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// 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

 

Ace That Internship: What to Bring Your First Day

It's been awhile since I posted an Ace That Internship blog, but since summer internships will be starting soon I wanted to post something. Here are some ideas as to what to bring your first day on the job.

A Notebook// Write down everything! Passwords, simple instructions and complex instructions. Even write down who does what. Bring either a legal pad or notebook just for your internship!

A water bottle// You may or may not be doing  a lot of talking, but a staying hydrated will help you stay focused. Bring one you can leave so that you don't forget to have one at the office!

Paperwork// If you have a paid internship, or you are taking one for credit make sure to ask if there is any paperwork you need to bring! This could include your social security card, passport or drivers license.

Positive Attitude// Remember this is your first day. Even if it isn't exactly what you wanted, make sure to still be positive about it. It's a great experience, and you should really try to make the most of it.

Listening Ear// The first day is probably going to be full of a lot of information, so make sure you are ready to listen. Try and remember names, important times and even what to do everyday when you arrive.

Snacks and/or a Lunch// Depending on what you might need, bring food if it is going to be a full day! You don't want to be concentrated on your stomach when you're in an important meeting or getting to know your new co-workers!

Where is your internship this summer? What do you always bring?

Surviving the End of the Semester

Yes. I said it. We are almost to the end of the semester. While this may surprise many of you, it may also send others into panic mode. Here are some tips to get you and your agenda through the next couple of weeks.

Know Your Deadlines// Write every due date down, soft or hard. Know your deadlines and prepare accordingly. More preparation = less stress.

Plan Out Your Days// Instead of trying to squeeze everything in, make a flexible schedule of your day and when you want to get things done. Don't try to squeeze productivity out of every last moment, make sure to schedule down time which includes time with friends!

Prioritize// Yes everything is important, but what absolutely has to be done before you get your 7-8 hours of sleep? Get that done first then move on to other tasks.

Know Your Goals// Write down your goals and post them in your workspace. That could be on your desk, in your agenda or even in your kitchen.

Reasons to Study Abroad

Y'all knew this post was coming, but studying abroad is one of the best leaps of faith that I've taken thus far in my life. Here are some of the reasons after the fact that I'm glad that I studied abroad, even though there were some trade-offs.

Living Aboard// Personally I think almost every body should be abroad for about a month. It's  great experience and it opens your eyes to how other people live. You're able to relate to people from different backgrounds.

Politics & World Issues// My professors were always very curious about how Americans view issues in our own country. Speaking with people from other countries who were taught differently, they have a different outlook and experience with world issues and controversies in our country.

Fun// While studying abroad, the program is about having fun. Young adults our age in Europe aren't expected to live as independently as we are. Your professors and advisors encourage you to travel, go out with you friends on a week night and have fun. There is homework, but not as important. They want you to immerse yourself in the culture.

Personal Growth// As an individual, I discovered more about myself while studying abroad than I have since the first semester of college. I became more confident in my abilities as well as who I am and what I want. Some of my friends discovered they wanted to come back, others discovered that they had chosen the right path. Affirming aspects about your plan is just as good as figuring it out.

Travel// As a study abroad student I hope you travel! As you travel you naturally become more independent and are able to figure things out by yourself. You get more confident asking for help, and are more likely to try new foods and activities!

Studying abroad is such a great experience. It's scary, terrifying, amazing and life changing. I encourage you to do research and strongly consider studying abroad!


xoxo

Study Tips: Reading

This semester I have so much reading. It's really only for the first half of the semester, but it's still a lot. I've had to come up with a way to quickly read yet get a good grasp of the material. My professors go over the material in class, but we are expected to be able to participate. Here are some of my tips for when you have to read a lot of material for class!

Use Post-it Notes// In my communication law class our textbook cites Supreme Court cases that I like to use Post-It notes to write down the name and the reason it's a ground breaking case. For other classes I write down tips or tricks that I think will be helpful in my group project or paper. I then put them all on a piece of paper in my binder and label at the top which chapter they're from.

