Tag: college student

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Fabulous living

Fall Semester Recap 2019-last one!!!

And we finished the raceā€¦.

What a semester it has been. It has been a few months of many lasts but some firsts too. Last weekend working, last Founderā€™s day, last Halloween, last staff meeting, last time ever going to class and being a student. Itā€™s a weird feeling knowing that I will never be a student again. Yet, itā€™s also exciting that I will be starting a new journey after college. 

 My semester has consisted of hours studying and writing papers, working long hours, making new friends and taking adventures to get brunch or shopping, applying for jobs and interviewing, maintaining traditions with friends and through school, going through all the lasts and saying goodbye to college. I knew this semester would go by fast but I never thought that I would blink and it would be over. Whenever someone asked me how this semester has been going, I have said the same thing, ā€œitā€™s been busyā€. That has been the honest truth, some weeks I had a full planner and pulling 16 hour days, other weekends were spent doing homework and work since my weeks were so busy. Although, this was my most challenging and busiest semester, I donā€™t regret a thing. I have loved everything that I have been involved in.  Iā€™m truly going to miss my time in college. My college series will conclude next week with a thank you to the place that has impacted me the most.

Now, letā€™s recap what this semester has been likeā€¦

In August, I moved back to school one last time. I went through a few weeks of training for work before classes began.

Last time at training before the year started

 My classes schedule kept me very busy and it was by far my most challenging classes, but I learned a lot.

First day of senior year!

I spent Labor Day weekend by seeing the Jonas Brothers in concert which was so fun and a great way to start the year. 

Seeing the Jonas Brothers was incredible

September was filled with working most weekends and all the homework. It kept me busy and I was very productive. I spent weekends getting brunch or trying new places with friends. 

October brought homecoming, fall break home, and Halloween.

Homecoming with Danielle

It was so much fun to see friends old and new and celebrate fall. I finished my last weekend working which was a huge accomplishment.Ā 

I kicked off fall break with a fall fest
Halloween with Danielle

November brought the end of the semester, Founderā€™s Day, Light Up Night, and Thanksgiving break, which was much needed. 

Last Founder’s Day
Light Up Night with Danielle

Following Thanksgiving brought the last week of classes.

Last time being in my room

This last week was filled with last nights of working, presenting portfolios, my last staff meeting, and my last time ever being in class.Ā 

My sweet staff planned the best surprise for my last meeting

Now, I am just finishing finals week. I canā€™t believe how fast my time in college has gone. I have started saying many goodbyes, knowing that I may never see some people who made a huge impact on me ever again. College is a weird thing because for four or (three and a half) years you spend all your time with people who become family to you whether they are friends, professors, advisors, or mentors and then you have to leave and start all over and move on. Iā€™m so lucky to have found a place that makes saying goodbye so hard. On Saturday, I will graduate and although, I am very excited, I will miss this place more than I can describe. The biggest things that I have taken away from this semester is: itā€™s never too late to make new friends, because they may become your closest ones, never give up, always push yourself even more and it will pay off, and God has a plan, once you surrender yourself to him thatā€™s when things start to happen. 

Iā€™ll see you on Thursdayā€¦xoxo

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Fabulous living

Senior Year…ALL IN!

Hi everyone! Happy Tuesdayā€¦itā€™s my LAST, first week of school. These past few weeks have been so busy since I have been back to school, between training, learning, seeing friends, moving into my last college dorm and starting classes, it has been a whirlwind of activities.Ā Ā Am soaking it all up because I know these will be my lastsā€¦last move in weekend, last training, last first day of school. This past Sunday, I took some time to reflect on starting my last semester of collegeā€¦hereā€™s my thoughts on itā€¦

Senior year…here we GO!

“Itā€™s Sunday, tomorrow is my last first day of schoolā€¦EVER. Itā€™s weird to think that after tomorrow, I will never have another first day of school. I remember my first day of Kindergarten, high school and college. All big days, and tomorrow is no less a big day.
Ā 
I have always loved school and going to school. I loved laying out my clothes the night before, buying fresh supplies for the new year, taking the picture outside of our home, and coming home to a special treat from my mom while we shared about our first day. There is just something about the first day that brings me so much JOY and excitement!
Ā 
I only have one more semester of college. Itā€™s weird to think that by Christmas I will be done with school and being saying goodbye to a place that has been a HUGE part of my life story, a place where I grew, gained confidence, made lifelong friends, and created incredible memories. Thankfully, I still have a few months before I say goodbye and start a new chapter in my life.Ā 


So, what does these next few months hold? Lots of classes, homework, reading, studying, working, applying for jobs, spending time with friends, crossing off college bucket lists, doing all the senior things, and celebrating milestones.Ā 
Ā 
This past week, I was at Mass and the priest shared about going all in and immersing yourself in your life and that really resonated with me. These next few months, I am going ALL IN, doing as much as I can, working my hardest, getting involved with my favorite organizations, meeting new friends, stepping out of my comfort zone, and living up my last time as a college student. I have no idea what comes after college, yes, I will be getting a job and working, but itā€™s exciting to not know where I could end up or what I will be doing. When my friends come back to classes after Christmas, I will be working.
Ā 
Many people have told me that your years in college will be the best time of your life, and I have to agree, I love the person I have become thanks to the people I met and the opportunities I have done while in college. I have met so many people who have shaped me into the person I am today, and this school will always hold a special place in my heart. I canā€™t wait to see what these next few months bringsā€¦senior yearā€¦Iā€™m ALL IN!”
Ā 

Categories
Fabulous living

50 Questions

Hi All! I love reading other blogs and learning about others through Q&A’s. I found this Q&A through Laura. She always posts about her cute baby, fitness, and lifestyle. I picked my favorite questions and answered them myself.

A little bit about me!
  1. When are you most inspired?Ā 
    When Iā€™m driving or working out is when I get the best ideas!
  2. If you could teach one subject in school what would it be?Ā 
    English, I love reading and writing and would love to teach!
  3. Whatā€™s your favorite beverage?
    Water or the occasional lemonade in the summer.
  4. Whatā€™s the best compliment youā€™ve ever received?Ā 
    Anything about how I have changed as I have gotten older and more confident in myself.
  5. What is your favorite birthday cake?
    Chocolate with raspberry!Ā 
  6. What is one thing you still have from your childhood?Ā 
    American Girl Dolls, special stuffed animals, and favorite books
  7. Window or aisle seat?
    As much as I love looking out of the window, I want the freedom with the aisle.
  8. What does creativity mean to you?Ā 
    Being able to express myself how I want
  9. What is your favorite holiday?Ā 
    Christmas-l love spending time with family and all the gift givingĀ 
  10. Whatā€™s heavily played on your music playlist right now?
    SO much country!! It has been my go-to music this summer, give me all the Dan and Shay, Thomas Rhett, and Luke Combs!
  11. Must have purse item?Ā 
    Cell Phone
  12. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 12?Ā 
    Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher!!!
  13. What is something you will not be doing in ten years?Ā 
    Being in school!
  14. What is an important life lesson for someone to learn?Ā 
    Be yourself and donā€™t worry about what others will say.Ā 
  15. How do you start your day?Ā 
    Journaling and working out!
  16. Would you ever live anywhere besides PA?
    Yes! I would love to move to someplace newā€¦maybe New York? I have no idea what the future holds which is exciting and nerve racking!
  17. What is your favorite dessert?Ā Ā 
    Ā Warm chocolate chip cookiesā€¦or browniesā€¦I love anything sweet!
  18. Itā€™s brunch! What do you eat?Ā 
    Waffles with fruit!
  19. Where was the best vacation youā€™ve ever taken?Ā 
    Loved visiting Rome this past year and anywhere with my family.
  20. What is a book you are planning on reading?Ā 
    Canā€™t wait for Emily Leyā€™s new book to come out in November!!
  21. What did you read most recently?
    A Reporterā€™s Life: Peter Jennings– my full summer book review is coming soon!
  22. Whatā€™s a city you wish to visit?Ā 
    Paris, France!
  23. Ā Heels or flats?Ā 
    Heels
  24. Where does one go on a perfect road trip?Ā 
    Anywhere near the water.
  25. What do you do on a rainy day?Ā 
    Read, watch movies, bake.
  26. Whatā€™s your favorite exercise?Ā 
    I love going for walks or joggingā€¦I hate running
  27. What was your worst subject in school?Ā 
    Math
  28. What is your spirit animal?
    Elephant
  29. What do you usually eat for breakfast?Ā 
    Toast with fruit or on the weekend, eggs with fruit, sometimes cheeriosā€¦all depends on my mood.
  30. What do you usually eat for dinner?Ā 
    A type of chicken with some type of vegatables.Ā 
  31. Cooking or Baking?Ā 
    I love baking and want to start cooking more.
  32. Favorite baked good?Ā 
    Chocolate Chip Cookies
  33. What is something you wish you could be good at?Ā 
    Not getting overwhelmed all the time
  34. Skiing or Surfing?Ā 
    Skiing!
  35. How do you manage stress?
    Making a list of to doā€™s or talking it out with someone.
  36. What do you do to relax?Ā 
    Read, catch up on movies or tv shows.
  37. Ā Favorite snack?
    Popcorn,Ā Ā pretzels, chocolate.Ā 
  38. Favorite fashion trend of all time?Ā 
    Wedges-comfortable and cute!
  39. What is your current favorite piece of clothing that you own?Ā 
    I have been loving my white jean jacket!
  40. Shoes or Bags?Ā 
    Bags!!!
  41. Television showĀ youā€™ve binged on recently?Ā 
    Outlander
  42. Ā WhoĀ do you turn to when youā€™re sad?Ā 
    My mom/ my best friends
  43. Ā What is your biggest strength?Ā 
    I am super organized
  44. Ā What is your biggest weakness?Ā 
    Saying noā€¦I always overcommitĀ 
  45. Ā What are 3 words to describe living in PA?Ā 
    rain, snow, home
  46. Ā Cutest thing on planet earth?
    Dogs-especially my furbaby!!
  47. Ā Favorite color?Ā 
    Red
  48. Ā Favorite time of day?Ā 
    Early morning ā€”I always get more done in the morning and like how quiet it is.
  49. Ā Whatā€™s your guilty pleasure?Ā 
    Reality tv
  50. Ā Favorite band?Ā 
    All about Thomas Rhett right now

