My Christmas Wishlist 2018

This year for Christmas I really have two things I'm asking for. If you haven't realized by now, I'm absolutely awful at managing money. So, this year for Christmas I'm really only asking for my parents to pay my sorority dues (which at the current moment I so cannot afford). Another major thing on my list was a facial because my skin has been so terrible this year and I want to get it cleaned up and refreshed. However, I still wanted to compile a fun little list of things I'd so love to receive. Obviously this list is incredibly unrealistic and I am not expecting at all to receive any of these gifts. But, I wanted to use this as sort of a 'dream Christmas wishlist'. Without further adieu, here's some things I'm dreaming of this Christmas.

Fjallraven Kanken // I bought a mini version of this backpack this summer and I am very eager to purchase another one. The backpack is such good quality and fits so much, even the small version! I think having one of these while studying abroad would be perfect and I always get so many compliments when I wear it.

Cameras // Okay, do not think I'm asking for two cameras for Christmas! I'm not! But, in a dream Christmas, I would love to receive these cameras. I've had this camera for four years now and I've been thinking about selling it and upgrading to something with a bit better quality. I've also been eyeing a potential vlogging camera - okay, in all honesty, I probably never will vlog but this camera is really great because it delivers high quality, but is also so portable.

Accessories // I couldn't write this post without including the coveted Gucci belt. I've been seeing these everywhere on Instagram, and all over LA, and they are so adorable. Not planning on actually getting one, considering $450 is a bit much for a belt, but they are so stylish. I've been on the prowl for a great crossbody and I've been loving these Pop & Suki camera bags. They come in so many colors and are totally personalizable. Oh, and I actually do need these sunglasses because I had them for a year before I lost them!

I'm eager to hear now...what's on your Christmas list? Mine is sort of a compilation of everything I've pretty much ever wanted. But, aside from big-ticket items, there aren't a ton of small things I want this year, so I'm hoping to be surprised!

Can you believe there's only a week until Christmas! I need to finish my shopping...

Xoxo

Why Rush A Sorority?

Sorority recruitment is quickly approaching for schools that rush second semester! I still am totally lost on the entire process even though I will soon be going through recruitment on the other end of things this year! My sorority is starting recruitment practices very soon and I know it will be a very strenuous process, but also so much fun to bond with my sisters. I always hated when people wrote posts like this but didn't share what sorority they were a part of and where. So, for reference, I am a Pi Beta Phi at Loyola Marymount University.

I know that going through sorority recruitment is such a grueling process and definitely something that is mentally exhausting. However, it is something I very strongly encourage, especially if you're on the fence about it. With this being Thanksgiving week as well, I wanted to share my experience of being in Pi Phi and why I'm so grateful.

Last year I was so eager to rush a sorority and went to all the open houses that each of the seven chapters held at LMU. In a sense, this might not have been the best idea because I went into recruitment with a particular sorority in mind. And no, it was not Pi Phi. I strongly advise you to go into sorority recruitment with a vastly open mind. Things change quickly and you most likely will be dropped from at least one house that you really liked. It might not be because they disliked you, but most likely they saw you in another chapter.

I remember after joining Pi Phi I was so excited! Two of my best friends from LMU also joined the same sorority and I couldn't wait to make so many new friends and have that feeling of sisterhood in my life. However, as much as I liked all the girls in my chapter I felt somewhat distant from them. My best friend at school who I lived right next door to wasn't interested in getting as involved in the sorority as I was. I felt that it was difficult to get acquainted with others because it's quite nervewracking to do things completely on your own. Sometimes you just need to show up to events with someone to feel a bit more comfortable. Without having her I felt lost and didn't go to many events. She is also the type of person that can meet someone for thirty minutes and instantly connect with them and be best friends. I, on the other hand, take a bit longer to get to know so having that competition was always difficult.

However coming back to the fall this semester I was determined to make the most of being in my sorority. I wasn't going to let her disinterest in getting involved affect my strong desire to participate. With lip sync, our big Greek competition, happening the first week of school I decided to help with props for that. I helped with the filming and editing of our sorority recruitment video. I decided to join our Greek Cup football team. I attempted to spend more time with my Big. I went to pretty much any event that we did throughout this first semester.

It was these small things that made all the difference in my sorority experience. I have found that you truly do get out of a sorority what you put in. Being on my sorority's football team really changed my Pi Phi experience. Having 6:00 am practices for three weeks straight you become so much closer to both your sisters and your coaches. I went from considering dropping at the beginning of the semester, to being unable to imagine my life without my sorority sisters. They are such a solid group of friends with different personalities, but the same core values.

Don't let the small things discourage you and make the extra effort to be involved. It can be difficult, especially when you don't have a house like my chapter, but is so worth it in the long run. I am so grateful for this semester's experience as a Pi Phi and I can't wait to see what the next two and a half years of college bring.

Go Greek and find your home. 

Xoxo

Weekend Recap

Wow, how is it already October? Also, I'm turning 20 on Friday and I seriously can't believe it! I thought when I turned 18 I was old, but now I'm seriously getting old. In fact, I'm no longer going to be a teenager. On another note, I wanted to share a typical weekend in my life here at LMU. 

