Current Obsessions

Classes start tomorrow, but before that I though I'd bring you the things I can't get enough of right now.

Trouser Socks - These are perfect for so many things. They kept my feet toasty on the red-eye flight back to school, prevent blisters with boots and keep your ankles warm at frisbee practice. J. Crew Factory is my go to, and they are almost always on sale.

Nikon Camera - I have a super nice D700 and I have finally learned how to use it (kinda). Everyone looks like a supermodel. The only problem is it weighs a ton.

Card Case - I have a great wristlet wallet that fits my phone, but this case is perfect for going out. My phone still fits in my pocket and all my essentials are right there. As someone who had their wallet recently stolen, this is a great case.

Houseboating - For Labor Day weekend the whole family came out for three days of sun, water sports, and much needed relaxation. It was a great idea for a quick vacation, and Lake Shasta was gorgeous.

Investment Account - I recently opened my first investment account, and I now spend waaayyy too much time on it. Every college student should get one. It's a great introduction to financial and risk management, and you can make a lot more than a normal bank account.

Reading Now: Ender's Game

While on the houseboat earlier this week I caught up on my reading before heading back to school, where I never have time for it. I read 4 books during the 5-day trip, but my favorite by far was, Ender’s Game. It wasn’t my first time reading it, but the last time I read it I was 11 and definitely did not fully appreciate it.

I am a total nerd and Ender’s Game is a sci-fi classic. It combines out of this world technology, with social conflict that transcends eras to set the scene for beautifully written characters.

The book follows Ender Wiggin as he trains at the international military academy aboard a space ship, where they are searching for the next commander to fight the final battle against an alien race. It may seem corny, but the personal struggles of a little kid being manipulated by everyone around him is entirely relatable.

The book does have some controversy surrounding it. The author, Orson Scott Card, has been published making some pretty awful homophobic comments. While I completely disagree with Card, I chose to still love Ender’s Game, which does not touch on any of the author’s biases.

This November I will definitely be in line to see Ender’s Game when it gets the silver screen treatment.

Best Apps for College

1. Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock

Great app for making the most of your precious sleep in college. Lets you track how different factors affect your quality of sleep. 

$1.99 for iOS

2. BAC Tracker

Everyone likes to cut loose a bit in college, just make sure you keep it safe. Enter your height, weight, and gender and it will calculate your blood alcohol concentration. It can remind you when it's safe to have another drink, set goals and favorite drinks. The party girl's new best friend.

Free for Android

3. iStudiez Pro

A great app that lets you track all of your classes, setting unique schedules, assignments, exams, projects. Never turn in another thing late or get caught by surprise by a test.

$2.99 for iOS

4. Run Keeper

Running is great in college. You get to go outside for a bit, soak up your beautiful campus, and explore. RunKeeper helps you track everything: routes, distances, paces, set goals, and break records.

Free for iOS and Android

5. School App

Almost all schools have their own app. Download it. Most have maps, academic links, calendars, emergency assistance, and a lot more. This will be your best friend orientation week

6. GroupMe

A group texting app. Great for teams, sororities, clubs, your besties. You can edit and create groups control whether you get texts or digital messages (using wi-fi/data).

Free for iOS and Android

7. Dropbox

You should have Dropbox on your phone and laptop. This has safed my life, and GPA multiple times. Like when my computer got ran over, I was able to send documents from my phone that evening, or when I was at a tournament and forgot to email a document to my professor. Get it and use it.

Free for iOS and Android

8. Songza

The best music streaming site your will ever use. No more discombobulated Pandora playlists, no more crappy songs. Pick curated playlists based on the time of day, mood, and activity. My favorites are Alt-Rock Workout and Sunshine Indie Pop

Free for iOS and Android

9. Bank

Most banks have apps now a days with features like automatic transfers, check deposit, and budget tracking. If you are like me and have a small regional credit union on the other side of the country this is a life saver

Free for iOS and Android

10. USA Today

I have kissed a lot of news app frogs in my day and this is the definitive winner. With up to date news, low data usage, and easy navigation this is a must have for the well informed college prepster.

Free for iOS and Android

 What are your go to apps for school?

Must Haves for the Tech Savvy Student

1. Macbook Air
2. Kate Spade Case for iPad
3. Zazzle Galaxy S4 Phone Case
4. Urge Bluetooth Speakers
5. Lacie Gold External Hard Drive