4 Summer Essentials

1. Soap & Glory Glow Hydrating Shimmer Lotion
Soap & Glory is a fabulous cosmetics and skincare line available at Target... and all of the packaging is so pretty and retro. I recently picked up a bottle of this glow lotion and completely fell in love. It contains shea butter and is a pale, shimmery pink. It evens out and highlights skin tone. Best of all... it smells amazing! Click here to buy some.

2. Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss
I've always been a fan of Burt's Bees natural products... I'm devoted to the original beeswax lip balm. However, I've never been much of a lip gloss fan. Most glosses I've used have either dried out my lips, slid all over my mouth, felt too sticky, or needed to be re-applied too much. But since I trust Burt and his beeswax, I gave this gloss a try. I'm smitten with the Nectar Nude shade. It goes on light and shiny. It tastes good. It stays in place. And it makes my lips feel really soft. Click here if you want a tube.

3. Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Body Double Mist
Leave it to Victoria's Secret to always have fabulous fragrances... but these top it all off for me! The bottles are filled with half skin conditioners and half fragrance. You shake it all up and then spritz it on. It leaves a wonderful scent and softness on your skin. My personal favorites are the Appletini (which smells like a delicious, crisp green apple) and Candy Baby (which smells like a mix of cotton candy, peppermint, and sugary goodness). Click here to see more.

4. CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara
I have tried sooooo, sooooooo, sooooooooooo many different mascaras. And finally I have found a keeper... made by CoverGirl. I love the fat orange tube. I love how it goes on thick without clumping. And I love how it makes my lash look so long and luscious. Click here to to pick some up.

These four products are my summer beauty must-haves.

♥Amore.

Mini Putt | Summer Date #1

(above: callmeserendipitous)

Grab your boy and head to the nearest miniature golf course for some lighthearted putting competition. A mini golf date is inexpensive and casual fun in the outdoors. Plus you get to show of your mad putting skills. ;) Loser buys ice cream.

What to wear:

♥Amore.

Creative Space | Summer To-Do #1

(above: yummygoods)

Do you have a creative space in your bedroom? A creative space could mean a variety of things. Perhaps it's a table where you like to spread out and sew fabulous garments, put together crafty scrapbooks, or work on a painting. Perhaps it's your desk where you edit your photography, muse in your journal, or express yourself through writing. It could be the kitchen table, an empty corner of the garage, or maybe a peaceful nook of the house. Your creative space is the place where you create.

My creative space is my desk in my bedroom. But unfortunately for the last several months, it has served as more of a "homework space" than a place for me to scrapbook, write historical fiction, and make art. My bulletin board is filled with exam reminders, homework to-do lists, and a few tests I scored well on. Now that the school year is over with, I'm oh-so-very ready to strip that board down to the cork. I'll be re-dressing it with quotes, images, poems, and magazine scraps that inspire me to do my writing and make my art.

And now I'm challenging you to do the same.

Don't worry. I don't want to deny you of going outdoors on these upcoming beautiful summer days. This is the perfect project for a rainy day. In case you're wondering...

What do I use for a board?
There are a variety of things. You could keep traditional with a cork bulletin board. Or change it up a little and opt for a magnetic board. Attaching items to a string with clothespins is a crafty approach. And clipboards are popping up everywhere. Or you could just go crazy and stick things directly to your wall.

What do I put on my board?
Basically anything that inspires you or makes you happy. Photographs. Magazine scraps. Drawings. Art prints. Quotations. Poetry. Ticket stubs. Pieces of fabric. Paint samples. If you think it's beautiful, if you think it's fabulous, if you think it's the coolest thing ever... it belongs on your board. Your board is an expression of who you are and what you like.

To get your creative juices flowing... check out these various inspiration spaces:

(above: humblebeads)

(above: pam glew)

(above: plasticpumpkin)

(above: laura bucci)

(above: fabiolaperezsitko)

(above: o!rachew!)

(above: catmil)

Get to work on your creative space. I'll post photos of my finished desk space soonly. :)

♥Amore.

Summertime Here @ the Blog

(above image: "jump starfish, jump" by vampire-zombie on DeviantArt)

For all the college students around the U.S., finals have ended and summertime has begun. If you're like me, you cringe at the mention of studying, homework, class schedules, etc. So while I will still be highlighting dorm decor ideas, most of my posts for the upcoming two months will center around making the most of your summer break. I'm thinking... fun things to do over the break, cute clothes to wear, making the most of summer, and other related things. (The occasional academic post may pop up, but it'll be kept to a minimum.) And then, come August... I'll be hitting the books and this blog will be, too.

So here's to the college student's summer here at Miss Scholastic!

♥Amore.

Irksome Cushion's Minimal Dorm | Dorm Ditto #7

I recently did a post on Maximilian Sinsteden's dorm room, which took preppy and eclectic to an extreme. Well, maybe that's not the look you're going for in your room. Then I came across a post on Apartment Therapy Los Angeles featuring "The Anti-Maximilian Dorm Room" that belongs to Irksome Cushion.

