Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate

So this isn't the first time on this blog that I've raved about Influenster's VoxBox's and it certainly won't be the last! This time I got to try out Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate and for somebody who doesn't like hot drinks, I love the way it tastes! My boyfriend was my official test taster and even he gave it a two thumbs up. We decided to try it out during studying for finals week and it was a great study break. What I loved about this was that it wasn't so sweet that is was overwhelming. I will definitely be buying this in the future!

#SwissMissSimplyCocoa @Influenster @SwissMiss

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Organizing Your Planner

Let's face it- there are million and one ways to organize your thoughts. You can jot them down, make a mental note, ask someone to remind you, or set an alarm that will accidentally go off during a test. My first semester of college I really just went with the flow. I wrote everything in my planner in pencil and left it at that. Now however I found that method to be confusing at times. When everything is in the same color I tend to overlook important things just because I can't tell that I need to do them!




Step 1: colors!

This semester I invested in a package of pretty colored pens in order to help me accomplish my goal of better organization. It seems to have really worked for me! The hardest part is refraining from quickly needing to write something down and writing something down in the wrong color. Once I established my color code I was well on my way to missing less deadlines.

Pink: Everything I absolutely need to get done by that day. This could include tests, homework, presentations, quizzes, or even doctor appointments.

Purple: I like to stay really involved on campus. I'm pretty well known among my friends as the go to person to ask about what there is to do on campus. Purple covers all campus activities including crafts, library nights, Christmas week activities, final's week activities, homecoming week activities, hall activities, or extra credit opportunities. 

Dark Green: Now that I no longer play softball at my school, I like to add in extra workouts to my normal routine. At my school, we have free fitness classes and if we attend 20 we get a free t-shirt. Dark green keeps all of the fitness class times for the day in one place. 

Light Green: Reminders to study are written in light green. A lot of the times I don't realize how close it is to a test until I'm right on top of it. By keeping these little reminders, I have it in the back of mind that I need to study earlier. 

Blue: In blue I like to keep all of my personal notes. These could be date nights with Luke, birthdays, reminders to write letters, or that I need to make a phone call. 

Orange: I use this one rarely, but it covers changes in the cafeteria's plans. Usually it's because we have to switch buildings due to faculty dinners or we're eating on the forum.

Black: In black I write my notes for class. These could include reminders that I need to have my laptop or that I need to ask a teacher a question.


When I first started my color coding I kept a sheet of paper in my planner to remind me which color went to what. However since I've been using it for a couple of months now I can easily write something down without having to remember which color is the correct one.

Step 2: It's not just enough to say that you are going to remember something. I've made that mistake too many times to count and have regretted it. If you think you need to write something down, do it the moment you find out about it and it will save you so much time in the long run.

Step 3: Personally I am a very hands on learner. One way that I help myself to remember things is to draw it or doodle next to the entry in order to make it stand out. I also like to make holiday's look festive with ghosts, Christmas trees and so forth!

Step 4: Be picky! One of my friends prefers to keep her planner on her phone while another likes to have a planner as big as a notebook. It all depends on what you like and you will only get the most out of what works best for you!

Whatever you find that works for you, stick with it! Even if it's as simple as leaving sticky notes around your dorm you are better off not messing with perfection. With these tips I've found that I manage time better as well as have more free time because I'm more on top of things!

What are some ways that have helped you to become a better student? Have you had to change them since you started highschool/college?

If this has helped or wasn't very helpful, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. I love to hear feedback!

Influenster: Resource Spring Water

I've posted a few entries about Influenster but it just proves how much I love it! One of the products I received for free in the mail to review was a bottle of Resource Spring Water. As soon as I opened the box I popped the bottle in the mail and waited for it to get cool before drinking. Later I went to get it and took it on the go with me to the gym. The bottle fit perfectly in my gym bag and even after opening didn't leak everywhere. Another feature was how clean the water tasted! I'm used to just grabbing water from the water fountains around campus so taking a break and drinking Resource was so refreshing. I don't tend to spend a lot of money on water from the store but I do believe I will be buying this on the regular!

Influenster: Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa

I posted a previous entry about how much I love Influenster and the love continues! I received all of the products mentioned below for free and all of the opinions of the products are my own. One of the items I got in the Moda VoxBox was the Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa. While I admit that I am not a huge fan of hot drinks, I was delighted to find that I adored the taste. My boyfriend on the other hand adores his hot chocolate and also loved this product! It was the perfect combination for one of our cozy Netflix date nights. My favorite part was how rich it was. Unlike other hot chocolates I have tasted in the past, it was not gritty at all. I loved the flavor all the way down to the bottom of the mug. Even though I am not crazy about hot drinks, this is something that I will continue to buy all winter long! I definitely recommend this for you if you like hot drinks or maybe even if you don't.

#SwissMissSimplyCocoa @Influenster

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Influenster: Moda VoxBox

Welcome to the world of Influenster! Influenster described by the site is "...a community of tastemakers, social media hotshots, and educated consumers who live to give opinions of products and experiences. In Influenster Nation, influence is currency." Put simply, if you connect your account to social media accounts you will gain influence. This influence gives you greater chances to participate in their campaigns. So far I have received two Ebay gift cards as well as this box. 

Recently I was notified by email that I was chosen to receive their Moda VoxBox. The box came in the mail on schedule but I was so surprised at how large it was! I could hardly stop myself from tearing it open before I made it up the stairs and into my room.Starting from left to right on the top are the items included in the box. Disclaimer: all of the products mentioned below or in the photo were given to me for free for reviewing purposes. 

First up is the Hair Food Moisture Hair Mask worth $14.99. The first thing I loved about this hair mask was the smell. It is honey apricot and smells amazing! Not to mention my hair has been feeling so much healthier after using. I would definitely recommend this product to others!

JERGENS Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer worth $5.99/$6.99: I've been using this every day for the past two weeks and I can see the difference already! My hands are noticeably softer and the skin around my nails have been so much smoother lately. Definitely a believer! 

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick $6.99-$7.49: I'm not usually a lipstick kind of girl. I have one or two for when I want to look extra dressed up but otherwise I stick to bare lips or chapstick. Regardless I was definitely excited to try out this lipstick! As someone who is used to a nude lip, the color seemed to wash me out. However I loved the feel of the lipstick! It didn't make my lips feel dry or stick at all which is a definite plus for me. 

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lip Liner $5.99-$6.49: I've never worn a lip liner before as I tend to stay away from lip products, but this felt light as well as moisturizing. Because I'm at college and have to walk around outside in the cold between classes, my lips tend to dry out a lot faster than they used to (other than softball season). Having this has made a huge difference in my makeup routine! 

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves Mascara $5.49-$5.99: I love, love, love mascara and this one was no exception! It's the first mascara I've used with a broken heart-shaped wand. I tried it out for the first time today and I am in love! My eyelashes are not very thick to begin with but this mascara compensated beautifully. It filled them out without making them look scary and spider luck-everything I wanted! 

Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa $2.29: My boyfriend is all for hot chocolate. I don't tend to like warm drinks so this pack was given to him to try out. He can be very picky with his hot chocolates but he loved the taste of it! 

Resource Spring Water $1.49: I am always up for trying new brand of water! As I tend to only drink water this was so exciting to receive. I immediately put it in my fridge and when it got cold, tried it out. Love! Also loved the fact that the bottle is 100% recyclable! 

Puffs Softpack: 1 pack for $1.99-$2.49 / 3 pack for $4.99-$5.99: Tissues are always in great need around college campuses and so these have come in great handy lately! I love how soft they are as well as the cute packaging they come in. It gives me reason to leave them on my desk rather than hide them away. 

All in all I was in no way disappointed with any of the products that I was given to review. Again all products were given to me for free and all of my opinions were not influenced in any way. Everything smelled amazing, felt amazing, and will be put to good use! I can't wait to get my next offer! 

Fall 2014

Over fall break Luke and I were lucky enough to catch good enough weather to go to a pumpkin patch as well as the park! We took advantage of the nice weather, set up my tripod, and got some fall shots together. This was our first Halloween together so we wanted to make it memorable. We went to the zoo (twice!), carved pumpkins, watched a plethora of Goosebumps, threw leaves at each other, and got lost in a corn maze. All perfect ways to spend our first fall together as a couple! Here's a look into how we spent our October.

Halloween 2014

Happy belated Halloween everyone! Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I'm not sure if it's the cute little pumpkins, putting together a costume, or the unlimited candy but I would definitely be okay with celebrating it more than once a year! Last year my roommate, my suitemate, and I decided on a group costume (the top right picture) and I walked around crowing for at least two days. This year, my best friend, my boyfriend, and I decided again on a group costume; Anna, Olaf, and Sven! If you can't tell, I tied my pumpkin design into my Halloween costume- Anna! We had all planned on going to the Zoo for a Halloween event but Luke was unfortunately called into work at the last minute. Instead, Kyra and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful (freezing) night together and we traipsed around in our costumes and got to see some zoo animals!

 It was such an amazing night! Even though we didn't get to see a lot of the animals, we still had a fantastic time seeing all of the little kids in their costumes. I counted at least twelve little Anna and Elsa's! What was your costume and if you're anything like me, what are you planning to wear next year?

You Got This

If you were looking for your daily dose of motivation you found the right place! Everybody gets down- it's a natural way of life. We're up, we're down, and continue.

I'm here to tell you that you are awesome. Whoever you are. I know that things get tough and we got to stick together. If you find yourself overwhelmed just take a step back from the situation and breathe. Figure out a few ways that help you relax. My favorites are netflix, my animals, and a nap. Everything always looks better after a good nap! When you feel up to it, give it another go.

There are going to be times when you feel like the world is against you. There are going to be days where your alarm doesn't go off, your expensive cup of coffee spills on your new blouse, and you failed a test you thought you had aced.

Breathe. Things can only go up. Apologize for being late, buy a new and fantastic smelling laundry soap scent, and find out if you can do extra credit.

You will get through this. You are a strong and no one is more capable of being you, but you!

So grab the bull by the horns, seize the day, jump back in the saddle (when you're ready), and whatever other cheesy cliche you can think of.

You got this.

12 Long Distance Relationships Tips for College Students

The summer between freshman year and sophomore year Luke and I hadn't been dating for very long but luckily we were friends beforehand. I wont lie, being early on in our relationship made it rough to be apart for the summer. We talked a lot about it but when it came time to say goodbye, I don't believe either of us truly knew what we were getting into. He lives in Iowa and I live in Pennsylvania so there was over a thousand miles between us.

Being in a long distance relationship is not fun all of the time. It sucks getting used to having to send a text or call your significant other to tell them something rather than turn your head and speak. This was probably the hardest part for me as I really like to tell stories. 

