Productivity

Over the last three weeks, I have felt the pressures of school, extra curricular activities and social events slowly close in on me. As a student on the quarter system, this week- Week 7- is something I dread. This week, I have the last of my midterms, some long term essays that I totally should have worked on during weeks 3 and 4, club meetings (...like I have time for clubs anymore), sorority semiformal and actual formal and sometimes hanging out with friends. Not that I don't love everything I'm involved in, but can you say 'yikes?!'

Anyway, all of this activity has forced me to compartmentalize my thoughts and intensely focus on one thing at a time. I usually don't like to be so intense, but hey- desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Here are my tips for getting work done when it's crunch time:

1. Prioritize: Make a list and check things off. You'll spend less time periodically freaking about what you have to do and more time getting things done.
2. Tune In: Turn on an upbeat song while you make your to do list. Get your mind in the zone (I recommend "Roar" by Katy Perry or "Royals" by Lorde).
3. Take the Stairs: A quick walk- preferably outside in the fresh air- will get the blood pumping and your brain working. 
4. Reward Yourself: Take a break every hour or so. Come up with rewards that take about 15-20 minutes. My favorite reward? Painting my nails or making a new playlist. Coming up with rewards you really want make you work more efficiently and also make your to do list a little less daunting.
5.  Fuel Your Brain: Take 30-60 minutes for a meal with a good friend during your work session. Have a meal with someone who makes you laugh and calms you down. You'll return to your to do list with renewed energy.

And a few don'ts...

• Don't rely on caffeine: Okay, so maybe I am addicted to coffee (aren't we all!?), but to avoid getting the jitters, drink a glass of water for every cup of coffee (or shot of espresso) you sip. You'll stay hydrated.
• Don't study with your BFF: Well if you do, make sure you've got some noise-canceling headphones. Make your Buzzfeed/Thought Catalog sessions your break, not an interruption.
• Don't forget to sleep: Nothing makes me unproductive like lack of sleep. Get those 7(ish)-9(ish) hours. If you have trouble sleeping, you can read my post about it here.

Happy Thursday! It's almost the weekend! (Yippee!)

xoxo

Home Library

Something I've always wanted in my future home is a library. As a complete literary nerd, I think it would be incredible to have both an office and a library where I can go to unwind, work and think. Here are some of my favorite home libraries:

I love old world, French inspired pieces to create the ultimate thought-provoking space. Here are some pieces I love:

prosepearlspolkadots 

Happy decorating!
xoxo

Words That Freak Me Out

It's no secret that I love to read and write, I mean I'm an English Major. I also love words themselves. I've taken a couple of classes simply to understand what words are on a more fundamental level as well including a few wonderful years of latin (latin for life!) and linguistics. There are some words I will always hate the sound of. For whatever combination of their meaning- both implied and definition- and sound, I flinch a little bit when I hear any of the following and I absolutely do not use any of these words in my writing/speech:

Treat

Supple

Yolk

Chunk

Moist

Ointment

Pus

Placenta

Suffice

Paltry

Loaf

Tasty

Mayonnaise

Sliver

Slurp

What words freak you out?

xoxo

Spotlight On: Diane von Furstenberg

DVF is one of my favorite brands ever. I mean what's not to love when every piece is flattering and timeless?! Diane von Furstenberg both empowers and captures the essence of the modern woman in each of her designs. In a world of short skirts and low necklines, DVF presents consistently classy and feminine apparel that is perfect for any occasion. Seriously though, I hope to one day embody DVF's style! Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Snake Print Wrap Dress

Jezebel Chiffon Tie Dress

Jeannie V-Neck Fit and Flare Dress

Jezebel Chiffon Tie Blouse

Coletta Tweed and Leather Skirt

440 Mini Faceted Stud Bag

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Black + White

There is nothing more classic or flattering than black and white. The contrast between the two colors is so chic and mixing patterns is a breeze when you're working with neutral color palettes. However, often times black and white can seem a little... blah. Here is proof that by playing with patterns and texture, black and white can make an even bigger statement than something colorful.

Black + White by prosepearlspolkadots 

xoxo

GLITTER

While I love all things classic, there is something perhaps not so classy that I love: glitter. Maybe this comes from an early exposure to stage make up for dance or from listening to too much Ke$ha (true story) in high school, I love a LOT of sparkle (so much for minimalism, right?). I've been going to a lot of theme events lately and have gone all-out on the make up, hair and body glitter. Here are my go-to shimmery products:

MAC Glitter

Seriously, this is the best. Layer this over Vaseline (seriously) for long lasting sparkle.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner

This is great on neutral lids with lots of mascara.

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer

This is perfect for subtle every day glitter on your hands and toes.

Stila Foil Finish Eye Shadow

This actually looks like foil on your eyes! Make sure you take it off before you go to sleep though as I'm sure this would feel terrible the next day.

NARS Lip Gloss

The glitter in these lip glosses is noticeable yet subtle (read: not chunky or sticky). Apply a little in the center of lips for added fullness or all over for a bolder look.