Friday I get out of class at 11:20 so usually the day goes one of two ways. Either I am feeling super motivated and clean my apartment and work on homework. Or, I spend the day doing something fun like going to the beach or going shopping! This Friday I had a meeting with a professor and then football practice for my sorority's Greek Week before my friend from out of town was to arrive. Choosing to join the football team seemed like so much fun, but with 6:00 am practices all week I'm starting to re-think it all. But I still think it will be so fun once it's time for the game!

When my friend Anna from home arrived (she drove to LA from Arizona State where she goes to school) we grabbed dinner real quick and then headed back to my apartment for Pi Phi date night. The theme was "A Royal Affair" so we went as Sam and Austin from A Cinderella Story. Our costumes were such a hit and everyone was thoroughly impressed with our creativity. The night was really fun overall, but super exhausting.

Anna left early the next day to go tailgate at USC, while I relaxed the majority of the day and spent my time enjoying having the apartment to myself. While home I have the luxury of having a wing of the house to myself, aside from sharing a bathroom with my brother, but in college, space is definitely minimal. So, I take every chance I can get to sneak in a bit of alone time. 

Saturday night I went to my friend Gaia's date night for Delta Zeta and it was another super fun evening. Their theme was "Out of this World" so we went as basic space girls. I personally liked her venue and overall date night better than my own, but I think I was just in a better mood on Saturday night. 

Sunday was spent hanging out with my roommates and overall just relaxing before diving into my homework after going to chapter. This is honestly pretty accurate to a typical weekend in my life, but usually, I like to add something a little more exciting during the day on Saturday, especially a run to the Farmer's Market near my campus. 

This Friday is my 20th birthday and we happen to have the day off of school. I'm looking forward to going to dinner on Wednesday with a few friends before I head to San Diego with two other friends to celebrate our long weekend and my birthday!

Xoxo

Welcome Back To ASAK

Mood because my site is officially mine!!

If you didn't realize...my site is now officially asprinkleofkate.com!! I've been waiting to purchase my domain for quite some time, thinking I might re-brand, but I realized that ASAK is just so me. I've had this blog for over three years now and I thought it was the first step to really stepping up my blogging game. These past two years have definitely not been my finest when it comes to blogging, but I am determined to perfect my craft and work on really developing my personal brand. After all, something along the lines of writing and being creative is essentially what I see myself doing in the future.

Blogging is something I used to love dearly and I always enjoyed my time spent writing for my own site. I so vividly remember writing my first blog Preppy Daily and blogging about Gossip Girl characters, my latest finds and even giving birthday shout-outs to family members and friends. I have come such a long way in those days, and ASAK truly encompasses my personality and where I am at this point in my life. Moving to California has not only broadened my fashion horizons but also challenged me in many ways socially and definitely economically. However, I have never fully taken advantage of documenting the lifestyle I get to have in LA. The best part about going to school in LA is that there is no shortage of things to do. LMU is incredibly centrally located in Los Angeles that you're never far from something exciting. This year school has definitely been more of a priority as classes become more difficult, but I never want life to get in the way of my blogging career.

So, with all that said I introduce to you the new A Sprinkle of Kate. From now on you're going to see more consistent posts, better photos, and even videos. I've been really into movie-making for quite some time and always wanted to start a YouTube channel, but could never quite bite the bullet. However, I'm ready to better this site because it has not been exactly what I want it to be for the past two years. Cheers to the betterment of ASAK and I hope you stick with me on this journey.

Xoxo

3 Easy Apartment Meals

Living in an apartment has opened a whole new world of cooking for me. At home I typically get super lazy and end up having my mom make me something (so needy) or just going out and buying something. I made a promise to myself this year that I would cook as many of my meals as possible and only eat out for a treat. Last year I ate out constantly because I hated the food on campus. But, this year it's so much more fun (and affordable) to cook here at home! It's definitely been trial and error in what works and what doesn't in terms of cooking, but I've been striving to make new and exciting (and also healthy!) meals. Here are three super easy and relatively healthy meals you can make in your apartment.

How To Make Time For Yourself in College

This summer was definitely a summer of realizations for me. I did a quite a lot of thinking, and a lot of spending time alone. It was so nice to reflect on my school year and think about the highlights, but also consider the things I'd like to do differently in my sophomore year.

During my freshman year of college I felt like I was constantly among people which is fun, but also exhausting. I am someone that needs solitary time to replenish myself. I remember last year being difficult transitioning from living at home and having my own space, to living with roommates and being constantly surrounded by people. This year has been no different, however I have found strategies for creating time for myself and I'm here to share those tips!

5 Things I'm Bad At

For my job at school in August I had to take a personality test, which isn't something I've taken in quite a long time. It identified my strength themes as adaptability, maximizer, includer, significance and context. I can definitely resonate with includer because I've always been someone to include others and try and allow everyone to become friends. As much as I think it's important to recognize your strengths, it is also very essential to point out your weaknesses. Personally, I'm a maximizer and I like to play to my strengths, rather than work on my weaknesses. But, it's still important to recognize them to work and improve them! Basically, these are five things that I'm bad at, but not all are too serious ;)

Off To The West Coast

@ Summer House Santa Monica // Chicago, IL

And I'm off! When you're reading this I'm most likely on my way back to Los Angeles! It's so weird to think that I'm actually moving back to my favorite place on earth. Last year at school was a total dream because it was my biggest aspiration to live in Los Angeles and I really couldn't believe that I was living my dream. I'm so excited to finally be "home", move into my apartment and finally see my friends!

