Taking That Phone to College | The Best Apps for Freshman Year | Hampton Roads Senior Portrait Photographer

Hi!

It's the second week of August and not only is August a beautiful month but the buzz for "back to school" is starting up- and that includes the ever-so-exciting FRESHMAN year of college! 

Oh my goodness I remember how exciting that was. Nothing like finally being able to pick what to eat, where to eat, what to do, how late to stay up, which parties to go to, which groups to hang out with, buying 4 lattes in one day just because no one was there to say no {that totally didn't happen btw... just an example! ;) }

You've hopefully already seen my DORM ROOM SHOPPING blog from last month. If not be sure to check it out and get on that shopping list- QUICK- times-a-tickin! Well this blog features all the MUST HAVE apps to survive Freshman year (and the rest of life pretty much, too).

Sure, you've probably already got all the necessities: Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Glide, Facebook, Spotify, Songza. You name it, it's probably already on your phone, right?

But go ahead and give these ones a try, too. I bet you've never even heard of some of them and I pretty much guarantee you'll find at least ONE on the list that you fall in love with. And then when you get to school you can be 2 steps ahead of the rest of the folks in your dorm; and there's nothing wrong with that, now is there ;)

SPARKNOTES- If you don't already know Sparknotes well... that's actually a good thing. It means you read all the stuff you were supposed to in High School! In case you need a shorter version of something because...well... college is a super busy courseload, check out the Sparknotes app to get condensed versions of popular books as well as pretty awesome study guides to go along with them! Nothing says efficiency like a pre-made study buddy!

FIND MY CAR- Oh man, I think everyone needs this app. You turn it on when you park your car and it records the route from your car to wherever you're headed. This is ideal for people attending LARGE colleges and will need a little help remembering the quickest route back to their car after a day of learning.

EVERNOTE- This one is huge. There is a LOT of stuff going on in it but once you take a little bit of time (like 10 minutes...seriously) to go through the walkthrough and play around a bit it's really pretty great. Write lists, take snapshots of documents you need to save, install their extra app "skitch" to write on pictures to keep track of notes, set timers for your different "to do" lists, and so on. It's pretty neat! PLUS you can sync it to any device: tablet, computer, another smart phone- free of charge! Definitely check this one out :)

STUDIOUS- I wish I had this when I was in college. While Evernote (above) is great, Studious is designed specifically for classes and class schedules. It makes me want to sign up for a class JUST so I can use it! All you do is download it, put in the info for a class (say, History 101, M/W/F 12:00-1:30), tell it what you want you PHONE to do during that time (this is the super cool part)- you can have it either go silent, go into airplane mode, vibrate, or stay on and it will AUTOMATICALLY go to the chosen setting every day at that time. HOW COOL, right?! You can then also put in tests, notes, and homework assignments specific to the class and it will keep a calendar for you. For real, I want to go back to college now.

YOUR BANK- I guarantee whatever bank you set up an account with for school will have an app. Get it. It's awesome to be able to one-click and sign in to check your balance before making plans for the weekend. PLUS if mom and dad (or grandma) send you a check to help out a bit it's pretty great to not have to leave your room to cash it-- simple click a picture while in the app and deposit. Easy peasy!

CRIMEPUSH - This one isn't available a lot of places but I really like what it has to offer so I wanted to include it so you can look up a similar app at your location. Crimepush is a way to easily report crimes. They are specifically attached to whatever area is mentioned in the one you download and it sends it immediately to the police station. This is a great way to be helpful without necessarily directly trying to stop something. Of course, in emergency situations ALWAYS dial 911. Forget the app. Call the cops.

There are TONS of apps out there. Some great. Some AWESOME. And some so-so. But this list should get you started with some great ways to make life a little easier as you go off to school. And the easier things are at college the more time you have for fun! :)

What are some other apps you just can't live without? Tell me in the comments below!

XO,

S

SHOPPING! | Seniors | Hampton Roads Portrait Photographer

Hi!

Now that graduation party season has died down it's time to talk DORM SHOPPING!

 

WhenI was a freshman in college (*cough* 2006 *cough*) we were forced to live with at least one other person-- that is unless we paid EXTRA to have our own room-- and if we did it usually ended up being a tiny broom closet at the end of the hall. SO, needless to say one learned VERY quickly how to NOT be a pack rat and how to get creative with their organizational skills ;)

 

I've learned from some of this year's Seniors that their dorms are apparently going to be much nicer and a lot of them are even getting a shared kitchen space and semi-private bathrooms!! (i'm a little jelly!)

