School Snack Obsessions

College schedules can be pretty hectic and inconsistent. Some days I'll have plenty of time to prepare and eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but other days I feel like I'm out of my apartment from 7am to 9pm. On busier days, I try to pack some healthy snacks to munch on so I'm not absolutely starving by the time I sit down to eat a meal (and more prone to binge-eating everything in sight). Here are some of the foods I've been obsessed with lately:

Back-to-School Supplies for College

Another summer has come and gone, which means it's officially back-to-school season. I know some schools have already begun the year (my little brother's high school started on August 14!), but thankfully I have until the Tuesday after Labor Day to get my stuff together. 

Thinking back to my high school days, I remember that many of my teachers had very specific requirements when it came to school supplies- a 1.5 inch binder with 3 dividers plus a composition book for assignments, and so on. College professors, I've found, are much more flexible, and pretty much allow for whatever works best for your learning style. After 3 years, I've developed my own system and narrowed down my supplies list to the essentials listed below, keeping me organized and on top of things without feeling overly-cluttered.

Lake Haus

I can't believe how quickly summer is flying by. I started to put together this post and realized that this trip was already two weekends ago! Regardless, I really wanted to share a collection of photos from a weekend that my friends and I spent at Candlewood Lake in Connecticut. The weather, company, and plethora of activities that lake like has to offer (from paddleboarding to kayaking to tubing to fishing to cliff jumping...and more!) made for an unforgettable vacation. Even though the trip was brief, it thoroughly convinced me that I need to live on a lake at some point in the future. Keep reading to see all of the pictures!

Photo Diary: Weekend in Rockport

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit beautiful Rockport, MA. One of my best friends, Kalli, was celebrating her graduation there with her family and decided to invite a few of us to join in on the fun. It was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world- we cliff jumped at the quarry, explored quaint little shops downtown, built a bonfire, relaxed by the beach, and had a barbecue on property that overlooked the sea. It couldn’t have been more perfect! I’m so glad I had my camera with me to document some of the highlights, and I’m excited to share the scenery with you all in this post. Enjoy!

Picture-Perfect Rockport

Intern Diaries: 5 Things I Learned From My First Week

To continue on with my "Intern Diaries" series here on Beantown Blush, I thought it would be fitting to stray from beauty and fashion for a moment to give a recap of what I learned this past week- my first week on the job. Even if you've had multiple internships before, every company operates differently, so you never really know what to expect until you step into the office yourself. I was definitely nervous leading up to that first morning, but as the week went on I started to formulate some key takeaways...

Testing No-Churn Unicorn Ice Cream

I feel like unicorns have been everywhere lately, particularly after the huge "Unicorn Frappuccino" craze at Starbucks. While scrolling through Pinterest the other week, I stumbled across some "unicorn" recipes, and this colorful DIY ice cream from Popsugar particularly caught my eye. Because it requires only a few ingredients, I wanted to test it out and see if it was as tasty as it is pretty.

Intern Diaries Vol. II: Totes Prepared

After launching my "Intern Diaries" series, I've had a lot of fun brainstorming tips and advice to share with you all based on my own personal experience. In the first volume of the series, I gave the low-down on getting the internship, but in this post I want to touch on how to prepare for life on the job- more specifically, what to pack in your work bag to cover your day-to-day needs. Keep reading to see some chic yet functional tote bag recommendations, as well as what I plan to have on hand in my bag this summer.

Testing 3-Ingredient Pancakes (Vegan-Friendly)

I have definitely gotten in a rut with breakfast foods. My typical selection is either greek yogurt, oatmeal, or an english muffin, and if I'm really in a rush I'll just grab a protein bar as I'm heading out the door. After scrolling through Pinterest to try and find some healthy food inspiration, a couple of 3-ingredient vegan pancake pins caught my eye. First of all, I already owned all of the ingredients, and second of all, I've been wanting to try more vegan-friendly, plant-based recipes (Niomi Smart is a huge health inspiration for me, as well as my friend Kailey, who has her own mommy blog). My current diet definitely isn't vegan, or even vegetarian, but I think incorporating meals like this into my routine is a good start.

Intern Diaries: Vol. I

In my opinion, one of the major sources of stress for college students is the pressure to find an internship. These days it seems like employer standards are rising exponentially for college grads. When applying for competitive full-time positions, it's hard to get away with babysitting and mowing lawns during your summers off (Ahh, how I miss being paid in cash). Because internships are one of the major ways to set yourself apart on your resume, I thought I'd start a series about my experience with internships. Today I'm going to talk about the most common question regarding internships: "How do I get one?!" In later editions I'd love to go into topics like interviewing, office etiquette, etc. But for now, keep reading to see my top tips on landing an internship.

