Being a young woman in college, we always have pressure on us to have an outfit for every event. Whether it's a frat party, sorority recruitment, job interviews, or formals, we need outfits - and that can rack up a bill! One thing we may not have been taught in high school was how to shop smarter, especially since our parents were paying for our clothes the majority of the time. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but this was definitely something I struggled with, and I know I’m not the only one. With that said, let’s dive right into it! us.shein.com Shein is definitely one of my go-to online shops for when I’m in desperate need of some new clothes that are cheap and cute. They add new items to their website everyday and are always caught up on the latest trends. Personally, I do a lot of my shopping for sorority events and frat parties on this website because I can get at least 10 items for $100. This shop is great for bulk shopping to stock up for different events, vacations, or even just your everyday clothes! I just did a HUGE $250 shopping spree here and got 20 different items, including matching sets. My package should be coming soon and I can’t wait to do a review for y’all! vicicollection.com Vici is one of my go to stores to buy outfits for special events. They always have the cutest formal dresses for under $100, and their quality of clothing is amazing. I have dresses that I have bought both in store and online that have lasted me over 3 years! If you are looking to spend a little bit more for something you know you will wear again, this is definitely your place to shop! I have bought just about every dress for pref day, formals, and weddings from this store, and I would definitely give it a 10/10. target.com Target is usually a given when you are looking to spend less on clothes, but I want to throw it in here specifically for when you are shopping for clothes for a job interview. Target has an amazing selection of professional clothes that are relatively cheap. Now, I’m not saying everything is going to be under $20, and yes it might rack up a bill, but this is the place to go when you need that one staple outfit to make a great first impression to a potential new employer. They have the cutest power suits and blouses, and you can even top off the outfit with some cute accessories and shoes! amazon.com Now, a lot of people tend to forget that amazon has some amazing clothing lines that sell through them. I check out their deals almost every single day, just to make sure I’m not missing out on some major deals from my favorite brands. They carry big brands like Levi’s, Ella Moss, Adidas, Nike, and Calvin Klein, just to name a few. They also provide lookbooks and sections based off of trends that are circulating in the moment! Don't forget - They also offer a prime membership for students so be sure to utilize that! I love utilizing thrift shops for when I need something really fast, but don’t have a lot of money. There is a pair of shorts I wear a lot and post a lot in (because they are my favorite shorts in the world), and I actually got them for $4 at a Goodwill. They are men's Levi’s that I cut myself and it was the best investment I have ever made. I rarely ever buy shorts from stores because I am bigger in the thigh region, so I can never find anything that fits right. Thrifting pants and turning them into shorts is definitely the right move if you have the same problem as me because you can tailor them to your liking! I also love utilizing thrift shops for themed parties because you can find just about any outfit/costume within minutes! I like to shop at stores who tend to have a lot of great sales as well! I check on these stores’ websites once a week or so, just to see if anything new has been marked down! Some of my favorites: ★Madewell Great for jeans, blouses, dresses, and accessories ★Nordstrom/Nordstrom Rack Great for getting all of your shopping done in one place ★Urban Outfitters Great for accessories and fad trends ★Carly Jean Los Angeles Great for getting your basic outfit staples ★Top Shop Great for fad trends, bathing suits, shoes, and bags ★Old Navy Great for bathing suits, loungewear, and basic outfit staples With how many questions I get asked about where I shop, I thought that I would just make this post short and sweet so that I don’t overload you with information. I’m excited to say that I will be making a LIKEtoKNOW.it soon, so you will be able to access information about any outfits I post soon! I have loved sharing all of my favorite stores with you, and if you have any stores that you swear by that aren’t on this list, shoot me a message! I would love to connect. xo, The Undergrad