Every relationship is different and ours is no exception! We do things that wouldn't work for other couples and vice versa. However, it did ease our minds a bit hearing about other's long distance relationship success stories. Long distance relationship sites were comforting as well as advice from our parents. You never feel completely prepared however. 

If you are in a long distance relationship or are leading up to one, I hope these tips will help to ease your mind! A LDR can be done. 

1. Trust trust trust! Being so far from each other is difficult because you almost never know what the other is doing right when they do it. Trust is key in order to keep from worrying yourself sick all of the time over what your significant other is doing or not doing. 

2. Don't betray that trust! Trust is fragile and is easily lost. Don't take advantage of the trust that is bestowed upon you. 

3. Understand that your SO's schedule might not match up to yours! There could be hour differences, summer jobs, family and friend events, and more that might keep both of you busy. Learn to work around them and be lenient when your SO has something. 

4. Keep yourself busy! Not to the point where you're never relaxing, but if you're noticing that you are constantly waiting around for your SO to call- you might need to find other things to keep your mind occupied.

5. Letters! Luke and I did a pretty poor job of sending letters as frequently as we had previously hoped, but it was still fun! Nothing is the same as getting a handwritten letter in the mail. 

6. Don't text all day if you're going to call at night! In the beginning of the summer we would text continuously throughout the day and all of our stories were taken up before we talked at night. Leave stuff to talk about!

7. Don't feel obligated to talk every night. We definitely didn't! We both understood that the time difference sucked and one of us may have had a rough day. As long as you're not leaving long lengths of time where you're not talking you will be fine. 

8. Never let yourself get to the point where your SO is just a voice. Towards the end Luke and I forgot this often. We would get into an argument and rather than remember that we were talking to the person we loved, we were awfully harsh with each other. Your SO is still human and deserves to be treated like it. Skype is a great tool so use it!

9. Spend your time wisely! Yes, being apart sucks but take advantage of it! Use the time to pick up a new hobby or sleep. I made a bucket list and attempted to get them all crossed off. Sometimes it's hard to find time to spend on yourself when you're always around your SO. Don't just sit around grumpy- get up and use the time to your advantage.  

10. Love. Never forget that this is the person you fell in love with. A long distance relationship is tough but obviously you chose it for a reason. Yes, some days are going to be awful. However when you finally get to be reunited everything will be forgotten. Make the time apart worth it.

11. Keep the bickering to a minimum; especially over text! Tone changes over texting and it's hard to make out how the other person truly said it. If it's a huge deal, talk over the phone or Skype. Every couple bickers but it increases when your apart. If you can, nip an argument early and keep it from getting out of control. We had to learn how to forgive with a hug, kiss, or touch at all. Just words alone. Definitely a learning experience!

12. Schedule dates! Just because you can't physically go out together does not mean dates are out of the question. Find a time that works for both and watch a movie together over Skype. You could also eat a meal together! 

Overall, just love on each other. An LDR is difficult from both sides and it takes a lot of compromise and an understanding heart to get through it. Luckily we only had to make it through the summer, but to go from seeing each other every day to only Skype contact was rough! Figure out a method that helps keep both of your sanity and keep the negativity out. An LDR is stressful but if you can make it through, everything else is worth it. 

Bucket List

My bucket list is something that lies pretty close to my heart. I would love to get everything knocked off, but realistically I know that I'm just going to keep adding on items as I go. That doesn't make it any less fun though to say I completed an item! Speaking of completing an item, in the last two days of summer I was lucky enough to knock off two of the items on my list. Those happened to be "be a bridesmaid" and "fly first class".

I was asked by one of my closest cousin's if I could stay home for an extra week and be one of her bridesmaids at her wedding- and I'm so glad I did! Being able to stand with someone who was one of my closest friends as a child was such a blessing and I couldn't be happier for the bride and groom. They had a beautiful ceremony and from my eyes, everything went perfectly (besides the songs that the bridal party was supposed to dance out to but I'm better at improv anyway). 

The second item I completed was one of those that didn't really matter if I checked it off or not. I've flown both by myself and with others multiple times but this flight I got lucky with a deal to upgrade my seat to include three free bags for only 20 or so dollars more! My thoughtful parent's surprised me with it and it was perfect because it was actually cheaper to pay for the upgrade rather than pay for the two bags I already had and the shipping costs that would have had to been paid for what I would have to leave behind. 

Do you guys have bucket lists? And if so, what's one item that no matter what you are going to check off? 

Fall Fashion

As much as I hate to admit it, fall is in the air! Letting go of summer every year is so difficult but I definitely love me some autumn. Halloween is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. I love decorating my room, picking out my costume, and consuming as much candy corn as humanly possible. This year Luke and I are going as Anna and Sven. We're cute; you can't stop us.

First things first though; fall fashion! I love boots, scarves, cardigans, comfy sweaters, and all that screams let me be comfy. All of these items are perfect for crisp fall weather. Disappointingly, Missouri doesn't have much of a fall. I'm much more used to my home state with its' four seasons. Here's a few outfits close to what I turn to for when the chilly air starts to hit!

Happy fall!

