19 credits

I’m back at college after a very very long winter break. Don’t get me wrong, I love a break from school, but I’m one of those people that loves learning and being around inspiring people and topics. School is where I thrive in a way.

photo via

This semester I’m taking 19 credits which is a little ridiculous and I will probably regret it once we actually start getting assignments, but for now I couldn’t be more excited. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I’m taking my core curriculum classes (social problems, writing, and stars and galaxies). They’re cool, don’t get me wrong, but they are pretty bland. 

On the flip side, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I’m taking major based classes (concepts and creativity, branding strategies, and media, information, and technology). I can’t even begin to describe me excitement for these classes. My professors are the most inspiring people ever, in fact, my branding teacher lived in Milan for four years working on releasing Snickers. Um, hello perfection. 

I was just sitting in my classes yesterday realizing how lucky I am to be in college. This is what it’s supposed to feel like. Like I’m surrounded by people with dreams, and goals, and perspectives. Like I’m learning a ton, but also having a lot of fun. Like I’m inspired. Like I’m home.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds, but for now I’m enjoying living in the now and seeing what I can gain from all of my amazing classes, all 19 credits of them.

Thanks for reading!
xox
chloe

college as told by gifs

I'm currently procrastinating doing my math homework and thought it would be fun to create a little recap on my college experience so far  because I’m an amazing person and a kind soul.
I'm telling my story through GIFs (and yes, it is pronounced like Jiff the peanut butter) because nothing does a better job of describing an event more clearly.
You're welcome. 

Shopping for dorm stuff:

Meeting your roommate:

First day of classes:

First feeling of homesickness: 

First party:

going to the gym after your first party:

when someone in one of your classes reminds the teacher to collect an assignment:

Eating healthy in the dining hall:

First exam:

So there you have it. My college experience so far as told by GIFs. Please leave a comment telling me how relatable and funny this post is so I don’t feel badly for writing this post instead of working on my math homework. 

love you long time,
chloe 

gift guide : on a college student budget

When I was in high school I never believed the whole “college budget” thing. The thing was, I didn’t understand college finances. I mean, there’s a Starbucks five minutes walking from my dorm. There’s a huge fancy mall just a short bus ride away. And don’t even get me started on all of the delicious restaurants that can be delivered thanks to an on campus delivery service. College life is easy, but I’m spending way more money than I ever expected. Next year I’m sure to be a broke college student.

However, with the holidays coming up, it’s time to buy gifts for all of my friends. I have always been the kind of person that is obsessed with gift giving. I love brainstorming what to give who and then finding that perfect item. It’s somewhat of a scavenger hunt with such a rewarding ending. I’ve compiled a list of gifts that I want to get my friends and they all happen to be under $25 which is awesome. 

Let me know in the comments below what you’re giving and/or what’s on your list! I’d love to know! 

mug / candle / socks / banner / earrings / pouch / iphone charger

Thanks for reading.
xox
chloe

when i grow up

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

It’s the question that has kind of been relevant our entire lives. From drawing our dream job in kindergarten (I fluctuated between teacher and princess, depending on the day I was asked), to writing one page papers in middle school (still wanted to be a teacher, and on some days, a princess), to picking our major in college (moved away from teacher, realized princess wasn't in my cards, and moved on to strategic communications), we’ve been constantly asked this question since before we can remember. The nurse in the hospital probably asked me what I wanted to be the second I came out of the womb. 

Now that I’ve started college and picked my major, I’m feeling like this daunting question has become a reality. I’m officially starting the path of my future. Sure, I started my path in middle and high school, but in college it feels more official. 

When I grow up, I want to be a creative director. I want to be in charge of the creative side of marketing and I want to help with branding. I want to live a creative lifestyle that influences and affects people’s lives in the best and most inspirational way possible.
I want to make change through creativity. 

In college, I’m taking courses that apply to this dream. One of my courses is called Concepts and Creativity: Digital Storytelling. Yesterday, in my class, we had a discussion on Barbie. Where she came from, how she’s changed throughout the years based on social norms, and how many people are affected by her… even college aged boys. I never imagined how much Barbie affected my life, but she can take the credit for most of my love of all things girly. Weird how such a, seemingly, small part of my life can have so much influence over me. 

Another class that I’m taking is called Idea Industries where we discuss the behind the scenes of the marketing and media world. You know the eTrade baby commerical?  Well the guy who came up with the entire concept came and spoke to my class. How cool is that? We’ve also had a ton of other phenomenal guest speakers, and my professor is absolutely out of this world amazing. 

Learning what I want to learn, and learning about my possible future is this crazy cool thing. College really is an amazing place, and I regret rolling my eyes every time someone told me that “college is the best four years of your life.”
Five weeks in, and I’m already understanding why it’s true.

Thanks for reading! 
xox
Chloe 

College: Expectations vs. Reality

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and for that I would like to apologize. Life has been crazy, hectic, new, exciting, and weird. I’m writing this post while sitting on my college campus. COLLEGE. CAMPUS. 

     Who am I? Am I old enough for this? Am I ready to be an independent and responsible human? Honestly, I don’t feel ready. I don’t feel old enough. I don’t feel like how I thought I would feel going into college. 

    I feel homesick. I miss high school. I miss having a set routine. I miss home cooked dinners. I miss my family, my friends, and my own bathroom. I miss the old. 

    I’m not trying to make college sound bad, because it certainly isn’t. It’s fun and it’s exciting, but it’s new. Very new. I came here without really knowing anything. I know a few people that go to the same school as me which has helped, but I honestly feel like I was just thrown into a Hunger Games style arena and was just expected to know how to survive. I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m just figuring it all out. But I thought today I’d share a few expectation vs. reality stories with you. 

So I guess, per usual, I’ll just jump right into it. 

Expectation: It’s so easy to meet new people and make new friends. I’ve moved enough in my life to be able to understand how the whole “new friends” things works. I’ll be fine. 
Reality: There are the super nice people that are easy to talk to and easy to get along with, but there are also the people who have no interest (or seemingly no interest) in meeting or even talking to new people. I don’t know if these uninterested people have simply already found their best friends and future bridesmaids, or if they just have no interest in talking to new people. Regardless, I’ve become great friends with the people living in my hall and I’m forever thankful for them! 

Expectation: Taking an 8am will be so worth getting a class out of the way and having the afternoon to relax. I mean, waking up for high school really wasn’t that hard. 
Reality: An 8am class is literal death. Every night is basically a sleepover and getting to bed before 11pm is impossible when the people on your floor are awesome and fun to talk to. As I type this, my eyes are practically closing because I had an 8am this morning. Currently regretting signing up for this class. 

Expectation: The food will be gross and I really won’t have to worry about gaining the Freshman 15.
Reality: The food is amazing. there are so many options, and the bottomless soft serve ice cream with sprinkles is really killing me. Seriously though, the other night there were jalepeño poppers (ie deep friend jalepeños) and I about over dosed on them. So. Much. Good. Food. So. Many. Options. 

So college might not be what I was expecting, but it’s fun. I can already tell that it’s not going to be easy, but I’m taking classes that interest me beyond capacity. I honestly was questioning my major (strategic communications) but my classes have made me feel 110% better about the career that I want to go into (marketing and branding). 

So sometimes life is different than expected, but usually this difference is what teaches us new things and makes us appreciate the old and the so called “normality” of our past.

first impressions

I used to have a blog (well actually, it’s still on the internet somewhere) where I wrote about embarrassing stories that so frequently seemed to happen. For some reason, people liked this blog. I like to think it’s because my stories were so relatable and open and honest, but in reality I think it’s because people liked to laugh at a stranger’s unfortunate events via the internet. Either way, it doesn’t matter, I still got those pageviews, ya feel? ;) 

via

    Anyway, I haven’t written on that blog in a while, not because nothing embarrassing has happened lately (because a day doesn’t go by where I don’t embarrass myself), but because I just haven’t had the time to keep up with two blogs. Then, I recently, I asked myself why I had two blogs in the first place. I don’t know why I felt so nervous to share embarrassing stories on PopCosmo. Maybe because this blog has more viewers? Maybe because my dad reads this blog? Who really knows. 

Today marks the first day in history that I will be sharing an embarrassing story on here. This blog. This blog that’s read by more people than solely my cousin and a few select others. Are you ready for this? I mean you made it this far in the post so you might as well read the story..

The other night I went to dinner with two of my friends. We hadn’t seen each other in a while and we felt the need to catch up and tell each other stories (the good and the bad) about what has happened over the summer. Everything was going great until we started talking about technology and our phones, which eventually lead to us talking about our text ringtones. 

Coincidentally, one of my friends had just changed her text tone to a Jurassic World dinosaur roar. I thought it was half cool and half lame, but I wanted to hear what this text tone actually sounded like. So, of course, I texted her. Since she was sitting right next to me I just texted some scrambled letters, “gnirebj.” But for some reason, the text wasn’t going through. So I sent another, “gurejnlsk;a.” That once didn't go through either so I continued to text three more messages of jumbled letters to my friend in hopes of hearing a dinosaur roar. I then joked around and said something along the lines of, “I hope I didn’t send those texts to the wrong person…” 

Turns out I did. I sent five gross — as in “not english” — text messages to the wrong person. And who is this “wrong person” you might ask? None other than my roommate to be for next year, my first year of college. My roommate who I have yet to meet or have an actual conversation with. Way to start impressions out on a good note. Props to me. Awesome work. Always proving myself. I then continued to text my roommate, “omg I’m so sorry!!!” Which rendered no response. 

In the end, I learned two important lessons; one, always make sure you’re texting the right person. Especially when you’re sending gibberish text messages. And two, Jurassic World ringtones aren’t really worth hearing in the end.