What To Bring To College: Dorm Room Essentials

Everyone knows they need to bring bedding on college move-in day, but most tend not to think of things like curtains or a medicine box. Well, I'm here to save the day with a list of what many people might not think of but I deem essential. After living in a dorm for 9ish months, you could say I'm an expert. Some of the items on the list I could just simply not live without and others are extras that just make life a lot easier.

My freshman year dorm!

1. Curtains The sun gets very bright in the mornings and when you don't have a class until the afternoon, you don't want to be woken up at the crack of dawn by the sun. 
2. Microwave There will be days when you don't want to leave your dorm (like when it's 20 degrees and snowing) and you'll be very grateful for your microwave and that stash of ramen. 
3. Twin XL Mattress Pad and/or Foam Pad Dorm beds are notoriously uncomfortable and a mattress pad will greatly improve your night's sleep.
4. Fan Sometimes your dorm will be uncomfortably warm, especially if it's September and your building doesn't have AC. Also, I like being under all of my covers when I sleep which can get hot, so I have to have a fan pointed at my bed.
5. Blankets Your dorm could also end up being uncomfortably cold at certain points, like when your heat breaks down in the middle of winter. A bonus of having blankets is that when you take a nap, you don't have to mess up your perfectly made bed - you can just use your blanket.
6. Felt Hangers You can fit so much more clothing in your closet with these hangers (They're super thin!). They are absolute lifesavers. (Bonus: They're non-slip.)
7. Lint Roller If you're using the dorm's washer and dryer there's a good chance you'll end up with someone else's lint on your clothes and using a lint roller will make you look a little bit more like an adult. In addition, it works great to roll hair out of your area rug that your vacuum cannot get.
8. Area Rug On that note, an area rug is definitely worth the trouble. It makes your whole room look cozier and less dorm-like and is also a great place for visitors to sit.
9. Stain Remover This is another necessity. You can't control when something leaks or spills onto your comforter or your favorite blouse and Shout (or similar) will be a lifesaver.
10. Decorative Lights This is another thing that will make your dorm cozier. Dorm lights are harsh and unflattering and fairy lights will create an ambiance that makes your dorm look chic and hipster.
11. Note Cards (and Stamps) Your family and friends will appreciate an update every now and again and everyone loves getting mail. Also, it's just a good habit to always have "Thank You" notes lying around.
12. Printer Yes, your library will have a printer, but that library could be 10 minutes away in the pouring rain and cost you 10 cents per page that you could be putting towards your daily Starbucks instead. Having a printer in your room is just more convenient, especially when you're a Humanities major and have to print out and read about 700 pages a week. 
13. Router Dorm Wi-Fi can be spotty and you want every advantage you can get when it comes to class registration day. Also, at my school, the only way you can print wirelessly is if you have a router. It's just something that comes in super handy.
14. Air Freshener Most dorms don't allow you to burn candles so this is the next best thing. It's always great when someone walks into your room and says, "Wow! This smells great." I like the wall plug-in from Bath and Body Works - there's so many scents to choose from!
15. Medicine Box You never know when you might get sick, have an allergy attack, or fall down the stairs, and having a medicine box ready-to-go is literally a lifesaver. (Yes, all of these things happened to me.) 

I hope this lists helps y'all with your dorm shopping and good luck with freshman year! Check back next week for another back-to-college post!

-Marisa

5 More Artists You Should Be Listening To Now

So, if you've been following my blog for awhile you know that I'm slightly obsessed with music. For those of you that are behind the times and are just now joining us here, I'm slightly obsessed with music. I have a radio show with WJHU Radio titled 410alt, I have more Spotify playlists than I can count, I am always on the lookout for cheap concerts, when my friends are looking for new music they come to me for suggestions, and I've already written a post on the topic (6 Artists You Should Be Listening To In 2015).

I made a prediction in January that this would be a great year for alt/indie music and I have to say that I was pretty accurate with that statement. Artists like Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness, George Ezra, and Walk the Moon are playing on mainstream pop stations and most radio listeners will recognize their songs. I've also come across a lot of new break-out bands and the music industry is growing more than ever. So, I say we get to know a few of these 2015 hits.

