Leianna 1, Praxis Core 0!

Personal update: I passed my Praxis Core exam! I'm so excited! Thank you for the prayers and thoughts during these past couple of weeks. I am not a patient girl, so waiting a month for scores was stressful. But, I passed! Next step, getting accepted into the College of Education at school!

Yesterday, my presh mama took a day from work to spend with me! We went to Goodwill (one of our favorite stores) and Wilmington to Target and La Gemma bakery! Back when I had braces (yikes) and had to go to Wilmington to my orthodontist, we would always go to La Gemma afterwards and get a sweet treat! We hadn't been in a really long time, so it was nice to load up on some goodies and chow down! Let me tell you, there were some perfect sales yesterday, too! One of mine and mom's favorite words: 'sale.'

Fab finds:

We both got a pair of killer Mossimo Boyfriend skinny jeans! On sale for $14.99 from $29.99! I love some boyfriend jeans, they are so casual and lounge-y.

Bathing suit season is approaching fast! I bought this little number - buy one, get one 50% off at Target! About $30.00 all together. That was a splurge for me, but I thought it was a good excuse. I usually don't go for this color, but it was so cute on and I couldn't resist. It is exactly what I have been looking for. I can't wait to rock it on the beach!

This was one of my favorite finds of the day. It's a weekender duffle bag. The term "weekender" sounds so celebrity I'm Off To Bora Bora Be Back Next Week to me! It's the perfect size to pack a couple for outfits and visit home or a friend's house. The color is very neutral and the cross-body strap adds extra support! On sale from $29.99 to $14.99!

After we came back from Wilmington, we went straight to the new house lot with dad. We spent about an hour over there putting stakes in the ground to mark off where the house will go. I never realized how much work went into that whole process. I thought you just snapped your fingers and voilà a house! Kidding of course, but it's exciting to break ground and start to see progress being made.

Mom has been gradually gathering new decorations for the kitchen and her office. We found a really cool clock at Goodwill that will be perfect on a book shelf, six placemats in yellow and gray and a matching table runner in Target (all on sale), and a precious poster in Big Lots that will look so fresh in a distressed frame on the wall! I can't wait until the house is finished and it has all come together. I'll definitely be taking pictures and sharing!

I'm off to work in about an hour and I'm excited to be back behind the freezer scooping ice cream! I haven't in like 7 months, which seems crazy. My spring break has been pretty great so far. Like I have told you all before, I love spending time with my family. I miss my dad's corny jokes and talks with my mom when I'm away at school. It's nice to catch up on those! For those of you who have break next week, hang in there! Only two more class days to go!

Happy break!

Can I call this a haul? Weekend Re-cap!

This weekend has been full of greatness! Spring break started for me on Friday and it's not over until next Sunday! Hallelujah! I got to squeeze in a little shopping over this weekend and some quality time with my parents. Man how I have missed them! Over the next week I get to put in some work at the ice cream shop, hangout with friends, and hopefully enjoy a little sunshine!

Over the weekend, my parents and I went down to Myrtle Beach for some shopping at Tanger Outlets. They had fantastic deals and I loaded up on some essentials, or at least things that are essential to my wardrobe!

For starters, I found myself wandering into Aeropostale, which is not something I often do. Since every store out there was having some sort of sale, I decided to look around. Why not? I am so glad I did because I found this fabulous little number! It's a faux-leather jacket with gray cotton sleeves. It's light weight and classic for layering. The great thing is it was on sale for $12.99 from $59.50!

I pretty much want to wear it everyday already.

Next, we went into Vanity Fair - another FANTASTIC decision of the day! I scored some Steve Madden-Madden Girl booties for $9.99 from $48.00! What? I know! They are gorg. I live in some black booties (these, but black) I got for Christmas last year and I can't wait to rock these babies!

We came back home and we hit up Cato's. They always have the cutest selection of jewelry in there and of course I found something. I can't resist a precious pair of studs! Especially if they remind me of home and the beach. These were on sale for $1.99 from $5.00.

You can't deny their cuteness!

The next awesome find I came across was from Big Lots. That place is a treasure chest! It's a Sephora by O.P.I. nail polish called Looks Like Rain, Dear. It's a sandy-gold color and is packed with sparkles! I got it for $1.60. I think these polishes usually range from $7.00-$12.00, depending on where you buy them.

I love these nude-y colors on my toes! It looks fresh when you start to

break out your spring sandals.

The last, most dramatic, thing I did over the weekend was my hair! I'm very hesitant when doing anything to my hair because it grows so slow. I have always loved my blonde, but it has been getting darker and darker recently. I took a big step (with my mama's help) and joined a trend that's been happening lately - ombré! My hair has never held color. I could leave dye on it for a whole day and it would wash right out, so bleaching was the way to go.

#selfie

 

It took us two separate days to get my hair to even change color. I'm so happy it worked! It's a very subtle look, but it adds that extra something.