 

Either way I can pretty much guarantee you'll still need to find some unique ways to store your stuff and get the most out of your space.

 

SO to save you some headache and creative brain cells I've compiled a list of some of what I deem as the MUST HAVES for your dorm (and a few fun gadgets thrown in, too-- just because):

1. First thing's first: check out your dorm rules.
Some places will let you hang any and everything on the walls and some will require an oath in blood before you can even LOOK at the walls- so it's a key piece of the shopping puzzle to first know what you can and can't have (for example I was NOT allowed to have a hott plate in my dorm. Did this include candle warmers --ya know, the things that melted the wax so you didn't have matches?--no one knows. But i had one anyway! shhhh!)

If you can hang things on the walls my first "MUST HAVE" is shelves!
-Shelves get things up off the floor and help spruce up the place! You can place pictures of you and your besties, pictures of mom and dad, pictures from your senior session we had, flowers, mini-vases, the teddy bear your boyfriend won at the fair for you last summer, a framed hand-written note from your gramma, cards your mom sends you, and on and on and on.

Shelves are an obvious choice to help decorate AND help with clutter (that is IF you're allowed to have them).

 

2. If you can't actually drill holes into the walls to hang shelves the next great option are these:
http://www.target.com/p/over-the-door-6-hook-rack-chrome/-/A-10788144#prodSlot=medium_1_25&term=hooks

 

It's not a shelf, of course, but it will help get little things up off the floor or keep them from getting scattered all over the bed and night stand. Use it on your closet door or even the door to the room. You can use it to hook purses, hats, umbrellas, or even your bath robe!

I also used the individual ones with the sticky gum on the back and put them all over one wall to make a sort of decoration with the purses i had to hang up.
Like these:
http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/SCOTCH-Scotch-Command-Adhesive-Mount-Metal-Hook-Large-Brushed-Nickel-Finish/14881957?action=product_interest&action_type=image&placement_id=irs_middle&strategy=PWVAV&visitor_id=79468684548&category=0%3A4044%3A90828%3A1075664&client_guid=46f7f0d7-8c59-4949-8dca-c7ea6b062588&config_id=0&parent_item_id=32512007&guid=6d963302-2879-4ac2-99a8-c669f8152790&bucket_id=irsbucket011&findingMethod=p13n

Gets them off the floor AND helps decorate just a bit!

3. LARGE MIRRORS (and decorations)

Large mirrors, if positioned strageically in a room, can really help open up a place. Plus, decorating a room instantly makes it feel more inviting and a little bit more like home- so don't be afraid to go a little extra mile in the decore department. You'll be happier to come back to your room and it may even make you feel better about having to study ;) Just tell your parents that when they're telling you that you don't need that super cute throw pillow or awesome multi-colored bedside table.

"Mom, if my room is nicer I'll want to spend more time in it and I therefore won't be out at Jackie's apartment gossiping about Pretty Little Liars and ignoring my studies. I'll actually WANT to be in my room- and when I'm there I can't help but pick up my books."

{See how that works? ;) }


4. Cube Units

I love these. Hands down they're AWESOME. I have a set in my office, in fact, and I am in love with them. They not only help keep things organized but they are cute and space for decorating, too!

(My office!)

Trust me, everyone can use more shelf space for clothes but these are best used for storing books, picture frames, gadgets, purses, and all the other little things that don't have a good "home" but need to be up off the floor. PLUS you can pick really cute baskets in multiple colors to really add decoration to your space!

Here's a great one from Bed Bath & Beyond: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/real-simple-6-cube-storage-unit-in-white/201339?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_storage_&gclid=CjkKEQjw_N-cBRD2k73X3OjJ8eMBEiQAbdPic2l_riesgQqfE4f-i6ViNGBA3H50xqrMcuBEeMPBkcTw_wcB

So, to wrap things up, when you go dorm shopping start looking for things that do the following:

- help you stay organized and get things UP (off the floor, the bed, the desk, etc.)
- don't shy away from getting things that help decorate the space and truly make it your own
- and be SURE you check out the dorm rules before you head to the store! No need to have to make a whole trip back to return it all later

What's the first thing you're going to purchase? Tell me in the comments below!
 

XO,

Sarah