What I ACTUALLY Wear to Class as a College Student

I am so excited for today's post as it's an idea that I have had for a while. I always struggle to share fashion content for y'all as honestly getting all dressed up is a pretty rare occurrence as a college student. If you don't know, I am a junior Elementary Education major at Clemson University in South Carolina (can I get a Go Tigers?) and our campus culture is very casual. Most people wear athletic clothes to class and I honestly could tell you the amount of times I've worn jeans to class on one hand.

Anyways, I thought it would be fun to show y'all what I actually wear each day for a week!

Monday, September 30

Tank: Lululemon (similar) Tennis Skort: Lululemon Sneakers: Nike (similar) Apple Watch Bracelet: David Yurman

Tuesday, October 1

Clemson Panhellenic t-shirt Shorts: Nike Sneakers: Nike (similar) Apple Watch Bracelet: David Yurman

Wednesday, October 2
Old sorority t-shirt Shorts: Nike (similar) Sneakers: Nike (similar) Apple Watch with Kate Spade Band Bracelet: David Yurman

THURSDAY

Thursday, October 3
Tee: Lululemon (similar) Shorts: Lululemon Sneakers: Nike (similar) Apple Watch with Kate Spade Band Bracelet: David Yurman

Friday, October 4
Old sorority t-shirt Shorts: Nike Sneakers: Nike (similar) Sunglasses: Kate Spade (old) Apple Watch with Kate Spade Band Bracelet: David Yurman

I hope y'all liked this more "real life" post and let me know what you wear to class in the comments!

My Chic Week: September 27-October 3

Happy FriYAY! I am so excited for today's post as it's one that I love sharing with y'all but hasn't made an appearance on Chic in Carolina in quite a while (to say the least)...My Chic Week! For all of those who are new around here or just need a lil refresher, My Chic Week, or MCW for short, is a series where I recap my week and go over everything I did plus share pictures (you can check out previous editions here)! I am low-key noisy and love reading about other bloggers' "real" lives so this series gives y'all a bit of insight into mine!

The start of the semester has been so fun (and slightly crazy) here at Clemson and it's crazy as there is only one week till fall break (which is the half-way mark of the semester)! For now, grab a coffee (maybe a PSL if you're ready for fall!) and let's catch up!

Fridays are always nice since I only have one class so I have a bit of time to get ready in the morning before going to campus. I have my math class on Friday so I went to that and then it was the weekend! When I got home, Rachel and I ran an errand then grabbed some Chick-fil-a for lunch.

Rachel was out of town this weekend as she went to the Clemson-UNC game so I had the place to myself so I was able to get a lot done. I worked on a homework assignment and washed my sheets before picking up my little, Nora, to go to Target and Trader Joe's. I had a few things to cross off of my to-do list in terms of house decorating (stayed tuned for a house tour soon!) and thankfully Nora wanted to help me out. We ordered pizza and made cupcakes, which was super fun, plus we got a lot done! I then dropped her back off at her apartment and went to bed somewhat early!

Nora designed my memo board in my room and I love it- stay tuned for a guest post soon!

basket

I slept in on Saturday and then did some blog work and homework! I then went over to my big's house to watch the football game! The game wound up being a tight one so we were all on edge the whole time. After the game, my friend Olivia came over to hang out at my house with Nora and I, which was a lot of fun.

pink and orange throw pillows

Sunday was a "get my life together" kind of a day as I slept in before giving my entire house a deep clean. I then got a lot of homework done and was able to get ahead on some blogging as well. Once Rachel got back, we watched the new episode of Grey's!

Since I don't have class till 10 on Mondays, I'm able to sleep in a bit, which is nice, before getting the day started. I had my two classes then came back home to eat lunch and work on homework all afternoon. Rachel and I went to the gym after her class, which was kinda annoying as somehow every single elliptical was being used so I had to switch things up a bit. I then came home to quickly shower and eat before heading over to one of my friends' house to work on homework together.

I got to campus way earlier than I needed to on Tuesday morning, which honestly was nice as I had 30 minutes to get some work done in the education library so my morning started on a productive note. I then went to my first two classes, had lunch with friends (and spent too much time making BuzzFeed quizzes), and then went to my afternoon class.

left: day designer (currently on sale!) ⎢yeti

right: Apple Watch ⎢bracelet

I went home to do homework for a bit and then went to go pick my friend Caroline up at her apartment before going to a workout class. We have gotten into a good routine of going every Tuesday to barre and it's always fun to catch up as well as get a workout in.

I came home to a sweet fall care package from my family, which was the sweetest surprise!

Wednesday was honestly a pretty normal day- I went to my two classes and then worked on some homework! Nothing too riveting!

My Physical Education class on Thursday was at the on-campus gym, which is always an interesting start to the day. I then had my second class of the day before meeting my roommate and two of our friends for lunch on campus! We then walked to class, had my last class of the day, and then went to the gym before heading back home. The rest of my day was pretty relaxed as I showered and put on my pj's at like 7 (did not go to bed then haha!) then just working on some homework.

