College Chic: What to Know Before You Go (Pre-Arrival Checklist)

School's been out for two weeks! High school already seems like a distant memory and college is now an excited unknown, looming in the distance.  If you are anything like I was last summer, you're probably ready to get a head start on researching what your new, wonderful, grown up life as a college student will be like.  However, all of the opportunities that are about to knock on your door can seem a little overwhelming. Never fear, though, because this list breaks down different areas that you should look into before heading to campus! Good luck!

1. Classes
• Now is the time to choose your classes.  While most universities offer a "shopping period" where you can sit in on classes, it is difficult to register for couses at some schools.  Therefore, knowing what you want ASAP is really important.
• Check out websites like ratemyprofessor.com, courserank.com or your school's course hacker website for review of classes, old syllabi (plural of syllabus?), and which professors are the best.  Keep in mind that the professor can make or break a class. Visiting professors are often not the greatest idea unless you find really positive reviews of them from another university.
• Another thing to note is that you'll want to take the easiest yet most interesting classes possible your first term. This is the time to explore. I took a random linguistics class my freshman fall just because it sounded interesting and I loved it. It was so fascinating and the professor was so passionate about the topic that studying for tests and doing problem sets was actually fun for me.  While I don't plan on taking any other linguistics classes, it was a great introduction to college classes and ended up fulfilling a general education requirement.
• Think about taking one small seminar class. I always try to take one class that is 15 people or fewer (my school is pretty small, so this isn't too hard).  In high school, I was so used to every teacher knowing who I was, but in a big lecture hall you can often be just a number. Having a small class kept me accountable for participating in class and reminded me to think critically and engage in meaningful discussions with my peers during and after class.  
• Find one professor to get close to each term. Read about them. Meet with them after the first or second class.  Essentially stalk them.  Professors have incredible knowledge and are so good at giving advice.  I got really close to one professor spring term who ended up opening up some incredible (read: research, internship) opportunities for me. Even though I was nervous to talk to the professor initially, it ended up paying off in the end.
• Come up with a list of classes to sit in on during the first week of school. Actually go to these classes.  Sometimes, even if a class is full, a professor will add a space for you or put you on a waiting list.  The path to a high GPA and happiness in classes means that you should not end up taking the classes you register for. Add a class. Drop a class. Experiment!
2. Extra-Curriculars
• Usually the first week of school features a club fair. This is super overwhelming, so check out your school's organizations website.  Make a list of clubs you're interested in so you can prioritize which booths to visit during the fair.  Come up with questions! Many popular organizations require applications and resumes so prepare your information beforehand. 
3. Housing
• Research where you'll be living.  
• Do your packing! 
• Figure out your roommate (or floormate, if you're in a single) situation. If you have a roommate, now is the time to bond and discuss boundaries/fun/your shared living space (I'll put up a roommates post later!).  
4. Greek Life/Social Life
• Greek life is a big part of social life at many schools.  Research what the rush process is like and if/when you want to rush. Every school has different policies.
• Reach out to people from your high school or local alums who were/weren't Greek if you're on the fence.
• Research what percentage of your school's student body is part of the Greek system- what are alternatives if you aren't involved? Is the system open and welcoming to all students? Or can only members attend events? (I've heard of some schools where you have to be on a list to get into parties and other schools where the doors are wide open for any student to attend events)
• If your school doesn't have a Greek system, this decision is made for you...

                                                          Good luck! xoxo

Prose, Pearls & Polka Dots Playlist No 1

1. Oh La La Faces
2. Why Can't We Be Friends? War
3. Old Enough The Raconteurs
4. Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan 
5. Simple Twist of Fate Bob Dylan 
6. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue Bob Dylan 
7. Sweet Baby James James Taylor
8. How Sweet It Is James Taylor
9. Somebody's Baby Jackson Browne 
10. Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
11. Tiny Dancer Elton John 
12. Bennie and the Jets Elton John
13. I Get Around The Beach Boys 
14. Be True to Your School The Beach Boys 
15. September Earth Wind and Fire
16. Mrs. Robinson Simon & Garfunkel
17. Jack & Diane John Mellencamp
18. Hurts So Good John Mellencamp
19. Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett
20. Cheeseburger in Paradise Jimmy Buffett
21. Born in the USA Bruce Springsteen
22. Born To Run Bruce Springsteen
23. Only the Good Die Young Billy Joel

Link to playlist: Prose, Pearls & Polka Dots Playlist 1

20 Books to Read Before College

Happy Thursday (or it's Thursday here in Western Europe where I'm currently traveling-more on that later)... As I've been traveling with my family, we've been talking a bit about books, and I began to think about what books I'm really glad I read before college. There are so many lists I've gotten over the years- summer reading, AP lists, class reading lists- but I really wish there was one list that I could use to figure out exactly what I need to read and when.  In an attempt to make my own list, I've come up with what I think is a pretty comprehensive selection of books to read before college (in no particular order). Enjoy!

1. To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
2. Romeo and Juliet- William Shakespeare
3. The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald
4. The Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger
5. Animal Farm- George Orwell
6. Hamlet- William Shakespeare
7. Frankenstein- Mary Shelley
8. Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
9. The Odyssey- Homer
10. Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte
11. The Bell Jar- Sylvia Plath
12. The Awakening- Kate Chopin
13. 1984- George Orwell
14. Heart of Darkness- Joseph Conrad
15. The Scarlet Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne
16. The Adventures of Huck Finn- Mark Twain
17. Brave New World- Aldous Huxley
18. Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck
19. Oedipus Rex- Sophocles
20. As I Lay Dying- William Faulkner

Hope you enjoyed my list... What's on yours? Happy reading!

xoxo

Brainstorming Tips

Even though school's out for summer, I'm still super busy thinking up ideas and I'm sure you are too. Whether you're figuring out what activity to do with friends or thinking of ways to creatively solve a problem at an internship, these brainstorming tips will help you generate your best ideas and enable you to work efficiently.

1. Start on your own
• Ask questions to pinpoint exactly what you want to discover through brainstorming
• Try to get a specific question as in what do I want to name my blog? or how can I get a job at a specific company?
• Rather than coming up with the whole theme for the blog or how to get a job in a broad field, you can tailor your thoughts to attacking just one specific task
• Set a time limit: usually 20 minutes is best
• If you're a visual learner, use a tool like Mind Maps to create cool diagrams
• If you learn through writing, let your ideas flow in freewrite form
• If you learn by hearing/talking, record your spoken words 
• Whether you sticky-note ideas or connect them on a white board, don't throw anything away! Sometimes the best ideas come from the worst ideas. 
2. Connect ideas in a group- Even if this isn't a group project, ask others for their input. Call your dad, email your mom, Skype your siblings or a friend. 
• Assign a moderator/facilitator and a secretary to type everything that is said
• Set group goals that are attainable, realistic and timely
• Set a time limit
• Start generally and get more specific- bounce ideas off of others
• Don't agree too much: play devil's advocate, push each other to think harder- dreaming big is good! Successful people don't play it too safe or too realistic. Put yourself and your ideas out on the line.
3. After all of the ideas are in, review individually
• Now it's time to select your best ideas
• Create a "cuts" document where you can copy and paste any not so great ideas. This is much better than just deleting them, as they will be saved if you need them later. (A professor told me this and it is honestly one of the most helpful things I've ever learned).
• Put your brainstorming notes away for one night. If you don't have that kind of time try an hour. Go do something completely different- physical exercise is usually best- and then revisit the list. I usually come up with my best ideas after I've got some empowering post-workout endorphins flowing.  

Good luck & work smart!

xoxo

Summer Make Up Favorites

Summer 2013 Make Up Favorites by prosepearlspolkadots featuring water proof makeup

Whether you're at the beach or wishing you were at the beach, these summer make up products stay on all day and will keep you looking cool even as temperatures heat up.

Aqualillies for Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick: This adorably packaged classic coral lipstick stays on for 12 hours and fades into a natural-looking stain by the end of the day (think: your lips but better). This product is also packed with tropical moisturizers, like mango and avocado, so it is hydrating and great-tasting.

NARS Illuminator in Orgasm: I'll admit I am obsessed with NARS as they make some of the best makeup products on the market. Although the color names are a bit too raunchy for me, I still use the products because they look so natural. This illuminator makes even the palest skin look sun-kissed and glowy. It's perfect for layering over blush/bronzer or wearing alone.

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream: Initially, I didn't really get the whole BB cream hype. BB creams just seemed like tinted sunblocks which have been around forever. However, Smashbox has nailed the whole sheer-but-not-too-sheer thing. This BB cream moisturizes, protects and anti-ages while evening out skin tone.

Make Up For Ever HD Primer: I love this product so much that I bought the whole HD line. The finishing powder and hydrating elixir are great, but this primer is perfect as it shrinks pores and evens out skin texture so foundation and concealer go on smoothly.

Diorshow Iconic Waterproof Mascara: This. Mascara. Is. Amazing. I've been obsessed with the original Diorshow mascara forever (it smells soooo good), but the brush on this one gives me the most fluttery, defined, curly, long and perfect lashes ever. Plus it won't come off in the pool. This is a summer must have.

Benefit's Posie Tint: I've been wearing this product since it came out a couple of years ago and just love it. This lip/cheek stain is so natural and easy to build. Whether you want just a hint of pink or full on flushed cheeks, this product blends easily into skin and lasts all day (you need waterproof make up remover to take it off).

Laura Mercier Cream Eyeliner: I've been loving cream/gel eyeliners for about a year now. Even though they require an extra little brush (usually included), they are perfect for people with shaky hands (like me) who want a more defined line than you can get with pencil. This formula stays on all day and is easy to do any kind of eyeliner look with.

NARS Laguna Bronzer: I seriously had to resist making every product in this post a Nars product because I'm so obsessed, but this bronzer is the best bronzer ever. It has a tiny bit of shimmer (not chunky, gross glitter I promise!) and the color is really build-able for any skin tone, even us pale girls! It's also great for contouring (just use a big fluffy make up brush and swirl onto temples and in hollows of cheeks).

So there you have it- my summer make up must haves!

Which products do you use to beat the heat?

xoxo

This Day in Literary History: Remembering Maxwell Perkins

On this day, June 17, in 1947, legendary literary editor Maxwell Perkins passed away. Perkins edited the works of literary greats such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Born and raised in New York, Perkins went to St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire and then studied economics at Harvard College. I particularly love Perkins as he was a reporter for The New York Times (yay journalism!), yet what I truly admire about him is his ability to help others reach their maximum potential as writers. Perkins often said his toughest job was editing works by prolific and temperamental writer Thomas Wolfe. However, with patience and a skilled eye, Perkins was able to highlight Wolfe's talents as a writer and Wolfe attributes his success to Perkins, his editor and best friend.

In remembering the "most famous editor who ever lived," I would like to take a moment to discuss grammar, something I am extremely passionate about. We all make mistakes when writing- some people skip words or use the passive voice unnecessarily. These mistakes are usually due to poor proofreading. However, grammar is something that everyone should learn, but many people don't learn. Getting grammar rules right shows the world that you know how to express yourself clearly and intelligently. So right now, I’m going to take a few moments to share some the most common mix ups and how to avoid them:

1. Your & You’re
“Your” is a possessive adjective. (i.e. your cup, your house, your friend.)  ”You’re” is a contraction of the noun "you" and the verb "are." (i.e. you’re kind, you’re funny.) On this blog, I use a lot of contractions as I try to make things sound conversational. However in academic writing, I never use contractions which eliminates the whole your/you're dilemma. If you struggle with this, I would recommend asking yourself the question, can I say this with "you are?" If so, use you're, or better yet use both words. 

2. Should Have & Should Of
This grammar mistake is actually really easy to fix because “should of” is not an expression in the English language. What the user is probably trying to say is “should have.” When using an auxiliary verb (should, would, could) in the past tense, you need to add a past tense verb (i.e. have). The word “of” isn’t a verb, people! It’s a preposition. Keep this in mind in your writing and you'll be set!  

3. Their, There & They’re
“Their,” like “your,” is possessive (i.e. their dog). "There" is either a pronoun or an adverb: The dog played there (pronoun), There is a dog (adverb). “They’re” is actually a contraction of two words (note the apostrophe): “they” and “are” (i.e. they’re funny). You can usually avoid misusing “they’re” by simply writing, “they are”.  For the other two, try this: “their” has an “i” because I possess it. For there, ask yourself “there?”, “where?”, “there.”  Hopefully this helps.

4. Pronoun errors
If you really want to impress me, get this right because I occasionally get this incorrect myself.  Pronouns need to agree in both number & gender to the noun they refer to.  For example, “Everyone must bring their own wine” is incorrect because “everyone” is singular and “their” is plural.  However, “Everyone must bring his or her own wine” is correct.  Academic tip: this can be extremely cumbersome, especially in long papers. If you are referencing a character in a book with ambiguous gender, use the same gender as the author of the book.  

5. Misplaced modifiers
An SAT tutor I had called this “leaking oil”, because that’s the example he remembers it by: “Leaking oil, Amy took the car to the repair shop.” This is incorrect because the modifier, “leaking oil”, refers to Amy in this case.  The correct version of this sentence would read, "Leaking oil, the car was taken to the repair shop by Amy."  

These are five of the most common grammar mistakes I hear- If you really want to impress someone, use perfect grammar. Those five extra seconds of thought make you sound infinitely more intelligent.

Have a wonderful day!

College Chic: Packing Part 2 (Clothes, Clothes and More Clothes)

Packing clothes for college can be really difficult. I know I wanted to bring everything (and I almost did...) However, there's a huge difference between what you think you'll wear in college and what you'll actually wear.  So here are a few helpful tips to help you better sense of what you should take with you, what you should leave behind and how to keep all of your clothes looking their best.

Part 1: What to Pack

Everyday clothes: You will be wearing a lot of casual clothes. Most people wear jeans or casual dresses/skirts and a top.

• Tops
• Shirts: Bring everything that doesn't wrinkle- unless you're planning on getting clothes dry cleaned it can be a pain to hand wash and hang dry and then iron your clothes (see below for washing)
• Storage: fold these and stack in drawers, for button ups or silk tops, hang in closet
• Sweaters: For sweaters, make sure all of these are pre-dry cleaned or else any bits and pieces of food/bacteria/dead skin cells will attract moths and they will make holes your favorite fuzzy Free People cashmere sweater. Also, you should not-- actually cannot-- machine wash/dry wool (and cashmere)- I repeat you cannot machine wash/dry wool! 
• Storage: Fold these in bins that can go above closet for easy access and easy storage when the weather warms up
• Bottoms
• Pants/shorts: Bring all of your jeans and shorts/pants- these are easy to wash and wear.  Make sure to bring a variety of cuts, especially skinny jeans that tuck into boots for the winter.  Other popular styles are cropped/ankle and bootcut.
• Storage: fold and stack in drawers
• Skirts: Cotton skirts are great for summer and are usually pretty easy to machine wash and then hang dry (I really would recommend bringing a clothes drying rack to school), for other crepe-like material, follow my washing guide below
• Storage: either fold in half and stack in a drawer or hang with skirt hangers in closet
• Dresses: (storage: hang these)
• Cotton dresses are easiest as you can cold wash them then hang dry them (do not tumble dry them or they will shrink)
• Solid colors are great for mixing with scarves
• Gym (storage: store clothes one or two "gym" drawers)
• Leggings: bring lots of running pants/leggings for working out or lounging around
• Tees: remember you'll get or want to purchase a lot of tee shirts from your college, so don't bring a ton- just your favorite 5 or 6
• Sweatshirts: 2 or 3, you'll probably get some on campus (a Black North Face is always a good decision)
• Outerwear (storage: hang these)
• 1 or 2 snow coats
• 1 raincoat
• 2 or 3 pea coats/jackets to go over sweaters
• Accessories
• Scarves (storage: store in a drawer)
• Bring a few neutral winter scarves and a few fun spring scarves if you want.  You probably won't wear these as much as you think! Remember they take up valuable storage space!
• Bags
• Bring 1 cross-body purse in a neutral color (tan? black?)
• Bring 1 bigger purse that isn't your school bag
• Bring 1 school bag/backpack/messenger bag that fits books and laptops comfortably
• Bring 1 
• Jewelry (storage: I don't recommend a pretty display unit. While I've never had a problem with anyone taking anything, it is best not to place jewelry, especially if it is valuable, out in the open. I used some great stackable jewelry containers from the container store and put these away. That being said, don't take your most expensive jewelry to college)
• Necklaces/bracelets
• Bring a variety in different metals 
• Earrings
• Studs: bring lots of these! You'll probably wear them every day.
• Long earrings: bring 2 or 3 pair maximum.  You'll probably only wear these to formal
• Shoes
• Athletic: 1 pair
• 1 or 2 pair ballet flat
• 1 or 2 pair riding boots
• 1 pair rain boots
• 1 pair snow boots
• 2 or 3 pair of sandals/flip flops including 1 pair for showering
• 1 pair wedges
• 1 pair heels (black or nude)
• Pajamas/Undergarments
• PJs: 1 pair with shorts, 2 pairs with pants should be all you need
• Socks: have enough for 2 weeks
• Underwear: my rule of thumb here is you want enough underwear to last you 2.5-3 weeks without washing, you decide how many pairs that is for you
• Bras: have enough for about 2 weeks 
• Tights/leggings: enough for 1 week
• Also bring 1 swimsuit (or more if you're going to school near the beach)

