A Day Out In Winter

So it’s starting to get cold (finally) here in Dallas! That means that I can start wearing all my scarves, sweaters, and boots that I absolutely love. I swear it’s one of the first days that aren’t like 80 degrees outside, and it’s a little after Christmas.

I just bought these black booties from Cole Haan, so naturally, I had to plan my entire outfit around them. I’ve noticed that ripped jeans have been making their way back, so I pulled out some very old ones I found in my closet along with a grey sweater. The outfit was completed with a plaid scarf that I’ve been now seeing everywhere, and I adore the trend.

None of my outfits are ever complete without jewelry; I added Kendra Scott “Elle” earrings, a Kate Spade watch, a gold bangle from Madewell, as well as a bracelet and ring from David Yurman. I completed the look with my Rebecca Minkoff crossbody bag. This outfit is perfect for a day out, going out for lunch, and wanting to stay warm – all while looking super cute!

xoxo,
Shereen

Holiday Gift Guide for Her - $100 & Under

With Thanksgiving just passing and Christmas right around the corner, it's time to get shopping! Here are just a few ideas for gifts you could give that would make any girl super happy. Some of these items are on the pricier side while others are more affordable; it all depends on how generous you're feeling and how much you're able to spend. These gifts work for your friends, cousins, mom, and your sister. Keep in mind, by no means do you have to spend any amount to show someone that you're thinking of them. Happy shopping, loves!

1. Tartlette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette: I recently purchased this palette in need of new eyeshadows to try out and fell in love with it. It has 12 versatile, matte shades that would look good on anyone and any eye color. // $45

2. Kendra Scott Alexandra Earrings: These earrings are the perfect statement piece to add to any outfit. They're a neutral pearl color to go with just about anything. //$65

3. Mac Lipstick in the shade "Creme in Your Coffee": This is the perfect little gift that a girl would definitely use; this lipstick is in a shade anyone could wear. //$15

4. Colorful Plaid Scarf: These plaid blanket scarves are super fashionable this season, I've been seeing them in boutiques everywhere. I just bought one for myself and love it! // $15

5. Kate Spade Cedar Street Tavy Cardholder/Wallet: This is the cutest little wallet to carry all your essentials: ID, credit cards, and some cash. // $88

6. Apothecary Tobacco & Patchouli Candle: Don't let the name scare you, it actually smells really good. This is a scent a lot of people would agree on; it's subtle without being too strong. It fills up the entire room/house with a relaxing scent. (Probably not a good gift for someone living in a dorm) // $24

7. Alex and Ani Love Charm Bangle: These bracelets are adorable and have all types of different charms and meanings. They're super cute to collect and layer with other bangles and jewelry. // $28

8. Sephora Favorites Beauty Closet Gift Set: This is the perfect gift for any beauty lover. It's filled with 21 of Sephora's best selling products. This is probably one of the most exciting gifts to receive, in my opinion. // $100

9. Pineapple iPhone 6 Case: This cute case from Etsy is a great gift that you can't really go wrong with. There are so many to choose from that are super affordable! // $14

xoxo,

Shereen

Food for Thought: College

Starting out your freshman year of college is its own kind of stress. There are immense amounts of changes taking place all around you. You’re no longer living with your parents, eating your mom’s home cooked meals, or even waking up in your own bed. You’re thrown out into the world, attempting to conquer it, whether you’re ready or not. All responsibilities are put on you; you’re in complete control of your own life. No one is telling you what you can and can’t do. Go to class, or don’t. Study for that exam next week, or don’t. You could stay out until 4 in the morning on a Tuesday night, and it could make no difference to those around you. This is the only time when your life is truly in your hands. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made within a matter of seconds and all sorts of pressure all around you. Since I’ve started college, I’ve already encountered difficult, uncomfortable, and stressful situations. Some tips I’ve tried to keep in mind while in school include these:

    1.   Stay True to Yourself: Don’t let someone try to change what you stand for or what you think is right or wrong. You should never change yourself to try to fit in or to create relationships with others. If you want to make true friends in college, be yourself and don’t try to impress anyone by altering yourself to fit in. You hear that college changes people no mater what, which is true. But it is us who will determine whether if it is for the better and to help us grow or not.

   2.  Stay Close to Those Who Care About You: I can’t stress enough how important it is to maintain healthy relationships with your friends and family from back home. Those are the people who want you to succeed and were there for you before you went through the dramatic changes of college. This means call your mom more often and text your friends to ask them about their day. 

   3.  Keep Your Priorities Straight: Make sure you keep in mind what’s important and the main goal you are trying to achieve from being in college. Basically just do your work, study, and show up to class. You’ll thank yourself later if you do.

   4.  Keep an Open Mind: Don’t limit yourself to a certain group of friends or specific activities to get involved with. Don’t get me wrong, keep that close-knit friend group, but try to create more friends and associate with all types of people. You’ll be glad you met and became close with some of the people you never thought you would have been in the first place.

  

    5.  Enjoy your Time in College: Everyone tells me that these are the best four years of your life, and I doubt they’re wrong. I’ve had an amazing time so far, and the experience is one of a kind. Savor every moment, because after you graduate, you’re going to wish you were right back where you are now.

News Today, Gone Tomorrow

The media tend to emphasize on certain incidences that occur. It puts the news out there and blows it out of proportion until it is no longer relevant. The audience only cares about what is in the now. A story only lasts so long. Traditional news and media can stay on a major newscast or story for weeks or months if it is front-page material. Stories on social media can quickly grab the attention of someone then have it disappear the next day. It becomes old news within the span of 24 hours. This tends to be more of what occurs within smaller scandals, such as those between celebrities or a robbery of some sort. When there is a person’s life involved which includes a case, however, it tends to last a bit longer within the media. Some argue that it is a good and bad thing. Most of the time, stories regarding a lot of grieving are in the media longer than the stories that are not but not by a significant amount. New events and stories happen and are written every day and the reality is, there isn’t room for all of them to be portrayed in the maximum light they need. This is a flaw within the media when it comes to sharing what is really important and significant. Journalists and reporters tend to share what will get the most attention from the audience, which potentially could be for pure publicity. Their job is to get information out there with no bias. The bigger the story, the more publicity. For example, the murder of a person could be all over the news, in the paper, and online for a few days until the topic dies down. Once everyone has heard and read about it, the story disappears. In a way, there is no use in repeating the same news over and over again, however, some events are very problematic and should not be brushed off as easily as they are. The media must remain neutral when it comes to the more serious stories. They eventually become desensitized, in which they don’t really mind if a very important, sad story is only up online for a couple of days. All stories cycle out and die down, in most cases, it is the very next day. Topics become old news very quickly. Although the audience gets tired of worrying about something a couple of days after it happens, some issues need to be addressed for longer periods of time.

Chevalier, Judith. "The Effect of Word of Mouth on Sales: Online Book Reviews." AMA Journals. Dina Mayzlin, 12 Aug. 2006. Web. <http://journals.ama.org/doi/abs/10.1509/jmkr.43.3.345>. 

Recruitment 2015: I'm officially a Delta Gamma!

This past week has been insanely crazy. Over a thousand girls moved in early to go through rush to potentially get the opportunity to join one of the eleven sororities at the University of Oklahoma. Recruitment started with Round 1, which was 2 days long. I visited 5 sororities on the first day and 6 on the second.  I absolutely fell in love with the majority of the chapters here. I could easily decipher the genuineness from fakeness in many of the houses. After Round 1, I anxiously awaited for my schedule to arrive at my dorm room to see which houses I was invited back to. All the girls on my floor were told daily to not worry and “trust the system,” but it was so hard to not be anxious the entire week. Once I received my schedule, I had so many mixed emotions. I was so upset that I got cut from a few of the houses I truly loved and felt a connection with, but happy that I still had one sorority left that I was in love with- Delta Gamma. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be in that house. I had a feeling like no other there. I actually felt at home. I knew the girls there liked me for me and not for whom I knew or what I had. I stayed very hopeful, anxious, and scared that DG would keep me throughout the week past all the rounds, and they did. After a week of being incredibly worried and unsure of what would happen, on bid day, I unfolded my paper to see “Delta Gamma” written boldly. I couldn’t stop crying; I was so happy. I quickly ran over to the house to find my name printed on one of the Anchors held up by one of my new sisters and found her. We took so many pictures including ones with the entire sorority. All the girls were so kind and welcoming. I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to see what the next four years had in store for me at Delta Gamma. I felt like I belonged, and I couldn’t be happier.