Well that was fun! Pick a few questions and answer them about yourself below!! Have a fabulous week!

Categories
Fabulous living

Keeping Your Small Space Clean and Organized

Hey guys!

Happy Tuesday!

I hope your week is off to a great start! I canā€™t believe how fast time is going. I only have a few more weeks left in my LAST spring semester of college! Where has the time gone?? During my time in college, one of my favorite things and one of the biggest ways I have changed is by living on my own and being independent.

During my freshmen year, I had a roommate (my first time sharing a room), and I couldnā€™t have asked for a better roommate experience. My roomie and I are still best friends.

Remember my sweet friend, Danielle? Yes, we were roommate freshmen year and are still close, if not closer, we see each other multiple times each week. During my first year of college, I got a taste of what itā€™s like to live with someone new and have your own space, that is not home.

We met during Freshmen Orientation, and have been besties since, we have been through the highs and lows of life together

During my sophomore year, I lived alone, and I gained more independence by having a room to myself and being in control of the space.

In my junior year, not only did I still have my own room, but I got my own bathroom as well. Junior year has been the best year for me for many reasons, but having my own room and bathroom has been the absolute best.Ā 

Today, I am sharing how to keep a small space cleaned and organized. I will probably update this post once I graduate but for now, here are the top things you should have in your space! Iā€™m a girl who works best with a routine, this year I made Friday morning my ā€œhouse keepingā€ day, basically I go to the gym, do my wash, change my sheets, clean my room etc. I like to keep it consistent by doing it at the same time every week and itā€™s fresh for the weekend. Here are my tips for keeping your space clean and things to have in your room.

  • Clorox wipes (Itā€™s no secret, I am a neat freak, so you better believe I always have Clorox wipes to clean my room. I am also a schedule person, so every week I set aside time to clean my bedroom, bathroom and get wash done so I am living in a clean space. Itā€™s amazing how fresh your space can feel when you wipe it down with a Clorox wipe, it gets rid of germs and keeps your space smelling clean.)
Top of my list for making sure your dorm stays clean
  • Pledge wipes (Another major must have. Itā€™s amazing how much dust can collect in a small dorm space or apartment. After I clean off my surfaces with Clorox wipes, I use a pledge wipe or two to get all the remaining dust off. Pledge wipes are also great for cleaning off devices, itā€™s crazy how much germs and smudges can be found on laptops, tablets, and cell phones.)
I love how these work on multiple surfaces and devices too!
  • Small Bissell vacuum (I got a small Bissell vacuum this past year and it has been a game changer. It is super light weight, easy to store and it makes cleaning go by much faster. Itā€™s amazing how much traffic our rooms get with people in and out, giving your floor a quick clean will make you feel much better in the end.)
Game Changer for this year, it’s amazing how much dirt and dust can be found on the ground
  • Command hooks (Not a cleaning item, I know. But Command hooks are a must in college dorm, although they can get expensive, you donā€™t want your favorite posters, pictures, and dorm dĆ©cor falling down. I have command hooks everywhere in my room, they are easy to put on and leave no marks when you take them down.
Any college student can relate to how important these are to a dorm room, decorating and making the space your own has never been so easy!
  • Reusable Containers, Silverware, and Water Bottles (Again, not a cleaning item, but it is so good to use plastic or glass dishware, it helps save the environment from all the trash build up and it saves money. If you invest in a few good water bottles, or dishes and silverware you are saving money from spending it on plastic silverware and cases of water.)
Saving the environment and keeping things classy in college

