Review of The Happiness Project & Keeping it Neat: Three Rules that Will Change Your Stress Level

First, a review:

I'm kind of cheating with this review here because I recently re-read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. One part personal narrative, one part examination of happiness, this book makes me smile and cringe all at the same time. I love this book because it is hilarious and has amazing ideas for having more fun and stressing less (tips I sometimes really need). At the end of the book I felt like Rubin and I were friends, her writing style is conversational and charming. But at the same time, this book reminds me of, well, me. Rubin starts off (and stays) a Type A perfectionist- trying to manage everything and remain in control. Her ultimate goal is perfection, which doesn't always lead to happiness. This book is a great reminder, though, that I can make little changes and let go of the little things. That finding happiness doesn't mean losing everything, just some things. This book is a really great read if you're looking to reflect.

Keeping it Neat: Three Rules

I'm big on routines. It's nice to know that there is a set time for something. However, lately I've been making an effort to give myself big chunks of free time to spend with friends and family and myself. There are three rules, partially inspired by The Happiness Project that I've followed for about a year, and I think you should follow them too:

1. Make your bed immediately when you get up: This sounds so lame, but not only does de-cluttering your room help you start your day with a de-cluttered mind, but it also "checks" one thing off your mental to do list. A task completed before brushing your teeth? Yes!

2. If it takes less than one minute, do it now: This one helps me with keeping my closet in order mostly, but I've found it applies to other things too. When I'm in a rush and am trying on outfits, I'm usually just tempted to leave a heaping pile of clothes I decided not to wear on my bed/carpet. When I started following this rule, the pile disappeared. It takes about 10 seconds to hang up a shirt or a dress. It takes about 20 seconds to throw my dirty clothes into the laundry room. These seconds add up to hours of saved time later!

3. Spend fifteen minutes- yes, set a timer- cleaning up before bed: Psychologically this is so helpful. Even if there is a lot I haven't accomplished in a day, I go to sleep knowing that tomorrow I'll start out with a clean environment. I actually set a timer to make sure I don't spend too long or too short on this. I usually tackle my bathroom counter and dressing area (where most of my messes are made) during this time, but sometimes I work on unloading the laundry.

Be happy!
xoxo

The Little Minka & Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Favorites

A slightly eclectic post today, but recently I visited my local Kate Spade Boutique and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and saw some awesome new items!

First off, the Little Minka Bag from Kate Spade:

This satchel is the ideal size. It can be over the shoulder, cross body or just carried in hand! It can fit so much- my phone, wallet, make up bag, iPad and a book! It's perfect!

I also fell in love with these KS belts:

Here are my Nordstrom favorites:

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Favorites by prosepearlspolkadots featuring a halogen jacket

Happy shopping!
xoxo

College Chic: Midterms and Finals and Papers Oh My! (Time Management)

A lot of people told me that college would be easier academically than high school. That the pressure to get good grades wasn't there. That work wouldn't get in the way of my hanging out with friends or joining clubs. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think those people were wrong. College is way harder than high school- mainly because you don't spend that much time in class. Most days I'll have between 1 and 3 hours of class. Having say, 5 hours of class, in one day is practically unheard of. But because so little time is spent in the classroom, a lot of time is spent on your own. These academic tips saved me from pulling all nighters and going insane during my first year away from home:

First Week of Class | So you've finally finalized which classes you're taking (yay!). Now it's time to take a look at each course's syllabus. Write down dates/times of midterms, papers and finals in your agenda. Take a look at the expected workload for each week. Are some weeks harder than others? Are there pop quizzes? Daily quick writes? Lots of reading? Make a note of anything- well- noteworthy. And don't lose the syllabi!

Before Class | Do the reading before class. I am not kidding. After making this a habit, classes became more interesting, I completely understood what the professor was saying and I felt way more confident participating during both lecture and discussion. While professors don't expect you to read every word, thoroughly read every text's introduction and conclusion, skimming important headings and introductory paragraphs throughout reading. If you're in a time crunch, this can be enough, however after lecture make sure to go back and fill in any details you missed. Often times things that confused you in lecture are things that confused you during the reading.

During Class | Take notes and participate!

Immediately After Class | Don't move. Spend 10-15 minutes reading all of the notes you took in class. Now is the time to highlight, add more information and come up with thoughtful questions about what you just heard. Studies show that retention rate is highest if you review something right after you learn it.

A Few Hours Later/The Next Day | Take a look at your notes with a refreshed set of eyes (preferably post-workout when oxygen is flowing to the brain, making it extra alert). Consider visiting office hours to clear up any remaining questions or attend a study group for your class to work collaboratively. Try some practice problems and make up sample test questions.

