NYU in a Nutshell (J)

Hello everyone, as S said, the transition into college has been one amazing/hectic/stressful/fun experience.  Just to fill you guys in on what's been going on in my life, I started my classes the first week of September and I am happy to say they are all going pretty well (despite my lack of sleep due tot the never ending papers assigned).  My hectic workload is compensated by the amazing friends I have meet and the awesome NYC  life style.  New York is an amazing city and I happy to say that coming here for college was the best decision I could have made.

My residential college: Goddard Hall.  I love living here because its in the center of the NYU Campus and across the street from the NYU Bobst Library.  This is NYUs only residential college, and it has around 220 freshman (LOVE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY), unlike the other residential halls which have around a thousand students.

Washington Square Park is located directly across the street from my residential college and it is absolutely gorgeous.  From pianists, hip hop groups, occupy wall street and varies bands, Washington Square Park remains one of the liveliest places to hangout in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

My roommate and I heading to the Hudson River cruise during welcome week, and I am happy to say we get along great!

With college comes new beginnings and new friendships! The girls and I at a dinner party that our floor threw.

Nightlife is awesome in NY, there are plenty of safe, fun places, for NYU students to go after a long week of classes!

Oh the sites you see everywhere you go, this is a lovely view from the Bobst library window as I study!

                                                 

There are so many amazing art Museums in Manhattan and I have been privileged to check some out for free with my NYU I.D. (awesomeness), this picture was taken at the Museum of Modern Art.  

So that was a little summary of what I have been up to since arriving to school.  Hope you enjoyed and I promise to start posting more actively now that I am all settled. 

Love, 

J <3

P.S. The other night I saw a shirt in Time Square that sums everything up maybe even better than I did:

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High-Low Maxi Skirt (S)

Sorry for the lack of recent posts, everyone! We all just needed some time to settle into the rhythm of school (think: how many cups of coffee do I need to un-zombify myself before my 8:30 classes?). College is full of highs and lows. You're surrounded by friends 24/7, which is nice when you come back to your dorm at 5 AM and want to go on a pizza run, but terrible when you have two papers to write and everyone wants you to go thrift store hunting in Manhattan with them.

The stressful yet ultimately rewarding highs and lows are literally represented in this outfit: Topshop high-low maxi skirt, Forever 21 chiffon blouse, Target flats, and Urban Outfitters headband and jewelry. The high-low cut is a refreshing change of pace from the regular maxi skirt. Pair it with a neutral top and shoe to let your unique skirt be the star of the show!

XOXO,
S

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Packing for College: So you're telling me...I need to fit this...in there? (J)

Packing, is unfortunately one of my weaknesses...for simple two day trips I pack a week worth of clothes.  Yep I'm that girl, the classic over packer! I leave in one week and I have to select shoes and outfits that will hold me over until Christmas break.  After dorm shopping last Thursday I discovered a product that might make my life a bit easier, SPACE BAGS!  They look like clear zip lock bags (made of nylon)  that you can stuff with clothes till your heart's content (reasonably of course) and then you just vacuum the air out of the bag and BAM, the bag is as thin as a sheet.  Thank goodness for technology because otherwise I would be left to tug along tons of suitcases through the busy streets of Manhattan, sounds a little too fun for me! Well blog readers, wish me luck during this scary time, as I attempt not to over-pack...as we all know dorm closets aren't very big.

This needs to go.....

In this.....

Oh boy! 

- J

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Pure Barre (S)

My heart is racing. Sweat is pouring off my body. Every muscle is involuntarily shaking. A firm voice is telling me to go harder. I don't know how much longer I can hold on. Suddenly, everything feels numb.

No, this isn't a scene from an adult film. It's what happens every morning at 8:30 AM after I drag myself out of bed and into the Pure Barre studio. Pure Barre is a fitness class that uses the increasingly popular bar method to push students to the point of temporary muscle failure, forcing them to work from there. This reshapes the muscles and creates the definition every girl dreams about (when, of course, she's not dreaming about Ryan Gosling. Right, L?).

The PB mantra is lift, tone, burn, but at first, I honestly couldn't have cared less about that. I just wanted to look like the trainers there. If Malibu Barbie existed in real life, she would rename herself Pure Barre Instructor Barbie. Tiny blonde bombshells, these women have the vocal capacity to lull you into a false sense of serenity during the yoga stretches but also to push you to an excruciatingly painful point during the exercises, where you become willing to give up your firstborn child to stop. I have a strong suspicion that they all might have been bitten by a spider or exposed to radiation at some point, because I have never seen one of them release a single drop of sweat. If one were to ever cry, I'm almost positive rose petals would fall from her/its eyes in place of tears.  