After living in a college dorm for the past few years, these items have worked best for me and werenā€™t necessarily on my packing list of things to bring but rather as I have lived on my own, I have realized they were necessary. What items have you found are most helpful when it comes to living on your own? Share them in the comments below! Have a great week ahead!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #90

LOTD

Hello All! 

Happy Valentineā€™s day! Whether you are celebrating with a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, the girls, or even if you are single like myself I hope you take some time to enjoy this holiday if you celebrate it. I also hope you can spread some love to those around you and you get some love sent your direction.Ā 

Todayā€™s outfit is perfect for Valentineā€™s Day with the perfect pink top. I love this outfit because it is perfect for a job interview, or day at the office. While I was home for Christmas break, I did some job shadowing and I wore this outfit.

I also got my headshots updated last week and I wore this outfit which was perfect for a professional photo to hopefully jumpstart my career. Letā€™s get into the details about where you can find this outfit without breaking the bank. 

New headshots for senior year
Close up head shot-so happy with how they turned out
All dressed up for a day at the office

I got these dress pants from Old Navy believe it or not?! I was on the hunt for a pair of straight cut dress pants and after looking all over town, I found them at Old Navy at a great price. Last summer I was on the hunt for black dress pants. I was searching in stores and online but everything that kept coming up were tight and looked more like leggings. I really was looking for a more professional look and a straight leg. After numerous searches, I finally found these dress pants at Old Navy believe it or not. Not only do they fit to size and look professional, but they are also so comfortable. I have worn them a few other occasions and they are a must have for your collection.

I also wanted a nice sweater to go with my dress pants and I knew a light cardigan would go perfect with the top. I got this black one from Old Navy on sale. I have worn it with jeans and dress pants as well as dresses. Itā€™s a wonderful, versatile sweater that is perfect for a grown womenā€™s professional collection. It not only keeps you warm, but it also looks put together.Ā 

My statement piece for this outfit is this fun pink top from Francescaā€™s Boutique. I know I have shared this top on here before, but I love the color and how you can truly dress it up with dress pants or a skirt and you can also pair it with jeans or leggings for a more casual look. 

Lastly, my shoes are my favorite shoe boots that I wear all the time since they are comfortable and reliable. 

I also have to share about my Michael Kors purse. I got it for my 16thbirthday. I use it for any job interview or shadowing as well as big meetings. It looks professional and it has a lot of storage to hold everything you need for a day at work. 

A perfect look for job interviews and shadowing

I hope this inspires you to look outside of the box when it comes to shopping for professional clothing. Have a sweet and love filled Valentineā€™s Day. Sending you lots of love today and every day!

XOXO

Categories
Fabulous living

December To Do’s

Hi All!

I hope you all had enjoyable Thanksgivingā€™s at home with your families. I know for me it was so nice to be home for a few days, relax, see family and enjoy the holidays. I always love Thanksgiving, from the food, to the family, and the relaxing day.

I also had some fun getting a start on the holiday baking. I had a few events that I had to bake for at school for Christmas and I was happy to make some for family too. I made some double chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter kiss cookies.

My favorite recipe for everyone’s favorite cookies

Peanut butter kiss cookies

The finished product

Now, that Thanksgiving is over, I can finally get into the Christmas season. I know December is going to fly by, so today Iā€™m sharing the things I hope to accomplish this month.

  • FinalsĀ 

All college students can agree that once we make it through finals, we can truly enjoy the holidays. My finals week doesnā€™t look too bad, it will mostly be papers, portfolios and a test thrown in the mix. Hopefully it shouldnā€™t be too painful. Thanksgiving break definitely gave me the rest I needed to get through the next few weeks.

It may look empty now, but this finals week will fill up fast

  • Christmas Shopping

I have to give myself a pat on the back. I have been killing it at the Christmas gift game this year. I have done a lot of shopping online with the help of Amazon. It has been so easy to browse when I am free and add things to my shopping list (for others) or wish list (for myself) when I see something that interests me. Next week Iā€™ll be doing a more extensive post all about Christmas gift system, but for now I hope to get all my shopping and wrapping done early on, so I can enjoy the Christmas season.