The Weekend | Tackle a lot Friday afternoon and Saturday before 5. I try to treat school like a 9 to 5 job. That way I can really let information sink in rather than spending all of Sunday in the library. I spend the weekend working on normal work, long term projects (see below) and filling out any applications I need (for clubs/internships etc). I also make a big to do list for errands I need to run off campus.

Papers | Within 48 hours of an essay prompt being assigned, come up with a list of at least 5 things to write about. Make sure everything is specific. Take your 3 best ideas to your professor during office hours to discuss. Often, professors have extra sources they can point you toward. First, roughly outline essays. If they essay is a research paper, incorporate evidence into the outline under appropriate headings. Work until an extremely rough draft is completed. This entire process should take maximum 3 days. Then wait at least 1 day before going back in to edit. I try to work on essay drafts every other day so I always have fresh eyes.

Midterm Period | Start 4 days before a mid term making flash cards or outlines and reviewing notes. Hopefully at this point you don't have to go back into readings/textbooks. Come up with test questions and answer them to prepare yourself for tests. Time yourself. The best way to prepare for a test is to take a lot of tests. Even if the questions are different, time pressure is always nerve wrecking.

Finals Week | Finals week is hard because there are so many tests happening in so many subjects at the same time. Rotate studying completely different subjects in different locations so information doesn't get confused. Take a break to grab a meal or work out between study sessions. Use the same midterm tips to help practice for written tests. Try to finish papers before finals if you can, or work on them as a "break" from studying for things that aren't open book/note.

Good luck!

xoxo

7 Cupcakes You Should Make Immediately

The cupcake trend is officially no longer a trend. Cupcake shops like Sprinkles, Georgetown Cupcake, Kara's and local shops prove that the cupcake is the perfect portion for any time. Here are my favorite cupcakes for every hour:

Breakfast

One: Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Cupcakes 

(these are especially great with shredded coconut mixed in- it makes them extra chewy!)

Two: Maple Bacon Cupcakes

(Note: I've seen a lot of bacon and maple french toast cupcake recipes out there. They look amazing but between the french toast and the buttercream frosting/bacon preparation plus cooking I don't know if I'll ever have 3 hours I can devote to testing out one cupcake- they do sound great though! These maple bacon are a lot simpler!)

Lunch & Dinner

Savory cupcakes are great! I hadn't tried one until a couple of weeks ago and I am bummed I've missed out on so many cool creations at my local cupcake shop! They're great as appetizers or served alongside soup. My favorite savory cupcake is...

Three: French Onion Soup Cupcakes

Four: Mac & Cheese Cupcakes

Dessert:

Five: Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcakes

Note: I've made this 3 or 4 times and have found that the almond extract is a little too bitter and others have agreed- rather than using this, just replace it with more vanilla extract.

Six:Lemon Cupcakes

Seven: Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Happy baking!
xoxo

Haute Headbands

Headbands put that final polished touch on any outfit. Check out one of these cute hair accessories in tortoise shell, metallic or leather. Bows, horse bits, studs, rhinestones and pearls are all perfect accents for any style!

Happy accessorizing!
xoxo

Summer Workouts

Working out has always been the best stress release for me. Getting all that energy out in a spin class, on the elliptical or doing intervals on the treadmill feels great. But what feels even better is going to sleep exhausted and waking up really sore from a great abs work out. For the past few months I've been obsessed with this blog: blogilates.

The workouts on this blog are the best ever. Blogger Cassey Ho posts awesome workout series (my favorite is "On Fire") periodically along with recipes, inspiring before and after stories and tons of printable workout schedules. And before you roll your eyes at the colorful icons for her videos and Cassey's peppy attitude, these workouts are insane. It's no wonder Cassey's in incredible shape!

After working out it's important to do two things: stretch and eat a snack that will help replenish those muscles you've just worked. Check out this awesome stretching video that's perfect for cooling down post workout.

Finally, the post workout snack part. I always used to think it was silly to eat after a workout- didn't I just try to burn off some calories? However, eating within a half hour of a workout repairs muscles and fires up metabolism. So try one of these combinations to help maximize the benefits of your workout or check out this guide:

Good luck!

xoxo

Perfect Pout

Perfect Pout by prosepearlspolkadots

I don't like wearing a ton of make up in the summer. Something about a lot of eyeshadow and mascara sounds sort of sticky in the heat. Therefore, I've been really into bold lips lately. Paired with just minimal eye make up (just a little liner &/or mascara) and a tinted moisturizer, a bold lip is a fast, easy way to make anyone look put together. Here are my top tips and products for perfecting your pout:

Tips:

Exfoliate: It is really important to scrub your lips before applying any kind of product. I usually just use a damp wash cloth and warm water or my tooth brush, but there are also special lip scrubs that are gentle for really sensitive lips.

Moisturize: To make sure color doesn't settle into fine lines in/around your lips, apply a light layer of lip balm and let it absorb for a minute. Then use a kleenex to blot off any excess.

