Happy, Healthy Freshman Year

We've all heard of the "Freshman 15". Sometimes it turns out to be the "Freshman 20". No one wants to gain extra pounds as they enter the next chapter of their life, but without knowing the causes or some tips to avoid it, it can happen.

First the Causes....
This is not an all inclusive list. Also I shouldn't have to mention it but, I am not a doctor. 

1. Over-eating- Indulging more often in high calorie foods such as pizza, fried food, and ice cream.

2. Malnutrition- Skipping meals is not a good thing!

3. Alcohol Consumption- Check the labels if you don't believe me. Alcohol has WAY more calories than I ever imagined.

4. Stress- This should be an obvious one. Starting your new life in a new place, professors, tests, finals, projects, papers, etc.

Now, the Tips!

1. Drink water- Invest in an acrylic tumbler and a reusable water bottle. The tumbler you can use when you're in your dorm room and the water bottle you can take with you to classes. If you're not a fan of water or just want to change it up try adding some Crystal Light On-The-Go Drink Mix, Mio Water Enhancer, or Vitamin Water Zero Drops. Lemons, cucumbers and other fruits can be cut up and tossed in water as well.

2. Starbucks has calories too! It's almost a staple to drink coffee in college. The groggy mornings, early morning classes, late night study sessions, and those cool Fall nights. Just remember that those calories add up. Choose low calorie versions with no whip cream. Use Starbucks as a treat after acing your Biology midterm!

3. Don't depend on the dining hall for all your meals. Plan ahead and get quick and healthy options you can prepare yourself in your dorm room. Bagels, oatmeal, and eggs for example are quick and healthy breakfast options. Don't forget you can change up your toppings too.

4. Exercise. It seems simple enough but many students complain they do not have time. Most campuses have a gym, use it. Use the gym as your study break! Other easy ways to get in some exercise are: wear running shoes and jog to your classes, invest in a yoga mat-easy toning in your dorm room, or take a physical education class.

5. De-Stress. Take mental breaks from studying cramming for that test. Visit local attractions, join a club, GO GREEK!, and attend socials. It helps meeting people that are feeling the same way you are about being away from home, struggling through a class, etc. Maybe you'll meet your new workout partner.

The Dorm Room Diet

Make your supporters proud and your haters jealous!

xoxo Gwen

Fourth of July

xoxo Gwen

Sorority File: White Attire Part 2

Just as important as the white dress is for ritual attire, shoes are equally important. They have to be comfortable, because you will be on your feet for an extended period of time. If you're anything like me you'll also want them to be fashionable. Flats are an option, however personally not for me. I never wear heels, but I wanted my initiation to be extra special so I went all out with the dress and heels. Just remember you will be wearing pantyhose as well so you might want to take a pair with you when you're shopping. If not, the pantyhose "socks" shoe stores provide when trying on new shoes should give you an idea how it will fit and feel.

The Shoes

Badgley Mischka 'Kat' Pump Now $150

BCBG Paris Gaminkha Patent Pump $49.95

Michael Antonio Love Me Bright Patent Platform Pump $39.95

Bandolino Courteous Pump $49.95

BCBGeneration Cielo Pumps Sale $59.99

Easy Street Passion Pumps $55

Again it's important to remember they should be white (not cream, ivory or off-white, etc). If you're not used to walking in heels there's no shame in practicing walking around your dorm room, the halls, your house, or apartment before the big day.

After you have your dress and your shoes you're one step closer to being ready.  Stay tuned next week for Part 3 to this series.

xoxo Gwen

Wordless Wednesday {Roses}

xoxo Gwen

June Hits & Misses

Hits

In no particular order:

Baby Lips {Coral Crush}*

Yes To Tomatoes blemish clearing facial wipes

Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer

Revlon Color Stay Under eye Concealer

Southern Tide Bed sheets*

Eleanor & Park {by Rainbow Rowell}**

Reef flip flops*

Paper Mache necklace (purchased at the Chrysler Museum)*

Breyer's Gelato {Raspberry Cheesecake}

All the fresh blackberries I have been able to pick from my backyard**

*Find a picture on my Instagram feed

**Find two pictures on my Instagram feed

Probably my #1 favorite pick of the month had to be Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. The book was absolutely amazing. It has been added to the list of my all time favorite books. Seriously it's that good.

