Questions to Ask a Potential College Roommate

Happy Monday y'all! I am so excited to share today's blog post with y'all: questions to ask your potential college roommate! I know high school seniors are starting to receive college acceptances and decide where they will be going to college in the fall, which is such an exciting time (I seriously feel old as it feels like it was just yesterday that I decided to go to Clemson).

After deciding on a college, it seems like the next item on the to-do list is to find a roommate. Most colleges have a Facebook group for future students (ours is Clemson University Class of 2021, for example) and a lot of people use it to find their roommate, which is incredibly helpful if you don't know anyone going to the same college as you (which was me!).

A lot of people will post an introductory post with a few sentences about themselves- mine usually said something along the lines of "Hey y'all! I'm Katie and I'm definitely going to Clemson in the fall. I'm from Charlotte, NC and will be majoring in Elementary Education. I will definitely be going through sorority recruitment and am looking for a roommate! Message me if you're interested or want to chat". I then messaged different people to talk about rooming together and it's kind of comical to think about how stressed out I got over it looking back at it.

I found that having some good questions on hand help these conversations go better and also see if y'all would be good roommates. I found it helpful to ask some "deep" questions about faith or partying important as if you and your roommate are more compatible in these questions, it will make living together easier, even if it's awkward to ask!

Anything you would add? Let me know in the comments!

My Chic Week: February 16-22

Happy Friday y'all! So so sorry for the lack of posts here on Chic in Carolina this week- I had an absolutely crazy week of school work so blogging was unfortunately put on the back burner. Thankfully next week looks to be a tad bit calmer so I'm planning on being more active over here on the blog as well as on Instagram!

Fridays are always nice as I only have two classes and I finish pretty early in the day. After class, I grabbed lunch and then just relaxed during the afternoon, which was so nice after a crazy busy week.

Friday night, my big and I grabbed a yummy pizza dinner downtown and then just hung out for the rest of the night, which was so fun!

Saturday morning, I slept in and then did some homework. I went to Saturday night Mass and then met up with a friend to eat dinner and then watch the Olympics.

I slept in again on Sunday morning before getting up and doing a little homework before going to my sorority's first recruitment workshop to prepare for recruitment this fall. After the workshop, I grabbed lunch with a few friends and then did homework. We had casual chapter on Sunday, which was so nice as I was able to wear leggings and a t-shirt haha!

On Monday, I had class and then met with my group for my public speaking class to work on our speech. I then grabbed dinner and went to the library to study for a test that I had later in the week.

Tuesday morning, I had class and then lab, then I grabbed food with friends afterwards. I did some studying in my room before going to the library to study some more with some friends that are in the class. We wound up staying in the lib for quite a while (I seriously made a Chick-fil-a run haha!) but it was really helpful to get that studying in!

Wednesday was quite a busy day as I had two tests in the morning and then a group speech for my Public Speaking class. Once everything wrapped up, I caught up on the Bachelor and then went to bed early!

After a crazy start to the week, Thursday was so easy as I only had my eight AM and then I was done for the day! I cleaned my room, had lunch with a friend, and then spent the afternoon catching up on some blogging.

Thursday night, my roommate for next year and I went out to dinner, which was too much fun!

Happy Friday!

Weekend Reading

Happy Saturday! Today is supposed to be fairly rainy here in Clemson so I decided that it's the perfect day to clean through my winter clothes and work on crossing items off of my to-do list for this weekend!

Grab a yummy breakfast/lunch/snack and let's talk about this week's weekend reading!

1. As y'all probably heard, Lilly Pulitzer brought back the swim line and it is gorgeous! I decided to buy this bikini top and these bottoms for spring break and I'm so excited for them to arrive in the mail

2. Riley shared a fun vlog of our trip to Charleston two weekends ago (which I recapped in this blog post) and it is too cute! The bloopers at the end seriously crack me up y'all

3. I'm saving this recipe for chocolate chunk paleo cookies for once lent ends- it sounds amazing!

4. My sweet friend Amy's Instagram feed has been making me wish that I was in sunny Florida! She's spending this spring in Disney for the Disney College Program and all of her pictures are so cute

5. We don't have sorority houses here at Clemson but this article of fabulous sorority houses made me slightly jealous of the sorority girls who get to live there!

