My (Current) Christmas Wish List

I know, I know, it's only the middle of November! But a girl's gotta plan for these things early, right? Also I need to know what I want so I can be ready to conquer the mall on Black Friday. In the past few weeks this list has continued to grow as I scroll through Pinterest and watch haul videos on YouTube. Here's the most updated version of my wish list:

All I Want for Christmas Is...

Dr. Brandt 'Pores No More' Primer

After watching many YouTube makeup tutorials for Halloween, I noticed that several makeup gurus swear by this face primer. It gives your face a flawless finish and is the perfect base for your foundation. 

http://www.sephora.com/pores-no-more-pore-refiner-primer-P139005?skuId=1161629

Taupe fuzzy jacket

 I am always inspired by the looks of Sincerely Jules on Pinterest. I am dying to get a fuzzy jacket like the one she has on here. It would look so chic with a mini dress on New Year's Eve.

Oxblood leather A-line mini skirt

Blush is all the rage this season, and oxblood has continued to be in style since last fall. This outfit appears effortless and feminine, but the leather skirt gives it an edge that I love. 

Black booties

I already have more than six pairs of black booties - so you could say I have a bit of an addiction. They're all totally different though. I'm obsessed with these Western-style booties by Free People and these cut-out booties by Jeffrey Campbell. 

Let's Stay in Bed pullover sweater

I absolutely love to sleep in! That's why this sweater would be perfect for me. It's cute and casual and it defines me perfectly. I'd be able to lounge in it in my dorm and run off to class without having to change. 

Rookie Yearbook 4

Last year I bought Yearbook 3 and was instantly converted into a devout reader of the online magazine. Each year, Rookie magazine comes out with a 'yearbook' compilation of some of it's most memorable moments. Yearbook 4 was recently released and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. It's full of raw, inspiring writing and artwork. Definitely a must-read.

Suede fringe jacket

Fringe jackets are very boho-chic which has been ultra-popular in recent years. I have yet to buy a fringe jacket for myself. They look so fun and flirty! How can you not just dance when you're wearing one?!

Ripped black skinny jeans

Last fall I became obsessed with black skinny jeans of all rises, but none of them were ripped! I am loving this look by Sincerely Jules. Black jeans are so easy to match with and incredibly form-flattering. The added rip at the knee automatically adds an edge to your outfit.

New Lululemon yoga pants

Whether or not I'm actually going to work out is besides the point. These yoga pants are perfectly stretchy and comfortable for running errands, going to the mall, staying at home, or going to class. I can never have too many pairs. 

Lululemon women's yoga pants

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

I loved Gone Girl and am very excited about Gillian Flynn's newest release, The Grownup. It has great reviews from Vanity Fair and has an eerie, haunted quality to it, according to Flynn. Sounds like a great read for quiet days over winter break.

Floppy Faux Fur Vest

I am dying to get a faux fur vest like this one by Ella Moss. Fur vests are so cozy and comfortable and yet so chic at the same time. I would pair this with a basic, solid top and black ripped jeans or leggings. 

School and Such: How to Conquer Your Midterms

For those of you still stuck in the midst of midterms, there are many ways you can prepare that will better ensure that you get an 'A'. I just finished my midterms earlier this week. Thank God. As a first-year, there was a lot I had to learn during this daunting process, and I walked away with A's on every one of my midterms! Here are some helpful study tips I follow: 

Plan Ahead

It's always a good idea to be aware of your exams way in advance. Your exam dates should all be in your class syllabi. Look up these dates ASAP and mark your calendar. It really helps me when I can visualize how the entire month is going to pan out. By knowing early-on which days you have exams (perhaps you have more than one in a day!), you can plan accordingly. For example, I have a slew of major exams scheduled for next Friday. I've known for  a while that next week is going to be a "hard week", meaning I have a lot of deadlines and exams; as a result I've opted to finish assignments now that aren't due until next week just to free up my schedule. Even if you don't start studying more than two weeks in advance, if you have a paper due the same week as the big exam you can start working on it when you have free time now. I have an Erin Condren Life Planner that I absolutely LOVE. (you can get one here: Erin Condren Life Planners). Use a day planner, an app, or just a plain calendar printout to stay organized. 

Listen to your professors

Oftentimes your professors will provide you with valuable resources to help you prepare for their exams. DON'T IGNORE THEM! Continually check D2L or whichever website your school uses to see if your professors have posted any additional materials. These could include additional problem sets, links to review videos, PowerPoints, lecture notes, study guides, etc. In my experience over half of the class fails to review the Midterm study guides our professors give us, and they end up getting D's or below on the exam. Someone is literally giving you the exam! Don't take it for granted. Some professors send out emails that list all of the topics you are expected to know for the exam. After studying for my chemistry exam, I printed out my professor's email and highlighted all of the topics I was confident about. Then I was able to go back and review the topics I felt shaky on. Make sure you work on additional problems you are given. These are great ways to test what you know - merely skimming over your class notes is  not enough. 

Ask good questions

How do you go about asking a good question, you ask? Well, before you attend your professor's office hours, a tutoring session, or a class review session, it's good to "know what you don't know" in advance. In the past I've been lazy and have attended the review session hoping it would be enough to prepare me for test day. This method is foolish! Believe me I've learned the hard way. Make the most of your time in your review session by showing up prepared. This means you need to have actively studied and tested your knowledge (using your past HW or those additional practice problems!). Write down a list of SPECIFIC questions you have about the material. This way you won't be wasting your professor's time and you will be a lot more efficient. If you are counting on just sitting in the lecture hall and soaking in as much as you can, you won't be making good use of your time. By studying beforehand, you can use the review session as reinforcement. 

