October Look - Fashion Friday #6

Full image with product links

Well, we've done it! We've made it to the end of September so let's all just take a moment to give ourselves one big hurrah, a congratulations for making it another month.

1. Sweaters

I think one of man's greatest inventions is easily the oversized sweater because there is [nothinmuch on this earth more satisfying than wearing a large sweater when it starts to get chilly. I own too many sweaters and from October through March I am constantly re-wearing them in an endless cycle that I think is the most comfortable thing in the world and my friends probably get easily bored with. Sweaters are so comfortable and spending good money on a good sweater can never go wrong. One of the most expensive clothes items I ever bought with my own money so far (not that that's saying much - I tend to be very cheap) was a sweater from a small shop in New York almost a year ago and to this date it remains probably my favourite clothes item of all time though that might be now topped by the grey American Eagle swayed I got over the summer. Yeah, I might need to dedicate an entire blog post to that in the future - I love it that much. I get really excited about sweaters and there is literally nothing that puts a bigger strain on my wallet than walking into stores, seeing the mass collections of fall sweaters, and wanting them all. It's seriously a disease. But I think that October is one month when the weather starts getting such that sweaters start becoming more and more acceptable - and comfortable with the cooler weather! I recommending buying so many big sweaters because there are other things that come with big sweaters....chunky necklaces!

2. Jewelry
Jewelry is so much fun to fool around with all year round but it is especially fun when the sweaters come out and longer and heavier chains become more acceptable. I love big statement necklaces and chunkier and longer chains with more high-necked sweaters and button down shirts that become so much more acceptable and trendy as the weather gets colder. I think - as shown in the picture - that easy bracelets of cool materials like leather or rope that could look very urban or even summery but still in neutral, possibly darker colours so that they go with your entire fall wardrobe. I think bracelets are really versatile and super easy to use for all outfits but especially the kind of bracelet in this collection and with this colour. It's especially beautiful in the fall but they can also work for most other seasons so putting down good money for a nice and versatile bracelet stack would definitely be an great way to spend your money.

3. Boots
I know that in my recent September Favourites post (x) I talked about how much I love my Keds - but I may have misled you. Keds are not my favourite shoes, my favourite shoes are boots. Hands down, I just love the comfiness of boots and how cute they look with any outfit whether you decide to go with leggings or jeans. Boots are also really great for walking around the city or out in the country or just wherever - one of the main reasons I have boots down as a travel staple. It is so important to me to always have a pair of boots with me if I'm going anywhere - very versatile and easy to look good! And if you like black boots than I doubt we would get along very well because I am 100% a brown boots kind of girl.

3. Tans, browns, oranges, and maroons
I know, I know, totally cliché to talk about the wonderful fall colours but I just couldn't help it. I won't spend too much time on why I love these colours so much because - well, it's obvious! They just remind me so much of colder weather and all the wonderful things that come with it such as - obviously - all the wonderful and comfy clothes.

4. Floppy hats
Normally, these don't tend to look good on me since I play with my hair styles so much throughout the day and don't usually have a reason to keep hats on all day. However, there is nothing that says "trendy fall" like any kind of beanie or hat and floppy hats in a maroon shade are so goddamn cute to me. I just wish I could make it work but alas I don't think I am destined to ever be best friends with this beautiful fashion statement. However, if you can pull this off then I am extremely jealous. But also, wear it during fall as much as you can because seriously it is just so cute if you can wear it properly (oh gods above why did you give me hair I am never happy with??).

5. Berry lips
BEST PART OF FALL hands down. Being able to break out the darker lipsticks, lip glosses, and rouging in your lips as much as you want to - it's a great feeling. I love how the darker colours come out in this season and people are totally fine with putting on darker coloured lipsticks and whatnot because honestly it just looks so chic and reminds me constantly of fall. Best season - best colours.

Basically, to wrap up this long blog post - I'm really, really excited for October. I hope you are too!

Have a Brettastic day!