6. Loved watching Dorothy's latest Q&A video on her blog

7. How fabulous is this dress from Tuckernuck?

8. Kate's Coffee Date blog posts are always so fun to read and her latest one is no exception!

9. We've been having some amazing spring-like weather here in Clemson so I've been so excited to break out my warm-weather outfits. In the meantime, feel free to follow my spring and summer clothes board on Pinterest as I'm getting so much inspiration from that lately!

10. I have been loving Cara's capsule wardrobe workwear series- all of the outfits are so cute!

Have a good weekend!

My Chic Week: February 9-15

Happy Friday y'all! I feel like this week has dragged on forever partly because of how many assignments I had due at the start of the week (I seriously had four different group projects to work on!). Thankfully, we made it to the weekend and I'm hoping to get some organizing done and also hang out with friends!

I only have two classes on Fridays, which is nice as I'm able to sleep in and finish fairly early as well! After class on Friday, I had a group meeting for a group project so that we could get on the same page for our ideas for the project.

I had dinner downtown with two of my friends and then we wound up watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics in the Theta chapter room.

Last Saturday, my big and I decided to go to brunch at Tandem, which was such a good idea as it was delicious as always. We did have to wait a bit in line but the delicious crepes and lattes were definitely worth it!

After brunch, we ran some errands, including going to Whole Foods and Target. At home, we have both of these a few minutes away so it's definitely different at Clemson with everything being farther away. I oddly love running errands so it was a fun way to get off campus for a little bit!

It was pretty dreary all day so I wound up just relaxing Saturday afternoon and then going to bed somewhat early!

I didn't have any plans for Sunday morning/afternoon so I slept in before getting a good chunk of my to-do list accomplished!

My sorority had badge attire chapter last weekend so I took it as an excuse to wear one of my favorite outfits from when I had to dress up in high school. It was a little springy for February but I loved it haha! After chapter, I had a cabinet meeting to go to as well for my officer position.

After that ended, I headed over to Starbucks to meet my group for a Spanish video project that was due earlier this week. Thankfully, we worked super well together and were super productive on Sunday.

Monday was a busy start to the week as I had my first two classes of the day and then met my Spanish group to film our video. We then had Spanish class and then met to finish up the video.

My sorority has Bible study on Monday nights so I ordered a delicious cinnamon roll and an iced latte, of course!

Tuesday started off on the early side as I had my 8 AM class followed by my lab. After lab, I am always starving so a friend and I wound up getting lunch after. We wound up doing a bit of studying together and then stopped at the ice cream shop in our student center to get ice cream to celebrate Fat Tuesday.

I volunteered Tuesday night to get some service hours for my sorority and my big and I grabbed Chick-fil-a for dinner on our way to go volunteer, which was so yummy! Once I got back onto campus, I met up with my group for my group speech to go over our speech.

Wednesday was a fairly normal day with class and everything! We were supposed to do our group speech Wednesday night but our professor gave us another week so we were let out of class early, which was useful as I was able to use that time to study for my physical science exam.

Thursday morning, I had my first physical science exam and then did my laundry before meeting friends to work on some homework. I then grabbed myself some lunch and did some more homework. I went to the gym and then spent the rest of the afternoon working on homework and the blog!

On the blog this week:

Weekend Reading ⎢Spring Wishlist ⎢Stripes by the Water ⎢My College Morning Routine ⎢What I'm Doing for Lent ⎢How to Build a Preppy Wardrobe without Spending a Fortune

Happy Friday!