Hope this helps! Happy studying! (:

November Bucket List

October may already be over, but there is still plenty of time to do some fun autumn-inspired things with friends before the winter holidays! I just sent my friends a bucket list I made for things to do when we go home for Thanksgiving break. We only have about 4 days to do as many activities as possible. Bucket lists are great because they allow you to make the most of the limited time you have together! Check out the bucket list I made below:

November Bucket List

• Bake apple and/or pumpkin pie
• Go apple picking at an orchard
• Have a fall photo shoot
• See the ocean
• Eat in-n-out
• Have a big reunion with friends from high school
• Girls brunch
• Nature walk + picnic
• Frolic in a meadow
• Lattes on lattes on lattes
• Make (and drink!) apple cider
• Craft fun holiday-themed decor for our dorms
• Black Fridayyyyyyy Shopping
• Watch chick flicks and cuddle
• Eat candy apples
• Explore the woods
• Go to the Farmers Market
• Pick names out of a hat for Secret Santa (it's not a bad idea to do it in advance!)

Fall Insta-spiration

We're a couple weeks into fall, and you know what that means! Time to post endless pics of our booties and lattes! Say goodbye to those beach selfies and hello to photos of our Halloween costumes (except on #throwbackThursday of course). Can't decide what to post? You're in luck, because I've found several pics that will hopefully inspire you! Happy posting! 

1. Simultaneously show off your fab fall outfit and your pumpkin spice latte! Everyone will be envious.

2. Let everyone see your jack-o-lantern masterpiece! 

3. Take advantage of the leaves on the ground; they instantly add color to a pic on a dreary day.

4. Use your umbrella as an accessory! 

5. Go on a day trip with friends and ask someone to take a pic of you looking off dramatically into the distance. So artsy.

6. Take a tumblr-esque pic of you and your friends walking along the railroad tracks. It's super cute and a tad-bit rebellious.

Festive Fall Funtivities

Fall is in full swing! What does that mean? Well, daylight savings time ends, meaning 1 more hour of beauty sleep! But aside from that, we finally get to break out our coziest cable-knit sweaters and post snapchats of the leaves' changing colors! (For those of us that aren't on the West Coast, at least). Halloween is coming up, so it's time to get festive! Here are some great ways to immerse yourself in the autumn season:

1. Visit your local pumpkin patch

Grab some friends and head over to the pumpkin patch! Even if you don't intend to buy any pumpkins, going to the pumpkin patch is a fun way to get into the spirit of fall on a budget. Put on your cutest flannel and pair it with comfy leggings and distressed booties for an effortless fall look. And while you're there, take a selfie by the haystacks or the petting zoo. It'll be sure to pull those Insta likes! 

2. Have a Halloween movie night

There are a plethora of Halloween movies out there, ranging from ultra-cheesy to absolutely terrifying! Find a cozy throw blanket and get watching! Below are some movie suggestions:

1. Halloweentown - a Disney favorite
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - gotta love badass female protagonists
3. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - sure to evoke some fond childhood memories
4. Teen Witch - the rap scene in this '80s classic is fantastic
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas - makes a great transition into the holiday season
6. The Scream - so scary!
7. Disturbia - Shia LaBeouf is in it, so it's a must-see
8. or...have an American Horror Story marathon!

3. Go for a hike

Now that the weather is crisp and cool, head outdoors and appreciate all it has to offer! What better way to enjoy the beautiful autumn colors? 

4. Plan out some Halloween costumes

Here at the University of Arizona, we don't just have Halloween, we have HalloWEEK. This calls for multiple Halloween costumes, but on a college budget, buying 7 different costumes just doesn't seem like a smart decision. Get together with your girls one weekend and raid each other's closets for quick and easy costumes. See what items you may already have from past spirit days, etc. For example, a pink top and mini skirt can be easily transformed into a Mean Girls costume. You can always go the classic, sexy route by opting for an LBD and cat ears. 

5. Bake Pumpkin Pie

Put some yum in your tum by baking this classic fall favorite! Baking is a great way to unleash your inner housewife while bonding with friends. Also, when the scent of pie wafts down the hall, you're set to be the most popular girl on the floor! 

Follow this recipe for (almost) instant goodness! 

Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Sick Beats: My Fall Playlist

It's that time of year again - thank God for sweater weather and pumpkin spice lattes! When I'm swamped by seemingly endless midterms and papers, good music really gets me through the week. If you need some songs to listen to during a cozy study break, or you just want to create good vibes, these are for you! Happy listening! 

1. Never Ending Circles - CHVRCHES
2. Real Love (The Chainsmokers remix) - Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne
3. Nirvana - Sam Smith
4. Sweater Weather - The Neighborhood
5. Roses - The Chainsmokers
6. Tennis Court - Lorde
7. Girls Like You - The Naked and Famous
8. Real Life - The Weeknd
9. Big Jet Plane - Angus and Julia Stone
10. Autumn Leaves - Ed Sheeran
11. Renegades - X Ambassadors