Sock Bun

   Way back in January, I promised a post about my sock bun (featured in this post).  Finally, I've gotten to it.  Here is what I did:

1. Cut the foot off a knee-high sock
2. Roll the sock into a donut shape
3. Pull your hair into a pony tail
4. Thread the pony tail into your donut-shaped sock, rolling hair under as you go
5. Continue until the sock is right up next to your head
6. Secure with bobby pins and/or hairspray

If you'd like some more detailed instructions, try this video tutorial here, to just search YouTube for "sock bun tutorial".  Helpful hint - try to use a sock that matches your hair color, in case it peeks through!

Tyler's Sporting Goods

   Next up on my list of favorite places to shop in Austin - Tyler's.  Tyler's is an athletic clothing store known for a mix of genuine athletic clothes, lake gear (think wake boarding and water skiing), and unique, local flavor.  They are best known for their "Keep Austin Weird (support your local businesses)" shirts:

but they have a lot of other great, local-flavor products as well.  My favorite?  The Texas Flag shorts:

which are available in Texas college colors, as well as red, white, and blue.  If you're in the market for a pair of cross trainers, casual shoes, swimsuit, running shorts, or a just-tacky-enough t-shirt, check out Tyler's, with three Austin locations (and sister stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Tyler, TX areas).

All images from Tyler's website

How To Give Yourself a Pep Talk

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    'Tis the season... for college students to apply for jobs.  I literally have a list of several dozen places to apply in the next few weeks, and in this economy, the more applications you send out, the better.  Of course, you can't just spam employers: each one needs a fairly tailored resume, and a personalized cover letter.  Your resume will mostly speak for itself: that's the place to quantify your achievements in (reasonable) detail.  However, you have to get your resume read in the first place.  And that means bragging in your cover letter.
   Bragging does not come naturally to me, yet it is necessary.  If you are not confident in your achievements, how can a potential employer be confident that you will make a good employee?  For those that don't enjoy promoting their own achievements (like me), here are a few ways that I pump myself up to write that cover letter:

1. Reflect on your experience.  What did you enjoy doing the most?  This is what you will be best at.
2. Reflect on compliments you've gotten in the past.  Are you teachable?  Efficient?  A team player?  Professional?  Highlight those things.
3. Picture yourself a year or two ago.  Look how far you've come!  Now picture yourself in five to ten years.  Think of how far you can go.
4. Reflect on your proudest moment.  For me, that was realizing that people all over town experienced the effects of my work.  Even if you can't quantify it, it is still important.
5. Think about why you want the job, and why you would be a perfect fit.  Then go prove that you're that perfect fit!

Getting Back Into a Routine

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    I can't be the only one who is far, far more productive when I have a routine to follow.  At school it's easy - dictated by classes, extracurriculars, and meetings with friends.  It's roughly the same when I'm working: obligations provide a schedule and a routine.  But what about when you have no set obligations or schedule, and a lot to do?  I make the routine myself.
   Christmas vacation is a big temptation to slack off, since it is too short to intern or take a job (unless you're picking up a job you've already done).  So in order to get things done, I impose a routine for myself in several ways.

1. Set an alarm to wake up.  Otherwise, you can't guarantee that you'll have enough time to do everything.
2. Write your to-do list the night before.  
3. Cross each task off.
4. Don't overload it - you still want to enjoy your vacation, of course!
5. Look the part.  Spending all day in pajamas will only make you lazy.
6. Schedule something, anything: a work out, errands, lunch with a friend.  Just do something to make your schedule hard and fast.  
7. If you get off track, get back on.  Work harder to catch up.
8. Schedule breaks - you are more productive when you let yourself relax a little.
9. Keep your evenings free for social time or relaxing.
10. Keep your eye on the prize!  Whether it's getting back in shape, searching for a job (like me), or just getting a lot of chores done, think of how great it will feel to be done.  Write down reminders, if you need to.

How do you get yourself back into a routine?

Headed Home

   By the time this post goes up, I will already be home, and well on my way out again.  I have an eventful holiday coming up, but it's all fun stuff, so it's all good.  Still, as I'm writing this, I am about 5 hours away from waking up for my ride to the airport at the crack of dawn, and so obviously this makes a great time to share my traveling tips.  Since I go to school about halfway across the country from my home (over 1,000 miles!), I only drive home for the summer: I fly for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break.  In fact, until last year (when I brought my car to school), I flew for every holiday.  Suffice to say, I have flown a lot in the last three and a half years.
   When I fly, I always make sure to have a few things with me, in my carry-on bags (I love that you can take two bags - it gives me room for all the odds and ends I forgot to pack in my suitcase).

