School Supplies to Start Your Semester Right

Having the right school supplies is essential for starting your semester off on the right foot! I hate fighting through horrible crowds and standing in long check out lines just to end up with the same boring school supplies as everyone else. I've been shopping at Office Depot for school supplies since I was in the tenth grade, and I wouldn't go anywhere else! This year, I had the chance to shop the Divoga collections, and I fell in love! Here are my school supply picks for the semester!

1. Metallic dots mini binder. This is perfect for taking to club, sorority, or any type of meetings! It has add in notebook paper and divider tabs, but still fits perfectly in my purse! I printed out some calendars to go in it and have been using it as a planner/notebook.

2. Metallic dots mini notebooks. I love mini things (if you haven't already figured that out...) and these mini notebooks are perfect! The gold dots look like Kate Spade, but I only paid about $2.00 for these, so I'd say these notebooks are a win-win! I keep one in my purse or backpack to keep handy whenever I need it!

3. Paper clips/binder clips. These are an essential for any desk! You never know how much you will need these until you don't have any! Plus, they come in a cute box.

4. File folders. I use file folders to keep all of my important documents in, such as receipts, contracts, etc. They fit perfectly in my desk drawers and keep me organized!

5. Composition notebook. While this notebook doesn't match my metallic scheme for the rest of my school supplies, I fell in love with the watercolor feather design! I always have to use composition for notebooks for lab, and this one brightens up the work space in my lab!

6. Sharpie Clear View Highlighters. These things are AMAZING!! I will never use another highlighter again! These highlighters have clear tips so you can see where you are highlighting and your books and notes will be super neat!

What are your must have school supplies?! Be sure to check out the whole Office Depot #GearUpForCollege Collection here!

This post is sponsored by Office Depot, Inc. and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Life As Hayden possible!

Taking Care Of Your Skin In College +GIVEAWAY

One of the biggest changes I've had to make in college has been my skin care routine. Lack of sleep and healthy food really takes a toll on your body and your skin! Here are 4 tricks for making sure your skin stays healthy!

1. Take off your makeup at night. Sometimes I'll skip this step because I get in late and I'm just too tired, but the next morning I always wake up with blackheads all zits all over my face! It takes 5 minutes, so just do it!

2. Drink water...and lots of it! Whenever I stick to drinking primarily water (a good amount of it every day), I've noticed that my skin is clearer and healthier looking! Be sure to check out my Pounce on Ounces Challenge to hear more about this whole water drinking thing.

3. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! You don't have to leave the exfoliating to just your face or your feet, either! I've started using an anti-cellulite buffer from Spongelle and I absolutely love it! Taking care of your skin (and cellulite) isn't just for a more "mature" demographic. In fact, the earlier you start taking care of your skin, the better! The buffer is infused with body wash and I use it in the shower about every other day! Plus, you can get 20% off at spongelle.com with code BBLOGGER20 until October 19! I would definitely recommend giving it a try! (See the bottom of this post for giveaway details!)

4. Moisturize! This is a huge thing that most people forget to do, especially for their faces! Always pick out a moisturizer with sunscreen in it, too! Every morning I wash my face (because it always turns oily over night) and moisturize my face. I've noticed a HUGE difference since making this a part of my routine! Don't forget about moisturizing your body either! I hate putting on lotion with a passion (which is probably the reason I stay ashy), but I definitely lotion up after shaving...and I'm trying to be better about putting on lotion after every shower!

What is your college skincare routine? Do you have any other tips or tricks to having healthy skin? Share them in the comments!! Don't forget to check out this awesome giveaway for a Spongelle Anti Cellulite Buffer! Be sure to follow Spongelle on Instagram to be in the loop about even more giveaways!

*I was given a free Spongelle buffer in exchange for my review, but, as always, these opinions are 100% my own and I truly do love the product!*

Pounce on Ounces Challenge

I'm sure a lot of you have seen the Gallon Challenge on social media. I'm writing this blog post to say STOP! The common saying about drinking water is that you have to drink 8 glasses a day. This isn't necessarily true! In reality, each person has a different amount of water they should drink each day.

