Food is a very serious topic, and when it comes to food, I don’t mess around. However, being in college and constantly needing to provide food for yourself can be a huge financial challenge. So, when I have food, I don’t play with it, but I do find creative ways to save money on food. While dining halls are pretty disgusting, if you look hard enough, there are a few convenient tricks for saving money using your dining hall, you just have to get a little creative. Here are some of my favorite tricks for using the dining hall to save money, and have access to yummy food even when its closed.

1. To-go containers are your best friend. Always ask for one when you go into the dining hall even if you are planning on eating there. You can fill it up with yummy snacks for later! Chips, bread, a sandwich, anything you might want later in the day.
2. Coffee cups also serve as a great tool, and not just for keeping your coffee warm. I often times fill up a coffee cup with salsa, hummus, goldfish, peanut-butter, cereal or soup, and when I get to my room, I tape the holes and put it in my mini fridge to make sure it stays fresh.
3. Water bottles. Reuse your recyclable bottles or just fill your personal water bottle up with milk, coffee, tea, or whatever else your dining hall has to offer. Then you stick it in your fridge and can drink it whenever you want! One of my favorite things to do is get a water bottle of milk and a coffee cup of cereal. It is perfect for a quick snack when studying after dining hall hours.
4. Fruit. There is usually a fruit station somewhere in the dining hall. I always make sure to grab a few apples or bananas to keep in my room for a healthy snack whenever it is convenient.

These are my top 4 tips for getting creative with saving money on food. While you do pay for access to the dining hall, there are many times when you want food, but it is closed. So, instead of spending more money somewhere else, keep a few snacks on hand and you’ll be set! But be careful, some dining halls aren’t huge fans of students taking advantage of what they have already paid for. :). Food

Fried Sriracha Balls

I am one of those people that puts sriracha on anything and everything, but the thought of fried sriracha confused me, and honestly didn’t sound very appetizing. This weird concept turned out to be surprisingly good. Not something I would eat on a regular basis, but was definitely enjoyable if you like spice!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls

This melt in your mouth goodness combines two things people love: chocolate covered strawberries and waffles! The rich, warm, gooey chocolate was amazing to pair with the sweet and sour strawberries… the dough and powdered sugar was just an extra touch. Talk about a sugar rush!

The Classics:

Corn on the Cob

the classic, steaming hot, perfectly salted and buttered state fair corn… what’s not to love?!

Cotton Candy & Funnel Cake

I am not a fan of either of these, but my friends swear by these fair staples. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, these seem to be the major can’t-miss items.

French Fries

In case you have room for one more classic splurge!

 

A lot of people ask me how I keep my skin so clear and what makeup products I use, so I thought I would share some of my go-to beauty products at the moment. I am a big fan of skincare and trying different types of makeup. I love checking out the latest at Sephora or seeing what products are popular on my Instagram feed and finding the right ones for me. I have very sensitive, combination skin so the more natural the product is the better.

I have also been on an organic kick lately after reading some of the terrible things that go into making skincare products. The new motto I try to follow is: if you wouldn’t eat it, why wear it? These days skincare products are packed with sulfates, parabens, and much more that are harmful to your skin in the long run. For years I was apart of the Clinique cult-favorite products, but recently I have been informed on how harsh they are on my skin, so as sad as it was to say goodbye to the three-step program, I decided it was time for a change.

New and Noteworthy Products:

I start my day off by taking two of the Hum: Hair Sweet Hair vegan gummies. These gummies not only taste good but support hair strength and growth.

I just recently started using the Mineral Peel from O.R.G skincare and I am OBSESSED. Within minutes it takes all of the dead skin you didn’t even know was there off of your face! Immediately after using this product my face feels incredibly soft and renewed. I follow that up with the antioxidant-filled Kopari coconut rose toner made to rebalance the skin, minimize pores, and create a refreshing feel.

After seeing advertisement on advertisement for the Jade Roller, I decided to hop on the trend and test it out for myself. This is heaven-sent for depuffing… especially after a long night out. Another movement I have gotten behind is organic deodorant. Once I learned that regular deodorant contained large amounts of aluminum, it didn’t seem healthy to me to be putting that on my skin day after day. I use the brand Native, which has seasonal scents to pick and choose from as well as an option for sensitive skin.

