Care packages.

One of the best parts of going away from home to school is care packages!  The best part of having an amazing best friend is having her mother send you care packages full of homemade goodies!

Today I came home from the longest day ever on campus and I was absolutely exhausted.  After making a quick dinner I decided to check the mail just in case no one else had that day - and they hadn't!  We had lots of mail and two boxes and one of them happened to be for me!

My best friend's mom sends us the coolest stuff and this was by far my favorite box!

Pictured above there is a an adorable necklace, a mug with it's very own cute sweater, and a pair of knitted slippers (which I am wearing right now and they are so snuggly)!  My best friend's mom is a knitting guru and she always sends us the best and most creative stuff!

She sent my newly engaged roommate a pair of mittens that is meant for couples, where each person gets a single mitten & then they have one they can both put their hand into as well as matching hats - too cute!

I absolutely adore the necklace she sent me:

I love the colors: a warm mauve-y taupe and maroon details - I can't wait to wear!  

What do you like to get in a care package?  Can you knit something great?

CK

Bust, it seems.

One of my first posts here on college kara was entitled "Bubbles or bust." and talked about the pros and cons of bubble necklaces.  I decided to take up an offer I saw on Facebook from a store called "The Poke a Dot Shop" based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I also spoke about this purchase in another post.

I placed my order with them for a wine red bubble necklace on August 21st while I was on vacation in Pennsylvania.  Unfortunately, I have yet to receive my order even though I paid for my necklace just over two months ago.

I'm especially saddened because due to posts on their Facebook, it sounds as if they've completed and shipped their orders placed since mine, and I have yet to receive my bubble necklace.

I have contacted their customer service via email twice already and have also called their provided number, but have yet to hear anything back other than an automated response.

This is both disappointing and disheartening because I would like to receive the item I have already paid for, and the event I purchased the necklace for has already come and passed.

Have any of you purchased something from The Poke a Dot Shop?

CK

Guac, guac, guac.

So I know this isn't the usual college kara post, but one thing I wanted to share with all my lovely readers is a new recipe I tried out this past weekend (I love cooking for people)!  Last week, one set of my parents came up and with them they brought me a bag of avocados from Costco!  So now I had seven avocados and needed a way to use two of them right away seeing as they were ripe!  This weekend, my other set of parents came up, so I decided to buy the other ingredients for a new guacamole recipe I had found.

The recipe went something like this:

2 avocados, cubed & mashed with a fork.

1/3 a tomato, the insides removed & cubed.

1/3 cup of gold corn.

1/3 cup of chopped purple onion &

the juice of 1/2 lime.

Salt to taste.

I ended up really enjoying it and so did my parents.  It took just about 10 minutes to whip up and if you don't finish the whole batch with your guests, the lime juice in the recipe keeps the avocado from browning for a day or two!

Are there any easy recipes you like to share with others.

Little things.

The other day my sorority was invited to a private shopping event at Francesca's.  For those of you who don't have a Francesca's near you, or perhaps have never heard of it, Francesca's is a chain of boutiques that sell jewelry, shoes, limited apparel and other knick knacks.  I wouldn't say that it's expensive per-se, but it's important to watch your spending because the little things do add up.  At our event I purchased the following:

1.  Coral leather clip-in hair bow.

2.  Gold bow ring

3.  Multi-colored chandelier earrings.

I also purchased another little turquoise ring but unfortunately after falling in love with it and wearing it nonstop for 5 days, the gem on it broke off & was lost on my walk home from campus.

Like I said earlier, it's not quite pricey, but with a 20% discount, my four items still added up to just about $40.

This weekend I was also fortunate enough to have my parents up and they spoiled me with lots of groceries, free meals as well as 2 new dresses and a new pullover fleece!

As you can see (kind of), I am wearing my new earrings with my fleece!

Have you purchased anything from Francesca's before?

CK

Boots, boots, baby.

Winter is coming.  I'm sorry, it is.  I know that not everyone loves winter as much as I do, but it's a fact of life.  With winter comes salt lines on clothing and frozen toes - unless you invest in a great pair of winter boots!

Like most young women my age, I'm getting tired of the standard winter uniform of a Northface fleece, jeans and Uggs.  Uggs especially. If you're not feeling like the Australian boots are your best option for the winter months (or maybe you are) check out these options below!

1.  Sperry women's Hingham boot.  (on sale!)

2.  L.L. Bean 8" Bean Boots with Thinsulate

3.  Hunter Boots Regent Aspley Boot ($$$)

4.  Women's Classic Short Uggs in Sand

I just bought my own pair of the Hingham boots in green and though I haven't worn them out yet, I love them!  they are really roomy in the calves and I just love the look of them!  Plus they are on sale right now and I got them for almost $30 cheaper than their original price!

CK

Don't sweater it.

I love buying new nail polish.  Getting new polish never ever gets old and my latest addition to my collection is no exception!  When a few of my friends and I went to lunch the other day at a new restaurant in town, we sat facing an Ulta the entire lunch.  The Essie fall collection was staring me in the face - and even though I had gas, groceries and dues to pay for, I made a beeline for the doorway as soon as lunch was finished and picked up this gem!

This is Essie's "Don't Sweater It."  And I am officially in love.  Neutrals are so hot for fall and this taupe-y mauve color is so warm and inviting and it makes me want to curl up in cable knit sweater with a mug of chamomile tea.

This color screams fall and I am seriously contemplating buying a second bottle just in case.  This shade is going to be on my nails all autumn long.

Have you checked out Essie's fall line?

Busy bee.

Hi everyone!  I know that I have been the absolute worst about updating College Kara, and for that, I am truly sorry!  I can't believe that in just a few days over a month, I've had so many of you beautiful ladies (and gentlemen) visiting my blog - it is so exciting and humbling!  The past 2 weeks have been absolutely crazy with greek life recruitment in full swing and now with college hockey season which for me, started tonight!

A little outfit update: Two weeks ago I had initiation for new members into my sorority.  It was just warm enough to get away with wearing summery clothes and I knew it would be my last chance, so I took it!

I know some of you are just groaning at the fact that I'm wearing my khaki blazer again, but I swear, she's going to be put a way for a while.  Here I'm wearing my blazer, seersucker slacks cuffed into capris, a polka-dot top, my watch, a Juicy Couture my bracelet gave me, and nude wedges along with my Marley Lilly monogrammed clutch.

My amazing roommate did my hair and stuck a cute red flower into it.  I have a LOT of hair and any time I can get it off of my neck/shoulders and not have to worry about it for a few hours is great!

Here's a photo of my sorority sister and I at our initiation.

I am going to try my hardest to keep posting this at least once a week.  Now that recruitment is over, it should be much easier to keep up with College Kara.

Can you believe that we're already a month into school?  Senior year is going by way too fast!