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Hello, everyone! I'm back! Trying to balance work, school, applying to universities, and finding time for a social life threw me for a loop last semester, and as a consequence, I went on a temporary blogging hiatus. Now that summer has started, I've been admitted to my dream university (Go Dukes!), and my work schedule has balanced out, I'm back on the blogging train! I'm working on becoming more consistent with this whole thing. It hasn't been easy, but I have a little bit of a game plan in the works, so hopefully that will allow me to make more time to dedicate to this blog. 

Anyway, I've recently started a working at a local science museum as a 'Science Conductor!' (That's totally the best job title, and nothing can convince me otherwise!) Working at the museum brings me so much joy because I'm a huge science nerd, and I love to get other people excited about science. I spend most of my time in the EcoLab and the small animal lab where I get to hang out with a rat snake named Norm and teach kids how to use a microscope. It makes me blissfully happy to share my passion with all the cool kids who come into the museum! 

Getting to the museum is a bit of a haul in the morning traffic. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually thankful that I've been caught in traffic every morning. (I can see the look of horror on everyone's face, but let me explain.) Sitting in traffic has forced me to slow down and observe my community, and what I've noticed absolutely breaks my heart. Richmond has a huge population of homeless men and women. These people are almost invisible. Drivers lock their doors, keep their eyes pointed straight ahead, and act like if they don't acknowledge these individuals, they will cease to exist. While commuting back and forth, I would be filled with sadness because I didn't know how I could help. I didn't really feel comfortable giving out money, but I knew that I wanted to offer something other than a smile from the comfort of my car. While perusing Pinterest earlier this week, I found a solution. There were hundreds of tutorials on 'Blessing Bags,' a bag filled with necessities that could be given out in lieu of cash. They're not too expensive to make (I was able to make 6 complete bags for less than $17!), and easy enough to involve your whole family in the production. 

These bags are such an easy way to share the love with people in your community who are out there asking for help. I filled up gallon sized plastic bags and I keep them in a little basket behind my passenger seat so I am always prepared when I'm stopped at a stoplight and someone is reaching out for assistance. 

Organizing the items I purchased

I went to Target and the Dollar Tree and bought enough items to fill each bag with: 

1 bottle of water

1 bar of soap

1 comb

1 razor

1 toothbrush with a case

1 tube of toothpaste

1 bottle of 2in1 shampoo

1 travel pack of Tylenol

1 strip of bandages

2 antibacterial wipes

1 package of tissues

1 snack sized plastic bag of cotton swabs

1 granola bar

1 package of fruit snacks

A handwritten note of encouragement

Packed and ready to go! 

I was able to purchase enough items to make 6 complete bags for under $17. These bags are personalizable, so you can add anything you would like. In the future, I think I'm going to add some deodorant, a pair of socks, feminine hygiene products, some sunscreen for the summer, and some gloves and a scarf for the winter. Making these bags would be a great family or group activity. Have everyone bring x-amount of one item, and then pack the bags as a group. After the bags are packed, everyone could sit down and write some words of encouragement to add to the bags. It would be a great opportunity to open a dialogue about helping those in need. 

I was able to fit all 6 bags in a container that I keep in my backseat.
It's perfect for keeping the bags handy for when I'm
stopped at a red light. 

Do you all have any favorite random acts of kindness or ways to pay it forward? Let me know in the comments! 

“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.’ Hungry not only for bread — but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing — but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks — but homeless because of rejection.” ~ Mother Teresa

Kate xox

10 Things I Wish I Knew As An Incoming Freshman

Spring is my favorite time of year. Despite the inches of snow on the ground, daffodils start popping up, baby cows join the herd at the farm near my house, you can't go on social media without drowning in "promposals," and high school seniors start grudgingly dragging themselves through homestretch of school before graduation. College is just around the corner, and I, the sage, second semester college freshman that I am, have some advice for all anxious and excited, high school seniors turned collegiates. Here are a few things I've learned through experience and observation, that will make your college life so much easier. 

1. Shower shoes are the best investment you can make. For the love of all things holy, wear your shower shoes! Community showers are breeding grounds for all sorts of creepy crawlies that you do not want anywhere near your person. Gross. In the same vein, please don't be the person who pukes in the shower (or the sink, or the water fountain, or in the middle of the hallway). The shower is supposed to be a safe space. 

2. All-nighters are not fun and are totally avoidable. Budget your time and get some sleep the night before your exam. If you exponentially increase your caffeine intake and drastically cut the amount of sleep you get, you might end up in the library having an existential crisis while your heart feels like it's going to beat out of your chest and your hands shake so much you can't hold your pencil. (Not like I'm speaking from experience or anything...)

3. Print out your syllabus. Keep a copy in your binder and keep a copy in your desk. Read it. Live it. Love it. 

4. Don't expect to get the same grades you did in high school. College is different. Work is harder, people will be smarter than you, and you will be overwhelmed. Study hard, put in your best effort, ask for help when you need it, and it will all work out fine. 

5. Grades do not define you. Grades do not define you! Grades do not define you!! 

6. Learn to say no. 

7. It is possible to make good grades and be social. Don't spend all your time on homework and let your friendships suffer. Don't spend all your time going out and let your grades suffer. Find the balance that works for you and stick with it. 

8. Work on building friendships rather than romantic relationships, especially your freshman year. Bows before bros, ladies! 

9. It's okay to eat some of your meals alone. Seriously, don't worry about it! 

10. As cliché as it sounds, don't sweat the small stuff! One failed test won't completely ruin your life. Trust me on this one. 

Hang in there, all future graduates! Graduation is just around the corner. 

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. —Steve Jobs"

Kate xox

Champagne Taste, Beer Budget

Do you have champagne taste but have a cheap beer budget? Do you dream in cashmere and diamonds? Are you totally okay with living off of Ramen and PB&J so you can spend most of your paycheck on super cute shoes? If so, I understand your struggle.

Let's be real. I love shopping. If I could, I would fill my closets with J Crew, Kate Spade and Louboutins. Unfortunately, I am a college student with limited cash flow and textbooks that run over $100 a pop, which puts a serious damper on my shopping sprees. While I'll have to wait a while before I can justify a pair of Louboutins, I have found a way to keep my closets well stocked on a budget and I'll let you in on my secret: thrift shopping!

I can work Goodwill like nobody's business. I'm pretty sure my superpower is spotting mint condition cashmere in thrift stores. Of course, I wasn't born with this superpower, nor was I bitten by a radioactive cashmere spider. I've mastered the art of thrift shopping through tons and tons of practice. Here are some tips I've learned. I hope they help you look fabulous for less!

Know Your Store

This is one of the most important tips. Explore local consignment and thrift stores and figure out which ones best meet your needs. If you're after brands like J Crew or Loft, try stores in more affluent neighborhoods. Additionally, know when your store puts out new merchandise and visit during those times. Avoid weekends unless absolutely necessary. Stores are more crowded, so merchandise is picked over and you have less room to really dive into looking. People also drop off donations during the weekend, so you'll have a greater selection during the week. 

Dig, Dig, Dig! 

Thrifting is not for the faint of heart. If you want it to really pay off, you have to be willing to invest time in searching through bins, racks and shelves. You might not find something every time you go, but the more time you put into it, the more likely you'll score something good (like a Michael Kors cardigan with the tags still on)! 

Quality Counts

Check any potential purchases throughly. Look for stains, rips, and loose buttons. Try it on. Does it fit well? Is it stretched out? Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's a wise purchase. You want to look for high quality brands that are in good shape. Otherwise, you're wasting your time and money.  

Ask About Discounts

Some stores, Goodwills especially, offer discounts for students, seniors, and active military. Also, many stores have a 'color of the week' where they offer a discount on items with a specific colored tag. Each store is different, so be sure to ask. 