College After Hours

If you were wondering what goes on at college at night, look no further. Right now it's 3 a.m., I have an amazing boyfriend fetching me more to drink, and an already filled out study guide for health that I probably won't read through again. Why you might ask am I still awake on a Monday night when I don't have class until 9:30? It's due to the fact that my i.d. may or may not be sitting on my bed in my dorm room. Hopefully, anyway. I'm not really positive where it is at this point. Luckily for me, at my school the side doors lock at midnight and boy's i.d.'s don't work on the main door after midnight. Brilliant. Times like this are when I miss my partner in crime who used to stay up with me all night at McDonald's at least once a week last year and then let me back into the dorm when I would forget my wallet.

However it makes me think about the things I'm going to remember years from now. I wonder if I'll remember the time I accidentally forgot my i.d. and my awesome boyfriend who loves his sleep willingly gave it up to spend the night with me camped out in McDonald's. If I was a cliche kind of person I would probably be saying YOLO right about now. As cheesy as that sounds, it kind of has some truth in it.

I mean sure, I probably could have gone to bed at ten instead of having a much needed talk with the boy and woken up an hour before my first class in order to get some extra studying in for my test, but nights like these are needed occasionally. Nights like these are the ones that I hope to remember one day.

So YOLO, seize the day, grab the bull by the horns, and whatever else stupid and cliche saying you'd like to hear. You may have had a great night of sleep, but I had a night that I can laugh about.

Or cry. Especially after my test.

Also, Luke says hi.

What to Listen to When Studying

You've probably heard it all by now; some have told you to only strictly listen to instrumentals while other's have sworn by their ear drum breaking beats. I'm here to tell you to have the best of all the worlds! Here's a couple of stations that are a go to for me when I'm studying.

Songza:

Songza is a site I refer to a lot when I don't have any particular song in mind. It's great because it caters to whatever is going on in your life! Like the pictures state, you can choose what time of the day it is, what you're doing, and  then it will give you song suggestions!

8tracks

Another one of those awesome music sites but instead you can instantly play someone's playlist that they have so carefully put together for you!












Rainy Mood

Nothing is better than the sound of rain. I play rainy mood all the time- by itself, with other songs, when I'm sleeping, studying, any time.

http://idobi.com/radio/player/

Let's be honest, the Gunz Show on idobi radio is probably one of my favorite stations to listen to. I usually have it open when the show is off air, but the interviews are definite perks.


Pandora

I'm sure you knew I wouldn't skip this one! Pandora is one of the easiest music sites to use. Simply put in an artist or song you'd like to listen to, and it will give you songs or artists like it. My favorite stations right now are Disney, Pitch Perfect, Mayday Parade, and love songs.

Other sites worth checking out!
http://www.stereomood.com/
http://www.soundsleeping.com/index.php

The great thing about these sites are that you can change the music you listen to depending on your mood or activity. Find the music that works for you- whether it be loud, quiet, instrumental, or lyrical. You'll study much better and retain more information if you work with music that you're comfortable with. Even if you don't listen to music and study, that's cool too. :)

How to Lose Friends With Grace

Surrounding myself with good friends is something that I have always worked towards. I'm not the kind of person to be comfortable in the midst of negative and fake people. For me it's exhausting and draining. I never know what's being said behind my back and I dislike that. I'm a pretty confident person, and while I don't care what people think of me, I do care if something I do or say is awesome to their faces but behind my back is the worst thing they've ever heard of. Who needs that negativity in their lives?

With that being said, I have had my share of best friends over the years. Some I have lost because of distance, but most because we don't see eye to eye on things and so one of us pulls away from the other. Even at college this has happened! It doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Growth is good. You start to figure out what and who you need in your life and what you would rather do without. 

I had friends who knew nothing about my relationship with my boyfriend but would go to him and tell him that I treated him wrong and he needed to break up with me. To my face, nothing was said. They never tried to get my side of the story and just assumed what they wanted. It's frustrating because these are the people I trust. A lot of them if I tried to come to them with a problem they would brush me off. And then when a mutual friend would sit with me and just listen to me, they would turn on both of us and rush to my boyfriend to say that I was being influenced wrongly. But they weren't willing to listen! I'm not the person to be easily influenced. I'm pretty stubborn and not swayed at all by other's. If I don't believe it's right, it won't be done by me. So for someone to say that I'm easily influenced is insulting. These people who I trusted with everything were spreading rumors saying that I was cheating but when gently called out on it, denied it profusely. 

Here are some signs that you might want to rethink your relationship with somebody. 

• Everything they say is negative. Everybody likes to complain, even me. I'm the worst at it. There's a difference though in complaining occasionally about class and talking crap about everybody. If they can't be there to defend themselves, don't say it. 
• They put you down. Whether to your face or behind your back, this is not okay. Especially since they are supposed to have your back not talk behind it! 
• They constantly bail on you to hangout with other friends. I had a friend who did this a lot towards the end of our friendship. We would have plans and then suddenly she couldn't hang out because she would rather hang out with other girls. Occasionally skipping out on plans is okay, but not every time. If you have plans, try to be the person that almost always sticks to them. 
• When confronted, rather than talk and listen they will immediately get defensive and make it out to be your fault.
• They always expect you to drop everything for them but don't return the favor. 

Nobody's perfect and some of the time your friend might not even be sure they are doing anything wrong. Before immediately jumping the gun, try talking to them. However if they don't want to hear what you have to say, consider walking away from the relationship. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to be surrounded by people that make you feel that way. Do yourself a favor. 

This quote basically sums everything up. 

. 

5 Ways to be Successful in College

With school back in session I figured now would be a great time for some tips on how to make your semester awesome!

