By Sydney JacobThis is my last and final post before the holiday season rolls around. Best of luck to everyone in their last week of class and finals. Remember to relax and get plenty of sleep throughout the next couple of weeks as tough as it can be with last minute studying and rounding off your final grades. Thank you to everyone for reading the TWIN blog and we all hope you enjoyed reading all of our posts this last semester! Enjoy time with your families over the holidays and enjoy our long break.
CHEERS!! --Sydney
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By Sydney JacobI grew up in the Minneapolis area so I am constantly trying new restaurants and visiting new places in and around Minneapolis. It is easy, being students, to get stuck in our constant, boring routine of class, work, eat, sleep, and repeat. In my free time this past weekend, I met up with my aunt for lunch Downtown at a new restaurant that recently opened downtown. It is called the Hewing Hotel and the connected restaurant is called Tullibee. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in the the lobby of the hotel. The woodsy, modern vibe of the lobby is inviting with a warm, fireplace and homey feel with the beautifully decorated Christmas tree to celebrate the holiday season. The Hewing’s restaurant, Tullibee has a condensed menu with a handful of food items. My first impression when I see a condensed menu is my concern that I either won’t like my food or that the portions are too small, but I was proven wrong in both aspects. I split the shrimp toast as an appetizer and the burger as my meal and I was overly satisfied with both items. I HIGHLY recommend trying out the Tullibee. The overall atmosphere was great because it was the day of the Vikings game and the bar was full which has a Billards table and is separated from the sit down area. The hotel is located at 300 Washington Avenue South in Minneapolis, across from JD Hoyt’s Supper Club. In your free time, swing over and try the Tullibee or another restaurant, shop or event Downtown to change things up. By Sydney JacobFollowing up from last week’s post, I altered two of my new, thrifted clothing items: the camouflage ringer tee and the black skinny jeans. The wonderful thing about the combination of thrifting and distressing clothing is that you can take a t-shirt with a hole in the front (as I found the camo tee) and you can transform it into an edgy tee. Tee Shirt: HOW TO With the tee, there is no right or wrong way to do it. It is best when the tears look a little messy. That being said, I started out by simple making randomized slits with a scissors along the front side of the shirt and sleeves. I avoided areas where undergarments would become too visible in case a tear expands with wear. After a slit has been made simply pull either sides of the tear vertically stretching them out and repeat horizontally. This expands the tear and you can pull harder or softer depending on your preference. I then went to the sleeves and cut a clean line of fabric off the very edge of the shirt. Then, open up a pair of scissors and glide the blade against the edge of the sleeve to create a frayed look. Black Denim: HOW TO Distressing jeans is one of my favorite DIY projects. The more warn in a pair of denim is, the better the distressed denim will turn out. I usually start out by trying on the pair of jeans and making some type of mark where I will want to tear. The knees are where I aim the majority of my focus because the placement of the knee slits must be even on either side. Once the jeans are off, cut a clean slit across the knees on the front piece of the denim. Then open the scissors and glide the blade against the edge while adding more force to increase the amount of fray. The amount of fraying will also depend on the amount of elastic material in the fabric. The less elastic, the easier fabric is to fray. The scissors can also be used to score randomized areas on the jeans to give a worn in, edgy look. After all distressing is done, make sure to throw the denim in the washer and dryer. Washing them will make the distressing look more prominent. Outfit Pairings Creating a whole outfit, I took my new tee and tied a front knot to create a more fitted silhouette to the normally boxy t-shirt. The denim can either stay rolled down to show the raw hem at the bottom or they can be rolled up to pair with a chunky, black lace-up bootie. To top of the edgy look, a solid, black baseball cap will tie the whole look together. Go out thrifting and try distressing on your own. The beauty of thrifting and distressing is that the inexpensive shopping trip allows you to experiment on clothing without the worry of wasting money on finished product that does not turn out as planned. Be creative & have fun with it! By Sydney JacobEveryone has the same issue with shopping at some point: Wanting everything in the store but not having the funds to feed your addiction for buying the newest fashion trends. Shopping at thrift shops is a great way to save money, while getting vintage, secondhand clothing. Recently, I visited the Goodwill Outlet store down University Ave. When you walk in there is a large warehouse filled with life-sized bins full of miscellaneous clothing items as well as furniture, shoes, appliances and bedding. Instead of creating a price for every clothing item, the clothing is weighed at checkout to determine the price of the clothing being purchased. Below I have posted picture of the items that I dug up from my trip to the outlet. Thrifting is a long process that takes patience and an eye for unique pieces that not everyone else will own. After weighing my items, my grand total came out to only $4.17 for 4 clothing items. Chambray Embroidered Shirt This chambray button up shirt immediately stood out to me because of the embroidered details and the wooden beading in the design of the shirt. This can be half tucked into a pair of distressed denim to create a denim on denim 90’s look. This unique button up is sure to stand out. Velvet Skirt This midi black velvet skirt was in great condition. There is one missing button on the back to fasten the skirt, but that can be easily fixed. This skirt can either be kept at a long, midi length and paired with a cropped knit sweater or it can be made into a DIY project and be cut down to a shorter length. Black Denim This pair of black denim is worn in, giving them a grungy, distressed look. My project will be to give them an even more worn in look by distressing the knees to make the pair of denim look more grungy versus clean cut. Camouflage T-shirt The camouflage tee is my personal favorite. The great thing about thrift shops is that you don’t necessarily need to pay close attention to sizes. Considering the men’s and women’s clothing is intermixed with each other, the main focus is eyeballing the size and determining if the garment can be worked with to fit truest to your size. This particular shirt happened to be a boys t-shirt. I hope you enjoyed seeing my purchases and stay tuned to next week’s post where I will alter the clothing from the outlet to put my own spin on the clothing. Thrifting is a fun, affordable way to go shopping with friends, not to mention it is exciting to see the vintage pieces that are mixed into the piles of clothing. Take the time to sort through each pile and you will find something you love. HAPPY THRIFTING!! By Sydney JacobNot only do we all have the bad case of the Mondays, but also the Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (unless you’re lucky enough to have no Friday class). Here are some tips on how to stay motivated on those days that you just want to curl up in your warm bed instead. Stay Organized Before your new week starts over take a step back on Sundays and open up your planner. Fill in when you have assignments, quizzes and tests due so that you can plan out when you fit in break time for social events or activities. School can get so hectic and overwhelming at times but if you make sure to budget your time, it is really important to squeeze in some “me time” where you can let your brain relax and hang with friends or catch up on your favorite tv show. One of my favorite planners that I have had is Day Designer’s Monthly/Weekly planner from Target for only $9.99. At the beginning of every month there is an area that has three sections of checklists where you can set priorities for the month. Change It Up
Studies have proven that creating variety in your schedule and trying new things can increase happiness. The same exact every single week can get to be boring, so try something new! The internet is your best friend so look there for inspiration, like this website with events going on in Minneapiolis (http://www.exploreminnesota.com/index.aspx). Go take a look at our other blogger’s post here in TWIN. Maybe go try one of the restaurants in our food section or even try out the makeup tutorials in our beauty section. It is going to be inevitable to have a set schedule with school and work, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t step outside of your everyday habits and change things up a bit. Join a Club Clubs are a great way and easy way to meet new people, network with professionals and get out of the house. Normally clubs are very laid back and are there if you want to participate. Everyone understands that life happens, so you are not obligated to make it to every single meeting. You for sure will not regret going to meetings because you get to experience a change of pace as well as doing something you are passionate about. The majority of you reading are probably already our FAB (Fashion and Business) Club. If you are NOT, what are you waiting for?? We are a club that welcomes anyone in any major who shares our passion for fashion as well as a desire to go to fashion events where you can network with professionals in the field while learning more about the industry and meeting great friends along the way. Clubs are a great stress reliever where you can take a quick hour off from homework and hang out with others who are in the same boat as you. There are 1000+ student organizations here at the U of M and there is even the opportunity to start your own, visit the link to learn more! https://gopherlink.umn.edu/organizations By Sydney JacobHi Everyone!! I wanted to do a very sparknotes version of myself quick. I’m a senior so I guess you could say I have some experience in the college department, I’m in retail merchandising so naturally I love anything and everything that has to do with shopping, clothing, trends, etc. I love to laugh and am very sarcastic as you will see come out in my posts. I’m excited to be writing this lifestyle blog and any suggestions or topics you want me to write about, let me know :)
