Find Some Happiness

Sometimes, as college freshman/sophomores/juniors/seniors, we feel like we're lost.  We feel like we do not have our shit together and our life is a mess.  Ever felt like this? Me too. I guarantee that we've all felt this way, so no, you're not alone.  Having felt like this a little bit recently, in my sophomore year of college, I've been thinking about this quite a bit.  Getting caught up in the druggery of college life, aka going out on Tuesday night, maybe Wednesday night (it happens sometimes), probably Thursday night, and definitely over the weekend will have you feeling tired and give you the feeling that you absolutely do not have your shit together.  I'm sure that more times than not, staying in bed and not going to class after a night of going out sounds better than anything, making that feeling worse.  These are the things I've realized as this feeling hit me, will help you feel like you actually DO have your shit together.

You do not need to go out all the time. yes, ha ha, joke's on me, because everyone else is going out and it's Tuesday.  There are always going to be times to go out, and if you have an exam the next day or important classes to attend and you don't want to feel like you got hit by a bus, trust me, Friday night will be exciting too, and then you can freely lay in your bed all day long on Saturday.

Find passion for something.  At times, probably after you've joined Greek life or met a ton of people, you want to socialize with them and hang out with them and go out with them all the time.  Great, you should, but what I'm saying is find something in College that you are passionate about that doesn't include drinking.  This should be something you love to do and have time to yourself while doing it.  For me, this is running (and occasionally laying in bed writing or making lists, because yes this is therapeutic for me).  For other people this can be things like yoga, writing, going to bible study, working out, finding a club to be involved in, leading an organization, volunteering, etc.  The list goes on and on, but finding something that interests you and that you love to be involved in is so important and will keep you grounded.

Be organized.  This is literally the biggest thing that you can do to feel like you have it all together.  If you have a planner that's great, but if you actually use it, you're golden.  Using a planner will definitely keep you organized, and being able to visualize and see the things you need to get done will help you SO much. One of the things I've started doing is making a list of all the things I need to get done for the week at the beginning of the week, with all of the due dates, and I figure out what days I can accomplish everything with my schedule.  This keeps things short and sweet so you don't forget to turn anything in.

Make lists. Lists literally help everything and anything and make you feel so much more organized when you can cross things off the list as you accomplish them.  I will put almost every single little thing I need to get done that day on my to do list, only because when you accomplish little things and can cross them off your list, it makes you feel good about yourself.

Do things that relax you.  In college, it's go, go, go.  Sometimes I feel like I never have any time to relax.  Things like waking up half an hour earlier or going to bed half an hour earlier will allow you to have more time to relax and more importantly, have time to yourself.  This honestly makes me personally feel like I have more control over my life, and I obviously have more time to be on Pinterest. 

There is always going to be stress in your life.  Whether it is small and unnoticed, or big and you're freaking out, it will always be there.  The best way to go about it is to find some things that make you happy, and well, obviously try to get your shit together.

Lex

How You Know You Are Actually a Basic White Girl

The world is full of them, you know them, you may even hate some of them, but you might even be one. What even is a basic white girl?!

The first part of acknowledging that you are a basic white girl is accepting your addiction to Netflix. This happens when you realize just how much time you actually spend in bed on a weekly basis watching netflix.

A basic white girl uses terms like "I can't" or "literally can't even" and if you find yourself using these terms frequently, you might just be one.

She also visits Starbucks daily, and is literally "over it" when they spell her name wrong on her venti mocha frappucino.

Basic white girls are constantly quoting popular movies that everyone knows and loves like Mean Girls, Pitch Perfect, and maybe even a little bit of Disney's Frozen. These movies are classics, but if you haven't seen them you won't understand half of the things white girls are saying these days.

Pants are overrated, according to every basic white girl, because she stands firm in her belief that she can wear leggings for every occasion, every day of the year. Seriously with anything.

A basic white girls abbreviates more words than she says in full. This is mainly over text or email but is becoming more commonly used in actual conversation. Basic white girls are even bringing them inside the workplace.

Lastly, basic white girls are frequently tanning, whether this be in the tanning bed or basking in the hot sun over the summer. Basic white girls have that summer glow all year long.

If you find that many of these traits resonate with you, congrats because you are probably a basic white girl. These girls can be found at any university, and definitely at your neighborhood Starbucks. 

