Friday, April 29, 2016

4 Steps to Have a Spa Day at Home


Photo courtesy of decorationchannel.com
There's one thing I've always wanted to do, but like most kids my age who are not privileged enough with a sweet trust fund, we should probably spend our money on food and rent before going to the spa.  ToGoSpa offers these sweet and inexpensive eye treatments to bring the spa to the comfort of your own living room.

1. Cut Off All Technology 

Photo courtesy of themotherhood.com
 The best and easiest way to relax is to cut off any technology.  It's very under thought, but technology can be very stressful - especially today. When you start your at home spa day, turn your phone off and find that book you've been wanting to read.

2. Wear a Bathrobe 

Photo courtesy of westinstore.com

There is no need to wear anything less than what’s extremely comfortable. Wear that robe you bought and never wear because honestly sitting in bed wrapped in a soft robe is pretty comfy. 

3. At Home Relaxers 


Photo courtesy of westinstore.com
Put on some light relaxing background music or some relaxing nature sounds. It's not worth it to spend a Saturday just relaxing and having some me time for a change.

4. ToGoSpa 


This will become your spa bae. DIY beauty treatments do work, but they can sometimes be a mess. These are classic and simple. They also help you feel more relaxed because they also act as a cold compress. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Why Candy Club is the best thing ever

Photo courtesy of groupon.com
 When something comes in at the perfect time, you have to praise it and that’s what I did when a box of sweets from Candy Club arrived at my doorstep. When college gets stressful it’s ok to turn to a little candy to brighten the gloomiest of test days.  
Photo courtesy of sweetfactory.com

These people are the candy experts. I'm from the Cape and I thought I've tasted the best homemade taffy possible, but the cotton candy taffy I got in my box was more addicting than anything I've ever tasted before. It's probably a very good thing it was the smallest part of my box.  


The jelly beans were very good, and always the blue one was my favorite.


My feelings on the sour strips (sour belts) and the gummy butterflies were split. They were both good in their own way, but they lost their appeal after a while.  

This box is great, and if you join their mailing list you can get a great deal for some specialty candy. Also it's delivered to your door and nothing can get better than that. 

Monday, April 25, 2016

The Evolution Of Fashion

Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
Clothing was first used as a way of survival - to stay warm when the weather got colder; it wasn’t until the 1790’s when clothing started to mean something.  The first use of clothing in American history was not as fashionable as one may think. Similar to the Scarlet Letter, people who were accused of adultery were forced to wear the letters “AD” on their outermost piece of clothing as their punishment.  
Gif courtesy of tumblr.com
    It wasn’t until the 1790’s when women started to create the first trends in fashion.  The first trend was empire style dresses.  Women would get ideas about fashion not from designers, but rather from their children's dolls clothing, and would copy these items of clothing.   
    Today, I never thought that a simple piece of clothing or trend could cause an outrage, but history has proven that clothing can catch people’s attention.  One hot topic currently is dress codes in schools and girls being more penalized than boys.  When I was in high school, I was asked to put on a sweater because my tank top straps were too thin, but no guy in my school ever got asked to put on a sweatshirt for violating the dress code.  For example, guys would wear a cut out workout shirt, that pretty much both sides of it were missing, and never be questioned.  Bloomers where the first piece of clothing linked to women's rights. Bloomers were ankle-length pants, that were worn with a mid length dress. Even though few women did wear this style, it caused a public outrage because traditionally women were not seen wearing pants.  
Photo courtesy of us.com
    Unlike famous celebrities in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, celebrities today are making a lot of money endorsing products.  In 1908, Paul Poiret designed the first corsetless dress.  A corset was used in all dresses before this.  A corset is a tightly fitted undergarment that is tied in the back worn to shape the figure of the women.  The reason they used corsets at that time was to make women look skinnier; their belief was it would make them more appealing to men.  A few years back, I had to wear a corset for a halloween costume and it was possibly the most uncomfortable piece of clothing I’ve ever worn. Today they’re not called corsets anymore, they are called “waist trainers” and are being endorsed most famously by The Kardashians.  The Kardashians are a popular family from a reality show and have one of the biggest followings on social media.  Body image is a problem that affects everyone and one of the biggest issues is how society views beauty.  Feminist and proponents of health and hygiene were criticizing the problems with the corset years before it was removed from all dresses. When people endorse these it is taking a step back from there being a positive change in society's view of beauty. 
Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
    Fashion itself has always been a very controversial world. It’s constantly being changed by designers and society.  Some of those changes are supported and some are highly criticized.   One of the most recent successes in fashion is American Eagle's company Arie.  Photoshop is used in all fashion photography, whether if it is only a picture of a dress on a site or a national magazine cover. Recently, Kerry Washington spoke out about how there was so much Photoshop used on her cover, she couldn’t even recognize herself.  Arie is the first company to use no Photoshop on any of their models and are using models of every body type.  It was a risky move because no one has done it before, which is what fashion is all about. 

Friday, April 22, 2016

Why You Need to Start Drinking Driftaway

 
Photo courtesy of driftaway.coffee
My favorite thing about Driftaway Coffee, besides the product itself, is how they started. Like Driftaway Coffee, I was also feeling a little stuck.  I was stuck in a major I despised, while they were stuck in a life they were just content with.  Like me, they took a risk and decided to start Driftaway Coffee.
Photo courtesy of youtube.com

COA- Columbia 9.7

Photo courtesy of food52.com

Coa is a medium roast coffee from Huila.  Huila is bordered by the eastern and central mountains that run through Columbia. 



RMP- Rwanda 8.6
Photo courtesy of driftaway.coffee

When you buy a product, you want them to be passionate about it, not just creating a product to make money off.  Driftaway makes exceptional coffee that smells better than anything you could get at Starbucks.


Mel- Mexico 8.6
Photo courtesy of almostmakesperfect.com

Mel is a medium roast from just north of Guatemala, which is perfect for the late winter months. 

HOB- Honduras 9.5

Photo courtesy of salon.com

To be completely honest, I’m not a coffee addict, and am far from it. What is great about Driftaway is they completely label all their coffee, from what farm the beans are from to what the tasting notes are. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

13 Spring Trends You Need to Know


Honestly, after months of wearing two pairs of pants and losing feeling in my face while I walk to class, I'm more than pumped that the sun is coming out more and sunset is happening later in the day. With every new season comes new trends; and after a little research, I have found the most fashion forward trends for next season.

1. Body Suit


Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
Bodysuits are no longer something you relate to your third grade gymnastics meet. Honestly it solves one of the biggest problems when you wear a shirt you want to tuck into your skirt.  With this trend you never have to worry about your outfit coming out of place. Bodysuits also, in my opinion, show off the body’s figure.
The Trend:
The look:

2. Backless



Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
Don't let backless dresses scare you.  One of the most underrated parts of the body is the back, and it's about time people start showing theirs off.  One of the biggest myths is that you have to wear a bra with every outfit, but it couldn't be more opposite of the truth.  If you are worried about that, many of these dresses have built in shelfs, or they also have backless bras.
The trend:
ASOS 
The look:

3. All White

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
Last week, when I was watching the new show on ABC called The Catch, one of the actresses was wearing an outfit with multiple pieces, all in white, and it was absolutely amazing.  The key to this trend is mixing different shades of white and ivory. 
The look:

4. Denim Skirt

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
This season is bringing back some of the major trends and colors of the 70’s.  One of the biggest being button up skirts.
The Trend:
The Look:

5. Destroyed Denim

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu

I honestly hope this trend did not come from Kanye West's new line, but if it did happen to, it wouldn't be the worst thing he has done all year.  This season, you're going to be seeing clothing especially jeans and oversized sweaters with more rips than normal.
 The trend:
Asos 
The look:
ASOS 

6. Peach

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
Spring is all about pastels and this season, peach is going to be the most popular.  One of the biggest problems with wearing peach is you have to make sure it doesn't wash you out; this can be challenging in the early spring months before you have a sweet summer tan.
The look:

7.  Shirt Dress

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
This is one of my favorite things to wear when you're having a lazy spring morning. The best way to achieve this is to pick up a large shirt from your local goodwill. If your shirt tends to look a little baggy, you can always match it was a rope belt.
The trend:
The look:

8.  Pastel Hair

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
This became a trend a few years ago, when someone discovered hair chalks.  The sad part is hair chalks are absolutely horrible for your hair.  Unless you have thick oily hair, they will completely dry it out.  Good for us, Free People now sells their own that doesn't do anything bad to your hair.
The trend:

9. High Waisted

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu

This season is going to be about high waisted everything, from jeans to maxi skirts.  My favorite thing about this trend and high waisted pants is that they are no longer called "mom jeans"
The trend:
H&M 

10. Pleaded

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
There's something about a pleated maxi skirt that is absolutely perfect for any spring afternoon.  The perfect way to wear a maxi skirt in spring is with a simple top, like a tank top or just a tee shirt; pairing it with a light jacket.
The trend:
 ASOS
The look:

11. Braids

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
Instead of messy buns taking over this season, everyone is going to want to have their hair in braids. What I like about this style of braid is it’s not just for your field hockey game, and it kinda has a way to add a little edge to your outfits.
The Trend:
The look:

12. Lace up

Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu
You are going to see lace ups everywhere this season.  They're a super popular swim trend this season.  They are also in many of this seasons dresses, and tops.  What I love about this trend is it adds a very interesting neck line to your outfit.
The trend:
The look:

13. Suede Skirt


Photo courtesy of lookbook.nu

This is the same style as the jean skirt listed above, but this one is in suede.   This fabric is a 70’s inspired piece, that is being brought back.  What I love about this is it adds a nice base to an outfit.  What I mean by that is a lot of spring outfits are about patterns and colors, but this trend is more neutral, which allows you to build off it.
The Trend:
ASOS 

Friday, April 15, 2016

13 Signs You’re a Seeing a "f**k boi"

Photo courtesy of deadline.com

According to Urban dictionary, a "f**k boi" is a guy that will take all the costs to get a girl to sleep with him. They think they are the sh*t, but really they're no cooler than your black coffee.  It is the male equivalent to the "basic bitch" with a little more manipulation.