How to Build a Preppy Wardrobe without Spending a Fortune

When you hear the word "preppy", you typically think of style that is timeless and classic. And yes, preppy style tends to be more expensive. Dresses at J. Crew or Lilly are going to be more expensive than dresses at Forever 21, for instance. To dress preppy, however, you do not necessarily have to break the bank to achieve the preppy look you want!

Shop sales

It may seem that the preppy pieces you love never go on sale but it just takes a bit more effort. J. Crew is pretty good about offering discount codes on their websites (usually during the weekends) and Lilly Pulitzer has their bi-annual After Party Sale, which is the perfect time to pick up some new Lilly on a budget! If you're shopping in-store, be sure to check out the sale rack as I've found some crazy good deals there before!

Use student discounts

If you're in college (or sometimes if you're a high school student, depends on the store!), use your student discount to save more money on your clothes. J. Crew offers a student discount if you present your student ID at checkout but it never hurts to ask if the store offers a student discount!

Utilize basic pieces

Preppy basics are easy to find at a variety of prices, making them easy to incorporate into your budget! One thing I love about the classic look is that it looks pulled together whether you spent $20 or $200 on that particular item so this an area where you can really save! J. Crew Factory, for example, offers the same style chino shorts that J. Crew does in the summer but at a fraction of the cost. Your closet staples also can be worn a variety of different ways so you can create so many different outfits out of just one piece of clothing.

Quality over quantity

When I'm shopping, I like to look for clothing that is going to last and that I can wear for a long time after buying it. I'd rather have one really nice pair of jeans than five pairs of cheaper jeans that aren't exactly what I want. Of course, you can tailor this to your budget. Look for the highest quality your budget allows and don't buy a piece of clothing just to buy it.ii

Add to your closet slowly

The thing about preppy style is that it is timeless, meaning if you purchase a piece now, you'll still be able to wear it years from now. This gives you time to build up your wardrobe as you definitely don't have to rush out to the mall and buy everything brand new!

Think of cost per wear

Preppy clothing does tend to be more expensive but I like to think about it as cost per wear. If I spend $150 at Lilly on a new shift dress and get several years worth of wear out of it, the cost per wear will be lower than a cheaper dress that I wore once before getting rid of it. A higher initial investment in the beginning saves you more money in the long run as you aren't constantly rebuying that piece.

Save up for pieces that you absolutely love

Once you identify a piece that you "must" have, save up for it! I've found that taking more time before making a purchase helps me decide if I really need that piece (thus helping with curbing unnecessary spending). For instance, I saved up for months to buy my Louis Vuitton bag, which I had loved for years before buying it. Since I saved up for so long to buy it and since it's a classic style, I know that I be using it for years to come!

Any additional tips? Let me know in the comments!

What I'm Doing for Lent

Happy Wednesday y'all! Sorry that this post is going up later than usual but this week has been crazy with group projects that have left me with little time to schedule new blog posts for y'all!

Not only today is Valentine's Day but it is also the first day of Lent! I talk about faith here on Chic in Carolina from time to time but I am definitely on including more faith related content here on Chic in Carolina in the coming months (but don't worry all of the content y'all already love with still be here!).

both of the things I'm giving up haha!

Each year for Lent, I usually give up sweets and then I tend to add another task or give up something else. I try to look past merely giving up something as adding something in your day-to-day life can be so beneficial.

This year, I decided to give up both sweets and coffee, which is definitely going to be a challenge. I do sweets every year but it is just as challenging each year that I do it! Coffee is a new one and definitely will be challenging but I'm excited to do it and see how I can grow in my faith during Lent this year!

If you practice Lent, what are you doing? Let me know in the comments!

My College Morning Routine

I am without a doubt a creature of routine. I strive off of routines and I love how much easier they make things. One weird thing about college is that each and every day looks different. Even though some things happen every day (I have class at this time), the in-between is always different.

Even though my mornings look different every day, I tend to stick to a routine even if they don't happen at the same time every day!

image via my Instagram

Wake up

This depends on the day but I tend to wake up at 7 for my 8 AM classes or at 8:30 when I have later classes. I try to get out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off but sometimes I just wait for my second alarm and stay in bed for a few more minutes haha!