I finish off my morning routine with the hydrating day cream from pai and my ultimate favorite, Babe Lash Eyelash Serum. My skin gets dry so easily down in Texas and this moisturizer is the perfect, lightweight cream for the job. I started using babe lash back in March and have seen incredible results! I now get frequent compliments on how long my eyelashes are and even got my mom to start using the serum too.
Believe me when I tell you that dorm living water is not the best for your skin and hair. Down in Dallas, my hair can get extremely dry in the heat, so this Briogeo reparative conditioning milk is a life saver. I spray it into my damp hair after showering and comb through and it makes my hair feel 10x better.

Not pictured is a hidden gem of mine that my boss recently turned me on to, RMS Coconut Oil. This lightweight oil is perfect for all over and leaves your skin silky smooth for the rest of the day.

My Go To Make up Products:

FENTY, FENTY, FENTY! I am a big Fenty Beauty fan right now. Rihanna’s new line of makeup is great for all shades of skin with her vast variety of colors and is priced so it doesn’t break the bank. I just recently got the foundation and have gotten so many compliments on how dewy my skin looks.

Last but definitely not least, Coola setting spray with SPF is great for day and night. The SPF makes it easier to reapply sunscreen during the day and keeps your makeup looking great all night, not to mention it is a completely natural and organic brand.

These are just some of the highlights of my beauty routine at the moment but the best way to stay up to date on great products is to follow them on any social media or watch tutorial videos. I’ll finish it off with a good saying to keep in mind: “Skin first, makeup second, smile always”. 🙂

Everyone needs a little inspo to get their closet popping 😉

I decided to try something completely different than most workout classes. City Surf Fitness founded right here in Dallas a few years back, is a workout done on a surfboard to strengthen your entire body while constantly having to balance. The machine was featured on the TV show Shark Tank and was created with the funding from Mark Cuban. The board is balanced on top of three stability balls, so the core is engaged throughout the entire workout. The small studio only has ten surfboards so all class sizes are small which is great with an engaged and hands-on instructor. The Billabong surfing video projected on the side of the wall creates a great atmosphere and brings a beachy vibe to the middle of the city.

City Surf offers classes 35 and 50 minutes long. Each day of the week the class has a different part of the body it focuses on. When I went to the 35-minute, 7 am class Wednesday morning, we focused on cardio + core. During the class, we alternated between doing 3 set of 25 core-based moves on the board, and 3 cardio-based moves in sets of 5 on and off the board continuously for 2 minutes.

Although the concept of this class was intriguing, I didn’t think it was the best workout. If I were to do it again and had more time, I would definitely do one of the 50-minute classes. I felt the burn during the 30-minute class, but nothing after which was upsetting. I’m one of those people that love feeling sore after a workout because then I know I worked myself hard, and thirty minutes just wasn’t enough. Overall, the class was a refreshing break from sculpting and HIIT classes, but not the most rewarding. I would recommend this class if you’re looking for something fun to do with a group of friends, but not if you’re looking to really get your sweat on!

Starting college can be a very scary time in one’s life. Leaving your bubble to start a clean slate is exciting, but nerve-racking all at once. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to be completely prepared in order to have the best first semester possible. Here are a few tricks of the trade to get you headed in the right direction.

1. Go to Class

   • Contrary to what some people may demonstrate, your parents aren’t paying tuition for you to go out, party, and sleep through your classes, so the best way to guarantee success is to show up to class and put the work in. Studying and doing your homework are both very important too, but showing up is a great start. Going off of that, take classes that interest you… even if they are at 8 am. It will be way more enjoyable in the long run and will make it easier to go.

2. Attend as much as you can

   • At the beginning of the semester, I suggest you broaden your horizons to more than what you are familiar with. Go to a sporting event you usually wouldn’t, join a club, sit next to someone you don’t know at the library. Doing these things will help you make friends and have a more enjoyable experience as opposed to sitting in your dorm room waiting for someone to ask you to hang out. Who knows, maybe you’ll really enjoy something you never thought you would.

