Custom Lilly Pom-Pom Shorts

I have such a hard time finding things that fit my petite frame, especially things in Lilly Pulitzer. I can't tell if Lilly runs big, or if I'm the only one that has this problem. Recently I went to the Pink Narcissus in Pier Park to try on a pair of Lilly shorts, but even the 00s fell off of me. I have a small frame due to 1) genetics and 2) the back brace that I wore for over 2 years acted as a corset, and as a result my ribs and hips were very slow to expand. I voiced my frustrations to the Lilly team, but I wanted action right away! Then, I found Custom Lilly's Instagram! She was having a giveaway at the time, and one of my friends posted about it.

Custom Lilly makes custom shorts and skirts out of Lilly Pulitzer fabric. These aren't some imitations, it's the actual print! She offers sizes XS-XL, and the XS was absolutely PERFECT for my tiny frame! They have an elastic waist and the cutest pom-pom detailing at the bottom. I actually won Custom Lilly's giveaway (yay me!!) and I had the hardest time picking between Lobstah Roll and She She Shell. I ended up going with She She Shell, because I'm always a sucker for textured fabric! Custom Lilly just launched her website today and you can check it out HERE!! Also, be on the look out for a guest post with my new friends at Custom Lilly and Amy Believes In Pink! 

Wearing my Custom Lilly shorts out to eat for my brother's birthday!

Easy DIY Cocktail Ring Magnet

When I was cleaning out my room to get packed up to go back to school (I leave in a week! Eek!!), I found some broken cocktail rings that I've had for, like, ever. Some I had tried to glue back together, and some I'd forgotten about. But that's what happens when you buy $5 rings, right (besides turning your finger green)? I decided that instead of throwing them away, I'd find some cute DIY to use them for. Finally, I came up with the idea of making them magnets for my dorm room refrigerator!

1. Get your ring top (does this thing have a name?)

2. Get your magnet (I used these from Wal-Mart)

3. Put them together! Ta-da! Now that was simple enough, right?! If you want some extra "stick" add some hot glue or E6000 glue to the ring before you put the magnet on.

P.S. I've been working on my hand-lettering…it's not the best but I'm making progress!

 See Sarah's Style has a GREAT tutorial!!

This was such a pretty ring! And now it's looking pretty on my fridge!

I'm still trying to decide what to do with the bow one, because the magnet didn't fit on it. Maybe making it a thumbtack for my cork board? Do you have any awesome ideas?! Comment below!

Like my monogrammed notecards?! Be on the lookout for a tutorial soon!

What To Pack For College - Clothing Edition

Recently I received an email asking if I had suggestions on what to pack for going to school in Alabama. If you don't live in the South, you might not know that it's very very VERY humid here, and that the weather is bipolar. Like, seriously, I've worn nike shorts with a tank top AND a boots & scarf outfit IN THE SAME WEEK! It's crazy here, y'all! If you're from the South, you know what I'm talking about! So, here is my ultimate clothing packing list if you're going to college in the South (Most things on this list will apply for every college) :

• Game Day dresses - We wear game day dresses every Saturday in the South for two reasons: 1. We look cute and classy 2. It's too hot and humid to wear pants! Seriously! I made that mistake once and I won't make it again! Sheer maxi skirts that have a slit (like the one I'm wearing below from Forever 21) work great, too! If you're not a big dress person, a pair of shorts and a cute top is comfortable!

What we wore to an unusually chilly/rainy away game in Oxford, MS.

