Spring Fever

Happy Spring! As the weather warms up, wardrobes start to change. Sundresses, sandals and swimsuits become more than just distant memories from summers past, but start to make their way out of the closet and back onto your body once more as the temperature rises from Arctic to balmy.

But how do you deal with the awkward end of winter, beginning of spring time when the weather isn't quite warm enough for spring clothes but your winter clothes feel too blah? Here are some tips for working a springy look into your still-warm-for-winter wardrobe.

Focus on color
Color is a great way to work some spring into your outfits. Look for  warm sweaters, jeans and tops in the pastels and brights that you'd normally wear in your spring outfits. Even simple accessories like a bright statement necklace can transform a would-be-winter outfit into something that looks ready for the long warm days of spring. Look for shades of orange, neons and icy pastels — the hot new shades for the spring — to make your clothing pop.

Pastels are all the rage for this spring season.
Photo credit: www.thekissters.com

Scarves!
Scarves are fantastic for keeping you warm while still looking stylishly ready for spring. Since they come in a multitude of colors, patterns and sizes, you're sure to find a few that fit your style! Plus, they tend to be super cheap (and still good looking), especially at places like Target.

Scarves will keep you warm while still being stylish!
Photo Credit: www.initialoutfitters.com

Layers, layers, layers
The biggest problem with dressing for spring when it still feels like winter out is dressing for the varying temperatures. Layer tee shirts, sweaters and scarves on top, and top it all off with skinny jeans tucked into boots and you'll be ready for the day, even if it's 30 degrees in the morning and 70 in the afternoon. Cover it all off with a versatile military jacket like this one from J. Crew and you'll be the most fashionable girl at school.

Layers (like the sweater pictured above) will help you transition your clothes into spring!
Photo Credit: www.thesweetestoccassion.com

Use these tips and you'll be on your way to looking great yet weather appropriate in no time!

Reviews

I love to eat. I mean, who doesn't? My dad worked as a professional chef in restaurants and hotels when I was growing up, so from a very young age I knew a lot about the ups and downs of the restaurant world. Going out to dinner with him was like going out to dinner with our own personal food critic. He'd examine everything from the atmosphere to the service to the food itself, making comments to my brothers and I along the way.

Now, I have taken the expertise that I've picked up from him over the years and applied it to my own dining experiences.

Lately, I've been eating out a lot — thanks to those mid-semester blues that make every student crave a home-cooked meal instead of the same old cafeteria food — and so I've been trying out a whole bunch of different places around High Point. I'm always on the lookout for somewhere new to try with my friends, so I read a lot of restaurant reviews, both at school and at home, and then go out and make my own opinions.

Before I decide on a new place though, I am always sure to read at least a few reviews to make sure that I will have an enjoyable experience. Normally, I just type in "restaurants in High Point, N.C." (or whatever town I'm in) and then see what Google brings up. However, I've started to learn which sites are the best for restaurant reviews so I can go directly there, rather than trusting my friend Google to do all of the work for me.

My favorite site is Yelp. In the site, you can search by food type, location, or both. If one of the search suggestions sounds good to you, you can then click on the name to find information, menus, photos and you guessed it: reviews.

What I like about these reviews is that they're submitted by average people. Not a fancy New York Times writer that has been eating caviar since before he could say "fish eggs."

Every review has the option to say where the author is from, what they'd give it out of five stars, and how many other reviews they've given on the site. There is then an area where the reviewer can write out their experiences, both good and bad.

Though sometimes they're not the most well-written, the reviews are genuine. They are written mostly by locals the frequent the locations that they review, so the reader is able to say things with confidence because they have been to the restaurants enough to know the consistencies. They are also great for figuring out what to order once you get to the restaurant, because most reviewers are not hesitant to suggest their favorite menu items for others to try.

Though it is not full of typical reviews that one would find in a newspaper or other "credible" place, I think that Yelp has the most genuine reviews that you'll find. The writers aren't writing flowery, descriptive pieces that make you feel as if you were enjoying the meal with them. Instead, they are merely providing their own opinions and letting you decide whether or not you want to have the dining experience yourself. They aren't afraid to be harsh and completely truthful with their reviews, and because everything is published — unlike in a newspaper, which has limited space — you are able to see both the good and the bad.

Because of its ease of use and honest reviews, I will definitely continue to use Yelp for a long time to come when I'm looking for new places to eat.