The Boyfriend Cardigan

For me, cardigans are wardrobe staple. I especially like the "boyfriend cardigan" and wear my navy blue one all the time with so many different things. The cardigan featured above is the V-Neck LS Boyfriend Cardigan from Forever21. What's so great about cardigans? They're cheap. They come in a variety of colors. They're comfortable. And most importantly for a college gal... they're oh-so-versatile!

Here's how a boyfriend cardigan can serve your needs and enhance your outfit five days a week. (Now, I don't suggest you wear a single piece of clothing for seven days straight... but this just goes to show that the cardigan can work in so many different settings.)

Haven't these button-down sweaters come a long way since the days of June Cleaver? ;)

♥Amore

Jot in Style

One thing I'm never without: a notebook. Trust me, I'm like a spiral-bound-notebook-fiend. And it just so happens that I (while browsing Etsy) stumbled across the coolest notebooks I've ever seen. Ivy Lane Designs sells handmade notebooks and journals created scraps of cardboard boxes that would otherwise end up in a landfill. And these "scraps" are strikingly familiar. ;) Even better than being made out of recycled boxes... these notebooks go the extra green mile with the acid-free, recycled paper they contain. Check out ten of my favorites above.

I absolutely adore Ivy Lane Designs' creations and am so glad I chanced upon the Etsy shop. There's something there for everyone... the chocolaholic, the girly girl, the mac-n-cheese chef, the grown-up girl scout, the cookie monster, the diet Dr. Pepper addict, the Burt's Bees devotee, and the Little Debbie deep inside of you. (Tip: these handy-dandy notebook makes nifty gifts for all those special someones in your life.)

My personal favorite happens to be the notebook made out of a Hi Ho! Cherry-O board game box. It was my favorite game as a little girl... besides Pretty Pretty Princess. :)

These recycled notebooks are affordable, green, and oh-so-cute alternatives to the boring spiral-bounds we're all so used to. The tiny ones are ideal for toting around in your purse for grocery and to-do lists and notes to self. The larger ones could be used to take class notes, doodle, or journal. Whatever you designate it for... Ivy Lane Designs notebooks are sure to brighten your day and make the task a little cheerier.

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Orientation

I recently went to my orientation at ISU. It was a great experience and not at all what I expected. The orientation I went to as a freshman at UCM was a zoo. It wasn't disorganized or anything... there were just TONS of anxious freshman, TONS of parents, and TONS of things we were required to do on a set schedule. The one at Iowa State was totally opposite. The group of students and parents was relatively small and was broken up even further. The schedule was very flexible... you could choose what you wanted to do and when (except for the welcome speech and advising appointment). It was actually fun. :)

The above pictures are photos that I happened to snap throughout the day. The campus is so gorgeous and I'm in love with the architecture of the buildings. While I'm usually one to desire a long, drawn-out summer... I'm actually wishing fall would get here as soon as possible. I really can't wait to be on campus and get my degree going after these past several terms at community college. It's so big and there's so much room to breath and grow.

Plus... I'll be learning Latin! (Besides the challenge of decorating my dorm... learning Latin is what I'm most looking forward to.)

♥Amore

Simple, Savvy, & Clutter-free | Dorm Ditto #4

(The above and below dorms are images that I found on Photobucket...
so unfortunately I do not know how to properly credit the source. If the
images belong to you or you know who the original source is, please
let me know so that I may properly credit them on my blog. Thanks.)

Clutter. It's something that seems to suddenly creep up on you when you live in a space. It happens enough in the bedroom. But a dorm is not just a bedroom. Aside from sleeping, dressing, and relaxing (which occur regularly in bedrooms)... throw in studying, watching tv, reading, entertaining, eating, and hanging out. That's what goes down in the dorm. Because dorms are often small and/or shared, you end up with too much to do in too little of a space. Clutter is inevitable it seems. But the above dorms seemed to have defeated the clutter.

