By Stella Powers Edited by Anna Kate Mereness STELLA POWERS / UP BLOG WRITER With the limited spare time I have while at school, I have made it my mission to try and pick up as many new hobbies as possible. During college, I’ve started dabbling in embroidery, sewing, scrapbooking, bracelet making, crafting and more. It makes me feel better about myself than doomscrolling – at least this way I’m accomplishing something rather than lying in bed all day, which I’ve definitely be

By Noelle George Edited by Anna Kate Mereness Jordan James, UP Magazine Failure is something that is easy to fear. Failing at something can lead to feelings of shame, embarrassment and doubt. Many of us have been conditioned to accept only the best: getting good grades in school, succeeding in extracurriculars, and achieving the next milestone. According to the National Library of Medicine, “The fear of failure can be interpreted as the cognitive interpretation that students

By Kiser Young Edited by Anna Kate Mereness Follow along with senior journalism and strategic communication student Kiser Young and his takes on music, culture/trending news, fashion and various forms of media following his friends and life in Oxford as a soon to be Miami University grad. BTS shot by Kiser featuring a hidden gem of a location. Tucked behind the art museum on campus, models gaze into the distance dressed in shades of red. Parents' weekend is around the corner,

By Nieve Cavanagh Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @peytonweiser on Pinterest A socially acceptable way to avoid yourself and others. That is what being “busy” has become. Well, guess what? I’m not buying it. Sure, having a packed schedule may make you feel productive and accomplished, but bragging about it makes you sound trivial. Everyone is busy. We live in a time when everyone is trying to keep up with the Joneses and say yes to every opportunity. Having a lot on your plate i

By Kenzi Perkins Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @savannahesmithh on Pinterest We live in a time where we are told that one night stands, fake friends and just all around toxic relationships are where we are supposed to find validation. With all these negative ideas bleeding into our concept of what love is, how are we supposed to get a clear vision of what fulfillment–or feeling loved–should really look like? A note Not all love needs to be romantic. As a society, we tend to t

By Madelyn Mahle Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @Redmoonanisa on Pinterest Can I confess? I’m a little tired of being sold a product every time I open social media. Don’t get me wrong. If I could major in Pinterest consumption and minor in online shopping, I’d be first in line. But lately, I’ve noticed a shift in the kind of content I actually want to consume. Less perfectly curated products placed in my algorithm, and more personal content. Less “you need to buy this” and mo

By Cameron Murray Edited by Anna Kate Mereness CAMERON MURRAY / UP BLOG WRITER “Thanks, I made it!” Anyone who makes clothing or accessories knows the immense pleasure of giving that response to someone who complimented your outfit. This is often followed by the reply: “Wow, I could never do that.” That is simply not true. Nobody is born with the innate knowledge of how to knit a sweater like a spider is born knowing how to spin a web. Does talent have something to do with i

By Allie Gardner Edited by Anna Kate Mereness There’s no question that things once in style may eventually come back to bite us. From the runways to our everyday wardrobes, fashion has a way of recycling patterns from the past and making old trends new again. Today, patterns that once defined previous decades are popping up everywhere, proving that what goes out of style doesn’t stay there for long. @2eremika on Pinterest Polka Dots The first major resurgence is the polka dot

By Anya Makkar Edited by Anna Kate Mereness As the season changes and the weather gets colder, a few essentials are key for your wardrobe and lifestyle. I love being outside, but as the temperature drops, I find it hard to stay outside without staple pieces. These pieces keep me warm and comfortable, and I can wear them every day and keep them for a long time. @elenanova on Pinterest The first essential is a track jacket. These jackets are perfect for fall because they are

By Paige Auxier Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @rachael_richman on Pinterest Before the start of the 2026-2027 school year, Brick Street replaced their iconic, vintage-style marquee sign with a modern LED alternative. Several students, myself included, were upset by the change, for a number of unique reasons. However, I suspect that most of them have a lot less to do with the sign itself and more so with what it represents as a symbol of university tradition, nostalgia, and th