1. Laptop computer and charger - because suitcases get roughed up, and I need my laptop to stay safe.  Also, it's great for watching movies.  Which brings me to...
2. Movie - I like to rent one from iTunes, so that it will be new and interesting.  This trip, it's Evening.
3. A book for pleasure - unless I have urgent homework, in which case I do homework instead.
4. A jacket - because planes tend to be cool.
5. Hand sanitizer and gum - to keep clean and fresh.
6. A water bottle, lip balm, and lotion - to stay hydrated, because airplane air is very dry.
7. Headphones - for the movie.
8. A notebook and pen - in case inspiration strikes.

Did I miss anything?

How To Host a White Elephant Party

 

   Hosting a White Elephant gift exchange has become my favorite holiday tradition.  It's a great way for us college students to get together and blow off some stress, while having some good, clean fun.  It's also a great way for all of our friends from different parts of our lives to However, it takes a little know-how.  Here's how you can prepare:

1.  Get things done ahead of time!  Refreshments always take longer to prepare than you think.

2.  Festive decorations are always a plus, and show some forethought

3.  The White Elephant Game: 

Unwrapping a gift

Also called a "dirty Santa", "Yankee Swap", or other names, the point of this game is humor.  I've been to serious games where guests swap Christmas ornaments, etc, but I prefer games with gag gifts (last year I gave away a set of my friends clothes, which he didn't know I had stolen).  I suggest you put a price limit or similar condition on the game (such as, you must give away something from your room).  When your guests are assembled and you are ready to begin, count the number of players.  For each player, number a slip of paper and put it in a bowl (so if you have 20 players, you have 20 slips of paper, numbered 1-20).  Each player draws a number, indicating which turn they will have.  When their turn comes up, they can choose to pick an item from the unopened pile, or steal someone else's gift.  I like to let my guests open their gifts, so stealers know what they're stealing, but you can keep them wrapped, too.  I suggest placing a limit on the number of times an item can be stolen (I say three times).

Once everyone has taken a turn, give the first player an opportunity to steal something.  If someone needs a reminder of which gifts are still "in play", they can call for a "gift check".  Make sure to ask your guests to wrap their gifts - otherwise, the least desirable gift will be left last, and there will be lots of stealing, and no one will want to take it.

Christmas To-Do List

   Finals are behind me, and I am officially on Christmas break!  As usual, I have made a to-do list for this wonderful occasion.  So I thought I'd share it with you.

1. Read for pleasure!  Water For Elephants and maybe the Hunger Games series?
2. Sleep.  Enough said.
3. Run (with my dog) more often.
4. Finish the sweater I am knitting (yes, I might as well start getting cats now, because that's where I am headed).
5. Cut my caffeine intake - not entirely, though.
6. Get a haircut.
7. Catch up with home friends and family.
8. Send out a billion cover letters and resumes (three cheers for the job search).
9. Catch up on Glee (my guilty pleasure, which I haven't seen since last spring).
10. Blog more often.

What's on your vacation to-do list?

Final Exams: The Day Of

   My last post gave you a few of my strategies for a (relatively) good final exams period.  But after all of that studying, you eventually have to take your test.  Here's what I do on the morning of the exam to get myself through in good shape.

1. Wake up at least an hour before your exam (this is a tip from my SAT prep teacher - applicable to any test, really!).  You want to make sure your blood is pumping and you're fully awake!
2. Eat breakfast.  I don't put much weight in "brain foods", but eating a healthy breakfast before a test cannot hurt.  I usually eat apple slices and peanut butter  or a cup of oatmeal.  I recommend something with fiber and protein, so that you will stay full.
3. That being said, bring food and drink for your test.  Always, always bring a water bottle (exams are long, and thirst is distracting).  If your professor or teacher lets you, consider bringing a quiet snack, so that you don't distract people if you get the munchies.  I recommend a soft granola bar (such as a NutriGrain bar) or dried fruit (like raisins).
4. Pick your clothes carefully.  Anything too casual, for instance, makes me feel like I'm in pajamas, and I get sleepy.  However, business formal attire is not comfortable and therefore distracting.  I usually go with jeans or chinos and a button-down shirt.  
5. Same goes for shoes - don't wear anything distracting, but don't wear your slippers.  I always wear ballet flats, because riding boots distract me when I cross my legs, and sandals (in the spring) sometimes leave my toes cold.
6. Wear or bring a watch so that you can set a pace for your exam, then keep it.  Don't actually wear the watch unless you find it comfortable.
7. Don't wear any strong perfume - it may distract you or your classmates.
8. Sit in your usual seat, if possible.  You never know what kind of memories familiarity might jog - it might just help you remember the answer to that one question you forgot!
9. Take a break - most professors (unless they're just really cruel) will let you take a bathroom break. Do it.  Stretch, sigh, and give yourself a pep talk.
10. Breathe!  When people are nervous, they tend to take shallow breaths.  This feeds into feelings of stress, in my experience, and stress helps no one.  You have prepared for this; you can do it!

Fellow students, Christmas break is within reach!  You're almost there!

Final Exams

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   It's final exam season for college students like me.  By the time I publish this post, I'll be done with one, with four more to go.  These things are getting me through:

1. Coffee.  But not before bed - you'd hate to stay up too late and sleep through your exam!
2. The knowledge that it will all soon be over.
3. Making a study plan and sticking to it.
4. Taking regular study breaks and rewarding yourself for reaching studying milestones.
5. Exercise - to clear my mind and keep up my energy!

College students, how are you getting through exams?

We We We So Excited

   I'm thrilled about my first Rue La La purchase!  It was my first time getting something from one of these online, members-only sale sites, and my shoes were over 50% off.  One of Rue La La's great features is that even after something sells out, they will still try to get it for you if you request it (either by finding more samples to sell or by selling returned items).  That's what I did, and it was still at the same low price!  Rue La La also features preppy clothing lines, which I love.  The hefty sticker price for brands like Lilly Pulitzer or Vineyard Vines comes from the prestige of the brand - the clothing is good, but not hundreds-of-dollars-for-a-simple-dress good.  Sales, then, are ideal.
   Here are a few pictures of my shoes!  By the way, they fit perfectly true to size - my 8.5 pair fits like a dream.

They came early!  Great way to shake a case of the Mondays.

Classic Jack Rogers "Navajo" detailing.  Note the gingerbread house kit in the background...

Perfect fit!

If you didn't catch the reference in the title, watch this music video (especially 2:15):

Black Friday Loot

   Normally, I'm not one for Black Friday (I'm more of a "Cyber Monday" kind of girl - no crowds, no need to wake up before dawn), but I did get four wonderful things on Black Friday yesterday.  I don't know if they quite qualify as Black Friday shopping, because I wasn't fighting crowds, but here it goes:

2012 planner and pen from Silver Papery

Display at Silver Papery

This little gem of a stationery shop is right in my neighborhood!  I love that they carry Lifeguard Press products, but the Jonathan Adler planner I had my eye on was too flimsy (tragic), and this one looks a little more professional to me.  Also, this planner from Graphic Image (although the planner says "Post" on the back), and gives you a full page for each day with hour-by-hour scheduling.  I love it - I do this anyway!

Daily Planning Detail

Coffee mug and Lola Savannah Flavored Coffee

This coffee mug comes from TAG (or Trade Associates Group), but I found it at Central Market in Austin.  Just a warning - their website plays music, so don't be startled like I was!  I love how big the coffee cup is (see this post for more on my love for coffee), and how it gets wider, almost like a bowl (which, by the way, is how lattes are served in Italy, if my memory serves - they're practically in bowls). 

I am usually hesitant about making flavored coffee (better leave that to the pro's), but this blend sounded too good and I went ahead and bought some: Lola Savannah's vanilla cinnamon pecan coffee.  Oh goodness, it's amazing!  Definitely worth $9 a pound.  Lola Savannah's coffee is responsibly grown (see more here) and roasted in Texas.  Get some for yourself!

Rue La La

   Have you ever used a site like Rue La La?  It's one of several similar sites that are popping up which bring curated merchandise to their members for special sales (I'm registered with Rue La La, Rent the Runway, Kembrel, Shop It To Me, and Joss & Main).  Some of these sites have neat nuances: Kembrel is limited to college students, for instance, and Joss & Main specializes in homewares.  As far as I can tell, all of their sales come from sample sales, so there is a limited quantity, but such a lower price.  My first purchase shipped today (Wednesday), and it's due next week... I'm excited!  I can't wait to try on my shoes!

   PS - One thing I like a lot about Rue La La is that they include preppy companies - Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rodgers, Vineyard Vines... I love it!

Roll-Out-Of-Bed Hair-Do

   It's a fact of life: every now and then, we all oversleep.  I've been there way too many times - you sleep through your alarm, and you have 10 minutes to get out the door.  That 10 minutes is just long enough to realize that you really look like you just rolled out of bed - and no one wants that.  Thankfully, there is a way to style your hair that takes virtually no time and is as easy as a walk in the park (I literally did this hair-do as I walked to class yesterday).
  All you need to do is part your hair to the side and french braid it from the part, along your hairline, toward your ear (if you don't know how to french braid your own hair, try this tutorial).  Next, gather all of your hair in a pony tail at the nape of your neck, and form a loose, loose bun with an elastic hair-tie.  Tuck any remaining hairs into your hair-tie, and you're finished!
  It looks good as it loosens up.  If you have layers around your face, you might need to grab a few bobby pins to keep your bangs in line.  It can last for hours, and it even hides unwashed hair fairly well!

