I, like pretty much every other college student in existence, find the Internet to be a constant distraction. What can I say - I just find videos of cats and people hurting themselves much more entertaining than homework. However, as we all know, the Internet can quickly become too much of a distraction and can help contribute to the inevitable nights when we stay up until 4 a.m. doing homework because we were watching fail videos until 1 a.m., which I think we can all agree is not particularly desirable. It is because of this particular phenomenon that I have determined there is an ideal type of website for time wasting (because let’s face it, I do not have nearly the self control required to abstain from the Internet entirely). These websites are perfect because I find it difficult to waste hours on them, instead I merely waste minutes. The are, I suppose, a compromise between my conscience telling me to do my work and my attention span begging me to entertain it with the wonders of the Internet. And so far, they seem to be working pretty well.
1. Facebook - maybe it’s because I’m not a huge facebook user, but I actually find my average stay on Facebook to be about 10 minutes. I check for cool new pictures and occasionally chat with some of my long lost friends from high school, but realistically I don’t find there’s much else to do. I do, of course, log on about 20 times a night just to see if one of those glorious red notifications is at the top of my page, but each of those visits is only about 30 seconds, so I find facebook does not, actually, completely inhibit my homework doing abilities. You just have to be careful not to get too caught up in the “facebook stalking” mindset.
2. iwastesomuchtime.com - I do not actually waste that much time here. Yes, I do waste some time, but basically this website is like a very mini version of reddit. The stuff posted here is actually often from reddit, but a few days later, which doesn’t bother me. It’s entertaining but new things only get posted about once very hour, so I can’t actually feasibly let it consume all of my time. Thankfully.
3. Dear Blank Please Blank. An entire website devoted to a certain format of writing (ex: Dear Twilight, Oh, I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of my amusement park. Sincerely, Harry Potter). It’s easy to waste time here but it also gets boring pretty quickly. iwastesomuchtime.com and this website are actually run by the same people and they’re both visually appealing, so that’s an added plus.
4. Hyperbole and a Half - my favorite blog ever. The author only post occasionally, so if you keep up with her work, it’s pretty impossible to waste that much time here at all. She is the creator of the “do ALL the things” meme, which is kind of cool, but she’s also just outrageously funny and real.
5. Style Me Pretty - probably my most ridiculous obsession. It’s a blog about weddings where real people post pictures of their weddings, with their dresses, flowers, etc. It’s strangely addicting and totally a waste of time, but thankfully weddings get repetitive after a decent amount of time, so I don’t find my life slowly dwindling away before me here. It’s still utterly hilarious looking at the bad bridesmaid dresses though.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Low Budget Ways to Decorate Your Dorm Room
As so many upcoming freshman girls are, I was extremely excited to decorate my dorm room. It was, perhaps, the thing I thought most about the summer before I arrived at college. But decorating your dorm room exactly as you see in the movies, or in sorority houses on TV shows, or in magazines, I realized, is really quite expensive. Not to mention the fact that many dorm rooms do not let you put nails/tacks in the walls. So really, how can you achieve that perfectly coordinates, colorful, wonderful dorm room that so many freshman girls dream of? The answer is you can’t - at least, not really. No matter how much you want to, it is unreasonable to buy everything cute that you see in movies or magazines, but you can get a really similar room for a much more reasonable cost, and with much more reasonable merchandise. Here are just a few things you can do to liven up the walls of your dorm room without violating the rules of your dorm and without spending your entire budget on wall decorations.
1. Mat boards - mat boards are the things usually used around a picture but before the frame. They are basically just cardboard and come in all sorts of shapes and colors. They are far less expensive than buying actual frames, but perhaps the best aspect of mat boards is that they weigh way less than actual picture frames. This way, you can essentially frame pictures without having to deal with the hazard of having to find a way to hang the heavy things on your wall - mat boards can easily be hung up with tape, which definitely does not violate most dorm rules. And they allow you to frame pictures but spend less money, avoiding the very casual and unplanned look that just plain pictures taped to the wall often create.
2. Wall decals - Again, these can be bought at very inexpensive prices, especially if you order them online from someplace like Amazon. You can find them in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes, but basically they’re all giant stickers you can stick on your walls. They can definitely liven up a room, even a bathroom or kitchen, and you can almost always find a decal of what you’re looking for, whether that be your school mascot or just some pretty flowers. The larger the decal the more expensive, but you can spend a minimal amount of money (about $20) to get a pretty large one that will decorate most of, if not all, of a decent sized wall. They’re also easily removable and some are reusable, so you shouldn’t get in trouble for ruining your dorm room walls.
