Reading Round-Up | July Edition

(image via: here.)

From Kindles to curve-creating clothes. From sober barhopping to bikini zone waxing. Here are my favorite July posts:

Creative Wall Treatments from Real Homes | Apartment Therapy Chicago
Wallpaper made from old magazines, old fence wood, and high-gloss urethane are just a few creative ways to cover your walls.

First Class Curves | The Lingerie Addict
Treacle offers advice undergarment advice for achieving a deliciously curvy silhouette.

Saying No to Kindle | More Magic Always
While I can't part from my lovely little Kindle, Luinae offers her opposing view and her reasons for NOT getting an e-reading device.

Electronic Books or Hardcovers? | English Muse
"Amazon.com officials announced this week that the company now sells more e-books in its online marketplace than hardcovers." I enjoyed reading all the comments on this post and why certain people prefer books while others love the new technology.

The New Classics: 20 Modern Pieces Every Girl Should Own, Part I | College Fashion
Plaid shirts, skinny jeans, big sunglasses, trench coats, ballet flats, and opaque tights are just some of the classic wardrobe pieces you should have in your closet.

3 Tips for Navigating Clubs and Parties in College... Sober | College Fashion
Whether you simply don't care to drink or decide to be the designated driver one night, this post is a must-read for college students who want to know how to have fun and let loose without alcohol.

The Pre-Purchase Quiz | Already Pretty
Have shopping addiction? Trying to save money? Or just tired of buying things and going home to realize that your new purchase only goes with one outfit? Ask yourself these questions when you go shopping.

How to... Shave Your Bikini Area | Things Every College Girl Should Know
Pretty sure that the title speaks for itself.

Hurry up & enter!

Hey lovelies! You have until 11:59 pm July 31st (tomorrow night) to enter to win Lovely Undergrad + CSN's Back-to-College Giveaway! $20 is up for grabs! Enter now!

Roomie, Apartment, + Shopping

Yesterday I drove up to my college town to a.) take care of some last minute financial aid stuff, b.) refresh my memory on the layout of the town, c.) meet my roomie/see my apartment, and d.) do a little shopping at the mall. Aside from accidentally getting on a wrong highway and having to backtrack twenty miles, it was a fun day! My mom and one of my younger sisters came along, too. My apartment is super-duper tiny, but it'll be just big enough for my roomie and I. She's sweet and adorable---I'm excited to get to know her this fall! My room is verrrry small, but the closet is huge! The closet is so huge that I'm not even bringing a dresser... thats how huge it is. (And I have a lot of clothes!) And as for the teeny-tiny bedroom, well, I'm going to look at it as a small space challenge. However, I'm not giving up the double bed. (I just can't sleep in a twin! lol.)

After meeting my sweet, pretty future-roomie... we headed for the mall. I scored BIG at Victoria's Secret---it was their 3 for $24 body product sale. I grabbed up a Secret Garden Strawberry & Champagne (my favorite!) lotion, body butter, and perfume and sat it down on the check-out counter. The girl was like, "Oh, for six more dollars you can double it." And I couldn't believe my ears... "6 products for $30?!" I asked just to be sure. "Yup!" she smiled. So I snagged another lotion, body butter, and perfume in the Vanilla Lace scent, which reminds me of vanilla ice cream. It was such a great deal!

Other things I purchased on the shopping trip: a hot pink Iowa State t-shirt, adorable lime green oven mits with white polka dots on them, a small turquoise table for my tv/dvd player to be placed on, The Other Boleyn Girl (one of my fave movies) for only $6 at Target, a waffle maker, and a few other things that I can't remember at the moment. But I really got some bargains that I'm psyched about. I have everything I need for my apartment. Any shopping I do from here on out will be for a few new clothes. :)

I move in on August 15th! Since I work in retail and will no doubt be working next weekend for Iowa's Tax-Free shopping weekend, this is my last weekend to get stuff around. I need to go through my bedroom here at home and separate all the stuff that stays from the stuff that goes to school. I have a big mess ahead of me. :/ Heh.