The first dorm pictured took advantage of the white in the room. Sometimes throwing in too many random colors can overwhelm a small space. A white bedspread along with the white walls, white desk, and white shelving makes it look like all the white was on purpose. The splash of color comes in on the windows. Those yellow and orange vertical stripes not only give the room height, but the color is so cheery when the sun shines though. Accessories in this room are kept to a minimum. It's a bit bare for me (as I prefer to be surrounded by things that make me happy), but the minimal space looks very calm. It looks like a great place to study without much distractions and also a nice, tranquil place to snooze.

The second dorm sticks to a basic color combination of pinks and brown. Over to the right, I love the glow that the floor lamp puts off. However, those things on the floor (picture frame, water bottles, etc.) could really use a place to sit. There appears to be room on that fantastic cubed shelving unit. I love how the unit is wider than it is tall. It offers open storage and also a place to slide storage bins in. What catches my eye first about this room is definitely those GORGEOUS pink roses. How lovely! Nothing can cheer up a room quite like fresh flowers. :)

Four tricks to steal from these simple yet savvy dorms:

Top Left: Fresh flowers like these lovely pink roses from Flowers Xpress.
Top Right: Colorful striped curtains like these panels from Target.
Bottom Left: Comfy seating like these dish chairs from Target.
Bottom Right: Low shelving like these versatile units from Target.

♥Amore

Black, White, Teal, & Flocked | Dorm Ditto #3

(The above and below dorm are images that I found on Photobucket...
so unfortunately I do not know how to properly credit the source. If the
images belong to you or you know who the original source is, please
let me know so that I may properly credit them on my blog. Thanks.)

Color & Pattern: The decorator of this dorm stuck to three colors... mostly black and white, with punches of light blue. I absolutely love the pattern of the bedding. There's something about any damask print that draws me to it. The major aspects of the room (bedding, pillows, desk, etc.) all stick to the color scheme... but so do the minor accessories! Did you notice that the squirt bottle and tissue box on the desk are also that pretty teal-ish blue color? Several silver-tinted accessories bring in a bit of sheen.

Storage: There are parts of this room that are not seen, such as the closet and other areas where clutter often tends to gather. But from what I can tell, it's quite organized. Organized enough that the boarder can have a few shelves filled with decorative accessories, picture frames, and sentimental objects. The desk is quite tidy. And there's plenty of bulletin board and dry erase territory to post/jot notes and reminders.

Seating: I can't really talk about the seating in this room because I only found so many photos. There may or may not be ample seating here. I like to imagine that there's a sleek black futon dressed up with blue or damask-printed throw pillows. If not... I hope she doesn't mind having people plop down on her bed.

Decor: This dorm room definitely has a theme going on. The girl who decorated it let her personality shine through without letting the room get lost in her personality. There are lots of pretty little accessories all around... fancy photo frames, French-inspired objects such as that tiny Eiffel Tower lamp, the LAUGH letters, and a vase with flowers. By keeping with simple color choices, she was able to bring in lots of objects that help to make a dorm feel more like a home.

Check out these must-haves to inspire a similar space:

1. Victorian Comforter Cover from Delia's.
2. Solid Silk Pillow from Target.
3. Eiffel Tower Table Lamp from Target.
4. Black Silhouette Photo Frame from Target.
5. Black Cluster Collage Frame from Target.
6. Umbra Eternity Mantle Clock from Target.
7. Live Laugh Love Words w/ Base from Target.
8. Designer Bulletin Board from tara1234 on Etsy.
9. Vintage Style Victorian Wall Vinyl Chalkboard
Decal from SpellItOutDesigns on Etsy.
10. Dry Erase Board from tara1234 on Etsy.

♥Amore

Fire Safety

I came across this nifty little image at a website called Safe On Campus. For college students living in dorms and apartments, it's important to be educated on fire safety... one of the most important things being prevention. The above picture illustrates fire hazards in dorm rooms/apartments. Many colleges take the initiative to outlaw things such as incense, candles, extension cords, hot plates, and irons in the dorms... but if the school doesn't or if you're living off campus, it's critical to be aware of fire hazards for the safety of everyone in the building including you!