My final day at home was spent rushing around the mall picking up last minute necessities and going to a fave dinner spot with my bff. As much as I'm ready to go, it's sad to say goodbye to everyone and everything at home. Thankfully, Thanksgiving is only a few months away and I'll be back before I know it! Plus there's so much to look forward to this fall including Pi Phi events, new classes, USC football games (oops I don't go there, but I still go to the games haha) and just overall beautiful weather. I can't wait to see what sophomore year has in store!! Wish me luck!

Xoxo

My August Playlist

It's insane to think I'm leaving for school in just two short weeks. This summer felt like forever, but also went by in the blink of an eye. The days are long, but the months are short!! This past weekend I went to Lollapalooza which is always a highlight of the summer. Because I was in Michigan for the first three days I was only able to go Sunday, but wow I'm so happy I went. Every year I debate about going to Lolla and last year I decided that I wasn't going to go. The night before the first day I had major fomo and bought a ticket at the last second and was so happy I did. My friend and I went to Michigan the day after, but only stayed for a day before finding Sunday tickets and hopping on a train home. So extra, and probably not worth it, but Lolla is just that enticing.

This year I am so happy I went at least one day because it truly is so much fun. I went with a bunch of friends, but ended up splitting up to be with two of my close friends and we had so much fun dancing and vibing to Big Sean, Charli XCX and Rae Sremmurd. It was insanely crowded, but we didn't let that stop us. Making playlists is one of my favorite ways to capture memories. I love how you can listen to a song and it takes you back to a specific time in your life. I just made my August playlist and I'm excited to listen to it throughout August and as I start school soon. Comment below your favorite song at the moment because I'm all over finding new music right now. Enjoy!

Xoxo

Life Update

Long time, no chat! This past week was honestly just me being lazy about blogging, and spending more time searching the internet and watching YouTube videos, rather than being productive. I realized I haven't mentioned a ton about my life in quite some time on this blog so I wanted to share with you all a life update and what I have going on in the next month or so. Also, how is it August tomorrow? That's so crazy to me!!

Today I leave for Saugatuck, MI until Saturday and am soo excited. I've been home since May 5 and the only traveling I have done was to visit a friend at Mizzou in May. Other than that I've been in town all summer and am so ready to get away, even if just for a week. I ended up quitting my job a week early to go on this family vacation, but I know it will be so worth it (and honestly I'm not sad about quitting early). This was the only week available between my brother's football schedule and mine and my sister's work schedules that we were able to skip town and I'm so ecstatic that we are to staying at a family friend's lakehouse for the week. I have only two goals this week: to read a book and even out my one piece tan haha ;).

On the note of work, I can't say my job was exactly what I was picturing this summer. In all honesty, it was awful. I was not a fan of the company I was working for and the whole camp overall was extremely disorganized. I learned a lot this summer about communicating and making the best of what you have, but let's just say I will not be working a job like this one ever again. Thankfully, my co-counselors were awesome and made the entire experience bearable.

I can't believe summer is almost over, but I'm also so incredibly relieved. I've been sort of bored out of my mind this summer and am so excited to head back to Los Angeles on August 21. A lot of my friends have been gone this summer so it's been sort of lonely here in town and I can't wait to be living with my best friends at school and nearby to all the other sophomores. But, before summer can come to a close I have Lollapalooza on Sunday and am babysitting for a friend's dog the week before I leave and am so stoked (I'm actually obsessed with his dog). Now all I need to do is get over my fear of flying and I'll be back in LA sooner than I think!

What are you up to these final days of summer? Xo

Apartment Inspiration

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm living in an apartment on campus this year. I'm so excited to actually have a bit more space because living in a dorm was definitely a bit cramped. I'm living with my roommate from last year, and two of my other best friends from school. There are two bedrooms and one bathroom so although we'll have more space, we still have to share a bit. The best part about the apartment...a kitchen! Living in a dorm was the worst because we constantly ate out because we were so sick of the food on campus. LMU's food is pretty good, but I got sick of it so quickly because I ate the same things every day.

5 Easy Ways To Save Money

Ask anyone that knows me. They will most definitely say I'm terrible with money. I am always in debt to my parents in one way or another, I spend money I don't have and I spend money on ridiculous things that I don't even need. However, after going to school last fall with more than enough money and spending almost all of it before first semester ended I knew I needed to clean up my act.

My biggest problem in this area was definitely the introduction of a debit card. In high school my sole form of income was babysitting which almost always was paid in cash. I always paid in cash because it was the only form of money I had so I wasn't able to order things online unless I went through the trouble of giving the cash to my parents and convincing them to let me order something. Once I got a debit card however, I instantly felt like I needed to order legit everything online and went a little wild.

Having learned from my mistakes I was determined to make a lot of money this summer, and also spend only a minimal amount of it. I'm all about treating yourself and a good shopping spree, but within reason. So, here are my five essential tips to saving money!

Ombre Dress

Can we please just take a moment for this perfect dress? I saw this dress in pink on Kate and fell in love. I knew right away I needed to have it, but when I saw they had it in blue I pretty much freaked out. I loved the style of the dress, but pink isn't really my style. Practically everything I own in my closet is blue and I knew this would make the perfect addition to my wardrobe. 