September Favourites

*Sorry to be boring and incredibly generic but I feel like if you have an extra 3 minutes and an ear for good music now is the time to go and listen to "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day*

Well, if you've taken my previous advice, then up and at 'em, everyone, September is just about done! This is my last blog post of September and man, has it been a month. This is the first time I've blogged for a full month and now I guess it's time for some reminiscing. *Sniff* I've always been a softie.

I know this idea of doing a September Favourites blog post isn't entirely original but I thought it might be a fun thing to do since I am a horrible narcissist who enjoys talking about herself and I also want to have a space to share all the things I've been loving this month. I feel like this post might start off being products but who knows where it'll end up spiraling? Hope you all enjoy!

BabyLips in Cherry Me

I recently did a post about lip products and this was included (read that here) so I won't go too in depth about this other than saying how much I LOVE this product. It is so soft and smooth and smells so great - like cherries but not the disgusting medicine taste you get in some cases, real sugary cherries. This absolutely pampers my lips and they always feel so soft and fantastic after I put this on. What's more is that it's super easy and quick for a nice swipe - no need to get out a compact mirror and apply your lipgloss or anything, just swipe this on and you're good to go! One of the reasons I also like this shade of BabyLips in particular (mind you, I do have more than one) is that it adds a subtle bit of colour to your lips so it does make a face look more complete, if you have pale lips like me. I adore this product and would recommend it a million times over.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme & Eyeliner in Golden Bronze

I know that these are two different products but because they were from the same company I decided to include both of them in the picture and to talk about why this brand is fantastic. The eyeliner, a really fun coppery pink, goes on very easily and stays on for a record long time, for me pencil eyeliners never stay on long but this one does! I also just adore the colour - it looks incredible with blue eyes like mine. As you can see, it is a bit worn down because I've been using it a lot recently! So, loving this product, I went back to try some more of NYX's products and with this lipstick, I was not disappointed. This is a matte cream which I have never really had any experience with before but it is wonderful. Glides on really easily, great colour, and no caking, even with super matte lips! I am definitely going back for more with this brand.



Black Radiance Dynamic Duo in 5205

 This might possibly be my favourite product in this post because, as I have mentioned time and time again, I struggle crazily with finding the perfect shade for lips that will give me a natural - ish look but won't leave me with too - bright lips when I don't want them. See what a struggle it is? Well, for that problem, this product is a God-send. It is the perfect combo of a gloss and a balm, made to treat your lips and also gives me a bit of berry colour that I think is incredibly appropriate for this time of year. Thank you makeup gods!

Coco butter thing

 This product is something I use a lot and even though it's not especially high class, I figured I would include it. I use this product for everything, my face, lips, and hands; which might end up being a little gross but I regularly scrape off the top so it's always fresh. It works as a butter for skin, as a chapstick for lips - literally everything. Also exceptionally easy on the wallet - less than $2 at CVS! A wonderful and wonderfully all-purpose product!

Sonia Kashuk Lotion - Pink Innocentia

 This lotion is not a new product for me so I apologize to anyone who wanted exclusively newly tried products. But this Sonia Kashuk lotion is actually my life. It's a blend of magnolia and jasmine smells and not only does it smell absolutely heavenly but it is super light and easy to apply. You only need a little bit to cover your hands or face and I absolutely love how it makes me smell. This lotion is such a blessing on my life so if anyone is looking for a great lotion that smells fantastic and is also nice and light, this is something you definitely want to check out.



Garnier Fructis Curl Construct Mousse

So if the Black Radiance Dynamic Duo is my favourite product in this post, this is easily my second favourite. I made a post about it here if you want to read it so I won't go too far in depth into it's wonderful qualities, I will just say that my hair curls have never been springier and my hair has never been more manageable. It's super easy to apply, just spray the mousse on your hand and apply it to your damp hair and then scrunch your hair and dry it however you choose. The instructions are on the bottle and they're super easy to follow - I just all around love this bottle, how it looks, how it works, and how cheap and easy it is. Recommend so highly!

Keds

 

This might seem like a little bit of an unorthodox item to include in my favourites, but a September Favourites list would be lying if I didn't include these shoes. I had always wanted a kind of sneaker that was cute, simple, and grey (because I am obsessed) and I figured either Vans or Keds were the way to go. I'm so glad I went with Keds. Don't have anything against Vans but these shoes are so incredibly comfortable and all-purpose, I absolutely adore them more than I can say. I wear them all the time and they literally go with everything. Price isn't too bad and I just think they're so worth it, the perfect combination of cute and wearable.

 

Parks and Rec

I know this isn't a product or anything but I just recently started watching the show Parks and Rec with Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones. I am in love with it. The episodes of seasons 1-5 are all on Netflix and each episode is usually about 25 minutes so it's easy to watch a lot in less time. Of course, this leads to the typical problem of thinking you've been watching episodes for an hour and you look up and it's been 3 hours. Whoops! But this show is so funny and I definitely had to include it in my favourites because I absolutely love  it. BTW Ron Swanson is my role model



Music

Oh my god, I don't know why, but there have been so many great music selections that I am so excited about and that I just had to share here. I'm no music expert so if I were to go into why I'm so excited about all this music it would mostly be me just going "IT'S SO GOOD JUST LISTEN" and no one wants that. So, more professionally, here are the names of the songs and links in case you want to listen to them.

• Centuries - Fall Out Boy [x]
• Everywhere I Go (Kings and Queens) - New Politics [x]
• Oh Cecilia - The Vamps [x]
• Fireproof - One Direction [x]
• Don't - Ed Sheeran [x]

Blogspot!

So, the last thing I just had to talk about on this blog is the thing I've been loving probably the most this month and that is this wonderful website. As some of you might be aware, this is the first time I've blogged regularly throughout the whole month and it has been so much fun. I've loved so much talking to other bloggers, answering comments, and having a schedule to stick to and a blog to update with whatever I wanted to! This has been a great month and I've really enjoyed being on blogspot for most of it. Thanks to everyone who helped my first full month on here so great and I am really looking forward to October!

Have a Brettastic day!

Autumn Essentials - Fashion Friday #2

(See full image and product links here)

Autumn is my favourite season, but it's understandable that no one ever likes to hear that. Sure, it's great to think about how amazing falling leaves will be but school? Ew. And if the place you live is anywhere like DC, then you understand how awful it when autumn does not really get started until late October at best. We could rename September as "August extended" or something because that's about as useful as it is. Just hot, continued stickiness.

But, when fall finally does roll around, it's absolutely unbelievable. And I'm not one to dis other seasons but fall is by far the best. I will stock up on sweet smelling candles and Halloween candy and cute sweaters and cardigans in the summer just so I'll be all ready for fall. And then, of course, when the cute fall collections come out, I buy more stuff anyway.

You see, I take fall very seriously. And the picture I made up there (courtesy of polyvore) in no way exemplifies my wardrobe or accessories for fall cause, let's be honest, ain't nobody got that big a budget. But none the less, I make do with what I do have and today I would love to share some of my fall essentials with anyone who's listening so maybe we can all talk about how much we love cider and apples and pumpkins and gosh darn it everything fall.

What no of course it doesn't matter that my birthday's in the fall, it doesn't matter at all.

In all seriousness, fashion-wise, I think one of the reasons I like autumn and winter more than spring and summer is not only cute jackets okay mostly cute jackets but the fact that summer and spring are the times for bold colours, fun patterns, the works. So not my style. I mean, I wear grey all year round, for God's sake. Neutral colours are always my fallback and staple and fall is one of the beautiful seasons in which it isn't a total fashion faux pas to go all neutral colours, to break out the greys, blacks, maroons, and navies that have been sitting in your closet, dying for some attention. Cause, come on, pretty much everyone can rock grey. Except for grey jeans. I just don't understand why those exist.
 

Hair
 

Most of the time, during school when I can't be bothered, I will just leave my hair down or put it in a bun or do both in the course of one day. One fantastic thing about the colder months is that you have to worry less about frizzyness (unless that's a year long problem for you, in which case, I'm just sorry) but there are still dangers in the hair area.

 

1. Health

Yeah, those long luscious locks you've been growing out all summer and shampooing once a month or that cute pixie cut you got at the beginning of the summer, yeah, you need to run down to the salon and get a trim ASAP. Even though you probably should get one anyway for the start of school, with a summer filled with swimming in pools and lakes and oceans and little to no hair washing, your hair is probably not only looking a little dank but chances are, you've got split ends and all that wonderful stuff. And if you have a pixie, you might be in that stage where it's growing back but just kind of gross around your shoulders - you want to take care of that. If you haven't done this all summer (because come on, who really has time for it when there's sun to enjoy) then I recommend you have a stylist, a professional take a look at that. That doesn't include your mom rubbing some egg concoction into your scalp or you going to look for new hair products - you want to have healthy hair from the get-go. Especially when you look at big issue number two...

 

2. Dryness

No matter what kind of hair you have, as the air gets cooler, chances are it's going to get dryer as well. This is probably already a good time to change up your hair routine as you probably should be doing somewhat regularly so I recommend as the months get colder, look for shampoo and conditioner that will give you enough moisture without looking greasy. This can vary by brand and depending on your hair type (people with naturally somewhat greasy hair, yeah you might want to ignore this one) but just make sure you recognize that with dry scalps comes dandruff and NOBODY likes that. Cause then you have to buy Head and Shoulders from CVS and look cheap as hell.

 

3. Cute hair accessories

This might be stepping a little too much into the accessories category (hence the name) but I had to include it because it's honestly so important to any fall collection.

• If you look in the above picture you can pick out some cute hairties that look like they have a knot in them and these are the ones I recommend. Yes, they're a little bit more expensive but they are so adorable and they look so trendy that when that girl who NEVER gives you back your hairties asks for one, you can just go "Oh, sorry, haven't got one." Bam, problem solved, and your hairtie just looks like an adorable bracelet. 
• Secondly, I am a firm believer that any school or presentation outfit can be easily spiced up with a little bow and it can be plain, it doesn't have to be fancy. A bow holding your hair back or at the top of your bun can add just a little extra girliness that I often try to do mostly away with in my fall clothes. So a little bow can be the perfect alternative.
• And lastly, this is literally THE MOST IMPORTANT; beanies. Beanies are the most comfortable, the most wonderful hat that has ever been invented. I feel like beanies instantly add a bit of a hipsterish look that can also cover up a bad hair day or just downplay any outfit. Perfect for a dress with Dr. Martens or something like what I have up there, played up jeans with a cute top. I, myself, own three beanies (none of them grey, whaaaaat???) in black, white, and then one that was an impulse thrift store buy that is from Vans and it is striped and very colourful. As I have mentioned many times, I'm not one to go for the bold choices, especially when it's accepted to wear neutral colours but this beanie can always add the cutest pop to any outfit. I recommend a vast beanie collection and I am always building up my own. If anyone knows of a cheap, grey beanie, hook a sister up, I feel a little scandalous to not own one.

Makeup

1. Quick!

So if this fall you are going back to school like me, chances are you're already a pro at finding a quick routine to get ready in the mornings. No one really has the time or patience to spend half an hour in the morning on makeup that they're going to wear to a school full of people they don't like. So, just because colder months means you can break out the full face of foundation doesn't mean you should. I recommend finding a routine that does not involve too many components and doesn't take that much time so you can go for the "look au naturale" but still look fab.

• One product I love is the Maybelline Masterprecise felt-tipped eyeliner by Eyestudio in black. Granted, it is a little hard to apply without a mishap but with practice, this eyeliner is a godsend because it is thin enough to give your eyes that pop without being too obvious and it stays on forever! No need for constant touch ups
• Another staple in any school/fall bag is concealer. I never bother with foundation but in the cold months of fall and winter when it's still dark out when I'm rushing around to get ready, I especially don't bother with it. Swipe on a bit of concealer and you're good to go. (I recommend any concealer by Cover Girl but, I mean, I recommend anything by CG)
• Also , as the sun starts to say goodbye, I recommend investing in a blush with bronzing highlights or a good old fashioned bronzer. Don't go overboard on either but there is nothing wrong with a nice, sunkissed glow. My advice is to find something that has ways for you to get at the different bits and colours so you can apply them collectively or individually to highlight whatever needs highlighting!
• Lastly a necessity of any makeup bag and school bag in the autumn is moisturizer. As mentioned earlier, with colder weather comes drier skin and hair and you always want to make sure your skin is looking good. I like to carry around the Sonia Kashuk "Pink Innocencia" lotion every day because not only can it keep all of me easily moisturized but whenever I am dying of boredom, I can smell it in in all it's magnolia and jasmine goodness and it keeps me busy.

2. Darker nail polish or white
As we all know, fall and winter are the times to break out the dark nail colours, the navys, maroons, silvers, blacks, glitters, etc. Also everyone loves a bit of orange from time to time. I love these trends. However, I would say that if you want to break away from that colour palette a little bit, go with white. White can never let you down and while it is probably best in the summer, I think it works very well with neutral greys in the fall. For example, the outfit in the picture is a perfect example of when it is 100% okay to slap on a bit of white nail polish. But that neon polish you bought in the summer? Maybe save that...

3. Simple lips

As previously talked about, cold = dry. I know you get the picture. So when I set up my autumn look, I always make sure to go for plenty of tinted balms and maybe less lipsticks and the like. As the natural look is generally my goal for school and what not, such balms can make a world of a difference - moisturizing your lips while still giving you some colour and shine. The Sugar line, as shown in the picture is my absolute favourite thing in the entire world because of its softness and texture. However, because of the size I'll usually save this from when my lips are extremely damaged and in need of serious attention. Most of the time I'll go for the Smooches by Cover Girl because they're cheap, easy, and do the work of both a balm and a lip gloss. However, if you want a straight up balm, the Babylips by Maybelline are forever a favourite.

Clothes

1. T-Shirts and Cardigans

Because I practically live in t-shirts all year round, fall is no exception even when it starts to get a little cooler. The magic answer? Cartigans! Cartigans the perfect thing to make your v-neck trendy and ready to be worn out. I recommend having about three staple cartigans, one in maroon or cream (goes with about everything plus your greys), one in grey (goes with literally EVERYTHING except other grey shirts), and one with a pattern or fun color in case you feel like you're being a little too neutral or if you want to spice up any outfit.
 

2. Sweaters
Everyone knows that sweaters are a staple of any of the winter months but I think that autumn is one of the best times to stock up on sweaters. Granted, people are going to look at you weirdly if you break out a jack-o-lantern sweater in January, so I recommend that those cute Halloween-themed sweaters you might find so adorable should be purchased with caution. Sweaters, like most other clothes I like, are an investment and should be bought to last and be reused whenever the weather calls for it. These are perfect for a little extra warmth and also that A+ cute factor on those days you might not just feel like trying too hard.

3. Skinny Jeans
 I know that skinny jeans are a staple for most people during all months but I think that during the fall, slapped together with an oversize sweater or top, skinny jeans are so adorable and look good with pretty much every body type. It's not important to worry about if your legs are too skinny or chunky, just that you feel good. I love jeggings though I know some people think they're tacky, but to me they're just so comfortable and shouldn't be traded in for anything. Leggings to school can be tacky so, um, don't unless you REALLY feel like not caring, but jeggings look more put together but are just as comfortable. Those are always the way to go when you want something comfortable and slightly pajama-like but also very cute and trendy

Accessories

1. Scarves
Scarves at times are hard to rock because you might want to wear your hair down and you think they don't look good like that (news flash: you're right, they don't) or it doesn't match your outfit. But there is NOTHING like a cozy scarf to spice up an outfit and without the weight of a necklace. Scarves can downplay an outfit very well so if you have a nice dress that you think is maybe a little too fancy for everyday wear, dress it down with a scarf and voila! You've got yourself a great school outfit. Scarves can be colorful or not, plain or jazzy but as long as you think it's comfortable and goes vaguely with your outfit, you're all set to go.

2. Oxfords/Flats
Writing this point makes me want to cry because I don't think you understand how long I've been searching for a good pair of Oxfords in my size (big!) and in a colour I want (white!) that are in my price range (cheap!). I searched DSW and no luck and I have perused a lot of sites on the interwebs and have come up with empty hands. But I think that in the fall, with your jeans rolled up at the cuffs or with a skirt or shorts, flats and oxfords can be the best way to spice up or even just complete an outfit on any given day. I also think these are really great spring essentials but even more perfect for that short window in fall before the weather becomes perfect for boots because, let's be real, no one really comes out of boots once they go in.

3. A Bag
A good shoulder bag, I don't think I really need to talk about this one too much. A sturdy but chic backpack or shoulder bag in a nice, muted color of brown, tan, or black just because if you invest in one of those, you can never go wrong or have an outfit that doesn't match. I recommend spacious yet practical, something like the one in the picture where you aren't buying it to fit three binders for school in it, but maybe a book, makeup, and a few other things for a day or night out. A nice, casual bag that's easy to tote around is something that never stops being practical.

4. A Journal
I know this isn't for everyone, but I'd be disloyal to my writing blog if I didn't talk about, y'know, writing. This isn't just a fall essential, but an essential all year round. I say that the best way to go in this situation would be a $3 journal at CVS that is super easy to stick in your bag at any time, no matter how big it is. I run through these like razors, I need a new one all the time! I think that this is a staple of every writer, amateur or professional, and if you don't have one, you're only hurting yourself.

Have a Brettastic day!

The Most Common Cause of Teen Death - The Common App

I think that on August 1st, everyone cries a little bit. Summer is in its last streach, the weather is about to get humid and disgusting (#DClife), and all around, the world feels against you. Just me? Ok. But on August 1st rising seniors do not just shed a tear, they weep and wail and pull out their hair because - yes, you guessed it - it's time for the common app.

For those of you who aren't American/have been living under a damn rock, the Common Application (the common app) is an online application for college. Yes, college. It opens every year on August 1st and though some schools include additional essays to apply, all, if not most, will accept the common app. Except for maybe some California schools but they're f*cking weird.

I'm not going to go into what the common app includes but it basically means that your childhood is officially over and you are about to go into the deep, dark realm of college applications. Some of us may not survive.

Warning: EXAGGERATION ALERT

Sorry. I am a drama queen and definitely not excited to start applying to colleges (class of 2015 doe) but we, as a collective senior class, are going to be fine. I know firsthand that there's a lot of stress and uncertainty when it comes to applying for colleges and the whole process feels exhausting and unfair. And guess what? It is. But that doesn't mean that we're not going to be okay. College applications are scary and maybe you feel like you have nothing to write about but it doesn't matter because take a breath and remember that everything is going to be okay. There are other options if all else fails, which, to be realistic, it probably won't.

But I know it's hard to remember sometimes that it's all going to be alright in the end so I'm going to make a little list about the common app now and just how to navigate it's deep waters with only a few stress attacks. Ready? No you're not. Let's go.

1. Don't do what I do and exaggerate everything. Colleges are not looking to fail you and flat out reject you, go in with the thinking that they are going to look at you as a whole person. Is this always the case? No, not really. But if it happens that a college doesn't look at the whole you, your extracurriculars as well as test scores and essays as well as grades, then they're not right for you. The place that you will thrive at will be looking to support you and you'll know them when you find them. Admissions officers are not going into this thinking "Oh, how many students can I reject today?" Don't over play this in your head, remember that you have to have a positive attitude or it's going to show. Stay calm and just remember that you've worked hard to get to senior year and that's an accomplishment in and of itself. Don't exaggerate everything. Harvard is not the only Mecca of intellectuals and that little college in New Hampshire is not just for "hicks". Give everyone a chance and they'll give you one.

2. You are not your grades. The system of grades was created to chart progress in a high school environment and I am 100% positive that college will be absolutely different from high school (it had better damn be... ) This means that your high school grades do not at all reflect how you'll perform in college. Yes, a 4.0 GPA looks good, but it does not guarantee you'll get into Yale and neither does a 2400 on the SATs. It might look good, but more and more, colleges today are looking at the people behind the application, not just the grades. Yes, a 4.0 can't hurt but it doesn't mean you're guaranteed a spot anywhere. This means that people who have a 4.0 - you still need to work hard and get those extracurriculars to make yourself stand out and people below a 4.0 - you're still in the running as long as you keep up the hard work! Nothing is determined yet. Your grades do not reflect your character and colleges want you, they don't want a grade. Also, there's little we as seniors can do about past grades now but try to continue to improve this year and not have a mental breakdown. Look to the future in which you can do better, and not to the past.

3. Name isn't everything and don't get caught up in sweating over a college just because it sounds prestigious! I, personally, know I'd be miserable at Princeton or Stanford and no, that's not just a lie I tell myself to make myself feel better about my not-so-shiny grades. Look at a college for where it would make you happy - not how many people would be impressed by its prestige. That's a sh*tty way to live your life and you will never really be happy. College is not for your parents or future boss, it's for you. Make sure you are comfortable in the environment and that you could be happy because you're the one spending 2/3/4 years there. Name can be impressive but what's even more impressive is someone who loves where they are and has eyes that light up when they talk about their classes, their roommate, everything. You want to be that person, not the person who's constantly stressed because they pushed themselves to be in an environment where they constantly feel rundown or unhappy. Make yourself happy with your decision!

4. No, your parents actually don't get it. Even if your parents are your literal best friends, you're going to have fights with them about college and grades and that won't be fun but it's natural. The thing I'd though, no, your parents don't know what it's like. Yes, they went to college but it was a whole different experience where it wasn't so competitive and the application process was not nearly as hard. Chances are that if our parents were to apply for college now none of them would get into where they went just because back then things were just totally different where this is concerned. Now, that doesn't mean disregard all advice they give you, but just remember that things are different and it's harder now so it's okay to think that they don't understand what it's like.

5. This is going to be fun! College is supposed to be the best years of your life and no matter where you end up, you can make it work. Staring at the common app might seem daunting yet exciting and it is! You just have to remember all throughout it that you can make this work and the only person holding you back is yourself. I don't want to sound too cheesy with this one, but just remember that everything is going to be alright in the end. It might not seem like it just yet but if you just hang on and wait, something will crop up and everything will turn out fine. Make the best of everything and even with the f*cking internationals trying to steal our spots, we're all going to be okay. Just hang in there and try to make the best of it.

The bottom line is that I know this is all very scary - I'm living it with you right now! All this advice isn't from someone who's done this before - I'm looking at the future with you and I'm scared sh*tless too. But we're going to make it and then we're going to have to find jobs and pay off the country's debt and get beer bellies - okay, you know what, let's just not think about that right now. The point is that the universe is going to make this work out for you somehow and you are going to have a chance to be happy - and also it's just August. Unless you're pressed as hell about one college, there's no need to turn anything in just yet. Take a breath, write those essays, get your application in on time, and remember we're almost done and high school is almost behind us (which we all know is the real prize!).

Have a Brettastic Day!

(Image credit: http://eplcr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/kgpic.jpg)