Event clothes: These will usually be worn at night either to theme parties or classy events off campus.  Note that you probably won't want to bring a ton of clothes.  I have one plastic bin full of theme party clothes (described below) and a few formal pieces.

• Casual parties
• Theme clothes
• Bring everything from tutus to tiaras to crazy patterned leggings to leotards to anything glittery. Some common party themes are American, beach party and decades (i.e. 70s, 80s, 90s)
• Shoes
• Bring one pair of shoes you're okay with absolutely ruining and can wear out to parties. They should be closed toed so if people step on your feet while dancing, it doesn't hurt.  
• Formals: usually campus organizations (clubs, Greek houses, etc) have 1 or 2 formal parties per year where you're asked to wear cocktail atire. Remember that you can re-wear these dresses and accessorize differently. You won't be wearing these dresses often, so try not to overpack.
• 2 formal dresses maximum (1 should be black)
• 1 pair of comfortable heels- you'll be walking/dancing in them and you really won't want to go barefoot (ew)

Part 2: How to Keep it All Clean

• When to Wash
• Keeping up with college laundry can be a pain. I recommend focusing on 1 type of washing per week- either machine wash or hand wash (so say Week 1, do machine wash, Week 2, do hand wash)
• Machine Wash 
• Directions for Detergent Only Items (basics): Just use any normal detergent (i.e. Tide) and put on "bright colors"
• Jeans/pants/shorts
• Cotton tops (although if you tumble dry these can shrink, so you might want to hang them)
• PJs
• Bras (you can put these in a delicates bag and throw them in here if you don't want to hand wash them.  They're more likely to get damaged this way though)
• Wash on "whitest whites" with normal detergent to kill germs and keep from smelling funny
• Towels
• Sheets

• Directions for Bleach Washing (kills germs, keeps items white) Let water run for a minute, then open lid and a capful of bleach (preferably the color safe kind) and run on whitest whites
• Underwear/whites/socks (use bleach to kill germs and make things look fresh and clean)
• Hand Wash
• Directions: Using a delicate detergent (i.e. Woolite) fill a tub with lukewarm water and a capful of soap.  Soak clothes in the water for 2-3 minutes and then plunge them in and out of the water (don't rub the fabric together as more delicate materials might rip/run) and drain soapy water.  Then wash with cool water until all soap comes off.  Gently wring the water out by squeezing the garment (don't twist) and hang on a clothes drying rack. After allowing them to dry overnight, iron them.
• Silk/polyester/crepe anything
• Any kind of dresses (except formal)
• Sweaters (wool especially)
• Most skirts
• Dry Cleaning (don't mess with these items!)
• Formal dresses
• Scarves
• Jackets/outerwear

Now that you're clothes are packed and clean, have fun!

xoxo