Back to School: Planner

One of my favorite purchases this year has been my Erin Condren life planner. I did a lot of research to find the perfect planner for me. Although there are some aspects of this planner that do not necessarily pertain to my life or schedule, it has worked well for me.

Overview of planner:

-The front pages showcase an at a glance calendar for 2014-2015. I use this feature all the time!

-Each month has a different color scheme, so if you are a very visual person this helps for remembering what happened in different months.

-The weekly layout begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. The days are divided by morning, day, and night. There are also lines at the end of the day for reminders ect.

-The left sidebar has a monthly at a glance calendar with extra lines for notes or thoughts.

-All parts of the planner are tabbed (and color coordinated) for easy opening to the right place.

-It includes an 8 inch ruler, which also doubles as a page marker! It’s heavy duty and works great for just about anything.

-The back includes a notes section. Both lined and blank pages are included. If you take a lot of extra little notes you are in luck because there is an ample amount of notes pages.

-At the back there is also a 2016-2017 at a glance calendar. Great for planning ahead!

-The last pages include four sheets of stickers, two pages of blank stickers and two pages of reminder stickers (below)

-There is also a built in pocket folder, with two pockets, and a zippered compartment, with complementary sticker name tags, gift tags, and inspirational quotes. Two date cards are also included!

STICKERS!

-60 birthday! -6 game!

-6 day off! -7 hair appt. @

-2 dentist @ -3 sale!

-6 doc appt. @ -6 concert!

-6 mani/pedi -6 party!
-12 vacation!

How I use my planner:

Last year I used a different color for each class in the full month views to include what was in my syllabus, sorority calendar and other events or plans I had.

In the weekly layout I would include a little more information or what time a class was. If I wanted to read ahead I would also include that or different due dates. Some weeks my weekly schedule was really full and others, not so much.

The busier the week, the more I would write down in my planner. Looking towards this new school year, I have found some new ways to incorporate my planner into my everyday life, and not use it as minimally as I did.

No matter how much I love my planner, the most important part of finding a planner is to find a planner that fits you. So I suggest to do what I did and research, research and research a little more. There are thousands of planners out there to fit so many styles of personal planning! Good luck and I hope you find a planner that works for you as much as mine works for me!

XOXO,

Jena

**Look forward to how I plan to use my planner this school year! Stickers?

Back to School: What to Keep in your Backpack

Now that you have found the perfect backpack or are still looking for the perfect one (see below), you need stuff to put in it!

Last year I used a Timbuk2 Backpack similar to this.This backpack was perfect for me, the person who tends to shove everything she owns into a bag making it weigh way too much!

With two main zipper compartments it was a perfect fit for me. The laptop zipper compartment was located on the side, making the reach in and out for my computer easier on me. In addition, there was a small pocket inside of the laptop compartment, which was great for keeping my ipad in too.

The main compartment was just big enough to hold a large 3-ring binder and a textbook with a pleasure reading book too. Anything more than those items and the weight of my bag would have been a hazard.

For classes that I had a lot of handouts to use for future studying or print-out notes, I would put them in a binder for easy access. Everything else had its own folder and coordinating notebook. I am a big fan of these folders. I love having the three pronged holder to hold my syllabuses and other important papers for the class.

Instead of punching holes in those important papers I would use clear plastic sheets to hold them in. It also allowed for easy access to the papers I needed.

The inside of the large pocket in my backpack also boasts a zippered pocket with 3 pencil slots and 4 additional compartments. In the compartments I would keep post-it notes, index cards, and highlighters.

I am a huge fan of online shopping and found these Zebra highlighters. I remember them taking a long time to ship, but it was worth the wait. These highlighters have a normal slanted highlighter side and a pointed pen side, which is great for underlining!

When I am taking notes I like to use pens that are not “ink pens.” There is something about the ink just randomly stopping or the smudge, either way I like to use pens that are not ball-point. My two favorite pens are Paper Mate Flair! The best part is that they come in an array of colors, great for taking notes!

The Paper Mate pens write a little heavier than the Sharpie pens, so it depends on what surface i’m writing on for which pen I use. I also like to divide the colors and have half of both sets of pens in my book bag and the other halves in my desk, so I always have a pen ready!

In addition I would keep pencils and a regular black ball-point pen. I do this now, keep the black ball-point pen because when I took my backpack with me to Costa Rica last winter, I had no pen that would properly write on my customs and immigration forms! Ooops, thank you to the elderly man sitting next to me who was prepared!

The zippered pocket was my “go to” pocket. I kept extra ponytail holders and bobby pins, feminine products, my calculator, hand sanitizer, and $15 (one five dollar bill and one ten dollar bill and sometimes a few extra ones).