Lipstick: Lipstick always used to be so intimidating to me. If you aren't used to applying color straight from the bullet, try a lip brush for build-able color. I dab a few dots on my lips and then sort of rub it around until it fades more into a stain. I add more color if I want a more intense look.

Lip Liner: I always thought lip liner was kind of tacky until I learned the right way to apply it. I was reading an article in a magazine by Bobbi Brown (she's the best) that suggested applying a matching liner after lipstick to prevent color fading mid-day. This really works!

Lip Gloss: Applying just a little bit of gloss in the center of the bottom lip gives the appearance of fuller lips. Apply a dot in the center and blend outward.

Products:

Lip Scrub: I recommend Mint Julep by Lush & Fabulips by Bliss.

Lip Balm: EOS lip balm is great and the packaging is cool but bulky (I like the mint flavor), Kiehl's lip conditioner has a bit of a cult following and resembles Carmex in texture, L'Occitane Shea lip butter is my favorite and is essentially fragrance free.

Lipstick: MAC lipstick is available in a wide range of shades (I recommend: everyday- See Sheer, bright pink- Speed Dial, berry- Craving and neutral- Twig). For a more luxurious pick, try YSL lipstick. Kate Spade's lipstick in Bashful Blush is a your-lips-but-better color and looks very natural. Aqualillies for Tarte is a great coral color that stays put all day- even at the beach! NARS lipsticks are the best long-lasting formula I have tried. My favorites are pinky neutral- Niagra and red- Jungle Red.

Lip Gloss: MAC's lustreglass tastes amazing and the applicators are really cool (like little paint brushes). Dior's lipgloss is a great texture- not too sticky! Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker (what is that name...) has gained a lot of popularity lately for its long lasting qualities. NARS' gloss in Super Orgasm (another awkward name) is my favorite lip gloss ever. It looks great over any lipstick or on its own. Finally, Benefit's California Kissin is a really cool minty lipgloss that claims to help with fresh breath. The blue pigment in the gloss also helps teeth look whiter!

Lip Pencil: First up, Clinique's chubby sticks aren't really pencils but they look great over lipstick. NARS' lip pencils are awesome, however, they don't match the brand's lipsticks very well so I opted for Make Up For Ever's incredible lip pencils. They only come off with make up remover and don't look flaky by the end of the day! Obsessed! Finally, Bobbi Brown, NYX and MAC's lip pencils are all pretty comparable. I opt for MAC as they go well with MAC lipsticks.

Smile big!
xoxo

Prose, Pearls & Polka Dots Playlist 3

I love making playlists for when I drive. I'm definitely one of those people who unabashedly rocks out in my car and it always ends up being totally embarrassing when someone pulls up next to me. Nonetheless, this playlist is filled with happy tunes and is my current driving mix- hope you enjoy!

Drive safely!

xoxo

Four Eyes: Glasses for Guys & Girls

In eighth grade I went through that really unfortunate, yet totally inevitable glasses-braces-breakouts phase. While my school didn't allow middle schoolers to wear make up, I tried to make the best of things by picking a pair of cute glasses. Today, I wear contact lenses, but every now and then I like to give my eyes a break and sport my glasses.

Here are my favorite picks for frames and sunnies (and some options for guys too!):

Four Eyes by prosepearlspolkadots featuring plastic glasses

Enjoy!

xoxo

The Amazing Homes of Authors

While it is often assumed the lives of many authors are plagued by financial instability that is only resolved post mortem, some are able to reap the fruits of their labor during their lifetime, enjoying comfortable- even luxurious- homes. Here are some of my favorites:

Stephen King

Bangor, Maine

 

Mark Twain 

Hartford, Connecticut

Vladimir Nabokov 

Rozhdestveno, Siverskaya, Gatchinsky District, Leningrad Oblast

Haworth Parsonage, Home of the Brontes 

Keighley, UK

Edith Wharton

Lennox, Massachussetts

Evelyn Waugh

Piers Court, Gloucestershire

Don't give up on writing!
xoxo

Free Apps You Should Download Right Now

Here are my all time favorite apps for, well, getting everything done! Best of all, these apps are free:

Nike Training Club

This is an awesome app that allows the user to find the right workout for them from one of the following categories: get lean, get toned, get strong or get focused (there are different levels within each category). There is literally a workout that anyone can do anywhere. I especially love this for travel and the ab burner workout kills me!

 Errands

This is the ultimate to do app. Organize your errands in folders, set reminders and add deadlines. You can can also email your task lists or export them to iCal. Everything you could want to be your most productive!

 HootSuite

This app manages almost every social media platform. You can schedule Facebook posts, tweets and anything else even months in advance- I actually use this a ton for this blog. The app is also linked to a website, so you can access your different feeds (i.e. facebook newsfeed, twitter feed) from any device.