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★ trigger warning: narcissistic relationships ★ I already know that today’s topic is going to be controversial, so let me preface a few things - I understand that there are plenty of high school sweethearts that get married and live a wonderful life together, however, I also understand that people stay in their high school relationships throughout college because it’s just what feels comfortable, but the relationship falls apart later on in life. I’m the kind of person that likes to stay hopeful in relationships. Going off to college, all four of my roommates and myself came into our college experience in a relationship in one way or another, whether it was something long-term, short term, or casual. We all had hope for our relationships, even though none of us were actually in a relationship with someone who went to our school. Now, living in a space with four other girls who were also in long distance relationships was comforting at first, but within a few weeks, our relationships started dropping like flies. We were all very supportive of each other, but once the third breakup happened, there started to be some resentment from those who weren’t in relationships towards those who were. After a semester of getting drunk phone calls at 3 am almost every night, I realized that I couldn't do it anymore. I had to let this person go, even though they had been a large presence in my life for the past 4 years of high school. Before I ended it, I really analyzed the relationship. What was making it not work? Was it just the distance? Or had I just been trying too hard to make it work for too long? Whatever it was, I was burnt out and our relationship was running on fumes. I quickly realized that my relationship from high school wasn’t made to last because that's all it was - a high school relationship. When I use this term “high school relationship,” this is what I mean. This relationship was based on convenience. It wasn’t based on love or respect. It was very petty and there was virtually no communication skills between the two of us. In high school, we would be going on dates one minute, then breaking things off and seeing other people the next. This pattern between us went on for years. Throughout this pattern, I had developed this sense of not knowing who I truly was. Everybody knew us for always being together, whether we were dating in the moment or not, and it really took a toll on me because I didn't know myself outside of this relationship since I wasn’t experiencing any personal growth. This relationship actually prevented me from experiencing self growth. I was constantly pushed to look a certain way and act a certain way and do certain things that don’t align with my character today. I was a completely different person who was stripped of her identity in what I now know was a relationship with a narcissist. If I gained weight, we weren’t dating anymore. If I missed a party, he would meet someone else there and blame me for not being there. If I needed to hear a familiar voice to talk down my anxiety, he would be too busy to answer his phone. Yet, I was expected to pick up the phone when he called, stay faithful at parties that I went to without him, and not make comments on his body since his was in “good condition” by his personal definition when mine wasn't. When college started, He started love bombing me, trying to get me to not leave. He would call me on my walks to class and before bed. He even got me an expensive christmas present as a last attempt to save the relationship, but I couldn’t do it anymore. I was drained. When I came back to school after christmas break, I decided that I was going to live my best single life and manifest happiness. I started going out with my friends more because there was no phone call I had to wait for. I started talking to more people in my classes because I didn’t feel guilty for talking to other guys. I was glowing with happiness and it showed in everything I did. If I hadn’t put myself out there and started living my best life, I wouldn’t have met the man I am with today and love so much. A little less than a month after we got back to school, I went to a party with all of my friends and started talking to this guy that I really hit things off with. We talked, we kissed, we exchanged numbers, and had a really good night. For the first time in a long time, I had finally felt respected by a guy and I was truly happy about it. After this night, we started hanging out more and going on dates. We spent so much time together that my roommates eventually didn’t even need to ask where I was when I didn’t come home. They knew I was with someone that made me happy and that they could trust to keep me safe. Gage, my now boyfriend, has been the best thing to ever happen for me. He is my biggest supporter and my best friend. He was the first man besides my dad to tell me that I was beautiful and he has made me realize my self worth. He pushes me to do my best everyday and makes communication easy. We have been together for a little over a year now and I wouldn’t trade our time together for the world. I am finally feeling like myself again. Not every high school relationship is going to be narcissistic. Like I said before, I know that there are plenty of high school sweethearts out there that have very successful relationships. These signs are more for the people who are unsure if their relationship is going to make it through college. Here are some red flags: ★Your relationship is one-sided One of you puts more effort into making the relationship work than the other ★You question your self worth Your partner makes you feel that you aren't enough for them, even if its just sometimes ★You question your identity You feel like you're not the same person you used to be OR you wish that you could try something you wouldn’t be able to while in your relationship ★You can’t communicate without someone being petty Neither of you have worked out a way to communicate respectfully and efficiently - anything can turn into a fight ★You fear that your partner is a narcissist Your needs aren’t being met and your partner blames you for that rather than taking responsibility. Now, I'm no relationship expert, but I do know what it's like to be in