3. Know that if you don’t love it at first, it is totally ok

   • It happens every year. Someone from your friend group or high school class isn’t enjoying their first semester/year, and if that’s you, that is totally ok! If you are feeling homesick a few tricks that help is to bring pictures to hang up on your walls of your friends and family from home. Making your dorm room your own helps make you feel at home as well. A care package from home never hurts either! (I opted out of the food packages as an attempt to save myself from the inevitable Freshman 15).
   • Another easy thing to do is remember that none of your friends are at home and that some are probably feeling the exact same way you are. Finally, it’s the 21st century… everyone is just a facetime call away to make you feel right at home.
     

4.  Stay organized

   • I am a big advocate for staying organized. There is no worse feeling than not getting something done on time because you forgot, so the best way to avoid this is to stay on top of everything. I love to make reminders, lists, and calendars for all sorts of different reasons. When I’m at school, I break it down into four different plans.
     • daily planner
       • hand-written and electronic. I carry a planner in my backpack where I write down my homework and test/essay dates while I have my calendar on my computer to log sorority events, family dinners, me time, and study hours. Color coordination also helps a lot so everything doesn’t blend together.
     • monthly desk planner
       • I hang a calendar against my desk wall to plan out my month ahead. This helps so I don’t double book myself far out in advance.
     • semester at a glance
       • I learned about this planning technique in a class I took about time management first semester of my freshman year. You can find printable versions online but it is a long calendar with the entire semester on it. I then fill in important dates, color coordinated by class and then hang it next to my monthly calendar so I know when I’m going to have a super busy week ahead of time.
     • To Do Lists
       • If you know you have a bunch of errands to run, write them down! It’ll ensure you stick to getting them all done… plus, it feels great to cross things off of a list 🙂

5. Set up Roommate Rules

   • it is better to do this before any arguments take place, that way they are avoidable. It is always good to make sure you two are on the same page with your goals for the semester and how you can help each other achieve them.
     

6. Vitamin C is Key

   • It is SO easy to get sick at college from everyone living so close to each other and being in a new area, so stay ahead of the game. From day one I put a vitamin c packet in my water bottle every morning to boost my immune system, and I still got sick quite a bit. Try to eat healthy during the week to help your body as well!

7. Be Safe

   • This one may seem like a no-brainer, but every year there are a plethora of horror stories that occur on college campuses. Never go anywhere/uber alone, make sure you and your friends don’t get out of control, and trust your instinct.

8. Most importantly… Have fun!!

   • This is one of the few times in your life you have the chance to completely reinvent yourself. Don’t take anything too seriously and meet new people! You’ll meet some of your life-long friends here and the four years go by fast, so make the most out of all of them. College, especially freshman year, is a blast. Make the most of your time and don’t forget to have some fun

Some nights it’s an accomplishment to even take your makeup off, but when I have the time, I love to do a whole skin care routine. Most people don’t know that there is an order to use your products in that is more beneficial than than than others!

1. Remove your makeup. I like to use Neutrogena makeup remover wipes! Make sure you get your ears and neck during this step.
2. Cleanse. I use a variety of different face washes depending on how my skin is looking and feeling on any particular day. Talk to a dermatologist and see what is recommended for you.
3. Exfoliate. This step doesn’t need to be done every night. I do it about 3 times a week,  or before putting on a full face of makeup.
4. Toner. Use a cotton pad to spread it on your face. I LOVE Mario Bedescu’s rose water toner.
5. Prescription products. I’m not currently using any, but if you are, it is best to do it right after the toner so that your skin is able to get all the medication.
6. Serum.  To help treat wrinkles, dehydration, etc. I like Nerium night cream.
7. Eye cream. I usually apply a moisturizing eye cream, especially in the colder months. It helps keep my eyes smoother and crack free.
8. Moisturizer. I LOVE the Clinique moisturizing gel. It isn’t too heavy on my face and leaves it feeling light and clean.

I sat on the roof

The cops showed up and yelled “down”

I jumped, my arm hurts