1. They're a bad tipper

Photo courtesy of thinkprogress.org
Photo courtesy of thinkprogress.org
If they take you somewhere for dinner and when the bill comes they quickly become awkward, it may be the biggest warning sign.  If they leave a pile of change or make you pitch in on the tip, run away fast.

2. They own more Vineyard Vines than you thought possible

Photo courtesy of theodysseyonline.com
Photo courtesy of theodysseyonline.com
Once I was having a conversation with what I would say was a f**k boi, and he did not even know where his colorful whale stamped clothing came from, or even what Martha’s Vineyard was.  If they can't read the label on their clothing, it's a warning.

3. They talk as if they're an athlete on a professional sports team

Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
Sports are great, I love sports, but if you have to hear about every play of the Patriot’s game, I hope you're also having the pleasure of Gronks company.

4. Shirtless Bathroom Selfies

Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
No guy should ever do this, no matter how in shape or attractive they are.  Mirror selfies are never okay.

5. Place or name dropping

Gif Courtesy of rebloggy.com
Gif Courtesy of rebloggy.com
Cool, you've been to Monaco and met Grace Kelly's granddaughter, I really don't care.

6. Using Instagram like a 14 year old girl

Photo courtesy of designtaxi.com
Photo courtesy of designtaxi.com
Something you probably wouldn't ever of guessed is guys are possibly the most critical when it comes to girls’ Instagram. They look at all the pictures from three years ago, and try to get to know you from your senior prom pics.  Maybe try talking to them?

7. Documenting every trip to the gym

Photo courtesy of time4selfie.com
Photo courtesy of time4selfie.com
I'm done seeing way too cut out wife beater tanks, and please can we get another name for those.  If you need to snapchat every time you go to the gym, maybe try to find another hobby.

8. They won't date till after college, and she must be a 10.5

Gif courtesy of hercampus.com
Gif courtesy of hercampus.com
Yes, this is a line from one of the biggest fuck boi's I've ever met.  Sorry hun, but no one that is an all around 10.5 is going to want to date you, especially when she hears about how badly you have treated women.

9. Bragging about how many people they've been with

Gif courtesy of tumblr.com
Gif courtesy of tumblr.com
I just love it when I'm in class and sit in front or behind the varsity athletes and I hear about their "conquests". Please keep it in a closed in environment, or maybe have some respect for her and not share all the gory details.

10. They make "plans" after 10pm

Meme courtesy of quickmeme.com
Meme courtesy of quickmeme.com
My rule is never text back a guy that will text you at 10pm asking what you're doing.  He clearly does not care about your plans, because by 10pm you're out with your friends.  Chicks over dicks.

11.  They wait ten years to respond

Photo courtesy of capofrontd.tk
Photo courtesy of capofrontd.tk
It takes about point five seconds to respond to pretty much any text message. Yes, some you need a couple minutes to think about what to say.  But, if he takes more than three hours and he's updated his snapchat story, delete his number and don't look back.

12. They’re selfish between the sheets

Photo courtesy of cbslocal.com
Photo courtesy of cbslocal.com
If he doesn't do it for you the first time, chances are he won't do it any following time.  Never waste your time with someone who doesn't care about your time in bed.

13. They know Lululemon doesn't just sell women's clothing

Photo courtesy of loubiesandlulu.com
Photo courtesy of loubiesandlulu.com
If he knows that Lululemon is not just a place that sells yoga pants, then he probably cares more about his looks than anything else.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Solutions for every dorm room problem

Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
Dorm rooms are actually the worst thing ever.  You’re paying $1,000 a month for a 10 by 10 room that smells like old chinese food, because your windows are stuck closed. But you have to deal with it, so I’m here to help.

If Your Dorm Doesn't Have...Kitchen Storage
Photo courtesy of hgtv.com
 You’re going to get sick of eating at the dining hall and you’re going to eat at least two weeks in your room.  The only problem is even if you’re lucky enough to have storage in door, chances are your printer and books has taken up most of the room.  


Photo courtesy of hgtv.com
 If you have a closet or wardrobe, bring a storage container and place your kitchenwares in there and put it on the top.  Unless it’s a coffee mug, you’re not going to be needing it every day.  If you place it uptop, it won’t take up empty room in your dorm.
Cute cart: Bonanza
Boxes: Target 


If Your Dorm Doesn't Have...A good closet
Photo courtesy of campusriot.com
 For starters, do not bring too much clothing to school.  Even if it’s really cute and you think you’ll need it, chances are you won't.


If Your Dorm Doesn't Have...Good Lighting
Photo courtesy of campusgrotto.com
 Dorm rooms have horrible lighting, whenever I try to take any photos, it turns out yellow.  If you can, take advantage of the natural light or buy lighting for your room.  

If Your Dorm Doesn't Have...Adequate Light Exposure

Photo courtesy of wordpress.com
My dorm room is on the first floor, right next to a sidewalk, so sadly my window is covered up by blinds and a curtain. To add a little light to your room, add a mirror to your wall.  The light will bounce off the mirror and create brightness.