What's In My Bag: College Edition

Lifestyle: Approximate time reading this post: 7 minutes

Ever since my first day back at school, I have felt so inspired and motivated in more ways than one, especially with my blog. I thought I would share a detailed guide of my daily university necessities and other suggestions in packing light to class. I also tried to post regarding gender-neutral items that just about every college student, disregarding age and sex, could find themselves carrying throughout the day.

Starting from top left to right in the picture below:

1. JanSport Clarkson Backpack (Tilly’s): First up is my trusty JanSport backpack to carry all of my college lifesavers in. I quickly noticed how every student on my university campus is carrying a humongous backpack so when my Tutillo bag strap finally snapped I reverted back to my JanSport ways. But I highly recommend a simple lightweight backpack with comfortable straps and multiple pockets like any of the JanSport packs.

2. Black and orange pouch (Forever 21): This little versatile pouch can be used for just about anything from makeup to spare change. I personally stuff mine with extra makeup and toiletries to get me through a long day of walking around the campus.

3. State Press Magazine (ASU): This was the perfect issue to start the school year with out on stands all around campus. Inside you get a peek into the best study spots, date night locations, and even places to have a well-deserved meltdown around Downtown Phoenix. I plan to write for any of the ASU publications in the near future and it’s also important to acknowledge all of their hard work!

4. Steve Madden keychain and cardholder (TJ Maxx): I actually clipped this combo off of my new Steve Madden everyday, bucket bag to better keep track of my business cards. I tend to place my personal business cards around local shops or exchange them with new contacts so this keychain gives me a tidy place to organize them.

5. Apple USB cable and power adapter (Apple): There are countless charging stations at ASU, so there is no need to ever feel powerless. Always, always carry your phone and laptop device chargers around campus.

6. iPhone 6/6s case with mirror power bank (Target): This handy power bank came with my iPhone case, pictured on top of my iPad.

7. Apple EarPods (Apple): You never know when you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of a huge campus, also some multimedia professors require headphones in the classroom for specific projects.

8. Elf Mist and Set (Target): Concealer, powder, primer users: I swear by this $3 makeup product. Especially having to walk from your car parked 10 blocks away from school for free parking, across campus, and back again, makeup users are going to want a light mist to set their makeup in and without clogging pores. This scentless, water-based product is full of aloe, green tea, and Vitamins A, C and E.

9. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, dark brown (Target): Proud "Great Lash" user since middle school. This is the no flaking, or smear, consistent and inexpensive mascara you have been looking for.

10. Jimmy Choo “Illicit” rollerball perfume (Sephora): While on campus, I like to freshen up before grabbing a late lunch or heading off to my next class with my all time favorite scent by Jimmy Choo. Perfect little travel size too!

11. Eos lip balm (Target): After using the trendy circular Eos lip balm for years, I gave up on its lack of functionality to fit in strange purses. My vanilla-flavored Eos stick is a must for everyday activities and I can easily throw it in my zipper pouch or pocket.

Keep reading below this picture for the rest!

12. Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Lip Color (Target): Pictured in the close up image of my zipper pouch and makeup. My Sonia Kasuk lip color is just what I need for a touch of shine and to brighten up my everyday makeup look. I specifically use the “Sheer Pink Lust 21” color to match my natural lip color and enhance any natural features.

13. Zagg Folio bluetooth keyboard and case (Sprint): This might just be the single best purchase I have ever made for college, besides the college classes themselves. After carrying around a 17-inch laptop for the past three years I decided it was time to invest in a lightweight iPad and wireless keyboard and case which has already worked wonders in saving space for my other school necessities.

14. Apple iPad Air 2 (Sprint): Also a great investment during my college education because it is lightweight, accessible and super easy to use.

15. Ray-Bans leather eyeglass case (Sunglass Hut): I have come to the realization that I need to start taking better care of my things, especially those that I use everyday, like my favorite sunglasses. This sleek and simple case, also a very thoughtful gift, has come in handy to protect my TJ Maxx sunnies.

16. Guess sunglasses (TJ Maxx): I will forever buy my designer brands at trusted retail stores like TJ Maxx and Ross, especially after I scored these under-$25 Guess sunglasses that I wear just about everyday. Attending a large campus comes with lots of walking and walking outside. We live in Arizona, so spare your eyes while the sun is burning your corneas 80% of the year.

17. Ban.do 17-Month Classic Agenda (Shop Ban.do): In order to survive college it is of the utmost importance to keep a monthly planner for homework, extracurriculars, part/full-time jobs, internships, checklists, even scheduling hang outs with friends because these are all very important activites that can easily be forgotten as college students. My Ban.do agenda is full of silly quotes and bright pages to give inspiration to my daily activities and the willingness to actually use my planner.

If you have any specific college lifesavers that you carry around to each class, let me know in the comments below so we can all be better prepared at this crazy, wonderful point in our lives. Happy Monday and have a great day of class!