{Outfit} My Favorite Top Ever

You've probably seen a few of these photos in my SF recap post that you can read here, but I wanted to formally share with you the details of this outfit. When I was in SF I needed outfits that were cute for photos, but also were comfortable for walking around all day and exploring. On this particular day we ended up hiking around 4 miles, half of which was uphill. I knew for this day I wanted to wear something comfortable and breathable, but not necessarily athleisure. My top is from a local California boutique, but I found a few options that are very similar.

LMU Freshman Dorm Tour

Wow, this is extremely delayed but I figured better late than never. Today I'm sharing my freshman year dorm tour video. If any of you are headed to college in the fall I wanted to share a very realistic freshman dorm room. I've seen so many different dorm tours on blogs and some of the dorms I see are just unreal. Maybe I'm just messy and can't keep a dorm perfectly organized/clean haha. So here's my real life dorm in the works during September. By January things had changed a little bit and my walls were covered in a bit more because at this point in time they were just plain white walls. Anyways, I tried to link everything in the description of the video so you can find it easily if you're looking to snag it for your dorm room or apartment.

Current Wishlist

This summer I decided that I am not going to go on any big shopping trips until August. Because I work five days a week and have to wear my camp shirt and "khaki-style shorts" every day I don't really see the point in buying a super cute summer wardrobe. But, before I leave for school in August I most definitely need to go on a major shopping spree for more going out and cute clothes for school. A lot of people at LMU dress up for class, but I am not one of those people. You can always find me wearing running shorts and a big t-shirt or sweatshirt with flip-flops practically every day. Anyways, just because I'm not actually purchasing right now, doesn't mean I haven't found some items that I would love to purchase in the future! Here's what I'm loving right now.\

Dealing With Grief in College

Today's post is definitely more on the personal side, but it's definitely something I wanted to share on the blog. Going to school almost 2,000 miles away from home has been such a great decision in terms of living my dream of living in Los Angeles, however the distance will always be something I struggle with. At LMU a lot of the kids are from around the area, some only an hour or two from LA. Others are from the Bay area which is only a 6 hour drive or an hour flight to get home. For me it's nearly a four hour flight, plus transportation to and from the airport and a two hour time difference, making it usually an all day ordeal to get home. The first semester of college was the longest I had been away from home, three months in total before I went back for Thanksgiving. I had gone to camp and been away from home before, but never for longer than a week. I've never been someone to get crazily homesick, and how could I in my favorite city on the planet, but there were definitely times that I just simply wanted to go home.

I Have Two Outfits

Shop my outfits below:

In the summer I kid you not I have only two outfits. As a camp counselor now I have to wear khaki shorts (gag) and my camp t-shirt with gym shoes. It's honestly not that bad, but it's really just the shorts that get me. But aside from camp you can constantly find me wearing one of two outfits. Nike shorts and a big t-shirt have always been a go-to. I love feeling super comfortable and being able to move around in the summer heat. Also, get yourself a pair of Rainbow's because they're literally the best shoes ever. I wore these shoes religiously at school because they're super quick to slip on and also are so incredibly comfortable and supportive for a flip flop. 

Apartment Inspiration

Living in a dorm last year was honestly really fun, but I'm so excited to finally have much more space next year in an apartment on campus. We don't have official sorority houses, so although I am in a sorority, as sophomores most LMU students try to live in apartments on campus, rather than buy houses in the surrounding areas. It's honestly so nice because the apartment is on campus. Being in a dorm was so convenient because I was so close to everything, but now I don't have to sacrifice that convenience, while still gaining so much extra space.

I'm rooming with my friend Meghan this year, but my old roommate and other friend are also living in my apartment! Our apartment definitely isn't the most spacious place in the world, however we have two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room and a full kitchen. I'm so so thankful to have a kitchen this year because it will make eating healthy so much easier. Not to mention not having to use communal bathrooms ever again (God bless). I'm also glad because the apartment complex I'm living in is pretty much sophomore central -- the ideal place where all the sophomores want to live. So there will definitely not be a shortage of people around us, which I'm super happy about.

3 Blogs to Start Reading

In all honesty, sometimes I'm the worst when it comes to reading other blogs. Sometimes I spend hours on hour scouring the internet for new blogs to read and dig deep into the archives. Recently, I've been resorting into old habits and reading a ton of different blogs. I found some new blogs, and some old blogs, but these are three that you should definitely start reading. Here's a little bit about each and why I love them. 

Also, today is my first day on the job as a camp counselor!! I'm excited, but a bit nervous too to say the least. However, I am so excited to finally get in the swing of things and have a real summer schedule. Plus, making some money doesn't hurt either! Wish me luck!!

So Dressed Up Life + Style

Funny story about this blog actually. My senior year of high school I took an AP Computer Science class that was probably the hardest class I've ever taken. I spent almost every lunch period with my teacher trying to learn Java and consistently struggling. This blog is written by his wife and I'm absolutely obsessed. She's a wedding planner in Chicago, but just recently decided to start her own blog. I love reading about her different family trip recaps and seeing all of her adorable outfit posts. Not to mention she has the cutest daughter in the world! You have to check out her post all about rosé and her super cute pink on pink outfit post. 

The College Prepster

I've been reading Carly's blog for years, but just recently I've gotten back into the swing of reading all her posts. She posts almost every day and her recent posts about her trip to Paris are really good. It's really making me want to travel there even more...Carly just has such a genuine voice and doesn't succumb to the only sponsored post vibes that some bloggers do. I met her in NYC a few years back at the Smart Girls Summit and really could just feel her authentic personality radiating. Also, her dogs are literally the cutest things in the world!