You should drink half of your weight in ounces of water per day!

This semester I have decided to get healthier and drink more water, plus start eating more fruits and vegetables! Drinking more water will give you clearer, healthier skin, plus reduce bloating! Don't believe me? Check out these results. Join me on my Pounce on Ounces challenge (a huge thanks to my friend Kalley for coming up with the name!) All you have to do is 1) weigh yourself, 2) divide the weight in half, 3) drink that much water per day 4) record your weekly results. For me, I have to drink 2 and a half of my Camelbak bottles per day! If you're still having trouble figuring out how much water you should be drinking per day, check out this hydration calculator. I'll be posting an update after a month, so stay tuned!! Are you going to join in on my challenge? Let me know in the comments!

Surviving Syllabus Week

Syllabus week is one of the best weeks of classes, but if I'm being totally honest, my syllabus "week" only lasts one day. This means I have less time to do all the things I would normally do during syllabus week. Here's my go to routine for surviving "syllabus week".

1. Print out your schedule and find your classes.
I like to type mine out in a weekly format so that everyday I know all the times and locations of all of my classes. Because I'm now an upperclassman and I know where all of the buildings and classes are, the second step of finding your classes isn't as important anymore. But, if you are freshman, go find your classes and map out your schedule a day or two before classes start! Trust me, you'll want to do this so you aren't running late to your first class or accidentally sit through the wrong one!

2. Look at your syllabus and books for each class.
Most professors will upload a syllabus and book list for each class on Blackboard (or whatever online program your school uses) before classes start. Some teachers will expect you to have come to class knowing exactly what is on the syllabus. I normally don't recommend buying books before classes start, but if you know it is a class where you will need the book on the first day,  go ahead and buy it! I DEFINITELY don't recommend buying books from the bookstore if you can absolutely avoid it! Chances are there is a facebook page specific to students from your school selling their old books for much cheaper than the bookstore price!

3. USE YOUR PLANNER!
If you don't already have a planner, get one!!! Most of your syllabi will have important dates like exams, homework due dates, presentation due dates, etc. Go ahead and write these in your planner. I like to color code my classes the same color as the notebook I use for the class. If I know a project isn't due for a while (like a semester long paper), I'll write countdowns in my planner to help remind me to stay on top of it so I'm not surprised when the due date comes up!

4. Get out there and have fun!
Enjoy this week where you have nothing to stress over! Most schools have events during the first week of classes to get new students adjusted to campus life and introduce them to organizations. Take advantage of these free events and have fun and meet new people! Enjoy the stress free time while it lasts ;)

How To Succeed In College

College is full of twists, turns, and surprises. In highschool, I was the student that could ace every test without ever having to study. In college, however, I got a rude awakening and I quickly became discouraged that I wasn't acing every test, essay, or exam. One problem of mine was that I never knew how to study or motivate myself. A sweet blogging friend of mine, Sara from Sara Laughed, wrote an incredible eBook, How To Succeed In College (you can order it here), and I wish it would have been available when I was a freshman. Even though I'm now a junior and I like to pretend I know everything and have it all together (plot twist - I don't!), I gained so much insight from this book and it has me so pumped for classes to start so I can implement everything that I've learned!

In How To Succeed In College you will learn how to get motivated, organize, make the most of your time, and write a college essay, as well as strategies for reading and tackling procrastination! Basically, everything that you need to know for the upcoming semester. I struggle with not being motivated (which ultimately ends in procrastination), and one of the favorite things I've take away from Sara's book is how to motivate myself and cut down on my procrastination. Sara suggested making a motivation board, and I posted a picture of mine to give you some inspiration!

I wholeheartedly believe every incoming freshman, or every college student in general, can learn something from this book! Do yourself a favor and get the semester started off on the right foot! Check out more information about How To Succeed In College here!

Backpack Essentials

So you've had a wonderful summer so far preparing for going back to school and all of the sudden you realize it's actually time to go back to school! You're totally lost on what you need for the first day of classes and are starting to panic. Aaaaand here is where my handy dandy little list comes in!! As an incoming college freshman I was so excited about moving and going through rush that the first day of classes came and I realized as I was headed to my first class that I had ZERO school supplies. Total freshman move. Ever since that little incident, I have my backpack essentials list that I check 376488 times before the first day of classes!

Backpack essentials:
Backpack- Your backpack should be sturdy and well-built...you get bonus points if it's super stylish! One of my favorite new backpacks is the Sakroots backpack! It's super easy to throw your stuff in and go if you're running late to class, has lots of room and pockets, AND even comes in super cute patterns! (And BONUS! You can get 15% off your purchase by signing up with your email on the Sakroots website!)

Planner- It's actually near impossible to survive college without a planner. Get one, love it, and never let it leave your side (or backpack). The best types of planners are those with monthly and weekly(or daily) views. This allows you to see how your month or semester is going, but still gives you room to plan out your week to the smallest detail! I've found that Sakroots planner works really well for this, plus it comes with cute stickers, a notes section, and pockets to put random things like handouts or flyers in! Another added bonus is that you can find one to match your bookbag!

Notebooks- Everyone has their own different style of how to take notes, but I prefer to have my different classes separated in single subject spiral bound notebooks.

I also like to keep lots of pens, pencils, and highlighters in my backpack at all times, and luckily my backpack also came with a matching pencil case!

One thing I love about SakRoots is that each unique pattern they use for their products represents a different charity that they donate to! So while you're looking cute with your Sakroots products, you're also helping worthwhile causes. For more information on Sakroots, click here.

SakRoots also has a "Campus Circle" ambassador program where college students all over the nation help to spread the word about Sakroots, orchestrate Sakroots sponsored events, give their personalized Sakroots promo code to classmates, and there is also the opportunity to earn college credits through this program! If you're interested, check out more information here!

DIY Bracelet Stand

I've never been much of a bracelet wearer until recently when I received the adorable nepal bracelets as gifts and I found these bracelets from Future First Lady (use code 'HaydenL' at checkout for 10% off!). With my new collection of bracelets ever growing, I've had such a hard time figuring out how to display theme. They've just been laying all around my room and it was just a hot mess. Luckily I came across this post about a DIY bracelet stand!

I followed the all over look for this project, but tweaked it to fit my needs. I got the wooden plaque and 3/8 inch wooden dowel from Hobby Lobby. I painted them both blue to match the other refinished furniture in my room. I (read: my brother who is handy with power tools) used a drill bit to drill a hole for the dowel to wedge in to. I didn't have any wood glue on hand, so I made sure it was a tight squeeze for the dowel so it wouldn't come out. That's all there was to making the base! Instead of using paper towel rolls like so many people do to hold the bracelets, I opted for PVC pipe. I wanted something that would be sturdy enough to survive moving every year (#dormprobs). The PVC pipe I used is the same diameter as a paper towel roll, and just a tad bit shorter (though I wish I would have made it longer). We drilled a hole in the center of the PCV pipe for the dowel to go through.  I then used some burlap I found in the bandana section at Hobby Lobby and mod podged it on to cover the pipe. I just tucked in the extra fabric on the ends! The dowel was a really tight fit in the PVS pipe, so I had to use a hammer to make sure it was in there good enough! All in all, the whole project took no less than 20 minutes and cost me only about $5!

How To: Make Your Dorm Room One of a Kind

Curtains / Rug / Monogram Sheet Set / Comforter / Monogram Pillow / Greek Pillow / Headboard / Trunk / Monogram Jewelry Hanger / Monogram Pinboard / Desk Organizer

Dorm rooms are so cookie cutter and it’s so hard to make them feel like a home. Since you can’t paint, hang anything with nails, change out furniture (the list goes on and on…), it’s hard to make your dorm room feel like it is your space. After the last two years of living in a dorm room, I’ve mastered a few tricks to make your dorm feel one of a kind without taking up a ton of your much-needed space.

The Bed

Your bed is a focal point in your dorm room, and it’s the easiest thing to customize! Not only should you utilize your bed for storage (get tips here), but the best way to add personality to that drab dorm room of yours is with bedding that reflects your style. Pottery Barn Dorm has some of the cutest styles of bedding! Choose your favorite color and design, add some monogrammed sheets and personalized pillows, and viola you have a bed unique to you!

Use a headboard to fill up will space. Headboards are a huge statement piece that don’t take up a lot of room. In my first dorm, I hung a monogram (PB has such cute ones!) above my bed, but in my second dorm I invested in an actual headboard. This Pottery Barn headboard also acts as a pinboard, so you can add even more customization to it by hanging up pictures of your friends and family, ticket stubs, art work, and more!

Pillows are another great way to make your dorm feel cozy and one of a kind! My favorite pillows are those with my monogram or my sorority’s letters!

Windows and Floors

Your windows and floors are a great way to add style to your dorm room without taking up any space! Curtains add a much needed pop of color on those drab walls, and rugs are a must to cover up those (usually gross) dorm floors.

Walls

Your dorm walls are a bit trickier to decorate depending on your residence hall’s wall hanging policy. Don’t worry, because Pottery Barn Dorm has got you covered with a whole section of No Nails Decor! They have everything from monogram decals to pin boards to removable wall paper! Even the headboard pictured above is part of the No Nails Decor!

Desk

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be spending a ton of time at your desk. It serves multiple purposes as a desk, dining room table, vanity...you name it! This doesn’t mean that it can’t be stylish and functional! A pin board and dry erase board are must haves, along with pen and pencil holders.

Storage

Storage is a big issue in tiny dorm rooms, and it’s so hard to find something that is cute and functional. Trunks and cubbies are a great way to hide your stuff while adding personality to your room. This trunk comes in a variety of colors, can be personalized with monogram decals or your favorite brand stickers, and can even serve as additional seating!

Not sure what all you need for your dorm room? Check and see if PBDorm has your school's checklist listed! If your school isn't available (#smallschoolprobs), check out PBDorm's ultimate dorm checklist! Pottery Barn also offers free shipping on a ton of their items, PLUS if you sign up with under the Dorm tab with your .edu address, you get a coupon for 10% off! How can you beat that?! 

To get some awesome dorm inspiration, visit Pottery Barn Dorm to see how they style their dorm room products! Follow Pottery Barn on Social Media to keep up with the latest trends (and sales!!!!) : Facebook, Twitter, PBDorm Instagram #mypbdorm, PBTeen Instagram, and Pinterest!

This post was made in partnership with my friends at Pottery Barn Dorm and Her Campus Media! All words and opinions are my own, thank you for supporting the brands that make My Life As Hayden possible!

10 Tips For Sorority Recruitment

So you want to go through Rush, or Recruitment as it is formally known. I've been on both sides of Panhellenic Recruitment now (and I absolutely LOVE it), and I've come up with a 10 11 tips for girls looking to pledge a sorority!

1. Be yourself. This is so cliche, but it's a great tip. Don't try to act like someone you think that the girls you're talking to will like. If you're not your self, you might not end up in the best house for you. If you're nervous, it's ok to let the girls know! I promise the girls you are talking to are nervous, too!

2. Wear what you have. Don't go buy a dress or shoes that you'll never wear again because you think you need it to impress other girls. Don't get me wrong, I used Rush as an excuse to buy new outfits, but I made sure to buy things I knew I would wear again!

3. Put your best foot forward. Don't feel like you have to pile on the make-up and hair spray if it's not something you normally do, but make sure you look fresh and your hair is brushed. You don't have to go all out, but you don't want to be remembered as the girl who looked like she just rolled out of bed.

4. Pretend it's a first date. When you think of it, it pretty much is a first date! You're "dating around" to see which sorority you fit best with. The same rules apply for a first date, too. Put effort into your appearance, be courteous, and just have fun!

5. Steer clear of partying/politics topics. If you're only asking about the party scene, you're not going to be taken seriously because they think that's all you care about. As for politics, I can talk about politics with you all day long, but during Recruitment isn't the time for it. You'll have plenty of time to talk about that later. These definitely aren't "strict, never ever talk about it" topics during rush, and if it just naturally comes up in the conversation then feel free to talk about it! But, keep in mind that you shouldn't be choosing your sorority on partying/politics.

6. Be prepared. Sometimes there are lulls in the conversation that end up as awkward silences. Keep a list of questions in the back of your mind to ask in case you run out of things to talk about. For example: What do you like most about sorority XYZ? Why did you pledge XYZ? How does XYZ raise money for your philanthropy? What are swaps/socials like? etc…

7. Do your research. Look at the handbooks your school's Panhellenic puts out to get an idea of how Recruitment is at your school. Another good idea is to look online for blogs or blog posts about Recruitment (like this one - lol). If you know girls in sororities, don't be afraid to ask them questions about Greek Life!

8. Have an open mind. You might have heard the stereotypes about the chapters at your school, but you should forget about them completely. Go in with an open mind and don't let others influence your decision.

9. Freshen up. Recruitment is during the hottest time of the year and you're going to end up hot and sweaty. For my recruitment, we were only allowed to bring what we could fit in a sandwich baggie. I recommend bringing mints, lipstick, concealer/powder, oil blot sheets, and deodorant if you can make it fit!

10. Find YOUR perfect fit. You're not in a sorority just for four years, but for life. Don't pledge a sorority just because you're a legacy, your best friend is pledging that one, they have the nicest smelling house, etc. You should pledge a sorority because it is where you see yourself fitting in and finding your home away from home.

11. Because I just couldn't leave this one out…BE NICE. If you got invited back to a house you don't particularly see yourself pledging, don't be rude to the girls talking to you. It won't kill you to have a conversation with these girls, because chances are you'll see them around campus, no matter what sorority you pledge! It's really disheartening when you are talking to a girl during Rush and you can tell she obviously doesn't want to be there.


The biggest tip I would give for girls going into Rush, or even college in general, is to have fun! You're making new friends and finding your forever home, enjoy the process while it lasts!

What I Wish I Would Have Known As An Incoming Freshman

Oh, freshman year of college. It's such an exciting, wonderful, confusing, heartbreaking time. Before I even graduated high school I was on Pinterest searching for every article that told me what to expect as an incoming freshman. Some of the articles were helpful, some not so much. As I enter my junior year of college (brb crying because I never want to leave), I wanted to impart some wisdom (??? if you could call it that) on you young, fresh souls getting ready to enter the mysterious world of college.

1. DON'T GO HOME EVERY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, how are you supposed to enjoy college if you're not even there to enjoy it.

2. Be social! Ok, so you aren't going home every time you get a free chance. Now what? Be sociable, talk to people, sit by someone you don't know in class and start a conversation, make friends. I promise freshman year is a lot more fun if you actually have friends.

3. If you have a boyfriend, cool…but don't be stuck up his butt. Make time for girl time to hang out with your friends.

4. You're going to go through heartbreak. Whether it's breaking up with your high school boyfriend that you thought you would marry, breaking up with your first college boyfriend, or even losing contact with your best friend from high school, some relationships are going to end. It might seem like the end of the world, but I promise the hurt only lasts for a little while.

5. You're going to start new relationships. I couldn't imagine where I would be now without some of my best friends that I made in college. Even relationships with boys are different, and you learn not to be sad once they end, but happy for the experiences that it gave you.

6. Be involved! Whether it's Greek Life, philanthropy organizations, political clubs (College Republican Convention was a BLAST this year, btw), honors societies, activist groups, etc., you need to join a few! These also look great on resumes!

7. Take a chance, do something out of your comfort zone! As a sophomore in college, I was able to apply to be a Cabinet Member for an organization that I had been a huge fan and follower of since its beginning. I decided to take the chance and apply, and I was accepted to be a Cabinet Member for Future First Lady. This was something out of my comfort zone, but the chance I took paid off and FFL has given me so many wonderful opportunities!

8. Find your niche. Everyone is good at something (or so I like to believe). Find your niche in your organization and thrive there.

9. Develop good study habits. High school was a breeze for me and I didn't really have to study. College came as a huge shock to me when I actually had to study and put effort into my classes. I recommend finding a way to study that fits you and the way you learn best. Don't be afraid to go to professors when you need help. Most professors genuinely want to see their students succeed and will help you in any way they can! Professors also have discretion when determining your final grade, so if you are just shy of meeting your target grade and they know that you have put in the effort, they will help you out!

10. Invest in a good pair of shoes to walk to class in (I recommend Chacos for warm weather!), don't forget a rain jacket, and give in to the oversized shirts and north/leggings trend. You won't wear anything else, anyways.

11. Have the best year ever. Stop stressing (you'll be doing plenty of that next year) and just have fun. Meet new people and try new things. Don't worry if you think people are going to judge you if you're doing something different from the crowd. Stand up for yourself and find your voice.

Best of luck this year, and remember to have fun and TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!!!

Thursday Thoughts

I decided I wanted to a series post each week, so now introducing Thursday Thoughts! This series is going to be a list of links to random things on the internet that I found funny, thoughtful, inspiring…(you get the idea)!

1. Cats + Abs…you're welcome


2. Future First Lady's 7 Days of Valentines
This is such a cute read, whether you're celebrating Valentines or Galentines ;) (P.S. this is my favorite gif from the article)

3. My awesome Chi O sisters singing a Taylor Swift mashup (Spoiler alert they won first place!)

4. I've got a serious case of wanderlust/longing for warm weather so basically I'm in love with pins of beautiful places around the world.

 

DIY Koozie Wall

If you're a normal college student, you probably have an abundance of koozies. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, gives out free koozies. Because the word "FREE" is the call of the college student, you've probably accepted tons of free koozies from random companies, organizations, etc. Mine stacked up underneath my bed until I finally thought of a creative way to display them (because you can't buy a Lilly Pulitzer koozie and not have it showing for the world to see!). Then I thought of a koozie wall, aka a gallery wall perfect for broke college students. It's super fast and easy to make, too! Now I just have to figure out a way to display all my tumbler cups! ;)

I got twine out of the dollar bin at Target and mini clothespins from Michael's! I just measured out how many koozies I had/how much wall space I had and decided to go with five koozies on each row. Then, I put clear thumbtacks in the wall and tied the twine around it. Tying the twine is a trial and error process to determine how long/how much slack you need, but once you get it figured out, it's easy from then on out!

Do you have any other creative ways for displaying koozies?

New Year, New Blog

If you've been to My Life As Hayden before, something seems a little different now. MLAH got a facelift! It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time and since I joined the #NYNB it seemed the perfect time to do it! I've matured and my style has changed since I started this blog before my freshman year of college, and I wanted the look of MLAH to reflect that. And it was all made possible by Noor of Noor's Blog Designs. Noor is the sweetest and most helpful person! She was always so quick to respond, and made my blog look so much better than I could have even imagined! If you need any type of design help, contact her! (Especially if you're balling on budget!)

I'm so excited to see what this year has in store for My Life As Hayden, so be sure to keep checking back for all of the awesomeness!! Don't forget to like my new Facebook page, too!

In High Tide Or Low Tide

This year I was so blessed to get a Little Sister from the newest pledge class in my chapter. Brittany has been such a blessing in my life and I couldn't imagine a better Little for me. We are exactly the same person, but can be opposites, too. It's been such a great relationship and I'm looking forward to the many years to come with her by my side! If you've read MLAH before, then you know I love to paint coolers. So in order to show my Little how much I loved her, I did it the best way I knew how…with a painted cooler!

I call my little Great White, hence the shark!

We're both chemistry nerds, so of course having elements from the periodic table was a must!

Throw what ya know!

Painted coolers are always my favorite gifts to give because they're functional, personal, and thoughtful! Who wouldn't want to get one of these as a gift?! Check out all my other coolers here and my tips on how to paint a cooler!