My weekend has been so eventful and I am so excited to be home for these few days. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend as well! This break is much needed! I love spending time with my family and friends and I cannot wait to do that for the rest of the week. A lot of my friends have spring break next week, so hold on guys! Just 5 more days!

Thanks for reading! Happy Break!











Parents made a Cameo Appearance!

This past week has been a busy one - probably the busiest I have felt since this second semester started. I couldn't wait for it to be over because my parents were coming up for the weekend! I was so excited. Since I moved in last August, they haven't been up to visit and I was so happy that they did.

They got here late Friday night, so we didn't do anything then. We got up early on Saturday morning and ate breakfast, then set off to the mall. I picked up some fabulous finds at H&M. That store is awesome. We ate lunch at Cheddar's and it was yummy! I got us tickets for the UNCC vs. UAB basketball game for that day and that was fun to watch. We lost, but it was still an experience. Then it was off to IKEA! My parents are in the process of building a new house (EXCITING!), so it was fun to look around and get ideas from there.

Family selfie!

**College Freshman Tip: It is WAY harder to say goodbye to your parents from school then it is from home. Good thing spring break is next week!

Now, to the presh mall finds!

I got this cardigan from H&M. It is so light and an easy transition from Winter to Spring. It was only $14.95, too! It's on their website, check it out!  

I know you're probably thinking, what the heck is that thing? It's a sock bun roller! I bought the sock bun mesh sock previously and I literally could not do it by myself for anything. I got so frustrated with it and I ended up throwing it away. It sucked. Then, my mom showed me this piece of magic and it worked! It's on H&M's website also and it's only $4.95. I'm just not one of those people that can successfully make a bun with a sock - the roller is where it's at.

Success!

One last thing I picked up was from a store called Dazzle Up. It's probably the cutest thing I have ever purchased in my whole 18 years of life (exaggeration).

 

Baby Ferg got a new accessory! I am in love! (See facial expression)

This weekend was so much fun and I was so sad to see my parents go this morning. Like I said earlier, it is so much harder to say goodbye from school. I can't wait to see them next week for spring break! I honestly cannot believe I am halfway through the last semester of my freshman year. This is crazy.

I hope you all had an eventful weekend as well. Thanks for reading!



20 Tips from a College Freshman

These are just a few tips I have picked up since transitioning from a high school senior to a college freshman.

1. Checking the mail becomes more fun when you go off to school. UNCC has mailboxes outside of the dorms and I check mine almost everyday! It never gets old.

   

   I got these little treats in the mail today from my best friend!

2. You don't really get homesick until about a month after moving in. Things start to get real then.
3. Get used to walking, and walking, and more walking.
4. Take advantage of the free stuff ( t-shirts, food, fitness classes, sporting events, etc.) They're worth going to and worth the "college experience."
5. On that note: you make your own college experience.
6. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.
7. Use the wifi! The "you have exceeded your monthly data usage" message gets old fast.
8. Homework doesn't become easier and you still never want to do it. That part of college is just like high school.
9. You can remove yourself from any situation you don't feel comfortable in. That's the great thing about being an adult now! (Wow, the whole 'adult' thing takes some time to settle in.)
10. Decorate. Decorate. Decorate.
11. Make friends - new life experiences call for new friendly faces!
12. Know how to do your own laundry before you move out of your house. Frankly, you should be doing it by yourself by now anyway. Also, know the difference between lights and darks.
    
13. The whole "broke college kid" thing is no myth. You might have some money, but not for long. Restaurant visits, shopping trips, and fueling up your own Ferg happen.
14. Go to class. Literally, people will tell you that time and time again. LISTEN TO THEM. Your grades do matter, your effort matters, and bragging about making the Dean's List makes you feel pretty good.
15. Sunglasses, headphones, and chapstick will help you out around campus - especially when you have back-to-back classes all day. Knowing how to keep yourself occupied becomes an art form.
16. Sleep doesn't come easy and it doesn't last. You never get enough, you will constantly complain about it, but you won't do anything about it. Who needs sleep anyway when there's a new series added to Netflix?
    
    These gems are great picks!
17. Don't lose sight of the big picture. This class might seem tough right now and that teacher might be impossible, but think about the future. Always think about why you're here and what you're going to get out of it. (#futureteacher)
18. Even though you're moved out and away from your parents, keeping them informed is still really important. Let them know what's going on with you and what you've been up to. They care.
19. Make a list of all the assignments you have to do for the week. It is so easy to forget a due date when you're busy doing something else.
20. Making your bed makes you feel ten times better. Is that weird?

Hopefully these were a little helpful and fun for you to read! I know you'll come up with your own when you take the next step into college. Maybe these apply to those of you who are already in college or have already graduated. Just prepare yourself and breath through all of the big problems. Realistically, those problems are just stepping stones in creating a future for yourself!

Thanks for reading!



Cold Queen City: Round Two!