• Nike Shorts- You'll wear these around your dorm/apartment, hanging with friends, to class…pretty much everywhere! (And occasionally while working out, if you're in to that sort of thing)

Nike shorts and tshirts 4eva

• Leggings (that are NOT see through)/ yoga pants- For when it's too cold for nike shorts
• A FEW tshirts- One of the best tips I read before I went to college was to not bring a ton of tshirts from home. I brought more than I needed, but as soon a I started getting more tshirts at school, I took my other ones home. (I'm planning on making a tshirt quilt out of all my old high school tshirts) You'll get a lot of tshirts when you go to college, especially if you join a sorority! P.S. Don't forget tank tops!
• Dresses- I took WAY too many dresses when I went to school (like 30…oops!), but they definitely are needed! You'll need sun dresses, game day dresses, going out dresses, etc. You really don't need that many, but sometimes it just feels good to dress up! And if you run out of clean shorts or leggings, wearing a dress means you don't have to wear pants ;)
• Tops- Most of my night outfits consisted of a cute top and shorts/jeans. Bring plenty of cute tops, but also some that are versatile and can be worn during the day as well!
• Bottoms- Like I mentioned, I wore cute shorts out all the time! Bring plenty of cute shorts, and jeans as well! Don't forget regular jeans to wear when it gets WAYYY too cold to wear leggings!

• Shoes- Rule of thumb is to bring a pair of shoes to go with any outfit. I had sandals, wedges, pumps, tennis shoes, Chacos, rain boots, riding boots, etc! I probably brought too many, but I wanted to be sure I had a pair of shoes for every outfit!
• Business- Always keep at least one "professional" outfit on hand. This could be a pair of slacks or a pencil skirt paired with a nice shirt or blazer. You'll never know if you have an interview or event pop up!
• Jackets- I always keep a light jacket in my closet for the days where it's kind of chilly outside. I also keep a Patagonia for those times when the weather gets really bipolar! For the colder months, bring a heavy-ish jacket (I had a super cute peacoat) to wear to class since you'll be walking outside. Luckily, I didn't have to keep all this with me since I only lived an hour away from home, but if you can't change out your seasonal clothes, pack it all out of the way until you need it! P.S. Once it got cold enough, I wore a sweatshirt and scarf with everything!

Snow Day attire in South Alabama

• Swimsuit- Yes! Bring at least one swimsuit (but not too many)! Most apartment complexes have pools that allow their residents to bring guests. Here in the South we can go to the pool for quite a long time! Don't forget your sunscreen!
• Jewelry- I'm a simple kind of gal when it comes to jewelry. My go-to look is a pair of pearl studs, my birthstone and monogram ring, and a monogram or pearl necklace. For when I have the time, I bring other jewelry, like different necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, to go with my outfit. Scarves are another way to change up an outfit in any season!
• Rainy days- Don't forget a rain jacket, rain boots, and umbrella! If you live in the South you're used to hurricane season, and they're not going to cancel classes unless severe weather is coming. So, yes, that means even if it's flooding outside, your teachers still expect you to walk through it to come to class. (Sometimes the school is crazy. I had to walk about 1/4 of a mile to my class in flooding rain and bad lightning…)

I probably took way too many clothes my first year of college, but I've always had a tendency to overpack! I'd rather have too many clothes than not enough! For tips on how to fit all of this in your tiny room, check out my How To Survive Your Dorm Room posts!

Considering these two pictures are nothing but clothes, I'd say I had enough ;)

How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Everything Else

If you've been keeping up with my How To Survive Your Dorm room series, you know I've already told you how to make the most of your bed, bathroom, and closet! The response I've gotten on these posts is overwhelming! Now it's time for…everything else! In this post I'm covering your desk, dresser, and floor space. See anything I forgot? Leave me a comment or shoot me an email!

1. Desk

My desk/"kitchen area"

Most dorms come with a desk (check with your dorm to make sure yours does!), and for most people it functions as more than a desk. I used my desk to do homework, to eat, to use my computer…pretty much for everything! If you think "I'll never use my desk, I'll just sit on my bed!", you are WRONG. Try to do your homework on your bed a few times…if you're like me, you'll end up taking a nap. 

You're most likely going to have a lot of things on your desk because it's one of the only pieces of furniture in the room. On top of mine I had a printer, a lamp, a pencil holder, my vitamins, some picture frames, and some other miscellaneous things. I learned early on that I couldn't fit 5 picture frames on my desk, so I moved them on top of my air conditioner. 

