17 Struggles That Only Glasses Wearers Understand

I love wearing glasses. I think they complement my face and my personality. I think glasses are great. But, they can also be a definite struggle. With the recent cold and rain, some of these struggles have come to the forefront of my mind. To those perfect-sighted people - I hope this helps you appreciate our struggle. To you fellow glasses wearers - cheers!

Yes, the blizzard was fun. No, I could not see anything.

1. Rain and snow are a constant struggle.
2. Two words: prescription sunglasses.
3. 3D movies are a no-go.
4. Buying a new pair is such a commitment.
5. Smudges galore.
6. Making out.
7. Remembering that horrible pair of glasses that you thought was so cool in middle school.
8. Putting on makeup.
9. In the same regard, trying to get your eyebrows on fleek.
10. Hairstyles are also a struggle.
11. The constant questioning of "Why don't you wear contacts?".
12. Lenses fogging up in any and every situation.
13. Swimming is always a scary thought.
14. Losing your glasses.
15. Over-the-ear headphones hurt.
16. People taking your glasses to see how blind you are.
17. The societal stereotype that if a nerd takes off her glasses she becomes instantly beautiful.

The struggle is real. Any struggles I'm forgetting?

-Marisa

What to Wear for Sorority Recruitment

I never thought I was the type of girl who would be in a sorority but rushing last spring was one of the best decisions I have ever made. While recruitment can be fun, it is also stressful and can be confusing. I'm here to help ease a little of that nervousness with a clothing guide for winter recruitment.

At Johns Hopkins, we have recruitment in January so that freshman have a semester to settle in and meet the different sororities; however, that means that there's a good chance that it will be mighty cold out. We have 4 days of recruitment: Ice Water (cute casual), Theme Round (business casual), Pref (formal), and Bid Day (white dress). Below you'll find a little guide for each of these rounds.

Winter Recruitment: Ice Water Round by marisaelle96 featuring flat brown knee high boots

All throughout recruitment, you want to be wearing something that makes you feel confident. Make sure your clothes reflect your personality (and are comfy for a full day of standing and girl-flirting)! Ice Water is the cute casual round. A nice pair of jeans with riding boots is a great choice for those in colder climates. I absolute love wearing flannels and I think the vest and necklace add great finishing touches to the look. This year, Hopkins is giving all the PNMs (Potential New Members) a shirt to wear for Ice Water, so make sure you accessorize so the sisters you talk to can pick you out from a crowd.

Winter Recruitment: Theme Round by marisaelle96 featuring cropped pants

Next we have Theme Round, at other schools it might be called the Philanthropy Round. This round is business casual. Don't be alarmed when you hear the word 'business'. Business casual outfits can be adorable and are actually some of my favorite outfits to style. You can't go wrong with a pair of patterned business pants. I recommend that you check out H&M if you're in need of a pair. These pants look great with a nice sweater and some boots or heels. Just remember the business does not mean stuffy! Your personality can still shine through and an outfit like this will help you stand out in the sea of other PNMs.

Winter Recruitment: Pref by marisaelle96 featuring fringe booties

On our third night of recruitment, we have Pref Night. This is the most formal night and is a great reason to buy that dress you've just been dying to have. PNMs wear formal dresses in any color (think Homecoming or Winter Formal, not Prom) and sisters wear black dresses. I would choose something similar to the dress above because it's cute, appropriate (keep it classy, you're not going clubbing), and in one of my favorite colors. Because of the cold weather I would opt for boots, but you can always wear weather-appropriate shoes over and change into your heels once you get to the round.

Winter Recruitment: Bid Day by marisaelle96 featuring a white dress

The end of recruitment is finally here! You've finished pref and you're about to get a bid and meet your new sisters! At our school, PNMs wear white dresses for Bid Day. Just keep it nice and simple with a white dress, nude heels, and a cute bow or necklace. You'll be meeting a lot of new people today so wearing something like a burgundy bow is a great way to help them remember you.

Good luck to everyone who is going through recruitment! Remember to let your personality shine through and that everything will work out for the best!

-Marisa

Top 5 YA Books of 2015

I love reading. I read quite a lot, basically whenever I have free time. So, because my reading list is so extensive and I did not have much free time this year, I only read a few books that were published in 2015, but I did read enough to compile a top 5 list. Without further ado, my top 5 books of 2015:

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1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - Two high school students meet at the edge of the bell tower and become unlikely friends. They pair up for a class project that instructs them to discover the "natural wonders" of the state they live in. While discovering more about the world around them they are also discovering more about themselves. It is a beautifully intricate story that brings mental health to the forefront of readers' conversations.
2. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett - Bex Adams has her heart set on following in Da Vinci's footsteps and plans to spend the summer before her senior year sketching actual cadavers and working at a local market. Her plans might not be as concrete as she thought they were, though. One night on the late bus, Bex runs into a mysteriously attractive boy named Jack. Both characters are quirky and lovable but they both have skeletons they are hiding from. Readers' will be rooting for the characters throughout the whole book.
3. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - Madeline has SCID otherwise known as the "bubble baby disease." She is allergic to the world and has been living in an airlocked house for the last 18 years, not once stepping foot outside. She had never really felt like she was missing out on much; she takes classes online and spends most of her time reading or hanging with her mom. She starts to question everything about her world when a boy in all black moves in next door. Yoon weaves an intricate tale that will surprise the readers at every turn. My only complaint is that I feel like the ending was a little rushed and kind of a last minute thought.
4. The Brilliant Light of Amber Sunrise by Matthew Crow - Francis is a teenage boy who is the narrator of this emotionally honest story. Francis' home life has never been all the great and he has had to live a rather independent life. He is planning out his years after school when he is diagnosed with leukemia. As his life is falling apart, the last thing on his mind is making new friends, but it is exactly then when he meets Amber, a fierce spirit who also has cancer. The book will have you laughing out loud and bawling your eyes out.
5. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - So, this is not necessarily the greatest book of 2015 but it's definitely a must-read if you are a fan by her previous book Fangirl. The book is basically a rip-off Harry Potter so any HP nerds will see alarmingly similar characters, activities, and descriptions. However, it is still an interesting read. I feel like it's almost purposely written to read like a fanfic. Simon Snow, the chosen one, attends a school for young wizards (Watford's) but grew up not knowing that magic existed (ring a bell?). He believes that his roommate, Baz, is out to get him and that he also happens to be a vampire. The plot is rather simple but it has ghouls, vampires, and magicians galore as well as a rather interesting love story.

If you want to know what else I'm reading, check out my Goodreads profile at www.goodreads.com/marisaelle. What were your top reads of 2015?

-Marisa

My 2016 Bucket List

My 2016 Bucket List

Survive sorority recruitment.

Go Greek! Go Theta! (Image Source)

Spoil a little. 

Attend my first lacrosse game.

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Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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Spend the fall semester in DC.

The Washington Monument!

Run to the White House when the 45th President is announced.

Throwback to 2013 East Coast trip!

Build up my blog.

Go to more concerts.

I love myself a good concert - Grizfolk was great!

Learn fluent Spanish.

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Apply for a study abroad program for spring 2017.

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What are y'all planning on doing this year?-Marisa 

8 Shows You Should Be Binge Watching

I know, I know - I haven't posted in almost 4 months (yikes!). This last semester was crazy busy, but now it's winter break and I have some time to write up a few posts.

So, I'm back home in SoCal for a few weeks. I spent the first few days hanging with friends, eating In'n'Out and Mexican food, and catching up with the fam, but now the boredom of break is starting to set in so it's time to turn to Netflix. As y'all should know, I'm a TV addict so I thought I might share some of my expert knowledge with you and make a list of some shows that you should be binge watching this break.

1. The Mindy Project (Hulu) - Mindy Kaling stars in, directs, and writes this adorably witty sitcom. Mindy plays the role of an up-and-coming OBGYN looking to make her mark in the Big Apple. Mindy and the rest of the crew are hilarious and instantly lovable.
2. The Newsroom (Amazon Prime/HBO) - If you're a fan of House of Cards, you'll be a fan of The Newsroom. This show gives you a behind the scenes look at the production of a nightly, controversial newscast. Will, the news shows' host, is stubborn and outspoken but proves to be a dynamic character. 
3. The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Prime) - Here's another one for you Frank Underwood lovers. This is a fantastic Amazon Prime original that might just have one of the best pilots I have ever seen. The show is based on a book written in the 1960s that envisions what the world would be like if Nazi Germany won World War 2. It's brilliantly captivating and is what I am currently binge watching. 
4. Psych (Netflix/USA) - If you haven't seen this classic yet then you have been missing out. Nothing is better than mixing a crime show with comedy. Basically, Shawn, a novice sleuth, works with the Santa Barbara Police Department as a psychic contractor. Him and Gus get into a bunch of shenanigans which makes for a pretty entertaining binge session.
5. Criminal Minds (Netflix/CBS) - This is definitely my favorite show of all time. The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) of the FBI travels around the United States taking down serial killers with badass profiling skills which makes for just as cool of a show as it sounds. Also, it doesn't hurt that Reid and Morgan make for great eye candy ;)
6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Hulu/Fox) - Here's another sitcom, this one starring Andy Samberg. Samberg plays Jake Peralta, an immature but talented NYPD officer who is a part of the lovable but awkward Nine-Nine crew. This show follows him and the other officers as they solve crime as well as through the ups and downs of their personal lives.
7. Mr. Robot (USA) - This show is a bit strange but is extremely interesting. The show follows the life of a young computer programmer who suffers from mental illness as he encounters a mysterious hacking group led by the one and only - Mr Robot.
8. Grey's Anatomy (Netflix/ABC) - This is definitely a guilty pleasure binge but I enjoyed it. I don't know if I really need to explain Grey's but basically it follows the lives of a group of medical interns as they learn the inter-workings of the hospital as well as learn more about themselves. All I can say is be ready for some DRAMA and lots of untimely deaths - Shonda Rhimes sure knows how to tug at your heart strings.

Let me know if you think there's anything missing from the list :) Merry Christmas and Happy Binge Watching!!

-Marisa

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Beauty Emergency?? This Make-Your-Own Kit Will Save You

If you're anything like me, you've been out-and-about running errands or hanging with friends only to have your afternoon basically ruined by a broken nail. You root around in your bag looking for a nail file only to remember that you never quite got around to adding one to your purse. Don't you wish you had a nice kit full of supplies to help you out when a beauty emergency pops up? Look no further because I have a come up with the perfect solution to save you in nearly any situation. My combination of products all fits in a tiny make-up bag which is perfect to move from purse to purse. I mean, you could buy one at Sephora for like $20, but my method allows you to tailor the bag just to your liking and use products you already have at home!

Sneak-Peek at my kit!!

1. A Cute, Compact Bag (I'm currently using one from Ipsy).
2. Nail File
3. Chap-stick
4. Band-Aids
5. Floss
6. A Small Lotion
7. Perfume (Samples from Sephora work great!)
8. Advil
9. Tissues
10. Bobby Pins and/or Hair Clips
11. Hair Band
12. A Couple of Dollars
13. Emergency Feminine Products
14. Phone Cord

Just throw these products into your make-up bag and you're ready to go! Do you think I'm missing anything? Let me know down below :)

-Marisa

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