Brush teeth & wash face

Right when I get out of bed, I'll get out of bed and then head down the hall so I can brush my teeth and then wash my face. Once I get back into my room, I'll put moisturizer on too.

Make bed

I would say that making my bed is one of the most important aspects of my day. I try to never leave my room without having my bed made and I feel like this simple task makes my entire room look organized. And hey, it gives you something to cross off the to-do list haha!

Do my Hair

I usually don't wear makeup around campus (except for when I have a presentation) but I usually like to do my hair so I don't seem like a total mess haha! 

Eat breakfast

I'm pretty simple when it comes to breakfast and have honestly been to the dining hall once this year- the first day of class! I typically have a yogurt that I keep on hand in my fridge and then a turkey sausage as well!

Catch up on my emails + do last minute homework

While I eat my breakfast, I typically go through any emails and respond to them if needed. I typically update my agenda and do some last minute tasks whether it's homework or work for the blog!

Get dressed + get my backpack ready

After I'll eat, I get dressed for the day (usually leggings and a t-shirt if I'm being honest) and also get everything I need for the day together to put into my backpack. I have my system planned out so I just have a binder for each class so I can throw the binder into my bag and go!

Take Emergen-C

It seems like the flu has hit Clemson with a vengeance so I have been taking Emergen-C each morning to hopefully avoid that! Some people say that it's a placebo but I'll take it haha!

Head out the door

Then I grab my backpack and head out the door to go to class!

What does your morning routine look like? Let me know in the comments!

Stripes by the Water

If there's one thing I love more than a fun Lilly print, it's stripes! I feel like y'all probably know this by now but my wardrobe definitely isn't lacking in stripes pieces but there's always room for more. While I was in Charleston a few weekends ago (which you can read about here), I wore this classic outfit for exploring the city and dinner and loved how it turned out as Riley heard me tell her a gazillion times that I felt like it was a very "Tuckernuck" outfit with the tassel earrings, Barbour, and stripes haha!

Top: Draper James Jeans: Lucky Brand (similar) Flats: Tory Burch (similar) Jacket: Barbour Sunglasses: Kate Spade (similar) Earrings: Moon & Lola Purse: Longchamp Watch: Kate Spade

Photos by Riley of Northern Prepster

Spring Wishlist

I don't know about y'all but I am so ready for spring! The weather has been warming up a little here in South Carolina but knowing the Carolinas, it could be cold again in an instant. Every year, I feel that I'm ready for warmer temperatures (and it to not get so dark so early!) starting in February and this year is no exception.

Even though I can't do much about the temperature outside, retailers are bringing out cute new spring pieces, making it a perfect way to add some color for the season ahead! For more items currently on my wishlist, be sure to check out my "wishlist" Pinterest board!

Lilly Top ⎢Shift Dress ⎢White Dress

Bikini Top ⎢Gold Flats ⎢Red Lace Top

Lilly Skort ⎢OTBT's

What is on your Spring Wishlist? Let me know in the comments!

Weekend Reading

Happy Saturday y'all! I'm back with another edition of "Weekend Reading", where I'm sharing a roundup of some of my favorite blog posts from other bloggers and various articles from around the Internet. I love sharing these with y'all as it show y'all what has been on my radar as of late and it's perfect to read with a cup of coffee in hand!

image via this blog post

1. Currently obsessed with everything from Sail to Stable's resort and spring collections. My favorites are this dress, this top, this dress, this top, this tee, this dress, and this dress!

2. If you watch the Bachelor, this story is so interesting to read!

3. Love this article from the Everygirl about the glamorization of being "busy"

4. Everything on Evelyn Henson's website is currently 25% off with code LOTSOFLOVE25

5. This Prince George Instagram account is hilarious

6. Carly's blog post about how to be a better blogger definitely has stirred up inspiration to create some fun new blog content for y'all!

