Three Choices, Pick two

At some point in time, we have all come across this image.  Whether it was posted to pinterest or tweeted on twitter, I always figured I could do it all.

Obviously, as an overzealous freshman, I want to have it all.  I want to meet everyone, go out all the time, study hard, and nap all day.  

Ha. Okay Charlotte.

Half way into my first true week of classes, I'm realizing that that is not actually possible.  My sleep is definitely suffering, but I'm enjoying my new friends and classes too much to give them up!  I'm starting to get strep throat, in which case I'll be forced to actually sleep so it's a blessing in disguise.

Hopefully, I'll get more time soon!

Which two would you choose?

xox

Char

Happy Birthday Juleigh Jeanette!

So yesterday was this little angels birthday

Juleigh is only four years old, but she's so much more than a four year old to those of us who spend time with her.

a year ago on her third birthday || insta ||

It's truly incredibly how much children can affect adults.  I've always loved working with children, playing, teaching, babysitting, all of it, but never in my life did a child have this affect on me.  

I was 14 when my neighbor and second mother, Joni, told me she was pregnant. I thought she was playing a mean joke on me, in all honesty.  Joni already had a 17 year old, 14 year old, and a 7 year old, so I really didn't think it could be possible that she was pregnant again.  But what a blessing in disguise Juleigh Jeanette turned out to be. 

|| What Juleigh has taught me in four years ||

1. Cherish innocence.  So often we spend too much time wanting to grow up, but then you realize you're an adult and have responsibility.
2. Learn to say no.  Saying no to a cute kid is quite possibly the hardest thing you could do, but it teaches you how to say no in life.
3. Take pictures. Every moment, the good, the bad, and the ugly, all should be remembered.

xox
Char

Embrace your downfalls

So today was my first day of college classes! (ahhhhhhh) It's still so unreal to me, I feel like I'm at summer camp.  I barely have time to think, much less miss home at this rate. 

Anyways...

College is all about finding yourself and all that stuff they tell you but it's also about opening yourself up to new things.  There are so many people from all over the country, the world here at USC and I'm loving meeting all of them! I was so excited to get out of the bubble I lived in back home, so I say hi to every person I see.  I tend to be kind of talkative and very eager when it comes to school.  Today I met the first person I was not a fan of here at University.  Playing the name game comes with every first day of school, from kindergarden to grad school, but no matter how many times I'm told someone's name, I'll probably ask ten more times.  I thought I'd write down names today to try to commit them to memory in my visual arts computing class, and the girl next to me just looked at me and told me I looked like a freshmen.  Well, guess what, I AM A FRESHMEN.  

and I'm a-okay with being a freshmen. 

I may be eager and over talkative, but I'm embracing it. 

No upperclassmen can get me down. 

Okay, my rant is over.

Courtney and I embracing our 8:30 class

Just remember to be yourself, and love who you are, because there is no one else out there that can be a better you.

xox

Char

What one day of rush has taught me

1. Wear comfortable shoes.  

Yes, those new Tory Burchs are adorable, but breaking them in the first day of rush is not the best idea.  Take it from the idiot who tried.  Also, everyone will be wearing some form of Jack Rogers or Lilly Pulitzer sandals or Tory Burch or any major designer.  That's what the sorority girls are expecting! You aren't special in that sense so just go with the most comfortable pair.  

2. No short-shorts.

You are trying to represent in the best way possible in a short 20 minutes.  If you wouldn't get away with them in high school, don't try to get away with them now.  Try sticking with fingertip length or brands that run longer such as J. Crew or Lilly Pulitzer.  I would avoid denim at all costs, it just looks cheap.  

3. Bring a rain jacket.

Here, in Columbia, it rains at least once a day.  Just go with the safe bet and bring a rain jacket or umbrella.  Don't mess up your hair just because you hoped it wouldn't rain!

4. Water, water, water.

Don't be that girl who passes out from dehydration.  Just don't.

5. Don't be nervous.

That first house will be the worst.  The butterflies and nausea will kick in right as your Pi Chis or Gamma Chis yell "one minute"! Ask the girls around you to check your makeup, straighten your name tag, and rock it.  The girls inside are just as nervous as you because you could be their future little! Be yourself and you'll end up in the right place.

All of a Sudden

This quote is all to real to me this past week.  Saying goodbye to my friends who left in early August seemed like no big deal, then it came my turn to leave home. Be a big girl, I told myself.  All of a sudden, I was saying goodbye to the most important people in my life and road tripping to South Carolina.  How is this even real?! Now I'm getting emails from professors, rushing in Greek Village, and walking everywhere, and I mean e v e r y w h e r e.  My feet are not happy with me after only one day of rush!

I can't believe I'm in college! This is just too weird. 

Any freshmen advice?!

xox

Char

So much stuff, so little space: the art of dorm planning!

Now, bear with me, I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to organization so planning a dorm room has been my goal for the summer.  My roommate gets texts at two in the morning like "how about this layout?" or "how are we going to fit all of our shoes in the room?"  Poor Brianne, she has no idea what she hasn't gotten herself into.  

I have scoured through Pinterest, pb teen catalogs and plenty of dorm decor websites, but I just could not find a list of everything I needed! So naturally, I compiled multiple lists into my own.

Here is my ultimate basic list, and obviously everyone's list should be different! This list was what I used as my guideline.

I would suggest anything Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ikea or Container Store as the jumping off point. 

There are good lists to build off of here, here and here.

Today, my mother and I kamikaze shopped target and well, we did some damage.  

How do you organize small spaces? 

xox

Char

P.S. Check out my pinterest dorm board and college life board!

James Avery Rings

I am a sucker for pretty much all things James Avery, but when it comes to the rings... I refuse to take them off!  For the three I own, I coveted them for about 6 months before convincing my mother that I needed them. And I did! I wear them everyday!

but now, the new catalog has come out, and here I am again.  Coveting. 

What I want:

James Avery Bow Ring

What I have:

James Avery Twisted Wire Ring

 from JW

James Avery Abounding Heart Ring

 from my mother

James Avery Blossom Ring with Pearl (not on sale anymore)

from my mother

Anyone else have a James Avery problem?

xox

Char

Los Bravos

Down south, we take pride in our sports. From SEC football to Allstar Cheerleading, we have it all and we are intense about it. The best part about summer in Atlanta is the ample amounts of Braves games at Turner Field! Between the people watching on marta to the crazy dancing for the jumbotron, it's a whole experience.  

I just had to take KT to a game while she was in town from London, and let me tell you, what a game.  Ten innings and KT was in love with the Braves!

J.Schamay, KT, and I pre-game! 

 Stereotypical Braves game picture

KT and I rocking the selfies 

 Perfect place to watch the first pitch from! 

 Choppin'

 "Am I southern yet?"

-KT

Gotta get the cowboy boots in somewhere!

Anyone out there chopping for Los Bravos?!

xox

Char