Happy Saturday!

xoxo

Home Sweet Home: Kitchen

I have this theory that the longer I'm away from my home in California, the more I read about interior decorating and design to make my dorm room feel more home-y. One thing I really miss about my house is our kitchen. I love making oatmeal there every morning to start the day- it's so therapeutic. The kitchen in my dorm building is underground (a little sketchy, right?) and has absolutely zero cooking supplies (not even pots/pans people!). It just isn't the same as at home. So, I've been nonstop repinning images of "dream kitchens" on Pinterest (actual torture), and have been pouring over the home section of Anthropologie's website lately. Here are some favorites:

Dream Kitchens

Kitchenware

Noticing a trend here...

Plates: Marchesa | Juliska | Vera Wang | Sharon Saks

Accessories: Anthropologie Boulangerie Jar | Sur la Table Oil Jar | Anthropologie Measuring Hedgies | Juliska Cake Tray | Layla Grace Spoons | Sur la Table Eiffel Tower Shakers

Mugs: MacKenzie-Childs | Toast

Happy friday!

xoxo

Nail Polish Combinations

For those of you who know me, you probably know that I primarily wear black, white and beige clothing. My nails are usually some variation of nude or light pink (Fashion by Deborah Lippmann is one of my all time favorite shades). Boring? Maybe. But I love neutral colors. In my opinion, they are just so chic. Plus, it is easy to mix patterns and textures when you're in all black and white. It's a win-win, right?

Not always. I've been really into splashes of color recently. Whether it's a brightly colored headband or an unexpected bracelet, a hint of something bright completely changes an outfit for the better. My latest color experiment? Nail polish. Here are some of my favorite combinations for hands and toes.

Nail Polish Combinations by prosepearlspolkadots

Teal Glitter + Grey | It's like a Tiffany's box on your nails, all the time. Audrey Hepburn would approve.

Black Multi Glitter + Dark Berry | I love pulling the berry color out of the glitter and highlighting it- looks so cute!

Gold Glitter + Bubblegum | Pink and gold always look sweet together. Pair with a pearl bracelet for the ultimate girly combination.

Pink Glitter + Nude | This is probably my stepping stone from all nude nails to just some nude. The sparkly pink is still girly and goes with basically everything (except red, but I seriously own one article of red clothing).

Silver Glitter + Camel | This combination is so elegant. Layering the silver over the camel would look amazing too. 

Bronze + Peacock | I use this combination in make up all the time to bring out blue eyes. Because bronze has orange undertones (complementary to blue), the colors pop when they are near each other.

Happy painting!

xoxo

What's In My Bag? College Edition

A picture of my school bag and scarf! Woo!

Over the summer, I wrote a post titled "What's in My Bag" while I was traveling through Europe. I love really personal posts like this because I think what a person carries in their bag says a lot about them. So, without further ado, here's what is in my schoolbag, complete with links and pictures.

Day Planner

I use a black Moleskine 18 Month Weekly Notebook as a planner. It's small, light and durable while having all of the features I like about a planner. The left pages of the planner are the weeks with blank spaces to write appointments and the right side is simply ruled. I write my appointments/meetings/blog post ideas on the left side and my daily to do lists (mostly homework) on the right.

Essentials Pouch

This has everything I could need in a pinch- from breath mints to earbuds to sticky notes, it's all in my "essentials pouch." Read a detailed post here.

Pencil Pouch

Pens, pencils and highlighters are all in this adorable pouch with my sorority letters on it (Mine is sort of similar to the one pictured above. Shop cute sorority gear here). 

Folder

I keep one folder for loose handouts (I clean this out at the end of every week and sort things into paper trays) that I get during class. I love using plastic Five Star Stay Put folders that don't tear easily.

Notebooks

I always have at least one notebook in here. I like medium-sized leather journals as I think they fit better in my bag.

Macbook Air

I absolutely am one of those crazy people who lugs their laptop around everywhere. Thankfully I have an 11-inch MacBook air (it's tiny and weighs under 2 pounds). I actually think it might be lighter than my notebooks.

Wallet

I also take my black Epi Leather wallet around with me everywhere. It was originally my mom's but it is seriously the perfect size for any bag. I find myself changing bags a lot (crossbodys on the weekends, woo!) so it's nice not to have to switch from a large wallet to small wallet. It also forces me to throw away or organize my receipts rather than hoard them.

iPhone 5

I love my iPhone 5, so it's always in my bag (with a charger!) in it's hot pink Kate Spade New York 'key pad' case. I love the Kate spade hybrid cases because they protect my phone well yet aren't too bulky and feature adorable designs.

What's in your bag?

xoxo

Writing a Resume

Lately, I've been applying for a lot of different things- internships, study abroad programs, campus organizations, etc. - that require a resume. I've always kept an updated resume on hand but I always wanted it to look more serious and read more professionally. So over the last month, I've been tweaking things until I got it just how I wanted it.  Here are my tips for writing a great resume and some cool designs to inspire you.