I loved having that extra cash in there because I typically only carried around my id’s and my cards. The cash provided me with a vending machine snack when I didn’t have one packed, a lunch on campus if I couldn’t make it back to my dining hall in time, or a donation to whatever philanthropy was being broadcasted in the union. KEEP CASH IN YOUR BACKPACK!

Everything had its place! I don’t know if the umbrella holder is actually for umbrellas, but I kept mine in there all the time. I attend school in Northeast Kansas, and the weather is incredibly unpredictable. I used it on more than one occasion where I walked out of my dorm at 8:30 a.m. and the weather was sunny skies and walked out of class at 10:00 a.m. and it was down pouring!

If you have any suggestions about what to keep in your backpack that I forgot, please comment below!

XOXO,

Jena

The Quest for a Backpack

You would think after 13 years of school I would instantly know what to look for in a backpack, but alas that's not the case. I am once again embarking on my yearly backpack search.

I know I need ample space, but I'm trying to avoid too many extra pockets (I tend overfill my bags with pointless things). I also am looking for something with a laptop holder if possible, so I don't have to tote around a laptop case as well. Finally, I don't want a bookbag that's too big. I'm a short girl (a little over 5'1), so having a huge bookbag is simply uncomfortable and impractical for walking across campus.

www.ebags.com is a great website for backpacks, and I totally recommend it if you're looking. Here are my picks:

High Sierra Access Laptop Backpack

(Shown in Static/Mercury/Zest)

I love the look of this bag! It's super cool, while still being really durable. It's on sale for $49.99, has tons of space, and is prepped for different types of weather due to its handy cover, making it perfect for walking across campus.

JanSport Oxidation Laptop Backpack

(Shown in Heathered Gray)

This bag is simple but it's pretty perfect for a simple backpack to use on campus. It has multiple pockets for snacks, money, and anything else you may want to keep in your backpack. It doesn't seem to overwhelming in size, but it's a bit pricier at $99.90.

Timbuk2 Showdown Laptop Backpack

(Shown in Mojave)

I know Jena is a big fan of the Timbuk2 brand and when I saw this one I really liked it. It has a cool color scheme and tons of room for papers, books, and my laptop. It is currently priced at $88.99.

BONUS: Le Donne Leather Classic Laptop Backpack

(Shown in Cafe)

This bag is both out of my price range (a stifling $191.99...on sale) and not as heavy duty as I'm looking for, but it's definitely got style and I loved it from the second I scrolled past it. If you have the money and you think it'll work for you, by all means enjoy the bag while I admire it from afar.

I'm still on the fence on which one to buy, but hopefully I'll decide soon. In the mean time I hope this helps you if you're looking for a backpack or are just thinking about getting a new one!

XOXO,

Lexie 

Summer Sweet Treat: Baked Peaches

The end of summer is getting closer, which makes me think of school, shorter days, and especially PEACHES! Around the beginning of August there always seems to be an influx of ripe, juicy peaches in the produce aisle of the grocery store, as well as at my local farmer's market.

Peaches are one of my favorite fruits and I'm always looking for a new, tasty way to eat them, especially after getting a box of them from the farmers market. While pinteresting I came across the idea of baked peaches, and decided to try to put my own allergy-friendly spin on them!

Grocery List

-Fresh Peaches (I prefer them from my local farmer's market, but the grocery store works just as well)

-Butter or Margarine (My brand of choice is Earth Balance original spread; its vegan and great for dairy allergies)

-Brown Sugar

-Cinnamon Sugar (You can either buy it premade or mix it yourself- it's super easy to make and good keep them on hand for recipes or even just cinnamon toast)

-Aluminum Foil (Leaves the pan mess free)

- Non-Stick spray

*Most of this is probably already in your kitchen, making the recipe even easier!

**Measurements vary, I've listed mine throughout the recipe but they are really dependant on your peach size and number of peaches

Super Easy Recipe

1. Cut, halve, and pit your peaches. I try to make a peach (or two halves) per person so let that dictate how many you make.

2. Cover your pan in foil, and spray it with  non-stick. Then arrange your peach halves on the foil so they aren't touching.

3. Fill the center of each half with your butter/margarine to your personal tastes. I'm a fan of margarine so I filled the centers pretty full.

4. Then measure about a teaspoon full of brown sugar and a fourth of a teaspoon of cinnamon sugar over the margarine. Depending on the size of your peaches you may want more or less!

5. Bake the peaches in the oven at 350. Mine normally take about 5-8 minutes to get soft and cooked through. As a rule of thumb, the less ripe the peach the longer it will need to cook!

• 6. Enjoy! I think they are great as a dessert or snack as is, but I'm tempted to try them with my favorite soy ice cream on top (my favorite brand is So Delicious in Vanilla, it's super versatile!)

Comment below if you have any other allergy friendly additions or brands you love!    

XOXO,

Lexie

Birthday Blues, Not this Year

How lucky am I that today is my day for a blog post? Considering it’s my birthday, and I get to share it with you makes me very lucky!

In recent years I have not been too keen on celebrating my birthday. I have always thought that birthdays and Mother’s Day/Father’s Day should be swapped. 

We should celebrate our parents on our birthday because they made that day happen! On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day we, as children, should be showered with appreciation because we made it possible for our parents to be mothers and fathers. Without us they would be ordinary, childless people. 

However; this year I am taking a new lease on life and actually celebrating me! It will be interesting to say the least. 

To celebrate me I have the following plans:

1. Sleep in!
2. Ignore all Facebook notifications, but I turned my birthday off on there a few years ago, so hopefully nobody outside those who know it’s my birthday will annoy me!
3. Buy a plantain..because nothing says birthday fun like the banana’s cousin!
4. Call my parents and thank them for allowing me to live and allow them be the cool parents they have come to be (it’s taken years).
5. Work on my online class.
6. Eat chocolate, and an excessive amount because I leave for sorority recruitment the following day.
7. Treat myself to “Paper Towns” because after reading the book I want to see if it is as good as Lexie says!
8. Buy a lottery ticket to mark the anniversary of when I bought my first lottery ticket!

So, basically, the only wild things I will be doing is eating a plantain and seeing a movie. Hello 19! Only 365 more days until I leave the teenage years behind!

I hope you make cooler birthday plans then I do! Then again, i’m not a birthday person.

XOXO,

Jena

Friday Faves 8.7.15

Jena:

@crazyjewishmom

I had never really been an Instagram person. To provide some weight behind that statement let me give you an example: 

I was recently supporting some of my friend’s sisters and Lexie at a dance competition, and after having lunch with four high school freshman I came to the realization that I was not as Instagram cool as I thought I was. They were talking about a photo, who one of them posted that received over 300 likes (these girls go to a school with less than 300 people!). I don’t even have 100 followers, let alone a photo with over 300 likes.

However; within the last five or six months I realized that there are just more than skinny bodies and food pictures. There are actually humorous accounts! Drumroll, please! @crazyjewishmom is honestly the most funny Instagram account ever! Granted, I am not really a huge Instagram person as shown above...but really the best!

@crazyjewishmom is an account created by @KateESiegel, who actually has to deal with these texts on a daily basis. Enjoy this Nightline video to catch a glimpse at their life.

ABC US News | World News

Mary Poppins

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go see Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical. It was incredible. It has been forever since I’d seen the movie, so it was a completely new experience.

There were a few parts of the musical with a slightly different storyline than the movie, but the on stage effects and the singing was wonderful none-the-less. 

After the musical was all said and done, my Aunt and I rented the movie, “Saving Mr. Banks.” “Saving Mr. Banks” is the story of the making of the movie “Mary Poppins.” E.L. Travers and her life. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a must see. 

Take the time to step back into your childhood and find out how our beloved nanny came to be! So to hold you over until you have time to immerse yourself in that story, here is some Broadway Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious to enjoy!

Lexie:

A Man Walks into a Bar...50 States Style

Everyone's heard a classic guy walks into a bar joke at some point in their life. A rare few are good enough to produce laughter induced tears, some make you giggle slightly, and the majority make you shake your head in wonder of why someone chose to make such a bad joke.

A comedian took the joke a step further; instead, characterizing each of the fifty states as a guy in the bar. It's insightfully hilarious. The jokes made range from slightly offensive to completely on point. 

As a Kansan I can say his accuracy for at least one state is pretty on point, and the man spoken of does probably exist in many a Kansas bar. 

If this can be held up as truth in any way, I think North Carolina, and Pennsylvania would be fun wing women (even if one is pregnant!), while getting in with Utah, Arizona, and Washington D.C would be essential for a smooth night. Connecticut would also be a fun drinking buddy if you met her standards. 

On the other hand, I'm definitely steering clear of Missouri, Arkansas, and Wyoming. Kansas City is obviously better in Kansas, and I don't do conspiracy theories or arm wrestling. 

Click here to see if you match your state's description!

Taylor Swift 

It's been officially announced! The next single from Swift's latest album is...*drumroll*... "Wildest Dreams!"

Just wanted to let you know that the next single from 1989 will be........... Wildest Dreams.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 5, 2015

This song happens to be my favorite off of "1989," as it has a different feel than the other songs, and has stellar lyrics. For me it's almost reminiscent of some of Lana Del Rey's work but with Taylor signature spin of course. 

Jena and I are pretty big T-Swift fans so I'm sure you'll be hearing about her, and this song in the future! Here's to hoping the video is spectacular and the radio doesn't ruin the song by over playing it! 

If it hasn't already made it in your Top 25 most played, buy it here!

XOXO,

Jena & Lexie

Back to School: The Official Unofficial Guide to Packing for College

I already mentioned what I couldn’t have lived without in my dorm in this post. Now let me share what you actually need to bring with you! 

Clothes/Closet

• Baskets/bins for off-season clothing (you never know when you’ll need a swimsuit)
• Scarf/belt hanger
• Jewelry hanger (mine is similar to this)
• Thin hangers
• Shoe storage

Bring whatever clothes are in season for your respective school. If it is warm, then bring summer clothes! Wait until you go home for Thanksgiving to grab the cold weather wear; however, DO BRING a heavier jacket and some long sleeved shirts and jeans to get you through those unexpected chilly days before break hits. Continue the same rotation with each season and class vacation, and you should be more golden than my Starbucks Gold card.

Bed

• Body pillow
• 2 head pillows
• 2 sets of sheets
• Mattress cover
• MEMORY foam topper
• Comforter or Quilt (I loved my quilt)
• Extra blanket

Desk

• Put me on the wall
• Magnetic pin board (you’ll love it and no sharp pins to step on)
• Calendar
• Write with me (a large pencil cup)
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sharpie marker
• Pencils
• Pens of many colors
• Highlighters
• Write on me
• Notebook paper
• Notebooks (college ruled)
• 2 binders (you’ll most likely not use them at first then realize you need them to hold the massive amount of papers you’ll accumulate)
• 3 Folders
• Sticky notes
• Note pad
• Index cards
• Envelopes and stamps (for when you need to mail important papers home)
• You’ll use me, I promise
• Stapler
• 3 hole punch (get one that can punch more than 2 papers at a time)
• Tape
• Power strip
• Calculator
• Paperclips
• White out
• Glue stick

Bathroom

• Towels
• Scrubber
• Robe or towel wrap (these work great)
• SHOWER SHOES (communal bathrooms)
• Shower caddy (communal bathrooms)
• Hand Mirror
• Brush and combs
• Hair ties and bobby pins
• Nail clippers/file , nail polish remover wipes, 2 neutral nail polish colors, 3 fun nail polish colors, hand lotion
• Body lotion
• Razor
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Shampoo/conditioner/body wash
• Hairspray and dry shampoo

Laundry

• Pods (they work great, but make sure the washing machines can handle them because some can't)
• Color catcher sheets (they will save your life and clothes)
• Dryer sheets
• Stain remover spray
• Laundry bag/basket (like the laundry bag in the photo above? find it here)

Some Random Items

• Ziploc bags
• Lint roller
• Sewing kit and safety pins
• Umbrella (so important, photoed above)
• Disposable dishes
• Reusable water bottles/thermos
• Dish soap

Bring whatever snacks and drinks you like! Brands are totally up to your discretion, but refer back to this post if you are trying to make a decision between items.

When it comes to storage, visit The Container Store. They have plenty of great deals and storage ides for dorm rooms!

Good luck, and if you think of anything else or have any questions please comment!

XOXO,

Jena

"Paper Towns" Doesn't Disappoint...If You're Unfamiliar with the Story

Rating: ****


I'll start this by saying I broke one of my cardinal rules of movie-going. I did not read the book before watching the movie, something I normally make an almost insane effort to do. That being said, I think I lucked out this time BECAUSE I didn't read the book.

"Paper Towns," which is based on a popular John Green book,  turned out to be a fun ride that I was intrigued with until the final credits. My sister who has read the book, as well as many friends couldn't enjoy the movie, citing it as blasphemous in comparison to the book and expressing their distaste over the fact that it didn't perfectly match up to the original.

I, on the other hand, liked the fact it felt real. The main characters felt like people that could exist; not like perfectly crafted figments of someone's imagination. Cara Delevingne plays Margo Roth Spiegelman, the most popular girl in school, while Nat Wolff plays her childhood partner in crime and next door neighbor Quentin "Q" Jameson.

After growing apart as they got older. Margo and Q spend a night pranking their classmates towards the end of their senior year, before Margo disappears, leaving Q determined to find her. Delevingne makes the myth that is Margo human, showing it's just as easy for someome who has it all to feel lost, while Q comes across as a lovable dork you slowly begin to root for.

The movie was deep, yet relatable. The characters seemed to sense the finality of finishing high school, which is relatable and true to life, speaking as a recent graduate. The future is unknown, an idea "Paper Towns" not only grasps but seems to fully understand. Instead of treating the future as something that needs to be prepared for and planned through, it's looked at as an adventure that could lead you anywhere, something I find refreshing and different.

It builds Margo up, as well as Q and his friends, just to remind you they are just people, and at the end of the day that's what we all are really, just people. The story was sincere although at times it walked the fine line of being a cliche; eventually managing to find its voice to remind viewers that life isn't just about love, adventures, or risks. It's about people, which is the heart of the movie.

For more informaion about "Paper Towns," click here.

XOXO,

Lexie

Back to School: Get This, Not That (for your dorm)

As August begins new college freshmen are anxiously looking forward to being out of their parents house and into the dorms.

While it is rather exciting and refreshing to start a new year of school for everyone, let’s focus on the fresh faces with no experience under their belts.

Last year I was most excited to move away from home and have a fresh start! Pardon the pun. I prepared for months by pinteresting and following the every move of fellow friends who were going through the same experience.

To help you out, whether this is your first rodeo or fourth, I have crafted a list of get this, not that items. I feel like there was a television show or some book that was “Buy this, not that.” If you know what it is, please leave a comment!

Get scrubbers, not washcloths!

Scrubbers: I was given a Supracor Bath Mitt for graduation and have not looked back. After receiving it as a gift, I went out and purchased the SpaCells Facial Sponge as well. These are both great because they are naturally antifungal, antibacterial and allergen free (loofahs are not). They also fit nicely and dry quickly in your shower caddy.

Photo from supracor.com

Washcloths: I bought about six washcloths and took them all home by Thanksgiving break. First, they were inconvenient to bring into the communal bathroom (if it dropped on the floor accidently then I was done using it). Second, dorm rooms are a lot like hotel rooms in the way that wet items do not dry quickly.

Get a memory foam mattress topper, not a foam mattress topper!

Memory foam mattress topper: When I told my mom that I wanted to buy a mattress topper she basically rolled her eyes like it was not a necessity. WRONG! Buy a mattress topper! My roommate had a memory foam mattress topper from Bed Bath and Beyond, and let’s just say that her bed was so much more comfortable than mine! Because you sleep on it every night and your academic performance depends on your sleep, please invest in a nicer mattress topper. I wish I would have gotten a better one, especially since I will be sleeping on a twin XL bed again in my sorority.

Foam mattress topper: Because my mom wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, I picked up a generic foam bed topper at Target. While it did provided me with a quarter of an inch of protection from my old mattress springs, it didn’t do a great job. As the school year progressed, the topper gradually widened on my bed in the area I slid off. Not cool! This is one of the pieces I wish I would have invested in.

Get a large Keurig, not a Mini Keurig!

Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System (large): For graduation I received a mini Keurig brewing system. Knowing my favorite thermos cups did not fit under the mini system, I traded up for the larger Keurig system. Looking back at the past year, this was probably one of the best dorm related decisions I made. Granted, I am someone who drinks at least one hot beverage a day. I love coffee, but I also love tea. The best part of having a large brewing system was that I didn't need to fill the water reservoir before each beverage (especially since my dorm was a community bathroom and the water was all the way down the hall). The reservoir easily held four regular sized beverages.

Keurig Brewing System photos from keurig.com

Keurig K10 Mini Plus Brewing System (mini): If you don't plan on drinking hot beverages frequently, the mini brewing system is for you. It would also be great if you have a sink located in your dorm room! I consider this brewing system for those who enjoy drinking a hot beverage out of a mug, leisurely. Personally, I am more of a on the go person, so the larger system that my travel cups fit under worked great for me. This would also be a good brewing system to start with if you don't know how much you will be enjoying hot beverages because this system is less expensive compared to the larger system.

A few other tips:

-Get two sets of sheets. These from Bed Bath and Beyond are cute!

-Bring a body pillow if your bed is up against the wall (you want something between you and the cold cinder block wall). This one from Bed Bath and Beyond allows you to put a pillow case on it, great for matching your bedding!

-An extra long phone charger will most likely come in handy

-3M Command strips are wonderful to help you personalize your space

I think the main thing to remember when purchasing items for your dorm is to really consider what you plan to use. I would personally go for the better quality or more expensive items if I knew I would be using it a lot and in the future. If you plan to use something for just the year and never again after that, I would suggest getting the generic brand.

Good luck!

XOXO,

Jena