Prep Essentials

Although I definitely don't have the preppiest style anymore (California really changes you) I still love to read Olivia's blog. She's another local Chicago blogger and I just love her style of writing. She shares everything from college tips to life after college, along with fashion, bucket lists, playlists and more! I really like following along with Olivia's blog as she channels through life after college; it's definitely interesting to read! Her tips will hopefully help me in the future after college when I'll most likely live in Chicago!

I'm always looking to read new blogs...what's your favorite blog?

Xoxo

5 Facts About Me

Sorry for the delay on this week's posts. I was out of town for Memorial Day weekend and then was having a ton of issues with Blogger/my internet when I returned!

I feel like when I first started blogging I did posts like this so often. I wanted my readers to "get to know me" so I posted more about me kind of posts like this or this (if you want a chuckle go read them). It's funny though because I legit wrote things like "lives that nautical life" and "my favorite foods are chicken nuggets, fruit snacks and gluten free pasta". I like to think that I have matured a little bit since writing those blogs, but I still think it's fun to share information about myself that you might not know just from reading this blog. 

Also, I have to give credit to Fran because I totally copied her on this post idea. I loved reading her post and wanted to try it out on my own! Be sure to read hers because I learned so much about her that I had never known just from reading her blog.

1. No one really calls me Kate

Haha, you're probably like what, why is your blog called A Sprinkle of Kate then? When I initially was born I was named Katelyn with the intention that my name would be shortened to Kate. But, no one really calls me Kate. My dad, a few family members and my brother/his friends call me Kate, but that's pretty much it. My last name is May so most people at school call me Kmay because it's short and easy. It's just funny to me though because when I created A Sprinkle of Kate I was debating if I wanted to go by Kate when I went away to school, but I honestly think if people were only calling me Kate I probably wouldn't even respond or realize that was my name. 

2. I love to spend time alone

As much as I love my friends, I absolutely love spending time alone. Just something about me and my computer and my bed is an endless love affair. Going to college has made me much more dependent on people because in high school I had no problem sitting or walking somewhere alone, but in college I don't necessarily like doing that. When I'm with my friends I love to spend time with them, but just something about being alone is super super nice.

3. I absolutely love YouTube

I'd be lying if I said I haven't spent a good portion of my life watching YouTube videos. I'm definitely more into the Vlogger type videos rather than like the beauty gurus, but I just love watching YouTube videos. I'm actually subscribed to over 100 channels and it's kind of ridiculous, but I just love watching different videos for all sorts of reasons; morning routines, workout routines, daily vlogs and meal-prep videos are some of my favorites.

4. I'm 5'9"

Maybe you're able to tell from photos, but I'm actually pretty tall. For the longest time I was a pretty average height, but in eighth grade I sprouted and then continued to grow throughout high school. My height is kind of random though because my Dad is only 6'2" and my mom is somewhere around 5'6". My brother who is three years younger than me is a few inches taller than me, but my sister who is two years older is only like 5'5". I actually like being tall, because I love my long legs. Plus, I can always see at concerts lol.

5.  I type 100 words per minute

I really don't even know how this came to be honestly, but I'm super fast at typing. In middle school we always had to do these typing tests and if you got more than 50 words per minute you didn't have to do the like typing warmup every day, you could just have free time. And at the end of the week we would have a contest where everyone would take a typing test and whoever had the highest score would win a prize. I kid you not every single week I won this challenge because no one's score was nearly as high as mine. Towards the end of the year though I started to just let other people win because I felt bad haha. Typing quickly definitely has its benefits though because I save so much time when writing papers.

Anything else you want to know? Comment below!

Xoxo

TGIF

Literally girl gang goals!

Wow, summer is already flying by! I've been home for three weeks now and it's been so nice to spend time with family and friends and just enjoy being home. Although the weather definitely could be a bit nicer, it's supposed to warm up in the next few days! I start work in just two and a half weeks and as much as I am looking forward to finally getting some work in this summer, I'm trying to squeeze in as much summer fun as I can before I start work on June 12. 

This weekend I'm headed to Columbia, Missouri to visit a friend that is staying there for the summer. She's coming home for a few days next week, and she visited me over her spring break, but she's one of my best friends and it's felt like forever. I'm so excited to see her apartment and have some much needed girl time with her and one of my other best friends. It's much warmer in Columbia so I'm excited to lounge by the pool -- as long as it doesn't rain!

I don't have plans for Memorial Day, other than driving six hours back from Columbia to Chicago, but hopefully it will be spent poolside if I crash my friend's Memorial Day pool party. If you're looking for something to wear this Memorial Day check out the archives for my all American looks here and here. 

Here are a few things I wanted to share this week...

+Did you read my San Francisco recap? My trip was seriously so fun and if you want to check out a video I made just click here

+This article is a definite must read: 5 Steps to Creating a Budget That Works For You

I've always been bad with finances, but I'm determined to figure out my entire financial situation before I head back to school in the fall

+I've been dying to go back to NYC since I first left and this site compiled the prettiest pink restaurants in New York City

Have an amazing Memorial Day weekend!

Xoxo

Three Recipes To Try This Summer

One of the best things about being home from school is having a real kitchen that I can actually cook in. I'm so excited to live in an apartment next year and actually have a full sized kitchen so I don't have to eat dining hall food. I'm determined to spend this summer trying new recipes and perfecting a few different dishes that I can make next year for my roommates and me. Here are three fun summer recipes to try!

 Get the original recipe here! When I went to school I didn't really like pasta all that much, but my roommate being obsessed with Italian food and forcing me to eat it constantly definitely changed my opinion. This pasta looks sooo delicious just from the picture, but it also has arugula and burrata in a garlic lemon sauce. I think adding pine nuts to this dish would be so delicious too!!

 With my summer job starting soon I'm definitely on the lookout for easy and healthy breakfasts to eat before work in the morning. These yogurt popsicles with granola look so amazing and super refreshing for the summer. Check out the recipe here; and the fun part is you can change up the yogurt flavor with whatever you like! I definitely want to try out a peach flavor with pistachios. 

Wow okay do I even need to convince you that these cookies are delicious? Just look at that photo! S'mores are probably my favorite summer treat and this new take on them looks so so good. I definitely want to try these out this summer and see which I like better: classic s'mores or s'mores cookies!

Do you have any summer recipes to share? Comment below! Also, which one looks the best to you?!

Xoxo

My Skincare Routine

Skincare is so so so important. It's something I've definitely neglected in the past, and had yet to find the right products. College has been super destructive on my skin, with the late nights out, dehydration (if ya get what I'm saying), the sun in SoCal and just overall being lazy because my bathroom is all the way down the hall. I've come to a point where I definitely understand my skin a lot more than I used to and have found products that really help my skin, rather than hurt it. Also, being on a college budget I don't like to spend an insane amount on skincare at this point in my life. All of these products I swear by, and are super affordable!!

This CeraVe cleanser is literally the best at getting all of that dirt off of my skin. It's perfect for all skin types and super gentle. I don't greatly suffer with acne and was using acne products for far too long that were simply drying out my skin. This helps to keep my skin clean, and that keeps it acne free, but without over-drying my skin. Aveeno is my holy grail brand and I absolutely love their positively radiant daily moisturizer. It keeps my skin fully moisturized throughout the day and also has SPF 15. I love moisturizers that have sunscreen in them because in the southern California heat it's so so important to keep your skin shielded from the sun. I also love the Hawaiian Tropic sheer touch SPF 30 sunscreen for a daily sunscreen on my arms. Especially in the fall, LA is super sunny and warm practically every day from August to November so it's super important to keep your skin protected.

If I'm ever breaking out a bit I like to use the St. Ives apricot scrub to get rid of any dead skin on my face and help to clear up my skin. I don't use this always because it definitely does dry my skin out, but it's helpful if I'm every having problem skin. Also, the night calming Neutrogena makeup wipes are the best after a long night out when I'm feeling super lazy. Usually I'm too lazy to fully wash my face, but I like to use these wipes so I'm at least not sleeping with makeup on. 

Now I'm eager to hear...what products are included in your skincare routine?

Xoxo

The Best One-Piece Swimsuits for Summer

One of the perks of my summer job is that I get to spend so much time outside. I get to swim with the kids 4 days a week, which is so nice because I'm seriously trying to get that summer glow. However, I'm only allowed to wear one-piece swimsuits. Buuuttt one-piece swimsuits are like seriously so in right now so it works out! I've been searching high and low for cute, but more modest one-piece swimsuits that are fun for the summer, but will also work for my job! Here are a ton of different options, at all different price points. The fun thing about one-piece suits is that, especially in California, they can be worn as bodysuits too!

My favorite definitely has to be the off-the-shoulder white one-piece from J.Crew. Although maybe not super functional in the pool, it sure is cute! I'm most likely going to try and find one "cute" one-piece and then get two or three athletic one-pieces for my job. As much as I'd like to be super cute, I have to also be very comfortable because I'll be swimming with kids! But I definitely want a cute one piece for when I go back to school for pool parties!

If you have any recommendations of where to get cute or athletic one-pieces please share them below! I'd love to hear.

Xoxo

SF Recap

One of the best things about living in California is that it is a huge state. I mean seriously it's sooo long. But there are so many different areas to explore that aren't super far, but seem a world away. I have yet to explore the majority of the west coast, I've really only been to LA and Santa Barbara, and now San Francisco. 

One of my sorority sisters who I've been friends with since the beginning of the year lives about six hours north of LA, and only 45 minutes east of SF. My original plans for Easter were to stay with a friend who lives in Encino, but when Nicole offered her home to all of us for the week we couldn't resist! Four of us drove six hours north to spend Wednesday through Sunday at her house! Nicole also has a house in Lake Tahoe which we were planning on going to for two nights, but her mom unfortunately couldn't take the days off work so we opted to just stay in town. We were glad we did because as much as we saw a lot of things we were definitely on-the-go constantly.

On Wednesday morning we packed the car and headed north, but not before stopping for the necessary Starbuck's. Of course mid-drive we stopped for In-N-Out (my favorite!!) for lunch. We finally made it to Danville around 3 pm and spent some time unpacking. After doing a bit of homework (seriously why do professors assign so much over break) we headed into downtown Danville to explore. We didn't think ahead too much and most of the stores ended up being closed, but it was still fun to peek around. For dinner we went to a local pizza place that was seriously so good. 

