Category: Geneve

Mind Your Ps and Qs 

We’ve all been there. Balancing classes and midterms starting, but also having the thought of summer internships looming ahead on the horizon. I am here for you. This blog post is meant to help you. Grab a cup of coffee, let’s get started!

If you know me personally, you know I have an unhealthy obsession with Facebook Marketplace.

It kind of all started off as a joke between a few friends and me. One of them had spent the summer in Boston, and with employment opportunities slim and plenty of people moving out of the city, she and her roommates took advantage of the timing and started flipping Facebook Marketplace furniture. What this means is, she scours for cheap or free furniture pieces from people desperately trying to get rid of them, picks them up, and re-lists on Facebook Marketplace later at a higher price –thereby making a profit.

When this same friend moved into her off-campus apartment, she desperately needed a couch. When I was over at her place one night, I took it upon myself to find the perfect couch off of Facebook Marketplace, and as I was sitting in a Zoom meeting while browsing on the side... I found it. I struck GOLD.

The couch had only been listed 3 hours ago, and it was already 10pm. Although it wasn't necessarily late, it was still an abnormal time. But after we decided to message the seller, he said that we could come pick it up immediately.

We conveniently found a Zipcar (pickup truck nonetheless) located right next to my friend's apartment and drove on over to pick up the couch. Turns out, picking up the couch was not the biggest struggle of our night. Getting it into the elevator was a struggle of its own, and it was too wide to fit in the staircase.

After two tumultuous hours and a little bit of pivot work, we finally made it up before getting it stuck in the doorway going into her apartment. Again, the key to success was the pivot, and we finally got the couch into its home. The condition of the couch was immaculate – it looked hardly used, and the buttery natural leather was exactly what she was looking for!

Sometimes, you might not be looking for anything in particular, but I PROMISE you that a regular Facebook Marketplace check-in doesn't hurt. That was how I came across this vintage Art Deco sculpture lamp. I am a regular follower of vintage interior decoration stores online and knew that this was definitely worth more than the $10 that the seller had listed it at.

I picked it up from a sweet older lady's porch (masks on, socially distanced with contactless payment via Venmo, of course!) and later found out that the same type of lamp retails anywhere from $160-$900. I definitely scored with this deal, and while I don't use the lamp for lighting purposes, it's the perfect tasteful nude sculpture to really tie my decor together and give my room a more grown-up look.

So, what are you waiting for? Hop on Facebook Marketplace and browse through to see if there's anything that tickles your fancy. And of course, make sure to stay safe and try to do contactless pickup and payment if possible!

Approaching Summer 2020, COVID-19 had given me a bleak outlook for any potential internships. While I was lucky to still have an (unpaid) remote internship, I also loaded up my to-do list with side hustles and passion projects. Although there has been a lot of uncertainty in the world lately, there is no better time than now to – for lack of better word – shoot for the stars! 

One key project that has taken up much of my time in the past month has been working with fellow COM (now graduated!) peer Maya Malekian. As a participant in the PR Council Agency-Ready certification program, Maya saw a high number of engaged students with many talents in the PR field without internships for the summer, but plenty of skills to offer. This was combined with an increased number of nonprofits and small businesses that have been affected by the pandemic and have had to scale back on communications efforts during a time when social conversation is more important than ever. Maya wanted to start a pro bono integrated communications agency to help bring these two needs together in a mutually beneficial way, and hence empath worldwide was born. 

My past few months have included countless Zoom and Google Meet calls, late night brainstorming Facetimes, and reaching out to the BU community and beyond to recruit leadership members and now creatives to join the team. As our August 1st launch date is approaching, I feel a little nervous, but am more excited to finally reveal what we've been working on over the past few weeks and begin doing work for our clients. 

Additionally, I applied to the Her Campus Aussie Business Plan Competition on a whim. Normally, I wouldn't say I have an entrepreneurial spirit by any means, but I decided to pitch my idea of Do Up Dorm Designs, an affordable interior design consultation service for college students. I have always had a passion for interior decorating and this was the perfect opportunity to put it to the test. I ended up moving to the next round in the competition as one of 20 finalists, and in addition to receiving a $2,250 cash prize, I could be one of 5 winners of $10,000. I have been meeting regularly with a mentor who has experience in the interior design industry to help flesh out my business plan in preparation for pitch day in August, where I'll be presenting to Procter & Gamble executives!

I have three main pointers for how to fulfill your passions through side hustles: 

1. You don't need to actively seek out opportunities, but find ways to get creative. If something comes up that piques your interest in the slightest, see if you can take advantage and use it as an avenue to try something new that you've always wanted to. 

2. Never stop learning! Your pursuits can be completely outside of what you study in school. There are so many online courses to engage in nowadays–many of which are free–and other interactive groups like Patreon where you can learn directly from experts in a field! This is also a great way to network and learn from a mentor.

3. Multitasking! Although 110% quality comes first, it is always possible to multitask, especially now that the world is operating remotely. You might have a 9-5 commitment at an internship but there is always a way to weave in calls and other tasks with that schedule. Find ways to get creative, and always use a calendar system that works for you to make sure you don't miss a thing!

I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve never understood why or how people can live with just plain sheets, three books on a desk, and a black lamp. Some people might say I’m extra. I mean, I won’t deny it. But throughout my three years at BU, I’ve had a great time putting up decorations of my favorite things and creating a space that I love coming home to every night after a long day of class and work. One really common misconception about my decorations is that I spent a ton of money in order to put everything together, but that’s just all false! I paid for all of my decorations myself, and as you know, #brokecollegegirl so these options are all super affordable! I also recycle decorations from year to year, which saves me a ton of money because I am not shopping like crazy every September. 

Marble contact paper

This is probably the one trick that everyone asks about the first time they step into my room. Since freshman year, I was inspired by my friend who attends the other BU (what’s up Ally!) who did this when she moved in. I used to get my marble contact paper from Lowe's and actually pack it in my suitcase from home, but now I found that Target has rolls as well! I purchased this one and this one this one for my apartment currently. My biggest tips for putting the contact paper on is to cut it beforehand, use the grid on the back, and use an ID card to smooth out bubbles. If you can't smooth them out, take a thumbtack and poke a microscopic hole to get the air out that way!

Frames

I always thought it was B.S. that people put their wall art in frames, but it actually makes SUCH a big difference and makes your space feel more like home. The dollar store is actually just two blocks from where I live, so I get gold frames from there and print out designs I made on Canva. You can get super creative with this because you can literally print anything out and frame it for a polished look.

Clear your desk

Since freshman year, I've always taken the desk hatch off my desk. The desk hatch is the shelf thing that most dorm desks come with, and most people will store books or decor on it. I promise you, after I've done this and told my friends to do this, not one friend has kept it on. When you take the desk hatch off, it opens up so much more space on your desk and makes it feel less claustrophobic and more inviting to do work on. You might wonder, where do I keep the hatch then? I've put it under my bed or in my closet as a shoe rack, wherever space allows!

Get a rug

I don't care who you are, or what your style is. You can benefit from a rug. Rugs transform space instantly, help make cleaning for you easier, and make a great landing spot for your feet when you come home. Avoid white rugs, because although they will look nice the first few weeks you get them, they inevitably will start turning other colors. My go-to is a grey rug, because it literally never gets dirty, and doesn't close in a space like a black rug would. If you're feeling more fun, get a patterned rug. This is the only exception of having a lighter rug, because if there is a darker colored pattern on it, dirt will look less obvious. Also, don't be afraid to have more than one rug in a room! It helps you separate spaces. For example, I have a smaller, shag rug right by my bed for my feet when I wake up, but a larger area rug right next to it. 

Wheels change your life

I got a three-shelf cart my freshman year and I have used it every year since then. There are metal utility carts, wooden carts, metal carts, and larger carts, so get any one that fits your style and taste. You can use them as a bar cart, as a bedside table, or a makeup station. The options are endless and they're super easy to take apart at the end of the semester.

Build your throw blanket collection now!

Throw blankets transform spaces, whether it's your living room or your bed. They also keep you warm at night when the heat isn't doing enough! They're also great because they add a new layer to your bed and are easy to change up when you get bored, especially if you get a reversible one. My favorite throws are either fuzzy sherpa ones or knit ones. 

Lighting is key.

Most of the time, the dorm lights are really harsh and not inviting at all. String lights are a popular option to spice up your space. I used to use these globe lights in white because I thought they were a little more unique than the standard christmas lights. Since sophomore year, I've also been loving the pendant light, which is literally just an Edison bulb in a hanging pendant light that you plug in. I use a command hook to hang it off the ceiling and think that it gives off a more sleek, clean look than all-around lights.

Display mementos

80% of the things I have on my space are things that remind me of someone, something, or a moment in time. I also love to display things that people gave me. Don't get so focused on creating the "perfect aesthetic" and instead, choose some key colors to stick with and add in things that correspond and also remind you of the things you love most. For example, I bought this postcard when I visited the Camp display at the MET this past summer, the Kauai bracelet is something my mom got me as a surprise from our cruise trip to Hawaii, and the stone is from One Stone, a group I was in in high school that means a lot to me.

Keep it level!

There's now a level right on your phone with the "Measure" app, so you don't even need a friend around to give you a second eye when hanging things. Just make sure your phone has the rotation lock off.

Functionality

Lastly, the most important part of your space is functionality. It might be a bit too late now to move stuff around, but if it's not, consider it! Before I start unpacking in a new place every semester, I always assess the space to see how it may be more functional. The way the furniture was left by the previous person may not be the best way for the space to be optimized. For example, I always like to keep my dining table closest to the kitchen as possible. You don't want to be walking through a labyrinth of couches to put your dinner on the table. Extra tip: in small spaces, you might be tempted to push all your furniture as close to the wall as possible to optimize space. It'll actually look bigger if you pull each piece about 1 inch off the perimeter, because the space behind gives the illusion that there is more space than there actually is!

I hope these tips help you create a space you love! I'd love to see pictures of your decor and how you set everything up! Feel free to reach out to me glau99@bu.edu or via Instagram @genevelau!

Whether you like it or not, Instagram has climbed its way to the top in terms of social media site rankings. From mouthwatering foodie accounts to fashion bloggers with perfect outfits, don't think that you have to have a ton of followers or an endless amount of money to curate your feed into something that reflects the life you love! Here are five easy ways to spice up your Instagram game! And hey, maybe you're not that into Instagram--nothing wrong with that! Just pick one, mess around, and see how you like it!

1. Get a Lightroom Mobile preset!

I first heard about people buying presets from bloggers. Those can range from $30-$70 for a pack-- ridiculous! I resorted to searching the internet and found that you can buy a TON of different presets on Etsy for way cheaper! You can buy packs for around $10 or a single preset for $5. To choose a preset, I recommend going with colors that you like, or ones that create a visual you love. For example, mine is warm toned because I like sunshine and summer, which is kind of what all my pictures look like. I also really like it when I look tan and my hair looks blonder, all of which my preset helps accentuate!

2. Add highlights!

There are endless ways you can choose to categorize your highlights. Personally, I like to do them by location, but a lot of people will choose topics. I also like to choose a cover for the highlight that matches my feed, so overall there is a cohesive aesthetic.

3. Post what you want!

Sometimes, we take so many pictures to get "the perfect shot". In choosing which one to post, I always go with the one that I feel the best about! It's okay to ask your friends for advice sometimes, but make sure to choose something that really portrays who you are and let your personality shine through!

4. Create interactive stories!

Instagram stories are a great way to show followers a more "real" version of you! You can post polls, show your bites, and snippets of moments of your life worth sharing. I learned how to add fun embellishments and text effects by following and watching bloggers' Instagram accounts. Adding color behind words, alternating fonts, and using the pen are all tools that can help you!

5. Make your caption short, sweet, and 100% you!

The last part, and usually the longest part of crafting the perfect Instagram post: the caption! You don't want it to be too long, you want it to catch people's attention, and you want it to relate to the photo. I usually like to include something that happened that day, or share a moment that I was making a fool of myself. Don't be afraid to be silly! People love laughing a little while scrolling through.

With that, go on out there! Make your account 110% you! And let's connect- @genevelau .