Having the Best Sorority Recruitment Experience

1

Something About That Hat

dress (similar) //hat//necklace c/o//sandals (similar)

photos by Angelika Johns

I am done with finals, friends! I repeat, I am done with finals! Today I'm packing up my dorm and saying goodbye to LA for the next few months. I'm so excited to welcome summer by going on a few trips, starting a new job, taking a class at my community college (ugh), and working with some awesome brands on the blog. Wow, typing that list out made me realize that it's shaping up to be a pretty busy summer. I thrive off of staying busy, but I'm sure that I'll make time to spend a few days doing absolutely nothing. I always do! When Angelika and I took these photos, it was the first day that it really felt like summertime. Nothing screams summer more than bright sunshine, a fun swing dress, and this hat! I never thought I was a hat wearing kind of girl, but lately I've been obsessed! Something about that hat makes me feel so confident. I've had a black one for a while, and I loved it so much that I recently got the same exact one in a different color! Like I said... obsessed. Need more proof? See posts here, here, and here. Anyway, I know most people are already well into their summer vacations (and to be honest I've been in a summer state of mind for weeks now), but it feels great that it's officially summer now. Happy summer! 

1

How to Focus for Finals

photo of my Happy Planner from this post! 

Hello finals season, we meet again. Being on the quarter system at UCLA means that I've already taken two sets of finals this year. It also means that my summer doesn't begin until we are well into June. To those on the semester system already enjoying summer, just know that I am currently so jealous! For those of us still in school, I have some end of school inspiration that will hopefully make finals a little more bearable. I've written about successful study tips before, but today I'm sharing how to conquer finals in the healthiest and happiest way!

Make Lists
Playlists, to-do lists, and gratitude lists. There is no better feeling than prioritizing your goals and crossing off tasks. Each completed task leaves you feeling more positive, inspired, and motivated. Save your sanity by prioritizing more difficult tasks. Since you are more productive in the morning, get those done first.

Set a Timer
I work best on a deadline. Instead of tackling a huge project, break it into smaller parts and set a timer to complete those individual tasks. I think it is much less intimidating and much more rewarding this way. Little victories at a time lead to big success!

Get Out of the Library 
Fuel up on inspiration by occasionally changing up your work environment. Many of the best ideas come in the least expected ways. This could mean ditching the library and working from an inspiring outdoor space, a busy coffee shop, or even from the floor of your dorm.

Take Advantage of Your Resources
Go to office throughout the course and before you start freaking out about the finals. Study with friends and compare your notes.

Take Care of Yourself
You cannot get anything done unless you're taking care of your body and mind. Getting at least 8 hours a night allows your brain to fully recharge and stay focussed for the day ahead. Whether it's a quick workout, a Pinterest break, or making sure to eat foods that fuel your focus, take time to make personal wellness a priority.

Have Fun!
Wait, what? Have fun during finals? I have honestly learned the most when I've been having a great time. Last finals season, my friends and I used old study guides to make a few different games. By quizzing each other, we learned a lot and laughed a lot too.

0

Around My Neighborhood

poncho//shirt//jeans//watch//earrings ℅‎//booties//tote (sold out, similar)

photos by Tia Liu 

I am all about the poncho trend that's been popular lately. Give me an excuse to basically wear a blanket and I'm as happy as can be! This poncho from Forever 21 is so cozy and cute. I am constantly impressed by Forever 21. So many of the pieces look high end, but don't have the super high end price. If you can get past how chaotic and intimidating the stores often are, you will definitely be able to find some gems hidden on the racks. Another trend I'm loving? Double backed earrings. This pair from The Peach Box is simple, classic, and adds a perfect sparkle to any look.  

Shop the post below: 

4

Dorm Room Tour {Giveaway}

duvet//sheets//aqua pillow//lavender pillow//dotted pillow ℅//white pillow

nightstand//lamp

Chanel perfume//Tory Burch perfume (my favorite!)//mug

jewelry organizer//books//lamp

print ℅//emoji stickers//zebra notepad

gold frame//chevron frame

print ℅//towels//basket

C'est la Vie print ℅//Zebra print ℅

I am so excited to show you my new little space! Between my classes, sorority, friends, work, and studying, life can feel pretty busy. I wanted my little corners of the dorm to be happy and relaxing. I decided on simple, bright colors and tried to keep it as uncluttered as possible. My dorm may not be too spacious, but it feels so cozy!

I think what ties my room together most are the different art prints! Each adds so much color and personalty. I even found one that was perfect for the bathroom! This print from Thimblepress is always such a great dose of positivity when I'm getting ready for my day. For my desk area, I made a bulletin board to display little memories like ticket stubs, photos, and quotes. This quote on my bulletin board is such a great daily reminder. The prints above my bed are my favorites! These two are from Me & My Big Ideas and this one is from the cutest Etsy shop, Designs by Maria! In case you didn't already know, I am slightly obsessed with all things Parisian (see here, here, and here), so I especially fell in love with the C'est La Vie print!

I am so excited to be teaming up with Designs by Maria to give away one of the shop's lovely C'est La Vie prints! To enter, just comment below with how you would style the print. Good luck!

4

Home Is Wherever I'm With Them

Well, I've been at UCLA for a month now! And though it sometimes still feels like I'm at summer camp, it's safe to say I'm well into the school year. It's crazy that it's already time to start studying for midterms! The thought of how fast time is going by really just makes me miss summer. This summer was the adventure of a lifetime, and I feel so lucky to have spent it with the ones I love most. I thought it would be fun for my family to put a video together and add little clips as we traveled. We are all kind of strange and like to think we're funny, so obviously we had to make a music video to capture all of the adventures! My parents and brother are seriously my best friends, and I find myself watching this video whenever I'm missing them and the sunshine they bring to my day! My family may be spread out right now, but home is wherever I'm with them. :)

1

My College Agenda: The Happy Planner

I cannot believe that I am leaving for college in less than a week! There are so many things about this big transition that I am so unprepared for, but luckily, my planner is not one of them! I feel ready to take on this crazy, busy, exciting year with my Happy Planner!

I have always lived out of my day planner, and I have to say, this is the cutest and most efficient planner I've ever used. Seriously... the Happy Planner puts the fun in functional! In the past, I used a day planner and a separate notebook for to-do lists (talk about OCD!). Since the Happy Planner is so customizable, there is plenty of room for all of my lists, my schedule, and creative little details like encouraging quotes, pretty artwork, and all the stickers your heart could desire! Basically, the Happy Planner is a combination of an agenda and a scrapbook. I've always saved my old planners as keepsakes, so this makes the events from the year even more memorable. 

Another one of my favorite features is how each day is broken into three parts. The layout is so convenient, especially for keeping track of my classes. I ended up making my class schedule on transparency paper that I can easily move from week to week throughout the school year. I think it is going to be such a great way to keep my classes and assignments organized! 

Check out my favorite products and what I used to decorate my Happy Planner in the links below! 

2015-2016 Planner//Decorative Planner Covers//Pocket Folders//Paper Inserts//Sticky Notes//Gold Foil Stickers//Get It Done Stickers//Inspiration Cards//To Do Stickers//Big City Brights Stickers//School Sayings Stickers 

0

Madeline & Company

dress (similar)//denim jacket//wedges//sweatshirt//backpack ℅

photos by Bill Payne 

Back to school season just got even better! When I met Madeline, I was so inspired her kindness, creativity, and passion. She wanted to design a backpack with equal parts style and functionality, and she did just that. It has plenty of room and a square base so the bag always stays upright. How smart is that? And because it's so spacious, it will be great for weekend trips home too! I went straight for the navy with blue and gold since it matches UCLA's colors, but there are so many other cute color combos too! What I love most is how each backpack has a unique quote. I have a feeling that I will really appreciate the reminder that "nothing is impossible"... especially during midterms and finals! 

I've raved about the bags, and now I have to rave about the girl behind the brand! How amazing that she spent the summer before her senior year bringing her passions to life and starting her own business? Keep Madeline on your radar, because this girl is going places. She even plans on launching a  clothing and gift line this winter! 

Be sure to check out Madeline & Company and use the code "practicallyimperfect" for free shipping!  

0

College Application Tips

background image via

Welcome August and welcome college application season! After completing eleven applications last year, I had practically memorized the Common App website and definitely picked up useful tips for the application process. With most college applications now released, I thought I would share a few tips that would have been so helpful to know at this time last year!

Find Your Passions 

College applications are about capturing what you, as a student and a person, are all about. In addition to staying focused academically, hone in on a few passions instead of a multitude of interests. It is much more impressive to see that you've taken on leadership roles, spearheaded projects, and essentially made a difference in a couple areas. Don't try to fake it or get involved in a billion extracurriculars just to look good on the application. Do things in life/school that genuinely interest you and I guarantee it will translate well on your college application.

Plan Ahead 

Brainstorm personal statement topics and make time to free write when you feel inspired. Tour many different types of schools and decide where you could actually see yourself going. Ask for recommendation letters from your teachers, bosses, and other mentors months in advance so that your letter is the first they write and isn't generic. Keep your resume updated so that you can easily transfer all of your activities to your application. And lastly, as boring and time consuming as it can be, actually study for standardized testing! I was able to bring my SAT score up by 200 points thanks to those lovely little practice tests! 

Be Aware of Deadlines 

On the left side bar of the Common App website, I sorted the schools I was applying to in order of their due dates. That was great for quickly referencing, but I also had a much more detailed list of deadlines physically written out on in my day planner. I highlighted things as I completed them. This includes deadlines for submitting test scores, transcripts, and any additional information a college may have asked for. 

Proofread 
Have three people you trust proofread your application. If you have many more review your application, critiques and notes can become a bit overwhelming. Before you submit, proofread one more time by reading every section of your application word-for-word out loud and slowly. Trust me; I picked up two mistakes (a digit wrong in my phone number and a word missing in my essay) by doing this. Make it a personal goal to submit your application one week before it's actually due. That way if you forget to do something or make a mistake, you will still have time. 

Have Faith  
I don't think I'll ever forget when I hit the "submit" button on my first college application! I'm not going to lie, it's stressful to let go of something you've worked so hard on and give up that control. Celebrate your marathon of applications with a cupcake, have faith, and trust in what's meant to be. If you put in the work, you will end up where you're supposed to be! I applied to eleven schools and was accepted to ten. Everyone has a unique experience with college admissions, but for me, each acceptance letter felt like the biggest affirmation that the time, energy, and countless essay drafts had been worth it! To those beginning this crazy, busy, exciting journey, I wish you the best of luck! The college admissions process is like nothing else, and it marks the beginning of such an exciting chapter of life! 

0