bed

Spring 2015 Dorm Tour - I Challenge You!

January 26, 2015

Every semester, I come in with the mentality, "new semester, new start." That drives me to rearrange my room. Last year, I rearranged my room where my roommates' bed is the vertical way, and mine was horizontal against the wall. Personally, I think that it makes a lot more room. Small changes like rearranging furniture and new decorations really switches up the vibe in a room. Like most bloggers, especially ones that focus on organization, It's better to focus in an organized space. Organize your room, organize your thoughts. 

I may sound like a basic college girl here, but there's something about candles and wall lights that really relax me. Here's an overview of my room from my top bunk. I don't have a third roommate anywhere, but the extra furniture is here.


Since we have our extra furniture, we would have more room along the wall, but we made do. We lined up the dressers and extra desk to put our TV, printer, and other body sprays and pictures on. I used to like having all of my posters above my bed, but I don't mind them lining the wall. As you can see, we have enough wall lights to make enough light for us to function without turning the actual lights on.


This is my desk with all the usual desk fixings: dry-erase calendar, desk organizer, mirror, makeup, HerCampus sticky notes, sponge (random), and makeup/brush organizer. Why have a vanity and a work desk when you can combine both?


Under a very tricky extension cord setup are my books: The Penguin Handbook, "Women in Clothes", The Associated Press Stylebook, Grace Helbig's "Grace's Guidebook", "It" by Alexa Chung, Sarah Dessen's "Just Listen", Gossip Girl: "Nobody Does it Better", the Associated Press Guide to Grammar and Punctuation, and 1984 by George Orwin.

This is just a basic shot of our microwave and fridge near my closet, but I wanted to highlight my basket. I got it at Marshalls over break to keep all a few things that were just hanging on top of my microwave: paper towels, my infuser bottle, my k-carafe, produce, and room spray. There's also a picture of my friends and I washing our faces, because why not? I'm the one in the middle.

My mess of a closet! I try to keep it an organized mess. My order is: Sweatshirts, active wear, dresses, blazers, cardigans, nice tops, vests, my organizer, and outerwear. I love my organizer! I keep my bags inside and my hats, running accessories, and gloves outside.


This is what I meant by putting the extra furniture to use.


I'm so obsessed with my bed setup, especially my pillows. Resting on the arms of my boho husband pillow are my Urban Outfitters "Never Sleep" pillows, my friend's blue pillow, and my grey throw blanket. I call it my corner.


I love displaying things on my bureau. Besides my Bath and Body Works/ Victorias Secret sprays and lotions, I have many trinkets. I have a cape cod seashell, a candle from London, a picture of Jackie, my Dole Pineapple from Hawaii, and my viking duck from cross country. I also keep my record player and a record of choice on display.


Finally, my wall. From the left, there is a Fleet Foxes poster, the HPV Vaccine campaign logo I designed, the Bethany Mota wall stickie below it, a mind the gap poster, DIY picture boards, a cray-pas picture I did, and of course a Jackie calendar.

Think your room is better than mine? Challenge me! Upload a picture on Instagram or Twitter and tag me (N_Vergak) or a do a blog tour and tag me below!

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boho

LIFESTYLE: BAD JUJU TO GOOD VIBES

December 18, 2014

I'm a big fan of being more productive in a more organized environment. If I look around at a messy room and I have homework, I get stressed because I not only have to clean that mess, but I also have to do homework. (ugh). I'm also a firm believer that organization does not have to involve a huge upkeep. If you have a well-organized system, it should stay clean itself practically. If there's a spot for everything, and everything goes in its dedicated spot, then why should there be a mess? I know this sounds a lot easier than it is, I've learned that from having my friends parade in and out of my dorm room. Can't help that I'm so popular! (Mean Girls!)

However, I was experiencing unhappiness, unproductiveness, and just all-around bad juju in my room at home because of the unruliness of my bureau and my bed-side table. I should have taken before and after pictures, honestly. The top of my bureau was a place for keepsakes, trophies, foreign coins, prayer cards, headbands... trash... a lamp..  and a flower crown... essentially a mess. What started off with good intentions ended up being a free for all. My bedside table was for candles, my phone charger, my contacts, glasses, and prescriptions. The same happened there.

I have plans of redoing my room this summer, so that when I move in either an on or off campus apartment, I'll have one main set of decorations, pictures, and furniture. I also want to upgrade from a preppy/pop punk vibe (yikes) to a boho chic vibe. I took my first steps this weekend by reorganizing these two problem spaces with two table runners, a pedestal, and a metal box.

Picture from my instagram!

This is the final product. The top table runner is from Pottery Barn. I didn't realize how pricey it is there. The pedestal on top is from Marshalls. The bureau has a regal-boho vibe. It makes me feel important and chill. Not to mention, the pedestal goes well with my lamp that has similar hanging beads on it! Pictures of the lamp are below. I'm pretty sure I used a place mat for my bedside table. The place mat and metal box are both from Marshalls. Although my glasses, lotions, etc are all jammed in there, it's better than them being sprawled out all over the table. 


I've never been a practicer of Feng Shui, but this arrangement makes me feel so much better!


Love the floral details of the metal box.



On my pedestal rests my two awards, my Cape Cod license plate, and my Cape Cod candle, which now holds international coins. Those awards are my two from my collegiate cross country career so far: Rookie Of The Year and Student Athlete. I'm wicked smahhht! Also on this bureau is another candle, a prayer card, my "blues jar", my lamp, and a gold-dipped rose. A Blues Jar is a mason jar filled with little notes that I look at when I'm feeling down.


Loooving this design.




Jackie approves!

Where are your places to shop for Home Decor?

Do you feel more productive in an uncluttered space?



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college

LIFESTYLE: GETTHE MOST OUT OF YOUR LILLY PLANNER

August 12, 2014

It's little (or big), it's pink, it's hand-painted, and it helps you get your shit together. Can you figure out the riddle? It's your Lilly planner! I also might add that it costs a pretty penny more than your typical CVS planner. So, why not use it for its full potential?


I got a small Lilly planner, pink with a white flower design. It's fully equipped with sturdy hardcover ends, wire binding, stickers for important days, and tabs to separate months, special dates and comments, holidays and horoscopes, and notes. There is a pocket for pictures and important pieces of paper. There is a yearly view of 2014 and 2015, followed by monthly views of August 2014- December 2015 (all accompanied by a different Lilly print of course.) There's even a page that tells Lilly's story from the lemonade stand to Jackie O.




1. Use it as a desk calendar


When not in your bag, open it up to this month and put it up on your desk. You may have to pin the pages back. This way you don't have to keep looking on your phone to see what day of the week is a date, or when a certain assignment is due, it's all in writing!

2. Keepsakes and reminders

There's always a piece of paper that the professor wants you to sign - whether it's a waiver or  signed syllabus. The most heartbreaking thing is having the paper sign but leaving the folder for the class in your room. Keep it in the pocket Lilly gave you so you don't have to forget it! This pocket is useful for keeping pictures of people you don't want to forget, either.
3. Utilize the stickers
They're there for  reason - and what a fun way to remind yourself to do something!

4. Use the blank pages for free writes
You use your planner to set your busy schedule, however you can also use it to unwind and relax. Free writing is so relaxing because it's un-restricting. My old english teacher in high school would have us do 7 all 7's - write for 7 minutes a day, 7 days a week.

5. Plan out your day
Make use of every line of your daily view! I have one column for assignments, one for to-do lists, and one for after-class activities. I cross it out or check it off when I finish.

6. Display your schedule


In the beginning of the semester, it takes me a while to get into my groove of where and when my classes are. Remind yourself with a sticky note in the front!

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed. Just so you know, this guide isn't just for Lilly planners. You can adapt this to any planner you choose. Have a great school year everyone! 


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feature

FEATURE: EMILY-ANNE RIGAL OF WE STOP HATE!

February 28, 2014

Back in my older YouTube days I made a friend, Emily-Anne. She was always different in a good way. While everyone else was making music videos to Ke$ha's latest hits (nothing against my girl Ke$ha, of course), she was making inspirational and uplifting videos. I always knew she'd make something great of herself.

Emily-Anne, holding up a sign for "Active Minds Eating Disorder Awareness + Body Positivity Week" (Feb 24-27).

Now, she has! Emily-Anne is the founder and director of a Realize inc. anti-bullying/self esteem-raising NGO called We Stop Hate. The main idea of WSH is to stop teens that put other teens down just to raise their self esteem. Stopping this prevents the harmful impact it can have on the ones who are bullied. The organization also strives to give teens ways to raise their self-esteem.
This is done on various social media platforms. There are hundreds on videos on the site made by fellow teens who have similar experiences and are willing to help. Knowing your not alone can be the first step to a happy life. The word is spread through through videos, apparel, newsletters, and social media platforms. Aside from being featured on The Today Show, Seventeen Magzine, Forbes, MTV, CNN, and more, Emily-Anne also shared that she is working on a huge project withYouTubers and Celebrities and a self-esteem guide to be released in 2016!
WSH has been sponsored by Nickelodeon and The Body Shop. 



picture from westophate.org

Click here to read, watch, get involved, or donate!

Now, what about Emily-Anne? She's currently attending Barnard College at Columbia University majoring in Urban Studies. Self-esteem building is no new idea for Emily-Anne. She interned at Seventeen Magazine and worked with a health editor to make body peace videos about the Seventeen Magazine staff. She also interned at the Chew. Between her busy life at school and organizing WSH, she took time to catch up with me and ask some questions!

What keeps you going on a day when you're stressed?
"I try to take things one task a time. When I'm really busy, I prioritize. I have giant sticky notes and write own all the things that I need to do, and I have another giant sticky note, and write down what order it needs to get done. It keeps me sane. It's nice to see it visually."


"The act of being able to juggle different things is such a good skill."

How does it feel making a difference?
It feels really good to give back. By doing things to serve other people... it helps give you a sense of purpose. It feels really rewarding to do something to make a difference in someone else's life. On days when I feel like there's a lot to do, I can look back and realize I did something to help someone else, and it makes me want to continue. Like if you give a compliment to someone else, you feel good about yourself."

Inspirational words for people trying to make a difference?
"There's this quote that I really love:
'You don't have to be brave to start, but you have to start to be brave'
- Big Ziglar
My biggest advice for people that want to make a difference is just start. I didn't have all the answers, I just believed I could do something... I just started and learned along the way and that mentality just stayed with me all the way. You just have to try and it will all come together."


"Its about figuring what you want then going balls to the walls after that"

What's next after school?
"I'm a sophomore, I'll be doing four years, and my hope is to work full-time at WeStopHate after I graduate, working on the mission and growing the business when I graduate."


She also had some advice for either college freshmen, like myself, or even highschoolers. "I learned so much freshmen year. Where I am today and where I was last year is two difference people. You'll have plenty of time, don't worry."

I hope Emily-Anne's story inspired you. Thank you so much, Emily-Anne for catching up and letting me put you in the spotlight! 

WeStopHate: http://www.westophate.org
Emily-Anne's twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EmilyAnne_Rigal

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