Back to College// What to do Your First Week

The first week of college is this huge hurricane of emotions. Mine with a whirlwind, so I thought I would give you a list of things to do your first week of college to make things a little easier!

Welcome Week Events to Attend:
- Free Food Events (trust me, you'll be thankful for this)
-Activities Fair
-Sporting Events
-Any Nighttime Games
-Academic Presentations (yes this is boring. yes this is necessary)
-Anything else that interests you

Things To Do
-Explore your library and other buildings on campus to find a study spot
-Figure out where to get a late night snack
-Find your favorite coffee spot
-Grab dinner with your roommate(s)
-Grab a meal with someone on your floor
-Call your parents (they want to make sure you're doing well)
-Text your best friend
-Take a pic with your school's mascot
-Take a pic with your roommate and friends on your floor
-Take time for yourself
-Make sure you have your books and school supplies
-Figure out where your classes are located, and the fastest way to get there
-Explore the social scene at your school
-Take a moment to take it all in


Now the first week is a whirlwind of emotions and activities. I think they purposefully keep you busy so you don't have to time to realize what's going on! Anything I missed current/former college students?


xoxo

Back to College Series:

Planner Review

School Supplies
What to Snack On
What to Buy Once You're There
How to Budget
Important College Resources
How to Manage Your Time
Best College Advice

Back to College// What to Buy Once You're There

One of my tried and true tips when moving to college or anywhere really is to wait to buy certain things until you get there. This way you end up buying exactly what you need instead of too little or too much.

Here is my list of things you should wait to buy:

Powerstrips
Extension Cords
TV Cables
Internet Cables
Toilet Paper
Paper Towel
Bathroom extras (Toothbrush holder etc)
New hair products and shower products
Lamps
Hangers


Now if you find a really good deal on one of these, I would grab it! But keep in mind that you may end up buying more, or not using them!

What did you end up buying when you got to college? Was there anything you forgot?

xoxo

Back to College Series:

Planner Review

School Supplies
What to Snack On
How to Budget
What to do Your First Week
Important College Resources
How to Manage Your Time
Best College Advice

Back to College // What to Snack on

All of the free food in college is great, until you can't fit into your jeans as easily one day. While you're beautiful just the way you are, it's important to fuel your body with the proper nutrients in order to stay healthy and on top of your game! Here are some of my favorite snacks to keep you fueled and focused.

Nourish Snacks// Full of protein & honestly really delicious I keep these at my desk and in my backpack. I love Monkey Love, Coco'Nilla Crunch and Mind Your P's & BBQ's.

Apple & Peanut Butter// A great sweet treat, but make sure you choose a healthier peanut butter and  don't eat too much peanut butter. But it satisfies my sweet tooth, which is huge so you should be good!

Chopped Apple & Cinnamon// Looking for some apple pie? Chop up an apple, add a little cinnamon and put it in the microwave for a minute. It's really good, and the perfect late night sweet treat.

Carrots, Cucumbers and Fiesta Ranch// A great, savory and healthy snack for studying or just watching tv. If you're looking for a little crunch, this is perfect! Buy a fiesta ranch packet (normally by the dressings at your grocery store), and mix it up with some greek yogurt.

Skinny Pop//  A little more on the expensive side, but it's perfect sweet and salty snack, without too many calories! Gives you a perfect portion!

Berries// Cut up some strawberries with blackberries and blueberries, even sprinkle a little sugar! It's a great dessert or small snack to always have on hand.

Granola Bar// A great grab and go option! I would look at K bars, Kind bars and others that are low in sugar and high in protein!

What do you eat while you study? Any favorites?


xoxo

Back to College Posts

Planner Review

School Supplies
What to Buy Once You're There
How to Budget

Back to College// School Supplies

I love school supplies. This is honestly one of my favorite times of the year because of all of the school supplies that are in stores. Here is my list of must have supplies for college!

Writing Utensils
Le Pens 
Paper Mate InkJoy
Paper Mate Clearpoint Mechanical Pencil Set
Sharpie Accent 10ct Highlighter 
Crayola Colored Pencils 
Crayola Markers

-All of your needs should be met here with these writing utensils! I normally keep my Le Pens, a couple pencils and a couple of highlighters with me. I leave the extras at my desk for when I'm studying and to restock later in the year. The markers and pencils are great for late night projects, home made cards and crafts!

Note Taking & Organizational Supplies
Wilson Jones Basic Round Ring Binder 1"
Wide Ruled Reinforced Filler Paper
8-Tab Index Divider with Pockets
Post-It Note Pads

-Every class I have has a binder with loose leaf in it. I then add dividers with pockets for extra sheets of paper so that I don't I have to stretch out my pockets in my binders. I've been using the same 6 binders for 6 semesters. I use post its in my notes as well to remind myself of important concepts for projects, papers and exams.

Desk Supplies
Sparco Hole Punch
Kantek Acrylic File Sorter
Kantek Acrylic Pencil Holder
Fun Patterned File Folders
Fiskars Scissors
Post-It Tabs 
Post-It Stick Notes
Scotch Magic Tape Dispenser

-You're going to need a hole punch to put papers in your binder to stay organized. The file sorter and pencil holder are cute, and you can add a monogram or your sorority letters to personalize them! The file folders are a cute way to liven up your organizational system. The rest are simple necessities you'll be glad you have on hand!


These should all get you started and prepped for success! Is there anything that you use that I miss?




xoxo

Back to College Series:

Planner Review

What to Snack On
What to Buy Once You're There
How to Budget
What to do Your First Week
Important College Resources
How to Manage Your Time
Best College Advice

Back to College // Planner Review : The Collegiate Day Book

Y'all I love a good planner and I take shopping for one very seriously. One night in April while I was watching television with my roommate I saw on Twitter that one of my favorite bloggers Rachel Berzins  had designed her own planner for college students. The Collegiate Daybook  seemed perfect, and we decided to back the kickstarted campaign.

We got them about three weeks ago, and noticed a problem, there had been a double print! I emailed Rachel, and she sent us two new ones! Honestly some of the best customer service I've ever experienced.

Cover// So to start, I love the cover. It's not as colorful as Lilly P, but it's classic and a little more professional to carry around with you.

I added a pink monogram to add a little "Ashley" to the cover! I'm also using my favorite Le Pens to write in them!

Schedule at a Glance// This is something that Lilly P doesn't have, and I wish they did! My entire schedule is right here for me to look at, I don't have to print a new one to tape to the inside of my cover every semester. 

Packing List// I travel a lot, and this is perfect! I almost always forget something! I love that my planner has a list of things for me to pack on almost every trip!

My School Year Bucket List// College isn't just about school and activities, but about taking advantage of our lives! This is a great list to remind yourself to have a little fun. 

Yearly Calendar// I always like having a calendar that shows you the whole year, and this is pretty common place for agendas and planners. 

Monthly Page// Your typical monthly page, with an inspirational quote to remind you to keep doing you. I like that it's clean, and doesn't have big wording in the boxes. I take my monthly calendar very seriously. It's where I put sorority activities, due dates and other important dates. It helps me organize my week. With Lilly P, they have words that take up most of your ability to write in a box.

Weekend Page// Your weekend pages are great. It lets you break up your day, and gives you a to-do list each day. It gives you a lot more space than Lilly P does for the weekend. I also like that it gives you a question for the weekend. On Saturday it gives you a box to write down errands or items you don't want to forget. On Sunday, it has a checklist for a typical college student. Finish homework, do laundry, check email and then take a break. The perfect way to end your weekend! 

Week Day Page// I love that each day has its own page. My Lilly P planner always had post its all over the weekly view because I never had enough space to write everything down. It gives me a motivational quotes everyday to keep me going. I also like that it gives me the ability to break up my day so that I can schedule things like my work out and blogging time. The "Due Today"box is great because I can see immediately what needs to be finished, reviewed and turned in without burying it in my to-do. I also like the "Study For" because it allows me to break up my studying easier! The "Meetings" box lets me write down a meeting I need to remember, and the "Don't Forget" lets me write down people's birthdays, and things to remember to grab from my house! Just in case none of the other boxes cover something, there is an extra section for notes! 

Improvements//

-Tabs for the months 

-Lack of color

-I'll probably miss the pockets that Lilly P had

-More durable covers

Overall I'm really excited for the school year because I know I'm going to love my planner! I would highly suggest purchasing The Collegiate Daybook  today! 