Highlight// On my Kindle App on my iPad, I have a couple of textbooks that were cheaper to rent as an e-book. I can read them pretty much anywhere, and I highlight and bookmark important passages. I use notecards to write down important steps and strategies from my books.

Notes// I don't like taking notes while reading because I'm too impatient (#badstudyhabits) However on of my professors is difficult, and I normally take notes in order to add to them during class. I take my notes in black pen and add to them with a different color, normally purple.

Look for bolded terms// Most authors will bold terms or phrases that are particularly important in that chapter. I take note of them and will review for the test in order to be the most prepared that I can be!

How do you get through a lot of reading?

xoxo

2015 Goals: Budget Better

As of right now I've done a pretty good job of budgeting (if I do say so myself) but I can always be better. Here is my budgeting system so far. (There may be tweaks made in the upcoming months.)

"Jot It Down" Notebook// Whenever I use cash I record right away what I used it on. Every week I go on my credit card and write down everything I spent my money on, which is normally just gas and Amazon charges. Every two weeks I go into my spread sheet and write down my expenses

Budgeting Spreadsheeting// True to being the daughter of an accountant, I have a budget spreadsheet. I might do things a little differently than most people, but I like to see my predicated and actual spending. Also it's been 6 months since I've had "normal" expenditures so January and February are my test months.

1. First I created a predicated budget for each month.

These are all made up numbers 

I also included my earnings and what the net budget is. 

2. Next I created a box for my actual budget right below it.

This is just an example, but I have more categories here because January and February are test months, and I want to see how much I will spend on these extra categories on a  monthly basis. 

3. Create extras

I created goals and possible extra costs for each month. I have a savings goal for the semester and year. To budget better, I put extra costs such as trips to see MB, club dues and conference trips underneath each predicated month box. 

How do you budget better? Do you have a savings goal?

xoxo

My New Apartment: February 2015

I finally ended up getting some pictures of my new bedroom! I was able to paint my own room, and choose a gray color because it went well with my navy and white color and its light enough! I warn you there is going to be a lot of pictures!

Here is just a cute accent piece. There are some pictures from my trip to Seattle! 

I have a lot of closet space, so I love being able to hang pieces up which is easier for me to visualize outfits. 

 Got to have my Audrey Hepburn! I love my little bed space, with a monogrammed pillow case and a sweet devotional. I also have a picture of MB & I, with a water glass and some flowers to liven up the room. 

My dresser! KG obviously makes an appearance, and she even made me a monogrammed painting! I love all of my pearls, and I have lots of nail polish. 

I really needed this bookshelf for extras! 

My desk! I love my monogrammed pencil holder and paper holder!

The side of my desk is definitely a zone for bags to be dumped!

My cork board! Lots of pictures and quotes to keep my motivated!

My comfy bed! It may no look like it but I have 4 layers on my bed, including a heated blanket!

I actually love hanging out in my room. It's warm and inviting, and definitively a reflection of my personality! I have a couple more items I would love to add, but there is only so much on can do with limited time and money! I was really lucky because the only furniture I have to buy was my desk and bookshelf, it may be mismatched but I think it gives my room a little college character.

Do you enjoy decorating? What are some of your favorite places to find items?

xoxo

Everyday Pearls: Weekly Recap February 1st

Whoo I can't believe it's Friday night already. I thought that this week would drag on because MB just arrived for the first time to visit me in Green Bay! I was super excited on Monday and thought that this week would take forever. But I am learning that this rarely happens, and since I'm so busy it normally flies by. 

Monday I applied for a lot of internships! If you know of any internship opportunities in Boston, please let me know! If you're looking for internship application organization, check out this post!

Tuesday was crazy busy. We had our first campus snowfall since I've been back, and I realized how much I will miss my campus when I graduate at the end of this (calendar) year.