On the Blog:

How to do it "all" ⎢September Favorites ⎢Fall Wishlist ⎢What to Keep in your Bag for Gameday

Happy Friday!

What to Keep in your Bag for Gameday

The best time of the year is already here...college football! While I wasn't the biggest football girl before college, you can't help but love gameday in the fall at a big state school! Gameday isn't just about the football game- it's an all-day event with lots of tailgating leading up to the game!

Many stadiums have bag regulations for what you can bring into the stadium so packing everything you need can be a bit tricky as you need stuff to be prepared for the day but can't bring too much due to the size of your bag so I decided to pull together the essentials for your gameday bag and share them with y'all!

the bag

For my eighteenth birthday (before I started college), I received a smaller Tory Burch bag that is orange that I use for gameday! They unfortunately don't make it anymore but here is a similar option. Another great option is to get a clear purse, which usually allows you to get a bit of a bigger bag. I am just extra and can't go anywhere without a bag but I know some of my friends just use a phone wallet and that's it!

keys (image via)

Even though I tend to overpack for everything, gameday isn't really the time to do that as 1. you can't fit that much into a small bag 2. you don't want to be stuck carrying it around all day. So think essentials and that's it. Of course, keys fall into that category! If you're not driving, just bring your house key so it's less things to carry!

student id, regular id, debit/credit card (image via)

Continuing with just the essentials, you definitely need these! At Clemson, they sometimes ask for your school id when entering the student section (even though we have wristbands) so I usually bring that just in case. Regular id is good to have on hand plus your debit or credit card is handy if you need to buy anything!

hair tie

I always have a hair tie on hand for gameday because especially for the first few games when it's boiling out, you get to a point when you are done with your hair and just want to put it up!

sunglasses

I never go anywhere without sunglasses and gameday is no exception!

lip balm

My lips always get so chapped and I feel like this is one non-essential that I love keeping on hand! 

sealed water bottle (carry with you!)

Most stadiums allow you to bring in a sealed water bottle, which I definitely recommend doing! The first few games of the season are definitely hot and you will want it (plus the stadium water bottles are usually expensive). I usually grab one while I'm tailgating and bring it into the game with me so I have one.

What do you keep in your bag for gameday? Let me know in the comments!

Fall Wishlist

It's officially October and I am so excited for fall, even if South Carolina isn't wanting to let go of summer temperatures quite yet! Since I can't exactly start wearing fall clothes without having a heat stroke, I decided to round up some of my favorite fall pieces to share with y'all in the meantime. Hopefully, we'll be able to wear cute fall clothes soon here in the South but in the meantime, I'll still be drinking pumpkin spice lattes (just iced for now!).

Lake Pajamas- My Lake pajamas were one of my September Favorites and I definitely think I need a pair with long pants to wear in the fall and winter. They are the comfiest things ever and totally worth the splurge!

Free People Dress- This dress gives me season 1 of Gossip Girl Blair vibes (I think it's the ruffles?) and I think it would be perfect for semi-formals, nice dinners, or even Thanksgiving. Plus, it's under $100!

Ruffle Neck Blouse- I love the ruffle detailing of this blouse and also the color! I think it would be perfect for everyday wear or a business casual look.

White Sweater- I had to get rid of my go-to white sweater at the end of last winter as it had definitely seen better days so I have been on the lookout for a replacement. I love that this sweater has a fun neckline to give it a bit of "something" but isn't a tight turtleneck either!

Printed Shirtdress- I'm starting to think about adding more "teacher clothes" to my closet as I will in the classroom more often next semester and love this dress for fall and winter. Just add a pair of flats and maybe a cardigan and you'll be good to go!

Black Jumpsuit- Black isn't necessarily what I think of when I hear "Lilly Pulitzer" but they knocked this jumpsuit out of the park. I absolutely love the bow detailing and it is so pretty. Now, I just need an excuse to wear it!

Orange Sweater- I have this sweater in a different color from a few seasons ago and I love it. It is loose and comfortable without being frumpy and baggy. I love this bright orange color and think it would be great for gameday once it gets cold outside!

Tunic Dress- I love how simple yet cute this dress is! I think it is perfect for the beginning days of fall where it is still warm out as it is a fall color but isn't too heavy material-wise either!

What is on your fall wishlist? Let me know in the comments!

September Favorites

Happy October! At the start of each month here on Chic in Carolina, I love sharing my favorites from the month before and since it's been a while since my last monthly favorites post, I have a quite a few favorites to share with y'all!

Lake Pajamas- Paying this much for pajamas is a tad bit ridiculous but they are seriously so comfortable that I dread taking them off in the morning. I bought mine during the summer sale but they are such a great little luxury! I did size up to a medium so they would be loose and comfy!

