Rainy Days

There have been several very rainy days since I've been here at college. It truly feels like fall rather than the end of August. I actually like rain though, so you won't hear me complaining much. I have a pair of grass-green rubber boots lined with hot pink on the inside... and oh boy! do I ever like an excuse to wear them. :) I also enjoy seeing other girls' rain gear: all the prettily patterned boots, colorful umbrellas, and cute rain jackets. I browsed Polyvore and was both surprised and excited to see all of the variety out there. I gathered my favorites and turned them into three sets:

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My Dorm Tour

Welcome to my dorm room! While I'm quite happy with how it looks, it is still a work in progress. I still need some curtains, a rug, a bit more attractive storage solutions in certain places, and some art on the walls. But those will be things that I add as time progresses here at ISU. I also got so caught up in the excitement of moving in that I completely forgot to take "before" pics. [sigh] I only have the "after" pics. So for now... here is my room so far:

Above: I made that little name plate tag using left over scrapbooking paper. :)

Here's the futon + ottomans. I was not able to bring the orange sofa bed I purchased from Target, so I had to make do with whatever the dorm provided. I about died when I unlocked the door and walked in for the first time. What did I see? Well, a bright red futon! Red?! Red simply did not fit into my color scheme. So Mom and I picked up an inexpensive black, full-sized fitted sheet from Target. It really did transform the room.

Up close of the futon. Those ottomans double as storage, which is soooo dorm-room saavy. I store my DVDs in them.

Here's where the bed meets the futon... and my beloved Dorianne poster from home.

Close-up of the bed and nightstand space.

There's a large mirror in the room, which is useful for doing hair and make-up at. I can just plop down on the edge of the bed and style away. :)

Here's the desk. I'm not crazy about it. I need to think of a way to really utilize all that extra desktop back in the corner.

There's my huge dresser, which has probably been here since the building was built. Haha. Then my stacking chests of drawers. And then the fridge+microwave combo. That lovely green bin holds all of my snack items. :)

Here's the tv and closet. The closet just barely held all my clothes! (Yay!) And I still need to find a more permanent place for the full-size mirror. I tend to move mirrors like that around the room.

Oh, I forgot to mention my scrapbook wall-art. I was inspired by this very creative and eye-catching $13 Paper Wall. I went to work with some of my own scrapbook paper and poster putty. It adds some nice color and pizazz to an otherwise boring area of the room. I looove it.

So there you have it! If you have any suggestions or ideas for me to try out in my dorm, I'd adore hearing from you. :) And don't forget to post photos of your living space at Your Dorm Room.

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All Moved In!

(Above: Yours Truly in my dorm room.)

Oh my... I can't believe that I let an entire week pass without a post. I'm so sorry. I spent last weekend packing, packing, packing. And during my spare time I enjoyed the company of my family. On Sunday the whole familia came up to Ames to move me in: Dad, Mom, my brother, my two sisters, and my sister's boyfriend... I had a whole move-in crew! I spent Monday getting to know this big, gorgeous ISU Campus. I helped my handsome boyfriend move in on Tuesday. And honestly... I'm not sure where Wednesday went! Here in about an hour, the boyfriend and I shall be heading over to where the festivities begin! (That is, a welcome program for freshman and transfers.) So I'm going to use this spare hour to update you on my college experience so far.

The communal bathrooms aren't that bad at all. It hasn't been swamped by girls just yet. I say "yet" because not everyone's moved in on my floor yet. In fact, it's pretty dead. But the bathrooms are nice and clean. So I'm pleased.

There are not kitchenettes on every floor. :( Furthermore, there aren't any kitchenettes in my entire complex. I e-mailed a housing rep and they specifically told me that there would be a stove, fridge, and microwave on every floor for everyone's use. I was all excited about getting to bake whenever I felt like it. No baking, I guess.

It's a fifteen minute walk to the edge of campus from my dorm. And then quite another jaunt to the closest dining hall, the library, or my classes. But hey! All the walking should keep me in shape, right? :)

My classes are super close together. Suh-weet.

Thank goodness I ended up switching to a corner room! I definitely need the space and having two windows on two walls reeeeeally makes my room a lot less hot and stuffy than the other rooms. Even on a hot day, being eight floors up gives me a nice breeze so it's not bad at all.

The two windows on the west wall leak. :S It rained yesterday morning and stormed last night. Luckily I have extra towels to place on the windowsill and I didn't have anything electronic or valuable near the places that got wet. Note to self: call the maintenance guy.

My dorm is pretty quiet so far... a lot more people will be moving in in the next few days. I haven't met many people yet either. So let's hope that tonight at the welcome program I'll get teamed up with some interesting and friendly students.

It's been a pretty good experience so far and I'm quite sure I'm going to love it here. :) ...Especially once more people move in, classes start, and new friendships begin to happen.

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That can't possibly be a dorm room!

(all images in this post from The Boston Globe)

Believe it or not... that's a real dorm room at Boston Conservatory. It was a challenge taken on by two recent Boston Architectural College interior design grads. Oh, and as for the budget... I'll reveal it at the end of this post. ;)

Above: The dorm room before. It looks pretty much like any other dorm... aside from the fact that it has gorgeous wood floors, high ceilings, crown molding, huge windows, and a grand fireplace. The furnishings themselves are pretty standard, which gives the room an institutional vibe like most other dorms.

Above: And here it is after! For one this dorm is HUGE. Considering the room had so much potential before, dressing it up really turned it into an apartment-like space.

Above: An actual place to dine. You don't find dining tables in dorm rooms very often. Eating usually happens on the bed, the futon, the floor, etc. And seriously?! A chandelier! How simply fabulous is that?

Above: I'm loving that rustic coffee table and all the black and white used in the room.

Above: Why can't all dorms be provided with beautiful fireplaces? :(

Above: Houndstooth will always have a place in my heart.

Above: This study area is great and I'm thinking of using it as an inspiration for my own dorm. I'm not a big fan of bulletin boards, but I love these individual cork squares that can be hung in different ways on the wall.

Above: A belt creatively re-purposed as a curtain tie-back.

And now... since you're all probably wondering how much it cost to makeover this dorm space?

$300!

Can you believe that?!

For the full article from The Boston Globe, click here. For more photos and a breakdown of the costs, click here.

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Room to Grow

(the above images are from Better Homes & Gardens)

Isn't that dorm room gorgeous? Yes, I did say dorm. Where are the bright colors, the wild patterns, the strands of Christmas lights, and the other tell-tale signs of a college student's living space? It's so neutral, so grown up, and so apartment-like.

How does it look sooo good? This dorm room is all about planning ahead and investing in pieces that will grow with you. The decorator passed on milk crates, futons, and random hand-me-down pieces that end up mix-matched in most dorms and focused on classier furnishings that would find a happy place in a future post-grad apartment.

To read the full article "From Dorm Room to Apartment" featured on Better Homes & Gardens, click here.

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Dorm Tips from Style At Home

(above image from Style At Home)

That's a pretty cute dorm, huh? I like that it's simple and clutter-free, but bold with its unique color scheme and pops of pattern. I reeeeally love the raspberry shade of that rug next to the green chair. Oh, and did I mention that this room was put together for only $500? Style At Home's style editor Karl Lohnes created it by purchasing everything off of a Canadian online marketplace.

Style At Home has 5 big tips and a couple DOs and DON'Ts for students when it comes to pulling of a stylish dorm on the cheap.

Here's a summary:

1. Storage, storage, storage
2. Changeable seating options
3. Choose your colors wisely
4. Stick to your budget
5. Use the internet

DO use ambiance lighting.
DON'T overuse patterns.
DO buy proportionate items.
DON'T permanently attach things to the walls.

You should definitely click here to read the full article on Style At Home.

Happy decorating!

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Dorm-Decorating Dance

That Target dorm commercial is one of my all-time faves.

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Adorable Idea for Dorm Walls!

(above: kelee81)

These ones are a pretty alternative to bulletins boards. What a cute way to post exam reminders, tickets from last weekend's movie date, and that promising little phrase from your fortune cookie.

(above: Amanda *Bake It Pretty*)

I've always been a fan of pretty turquoise paired with bold splashes of red. But add in the vintage fan plus loads of books plus a fat little bird... and I'm practically swooning.

(above: mmadden)

Lovely pastels and girly patterns make a statement in this bathroom. I can spot several damask fabrics and that makes me smile.

(above: Special J)

Who needs a headboard when you have colorful embroidery hoops? This idea would have fit in perfectly with my DIY headboards post. I really like that the hoops have been painted white.

(above: contentedsparrow)

A creative cluster of these add just the right amount of cheer on that blank area of the wall.

(above: tanislavallee)

Shy away from busy patterns and crazy color schemes? A monochromatic array of blues with subtle prints makes a tasteful statement, too.

For more photos of embroidery hoops being used as wall art, head on over to one of my favorite blogs----> Desire to Inspire. :)

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The Go-To Advice Guru: Heloise

It gets me pretty excited when a fabulous blog like Apartment Therapy joins in on the back-to-school fun. Thanks to this article (via Apartment Therapy) I found Heloise, who started writing lifestyle tips back in 1977. Just in time for all the college preparations, Heloise has offered a load of advice for freshman and seniors alike.

Here are some tips featured in the article "Heloise on Laundry And More in Dorms" from The Washington Post:

"Overstuffing the washing machine is a common mistake. Pack the machine loosely and remember not to use more detergent than recommended on the packaging. If you overstuff a dryer, your clothes will take longer to dry and come out very wrinkled."

"Don't lug a huge box or jug of detergent to the laundry room. It's too bulky and heavy to carry with your bag of dirty clothes. Instead, measure what you need into small plastic bags or yogurt cups."

"Use dryer sheets sparingly and never with towels. (They can coat the fibers and reduce fluffiness.) Don't add a sheet in the middle of a heat cycle because it can leave greaselike spots on clothing. Dryer sheets are good to stuff in smelly shoes, gym bags, drawers and closets."

"Turn the computer keyboard upside down and shake it every once in a while to get crumbs out. It will work better."

"If you go out to eat, ask for takeout containers so you can make another meal out of leftovers."

"Every once in a while, clean the lounge microwave by heating a large bowl of water with slices of lemon or orange for a minute or two."

And here are some more tips from the "Hints" section of Heloise's website:

Bug-Free Room
• Put a couple of drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil on a cool light bulb to help repel bugs.
• Place several drops of oil of lavender or peppermint on a cotton ball or two. Put them into a small jar or margarine container. Poke a few holes in the lid and cover. Put around the room.

Air Fresheners. Put several drops of peppermint or cinnamon on cotton balls and place in a margarine container or small jar. Poke holes into the lid and put in an out-of-the-way area behind furniture or in a guest room or bathroom and your guests won’t have a clue.

Scented Lightbulbs. Dab a bit of oil of clove, peppermint or eucalyptus on a cool lightbulb. When you turn on the light, the scent will drift throughout the room.

Cellphone Lands in the Toilet, Bathtub or Sink
If you act fast, you may be able to save the phone. Pull the battery out ASAP. Then dry the inside of the phone with a hair dryer. Put the battery back in to see if it works. You probably will have to get a new battery. Take the phone to a service center to check it out.

Cleaning CDs or DVDs
Data is embedded in the discs, so clean carefully by wiping with a soft cloth—from the center to the edge. Do not clean in a circular motion because that might damage the data.

Burnt Popcorn Smell in the Microwave
To get rid of this awful lingering stink, fill as large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and sprinkle your favorite spice like cinnamon or add several drops of vanilla or lemon extract. Bring to a boil. You must let it sit inside for 10 to 15 minutes to cool down. Simply wipe the walls down with paper towels. Leave the door open to further air it out.

Swell tips, huh? For more advice from savvy Heloise... visit Heloise.com. There is so much to learn!

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