Pay it Forward

Have you ever seen the movie Pay it Forward? Isn't it just so moving? I love finding ways to pay it forward a do a good deed. Here's a chance to pay it forward "blog style". It's also a great way to make new bloggers.

Now, here's the deal:

The first three people that comment on my post will get a gift from me within the next year. All you have to do is follow the rules below. It's pretty simple if you ask me. 

1. Within the year, I will create something unique to share with the first 3 people that comment on this specific post. I love giving gifts! 

2. ...but, in order for your present to arrive, you must play along as well. Spread the love on YOUR own blog promising to send a little something to the first three that comment on your blog post.

3. You get 72 hours (that's 3 days) to re-post this SAME post, or I'll move on to the next person.

4. PLEASE, only comment if you are willing to pay it forward.

Are you interested yet? So comment away! 
 
Please include the following in your comment:
Name:
Blog address:
E-mail address:

Something about you so I can get to know you better! {Could be your favorite color, season, food, how many pets or kids you have, what you do for a living, anything! PS - You can leave more than one thing}

It's That Time of the Year!

The air is getting crisper.

The leaves are turning colors. 

People are breaking out their riding boots and scarves.

Starbucks is serving Pumpkin Spice coffees again.

And people are getting sick!

Everyone around me seems to be sick!

What am I supposed to do?!? I can't get sick.

How am I supposed to live in dorm of sick people and prevent this autumn bug?

This morning I asked my friend who graduated last May and is now a registered nurse how to prevent getting sick. This was the advice she gave me:

Avoid the sick people. (This is easier said then done since my roommate and building mates are sick.)

Try to not touch a lot of things and if I do use antibacterial/wash my hands a lot. 

 Get a lot of sleep.

Drink warm fluids and juices.

Eat vitamins and nutritious foods. 

Keep warm.

Tell yourself you refuse to get sick!

For the next few weeks I am sticking to these steps so I keep my immune system strong and I can keep on pushing through this semester! 

What are your best cold preventing tricks?

Linking to: Happy Hour Projects

Current Crush: Throw Pillows

This week I'm crushing on throw pillows!

Just before I left for school about a month ago I bought a new comforter for my bed at home. 

I've been searching for last January and could never find the one I wanted.

Finally I decided on getting a white feather comforter from Ralph Lauren. It is super comfortable and I can keep it white or buy a duvet cover. The only thing I'm missing now is throw pillows to give the white some pop of color and personality. 

Here are few of my favorite pillows that would fit perfectly in my room.

Throwpillows by jillianmescall on Polyvore

Linking to: The Wright Stuff
Happy Hour Projects

I know it's a little early for Thanksgiving but this week I've been feeling down in the dumps so I've decided to remind myself everything that's good in my life and everything I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for my loving family.

I'm thankful for my health.

I'm thankful for my education.

I'm thankful for my great friends.

I'm thankful for living in New York.

I'm thankful that my family has not been as affected as others by the economy.

I'm thankful for my sisters.

I'm thankful for my dogs.

I'm thankful for my grandparents.

I'm thankful for this past summer.

I'm thankful that I have to opportunity to live in London next semester.
I'm thankful for books.
I'm thankful for music.
I'm thankful that my parents get along even though they're divorced.
I'm thankful for my life.

Current Crush Thursday: Infinity Scarves

This week I'm crushin' on infinity scarves! The weather has been getting cooler and crisper this week and soon people will start wearing riding boots and scarves. I can not wait until I can start wearing my scarves, especially my infinity scarves!

Infinity Scarves by jillianmescall featuring loop scarves

What's your crush this week? Link up and tell us!

September Me, Myself, and I Link Up Party

It's here! The Me, Myself and I September Link up Party! 

Here's what you don't already know about me, Jillian!

1. When you're feeling down, what do you do to pick yourself up?

I would love to answer this with shopping but as a college student without a disposable income this would not be an honest answer. I usually read for fun to get my mind off things and just relax. 

2. If you had to live in a different time period, which would you prefer?

I'm not sure about this one. People always say that they wish they grew up in the 80s or some other popular decade but I really do think I was born into the right generation and decade. I think to live in the 20s would be pretty cool. I also think it would be fun to be a teen in the 80's or  90s.

3. What is the most creative Halloween costume you've ever worn?

Sophomore year of high school I dressed up as a laundry basket. Definitely not my coolest costume but it was by far my most creative.

Totally going through my awkward teen phase here lol.

4. Five weird things about you we wouldn't know without being told?

a. I'm obsessed with the Olympics. If you've met me you probably know this.

b. I'm allergic to cats and dogs but have always had both in my house.

c. My wardrobe is made up of scarves and stripes.

d. I'm 20 and still read Seventeen Magazine.

e. I love the dollar section at Target!

5. What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

It's not the end of the world and to spend more time with my family.

Weekend Update

Hi ya'll! 

I hope you've had a great weekend!  I know I have!

This weekend I had a great time hanging out with some good friends on Friday night.

Then on Saturday I went hiking with another friend! It was a great workout and the view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking! We could see up and down the Hudson River for miles. I felt as if I was looking out across the country all the way from New York to California.

Then on Saturday my team played Sarah Lawrence and we won! I won my singles match too! My mom and stepdad even drove up all the way from Long Island to watch. I finished my match just in time to go to dinner at a BBQ joint near my school and watch my Jets lose. Suprise, suprise.