I am in love with the fall season, as I’m sure many of you are as well. I obviously love nothing more than laying out on the lake and drifting to sleep under the sun, but what I love even more is stepping outside on a crisp, fall day and coming home to a warm bed and a laptop ready with Netflix. Everyone’s favorite fall time tradition is of course: the apple orchard. I recently went to the Aamodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater, MN. There is something about stepping foot on the apple farm that reminds me of my childhood. I remember sprinting through the rows of trees as a kid, jumping to reach the perfect apple. Don’t get me wrong I still do those things…! The barn is full of rows of different types of apples, including our very own University of Minnesota developed, honey crisp (hands down the best flavored apple…GO GOPHS). Time flies at the orchard by trying the wide assortment of apple flavored items such as: warm apple cider with a spiced cinnamon flavor, apple crisp pie with chunks of sweet and sour apples and buttery cinnamon sugar crumbles scattered on top, and apple infused, juicy bratwurst. Is your mouth watering as much as mine right now? If you answered YES. Then get over to Aamodt’s and you won’t be disappointed. They are open 10AM-6PM daily. For those of you who are 21+ there is a beautiful barn where you can wine taste the wide variety of wines. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the apple farm is extra kid friendly with wagon rides, tractor and trike farm, adorable goat petting zoo, the honey crisp express and of course a special treasure hunt. Have a very happy fall and enjoy every second of it before our frozen tundra takes over!! By Allie SontagI hope you all have enjoyed reading the TWIN blog the past few months! Unfortunately, it is time to say goodbye for the summer. But no worries, we’ll be back in the fall!
It has been amazing working with TWIN this semester. I loved sharing lifestyle tips and tricks from how to destress to how to prepare for a music festival. The TWIN ladies are so inspiring and have so much to share, from beauty and fashion to fitness and food. Check back in the fall for more lifestyle posts! Have a FANTASTIC summer! ~Allie By Allie SontagFinals week is fast approaching. But don’t stress! Here are 6 tips to help you prepare for your finals and put your mind at ease. Find the right study space for you Whether you prefer the ambience of a bustling coffee shop or the complete silence of the library basement, take some time to find your ideal study space. If you’re studying on your bed, chances are you’re less likely to be in study mode and more inclined to turn on Netflix or take a nap. If you have a set space to study in, your mind will be prepped to study and you’ll be more productive. Take mini breaks Taking breaks every hour or so is essential to refresh your brain and promote clear thinking. Take a walk, watch an episode of your favorite show, stretch, or talk with a friend. Any break is a good break to reset and come back to your studying more energized. Flashcards are your best friend Flashcards are my favorite study tool. The act of writing the information down on the notecards helps you encode the information into your short term memory, and getting yourself to guess the answers helps you recall what you’ve learned. Plus, there are flashcard apps and websites like Quizlet and Flashcards+ if you would rather not write them out by hand! Utilize study guides, example problems, etc. If your professor provides you with study guides, example problems, past exams, or other resources to help you prepare, USE THEM! They will come in handy and really help you prepare for the types of questions you will see on your exam. Plus, it makes studying easier knowing what to focus on and what to skim over. Pair up Have a friend in one of your classes? Become study buddies! Having someone to help you work through your study guide and share notes helps immensely in preparing for exams. Plus, your friend may have studied something you forgot, or vice versa! It’s a win-win for both of you. Don’t cram! Unless this seems to work for you. Although I feel this option works for me to store information in my short term memory, when I walk out of the exam the information has gone in one ear and out the other. I barely remember a semester’s worth of material! I suggest carving out a week or two to gradually review and let what you’ve learned the past semester really sink in. Smaller chunks of time spread out over two weeks is better than cramming 5 hours the night before.
