How to Become Prom Queen

Three Parts:Being a Likely CandidateGetting Your Name Out TherePerfecting Your Big Day
What other title is as glamorous in high school as prom queen? It's highly coveted and involves a tiara? Where do you sign up?! The competition will be fierce and the campaigning will be hard, but if you put in the effort, the title (and the tiara) can be yours.


 Part 1 of 3: Being a Likely Candidate


1
Befriend as many people as possible. What prom queen boils down to is votes. If people don’t know and like you, they have no reason to vote for you. In the months (years, if possible) before prom, get to know all of your classmates – not just the cool kids. Each person is one vote, regardless of their status in school.
While it’s important that they know you, it’s even more important that they like you. So be genuine! Put the time in and show them how great a person you are. And mean it – these relationships will last a lot longer than being prom queen will.
Don’t drop these people after the voting is done – your reputation will turn sour as soon as the contest is over.



2
Involve yourself in different activities. To meet others, have things in common, and show the school that you’re well-balanced and talented, take up a few varied extra-curriculars. To be a shoo-in for prom queen, it’s wise to be an athlete ‘’and’’ an artist. And it doesn’t hurt to be in the environmental club either.
Sometimes the staff at your school can influence who makes it to the final nominations (yep, even high school can be rigged). The more ‘’they’’ believe in you, the better your chances are to get through the red tape.


3
Be a role model for the school. Many schools require that you have good grades, are an active participant in school activities, and that you’re a model student that others should be emulating in order to be prom queen. It’s not just recommended, it’s necessary. Is your school like that? If you don’t know, it’s about time you find out!
This will establish a reputation for you as someone who would make a natural prom queen. After all, being "queen" is about leading your people, right? Show your school that you're a good leader and they'll be more inclined to vote for you.


4
Stay out of trouble. The absolute last thing you want to happen before prom rolls around is to get into trouble at your school. If you get suspended for any reason (poor grades or bad behavior), odds are you’ll be taken off any ballot, even if you were thought to be the clear winner. Don’t jinx yourself and make sure you’re on your best behavior – a real prom queen wouldn’t get into trouble anyway!
Whether it's not cheating on homework, getting caught climbing the school roof, or drawing an unfortunate picture of your least favorite teacher, don't do it. Right now, everyone else is your bread and butter. They've gotta be on your side, teachers included.




Part 2 of 3: Getting Your Name Out There
1
Be on the prom committee. You know how sometimes the staff have a say in who makes it onto court? Well, the prom committee has influence over their voters. They’re the ones that remind people how to vote and what kind of person to vote for. If you emphasize certain qualities that you have, you could subtly remind people how perfect you are for the job.
It will also show everyone how much this means to you. When they see the amount of effort you're putting in, they may be more moved to vote for you.

2
Get nominated. In most schools, someone needs to nominate you and then someone else has to second that motion. That means you need at least two people who believe in you so thoroughly that they’ll go out of their way to make sure your name is on the list. Who do you have that you can count on? Ask your best friends if they’ll do this for you – and make sure you repay the favor later!
In some instances, you may have to trade a nomination for a nomination. This is only fair! Consider it friendly competition that will make the whole thing more fun and engaging.

3
Start campaigning. Especially in big schools, campaigning is key. It’s like marketing a business – if no one hears about it, no one will come. So get your name out there: have a stand at lunch, make posters for the hallways, even try to get your voice over the PA. The more people recognize you, the more you’ll be setting yourself up for prom queen branding.
Make sure you're allowed to do whatever it is you're planning on doing. Some schools have strict policies on what posters you can put up where and when, where you can solicit their students, etc.

4
Get the word out everywhere. You know all those friends you have? Now’s the time to make sure your name infiltrates even the deepest, darkest dungeons of your school. Ask Jessica from the Go-Green Club to put up flyers in their workspace after class. Talk to Paul about distributing cupcakes to the football team. You want no stone left unturned!
This is when you should hit up all the new friends you've made over the last few months. Make sure they have t-shirts with your name on them, bracelets, keychains, and a baked good never hurts.

