The IT List: Emerald Green

Not long after the release of The Wizard of Oz prequel, Oz: The Great and Powerful, it seems as though the dazzling Emerald City has jumped off of the movie screen and onto the runways. This vivid emerald shade has been deemed Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year. We’re here to showcase some of our favorite looks featuring this dynamic shade.

Look #1: A night out is the perfect time to show off this vibrant shade. Pair a ruffled, emerald tank with a fun pair of skinny jeans for a bold look that doesn’t cross over into being tacky. Simple black booties and a stack of silver bangles are great finishing touches. Dab on some emerald nail polish to complete the entire outfit.

Get this look: Tangled Up in Green Top from ModCloth, Black Boots from H&M,  Polka Dot Denim Skinnies from Forever 21, Silver Bangles from Target, Essie “Going Incognito”

Look #2: Just because you’re going to an internship, doesn’t mean you can’t sport this trend. A belted dress (like the one below) is conservative, trendy, and comfortable. Add some diamond studs and a demure (but still trendy!) pair of heels and you’re ready to head off to work for the day.

Get this looks: Pleated Belted Dress from Oasis, Paititi Pyramid Studs, Moda Spana Penny Pump from DSW, Leather Messenger Bag from Etsy

Look #3: Want to add some emerald green to an outfit without fully committing? Emerald accessories are tons of fun and add a pop of color! Opt for a statement necklace (like below) or choose a green eyeliner to spice things up.

Get this look: Nine West Jeleena Leather Flats, High-Waisted Eyelash Lace Short, Mango Cropped Knit Top, Francesca’s Collection Arrowhead Necklace

How would you incorporate emerald into your own wardrobe? Post a comment and share it with us!

posted by Sandybn
03.21.13
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DIY Dorm: SmartPhone Amplifying Speaker

Mashable recently pinned a tutorial on making an amplifying speaker out of a Pringles can. I love this idea because I am far too cheap to spend money on an iPod docking station. I may or may not have broken my last one by knocking it off the table during an intense dance party…

This project costs less than six dollars!

What You Will Need:

1 Pringles Can (minus the Pringles and crumbs)
Toilet Paper (approximately 14 inches)
X-ACTO Knife (or scissors)
Two Binder Clips (large)
Spray Paint (any color)
Sheet of Paper
Tape

1.Eat Pringles…

2. Trace the outline of bottom of your device (any iPod or iPhone that plays music out loud) onto the sheet of paper. Wrap paper over Pringles can, aligning the traced area parallel to the end of the can about an inch away from the can’s bottom. Use the knife or scissors (carefully) to cut around the inside of the outline. You want the hole to be a little smaller than your device so it will fit very tightly.

3. Position the binder clips metal hands open at a 90 degree angle. Rest the can on top on the clips so that they act as a stand. Tape the metal parts to the can.

4. Coat the outside of the can and binder clips with spray paint. Let dry for 2-4 hours.

5. Cut 14 inches of toilet paper. Insert throughout can – you want it to be evenly distributed.

6. Insert your device into your brand new amplifying speaker and start listening to your favorite playlist.

Other fun DIY Dorm Projects:

Smartphone Projector
Decorative Book Phone Charger
Instagram Coasters

posted by Alyciabn
01.22.13
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Dorm Décor: Brighten Up Your Room


Awesome Post-it Wall Art found on Pinterest

With a little Pinspiration and creativity making your space reflect cheerful and chic is easier than you think. Little pops of bright colors can help you overcome the dulling effects of the winter months while a color scheme and strategic use of patterns and decorative items can make your room look pretty and pulled together. While you probably can’t paint the walls of your dorm or pick the carpet color, there are (literally) hundreds of other ways to make your room reflect your individuality.

DO Pick a color scheme.

DON’T Become a slave to it. Pops of other colors can be a welcome relief to the eyes after seeing the same colors over and over again. Additionally, adding a daring color can give your room a funky, eclectic feel.

DO try something simple like buying flowers. I prefer fresh buds, but there are a lot of beautiful silk flowers you can buy at most home good or craft stores.

DON’T spend a lot of money on real flowers. You can buy inexpensive (less than $5) seasonal bouquets at Trader Joe’s and some other grocery stores.

DO Use bits of patterned fabric or wallpaper as a cover for your desk, bureaus, or bookcase shelves.

DON’T Be tempted to use sealant (polyurethane) to attach fabric or wallpaper to your dressers or shelves if they are school property. It will not be worth it when the furniture becomes damaged and you have to pay for it at the end of the year.

Photo credit lovelyundergrad.com

 

DO Use throw pillows on your bed, futon, or butterfly chair. You can even make your own with this DIY tutorial found here.

DO Use functional decorations. For Christmas I asked my parents to buy me colorful organizations and storage things. The set of fabric boxes my mom bought me from IKEA make my room look less cluttered and more stylish.

DO Create your own artwork and decorations. You don’t have to be a skilled painter or sculptor to make a collage, use colored post-its to create a mosaic, or decorate a bulletin board with paint & stencils. This is less expensive than buying ready-made decorations and can be completely original.

Give us some more decorating Dos and Don’ts in the comments below or tweet us pics of your awesome dorm room @BNCollege!

posted by Alyciabn
01.11.13
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Dish It: Pinterest-Inspired Pumpkin Pie Dip

After drooling over this recipe for weeks, I finally decided to share it with all of our readers. I came across this mouth-watering dip on Pinterest and couldn’t resist clicking through for the full list of ingredients. It comes from the site Six Sisters’ Stuff and is the perfect way to get your pumpkin fix.

What You’ll Need:

Makes about 6 cups (12 servings).

  • 15 oz can pumpkin
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice (check their site for instructions on how to make your own!)*
  • 6 oz fat free Greek yogurt
  • 8 oz Cool Whip (I used fat-free)
  • cut up apples, bananas, and other dippers

What You’ll Do:

Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices. Blend it well. Add in the yogurt and mix again until smooth. Fold in cool whip and chill in refrigerator until ready to eat. Enjoy!

For more tricks and recipe ideas, check out the full site here.

posted by Sandybn
10.23.12
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Dorm Dilemma: Making a Small Room Look Bigger

“My dorm room is so spacious, I just don’t know what to do with it,” said no one ever. If you’re suffering from a serious lack of space, there’s no need to worry. There are tons of easy ways to make your small room look much bigger without making any crazy alterations. Keep reading for our top four tricks.

Tip #1: Let the [natural] light in. Pull back the curtains and the outside light will connect the indoors with outdoors. This makes the space appear larger because the room is no longer limited.

Tip #2: Clean up the clutter. Few things make a small room feel tinier than having clutter strewn all over. Getting organized will make your room feel bigger and make you feel better.

Tip #3: Make furniture into a 2-for-1. Whether it’s an ottoman that doubles as a storage space or a set of drawers that’s also an end table, it will save you plenty of space and open up the room.

Tip #4: Add some mirrors. Mirrors reflect light which will give your room depth (or the illusion of depth) as well as make it appear larger. Try stacking them in the creative manner we found on Pinterest (to the right).

How do you deal with a cramped space? Post a comment below and we’ll share it with our readers!

posted by Sandybn
09.27.12
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Rules to Pin By: Pinterest Etiquette

It’s easy to forget your manners when you’re stashed away behind the protection of a computer screen. However, social media sites – like any other social interaction – require a certain level of courtesy and respect for others. As one of the newest social-networking favorites, Pinterest is no exception. Stick to these guidelines and you’ll be “Pinterest Perfect.”

Give credit properly. If you pin an image from a certain site, make sure it links to that site. Don’t try to misdirect your followers by using someone else’s image and linking to your own site. It’s unethical and misleading.

