spring break and online shopping

SPRAAAANG BREAK YA'LLL

Ahh Spring Break you are so close yet so far and I neeed you. I need James Franco with a grill and corn rows rapping about champaign showers and outer space, I yearn for it. The talk of spring break plans can be heard all over Rutgers, students planning their bon voyage to different states, all of which lead to warmth and alcohol.. and more alcohol. While others are planning their reckless trips to Panama City Beach and Miami, I'm over here planning what will most likely be the most insane trip of my life to Vegas. Selena Gomez like friends will not be partaking in this trip and neither will roofies (fingers crossed). I want to wake up with a tiger in the bathroom and I want to wear a satchel like Indiana Jones.

Everyday that a new order from Tobi or DSW shows up at my office, its like Christmas and my debit card is tapped out. Although this is my first official spring break trip, I'd like to think I'm a professional when it comes to online shopping, especially considering all of my purchases have been on point, except for the Victoria's Secret bikini top, but that was a gamble to begin with.

SIDE NOTE: Just witnessed someone in my class on my Facebook profile who I have never met. SURPRISE IM IN YOUR CLASS. I feel weird, and this person is going to feel weird when they turn around and see my face... moving on..

Here are my online shopping tips for you gals going away on Spring Break with a 50/50 chance coming back the same way you left.

1. Check your current inventory.

Nothing sucks more than having 3 of the same black body con skirts from 3 different stores. Chances are something will go wrong, wardrobe wise, on this vacation. Save that money for beer and french fries(you'll need them) and use the one you have.

2. Check the weather as soon as you have access for the dates you're going.

If the high temperature for the entire trip is going to be 65 degrees (its still March) don't go purchasing clothing thats meant for 90 degree weather, you'll be cold and sad. Mainly drunk, but also cold and sad.

3. Don't ever underestimate the power of coupons.

You can google the name of the store with the word "coupons" after it and you'll most likely find a deal you wouldn't have otherwise found. Oh the power of the internet.

4. Location. Location. Location.

Where are you going and what is the likely hood that you'll be using that $40 V-neck for a wet T-shirt contest? If you're going anywhere that involves pool parties and $2 margaritas, please PUT DOWN the J.Brand tank top and walk on over to H&M, your wallet and future self will thank you.

5. Check the reviews.

Holy Moly the money I've saved and mistakes I've avoided are endless all because of the wonderful review section. I consider everyone who posts a review about whatever I'm contemplating purchasing  a true friend and patriot. If there's no section for product reviews buy with caution unless you want to purchase two of the same thing, which face it, NO ONE WANTS TO DO THAT. Heels are hard enough to deal with, add the fact that they're a half size too small and you'll end up in a wheel chair or dead.

Lastly, have a wonderful time. 

Don't get roofied and don't decide to conclude your time away by killing James Franco, he's precious.

Uhh I'm posting this video because I will be seeing him in 5 days!

my current annoyance

To me, going on dates is something I've never gotten into, "dating" had never crossed my mind as a necessity or even desire. Going into CVS today had me scatterbrained, I went in to pick up something from the pharmacy and couldn't see passed the over priced chocolate and red teddy bears with heart shaped eyes. Why is it that love is shoved in our face one week after celebrating the new year? It's bad enough everyone is obsessing about their new years resolutions(no judgement, I hope you succeed!), health kicks and tweets out the ass saying "new year, new me". Did I buy a scale today? yes, but I'm also going to Vegas in two months, it has nothing to do with 2014. Anyways, as a young twenty-something, I'm stuck in this weird time where I claim I don't want to be tied down by someone of the opposite sex, but overpriced chocolate and ugly teddybears have the wheels turning. No, I don't yearn for Russell Stover boxed chocolate, but chocolate covered strawberries? Maybe...

