College Gift Guide

I feel like all I ever write about these days is college related. But you know what? It’s pretty relevant to my life as a, wait for it, wait for it…. college student. 

So, that being said, here’s yet another college related post. However, this one has a holiday spin to it. 

I think one of the best parts of the holiday season is gift giving. It’s so fun to pick out that special gift for that special friend that you know they’re just going to love. It screams “them” to you. And when they love it as much as you think they will, ugh, it’s just so rewarding. 

I also think one of the worst parts of the holiday season is gift giving. As much as I want to buy every single one of my friends the most perfect and dazzling present, I can barely afford a hamburger for myself. 

How do you show someone you care about them without spending your entire life savings? I’m not really sure to be honest. If you want that question answered, I’m sorry, I won’t be the person who does that for you. 

But, don’t you worry. I have a solution. There’s this dope website called UncommonGoods that’s essentially an online marketplace for artists to sell their products. Not only do you purchase a product, but you’re supporting an artist and buying a story. They also were created in harmony with the environment without harm to animals or people and have non-profit organizations. I think the one I’m most passionate about is RAIN which is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. Pretty cool if you ask this college student. 

That being said, they sent me a few of their products from their already created (amazing) gift guides and I decided to go with the college student theme: alcohol and home decor. Obviously fitting for a 21 year old. 

Whether you're in a house, apartment, or a dorm, there's nothing quite like having a doormat to make you feel like you're back in your childhood home. I know that might sound so wacky but for real, they really make your place cozier (and cleaner if you actually use it to wipe your feet and not just as decoration.)

My friends and I drink a lot of wine. A lot. A lot. Hence the empty bottles -- it's hard to find a closed bottle left so excuse the photographs. That being said, this wine rack is phenomenal. It can be used as a holder for pretty much any number of bottles. Definitely a great gift for the college gal (or guy) if you ask me. 

My friends always poke fun at me for being the "rainbows and unicorns" kind of happiness. I see the positives of every situation almost to a fault. But I thought this stamp was a great way to liven up any piece of paper. It's just so cute and I haven't had anything like it since I was much younger. I feel like it's a great stocking stuffer or a gift for a basket type deal. That pink tho. Amazing. 

Home decor is tricky in college, especially when you live with other people. I have five other roommates and while we all get along, we definitely have very different styles (clothes, music, home decor, etc.) However, this light box is super cool because it changes color (aka aesthetic) and you can constantly change out what it says, Having a holiday party? Perfect, change the words. Someones birthday? Perfect, change the words. Inspirational quote? Yeah, you know, change the words. 

If you're struggling with the holiday gift scene, definitely be sure to checkout Uncommon Good's remade guides. They have one for pretty much any occasion you can think of.

What are you giving to your friends this year?

Thanks for reading! 
xox,
Chloe

College

What comes to mind when you think “college.” 

Animal house? Drinking problems? Too much school work? Stress? The Freshman 15? Excitement? 

Same. 

College is kind of weird if you think about it. You’re on your own, but also not really. You still have your parents support, you don’t really have to worry about “adult” things yet, but you still get all the freedom and independence that you craved oh so much during high school. 

I’m now about to go into my Junior year of college and as I’m writing this I’m sitting in my house thinking of all the things that made me nervous going into my freshman year of college. From what to pack, to what I would wear to class, to how the heck I would find my classes on the first day of school, to making friends, to understanding college parties and lifestyle. There were SO many new things. So many weird things that I never could have prepared for. It was a whole new world. 

I want to answer some questions about college for my past (pre college) self, from my current (almost upper class man) self. So here we go…

How do I find my classes? 
Walk around campus in the few days that you have before school. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions either. Everyone on campus was once new and in the exact same boat as you and will be more than willing to help you find your building and class room within the building. 

What do I wear to class?
Whatever your little heart desires. Whether that be a cute little dress and sandals or a big t-shirt and leggings. You do you. Just rock it confidently, that’s all that matters. 

Are parties super intimidating? 
They are what you make of them. Talk to people, don’t be shy! Don’t be afraid to say hey to that one person who sits three rows and five seats down in front of you in that random core class. They probably want someone to sit next to in class too — also who doesn’t like meeting someone at a party to end up helping each other in class. But also be aware, don’t take random drinks from random people. Don’t be dumb. I would recommend drinking at a pre-game (or in my case, in your dorm room with friends) before going to the party so you don’t even have to drink once you get there. That way you know your alcohol is safe and clean. 

Those are obviously just three little questions from a long list that I had, but I feel like the answers can be applied to a lot of things: don’t be afraid to ask for help, be confident, and be aware. 

College is the time of your life. The time to learn who you are and who you want to become. It’s fun, it’s an adventure. 

Thanks for reading! 
xox
Chloe

A Degree Is Just A Piece of Paper

I talk about this topic with my friends and family so often that I’m shocked I’ve never written a post about it: Major shamming. Not shamming in a huge way, but shaming people for being in a certain major. 

I’m a communications major. I’ve said it before, and I’ll most likely say it again. It’s the major at the top of every “What NOT to major in” list on the internet. The major that people say is useless, stupid, for people who don’t know what they want to do. 

But hey, guess what. I’m none of those things and I freakin’ love my major. I love the projects I get to work on, the collaborative nature of everything I do, the creativity I get to unleash. It’s fun, but that doesn’t mean its “dumb.” 

The classes that I take in comparison to, say, pre-med students is very different. I don’t have to take biology, chemistry, or calculus. I don’t excel in those subjects and I know my weaknesses. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t hone into my strengths. I’m not cocky, but I like to think I excel in photography, graphic design, and copy writing so those are the classes I take. Just because I’m not the best in certain classes doesn’t make me dumb. Just because my core science classes consist ofthe “philosophy of science” doesn’t make it any less “science-y” or less difficult that your “actual” science classes. 