1. Hunter Hunted This indie pop duo just released their first full album "Ready for You" and it's absolutely amazing. The songs are infectious and it's hard not to play this album on repeat.
1. Songs to listen to: Operating and Keep Together
2. Twenty One Pilots This dynamic duo is hard to fit into one musical category; their songs span from indie pop to synthpop to nearly hip hop. Their album "Blurryface" was realeased a couple months back and was far from disappointing. While this recent album may not be the most cohesive set of songs they've released, the duo's experimentation lead to some great hits supported by some pretty good B-sides.
1. Songs to listen to: Tear In My Heart and The Judge
3. Grizfolk This alternative group mixes roots from both Sweden and LA leading to distinctly unique melodies, brimming with subtle folk and electro influences. They released their first EP "From The Spark" back in 2014, but they just released a new single and there are whispers of a full-length album coming soon.
1. Songs to listen to: Way Back When and Vagabonds
4. New Politics Originally from Copenhagen, this alternative rock band is a veteran of the alt/indie scene producing hits since 2009. Their music has stayed true to their fusion of punk and electropop sounds throughout the years. The band's 3rd album "Vikings" is set to be released in mid-August.
1. Songs to listen to: West End Kids and Everywhere I Go
5. The Mowgli's This upbeat alternative band uses their music to promote their mission of spreading love and kindness to others. The music reflects their positive message and is full of fun lyrics and good dance beats and their most recent album "Kids In Love" is no different.
1. Songs to listen to: I'm Good and Say It, Just Say It

Other honorable mentions include Nate Ruess (he's gone solo!), Walk the Moon, Panic! At The Disco, Smallpools, and The Royal Concept. Let me know if there are any artists that you think are missing from this list.

-Marisa

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Just Californian Things: A SoCal Perspective

Living in Baltimore for the past year where I was surrounded by people from many different states, I have come to learn a few things that make Californians distinctly unique. While there are some things SoCal and NorCal inhabitants might have in common, us SoCal-ers would say that NorCal is basically a different state. That being said, this list focuses on a middle class SoCal perspective. I am by no way saying that this list will or should apply to everyone, but they are generalizations that I have seen proven true time and time again.

1. We are snobbish about our Mexican food. If you're with a Californian long enough (I would say give it a day), you will hear them worship the burrito and constantly tell you that if you haven't had Mexican food in SoCal then you're missing out. No, Chipotle is not Mexican. No, TexMex is not Mexican. And no, not even Taco Bell is Mexican. Not to say that any of those aren't good, they just shouldn't be classified as Mexican food. Southern California Mexican food is in a league of its own, and we miss it everyday we're not in California.
2. Rain is a big deal. For one, there's this major drought, and we need the rain to sustain to the state. For another, we're not used to this mysterious precipitation that falls from the sky and we will freak out if it starts raining. Some of my best childhood memories are of the couple of days a year it would rain and we would stop everything we were doing and go outside and stomp in the puddles. In addition to that, we also don't understand seasons, and things like falling leaves and snow are also a big deal.
3. In'N'Out is basically better than anything. In'n'out is amazing and we Southern Californians basically worship it. You better not tell us that Five Guys or Shake Shack have better burgers and fries because you'd be wrong. 
4. Watching car chases on TV is actually a thing. It's a family affair. When we get a Breaking News Alert about a car chase, we tune in. No matter how seemingly boring the chase gets, we stick with it to the end. It really is a great form of entertainment and can also help test your knowledge of SoCal roads and freeways.
5. We have the most terrible traffic and you better not argue about that with us. The traffic is horrible. Going from Orange to LA should take you around 45 minutes, but throw in some good old traffic and you've got a 2 and a half hour drive. The traffic plagues every freeway and basically spans the hours from 6a-8p with maybe a lull around 2p for like a minute or two. This is one of the reasons Californians are such great drivers: traffic is a bitch to drive in.
6. It's the 5 freeway or the 405. On the topic of freeways, you need to use the article "the" in front of any freeway name. You would say "I'm going to take the freeway" so it would make perfect sense that you would say "I'm going to take the 5." Saying "I'm going to take 5 to get there" is the same as saying "I'm going to take freeway." 
7. Please don't ask me how many miles. Also on the topic of driving, a majority of us cannot feasibly comprehend distance given in miles. We know how many minutes it takes to get from here to there, but not miles. In addition to that, frankly most things are "about 20 minutes away."
8. Don't condemn my excessive use of the word "like." It's just part of our vernacular - a part of the SoCal dialect and we like basically grew up saying the word "like." It's efficient and easy to use. And y'all should get on that.
9. We have the best music scene. Period. The best bands started here. The best bands play here. We have the best small venues and the best large venues. Music in Cali is like nothing else.
10. Some of us do call it Cali. It's efficient and sounds cute. Most of the people I've met around here have nothing against calling it Cali.
11. Don't call it the OC. That just sounds weird. No one calls Orange County "The OC," it doesn't sound right and just shouldn't be said.
12. We have the best produce. Produce on the East Coast (and probably the Midwest) just can't stand up to the produce here. Ours is fresher and just plain better.
13. Small earthquakes just aren't that big of a deal. They are very common occurences and we're used to them. We like to brag to our East Coast friends about how many earthquakes we've survived.

