Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Holiday Decor

Hi, friends!

Today, I'm going to be sharing some photos of my room and how I decorate it during the holidays. I was excited to come home from college and put my lights around my mirror. 
I like it best at night and that is when I shot these photos.


My favorite candle around this time of year is the Fresh Balsam from Bath & Body Works! It smells soooo good and is perfect for the winter time.



Last week, my friends and I took a 'daycation' to Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is the neatest town and has plenty of great shopping, restaurants, and is home to the Biltmore Estate. We even spotted some snow on the mountain top on our way up there! 
I found these two signs in Mast General Store and I knew I had to have them. I love the quote and how cute is that cow?! My dorm room is lacking wall art so I will probably take these back to college with me.

Thanks for reading!

Carly

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Lipsticks of the Season



Hi, friends! 

When I came to college, I knew I wanted to get into wearing lipsticks. I was never a fan before because I couldn't find a color that I thought looked good on me. I recently purchased the Nars Velvet Lipstick and it is so good. I realized I look better in a pinkish nude color. It stays on forever! I also have the Bobbi Brown Lipstick which is perfect for game days and the holidays. As you can tell, I have listed above the color KoKo K Lip Kit by Kylie Jenner. Many people were skeptical of her lip kits but honestly, they are sooooooo good. I know I said my Nars Lipstick lasts forever, but so does Kylie's lip kits. It goes on very smoothly and it makes your lips look instantly fuller. My #1 tip would be do not apply chapstick or any sort of moisturizer to your lips before applying the lipstick because it is a matte formula that needs to be applied with dry lips. This Chanel lipstick is very vampy-perfect for a night out!

What are your favorite lipsticks of the season?

xoxo, Carly

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Highlands, North Carolina




Ever since I was a little girl, my family and I would drive to Highlands every year around this time. The leaves and the architecture have always caught my eye. Nothing beats a weekend in the mountains!





Until next time, 
Carly 

Monday, October 24, 2016

Recent Favorites

Hi, friends! Long time, no talk. I have been very busy with school + life. I hope to get into a routine again writing posts. Sometimes, I find myself in creative blocks and I cannot come up with anything to write about! Today, I thought I would talk about some products I'm loving/eyeing right now.

I've seen everyone with this belt. It's a trendy, western look but it also adds something different to your basic, black belt. I love how some come with the double buckles or you can get one with just one buckle. A few weeks into school, I was still not recovered from my loss of sleep during sorority recruitment. I would finish with classes and then take 3 hour naps every single day for about 3 weeks. My under eyes definitely suffered for the loss of sleep so I immediately began looking for a solution to try to cover the dark circles. I found this product  from Benefit at Sephora. Apply a little on top of your foundation and then apply regular concealer and it really does work wonders! I got the shade medium (03) to add a brighter effect to my under eyes. Every week while I'm at Target, I find myself walking down the isles of the shoe section, hehe. I saw these booties and fell in love. They are a complete look-a-like to these Jeffrey Campbell ones at an unbeatable price! While at Target, my roommate and I have been obsessed with drinking tea lately. With it being fall and full-PSL season, we had to get this tea. Along the lines of fall things, my mom has been burning this candle nonstop. I purchased a couple of wall scents for our dorm room so it would smell like fall!

What are some of your recent favorites?

xoxo, 

Carly 

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

What's On My Desk

Hello, all! I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.  Oh, and happy almost Fall! Even though it doesn't feel like Fall here yet in Georgia, I'm still thrilled to know the cooler temperatures are fast approaching. 
Today, I am going to share with you my tiny, tiny desk area in my dorm room. First off, I reorganized it about 5 times. Everything becomes cluttered so easily when you have a small space. I still don't think I'm finished with this area - I might add a gallery wall. Who knows! 


 I'm a sucker for an inspiration board. A lot of fashion designers create mood boards for their collections so I'm glad I started getting into that habit. These are so fun for me to create and I try to change them season after season. This time, I went for a white, blue, and black aesthetic. I also added some fabric swatches from a fabric store in New York City and some fun quotes. 


This is the area we were given to work with! Small, right?


I always have to have books with me wherever I go, not only as decorative pieces but also as references whenever I need to know something. I'm currently reading 'Leave Your Mark' and 'My Journey - Donna Karan.' {I will have them all linked below}


Here is a boring desk organizer with a couple of textbooks and notebooks! I'm taking Geology 1122 and Psychology 1101. 