After yesterday and today, I think I underestimated the amount of snow we would actually get in Charlotte. I woke up yesterday to what I thought was a TON of snow, a lot more than the last snow day anyway. I was completely wrong, today it was like a scene from a movie! It was beautiful, I saw that someone on Twitter said we had gotten 8 inches! I have not seen this much fluffy goodness since I was like 5. We completely took advantage of our snow days off and had some fun. Sledding, building snowmen, and making snow cream! Also, a lot of sleep, Grey's Anatomy, and food.

Picture time!

Snow Day One:

Let it snow!

Couldn't see my feet!

The snow the first day didn't want to stick together, so we unsuccessfully attempted to make a snowman. Boy, it was a fail. SO the instincts in us naturally went towards a snow sand castle! All thanks to Kels' brilliant idea and our recycling bin!

Snow Day Two:

Waking up to beauty this morning!

Meet Big Mama!

Kels and I brought a little beach to Charlotte this morning. It was mostly icy sleet last night, so the snow stuck together today! SUCCESS!

Big Mama selfie!

It has been an awesome couple of days off and school is cancelled again tomorrow! Maybe that would be the perfect time to catch up on some homework...maybe. For right now, I'm going to catch up on some reality TV (guilty). I hope everyone who was blessed with some snow this week was safe and made a bunch of snowmen! 

Thanks for reading!



Fresh Perspective

I'm sitting here in my little living room starting out my Saturday with a cup of coffee and a little MTV Girl Code. If you've never watched Girl Code before, you're missing out. It's probably the most relatable show I have ever seen - which is it's main purpose I guess.

Here's just a little example.



Anyway, in each episode there's like three or four topics five or six girls comment on. This episode had the topic of engagement in it. Just like every other girl out there, I am steadily planning my wedding on Pinterest and let me say it is top notch. But, there's one thing missing - the guy. Most likely a very essential part to the big day. Believe me I'm looking for him, but he's not walked into my life quite yet. Like every good teenage girl, I'm going to blame my problems on my parents because they have the best relationship I have witnessed, but maybe I'm just biased. My mom would probably agree, because she tells me and my brother all the time, "I have ruined both of you." I am all for her bragging about their marriage because they are just two people that work together. They have been together since the 80's (which probably makes them feel really old if they're reading this) and they'll be celebrating 24 years of marriage this year.

Anyway, back to my dilemma. I used to think it was a really big deal that I wasn't in a relationship or one wasn't in the works. In reality, it's not. Sure every once in a while you'll get a little panicky and think about the future, but that's when you have your other single friends to back you up and Pinterest boards to compare, because let's face it: you're Pinterest wedding is way better than theirs to begin with. Single is not the worst thing that can happen to you and it's a fantastic way to learn how a relationship is supposed to be - you know, the do's and don'ts. It's nice to have a fresh perspective on things. I can't worry about the future when I have the present to live in.

Happy Saturday!

Keepin' ya Posted!

Just a little update post!

Today is my big brother, Drew's 22nd birthday! I feel like he just turned 16 yesterday and I made him this silly little picture frame with cheesy phrases all over it like, "I don't act my age." Don't forget that sweet mini-van he had, either. Happy Birthday, brother! I love you! Did you get my card?

I posted this a little earlier through Facebook, but it's still relevant!

As ya'll know, Kels and I are doing the 30-day Squat Away challenge and we are successfully on day 13! We just put 75 squats to work! I'm pretty proud of us. We took our first spinning class tonight on campus. It was so fun and my goodness my butt feels it! Those seats are NOT comfortable, but we did 17 miles on the spinning bikes! WHAT? I know! I couldn't believe it either.

#waybackwednesday   -   Kels Edition




First Week at UNCC!

Graduation Day!



My Graduation Party!
 

The next few weekends are going to be super busy. My parents are coming to visit in a couple of weeks, I'm so excited to show them around! They haven't been here since move-in back in August (of course I've went home). I can't wait to see them!

A little throw-back to my grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary party!

**Incoming College Freshman Tip: Whether you're close or not to your parents or family (which I am) you will miss them. You'll even miss the little annoying things they do. The funny thing is though, when you go back and visit home, you'll miss your dorm room! Visiting never gets old. It's weird at first, basically because you're "visiting" your own home. But, that's growing up! The feelings are worth it. I would say don't go home the first month after you move-in, it's hard to come back to school after that. You're just getting used to your new surroundings.

I take the Praxis Core test this Friday, so prayers are much appreciated! I'm not freaking out about it per-say, but tests are tests and they're not fun. I just have to look at the bright side. One step closer to the College of Education and becoming a teacher! Speaking of, I cannot believe I am almost finished with my last semester of Freshman year. That's a little weird considering I just moved-in last August, that was like yesterday, right?

Anyway, this is just a quick post. I really want to thank every one who has continued to read Because College. I reached 900 views this week and that is amazing! I am so happy people are interested and supportive. You guys rock!