Back to School: Backpack Essentials

As I prepare to head off to my first year of college, I have done what probably would seem to be an ridiculous amount of research on what I will need to bring with me. Most importantly, I wanted to know what all the essentials to have in your backpack include. Here are the items I plan to carry with me at all times and that I found to be most important!

Let's start off with the bag. This adorable backpack show above is from, none other than, Target! They've had some really cute backpacks for the back to school season and when I saw this one I couldn't pass it up. I also have another plain black backpack that is a bit more heavy duty than this one, but I hope to use this cute patterned bag as much as I can without it clashing with any of my outfits!

School supplies is obviously a necessity. My favorite items are Five Star notebooks and folders. I also carry with me a variety of pens and pencils to take notes and study with. Highlighters are also important study aids that can help to liven up your notes. One thing I never thought of until doing a bit of looking into what school supplies to bring was a mini stapler. When you have something to turn in during a college class, your professor with most likely not pass the one class stapler around the desk like I experienced in high school. Having your own mini stapler can be a life saver in case you had to print something out last minute and totally forgot to staple it before throwing it in your bag. 

Follow Me on Tumblr!

FOLLOW ME!!

t-urfandsurf.tumblr.com

Hi guys, I recently made a new Tumblr and I have been on it non-stop! I thought I'd share the link to it on my blog incase any of you would like to check it out. I'd love to check out yours so message me your link or leave a comment on this post. I basically just post pics of pretty, beachy things I like so if you are into that, check it out! I also thought it would be a great way for you guys to get to know me better because it is so easy to ask questions and what not on Tumblr. Let me know what you think and make sure you follow it to stay even more connected!

xx Meghan

Reducing Closet Chaos!

I am someone who goes through phases of keeping my room clean. Sometimes I make sure everything is in it's place a a tucked away while other times clothes accumulate on my floor to make mountains. When it comes time to cleaning, especially throughout my closet, I keep many different tricks up my sleeve. So if you are looking for tips to reduce clutter and give your closet that organized, yet stylish looks, you've come to the right place!

Like S&R on Facebook!

Hey guys! You might have noticed I added some social networking buttons in the sidebar yesterday! And today I added and created a Facebook page! I thought it would be cool if I could have one so I could interact more with you guys! It'll also be a great way for you all the stay updated on what is going on over here. So go Like the Scarves and Rockets page over on Facebook! I am also planning on even having Facebook only content so you might even get some fun extras.

Spread the word about Scarves and Rockets by liking it on Facebook!

What would you like to see on the new Facebook page? Let me know in the comments!
XOXO Meghan

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a good week. I haven't done one of these in a while but I randomly thought of doing one today. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what your favorite things of this week is in the comments!

{A fun, new neon pink dress and white wedges}

{Geometric and neon phone case}

{My love for musical theater!}

{Pretty notebook that I intend to write to do lists in}

{A fun, fringe bag that's perfect for summer}

Pack the Perfect Beach Bag!

Since summer is in season and with that comes warm weather I decided to put together a sort of guide of what to keep in your beach bag! This is also like a What's in My Beach Bag because I went through mine to put the picture together! You could also take this to the pool or wherever you like to go in the summer to beat the heat! Tell me in the comments what your one essential thing you keep in your beach/pool bag! Happy Summer!

The Bag: I love to bring a backpack because my hands can be free to carry other stuff like towels, chairs, and coolers. For me I can pack more too if I bring a backpack! I also like that I can zip it up and keep the sand out. I really like the backpacks target has. They have some with really cute prints like the one above that are perfect for summer!

Spring Break Essentials!

Right now, I am on Spring Break and I am so excited to soak up some sun and relax for a week! I am leaving for a vacation on Wednesday and I thought I throw together some of the essential things I want to bring with me.

In Your Beach/Pool Bag

- Headphones to listen to fun music!

- Tanning Oil and Sunscreen

- A good read!

- Sunglasses to protect your eyes 

What to Wear

- Cute crochet cover up

- White shorts to accentuate a tan!

- Tons of neon jewelry!!

- Casual flip flops

- Nicer (but comfortable) sandals

- Fun spring polishes!

I hope you all either had fun or a going to have fun on your spring breaks! Enjoy the time off and the (hopefully!) warm weather wherever you may be!

XOXO Meghan

You are Fashion, but You are not Cancer

GUEST POST

BY JACKIE CLARK

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It is always important for women to feel that they are beautiful. More importantly than that, they should hear it. I know how good I feel when I have on a cute outfit or feel stylish. When going through a hard time, it is easy to loose oneself, especially if you feel you don't look your best. Fashion is a great way to be creative and express individuality, while boosting self-confidence. This article that Jackie wrote for me to feature on my blog is really inspiring and I am so glad I got the opportunity to share it with you all!

You are Fashion, But You are Not Cancer

By: Jackie Clark 

Women with active cancer do not have to look in the mirror and feel unattractive. There is a temptation to do this because a woman with cancer uses so much of her mental and physical energy in battling her disease. But, again, she can still look attractive. Maybe this sounds superficial, but it isn't.  How a woman feels about herself is more than being able to attract the opposite sex or looking professional and well fitted at work. The way a woman feels about herself affects her health, as well. Of course, being a "fashion plate" is not a cure for cancer, but it is a pick-me-up, for sure. And as any woman undergoing cancer treatment knows, how she feels about herself affects her self-esteem and feelings of being in control. Cancer feels uncontrollable, as does so much of life in general. But any woman can control her overall "look." She can wear a color-coordinated ensemble and feel better about herself right off the bat. She doesn't have to spend her waking hours running around in a silly hat. She can put on a "Locks-of-Love" wig and look downright attractive. She can wear a sharp, navy blazer over a pair of blue jeans and a white shell. She can complement this outfit with a pair of thin, blue-and-white trouser socks and a pair of low-healed red pumps. She can top it off by tying a red scarf around her collar. Looks count -- especially for the woman with cancer. It is one of the only aspects of herself that she has more than a modicum of control over. Of course, when she is enduring the aftereffects of chemotherapy, she can look as raggedy as she feels. She is absolutely entitled to that. But afterwards, she can pull together her wardrobe and look like a million bucks. One of the more recently publicized cancers is mesothelioma. If a woman doesn't smoke, her chances of recovery are greater. She can stand tall and fight it. If she is a smoker, she can take back her power and greatly improve her prognosis by quitting smoking. A support group will help her considerably, and so will the medications her doctor may give her to help take away her cravings. Part of not surrendering to a serious illness like cancer is the conscious decision for a woman to remain who she is. She is not cancer. She is Adele or Amy or Marilyn or Joanne. She can get up in the morning and take a brisk shower, put on her make-up and fix her hair or put on her wig. Then she can put on a pretty dress, nylons and a pair of her favorite heels.

Best of 2011: My Favorite Products

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To round off this year, I decided to create a list of my favorite of favorites from 2011. This encompasses pretty much everything that I have really loved this year. I switch up items that I use almost weekly for some things so it was hard for me to think back to the things I have been using for a good amount of this year. So that shows how much I love these things! Let me know your favorites of this year!

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

I got this lotion actually on January first of this year and since then I haven't gone back! I am pretty low maintenance on moisturizers, so this one is perfect for me. It keeps my skin feeling fresh and clean all day. I use the gel because I have combo/oily skin, they also have a lotion version for dry skin, but I would probably recommend the gel for people with normal skin because I feel like it's a little lighter than the lotion. But it is a great all encompassing moisturizer!

2. Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara (Volume and Fusion)

I used one of these two mascaras all throughout summer! I will always have that iconic orange mascara tube with me, it is great by itself and also layers great with all other mascaras. I have been using some sort of version of Lash Blast for about 2 or 3 years now, if that's not dedication that I don't know what is! It always works!

3. Remington Curling Wand

I got this  hair iron back in 2010 for Christmas and I just works so perfectly for my hair. I have naturally curly hair, but pretty much only on my bottom layers. Then, my top layers are almost stick straight! This curling wand works wonders on my limp hair to give it a really effortless and natural look. You can go from ringlets to beachy waves! 

4. Basic Scarfs

I honestly wear a scarf probably five out of seven days in the week! I pretty much alternate between my black and white cashmere ones but sometimes I mix it up with a fun pattern. I get cold super easy and scarf are great to stay warm and also look really cute. It might just be me but I feel like scarves can make an outfit look super cute even when they are just a solid color.

5. Clairsonic + Purity Made Simple

I got the set in the picture from QVC that included the Clairsonic Plus (in pink!!) and some Philosophy items a while back. I have always love this cleanser and the Clairsonic makes your face so soft and gets out all the leftover makeup!

6. Steve Madden "Intyce" Boots

I pretty much wear these everyday! They are so cute and go with any outfit! They are the perfect riding boot and I cannot gush about them enough. Pretty much everyone has these boots at my school but they are so great I understand why! Definitely recommend if you are looking for a nicely made riding boot.

7. Vintage Coach Messenger Bag

I bought this at thrift store for like $15! I use it all the time for shopping or for school! I actually has a pretty good amount of room to where I can fit a reading book in it and my lunch for school and a water! It is really versatile and a easy choice when it comes to picking out the bag I want to wear, it's really great. You can only find it online now I believe, especially on Etsy!

8. NYX Blush Rouge Cream in Glow

I definitely have an unhealthy obsession with blush! I especially love this cream blush from NYX. It honestly does add a "glow" to your face that is really pretty. It is so pigmented and is super creamy compared to a MAC blushcreme. This is a really great universal pink color that looks good on its own or with a powder blush on top. You can buy NYX online or in ULTA.

9. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

I was going through a bit of a rough patch with my hair mid summer. It didn't feel soft, it was dry and damaged. I decided to try this out it did wonders for my hair. Even after one wash my hair felt smoother and softer. I also love the smell!

10. Pearl Studs

I have never really been that big into earrings even though I love the look of long dangly ones! It always seems like a hassle to put them on! But pretty much all this year I wore pearl studs! They go with any outfit and are just so classic. I have like five pairs in different colors and sizes and I love them!

What were your favorites of 2011?! Hope you all are really for the New Year and are have a safe and fun New Year's Eve!

XOXO M

Organizing Jewelry

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I used to keep all my jewelry hidden in boxes and drawers and I found I never seemed to wear any of it. As the saying goes, out of sight out of mind, and that is just what I did. I wanted to create a way to store while also displaying my jewelry. I came up with a few different ways to store all my different pieces, including a DIY project I did that I'd love to share with you all!

Necklaces

My biggest dilemma was all of my shorter, more delicate necklaces. I had nowhere to put them. All my longer, chunkier necklaces are draped across my mannequin and I didn't want my smaller ones getting tangled up in that. So what I did, I cut down a tree branch from my back yard, one with lots of smaller branches coming off. I trimmed down the branches and spray painted it black and there we had it. There are similar decorations and actual jewelry organizers that resemble tree branches, especially from Urban Outfitters, but mine didn't cost a penny!

Purse Essentials

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Don't you hate that feeling of forgetting something? After reading this, you'll never have to feel that way again. I know I hate wishing I could have remembered to put something in my bag or just utterly forgetting something. I have compiled somethings I always keep with me, for those "just in case moments." To some this may seem excessive, but I know that the day I take something out, is the day I'll always need it. I'd rather be safe than sorry. This also can help you organize your bag/school bag (I just transfer things from one to the other if I decide to change purses after school or something), and it will help keep your personal things from mixing in with your other items. Keeping reading for more details and pics of my personal essentials.

Desk of Champions

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*WARNING* This is a rather long post! Don't say I didn't warn you!
Admit it. We have all gone through the state of feeling like we  have the most cluttered desk in the world. Organizing and simplifying your desk, while beautifying your it can be extremely simple (and actually quick depending on the state your desk is in beforehand).

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Haven't any idea what to get your family or friends for the Holidays? Whether you'd like to splurge on a gift or grab something cheap and quick, there are tons of options to choose from. You don't even have to buy the exact things I show. You can always go cheaper (or more expensive) but keep the idea!

Friday Favorites

Thought I'd hop on the bandwagon of doing these weekly posts! Something quick and fun for you all to enjoy and kick off the start of your weekend! Also, feel free to comment! I love hearing feedback and talking to people so don't be shy! I am open to any type of comment, questions, concerns, or suggestions.

Favorite Way to Accessorize: Gold Watch with Chain Bracelets

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Favorite Color Combo: Sea Foam and Candy Apple Red

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Favorite Thing to Look At: Shoe Closets

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Favorite Festivity: Holiday Packaging

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Favorite Quick Hairstyle: Messy French Twist to Bun

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Hope all your weekends are great! XOXO M

Make Your Mochas at Home!

I have tried for literally years to perfect the art of making a Mocha Latte! Until yesterday, I discovered how to make one with only three ingredients and it tastes delicious! It still isn't Coffee Bean good (I have this joke that I want to work there for like a day so I can figure out how they make theirs and then quit and just make it for myself, shh don't tell ;), but to warm me up for the winter, it's great!

The main component of this is a mocha powder. I know that sounds really obvious but I thought I'd be able to get it right with some coffee and chocolate. Compared to this, boy!, was I wrong. I recently got this Maxwell House: International Cafe Suisse Mocha Powder from the grocery store. This is the only powder I've tried but I saw others there as well so keep your options open! One of the main reasons I got this was also that is decaf which is good for when I want a hot drink before bed.