A look into my Amazon wish list, you know you are an adult when your list consists mostly of books…no shame!

  • Enjoy the Christmas Season

This is something I want to work on both at home and at school. I really want to enjoy the Christmas season and not rush it, Iā€™m hoping to get in some gift giving nights with my friends at school, I have gifts for all my friends, and I am involved in some gift exchanges too. I want to also take it slow after the semester is over, that means watching Christmas movies (the classic and the Hallmark ones), making Christmas cookies (YUM), and listening to Christmas music (not going to lie, I have already started to listen to Christmas music. Haha)!

I already got some Christmas spirit in with Light Up Night a few weeks ago

My Go-To Christmas Playlist

I really want to be more present this Christmas season, that means trying to take it slower, be more intentional and fit as much Christmas stuff in as possible. What are some of your Christmas or December goals? Enjoy the last few days of November and bring on the Christmas jolly and joy!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #70

LOTD

Happy Thursday!

I hope you all have a had a good week. My week was very productive, and this weekend will be busy due to working this weekend. So, remember when I said I couldnā€™t wait for fall weather? Well, I got my wish. It has been so rainy and chilly that it definitely felt like fall, which I am very happy about. This outfit is perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. I love mixing a short sleeve top with jeans. I wore this outfit to class and then a dinner last week and I loved it so much I had to share it. You may recognize this outfit as it was one that I had planned ahead for. Planning my outfits have been so helpful especially on busy mornings.

A perfect outfit transitioning to fall

So, lets break this look down.

These are my favorite regular cut jeans from Old Navy. I love the cut and style and they are perfect for fall, since you can still wear a flat or cute shoe as well as a pair of peep toe boots. Ā These suede saddle shoes are from GAP.I love not only the color but how light they are. They can be worn in spring, summer, and fall. I love shoes that can be worn in many seasons.

Lastly, this top is from Francescaā€™s Boutique. I have had it for a few years and always like to bring it out to change out my wardrobe. I love the detailing on the top. It truly makes it a fun piece of clothing to add to a pair of jeans. This top would also be great with dress pants for a day in the office.

This outfit was perfect for fall weather, when itā€™s cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon.

I canā€™t wait for fall weather to set in full time, until then I will continue to transitioning my outfits.

Have a great weekend and go out and enjoy this fall weather.

Categories
Fashion Fun Ways to Organize

Outfit Planning

Hi guys!

Happy Tuesday.!!!

Boy, September is flying by. It started out super slow but now as I am making my way through the semester, time is going so fast. This semester has been the busiest by far for me. Between working a few jobs, classes, being involved, and hanging out with friends, I am always looking for ways to be more organized and save time to be more efficient. One thing that I have started to do this year is outfit prep. Fashion lovers out there will lover the double fashion post this week.

Laying out my clothes for the gym and for a new day the night before saves time and stress

From grades K-12, I always wore a uniform to school, so I never had to worry about what I was going to wear every day until I came to college. My first two years of college, I would just choose an outfit each morning but I often be rushed with figuring out an outfit with accessories.

A real peak into my closet at school. It’s much more organized than my closet at home, probably because I only have a quarter of the clothes I own here. Hahaha

This year, I decided to not only lay out my clothes the night before (like I did for many years in the past) but also plan out what I am going to wear for the full week. On Sundayā€™s I look at the weather for the week and choose outfits for the whole week along with shoes, accessories, and jackets. I had plenty of time on Sunday to plan my outfitsĀ  and then hang them all up. The night before I just grab the outfit and lay it out for the next morning. I am not as rushed in the mornings getting ready now that I have this system in place. It is not only a time saver but it allows me to really think about what I want to wear each day.

One of my outfits I chose for wearing this week

Now, whether you have this time or not, even just by laying out your outfit the night before saves time in the morning. On Sunday it takes less than a half hour to plan all my outfits for the week.

Another outfit I chose for this week…you may see it coming soon

What time saving tactics do you include in your week?

Categories
Fabulous living

Let’s Get Real: Homesickness

Hello All!

Todayā€™s post is going to be a bit more on the serious side. Besides, showing you the latest trends and how to organize areas in your home, I like to be real and honest about what life as a college students is truly like. So, we are getting real about homesickness. What a fun topic for a Tuesday. In all seriousness, letā€™s get real.