3. Christmas lights - I definitely did not realize how inexpensive Christmas lights actually are, but you can get a box of about 200 for like $3. It didn’t occur to me to buy ours until at least half way through my freshman year, but they frame windows really nicely or can be used to decorate walls and, at least in my opinion, do not have to be taken down after Christmas. They look really cool in dorm rooms at night with the lights turned out, and they also come in a multitude of colors, so if you’re looking to liven up your room with colors, you can always get purple lights, or orange lights, or red, or whatever other color you want. They’re also pretty easy to get to stay up - duct tape (which you can also buy in a multitude of colors to match your wall) or packing tape work really well and generally do not violate dorm rules.
1. Mat boards - mat boards are the things usually used around a picture but before the frame. They are basically just cardboard and come in all sorts of shapes and colors. They are far less expensive than buying actual frames, but perhaps the best aspect of mat boards is that they weigh way less than actual picture frames. This way, you can essentially frame pictures without having to deal with the hazard of having to find a way to hang the heavy things on your wall - mat boards can easily be hung up with tape, which definitely does not violate most dorm rules. And they allow you to frame pictures but spend less money, avoiding the very casual and unplanned look that just plain pictures taped to the wall often create.
2. Wall decals - Again, these can be bought at very inexpensive prices, especially if you order them online from someplace like Amazon. You can find them in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes, but basically they’re all giant stickers you can stick on your walls. They can definitely liven up a room, even a bathroom or kitchen, and you can almost always find a decal of what you’re looking for, whether that be your school mascot or just some pretty flowers. The larger the decal the more expensive, but you can spend a minimal amount of money (about $20) to get a pretty large one that will decorate most of, if not all, of a decent sized wall. They’re also easily removable and some are reusable, so you shouldn’t get in trouble for ruining your dorm room walls.
3. Christmas lights - I definitely did not realize how inexpensive Christmas lights actually are, but you can get a box of about 200 for like $3. It didn’t occur to me to buy ours until at least half way through my freshman year, but they frame windows really nicely or can be used to decorate walls and, at least in my opinion, do not have to be taken down after Christmas. They look really cool in dorm rooms at night with the lights turned out, and they also come in a multitude of colors, so if you’re looking to liven up your room with colors, you can always get purple lights, or orange lights, or red, or whatever other color you want. They’re also pretty easy to get to stay up - duct tape (which you can also buy in a multitude of colors to match your wall) or packing tape work really well and generally do not violate dorm rules.
Five Things Every Girl Should Bring to College
When I was moving into college, I insisted on lugging anything and everything I thought I might possible need for the next 4 years. Realistically I probably did not need three pink belts and all of my t-shirts. In fact, I probably did not need even one pink belt. But nonetheless, I dragged everything I wanted from California to Texas neatly packaged in 6 cardboard boxes, which we determined were airplane safe. Needless to say, when I arrived at college, most people had not brought nearly the quantity of crap I brought, nor did people have all of their possessions neatly packaged into labeled cardboard boxes. Most of them had thrown their bedding in with their clothes of the backseat of their car and had thought little else of it. They seemed happy with their system and I seemed happy with mine. I had all my supposedly necessary things and they didn’t have to spend 3 days packing their lives into cardboard boxes. However, as the year went on, one thing became clear. Whether you throw your stuff in the backseat of a car or neatly organize your life into cardboard boxes, every girl needs a few common things. No, I probably did not need my pink belts. But yes, I definitely needed my black pair of heels. And anyone who forgot their black heels at home was very sad they did so at some point during the year. While I’m sure there’s a more complex, lengthy, and thoroughly thought through list of “must have items” for college, here’s my list of 5 clothing items/shoes/accessories/etc. every girl needs to bring to college:
1. Black heels - they should be close toed and plain. That way you can wear them with anything, including stockings/tights (you really shouldn’t wear open toed shoes with stockings - it simply just looks bad). These shoes can be worn for a multitude of occasions, including formal school events to job interviews. They should not be too tall - aim somewhere around the 2-3 inch region. If you’re on an interview you never want to be thinking about how your feet hurt or when you can sit down, you want to be thinking on the interview, so comfort and a reasonable height are a must. That being said, you also don’t want to be wearing shoes that make the interviewer think of their grandmother. The point is to look nice and appropriate without drawing unwanted attention to yourself. Or, if you’re wearing them to something more fun, to draw attention to the rest of your outfit, not your feet.
2. Black pants that fit well - these, again, are kind of an interview must. If you have any sort of job that requires some formal wear some of the time, these are also a must. Or, simply if you have to go to a formal occasion, in the winter, these some in handy. The point is you should have a nice pair of black pants that you can wear with you black heels. They, again, should look nice without drawing unwanted attention. They can be worn in the winter or the summer, so that’s another plus. And they literally go with almost anything. As for the fit, they definitely should not be too short - that just doesn’t look good. They should usually hit the middle of your heel so they don’t drag on the ground by also don’t look like ankle pants. They should also never be too tight - that looks like you bought them when you were younger/littler. And they shouldn’t be too loose either - that just ends up looking sloppy.
3. Jeans that fit well - some girls seem to have a really hard time with jeans, but they really are perhaps the most important thing on this list. You should have multiple pairs, but you need at least one pair of jeans that fits you well (isn’t too long, too short, too tight, or too loose). You shouldn’t have to worry about hoisting these jeans up with a belt or taking too large a breath for fear of popping the button. They should just fit. Bonus points if you can dress them up a little bit with heels and a nice top, or roll them up into ankle pants. To best do either of these options, a skinny jean/boot cut jean is best, and darker jean usually looks better - it’s more flattering for most body types and can be dressed up easier.
4. Swimsuit that fits - this one really comes down to the fact that you do not want to have to go hurried swimsuit shopping just so you can go hang out at the pool with your friends. It should just be something you have and can grab in a hurry, and you shouldn’t be worried about it falling off while you’re having fun (that’s where the “good fit” part comes in). In my experience, plain colors are better because then you can mix and match. And it should never be too trendy or a pattern that seems like a really good idea for one month of one year - it should be something that can last you a long time without looking like you’re wearing a swimsuit from 4 years ago.
5. Jacket you can dress up or down - basically, you don’t want to have to wear your North Face rain jacket to a nice formal event. Every girl should have some jacket, whether that be a nicer looking trench coat or a wool classic peacoat, that she can dress up (and especially wear with dresses, which is why a longer one often works better). You can also wear these kinds of jackets with jeans and flats/boots for a cute but much more casual look.
1. Black heels - they should be close toed and plain. That way you can wear them with anything, including stockings/tights (you really shouldn’t wear open toed shoes with stockings - it simply just looks bad). These shoes can be worn for a multitude of occasions, including formal school events to job interviews. They should not be too tall - aim somewhere around the 2-3 inch region. If you’re on an interview you never want to be thinking about how your feet hurt or when you can sit down, you want to be thinking on the interview, so comfort and a reasonable height are a must. That being said, you also don’t want to be wearing shoes that make the interviewer think of their grandmother. The point is to look nice and appropriate without drawing unwanted attention to yourself. Or, if you’re wearing them to something more fun, to draw attention to the rest of your outfit, not your feet.
2. Black pants that fit well - these, again, are kind of an interview must. If you have any sort of job that requires some formal wear some of the time, these are also a must. Or, simply if you have to go to a formal occasion, in the winter, these some in handy. The point is you should have a nice pair of black pants that you can wear with you black heels. They, again, should look nice without drawing unwanted attention. They can be worn in the winter or the summer, so that’s another plus. And they literally go with almost anything. As for the fit, they definitely should not be too short - that just doesn’t look good. They should usually hit the middle of your heel so they don’t drag on the ground by also don’t look like ankle pants. They should also never be too tight - that looks like you bought them when you were younger/littler. And they shouldn’t be too loose either - that just ends up looking sloppy.
3. Jeans that fit well - some girls seem to have a really hard time with jeans, but they really are perhaps the most important thing on this list. You should have multiple pairs, but you need at least one pair of jeans that fits you well (isn’t too long, too short, too tight, or too loose). You shouldn’t have to worry about hoisting these jeans up with a belt or taking too large a breath for fear of popping the button. They should just fit. Bonus points if you can dress them up a little bit with heels and a nice top, or roll them up into ankle pants. To best do either of these options, a skinny jean/boot cut jean is best, and darker jean usually looks better - it’s more flattering for most body types and can be dressed up easier.
4. Swimsuit that fits - this one really comes down to the fact that you do not want to have to go hurried swimsuit shopping just so you can go hang out at the pool with your friends. It should just be something you have and can grab in a hurry, and you shouldn’t be worried about it falling off while you’re having fun (that’s where the “good fit” part comes in). In my experience, plain colors are better because then you can mix and match. And it should never be too trendy or a pattern that seems like a really good idea for one month of one year - it should be something that can last you a long time without looking like you’re wearing a swimsuit from 4 years ago.
5. Jacket you can dress up or down - basically, you don’t want to have to wear your North Face rain jacket to a nice formal event. Every girl should have some jacket, whether that be a nicer looking trench coat or a wool classic peacoat, that she can dress up (and especially wear with dresses, which is why a longer one often works better). You can also wear these kinds of jackets with jeans and flats/boots for a cute but much more casual look.
Monday, February 13, 2012
TV temptations: This season's "Must Watch" TV shows
As I've said before, I'm someone who will devote way too much of my time to excessive TV watching. I don't have a TV in my room (which, realistically, is perhaps the only thing that prevents me from wasting my life away), so I often go to the gym to watch the TV shows I deem too important to be viewed later than their initial air date. Of course, that means I am forced to make some attempt at athleticism for at least an hour while I watch TV, so while this approach is definitely better for my health, I often instead resort to waiting the 12 or so torturous hours it takes for my blessed TV episodes to be posted on Hulu. Now if I happen to find a link to the episodes before Hulu saves me from the suspense, I am more than thrilled (thank goodness SOPA and PIPA died, right?). Still, despite my utter devotion, I cannot watch every TV show I would probably waste my time on if I didn't have better things to do (or rather, other things to do ... they're often not better). I have had to make the unfortunate decision that I can only follow a certain, limited number of TV shows, and that I can really only have one show I absolutely must watch per night. So here's the breakdown of my TV schedule. Keep in mind these shows are not necessarily the best of the best. In fact, they're kind of the best of the worst. But they're the shows that inevitably keep me coming back and never really fail to disappoint my expectations of their "so bad it's good" qualities. Here goes ...
Monday Night
"Castle" - Perhaps the best quality show on my list - I guess I like to start the week out well. Not only are the characters interesting, but the show thankfully hasn't lost the "will they or won't they" tension between the title character, Richard Castle, murder mystery writer and his inspiration for his novels, NYPD detective Kate Beckett. The murder mysteries are great, the secondary characters are amazing, and the overarching questions surrounding Kate's mother's murder have stayed intriguing after all these seasons. Plus, who doesn't love Nathan Fillion (R.I.P. Firefly ... yes, I am actually a SciFi geek at heart).
Tuesday Night
A sad night for TV in my opinion. "Glee" used to be so good, but there's only so many episodes you can do before you run out of the best songs and the stories about high school stereotypes get old. So I take this opportunity to watch the a remanent of Monday Night's line up - "Pretty Little Liars." Oh, don't get me wrong, I know it's bad. But between my obsession with the fashion, the houses (anyone else wish they lived in Aria's room?), they guys, and the murder, and the mystery, I'm sold. As long as the show keeps us in the dark about who "A" is, I'll keep watching.
Wednesday Night
"Revenge" - A new show this season, but it actually made me question my obsession with "Modern Family", which also airs on Wednesday nights, so it must be really good. It's actually getting decent reviews, although many of the reviews have mixed opinions, but one thing everyone can agree on is that this show is entertaining. Between the mystery, murder, cover-ups, and actually decent acting, it has become my #1 watch of the week. Guys like it too, and while it may be a soap opera in disguise, that doesn't make it any less juicy.
Thursday Night
"Vampire Diaries" - sad that this is my favorite, but true. The gore, supernatural, and mythology behind this show draw me in every time. Not only is every member of the cast ridiculously good looking, but I don't actually care who ends up with who anymore as long as I get to keep watching. It has replaced "Grey's Anatomy" (which has really gone down hill recently) as my favorite Thursday night show, and the suspenseful endings keep me coming back for more every week. There's no way I would be content reading an episode summary of "Vampire Diaries" like I am for so many other shows.
