Tip #1: Take a shower at night! You don’t realize it, but taking a shower in the morning can take up most of the time you have to get ready. Sure, taking a shower might wake you up a bit. However, if you are constantly watching the clock, it might be easier and more productive for a quick splash of cold water on your face, rather than a full shower, to wake up.

Tip #2: Style your hair the night before (preferably after your shower!) If you style your hair the night before, getting ready becomes a piece of cake! If you have long hair or straighten/curl your hair everyday, put your hair into a high ponytail with a scrunchie before you go to sleep. The scrunchie won’t crimp your hair and the high pony will keep your hair from getting too messy. This way most of the work is done! All you really need to do is touch up your hair in the morning, which takes MUCH less time than actually styling it from scratch.

Tip #3: Organize your products! If you are an avid makeup-wearer or need your morning face creams/washes/etc… make sure to keep your products organized in an area where you can easily access it. This way, you’ll know where everything is and won’t run the risk of misplacing something vital which can seriously slow you down.

Tip #4: Plan your outfit the in advance. Even if it’s just a small idea of what you might wear that day, it is ALWAYS a good idea to plan your outfit. So much time is lost in the morning because of outfit changes. If you have a solid idea about what you are going to wear, you can just dress and go!

Plan your snoozing out...in advance!

Tip #5: Set an additional alarm to the one you have, for 15-30 minutes before you actually need to get up. This may sound horrible, but you don’t actually have to get up yet! You just have to wake up. If you are already somewhat awake by the time you need to actually get out of bed, it makes it that much easier to start your day. Think of it as a pre-planned snooze button.

Tip #6: Tape reminders to your bathroom mirror. If you are the type of person who needs to get a lot of stuff together in the morning, remind yourself by putting a list of things you need to do or bring with you in a place that you will see every morning. Little notes like these to yourself will make you more proactive about getting ready and will take a lot of the stress off of making sure you have everything with you.

How do you get ready quickly in the morning? Share your tips with us!

Written by Guest Blogger, Sydney Sheehan

***

Yesterday I was in the mood for creamy Macaroni and Cheese, but only had 10 minutes before I had to run out the door. So I went right on to Pinterest and found this great recipe that took a little over 4 minutes. Plus, it only has a few ingredients and it’s much healthier than store bought box brand. The most important thing you need is a Mug. You have to try this recipe out! There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of comforting and creamy Macaroni and Cheese once in blue moon.

**Instead of the Whole grain elbow macaroni (used in the pin), I used medium shells and it came out just as delicious.

What You’ll Need:

What You’ll Do:

1. In a microwave safe {big} mug or bowl (make sure it is a big one or it will boil over), put 1/3 cup whole grain elbow macaroni and 1/3 cup + 1/4 cup water (If you have a stronger microwave than mine, you may need more water… just play with it adding a couple extra Tbs at a time). Microwave for 6 minutes, stirring at 4 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute.

2. The pasta should be cooked and there will be a tiny bit of thick pasta water in the bottom. Leave this water.  Then add a heaping 1/3-cup shredded Cheddar Jack cheese (pictured below). Return to the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds to melt the cheese.

3. Stir well, adding a small splash of milk (maybe 2 teaspoons). Once it is all stirred together you should have a delicious and creamy Macaroni and Cheese.

Written by Guest Blogger, Myles Marcus

* * *

The Pin: “The Blooming Monogram”

While browsing Pinterest, I came across this really cute Mother’s Day project called Blooming Monogram and I decided I would give it a try. Now, because Mother’s Day has already passed, I went in a more personal direction and decided this would be a cute personal monogram idea. So, let’s get started!

Supplies:

Step One:

Carefully make an incision in the lower corner of your letter and pull back the top layer of cardboard to reveal the hollow insides. Pull it back slowly to avoid any unwanted tearing and it should look like the picture on the right! (you can clean up the edges by ripping off the extra left behind)

Step Two:

Measure and cut your flower foam to fit inside of your letter (check out my concentration face). Once you’re okay with the positioning, use your glue to secure the foam to the inside of your letter. The corners can be a little tricky, but take your time when measuring them and they’ll fit like a glove.

Step Three:

Cut your flowers down to size and start arranging them in the foam (I used daisies, but you can use whatever you want).

And then….

Voila! Your finished product. Two beautiful blooming letters that you can prop up in your bookshelf, or hang on your wall. Too cute! (Don’t mind my wonky flowers, some of the petals were bent from laying in a bag overnight) I think I did alright, what do you think?