The next day we explored downtown Danville again, but this time all the stores were open. It's such a cute little area and was so fun to explore! We went to a Danville favorite Sideboard's for lunch and my salad was seriously so good. Later in the day we went to Walnut Creek and had fun shopping and visiting Nicole's mom at work at Nordstrom. 

Day two was definitely my favorite day of the trip. This day was spent exploring the golden gate bridge. We went to a pretty famous lookout spot (where they filmed the sunrise scene in The Internship) to take lots of pictures with the gorgeous scenery. We ended up climbing down to a little restricted area oops but got the best photos ever. After looking at the view we hiked down to Kirby Cove to get pictures on the famous swing. Not gonna lie it was such a deal to get up on that swing and I got hit in the head by the wooden plank like 100 times. But...it's all for the photo ;)

At the end of the day we also visited UC Berkeley and the area around it. The campus is gorgeous with the prettiest view of SF, but it's huge compared to LMU's little campus. We met up with Nicole's friend that goes there and she toured us around the area. We also had dessert before dinner with incredible crepes. 

Saturday we actually went into the city by taking Bart. It's kind of a weird thing because the train actually goes underwater, which freaked me out honestly. But, it was kind of a cool concept. Once arriving in the city we wanted to go to the constantly Instagrammed sign "I got baked in San Francisco" at Mr. Holmes Bakehouse but we got there too late and had already sold out so they closed up shop. The walk to Mr. Holmes was through kind of a bad area, so my first glimpse of SF wasn't the best, but it was much improved when we went for a ride on the trolley. That was easily my favorite thing we did that day because it was so fun to finally do something I've wanted to do forever.

We took the trolley to Ghirardelli Square and got waffle cones of ice cream that were seriously to die for. Then we made our way to Fisherman's Wharf, not before stopping to see the sea lions lounging by the water. After exploring the wharf we Ubered back to the train station and headed home. We finished off the evening at Nicole's favorite local Chinese restaurant and then hit the hay. 

The trip was seriously so so fun and a great break from the high maintenance atmosphere that is LA. It's crazy that NorCal is only 6 hours north, but feels like a world away. I definitely want to visit again and next time go to my friend's house in Tahoe.

What's your fave thing to do in SF?

Xoxo

I'm Back. For Good!

Wow, blogging throughout college has turned out to be one of my biggest failures yet. All throughout high school I looked forward to posting on my blog and sharing different content for my readers five days a week, but college life got the best of me and blogging just wasn't as much as a priority as it used to be. But, I'm here now to stay for summer and I'm really going to strive to post five days a week and remain active on social media. So please comment what you'd like to see in the future because I'm pretty much open to anything! With that said, here's a little life update for you guys.

About a month ago I headed north of LA to San Francisco for Easter break. Going to a Jesuit school definitely has its perks; a full week for spring break plus five days off for Easter. A whole recap on the trip will be up tomorrow, but it was seriously so fun. It's only a six hour drive and three of my friends and I stayed in Danville, but went into the city on Saturday. More on that to come ;)

After returning from Easter break I spent most of my time studying for finals and with a broken phone. I broke my phone yet again, but managed to get a new one just in time for my sorority's formal. I brought a friend from high school that goes to school out west too and we had so much fun dancing and eating all of the snacks at the venue. 

The week before finals was my Big's birthday and we celebrated by going bowling. Seriously, bowling is like one of my favorite things ever and it was so much fun to spend some time with her, my phamily and her friends! I spent that weekend going to the final parties of the semester and overall just spending time with all of the girls on my floor. 

The week of finals was probably the most stressful time of my life because I had to manage studying for all of my finals (which was much harder than first semester) and moving everything out of my dorm and into my storage unit or luggage for the plane. Not to mention my recently developed fear of flying was distracting me the entire week. I managed to get through my finals and get everything out of the room in time and make my flight. Not before hauling my futon and rug in my friend's convertible with the top down because it wouldn't have fit any other way. Not having a car at school proved to be most irritating during move-out but thank God for Zipcar!

Two days before I left for school my friends and I went out to dinner for one final hoorah. Funny story actually, we wanted to go to this rib restaurant, but no one wanted to pay for it so we actually started a GoFundMe. I never thought anyone would donate or that we'd get more than $5, but we ended up raising $280 for our dinner!! It was so much fun to go out for a big, lavish dinner, but not actually have to pay for it.

I've been home for just over a week now and I cannot even begin to explain how good it feels to be in my own bed, have real food, and not have to wear shoes in the shower. College is so so fun and awesome, but it feels good to be back for a full four months. And it's even more fun being reunited with old high school friends. Something about distance makes relationships even stronger and all the petty things that happened in high school are really in the past. 

It's so refreshing to be on summer break and have zero responsibility - sort of :). I'm working as a camp counselor at a country club this summer and couldn't be more excited. I was in dire need of a full time job and am glad I found something that is fun, but also outdoorsy. Not to mention I'm done at 4 so I'll have the evenings and weekends to spend time with friends. 

What are you looking to read on ASAK? Please comment below because I'm in need of ideas, but I have a few different things coming up this week!!

Xoxo

What I Bought This Weekend

With my parents here this weekend it was especially nice to do a bit of shopping and re-vamp my wardrobe a bit. The weather's warming up a bit in SoCal (minus the major rain last Friday) and I was eager to find some cute new pieces for some fun spring style! Spring is my favorite season and I always love finding fresh new pieces to complement the blooming flowers. 