Have you noticed anything else unique about your SoCal friends? Let me know in the comments below!

-Marisa

Books on Books: The YA Edition

I love books. Reading is one of my favorite past-times. I've read a whole lot of books and feel that I'm pretty qualified to give some solid book suggestions, so the following are my top YA picks.

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell I can't believe it took me almost 3 years to find this book. I read the entire book in one sitting and now I feel empty inside. I mean, don't get me wrong, the ending was perf, but now what am I supposed to do? Carry On doesn't come out until the fall! The book was a nerdy girl's dream. It shows us that there's hope out there for those who live vicariously through our favorite book series. After finishing this, though, I do really wish that there were more YA books out there that had a main character who was in college. Too many YA books are about middle school or high school and unfortunately, those days are slipping through my fingers.
2. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nevin I lost myself in this book and in Violet's adventure. I think it was a rather poignant comment on some of today's mental health problems among young adults. (It's going to be a movie - with Elle Fanning!!) *Warning: there will be tears.
3. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky Need I say anything about this classic? Chobsky was greatly influenced by Fitzgerald and that influence can be seen throughout the pages of Perks. Also, Emma Watson is in the movie adaptation and I'm just going to say I think it is one of the most perfect pages-to-screen film I have seen.
4. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan Let's face it - I wish this was my life. I would be in absolute heaven. A) I love New York City B) I love bookstores C) I would love to have a spontaneous adventure with a mysterious boy and D) Dash sounds really cute. Their little adventure left me smiling for weeks.
5. Partials by Dan Wells So. Good. This dystopian vision of the future is hauntingly beautiful. There are humans and partials living together in a very rundown country. There are wars, battles, cross country treks, and of course a love triangle.
6. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight or This is What Happy Looks Like both by Jennifer E. Smith These are adorable, chick lit, feel-good reads. Need something to read on the beach or to take your mind off of a tough day? Then this author is your perfect choice. They definitely aren't life-changing books but they are indeed quite fun.
7. Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter Yes, these are definitely young adult but they were my childhood. I mean, who wouldn't want to be the top student at a super secret spy training boarding school. My dream, spurred from many good reads, as a child was to attend a boarding school. That dream never panned out, but I could always live out that fantasy through this series. Not only were they about spies but the were actually pretty well written, so even if you're a tad older than your average YA reader I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
8. Delirium, Matched, Divergent... Take your pick. I'm a sucker for a good dystopian novel and I think all of these are good. The Divergent Series is my favorite but to each their own. 
9. Harry Potter because duh
10. Also, anything by Dan Brown - I know he's not YA, but still. And I'm reading Digital Fortress right now so his books are on the brain.

Let me know in the comments what's at the top of your reading recommendations list!