Moving In/Going Back to School Checklist!

20 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by in College

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packing-for-college-illustration

Now that summer is almost half way over (sad I know), I’m starting to think about everything I’m going to need while I’m away at school this year.  I thought I would share my checklist for those of you who might find it helpful!  If you’re moving into a dorm, you don’t need to worry about furniture and kitchen supplies, but there’s still a lot to put on your checklist to make sure you have the essentials, and maybe some non-essentials to make you feel more at home.  Here’s a list to help you get started!

  • Pillows
  • Comforter and bedding (Sheets, Pillowcases, etc.)
  • Throw blanket
  • Backrest (Husband) Pillow
  • Towels
  • Shower caddy
  • Toiletries (These can be bought at school if you forget something!)
  • Cosmetics (makeup, skincare, etc.)
  • Hair dryer and brush (and any other hair tools you use!)
  • Clothes appropriate for the weather (depends where you go to school, if you’re going somewhere that gets cold, don’t forget jackets!)
  • Hangers
  • Underwear and socks (seems obvious, but is easy to forget!)
  • Laundry detergent
  • Shoes

o   Sneakers

o   Sandals

o   Flip Flops (rubber ones are essential for dorm showers!)

o   Boots (Rain boots, snow boots, casual boots, etc.)

o   One or two pairs of nice occasion/office appropriate shoes

  • Plastic Storage Boxes (great for storing things and snacks under your bed to make more space in your room)
  • Mini-fridge
  • Microwave
  • First-Aid kit and all medications (over-the-counter or prescribed) –this helps to keep it all in one place so you don’t have to worry about finding anything when you really need it
  • Laptop
  • Cell phone
  • TV
  • All other electronics and their chargers!
  • Pictures of friends and family
  • A special something to make you feel good when you’re home sick (that could be anything, such as a stuffed animal, a blanket, etc.- just something that you always have in your room at home)
  • Reusable water bottle with a filter (it’s eco-friendly, convenient, and will save you having to constantly buy bottles of water!)
  • Backpack or whatever bag you plan to carry your books/pens/notebooks in
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Vacuum
  • Money

o   If you haven’t already, open up a checking account, you’re going to need it!

 

If you’re moving into an apartment, don’t forget:

  • Furniture (unless it’s an on-campus apartment)
  • Pots and pans
  • Glassware
  • Utensils
  • Plates and bowls
  • Dish soap/detergent
  • Toaster
  • Kitchen towels
  • Checks (to pay your rent, many landlords want checks!)

If you have roommates, you should coordinate on shared items so you can split the responsibility (and the cost!)  It’s also always a good idea to see what you have access to before going out and buying it.  If your parents or other relatives and family friends have extra/old furniture, kitchen supplies, or electronics they say you can take, it will save money and time!

Leave a comment if there’s anything you think is missing from this list!  Thank you for reading and I hope you are all having a great weekend!

 

 

My Top 5 Favorite Cocktails!

13 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by in Drinks

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I turned 21 this past January and since then I’ve had some time to discover some delicious drinks!  I tend to like the more fruity, sweet drinks and I think I’ve found my top 5!  So let’s dive right in here!

1. Malibu Bay Breeze

malibu BB

This tropical cocktail is at the top of my list.  It’s my go to drink whenever I go to a bar or restaurant because I never have to worry about whether or not I’ll like it, like I do when I decide to order a drink I’ve never tried before.  It’s my old reliable and has kind of become my signature drink (all of my friends and family know it’s my drink!)  Made with coconut rum, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice, this drink is liquid paradise!

Click here for the recipe!

2. Frozen Mango Margarita

Ricetta_Frozen_margarita

Mangos are my favorite fruit and I love a great mango smoothie, so this is like an alcoholic version of that!  I had my first one of these at a mexican restaurant called Mad Mex in Pittsburgh towards the end of the spring semester a few months ago and it was so good.  It went great with my veggie burrito and having it frozen when the weather was starting to get warmer was just perfection.  Mad Mex offers many different margarita flavors and you can order them regular style or frozen so you really can’t go wrong.  

Click here for a recipe!

3. Long Island Iced Tea

long_island_iced_tea

This classic cocktail is great because, compared to a lot of the more fruity cocktails on this list, it is pretty low calorie!  I ordered one of these one night during the end of finals week because it was on special at one of the bars near campus so it was really cheap, and it was surprisingly tasty!  I wasn’t sure that I would like it when I read what was in it, thinking it would be too strong for me and not sweet enough, but I actually really liked it!  Do be careful though, as this cocktail is strong but doesn’t taste it so make sure to keep track of how many you have!

Click here for a recipe!

4. Coconut Mango Mojito 

cmmojito-1

This is similar to a traditional mojito, but instead of plain white or citrus rum, it’s made with coconut rum and mango puree/mango juice is added!  It’s a delicious twist on a classic cocktail! I had one of these at Friday’s last month as it was one of their specials (they called it a Mango Coco-jito) and it was amazing!  

Click here for a recipe!

5. Mimosa

Mimosa-003-de1

I love brunch and I love a good mimosa!  I personally don’t think this drink is exclusive to brunch as I’ll drink it at any time of the day!  I love a traditional mimosa (champagne or prosecco with orange juice) but I also love to make a mimosa with pink/blush champagne as many pink champagnes have notes of strawberries or other berries/fruit in it that are really complimented by orange juice!  This drink is easy and (can be) cheap to make- if you buy an inexpensive champagne or prosecco to make it (Andre champagne and Trader Joe’s prosecco are great inexpensive options for this cocktail!)  Since mimosas are half orange juice you don’t really need an expensive champagne!  

Click here for a recipe! 

There you have my top 5 favorite cocktails!  Leave a comment below with some of your favorites and maybe I’ll try some of them next!  Thanks for reading and I hope you’re all having a wonderful Sunday!

My Daily Skincare Products

29 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by in Skincare

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Hello everyone!  Today, I thought I would share with you the skincare products I use regularly.  I typically have somewhere between combination and oily skin (mostly in my T-zone) and I tend to break out slightly more than occasionally.  I have spent many years trying all different products and these are the ones that I’ve been using regularly over the past year or so that have been working pretty well for me.

1.  AcneFree Severe Acne 24 Hour Clearing System

acnefree

 

I’ve been using this AcneFree system for a few years now, and it honestly is the best acne clearing system/product I have ever used.  I like this better than the AcneFree original system because it has 4 steps instead of 3, so you use the step 3 cream in the morning and the step 4 cream at night, which I find really helps the way my skin looks and feels.  I used to have pretty bad acne and this really transformed my skin!  I use it twice a day, everyday and I really love it.  I tried both Proactive and Proactive Extra Strength (which I believe has been discontinued) but AcneFree Severe works so much better for me than Proactive ever did.

2. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Detoxifying Facial Cleanser

MBDetox_Clean_360x436

 

I love using this cleanser in the morning because it really does wake me up and makes me feel instantly refreshed.  They have a few versions of this cleanser, but my favorite is the detoxifying one because it gets deep into your pores to really get any toxins out of your skin and it makes me feel really clean.  I also like that it’s oil-free because I don’t like adding extra oil to my skin, as it can get pretty oily on its own.

3. Neutrogena Naturals Acne Foaming Scrub

acne foaming scrub

I only use this product a couple times a week because scrubs can be rough on your skin, but it does get any extra dirt, oil, or dead skin cells out of my skin and makes my skin feel super clean and fresh.  It also really helps with blackheads and is helpful in getting my skin nice and clear.  I also like that its made entirely of natural ingredients!

4. Freeman Feeling Beautiful Mint & Lemon Facial Clay Mask

mint and lemon mask

 

I use this mask once or twice a week to clear up/prevent breakouts.  It feels so cool and fresh on the skin and smells amazing!  You just put it all over your face and leave it on until it dries completely and then rinse it off with warm water.  My skin feels so soft and wonderful after I use it!

5. CoverGirl Smoothers BB Cream

BB cream

This BB Cream from CoverGirl is a great product and a great bargain.  I use it everyday and it usually lasts me about a 1.5-2 months.  It gives a very light coverage (just enough to even out my skin tone) and does so much good for my skin as well!  According to the product description it does the following things for your skin: 1. Natural-looking radiance 2. Sheer color 3. All-day Hydration 4. Improves skin elasticity 5. Broad spectrum SPF-15 6. Blends effortlessly 7. Lightweight 8. Helps skin feel smooth 9. Covers to help instantly improve skin’s appearance 10. Won’t clog pores.  This is really a wonderful steal of a product!

These products make up my current skincare routine.  I hope you find this helpful!  Leave a comment below with your favorite skincare products and if you use any of these products, too!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful Sunday!