What planner/agenda do you use? Have you bought yours yet?

xoxo

Back to College Series:

School Supplies

What to Snack On
What to Buy Once You're There
How to Budget
What to do Your First Week
Important College Resources
How to Manage Your Time
Best College Advice

 

Back To School: Desk & Study Supplies

Another installment of my back to school series! Today I'll be giving my advice on what study supplies to pack and what you'll want on your desk!

I love study supplies! I'm extremely organized and meticulous when it comes to my notes and study guides. I wanted to give you an idea of what I bring to college with me, and then give you suggestions on which products I buy!

Studying:

Tips!

-Use binders with looseleaf for your classes, that way you can add paper as needed and re-use the binders semester to semester. I suggest 1 inch binders. 

-Use multi-colored pens for color coding notes and your agenda. My favorite are Le Pens.

-Use notecards for vocabulary and studying. 

-Get white out to fix mistakes on your notes and in your agenda.
-Mechanical pencils are great, because you never have to sharpen them! I usually get mine on Amazon, and I love the fact that these are thicker. Make sure to get lead to last you the semester.
-Post-its and a small notebook are great for todo lists and little reminders. Also essential for planning your weeks successfully.


My desk is my safe haven, and I love an organized one. Here are some of my essentials for a great desk and even dresser. Some of these items are also essential for networking.

 Tips!
-Grab a magazine holder to hold small books and important papers.
-Pen holders are great for extra writing utensils
-Notepad for scratch paper and thinking!
-Scissors and a stapler for final papers and projects.
-A fun print from Etsy to liven up your space.
-A tray to hold your jewelry and to put your keys and i.d.
-Thank you cards and plain stationary to send to prospective employers and gift givers.
-Paper clips and binder clips to keep things together and hold your place in your agenda.

Check out Target & Design Darling boutique for the perfect desk supplies!


What else would you have on your lists? When do you leave for school?

xoxo

Back To School: Setting Up Your Agenda

I just gave one of my closest friends a Lilly Pulitzer Agenda for her birthday! My inner organizational freak decided she could also use the Lilly Pulitzer Greek sticker set.  Since I pride myself on a well-kept agenda, I thought I would share some pointers on setting up your agenda!


The great thing about this lists is that you can mix and match tips that fit your lifestyle.

1.Color coding is your friend. At the beginning of each semester assign different activities colors and make a key in the front of your agenda. An example is below. I don't color code my classes but rather use black ink to write down my assignments for the day and then highlight the most important tasks each day.
*If you want to color code even more, assign colors for each of your classes!

2. Write down all important due dates. At the beginning of each semester go through my syllabi and write down every paper, test and project date. I suggest using red so that it stands out from other commitments and I know how to schedule my weeks to add in increased homework time.

3. Write down everything you have to do each week for each class. Each Sunday  go through all my syllabi and write down every assignment due, test to study for and project step to complete. If you have a position in an organization write that down too. Don't forget internship application steps and other important application to-dos.

4. Assign each task a day. Once you have a list,write each homework item or to-do item on a day. If you have a consistent weekly schedule take that into account when you will have the time to do each assignment. You can always move things around later on.

5.Use post-it notes for extra to-do's or changes. During the week use post-it notes to add daily to-dos or to note changes in your schedule! This works great because you can add or remove as many post-its as you need.

6.Add stickers for fun. This may not be an organization tip, but I love that Lilly gives you the ability to use stickers to mark things on your calendar! I use it to mark special events and birthdays of loved ones. It makes my agenda a little more cheery.

7. Re-evaluate your week Thursday or Friday nights. Every Thursday or Friday night (afternoon) go through and make a to-do list of everything you have to do that weekend. It's easier than forgetting something Sunday night right before you fall asleep.

My agenda isn't nearly as busy as it is during the school year, so if you want more detailed photos just let me know in the comments


What other tips do you have for setting up your agenda?

Back To School:Bedroom essentials

As August quickly approaches many of us will be returning to our high schools, universities and colleges. Some of us may even be leaving to attend a new school. Here are some of my school essentials for the upcoming year!

If you haven't already set up your bedroom with your roommate here are some great tips!

1. White is not always the best option: This may be the bedding you have for the next four years. If we're being honest what makes you think you won't spill your sixth glass of coffee on your white duvet after six hours of studying? Go with a navy, black, or a darker color

2. Decorate with pillows: Now go ahead and get the white, monogrammed pillows. The best thing about pillows is that they are a lot cheaper to replace them. They'll be really useful for movie nights and study sessions when your bed doubles as a couch.

3. Find a bulletin board: This is a great investment. You can paint it, scrapbook it or just hang things. I used it to hold heavier statement necklaces, pictures and memorabilia.  As the year progresses, you can add and remove pictures/memories. Mine normally doubles as an inspiration board as well. It makes your room a little homier without a million picture frames.

4. Get a lamp: Especially if you have a roommate, a lamp will be a smart object to bring. A large lamp may not be plausible, but a bedside lamp or a clip on one works the best. I used mine when I had to get up earlier than my roommate or go to bed later than my roommate.

5.Second set of bed sheets & an extra blanket: This may seem weird, but trust me I am thankful weekly that I have an extra set of sheets and an extra blanket. One night while I was blogging in bed, I spilled a glass of Diet Coke (#tsm) on my sheets. Instead of having to wash my sheets that night, I just changed my sheets really quickly and got back to what I was doing. The extra blanket is great for naps, movie nights, or the rare instance that it's cold in your room!


 What are some of your bedroom essentials? Check back next Wednesday for more Back to School supplies!

xoxo

My Tote: Be Prepared!

Back to school! I know some schools down South have already started, but here in the Midwest we don't normally start school until the week before or after labor day. (normally)

I am ready to go back to school, mainly because my internship is over on Friday and most of my friends have left. 

10 days until move in! 

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Here are some of my essentials when it comes to my tote

1// My tote is Longchamp in camel and I am in love with it. I have been using it since I returned from Germany (A very funny purchase story btw). It fits my Toshiba laptop, binders for class, agenda, iPad and food for the day!

2// An agenda. I use the Lilly Pulitzer Agenda , but last year I used the Vera Bradley Student Agenda, which was great too! My agenda is my life, and I have no idea what I would do without it!

3// Food. No joke, I need fuel during the day, so I tend to eat snacks through out the day instead of one big lunch. I usually have a salad with me too. (I am determined to eat healthy again this semester, this summer I've fallen off the wagon)

4// A "what if" bag. I have bobby pins, hair ties, gum, feminine  products, change, & headphones in here. I hope to get a Lilly iPhone charger so that I can charge my phone on the go!

5// iPad. It's basically a mini laptop, and I use it for various activities. Reading blogs, & checking on my own is easier to do on my iPad rather than my iPhone. I also have textbooks on my Kindle app, not all of them but enough for it to be useful!

6// A notebook: A little notebook is perfect for all of my thoughts, rather it be a todo list, blogging notes, or even something to ask MB next time we talk. (I have a lot of random ideas, and to remember to tell him all of them can be a challenge, but he's always a good sport) I was about to order one from May Designs that you can personalize, but I found one with a Jane Austen quote on it in a local boutique, so I had to go with that one! (PS Check out their journals, they have diet journals, address books, & budget journals!)

7// Pencil Bag, binders, & laptop. These are all basic school essentials, but I try to make them fun. I made Lilly print binder covers,( post later), and have a super cute pencil bag. My laptop is kind of boring, but I might be getting a monogrammed sticker or something for it. 

What do you carry with you at all times? Did I miss anything?

xoxo

aVe 

Purple & Pearl Goes Back To School: Dorm Room Essentials

Happy Sunday y'all! Yep it's time for school already, and if you haven't noticed stores stocking up for the school rush. Here is a new series called Purple and Pearl Goes Back to School.  I am going to start with Dorm Room Essentials. Here are some things I didn't think I was going to need, and ended up needing.

 Here are some fun ideas!

 Jewelry Dish by Belle in the City// I had no nice place to lay out my essentials in terms of jewelry, so I am going to make this! (At some point)
Brita Water Pitcher// The dorm's water? Ew! This is perfect for water to drink in the middle of the night, or even for water when you're too lazy to walk to the bubbler (water fountain).
Looseleaf & Colored Pencils// You never know when you'll need them for a project, or a late night study sess break.