This desk organizer from Amazon has allowed me to sort things out and stay organized! I just put miscellaneous stuff on the top shelf, like my current favorite perfume and this cute sign one of my friends purchased for me as a gift. 


On this corner, I have my makeup mirror, a lamp, dry erase board, and this painting by Blair Breitenstein. I met her at a Rebecca Minkoff event! She is so talented!!

Well, there is my tiny space for ya, folks. I look forward to having a bigger desk next year and having more control of the aesthetic. 

With love, 

Carly 

Monday, August 29, 2016

College Beauty Must-Haves

Beauty is something that changes as we grow older. I've realized in college how different 'beauty' is approached. For example, in high school, I wore makeup everyday but in college, I wear very minimal makeup or none at all to class. I've also noticed that girls make more of an effort to try exotic looks when it's a night out on the town. Whatever your routine is, there are definitely some must-haves for the college gal who's trying to get a degree while still looking pretty. 

1. Dry Shampoo: I used to never be a fan of dry shampoo. Who in the heck would go three + days without washing their hair?! Not I. Now that my days vary, I don't always have time to wash my hair every night or I'm too lazy, ha. Dry shampoo has been a life saver so far for my roots. A quick spray before class and bam, hair that isn't greasy. I highly recommend this one and this one!

2. Setting Spray: I can't believe I went all throughout my years of high school without using this stuff. Setting spray sets your makeup and allows it to stay in place for a long time. It's perfect for a night out! You can get the pricer option, like Urban Decay or the less expensive option.

3. Highlighter: Guys, can we take a moment to realize how amazing this stuff is?! I recently got on the trend and I won't be abandoning this product from my routine anytime soon. A highlight, is what it sounds like: it highlights whatever part of your face you wanted highlighted. You can swipe the product on with a brush or your finger. I recommend applying it on the area above your cheek. It makes you look as if you have a glow!
These are amazing options: one / two / three / four

4. Hair Treatment: PSA, dorm showers SUCK.  The water pressure is awful and it's hard to find showers that have the pressure just how you want it. Along with getting ready for events, your hair takes a toll on the amount of heat that's used. I recommend doing a treatment once a week, whichever kind works best for you. I personally use this one because my hair always smells amazing and is so smooth after! I really notice a difference the next day because my hair maintains the softness and shine. 

5. Sleep: You've probably heard a million times how important beauty sleep is but I cannot express it enough, especially when you get to college. There will be many nights where you're studying until 2 a.m. or coming home from a night out with friends. Right now, my study schedule hasn't been too crazy so I've been able to take naps everyday. I think I'm still recovering for the 4:30 a.m. sorority recruitment wake-up calls, ha. It's hard to be productive when you can barely keep your eyes open so take that 30 minute quick nap. You won't regret it. Plus, you'll feel more energized and refreshed. :)

I hope you all enjoy these quick tips! Have a good Monday!

Carly

Monday, August 22, 2016

College Life


Hello, hello friends! 

I am officially blogging from my sweet, little college town of Athens, Georgia. I moved in August 7th for sorority recruitment and classes began August 11th. Drop/Add week, commonly known as 'Syllabus Week' is officially over and everyone is getting into the groove of things with their classes. 

I've only been in school for 11 days but it seems a lot longer than that. Many things have changed in my two weeks here. As I mentioned earlier, I participated in Formal Sorority Recruitment. It consisted of 4:30 am wake up calls, going to 18 houses to meet active members and then going through the rest of the rounds leading up to Bid Day. The whole process was about a week long. However, I withdrew from sorority recruitment the morning of Preferential (Pref) Rounds. The entire process is life-changing and I plan to do a few posts about Greek Life and rush in general if you all are interested. 

Now, onto college life..

The good:
- SO. MUCH. FREEDOM. 
High school never consisted of this much freedom. I have breaks in between my classes and I only have 2-3 classes a day. It gives me enough time to catch up on sleep, run errands, and do homework. No one is there to tell you to go to class or do your laundry. butttt, you should go to class!!!

- Meeting new people
Everybody is the 'new kid' in college. New school, new town, even a new state. I've been fortunate enough to meet great people so far, through my Gamma Chi group and on my hall. My hall mates are the bomb and we've already had great times together!

- Better food
My cafeteria food was awful in high school. At UGA, there are multiple dining halls that offer different things. One dining hall serves Hibachi while the other serves healthy shakes and so on. It is hard to eat healthy unless you are disciplined. 

The bad:
- Illness
My doctor recently told me that you'll never be more sick in your life than in college. #joy. Many girls who participated in recruitment have been experiencing the same cold and freshman who are getting acclimated to the dorms. You always have to wash your hands and be mindful of those around you who are sick. 