1. Go to office hours.

Office hours is the designated time that your professor sets aside to answer your questions. You can also use this time to get to know your professor. Find out what their grading standards are, if they offer extra credit, how much homework they will assign, and what you can do to get the best grade you possibly can in their class. At first it might be uncomfortable, but teachers remember their students. They pay attention to who sits in the front of the class, who attends office hours, and who answers their questions in class. Bonus points: If you get to know a teacher in your major really well, they may be able to help you network and also give you an awesome recommendation. Alternative: If you aren't comfortable or can't go to office hours, email your teacher. You may be able to get a lot of what you need out of the syllabus, but it's always good to build some kind of a relationship with your teacher. They respect a student who puts in a tiny bit of extra effort.


2. Find a place to study. 

Whether it be the library, bedroom, study hall, the forum, student union, or a friend's room; find that space! It is important to figure out how your mind focuses best and then to utilize that knowledge. If you know that you need quiet, go to the library and find a quiet room. Work best while talking to others? The student union, forum, study group, or a friend's room might be ideal. Or if you need quiet but don't mind some interruptions, your room could be perfect for you. Find that place and try figure out it quickly. It might take a little trial and error but once you're settled you will notice that

My Study Life: An app that keeps your schedule in one place. I prefer to write it down in a planner but I also like to have it available whenever I need it.

3. Eat and drink. 

If your school is like mine, you'll figure out really fast that meals aren't exactly awesome all the time. To get around this, find out what will be served and when. I like to get each weeks meal plan and then figure out ahead of time what I'm going to eat. Do your body a favor and please eat! Sure you could use that extra time to sleep, but your body needs it. I have a horrible habit of putting off breakfast and lunch and so to get rid of that I bought a mini fridge/freezer for my dorm and a cooler for my backpack. That way I don't have to venture all the way to the caf for my meal.

My typical week 
For breakfast: Bagel with peanut butter and a sliced banana around the top
Cheerios and an apple Omelette with green peppers
Bagel with egg and cheese on top
Muffin with a banana
For lunch: Bologna and salami wrap with lettuce, spinach, and green peppers.
Ham/turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat bread
Chicken and cheese quesadilla
Sides: apple sauce, yogurt, salad, or fresh fruit
For dinner: Typically whatever they are serving that doesn't sound awful. I usually try to stay safe with pasta, a large salad, or soup. I'm super picky about the meat I eat so I usually try to keep away from it. Although, on Sunday nights the only thing served is hamburgers and I definitely get on board for that.

Water is also as equally important! I try to stay away from juices all of the time because even though fruit juices sound healthy and awesome, they are also packed with sugars. Carry a water bottle with you to class and do yourself a favor.

WaterIn: This app is awesome for monitoring your water intake! I've used it for awhile now and it definitely takes some remembering, but how cool is it to physically see how much water you've taken in?

Food Planner: Keeps your meal plan, grocery list, inventory, and recipe collection in one place. So helpful!

4. Rest. Sure you have that test at 8 a.m. tomorrow and you've been studying your butt of for six hours already but you really could go over the flash cards 11 more times before you crash. But what is this really doing to your mind and body? You can only hold so much information and the more rest you give yourself after studying the better off you will be. And I mean, staying out until four a.m. sounds awesome but how much better will you feel if you get those couple extra hours of sleep? Your body and mind needs the rest so you should be kind to it.

Rainy mood: This site is my favorite go to when I can't sleep. The sound is soothing and you can even add background music to it.

5. Get involved. Motivation will be one of your keys to doing well in college. What better way to stay motivated than to get involved on campus? Find a club, sport, or organization and get your butt in action! You'll meet new friends, try out something new, or help some people out. Alternative: If school work is keeping you so busy that you find you don't have enough time for something like this, incorporate it into your school work! Start a study group instead or get to know the kids in your class! That way you're still involved but still have time to get all your work done.

Have a great year!

Aspiring to be Anna: College Packing List

Tomorrow morning bright-eyed and bushy tailed freshman are going to be rolling up at my school and will be preparing to take on their first year of college. Almost a year ago to the day exactly, I was one of them. Welcome week was one of the best weeks of my life! Exhausting, but amazing! Between late night ice cream runs, paint slip and slides, community service, and the constant irritating pull of the lanyard they enforce you to wear around your neck (I shoved mine in my pocket mostly sh) you barely had time to breathe before you had an early breakfast to attend before more activities ensued. Flash backwards a few hours and I was passed out in my car during our seventeen hour car trip. Go back a few more hours to about four a.m. when I was still packing my bags!

Let's face it. I am a huge procrastinator. If you give me a deadline, I will wait within the hour to complete it. I'm one of those perfectionist procrastinators where I feel like I don't want to start because I want everything to be just perfect but then have to throw something together anyway because I ran out of time. Whew I suck. So that's why almost a year ago today I was also weary eyed and less than bushy tailed and shoving t-shirts into a suitcase that I had already filled three sweatshirts ago. 

To save you from this and also me (because let's be real) I have put together a list that I'm going to use and maybe it'll include some things you hadn't thought of yet or you find just in time to shove that last random item you absolutely cannot live the semester without. 

Please keep in mind that your dorm may not allow you to have some of these items or you may not have the use for some of these items. For instance if you use a community bathroom at school you might not have need for a toilet cleaner. It's just a guideline that you can edit to fit your needs :)

Bathroom                        

Loofah

Towels

Hand towels

Washcloths

Shower caddy

Shower shoes

Shower curtain

Shower cap

Rug

Trashcan

Febreze
Rag towels

Bedroom

Mattress pad

Comforter

Sheets x2

Pillows

Pillowcases (double whatever you bring)

Extra blankets

Accent pillows

Favorite stuffed animals

Alarm clock

Rug

Head board 

Febreze

Door stop

School and Desk 

Lamp or clip on light

Drawer organizer

Printer

Chair

Mouse + mouse pad

Ethernet cable

Printer paper

USB drive

Calculator

Notebooks (One for each class)

Pencils 

Pens

Sharpies

Highlighters

Index cards 

Stapler + staples

Paper clips

Rubber bands

Pencil sharpener

Scissors

Folders 

Tape

Glue

Colored pencils

Crayons

Whiteout

Calender

Bookends

Bookshelf

Ruler

Hole punch 

Binders

Loose paper

Backpack

Laptop

Planner

Post it notes

Blank CDs

Power strip + Surge protector

Extension cord

Personal

Makeup 

Make up remover

Make up bag

Contacts + Case

Glasses + Case

Sunglasses

Blow dryer

Extra hair ties, bobby pins, headbands, hair bows

Brush

Straighter

First aid kit 

Medicine 

Prescriptions 

Organize

Storage ottoman (For seating also)

Under bed storage

Closet storage

Desk storage

Hangers (Scarf, shoe, skirt, pant, belt)

Bed risers

Cork board or dry erase board

Pins or dry erase markers

Batteries 

Light bulbs 

Tool kit

Sewing kit

Duffle bag

3m hooks 

Bedside storage

Cleaning 

Toilet cleaner

Broom + dust pan

Paper towels 

Wipes 

Hand vacuum

Trash can bags

Decorations 

Full length mirror 

Picture frames

Wall art 

Washi tape

Toiletries 

Shampoo 

Conditioner

Body wash

Hand soap

Shaving cream 

Razors

Deodorant 

Lotion 

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Mouthwash

Floss

Toothbrush holder

Nail clippers 

Tweezers

Tissues

Nail polish + Remover

Feminine products 

Vaseline 

Toiletries bag

Hair dye

Laundry  

Laundry Detergent

Dryer sheets

Bleach pen

Stain stick

Laundry basket or bag

Hamper

Clothing drying rack

Iron and ironing board

Lingerie bag 

Kitchen stuff 

Water bottle 

Coffee maker 

Travel mug

Tea bags

Coffee

Coffee filters

Dishes or paper to simplify

-Plates

-Bowls

-Mugs

-Utensils 

-Cups

Fridge 

Microwave

Hand towels

Sponges

Dish soap

Food storage containers

Chip clips

Snacks to start

Fruit

Granola bars

Freezer meals

Cheese

Yogurt 

Peanut butter

Bread

Cereal/Oatmeal

Little snacks (Goldfish, cheez-its, pretzels...)

Milk

Water pitcher

Ice cube trays

Miscellaneous 

Umbrella 

Rain boots

Sleeping bag

Headphones

Camera + Charger

Phone + Charger

I-pod + Charger + dock + Cord

Flashlight

T.V. 

Fan

Keep With You

Health insurance card

License

Student i.d. 

ATM card

Emergency cash

If Needed or Allowed 

Step stool 

Tent 

Athletic bags 

A few books to read for fun

Duffle bags 

Suitcases

Instruments

Extra seating (bean bag, cube, fluffy chairs)

A few movies/cd's

Incense 

Shower curtains 

Pictures

Floor lamp 

Ear plugs

Bathing suit

Pool/beach towel

Hope this helps ease some stress you may be feeling and I hope you have an awesome year!

Summer Playlists

Hillary Duff - Wake Up 

The Maine - Ugly On The Inside 

Royal Teeth - Wild

Dan + Shay - 19 You + Me

Keith Urban - Cop Car

At the beginning of every summer the first thing my sister and I do is make our summer playlist. For a song to make a cut it has to be perfect. A lot of scrutinizing and bantering goes into this playlist so by the time it's done it has a mix of everything we want. A little country, good road trip songs, one or two bubble gum pop, and mostly our favorite punk songs or songs that we're hoping to see on Warped Tour. Sometimes songs carry over from the previous year, but usually it is filled with songs that had recently come out or classic summer ballads.  For the first week of summer this year, we spent it at our grandparents house in Florida. While there, summer songs were always playing and that is why the first song was on our list. It was playing on the radio almost every time we turned it on and so it became this summer's anthem.

Under the video are a few other random picks from the bucket list. Like I said, some country, bubble gum, and warped tour favorites are our go to songs. Making a playlist marks the beginning of the summer and so with the end coming in a week I figured I would share our summer routine.

What are your favorite summer songs? Do you prefer new or classic?

GISHWHES, otherwise known as the best week of your summer

   The last few weeks of summer have always been crazy; what with getting ready for school, tournaments winding down, and trying to get in the last minute summer must do's. For the last two years though GISHWHES has been something to look forward to at the end of summer. One last thing to look forward to before it's off to school again.

If you have never heard of GISHWHES before, let me formally introduce you. Reader, meet the most fun you will ever have while also wanting to tear your hair out and cry while dressed in a candy bikini made out of only twizzlers and string. Now that you've met, let me explain.