What about you? Have you bought everything you need? Are you organized and ready to head off to school yet? Lemme know where you are in your back-to-school prep!

Boys Lie: How Not to Get Played | Book Review

Okay, ladies. Here are 17 lies that boys have been known to tell girls:

#1: "Sex is only penis and vagina."

#2: "Guys are built to cheat."

#3: "You're a slut if you've had sex with a lot of guys."

#4: "You can hook up with a friend without having feelings involved."

#5: "If you can't have an orgasm with me, there's something wrong with you."

#6: "If you're attracted to a girl, you're a lesbian."

#7: "I'll pull out before I come."

#8: "I can't wear a condom so you need to use birth control."

#9: "That bump has always been there."

#10: "I could be with someone hotter, but I chose you."

#11: "You shouldn't feel that way; you're crazy."

#12: "We should keep this between us."

#13: "Don't worry, I won't show anyone these pictures."

#14: "Have a drink or some weed; it'll make you feel better."

#15: "It wasn't rape--you seemed into it."

#16: "You need someone to keep you in line."

#17: "I'll love you forever."

Now let's play a game, shall we? Count how many of those lies you've been told by boys and leave the number in a comment. You don't have to disclose which lies or tell which numbers, just your total number.

I'll go first.

I've been told 12 out of the 17. And most of them were fed to me by one ex-boyfriend in particular. And even though I haven't personally been told 5 of those lies... I have friends who have been told such fibs.

So how many pretty little lies have you been told?

The reason I'm asking is because I recently came into a copy of Boys Lie: How Not to Get Played by Belisa Vranich and Holly Eagleson. This girls' guide to wising up on guys gives you the truth behind the lies, let's you know that you're not the only one going through such an experience, and gives you the know-how and confidence to conquer those lies. From hook-ups, friends-with-benefits, cheaters, and naughty photos to more serious offenses like rape and physical/emotional abuse.

Let's talk about one of my favorite lies... #2: "Guys are built to cheat." My ex-bf was a chronic cheater. :/ And while it took me a while to realize that infidelity is simply unacceptable, and then took me a while longer to actually get over him (because of that stupid Lie #17)... being cheated on sooo many times had an affect on me. Oh, and to top it off: I got told #11 every time I was suspicious of being cheated on. I will never accept being cheated on again. I only wish I'd had this book to get me through some of those other falsehoods.

Here's what Boys Lie has to say about Lie #2:
(The excerpt below is directly from Boys Lie: How Not to Get Played by Belisa Vranich and Holly Eagleson.)

Other Ways He MIGHT Say It
"Men are not supposed to be monogamous, but women are."
"Men are ruled by their sex drives."
"Dudes have urges they can't control."
"Boys will be boys--you have to accept that they'll cheat."

The TRUTH:
We love the logic behind this one. It assumes that men have all the self-restraint of an unleashed puppy at a squirrel park. Though they may not want to be treated like animals, when guys use the "I don't control it, it controls me" excuse to write off their bad behavior, they're the ones putting themselves in the doghouse.

Don't jump to conclusions though. This book isn't about hating on boys and it does not suggest that every boy tells these kinds of lies. The hands-down best part of this book is that after reading it you'll be able to distinguish the good guys from the bad. Because not all boys tell lies, not all boys cheat, not all boys play you. There are good guys out there. You just have to be smart, have confidence, know your self worth, and be able to pick out a bad apple and toss him aside.

Click here to view this book on Amazon.

Lovin' the Kindle

Something small, light, sleek, radically new, and quite controversial arrived in the mail for me a couple weeks ago... my Kindle!

Last winter, if you had asked me my opinion regarding the Kindle and other similar e-readers... my response would have gone something like this:

"Nothing compares to a book. I love the anticipation that comes with each physical turn of the page. I love the smell of crisp new ones and of dusty old ones. I love having it opened and my nose literally stuck in it. I love shelves of them, stacks of them, piles of them. I love the feeling of the page between my fingers. ...Books are incredibly seductive---more so than a cold piece of technology."

(Note: Those are actually my words, as quoted from a
post I published on my book blog back in December.)

Whodathunk that seven months down the road I'd be a passionate advocate of the Kindle? Well, I guess I got curious. I got curious and I started to look into the Kindle and other e-readers. I did my research and decided, "Okay... so e-readers are not the end of the world." The desire to actually own one was a gradual thing that I initially attempted to suppress. But it nagged and nagged at me. Finally I caved in, ordered myself a Kindle (plus accessories), and waited anxiously... wondering if I'd wasted my money, wondering if I'd even like the device, wondering if I'd be a changed reader, wondering if I'd still be a bookworm.

I can honestly say that the Kindle is one of the best (if not THEE BEST) purchases I have ever made. Here's why:



1. Convenience. I know, I know... books are convenient, too. But it's awkward (at the least) to turn the pages of a book one-handedly when I'm walking to class with my nose in a book, riding the bus with my hands full, or laying in bed on one side. I can operate the Kindle with one hand. I push a button to turn it on, start reading right away, push a button to go forward a page or back a page, and push another button to turn it off or put it to sleep. Plus, it never loses my page.

2. Storage. Being a glutton for books, I tend to accumulate a lot of them. And that's fine and dandy when I'm at home, where I have an entire bookcase for tomes. But when I go to school, I have limited space in my living quarters. And books, although beloved, can easily become clutter or unnecessary shelf-space-hogs. With my Kindle, I can download and store hundreds (if not thousands) of books. I can carry my own personal library with me wherever I go. When I finish a book, I don't have to run to the bookstore, drive two hours home, or call Mom to mail me the next book on my to-read list. I simply connect to the Amazon store, pick out something that sounds enticing, purchase, wait a minute... and then start reading. The speed is truly amazing. And it's incredibly satisfying to have a book so fast---perfect for when I finish a book when I'm on campus in the middle of a class day with nothing else to read.

3. Cost. I know that one can save lots of money by taking advantage of used bookstores, book swapping websites, and public libraries... but the Kindle is one way I'll be saving money this year. Granted, I spent a hefty chunk on the device itself (and the 2-year warranty, and the lovely leather Nancy Drew case, and a protective skin...) But the books I read are almost always cheaper in the Kindle version vs. print. My favorite historical fiction novels run about $9.99. There are also tons of super-inexpensive books available as promotional offers. And most classics are available free.

What I think about the Kindle itself:

1. It's gorgeous. It's so thin, light, and natural to hold and use. The makers of Kindle intended for it to "disappear into the background" so that the reader can get lost in the book. Well, I believe they achieved that goal. I get just as absorbed (if not more so) as I did when reading print books. Additionally, the Kindle screen amazingly resembles a book page. I read that sooo many times when scouring reviews of the device, but didn't think a whole lot of it. The appearance of the page is fantastic. Since the screen doesn't glare, it's easy to read in bright sunlight. Although for that same reason, the screen doesn't light up. So if you want to read in bed or in the dark, you need a book-light or nearby lamp... but that's okay with me since I've always used book-lights anyway.

2. It's soooo easy to use. I don't miss the anticipation of turning the page of a book. I actually quite enjoy the fact that I push a button and the next page appears immediately---this really comes in handy when I'm completely engrossed in the story and can't handle waiting the extra second to turn the page physically. I realize that that's probably a small, petty thing to some of you. And it's something that I didn't think of before. But since I've had the Kindle, I just love that I can get to the next page at lightning-fast speed. I also like the bookmark and highlighting features, which will come in handy when I read non-fiction books for research and such.

3. It's not the end of the world; it's to each their own. I don't think that the Kindle and other e-readers will be the end of the publishing industry or reading as we know it. Yes, there will be major changes that come about. And there will always be readers who prefer print to electronic. But I really believe that the Kindle will help re-kindle reading for pleasure. Reading is reading, whether your nose is stuck in a book or your eyes are glued to a Kindle. Perhaps people who wouldn't otherwise be interested in reading a book will pick up a Kindle and give reading a try. As long as people are reading (especially for pleasure) that makes me super excited.

