I have finally made it to Rome! I arrived yesterday around 11 am and I've been tired ever since. It all started out with a 15 hour journey from O'Hare airport in Chicago. After a tearful goodbye to our parents, we were off to Roma! Our first flight was to Montreal, Canada and it was surprisingly fast! I slept most of the way and I had two seats to myself. After that, we had a two hour layover in Montreal where we grabbed dinner. I had no idea how French Canada actually is. Turns out it's REALLY French. I was a hot mess when I tried to order a sandwich from the airport bar. Along with my freakout attack at the food stand, I also had no internet or cell service while in the airport. Before I knew it, we were boarding the final plane to Rome and I couldn't believe the time had come! I had been waiting for that day for over a year and a half. I was seated right by my friends, Alaina and Megan. Throughout the eight hour journey, we became more and more giddy with anticipation. The flight served a dinner containing surprisingly delicious chicken, bread, coleslaw, and a brownie! After that I dosed off for God knows how long. I woke up and it was "the morning" in Rome which meant we were served breakfast. In my head, it was still 2 am and I had no intentions of eating whatever they were serving. But of course it was delicious banana bread and I had to eat it. Once we arrived to Rome, we went through customs where the Italian customs police told me to go to his favorite bar. After that, we went to the baggage claim and then we found one of our professors that helped us get a cab from the airport to our hotel.

The car ride to the hotel was one of the most surreal experiences I've ever had. I was shocked by the way our driver drove, the streets, the graffiti, the colors, the trees. Everything around me was everything I thought it would be and nothing I would've expected. After we settled into our dorms, we dropped everything and went exploring. One of the first things we did was eat. My first meal in Italy was a margarita pizza and I loved every second of it. A few of my friends got gelato and I had to stop myself from overeating on the first day. Once we filled our stomachs, we set off for Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona, Castel Sant'Angelo and so much more. We had no map (don't tell my mom) and it was amazing to explore such a beautiful city without a care in the world. We took tons of pictures, said "Buongiorno!" to every smiling face, and got talked up by street vendors *cringe-worthy pick-up lines.* Last night, the entire abroad group went out to dinner together and it was delicious. The first plate was a lasagna with cheesy vodka cream sauce (instead of tomato sauce and parmesan), the second plate was pork and potatoes, and for dolce or dessert, we had tiramisu! After devouring our food, we headed back to the dorms where we showered and finally let our bodies rest. It was one of the best sleeps I've gotten in a very long time.

I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and I cannot thank my family and friends enough for supporting me as I go through this crazy adventure. The things that I have seen in the past two days will be forever memories. This is going to be the best three months of my life. I'm constantly pinching myself. Last night I woke up at 3 a.m. and couldn't fall back to sleep because I was so excited for today's adventures. We are always finding new things and each day I feel more and more at home. I can't wait to write more about my travels and school once it actually begins.

Here are some of the photos I took today and yesterday----











Thank you for reading!!

I have touched on this before in my previous blog posts, however I've never fully addressed the topic. I want to be comfortable sharing parts of my life in this space and I think it's time I tell you a bit about where I go to school. As you can tell by the title, I go to an all-girls college.

As a child, I was a massive tom-boy. If you told me I would be going to an all-girls school when I was ten, I would laugh in your face and tell you "never in a million years!" Obviously, things change. By no means am I saying that I am not a tom-boy now because that is not the case. All I wanted to do when I was younger was be like my brothers. I made my mom buy my clothes from the boys section and I loved sports. As I got older, I learned that being a girl didn't mean I had to wear pink and like Barbies. When I was about 12, I realized that being a girl could mean more than one thing. Whether I knew it or not, this was my first thought as a feminist.

Of course coming here I knew I would be surrounded with other feminists (and I love it!). I came to this school because I knew I would be pushed here more than anywhere else. This college incorporates what it means to be a woman in majority of it's classes. I had no idea I would be able to learn so much about myself in my mass media class. I feel myself growing into the woman with each course I take. The classes are comfortable, both mentally and physically; meaning everyone is friendly with one another and most of us wear our sweats to class. It is a judgement-free zone because everyone is going through similar things. We all stack our schedules up but we still enjoy every moment. The community here is unlike any other school and I would never change that.

In addition to going to class in our pjs, we all enjoy each others company. There is no set cliques or limits on who I can and cannot hang out with. The special people with whom I spend most of my time with are the kindest people I've ever met. I've never felt so comfortable with a group of people this quickly. We made so many memories and in the blink of an eye our freshmen year was over. When we came back after summer break, it was like nothing had even happened. We enjoy having movie nights which include cuddling on the couch whilst eating Ben & Jerry's. Even though we like staying in our beds in our pajamas, we like to have a good night out. There is a big university across the street from our little school, so we go over there on Friday's or Saturday's (or gasp!... both nights). Whether we are in our dorms or at a party, I know that these girls will always be there for me. We have a weird way of connecting and most of the time we know what each other are thinking, without even speaking. I cannot thank these girls enough for what they've done for me. I cannot imagine doing college without them. They are the sisters I never had and I know we will be friends for a very long time.

In my opinion, this was the only move for me. I had the hardest time choosing a school and I decided to come here because it was the most unique and scariest option. It is the best of both worlds. We have a small liberal arts all-girls school and there is a big university across the street that we go to for social events. Most fall weekends there is a football game or party across the street that we can go to. Coming to this school, I threw myself into living with only girls (which I've never done before) who were mostly Catholic (which I knew little about). I knew I would benefit from living in a place with people unknown to me. I have learnt so much in so many different ways and I can honestly say that an all-girls school is not how I thought it would be.

Although I was very independent before I came here, now I have become a massive supporter for  gender-equality. I have realized our society's mistakes and my aim is to change that. I hold everyone at the same standards (no matter what gender you are). I think it is important that everyone is treated equally and have the right to be themselves without feeling the need to fall under a specific category laid out by society. I hope that anyone reading this knows it is good to be strong, but its also good to be weak sometimes. Whether we like it or not, we all know that men are always supposed to be the big strong one and women are supposed to be the petite fragile one. I have never been able to take this stereotype seriously because I am big and strong. No one should have to be small. This is what my college is teaching me; there is no set way to do things.

I know you may still be thinking that an all-girls school is still awful, but once you step foot on campus you will understand what all the fuss is about. There's this weird sense of sisterhood we have here and it's a very unique community. I do not regret choosing this school. Sure, sometimes I wonder what 'normal' college is like, then I visit my friends at their school and realize how much drama they have with all of their friends and I thank God we don't have that here. All-girls school isn't for everyone, but you have to admit it sounds kinda fun. Every night is like a sleepover with your best friends and we say we are one big sorority.

Check out my weirdo friends and I below ---------

Hello everyone! This week I was nominated to do the Liebster Award by Mads from I'm Looking For Me. This is such a great way to get to know other bloggers and let you all know a bit more about me! I've never done anything like this before, so hopefully I did this right.


Here's how this works:

1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the 10 questions your nominator gave you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs with 10 other questions.
4. Comment on your nominee's blog with a link back to your post.

The questions Mads asked me are:

1. What is your favorite makeup brand?

There are so many options! My favorite makeup brand is probably Urban Decay. I always find myself splurging on their eyeshadow palettes.

2. If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you instantly go?

Home. I am at college and I desperately miss my family and my queen sized bed. I haven't been home in over two months, but thankfully fall break is next week so then I will have plenty of time to relax.

3. When did you start blogging and what made you start?

I started officially blogging about a year ago. It started out as a way for me to do something creative and non-school related during my first year at college. I'm traveling abroad to Rome in a few months, so I want to be able to document my travels and just my life in general. I also love reading other people's blogs and watching content creators on youtube. People like Zoe Sugg, Louise Pentland, and Troye Sivan are huge inspirations to me.

4. If you could talk to a younger version of yourself, what would you say to her.

I would tell my younger self to stop worrying so much. Things like grades, boys, and how much you weigh do not define what kind of person you are.

5. What is one makeup item you couldn't live without?

Anastasia Brow Gel.

6. What is the last song you listened to?

Bridges by Broods.

7. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?

I can eat a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's in one sitting.

8. Books or movies?

I love reading, however I haven't read anything for pleasure lately so I'd have to say movies. My mom and I are obsessed with Mamma Mia!

9. Where is your favorite place to eat out?

At school I usually go out to Chipotle. But when I'm home with my family I love going out for sushi; we have a couple really good Japanese restaurants in Grand Rapids.

10. What is on top of your beauty wish list?

This list is never-ending. But if I had to pick one thing it would be the NARS sheer glow foundation.

I nominate:

1. Ashley from Ashley Laura Beauty
2. Esme from Esme Madeline
3. Blaze Ann from p31beauty
4. Alison from Beauty & Blazers
5. Katy from Top Knots and Jots
6. Charlotte from Charlotte B Harris
7. Katie from BlogTherapy
8. Beth from BettyBeBlogs
9. Stephanie from Autumn Dreamer
10. Seren from Just Seren

Questions for my nominees:

1. Mascara or eyeliner?
2. What is your favorite musical artist at the moment?
3. Who is your inspiration?
4. Where is your favorite place in the world?
5. What are you most excited about this week?
6. What is your favorite beauty brand?
7. What is an outfit you are most proud of?
8. Are there any products you're obsessing over right now?
9. What is your favorite food?
10. When did you start blogging?

Please let me know when you post your answers. I can't wait to learn more about you :)
If you haven't already, check out these lovely blogs.

To all college students- good luck on midterms!

Lots of love,
Meg

Hello lovely readers! Yes, I have been away for a while, but that is because I have a thing called college. This past week has been very busy and I'm slowly, but surely getting through it. While I've been studying for five exams, these seven things have kept me going. First off is a Brita water bottle; this water bottle is super durable and has a filter system in it so I don't have to worry about using the sink for drinking water. I've been trying to drink as much water as I can throughout the day to keep me hydrated and to keep my skin healthy. The second thing I have been loving are my beats head phones. They block everything out. I love using these when I'm studying and I need to focus. Sometimes I just put them on without any music playing because they work so well! Another one of my favorite things on this list is of of course an food item: almond butter. This nut butter is the healthier option to peanut butter. While my skinny roommates chow down on JIF peanut butter, I stick to this and I'm happy with it!  It is the cure to any stressed out college student and it goes with anything.

In the past week, my skin has taken a turn for the worst. A visit from aunt flow, a full schedule, and greasy (but so worth it) pizza is the perfect combination for a skin outbreak. I have been using tea tree oil and Cetaphil to fix my skin. Every morning and night, I wash my face with Cetaphil and I have really seen an improvement in my skin. This product leaves my face feeling super soft and clean. It's a very gentle and simple cleanser that gets the job done! I use tea tree oil after cleansing my face. I dab a bit of this oil onto a cotton pad and apply it to any red spots or pimples. With the help of these two products and my daily moisturizer, my skin has been improving.

The last two things are essential if you attend a big university with a well known sports team. Football is a massive thing at my school and I always wear these two things on game days. The first one is pretty obvious: a game day shirt. Most students wear this shirt on game day to show school spirit. I tend to pair this t-shirt with some high-waisted jean shorts or cropped leggings. For ultimate comfort, I always wear Chacos to the game. After hours of tailgating, the students have to stand for what could be another four hours watching the game. These shoes are stylish and are very supportive for your feet. I got this pair this summer and I wear them with everything. These shoes have super high arches in them, so my feet never get too sore after standing on them for a long period of time.

So, there it is. These are a few of the things I have been loving this semester. Let me know what kinds of things you've been loving recently.

Here are a few more photos I took:









Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week (TGTIF: thank God tomorrow is Friday)


Meg xx

This mini album consists of six songs- WILD, BITE, FOOLS, EASE, THE QUIET, and DKLA. My favorites at the moment are WILD, BITE, and THE QUIET. Troye wrote on all of the songs with help from writers like Alex Hope and Hiew. If you haven't heard his music before, his sounds is like electro-pop. It sounds like pop with a bit of an edge to it. His album artwork is to die for. I mean, can he be any more creatively perfect?

It's that time again. I moved into college about a week ago and I'm finally settled in. This semester, we are living in a castle. Le Mans hall is the most legendary dorm on campus. It is absolutly beautiful. My roommates and I had a blast this past week decorating our little home. Our ceilings are super high and we have so much space. Since there are only three of us living in a quad (four person dorm) we have extra storage. Instead of using this storage for clothes or other necessities, we took it upon ourselves to turn the extra dresser into a pantry. One of my other favorite parts of the room is my little nook. I have my desk, bed, and painted canvases all tucked into the same corner. While my roommates have the other corner where one bed is lofted under another. Our futon is adorned with a multitude of throw pillows from T.J Maxx and World Market. It's a mix n'match kind of dorm, but we love it. I'm looking forward to the memories this year. Things like our late night trips to CyberCafe for frozen yogurt and Diet Coke, our movie marathons, and our countless dance parties are all things I will remember when I look back on my college years with my belles.









Hope you enjoyed this photos.
-Meg

If you are from western Michigan, you will know that there are several beach towns Lake Michigan. Since I live fairly close to Lake Michigan, I have grown up traveling to the lake for long weekends with my friends at their cottages. There are so many destinations to choose from, I however am in love with South Haven. It is a small, quaint lakeside town filled with friendly people. The streets have a ton of adorable boutiques that will make you want to splurge this month's savings. I have found some of my favorite dresses and jewelry in these stores. They also have cute decorations and signs for your home or dorm. Along with boutiques, there are a handful of yummy restaurants scattered throughout the town. We love trying out different places every time we stop by.

The beaches are packed with tourists every weekend. However, we tend to go to small public beaches away from the crowd. The water is occasionally a bit chilly, but this is Michigan we're talking about.  The crowds here aren't as bad as the crowds in Grand Haven, Ludington, or Charlevoix. Our friends have a boat, so we take it every night to watch the sunset and take a quick dip. Summer is the best time of the year to visit, it is the perfect weather and there is the blueberry festival (South Haven's biggest and only festival of the year). is tons to do and beautiful beaches left and right! This is the town to be in if you're looking for a summer getaway.