Friday Night
Make an attempt to be social and don't watch TV. Plus now that "Chuck" has ended, there's really nothing good on anyway (although "Grimm" is a bit intriguing). At least go to the movies instead of watching TV by yourself.
Saturday Night
Ditto on the "be social" attempt of Friday. Plus, now there's not actually anything good on at all.
Sunday Night
"Once Upon a Time" - I am officially and totally hooked on this new TV show. After all the socializing of the weekend is over and I am forced to return to my academic life, I love taking a break with these darker, intertwined remakes of classic fairy tales. I love the cast, the two costume and set design is great, and the true fact is I have no idea where this show is going. It's simply so good. The minds behind "Lost" have done it again, and I am, for one, hooked.
Monday Night
"Castle" - Perhaps the best quality show on my list - I guess I like to start the week out well. Not only are the characters interesting, but the show thankfully hasn't lost the "will they or won't they" tension between the title character, Richard Castle, murder mystery writer and his inspiration for his novels, NYPD detective Kate Beckett. The murder mysteries are great, the secondary characters are amazing, and the overarching questions surrounding Kate's mother's murder have stayed intriguing after all these seasons. Plus, who doesn't love Nathan Fillion (R.I.P. Firefly ... yes, I am actually a SciFi geek at heart).
Tuesday Night
A sad night for TV in my opinion. "Glee" used to be so good, but there's only so many episodes you can do before you run out of the best songs and the stories about high school stereotypes get old. So I take this opportunity to watch the a remanent of Monday Night's line up - "Pretty Little Liars." Oh, don't get me wrong, I know it's bad. But between my obsession with the fashion, the houses (anyone else wish they lived in Aria's room?), they guys, and the murder, and the mystery, I'm sold. As long as the show keeps us in the dark about who "A" is, I'll keep watching.
Wednesday Night
"Revenge" - A new show this season, but it actually made me question my obsession with "Modern Family", which also airs on Wednesday nights, so it must be really good. It's actually getting decent reviews, although many of the reviews have mixed opinions, but one thing everyone can agree on is that this show is entertaining. Between the mystery, murder, cover-ups, and actually decent acting, it has become my #1 watch of the week. Guys like it too, and while it may be a soap opera in disguise, that doesn't make it any less juicy.
Thursday Night
"Vampire Diaries" - sad that this is my favorite, but true. The gore, supernatural, and mythology behind this show draw me in every time. Not only is every member of the cast ridiculously good looking, but I don't actually care who ends up with who anymore as long as I get to keep watching. It has replaced "Grey's Anatomy" (which has really gone down hill recently) as my favorite Thursday night show, and the suspenseful endings keep me coming back for more every week. There's no way I would be content reading an episode summary of "Vampire Diaries" like I am for so many other shows.
Friday Night
Make an attempt to be social and don't watch TV. Plus now that "Chuck" has ended, there's really nothing good on anyway (although "Grimm" is a bit intriguing). At least go to the movies instead of watching TV by yourself.
Saturday Night
Ditto on the "be social" attempt of Friday. Plus, now there's not actually anything good on at all.
Sunday Night
"Once Upon a Time" - I am officially and totally hooked on this new TV show. After all the socializing of the weekend is over and I am forced to return to my academic life, I love taking a break with these darker, intertwined remakes of classic fairy tales. I love the cast, the two costume and set design is great, and the true fact is I have no idea where this show is going. It's simply so good. The minds behind "Lost" have done it again, and I am, for one, hooked.
Hello, World!
See, now I have officially gone and made a computer science reference ("Hello, World!" is the first thing people learn to program when learning a different programming language), which is perhaps best a testament to the fact that I am an English Major living among the masses of Pre-Meds and Engineering Majors that constitute so much of Rice University's student body. My name is Rachel, I'm a sophomore in McMurtry College (like a house in Harry Potter), and I'm pretty much your average girl at college. I would much rather watch TV than do homework, would much rather online shop than go to the gym, and spend way too much time fantasizing about the weekend. Like many girls in college, I am far from willing to forgo my chance at a successful future just for the many temptations college brings, but that doesn't mean I don't grapple with the super fun boy, roommate, and friend problems that every college student enjoys so much. Check out this blog on a weekly basis and you'll be blessed with some of the tips I use to get through the mess and glory of it all, plus get an insider's scoop on the life of an average college girl.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)