New Instagram Now Live

Hey everyone! I just made a new Instagram dedicated to this blog and my Tumblr (also hoosierstateofprep). Check it out!

New IG: hoosierstateofprep

Christmas Playlist

Here are some of my favorite Christmas songs and artists, enjoy!

Christmas Countdown

Thanksgiving is over and then means it's time to decorate your house for Christmas! My family and I got most of our decorating done today because early December is always a busy time! We have two trees, one in the living room and another one on the landing outside of my room. Then, sprinkled around the main floor of the house are my mom's snowmen and my dad's Nutcrackers. Personally, I have lights on my dresser and drawers with some table trees (I also have a lot of penguin ornaments on my tree). 

My tree outside of room complete with Santa and Rudolph from The Polar Express underneath.

Here is the top of my drawers complete with lights, trees from Pier 1, and a Bath and Body Works Noel candle

Our family tree in the living room! We'll have our train under there tomorrow!

Our mantel, complete with Nutcrackers and stockings that are never filled. 

I hope your first days of Christmas season are filled with cheer and decoration! We're almost there!

Thankful

I hope everyone had a great time with their family today over Thanksgiving! I celebrated with my mom's side of the family and my cousin came with his family after not being able to for years. Actually, he remembers me as a short, little girl that pushed too many buttons (we all have our faults).  

I am so thankful for my family, friends, and the ability to get a college education! What are you thankful for?

My favorite Thanksgiving dishes are stuffing, mac and cheese, turkey, elk roast, and banana pudding! What are your favorites?

Here is my OOTD: 

shirt: J. Crew//vest: J.Crew//boots and socks: Hunter// necklace: Francesca's

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Now it's time for Christmas!

Gift Guide: Parents

For Dad: 
Golf Balls/Titlelist // Anything Vineyard Vines/ Vineyard Vines // Cologne/ Lacoste  // Puzzle/Puzzle Warehouse
For Mom:
Pot Holders/ Calphalon // Perfume/ Tommy Bahama // Coffee/ Keurig
For Both:
Car wash books from your local car wash

These are just some of the go-to gifts for my parents, but I'm sure your parents would enjoy similar gifts!

xoxo,
Mal

It's Good to Be Home

I am so glad to be home for Thanksgiving Break!  I can burn candles, blast music, and lay in bed all day without any responsibilities for the next few days and I am so excited. I'll be posting some more blog posts while I'm home since I haven't posted much at school. To start off, here are some pictures of my room. My parents and I had it repainted last year and I got all new furniture. It's nice to be back in a room that doesn't have fluorescent lights!

Bedding: Anthropologie

Curtains: West Elm

It's great to be home,

Mal

Studying in College

So the truth is, I didn't study much is high school and still graduated near the top with great grades, but I quickly learned during my first weeks in college that my studying habits had to change. Here are some of studying tips and tricks for college. I'm sure you can adapt these to high school as well. 

1. Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite:

I have quickly learned that rewriting is what helps me learn best. For my psychology class I write on the class lecture outline and then rewrite it in a notebook and type it into a Word Document. Now I have three different versions of the notes, two in my handwriting and the other typed in a font that is easy to read. Here are my latest psychology notes on learning:

2. Draw out processes: 

As a science major, I know that this is going to be my most used form of reviewing. I look through notes and redraw important diagrams pictures in with my Staedtler pens. Here is a chart from my biology notes. 

3: Organization:

I cannot stress how important organization is to my studying habits. I have a folder for each of my five classes, three of which also have binders to hold finished notes and reviews. Also, all of my pens are in pencil holders. I have one for the pens that I use daily (the Lilly Pulitzer of Estēe Lauder), one for the pens for studying (Vera Bradley), and then my desk holders.

4. Color coding:

I love color coding. Some wold say that I have too many pens, but little do they know I asked for more for Christmas. I write all of notes in black ink then go back through my notes with colored pens and highlighters. My favorite pens are Pentel WOW! in black ink and Uni-Ball Vision Elite in blank ink. All of my colored pens range between Pentel, BIC, Pilot, and Staedler. My go-to highlighters are from Staedler because they don't smear the pen ink! 

5. Have go-to study spots:

I can't concentrate in my dorm room due to distractions so I do most of my studying around campus. My favorite spots include one of the lounges on my floor, the Starbucks in the IMU (our student union), the Starbucks just off campus, the stacks in the library, and one of my favorite Halls on Sundays because no one else is there. Here is a picture that I took yesterday when I was studying at the library. 

Last but not least, here is a picture of my desk:

How do you study?

xoxo, Mal

Weekend Recap: Parent's Weekend

This past weekend was Parent's Weekend and luckily my parents only had to travel three hours to see me! Parents weekend means real food instead of food court food so Friday night my parents took five of my friends and I out to dinner at my favorite restaurant in B-Town: Gratzie. Sadly, my favorite dish was taken off to the menu so I improvised with Wild Mushroom Tortellini and Shirley Temple (yes I am a college student and I still drink those). 

Saturday was the football game against Penn State and my parents sat in the student section with my friends and I because our seats were better than the ones they bought!

 Also, when our defense intercepted, some fellow students took a bleacher off of the stands. 

Sadly, IU lost and I am blaming that on the fact that we are using a third-string, freshman quarterback. He has potential though!

How was your weekend?
xoxo, Mallory 

My Fall Must-Haves

Temperatures in the fall in Indiana can range from 40 to 65 degrees so it's important to some go-to clothing options. For my 8am classes it's nice to throw on a simple flannel shirt like the one from Patagonia below and pair with a vest from Patagonia or J. Crew. I have an obsession with both (I admit that I have six vests and maybe 10 flannels in my closet here a school). It's been raining at least once a week so I'll throw on my Marley Lilly monogrammed rain jacket like the one below with my Hunter Rain Boots. My other must-haves are LL Bean Boots because they're great for walking around campus and keep my feet warm. Also, when I'm not using my backpack I'll use my Longchamp Le Pliage to carry a few things. Plus it's great for using in the rain! 

What are some of your fall must-haves?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Mallory

November Playlist

Here are some of my favorite songs of the moment. What are some of your favorites at the moment?

xoxo, Mallory

Halloweekend: OOTN

It snowed on Halloween for the first time in 124 years and it felt like 20 degrees at times last night, but that didn't stop me from having fun on Halloween. This upcoming week is full of important class deadlines so I decided to go for warmth instead of skin. 

Costume: Safari Explorer/Bird Watcher

Pants, Shirt, Shoes and Hat: Old Navy

Vest: TJ Maxx- Max Jeans 

Bag: H&M

These are some of my friends! Two of them went out as cats, one as a witch, and the other I have no idea what she was...

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

xoxo, Mallory