Good luck & happy studying! ~Allie By Allie SontagIt’s that time of year again. Your closet is stuffed with clothes you never wear, and you’re in a bit of a style slump. It’s time to clear out the clutter and revamp your style, starting with some smart spring cleaning! Here are 5 questions to ask yourself when tackling your wardrobe. 1. “Have I worn it in the last 12 months?”
If you haven’t, seriously think about why you are holding on to it. Does it have some sentimental value? A memory attached to it? If it’s something you just can’t get rid of, or if you make a promise to yourself to wear it this next year, keep it. But if you go another year without wearing it again, it’s probably time to say goodbye. Hand it down to a sister or friend, or donate it to an organization you support. 2. “Do I love the way it looks on me?” If the answer is “no,” then adios! You want to feel amazing in your clothing. If it doesn’t make you feel like a million bucks, it’s not worth keeping in your wardrobe. Maybe someone else will love the way it looks on them! Sell or donate the item and you just may brighten someone’s day. 3. “Does it have any stains/tears/damages worth fixing?” If you just can’t seem to get that stain out of your white t shirt or your leggings keep piling, it’s time to invest in some new staple pieces. If you can salvage them without throwing them away, try donating or recycling your damaged clothing! H&M will even recycle your used clothing for you! Recycling clothing helps reduce waste and promote sustainability, so help the environment any chance you get. 4. “Would I buy it if I saw it in a store today?” Imagine you’re shopping and find this item in the store. Would you buy it now? If not, it’s probably not worth keeping and it most likely doesn’t fit your style anymore. As time passes, your style will evolve. If the item just can’t keep up with your style, it’s time to say goodbye. 5. “Does it bring me joy and fit my personal style?” If it doesn’t make you happy or excited to wear it, what is the point in keeping it? You want your clothing to reflect your personal style and give you joy when you step out wearing it. If you find yourself saying no to this question, toss it in the “no” pile. It’s time to start fresh. Remember, you’re making room for the clothes you really want to wear, the ones that will truly fit your personal style and that you can wear with confidence. If you’re just not that into that skirt anymore, donate it! Sell it on Poshmark. Give it to a sister or friend. Recycle it. It’s out with the old, and in with the new. ~Allie By Allie SontagIt’s festival season! Whether you’re heading to the desert for Coachella, the Windy City for Lollapalooza, or camping at Bonnaroo, here are some festival essentials to add to your packing list! Sunglasses A festival must-have for those sunny spring and summer days! Sunscreen No one wants to get a bad sunburn, especially day 1 of a festival…protect your skin with some SPF! Small bag/Fanny Pack/Backpack For carrying all of your small essentials around with you. Make sure to keep your eye on it at all times! Hand sanitizer/wet wipes A must-have when at festivals with communal bathrooms and in emergency situations! Portable charger Don’t let your phone die while recording your favorite band! Pack a portable charger to keep your phone powered up and ready. Mini first aid kit You never know when this may come in handy. Whether you scraped your knee during a crazy dance session or got a pounding headache from the loud music, you’ll be glad you packed Band-Aids and ibuprofen. Deodorant Let’s face it, festivals are hot and sweaty. From running around to dancing to just being in the sun for hours, deodorant is a must. Snacks Pack some healthy snacks like almonds, dried fruit, or granola bars for when you need a little extra energy. A massive water bottle (If they’ll let you bring it in) Festivals know everyone gets thirsty and needs water, so they jack the price way up. On the off-chance you can sneak in with a water bottle, bring one! Chapstick You do not want to be caught in the desert without chapstick. Or anywhere for that matter. Make sure to bring your favorite lip balm with you, preferably with some added SPF to protect your lips from the sun! Comfy & Cute shoes Make sure to pack shoes you’re comfortable walking all day in that also go great with your outfits! Some great options would be comfy sandals, Birkenstocks, a cute pair of booties, or Converse. Be prepared for all kinds of Weather Depending on the month, location, and weather forecast, you should come prepared for anything. Light jackets and warmer clothing will prepare you for any sudden drops in temperature. Many Coachella goers bring bandanas to shield their faces from the dust. If there’s any chance it might rain, don’t hesitate to bring your rain jacket, rain boots, or even a portable poncho. You never know!
Happy festival season! ~Allie By Allie SontagIf you’re like me, you hit snooze at least 5 times before getting up in the morning. Or you set 10 different alarms on your phone just so you can catch some extra Z’s. You look at those people getting up for 5am runs and think, “Wow, how do they do it?” The crazy truth is, morning people are often happier, smarter, more proactive, and getting better sleep than us night owls out there. If you aspire to become a morning person, as I do, then keep reading for some tips and tricks I’ve discovered that I am starting to incorporate into my life. If not, just keep hitting that snooze button. I won’t judge you. Keep Your Alarm Away From Your Bed You’ve probably heard this one a million times, but it works. Unless you just crawl right back into bed after getting up to hit snooze….don’t do that. Put your phone or alarm far enough away that you have to physically get out of bed to reach it. It is a simple trick, but can help a lot with getting yourself out of bed, which is honestly the worst part about mornings. Don’t Hit Snooze Easier said than done, am I right? But seriously, this is the most effective tip and the one I struggle the most with. You think that by hitting snooze you’re getting a little extra sleep, but it just makes you more tired and less refreshed when you wake up. Instead of the snooze button, set your alarm for when you know you need to wake up and force yourself out of bed. The hardest part about getting up in the morning is getting out of bed. But once you’re out, you’re out. Okay, Hit Snooze…But Play a Game With it A cool trick called the “inverted snooze” is one I’ve started doing in the morning, and it definitely gets me moving. If you hit snooze in the morning, force yourself to get up for the 9 minutes or so that your snooze is set for. You can momentarily trick your mind by telling yourself that you can go back to sleep once the alarm rings again. In that time, try to wash your face, brew some coffee, and do whatever you can to wake up in those 9 minutes. You’ll find that kick-starting your morning this way gets you moving faster and out of bed quicker. It’s worth a try for all of us snoozers out there. Get Some Fresh Air or Daylight Push back those curtains as soon as you wake up. If it’s decent outside, get out for a minute and breathe in the fresh air. If it is a little chilly outside, it wakes me right up! It is the last thing most of us want to do in the morning, especially if it is winter in Minnesota, but even opening the blinds to let some light in is enough to program your brain to get moving. Brew Some Coffee or Tea Right Away Are you a coffee drinker? Tea drinker? Maybe you love making smoothies or drinking a big glass of orange juice in the morning. Whatever you prefer, get started with it right as you jump (or crawl) out of bed in the morning. Once you have a little something in you, it makes it so much easier to get breakfast started and get your day going. If you have a coffee maker with an automatic timer to start brewing your coffee for you in the morning, even better! Go to Sleep Earlier This is a tough one for us night owls. However, if you want to keep sleeping 9-10 hours a night AND wake up earlier, you’ll have to sacrifice some of your nighttime. If you normally get to bed around 1am, try to move it back just 15 minutes. Small, gradual changes are going to be the most effective, especially if you hate mornings. Obviously there will be some nights where you’re out really late and can’t get to bed at your set time. Don’t worry about these nights. Just try to stick to your sleep schedule as often as you can. Implement a Nighttime Routine Carve an hour or so out of your night to get your body in the mood to sleep. Take a nice long shower or bath before you head off to bed. Cozy up with that book you’ve been meaning to finish. Watch a movie or episode of your favorite show. Just remember to turn your electronics off before you decide to go to sleep, and give yourself ample time to ease into relaxation mode. Computers and phones can be uber distracting and affect