But the truth of the matter is, I will never look like them. For starters, my 100% Indian heritage guarantees that blonde hair and blue eyes would enable me to be cast as an extra in a Nicki Minaj video. Furthermore, I tower a good couple of inches over the lululemon clad women around me in the Target wear I got for a tenth of the price (At the end of the day, what does it matter? We all stink and need a bath).
But I never quit. And neither should you. I learned to make exercise a habit. Don't do it to see the scales drop a few digits. Embrace your body type. Don't do it to make your ex jealous. He wasn't the one anyway.
Do it to feel accomplished. Do it for the did-i-just-eat-a-special-brownie-or-am-i-just-happy endorphins afterwards. Do it to feel strong enough to kick some butt if you have to. Do it to wear that yellow polka dot bikini without feeling self-conscious. Do it to think clearer, sleep better, and live longer. Do it for yourself, and you'll never regret it.
Muah,
S

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Side French Tutorial (S)

Some people can tell when it's raining by a sensation in their knees. Karen can tell when there's a 30% chance it's already raining with her boobs. I can tell when it's raining by the size of my hair. With even the slightest increase in humidity, my hair's volume will grow large enough to serve as an umbrella for a small country. But as much as torrential downpours, like the one Memphis is experiencing right now, make me want to crawl into my bed pull the covers over my fluffball of a coiffure, I can't let the rain ruin my day. Especially with less than two weeks left before I leave for the Empire State, I'm busier than ever. There's dorm shopping to be done, southern barbecue to be eaten, and friends to be hung out with before I can gain peace of mind about leaving home. A braid is the perfect way to tame unruly hair so you don't scare small children at the store and to also look put-together for going out with friends. Here's how I created a side French, a pleasant change from the standard braid.
1. Stare at yourself in the mirror and wonder if maybe your lost car keys were engulfed by your hair.

2. Split your hair into two sections.

3. Pick up the top layer of your hair on one side, separate it into three sections and braid it normally.

4. Pull a one-inch section of hair from the temple on the other side all the way around the back of your head to merge with a section, starting a French braid.

5. Braid the original 3 sections and pull a section of hair from above the ear on the other side all the way around the back of your head. Merge it with one of the sections, continuing the French braid.

6. Braid the original 3 sections and pull the remaining section of hair on the other side all the way around the back of your head. Merge it with one of the sections, ending the French braid.

7. With the three sections you now have, braid the rest of your hair down one side normally.

8. Secure the end of your hair with an elastic. I prefer the knotted hair ties from Emi-Jay because they don't break, slide loose, or tug on your hair. This one conveniently matches my nails. Yay OCD!

9. For a fuller look, gently pull your braid in opposite directions.

10. Bobby pin back your bangs at the top of your braid if you want to ensure that they don't fall in your face throughout the day.

Try this style the next time you're on the go! It's more unique than a ponytail and if you let your hair down the next day, you get beachy waves. Two birds with one stone, y'all.
Love ya. Mean it,
S

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Don't Drink and Drive (L)

http://instagr.am/p/N5pHrHGgsS/

I'm sure many of you have experienced this before:

It's 3:00am, you're just getting home (thankfully alive) and you're a delirious mix of tired and tipsy. The only thought going through your head as you're sitting in your car is "Damn, why do I have so much shit to take inside??" So instead of making a few trips like a normal person, you spend 5 minutes attempting to gather every item and bring it all inside at once. Efficient? Always.

On another note, don't drink and drive. Seriously. I'll admit, I haven't always had the best judgment. But I'm trying very hard to fix this problem. I've done a pretty good job this summer, but I shudder when I think about all those close calls. Your life isn't worth staying out that extra hour or funneling that last beer.

Be safe,

L

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Greetings and Glitter (J)

Hello blog reader, I am Joy, and taking after my friends, you can just can refer to me by my first initial, J!  Now before we enter my world of dabbles and musings, I suppose an introduction is quite necessary.  I am a GIRLY girl, love music of all types (except country, yes I know ironic) , art, and fashion.  I never imagined myself having enough courage to create a blog of my own but with enough pushing and prodding from S, I decided "Hey why not? There's nothing to lose!".  I decided that it would be a great stress reliever from my soon-to-be taxing Pre-Med life this fall.
SO I have just returned from a trip to the mall, no surprise there, and it was packed with people rushing to find good buys since it is tax free weekend! As I walked through the different stores, I couldn't help but notice that glitter has, in fact, succeeded in finding a definite spot in the fashion world.  There have been mixed reviews about the sequin and glitter takeover.  Is it too much?? Well my answer is no!  As a matter of fact, during my little excursion to the mall, I stopped by Nine West and fell in love with a pair of black suede and glitter open-toed pumps!  And yes I bought them:

I personally believe we were born to shine, and don't sequins and glitter just make that all the more easier? But everyone is entitled to their own opinions, whether it be yay or nay! 

Ciao, 

J

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