expect and that was when Pinterest truly became a life saver. I learned so many random facts and tips on what to pack, how to decorate, how to adjust to a new place, how to stay active and healthy- the list goes on and on.  

Now here I am, in my second semester of college.  While it may seem odd that I'm writing about college tips in the middle of February,  I strongly believe that all of the information I gathered  during the Summer turned out to be extremely important and useful in the beginning of the year and even more so now. I hope you all find something on this list you love whether you're in college! (or not- I won't tell)

For the girl that wants to be organized

1. Step one: organize your new living space

2.The best college apps to stay on track

3.Make the most of your tiny closet

For the girl that wants to be ahead

1.Powerful words for your resume

2.Inspiration for that perfect interview outfit

3. Keep your notes in tip top shape

For the girl who wants to be fit

1.Healthy study snacks

2.Exercises to do without even having to go to the gym

3. What to buy every week at the store

For the girl that wants to be a traveler

1.Study abroad advice

2.How to: adjust in a new country

3. Create an awesome trip with an awesome budget

For the girl that wants to be crafty

1. How to: make a cute canopy with lights

2.Super simple room ideas

3.Create a 'happy wall'

For the girl that wants to save

1.100+ student discounts

2. A blog all about saving money

3.10 fast tips on saving $$

Have a lovely week. I'll talk to you all again on Friday!

Best,

Sarah

(Ps. Let's be friends on Pinterest! You can follow me by clicking here)

Weekly Links: The Final Countdown

Finals are finally here which is fabulous. In just a few short days we’ll be able to swap cafeteria food for home cooked meals, rid of projects and homework and most importantly sleep in our own comfy beds. Unfortunately, all these amazing things can not be obtained until we scour our brains and cry into our textbooks. Now is the time to cram.

 

source: click here

Hey now! Don’t panic just yet. I’m here to tell you that if timed out perfectly this weekend you can study and still have an awesome last weekend at school before winter break. Study for a bit, browse Tumblr, study some more and then eat all the snacks in your dorm room. Rejoice my friends. 

 That’s why my first installment of Weekly Links falls on the Friday before finals. Before your brain gets fried to a crisp,  take a quick peek at the things I've found around the web this week. 

 Click the photos below to cleanse your palate and for some entertainment. And remember: “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” (Definitely something to think about when you just need to take a step back and relax.)

 Ok, so I don’t know much about Pharrell. Over the summer, he was sort of in Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. If there’s anything I do know about him it’s that his new music video, Happy, is genius. Happy is a 24 hour music video. That’s right. You can click anywhere on the music video’s time clock and go to that part of the day. If you love to study while listening to music this song may not be a bad choice especially because you can tailor the music video to your viewing pleasure. (I particularly like when the video hits sunset) Or maybe you truly want to sit there and listen to the song on repeat for 24 hours. Whatever floats your boat.

 The next link comes from BuzzFeed which is literally my holy grail. After this post it may be yours too. This week I loved seeing the gift guide for food lovers. Christmas is just around the corner people. Go out and buy or diy a memorable gift this year. All I can say is, avocado saver and unicorn sprinkle shaker -where have you been all my life?  (ps: more gift guides are coming soon)

This week John Mayer released his new single “Who you Love”. For the cover art he decided to make all of us swoon by posing with his girlfriend Katy Perry (she also sings on the track) and the results are beautiful. Click above to see the photo for yourself and also listen to the song. John + Katy= a melodic match made in heaven.

I'm sure many of you ( including myself) were committed on Thanksgiving to eating everything possible. I'm also sure that many of you ( definitely including myself) regret eating their entire body weight  in stuffing and pies galore.  Mashable must have read everyone's guilt ridden minds because this week they put out the best work out/ diet aps to get us all back on track. When you swap your textbook for you phone ( which i know will inevitably happen)  take a look and start getting back in shape.

Hercampus is the best website for college gals and this week I stumbled upon a post about the "first world problems" we encounter in college. Sadly, this list applies to me more than I want to admit... if you can't laugh at yourself  who can you laugh at- am I right?

Last but not least, I leave you with a video from the lovely Troye Sivan. I adore him and relate to everything he puts on YouTube, Tumblr and Twitter so much that I'm starting to think we're twins separated at birth. The Australian YouTuber uploaded this video last month, but it's still hilarious to me and definitely fitting with finals coming our way. 

Have a beautiful weekend and good luck with finals!

Best,

Sarah