Casual College Layers

Fashion: Approximate time reading this post: 3 minutes

Well I survived my first week back at school and more importantly my first experience at Arizona State University. I can say that I am pleasantly surprised after all of the horror stories my community college friends told me of their first encounter at a university. I have never felt so prepared and ecstatic to take on the opportunities ahead that terrify and peak my curiosity all at once.

I firmly believe in the power of an A+ outfit especially on the first week of classes, in any type of educational setting. It’s the perfect opportunity to compliment someone else, in turn making an in-class friend, or at least feeling confident in your physical appearance when you are internally screaming about Multimedia Journalism.

Photos by: Lauren Potter

Outfit details: white button down shirt (Urban Outfitters), low rise blue jeans (Forever 21), orange peaking bralette (ANGL), gladiator sandals (Target), silk multi-wear scarf (Forever 21), blue medium purse (Steve Madden at TJ MAXX), lock and no-key earrings (H&M), mauve lip stain (Sephora).

So far, my back-to-school style consists of casual layers, that still make sense in the summer season, and comfortable footwear. With long school days and all of the walking from car to class to even more classes, it has come to my attention that sensibility and versatility  in my style is more important than ever before. I met up with my wonderful friend in journalism, Lauren Potter, at Desoto Central Market in Downtown Phoenix to discuss my future at ASU and in journalism. We quickly agreed to an impromptu photoshoot in front of the seafood vendor, Walrus and the Pearl, to capture this layered look. Here I am wearing one of my favorite simple white shirts from Urban Outfitters that I scored in the sale section. My favorite components of this outfit are my little silk scarf that can be worn countless ways from Forever 21 and my orange bralette from ANGL. Both pieces add unique layers and make a simple white shirt and jeans look far more detailed than they would be by themselves. This is one look I can easily see myself going from day to night in the Downtown Phoenix area after a long day of classes.

I am thrilled to not only expand my boundaries in journalism through my education at ASU but also explore the possibilities in fashionable and professional college attire. Stayed tuned on HFM for future updates about my blog-worthy ASU adventures. I hope everyone is having a great first or second week of school!

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Student $ saving tip: show your school ID to any of the vendors at Desoto Central Market and get a 10% discount or more on your meal!

Dressing Up For "Art at the QuARTer"

Fashion and Lifestyle: Approximate time reading this post: 4 minutes

I have quickly realized that taking Mondays off from work this summer has made it such a fantastic difference in getting my mindset back to the hopeful spin I had for the beginning of the week. So I decided to take my own advice (shocking right?) and utilize one of my few days off with some good ol’ inexpensive fun that I blogged about in my previous post from the beginning of the summer.

On my days off I like to wear my favorite ensembles that I might not get the chance to at my job, this includes my new summer uniform of bodysuits. I have admittingly jumped on the bandwagon of bodysuits and I have absolutely no intention of getting off anytime soon. Once again, I found this gem at Forever 21 where that company never fails to provide a surplus of the latest trend (i.e. choker necklaces, lace up tops, and an array of body suits).

Since my favorite and only sister has started working at Snooze A.M. Eatery and my shifts are always going into the night time, we will go two and sometimes three days in a row without seeing each other. (But on the plus side: endless free chocolate chip banana pancakes.) This made today quite the treat, both having the day off, so we celebrated with our madre, naturally over breakfast at Snooze. Afterwards we fed our cravings with celebratory hot and iced chais from Press Coffee Roasters, which was also one of my points from my previous blog post, “Make Your Summer Worthwhile (on a budget)”, to cash in my tenth star at the roastery and get my perfectly hot chai free! The third point in that I took my own blog post’s advice was accessorizing with a little temporary tattoo today seen in the pic below.

Photos by: Claire Goldberg

Across from Press at the Scottsdale Quarter outdoor mall is a brand new mural that was revealed today! Artist, JB Snyder, is a part of the “Art at the QuARTer installation” series partnered with Scottsdale Public Art with this temporary mural installation. I have been anxiously waiting for this mural to finally unveil as part of the local Arizona art scene and right here in my own stomping grounds! Read more about JB Snyder here on how his other murals can be found at the Lost Leaf, the Saguaro Hotel, Roosevelt Row in Downtown Phoenix, and more!

Thanks once again for taking the time to read my little post. Please, please let me know if you tried out any of my ideas from my previous blog post on having a worthwhile summer (on a budget). You can easily do so by tagging #HopeForMondays on Instagram or shooting me a little message in the “Contact Me” tab on my blog. Happy Monday, friends :)

Outfit details: plunging ribbed bodysuit (Forever 21), cream lace shorts (Papaya Clothing- similar pair), gladiator sandals (“Topshop” found at Nordstrom Rack), cord statement necklace (Forever 21- similar), gold stacked bracelet (Wanderlust + Co), long layered necklace (gift), bronze nail polish (Essie at Target), temporary “YAY!” tattoo (Paper Source from little party poppers)