a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships are ultimately the ones that are successful in the long run. They are what make you feel like the best version of yourself. They are what make you feel truly loved by your partner. A few things that go into a healthy relationship: ★Trusting your partner You and your partner have mutual trust. You can honestly share anything with each other and expect them to treat you with respect ★Practicing good communication You talk things out regularly. You avoid arguments by talking about what upsets you right away rather than letting it bottle up ★Supporting one another You and your partner encourage each other to be the best versions of yourselves. You celebrate the good stuff together and you grieve the bad stuff together ★Having time to yourself guilt free Sometimes, we can all use a break. You or your partner can go out with friends or make a self-care appointment on your own and feel good about it without a guilt trip ★Making sure you and your partners needs are met You and your partner communicate what you need from one another, whether it is mentally, socially, or physically, and you are able to meet those needs and/or compromise if those needs can’t be met right away. I wanted to share my story today because it is getting to that time of year where people going into college are beginning to question staying in their relationships for college. I was one of those people who definitely questioned their high school relationship going into college, and I ignored all of my worries, making things harder for myself in the long run. I have learned so much about relationships since I started college and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without ending that high school relationship and cutting off communication with that person. Gage makes me feel like I am the best version of myself. I have gained so much confidence, self love, love for him, and trust. I know not every relationship looks the same, but what the relationship is based off of should typically look the same. Find someone who encourages you and supports you guilt free. Find someone who will be your best friend through all of the good and the bad. Find someone who lets you live your best life. Happy dating! xo, The Undergrad College is so exciting! If you are reading this, you are probably heading into your freshman year, and let me tell you, freshman year is a blast. However, it can feel difficult if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into! My freshman year was one of the most fun and exciting years of my life so far. I met my best friends, my boyfriend, and joined a sorority that I couldn’t imagine not being a part of. You are going to run into some bumps in the road, it happens, but you are going to have such an amazing time. It is most likely your first time living on your own and having complete freedom from your parents, so take advantage of that! College is a time to try new things and find out who you really are! Here are a few things I learned about my freshman year: Living in the dorms is such a crazy experience. When I was living in the dorms, We didn’t have an option to have completely gender separated dorms. If your school offers co-ed dorms, I highly recommend it. These dorms have such a social atmosphere and I made some of my best friends my freshman year through the dorms. We would get big study groups together and hang out in the common area in our free time. We had our own little family made up of the people on our floor and it made us feel a little more at home! Speaking of feeling at home, decorating your dorm is such an important thing to do in my opinion. No, you and your roommate don't have to match, but when you make your area personalized to you, you’re bound to feel more comfortable in it! Personally, I decorated my space in my room very similar to how I would have it decorated at home - lots of pillows, my guitar sitting in the corner, and my desk space organized with more makeup than school supplies. Throughout the year it definitely changed, but there were a lot of items I found very helpful while I was making the transition to dorm living! ✰ A Bed Shelf with USB ports for charging This was definitely one of my favorite purchases for my dorm room. I had no choice when it came to lofting my bed, so the bed shelf allowed me to keep my phone charging next to me at night, and even fit my hydroflask! It was a great alternative to a night stand and saved a ton of space! ✰ Space Saving Hangers I loved having these space saving hangers because I was sharing one closet between 3 girls, and I personally have a lot of clothes. We all got different colored hangers as well, so we knew where each person’s clothes ended and the other’s started. Having the majority of my clothes at school helped me with my transition of living away from home because I never had to think about all of the things I left behind! ✰ Cute Organizational Bins I used these bins for just about everything! I used plastic bins to organize my drawers and wire bins to store things that were sitting out on my desk or in my closet! We used them for our medicine baskets, our laundry supplies baskets, and our cleaning supplies baskets! It took the ugliness of what was in the basket away and made them cute enough to just leave out in the room if needed! ✰ Coffee Machine Now, I made a deal with my parents that I would wait to get a new computer until mine died if I could get a Nespresso Machine instead, and well, It was the best decision I have ever made. Being able to make lattes right there in my room was SUCH a money saver. I rarely went out for coffee, and if any of my friends wanted to get coffee and chat, I was just able to make them a cup and we would hang out in my room or in the common area! If you’re smart about it, you may even be able to create an underground coffee shop on your floor and make some money off of it! Now, I could go on forever about what you should have in your dorm, so when it gets closer to when you would be buying things to move into your dorm, I will have a whole post for it! But for now let's move on to… Rushing was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. Almost everyone in my family is in greek life, so there was a lot of pressure put on me to rush, and I almost didn’t go through with it! I believe that even if I didn't rush my freshman year, I would have ended up rushing at some other point throughout college, but I am so thankful that I did it freshman year because I created some amazing memories with my pledge class and made some of my best friends! Even if you don’t think you want to rush, try it anyways! Depending on the school you are at, recruitment may last anywhere from 3 days to one week, so you aren't going to have to commit to being in a sorority on the first day! Go to day 1 of recruitment, and if you don’t like it, then drop out of the process! It's no big deal! But, you may be surprised at some of the houses! Every house typically has something that fits everyone's personality. Another big reason that you should rush is that being in a sorority can look amazing on a job application in the future! It shows dedication, a heart for volunteering, and leadership (if you decide to take a position). I know when we think about sororities and recruitment, we tend to think about that viral video of all of the sorority girls saying “we’ve been waiting for you all summer,” and yes, the singing like that does happen, but that only happens during recruitment. The rest of the year, we are committed to academics, philanthropic work, and supporting each other in any way! And even if you do commit to a sorority, you can always drop it after your first year if you end up not liking it. But I cannot stress enough how important it is to still give it a chance! As we all know, with college comes lots of parties. You may be surprised to know that it isn't just the frats that throw parties on campus. Lots of the sports teams decide to throw parties as well! However, who is throwing the party does not matter as long as you know how to party responsibly. My #1 tip is to bring your own water! There is going to be some point in the night when you want it, but you aren’t going to be able to get it. Throw a mini water bottle in your purse, or even carry around your hydro. Not only will this help you stay hydrated, but you will thank yourself in the morning. When it comes to drinking, try to bring your own drinks. We have all heard the nightmare stories of girls getting drugged at frat parties, and even though I haven't heard about this happening to anyone I know, it is still something that happens, especially at big party schools. To make yourself even safer from this happening, make sure to bring someone to the party with you! If you are out with your friends having a good time, you’re less likely to take a drink from a random guy that you don’t know! Party culture can get crazy, so make sure you are drinking responsibly, utilizing ride sharing apps, and if you do go home with someone that you met at the party, make sure to be safe, respect yourself, and get tested regularly for STDs. It is so so SO important to talk to your roommates before living with them to make sure you all get along well because crazy roommates do exist. Last year, I had a roommate that had no respect for boundaries, would constantly forget her key, and come back to the dorms blasted and wake all of us up at 3 am. If your roommate starts to turn into a nightmare, don’t worry! There are definitely ways to get around it! Make sure you create a roommate contract when you first move in! That way, it is clarified in writing how you will handle disagreements and things that make you uncomfortable. We were required to do this through our RAl, and I am so grateful that we had it. When you first move in, you will probably want nothing to do with your RA, but if you get into a situation where your roommate becomes a nightmare, they will become your best friend. If you explain what is going on in your room, they will do their best to assign you to a new room, or remove that roommate from your room! So, don't fret if your roommate isn’t who you expected them to be. I eventually want to do a separate blog post for each of these topics, so I am leaving it brief for now. Freshman year is so exciting and there are so many things to look forward to! Push yourself to try new things and meet new people! Have the time of your life! You only get to live your freshman year once, so go all out and do what you want, but try not to get into any trouble! Congratulations on making it to college! You’ll have a blast. xo, The Undergrad |
AUTHORCamille Baron is a 20 year old attending the University of Utah and is in her third year as a Strategic Communications major. She strives to educate college women like herself to achieve their full potential in all aspects of life. ARCHIVES
July 2020
CATEGORIESAll Business And Professional College Culture Education Health And Wellness Self Care Travel |