I’m not writing this post for people to pity communications majors. In fact, I’m writing this for quite the opposite affect. I want it to be known that people should go to college to learn more about things they want to learn about. It’s the time in our lives where we can hone into skills and understand things like never before. Don’t major in something just because it “sounds smart” or “will get you a job,” because in the end a degree is just a piece of paper, it’s the passion for something that will take you far in life. 

If you’re deciding on what to major in for college I want you to close your eyes and picture your dream job. Even if it’s seems dumb or stupid think about it. Do you want to walk dogs for a living? Own a bakery? Be a free lance graphic designer? Do it. You can succeed in anything you care about because there’s one thing that you already have above others and that’s a dream and behind that dream comes passion and appreciation. 

Do what you love, I promise it’ll all work out.

Thanks for reading! 
xox
Chloe 

FAILING

Let’s talk about failure. 

FAILURE.

The word kind of makes my heart beat faster, my palms clammy, and my head feel a little fuzzy. It’s not something I enjoy talking about, let alone feeling.

I hate failing. I mean it’s not like I know anyone who actually enjoys failing, but it’s the worst feeling in the world. And the weird thing is that everyone’s definition of failure is a little different. 

I just failed a test. Like failed failed. The second I got out of my class I ran to the nearest empty place on campus, called my mom, and cried. I didn’t even know I needed to cry but the second I told my mom I failed I just lost it. 

photo scan taken by my amazing amazing amazing mom 

And you know what she said? She said life goes on. She told me that there are ups and downs and everything in between. She said that currently, I’m having a down but it’s not the end of the world. Life. Goes. On. 

I might have to drop the class but I’m not a failure. One test, one class, one semester doesn’t define who I am as a person. I still have so many gains in front of me — maybe failures too, but those only make the good things seem even better.  

So if you’re ever feeling down or like you’re a failure, know that you’re not. It might seem terrible and irreversible in the moment, but even a day later life can seem so much better. You are amazing, and your grades don’t and shouldn’t determine your self worth.

Thanks for reading! 
xox
chloe

Conquering Self Doubt

I’ve always known that I want to do something creative with my future. I don’t know exactly what this creative thing is, but I know I’m not cut out for being something conventional like a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. It’s not in my DNA, I thrive on being creative. 

However, this past semester, I started to doubt myself. I started wondering if maybe I’m not as creative as I thought. I started questioning my originality and my ability to think outside the box. It got to be so bad that I stopped pushing myself. I stopped trying new things, I stopped thinking creatively. I suppressed my “weird” thoughts and feelings.

I think I started to doubt myself because I stopped trying new things. I felt trapped in this bubble of repetitiveness. Wake up, class, eat, sleep, and repeat. I felt like I was in this cycle of never ending boringness. 

Every once in a while its so important to break the cycle and get out and do and see new things. 

A few days ago, during the first big snow of the year, I forced my friends to drive up to the mountains and take pictures. We’ve been to this spot before, but I needed to get my creative juices flowing and experience the beauty of nature with my friends. 

And you know what? That half hour of being creative and outdoors was just the wakeup call that I needed. I’m back to myself, and that’s how I know I’m not pursuing the wrong path. I’m doing the right thing with my life and future and everything is going to be fine and workout just like it’s supposed to.

Thanks for reading! 
xox
chloe

Art Progression

I think I’ve mentioned this pretty often, but I’m majoring in Strategic Communications and minoring in Technology, Arts, and Media. This semester my classes are very creative based. 

We’re talking Film, Photography, and Web Design along with a Crime and Society and a branding class. While these classes are at the peak of my interest and they’re the stepping stones to my future, they’re hard. Really, really hard. I don’t know if it’s because art is a tricky thing to get a grade for or if it’s just the idea of learning and honing in on new skill sets, but my grades this year are lower than last year when I was taking mostly core classes. 

I’ve always been the kind of person to make good grades. I’m not saying it came naturally, but I studied and made the grades I wanted to. My school work felt like it was in my control all the way until this year. My photography class is super fun, don’t get me wrong, but I just got a 70% on a project I thought I did well on. 

It was a little heart breaking because I feel like when your art work is graded lower than you think you deserve it’s a personal thing. Math is a yes or no answer, but art is like a yes, no, maybe, sometimes, here and there, up and down, left and right, all around kinda answer. It’s hard to grade and even harder to hear the grade. 

This year especially I feel like I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for art and all of the thought and hard work that go into it. I’ve decided that I’m going to start sharing a few of my projects on here so you guys can see the progression of my artwork and thoughts and feelings. Also so I can look back and see the progression, but I’m trying to not be too selfish. 
Kidding, but not really. 

So for my photography class, the first project we had was to photograph a series of three with the theme of “life, in-between, and death.” I first thought about what represents our lives as humans and then I thought about how each year to celebrate another year of life we celebrate through cake. I then thought it would be cool to photograph the life, in-between, and death of cake itself and this is what I came up with: 

The next project we had was to take an old family picture and put ourselves into it. I decided to take a picture of my great grandmother and her friends and put myself on one of her friends faces. I then placed us into the quad at my school so it was like me in their lives but also them in my life. A weird little project. 

The next one was on the topic of surveillance and how we, as humans, are always being documented even without out knowledge. We had to go out and take pictures of random people and then put them into a snapshot that we took from google images of the same place where we took our “stalker pic.” I then edited mine to look a little more “surveillance-y” and here’s what I came up with: 

Thanks for reading! 
xox
chloe