WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR BLACK FRIDAY 2014

Wine red dress / Chanel evening handbag / Cartier rose gold jewelry / Nars cosmetic

The holidays are in reach, and you are more than ready for Thanksgiving break. For college students, going home means seeing family, not having to cook for yourself, and not having to buy your own food. So you are extra thankful. It means a weekend full of family, food, and massive shopping deals.

Thursday you will be a little too busy to think about Black Friday shopping. Here's what you need to know now, so you can enjoy your Thanksgiving.

 

It's no surprise that Black Friday is no longer exclusive to Friday. For years stores have been opening on Thanksgiving, seemingly opening earlier and earlier every year. People grumble over the irony of setting aside a day to give thanks for all we have while people trample each other over Christmas presents. But stores continue to open earlier, because enough people show up to get  things like a crazily under-priced 70" 3D flat screen.  

And things can get a little out of hand.

According a Forbe's article, just 28% of consumers plan on going in-store shopping on Black Friday, and 55% of Americans plan not to shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Friday isn't the only day of sales.

The entire weekend will be filled with deals. Some retailers are spreading out their deals throughout the weekend and Cyber Monday. The horror stories of herds of people might turn some people away from shopping, but retailers are trying to provide more incentives for people shop this week.

Thanksgiving will still be a big shopping day. 

No matter how much people complain about hitting the stores on the Holiday, they will continue to open on Thursday. And this is when people are spending most of their time in the line. Some people even skip the Thanksgiving festivities to camp out for the deals.

 

You could be saving now. 

There are retailers that have details happening before Thanksgiving. Stores like Sam's Club, Macy's, Wal-Mart, Staples and more have deals all week long. Amazon even has "8 Days of Black Friday Deals." 

Major retailers will match prices.

According to Forbes, Target recently announced that it will be among the retailers that match prices. If you find something at one store that is advertised lower at another, you could potentially get the lower price.

There is an entire site dedicated to Black Friday.

If you want more information on what kinds of deals you can expect this Black Friday, check out the website dedicated to the day. You can even sign up for Black Friday alerts via email. The sidebar has a list of popular retailers that provides more information about their deals this year.

With all of the madness around Black Friday, don't forget to enjoy your Thanksgiving and spend some time really appreciating everything around you. There is plenty of time to get the deals you want. Plan ahead! If you do join the herds at the major shops on Thursday night, stay safe.

And... don't get too carried away.

 Do you have shopping plans this week?

P.S. This post also appeared on Her Campus.

HOW TO CLEAR YOUR MIND SO YOU CAN CLEAR YOUR TO-DO LIST

Lately, I have definitely been on information overload. It's getting to that point in the semester that I feel like I can't think straight. There is so much to do, and I am struggling more than ever to concentrate on one thing for an extended period of time. My focus is so off. Part of it is because I really need a break. I could use some time at home and time away from writing papers and plowing through never-ending required readings. But it's also because I just have a lot on my mind.

An article I found from Forbes called, "10 Steps to Conquering Information Overload" stuck out to me, because I realized that is exactly what I was experiencing. In one my classes last year, I learned about the concept of cognitive overload, which is due to the massive amount of information and stimulation we have on a regular basis. There is so much we can focus on at one time that it can be hard to really buckle down and pay attention to one task. I decided to do one of the exercises the article, and write down the things that were consuming my thoughts.

This is what I took away from it, and what I think it most effective way to get the full benefits from the exercise.

Let it flow out

It is easy to stop and think things through. Avoid this at all costs. The best way to get your thoughts out is to just keep writing. It doesn't matter if it comes out sloppy or doesn't make sense. It doesn't even matter if it is one giant sentence with a series of comma splices that would make your high school English teacher hurl. Keep in mind, no one else is going to be reading this.

Be honest with yourself

Since no one else is reading it, you need to be as honest as possible. This can be the hardest step. Once you put it down on paper it becomes real. If there is something you have been thinking or feeling that you haven't admitted to yourself, this is the best way to do it. It is scary, but it's worth it. If you are lying to yourself, you are wasting your time.

Write everything 

It can get tedious and take a long time, but it is worth it. If you quit before you have gotten everything out, you might miss something important. When I wrote everything out it wasn't until the very last thing I wrote that I realized what I was really concerned about. 

Don't get caught up in the details

Remember, this is for you. You don't need to clarify all of the little details like you would when you are telling a story. You want to write everything you are thinking down, but you don't need to go so in depth that you crank out a short memoir during this exercise.

Reflect

Like I said, it wasn't until the last thing I wrote down that I realized why my thoughts were so scattered. Sometimes in attempt to find a solution, you keep thinking about something over and over again. Maybe you have a moment replaying in your mind or you are thinking through possible scenarios. Either way, putting it to paper can help you thoughtfully articulate why something is stuck on your mind. Look back at what you wrote down, and pay attention to the points that seem new or can explain why you haven't been able to think clearly.

Whether you have too much going on at work or a decision that you haven't been able to make, it is important to take the time to clear your mind. In the end, you will save yourself a lot of time and energy. It's time to focus on what you need to get done, and figure out what you really want. 

 What do you do to clear your mind? Have you ever tried something like this?

P.S. Check out "How Yoga Changed My Life" for more tips on de-stressing.

*Title credit to my wonderful roommate and friend, Kenzie. Thanks for the inspiration. :)

7 THINGS I NEVER WANT MY LITTLE SISTER TO FEEL

As a big sister to a 4-year-old, I often think about how much she hasn't experienced. There is so much she has to learn. She is so innocent, and I wish that I could preserve her innocence forever. I know that it sounds cliché, but I feel like I am missing out on so much. It was my choice to go to school away from home, and I knew that I wouldn't get to see my family as much. But no one ever told me how hard it would be to miss so much of your little sister growing up.

I think that's partially because we have such a unique relationship. Not a lot of people have a 15-year age gap with a sibling, but our age difference has brought us closer, because we have a different kind of sisterly bond. In high school, when she was old enough she would run up to me and jump into my arms to greet me when I got home from school. She cried in my arms before I went to college, saying she didn't want me to leave. My mom came into the living room asking why we were both sobbing. And at three-years-old she didn't really understand what it meant for me to go to college, and every time I talked to her on the phone she asked me when I was coming home. She still does sometimes, and it breaks my heart. I wish I could be with her all the time. 

Recently, I was thinking about all of the things I don't ever want her to feel. Here are some of the things I wish she didn't have to experience:

1. The feeling that your dreams are too big. 

Step Up

Your dreams are valid. Your dreams are beautiful. And they are all yours.

Mean Girls

2.  The feeling that you like someone more than they like you. 

New Girl

It isn't always that way. Sometimes love is uneven. There will be times when someone doesn't return the feelings you have, and there will be times when you can't return the feelings someone else has about you. But I would like to think that this happens so that you are ready for when the right person does come around, and neither of you has to question it.

3. The feeling that you are all alone.

One Tree Hill

 There are people that care. Sometimes when you are really upset, you might feel like you have no one to talk to, because no one understand what you are going through. But that's not true. And I want you to know that.

Boy Meets World

4. The feeling like you aren't enough. 

One Tree Hill

You are amazing. And don't believe them when they try to tell you otherwise.

Sara Bareilles

5. The feeling that you need to look a certain way.  

VS

You are so much more than the world will make you think. We live in a world that places way too much value on "beauty" or what they deem as "beautiful." Make your own definition, and forget about the rest of it.

6.  The feeling that people will let you down.

90210

There are people you can count on. It's easy to get caught up in all the bad in the world. There are bad people who do bad things. But there are so many wonderful people in the world, and they have so much to offer and so much love to give.

Grey's Anatomy

7. The feeling of a broken heart. 

Demi Lovato

 I love you more than you know, sis. And you can rant to me about boys any time. But not too soon.

Tina and Amy

More than anything, I want my little sister to know how much I think about her, and how much she means to me. I wish I could prevent her from feeling all of these things, but I know that this is just how life works. So instead, I plan to be there for her to remind her that everything is going to be okay.

6 SIGNS YOU ARE READY FOR WINTER BREAK

Last night I was talking to someone about school that said, "Have you ever had so much to do that you just take a nap?" Sometimes instead of deciding where to start, it's easier to avoid your responsibilities all together--that it is until it's the night before your 6 page essay is due, and so far you have taken a few minutes to think of a title and set up the perfect Spotify playlist for this weekend's festivities. Thanksgiving break is in sight, and everyone is itching to spend some time away from school work.

The worst part is that as soon as we get back from Thanksgiving break Winter break seems so close. There are just a few more classes and dreaded finals in between you and freedom. But the signs that you are in desperate need of this break are already appearing. Here are some of the things you might be experiencing: 

//ONE// You are reading this. If you are being honest with yourself, there are plenty of things you could be studying or readings you should actually be reading. But instead, you found yourself scanning social media, and looking for anything more exciting than studying the key differences between mitosis and meiosis.

