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. 

Makeup Bag Essentials

I am not someone who likes to bring a full load of makeup to school but rather stick to the things that'll be good to have around in case I smudge my eye makeup or forget to use something in the morning. If you want to bring more makeup related products I'd definitely recommend things that can be multi purposeful. Choose a lipstick that isn't only a great shade for you lips but also could double as cream blush. Things that have dual purposes will save you space in your makeup bag and you will have less things to worry about bringing.

Personal hygiene is one of the most important things to keep up. However, everyone has had that one day that they are running late and forgot to put on deodorant or brush their teeth. Keep miniature sizes of those products so you will never have to worry. I also would have to say if you can find a miniature size of anything, get it, especially for something that needs to be portable like your makeup bag. Another thing that is helpful to stay feeling refreshed at school are oil absorbing sheets. After gym class or even if you just have oily skin, these sheets will remove excess oils without ruining your makeup.

It can be hard to feel nice when you are having a bag hair day. Keep extra hair ties and bobby pins in your bag just in case your locks won't cooperate. I also like to have these sorts of things just for when I want my hair out of my face. I usually put my hair up when I am taking a test or you may need to put in back in science class.

For actual makeup, I keep it pretty low key. The main things I have in my makeup bag are lip products. I like to keep a lip balm, gloss, and some sort of stain or tint. The three things shown in the picture are staples in my makeup bag. It is also super easy to add a little bit of makeup to your lips and you will look super polished after.

About at the mid day point at school I feel like my skin looks a bit tired and less glowy than it did in the morning. This is why I prefer to keep a matte bronzer in my makeup bag, but you could totally switch this up for a light, translucent powder. You can use the applicator, if it comes with one, or just a miniature sized face brush or kabuki. I don't wear pencil eyeliner too much but for some reason I think it is a useful thing to keep in your makeup bag for touch ups or if you decide you want to amp up your eye look. Mascara is definitely a number one must have! Keeping a mini sized bottle in your purse can be a life saver in case you forgot to apply it in the morning or just need another coat.

These are all the things I keep in my makeup bag! Let me know your must haves for yours in the comments. If there are any other Back to School types posts you would like to see let me know what those are also.

xx Meghan

Back to School Style: The Perfect Book Bag

My favorite and most stressful part of going back to school is buying a new bag. I always try to find my favorite and basically scour the entire internet for it. Depending on the type of school you go to and your needs, it will probably determine the bag that will suit you the best. For some people a backpack is the the best choice however, in my case I use just a normal purse. Here are some of my favorite options for going back to school in style.

Traditional Backpack with a Stylish Spin

There are so many cute alternatives to your standard Jansport backpack. I love all the floral prints and designs I've seen on these bags. I also just prefer to look of backpacks of these style, they are just a bit nicer looking than a standard zip up. You can choose between fun materials like denim, canvas or leather to match your style. Backpacks are also great if you need to be hands free, because most of the time you can fit a binder or book inside of them. The two straps also will not strain your back as much as a normal purse would.

Crossbody Hottie

If you can carry your books and binders between classes and don't really need to bring much else with you, a small to medium sized shoulder bag is a great pick. Something like a messenger bag is a perfect size to keep things such as writing utensils and other supplies you may need. If you are someone who likes to stick to the essentials a smaller bag may work best for you. I also find that they don't get as unorganized as my larger bags because everything inside it will have a place. These also work super well for transitioning from school to going out with your friends to events like football games or to grab some food. You can just toss in your wallet and some lipgloss and you'll be set!

Tote-ally Perfect

If you want the best of both worlds, opt for a stylish tote or shoulder bag. You will have the size and space of a back pack with the look of a purse. Large purses can work awesome if you need to bring some snacks or a small book that you don't want to carry. And you won't have to sacrifice space because of the larger size! I love bags with outer pockets so I can have a few things in easy reach especially when I have a larger sized bag. I don't want to be digging around through the whole thing just to find a pen or pencil! Larger sized bags come in all different shapes and materials so you definitely can find one that'll fit your style.


Make sure you choose a bag that will work best for not just your style but also your schooling. Figure out what will be most practical for you and with all the many options out there you are sure to find one you'll love. If you are interested in a particular bag in the picture above check out My Polyvore for links to where you can buy these certain bags. Let me know your favorite way to carry your school supplies around campus in the comments!

xx Meghan