Finished product

Dark Circle Salvation

   Dark circles: the bane of the college girl's existence.  Yesterday, I woke up with an awful case of dark circles under my eyes.  Here's how I fixed them, without going overboard on makeup:

Before :(

1.  Wash your face and moisturize!  I recommend Bobbi Brown's eye cream, but if you're on a budget, Olay makes a good one, too (and it smells like roses!).
2. Cover the area under your eye with concealer (I suggest Bare Minerals, so that it doesn't look cake-y).
3. Apply foundation/powder, mascara, and any other makeup you typically wear (I use Bare Minerals and Maybelline mascara - all mascara is basically the same).  Wear two coats of mascara, to distract from your under-eyes.
4. Add another coat of concealer, and voila!  You've hidden those dark circles.
5. Get more sleep tonight!

After :)

Motivation to Make Your Bed Today

Preppy, monogrammed bed!  Found here.

   When I roll out of bed in the morning, the last thing I want to do is make my bed (I'd rather just get right back in it).  Don't do it!  Making your bed is an important way to start off the day, for at least 10 reasons:

1. It makes your room look so much cleaner.
2. It discourages you from climbing back in and napping, making you more productive later.
3. It makes you feel more put-together and organized.
4. It makes going to sleep at the end of the day that much more satisfying.
5. It helps fresh sheet day last longer!
6. It keeps random stuff (dirt, snacks, whatever you track in on your clothes, etc) out of your bed.
7. It will make your mama proud.
8. It will make your room mate happy, if you have one (and encourage him/her to make his/her bed, too!)
9. Some say it boosts happiness...
10. It makes you feel better about your room and your own responsibility.

Theme For The Week: Caffine

   Senior year is turning out to be very much a "work hard, play hard" kind of year.  So as another busy week begins, I turn to my dear old friend, coffee:

Images found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Good Feeling

Flo Rida - Good Feeling (Deluxe School Edit) by Deluxehungary

   Sometimes, I get a good feeling.  Sometimes, I need a good feeling (hello there, midterms).  Tonight is a long paper-writing night, but here are a few ways to get through:

1. Try not to drink coffee or energy drinks.  You will probably have to get up early(ish) in the morning, so any sleep you can get will be very important!
2. Drink plenty of water and eat, so that your brain will function as well as possible.
3. Take a five minute break for every 30 minutes of work.
4. Listen to energizing music!  (like the track above this post!)
5. If you need to shower, save it for a time you think you will start getting tired.  Rinsing off always wakes me up.

   To anyone else out there taking exams and writing papers, good luck!

Belated Gratitude

Better late than never, right?  In no particular order...

1.  Fall!  For arriving.  Cool mornings and chilly evenings... I love it.

2.  CS and AG for jumping the wall of the Governor's Palace with LM and I.

Love traditions.

3.  The football team, for pulling off a win.  Still needs some work, boys.

4.  LM for visiting me here at school, and thinking about coming here too! (Go Tribe!)

5.  HOMECOMING happening this week!

6.  The fact that eventually, midterms will be over.

7.  Clean sheet day :)

8.  Sales at the J. Crew Outlet - seriously saves my wallet

9.  Sweet Frog, for introducing a "Thin Mint" flavor

10.  I am thankful for sleep.

What I Wore Wednesday

   Midterms = time to buckle down, focus, and work hard!  I have a philosophy from high school sports that I apply to tests: look good, play good (ignore the grammatical errors, just this once...).  If I dress studiously, I tend to be more studious!  So here's one of my studious outfits this week:

Blazer: J. Crew

Tank top: J. Crew

Jeans: Paige

Boots: Frye

And since I've been doing a lot of studying this week, here's another studious outfit!

Sweater: J. Crew

Necklace: J. Crew (last year)

Tote bag: Longchamp

Jeans: Joe's

 Gotta show off the shoes: J. Crew

Delicious, Quick Breakfast

   Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they say, but it is also the one I'm tempted to put the least effort into.  Oatmeal, though, is a great solution!  You just combine the ingredients, microwave, and let it sit for a few minutes, and voila!  A quick, filling, healthy breakfast.  To break up the monotony of plain oatmeal, I've started adding in some of my favorite foods.  Today was peanut butter!

1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 cup skim milk, 1 tablespoon peanut butter.

Combine oats and milk, microwave for 3 minutes.  Let sit for 5+ minutes.  Stir in peanut butter while still warm.  Enjoy!