Don’t pin images that are too small or too large. The point of Pinterest is to share quality photos of varying topics that will engage other users. Pixelated or blurry photos will look sloppy so take the time to resize.

Report inappropriate content. Pinterest does not allow nudity, images that convey hateful messages, or any posts that encourage users to harm themselves or others. Report anything that goes against these rules.

Include a caption. Captions give context to what you’re pinning. Include a small description to back up your images.

Refrain from “over-pinning.” Please, please PLEASE stop yourself before going on what I like to call a “Pinge” (Pinning-Binge). It fills up your followers’ feeds and often looks like spam. Fifty pins in an hour is unnecessary.

Spread the love. Don’t hesitate to like and comment on the pins of others. Pinterest is a social-networking tool so interacting with other users is encouraged. Like you would with Facebook or Twitter, keep it positive!

What other Pinterest “rules” do you swear by? Share them with us in the comments!

posted by Sandybn
09.20.12
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MANteresting Puts a New Spin on Online Pinboards

Pinterest, the online pinboard network that allows users to share ideas, pictures, recipes, etc., is hot on most college campuses. Currently, Pinterest caters to a largely-female audience but the time has come for something more masculine. Introducing: MANteresting.com. This new social site gives the men of the world a place to call their own. This generally male-oriented social bookmarking site encourages users to “nail” images to their “workbench” and “get inspired by awesome content”.

So men, be prepared. While your girlfriend is busy pinning, you’ll be nursing your new addiction to a site of your own! Do you think you’ll start sharing all your ideas at MANteresting.com? Post a comment below!

Written by Guest Blogger, Jacinda C. – Texas A&M’s Authority on all things Social Media

posted by Sandybn
03.22.12
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Five Things We Love This Week

It’s (finally) Friday and what better way to welcome the weekend than with a quick recap of all the things we couldn’t get enough of this week? From snacks to sports to social media, we’re covering all of our latest obsessions.

Sports Illustrated is going "Lin-sane" over the Taiwanese-American Knicks player, Jeremy Lin.

1. Linsanity: I’ll admit it, I’m intrigued by the hype. Whether you’re a die-hard Knicks fan or have never set foot on a basketball court, it’s hard to resist the inspiring story of Jeremy Lin. The Harvard grad was sleeping on his brother’s couch before he finally got his chance to show off his skills. If nothing else, you’ve got to love the handshake between him and teammate, Landry Fields (If you’ve missed it, check it out here).

2. Pinterest: The social media site that launched a thousand pinboards is growing in popularity each day…and for good reason! It allows you to organize all the internet things you come across onto your own virtual bulletin boards – perfect for an organization freak like me. Charlie Sheen would call that “#pinning.”

3. The College Freshman Meme: He’s baaaa-aaack! Remember the slightly goofy, over-eager looking kid that rose to minor internet stardom via the “College Freshman” meme? Well years later he has returned – as a senior! Mashable has all of the photos that started a whole new set of jokes.

AMC's apocalyptic show, "The Walking Dead" does NOT disappoint!

4. The Walking Dead: If you’re absolutely entranced by the story of Rick Grimes and the other characters on AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” you know that another fantastic episode debuted this past Sunday.  After a break that was way too long for my liking, though probably rather brief in the TV world, the zombies really are back and better than ever. As someone who is not a usual fan of the “monster” genre (I’ve never seen a Twilight movie or a single episode of True Blood – don’t hate me), I must say this set of mythical terrors has changed my mind. Don’t miss it!

5. Hummus: As someone on the never-ending search for healthy snacks, I must say I can never eat enough hummus! Paired with raw veggies or whole wheat pita bread, this delicious spread is a good source of fiber and protein. It’s also perfect for vegetarians and vegans as well. Yum!

We hope you enjoyed reading what we can’t stop obsessing over this week. Have anything to add? Post a comment below!

posted by Sandybn
02.24.12
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