5
Dress the part. Last but not least, people have a certain image in their heads of what a prom queen looks like. In short, she looks good, she smells good, and she probably feels good. Here are a few ideas to be her:
Shower daily and find yourself a “prom queen” worthy, signature scent to wear every day
Piece together your fashionable outfits carefully and wear make-up that compliments your overall look
Keep your hair clean and sophisticated. Any style is good, so long as it’s clean and put-together.
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Part 3 of 3: Perfecting Your Big Day

1
Find the perfect dress. A prom queen would be nothing without the perfect prom dress. Ideally it is great for your shape, your color, and no one else is wearing it. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be perfect for you.
Consider getting a color that pops. You'll feel like the belle of the ball knowing all eyes are on you.
Get a cut that flatters your shape. Take whatever body parts you're nervous about make them work for you, not against you.
Get a dress that matches your personality. Who said a 10-foot train wasn't fashionable?


2
Get your hair and makeup just right. More pictures will be taken tonight than any other night of the school year, so get your hair and makeup perfect for the memories that are about to be made. Pile on the hairspray, too – it's not going to be a short night.
As for your makeup, it's no shame in doing it yourself. In fact, you probably know what looks better on you than a stranger does. Wear it a bit darker than what you normally wear. Smokey tones with light lips work great for prom.

3
Have a great time! It’s the night you’ve been waiting for. Instead of spending the hours beforehand being so nervous you constantly need to pee, try to concentrate on this being one of the most exciting nights of the year. You’re going to have a good time and you know it. All your friends, food, and music – what's not to like?

4
Be a gracious, deserving prom queen. If you win the title, remember that you’re prom queen – a prom queen is gracious, friendly, and humble. Show everyone how much you appreciate their votes and that this means the world to you. In other words, let them know they voted for the right person!
Don't hesitate to thank those that you know voted for you. They'll know they made the right decision by how kind and genuine you are.

5
Be gracious, whether you win or lose. Regardless of the turnout of events, it’s important to be all smiles whether you win or lose – after all, this is your prom! It’s fun just being there, getting dressed up, and dancing with your friends. You'll remember this day whether or not the title is yours, and you'll remember it as a rockin' good time.
Besides, aren’t there a couple of other high schools’ proms you could crash? Hmm...





Tips
Look at what your competitors are doing for campaigning. Try to be original and not do what they're doing.

Simple Tricks to Styling Floating Shelves

A few weeks ago, we asked blogger, Caroline Brewer, to share her secret to styling floating shelves. Her blog caught our eye for her simple yet thoughtful style, so who better to demystify the art of perfectly-styled shelves.  Check out her tips and we bet you won’t be able to wait to get back home and give our bookcases a much needed facelift.


Step 1: “First, it is important to start with a blank canvas. Remove the excess and start with a clean slate,” says Brewer.

Step 2: “Choose your anchor pieces. I started with 4 uniquely different pieces of art, each piece feeling substantial. To avoid it feeling too staged place each piece of art on a different section of the shelves, creating direction and movement. After placing the anchor pieces I layer in the rest of the art. None of the art is actually hung, which makes it easy to switch things out and keep the space feeling fresh and new over time,” says the stylist.


Step 3: “Add in fun accessories. I always choose interesting conversation pieces. I love to pull things from my travels that have interesting stories. One of my favorite things on the floating shelves is the dark room timer. My husband is a photographer so when I found this vintage treasure it was especially fun!”



Step 4: “Add something living. This step can really take your space to the next level and is my favorite part! Adding something green can help lead your eye from the top of the space to bottom. I normally add both a potted plant as well as fresh cuts,” says Brewer.