Xoxo

-Lex

The Ultimate College Packing List

With a new semester right around the corner for many of us, this is an exciting time of the year.  Whether you are a recent HS graduate or continuing with your second, third, or fourth year of college, this can be an exciting but stressful time.  I remember this time last year I was struggling to decide how I wanted to decorate my dorm room, what I wanted my colors to be (yes, I am OCD about matching), and most importantly, what I wanted to bring with me!  Having my freshman year under my belt, and receiving plenty of questions from my close friends about what they should bring for their freshman year, I would say I have a pretty good idea what you will need!

Bedroom:
-Matress Cover
-Matress pad (I recommend memory foam, those college dorm beds can be pretty uncomfortable)
-Comforter/Duvet + Duvet Insert
-Two Pillows/Pillow Cases
-Body Pillow + Cover
-Two sets of sheets
-Risers (If needed)
-Throw Blanket
-Fan
-iHome (Can also use as an alarm)
-Extra Lamp
-Small Trash Can

Bathroom:
-Shower Caddy
-Toiletries --> (Aspirin, Advil PM, lint roller, brush, comb, makeup, q-tips, razor, nail clippers, band aids, floss, hair products, mouth wash, face wash, medicine, tweezers)
-Tissues
-Two Towels
-Towel Wrap
-Hair Towel (if you need it)
-Wash Cloths
-Flip Flops/ Shower Shoes-recommend Old Navy or Adidas
-Toilet Paper if not a communal bathroom

Decoration:
-Bulletin board for pinning important papers
-Dry erase calender for each month with important due dates
-Pictures
-Plenty of command hooks

Laundry:
-Laundry Basket/something non flimsy so you can carry it to the actual washer and dryer and when your clothes are folded it's handy
-Box of tide pods-those are much easier than dishing out the correct amount of detergent
-Dryer sheets to make your clothes smell amazing

School Related Items:
-Agenda
-School Supplies
-Umbrella, rain jacket, rain boots
-Laptop/Laptop case
-Backpack (trust me that's what you want)
-Plenty of index cards

Cleaning Supplies:
-Lysol Wipes
-Paper Towels
-Swiffer
-Broom
-Vaccuum for rug
 -Hand Sanitizer

Kitchen:
-Bowls
-Plates
-Utensils
-Cups
-Tumbler cups to take to class
-Coffee pot/keurig
-Coffee Mugs
-Snacks
-A case of Natty Light
-Food to munch on when you come home from a night out

Storage:
-Bins to keep extra clothes for off season
-Bins for extra shoes
-Shelves for top of desk for books and other items
-Plastic bins for food storage

Electronics:
-TV
-Laptop
-Tablet/iPad
-Printer
-Headphones
-USB

Clothes (Main Items):
-Sweatshirts
-Leggings
-Long Sleeve T shirts
-Rain Boots
-Riding Boots
-Baseball Hats
-SPIRIT WEAR DUH for your university
-Tennis shoes
-Dresses for formals
-Clothes you would wear out

Personal:
-License
-Student ID
-Money
-Room Key!
-Debit Card
-Insurance Card


For my freshman year, these were all things I needed and had with me in my dorm room. I hope you found this helpful for the coming months!
If there is anything I forgot, leave it in the comments below!

xoxo
Lex

Ways I Stayed Organized My Freshman Year of College

As I was talking to my friends dad last night about my first year at college, he was surprised when I said that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I can honestly say I am so happy about where I chose to go to school, and believe that it was the best fit for me.  I believe that my organization had a lot to do with my happiness, even though obviously the people, classes, activities, and other aspects helped as well.  I think one of my best qualities is my ability to be organized, and it's something that brings order to my life when I remain organized.  I thought because of this that I would share a few of the ways that I stayed organized my freshman year of college!  Enjoy!

1. Use an agenda.  I promise that your planner/agenda will become your best friend, and it was something I always had with me, whether it was in my purse or in my book bag! I've always been big on using a planner, because writing things down help me to remember it more than just jotting it down in my phone.  One of the ways that motivated me to use it more was to personalize it!

2. Make a To Do list, every day.  On my desk in my dorm room I had a note pad that I would write down all the things I needed to accomplish the next day and either put it in my planner, or kept it on my desk, depending on what I was doing that day.  This really helped to visualize how much I needed to finish and what had priority over what.

3. Use different colors!  Whether it was in my notes or my planner, my notebooks and agenda were filled with different colors and different highlighters.  Using different colors stimulates your brain to pay attention and focus more clearly on what is written if it is written in something other than black pen or pencil.