//TWO// You spend more time on your "homework breaks" than actually doing homework. I've earned a quick peak at what's new on Twitter, right? I think I deserve a snack about now.

//THREE// You find any excuse not to do your assigned readings or other homework. Maybe I should actually take the time to read through the Terms and Conditions on iTunes right now. Kim Kardashian and Kanye on the rocks again? I better see what's going on this time. 

//FOUR// You are already making plans for what you are going to do (or not do) over winter break. If Friends comes on Netflix on January 1st, and I'm on the 4th season of Gilmore Girls, how many episodes per day do I need to watch to finish in time? That counts as studying math, right? 

//FIVE// Your motivation and productivity are quickly draining. Some days are better than others. One day with a cup of coffee and a little spark, you are ready to take on the world. And the next day nothing sounds better than staying inside and catching up with your favorite TV characters.

//SIX// You start doing things you wouldn't normally do to procrastinate. The other day I ran up to my roommate saying, "I'm not a Packers fan. I don't even like football. But this game is amazing." I don't know what came over me. Procrastination can take strange forms.

Sometimes after doing so much work there comes a point that you just need a break. In the case of a normal study period, a few minutes here and there is sufficient. But after a semester of cognitive overload, a month without homework or studying sounds glorious.

Don't worry, guys, break will be here before you know it. And when you're ringing in the new year, you won't even be thinking about all of the equations you had to solve or textbooks you plowed through. All you need to do is muster up the motivation to keep going for the next month or so, depending on when your break starts. It seems impossible at times, but think about all of time you will have without tests and papers to write. But for now, go be productive! You can do it. Ryan believes in you.

Are you ready for a break?

INGRID MICHAELSON TAKES MADISON

Friday night Ingrid Michaelson took the new Memorial Union stage. The concert included on-stage spooning, an attempted paper airplane, and flawless singing in between her sarcastic remarks. I don't think I have ever laughed so much at a concert.

For those of you who may have seen Ingrid at Summerfest or the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, this was a completely different show. In part, it was because of the venue and the fact that the audience seemed to have a wider age range. But it was also due to Ingrid's slower set. People sat down almost the whole concert, with the exception of a couple groups on the main floor that would stand and dance during some of her more upbeat songs. It wasn't until the final song in her encore that the everyone was on their feet.

Minneapolis Native Chris Koza opened the show with soft indie-pop beats, including a song he wrote that appears on the soundtrack for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, "The Wolves and Ravens." Chris and his guitarist played a short set, not saying much in between songs. The biggest reaction he got from the audience was when he asked if anyone was excited for Ingrid to come out.

Finally, shortly after 9 o'clock Ingrid scurried onto stage and opened with the first song on her Lights Out album, "Home." From the beginning it was clear that she was going to be cracking jokes the whole show. "Madison! I love you guys! You should have a square garden somewhere. Then, I can play there and say I have played Madison Square Garden." During "Maybe" she held out "me" in the "you're gonna come back to me" so long that it first appeared that she was showing off, until she held it out so long it became humorous.

One of the best parts of the concert was when Ingrid said, "Oh, you guys are giving me the vapors." Then admitting she wasn't sure if that was the right word, she joked about Siri not being available to answer her question. She was trying to say the audience member's compliments were making her lightheaded from how sweet they were. A few songs later a crew member popped onto stage with a piece of paper for her, which she announced had the Wikipedia definition for the vapors.

From Wikipedia, Vapors includes: "hysteria, mania, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, fainting, withdrawal syndrome, mood swings, or PMS, ascribed primarily to women and thought to be caused by internal emanations. This is related to the similar term female hysteria. Vapors were considered to be the female equivalent to melancholy found in men."

She was distraught with the fact that it was about female hysteria. But then she read "a case of the vapors" is usually used for sarcastic or comic effect, which helped her justify her attempt at using it.

Then she tried to make the piece of paper into a paper airplane as she complained about how bad she was at making them. Finally, an audience member suggested she crumple it into a ball--which still only made it to the front row.

Before her popular "You and I" she told us one of the things she hates is when people call her "Cute." "No! I am dark and twisted and sad", she pleaded. And then she proceeded to sing, "Maybe I think you're cute and funny. Maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you, if you know what I mean", and had a group spoon session with the lyrics, "But baby how we spoon like no one else."

She played her top hit from Lights Out, "Girls Chase Boys", and some of her other popular songs, including "The Way I Am." But she slowed it down a lot with songs like, "Winter Song" (her duet with Sara Bareilles), "Ready to Lose," and "Over You."

While singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," she had to restart, because she messed up. "Wouldn't it be great if you could start over at your jobs? Oh, excuse me; can we start this presentation over? Could we just resew this guy back up?" While it wasn't an up-on-your-feet-dancing kind of show, it was still a great show. Her beautiful voice and quirky personality made for a great way to spend a Friday night.

For her encore, Ingrid and her band members sang "Warpath" along to a specific clapping pattern that she admitted to messing up often. She warned the audience not to clap along, because she would mess up and had to start over when someone in the front row clapped along anyway. She finished with "Afterlife", inviting some audience members on stage to dance around them--including a middle aged woman who clearly had a few too many and kept trying to steal the microphone from one of the band members. 

Someone took "We're going to live like there's no tomorrow" a bit too seriously.

WHAT TO WATCH: NEW IN MUSIC

 

Confession: I am a music junkie. I would listen to music while I slept if I could. Since I am pumped about getting to see Ingrid Michaelson tonight, I decided to share some of the great music I have discovered lately. These past few weeks have been golden with all of the great new music I have discovered. If you check out my updated about page, you will find Mat Kearney is one of my all time favorite artists. He hasn't put out anything in a while, but he is back with "Heartbeat." The music video was shot using a drone with one take. It's fantastic. Check it out below.



You might be over Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off", but you have to hear Walk Off the Earth's rendition of it. And if you don't watch the whole thing, make sure you watch at least until around 2:50. Besides being a fun cover, there is a little surprise that made me laugh. If you like that, check out their YouTube page.



And the wonderfully weird video of "Shut Up and Dance" from my favorite band Walk the Moon (*Note not the same group as above, which is Walk Off the Earth). The video uses animation, bright colors, and stylized lighting, alongside some great dancing. There's even an allusion to the classic "Say Anything" with John Cusack. It's such a fun song, if anything it will make you want to get up and dance with them.



Finally, since I am going to see this lovely lady tonight, check out "Afterlife" by Ingrid Michaelson. It is all about overcoming fears, and I love it!




What are your favorite videos lately? Do you have any new music recommendations?

P.S. If you haven't already, check out my updated about page.

ALWAYS MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING

A few weeks ago, I got the pleasure of being in a Q&A with a real-life TV writer. During a 50-minute lecture, I often tend to start to get bored, and I repeatedly check my watch to see when I will be able to leave. An hour and half past, and it never occurred to me to check the time. I could sit and listen to this guy talk all day long. "This guy" is Stephen Falk, currently working on You're the Worst, which debuted as an FX original comedy series in July 2014. He is the show's Creator, Executive Producer, and Showrunner. Additionally, he has worked on shows like Orange is the New Black and Weeds.

During the Q&A he said some things that really stuck with me. One of my favorite things he said was, "Always move on to the next thing--even before you find out how the last thing turned out." He said in regards to always moving on to new writing projects, specifically, because there is always going to be a "no." Even if there is a "yes", there is a "no", because in the TV Industry are a lot of steps to getting shows into actual production, and then being aired, and then being renewed for more seasons. We all recognize this from watching TV. Every fall a slew of shows are advertised, some might last a few episodes, some might last the year, and very few make it on to run for multiple seasons. But what we don't see is all of the shows that are written or even recorded that never make it. So, if you are always working on the next thing, you don't have to be as disappointed, because you are already making something new. He also applied this more broadly, saying you could even think about things like essays that way. Always be thinking about the next thing, because at the end of the day grade (or whatever it may be) doesn't matter as much as you think it does at the time.

That isn't to say that we don't feel it when things don't work out. He told a hilarious story about when he worked on a show that he created a few years ago. It was about what happened when he got the call that the network was pulling the plug, while he was recording an episode in New York. They had just finished a cut when he got the call, and said he would be right back and then walked out of the building, because he no longer had a job there. This night involved some choice beverages to cope with bad news, he ended up stealing a guitar, and he sat in the dark, because it was around the time of Sandy and the power went out. "It was a dark time, you guys," he quipped. He also later found out there was a police investigation being opened about the guitar, which turned out to be worth $10,000 and on loan from Gibson. So that happened. 

No one is perfect. No one has it all. No one can be sure that what they have will be there tomorrow. Or the day after that. That's why you always have to move onto the next thing.

Another thing he said that I liked was to always stick with what you believe in. He said, "If you fail, at least you have something that you are proud of. Because if you compromise, and it fails, then you don't even have that." There are going to be times when people want you to do something their way, but if it doesn't feel right, you shouldn't compromise your integrity.

He also talked about some of the shows he has worked on, and which shows he thinks have great pilot episodes. People asked questions about how to get where he is today, and he shared his knowledge and advice from the industry. He told us to start building up "a body of evidence." You need to get stuff out there and get your name out there. One thing I thought was interesting was that people even get recognized based on their Twitter. When looking for comedy writers, someone's Twitter might give an indication of how creative and funny they are. And last but not least, he said that you need to learn the rules, but keep what makes you weird. It is what will make you stand out. 

No matter what I end up doing in life, the lessons I learned from Stephen Falk will still be valuable. He was funny and outspoken in the best way. I like to imagine that one day I will be giving a similar Q&A, referencing the time that I first heard a TV writer speak. I'll tell the story about the autumn afternoon that I never wanted to end, and pass along his wisdom. Or maybe this will be the basis of the first TV show I write. Either way, it is safe to say it was time well spent.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE SIGNING A LEASE

This time of year is full of renters pushing you to sign the lease right now. Like right now. Oh you like this place? You should probably get it now, because it might not be there tomorrow. And truth is that can happen. But you also shouldn't give them your money and sign any papers before you have thought everything through.

1. Make sure you are happy with the people you are living with. Living with your friends is a ton of fun. You can make plans to go out in your living room or you can make your living room your plans. It's great. But you have to make sure that you are living with people that you get along with really well. You also have to consider if it will affect your friendship. Did anyone warn you against rooming with your best friend freshman year? It wasn't just because they wanted you to branch out. Living with anyone in close quarters can be difficult. There are going to be little things that get to you or that you aren't used to. It is part of living with other people. Know what you can live with and what you might end up resenting your best friend for. Does a mess drive you crazy? Maybe you shouldn't room with the friend that constantly has her clothes and books scattered.

2.  Go over the costs. Are you going to be able to pay the rent every month? What is included? Here are some things to ask the landlords/renters:

• Are utilities included?
• What do we have to pay separately for? 
• How much is the security deposit? Is it more or less than an actual months rent?

3. How many people do you want to live with?

• How many people are allowed to sign the lease? There are certain codes and regulations that only allow a certain number of people to live in an apartment/house. It often varies depending on how many bedrooms there are. 
• What if we need subleasers? 
• Are you okay with sharing a room? 
• Know how to say no if you don't agree with everyone on something. And be honest about who you want to live with. Sometimes it's tricky, but you have to be honest. 

4. Location. This can be a huge reason not to live somewhere. How close are you to your classes/job? Are you near other friends? If you are more than a five-minute walk away from your friends, you are most likely not going to see them very often. It's not like in the dorms where you can walk 10 feet to hang out with a bunch of friends. You have to put an effort into going to see your friends, and especially in the colder months you will want to stay in close proximity to home.  Also, consider what the neighborhood is like. If you are going to be a junior, do you really want to re-sign in the "sophomore slums?"

5.  What other details should I ask the landlord/renters?

• Do I need renters insurance?
• When can we move in? Is there a certain move-in time? Some places need time to evaluate the apartment/house before new people move in to check for any damages. They also might offer cleaning services and need to know what kind of mess the previous people left behind.
• Who can we contact with any further questions?

6. Are you planning on studying abroad next year? This can be a super important factor, because if you sign a lease for an apartment/house, you are usually committing to the place for the year. That means that you either need to find some one who is willing to sublease or pay for the living space even when you aren't living there. It is expensive and frustrating to pay for housing when you are going to be paying so much for study abroad to begin with that semester. So subleasing is probably your best option. Unless you want to live in the dorms the other semester. You then have to find someone who will get along with your other roommates and make sure it is okay with them. Some people don't want to live with strangers, so you have to be respectful and make sure the people you want to live with are fully aware of your intentions before you sign. Get to know these people before they take over your spot. What do you really know about them?

7. Would you be okay living co-ed? Living co-ed could open up some more options. For example, if you are looking to sublease you might be able to find someone more easily if you can sublease to either a guy or girl. Or if you are looking to live with more people, you have more options to choose from. However, living co-ed isn't for everyone. Do what makes you most comfortable. After all, this is where you are going to be calling home for a while.

All of that being said, try not to stress too much. Getting your own house/apartment is really exciting. You are getting more freedom than in the dorms, and you don't have to wear flip flops in the shower. Just make sure that by the end of this process you are happy with your choices, and that you are excited to move into the next stage of your life.

This post first appeared on Her Campus.