I hope this takes away some of the frustration of thrifting and encourages you to go hunt for some bargains. Trust me, there are mint condition, vintage Lilly Pulitzer dresses out there, you just have to go find them! Happy shopping! 

Kate xox

Liebster Award

Hello, everyone! One of my good friends (Catherine!) recently nominated me for a Liebster Award, which is an award that is given to bloggers with a small following, but great potential. Bloggers nominate other bloggers, so it's a great way to spread some love! As part of the rules of the award, each nominated blog must answer the questions given to them, so here goes! 

1. What blog or blogger inspired you to start blogging? 

Honestly, there's not really one blog that encouraged me to start blogging. I started because I was attending an out-of-state college and I was experiencing some significant roommate problems (to the point where I actually was forced to move out of my dorm). I was frustrated because the residence life office at my school brushed off my concerns, and I really just wanted someone to listen to me, for once! After some soul searching, I decided to transfer schools, which spurred my first blog post. I wanted to share my story on a public platform so all my friends at school and at home would know what was going on without having to track me down to get the story. After I was started, I was really inspired by History in High Heels. This girl is great! She is a doctoral student documenting her adventures in academia and fashion; two things I hold near and dear to my heart. 

2.What is it about blogging that keeps you going, what keeps you blogging?

My desire to tell my story keeps me blogging. I'm pretty much just blundering my way through college life, and I post on my blog to give others some inspiration. Perhaps, in the future, some confused biology major with a passion for a good J. Crew sale (if this describes you, we are definitely soul sisters and you should hit me up ASAP) will stumble upon my blog and have some of her questions answered. 

3. What song would you consider your theme song? 

My theme song changes on a daily basis. Continuity is a problem for me when it comes to this sort of thing. As of right now, it's Glitter and Be Gay from Candide. This song is all about making the best of your situation while dressing as fabulously as possible, which is basically my life in a nutshell. 

4. What would you say is your all time favorite post? 

I'm not 100% sure what this question is asking, so I'm going to take some artistic license. The favorite post I've written is Transitions, because it was really hard for me to write. That post was pretty much a letter to myself, telling me that it's okay to not have everything planned out, and that sometimes, we just need to back up a little bit, change directions, and keep marching forward. As for favorite posts from other bloggers, the list is really long and I can't think of one that really sticks out at me. 

5. Lipstick or lipgloss? 

Lipstick all the way. I'm a firm believer that a girl should have a signature lip color. After all, a girl's bag should be big enough to carry the book she's currently reading, her signature lip color, and a can of pepper spray! My personal shade is Speak Your Mind from the Marvelous Moxie Line from Bare Minerals. 

6. Writing or sharing a story with pictures? 

Both! I choose pictures with snappy captions. 

7. What book has inspired you most and why? 

This one is hard too. Asking me to choose between my favorite books is like asking me to choose which puppy to save from falling off a cliff. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is pretty inspiring, right now. It chock full of awesome quotes like: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Plus, there are hobbits and elves, and it just doesn't get better than that. The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss, is pretty inspiring too. "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better, it's not." That's deep stuff. Plus, it's really encouraged me to pursue environmental science in college. Not going to lie, I'd love to be the Lorax and speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. 

8. Diary or no diary?

No diary. I had a diary phase, but that was over in 5th grade. (I blog now. All the cool kids are doing it.)

9. What would you consider your biggest weakness and why? 

I'm a perfectionist. I like to win and I want to get a perfect score (on everything!!) and look good doing it. Unfortunately, I've been smacked in the face by the real world and have realized that perfection isn't possible. This is a hard pill to swallow and coming to terms with this is a work in progress. 

10. What is your passion? 

I have been waiting for someone to ask me this! My passion is sustainable agriculture! And Disney. A really weird combination, I know. I actually hope to work for the Disney company, as they do some serious awesomeness with sustainable agriculture research and conservation education. Seriously, if you want to further discuss the awesomeness that is earth-friendly farming, I'll meet you at Starbucks and we can chat. 