I was told by a new friend not to become cynical about love just because its not something I want right now. Truthfully, being 23, I don't know what I want but I know what I'm not looking for, and thats a serious relationship. I also don't want to be making that classic drunk girl mistake of texting someone, who in all honesty I don't really care that much about stupid nonsense that I don't mean. They say, whoever they are, "a drunk mind is a sober heart" and I'm calling bullshit. In some cases, depending the stage of the relationship, being drunk and blurting out a particular confession can be grounds for termination but what if you mean it? Do you need to feel bad for voicing your opinion or feelings? So you "hook-up" with someone.. and then what? Do you just say your farewells and hope everything works out for the best? The whole thing is just plain annoying, hence the reason why I'm so-called "cynical" about relationships. It almost takes the fun out of the fun if that makes sense. I want to have fun but I also want chocolate covered strawberries from a cute boy who tells me I smell nice or something. It's a struggle and balance I'm currently trying to figure out. Overthinking it? probably.

sweater weather for the girl on a budget

It's back to school season , well very much into the second week of school and soon the leaves will be falling to the ground like a freshman in heels after one too many cups of jungle juice. Please do yourself a favor and put away the credit card, tuck it back into that nice little slit in your wallet and take a minute to think things through. It's 93 degree in New Brunswick today and I'm wearing a black romper with a ridiculous amount on ventilation because its just too damn hot.

Sweater weather is not only a fantastic song by The Neighbourhood (please take a listen below) but is fast approaching and September is just flying by. Don't get me wrong, the day that I can put on my cashmere TOMS is the day I'll feel whole again, but that day is weeks away.The first day the temperature drops below 60 degree everyone is going to run to the nearest mall and bulk up on fall clothes. But before you do that please follow steps 1-3.

1. Create a junk email account strictly for coupons and sale notifications.

This is important because then you're up to date on all of the current promotions and sales of the upcoming weekend without clogging up your real email. Working in retail has taught me just how tricky stores can be. Sometimes they'll run a "secret sale", that means they don't promote it in stores or online but customers will be sent a coupon code via email/mail. DON'T PAY FULL PRICE, DON'T BE A FOOL.

Um sample sales are also a real part of staying on a budget, too real to forget. So get on that sample sale grind immediately.

Thrift store shopping? YES.

Also, free shipping codes for those lazy Sundays when all you want to do is stay in jams and online shop, da best.

2. Look through last years fall/winter clothes and try all of them on.

It's so important to keep a tight inventory of your closet. You should know the colors you have verses the colors you want to have. What materials you like and which ones you don't. Also prints, you don't need 7 fair isle sweaters because after January you're done, fair isle after January is a no-no.

Another big part of looking through your closet is brands. Sure Forever 21 has great clothes for a tight budget but how much wear can you possibly get out of a $19 cotton sweater? not much. Decide which brands are worth investing in. Two great pairs of pants are way better than 5 weird fitting cheap pairs, we all know camel toe can kill a great outfit because we've all been there.

Try on your clothes and figure out whats the most flattering on you. What do you love about that flannel and why is it your favorite? Maybe invest in another one, yeah it may set you $40-$55 back, but if you love it and wear it, then its worth it. 

TIP: once you're done playing dress up like a 5 year old, organize your closet like an adult. you'll feel so accomplished. 

3. Make a game plan.

Figure out what you need and what you want. Don't go crazy on weird trends that are going to fizzle out by next season, that's why stores like Forever 21 and h&m exist, for cheap clothes on trend. If you love Free People figure out when their next sale is and stalk their website until you know how much you want to spend and what you can afford. ALSO Free People is carried in both Lord and Taylor and Nordstrom, two huge department stores that love to throw a good sale.

What mall/shopping center are you going to? Turn into a coupon lady and get them ready, one store after another, coupon after coupon. DO NOT however fall for the extra 10% off when you open a credit card. Abort and get the hell out of there. 10% off is so small when you think about how much debt you're going to accumulate in the coming months. Do you need a wonder bra from Victoria's Secret in EVERY color, yes probably, but just don't.