Misses

Barefoot's Spa Professional Exfoliating Polish - Influenster sent me a coupon so I could purchase this product at my local Walmart free of charge. While I enjoy testing a product I always feel bad when I do not like a product. The only positive things going for this product is the price and the scent. I have used almost the entire tube now and will not be repurchasing.

My picture (Norfolk Botanical Garden)

xoxo Gwen

Sorority File: White Attire Part 1

I think I can speak for every young woman out there when it comes to finding and deciding what to buy and wear for sorority recruitment and beyond. It's high on the list of questions asked of those who have been through the process already. You can search YouTube, Google, and blogs for what to wear for sorority recruitment and you will find tons of ideas.

What to wear {Sorority Sugar}

Sorority Rush Style Guide {Lauren Conrad}

Your Complete Guide to Sorority Rush {Her Campus}

Sorority Recruitment Outfit Ideas! {Caitlin Bea}

Sorority Recruitment Outfits! College 101 ep. 2 {MissTiffanyMa}

You get the idea there are tons and tons of outfit ideas.

To me that's the easy part because everyone will be wearing something they feel comfortable in and fits their personal style (or they should be)! The hard part is the ceremony attire. White attire can be either a dress, skirt, pants, and/or blouse that is all white and of proper length and coverage. I struggled finding my dress. You can read all about it here. Fall recruitment and Spring recruitment may vary on what you decide to wear (pants or a dress) but for the most part it's usually a dress.

You may not be thinking about it right now, but you absolutely should! Whether or not you decide to go Greek having a perfect white dress to add to your wardrobe is always a good thing! The key things to remember are: it has to be white, it should be in good taste (not casual), & no colored trim. Finding white (not cream, neutral, off white, ivory etc.) can be tricky that's why I suggest looking now.

The Dress

Lord & Taylor BCBGENERATION Draped-Pocket Dress SALE $69.99

Guess Short-Sleeve Scalloped Lace Dress Now $62.24

Modcloth Pitching Perfectly Dress $74.99

Modcloth Gift to be Graceful Dress $54.99

Lilly Pulitzer Alden Lace Tunic Dress $178

LULUS Exclusive Net Worth White Dress $45

Hopefully this gives you some ideas of dresses that can work for ceremony attire. Good luck finding the perfect dress and stay tuned for Part 2 coming later this week.

xoxo Gwen

2014 Summer Bucket List

Every summer comes and goes and as an adult it's hard to actually "enjoy" the summer like I used to when I was a kid. When I was a kid every summer my family would travel from South Carolina to Maryland and spend time with our grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. We tended to schedule our vacation around July 4th because my granddad always threw HUGE parties for 4th of July.

Now that I am an adult I see what my parents must have gone through to make that trip every year. As for myself I am taking summer classes (the sooner I can finish school the better, right?!), working, volunteering, and trying to get my apartment straightened up (again), as well as other things I have been neglecting.  This year has been extra hard on me whether others seem to think so or not. I'm still not where I would like to be in my life and I am trying to set goals for myself and realize things don't just happen overnight. I do have to make some difficult decisions this summer as well because when Fall rolls around I definitely want to be headed in the right direction.

One thing I have never done before is to sit down and write a bucket list. It almost seems too daunting to make a list of things I want to do in my lifetime. A 2014 summer bucket list seems so much easier and not quite as daunting. So that's what I have done. I thought up a handful of things I would like to do this summer. Some are easy and some require $ and more planning, but I think it's doable. There's also those things I did not include on the list.

Without further ado here is my relatively simple 2014 Summer Bucket List....

Visit the Chrysler Museum   June 20, 2014

Go to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens  June 29, 2014

Go to as many festivals as I can  ~~Bayou Boogaloo (June 21, 2014)

Go to a Concert

Spend time with my Big

Shop the Farmer's Market

Stay involved with the LTVB  June 1, 10, 11, 12, 23, 2014

Visit the D'Art Center

Read (a lot)  ~~The Husband's Secret (by Liane Moriarty), Mockingjay (by Suzanne Collins), Eleanor & Park (by Rainbow Rowell)

Pick fresh berries  June 22 & 28, 2014

Make smores over a fire

Craft (at least 2 things)

Go to the beach!

Go swimming

Go hiking

As added inspiration to be able to cross everything off my summer bucket list I have made it my desktop background and I will update my list as I can.

What are your summer time plans?

xoxo Gwen