What flowers would you use? Try it yourself and let us know!

Written by Guest Blogger, Chloe Leach

Be sure to check back later today to see what we’ve put together! We love hearing your comments and feedback, so be sure to share your thoughts with us.

Happy Pinning!

Gift Bags, Father’s Day-Style

Sweeten Dad’s day with a gift bag filled with his favorite goodies. Add a cute touch to this simple, inexpensive present by following these instructions from Paper Crave on how to make and decorate your bag.

Decorated Mugs

Decorate a ceramic mug simply by designing it with Sharpies and sticking your completed work in the oven for 30 min at 350 degrees to make your designs permanent.

Photo Album

Show your appreciation for Dad by putting together pictures into a photo album. Put a creative spin on these with some ideas from Anything & Everything…

Simple, but Thoughtful: a Card

Cards are the quintessential accessory to a gift. Personalize the classic with some DIY twists of your own!

Remember when you used to make pasta-art for your parents? Update the childhood craft with some seriously cool details. The Gold Jellybean has some awesome inspiration using (what else?) bowtie pasta!

Why not make Dad a card that reminds you of him…literally? The Glitter Adventure has another awesome DIY for making a card that looks just like your dad’s suit & tie.

What DIY ideas do you have for Father’s Day? Share them in the comments below!

Written by Guest Blogger, Katherine Chang

Before I begin, confession/disclaimer: I’m a hopeless romantic and I love reading classics. That said, the writing style and plots of the Regency Era (which Jane Austen was part of) does not suit everyone.

The first page of the first edition of "Emma"

This novel follows the life of the title character, Emma Woodhouse, who is a wealthy young woman living in the early 1800s. Though lively, beautiful, clever, well-off, and more than eligible to make a good marriage, which was expected of all young women of the time, she vows to never wed, partly because she could never bear to part with her kind, good-natured, but ailing, cautious, and dependent father, and partly because she has no desire to fall in love and be dependent on anyone. The novel begins with a conversation about Miss Taylor, who was Emma’s governess and close friend before her recent marriage to Mr. Weston, which Emma considers herself to be responsible for. After making this successful match, Emma believes that she is a skilled matchmaker, and decides to try her hand with other pairs. She begins with Harriet Smith, a young, pretty, but naïve girl with unknown family roots. Problems arise, however, as expected, when an equally beautiful, smarter, wealthier, and single girl is doing the match-making. The rest of the novel follows the drama in their community and the tangled romantic and gossip-filled web with characters including Emma, Miss Smith, the Eltons, the Westons, Frank Churchill, Mr. Knightley, Jane Fairfax, Mr. Martin, and several others.

This novel is filled with many marriage proposals, many marriage refusals, secrets, and all other sorts of drama typical in the life of the upper class English of the time. At times, this book moves a little slowly with formalities, but sometimes, this leads to humorous moments when compared to modern life. For example, at one point, Emma is appalled when Mrs. Elliot refers to Mr. Knightley, a dear friend of Emma whom Mrs. Elliot has never met, as simply Knightley, a title (or lack of) that suggested familiarity and friendship (how scandalous!).

Despite the differences from modern day life, Jane Austen somehow manages to stay relatable 200 years later. The ideas of courtship, though in a drastically different form, are still prevalent today, and the annoyance at deception, or sorrow felt in heart-breaking misunderstands, and the awkward task of confessing mistakes are relevant to all mankind.

Overall review? I quite liked reading this book and following the drama of young, wealthy 19^th century men and women. However, I definitely enjoyed Pride & Prejudice more. In comparison, the plot of Emma had many more storylines which made it much more difficult to follow, especially because of the sometimes slow and flowery writing. In addition, the characters in Pride & Prejudice were more relatable, more laughable, more irritable, and had more depth overall. That’s not to say that Emma wasn’t a good novel; quite the contrary was true. It was an enjoyable read that has definitely helped to ease me back into a summer of reading (I’ll eventually finish the giant tome of a book, Anna Karenina…).

Have you read Emma? Let us know below in the comments what you thought of it. Or, let us know what other books you recommend for this summer!

Written by Guest Blogger, Katherine Chang

It’s Your CHOICE On Textbooks. From rentals, to used, to new, to e-Books…there is a textbook option to fit every budget. Whether you’re looking to save big or to start the semester off fresh, there is a book for you.

Sell Back Your Books for Instant Cash Back. Finals week is the best time to sell back your books. Keep your textbooks in good shape throughout the year and you’ll be all set to sell them when you’re ready.

Need It. Find It. Do It. Done. We’ve got everything you need for the best semester yet. Find YOUR campus bookstore here.

Orange Orange Orange! Orange is the HOT color this summer. Add this neon hue into your summer style by incorporating small pops of color in order to make a BIG statement.

Matte Lipstick

Pretty pinks, bold reds, and exotic oranges are just some of the colors that you can wear with matte lipsticks. Unlike sticky lip-gloss, matte lipsticks provide bold or subtle colors that stay on longer and without the mess.

The “Short-Suit”

This trend is one that’s a bit more daring. From the innovative take on the “Pant-Suit” comes a fun, trendy, and stylish new outfit that is perfect for almost any occasion. The short-suit can be styled for a business casual look to a day out in the city. Coming in many different patterns and materials, this trend is definitely one to try this summer.

Check out this article for more ideas about how to wear the “short-suit”!

The Floppy Hat

Nothing says summer vacation quite like wearing a big floppy hat by the pool.  The classic piece can be worn with a bathing suit, a sundress, or a t-shirt and shorts! It is an essential that is both cute to wear and useful! These hats come in many different colors, styles, and sizes so you are sure to find one that fits you. The floppy hat is a classy summer essential that can spruce up any outfit!

Which of these will be you trying out this summer? Don’t forget to check back this week for Summer Essentials: Part II!

Written by Guest Blogger, Sydney Sheehan

What can you do in 15 minutes or less? Listen to 3-4 songs on the radio, watch half a show, take a shower, call your parents, the list is endless.

The recommended amount of exercise seems to be 30 minutes, 3-5 times per week. But, as the lovely Sweet Brown would say, “ain’t nobody got time for that!” However, maybe there IS time!

I’m not one prone to exercising for long hours at a time, but maybe that’s okay. I found this great article containing a few tips for effective workouts in 15 minutes or less.

Here is a preview of some great advice:

• 

  Nike Training Club

  Use a Nike Trainer to keep track of your speed, strength, and so many other things this app works for. It will help keep you on track!

• Pilates & Yoga: You can do this whenever, wherever. You don’t even need a mat. All you need is a towel or blanket and your computer with a yoga YouTube video. Quick and effective (not to mention the stress relief that comes from doing yoga).

• Abs! When you want to work out your abs you don’t need to go to the gym for hours. Hop down to the floor and do some crunches, planks, etc.

Refer back to the article for more tips and tricks!

Do you have any specific exercises you like doing in your dorm room? Tell us in the comments below!

Written by Guest Blogger, Maria Cafferata

Remember to Smile!

No one likes a grumpy cat, so be sure to put a smile on and start the day with a positive attitude. People around the office will be more open and welcoming if you’re smiling. You’ll radiate happiness and confidence! To quote the famous Annie, you’re never fully dressed without a smile.

Keep Business and Personal Separate

It’s okay to mingle and converse with co-workers, but make sure you’re not dragging personal issues into the office. Keep the topics relatively simple and try not to ask questions that are too personally inquisitive. You don’t want to create drama in the office.

Clean Up Social Media

If you’re on social networking sites, either keep them clean (i.e. no profanity, no using them while in the office, don’t talk about work, etc) or make your accounts private. You may think your boss won’t check, but they will. Remember, the internet is a public forum.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say Hi!

A simple “Hello!” or “Good Morning!” shows your co-workers that your open to being social and eager to meet new people. If you’re shy, you don’t have to go out of your way to talk to co-workers, but always make sure you respond when you’re spoken to. Not acknowledging someone in the office can get your reputation off to the wrong start.

Stay Off Your Phone

It may be tempting, but don’t use your phone while you’re at work. It’s okay to have your phone with you in case there’s an emergency or you receive an important phone call, but keep your phone on silent. Do not play games, check social networking, take personal phone calls/text, or take pictures. Some offices have strict security rules and taking a picture of your desk can have serious consequences.

Follow Instructions

If your boss asks you to complete something, make sure your work is neat, accurate, and completed in a timely manner. It’s important to always do your best work and follow all instructions. If you have a suggestion, wait until your task has been fully explained to you and always be very polite and cautious of your wording. You don’t want to come off rude or sound like a know-it-all. Which brings me to my last point.

Voice Your Opinion

If you think you have a good idea, say it! People like to see critical thinking and participation in a discussion concerning the company. It shows that you’re ambitious and you care about your work. Don’t allow yourself to get lost in the shuffle. The people who stand out are the ones who speak up.

What tips do you have for office etiquette?

Written by Guest Blogger, Chloe Leach