- The buses
UGA is a very large and hilly campus. Many buses run through campus but figuring out which route to take can be challenging! UGA has an app that has the bus routes but it's still easy to hop on the wrong bus. 

- The heat
It's hot as hell here in Athens and the South in general! Fall is in a month and we could not be more ready for it. Plus, Fall = FOOTBALL. I walk everywhere on campus so #sweaty.  Is anyone else dying in this heat right now?!

- Textbooks
I highly highly recommend that you rent your textbooks if you can. You will save a ton of money. Plus, you can still highlight in them as long as you don't destroy them. Do not pay full-price for a core class textbook. And if you have to, prepare to have your heart break. 

What other posts would y'all like to see?! Feel free to submit them at my Tumblr or shoot me an email at carlymixon11@gmail.com :)

Happy Monday!

Carly 

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Opportunities & Reflections


As my summer is coming to a quick end, I couldn't be more excited to begin a new chapter in my life: college. 
The summer before college is a 'weird' transition time. You truly begin to learn how to be an adult. Purchasing things for my dorm was one of the most stressful yet exciting experiences that I've had this summer. I'm telling you, deciding what you need to live on your own is a weird thing. I've had to purchase things that I use to never think about when I walked into Target like medicine, cleaning supplies, a lint roller, (haha) and the list goes on. 

Another part of the 'weird' feeling of transition is that your friends will not handle the idea of moving on the same way you will. 
Most of my friends are very anxious about the start of college, or the next chapter in their lives. While I am nervous about facets of college like sorority recruitment, how to study, finding my classes, etc., I'm also pretty dang excited for the opportunities I'm about to have and the people I will meet. My roommate is already a close friend of mine and I've met some great people through Orientation. Honestly, when you work really, really hard in high school, not only are you working towards getting into your dream college, you're working towards opportunities that will develop your career and allow you to become your best self. How could I not be excited about that?!

Along the lines of opportunities, I was recently chosen to be on the editorial team for Spire & Co. If you all aren't familiar with Spire & Co, it's an amazing website that inspires and supports young, ambitious women in all endeavors of their lives. I had to submit a piece in order to be considered for the job and ironically, the one I submitted was a piece I wrote two years ago after a breakup. Thanks for the job, ex boyfriend?? haha. 
I was always reluctant to share my writings with people because what I write is very personal to me. Putting yourself out there, in any way, is terrifying. Writing has always been a passion of mine. I also wanted to be apart of another facet of the fashion industry, which is why most of my articles will be featured in the Style & Beauty section. Look for my name in a couple of weeks :)

Best, 

Carly


Tuesday, July 19, 2016

How I Chose UGA

I'll never forget the moment I knew that the University of Georgia was where I would call 'home' for the next four years of my life. It was on a hot, mid-September evening in Athens. UGA was playing a popular rival-South Carolina. This was my first game I attended in the 2015 season. It was a highly-anticipated game, the fans were wild, and campus was flooded with students, alumni, and die-hard UGA fans. My parents have had season tickets to the Georgia games for years, and my brother and I grew up going to the games. We always had to walk through campus to get to the stadium, and naturally, I would be people-watching, but this particular time was different. Instead of watching people who had obviously had too much to drink already, I found my focus was on the buildings through North Campus. (A little history lesson, Georgia was the first state to charter a state-supported university/college in the year of 1785. So yeah, some of the buildings are old.) I noticed how beautiful the design of each building was, and how those stones and bricks represented a place that prepared so many people for their future. I remember looking over to my mom and saying, "I know this is where I'm supposed to be." Naturally, she replied, "Well, I hope you can do whatever it takes to get accepted!" ha!

As Taylor Swift once said, 'And that was the moment I knew'.  

Sometimes in life, you have these moments of affirmation or realization that you are supposed to be in a place, at a certain time, with a certain group of people. That night was the moment I knew UGA was were I was supposed to be. My only problem was that I had to await my acceptance letter, which came some 6 months later. The wait was miserable but definitely worth it!

So, my advice...

Hopefully, all of you upcoming seniors applying to college will have your 'Taylor Swift moment' like I did. Most people have a gut feeling, but some do not. Some just go to a college because they were forced to or it wasn't their first choice. I know that with a couple of colleges I did visit besides UGA, I did not have a gut feeling that that was where I belonged. For example, I visited Ole Miss last August and nothing clicked for me. My parents absolutely adored Oxford and the campus but it just wasn't for me. Do not feel pressured to settle on a school that you will not be happy going too. Seriously. Your personal happiness is so important, especially since you'll be living on your own for the first time. Of course you can transfer schools or even take a gap year. Whatever you have to do to make sure you are happy, do it. If that means not attending the college your parents did, like me, then do it!!

