It’s not easy to gather and share all of this super-helpful knowledge on my blog… and it’s no secret I’ve had to enlist the help of my friends from time to time.
I’m no Clarissa-Explains-It-All nor a gossip queen, but here’s the 411 on everyone in my posse: http://lysistratajones.com/about/whos-who/
Just wanted to share some love for my peeps!
Look – you do some crazy things in college, and while your parents probably know that, they don’t need to see that. Now that Facebook is getting more and more difficult to understand, I’ve made some life adjustments so that I can be proud of anything that pops up on my profile. I’m passing on my wisdom to you. Please use it wisely.
Brrr – what’s that cold feeling? Is it the hearts of those in the top 1%? Or is it a seasonal change and TIME TO BUY NEW SWEATERS?!?!
That’s right. It’s both. And I’m gonna show you how to show it (new clothes!) and grow it (bank accounts!).
First thing on the list: go through your closet and figure out what you don’t need anymore. If you haven’t worn it in the last year, it’s time to throw it out. If you have worn it in the last year, but the next morning you woke up in the bed of someone whose friend request you would never normally accept, throw it out also. (coming soon: Lyssie J.’s Guide to Self Worth)
Make sure that you donate those clothes to Good Will or anywhere that usually has a lot of really cute scruffy customers so that you can get a tax rebate.
The next thing I suggest doing is giving yourself a reasonable budget (however much money your parents put in your account for “emergencies”) and figuring out what new items you are looking for. When working with a budget, it’s good to have this figured out beforehand. You might see a really cute pair of black pumps at Forever 21, but if you already have a pair of black pumps, you have to pretend that they are garlic and you are Kellan Lutz.
Now it’s time to shop!!! Try and gravitate towards things that you can layer. Not only will that help you in these changing temperatures, and not only will you be able to get several uses out of the same piece of clothing, but layers also give you way more time to realize that the person who is undressing you could very well be your baby daddy if you don’t slow the heck down.
Once you’ve picked out what you want, put back anything you don’t love and head to the cash register. If you’re over your budget, you have to put something back. I’m going to suggest that you discard the impulse purchase with sequins on it. You can find other ways to be brave without looking like a disco ball.
Now with whatever money you have left, head over to any bank and ask to start a high yield savings account. If the rate is good, see if you can do a six or 12 month CD, and ask about your options for investing in mutual funds, or anything in the mid-cap growth family. I don’t know exactly what all that means, but I do know I lived with a finance major my freshman year and now we both own really cute cardigans AND property.
Lots of love!
-Lyssie J.
OK just ‘cause Halloween is a pagan ritual, it’s not your excuse to look all – what the French call — “sluh-tay”. Yeah, you heard me right girls, walk away from the Snookie Bump wig and here are some clean and creative Halloween costumes. We’re changing lives here and saving reputations daily here with Lyssie J.
Let’s stand out—and not in the sluh-tay way—with these cute and creative costume ideas!
Fly solo:
Join up with friends:
It’s super fun to have a partner in crime AND it helps in case the punch is spiked.
Picking a major is a major decision.
Picking a minor isn’t as much.
They say you’re supposed to do what you’re passionate about, but I can’t figure out what exactly that is! There are so many things that I love!
I love fashion. And I, like, love good music. And I really love fighting for progressive causes that empower people, furthering a mentality that promotes equality and a healthy distribution of opportunity to all persons on this earth.
Wait – this blog entry has actually been really helpful for me…
Earlier I advised on how to handle group projects, but what happens when your own squad of friends gets out of whack? Whatever’s bugging you guys, defuse the tension by following these few steps… you don’t want to turn out like these ladies pictured above.
1. Watch what you say: Pick your words wisely and never give in to saying something you’ll regret!
2. Meet face-to-face: No personal problem was ever solved over an impersonal chain of emails. Schedule a time for all to meet so that everyone can listen to everyone.
3. Don’t hold grudges: Just give it up and move on!
They’re heeeeeeere! The parental unit will be back on campus soon so this will be your first test to show them that you (their pride and joy) can hold your own at college.
Here are five steps to proofing your room for their arrival:
1. Hide any and all traces of non-parent-friendly behavior. This includes bottles, wrappers, receipts… you catch my drift, just don’t let them catch on!
2. Make your bed. It’ll make your room look nicer and your parents will probably want a place to sit as they ask you all sorts of questions about your “new life” at college.
3. In case they decide to peruse your drawers or closet, make those areas look presentable too. They do NOT need to see what you plan on wearing to some upcoming homecoming bash…
4. Keep your textbooks (especially the ones for the advanced classes they never took) and maybe a few old papers (with “A”s on them) prominently displayed on your desk.
5. Find that family portrait they tucked away in your boxes and put it on your nightstand. It’s always been there, right?
When an instructor assigns a group project, bet your mind heads in one of two directions: (1) “Sweet, I can take the backseat!” or (2) “Crap, I’m going to have to do this all myself.”
It’s no secret you learn a lot about your team members and their working styles from these projects… kind of like in cheerleading! Here’s how to land the grade you want without getting upset with your group:
1. Pick a captain: A squad can’t get anywhere until the captain rolls out the routine for you to learn. Assign someone to take the lead—maybe it’s you!—who can map out what needs to be done. Also, no one will get anywhere if everyone takes charge at once, so decide early on who should do this to avoid tensions down the road.
2. Set your schedule: Think cheerleaders start prepping the week before a competition? Think again, because the final result takes weeks, if not months, of practice. Make sure to set daily or weekly goals so that you begin the project like champs.
3. Reinforce each other: The success of the cheerleader pyramid rests in everyone’s mutual support. Remove one member and the whole thing falls apart! Check in with each other periodically to make sure all members are on top of their deadlines. That way, nobody has to cover for anybody at the last minute!
Your parents couldn’t be more proud that you’re off to college – they’ve already bought half the bookstore’s stock of T-shirts, sweats and mugs, right? So don’t be surprised when they ask how things are going. And don’t freak out! You can fill them in and keep them happy… without giving too much away:
What you say: “I’ve joined a great study group!”
What you don’t say: … because there’s a cute guy in class whose number I want.
What you say: “I attend all of the guest speakers’ lectures!”
What you don’t say: … so that my professor will give me extra credit.
What you say: “I always get to class early!”
What you don’t say: …because all my classes start after 1PM.
What you say: “I’m getting a head start on studying for midterms!”
What you don’t say: … for Phys Ed 101.
What you say: “I’ve even started to tutor other students!”
What you don’t say: … so that I can fund the social life you’ll never know about.