Step 5: Add the finishing touches. Take a moment to step back and asses your shelves. Ask yourselves questions about balance and proportion. The shelves had quite a few statement pieces, but needed some accent accessories so I added the small quirky animals, tee-pee incense burner and vintage red dice. Also, there needed to be something to ground the shelves. A basket full of blankets did the trick!

How to Decorate Your Room According to Your Zodiac Sign

Interior decorating can be just as emotionally-charged a process as an aesthetic one. One could say it’s the reason that “feng shui” and “zen” arrangements exist—to keep our souls just as in tune with a space as our sense of the beautiful does. In that vein, decorating according to your sign in the zodiac can attune a room’s composition, colors and pieces directly to your emotional attributes and personality; a room can “feel” more adapted to your traits and nurture those qualities that bring out the best in you. Find your sign below to see how you can optimally decorate your space according to your path in the stars, in conjunction with the sign personalities and colors defined by astrology expert Molly Hall at About.com and visualized using moodboard translations made on nousDECOR.


Aries:

According to astrology expert Molly Hall, people with the Aries sign can be described as, “a do-er, restless, a lover of challenge, ardent, a fighter, and dynamic.” It is also one of the signs associated with fire, which makes Aries naturally drawn toward “red shades, scarlet, fire-engine, and ruby.” We think an interior with bright red accents, reflective pieces (Aries’ birthstone, after all, is the diamond), strong concrete and stone planters, and hearty cacti reflects this powerful sign nicely.



Taurus:


Taurus is very salt-of-the-earth, described as, “goal-oriented, sensuous, takes sweet time, patient, and a lover of creature comforts.” Represented by the bull, the sign is drawn toward, “earthy browns, shades of green, pastel colors (blues, pinks, greens), and white.” We think this earth sign deservers a rich, earthy-brown and green tribute. Via furniture featuring organic woods and comforting additions (the furry rug), a simple but richly and deeply-colored space is key to setting up the perfect Taurus interior.


Gemini:

 “Curious, quick intellect, seeker of novelty, erratic, and fun,” is how one might describe a Gemini, an air sign whose personality reflects a scattered-to-the-winds quality. As such, the colors associated with this sign are “kaleidoscopic, sky blue, striped or spotted, and swirls.” AKA, a true Gemini is a lover of pattern and print, and can skillfully mix and match them with their adaptability to different situations. A room with gorgeous prints in a variety of colors is spot-on for the twins sign.



Cancer:

For someone with this water sign, one could describe their personality as, “absorbed in moods, cautious around new people, senses undercurrents, nurturing, hidden strength, and pioneer of feeling.” Those with the crab as their zodiac are inclined to softer shades—colors such as “moonlight hues (pearl, silvery, soft gray, cream, milky white).” A Cancer will love basking in calming grays and whites, and luxurious pieces like soft throws that help them sink deeper into their moods and hone their inner emotional strength.





Leo:

A Leo is considered, “proud, dignified, expressive, big-hearted, ambitious, passionate, and a lover of adventure and risk.” It is a fire sign associated with the colors of the peak of summer, when this phase in the zodiac occurs. Shades like “gilded (gold), red, orange, and sunflower yellow” create the ideal palette for this larger-than-life sign. A room which puts these loud and proud colors to good use is perfect for the lion sign. Bright, vivacious pieces with a simple background really amp up the look for this charismatic personality.




Virgo:

For those with the virgin sign, you can be seen as a bit of a perfectionist—”fastidious, always seeking to purify, lover of routine, sincere, conscientious, critical of self and others, precise, and articulate.” The colors associated with this sign are luckily quite bountiful, offering lots of room to play in spaces. From “white” to “muted natural colors like indigo, beige, soft primary colors (blues, greens, yellows), forest green, wheat field golden,” Virgo has the more organic looks all wrapped up. A room with dark indigo walls and precise geometric patterning does wonders for a Virgo, along with sleek countertops and drawers that allow those with this sign to arrange everything just so.



