Day 1 of 365

2014 is over. That is absolutely insane. So much happened last year that has changed my life. I got accepted to college, graduated high school, moved out and started my first semester of college, and so much more. For 2015 I'm hoping to improve myself and different aspects of my life. I'm really hoping to commit to these goals and do more for myself in the new year!

1. My biggest goal for 2015 is to improve and live a healthier lifestyle. I'm hoping to work out on a regular basis and even attend some workout classes on campus. I've bought enough workout clothes so I need to put them to use. My fitness goal is to maintain a healthy weight and maybe participate in a 5k before the end of the year.

2. Eat healthier. That is easier said than done but I'm determined. I've forced myself to only bring healthy snacks back on campus with me and I'm giving up soda as the first step to hopefully a lifetime of healthy eating. When planning to eat healthy or diet it can be overwhelming so I recommend taking on food at a time and cutting it out of your diet or reducing how much you eat it.

3. Procrastination, where do I even begin. With the new seamster rolling around I'm trying to tackle assignments early so I won't have to stress about them later. I had a really great first semester so I'm hoping that trend will continue. At school I also want to take my involvement to the next level in organizations and clubs and make a name for myself around campus.

4.It sounds crazy to be considering career options already. However, I'm hoping to find an internship for the summer in the business field. Hopefully 2015 will bring opportunities for me to reach this goal.

5.I wasn't as active on my blog as I wanted to be the past few months. I'm trying to find a balance between everything to keep the blog updated and for it to take off. I hope in 2015 to plan posts in advance and keep it consistent. I'm also hoping this will be the year for my blog to take off and develop with more views, opportunities, and maybe even a new design.

Also some exciting news! I'm in the process of purchasing a camera so the blog should be filled with better pictures and better quality this year. I can't wait to get started with fresh pictures.


My other goals for 2015 just reveal around being happy, finding time for my hobbies, traveling, and just living life to the fullest. Thank you for a great 2014 and cheers to an even better 2015. Lets Live a lifetime this year.

What to wear? : Rainy Day Edition

The past few months of college, the fall and winter seasons have brought about a wide range of weather, one day it’s 70 degrees and sunny and the next it’s cool and rainy.  Between classes and study sessions in the library, I've tried my best to be both comfortable and stylish. Walking across campus for me has limited outfit choices, especially with comfortable shoes.

 Jacket: J Crew Downtown Field Jacket | Jeans: Old Navy |
Top: Madewell | Rain Booties: J Crew | Earrings: Ivy and Leo

On any given day in the fall months I may throw together an outfit like this. Something simple for a cool and possible rainy day. The outfit is ideal for walking across a wet campus to class. The colors in the outfit are simple but the combination still turns heads, with the alternating striped top to add a unique twist. The dark wash jeans are always a go to item to look dressed up even when you’re dressed down.  The navy J Crew downtown field jacket ties the outfit together and provides contrast with the gold accent buttons. The accessories to compliment the outfit are simple, pearl earrings and rings are go-to items to keep it simple and stylish.

These shoes are my latest and best purchase. These J crew Chelsea Rain Boots are perfect, comfortable, and give a twists to your typical rain boots. These booties or even tall rain boots are comfortable and stylish anywhere on campus.  A simple change to the outfit could be a pop of color in the shoes, a rain jacket to accommodate the rainy day, or a few accessories like statement earrings.

More glimpses of what I've been wearing on campus are coming soon! 

First Year Update

College, college, college...It's been a while since I've posted. I've been so wrapped up in everything college. Here's a brief recap of a few things that've happened since Move in Day.

The first picture with my amazing suite mates! We went to Recreational Fest to see all the intramural and club sports offered!

My roommate and suite mates before Packapalooza to see Scotty Mccreery perform

First Football Game vs. Presbyterian 

                 

Parents and Family Weekend

So far college has been a lot of fun, busy, and definitely a new experience. More posts are coming this week about academics, campus involvement, and all other things college!

Do It Yourself (DIY) : Bulletin Board Edition

Getting crafty for the dorm room is pretty popular. I decided to create a bulletin board for my room to post reminders, add color to my room, and keep up with other things happening on campus. It's a simple craft and only takes around 20 mins to complete. 

Supplies needed (pictured below):

Cork Bulletin Board 

Thumb tacks 

Staple gun (not pictured)

Fabric of your choice

                  

Step one: Take the fabric and place it over the bulletin board. Make sure to align it exactly how you want it to look.

Step two: Begin to put thumbtacks down over fabric, to secure the fabric. Place them all around the border.

Step three: After completing the border of thumb tacks, turn the board over and use the staple gun to secure the excess fabric and ensure it stays in place. After this, you're free to start using your new bulletin board!

So far my bulletin board is coming in handy (pictured above). It's easy to see what's happening on campus and for reminders! More college related posts are on the way now that I'm all settled in, so stay tuned!

What to bring to College: Dorm Edition

As I'm preparing to go to college next week, I thought it would be helpful to post the essentials of what to bring to the dorm room! This is my first year of school so I'm not a Pro at dorm packing. However, this list is what I think is definitely necessary to bring with you to school!

Keep in mind that everyone list may vary but bring with you what you would typically need back at home and then some! Before I get started I have a few tips that I wish I knew before I started dorm shopping.

1. Talk to your roommate about who is bringing what to cut down on the things you have to buy! Common things to talk about is  a TV, rug, printer, and other more expensive purchases.

2. Make a list of what you need/want before going shopping, going in the store blind can be stressful!

3.See if there's any coupons to save a few dollars! It'll help in the long run when purchases start adding up.
 4. See what your college provides in each dorm, such as a micro fridge!

Bedding

• Mattress Pad
• Mattress Topper (makes the uncomfortable bed a little more bearable) 
• Twin XL sheets (2 sets would be ideal)
• Twin XL Comforter, Duvet, or Quilt
• Duvet Insert
• Comfortable Pillows / Pillow cases or shams
• Decorative Accent Pillow  
• Extra Blanket or Quilt

Laundry / Closet Needs

• Laundry Bag or Basket
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer Sheets
• Iron or Steamer
• Ironing Board
• Towels (I bought a lot but 4 or 5 would be fine)
• Wash Cloths(Again I have several but 5-10 is good) 
• Hand Towels (2-4 is ideal)  * Amounts of towels and washcloths depends on how often you want to do laundry

• Hangers
• Trash Can / Trash Bags

Bathroom

• Broom & Dust pan
• Shower Shoes (The flip flops from Old Navy work perfectly)
• Shower Caddy
• Vanity Mirror
• Hand Held Bathroom
• Air Freshener
• Drying Rack
• Band aids and other first aid supplies
• Soap/ Body Wash
• Soap and Toothbrush holders
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Razors

Storage 

• Bedside Organizer
• Trunk (if your dorm has enough space for it)
• Plastic 3 drawer organizer
• Cloth storage cube (mine is from target)
• Additional storage bags and containers : I personally love my "Things" storage bag pictured

Desk

• Backpack
• Planner
• Pens
• Pencils
• Scissors
• Post it notes
• Surge Protector
• Index Cards
• Highlighters
• Printer
• Notebooks
• College Ruled Paper
• Printer Paper
• Ink Cartridges
• Stapler & Staples
• Lamp
• USB 

Other /Misc.

• Laptop and accessories
• Command strips
• Picture Frames
• Alarm Clock
• TV 
• Bulletin Board
• Futon
• DVD's or books for weekends in the dorm
• Headphones
• Makeup
• Duffle bag for weekends away from the dorm
• Umbrella
• Full length Mirror

Hopefully this was helpful! Feel free to comment and let me know of anything I'm missing! Have fun in college!

Once in a Lifetime!

Hey everyone! I've created this blog to share a snap shot of my life. You only have one time to make a first impression, so I hope this lasts a lifetime. I'm beyond excited to share my journey to college and in the real world with everyone! Hopefully this blog will be helpful to someone, and maybe even myself and something fun to look back on through life.

Let's get started! My name is Olivia but I like to go by Liv (hints the blog name).  Here's some fun things about myself:

1. I am a freshman at North Carolina State University (GO PACK!)
2. I played soccer for 13 years and attempted to play basketball for 2 years
3. I love stationary and agendas
4. I have a Shopping problem, but what girl doesn't?
5. My favorite stores: J Crew, Madewell, Anthropologie, Lilly Pulitzer, and lots of Boutiques! 
6.  Everything has to go my way
7. Monogram makes everything better
8. My phone is basically an addiction 
9. I'm very observant, every little detail..
10. I aspire to be fit and healthy... get back to me on that one!
11. I read blogs all the time and I'm thrilled to have my own!

         

I hope you enjoy my blog and this journey of a lifetime with me! Stay tuned for upcoming posts!