the quality of your sleep whether you realize it or not. Have a Morning Routine to Look Forward to Do you love reading the paper in the morning? Running? Yoga? Meditation? Reading? Whatever it is, use that as your motivation to wake up early. Excited to try a new breakfast recipe? I know the first thing I think about in the morning is food. That alone is a great source of motivation to get out of bed. Set aside some time in the morning to gradually wake up and get excited for the day ahead. Take it Slow As I mentioned before, slow and steady wins the race when trying to become a morning person. Most likely, you won’t start waking up at 7am everyday within a few days of using these tips. It takes dedication and a positive mental attitude, and it is best to move gradually when changing your sleeping habits. As much as I love sleep and being cozy in my bed, I know I would feel well-rested and get so much more done if I were a morning person. So don’t expect progress to happen overnight. With dedication and persistence, you will get there.
I hope these tips inspired you to take on your mornings and start sleeping better! As always, I will be back next week with more. Have a wonderful day! ~Allie By Allie SontagAs much as you may want to dress in head-to-toe designer brands, it isn’t always the most realistic or affordable option in college. While paying for tuition, rent, textbooks, food, and other expenses, your wallet takes a hit and your wardrobe can too. Fortunately, there are lots of affordable fashion-forward places to shop when you’re on a budget and don’t want to sacrifice your style. Below are some of my favorite clothing stores with trendy options that won’t hurt your wallet. Topshop Topshop is THE quintessential place to find fashion-forward pieces that won’t break the bank. While some items can be a bit pricey, the sales section offers hefty price cuts. Topshop is a definite go-to for the college fashionista’s wardrobe. H&M H&M is one of my favorite places to find trendy, stylish items for affordable prices. They have stores everywhere, the online shop is user-friendly, and their sales are fantastic. Nasty Gal Although items can get pretty spendy, Nasty Gal is fashion-forward and always up-to-date on emerging trends. From edgy to girly, Nasty Gal has a wide variety of brands and unique items to add to your wardrobe. Peruse the sale section for the best deals. Forever 21 Just about everyone and their mother knows about Forever 21. With a vast selection of trendy clothing at ridiculously low prices, Forever 21 is top of mind for budget-friendly items. Brandy Melville Brandy Melville is well-known for their comfy basics, trendy pieces, and laid-back Cali vibes, all at affordable prices. Tobi This online retailer is the perfect place to pick up a stylish formal dress or adorable romper. Prices start as low as around $5, and you get 50% off your first order! ASOS ASOS is a great online store with a wide selection of brands and great sales promotions. You are sure to find budget-friendly pieces that express your personal style here. Missguided I recently stumbled upon Missguided and fell in love with their selection of edgy and feminine pieces. A great place for going-out clothing and unique pieces, Missguided offers affordable price ranges for style on a budget. Lulu’s Lulu’s is a fantastic place to find cute dresses and rompers, and has a wide selection of shoes as well. The sale section is where you will find the best deals! Necessary Clothing With a great selection of trendy looks at affordable prices, Necessary Clothing is a fantastic place to get music festival ready or find the perfect going-out dress. Windsor Store Windsor Store has mainly been known for prom dresses and shoes, but is less known for their selection of fashionable everyday wear. A YouTube guru favorite, Windsor offers Forever 21 prices and insane sales to top it off.
As you can see, there is no need to sacrifice style in college when you’re on a tight budget. I hope this article helped you on your affordable fashion journey. Check back next week for more! ~Allie |