Libra:

 Libra, an air sign, is the perfect aesthete and design appreciator—”stylish, a lover of beauty and art, cultural, sophisticated, intellectual, and harboring social grace.” The personality that strives for a sense of balance—as represented through the scales—is drawn toward, “shades of blue, from bird egg blue to darker hues like cobalt, cerulean or ultramarine.”   A space that manages to perfectly balance a variety of those shades in the spectrum will appeal to a Libra’s artful and even-handed qualities.



Scorpio:

The scorpion, an intense sign notable for its dangerous reputation, is recognized as, “soulful, probing, driven, mesmerizing, secretive, profound, deep healer, and no stranger to dark emotions.” This water sign fixed on powerful undercurrents seeks out colors like “rich browns and reds (the colors of blood), maroon, burgundy, black, blue-green, and algae-green.” A room featuring these dynamic, rich shades will serve the Scorpio well; it also doesn’t hurt to include pieces with subtle complexity or that make a bold statement, like a black wall.


Sagittarius:
The Sagittarius is an amiable and go-getter sign, associated with qualities such as, “cheerful, athletic, a seeker, world traveler, philosopher (lover of wisdom), refreshingly honest, dot connector, and enlivening.” A sagittarius is enlivened by the color “purple (as it is a sign of spiritual knowledge),” as well as “royal blue, reds, oranges and yellows.” A room featuring rich purple as a key ingredient is satisfying for the Sagittarius. Worldly, wanderlust-inspired accents are essential as well, which reflect those with the signs’ curious and exploring nature.



Capricorn:

The mountain-climbing goat behind this sign speaks to the “resourceful, hard-working, persistent, seeks place in establishment, fixed on tangible results, strategizing” personality of the Capricorn. This sturdy figure, much like the Taurus, seeks out “earth tones” as well, but this time in a different area in of the spectrum—”classy navy or gray, black, dark blue/brown, burgundy, gold, rust-orange.” Organic shades of brown from copper and leather mixed in with dark navys and blacks are perfectly versatile for the Capricorn. This can’t-go-wrong palette is reflective of the enduring personality of the goat sign, which stands to the testament of time beyond trendy shades and pieces.


Aquarius:

 The symbol for this sign is the waterbearer, which is associated with qualities of, “quirky, accepting of all, otherworldly glamour, humanitarian, tuned in, and visionary.” The off-the-beaten path nature of this air sign suggests an inclination toward colors like “metallic silver and gold, electric or fluorescent shades of blue, green, violet, purple.” Aquarius ranges from “visionaries to eccentrics,” which means they’re willing to push creative limits and think outside-the-box when it comes to space design. Reaching for an unusual but stunning palette of metallics and electric colors is exactly what the waterbearer sign needs to feel right in place.




Pisces: For those with the sign of two fishes, the personality is perceived as haunting and alluring, described as, “enchanting, mystical, devoted, undefined, ethereal, and expressing divine in art, music or dance.” With such emotive qualities, the water sign needs “iridescent shades, moss green, pearly, pure pink, sky blue and ocean green” to feel at home—or to have a space that contains accents that feel as if they are “luminously lit from within.” Dark blues and golds, shiny metallics and delicate branches evoke the traits of this sometimes frail, sometimes powerfully imaginative and expressive sign. Dark, probing blues and greens help to reflect the probing nature of this creative soul.

8 Matte Home Decor Accents

SHOP NOW: 1. Uptown marble cheese board, $68, NastyGal.com; 2. Nagasaki coffee spoons, $95, CanvasHome.com; 3. Matte pendant in gray, $120, DotandBo.com; 4. Join placemat/runner, $90 for set of two, Finell.co; 5. Sack sham pair, $210, MatteoHome.com; 6. Matte white stone planter, $345, NatureHome.com; 7. Smartphone notification light, $60, Notti, UrbanOutfitters.com; 8. Boheme dining chair, $295, Calligaris, Hayneedle.com


Shades of Sleek Gray Deco