Downton Abbey

Get ready for the latest show obsession of mine, Downton Abbey. This show is that perfect escape show where you can just turn it on and hurl yourself into the lives of the Crawley family in World War I England and feel warm and cozy. That sound a little odd, but the whole feel of the show and the characters make the time period seem like a perfect fantasy. There's plenty of reasons to love this show including: 

Plot lines meshed with historical and political happenings (Titanic, Feminism, World War One, Easter Rising, etc.)

Stunning 1910s-1920s fashion

The biggest romantic tension I've seen in a long time that I am crazy about --Matthew and Mary.

Matthew (Dan Stevens) has won my heart.

Oh and if none of this is enticing you, then may I say Maggie Smith plays a wonderfully sarcastic Dowegar Countess.

Watch this if you'd like to go in a whole for a few days and be perfectly content with losing your emotions.

Shannon

Rent the Runway Review

What made Birthday Ball for me this year was the stunning Badgley Mischka Fifth Avenue Showstopper Dress dress I wore from Rent the Runway. This show stopping dress was a real confidence booster as it made me felt beautiful on the dance floor and won me a lot of compliments. The gown's gold sparkles were glamorous and perfect for the event without being too literal with the whole Great Gatsby theme.

Normally I'm a little hesitant with online purchases because you don't get to try it on until it's shipped. However the site had great recommendations for styling, an honest size and fit section, and great product details. Even better yet is that Rent the Runway allows each guest to add on another size for free just for safe measure.

The tool I relied on the most on the website were the reviews at the bottom. There were 141 reviews from real women wearing the dress (some that even looked better than the model.) The dress looked great on the girls whose age and body type were similar to mine and that's what persuaded me to pick my dress. I definitely recommend this dress for girls on the bustier or hourglass side.

When I received my dress on the day I ordered it to come in. I was afraid at first there might be an issue since Chestertown's post office is a little slow. But it shipped fast and came in a sleek black garment bag that I got to keep, along with a $25 gift certificate to Exhale Spa and a pack of fashion tape that came in a cute little bag. Returning it was also incredibly simple since all I had to do was put it in the prepaid envelope they provided me and drop it off in the mail room on the assigned day.

You may have seen this photo in the last post, but it's the best photo of the dress.

Overall Rent the Runway put a lot of thought into their site and provide a top-notch quality service for the customer. I will definitely be using Rent the Runway's services again in the future (possibly for 26th Company's Dining Out.) You can sign up for Rent the Runway here (or the link on the side bar) for free and checkout all the great dresses they have to offer.

Shannon

Citrus Face Mask

With all the stress of course work this past week it was high time for a face mask day. Sarah and I tried using one of the DIY face mask recipes I've collected on Pinterest, but found that we didn't have some the ingredients the recipe called for on hand in the dorm. By substitution and guess work we actually came up with a wonderful recipe that left our skin smooth and smelling heavenly.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. honey

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup of Oatmeal

1/4 cup face lotion

1 tsp. of Lemon Juice

1/2 an Orange

1. Add honey, brown sugar, and oatmeal together in a bowl.

2. Mix in face lotion.

3. Squeeze lemon and orange in. Stir.

4. Apply to face.

The mixture started off with just Sarah and me.

But quickly moved around the hall to include Caitie and Christine.

and Jade, Amanda, and Maddie.

Also I can't end this post without Amanda's "Neutrogena" face. P.S. She'll be the RA of 2nd Floor next year and will be moving into my room. So excited for her.

This is a great activity to do with a lot of girls on a Friday night. Just pop on a girly movie like Pride and Prejudice and paint your nails.

Shannon

The Ball

The Great Gatsby Birthday Ball was a bit of a mess this year. The main reason being that the awesome DJ from last year wasn't there and instead a fake band with a laptop played awful music all night long. However the fun I had with my friends made up for all of that. 

Sarah and Jenna did my hair which proved a difficult task if you've been following curl quest. We went with a simple updo in the end which balanced out the flashy sparkles of my dress. While Sarah and Jenna were doing hair, I did the make-up of the quad girls: Kelly, Caitie, and Christine.

After we were all done up we headed over to Sarah's friends apartment for dinner. I met some amazing girls (Becky, Kristin, and Becca) and had a great time there.

 Becca also happens to be dating a Marine and so the guys had a little military bonding time. Here they are in B-Boy stance.

After dinner Gerred and I made a quick appearance at Harford where we got to see the suite girls. Check out Aileen and Emma's amazing 1920s fashion!

Here's all the Ravenclaw girls!

Here is Gerred and I before the ball. I loved my Rent the Runway dress and had so many compliments the whole night. I'll definitely be using Rent the Runway for the rest of the military formals I'll have to go to.

Still had fun despite the lack of beat on the dance floor.

Shannon

Great Gatsby

Tonight is Washington College's Birthday Ball and I am incredibly excited for the theme this year:

The Great Gatsby!

It's perfect since there are a few F. Scott Fitzgerald classes at the college, the new movie is coming out this year, Speakeasy sounds like college to me, and I can't wait to see all the 1920s fashion since that's coming back in style.

I've been looking around at this Great Gatsby fashion movement and can I just say Sue Wong designs perfect 1920s inspired dresses?

Sue Wong Dress - Mesh and SW Studio by Sue Wong Pleated Tulip Skirt Dress

Also, just check out WACs Birthday Ball video. Hilarious.

 Can't wait!

Shannon

Heating Pad

Whenever I had an upset stomach or an aching pain my Mom would always microwave a heating pad and tell me to put it on whatever hurts and it always worked like a charm. Now I had mine with me at college until the other day when mine died. See, the heating pad was on it's death bed really since it wasn't retaining heat and absorbed certain microwave smells. So when it began to spark and smoke I cut my losses and threw it in the sink. Now begins my journey in looking for a new heating pad.

Note that I am not looking for plug in heating pads. I've tried them before when I was little and they tended to create sparks and do not hit full heat potential.

Microwavable Aeromatherapy Heating Pads are the way to go. They're easy, you just throw them into the microwave for two minutes and you're set. I checked Etsy and they have some great options to choose from.

Organic Bamboo Herbal Heating Pads by Crampcake

How adorable are these Crampcakes? Just the fact these look like cupcakes would make me feel better, but they're made with peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender to so they smell great. These would be great for kids.

Microwaveable Heating Pad by DenisesCuteStuff

This heating pad is perfect for wrapping around knees, necks, and bellies. The fabric is cute and reversible and inside the bag is lavender imported from France!

And if you're a crafty talented sewer you could even attempt making your own heating pad. With just some fabric, flax seed, and lavender you'd probably be able to do it.

Does anyone else use heating pads or have some cool ones of you're own? Share them with me.

Shannon

Oh No She Didn't

Remember that lady you saw the other day with the bright red lipstick on her teeth and the scrunchie in her hair? Or the 60 year old woman wearing the tight tube top? And you thought "Oh goodness who let her out of the house? Doesn't she know what she's doing?" 

Yeah, well she probably doesn't and that's why you should carry around, Oh No She Didn't: The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them by Clinton Kelly, from TLC's What Not To Wear, so that you can help those who have wandered from the path of fashion. Or you know, maybe yourself?

Clinton's book tackles all the hard issues of fashion blunders we're all thinking in our heads with a sassy, sarcastic, humor that makes you smile and cringe all at once. 

Mom Jeans

Tattoos and Formal Events

Denim on Denim a.k.a. The Canadian Tuxedo

Wearing all Black

Muffin Tops

Too much tucking

and much more that women really should know but I keep seeing!

If you read this book it'll either be hilarious or a terrible wake up call.

Shannon

L.A. Noire

This past summer I started playing L.A. Noire and was blown away by the storyline and graphics this game offers. L.A. Noire takes place in Hollywood after the end of WWII, where soldiers are coming back from war with PTSD, drug problems, and a whole lot of violence. 

Enter, Detective Cole Phelps, the hero that solves all the cases in L.A. ranging from basic traffic cases, gruesome homicides, to the big time vice cases. The niftiest part about this story is that it's all done in the style of film noir. So, you'll do a little investigation, a little shoot 'em up, and in between cases there are always little clips that key into both the bigger picture and the mysterious past of Cole Phelps back when he was a marine.

Aside from the in depth storyline, this game has some seriously advanced graphics. The characters are incredibly realistic since they are modeled after real actors with face mapping technology. And they're are known actors in this game. The movement is all so lifelike and in depth that I sometimes question whether I'm playing a game or watching a movie.

It doesn't even end there with the amount of thought the creators put into this game. They even recreated all of 1940s L.A. by studying old biplane photographs of the city. So not only is the game realistic with the characters it is also a historically accurate environment.

Check out this video to see the in depth look at the technology behind this game.

If you didn't already pick this game up over the summer, I'd suggest you start playing because it's fun and has such a consuming story world.

Shannon

P. S. Anytime Phelps picks up an object it's probably the silliest thing because he says "This doesn't seem to pertain to the case" or "Circumstantial" but will still be swiveling it around.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is my all time favorite show and I can't tell you how excited I am for it to return. This HBO series is based off George R. R. Martin's bestselling fantasy series, A Song of Fire and Ice, and is just all too addicting. Basically, a bunch of dynasties fight one another for the throne of the seven kingdoms and the story follows each character along their journey in and out of power. 

Seriously, the first season had me hooked on each character of every house. Of course I have favorites of each house, the primary four being Tyrion Lannister since he is perfectly witty, Arya Stark since she's a warrior girl, Jon Snow since he's got his own thing going on that wall (he's also a Stark) and my personal favorite Daenerys Targaryen since she is the dragon.

It may seem daunting to follow all the characters, but it's not too hard, just check this map of the families...

The second season starts again April 1st and imediately after seeing the trailer I got chills. 

Catch up. Game of Thrones is coming.

Shannon

Busty Blouses

I happened upon this amazing site called Busty Girl Comics the other day on tumblr. I think I've been waiting for some sort social commentary on being a busty girl for a long time and hilarious comics are certainly the way to go. The artist, Rampaige, focuses on all the stuff you kind of only whine about to your mom like why most stores don't sell anything cute in sizes D+ or at all.

But I found the comic above and thought, my goodness, this is the breast (I know, I can't help it, I like puns.) With me and my other busty comrades, the button down shirts are the worst. The buttons along the breasts just seem to create this weird gap that alerts everyones eyes to the bursting boobs. Or as Clinton Kelly puts it in his book, Oh No She Didn't, "It's distracting when the girls are struggling to bust out like two bear cubs wrestling in a bag." That being said, it makes finding a good button down hard to come by in the working world.

Here's some tips on how to get yourself into a top that works for you.

1. Try to avoid shiny clingy fabric, not only will you look cheap, but you are totally drawing more attention than necessary to your boobs. Go for cotton.
2. You can sew an extra button or a hook between the two button gap. This may look weird.
3. Your best bet is to go a size up and tailor it down? Don't have a tailor learn how to sew, or call my Grandma she's really good. Actually, she's mine.

Ta-ta for now

Shannon

Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes

I recently finished the Special 25th Edition Nancy Drew game, Alibi in Ashes this week. Now where I can't say it was as great as Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge, this game was enjoyable just as well.

In, Alibit in Ashes, we find Nancy back in her hometown of River Heights competing in the Clue Challenge with her friends Bess, George, and Ned. The game opens to Nancy reading a clue that directs her to Town Hall, where she finds a suspicious ice cube on a thermostat. In a matter of seconds the thermostat explodes and Town Hall goes up in flames.When Nancy gets out she becomes suspect number one in the arson case and is detained at the River Heights Police Department. Eager to free her name, Nancy gathers clues with the help of her friends!

Though the game was quick and the puzzles were a bit more simpler than usual, it was fun to play. And it was actually insightful to see River Heights, the people around town (like Ned), and see Nancy's beautifully decorated house. Which FYI is what my dream home will look like.

 Herinteractive started to pick up a pattern of making flops right before their big deal game. Such as the worst Nancy game ever, Trail of the Twister, right before the very best, Shadow at the Water's Edge. This game broke away from the shell a little and I like that. The game showed a lot of improvements in design and organization.

And I also want a point out that Nancy never goes hungry in any game she plays. She's always eating something whether that be an anchovy sandwich or clam chowder. In this game, Nancy and all her friends seem to keep eating ice cream at The Scoop. There was a bacon flavored ice cream too and I had Bess eat them all.

The game is fun, full of inspection, puzzles, and very very Nancy Drew.

Shannon

Kick the Cold

By this point, I'm guessing that my advice on becoming a hermit did not work out for you and you have now found yourself sneezing and coughing all day. Well don't worry, it happens to the best of us. I've got another round of tips that'll hopefully knock that cold out and half of it is mental!

Yeah, mental, my number one answer for how I'm going to beat a cold is "I'm going to will it away." Having a positive outlook helps you get out of the sick slump quicker. Well, that and a whole lot of medicine. So do fun things why you're sick like smiling or doodling pictures.

My parents swear by Theraflu. It's this disgusting tea mix drink, that essentially has no taste at first since   you're so conjested, but then magically begins to have a terribly sour taste. Basically, half the time I'm thinking yuck this is putrid! And the other half I'm thinking, wow I can actually taste again. I highly recommend this before you try anything else and not because it tastes like nectar and ambrosia.

Here's a tip that most of you should be familiar with. Sleep. If you're not sleeping you're messing with your immune system and mixed with stress it's just a cocktail of disaster. So go to bed early, like at 8 or earlier and take small cat naps if you have to. It's what you really want.

Or if you're a little afraid of modern medicine and those crazy doctors, then may I suggest home made cold remedies? My parents make a pretty good Hot Toddy recipe. I called them up for the full recipe and my dad said, "It will make you sleep quickly and that's the only good thing about it."

Ingredients

• One shot of Irish Whisky, "or maybe two depending on how you feel."
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 qtr of lemon squeezed
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1 tea bag

Make it

1. Make the tea. 
2. Stir in the honey since it's good for throat.
3. Squeeze the lemon since it has Vitamin C which will make your body feel better.
4. Pour as much Irish Whisky as you like since "it makes your brain feel better."
5. Mix it all in a clear glass and stick some cinnamon in it and you'll get better

Get Well Soon

Shannon

Prevent the Cold

Though the weather outside is not "wintery" per se, it's still flu season and I'd like to share with you all some helpful hints and tips on how to dodge all the germs flying around campus before they get to you. 

Sanitize. Carry around hand sanitizer with you for when you're in really public places like the dining hall or classrooms. Lots of table tops have disgusting histories.

Eat right. Meaning don't pick up the apple from the dining that twenty other people have touched and put back. Go to the grocery store and treat yourself to some kiwi. They are high in Vitamin C.

Once you take up whittling as a full time hermit, you can make wood Ewoks.

Don't touch people who are sick. Pretend they are lepers and keep your distance. Is your significant other sick? Don't kiss them. Take up a fun hobby like whittling while they cough up their lungs and enjoy the beautiful solace in being a healthy hermit.

Stay healthy my friends.

Shannon

P.S. Get a flu shot months in advance before the season of the flu is probably your best bet.