Before I started college, almost two years ago, I was worried about being homesick. Many family and friends had assured me I would be so busy I wouldnā€™t be able to get homesick, or it would go away after a month, someone had even told me that by Fall break I wouldnā€™t even want to come home because I would be loving school so much.

They were all wrong.

Yes, I was enjoying school, and I was making friends and I was most certainly busy, but that didnā€™t change the fact that I was homesick. There would be times when I was lonely, or I craved a homecooked meal or I wished I was back in my own room. But, I didnā€™t let that stop me from enjoying college life. Christmas rolled around, and I was told that I wouldnā€™t want to be home for a whole month and I would soon get bored and I would be thrilled when I could go back to school.

Nope, it was still hard going back.

Spring semester brought more hope and more experiences. But I still had my moments of weakness and some tears. Once May rolled around, I was so proud of myself for making it through a full year. I thought, if I could accomplish that I could do anything.

A few months later, Year Two rolled around. It brought new experiences, new friends, new challenges and new beginnings. I didnā€™t get homesick as much, mostly when I was getting dropped off from being back home from a break. I had gotten used to falling back into my routines at home, it was hard to get adjusted back at school. There were times when I was overwhelmed and stressed and wanted a break from school and just to be home, but I had to push through. Thatā€™s the thing about homesickness, you can take a bad situation and make it better.

How can you handle those moments of weakness and homesickness?

  • Have a good cry (yes, we all need a good cry to let ourselves go and feel all our emotions that we keep buried deep within.)
  • Take that time to be alone but not too long, make plans to go out with a friend to grab dinner or go to study.
  • Share how you are feeling. It may be uncomfortable, but who knows you may find someone who feels the same way and doesnā€™t know who to talk to about it. You can be there to help each other through it.

Homesickness is different for everyone, others donā€™t have it all, some only have it until their first fall break, but for few like myself, it never goes away. As I close on my second year of college, I still have my moments where I am homesick. I donā€™t let that dictate my life. I push through the pain, sometimes I cry, sometimes I watch my latest binge show, sometimes a phone call homes helps. But, I carry on, and I keep on living life. As i look back on the past two years, I don’t remember being homesick or sad but rather the joy, the laughter, and the memories that came with friends and family.

Whether you are a first-time college student leaving home for the first time or you are gearing up to start your first job in the new world, we all miss home, it just means you feel so much love from home that it’s hard to be without it.

Until next time,

Elspeth

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

Planning for a Trip (or Planning to Come Home)

Hello! Hello! Happy Tuesday friends!

As the holiday season winds down, college students, like myself are heading back to school. Back to school means bringing lots of your belongings to your dorm room. Everyone hates packing whether you are in college or not. We worry if we over packed or if we forgot something. My school is a few hours away, so I donā€™t travel home often. I tend to go home just on breaks. After traveling to and from school for two years now I have a system that works for me when packing. This system would also work when packing for business trips, family vacations, or weekend getaways. Hereā€™s what works best for me.

  • Make a list. Make a list of everything you need to bring and how much you want to bring of it. For example, 5 t shirts, 4 shorts, 1 sundress. Be specific with your list as well, instead of writing jewelry, write gold necklace with hoop earrings. This makes it easier to identify what you are packing and its easier to organize your belongings when you are coming home. I write out a list when Iā€™m planning what to pack and use it the whole trip and when I am leaving to come home to make sure I have everything I came with. *Tip for college students packing to go home*: make a list of things you need to buy or bring when you are at home. It helps to get all your shopping done at home and come back to school with a stocked dorm.

My latest list of things I need to get while I’m home

  • Only bring what you need. Whenever I plan to come home, I plan out exactly what outfits I want to wear. I also have clothes at home, so I try not to over pack or pack doubles. For example, I donā€™t bring sweatpants and hoodies home since I already have them. Also, when you are planning your winter vacations, prioritize what things you want to wear. Donā€™t forget to check the weather to make sure you plan accordingly for whatever Mother Nature has in store for you.

 

  • Plan what you want to do. Whenever I come home, I have a separate list for things I want to get accomplished. Things such as doctor appointments, seeing friends, or activities are all examples of things I write down. Whenever I come home, I try to space things out, so Iā€™m not waiting till the last day to do my shopping, seeing friends and getting everything done. The same goes for when you are traveling. Make a list of everything you want to see or do while you are away.

    A list of everything I want to accomplish when I’m home!

As I plan to head back to school this week, I always keep these things in mind. There will always be stress in our lives, but if we can plan ahead to avoid these stressful situations it makes all the difference.