7. This ruffled Kate Spade pullover is what athleisure dreams are made out of

8. I absolutely loved Krista's guest post on Grace's blog earlier this week

9. This outfit looks so cute on Frannie!

10. Riley made a fun little "hype" video of our weekend in Charleston and I love how it turned out! We both were joking that it seems like a sorority recruitment video haha

Have a good weekend!

My Chic Week: February 2-8

Happy Friday y'all! Who else is excited for the weekend? Even though I don't have any crazy plans, I'm excited to sleep in and spend time with friends. Each Friday here on Chic in Carolina, I share what I have been up to in the past week so grab a cup of coffee and let's catch up!

Last weekend, Riley and I took a weekend trip to Charleston and I took so many pictures (as you probably know from my Instagram..) that I shared a weekend recap on Monday! I finally got the pictures off of my DSLR so I figured I would share those with y'all today!

We left Charleston Sunday morning and I made my way back to Clemson just in time for my sorority's chapter meeting. After chapter, I grabbed dinner with a few friends and then we wound up studying together.

Monday was getting back into the swing of things after a fun weekend away, which is always tough. I had my two morning classes and then grabbed lunch with a friend before my afternoon class.

My sorority has a bible study on Monday night so I went to that, which was definitely what I needed to start my week. We have bible study at a coffee shop in downtown Clemson so I stayed after with a few sorority sisters to get some homework done!

Tuesday was a fairly normal day as I had class and then my lab. Since my day starts so early on Tuesday, I am always starving by the time lab gets out so I always have to grab food afterwards! The rest of the day was pretty laid back as I didn't have too much to do!

If you read Wednesday's blog post, you got a pretty good idea of how my Wednesdays look but my public speaking class didn't actually meet as we have a group speech due next Wednesday, which was nice as I finished class at 3:45 instead of 8 PM!

My sorority had a "This to my That" themed mixer that night so my roomie for next year went as Blair & Serena, which was so fun!

Thursday was an unusually busy day as I had my 8 AM, did my laundry (always an ordeal in the dorms haha!), and then had a gazillion group projects to work on. Last semester, I only had one group project the entire semester so it's been crazy having four due by next Wednesday!

I also had a meeting in the afternoon, ran into my big in Starbucks (#typical), and then worked on a group lab report before grabbing dinner with a friend. Our dining hall had s'mores outside so that was an unexpected highlight of my day!

On the Blog this Week:

Weekend Reading ⎢It's All About Balance ⎢Charleston Weekend Trip Recap ⎢Valentine's Day Gift Guide ⎢A Day in my Life: Spring 2018 ⎢The Poncho You Need for Winter

Happy Friday!

The Poncho You Need for Winter

If I had to tell y'all my favorite thing I purchased this winter was, it would hands down be this poncho from Tuckernuck. It is ridiculously comfortable and feels like you're wearing pajamas but looks super pulled together!

I had a coupon for Tuckernuck so I wound up adding it to my cart only to see that the price dropped from $75 to $25 (and even less than that with a promotion that was going on!). I'm convinced that Tuckernuck has the best customer service as I called and they adjusted the price on my order for me (and that's not the only good customer service I have had with them!). The poncho is so popular that it has since sold out in white but it's still available in black!

When I was packing for my weekend trip to Charleston last weekend (which you can read about here), I knew that it would have to come with me and I wound up wearing it Saturday, which wound up being perfect as it was pretty cold and windy! My Barbour coat has been my go-to this winter (I'm wearing it as I type this) and I love how cute yet comfortable this outfit was for shopping and walking around Charleston (comfort was key as we hit 10,000 steps on our Fitbits by lunch!).

Poncho: Tuckernuck (in black- on sale!) Jeans: Lucky Brand (similar) Bracelet: Lilly Pulitzer (similar) Fitbit Riding Boots: Tory Burch (similar) Jacket: Barbour Purse: Longchamp Sunglasses: Kate Spade (similar) Necklace: Kendra Scott

Photos by Riley of Northern Prepster