Wednesday was our club fair on campus! I love sitting at my sorority's booth because we get to hang out with the fraternities too since we all sit together. This was my first time seeing a lot of the fraternity men, and it was fun catching up. Wednesdays are long, but I also went out to half-apps at Applebees with my sisters. It's one of my favorite traditions, and I loved being able to catch up with my sisters outside of the meeting! 

Our booth!

 My little! So excited to be back at it with her! 

Thursday my roommate JP & I did a Target run, complete with Starbucks (of course). It's one of our favorite traditions, and I picked up some really great things for my apartment! We decided that we would only make Target runs together once a month, because it never ends well for our wallets. 

Here are a few of the items I picked up!

Friday I had class and worked, but I was really proud of myself because it's the second week in a row I worked out 3 times! It's quite the accomplishment for me, and I'm really noticing the positive differences of working out more! 

Friday my sorority baby (daughter) came over for dinner! I haven't seen her in months and I really missed her. She graduated in December, and I'm so proud of her! A couple of my other sisters came over after we had dinner so they could meet MB. 

MB and I are hanging out now as I update my post!

How was your week? Where are you looking for internships?

xoxo

Education

I don't normally write about very hot button issues on the blog because I don't view myself as an expert at all and don't want to come off as one. However this topic is near and dear to my heart.

Education is very important to me. It's not something everyone has access to and I believe it's one of the best ways to improve yourself. I am fortunate enough to go to university in Wisconsin, which has a great public university system. There are 13 four-year campuses and 13 two-year campuses as well as an online university. Each university is known for something different, and it's easy to find a fit for yourself at one of the many campuses.

Recently the governor of Wisconsin announced budget cuts to the system that would amount to $300 million over 2 years. He then announced a deal to help build a new arena in Milwaukee for the Milwaukee Bucks. During an interview with a Milwaukee radio station, Governor Walker suggested that the professors who teach at UW schools should just work harder. 

As a student who picked a smaller public university in order to have more personal relationship with her professors, I'm offended by that statement. I have kind, hard-working professors who are leaders in their industries. Almost all of my professors have real world experience, and are able to teach us about the latest technologies and trends in the industry. They are there to answer questions, and are pretty consistent with answering emails. My department has been extremely supportive of its students, especially when we wanted to charter a chapter of a prestigious organization on campus.

As a student I would much rather have a professor who is still in touch with the industry, reachable and friendly because they have a manageable work load. Many professors not only teach, research, and write but they also serve as internship chairs for their departments or advisors for organizations. As a recent study abroad student I can appreciate student organizations and the value they add to my education and experience at my university.

As a student I would much rather have a professor who choose to come into the profession after working in the industry in order to encourage passion for their passions in young adults. I would rather have the position of my mentor be a desired job, rather than a last resort. The UW system attracts amazing professors, and these budget cuts would harm that.

As a student who appreciates what sports have to add to a community, I still don't believe that the trade off of autonomy for a new sports arena is worth while. I understand the economic benefits of a sports team, however when 26 communities are going to be losing jobs and levels of education I don't believe in the worth. The Bucks are a Milwaukee team, however Milwaukee is just one community, where as 25 other communities would suffer a great loss. Wisconsin has a long-standing tradition of putting education first. We love our football, and we love our baseball but we also believe in our level of education. The money needs to come from somewhere, and the education shouldn't be that place.

As a student who pays to receive a higher education, I believe that these budget cuts are unnecessary and dangerous to our communities and future as a state. The status quo of politics in the United States has become increasingly polarized, and I believe that it's now the time more than ever to create an open and civil dialogue amongst all parties especially at a state level. 

As a student who is proud to go to a UW school, I will be contacting my state representatives asking them NOT to pass the budget as Governor Walker has presented it.

I welcome discussion from all sides of the issue. Any mean, personal or rude comments will be deleted. 

Solo Valentine's Day Ideas

This year once again I'm having a "solo" Valentine's day because MB can't make it up to Green Bay for the weekend. While it's definitely not a single's Valentine's day, I tend to get a little sad I can't be with my "sweetheart" on Valentine's day. Here are some of the best ideas (in my opinion) of what to do on Valentine's day if you're flying solo in the romance department.