  

4. Get your work done first, so you can have fun later.  Something that really helped me this year was putting in the time to get my work done so that I could do fun things with my friends.  One of the awesome things about college is getting to go out during the week, but if I was going to go out, I had to make sure I finished everything on my to do list. 

5. Read your Emails! Set up your email on your phone/tablet/computer so that you get notifications when you receive an email.  I cannot even explain how helpful this is because teachers are constantly sending out emails about class cancellations, homework assignments, or dates for different assignments.

6. Balance your extra curricular activities.  Whether it be a sorority or a sport, balancing those things and making sure that one is not affecting the other is so important in college.  Making sure you have your work done and planning your time accordingly is so important (this is where that agenda comes in handy). 

7. Always make time for naps.  Yes, this actually did help me stay organized.  College can be overwhelming and stressful at times, so if you have time, take a quick nap to recharge your body so that you can accomplish more later!

8. Keep your room organized!  I was lucky enough this year to have roommates who cared about cleanliness as much as I do.  If your things are cleaned up and organized, chances are you will feel more organized just because of it, because I don't know about you, but it stresses me out when my room is messy!

Those are the main ways that I stayed organized my freshman year of college!  Hopefully some of these helped, and inspired you to try some of them if you haven't already.  Thanks for reading.

-Lex

Things I Learned My Freshman Year of College

I just finished my freshman year of college, and it was definitely a year of growth, learning, and changes.  From living on your own, doing your own laundry, and taking care of yourself when you get sick, to nights of studying, hanging out, or going out with your friends, freshman year is definitely a time to figure out what you are all about and what you like to do.  There are some specific things I learned these past nine months that I want to share with all of you.

1. You have freedom to make your own choices:  I moved into my dorm three days early as part of the welcoming team to help people move in, and because of that, we had a ton of free time to do whatever.  I remember feeling like there was always somewhere I needed to be and it took a few weeks to realize that there was no one telling me where I had to be and when.
2. Freedom will be taken away from you when you go home:  When I come home for breaks, nothing changes.  My curfew is still the same, and I always have to tell my parents where I am, where I am going, who I am with, and when I will be home.
3.  Take Advantage of The City Around Your College Town: it's so fun to be able to be a part of a college town and experience the campus, but a huge benefit is going to school in the city, so take advantage of it and get out of your college town and explore the city nearest to you!
4. If Possible, Don't Take Friday Classes-Or Schedule Them Late: One of the most fun parts of college is having the freedom to go out during the school week.  When you look back at your college experience, you won't remember the nights you stayed in and studied, but you will remember the nights that you went out and had a good time with your friends.
5.  Get a Fake ID:  Honestly, you never know when you will need it and it's definitely worth the money.
6.  Who You Were in High School Does Not Matter:  People in high school spend way too much time trying to fit in with the "in crowd", when in reality, none of that matters once you leave your high school for the last time and all of your classmates go separate ways.  You will make new, good friends who will stand by you through anything.
7.  The Later It Gets, The Better Food Tastes:  This is a given, if you don't eat late at night, you're doing it wrong.
8. Some Things Will Take Priority Over Other Things:  Eating and napping will become more important than say...showering.
9. You Think You Know how to Operate a Microwave, but sometimes...: 
   
    
10. You Will Get Stressed, It's ok. You Will Be Fine.
    
    College is what you make it, so wherever you are, make the most of it and have the best time because college is the time to make mistakes and have the time to learn from them.
    

The List

I've always wanted to start a blog, but have never known where to start.  It's a pretty rainy, dreary day here in my hometown, so what could be more perfect than spending some time reflecting on life, and writing about it.  I thought I would begin this journey with a list of a few facts about me (lists are one of my favorite things).

• My name is Alexa Raye Dauphin, but anyone close to me knows me as Lex, Lexa, or Lexarayeraye.
• I will be 19 years old on July 29th of this year, and in August I will begin my sophomore year of college.
• I have one sister who is currently finishing her sophomore year of high school.
• I have a passion for things that sparkle or curl.
• My monogram is on almost everything that I own.
• I am an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
• some of my favorite things include: Chipotle, Monograms, Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rogers, Pinterest, Panera, chunky necklaces, and crafting.

This blog will feature tips on organization, fashion, beauty, crafting, experiences, and other random things as I go through my college years. I'm just a sorority girl who has a love of preppy things.

-Lex