This dorm room is on the opposite end of the decor spectrum of Mister Sinsteden's. This one is more modern, clean-lined, simple, and airy. And it, too, looks unlike any other dorm room I've ever seen. The white was embraced and repeated throughout the space. The room is very clean, organized, and still inviting and pretty.

In love with this calm, minimal dorm? Re-create it by...

1) Embrace the white rather than fight it. Repeating the white throughout the room (in bedsheets, furniture, accessories, etc.) makes it look like it's all on purpose for the sake of design.

2) Keep objects to a minimum. If you don't find it useful or beautiful... don't bring it into the room. Notice how organized and clutter-free the desktop is... that's makes for a great workspace. (And yet it still has lovely artwork around for a little inspiration.)

3) Keep furniture to a minimum. Notice a] the fridge doubling as a bedside table, b] the bed on the floor, c] the books stacked neatly next to the bed.

4) Keep patterns minimal. The rug and bedsheets are solids. Pattern comes into the room subtly on the pillow case.

Etsy finds reminiscent of this space:

Subtly patterned pillows... 1 and 2 from MARIECOSYCUSHIONS
White furry pillow... 3 from coffeehousevintage
White ceramic jars... 4 from dbabcock, 5 from EmaZuma, 6 from KarinLorenc
Bird print... 7 from backyarddesign
B&W photo prints... 8 from JaredKS, 9 from simonsgallery
Branch decal... 10 from byrdiegraphics

Lighting Sources:

1, 2, 3... from Target
4, 5, 6... from Ikea

♥Amore.

Candy-Coated Dorm Room | Dorm Ditto #6

Over at E-E, I just did a post featuring Flickr user MissKittyKat's photos of her home decor. She uses pretty patterns, candy-coated colors, and a mix of old and new to create lovely little spaces. (To view the E-E post featuring MissKittyKat, click here.)

As I continued to admire her photostream, I was pleased to come across photos of her "student room", or dorm room... it is pictured above. She has a unique, fabulous, and fun sense of style. You should definitely take some cues from this sugary-sweet space.

Above: Her before and after shots of one end of her student room. What I'm very impressed with is that she chose to work with what the school gave her. She didn't bring any furniture of her own and made do with the provided pieces. By putting two beds together, she created a cozy little seating area. She's a Swedish art and design student. The pillows, posters, and prints are of her own design.

Above: Her desk functions as a homework space and creative space. The splashes of bubblegum pink are sooo pretty. And I particularly like that darling little collection of deer and her nesting dolls. The lush plants are a nice touch, too.

Above: This bookcase with its tins and baskets keeps her craft supplies organized and within easy reach.

Do you like MissKittyKat's fun, girly dorm room? Here's some ideas to borrow from her space... and the good news: they are ALL from Etsy. :)

1) Bloom Pillow from dedeetsyshop. 2) Green Chinese Paper lantern from baihoo. 3) Follow Your Bliss print from lot9press. 4) Strawberry baskets from bakeitpretty. 5) Little vintage nesting dolls from retrokitsch. 6) Pretty paisley pillow from mustlovehomedecor. 7) Blue Skies pillow from warmnfuzzies. 8) Create Something Beautiful print from breedingfancy. 9) Mid-Century gooseneck desk lamp from coventgardenvintage. 10) Sweet set of Mama and babies deer from snew. 11) Turquoise hobnail fan vase from cheshirecatantiques. 12) Chartreuse modern starburst pillow from ouno.

♥Amore.

Puh-Puh-Puh Poker Face

The above dorm belongs to two guys at Arkansas Tech University. It has been posted on HGTV's Rate My Space and was featured on an HGTV show episode. (...Though I can't remember exactly what show it was.) I think there's a fine line between madness and genius... and by taking this theme to the extreme, I'll let you decide for yourself. You've got to hand it to these guys for their creativity though.

Yes, they even carried the poker theme into the bathroom. Haha.

This is definitely the most creative dorm room I've ever seen. To view more photos, check out Crazy College Room on Rate My Space.

♥Amore.

Preppy & Eclectic... to the Max | Dorm Ditto #5

If I told you that the above photo is a dorm room... would you believe me? I could hardly believe it myself when I first saw it on an Apartment Therapy post and then again on Brilliant Asylum. To read the full article featured in New York Magazine, click here. (Photos in this post taken by Dean Kaufman; article written by Sarah Bernard... both for New York Magazine)

Maximilian Sinsteden is a 21-year-old senior at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. I'm already envious of his college campus (pictured above). Isn't it just gorgeous with all the tall trees and old architecture? Maximilian lives in a tiny dorm room in Hoyt-Browne Hall.

"I can't live in a minimalist world. For me, it's
all about eclecticism." - Maximilian Sinsteden

His dorm room reflects his ultra-eclectic and love of authentic prep. The floor is covered in oriental rugs... not even a trace of the linoleum peaking through. The walls are painted Ralph Lauren's Tapestry Green. By putting the school-provided dorm furniture into storage, he was able to bring in his own vintage pieces. And thrift store finds are scattered throughout the chamber.

Above: He attached the bathroom caddy to the mirror with suction cups, making his hair products, tooth brush, and cleanser are all within easy reach.

Above: See what's tying back the gorgeous curtains? Well, those are re-purposed ascots. Who knew? And yes, that's a well-stocked bar in the corner of his room... which often brings about twenty of Maximilian's friends into the teeny-tiny dorm room.

Above: Maximilian's $80 thirft-store chest of drawers holds his neatly folded sweaters. And every tie has it's place on a rack belonging to his father. Vintage artwork frames a beautiful gilt mirror.

Above:
1) Black-watch throw from his grandmother. And his nose is The Lover, by Marguerite Duras. 2) Ralph Lauren plaid pillows and bed linens. 3) Charlotte Moss curtains and paisley pillows. 4) Rugs from his family. 5) "A hand-me-down" armchair from a client.

Have you taken a liking to Maximilian's eclectic, preppy style? Take note:

Cover your dorm walls in a mixed array of artwork... pencil drawings, vintage ephemera, and a sign or two. Etsy is a fantastic place to find a variety of this kinda stuff. 1) Vintage 70's The New York Times Magazine -- nuforms' shop, 2) French 1900 Enamel Street Sign -- thepuddingstorevint's shop, 3) 1892 French Corset Fashion Plate -- PetitPoulailler's shop, 4) Vintage 1922 Architectural Drawing -- callmejasper's shop.

Scavenge sites like ebay and craigslist for a vintage arm chair within your style preference and price range. 5) Orange Floral Vintage Drexel High Back Arm Chair, 6) Red Vintage High Back Arm Chair, 7) Ivory Vintage Arm Chair.

Target has a great selection of Oriental and Persian Style Rugs. 8) Aubergine Fleur-de-Lis Rug, 9) Patina Beige/Black Rug, 10) Stainmaster Halkara Rug in Blue, 11) Red Ankara Rug.

Take a majorly creative cue from Mister Sinsteden and use ascots to tie back your curtains. There's a shop on Etsy called vintagetieaffair that has silky neckties galore.

Unfortunately for most dorm-dwellers, we are not allowed to paint the walls a gorgeous shade of green and the school-provided furniture is often not allowed to even leave the room. But just because you may be stuck with white cinder block and basic blah furniture pieces doesn't mean you can't draw preppy inspiration from Maximilian Sinsteden and come up with your own fabulously eclectic chamber.

♥Amore.

Fit for the Delphine

The movie "Marie Antoinette" is one of my favorite movies. It's a breathtaking film---the sets are elaborate, the costumes are to-die-for, Kirsten Dunst is soooo talented, and the soundtrack is composed of some of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. I love the movie so much that it inspired my next room idea. In this room, I attempted to combine the fabulous frill, timeless elegance, and superfluous luxury with fresh simplicity, youthful colors, and lots of function. After all... doesn't every girl deserve her piece of Versailles?

(Above) Marie Antoinette's private chamber.

(Above) The infamous fan scene from the movie.

(Above) Deliciously frosted cakes + fabulous
footwear... isn't that every girl's fantasy?

(Above) Portrait of the real Marie Antoinette.

Here is Decor Board #2: Let Them Eat Cake...

Color Scheme:
Bubblegum Pink, Cool Turquoise, Crisp White, Glimmering Gold

1: This minimal poster makes a maximum statement with a pretty cake and three little words. 2: This is just one of those movies I can watch over and over and over again. 3: This golden bird on a pedestal adds a bit of funky whimsy to any corner of the room. 4: This simple lampshade is lovely. 5: It'll be even lovelier on this crystal lamp base. 6: This comforter is patterned with sky-blue and white damask. 7: This clean-cut, white tray would make the perfect catch-all for keys, mail, and other knick-knacks. 8: Beautiful pink flora brightens up any room. 9: Leave the traditional bulletin board behind for this ornately framed message board. 10: This pink picture frame is absolutely fabulous. 11: Since I can't have Versailles' hall of mirrors... this elegant mirrored bedstand will have to do. 12: Here's another darling picture frame. 13: I'm smitten with these lacey-patterned, metal candleholders in hot pink and snowy white. 14: Every queen's room needs a gilt touch... and these frames have just the right amount. 15: Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? 16: This wall-art combines that traditional flocked pattern with modern colors and an abstract floral design. 17: A comely pink rug for the floor. 18: These vinyl chandelier decals come in a variety of colors and are a delightful alternative to the real thing. 19: This milky-white, porcelain vase is pleasing to the eye, especially filled with those hot pink blossoms. 20: Cute and functional window treatments in vivid turquoise. 21: How adorable is this cupcake trinket box?! 22: Nothing's more French than a little poodle. 23: These candle holders catch the eye with their bold, pink hue. 24: Dress up the tissues with this wooden box that pulls together all the colors of the room. 25: A French Revolution Era gown to put the icing on the cake! (...A girl can dream, can't she?) 26: This fan is more within budget than that dress... and an important scene of the movie can still be re-enacted. ;)

♥Amore.