arichardson's blog

Dorm closets are tiny and annoying. I remember all of mine, and I remember never having enough space for all the cuteness that was required to follow me to college. Here are some tips on organizing that tiny space to use it to the fullest.

I think one of the hardest things for some college students to learn is how to do laundry. I thought I'd lend a hand and give a few tips:

Half the fun of decorating a dorm room is figuring out how you're going to light it. Face it, those fluorescent lights are ugly and so not fun to do your makeup in. Here are some ideas for designing the lighting for your dorm:

There are so many choices when it comes choosing your dorm bedding that it can be super overwhelming. That's what I'm here for! The best start is to go through and look at every pattern and color on the website. Does anything stick out? Is there anything you love? Is there anything you absolutely hate? Chances are, at least one thing stuck out. Now, go back through with fresh ideas if you need to. 

Once you've picked a pattern and color you like, think about what kind of bedding you want. Here are your choices:

Pillows can be one of the easiest ways to make a room POP and be more fun. Here are some things to think about while you're picking your own.

Face it, we all need a summer job. Especially right before college. There are a million things to save up for, like books and dorm stuff, as well as money to go out and have fun with your friends. Here are the top 10 ways to save money over the summer.

1. Make money sitting in the sun. Sign up to be a lifeguard at your local pool. You have to meet a few qualifications, but you can work on your tan!

2. Babysit. Just like during the school year, parents need help on date nights. Ask around your neighborhood or put up flyers.

Ahhh! You are about to graduate high school and start the most amazing adventure of your life (until you graduate college, and then there's a whole new world out there for you). Sometimes parents tell you that high school is the greatest time of your life. Lies. College kicks butt. You will laugh, you will cry, you will do stupid things, you will have several movie marathons with your friends when you should be studying.... 

Springtime is here, and what better way to celebrate than with fresh flowers! I found some cool pictures of old coke bottles turned into vases. Unfortunately, I did it wrong, but it still looks cool! The thing is, when you look at the tutorials here and here you'll see that you should paint the inside of the bottle. My bottle was green, so I painted the outside.

Decision time is here!!! I am 10 days away from submitting my graduate school decision. I can imagine your excitement at getting ready for your first year of college!

Probably one of the most fun parts of going to college is decorating your dorm room. For guys, it's all about electronics and which comfy couch to get. For girls, it's about coordinating with your roommate and finding the cutest things to settle you into your home away from home for a whole year.

If you're a senior, you're probably aching with suspense at the month and a half of squares on the calendar until graduation. As a graduating senior in college, I can relate. Take a deep breath, and check out the top ten things to know BEFORE you get to college.

10. The first time you get sick away from home is AWFUL. Stock up on OTCs before you go so that you don't have to try and get out of bed while you're ill. 

9. It's ok to get homesick. If you're feeling it, everyone else is too, even if they're hiding it.