New iPhone + Case- I had my old phone for just over two years and it was just being a pain in the butt with battery life! I splurged on a XR and absolutely love it so far. I went a few days case less (a risky move considering I was at home nannying with two kiddos who love holding my phone) and ordered this phone Kate Spade case off of Amazon! It is a tad bit high maintenance with the tag line "hold my calls" but I think it's funny!

Trader Joe’s Rose Water Toner- A really random TJ's purchase that I am loving so far! I spritz it all over my face after washing my face in the morning and at night and it is so refreshing!

Metal Reusable Straws- I drink a lot more water when I use a straw but feel like a horrible person using a plastic one. We have a bunch of these metal straws at home and they are so handy- I brought one with me to Clemson and need to order more!

Scout Lunchbox- Now that I live off-campus and don't have a meal plan, I usually bring a lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays as I don't have enough time to go home between classes and don't want to buy something on campus. I bought this lunchbox over the summer and love it- I had one in this shape in high school but I, of course, love the gingham.

Drybar Hot Toddy- A random find as my roommate and I were walking around in Ulta. The heat protector I was using isn't technically a heat protector so I figured I should buy a real one. Just like all other Drybar products, this does an amazing job and smells amazing!

Lilly Pulitzer Pullover- This was one of my After Party Sale purchases and oh my gosh, it is one of the comfiest things ever! I sized up one as I like to wear my t-shirts very oversized and wanted to be able to throw this on over a t-shirt. I wore this the whole weekend I was in Vermont and am now waiting for South Carolina to cool down so I can wear it again! I couldn't find it for the sale price but it is available here.

What were some of your September Favorites? Let me know in the comments!

How to do it "all"

I think we all have that friend or know someone who has it together. They do a million and one things on campus, have enough time to hang out with friends, and generally seems like they have their life together while the rest of us are running around like crazy trying to get it all done.

While I may not exactly be "that friend" (my friends may argue with me on that one), I do have a few tips on how to get there and be able to do it "all", or make it seem like it, in college.

image via this blog post

make time for yourself

Yes, you can do everything under the sun but you need to make time for yourself or you are going to get burnt it pretty quickly. I think self-care has become a term where you need to pamper yourself for hours and I don't think that should be the case. I think doing something you love each day is the perfect way to find balance in a busy schedule. You can't get water from an empty well so you can't give to others if you are running on empty!

be intentional

Think back to that person who does it all. Odds are they aren't actually the president of every club on campus. Be intentional in what you are involved in. Make time for the things you love and cut out the rest! Not only will you be happier and less burnt out, you will be able to put in more effort to the organizations you are involved in.

I think being intentional is also so so important for friendships. Focus on your friendships and being there in ways that matter. Send a text wishing good luck before that big test or project presentation, be there for a mid-week coffee date, make fun plans.

be on time

Rolling into lunch with a friend, class, or a meeting all frazzled because you're late isn't exactly what I think of when I think "having it together". Of course, everyone runs late from time-to-time but I think arriving on time, if not a bit early, is definitely is a good way to feel less stressed and seem like you have your life together more than you actually do!

to-do lists, to-do lists, to-do lists

How to keep up with it "all"? A million and one to-do lists and an organized planner. On my busy weeks when I feel like I have a million things to do and not enough time to do it, I sit down and write down everything I need to do that day (or that week). And when I say everything, I mean it- put even the littlest things like taking out the trash or showering. Having it all written out helps you think of everything you need to do and make you less likely to forget something. Plus, usually it's not as much as you think it is!

make your lunch the night before

Since I don't have a meal plan anymore (officially old), I bring my lunch to campus twice a week. The days where I pack my lunch the night before run so much more smoothly as I have one less thing to do before heading out the door!

respond to emails promptly

I feel like it is so easy to let your email inbox become a mountain of unread messages but keeping on top of them definitely helps you feel more on track. I try to sort my emails into folders and then leave the ones I need to respond to promptly in my inbox- because let's be real, if you don't do it right then, it may take a while!

use the reminders app

My key to not forgetting the little things? Putting a reminder in my phone and then setting the time for it to remind me. Perfect for when you need to pack something in your backpack or need to do something at a specific time. This has helped me not forget the small details and makes your life a tad bit less chaotic.

How do you do it all? Let me know in the comments!

Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale Favorites

Mondays are always a little bit better when it involves some Lilly Pulitzer on sale! And lucky for y'all, the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale starts today and is your chance to snag some Lilly for a fraction of the price. As y'all know, Lilly is one of my favorite brands and love the color it adds to my wardrobe.

It rarely goes on sale online (you can find a sale rack in store though) so if you don't live close by a Lilly now is the time to stock up on some pieces! I decided to round up some of my favorite pieces from the sale for y'all as there is so many cute items available!

tunic dress ⎢shift dress ⎢pink top ⎢skort

bikini top ⎢pullover ⎢dress ⎢elsa top ⎢earrings

Are you shopping the APS today? What goodies did you snag? Let me know in the comments!