I wish you all happiness and best of luck this school year.

xx, Carly


Sunday, June 26, 2016

Life Lately

Hello, all!
I know it has been quite some time since I've posted. So many of y'all have requested that I start posting again! Honestly, I've been in a writing-rut. Sometimes, it's hard to create content to discuss everyday- also, I'm leaning towards doing more lifestyle posts. 

Here are a few photos that represent my life in the past month!
My high school graduation, definitely a day that deserved a selfie!

After graduation, 6 of my closest friends and I drove to Destin, Florida for our senior trip. We had a blast and created so many memories. 

This is my view 5 days a week during the summer. Working on the lake isn't all that bad- sometimes ;). 

I just had orientation for UGA!!! I got my first semester classes scheduled and got to stay in the dorm I'm living in next year. Any upcoming UGA students reading?!


Thank y'all for reading and continuing to support my little space on the internet. What kind of posts would you all like to see?! Feel free to shoot me an email at carlymixon11@gmail.com or ask me in my Tumblr linked here.


Sunday, March 20, 2016

Where I'm Going to College

I've published a few posts about college, the admissions process, and the tests needed for college. As most of you know, I'm a high school senior and that was what was occurring in my life. This past Friday, I received some big news- one that made me cry with excitement and relief. 
I got accepted into my first choice of school, the University of Georgia! 

It's been my dream to go to UGA for the past two years and I am so excited to be joining the freshman class of 2020. There were over 23,000 applicants this year, the highest number ever and the incoming class is the most academically competitive it has ever been. 

It still feels so surreal to know that I will be moving to Athens in the fall. I have been praying about this since the beginning of my senior year and a huge weight has been lighted off of my shoulders. The college process is so stressful and now I feel like I can finally enjoy my senior year since I know where I will be attending school.

GO DAWGS!

xoxo, 

Monday, March 14, 2016

Spring Break Essentials



Hey y'all! Spring Break is officially upon us! If you're on yours now, I'm so jealous! Mine begins next Thursday and I could not be more excited. I'm headed back to Kiawah Island, South Carolina where my family and I go all the time. I have been going there since I was young and it is 30 minutes from the beautiful historic city of Charleston. We have great friends who live on Kiawah as well, so we always spend time with them when we visit!

I'm doing something a little different this Spring Break--working! I got the opportunity to work at Southern Tide and I am so excited. I've always wanted to work retail. I'll get a few days on the beach but I will be working 4 days of the 7 I'll be there. Above are some of the things I will be packing to take with me, minus the float (it's so cute though). I have been wearing a delicate necklace from Kendra Scott lately that my mother got me for Christmas; it's my birthstone. I normally don't wear accessories everyday, but I have seriously grown to love these necklaces. I might purchase the black one! I also plan on picking up some Argan Oil. My hair is long and thick and it requires maintenance. I plan to protect it from getting damaged from the sun.

What are your spring break essentials?

xoxo, 


Sunday, March 6, 2016

Save vs. Splurge

I'm not a professional makeup artist by any means, but there are some products on the market that are amazing. I like for my makeup look to be very natural looking, but still looks like I have full coverage. Below are a few makeup products that I have tried, used, and loved!




Mascara:
My eyelashes are naturally very long and I never leave the house without mascara. My eyes and my eyebrows are the features I love the most about my face. When it comes to mascara, I am always trying new products. Urban Decay is my absolute favorite because not only does it enhance my eyelashes, but it makes them appear darker. Some mascaras are very light (even if you get very black) and you have to put on multiple coats. However, if you're on a budget, this Maybelline mascara is great, too. Spending over $20 for mascara sounds a bit crazy but I feel like if you find a product that works really well for you, it is worth it. 

Foundation:
Finding the right amount of coverage is tricky. Since I'm only 18, I don't necessarily need all of the same products that my mother would need. I tried this Bobbi Brown Foundation at first and really liked it. It gave me great coverage and went on well. Since I didn't feel like spending $50 on foundation when I ran out, I went to the drugstore and found this CoverGirl Foundation. Y'all, it is so good. In my opinion, it gives me even better coverage than the Bobbi Brown one did. My friends will always tell me how great my skin/makeup looks, even my mom! It's also very affordable. 

Moisturizer:
My skin is very dry/sensitive and oily sometimes.  My mother and I have eczema and it is hard for us to find products that will work well with our skin. My skin is also oily and that is due to the fact that my moisturizer was not moisturizing my skin enough. I had used Cetaphil forever, and their brand is great. I was on the hunt for a better moisturizer and I tried this one out at Bloomingdales. It is super pricey, but I have noticed changes in my oil levels. It is more controlled. Plus, this jar lasts for 6+ months. I have had it since November and I'm probably halfway through. It doesn't require you to put on a lot, just before and after you wash your face. 



Always, 

Carly

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

What I Learned From Parson's

A little bit over a year ago, I remember showing my mom a 3 week summer course at Parson's in New York City. My eyes were wide with excitement, hoping she would let me go. 6 months later, I was boarding a plane to New York to study at the fashion school of my dreams. 

My parents and family members asked how I had heard of Parson's. Easy enough, I do my research on people. I read something fashion-related everyday, whether it's blogs or Vogue. I'm obsessed over learning about the industry and the people who have 'made it' in that world. Parson's has notable alumni, such as Olivia Palermo, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Tom Ford, etc. Powerhouses. Those were the leaders Parson's created and for all intents and purposes, I wanted the insight scope to create my own path to success. 

First off, I was so nervous. I remember sitting in the auditorium for orientation and thinking, 'my little southern self doesn't know anything about fashion.' Parson's is a school that attracts many international students which is so awesome. I had made friends who were from China, Paris, Brazil, and Canada, as well as in the United States. The talent there was unreal and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to survive. I was only 1 of 3 people I knew from the South. 
As nervous as I was, I didn't realize how important this experience was until I was back home, reflecting on it just like I am now. I truly miss my summer in NYC and my tiny dorm room.



Surround yourself with the right people:
At Parson's, it was one of the first times in my life I felt like I was surrounded by the right people. People, my age, who had the same dreams I did and the same drive to want to make it come true. Everyone in my class was so supportive of each other and our work. It was very different from high school because I wasn't having to deal with drama. I looked forward going to class everyday. The friends I made there were amazing and I still keep in touch with them to this day!

Keep a portfolio of your work:
If you're an artist in any way, you have probably heard of the importance of a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your work. Our portfolio was our 'final exam' at Parson's. It becomes very handy for future interviews! Plus, it is great to look back on what you did at that time. Progress is everything.

The opportunities are endless:
I remember considering attending Parson's for college. I thought to myself, 'wow, I could really start my career by going here.' New York City in general is SO FULL of opportunities. I say it in all caps because it's so true, if you have the right connections. My professor had referred some of his students to top designers and companies like Donna Karan and J. Crew. 

Many people ask, 'so if you're into fashion, why don't you go to school in New York?'
Great question, and it comes with an answer.
I have always, always loved the South. I wouldn't have wanted to grow up anywhere else. From going to football games at UGA to wearing cowboy boots in the fall and eating good BBQ, I'm not ready to leave that yet. I also want to join a sorority and go to football games which is a huge part of the southern lifestyle. Plus, I want to focus on southern fashion. I feel like it disappeared but it's coming back again. Look for my name out there soon :)

xoxo, 
Carly 




Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Links I'm Loving



Happy February! 

I do enjoy seeing all of the reds, pinks, and whites that come with this month. It makes me more ready for spring! Here's what I've been researching lately:






Friday, January 29, 2016

Knowing Your Worth


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Hey y'all!


I haven't decided how frequently I would start posting again. It's hard for me to have a new post every single day, but I will try my best to post something at least once a week. 

This topic in particular came to be after a phone call with my best friend. I did something cool for one of my guy friends and I was irritated at the result. Naturally, talking situations out with my friends helps tremendously. I kept asking myself, 'why do I continue to be nothing but good to people who don't do the same for me?' It's something we all struggle with. Whether it's that one friend, coworker, or anyone in your life who continues to disregard a kind gesture, #ifeelyou. 

It made me start thinking about my value, wondering how much is 'too much' to invest in others. Frankly, we are all caught up with the idea of someone or something. There's a point though, where it can become degrading if that's your main focus. I'm getting off on a tangent here, but I mainly wanted to express my thoughts on how sometimes, it's okay to cut people off who don't value you. It's exhausting to continue giving everything to someone who doesn't do the same for you back. Know that you are worth the kindness, love, and attention. 

Monday, January 25, 2016

It's All About Perspective


One of the things within blogging I struggle with is taking pictures. Having someone take pictures of me in general is awkward, let alone OOTD pictures. I consider myself a photogenic person but I've never liked having all of the attention on myself. With that being said, I want to make some personal #photographygoals for my blog!

1. Take more pictures
I really struggle with this. I see something once and say, 'that's it.' Done, I don't need to remember this place nor this moment. At the beginning of my senior year, I vowed to take more pictures since it was my last year of high school. Yeah, that's coming along great. With second semester a few weeks in, I plan to try again for this semester!

2. Take better quality pictures
Whether or not I stick with blogging in college, I need to get a better camera. I currently use an old Canon my mother used to own. It's slow, freezes up a lot, and doesn't capture the image like I want it too. Maybe 2016 will be the year I invest in a camera! Any recommendations?

3. Take the picture, even if you've already seen it
Over the summer during my three week stay in New York City, I was able to explore the city more in depth and take pictures, obviously. That was my 4th trip to the city and somehow, I still had the feeling I was missing something while I was reminiscing through photos. My logic now is, it doesn't matter how many times you've seen that building/road/view/sunrise/or sunset, take another picture. I'm so surprised at how taking pictures of the same thing overtime can be different. For example, I've been to The Plaza Hotel all 4 times I've been to New York. But you know what? My perspective has changed, my life has changed, and I have changed since the first time I took a photo of The Plaza to the most recent time. I know that example may sound really weird but it's so true. Even when you visit a familiar place, life is different and that's just how it goes. 


Do you guys have any tips for good photography?

xoxo, 
Carly

Saturday, January 23, 2016

College Admissions: Early Decision vs. Regular Decision


At the end of my junior year, a common question for everyone was, "should I apply early decision or regular decision to my #1 choice of college?"

The answer? Well, that's your choice. 

Remember, this post is 100% my opinion and experiences I have learned from my friends. I definitely don't have a preference to either or, but I will share what I know now after applying to colleges. 

Early Decision:
This means that you apply sooner and will hear back sooner. *(Ex. apply by October 15, hear back by November 20). Most admissions offices will tell you the only difference about this decision is that you hear sooner than regular. While that's definitely true, early decision is extremely competitive. It's literally top-of-the-class students from every school applying, hoping to get in. Now, I'm not saying you have to be #1 in your class to apply early. Seriously, if you have great grades, test scores, and your GPA is ah-mazing then go for it. Early decision is a hit or a miss. You either get accepted, deferred, or denied. The only statistics the admissions office has to go by is the one from the previous year and they look at how the applicant pool is as a whole. Please note, they only look at grades, test scores, and GPA. Your extracurriculars will more than likely not be accounted for in this decision. 

Regular Decision:
You apply later, you hear later. *(Ex. apply by January 15, hear back by middle of March). In this decision, the admissions office will look at everything. Grades, test scores, GPA, essays, extracurriculars, teacher recommendations, etc. The reason is takes so long for a decision to come out is because the admissions office looks/reads over everything. However, less people tend to apply regular decision than early decision, from what I've seen. Also, applicants can see how the accepted/deferred early applicant pool looks and compare to where they line up with those applicants. 

My experience:

All of my friends applied early to the school that was my number one choice, except for me. So, 6 of my friends applied and only 1 got in. 2 were deferred and 3 were denied. I was really surprised about my 2 friends who got deferred because they met the 50% of previous years EA's statistics. But it just means that there was a very strong applicant pool for early decision and that's one thing you don't know when you apply early.
It felt weird waiting to apply regular decision, but I was so glad I waited. I got my SAT scores up, was able to write the essays (which I like), and I have a good amount of extracurricular activities that I was able to put down and write about. I definitely feel more confident about my application. Even though I have to wait a little while to hear back, I know it will be worth it! 

On another side note, I did apply early to a few schools. Some schools have a rolling admissions which means you can apply anytime (by April 1) and hear back anytime. I applied to 3 schools by November 1st and heard back from those 3 by then. 

Ok, enough ranting for one post, there is my 2 cents about early decision vs. regular decision. I hope you choose the one that is best for you and get accepted!!

xoxo, 
Carly 

* these dates are from one school's timeline, not all schools go by these!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

How to Style Sneakers with Jeans

As a young girl, I cringed when I saw people wear sneakers with jeans. It was just weird to me. Sneakers were meant for the gym and exercising. Now, in 2016, I love how sneakers with jeans are styled. It's a laid back yet so put-together look. I am aiming to style an outfit like one of these this year!

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Here are a few sneakers I would recommend: