The Month by iPhone: December 2013

It seems so strange to me that it is already 2014! Here are some photos from my phone this month!

Ironing pillow covers at work because I am such a domestic goddess.

I really love Prinstagram {Social Print Studio}.

from my night at aloft.

black on black on black with gold studs.

{long-sleeve v-neck tee :: Target // black skinny pants :: Cynthia Rowley via TJ Maxx // black pointed-toe studded ballet flats :: Target}

tables at the school event.

snow/ice on the moonroof

Anna's Ginger Thins on a vintage plate on a vintage counter. this is what Christmas smells like.

I shoveled that sidewalk twice in one evening!

Anderson Dock in Ephraim

 white v-neck pocket tee - Target / mint and navy colorblock cardigan - Forever 21 / mint belt - Target / skinny jeans - American Eagle / pink Converse low tops

 my mom went to a cookie exchange with some girls she used to work with. one of them made these cute sugar cookies! the white frosting was some sort of cream cheese frosting.

 and one of her other friends made these adorable snowmen!

 college graduation!

 dress - Abercrombie & Fitch / heels - Target

Kim Manning Christmas ornament!

 cute little snail that someone left behind at the motel

I love that Sally put a cupcake sticker on the envelope!

I met up with Erin and Heather for lunch at a local bar. it was so great to see them. too bad Kyle couldn't join us...

I rarely wear silver jewelry, but my grandma gave me this beautiful peridot necklace for my graduation.

another cookie exchange cookie! this gingerbread glove came with some gingerbread trees.

dinner at Panera!

I was given the opportunity to get away for an evening, thanks to some wonderful people. more on that soon!

cinnamon roll and s'mores mocha for breakfast at Copper Rock Coffee Company.

last picture of 2013. I ended the year by myself at work.

xoxo.

Pomp & Circumstance

On Friday evening, I graduated from college with my associate's degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management! There were about 1400 people graduating with me, but only about 325 of us walked.

All of us graduates had to get there an hour early to stand in a room. There were seven of us walking from my program, which our hospitality instructor said was a large number. The largest groups of graduates were from nursing and business management.

When I was standing with my group, I noticed that four of them were wearing gold cords (highest honors) and one was wearing teal cords (honors). I only got one, maybe two, B's in college, and the rest of my grades were A's, so I was wondering why I didn't have honor cords. I figured it was because I was added to the graduation list late, and I asked one of the other girls when she found out that she was honors. She said that she got the cords with her cap and gown. I was pretty annoyed and embarrassed that I didn't have cords too, since I thought that I had earned them.

After standing in the room for about an hour (and having our picture taken), we lined up to march into the other room where the ceremony was being held. I saw my mom, and she asked me where my cords were.

When we all sat down, I was looking at the program to make sure that I was listed, and I noticed that there were two asterisks by my name, indicating that I was graduating with highest honors. There was nothing on my card that I had to hand to the person to be announced when I walked across stage. I know that this isn't going to matter in five years, but I was pretty disappointed, especially because I just barely missed the cutoff for honors in high school.

college graduation. too many cameras and my dress is kind of short. December 2013.

high school graduation. June 2011.

xoxo.

an evening away

last week, I had to go to an out-of-town event for a school activity in the evening. I didn't feel like driving an hour back in the late evening hours, so I rented a hotel room. it was the first time that I've ever stayed at a hotel by myself, so it was a little weird, but it was nice.

I chose to stay at the aloft because I had once done a project on them for my Hospitality Management class, and I thought that they looked pretty cute.

I love that little retro alarm clock.

the room at the venue all set up for dinner.

the other room all set up for the show.

xoxo.

Why Buy When You Can Rent?

{this post is sponsored by CampusBookRentals.com. I have been compensated, but all opinions are my own.}

Transitioning from the public education system to college is quite strange. Before, the taxes that our parents paid covered the costs of our education, but then when you get to college, you have to pay for your classes, your books, and if you go to a larger school, probably your dorm and meal plans as well. This is all on top of the other costs of living, unless you are lucky enough to have someone helping you out or a scholarship.

Life is expensive! Back in July, I posted about Campus Book Rentals, and how they help cut the cost of college textbooks.

As soon as I learned which books I would need for my classes this semester, I looked to see if they were available on Campus Book Rentals. I needed only two books this semester, and of those two books, I was able to find the book that I needed for my Event Marketing class.

I was thankful that Campus Book Rentals has a flexible renting period, because it seems as though my school goes a little bit longer than typical colleges and universities. And did I mention that they have free shipping both ways on top of the savings of 40-90% off bookstore prices? One less thing for me to think about! When I received my textbook much earlier than I had expected, it was packaged with the hot pink bubble mailer that I will be using when I return my Sports Marketing book in a few weeks.

Not only does Campus Book Rentals work hard to save you money, but with every book rental, they donate to a cause called Operation Smile, which helps to save children who were born with cleft lips and cleft palates.

What if you already bought your textbooks from the college bookstore? You can always rent them out to other students using Rent Back by Campus Book Rentals.

I had such a great experience this semester with Campus Book Rentals, and I think this is something that I can use as part of my twenty by twenty goal of being more frugal this year. Do you have any great tips to save money during college?

Twenty While Twenty

today is my twentieth birthday! I have seen a lot of "twenty while twenty" lists {or something similar}, so I thought I'd make one too!

1. get my own place.
2. take a solo trip.
3. get another tattoo. {sorry, Mom}
4. graduate college with my associate's degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management.
5. try a new recipe to bring to Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.
6. create a Facebook fan page for my photography.
7. rename my blog & get a fresh design to go with it.
8. read twenty books.
9. blog at least twice a week.
10. buy a real leather belt. no more bad quality Target belts for daily wear.
11. bake a cake. {I've never baked a cake before, only cupcakes.}
12. send out one piece of real mail {package, letter, postcard, etc.} each month.
13. learn how to be more frugal. {and blog about my adventures along the way}
14. take better care of myself. {eat healthier, do yoga, etc.}
15. go to the spa to get a pedicure, massage, and/or facial.
16. learn how to apply makeup - maybe someone at Sephora would teach me?
17. start writing a book.
18. learn how to play one song on the guitar.
19. drive up north at least four times.
20. plan a fabulous party for my twenty-first! (:

xoxo.

Campus Book Rentals {Sponsored Post}

{this post is sponsored by CampusBookRentals.com. I have been compensated, but all opinions are my own.}

As a college student getting ready for her final semester, I know how expensive textbooks can be. The past five semesters, I would buy my books from the college bookstore and then sell them back at the end of the semester. Most of my books cost around $75-100 each, and I would only get about 20% of that back afterwards! Because I knew that I would be returning the books at the end of the semester anyway, I tried to save some money by buying my books used.

But this semester, I will be renting my books from CampusBookRentals.com. Instead of having to drive an hour to the bookstore, stand in line, and have to carry my heavy books out to my car, I'm going to save my time and sanity by ordering my books online and having them delivered to my mailbox! Not only that, but I will be saving 40-90% by using Campus Book Rentals. That's exciting! More money to spend on other fun things!

Some other perks of using Campus Book Rentals include: free shipping both ways, flexible rental periods, highlighting and note-taking in the books, and they donate money to a great cause called Operation Smile!

Here is a quick video on how Campus Book Rentals works:



Campus Book Rentals also has a new program out, one that I wish I would have known about a few semesters ago!

Their new program, RentBack, allows you {the awesome college student who wants to save some more money} to rent out the textbooks that you bought to other college students. RentBack makes 2-4 times the amount of money back on your books than when you sell your books back to the college bookstore.

Here is a video that talks a little bit more about RentBack:



I will be saving some money this semester by using College Book Rentals, and I hope you will too!

The Month By iPhone: May 2013

I know I say this every month, but seriously, how can another month have gone by?! I posted each day for the first time ever, but I've been kind of slacking on my Instagramming. here are some of my favorite square-shaped captures from this past month.

I bought my big girl camera this month!!!!! :D

last day of Restaurant Management: Paula brought in cupcakes (she was trying out a new recipe). they're vanilla with vanilla buttercream and raspberry filling. so good!!

Baileys Harbor

my 1000th Instagram: my nails {essie's smooth sailing}

I am in love with these pillow covers!

balcony + clouds

pretty flowers at the Y

I just love Barnes & Noble.

 lesson planning for Sunday

I got my 2014 agenda in the mail! it is so cute!

lilacs at work (:

xoxo.

I Can't Believe...

linking up with Miss Robin at The Sunshine Diary today! (:

I can't believe...

...that I left Target without buying the one item I went there to buy. (I didn't even set foot into that aisle!)

...the weather lately! first it was warm, then it snowed a few inches, then it warmed up a little, and we might get more snow on Friday!

{this is from Monday out on Mathey Road}

...how beautiful and peaceful it was out at the lake on Monday morning.

{Lily Bay Boat Landing; Lake Michigan}

...that not all cereal is packaged like the vintage General Mills boxes below.

{they were on sale 2/$5 & also had Honey Nut Cheerios, Cheerios, & Cocoa Puffs! too cute!}

...that I graduate in December! four more weeks + my credit for life internship and three more classes!

{I also can't believe that I found Timbuk3 inspired party décor at Target! clearly the product designer doesn't know what the song is actually about, but I digress.} {click here to watch "The Future's So Bright}

...that I got my first things from IKEA today! I've never been to IKEA, as there isn't one anywhere in Wisconsin, but my aunt and uncle got me some cute pillow covers from there! (:

{if only I would have remembered the 20x20 pillow at Target today...}

thanks for hosting this fun linkup, Robin! (: