Finals Week!

In college, everyone hates the dreaded finals week. At my university, finals started yesterday, and luckily I am finished tomorrow! Finals are always hard for me because I feel that I've worked so hard all semester, and winter break is just a few short days away. I just don't have the motivation anymore. But with a little coaxing, and keeping in mind my ultimate goal, I always manage to push through. So with that, I wish everyone good luck on their finals, or if you're already finished, I hope you are enjoying your winter break!

College Girl in Pearls

DIY Monogram Desktop Backgrounds! (Using Microsoft Paint)

At the beginning of the school year, I spent a lot (too much I might add...) of my time making up binder covers for each of my classes. Recently, I have seen many pins on Pinterest showing how to make your own iPhone covers. By taking this same concept, I was able to create my own monogrammed desktop backgrounds.

Since I do not have Photoshop, I had to play around a lot with different programs that I did have on my computer. This consisted of many trial runs with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, and the ever frustrating Paint. In the end, Paint ended up being my choice. I am still learning the basics, and as of right now, I concentrate and try not to mess up the first time because once I place something, say a letter, I can't figure out how to adjust it without messing up my entire project. Maybe someone has some advice? Below, I have listed step by step instructions (with pictures!) on how I created my monogrammed desktop backgrounds!

DIY Monogram Backgrounds:

Step 1: Pick out your pattern. 

The easiest way I find is to just search on Google. If you are making a computer background, it is a bit easier because you can find images that will be in the correct dimensions. For the demo background I searched "Lilly Pulitzer Computer Wallpaper" in Google images. The picture in the red box is what I am choosing to use.

Step 2: Copy and paste Picture into Paint

Step 3: Make the base for your monogram.

This is where you can start getting creative! You can choose a circle, square, or basically any shape and colors you want! Here, I am going to go up to the "Shapes" area and choose a circle. Here I drew and solid color royal blue circle with a white circle in front.

Step 4: Make your monogram.

Now, it's time to make your monogram! I will be using the font KK Monogram that I downloaded from Dafont. It is much easier to create each letter in a separate text box. The side letters are size 270 and the middle initial is size 330, but this is all based on personal preference. I like my last initial significantly larger than my first and last initials. **Note if you like your monogram interlocking.** Make sure you like the placement of the side initials before adding in the last, or else you will have to undo and remake the last initial. 

Step 5: Save and set as your desktop background!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me! Have fun making new monogrammed desktop backgrounds!

College Girl in Pearls

My Fall/ Halloween Decor

October is my absolute favorite month. While I do love the Christmas season and everything that comes with it, I love October because it is the start to fall. The leaves begin to change colors, you can buy candy corn, and it is now finally acceptable to wear boots and scarves. It is incredibly frustrating right now because where I live, it's getting up into the 80s!! Normally the weather isn't this warm for the end on October, and it is a big shock. Here at school, I have already switched out my summer clothes for my fall ones, and picking out something to wear is difficult. Not only that, the air conditioning in my dorm is extremely sensitive, and it has just stopped working in general. So as I sit in my dorm with shorts and a t-shirt on, I can only dream about wearing my boots, scarves, and bundling up in comfy sweaters. While trying to bring some fall spirit into my room, I bought some desk accessories that are helping my mood!

Here, I purchased a small apothecary jar from Hobby Lobby (I think it was somewhere between $10-$15) and filled it with candy corn! It as completely full, but day by day I keep taking a couple pieces to snack on. 

Next, I bought this pumpkin candle holder while I was grocery shopping at Meijer (Between $3-$4). I went over into the pharmacy area to pick up some medicine and at my store, they have their Seasonal Section right by there. So naturally, I wandered over and began looking around. I found this and had to have it. One of my favorite things is to burn candles. But with living in a dorm, burning a candle isn't an option. So luckily, I found this little guy! 

It's a battery operated candle! Perfect, for my dorm room. Although it doesn't offer that same scent and "homeyness" as a real candle, it will do. ($1.99)

I didn't want to go overboard on my Halloween/ fall decor, but I'm happy with what I picked out. It's subtle, but still gives you that seasonal feel. How you decorate for the Halloween/fall season? 

Until next time,

College Girl in Pearls

Long time, no blog! + My Dorm Room

Hi everyone!
It's been a super long time, but I haven't forgotten about this blog! I have been having a BLAST at college and I cannot believe that my first semester is almost over. I am super busy with dance team and school work, but everything is great! As I promised I would post a picture of how I decorated my room... So here it is! I wish I could post more pictures of how the room is actually laid out, but my roommate is SUPER MESSY, and it's somewhat embarrassing  And also, we have a lot of posters and magnets of our school mascot/logos everywhere, so for privacy reasons, I will not be showing those.

I am completely IN LOVE with Breakfast at Tiffany's, so it only made sense to decorate my room with Tiffany&Co. colors! I love the accent pillow made to look like a Tiffany box! 

Until next time, stay classy!

College Girl in Pearls

Packing for College

Hi everyone! These past few days have been crazy. Over the weekend, my parents and I started getting all of my things together for move-in on Wednesday. I can't believe it's so soon! A part of me is super excited to move out and be on my own, but by being an only child, I am very attached to my parents and the rest of my family and am very reluctant to leave. But on the bright side, I am only going to school 20 minutes away from where I live so it's not like I won't see them until Thanksgiving break. My grandmother even offered to do my laundry every week! (I LOVE her!)
But before any of that, I actually need to get all of my stuff from my home to school, and right now everything is an absolute disaster. My stuff has totally taken over our basement living room!

And I still haven't decided what to do with my shoes. I narrowed them down to the ones I absolutely must have, and I think I did pretty good! I am actually proud of myself.

Purses were not too big of an issue. I don't switch purses all that often; I tend to stay with one for a long time unless absolutely needed. Right now, I am using my Longchamp Le Pliage Medium tote daily. But just in case, I am bringing a couple extra. 

If I had any advice for someone else going through this, I would say definitely make a list of things you need and cross off as you go! I have already come across items that I have double of. It may save you time, money, and the ever needed space in a small college dorm!

Until next time!
College Girl in Pearls

My Must-Haves for Fall

Hi everyone! As fall fashions and new styles begin appearing, I've seen several things that I am just completely obsessing over. I am determined to have these items in my fall wardrobe!















What are your must-haves for fall?

J.Crew Tippi Sweater/ J.Crew Dream V-Neck Sweater/ J.Crew Loafers/ Culture Phit Trem Black Boots/

Back to School with Lilly!

I am so excited that my new Lilly planner was delivered today! I ordered it last Wednesday night from Lifeguard Press and have been waiting anxiously for it to arrive. Now I can finally start filling in all of my classes and football games!
I chose the print See You Later, and it is absolutely adorable! I love the pink and green and the alligators are so cute!

*Disclaimer: I bought this planner myself, and I am in no way affiliated with Lifeguard Press.*

New Blog, New Adventure!

Hi everyone!
I've decided to start a blog! It will be a branch off of my Tumblr, http://collegegirlinpearls.tumblr.com/. Right now, I plan on writing reviews on products I buy, documenting my college life (which I move in next week!), and writing about anything that comes to my mind! This is all a new adventure, so bare with me while I figure everything out!

Request for a Blog Post? Email me at collegegirlinpearls@gmail.com!