Your desk is another part of your room (besides your bed) that is something that you should absolutely love! After a few weeks, you'll figure out a system that works for you! You'll definitely need a lamp, especially if you have a roommate that naps a lot ;), and a cork board is another must! I found mine at Burlington super cheap. It already had the chevron, I just added my monogram! You can always find some super cute cork board DIYs on Pinterest! I also kept a pencil holder from the dollar bin at Target on my desk. Put up artwork or something else that puts you in a good mood for the long hours you'll spend at your desk! I pinned my owl sign I got on bid day on my wall so I would see it everyday! Your cork board is a great way to put some personalization in your desk area without taking up any valuable space on your desk! 

TIP: Use pushpins in the wall to hang things like your keys so you won't forget and/or lose them!

I kept things that were special to me on my board, like a picture of me and my parents, my bid card, and a carnation I received.  I also kept things that I didn't need to lose on my board, such as coupons, business cards, my mailing address, and my game day pins. By the end of the year my board was completely filled! 

2. Kitchen area

Another important part of your dorm is your "kitchen area" aka your mini fridge and microwave (if your dorm allows). My fridge was old and ended up dying, so I got a new one with a separate freezer and refrigerator. I highly recommend it! We also had a microwave, and a single cup coffee maker (the kind that pours straight into your cup, not the kind with a pot). Because we had a very small sink that was hard to wash things in, we mainly used plastic utensils and styrofoam plates. When we had to wash cups or bowls, we would sometimes have to do that in the shower. A few more things you might need are: tupperware bowls, strainer, can opener, paper towels, and dishwashing soap. Don't forget to keep this area clean!

3. Dresser

My dresser housed our TV and DVD player, so I was unable to decorate it. But, my roommate did a great job decorating hers! She had a large mirror, candlesticks with pillar candles, a serving tray, and picture frames! She made it feel really homey, and you almost forgot you were in a dorm!

One of the things that I think is ESSENTIAL for your dresser are drawer liners! If you've read my bathroom post, then you know I'm kind of a germaphobe!  Drawer liners keep your things from getting icky in the bottom of the drawers, and some are even scented to keep your clothes smelling fresh! You can use a drawer liner like this, or even something like wrapping paper! Just use some double sided tape to keep it in place! Not only did I use it for my dresser drawers, but for my desk drawers as well!

4. Floor space

A rug is an absolute must! If your dorm has carpet, it is almost guaranteed to be icky, and if your dorm has tile then a rug is a great addition to make the floor comfortable! Rugs don't have to be super expensive, either! If you're having a hard time finding a rug you like, or one that isn't going to break the bank, check your local carpet store for scraps of carpet that have been bound to make a rug. I just got a 5x7 rug from Lowe's for $25 because it was actually a piece of carpet that they bound to make a "rug".

5. Decor

Decorating my dorm room was my favorite part! Check out Hobby Lobby for some great decor pieces, or even make your own! Canvases are super easy to paint, and you can make them any way you want them! Check out Pinterest for some great canvas inspirations!

Do you have any tips for surviving a dorm room? Leave me a comment! And don't forget to check back in August for pictures of my new and improved dorm room! Be sure to follow my College Board on Pinterest for more great ideas!

This were all of the remaining things I had to take back with me after my parents had come and gotten most of my stuff. Spoiler alert: it fit! (Barely)

Sucker for Seersucker

I recently saw this pin on Pinterest, and I just knew I had to have it! Seersucker and peplum?? It's the perfect combination, and I hadn't seen anything like it yet! I went to the website that sold it figuring it would be around $40, but it was only $19.99! (You can find it from Romwe here!) It came in in a good amount of time, but honestly I was wary that because I bought it for so cheap that it wouldn't be the best quality. When I received my package, I realized that this shirt was actually really good quality! I also ordered a bandage skirt from Romwe, and I can't wait to wear it! Do you have any tips for styling a bandage skirt? Leave it in the comments!