By Haley Klase Edited by Anna Kate Mereness I wouldn't consider myself a minimalist or a maximalist; I just like what I like. Some days I wear monochromatic outfits, and some days I throw on 5 chunky rings and pink tennis shoes. I always appreciate balance within fashion, and recently I have found a ton of inspiration for staple pieces that have a bit of flair. @saorsastar on Pinterest @kieslowski6 on Pinterest My favorite pieces recently have been jeans with something extra

By Ava DiSalle Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @THLG on Pinterest Fall is finally here! There is nothing quite like crunchy leaves, apple orchards, pumpkin patches and cool weather. There are just so many amazing, memorable things about fall, nostalgic traditions, fun activities and of course some yummy, cozy treats! As a first year student this is my first fall here in Oxford. Since moving into a dorm I have discovered that not everything is at my fingertips. How will I fulfill

By Ivy Kleinman Edited by Anna Kate Mereness IVY KLEINMAN / UP BLOG WRITER Every time I walk into Plato's Closet, the same math happens automatically, before I've even hit the register. I count what's in my hands, divide the total by the number of items and land on a "cost per item" number I can compare to what each thing would've cost retail. Four items for $22 becomes $5.50 an item, and suddenly I'm not spending money, I'm saving it — never mind that I walked in "not needin

By Alana Hudy Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @catbricknell on Pinterest There’s something undeniably dramatic about putting your headphones on, walking across campus and pretending the song playing was specifically chosen for the soundtrack of your life. Maybe the leaves are changing. Maybe you’re carrying an iced coffee. Maybe you’re walking to a class you absolutely do not want to attend. For a few minutes, though, everything feels a little more cinematic. The internet would

By Lauren Hotchkiss Edited by Anna Kate Mereness LAUREN HOTCHKISS / UP BLOG WRITER We all love Oxford, especially in the fall. However, sometimes a day trip or weekend excursion is a fun way to spice up your semester and go someplace new. Although I’ve always enjoyed my Oxford weekends, some of the trips I’ve taken with friends have made for great memories. Consider making a playlist of all your favorite songs and driving to try a new coffee place or going shopping. Elliott C

By Emerson Driscoll Edited by Anna Kate Mereness Crea & Divaga// @valeriacunza on Pinterest Internships. Career fair. Business clothes. Elevator pitches. Networking. And, it’s all on top of your coursework and life at college. For juniors and seniors primarily, the fall semester is nothing short of stressful. Whether you’re in business or not, the search for your career has started. The annual Miami University Career Fair has already passed, and interviews and coffee chats ha

By Naomi Galas Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @thechiclife on Pinterest I am sure we all go online and get overwhelmed with “What’s new in the beauty world?” or “Tricks to up your personal style.” It's like a smack in the face every time. When we finally catch up with one thing, another trend is already well on its way to being over. I believe we’re losing our appreciation for the simple things, and individuals feel that your normal habits are out of the ordinary, compared to w

By Maggie Carey Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @bran_flakezz on Instagram If you’re ever in New York City for long enough, you’ll see it: someone recording themselves talking, taking pictures of dinner or stopping in the sidewalk to show an outfit. In the Big Apple, content creation is booming and behind the endless Tik Toks, Instagram Reels and ringlights is an entire ecosystem you might not even know about. That's right–I’m talking about the group of influencers that have tak

By Kiser Young Edited by Anna Kate Mereness Follow along with senior journalism and strategic communication student Kiser Young and his takes on music, culture/trending news, fashion and various forms of media following his friends and life in Oxford as a soon to be Miami university grad. Hello all, I hope you’re enjoying the 62-80 degree weather range we’ve been having, because I for sure am not… Not knowing whether I need to plan to wear pants for the frigid mornings or sho

By Kenzi Perkins Edited by Anna Kate Mereness @kenziiialaina on Pinterest For so long, what was considered beautiful in society was anything but natural. Plastic surgery, caked on makeup and colored hair were praised as the epitome of beauty. Think back to just a few years ago… Anything but natural Scrolling through social media, you see getting ready videos, makeup tutorials and day-in-the-life videos–all informing you that everything you’re doing to feel beautiful is wrong.