GISHWHES or "The Greatest Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen" is an international scavenger hunt created by Supernatural's one and only Misha Collins. Here's what GISHWHES.com has to say. "GISHWHES is a 5-time Guinness World Record breaking scavenger hunt hosted by Misha Collins. Thousands of participants from more than 100 countries are placed on 15-person teams and for one week, through laughter, blood, sweat and tears, they acquire Items on a wild and jaw-dropping scavenger hunt list. The team that scavenges the most items with the highest quality of submissions joins Misha Collins on an all-expenses paid trip to an exotic locale. Prior Winners journeyed to Rome, a haunted castle in Scotland and British Columbia." 

Sounds pretty awesome, huh? Last year was my first year attempting this and I'm not even sure how I got involved. I'm pretty active on tumblr and follow my fandoms pretty well so it must have come up that way. Anyway, I was invited into a team when I sent out a request for one and was joined with the sweetest girls from all over the globe. I had girls from England, Abu Dhabi, California and so on. This year we couldn't get a team name fast enough and so I registered knowing I was going to be put on a random team. I was placed with a couple girls my age but mostly adults quite older than me and it was definitely to my advantage! These awesome people were so much fun to work with and had the resources to make it an amazing hunt. All of my teammates were so sweet and helpful and it was such a joy to work with them.

If you can't tell from the above pictures, I had a blast. These are just a few samples of some of the crazy items we had to complete in a week's time. I had to take a mugshot, make formal wear out of bathroom items, sketch a chalk drawing of an SPN producer, put together a puzzle with my mom while wearing mittens, have my grandparents teach me an obsolete task, get a fake Orlando Jones twitter account to four hundred followers, (I got 940 thank you very much), have hairy toes with Supernatural nail art, and the hardest task of all; make a bathing suit out of candy and string only. This was such a challenge and my mom and I spent hours upon hours putting this bad boy together. Not going to lie I definitely cried out of frustration during this one. It's intense. Last year, GISHWHES went on throughout the week and then during the last two or three days I spent seventeen hours in the car driving to college and sleeping the entire way. This hunt is not for the weak. You spend hours into the night editing video footage, cleaning food you needed for a sculpture off of the ceiling, and chicken noodle soup out of your nose from a leaf blower.

However if you ever get a chance to get involved with this you will not be disappointed. You will meet friends from all over the place who are just as frustrated as you are but it's so much fun that you don't even care! If you want to get rid of normalcy, break out of your shell a little, or like me are trying for one last hurrah before school you should do it. Throw caution to the wind and join thousands of others who are trying to make a difference in the world. Join us. You definitely might regret it a little but really, when even NASA is tweeting us what do you really have to lose?

Losing a Pet While at College

This topic is something that I am unfortunately pretty familiar with. My first semester as a freshman was about halfway done when I got a call that my male shepherd was not doing well. I had been blind to the fact that while I was getting older, completing high school, and starting college my dog was getting more grey whiskers and aching more in his hips. Gunther was a rescue from one of the local SPCA's and kind of tore your heart out to look at when we first brought him home. He was thin and underweight for his age, didn't bark for months after we got him, and was terrified of any loud noises. We're not sure what events brought him to the shelter but we can guess. However it never felt like we adopted him. It was more like he adopted us. Even though he went through whatever he did, he still let us into his heart. He trusted us with everything he had and loved us with everything he was. A little while after I got the first call, I was on fall break still out at school when I got the second. This call I only vaguely remember. All I really recall was that when my parents woke up, as Gunther always slept in my parents room, Gunther didn't. I was heartbroken. Especially because he was my family. Gunther was my extra sibling growing up, my guard dog who would raise his hackles and scare the daylights out of anyone you didn't like, and a warm old soul who was the best for telling secrets to. Losing him was losing a family member and when I was finally able to get home over Christmas break I definitely lost it when I realized that for the first time in over a decade he wouldn't be there to welcome me as he always did with thundering and happy barks. The other day my female shepherd was barking and without thinking I called her Gunther and asked her to hush. Definitely strange. Losing a family member like that will still take some getting used to.

Fast forward a few months and it's the day before I'm scheduled to come home for summer break. I remember that around the time Gunther wasn't doing well, my cat Mr. Man had also been struggling with a tumor. My family had it taken care of and it was pushed to the back of my mind because I would rather think of him as being healthy. So when I get the call, I'm sitting in the library lab furiously finishing with my works cited page for my English final. I'm surrounded by classmates who are also trying to finish their paper before the deadline in a few hours so imagine their shock when I get the call that my cat is going into emergency care. When my mom woke up and went downstairs, Manny wasn't doing well with circumstances that are hard to repeat and was rushed to get help. When I got called he was being seen but they had already been told that it would be best for him if he was put to rest as to ease his suffering. Again, I missed out on a time where even though my pets had been there for me all through my life and hard ships I couldn't be there for them to say what a good boy they were and how much they were loved. Luckily the vet was amazing and kind and let my parents skype me in the office in order to see him right before to tell him how amazing he was and how much he meant to me. He was so perky when I was talking. Mr. Man was born in my bathroom when I was in first grade. I was good at getting away with things and so I was the only one allowed in there and so I was there when he was born. He was a sickly little guy and we actually almost lost him. Since that moment he continued to be a fighter. Also a sweetheart. He knew if you were upset and would curl up with you. He loved to curl up under blankets, on your chest, at your feet. He especially loved his morning coffee and Bible readings with my mom. He was such a love bug.

A few days later I left school to meet my family at my grandparents in Florida. I spend a few days with my grandparents before they arrived and the day my family got there we got a call from my brother who had stayed behind. He was watching our female shepherd, Bella, and our two adult rabbits and three baby rabbits. He was calling to tell us that one of the babies had passed away. I had never met the little guys but they were my sisters and oh so small so that tore her up. For the third time in a year I was away from home for something like this and it ripped open the not even close to being healed sore from both Gunther and Bella.

My family has definitely felt the holes left by these guys and it was a little tough being away for that transition because some of my friends at school just didn't understand. So if you're like me and going through, went through, or are fearful that something like this will happen; know that you aren't alone. Luckily I had amazing friends who listened to me and cried with me. Also my family was a huge help. They did everything that they possibly could to help my love bugs and knowing that they did everything possible helps. Maybe only a little, but helps. Anyway, if you're reading this far and want to know how I coped I have a few ideas.

1. Cry. A lot of people didn't understand why I was so upset and that's fine, but I lost best friends who I had grown up with. I was alone for all of fall break because I live so far from school but one of my best friends came into my room the day she came back and found me upset and just sat with me and cried and listened. It was the best therapy in the world.

2. Find somebody who knows what you are going through. Your family will know best of all but find someone at school who you can talk to. A few months later I was talking with one of the seniors on my softball team and she mentioned that she had lost a dog also. It was sweet to be able to talk about how big an impact animals can have on our lives and also have someone who understands exactly what I went through!

3. When the wounds aren't quite so sore consider adopting again. As I'm typing this a new ten week old male shepherd puppy named Koda is snoring at my feet. He doesn't fill the huge hole that Gunther left but he has his own place in my heart. No one will replace my boys but it's nice to see a puppy who is still growing into his feet being mentored by our female shepherd who had once pestered Gunther as a puppy. It's bittersweet.

I still miss them every day. As previously stated, I still call my other dogs Gunther. I still think I hear Manny's little pattering feet walk down the hallway at night. I'm always going to miss them but I am so so thankful for all of the years they spent with me. It doesn't matter that they couldn't speak English. They were exactly what a little girl needed growing up and I will never forget them.

Crazy how fast this summer has gone! I can't believe that in a month I will be back at school for my sophomore year in college. In the last few weeks I have scanned my old bucketlists and pinterest and revised the summer bucket list to include things I know my mom has been wanting to do as well. Here is what I came up with! 

.       Go geocaching

2.       Tie dye shirts

3.       Make homemade ice cream

4.       Go hiking

5.       Disney movie marathon

6.       Project a movie in the backyard

7.       Yoga

8.       Cover a cake in marshmallow fondant

9.       Have a photo shoot

10.   Zumba/ aqua zumba

11.   Kayak

12.   Go to the beach

13.   Zoo or equal animal place thingy

14.   Make pull tab flyers

15.   Make a music video

16.   Sharpie tattoo

17.   Remake old photos

18.   Scrapbook

19.   Make jewelry

20.   Write letters

21.   Write a letter to a random address

22.   Write a letter to Disney (http://www.couponingtodisney.com/write-a-letter-to-your-favorite-disney-character-and-get-an-autographed-picture-in-return-4/)

23.   Different person for a day

24.   Have a picnic/tea party

25.   GISHWHES

26.   Warped Tour

27.   Make a huge backyard game

28.   Have a real life game of clue

29.   Go on a legit bike ride

30.   Make a summer memory jar and open on the last day of summer or on winter break

31.   Go watch fireworks

32.   Build a blanket fort or outdoor fort

33.   Go fishing

34.   Play tennis

35.   Volunteer somewhere

36.   Brush up on jump rope skills

37.   Learn sign language

38.   Learn a trick with a Frisbee

39.   Spend an entire day in Barnes and Nobles

40.   Pick a pin from pinterest and complete it

41.   Learn the single ladies choreography

42.   Fill a coloring book

43.   Run in a sprinkler

44.   Have a water balloon fight

45.   Learn the handshake from the Parent Trip

46.   Make a summer '14 playlist

47.   Say yes to everything for a day

48.   Go on a scavenger hunt

49.   Take tons of pictures/record this summer and the adventures that are about to be ensue

50.   Prank call a restaurant and ask if they know the Krabby Patty recipe

51.   Take a trapeze class (http://phillycircus.com/class-descriptions/introductory-workshops/)

52.   Attempt to break a world record

53.   Make butterbeer

54.   Go pottering

55.   Make a time capsule

56.   Complete a puzzle

57.   Sidewalk chalk it up

58.   Go to the mall

59.   Finish a video game

60.   Make stuff

61.   Watch all of Avatar and Korra

62.   Watch the entire series of a classic Disney/Nick show

63.   Get Anabelle’s footprint

64.   Make a throwback playlist

65.   Get a hammock

66.   Take Bella on a walk

67.   Make a rainbow cake

68.   Dip Dye hair again

69.   Go to an all night diner at a ridiculous time

70.   Watch a meteor shower (August 12)

71.   Write a letter to a soldier overseas

72.   Make sun tea

73.   Go swimming

74.   Graduation pictures

75.   Celebrate a foreign holiday

76.   Drive in movie theatre

77.   Finish house of Anubis

78.   Make quidditch goals

79.   Make taco bell drinks

80.   See Fault in our Stars

81.   Get a puppy

Let the summer continue!