Of course I had to take my mom to my absolute favorite store in California, Irene's Story and she loved it just as much as I do! I ended up getting three fun tops; this fun plaid number, this ribbed off the shoulder top, and of course another off the shoulder top that's sadly not online. I also ended up finally caving and getting the Adidas Stan Smith sneakers in navy. Legitimately everyone has some form of the classic Adidas sneakers and I honestly hated them for some time (and I honestly still might), but I'm trying to learn to love them. I do have to say that they are extremely comfortable and easy to match!

Would you be interested in seeing a recap post from parents weekend? Let me know in the comments below!

Have you purchased anything recently?

Xoxo

TGIF

Happy weekend! The funny thing about college is that the weeks aren't necessarily long, they're just much busier than the weeks in high school. Especially since joining a sorority I've been busier than ever, meeting with the upperclassmen Pi Phis, going to new member meetings and having sisterhood events. Don't get me wrong, it's so so fun and I absolutely love it, but things have definitely picked up since first semester. 

This weekend I'm so happy to have my parents in town for parents weekend! My parents haven't visited since they dropped me off in August so it will be fun to show them around my neck of the woods in LA. I'm excited to show them around Abbot Kinney (featured above) and maybe a bit of Venice and Playa Vista. It's so nice being so close to just about everything in LA! I also can't wait to finally have some real food and try out different restaurants while they are here! A recap will surely be coming soon...

Here's what I've been loving this week:

+If you're planning on going through recruitment in college check out my post on What I Wish I Knew Before Sorority Recruitment

+I got a new computer recently and I'm planning on decking it out with stickers... a post from the ASAK archives about how to get free preppy stickers!

+Would you be interested in seeing a current playlist on the blog? If so, let me know.  For now, check me out on Spotify

+Kind of obsessed with these jeans right now!!

+Also, for the longest time I hated Adidas sneakers but now these are really making me want a pair...

+This is such a fun Valentine's Day recipe -- what are your plans for Valentine's Day? I think I'm having a Galentine's Day instead ;)

Have a great weekend!

Xoxo

Things I Wish I Had Known Before Sorority Recruitment

Sorority recruitment is such a grueling process, and in all honesty was not entirely enjoyable. My mom, dad and sister were all involved in Greek life in college when they were in college so I always knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. Seeing both of my parents still have relationships with people from their Greek organizations made me all the more excited to establish bonds with girls that I would be friends with forever.

Since LMU rushes second semester I had a bit of time to think about sorority recruitment before it actually happened. All of the sorority houses (there are 7 total) host open houses during first semester as a chance for the PNM's (potential new members) to get to know the different houses. 

At first I thought it was the best idea to visit each open house and get to know the chapter a little bit better. I ended up visiting 5 out of 7 of the houses and went into recruitment knowing a few people in each house. In a way, this was good because I saw a couple familiar faces while going through recruitment, but I also had preconceived notions of each house. 

Here's some of the best advice that I can give about going through recruitment and the things that I wish I had known before going through sorority recruitment.

You will get dropped from houses you loved.

All of my friends that had gone through recruitment in the fall told me this and I did not believe them. LMU is a school with such a strong sense of community and such genuinely nice people that I always thought recruitment would entirely reflect that. In reality, that is just how sorority recruitment works. After day one I was dropped from one house that I really liked, but that's just how the system goes. 

It's definitely a demeaning process because you feel like people dropped you because they didn't like you, but that's not always the case. Each sorority knows their chapter very well and they will understand where you will fit in and find your home. The best way to go about this is to try and make real connections with the girls you talk to at each house. When you're dropped it's best to try and keep an open mind and continue to visit the other houses you were asked back to and continue to try and find your home.

Keep an open mind!

This is another piece of advice that everyone always told me, but it's definitely something that was hard for me to do. I definitely had biases when it came to my opinions of each house and going into recruitment with that was definitely not beneficial to me.

I'm glad I went to the open houses because it was awesome to see familiar faces when going to each house during recruitment, but I should not have picked a favorite in my mind. It's funny actually, because the house I loved most at the open houses, ended up being one of my least favorites during recruitment.

As much as you might think you love one house, definitely keep an open mind because rush is full of surprises.

Prepare a bit.
I'm not saying you should come up with answers in your mind for any possible question asked, but definitely go into rush having a few fun facts up your sleeve. This honestly just makes conversation so much easier rather than searching for the answers to all of your questions.

The first day is definitely small talk just about your major and where you're from, but I found that the girls I had a more in-depth conversation with on that first day were the houses that I ended up wanting to go back to! Share what's most interesting about you: do you love to travel? Have you ever been skydiving? Fun and funny stories made the best conversations for me!

Everything happens how it should.
The number of people that told me this is astonishing, but I never believed them until the entire process was over and I realized that I ended up where I belonged. Whether you choose to believe me now, I know you will agree with me later.

The process is exhausting and makes you question who you are as a person, but at the same time it always ends up working out and finding you a house that you truly belong in. Ya know that saying you have to kiss a few frogs until you find your prince, well sorority recruitment is kind of like that. You'll definitely visit houses that you think you love and houses that you think you hate, but as the process progresses it will all make sense in the end.

I hope this helps any of you that are rushing in the fall or just wanted to know a little bit about the process. Any questions? Comment below or email me here!

What advice do you have about sorority recruitment?

Xoxo