My solutions to the above 6 fire hazards:

1. First of all, don't smoke! It's bad for you. If you're into burning incense because it makes the room smell good, try reed diffusers instead. Reed diffusers (which are flame-free) consist of a bottle of scented oil and several reeds that stick out the top. These things really do fill the room with fragrance! Reed diffusers can be found anywhere, including Wal-mart and Target. Check out these ones from the Yankee Candle Company:
2. Be selective with what you have plugged into an outlet. Did you know that if something is plugged in it is still taking up electricity... even if it's not turned on? To save energy, unplug things such as the tv or microwave when not in the room. To be safe and avoid fire hazards, only plug in what you need plugged in at the time. Your cell phone charger, computer charger, microwave, and desk lamp don't need to be plugged in 24/7. Save the outlets for things such as your refrigerator. Then, when you need to charge your phone or turn on the lamp... plug those things into a surge protector temporarily. Maybe one like this from Wal-Mart:
3. I'm not sure why anyone would want to cover the lights with curtains or tapestries, but my best guess would be to "add ambiance". I particularly despise fluorescent lighting. It's harsh, bright, and entirely unflattering. So in the day, let the sun shine in! And at night, use accent lighting. Replace your table lamp bulb with pink-tinted bulb, which gives off a softer glow. Colored lampshades cast nice colors on the wall. Or try a multi-headed floor lamp with different colors on the heads... like this one from Target:

4. Yes, candlelight is lovely. There's just something about a flickering flame and the golden glow it casts in the room. I love having candles lit in my room at night, but I won't be able to do that in a dorm room. And I'm okay with that. Because while I know that I always keep an eye on candle flames... not everyone does. I don't want to go to sleep wondering if someone forgot to snuff their candle. Still feel the need for a little flickering? Modern technology has made it possible with flame free candles. I haven't yet heard of one that puts off scent... but these "fake candles" do glow. And some even flicker! These flame free candles are from Bed Bath & Beyond and are operated by remote control:

5. The only cooking appliances most colleges allow in dorms are microwaves. Don't break that rule and insist on bringing along a hot plate. There's a reason they're not allowed. If you don't feel like trudging to the dining hall for supper, there are plenty of things you can whip up with the help of a trusty microwave. With my love for ooey-gooey chocolate, Betty Crocker Warm Delights might turn out to be a college staple:

6. You really don't need to bring an iron and ironing board to school. WikiHow has an article on "How to Remove Wrinkles from Clothes Without an Iron". There are several methods: tumbling the clothing in a dryer, letting the clothing hang in a bathroom made steamy by the shower, using a blow dryer, laying a damp towel over the clothing for a while, or spritzing with water. To read the full article, click here. Or try Downy's Wrinkle Releaser spray:
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Index

Not sure where to start?  Start by exploring some of these article archives!  Just click on your area of interest for a list of related posts.

Books, Movies, + Music

College Survival

DIY Projects

Fashion + Beauty

Friendships + Relationships

Going Green

Safety First

Charming Chairs

Seating is essential to a functional dorm room. A bed can functional doubly as a place to sit and sleep, but I prefer to reserve it for just me to curl up in when nighttime comes. And while futons are a college staple, they're often bulky and heavy to move around the room. (I don't know about you, but I have a habit of changing my furniture around frequently.) So we come to chairs. Chairs can be easily moved around the room to accommodate guests. Here's a round-up of chairs I found for under $300.

1. Calvin Tub Armchair from Potterybarn.
2. Tylosand one-seat section from Ikea.
3. Emmabo rocking chair from Ikea.
4. Karlstad vividly patterned chair from Ikea.
5. Klappsta modern chair from Ikea.
6. Lunna swivel easy chair from Ikea.
7. Skruvska swivel chair from Ikea.
8. Vendome Armchair from Pier1.
9. Cheetah Chair from Pier1.
10. Beauvaoir Occasional Chair from Target.
11. Medallion Button Tufted Welted Chair from Target.
12. Pod Chairs from Target.
13. Easy Rider Chair from Target.
14. Cameo Roll Back Chair from Target.

♥Amore