I'm Not Dead

In case you all haven't noticed, I've been absent from this parts of the internet. Between school, work (I work three jobs) and all of the other things going in my life, I haven't been able to do more than a few posts a week. If that.
Well, Internet, let me tell you this. I'm not dead. I'm just really busy.
While blogging isn't a responsibility, it's still something that I enjoy doing. And, as I head into the next half of the semester, I want to devote more time for the things I enjoy. Blogging is one of them. I want to have more "blog-worthy" adventures with friends and take more time to blog my thoughts. The semester can get really hectic, and I'm so done with not being able to do the things I love. It's just not fair to myself, let's be realistic. And, by avoiding doing things I love, I just get upset. That's not helpful.
During this week, I have so much going on in the attempt of lessening the work load for when school's back in session. I know in the end, it will help me be so much less stressed as the semester goes on. However, it still isn't enough motivation to get me through. So, I decided to add more fun things for me to do on the list. That way, it will balance out the whole stress thing, which leads to anxiety. And, I'm so done with that thing.
At the end of the day, the semester is what you make of it. Yes, I would love for it to be over. But, sadly, it's not yet. So, I'm going to try to make the most of it, and try to keep fun things on the schedule.
May 10, 2016 is less than 60 days away. (I have a countdown on my phone) And then, I'll be greeted with the sweet freedom of summer (jk, I'll still be working, but not having classes for a whole three months will be a luxury.) I just know by my hard work, I'll be rewarded in the end. Well, hopefully. 

Semester Reading List Update #1

Already four weeks have gone by, and we're now finally in the middle of the semester. I'm hopeful more than anything that these next few months come by quick, and May 12, 2016 comes by quickly. With that being said, thanks to snowstorms and trying to relax more in the semester. Every morning, I make time for coffee and a book, and then finish every day with something to read. On average, I read about one book a week. Instead of writing reviews, I'm going to just update you all on what I've read and have yet to read. I recommend all of the books I've read, and am impressed with all of them. However, I especially recommend "The Rosie Project," "It's Kind of a Funny Story" and "All The Bright Places." Here's an update on my progress:

Books Not On The List:
"It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
"Distance Between Us" by Kasie West

Semester Reading List:

1. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West 
2. Wicked by Gregory Maguire 
3. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks 
4. Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas
5. Every Day by David Levithan
6. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
7. Rocks by Joe Perry 
8. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison
9. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Looking foreword to my current read, "Crown of Midnight" and updating you more on my progress in the next month! What are you reading? Let me know in the comments below. 

Why I Shared My Grades

Recently, I read this article on the Odyssey about why you shouldn't post your final grades on social media sites. And while I agree with the author's points about it adding to the culture of comparing ourselves through others through social media, I'm going to have to disagree with her about why we shouldn't be posting our final grades. Especially since I posted a screen shot of my final grades in the last week.
I usually don't post pictures of my final grades, because I don't think it's something that people should know. However, this semester was the hardest for me, because I was working three different jobs. I also was dealing with anxiety. When I got my midterm grades, I was discouraged, because my grades were nowhere near where I thought they should be. I panicked, because I was worried that I would lose my place on Dean's List. But, with all that I was dealing with, I was going to have to come to terms with the fact that I may lose my spot.
But, somehow, I managed to not. Instead, I got a 3.67, which is 3 As and 1 B. I was astounded, as I was anticipating for much lower GPA. I couldn't have been more proud of myself and for my success. I struggled throughout the entire semester, and somehow the panic attacks and the tears became worth it. So, I decided to share it with my friends and family, because I was proud of myself. I worked pretty damn hard for my grades, so why not share them with the world?
However, the point the author makes in the article is pretty valid. Everyone has their friend's day to day lives in their pocket, there to look at whenever you feel like it's important. Because of this, it's easy to compare ourselves to others. It's easy to feel jealous, and not feel like we're good enough. Why aren't we on Dean's List like them? Why can't I have a boyfriend, like that person does? Social media adds fuel to the fire of our insecurities and causes us to feel negative about things.
So here's what I say about posting your grades. To those who posted them on social media, because they are proud of them, good for you. You worked hard for those grades. And for those who didn't make Dean's List, you still worked really hard. This is only my second semester on it, and I understand how it feels to be close or to work really hard without the reward. You still worked hard, and no matter what is posted on social media.
Either way, it's your decision to post what you want to post on social media platforms. You're friends with someone on Facebook for a reason--they should be rooting for you instead of dragging you down. Therefore, post your final grades if you're proud of them. I'm sure you worked pretty damn hard for them. 