Resume Tips

You'll need to include some basic information about yourself. This includes: full name, email address, website (if applicable), mailing address, phone number. You can also include a head shot if possible (I don't do this, but some applications require one). Then list your education. Just list college and graduate school, unless your high school has a great alumni network, and then list that too. Next, you can write a personal statement or objective that "sums you up" in a sentence or two. I only include this when I'm not writing an additional cover letter. Think of a personal statement as an "elevator pitch," meaning what you would say to convince employers to hire you if you could only talk to them 90 seconds (the length of an elevator ride). Next, list your work experience and awards/distinctions. List these in order of importance, not necessarily by date. Important information to include here are the official title of the job/award, a brief description, the date and the organization/company. Then, list your skills. Proficient in photoshop? Microsoft excel? Include that here. Also include any conferences you went to that taught you important- perhaps less tangible- skills (i.e. leadership conference). Conclude with references of people (professors, employers) that the resume reader could potentially contact for more information. Make sure to talk to these references so that they aren't surprised if/when they receive phone calls about you.

Before sending off your resume, proofread it twice and then ask someone else to read it. Seriously. Nothing says "don't hire me" like typos! 

And a word on formatting- less is more. A few tasteful accent colors and you name in a cool font should be enough. Your resume doesn't need to be full of fancy diagrams- let your work speak for itself!

Here are some resumes with functional and fun formats:

Good luck!

xoxo

Make Your Own Mini Emergency Kit

A few months ago, I purchased a Minimergency Kit from Pinch Provisions and was quickly obsessed. The tiny little pouch seemed to have everything I need- hairspray, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, lip balm, earring backs, clear elastics, safety pins, mending kit, double stick tape, stain remover, deodorant towelette, pain reliever, tampon, breath freshener, dental floss and an adhesive bandage. 

However, I've recently realized that at school I need a few other items on hand, just in case. Here's what I've added to my own mini emergency kit (which is now in a larger pouch):

• Tech:
• iPhone 5 charger
• USB Drive
• Earbuds
• Personal:
• Altoids smalls
• 5 bandaids of varying sizes
• Kleenex
• Writing:
• Pen
• Pencil
• Sticky Notes
• Make Up:
• Concealor stick
• Mini mascara
• Mini perfume
• Lip balm
• Lip stick
• Mirror/compact
• Random:
• Spare pair of earrings (not always)
• Nylon hair elastic
• Claw clip

Stay prepared!

xoxo

A Little Bit of Sparkle

I've always loved sparkly things, especially when they're unexpected. From diamond earrings that catch the light to a crystal necklace that glitters to a shimmery bracelet that pokes out from under a sweater sleeve, a little bit of sparkle always looks feminine and chic (two things my style aims to be). So I was really happy when I stumbled across an article about tasteful, sparkly single strand necklaces in October Vogue. This is exactly the kind of look I love. While I do love colorful statement jewelry, a single strand of crystal-like sparkle is usually what I end up wearing. Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Find product links and pictures on my Polyvore post.

Necklaces: J. Crew, C. Wonder, Kate Spade, ASOS, Kate Spade

Earrings: J. Crew, Kate Spade, Betsey Johnson, Oscar de la Renta

Bracelets: Max + Chloe, Vince Camuto, J. Crew 

Happy Sunday!

xoxo

Weekend Reading

First, an apology- sorry for going MIA, I had two midterms Friday so I didn't have time to post! Now, for the fun stuff: here's what I've been looking into lately...

Lisa Eldridge

Eldridge is an internationally acclaimed make up artist who has worked with everyone from Cara Delvigne to Kate Winslet and has been the artist behind the make up for almost every major magazine. Her website is full of helpful videos. Obsessed!

Olivia Palmero

"I want what she's wearing." Many of the posts on Palmero's website bear that title and it sure is true. Who doesn't want to dress like Palmero?! While she looks a bit Audrey Hepburn, she is by no means an LBD kind of girl. Love her.

Savvy Home

According to the 'about' page, this blog is about "tasteful, affordable living." Tasteful is an understatement- it's all gorgeous.

Happy reading!
xoxo

Cute Kids: The Best Dressed Children on the Planet

A bit of a random post today, but oh well! This is definitely something that has been on my radar lately. It all started with Suri Cruise. Already a style icon by age five (not kidding), Suri has been the "It Girl" of children's fashion since she could walk. And get this: according to her mom Katie Holmes, Suri picks out her own outfits. At six, she has better style than I will ever have. Too chic!

Hi, Suri!

Recently, my Pinterest feed has been filled with re-pins of insanely well-dressed and adorable kids. I seriously can't get enough. Here are some of my favorites:

Chic and sweet

Hunter Boots + Dress + Messenger Bag = Adorable

Sneakers with a blazer have never looked so good.

This looks like an outfit I would wear now, at age 19. Yikes.

The dress, the shoes, the socks, the topknot? All perfect! And I wish that dress came in my size.

A young Serena van der Woodsen?

The pocket square is too good.

And the cutest, best dressed kid of all? Chuck and Blair's son on Gossip Girl!

Happy Thursday!

xoxo