I styled this outfit for work with Old Navy Pixie Skinny-Ankle Pants, Romwe Seersucker Peplum Top, red mini bubble necklace from Charming Charlies, gold wedges, gold monogram necklace, and pearl studs!

I also can't wait to wear this top with some cute shorts for an easy, casual outfit! What are your favorite seersucker items for summer?!

*Disclaimer: These opinions are 100% my own. Romwe did not pay me to write this post, I just really love my seersucker shirt*

How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Bed

The How To Survive Your Dorm Room saga continues! I've already shared how to survive your bathroom and closet, and now it's time for the fun part…your actual room! There's so much I can talk about, so I'm going to split this part of the series into two posts! Part 1: How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Bed. Stay posted for Part 2 (How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Everything Else)!

Your bed is one of the most important pieces in your dorm room, decoration and storage wise. Most people decorate their rooms around the bed, because it is the most noticeable piece in a dorm room. Here's how to make the most of your dorm room bed, starting from the basics:

1. Mattress pad

This is probably the most important (and overlooked) piece of bedding that you need. It doesn't matter how cute your bed looks if it's not comfortable to sleep on. Your mattress pad is the one thing that I recommend splurging on! You want to get the most comfortable thing you can! Dorm mattresses are not comfortable, in case you were wondering. I decided to go the cheap route and buy just a plain old mattress topper that I thought would be ok (note: it was not a Tempurpedic or any fancy brand). I was W-R-O-N-G! I barely slept for an entire week until my parents could bring me another one. My new mattress pad was a Laura Ashley Fiberbed, and it was like sleeping on top of a giant down pillow! My roommate, who had the same one, equated it to "being surrounded by little, tiny angels hugging you and telling you not to get out of bed." So, the moral of the story is don't be cheap like I was, and go ahead and buy a good mattress pad. Don't forget your mattress protector while you're at it!

2. Sheets

I bought every single cute set of sheets that was not outrageously expensive. Problem numero uno was that I didn't need ten sets of sheets. Problem numero dos was that I bought mainly twin size sheets, which was a big issue because I didn't realize that my mattress was a twin XL. Luckily, a friend bought my regular twin sheets because they would fit her bed. That being said, before you buy bedding check what size bed you will have! A good rule of thumb is to have at least two sets of sheets: one on your bed, and one for a spare/to change out when you wash your other ones. I had three sets of sheets, just because I liked to change it up a bit. Changing out your sheets is the easiest and usually cheapest way to change up your bedding if you're looking for something new!

3. Bedding

A comforter or duvet is going to be the best way to express yourself in your dorm room. This is usually the first thing people will notice when they come in your room, and it ultimately needs to be something that you absolutely love. You're going to be seeing a lot of your bedspread, so make sure it is something that you're not going to get tired of. My favorite color is blue, but when shopping for bed spreads I stayed away from bright, loud colors and patterns because I knew I wanted something calm and simple. Another great idea is to get a reversible bedspread! Mine is blue/white chevron on one side, and another chevron pattern with different colors on the other side. So, whenever I get tired of one side, I can easily change it to the other side for something different. 

4. Pillows 

Your pillow should follow the same rule as your mattress pad. Make sure you get something comfortable that you will be able to get a good night's sleep with! You'll also need another pillow for your sham, and decorative pillows if you want! I hate sleeping with a lot of pillows and stuff on my bed, so I kept my pillows to a minimum. I had one pillow in a sham, the pillow that I slept on, a giant floor pillow (that I used as a backrest when I wasn't sleeping), and two decorative pillows. Just keep in mind that you have to keep the pillows somewhere if you don't keep them on your bed. 

5. Storage

Your bed is one of the most underestimated places to store all of your stuff. I was able to store most of my stuff that would not fit in my closet under my bed. At my school we have adjustable bed frames, so I raised it to the highest setting, which was the perfect height to put white plastic pullout drawers underneath my bed. I had two wide ones, and one narrow one. Because my bed was all the way against a wall, I kept these right at the front for easier access. I put things that I didn't necessarily need often (like the box to my printer and duffel bags) behind these bins. In one bin I kept towels, washcloths, and sheets. In another I kept food, tumbler cups, tupperware bowls, utensils, etc. You can use drawers like this store anything and everything!

6. Bedskirt

If you want to hide what all you store under your bed, a bedskirt is the best solution! Instead of specially ordering a bedskirt or making my own, I used the one that came with my bedding set. Since you could only see one side of my bed, I folded the bedskirt in half and staggered it to create a "ruffle". To keep the bedskirt from falling down, I safety pinned it to the bed frame. By creatively using my bedskirt this way, I saved myself time and money by not having to make my own!

7. Headboard

A headboard isn't essential, but definitely makes your dorm room feel a little more homey. My roommate and I didn't use actual headboards, but hung up wall decor to give the visual effect of a headboard. You can also make your own by following one of the DIYs on Pinterest! This year I'm getting an actual headboard made from Artist Tree! Be sure to check back in August for pictures!

8. Bedside table
This is something that I didn't even think about until I moved in! Luckily, my roommate moved in before me and had bought a set of small tables, so she let me use one as my night stand. This isn't something I would qualify as a necessity, but it is great to keep an alarm clock and bottle of water on. If you don't want to buy a bedside table, or even if you're on the top bunk, check out this Bedside Storage Caddy!

All of the pictures posted are from my dorm my freshman year. I'll be living in the dorms again my sophomore year, and I can't wait to post pictures of my new room! Check back in August to see it…you're not going to want to miss it! ;) Like my dorm room? Have any other storage ideas? Headed to college soon? Leave me a comment and tell me!

Love my monogram and my owl? Find the monogram here and the owl here or here!

Monogram Everything…Even Your Shoes!!

If you don't know me or if you're new to my blog, there is one thing you should know. I monogram EVERYTHING (well, except for my underwear…)! I have been wearing monograms from a very young age (monogrammed bloomers, anyone?), and my obsession has only increased. My newest addition to my wearable monogram collection is *drumrolls*… monogrammed sandals!! I found these too cute, customizable sandals from Hazel's Gifts & Engraving in my little college town of Troy, AL. I immediately knew that I HAD to have them, plus I needed a new pair of brown sandals anyways… (perfect excuse, right?!) They're the perfect addition to any outfit, and they're super affordable! No, I'm not talking "Jack Rogers on 'sale' that's cheap for JR, but still expensive", but they're about the same price as a decent pair of sandals from a shoe store. I paid around $29 for a pair of MONOGRAMMED sandals...that's cheap, people! You can order them from Hazel's Facebook page, or their Instagram page. They have lots of cute items that are completely customizable, so if you want something besides your monogram, like sorority letters, they can do it!! Buy your feet a treat and support small business while you're at it!

The reflection of the sun makes it hard to see the monogram in this picture, but they're definitely my new favorite pair of shoes!!

Know of anywhere else that sells cute, monogrammed items? Order a pair of sandals from Hazel's yourself? Leave a comment and let me know!

How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Bathroom

Last week I posted on How To Survive Your Dorm Room Closet, and it's gotten some great feedback!(Off topic, but you can always email me if you have any questions about dorm living! See my Get To Know Me Page for my email!) One of the things I was slightly worried about was the bathroom situation in my dorm. Luckily, my dorm was a suite-style dorm, where two room shared one bathroom. I am a germaphobe so there is no way I would be able to sure a community bathroom! (Will you be in a community bathroom? Check out this post from A Peaker's Survival Guid to College and How To Survive the Residence Hall Community Bathrooms post from HerCampus!) I shared a bathroom (one shower, one toilet, and two vanity areas) with 3 other girls, so it wasn't too bad. (Again, I was bad at taking pictures of my actual bathroom, so there aren't many pictures. But don't worry! I have lots of pictures of the living area of my dorm room for that post!)

Here are the things I learned:

1. Keep it CLEAN!
This seems like a no brainer, but with busy schedules it is hard to remember to clean the bathroom until one day you realize it is DISGUSTING! Also, clean it before you even move your stuff in. Most colleges use the dorm areas to house students over the summer for various camps and orientation sessions, so chances are a lot of people have been using your bathroom. The maintenance and cleaning staff have a lot of rooms to clean, so sometimes it doesn't get cleaned very well.
You and your roommates can also try a cleaning schedule. We tried this second semester, but no one really followed it. It's kind of just a hit or miss thing.

2. Get a new shower curtain
Find out what kind of shower your bathroom will have, and get a new shower curtain. Be sure to keep the old one stored away so you can put it back up when you move out. The shower in our dorm room is a teeny-tiny little box, with a very small opening. I had originally bought a chevron fabric shower curtain, but I couldn't use it. (Keep reading to see what I did with it!) I couldn't find a plastic shower curtain that was small enough to fit when I got a great idea! I was at Bed Bath & Beyond (if you haven't figured out by now, it's one of my go-to dorm shopping places) when I saw an employee hanging the shower curtain samples (ya know, the little curtains that hang around to give you an example of what it looks like). So, naturally, I asked how they were able to order curtains so small, but she told me they take the curtains and fold them in halves or fourths to hang as displays. So long story short…I bought a cute plastic curtain in the smallest size the offered and folded it in half. It fit perfectly!
If you have a small shower like me, it's best just to get a vinyl/plastic curtain. Make sure it's not see through though! If you have a normal tub/shower combo, any curtain/liner combo will do!

Please excuse the face I'm making.

I love this adorable shower curtain! Find it here!

3. Get a shower caddy or rack

My roommate picked us up a 3-tier shower caddy, and it was a life saver! We didn't have to carry all of our stuff in and out of the shower or leave it on the floor. If something like this doesn't work for your shower, another great option is a shower caddy that hangs on the shower head.

Find it here!

4. If you have a window, get a curtain

Our bathroom had a very large window that faced directly across from an all-boys dorm (great planning, right…not.). It had blinds, but we didn't have very good lighting in the bathroom so we liked to keep the blinds cracked. Remember that shower curtain that I wasn't actually able to use on my curtain? Ta-Da! With a tension rod and some shower rings, I now had a super cute curtain for our window! Because it was light blues and white, it still let in a good amount of natural light while it covered the open blinds, and no one could see inside, either.

This made a perfect window curtain! Find it here! (PS it's on sale!!)

I'm sorry for the mirror selfie, but you can see how we had it hung up! (PS the balloons and Disney princess tattoos are part of how my roommates decorated for my birthday!)

5. STORAGE STORAGE STORAGE!

Storage is one thing you need a lot of! You'll need a place to keep your towels, washcloths, extra shower stuff, and girl stuff. We found this great idea on this Pinterest post with storage cubes, and we had a perfect spot in our bathroom to put it! We each had two cubes; in one I kept towels and washcloths. In the other I kept things like my blowdryer, curling iron, flat iron, hair products, facial cleansers, make up wipes, etc. Another great storage solution is to use small storage bins to keep all of your stuff organized in your bathroom cabinets. 

This was our "Pinspiration" 

We got these stackable cubes and cubby drawers from Target! We made a 2x3 tower. 

Great basket for keeping your stuff organized in the bathroom cabinet!

For things like feminine products, I made a "girl box" that I kept in my bathroom cabinet. I put my monogram on it so my roommates would remember that it was my stuff. 

6. Don't forget…

A rug for outside of your shower

Toothbrush holder

Soap dispenser

First aid kit

Towels/washcloths

Command hooks (to hang on the doors or walls if there are no towel racks)

Toilet paper/paper towels
Rubbing alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide (something you don't think about until you actually need it)

Have any more great ideas for a dorm bathroom or see anything that I forgot?! Leave a comment or email me! 

How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Closet

Dorm rooms are small…like really small. It was definitely a HUGE adjustment sharing a room the size of my room at home. Thankfully, I had a great roommate. We've been great friends for years, and we got along great. The downside was that we both had a lot of stuff, and when I say a lot, I mean a TON. I wasn't able to find in-depth storage and design solutions when I first moved into my dorm, so I'm sharing my learning experiences with you. Part 1 is how to survive a dorm room closet. Keep checking back for more How To Survive Your Dorm Room posts! Check out How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Bathroom, How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Bed, and How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Everything Else.

The hardest spot to find space was probably the closet. After two semesters of sharing a closet that about the size of the one I have to myself at home, I have learned a few tricks to making it work! This picture makes our closet look HUGE! I thought so, too…until both my roommate and I moved all of our stuff in. Once we both had our clothes and shoes in it, there was only enough room to walk in one at a time.

**Note: I somehow have no pictures of my dorm room closet once I moved in. All of the pictures (except for the one at the very top) are taken of my closet at home, but the same idea still applies!**

1. PURGE!
Before you move, go through your closet and decide what you're going to take to school with you, and what you're going to leave at home. I took wayyyy too many clothes, and looking back I probably didn't wear half of the stuff I brought. If you're like me (and most college girls), you are going to wear Nike shorts and a t-shirt 90% of the time. (Check out my clothing packing list!) Not sure where to start when it comes to cleaning out your closet? Check out An American Girl's guide to closet purging.

2. Leave off-season clothing at home.
Luckily I only live an hour away from home, so it's super easy for me to change out my seasonal clothes. If you're not so lucky, pack up all your off-season clothes (you really don't need your winter coats in your closet if you can wear shorts outside…) and put them under your bed, or in any other area that is out of the way. This frees up sooooo much space in your closet!

3. ORGANIZE!
Your closet will look so much nicer and possibly even bigger if your clothes are organized. I'm a tad bit OCD, so all of my clothes are arranged by color, then by sleeve length. It seems a bit crazy, but if you're frantically searching for a specific shirt, or even if you're in a rush, you can find the shirt easily! You just have to be motivated to make sure you keep your closet organized. I have been organizing my closet like this for years, so it is just instinct for me to keep it organized.

This is my closet at home, organized by color and sleeve length.

4. Get a shoe rack
…Or any other type of shoe holder. Before I got my shoe rack, my shoes were ALL over the bottom of my closet, and it took me forever to find a matching pair. This isn't really convenient when you're already running late for class. The shoe rack helps me keep all of my shoes organized and within sight. For my flip flops and sandals, I found a hanging shoe organizer specifically made for sandals. I hung these on my closet rod when I shared a closet, but now that I will have my own closet this semester, I am hanging them on an over-the-door hook for easier access. Another good idea if you don't share a closet is an over-the-door shoe organizer (like the kind with the clear pockets). During the winter months, I just lined my boots up on the floor of my closet.

I got these sandal holders for around $10 a piece from Bed Bath & Beyond. 

I use one shoe rack for shoes that I don't wear that often, and I just keep the shoes I wear everyday (like my Chacos and tennis shoes) just on the floor of my closet. NOTE: Don't take all of your shoes to college with you, either. If you have too many shoes, like me, they won't fit!

5. Get a scarf/belt organizer
For my scarves, I got a scarf organizer from a local home goods store for only a few bucks! (Look at this adorable owl scarf organizer from Bed, Bath & Beyond!) I also got a tie organizer for my many, many belts. Both of these hung nicely on my closet rod.

My scarf organize I got from Burlington. Don't laugh, but it broke and I haven't gotten a new one yet.

I used a tie organizer from Bed Bath & Beyond to hang all my belts.

6. Make use of your shelves
I put wooden baskets on the wire shelf above my closet rod to hold things like laundry supplies, hats, extra blankets, purses, duffel bags, and other miscellaneous items. Don't leave your shelves empty! There isn't a lot of space in a dorm room, especially in the closet, so no space needs to be wasted! P.S. If you get the wooden baskets with fabric liners, you can monogram them! ;)
P.S. If you're short, like me, get a collapsable step stool to reach the top of your closet! I found a cute one for super cheap at TJ Maxx.

7. Make use of the dresser provided
Most college dorms provide a dresser for you to use. Don't forget to use this, too! I used my dresser for t-shirts, athletic shorts, leggings, yoga pants, pajamas, undergarments, socks, and swimsuits. I set it up the way my chest of drawers at home is set up, so it wouldn't take me months to figure out where everything was.

8. Try skirt/shorts hangers
For my shorts (that weren't athletic shorts) and skirts, I used a skirt hanger similar to this one (see link). They also have adjustable ones so you can use as many or as little as you need. All of the shorts/skirts hang vertically, meaning more space for other clothes! Yay! I also hang all of my pants (like jeans, khakis, and slacks) two or three to a hanger. This saves a lot of space as well, just make sure you use heavy-duty coat hangers! If you still need more hanging closet space, use a double hanging rod. These hanging rods allow you to add more hanging space to your closet if needed. I bought one, but did not need it last year; I probably will use it this upcoming semester.

This skirt hanger holds up to 8 skirts if you hang two skirts on each clip!

Same with the shorts hanger, I can hang up to ten pairs of shorts on it, which saves a TON of space!

9. Jewelry displays
For my necklaces, I hung up a picture hanger like this one from PBTeen. I received it as a graduation gift, and it was perfect for my necklaces. It's also a great way to add some decoration to the walls of your dorm room. For long earrings and bracelets, I used a small dress form mannequin similar to this one from Hobby Lobby. It looks too cute on a desk or small side table! Lastly, I put my stud earrings, rings, and other small items in an engraved acrylic jewelry box. I'm a huge fan of displaying jewelry because it is a super inexpensive way to add decorations to your dorm room. Check out Pinterest for other great ways to display your jewelry!

Such a cute way to display your jewelry! (Don't you also just LOVE my owl scensty?!)

Displayed in my dorm room!

9. Get a combo laundry hamper/basket

This great little find at BB&B has been a life saver for me! It stands up like a hamper when you need to use it for dirty clothes, and when it's time to (eventually…) do laundry, there is a zipper on the side to act as a laundry basket! I'm a huge fan of anything that can do double-duty, and this combo hamper eliminated the need to buy a laundry hamper and a huge plastic laundry basket.

via ~ Find it here!

For laundry I kept all of my supplies in one super convenient place. I put everything in a small, durable tote from 31 Gifts. All of my supplies were kept in the top shelf of my closet. Here's my list of dorm laundry essentials:

Detergent pods(most colleges have machines that will work with these, but check to be on the safe side)

SHOUT Color Catchers (I finally bought these after I ruined about 3 shirts)

Gain laundry sprinkles (your clothes will smell amazing for weeks!)

Spray on stain remover (I didn't realize that I should have this on hand until I desperately needed it)

Dryer sheets

QUARTERS! (I didn't realize I could load money on my student id for laundry until second semester, but even then not all the machines would accept my card)

via ~ Find it here!

You can find super adorable and cheap space-saving solutions at places like Bed Bath & Beyond (and you can always find great coupons!), TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, and Target. Comment your favorite space-saving solutions for your closet, and how you survived your dorm closet!

Also, I kept things like my vacuum in my closet as well because there was no space in my dorm room or bathroom. It just got tucked out of the way in a corner.

**Be sure to check out my other How To Survive Your Dorm Room posts!
How To Survive Your Dorm Room - Bathroom
More coming soon!