Dinner & A Movie-- With the Girls// Being in a sorority means that there is almost always a group of women who are flying solo. It's a great way to get out and be distracted on Valentine's day. Watching a rom com is always much more fun with your girlfriends than significant other anyway! Treat yourself to a great dinner too.

Night In With Your Girls// Instead of spending more money than needed, pick a place and some movies to hang out with your girls. Pick a fun theme, like a potato bar, or a cookie dough bar! Everyone brings something, and you get a fun, low-cost distraction!

Facetime/Skype Date// If your s.o. is out of the city, schedule a quick FaceTime or Skype date! If your s.o. is just busy (or you're fabulously single) schedule a date with a friend who lives out of town!  It's a great excuse to catch up with a great friend!

Netflix Marathon// Can't find anyone to make plans with? Or not really in the mood to see couples? Set yourself up with some popcorn, an assortment of candy (& alcohol if of age) and pick a show to watch shamelessly. I would suggest Friends, Gossip Girl, House of Cards or Marco Polo.

Volunteer// See if there is any place you can volunteer and give back to your community! Grab some friends or go solo, and spread the love by giving back!

Family Time// If you live anywhere near family, see if they can't get together for a board game night or dinner! It's a great way to spend time with your loved ones!

What are your plans for V-Day? Flying solo or do you have a cute date?
xoxo

2015 Goals: Healthy Lifestyle

I have to admit, this has been a really difficult for me because of all of the food I missed eating last semester. My weird weakness? Cereal. So I've pretty much been on track. Here's my weekly workout schedule.

-I like to switch things up between elliptical and walking on the treadmill because I get less bored with constantly doing the same cardio. If I have a friend with me we will walk around the track with them and just talk for 45 minutes!

-While free weights are really nice, for now I am going to stick with the machines at the student fitness center on campus.

-In order not to get too bored I bring a book with me on the elliptical and treadmill. At my school we get wifi at the fitness center, so I also bring my iPad with and watch Netflix!

What do you do to work out? Where's your favorite place to work out?

xoxo

Great Tips for Writing

One of my favorite parts about being in the PRSSA is the monthly twitter chats! Last week I participated in one where the topic was writing. As an aspiring public relations professional I love to write. I never realized how much until I started my little space on the inter web. Here are some of the best tips from me and those who participated in the twitter chat!

Read in order to write better// @paigeweber tweeted this and I don't think it could be more true in my opinion. I would recommend following @WSJ (the Wall Street Journal), @nytimes (The New York Times) and @theskimm (The Skimm). Read how you would like to write!


Writers Block// I have a couple of tips.
        1.Step away. Sometimes you just need to take a break and come back.
        2. Call or talk to someone nearby about what you're trying to say. Just blurt it out!

Read your piece out loud//  This is probably my best piece of advice when it comes to editing. It won't take nearly as long as emailing it to someone. It's great if you're on a deadline!

Just write// Jane Dvorak, APR gave some wonderful advice during the Twitter Chat. Just write. Write press releases off of a headline, or articles off of a press release. You don't need to have an internship or class to write. Submit articles to your local or student newspapers. Just write.



What are some writing tips you live by? Were these helpful?
xoxo

A New Apartment

I am moving into my first "big girl" apartment after living on campus for two years straight. I'm excited to decorate my own room, which includes painting! My furniture will be a little mismatched, but I really can't complain. Here is some of my inspiration as I start to decorate my new room!



I love the idea of a monogrammed desk. I might be able to this, or convince someone else to help!

A statement wall? Yes please! I also love the set up of this bed, I might refurbish my headboard soon too. 

What a cute way to style your nightstand! I especially love the fresh flowers!

This is most definitely happening. I love this. A perfect way to add more creativity into my life. 

What do you look for in a new apartment? I can't wait to be at a place for more than a year so that I can really start decorating!

xoxo