Like I said, the Kindle is one of the best things I've ever bought. I carry it around in my purse. I pull it out when I'm on break and lunch at work. I curl up on the couch with it. I read it when riding in a car with someone. And I'm very excited to take it off to college this fall and able to leave a bunch of books at home, thus freeing up valuable shelf space in my teeny-tiny apartment bedroom.

I will always have a soft spot for books, especially my favorites. And if I read a book on the Kindle that I particularly fall in love with, I'm likely to purchase a print copy of it. Also, I'm sure that not every single book I read for the rest of my life will be off of the Kindle. I still have plenty of print books that I need to get read. And I'm not going to download them from Amazon when I already have them sitting on my bookshelf. But it is likely that the majority of any books I read from here on out will be on my lovely Kindle device.

So there. I've said it. I've gone over to the dark side. I've traded the romantic tomes for a "cold piece of technology." But the Kindle is not cold at all. It's warm and exciting and provides the perfect means to travel back through time and get lost in a story. And for me, that is what reading is all about.

P.S. Book Boudoir is my blog devoted to reading and writing. To read my historical fiction book reviews and such, head on over and become a follower. ;)

Shabby Chic Decor Details

This beautifully aged vintage door adds architectural interest and acts as large-scale wall decor.

An antique white cabinet can keep books, magazines, remote controls, and other clutter out-of-site. The top is accessorized with an old window that frames vintage wallpaper.

This lovely little side table is the epitome of shabby chic. And I love the blue glass candlesticks... sooooo pretty!

Pairing blue with pink is a to-go-to color scheme in many shabby chic spaces. This little set-up of lovely blue glass jars and pretty pink flowers on a vintage tray is impeccable.

A vintage tablecloth is draped over a cozy antique chair and dressed up with two pillows: one that boasts frilly texture and another that boasts a beautiful damask pattern.

Last but not least, a pretty vintage gown dresses up an otherwise bare doorway. I love the pale bluish-seafoam color.

For more photos of Heather's dreamy shabby chic living space, click here. (All photos in this post are from here.)

My End-of-Summer To-Do List

(image via: here.)

In less than a month, I'll be all moved in to my college apartment and getting ready to buckle down and devote myself to fall classes. In the few weeks that remain, here are some things that I want to do in my spare time:

Read, read, read. Now that I no longer have to work on memorizing lines for a play, I don't feel guilty about picking up a good pageturner... or actually... picking up my ♥Kindle. This past week I read a book in five days---it felt so great to get absorbed in some good historical fiction.

Stargaze. I've taken the gorgeous night sky for granted. I just wanna lay out under it and appreciate the starry beauty.

Hit up antique shops, thrift stores, and garage sales. I love a good bargain. And I'm on the hunt for a fixer-upper dining table that I can give some diy tlc to and haul off to college for my apartment.

Stop buying little things here and there all week. Save my paychecks. And allow myself a nice shopping trip right before I go back to school.


Do a massive cleaning/organization of my bedroom at home. My dressers, desk, and closet desperately need some attention. And I don't want to go off to school leaving them as disheveled as they currently are. :S

Find the perfect pair of shoes to go with a lovely red dress I'm wearing to a wedding in August.


Catch up on my scrapbooking.

Finish up well in my summer courses.Yikes. Now that I type that all out, I'm wanting to scrunch a bunch of to-do's into three(ish) short weeks... especially considering work and summer courses. I guess if I had to narrow it down to the top three things to do, it would be to: 1. Finish up well in summer courses. 2. Save money. 3. Find those perfect shoes. Haha.

Design Inspiration from Lucy and Company

Lucy and Company is an interior design firm based in Charlotte, NC that specializes in kids' rooms but also extends out into other rooms of the home. I find Lucy and Company's design taste, color choices, and furniture selection to be incredibly inspiring. I love the workspace above because of the big desk and how organized all the crayons, pencils, etc. are. I also am smitten with the fabulous lamps.

