Happy Easter

I hope everyone had a nice holiday! For everyone who may have overindulged on this hoppy holiday, here are a couple of work out tips!

1. Don't workout hungry: if you work out on an empty stomach then you are going to be less likely to want or enjoy doing the exercise. If you have a light snack before going to the gym or on a run then you will enjoy it that much more. Also, on another note, don't have a large meal before you work out because you might cramp up.

2. Work out with a friend: if you find a workout buddy then you will be more likely to stick to a schedule and will be more motivated to do your best. When you are working out with someone then there is also always that possibility of getting competitive, which will make your workout more effective.

3. Keep track of your workouts: this will allow you to see what progress you are making as well as if you aren't putting in the effort. These records will be solid information so you won't be able to convince yourself that you are working out more than you actually are.

4. Don't weigh yourself daily: this leads to disappointment in not having noticeable improvement every day. If you really want to track your weight then you should weigh yourself maybe once a week. If you don't see noticeable improvement then don't get too worried because sometimes it takes time to see a difference.

5. Have fun: if you don't enjoy the exercise you are doing, then you are not doing it right. There are many  different ways to exercise and not all of them are going to be fun for everyone. I enjoy lifting weights and playing field hockey, but most people don't enjoy either of these things. Some people might just like walking with a friend for half an hour or doing a low impact exercise like yoga. It is all about finding your niche and keeping a steady schedule. 

So, now that you know some things to avoid and to do for exercise then go out there and "just do it"!

Organization

With finals coming up in a couple of weeks, I thought I would write a post about organization. This is one of the best skills that a college student can master as an undergraduate. With academics, work, athletics, school involvement and a social life there just is not time to lose track of what you are doing. With this, I am going to suggest some helpful organizational tips along with a few websites that I find useful.

1. Write EVERYTHING down
If your professor or boss assigns you something, then you better have a pencil ready to jot it down. These are the people who will be writing recommendation for you in the future and you want to make sure you are doing everything to earn their respect. Not to mention, forgetting about an assignment is the easiest way to drop down your grade by a whole letter.

2. Schedule your day
Does this mean having a planner always in your bag and ready to go? No. This means having an idea of when you have class, work, practice, etc. The easiest way for me to do this is in my email calendar. This allows me to schedule class time, work, practice and socializing with friends. Without this tool, I would be constantly double booking my time as well as overbooking inconvenient times such as the day before a test. This also allows you to figure out which times should be dedicated to studying, cooking dinner, and cleaning.

3. Have a task list
This is actually one of those mundane things that would make my life a whole lot easier, but I just don't utilize enough. A task list allows you to check off things that have been completed as well as reprioritize during a time crunch. Also, it is so much more fulfilling to cross off a daunting task then just moving on to the next thing.

4. Fashion
How can you be fashionably organized? Well, the closet is a great place to start. People don't realize how much time they waste each day just by getting dressed. If your closet is organized enough to be able to pick out which outfit to wear in under five minutes then you could probably teach me a few things! However, most closets that I have seen are a complete mess. If you organize your clothing into sections based on the style that you would wear them then that will save you some time, such as by career, party, and casual. This will save you time from shifting through all of the stuff that is definitely not appropriate for class.

Websites to keep you organized:
Soshiku
Soshiku  is a must have for any stressed out college student. I just came across it this past week and it has been a life saver in one of my busiest weeks this term. A free sign up allows you to load five courses at a time and manage assignments and break them down by task. It will send email and/or text message reminders for assignments so you will never forget about one again! This will be an amazing tool for next year when I am working on my senior research project and have too many tasks to keep straight in my head.

FellowUp
Fellow Up is a website that allows you to manage your linkedin, facebook, and email all in the same place. It will give you reminders about people's birthdays and special events so it will be easier to maintain network connections as well as reduce the number of websites you need to check at a time.

RefWorks
Ref Works is great if you are doing a term paper or something that has a lot of references. It will save each reference with the information that you ask it to and can format it to fit the requirements for your format. The only downside is that there is not a free signup. However, contact your school librarian and he or she may be able to help you set one up.

Are there any methods or websites that you use to stay organized? 

Top College Fashion Bloggers

Some of the best places to be inspired by fashion is through websites and other bloggers who share your passion for fashion. Here are some of my favorite blogs about fashion:

The College Prepster
This is a blog written by a college student just like us and she provides information about top designers and has giveaways about once a month. One of the best parts about her blog is that she knows what its like to deal with finals and the pressure of being in college.

College Fashion
This is a great blog about everything you would want to know about college fashion. They provide great perspectives on what to wear in different situations and information about new trends as well. The only downside is that there are many writers for this blog so it is difficult to remain as connected.

College Candy
This is a website for college women and the fashion section is just one part of this site.  There is a plethora of information regarding fashion, relationships and funny  stuff on the web. The only down side is that the fashion section is not regularly updated and the full article is not displayed on the main page.


Who are some of your favorite bloggers?

The Little Black Dress

The little black dress is a wardrobe staple that every fashionista must have in her wardrobe. It is important to very your accessories and you will have a different outfit every time!

 Outfit One: Party Time

Dress, Ring, Earrings, Cardigan, Heels, and Belt

Outfit one is perfect for a night out on the town. A little black dress can never go wrong as long as it is paired with the right accessories. An empire waist will hide curves around the stomach and hips area and show off your waistline! The cardigan will allow you to transition from a nice dinner to a place like a club. The belt can be worn with just the dress or over the cardigan for a more conservative look. The owl earrings and leaf show a connection to nature and owls are also a symbol of wisdom. Finally, the strappy heels add a sexy touch  to this outfit as well as a complement for the belt. 

The best thing about this outfit as a whole is that many of these pieces are interchangeable. If you want a more conservative look for class then a pair of flats in a color that matches the belt or a neutral would tone it down.

Outfit Two: Date Night

Dress, Necklace, Shoes, Clutch, and Ring

Outfit Two is meant for a classy date. Show off your curves with  a little black bandage dress. Wear low heels for comfort. A small clutch is all you need to store your keys, lip gloss, and small wallet. Finally, finish off the outfit with classy understated jewelry. Pearls keep an outfit put together without overwhelming it.

This dress could be used to go clubbing, but is not appropriate for day wear. It also is not a dress to wear unless you are very comfortable with your body. It will not hide any unflattering curves.

The LBD is a closet staple and can be worn in many different ways depending on accessories. Find one that is well put together and flatters your body type and you can't go wrong.