Despite the typical Jets loss it was a great weekend spent with great people.

Crappy quality but Friday night with some fun girlies!

Photographing the beautiful view from the top of the mountain.

What a gorgeous view!

I did it!

Thanks Mom for the picture!

Happy Friday!

Hey Everyone! Sorry again for a lame week. I had a bunch of stuff planned for you guys but then I got locked out of my own blog on Wednesday night. But don't worry, I'll be back next week! 

But just some good news from my week, my tennis team won our first match last night! What a great way to start off the season!

I hope you all way a cake batter - filled weekend! 

College Series 2: How To Avoid the Freshman 15

Now that everyone is back to school and settlin' in it's time for those lbs to sneak there way back as well.

We all worked so hard back in the Spring to get ready for bikini season and just because you won't be hitting the beach anytime soon doesn't mean that should change.

The Freshman 15 and Sophomore 20 are like the Bubonic Plagues of college, everyone gets it (mostly). 

But you don't have to put on the weight. Here are some tips you can use if you want to say "nuh-uh, not me" to those college calories.

1. Stay away from the grill
College dining halls always seem to have the delicious greasy food that just calls out your name! Big surprise: that food is bad for you! Eating pizza and fries for lunch and a burger a for dinner everyday will help those Freshman 15 come quicker than first semester midterms. The easiest way to keep those foods off your plate is to stay away. Don't even walk over to the grill when you walk around deciding what to eat. Once you see those cheese fries and smell the grilled cheese it will be that much harder to decide against it. But don't completely deprive yourself...getting a grilled cheese once in a while will not make or break you.

2. Get creative
Dining hall food can get old fast. It is super important to be creative with your food. Don't only use the ingredients from the salad bar when making a salad. Walk around the dining hall and see what you can add. My favorite is when it's taco day and my school and I get to make a taco salad. The same thing goes for the deli. If you like sandwiches try getting creative. Eventually you will get tired of the same food everyday and thats when you'll turn to the "bad for you" foods.

3. Free gym
When else in your life will you have a free, yeah that's right FREE, gym membership? Never! Maybe you'll be lucky enough to fall upon a job that will let you charge your gym membership, but more than likely when you graduate college you'll have to pay a lot more a month than you would like in gym fees. Either that or you'll be running outside. Use these 4 years (or however many you have left) and take advantage of your school's athletic facilities! Most schools even offer free exercise classes. Try those too! Classes are a great way to work out and meet new people. I know I am dreading the days when I have to pay for a gym so as for now I'm using my school's athletic center as much as possible.

4. Social Life
I know it's hard to think of your social life as something that can help prevent weight gain, but it can. I know most friendships center around food and in college many friendships may be built on a drinking. But friendships can also be built on other things as well. Find friends to workout with...it's always fun to workout with a buddy. Even non-athletic activities are still a way to keep active. Organize a bowling night with a group of friends or walk into your college town (if it's safe). Even going out to a club on Thirsty Thursday can burn tons of calories as long as you are out on the dance floor and not sitting at the bar.

5. Dorm room snacks
The biggest culprit of the Freshman 15 is snackin'. When you get back to your room late at night you want nothing more than to to crawl into bed with Easy Mac and watch the most recent episode of The Jersey Shore. Stock your dorm with healthy snacks. Grab fresh fruits from your dining hall on your way out. Buy healthier or "not as bad" foods like popcorn, string cheese, and peanut butter instead of candy, pop tarts, and Oreos. My personal favorite snack is Goldfish :) But bottom line, what foods you keep in your room and snack on can is super important.


Hope these can all be up help to you!

What are your favorite tips to staying healthy in college? Share with us below.

Fav Pins Friday

Hey guys! 

So starting this week on Fridays I am going to post my favorite pins of the week!

Here are some of my favorite pins this week!

I absolutley love this quote. And yes the job market is tough, but I really do think that being successful is all about your determination and your confidence in yourself.

Source

I pinned this bracelet tutorial from one of my favorite DIY jewelry blogs, Teahab. You should all go over, say hello and try out some of their awesome tutorials!

This is totally me! I am an anglophile and proud of it! I can't wait to be among the English this spring!

Source

Since the beginning of fall is now upon us and scarves will soon be making appearances this "Knot Library" is the perfect way to make sure you don't wear your scarves the same way every time!

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

Linking to:

Back to School

Sorry for my absence this past week. My life has been a little hectic with packing and moving back to school but now that I'm back in the swing of things I'll be back to blogin'.

I've had a great summer interning and I've learned way more than I could have ever imagined, but I'm happy to be back at school playing tennis, seeing my friends, and learning (I'm a nerd).

One of the things I love about school is my room. My roommate and I really lucked out when we landed this huge room last year. We've decorated our room very very similarly to last year but I do have a few new additions.

My side of the room!

My desk!

I made these quote plaques the night before I went to school. They're super easy to make and look great in my room. (Tutorial coming soon)

"Don't Give Up What You Want Most
 For What You Want Now"

"Where There's Tea There's Hope"

"A ship in port is safe but that's not what ships are built for"

For my dresser I painted a wooden box I got from the craft store to hold my lotions, sprays, deodarants, etc. I also got this cork board from Target to hang my necklaces on.

And my favorite dorm decoration: my new fish, Chuy!

Chuy!

What is your favorite dorm decor?

Have a happy Labor Day everybody!


Linking to: