LSE – Mackenzie Billington

Life Update: Senior Year + Summer Plans

March 23, 2016 by Mackenzie

lifeupdatecover

Hello, friends! I’ve realized it’s been a while since I’ve shared an update about what’s been actually going on in my life. These past few months have been totally hectic, but unforgettable to say the least. I wanted to share with you what has been going on in my life lately! I mentioned recently on snapchat that I officially have an internship, so I thought I would finally let you know what my plans are for this upcoming summer & a big decision I recently made about my senior year of college. I apologize if this post is something of a novel, but I have to procrastinate studying for my upcoming exam somehow!

Tbt + Life Update

August 28, 2015 by Mackenzie

Top | Shorts | Earrings | Sandals

Hey y’all! This is a little #tbt outfit from London! I paired this bright red off the shoulder top with white shorts and cobalt earrings. I am going to be doing some more throwback outfits from London over the next few weeks!

I just wanted to apologize for being MIA these past few weeks or so. I have been so busy with moving back from London, moving back to college in the US, and getting settled in during my first week back for classes. More than anything, I am so ready to be back into a daily routine. I decided this week that I am actually go to apply to LSE to study abroad for an entire semester this upcoming spring. I had the most incredible two months at the London School of Economics, and I am dying to go back. I’m also considering King’s College because it is located in the same area as LSE and actually offers a spring semester. The study abroad program at my university does not offer a spring semester for LSE, so it is going to be difficult to jump through hoops and make it happen. However, I am very optimistic about the chance that it may fall in place and that I will have the opportunity to be back at my favorite school. I can make a post about my study abroad experience if that is something y’all would like to see!

As for this current semester, I am taking 3D art, art history, accounting 2, intro to marketing, and supply chain management. I am glad that I’m finally getting into classes for my major. I’m also living in the sorority house again this year, which I really, really love! Living in the sorority house my sophomore year was the most incredible experience, and I am so lucky that I get to live here again. I am planning on posting pictures of my room sometime next week! It’s really different from my room last year, but I’m glad I finally decided to switch things up.

I am sorry that I haven’t posted in a while. I am going to start posting regularly when I finally get a solid routine in place. I hope you all are having a fabulous week!

Check Out my LSE Dorm

July 7, 2015 by Mackenzie

My lovely view haha

Hello hello! I have finally moved into my dorm, and I absolutely love it. All of the rooms for my dorm are singles, so I do not have a roommate. However, we do have a community bathroom/kitchen. I have finally moved everything in (though I could use some more decorations/color in my room). Our room came with pillows, linens, and towels, which was very nice. I actually just ordered new bedding and pillows for my room in the sorority house this fall, and I can’t wait to post pictures as soon as I get those in the mail. For this fall, I’ve decided to do a solid colored bedspread with fun & bright pillows!

As a lot of y’all know, I actually spent yesterday in the emergency room. Two nights ago, I woke up around 3:00 am with the worst pains in my right side. They were so excruciating that I could not stop screaming. I went down to the front desk of the dorm, and I collapsed on the floor. The staff at the front desk called the ambulance, which came almost three hours later. When I arrived at the hospital, they had to hook me up to morphine, which still didn’t completely fix the pain. After several blood tests, they found out I had a very severe stomach infection/bug that I most likely picked up in Tanzania. I had to miss my first day of classes yesterday, which honestly was a bummer. I hate getting behind in school and missing assignments. I was able to make it to class this morning, but I still don’t entirely feel like myself yet. I hope I start feeling better so I can start enjoying my time here at LSE. Sorry if this post was a little bit of a downer, but I just wanted to let you all know what’s been going on in my life! I am just very fortunate that I am recovering and that I don’t have to surgery or anything crazy like that. Things could have definitely been worse, and I know I will appreciate my good health in the future. But thank you all so, so much for your love and support on tumblr. Y’all’s encouraging messages made my day!

I went to Lush Oxford Street again a few days ago, so I will be posting about my mini haul later today (or possibly tomorrow).

Thank you for checking out my blog! Hope you all are having an awesome, awesome week!

Packing for London

June 14, 2015 by Mackenzie

I only have a few more days before I head off for my summer abroad adventures, and I couldn’t be more excited. Packing for two weeks in Tanzania wasn’t too difficult, but seven weeks in London was no easy task. As a chronic over-packer, it’s hard not to try to shove my entire wardrobe into one suitcase. Here are some packing tips I have learned over the years:

Check out the weather for the trip. Look at the monthly averages for the country, and then pack accordingly. London weather can be all over the place, so I packed things I could layer. I packed a fleece, a sweater, a kimono, and a denim jacket that can all be easily worn over any outfit I packed if it gets chilly.
Type a list. Before I begin packing, I always type a list of exactly what I want to pack. I put things in categories like clothes, toiletries, etc. This really helps me know exactly what I need for the trip and ensures I won’t forget anything important.
Pick outfits that you can mix and match. Dresses are always easy to put in your suitcase and make for an easy outfit. I also pack shorts/skirts first, and then I select two tops for each bottom. Before packing a certain piece, think about what it would actually go with and how you could stye it.
Roll things! I always roll my clothes in my suitcase because it does actually save more room than folding!
Don’t overpack when it comes to shoes- they really add lots of weight to your bag and take up tons of space. Be realistic and pick comfortable shoes that you will actually end up wearing during the trip. Always wear your heaviest shoes on the plane to save space in your bag. When I study abroad in Europe, I always wear my rain boots on the flights because they are quite large.
For packing, I always bring a large suitcase and a duffle bag for my carry on. Always go for a suitcase with wheels. The duffle bag is awesome because if I decide to take a weekend trip to another country, I can bring that big instead of my huge suitcase. I always bring a crossbody purse to Europe for everyday use as well!
Really think about what you actually need. I am a huge overpacker, but I try to think realistically. “When am I really going to wear these heels? Where would I actually wear this maxi dress”. If you really think about each piece you are packing and being realistic, you will not overpack as much!
It’s always good to make sure you leave a little extra room in your suitcase in case you decide to shop there or bring gifts home!

I posted some pictures of the clothes I packed. I will probably add a few more things (like socks, a rain jacket, etc.), but this is a general basis for the outfits I am bringing with me for the London School of Economics.

In summary, here is what I packed (clothes-related)-

4 rompers
5 dresses
4 shorts
2 skirts
1 pants (going to pack another white pair soon)
12 tops
denim jacket
sweater
kimono
fleece
sandals
wedges
converse
rain boots
crossbody purse

Thank you all so much for checking out my packing post! I head off to Tanzania later this week, and then I go straight to London two weeks later! I can’t wait to share my adventures with y’all!

Safe Travels!