There are two things I love in this photo. 1: The chair is just absolutely pretty. 2: I love that the pictures are on the floor, propped up against the wall. It's such an unexpected but great way to display artwork.

I'm a sucker for old books. I have soooo many interesting antique tomes that I've collected over the years from bookstores and antique shops. I may borrow the idea from this photo and lay a couple on a side table. It's such a sweet vintage touch.

Those turquoise curtains are possibly the most gorgeous curtains I've ever seen in my life. I'm near fainting right now. And the chair, the pillow, the table, the lamp... it's all so utterly perfect!

I saved my favorite bit of inspiration for last. I'm enamored with the corkboard framed in an elaborate frame. It adds such a glamorous touch to an otherwise boring bulletin board.

To see and be inspired by more design by Lucy and Company, head to their website here.

DIY Ottoman Slip Cover | from Design*Sponge

(image via: here.)

Ottomans have become a college space staple. They can serve as extra seating when friends stop by to hang out. You can pop the lid off and stow away shoes, magazines, dvd's, and etc. clutter. They make for a great place to put up your feet after a long day. And they're versatile when it comes to furniture arrangement as they can be stacked, lined up against the wall, or left in the middle of the room.

While these ingenious little cubes come in a variety of styles and colors, which makes them a good piece of furniture to hang onto year after year... what you loved last year might not be the bee's knees this year. Last fall you may have been wild for zebra prints and splurged on a zebra-patterned ottoman. But this fall you may be looking to tone it down. Or last fall you might have chosen a bland neutral so that you could "work it into any color scheme." But this fall you might want to spice it up with a fun print.

Design*Sponge has got your problem solved with an easy sewing tutorial for ottoman slip covers. It is an easy-peasy and fun way to customize these cubes depending on your room's color scheme, your ever-changing taste, or the shift of seasons. Click here to head on over to Design*Sponge for the DIY instructions.

Concrete Floors + Vintage Finds + Modern Lines + Eclectic Artwork

A comfy, contemporary couch paired with the vintage coffee table makes an eclectic statement. I love the ladder used as a shelving unit. A mix of different patterns on the pillow and lampshade add personality. And the scarlet-framed mirror adds a vibrant punch of color.

The tv console lends its clean, modern lines to the space. Magazines are organized into white file bins. A vintage lamp adds flair. And the sweet Ikea chair adds pretty color and pattern.

I'm swooning over the retro dining table mixed with modern chairs. And the wall display of photos and prints is eye-catching, interesting, and gorgeous. I also love the simplicity of the overhead light.

This is definitely a relaxing bedroom space. Without a headboard and situated under the window, the bed looks like the perfect place to dive into after a long day. I love the antique floral print of the curtains hung along the wall. And the red chest of drawers is a pretty burst of red color.

What a fantastic and inspiring little corner to study in. A vintage white desk is painted fresh white and the white laptop seems to disappear into the collage of inspiring photos, prints, and postcards.

In another view of the bedroom, you can see the beautiful rich tones of a modern dresser. I love the balance of a mirror and funky art print above the dresser. A vintage chair adds a bit of seating. And a dream-catcher adds some Native American flair. (I've always loved beautiful dream-catchers.)

The bathroom is also aesthetically pleasing with a lovely shower curtain that really sets the tone. Simple shelving and trays keep things clutter-free.

Anneroc is a wardrobe stylist who first fell in love with her apartment because of its concrete floors. The space was built in the 1960s and she furnished it with items from flea markets and vintage dealers. Most of the artwork and photos are her own. For more inspiring photos of Anneroc's space, click here. (All photos in this post are from here.)

Decor to Your Door!

Looking for some fabulous bedding for your dorm or apartment in the fall? Head on over to www.Decor-2-ur-Door.com. Decor 2 Ur Door offers a variety of styles, fabrics, and price ranges to fit your bedding needs and budget. Decor 2 Ur Door focuses on the four C's of dorm bedding: Comfort, Color, Character and Customization.

Here are some of my favorite things from Decor2UrDoor.com:1. "Down to Earth" bedding
2. "Aruba" bedding
3. "Perfect Paisley" bulletin board
4. Collage decal frames
5. Vintage vinyl chalkboard
6. Retro vinyl chalkboard

Win signed Ikea merch from Whitney Port!!

Hey college gals! I just wanted to update you on an exciting giveaway that I stumbled upon today. (If any of you are fans of The City or old episodes of The Hills, you'll love this!) Whitney Port, the amazingly beautiful and equally sweet up-and-coming fashion designer, has teamed up with Ikea to giveaway some decor loot for your dorm! The grand-prize winner gets a bunch of Ikea decor stuff autographed by Whitney plus a $100 gift certificate to Ikea. Two runners up will each receive a $50 gift certificate.

To enter, head on over to Whitney's blog and leave a comment telling her who your first role model was and why. You have 'til August 29 to enter!

Enter now!

Helpful Homework Website

StudentofFortune.com is an online tutorial site for homework help. So whether you need a little extra help or would like to help other students, this is a good opportunity.

Tutor
If you're looking for some extra income, you can post tutorials and earn money when other students use those tutorials. You're getting paid for your content rather than time, which is different than most traditional tutoring positions. Plus, there's a lot of opportunity to earn. The leading tutor has earned more than $120,000 posting tutorials---and it is all done legitimately.

Study
If you're looking for a little extra help with your homework or the answers to a few questions, this website can be helpful to you, too. Instead of paying for expensive tutoring sessions you can pay a few cents or a couple bucks to find exactly what you need. Plus, it is a legitimate site for homework help with an academic honesty policy.

Interested in learning more? Head on over to StudentofFortune.com and check it out.

"Striking" Photo

That's Jack Trice Stadium, where the Iowa State Cyclones play football. The photo was taken on the 14th of July by Locke Karriker, an associate professor of veterinary science at ISU. Isn't that lightning intense?

CollegeCandy Dorm Contest!!

Just in time for back-to-school shopping, CollegeCandy has teamed up with TJMaxx/Marshalls to host a fabulous dorm room makeover giveaway!

The Grand Prize winner will receive a fabulous pack of designer merchandise for your dorm or apartment this fall. Second and third prize winners will both get $50 gift certificates for TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

How to enter? Head on over to CollegeCandy by Friday and tell them "something amazing you did that explains why you're the absolute best roommate a girl could ask for." The more details, the better! Make sure you get your friends to visit CollegeCandy and vote for you. Voting will close at 5pm ET on Wednesday, July 21... and the winners will be announced on Thursday, July 22 at 3:30 pm ET on Twitter and Facebook!

Enter now, ladies!

Simply Yvonne's Sweet Modern Space

Yvonne embraces lots of white in her bedroom. A touch of color is thrown in on the white, patterned Ikea duvet. On her nightstand, she keeps a pretty flower and cherished photograph.

In the corner of her bedroom, there's a chic chair that serves as the perfect place to curl up with a good book and cup of coffee or strap on a pair of cute heels for the day ahead.

I'm smitten with this mirror and the little tray that serves as its base.

A modern black dresser looks sleek in the room. And a big mirror propped up against the wall reflects light and gives an illusion of more space.

Yvonne is a graphic designer who loves fashion design, interior design, web design, and graphic design. For more photos of Yvonne's apartment, click here. (All photos in this post are from here.)

And to check out her gorgeous, gorgeous blog entitled Simply Yvonne, click here.

Sewing Studio & Bedroom

Sewing studio and Bedroom, originally uploaded by jessica anne matthies.

Jessica Anne submitted a photo of her lovely space to the Lovely Undergrad Flickr group. Her room is divided into two spaces: one for sleeping, the other for sewing. A sheer white curtains acts as the light, breezy divider. A stack of vintage suitcases serve as a nightstand. And I love the pretty lantern surrounded by origami birds that hangs over her bed.