Sleep 101

One of my friends who uses a Jawbone Up Band was telling me about how it tracks how much the user sleeps and wakes them up during at the 'optimal' time. I thought this was so neat- I've always wondered how long it takes me to fall asleep and when is the best time to wake up. This app tracks sleep based on movement and noise you make during the night- just place it face down on your pillow! In addition, you can also set an alarm that will wake you up during a 30 minute window at the 'optimal' time so you wake up feeling well rested.

PicFrame

This app allows the user to make clean photo collages. I love this for Instagram when I want to make collages of an event or for a friend's birthday as well as for blog posts when I want to feature many different items. 

Happy downloading!

xoxo

Ten Things I'm Obsessed with Right Now

So far, I've had an awesome summer. After all of the fun (and stress) of the school year, it has been so nice to rest, relax and reflect. I've spent this summer taking extra good care of my mind and body. The following list is filled with my favorite things of this summer:

One: Gossip Girl

Okay, so I may be about 5 years behind on this, but I've been loving Gossip Girl lately. I don't really watch too much TV other than the news (alright, and Chopped on the Food Network), but every summer I obsess over some totally trashy TV show (last summer was Pretty Little Liars). Aside from having the most ridiculous, yet totally interesting plot line, all of the characters on Gossip Girl  have the greatest sense of style!

Two: Elizabeth & James Sunnies

It's that time of year again: the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I shopped the pre-sale (yay Nordstrom Card!) and bought Elizabeth and James' Kirby Sunglasses. I love the timeless tortoise shell and round shape. They're also a nice addition to the current styles of sunglasses I have as they're different than anything I already own.

Three: Rebecca Minkoff

I've really been wanting a black, casual cross body bag for awhile now. I have one with a silver chain and bow (which I love), but it seems a little too dressy for every day. I found this perfect Rebecca Minkoff bag- it adds a little edge to my every day look.

Four: Oatmeal

It is so lame that this is even on my list, but to be honest I eat oatmeal every day for breakfast (not kidding). I know, oatmeal gets a bad rap for being healthy/old people food. But let me tell you, I've tried out some delicious (and healthy) oatmeal recipes that make my mornings a little brighter. My favorites are: banana nut, peanut butter cup, chocolate covered strawberry, key lime and peanut butter banana. Try them out!

Five: Spartan Wireless Speakers

I love music and have this terrible and totally irrational fear of going deaf. I guess I just know way too many adults who have lost their hearing from going to loud concerts and listening to loud music. While I use earbuds when I work out, I try to use speakers most of the time since they don't damage hearing very much. These tiny Spartan wireless speakers are perfectly portable and work with your iPhone's bluetooth to play music anytime, anywhere.

Six: Kate Spade iPhone Cases

I've been looking for a new phone case for about a month. I've used a monogrammed Otter Box since November and it was amazing until the monogram rubbed off and some of the plastic cracked. I've always loved Kate Spade case designs, but didn't like the rubber texture until they came out with these hardshell cases. I currently have the Key Pad case on my phone. So cute!

Seven: Anthropologie Twist Hair Ties

I've been using twist ties for about a year and love all the cute new patterns and materials I'm seeing. I've been using a lot of Anthropologie hair twists to keep my hair back in the heat and during workouts. I also sleep with my hair up, and these are really comfortable to sleep on and don't leave my hair with that weird hair tie crease. They're too cool!

Eight: Norts (Nike Tempo Shorts)

Norts are made for summer. They're perfect for running errands when it's too hot and are awesome for working out. I always buy the most ridiculous colors- I have yellow/purple, tie dye blue/white, black/white plaid, polka dot black/white/hot pink and many others. Paired with a solid tee or tank, this is the ultimate combo to keep you cool. 

Nine: Deborah Lippman Nail Polish

I've never been able to justify my buying "designer" nail polish other than a few OPI polishes and some Essies. However, I've always thought Butter London, Nars, Mac and Deborah Lippman had the greatest colors and coolest textures. At the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, I found this three pack of limited edition Space Oddity Deborah Lippman polishes and caved. Currently I'm wearing "Baby I'm A Star." It's the sweetest shade of rose gold with different textured sparkles in it. Obsessed!

Ten: Fresh Fruit

As you can probably tell, I've been into getting healthy this summer.  Given all of the traveling I've been doing, I definitely had been feeling off- always sleepy and a bit on edge. I've gotten off my three-coffees-a-day cycle (one isn't bad, right?), made a bigger effort to get to the gym every day and traded refined foods for fresh veggies and fruits. And ripe, cool fruit is just so good in the summer. I feel awesome now- actually better than ever- which gives me even more motivation to keep up with these healthy habits.

Happy summer!

xoxo