Cookie and Pizza Making Event At Luther House

Last week, Gabriel's mom's college congregation, Luther House, held a finals break event which consisted of pizza making and cookie making. Sounds fun, right? Well, what really sold me was that it would be the first time I would see Gabriel since they came back from Spain. (No offense, Kari--that was the cherry on top!)

(L to R) Gabriel, Me, Kari

Since Kari (Gabriel's mom) was my ride, I got there a bit early. I used this time to catch up with Gabriel, and Skype with their boyfriend Manuel. (Which in turn we became Snapchat best friends) The event began where we made our own pizzas on Pillsbury dough that normally one would use to make biscuits. Since I'm lactose intolerant, I had lots of veggies and sauce on my pizza. Gabriel had lots of cheese on theirs. While the pizza was baking, we decided to decorate cookies, which were delicious. Once the pizza was eaten, we began singing Christmas carols. After a while, I noticed that Gabriel was getting a bit sleepy (they were jet lagged), so I treated them to a cup of coffee.

Gabriel and I

Overall, it was a fun way to spend a Sunday night. The Luther House community is a great way to meet some new pals, and of course bond with the current ones. And of course, pizza and cookies are always fun and tasty additions to your day.

(L to R) Gabriel, Me, Kari

English Is Not My Thing

This semester I'm taking two English literature classes. One of them is for my minor-20th century literature. The other one is a Young Adult Literature class that I'm taking as an elective. And, as I'm taking the classes I've confirmed what I've learned last spring-English and I aren't exactly the right fit.
Why? I hate annotating and sitting around to analyze literature. I don't like figuring out why someone wrote something. Yes, I like to read books for fun. Thus, I don't like to analyze why someone wrote it. Or what they meant by a certain theme or motif.
But that doesn't mean that I hate literature. I just hate analyzing it. However, I'm all over book reviews, and talking about what I thought about the book. I like to tell someone how I feel about the book, and whether or not I think that it's good. However, I don't want to pick the text apart and make an academic argument.
While I sit in my two English classes, I got to admit that the teachers are good. I got to admit that my classmates are pretty awesome. However, I really don't like sitting there trying to figure out what some author meant. I'm not excited about the classes, but when it comes to my journalism classes I have heart eyed emoji all over it.
At the end of the day, it's often easier to realize what's not a perfect fit for someone before you realize what the right one is. For me, it was realizing that English and literature wasn't. I'll never be the person who can find hidden meaning from a poem. However, I'll be the person that tells you the news, and what's going on in the world that day.
And that's okay. 

Fall Semester Goals!

Wow, I can't believe that I'm already a senior in college. It seems like yesterday since I was wondering around campus lost, sad and confused and now I'm a senior who hopefully has an idea about where I'm going. (JK I'm not even graduating on time) However, even though I'm going to be a senior for the next year and a half, I still have a laundry list of things that I hopefully will get accomplished this next semester.

• Have fun: This past year has been a formula of working two jobs, and class. This semester I still have two jobs but it's nowhere near as demanding as it was last year. So I want to make sure that I make time to have fun and do things that I actually will enjoy. Make time for fro yo dates and dinners with friends. Make time to read with a cup of iced tea, and for blogging. I believe you are the one in complete control of your schedule, so make sure that you schedule time to breath. 
• Visit friends. I've been meaning to visit my friend Griffin at Vassar for the past year, and now I actually will try to make time to go see it. I've seen so many great pictures of it, and the campus is beautiful. So, this semester I actually want to see it. (And if I do go, make sure I get amazing pictures for Instagram.)
• Do the best I can. Sometimes I'll think my best isn't good enough. It really is. So, if I'm working really hard and I need a break I'm going to take it. I want to make sure I'm doing the best that I can, not rushing through it. I want to keep my status on Dean's List, but I also want to keep my sanity. 
• Remember that everything is going to be okay. Sure, there's going to be days when everything really sucks. However, the thing about bad days is that they only last 24 hours. When I have a bad day, I will try to remember that it doesn't last forever and to take extra care of myself. 

What are your goals college students?

College Student Essentials-What They Didn't Say You Needed

When I entered college, I thought the things I needed were just school supplies. However, what I soon learned upon my first day of freshman year was that I was no longer in high school anymore. However, over the past three years of college, I picked up a few things that made my experience easier. And now, I'm going to share them with you all.

• A smartphone wallet.  In my crowded bag, I always manage to never find my phone inside my large tote bag. It can be annoying especially if it's ringing and I'm trying to answer it in time. However, with a smartphone wallet, I can worry less because I know exactly where it is. It also has enough room for other needs, such as my ID, debit card and cash.
• An adult coloring book. Let's be honest-college is stressful. Sometimes, we need to take a break even though it seems like it's the worst thing for us to do. A bunch of my friends recently bought this, and I thought that is was such a cute idea so I got one off of Amazon for less than five dollars. It seems like the perfect stress reliever, so I'm excited to share more about it when I get it. Just don't forget to get colored pencils or crayons if you don't already have them! 
• A tablet.  This may be the most expensive thing on my list, however in my opinion, it's the most essential. I use my tablet for work and for play. I like it that I have a keyboard so I can write notes for class. I also am in love with the Netflix and the Hulu apps so I can watch TV shows with ease. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend the iPad. 
• A library card. Books, music and movies are expensive. Libraries have a lot of popular books and if you're a resident than you can get them for free. If you're an avid reader, frequent music downloader, or a movie watcher, than this is the perfect fix for you. 
• A portable phone charger. I totally recommend this especially if you're also forgetting to charge your phone like I do. You just leave it plugged it for a while and then it usually has enough to charge your phone up to 50%! (Sometimes more, depending on what you get!)

What are your essentials for this school year? Let me know in the comments below! 

The Year of Rest

Last semester was the semester where I completely lost it all. I mean when I say that was I had so much going on that I was suffocating in all I had to do. And my to-do list was so long that I thought that I never would complete all that I have to do. I'm talking about the wieght of having two jobs, a full course load of classes, a blog and of course expectations that well exceeded what I should have been expecting for myself.
Fast forward to the end of the summer when I'm dreading school. I'm dreading constantly having to focus on work, and getting the best grades I can. I'm dreading the feeling of being overwhelmed, saying goodbye to my friends and of course just not having anytime for fun. However, during the process of me drowning in all of this, I did realize something. I realized that this year will be a thousand times different than last semester.
This semester, I am taking the minimum amount of classes to be considered full time. Those classes are classes that are a mixture of major requirements and electives. Some of the classes I'm taking I'm actually really looking foreword to, such as Young Adult literature where we read books for young adults. Another class I'm looking foreword to is Anthropology of the Media, where I learn about the past and future of media. I heard from friends that it was a good and easy class, so I am looking foreword to having it.
Another difference is that I don't have a completely full day. I used to have five classes a day; four of them were back to back. Needless to say, it was hell on earth. Now, on my busiest day I have two classes back to back, a few hours worth of break, and then two more back to back. That makes me feel better, because I don't have to worry about running around everywhere and making sure I have enough time to get from one place to another. I also will have time to go and eat lunch, which is a luxery when you're running around all day. I'm usually that person whose snacking on food during class, simply because I have no time to eat. Now, I actually will have time to enjoy a meal.
Finally, the biggest difference is a change in my jobs. Instead of working at my campus newspaper, I'm working at my hometown newspaper, where it's not as stressful and I make more. While working on my campus newspaper, I would have at least 2-3 600 word or more articles on a good week. I was responsible for editing, and making sure that my section was full. As much as I loved that job and all of the opportunities and people that I've met, it take it's toll on me. Now I'm free of all of that responsiblity, and I couldn't be happier.
At the end of the day, this will be my semester of rest. I'm so excited to have time to breathe and most importantly enjoy my last few years of college.

Dealing With Anxiety and Depression

From time to time, I fall into this dark place. Everything suddenly begins to crumble me, whether it's an obligation for school, life or work. All of a sudden, I'm crying and depressed about the fact that I am so anxious about the obligations. I then fall into the trap of not feeling "good enough" by cracking under the constant pressure I put myself under. Whether it may be getting the best grades to ensure I get another semester on Dean's List, adding more things on my resume or making sure I'm doing the best that I can at work, I sometimes begin to feel the weight of it crumble me. I then think "so many people before me have done this, why am I struggling?"
I've dealt with this constant mix of anxiety and depression for about a year now. I'm anxious because I feel like I'm constantly getting spread too thin. I feel depressed because when I'm anxious it's never a good feeling and then I have the nagging voice in my head that says "you'll never be good enough for anything." It's a voice that's cruel and a voice that constantly reminds me I need to be the best of the best.
For those of you who don't know, I'm graduating later than I had planned. The decision was a result of putting my mental health ahead of the need to squish so much in so little time. I had three options: take six classes each semester, take five classes and two summer classes or take three semesters of four classes. I chose the latter because then I can say that I can try my best without having to get completely overwhelmed with my schedule.
I never have regretted that decision, because I know it was the right one for me. Despite the fact it means not graduating with my closest friends from college.  However with school sadly around the corner, I can't help but begin to get anxious. My friends, my really good ones, will be going back to their perspective places around the world and will no longer be a ten minute car ride away. Of course, I have friends that go to my college but losing the friends I am closer to is none the less devasting. I can now longer get frozen yogurt with Gabriel or hang out with Griffin on lazy summer days. In it's place I'll be working the weekends at my school's library (which I'm used to, but I've never worked both weekend days), taking four classes (one of which I've heard was particularly challenging), working at my hometown newspaper as a freelancer and as a Style Guru for College Fashionista. And of course, there's this blog. Additionally, I might be doing an internship for credit, which I'm unsure I'm going to be able to. It's not even school yet, but I'm not sure how I feel about this. Overwhelmed? Anxious? I honestly don't know. I just know I'm not ready to face the fact that once school starts, my break will end and I have to constantly put school before everything else. I will have to face the future, and I will be stressed with deadlines and obligations of things I must do.
It's no secret that school has made me anxious. The thoughts that stream my mind are: Was that paper the best I could have made it? What if I fail that test? I need to get on Dean's List, I need to do better than that and put more effort, and I should be able to handle the stresses of school and work. However, I don't want my life to become a constant string of pushing myself too hard or too thin. It leads to me feeling so anxious about what needs to be done, and then leads to me doing badly. And then I'm depressed that I'm doing badly, and that I'm so overwhelmed with all of this. It's a vicious cycle of trying to be the best, and then failing. The failure leads to depression about it. I don't know if I actually have anxiety or clinical depression, I do know that I feel those emotions quite a bit.
The thing is I need to take care of Natalie. I'm 21 years old, and I still don't know how to do that or make it a priority. And that's something I need to learn. I need to learn that taking a break to write down what I'm feeling is okay because it will make me feel better. I need to do things that requires me to take a step back from my daily responsibilities, whether it's a quick trip to Starbucks, a walk around the block or writing in my journal. As much as it's important to have a good GPA and jobs on my resume, it's also important to not be depressed or anxious all of the time. Sometimes, everyone needs a break to reflect and to take care of themselves. It's a practice that needs to be more important than being the best in show.
I'm currently trying to pull myself on one of my signature Natalie bad moods, or the "mean-reds" as Holly Golightly calls them. Although I'm no longer sobbing on the phone to my friends, I'm still emotional and I'm still depressed. I'm trying to take care of myself, by taking the advice of a dear friend and stepping back. I read a magazine, went to one of my favorite stores and treated myself to a bracelet that helps promote calm. (whether or not it actually does, we'll have to wait and see.) Although it may appear selfish to do so, I deem it as necessary. My mental health needs to be as important to nurse as my physical. I need to give myself a break, be kinder to myself and put my happiness above everything else. (IE friends who constantly bring me down, and all of the things that are important in life) If I am too stressed out, the blog doesn't have to be
At the end of the day, I believe that's what matters more than anything else. My goals for my senior year are to stop worrying about everything under the sun, make taking care of Natalie the first priority and doing the best I can. In my opinion, despite all of my accomplishments, I think that's the best thing I can ever do. 

The Importance of Taking Time Out for Yourself.

As a blogger, I have the decision to post whatever I want to post. It's all a part of being free and having your own webspace to do it in. I've gone back and forth in deciding I wanted to post this, especially since one you post something on the Internet, there's no way of going back. However, I've decided to do so, since blogging is all about being honest and stuff.
First things first, it's been a while since I've posted on a Tuesday. I've also been out of the blogging world for a little while, and took a 12 day hiatus from this little old blog. I'm deciding to come back, mainly cause blogging is my forte, but also because I really missed blogging. I could never not blog, and I am grateful to those who come back day after day on this little space on the Internet to see words that I've written in.
This semester, by far, is the worst semester that I've had. It's only been about a month, however, I am stressed out the way that I would normally would be during finals. I work two jobs, and at the start of the semester, was taking 5 classes. I felt like I had a mountain of work, without anytime to complete any of it. I was constantly overwhelmed and felt awful because of it. I constantly came home with a severe migraine (I have 5 classes in a day) and felt so depressed that I was constantly walking around on the verge of tears. I felt like everyone had these expectations of me, and I slowly began to lose what's important. (Which is, for those of you who don't know, being happy with yourself.) I however also felt that I shouldn't be complaining this much about my schedule, because that was life. It's a part of college, and the semester was only four months. So, for about a week, I was completely and totally miserable.
The breaking point for me was one Tuesday when I called a good friend of mine who is also my pastor and just started crying to her and saying that I couldn't handle it. That morning, I had gotten so sick, that I was throwing up before one of my classes. She was extremely comforting to me, and offered me some great advice. She told me to simply cut back. So, the next day, I went to my job and cut back on some of my hours. Luckily, my boss was kind enough to understand, and cut my hours back a bit.
However, I still felt overwhelmed with my schedule. At first, I thought it was me being lazy. In addition to taking five classes, working at the newspaper, and working at the library, I had been writing four articles (2 to keep my job; book review; class project), and of course keeping up with the blog. Enter the need for a break with the blog, with the hopes that it would help. I did go to my mom for guidance, who only suggested to drop a class.
So, after a few more weeks, I met with my academic adviser and explained to her what was going on. She then thought I was nuts for my schedule, and told me that I probably should withdraw from one of my classes. After a few days of thinking, I knew that this was the right thing for me to do. Even though it probably won't look the best on grad school apps (she did go on to tell me that it would be fine since I wasn't planning on doing this every semester) and that I wouldn't be graduating on time, I knew that this would be the answer for me.
This past Saturday, I withdrew from my class, and honestly I never thought that it would be something that I myself would be doing. As a result, I'll be graduating a semester later than I originally planned. Although this changed my life plan, I am realizing something else. And that is the importance of taking care of yourself, and putting yourself first. I believe that I was putting way too much on my plate, causing me to break. So, therefore, I am taking a break.
My goal for the remaining parts of this semester is to take care of myself. I'm in the process of getting a therapist. (Snow hasn't been helpful for that, everytime I made an appointment it got cancelled because of snow) I also am trying to make more time for things, treating myself (which isn't so great on my bank account), and trying to treat myself better. I hope to never find myself in that situation again, and I am now realizing that no grade is worth risking your mental health over.
As for my blog, I plan to be blogging for a while. Every now and then, I'll be taking a bit of a break if I feel like I'm overwhelmed. But, I'm taking care of me, which is something that I need to realize is important.

Spring 2015 Goals!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow I'll be starting my 6th semester in college. Now that all of my university requirements are out of the way, I am basically left with my classes for my major, which is Journalism, and my minor which is Creative Writing. This semester I'll be taking three journalism classes, and two english classes. It's a strange feeling to not have any science or math classes, but I'll take it.
This semester I don't really have any goals, so I guess the title of this entry was a little bit deceiving. However, I do a few aspirations.
The first is to enjoy every minute. Time is way too precious and honestly, it moves way too fast. I can't believe that I am in my junior year of college, and in about a year I'll be in my last semester in college. I feel like there's not enough opportunities that I've taken advantage of, and I want to be able to do more than just be stressed. Maybe go to more school functions, meet more people, you know all of that fun stuff. Maybe now that I have a car I can actually do things.
The second is to do the best that I can. I want to give my academics my all, because I'm not going to be in a classroom much longer. Plus, the more you give, the more you get right? I want to go out with a fizzle AND a bang!
College students, what are you going to focus on this semester? 

Currently...

Hey guys! It's hard to believe that it's November. I still feel like summer was yesterday and not like three months ago. Where did the time go? Anyways, since it's been a while since I've told you all about my life, here's what I've been up to:

• Currently getting really excited to get my car soon! That's right blogging audience, I can drive! I got my license, finally, a few months ago, and the high still has yet to wear off. I was lucky enough to get a car from my grandma's dead brother. Since I am the only one out of all my cousins who didn't have a car at the time, I got it. However, since it took me a while to get my license, I am just now getting it in driving condition. But since it's a 2001 Honda civic, I do unfortunately have to worry about the whole recall thing. Fun. But yay, cars!
• Currently looking at different ways to curl my hair. I'm really getting into the whole curly hair thing, like Carrie Bradshaw has in the early seasons of Sex and the City. I have somewhat wavy hair, but I really want to have her similar hairstyle going on. If you all have some tips for curling hair, let me know!
• Currently, I am not ready for finals.
• Currently, I want my friends to come home so I can annoy them on a local level. Griffin, and Gabriel you know those two clowns.
• Currently, I am looking foreword to having some time off soon to be thankful for life. 

What's up with you all?

Society and the Single Girl: Can a Commuter Date a Resident?

Where I go to school the majority of the people commute. As for the people who actually do live on campus, many of them go home for the weekend. As a commuter, my experiences differ than my friend who live there. I don't have a meal plan so I don't have to eat the same things day in and day out, which without a doubt can be very boring and repetitive. I also don't have to eat at a certain time, which is very freeing because well who likes to be told that you have to eat something by a certain time, or else you're screwed and can't eat.

Obviously, I like being a commuter because it's cheaper, and it fits for my needs. Others commute then become residents and vice versa. Honestly, college is to each their own. But, can someone who commutes be in a relationship with someone who lives on campus?

I honestly think that they can. Many people don't agree with me. 

Being a commuter student and a resident student are completely different things. Being a resident student means that you're probably more involved on your campus and have a lot more freedom than someone who still lives at home. Can that be a reason not to date someone who lives on campus if they commute?

Well, yeah. Relationship are usually a case by case basis. I know someone who lives about an hour away from her boyfriend. She lives in a dorm, while he lives at home. So far, they make it work. However, I do know couples that were together and one would live on campus and one at home, and then spilt up. It depends on this little thing called fate. 

Personally, I wouldn't mind dating someone who lived on campus, whether it's my own or not. Relationships need space, and sometimes college relationships can be suffocating because since you're on the same campus and living together, you are constantly together. That's not healthy. Being in a relationship on separate campuses kind of gives you the push to give you space that you as a couple need.

What breaks up many relationships is the whole trust factor. But, if you don't have trust you have no relationship. So, I'll leave you with this little grain of thought. It doesn't matter if you're living down the street, across town, or even in the next state. I think that if you're into them, you should go for it. If you're a commuter, or a resident. Whether or not you live at school should not be a factor of you deciding the relationship is worth it or not. 

Should a commuter date a resident? What do you think? Let me know!

"I Woke Up Like This" (Not A Fashion Blog Post)

I am not a fashion blogger by any means, but I am like your average college student. I have zero to no time between my jobs, schoolwork, and trying to stay sane and have somewhat of a social life. Therefore, I can't (and don't) have the time to spend constantly picking out well out together outfits. However, I still manage to put together reasonably well outfits on a daily basis in under ten minutes. Here's my tips on 'how to look more polished when in reality I just woke up like this.'
Jeans:
As a college student, it's so easy to throw on a pair of leggings and a comfy sweatshirt when going to class. However, we often leave out jeans as being an acceptable part of one's wardrobe. They are mostly comfortable, and inexpensive. Pairing jeans at least with a sweatshirt makes the outfit a tad bit more polished then sweatpants or leggings. I'm a huge fan of the jogging, which looks like jeans, but in reality they are soft and super comfortable on the inside.
Having a key shoe: 
I am a huge fan of leather boots for fall. Whenever I wear leggings, I often pair them with leather boots. Pairing them with a good shoe often makes the outfit feel more put together than simply wearing sneakers with your leggings. Often, my boots look really awesome and put together with the leggings.
Jewelry:
In my opinion, jewelry is awesome. Wearing jewelry is something that gives a plain outfit a little extra 'oomph' when you're trying to get ready. Anything from a pair of simple stud earrings (pearl earrings are a classic) to a watch jewelry can really spice up an outfit.

What are your fashion tips and tricks? Let me know in the comments below!

Fall Fest 2014

Last weekend, I attended Fall Fest at Elisia's school. What is fall fest, you may ask? Well it's a free concert event where there's food trucks. So naturally, I was there. And it was amazing, even though we only watched like one part of the concert. Plus, it was fun to walk around someone else's school that wasn't my own. (I also took a lot of pictures..sorry for blowing up everyone's Instagram feeds!)
From the food trucks, I got a grilled chicken avocado wrap thing (which was amazing, let me tell you; just a tad bit more spicy than I wish it was), and a vanilla ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles. Elisia got a chocolate one, with chocolate sprinkles.

                                                         Chicken wrap was amazing! 

                                                         Ice cream cones with sprinkles are the best.
After eating the really good food, we walked around for a bit. I got to see Quinnipiac's wonderful campus, which was an amazing thing to see. The campus is really pretty, and had a lot of wonderful spots to take pictures. (I did the whole taking pictures while walking thing--I probably looked like I wasn't actually going there.)

                                                               Library.

                                                          This school is so pretty..
Overall, it was a great afternoon spent with one of my closest friends. I really liked that I had the afternoon to do something that was really fun, because I feel like I've been spending too much time at work, at school, doing school work or just hanging with my dog. Therefore, a fun day with my homegirl was what I needed! Thanks Elisia for inviting me! I had fun. (and also, for putting up with the massive amount of photos!)

Elisia and I! 

   Some river I found. 

Things You Have To Do Before You Graduate College

I honestly can not believe that college has been going by as fast as it had been. It feels like yesterday that I was just starting out, and now I'm an upperclassman. It's crazy! However, since college is going by so fast, we take it forgranted. These are supposed to be the best four years of our lives, and you should enjoy every minute before you enter the real world. Drawing a blank about what you can do? Well, let me help you with that!
Go to another campus that is not your own.
 
Elisia and I last year at her school's fall fest!
One of my best friends goes to campus across town, so she often invites me to go onto her campus. I think that if you ever get the opportunity to visit your friends, whether it's across town, or the state you should go for it.  It gives you a chance to see what other schools are like, and even meet new people.
Join a club.
As a commuter, meeting people is just hard. Freshman year, I joined psychology club. Sophomore year I joined the Southern News, where I found my passion for Journalism! Joining clubs is important because you can meet people that you otherwise get to meet, or in my case stumble across what you want to do for the rest of your life. It's a win win situation, especially for those who have a hard time reaching out.
Go to a homecoming game/sporting event.
 
Elisia and I at a basketball game.
The best part about going to college and having sporting events is that you can get in for pretty much little to no cost. Plus, supporting your school is also a plus. I went to two games last year with Elisia and I enjoyed the experience. (Especially since I got free food, what was better than that?) Go support your school. At least once.
Take a Class For Fun.
Not many people get a chance to, however I think that everyone should try it. How many times will you dread going to pottery? Having a little fun in college is okay. It doesn't all have to be facts, and thick books.  

Keep Calm...

As a college student, it's so easy to not get overwhelmed. I have so much going on in my life. Whether it's preparing for my five classes, writing articles for the paper, or working, I have a lot of things going on. Which without a doubt makes it hard to remain calm when you have a million and one things to do in a given day. But, there are some things that I do to make sure that my sanity does in fact come first. After all, if you don't have your sanity, then what else do you have going for you?

• Drink calming tea. My grandfather told me about using calming tea to help calm myself down whenever I got nervous. Although I was skeptical at first, I agreed to try it. And, it works. I drank it when I was freaking out about something and by the time I finished my glass I was completely relaxed. I recommend it, even though it doesn't actually taste like anything. It's really good, and if you're stressed out I suggest drinking out. 
• Make 'you' time. At the end of the day, I often hang out and watch Netflix or read a bit for fun. It's important to relax at the end of the day, because your brain needs to recharge. Therefore, an episode of Netflix or a chapter in a for fun book is necessary. Plus, it gives you something to look foreword to. 
• Treat yourself. Treating yourself sometimes is just necessary. Whether it's a new Alex and Ani, or a new shirt to brighten your day, sometimes you just need to treat yourself. #sorrynotsorry

Goals For Junior Year.

Wow, I can't believe that I am a junior in college. It seems like yesterday when I was starting my first day of college classes, but in reality I have been at Southern for 4 semesters already. I can't believe it, and I surely can't believe that I've been out of high school for just as long.
Anyways, I'm actually ready to make this my semester. I've said that last year, and look where that got me. But, this year it really will be my year. And if not, who cares because I'm awesome.
Anyways, here's my goals for this year.
Actually get my driver's license. I've said that for the past year, but this time I truly mean it. I've been driving a lot over the summer, and I am ready to go and actually pass my driving test. Plus it would be nice to have some freedom. Everyone can use that.
Actually get my grades up. My GPA went from a 3.27 to a 3.1. Between almost failing a class, and not doing so hot the next semester my grades are in desperate need of getting raised. I also don't want to put pressure on myself, because otherwise I'll begin to crack. This way I'll just do my best and that's all I can do.
Narrow down my grad school list. Right now, I have a list of 7 grad schools that I may or may not want to go to. I want to narrow it down to at least 6 because I want to go to schools where I really like. Not just as a safety. (And for those of you who are wondering my list is Columbia, Quinnipiac, Hosftra, New York University, Harvard, BU, CUNY, and Emerson. I am going for a master's in journalism.)
Be happy. Being happy is something that is important because I feel like I should be happy no matter what I do. I want to love thi syear and make the most out of it. I want to be able to say that I was happy and that I did awesome stuff. At the end of the day, that's all that matters. I have a lot to look foreward to this upcoming school year. I work at two awesome jobs, from the school newspaper, to the library. Both are excellant opportunities. Also, I am taking extremely interesting classes in which that I'm excited about. I have wonderful friends, and my love life...well let's not go there. I think the ultimate goal is to be happy more than anything. That my friend is all that matters.
Are you a college student? If so, what are your goals for this school year?

So That's What's Up.

Hi everyone whose a friend, or just a casual reader here on this lovely blog over here. As many of you know, I took a week off to get used to the whole school mode thing. I am so glad that I did, but now I figured that I would give you a life update, because I never give you one, and I have been out for a while, so I wanted to share what was going on in my life.

I started my job at my school's newspaper as the opinions editor, and I am in love with the job. I am so excited to go and do something that I am passionate about. I basically write 2 to 3 600 word articles and then I put the paper together. The people who are also on the paper are great people, and every time that I go to work, I honestly feel like Carrie Bradshaw whenever I go to work. I am so grateful for this opportunity because it's experience to help me get into my dream school which is Columbia University's Journalism School graduate program. I still work my other job one day a week, and it's okay. 

I am also taking four three credit classes, and one four credit classes. For the first time in my five semesters, I enjoy all of my classes. I am taking three writing classes, and I have classes all day Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also really don't feel like it's school work, because most of these classes are in a field that I am interested in. One of my classes even goes to the beach for field studies! 

Other than that, I have been getting used to having my best friends far away. Griffin and Gabriel are away at school, and I really miss them. However, I have been hanging out with my friends who go to my school so that's always a good. 

My life is pretty boring, but I am looking foreword to having an interesting semester! Stay tuned!

What Should You Leave In Last Semester.

Ah, yes it's everyone's favorite time of year. Staples is giving school supplies away like it's their job (oh wait, it is), and every store is telling you that you need new clothes to arrive, and not go back to school in style. However, while going hard on all of these sales, maybe it's time to develop a new mentality, and leaving some things that were last semester, well last semester.
That bloke who forgot to call. Using British terms for the win. Let's say that you met someone awesome last semester, who took your breath away. *cue theme from Top Gun here* However, over the summer it seemed like he developed a case of amesia, or simply a touch of being obnoxiousitis. Girl, ain't nobody got time for that. Yes, you were drunk in love, but now you've sobered up to realize that he's a jerk. Simply, be civil by saying hi and not being a jerk. If asked about him, simply say 'I think he's good, but I haven't talked to him in a while.' That way, you're not gossiping about how he was such a jerk. So not your style.
Your crew causes more drama than the Kardashians. Who hates who this week? Whose talking s**t about who? Woah, this ain't 'The Hills,' honey. I hate drama more than anything. The only time I don't actually mind it is when I'm watching a Nichalas Sparks movie, and that's just because I actually am paying to see it. Otherwise, I want chill people surrounding me. I have no time for people wanting to sabotage the other, and I have no time for someone who just wants drama. Neither should you for that matter. I am trying, slowly but surely to get rid of unnecessary drama, because it's just that. Otherwise, they would bring you down, and who wants that?
Stop over planning. Okay, so being organized is pretty awesome. In fact, most professors would applaud it. However, somethings that you just can't plan. For example, life just happens. Many people plan to the point where we actually can't enjoy life. So, yes write down your appointments, and assignments. However, be sure to open to the unexpected. Once, I found myself in a neighborhood of my friend's, and really had to use the bathroom. I called him up, and I ended up spending the entire night with him which was nice. Did I plan that? Nope. But was it fun? Yup.
So, as you're buying new things to make the back to school experience shiny and new, be sure to pick up these awesome new habits.