11. Where do you see yourself in 15 years? 

Hopefully working on making the world a better place through the development of environmentally friendly living practices. I'd also like to be living in Cinderella Castle with a dog, some cows, and a killer shoe collection. A girl can dream. 

Thanks for sticking with me, folks! I know this was a lot to get through! Here's my list of nominees: 

East Coast Diaries

Marisa at Marisa Alejandra Dew

Delaney at The True

Nominees, here's how this works. Answer the 11 questions below and then nominate other blogs with less than 200 followers who you feel are deserving of the Liebster Award. Have fun!! 

1. What inspired you to start blogging? Why do you continue?

2. Who is your style icon? Why?

3. Top 5 guilty pleasures, go! 

4. If you were forced to move to a foreign country with nothing but what you could fit in a carry-on, what would you bring and why? 

5. What superpower would you have? 

6. Everyone has a happy place. What's yours?

7. Where do you do most of your blogging from? 

8. Do you have a signature accessory? What is it? 

9. Beach or lake? 

10. What are you passionate about? What makes you excited? 

A Shout Out to the Selfie

I take selfies and I declare that with pride. I am, however, a selfie convert. I used to browse Instagram with disdain every Sunday as I scrolled past countless #selfiesunday posts, and would roll my eyes when I came upon albums of them on my Facebook newsfeed. The word itself was enough to make me shudder, but I have now seen the light. Selfies (in moderation, like all good things) are awesome! Stop the selfie hate!

In today's media, women are mostly represented by photoshopped white models with unattainable figures and flawless skin. The fashion and beauty industries spend billions of dollars to make women feel bad about themselves. After all, women who do not feel like they fit into the standards of beauty are the ones that will buy hair relaxers, laser hair removal and spray tans.This is quite the blow to an average women's self esteem. But, never fear, the selfie is here to take back representation and put back into the hands where it belongs-- the hands of the everyday woman. The thing that is so great about the selfie is that it helps reshape those standards of beauty by celebrating normal people, freckles, curls, wrinkles and all.

Selfies are created and controlled by the individuals taking them, rather than the beauty industry that sets unattainable standards of what we should look like. With the selfie, women do not have to rely on the media for representation. They are in control of what they look like and how they are represented. This is especially important for queer women and women of color who don't often see images of people who look like them in the media. The rise of the selfie shifts beauty from unrealistic, photoshopped models to something more realistic, which is a positive change for everyone.  

Selfies are little snapshots of pride as well as celebrations of the self. In moderation, they are a great way for women and girls to shake their fists at the beauty industry and take back their representation. So, next time you are scrolling through the influx of #selfiesunday Instagram posts, I encourage you to hold back the urge to roll your eyes and give a big shout out to the importance of the selfie.

Resolute Resolutions

Happy New Year's Eve, ladies and gentlemen! 2014 is blank slate, an empty canvas waiting for you to splatter it with color. A new year brings a fresh start, and the possibilities for change are yours for the taking! I urge you all to take some time today to reflect on 2013, and think about how you can make 2014 the best year yet. Think about any resolutions you would like to make, any loose ends you want to tie up, or any relationships you want to mend, and start taking care of them so 2014 is truly a peaceful, fresh start.

Here are some of my resolutions for 2014: 

~Read more books

~Remove toxic individuals from my life. 

This past year, I've learned a lot about removing myself from people who do not make me feel good. Sometimes that means cleaning out your Facebook friends list, and sometimes that means moving out of your dorm room to where you can be happy and flourish. Is it easy? Definitely not! But, sometimes, people aren't worth the stress and the tears, and you have to learn to let them go. 

~Give out more compliments to friends and strangers alike

~ Stop worrying about grades so much

A test score does not define me, but personal character does.

~ Spend less, save more, give more

~ Learn a new skill

I've always wanted to learn how to embroider by hand, so why not?!

Have a wonderful New Year, everyone! Stay safe! 

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one." -Brad Paisley

Kate xox