I went to Urban Outfitters last week and bought 6 tops for $70. How? By being overly and obnoxiously prepared, I even got a high five from the cashier. KILLED IT.

back at it

Well my summer was eventful to say the least. Started a new job as Marketing Director of The Daily Targum (the Rutgers University paper) and moved out of my house, into the depths of New Brunswick. The streets of New Brunswick are now littered with the trail of my mistakes and poor decision making thanks to the works of tequila, you sneaky bitch. Another shout out to tequila for the added cellulite and love handles that were not on my body three months ago. I have become very fond of leggings and oversized boyfriend tees, also thanks to my running shoes for always reminding me how I don't run and should start. Just kidding about that last part, I've actually been going to the gym consistently for the past two months, working on my fitness and all that good stuff. No carbs after 2pm is also a new healthy venture I've been trying out, its works until friday, then tequila takes over again and doesn't give me back the reins until Sunday morning, which I've come to accept.

The weekend is for fun, not for calorie counting.

So school started last week, cant say i'm exciting about doing work, but I am excited about my assorted notebook collection and new MACBOOK PRO. Thats right, I have joined the Mac family.. $1,300 later and it feels great. "Why not?" I told myself over and over again, everyone said I would fall in love with it, and after the buyers remorse fizzled away, all that was left was love. They were oh so right.

Please make sure to follow me social media especially my first two loves, Instagram and Pinterest (find links to the right!). Also don't be a stranger, I get lonely, so share your terrifying tequila stories and foodie adventures because I'm all about that life.

until next time.

going to bars sober and leaving sober

     Welp, it hasn't even been two weeks into the new semester and I've already spotted 2 pairs of pajama jeans accompanied with neon Nike high tops, on two different occasions, same perpetrator. There are 22,000 undergrads at Rutgers and I see the same girl twice in under 12 days, if this is the outlook of the semester, its going to be a long one. Now that school is back in session its given me a lot of time to ponder my time off and try to include my new obsessions into my every day life.

     I am that person who will pause before taking the first bite of a delicious meal to capture all of its yummy goodness on my iPhone. I would then post it to instagram, geotag it, and dig in face first. Even though my boyfriend had tried telling me about this amazing app, I still never used it until this past winter break. If you love posting pictures of the great food you eat then you'll love Forkly! It's an app that let's you post pictures of the meals you feel deserve praise or something less complementary, but you have a profile, share dishes, and follow people with great taste. Become a "tastemaster" of restaurants that you post meals about and that people "want". Its awesome, and even though it cools my food about 2 degrees during the process, its totally worth it.

     GIRLS. A not so new phenomenon but one that has a new place in my heart. I watched the first season in 2 days and I don't feel bad about it, two days used amazingly well, not wasted. I even attempted to lift some weights in the process but that made eating my chocolate covered strawberries difficult. In a debacle like that I had no choice, I put down the weights and flexed while putting the strawberry to my face. But if you haven't already started watching it, you should give it a try, and if you don't have HBO just do what I do, borrow a friends boyfriends friends HBO GO account. Why does anyone like GIRLS? I think its because they keep it real. From the story lines, to the sex, everything feels authentic and not forced. I think its safe to say a majority of woman ages 20-27ish will be glued to the TV(or computer) screen every Sunday night for the rest of the season. BEST PART OF IT ALL? Game of Thrones comes back in March, so there doesn't leave much room for depression once GIRLS has aired their Season 2 finale.

     Aside from food and TV, winter break has given me the gift of feeling more like an adult and less like a college student. AKA I will go to a bar sober and leave sober. I haven't pre-gamed for a bar since Thanksgiving Eve and although it feels weird to be surrounded by a bunch of drunkos, it makes me feel like a responsible human being. I pay bills, I pay for my own school, and I get my oil changed regularly but it takes alcohol to really make me feel like I'm coming into my young twenties adult self. Last weekend, "that girl" was there, and when I say "that girl" I mean the uncontrollable mess screaming the lyrics to beyonce with a vodka cran in one hand and her pride in the other, shaking what her momma gave her and loving life. Did she almost hit me in the face? yes. Did I forgive her immediately afterwards? yes. Why? because when were not going to bars sober, staying sober, and leaving sober, were doing the exact same thing.