Luscious Lemon Bars

In middle school, I found this lemon bar recipe in a pamphlet from Publix (aka the queen of southern grocery stores), and I've been going back to it ever since. It's super simple, and most of the ingredients are likely already in your pantry. With the spring and summer months quickly approaching, these bars would make the perfect citrusy treat. Keep reading to see how they're made:

Healthy(ish) Treats

With spring break quickly approaching, I'm trying to curb my massive sweet tooth with some slightly healthier options. I have a really hard time cutting out desserts, but when I have some of these foods on hand I don't feel like I'm depriving myself.

Creating Your Dream Dorm

I have lived on-campus throughout my college career, with my first two years in your typical freshman dorms, and this year in an apartment-style residence. Along the way I have picked up some budget-friendly tips and tricks to make my room functional, yet still as cozy as possible. I've learned from experience that the last thing I want to do at the end of a long day of class and practice is to go home to a messy, chaotic bedroom. While I used to be all about the brights (bright walls, bright bedspread, bright pillows, etc), having a clean room with a neutral color palette has made a huge difference in helping me unwind and relax. I also find that when my room is more muted and decluttered, I am motivated to buckle down and get my work done. Here are my top tricks and tips for creating the dorm room (or bedroom) of your dreams.

New Year, New Planner!

Okay, I get way too excited over paper goods like planners and stationary. Honestly I could shop in Paper Source or Papyrus for hours on end. However, there are definitely some positives that come out of this obsession with overpriced notebooks. Having a nice, high quality planner makes me look forward to using it, which in turn makes my life more organized. For 2017 I'm using the Erin Condren Life Planner- so aesthetically pleasing and so functional...it's a win-win!

So beautiful *sheds single tear*

The Easiest (Budget-Friendly) Cake Pop Recipe

It's been an embarrassing amount of time since I last blogged, and I don't really have an excuse for my absence other than the fact that time seems to fly by exponentially faster when in college (see my last post lol).

But I'm back today with a super simple cake pop recipe!! A friend in high school taught me this method (thanks, Kenzie!) and I thought I would pass it along because it was an absolute hit at my family's 2016 holiday party.

Image via Colin Cowie Weddings

8 Weeks = 8 Minutes (and other things I learned this summer)

I know everyone says that summer goes by quickly, but seriously…where does the time go?? I swear my first day of work was just a week ago, yet here I am, sitting at home after 8 weeks of a fulltime internship back in Beantown. I am cringing at the date of my last blogpost, so in an effort to make up for lost time I decided I would round up some of the key lessons I have learned from my whirlwind of a summer.

Just another sunset in beautiful Beantown

Beantown Bites: Vegan Ice Cream???

If I had to chose only one dessert to have for the rest of my life, it would most definitely be ice cream. I grew up in a family of ice cream lovers, our freezer constantly stocked with at least 4 flavors and a few pints of gelato. One of my best friends from BU, Nicole, shares with me a love of ice cream, and introduced me to one of the yummiest and most unique ice cream spots in Boston.

Photo Diary: A Hike Through Blue Hills

One of the incredible things about living in Boston is that one minute you can be immersed in the hustle and bustle of downtown, and two blocks later you find yourself in a quaint, quiet, and woodsy neighborhood. It's the perfect balance- there's always something to do, but you also have the opportunity to get away and find a quiet haven if you need a breather (a blessing during finals week).

Beantown Bites: The Best Grilled Cheese

In this little series, I want to show you some of the best food places I discover in Boston. There are an overwhelming number of restaurants in the city, so each time I go off campus for a meal I try to discover something new. Recently, my friend and I trekked into Allston to test out Roxy's Grilled Cheese, and it was certainly not disappointing.

College Birthday Celebrations

Although I’m in my second year of college, I still get a little pang of homesickness when my birthday rolls around. Two days ago I celebrated my 20th, and I have to admit that I did miss my mom’s home-cooked birthday meal and the little decorations she would hang up in our kitchen. However, there are so many great ways to celebrate with friends at school, and being in a city leaves me spoiled with options!

Healthy Dorm-Friendly Breakfast Ideas

With 8 am classes every day this semester, I tend to put sleep above everything when it comes to getting ready in the morning. That being said, I can’t skip breakfast unless I’m tryna fall asleep and lose focus in class (which I’m not). Here’s what I stash in my dorm room to fuel me up and actually keep me full for most of the morning: