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Why I’m Glad I Didn’t Choose My Major During Freshman Year

posted on : March 31, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

Can I just take a little time to gush about how pretty the weather has been here in Seattle? It’s going to be in the 70s tomorrow. The 70s, people. I am thrilled and have been wearing all of my summer dresses with disregard to the still-chilly-but-sunny weather. However, I did take off my sweater today and only wore a dress! Summer is coming.

On to the post for today; I wanted to talk about why I’m glad I didn’t buckle down a choose a major my freshman year of college. I am a sophomore now, and applied to my major, International Studies, this last quarter, and ended up getting in. I actually came into UW thinking about majoring in International Studies, but changed my mind several different times throughout the year. I’m glad I did this for many different reasons. One, I was able to take many different classes from all of the different majors at my university. Two, in taking many different classes, I didn’t limit myself to only one focus all throughout college. Three, I had the freedom to think about all of the things I could possible do, and in doing so, had the courage to believe in myself, and believe that I could do anything I set my mind to.

As I’ve stated before, I really like to have plans for my life. I had a plan for high school when I was in junior high, and knew all of the classes I wanted to take from talking to my older brother and neighbor. I wrote all of them out on the paper, and while I didn’t take all of these classes, I always had at least a general outline for every term. When I came to college, I fully intended on majoring in International Studies, and only taking classes pertaining to that specific major. Sure, I knew I wanted to take fun classes as well, like dance, but I wanted to be as productive as I could in regards to getting all of the requirements done.

Once I got to school, I realized that maybe International Studies wasn’t the right major for me. The initial requirements for the school of IS were boring classes with content that I had mostly learned my senior year of high school. I wasn’t enjoying myself, and didn’t feel like I could truly engage in all of the classes. After my first quarter, I started to play around with the idea of maybe becoming a vet. I took chemistry, and remembered how much I did not enjoy it in high school, and also that I would never be able to perform surgery on an animal due to my queasiness, or put one down because I would be heartbroken. I absolutely love animals, and still entertain the idea of becoming a zoologist, but being a vet isn’t the right career for me.

After that, I decided maybe communications would be perfect for me. I love to write, and am obviously very involved in the media through my blog and YouTube channel, so I decided to take a communications class. While I didn’t overtly hate the class, it just wasn’t my cup of tea, and I knew I wouldn’t be happy only having a career in communications. The subject matter is very interesting, but it is also pretty straight forward, and contained ideas that most people know about anyway with common sense. I don’t mean to discredit the major in any way; it’s a very important field of study, especially in today’s world, but it just isn’t something that makes me feel inspired, or want to work towards.

Over the summer between freshman and sophomore year, my interest went back to International Studies, and I looked up all of the different career choices you could have after college. One of my dreams is to travel, so the idea of traveling as your job made me very excited. I also looked more into the International Studies school at my university, and I saw that peace, diplomacy, and security are a part of one of the focuses you can choose within the major, which is right up my alley. I want to make a difference in the world, and I really felt like this major and track could help give me the tools to do so. I finished up the requirements for the major in fall quarter of this year, and applied during winter quarter. I got into the school, and now I am starting in on all of the credits required for graduation. After I was done with the prerequisites to the major, the classes have gotten much more interesting, and I find myself really enjoying the subject matter.

Throughout all of these decisions, there was one more thing nagging me in the back of my mind. As you all probably know, I have always wanted to write a book. English has always been my favorite subject in school, and is the subject in which I excel at. It excites me, and keeps me desiring to improve myself more and more. After a lot of thought, I decided I wanted to double major with International Studies and English – specifically the creative writing part of the major since there are technically two different kinds of English majors at my university. I was always afraid to major in English due to the stigma of “never getting a job from an English degree” surrounding it, but it’s what I’m passionate about, and will make me happy.

Double majoring is hard due to all of the credit requirements, and I’m making it even more difficult on myself with a minor in Spanish. Since I am so passionate about all three subject materials, I know that I can do it because I’m willing to put in the work. I’m going to have a lot of late nights ahead of me, but I know it will all be worth it.

As for choosing my major(s) this year, rather than freshman year, I’m so glad that I took the time to find out what I truly want to study and have a career in. I didn’t want to get to senior year and realize that I hated my major; I wanted to be absolutely sure that I was in the right place. Being incredibly indecisive, I think it was important for me to try out all of the different classes I could, within reason. It takes me a long time to come to a decision about anything, so choosing my major my freshman year could’ve been a disaster for me. Through taking a ton of different classes, I also got to really experience all of the different schools that are at my university.

I know I will probably question myself later down the road, as every college student and young adult does, but for now I’m happy with my decisions. I’m excited for my future and to see where my studies will take me. Who knows where I will end up! That’s a scary thought to have, especially for someone who is so anxious about everything; however, I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that I cannot control life, no matter how hard I try.

Do you like to have a plan for your life?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂

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5 Shows You Should Be Watching on Netflix

posted on : March 29, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment
Classes have officially started up again, and yesterday was my first day back from my two week break. Since I didn’t have any finals during finals week, I had an extra week off, which both flew by and seemed to last forever. You know that feeling? It’s like time is moving so quickly, but when you look back, it seems as though you’ve been gone forever. I can’t explain how weird it felt walking back into my dorm room after two weeks! After a couple of hours, though, it felt like I hadn’t even been gone.
Because I’m back in my dorm and spring quarter has started, I thought it would be fun to do a post about some of my favorite shows I watch on Netflix, since it’s my favorite way to procrastinate on my (already) assigned homework. I honestly don’t watch Netflix that often, mainly when I go to the gym, or while I’m eating a quick snack between classes and work. There have been some really good shows that I’ve been watching, though, so I’d love to share!
Criminal Minds is one of my favorite shows; it is intense, has great story lines, and even contains some comedy. In the last couple of years, I have really been into crime shows, and Criminal Minds is definitely one of the best, in my opinion! It can be kind of scary sometimes, since the whole premise behind it is to get into criminal’s heads in order to solve the crimes that they commit. It is centered around the B.A.U. (behavioral analysis unit of the FBI), a team made up of 6-7 people depending on the season, who are profilers and solve crimes. Each episode is like a mini movie since they are all so complex!
Gilmore Girls is one of my all time favorite shows for many reasons: it is heartfelt in a non-cheesy way, centered around two strong, witty women, and the ultimate feel-good show. I grew up watching this with my mom since we are very much like Lorelei and Rory (plus my dad who is always our trusty Luke), and I recently re-watched it. This show is extremely relatable to many young women, and especially at my age, I relate to Rory so much through her struggles with finding her path in the world. I can’t tell you how excited I am for the four additional episodes that will be coming out next year!
Grey’s Anatomy has been on for a long time, and I recently started watching all of it with my friends this school year. I had watched a couple of episodes here and there, but never consistently. I have to say, I have been pleasantly surprised! Sometimes this show can be a little ridiculous, but overall it is really great with an awesome and diverse cast. Shonda Rhimes is a great writer, and all of her TV shows do really well due to her mastery. The show is backdropped by a hospital in Seattle (yay!), and is centered around a hospital with a group of doctors who really seem to have some horrible luck, with everything that happens to them. I’m on season 11 now, the last season on Netflix, so I’m excited to get caught up with current day Grey’s!
How to Get Away With Murder is a truly interesting show. I watched the pilot when it first aired, and I don’t know why I didn’t continue to watch it! I’ve been catching up with it on Netflix, and it’s really fascinating. Professor Annalise Keating is a law professor who teaches the class “how to get away with murder,” and in the first episode, some students in her class are shown struggling with trying to get rid of a body. It isn’t revealed who kills this person, or why the crime occurred, but throughout flashbacks during the episodes, viewers are able to slowly piece together the mystery. The writing is fantastic, and is written by Shonda Rhimes as well. All hail Shonda!
I can’t explain my love for Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are a match made in heaven, and make a wonderful Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively. The show is centered around the famous story of Sherlock Holmes and his partner in crime (solving), Dr. Watson, but set in modern times. Having been a fan of the original Sherlock Holmes, it’s really interesting to see the story set in today’s world. I am also a huge fan of both actors, and enjoy everything about this show basically! The only bad thing about this series is the wait time between seasons, but it’s definitely worth it.
All of these shows are really great, and I really recommend them if you are struggling with finding a show to watch in your free time! Netflix is great for when you have nothing else to do, and just want to sit back and relax. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I definitely need that dedicated time to let my mind focus on something else!
What are your favorite shows to watch on Netflix?

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
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Why You Should Reflect on the Things That Make You Happy

posted on : March 25, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

Happy Friday! I can’t believe it’s already time for the weekend again, this week (and spring break!) has flown by insanely fast. I’m sad that my break is coming to an end, but I’m also really excited for my classes next quarter! I’ve enjoyed my time with my puppies and kitties – I can never get enough – and I will definitely miss them when I go back to school. It’s been nice just being able to relax and not worry about school and work!

Today I wanted to talk about something that’s super important: reflecting back on what makes us happy. I was really inspired to talk about this by Renee from Lose the Road (seriously, go check out her blog – she’s one of my favorite bloggers!), because she posts about what made her happy throughout the week. This is such an awesome way to think back on the things that made you feel joy, rather than focus on all of the negative things that happened throughout the week. Scientifically, it is in our nature to focus on the negatives parts of life since those occurrences pose the most danger, so it’s really important to combat those thoughts with happy memories.
I fall victim to focusing on the negatives very easily since I worry about things so often. It’s extremely difficult for me to turn off my brain sometimes, and I just end up going over bad occurrences over and over and over to try and see if there was anything differently I could’ve done in order to change the outcome. I know so many other people struggle with this as well, and it really can be the worst. It’s hard to stop worrying about something, especially when it affected you in a negative way. This, however, causes so much unneccesary stress, because there is literally nothing you can do to change the past; it is physically impossible (unless, you know, you believe in time travel and wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff).
Even though it’s easy for me to get caught up in the anxiety of negative memories, I try to be an optimist. My brother is very much a pessimist, so when I was younger I tried to be the one who looked at the brighter sides of things. Being an optimist isn’t always easy, or doesn’t always come naturally, so thinking about what made us happy throughout the week is a great way to start seeing things in a different light. When you reflect back on positive memories rather than negative ones, life really does seem more happy, and optimism comes more easily. Thinking about what made us happy also allows us to be more grateful for those things, and not take them for granted. It puts life in perspective, and helps us understand that there will be ups and downs in life that are most often out of our control.
And while it is important to learn from your mistakes and unhappy events, it is unnecessary to focus on them incessantly. Learning from something and not being able to let it go are two different things – I’ve been there before, and let me tell you it is not healthy. Sometimes it’s best to let things go when they are only making you stress out, and aren’t offering you anything but negative side effects. It took me a long to understand this, and I still struggle with it. I still focus on things that didn’t have the best outcome, and go over them again and again in my head, but it’s getting easier to simply let go of the things that I cannot change.
As Renee does in her posts, I wanted to share a couple of things that made me happy this week!
Sleeping in with my dog until 10 a.m.
I don’t sleep in while I’m at school in Seattle, and get up around 8 almost every morning to work out before class. Since I’ve been home and haven’t had anything to get done in a timely manner, I’ve been able to sleep in more, eat breakfast whenever, and go to the gym around midday. While I really enjoy getting up early and starting my day, it’s nice to have a break from the structure! Plus, I don’t get to have my dogs and cats in my bed while I’m at school of course, so it’s been so nice to be able to cuddle with them all.
Spending the day out in the sun with my family.
It’s been pretty rainy and gloomy for most of spring break, but there was a sunny day in the beginning of the week that my family and I spent outside doing some yard work and general straightening up! Days like these used to be tedious to me as a child, since it meant a whole day of chores, but now that I’m older I really enjoy them. It’s so satisfying cleaning things up, and it was nice to spend the day with my parents because I don’t see them as often anymore. Spending the whole day outside also meant I had a whole day to throw Willow’s favorite toy over. And over. And over. Seriously, the dog does not get tired ever!
Hanging out with my family who now lives close to us.
Since my family moved a little while back, we found out we actually live about 15 minutes away from some of our family that I had never actually met! It’s been really fun getting to know them and finding out all of our similarities. I grew up near part of my dad’s side of the family, so it’s nice to meet part of his other side!
Being able to watch as many Harry Potter movies as I want.
Being on spring break has meant that I have a lot of free time on my hand, so I’ve been spending a lot of it watching Harry Potter. I always tend to do this on breaks from school since it’s something that reminds me of home, and because I’m just generally a huge Harry Potter fan. It also gives me that nice warm and fuzzy home feeling. My parents are saints, and tolerate these marathons, which is a plus.
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Those are just a couple of things that made me happy this week, and some things that definitely were the highlight of my week! These things don’t always have to be huge and extravagent; they can be as little as wearing your favorite sweater and receiving a compliment. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how big or small an event is – if it makes you happy, that is all that matters.
What made you happy this week?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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How to: Incorporate Spring Runway Trends Into Your Wardrobe

posted on : March 23, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

There are so many spring trends this year that I am loving! A couple of them were present last year, but this year are a lot more popular. Today I wanted to talk about how to incorporate these beautiful trends into your own wardrobe, and how to wear them in an everyday setting!

Cold Shoulder
I absolutely love clothes with cold shoulders because they look so nice, and offer a little bit more warmth than a traditional tank top would. They also have such a cool bohemian vibe, which tend to be the type of clothes that I love, and can be paired with so many different things. This year, there are a lot more options for cold shoulder tops, not only dresses, so I’m really excited for that!
Runway:
From Getty Images.
This look is super chic and I love the royal blue color! While it’s a little too fancy for everyday wear, it would look gorgeous to an evening event!
Your Way
Pacsun
I absolutely love this dress! The orange is so pretty (and is also something that will be big this spring), and I love the boho vibe! This is definitely something I would wear everyday.
Fringe
Okay, it’s taken me a little while to actually like fringe. For some reason I never liked it when I was younger, but now that I’m older, I realize that it’s such a fun and cute trend, especially for spring and summer! There’s going to be a lot of it this year, and I’m really excited!
Runway:
Image from wwd.com
The colors of this dress are so pretty! The whole dress seems to have an Aztec vibe to it, and I love the patterns around the waist. The fringe definitely adds an interesting texture, and really completes the dress!
Your Way:
Jacket from Pacsun
How cool is this jacket?! I love how versatile it is; you could throw it on top of a pretty dress for a boho look, or with a statement T, like the one in the picture, for a more rocker-chic look. Either way, the fringe adds so much to this jacket, and makes it so fun!
Suede
It seems that many of the trends for Spring 2016 are really inspired by the 70’s and I’m loving it so much! Suede is no exception, and is going to be even bigger this year than it was last. I have been loving all of the suede pieces, like skirts and dresses, because they add a new dimension to your wardrobe!
Runway:
Photo from fashionista.com
All of these suede pieces are so cool, and add a really great texture to the overall look. Although suede is usually in neutral colors, it comes in a lot of different ones as well, which is nice to switch it up!
Your way:
Skirt from Pacsun
I absolutely love this skirt! Not only does it have the 70’s vibe from the suede, but it totally reminds me of a skirt from the 90’s, or something the characters in Clueless would’ve worn. The maroon color is so pretty, and the scalloped edges add a really cute touch! The buttons down the front are super cool, too. I definitely need to get a skirt like this for the spring!
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Those are three of my favorite trends that were seen on the Spring 2016 runway, and that are going to be big this year! I’m so excited for spring fashion this year, because it’s so 70’s inspired. For years, my dad has always called me his flower child, since I tend to choose clothes that are more “hippie” like, so this is definitely my year for fashion. I can’t wait to start incorporating these trends into my own wardrobe, and I hope this inspired you to do the same!
What spring 2016 trend are you most excited for?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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How to Choose the Right College For You

posted on : March 9, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment
With acceptance letters coming in for a lot of high school seniors, it can be hard which college to go to. I remember when I had to make this choice two years ago, and it stressed me out so much. I am a very indecisive person, so for me, this was something that I struggled and grappled with for many days. I had no idea where to even start, or how to even go about choosing the right college. I was already stressed enough about leaving home, and for college in general, so it was a scary thing to decide where to spend the next four years of my life. I completely understand how you might be feeling right now, so I decided to make my own guide on how to choose the right college for you!

1. If you can, visit every single college you are accepted to, and are considering.
This may seem like a daunting task, but if you are seriously considering going to a college, you should definitely visit it first. If you don’t think you are going to attend a college even though you were accepted, don’t bother visiting it, but if you are seriously considering going to a school, it is very important to visit it in order to get a feel for the campus. I cannot explain how important this is; you could potentially be spending the next four years of your life there, so you should visit to find out if you could actually see yourself attending the school. When I was making this decision two years ago, I was seriously considering two universities out of the four I had applied to. I was really struggling with the decision, so I visited both campuses to physically be there. As soon as I got the University of Washington campus, I knew I was home. I can’t really explain the feeling, but I immediately felt comfortable and could see myself going to classes there, and really fitting in. This feeling is like the “Say Yes to the Dress” feeling, but I don’t know if it’s something that everyone experiences. It’s really helpful, though, to visit all of the campuses of the universities you are interested in, and compare how you felt at all of the different locations.
2. Do it Rory Gilmore style and make a pro/con list.
If you are a Gilmore Girls fan like me (who isn’t?!), then you are probably very familiar with Rory’s pro/con lists when it comes to making decisions. I have always done this when I can’t decide between two things, and with this decision, it helped out a lot. It’s really important to take into account all of the different factors of college, like where it is located, what majors they have, their rank, class sizes, etc., because this is where you will be furthering your education in order to make a career for yourself. After you make your list, chances are you will have already made up your mind by the end, and if you haven’t you can mull over the list for a couple of days and see if any more pros or cons come to you.
3. Take into account what you think you will be majoring in.
This is very important, because you want to choose a school that actually has the major you want, or think you might want. It’s totally fine to change your mind later on down the road, so just make sure that you will have options at the university you will attend. Different universities have different majors, so keep in mind what you think you will study. It’s also important to know which schools have better departments. For example, University A and University B might both have a mechanical engineering department, but University A has a better one, so it would be in your best interest to choose that school.
4. Compare scholarship and financial aid offers.
College is very expensive, so it’s important that you are getting the best “deal.” If you are offered a really great scholarship to a school that is your second choice, and offered a lesser scholarship at your top choice, sometimes you can email them and let them know that. You can explain that you got a better offer to a different school, and see if your top choice school is willing to give you a better scholarship in order to get you to attend. This doesn’t work all the time, though, but it is worth a shot. Cost can definitely be a deciding factor, so do some investigating on how much you will actually be paying to attend a university. If your dream school is also very expensive, call the financial aid office and ask them about payment plans, loans, and scholarships that can help combat the costs. Most times, they are happy to help, and you can also find a lot of information online.
5. Think about your life and career goals.
I know this can be scary to do when you are only 18 or 19, but it’s important to think about where you see yourself after you have graduated college, and what your career goals are. Do some research on which universities have produced successful people, and also which one has a lot of connections to potential employers. Once you get to college, it’s very important to start thinking about what you will do with your life, and what kind of career you will have. The connections that universities have can be vital in having a successful career, so keep that in mind when you are trying to decide which college to attend.
6. Talk to people who attend the universities.
You won’t get an as in-depth view of what a university is like from anyone other than a current or former student. This will greatly help you to understand what life is really like at the university, because you will get a very unique point of view. If you are seriously considering attending a college, I would definitely suggest talking to someone who goes there. I did this, and it really helped to further envision myself actually going to the school. This can also be really useful to help make a decision if you are considering multiple schools.
Some things not to do:

Leave the decision until last minute.
This will only make you rushed, and probably leave you with a decision that you will not be happy with later on down the road. It’s very important to give this decision a lot of though, and the time you need to really find the right university that will allow you to be the most successful. Make sure you know all of the decision deadlines, because it might be possible that they are different for each university. You don’t want to miss a deadline because you are procrastinating on a decision.
Let other people influence your decision.
It’s very important to decide which university will be the best for you. What’s right for your best friend/boyfriend/girlfriend might not be what’s best for you, so make sure you are making the decision that will benefit yourself the most. It can be cool to end up at the some school as your friends, but don’t base your whole decision on that. One of my best friends and I ended up going to the same school, but it wasn’t on purpose, and we both made the decisions individually. If someone in your life is pressuring you to choose a specific school, don’t let them get to you, and make the decision for yourself.

How are you feeling about college?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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Why I Stand With Kesha

posted on : February 24, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment
I have been sick now for the last couple of weeks, and somehow got worse again this weekend, so I’m finally going to the doctor tomorrow. Winter is definitely the worst season for health! I hope you are all powering through this rough flu season with plenty of orange juice.
Today I wanted to talk about something that I am sure you have all heard about: the Kesha court case. I think it is so horrible that in today’s world, a woman still has to work with a man who abused her after she spoke out about it, and made it known to a judge. The fact that our society gets to “judge” whether or not a woman actually got raped is scary; we should never make a woman who was abused in any way feel like her experience is not valid. The way some women are treated after they are raped is horrible, too. They should not be looked down upon in any way, be blamed for what happened to them by another person, or lose any of their merit in regards to their professional life or career.

It is heartbreaking to hear sayings like “she was asking for it,” or “well, dressed like that, what did she expect?” Women should now be blamed for actions that are done to them without their consent. It does not matter in the slightest what they are wearing, no means no. Just because a woman is wearing a mini-skirt and a tank top, as opposed to head-to-toe clothing, does not in any way constitute them being asked to be raped. The fact that I, and every single woman, have to question our outfits as being “acceptable” or not too risqué, shows just how wrong our society is in the way in which women are viewed, and have to act in order to protect themselves.
It is also incredibly sad that women do not feel safe while walking home alone in the dark. It is natural for us to have at least one other person with us in order to feel safe, and even then, will cross the street if there is a group of guys making sexual remarks to us, just to be safe. My parents never had to worry as much about my brother being raped, or assaulted in any other way, as much as they did (and still do!) about me. The fact that their worries are extremely valid is the most sobering part. When I went out in high school, it was expected that I would send them quick updates throughout the night telling them where I was, my expected time of arrival back home, and if I had any problems with anything. Their concern comes out of a place of love, which I appreciate greatly, but it is also sad that they had to worry so much about letting their daughter go anywhere only with friends. Even my older brother (read: overprotective older brother) worried about me going out when we were younger, and still does with me being at college. My parents were also super anxious about me going to college, because they wouldn’t be there to constantly know my whereabouts, but we talk everyday which allows them a little (tiny) bit of relief.
Back to the Kesha case, it is tragic that she is going to be forced to work with a man who abused her, and that she can’t do much of anything about it. No woman deserves that. The fact that a judge gets to decide whether or not she can break her contract after she was sexually abused by the man is also terrible. It should not be up to debate; because she was abused by this man, Kesha has every right to break it.
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I have never posted anything like this on my blog before, but I think it is a super important topic that everyone should be talking about. The Kesha case is just one of many, and though it is really well-known right now because she is a celebrity, it is bringing a lot of awareness to the disparities women still face today, especially in regards to rape and sexism.

Do you stand with Kesha?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂

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Lampshading: How to Style a Turtleneck

posted on : February 10, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment
Before I get into this post, I just wanted to let you guys know that I got into the study abroad program I applied for in San Sebastián, Spain! I found out on Saturday, so now I’m just waiting to hear back from the London program, and depending on what they say, I’ll choose between the two! At least now I know for sure that I’ll be studying abroad this summer. I am so, so, so excited!! Both locations would be a blast, so I don’t think I can go wrong with either program. Hopefully I hear back from the London program soon, though, so I can decided and start getting ready for the program I choose, because they are both coming up in about 5 months! That really isn’t long, and I like to prepare early, so I’m itching to make a decision.
I also just found out last night that I got into my major, which is International Relations! I am so relieved to finally find out that I got in, because now I can start planning even more for my future. As you all can tell, planning makes me very happy haha. I went out last night with my friends and got ice cream to celebrate, and I ate way too much, but I was too happy to care! I just wanted to update you guys really quickly, because I’m just so happy! 🙂

Now moving on to the post at hand: you may have heard the term “lampshading” here and there, and you’re probably thinking uh, why would I want to look like a lamp? When I first heard of this, I was super confused as to what it actually meant, so I looked around, and I am loving this trend! It just basically refers to wearing an oversized turtleneck sweater, with either tights and boots, or knee high boots. I always wear mine with sweater tights for warmth, but I think they also look so cute with knee high boots! I have really been wanting to get a pair of knee high boots because they can dress up any outfit, and they are just really cute in general.

When it comes to sweaters, I usually always go for more neutral colored ones, so I really wanted to try something new with this electric blue colored one! It’s great to brighten up your wardrobe in the winter, and it makes my hair pop, which is really nice. I got this sweater from H&M.
I usually wear this sweater with my sweater tights from Nordstrom, but it can also be worn with leggings! Whichever you prefer will be really cute, because you can’t go wrong with these sweaters.

I like to wear simple statement jewelry with my sweater, because I want the main focus to be the turtleneck aspect, and the color. Here, I have a couple of my favorite rings: my moon and star one from Tilly’s, my vine ring I always wear, and also a geode ring one of my best friends got me. I like the eclectic collection of all of them when they are put together!

Keeping my hair in a half bun also keeps it out of my face, which is really nice, and adds a little complexity to the look. Turtleneck sweaters also look really nice with your hair pulled slicked back into a ponytail, for a more chic look! I actually did that today with this outfit, and I love how it looks. You can also always go for an effortless down ‘do!

Here, I’m just wearing my classic baby pink bag from Ted Baker, since really anything goes with this sweater. It gives it a bit more of a girly look, but I think pairing this with a dark bag could make it look super cool as well. I was wearing this out during the day, so I tend to go for lighter colored bags when I am running errands. This one also happens to basically contain my life, so it’s easier to grab when I know I’ll need random little keepsakes from my purse.

I like to wear my classic combat boots from Steve Madden with this outfit, because it gives the look a bit more of a grunge style to it, but if you pair different shoes with a turtleneck, it creates a whole different feel to the outfit! Thigh high boots make it look super chic, booties can add a really cute night-out look, and I love my combat boots when I wear this during the day.

Those are my tips on styling an oversized turtleneck sweater, and how to achieve the lampshade trend that everyone is talking about! It’s a bit of a strange urban trend – I’ve seen it a lot in downtown Seattle – but I think it is so cute, and works for everyone. It seriously feels like you’re wearing a blanket all day, and is perfect for a cold winter day when you just want to cuddle in a huge sweater, but still look cute!
Do you like turtleneck sweaters?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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The Importance of Yoga and De-Stressing | Fit Friday

posted on : January 29, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment
Ahhh, let us all have a collective sigh of relief that it is finally Friday, and that we all have some much needed R&R time. It seems like the weeks get busier and busier as I get farther into college, so weekends are definitely a small blessing in the endless sea of work, tests, and papers. For today’s post, I thought it would be a great idea to talk about de-stressing, and how I do that through yoga. I have been doing yoga a lot lately, and I always feel so fantastic afterwards!

College can be super stressful, and it’s difficult to find time to actually unwind and relax. Whenever I do find time to do nothing, I always feel guilty and like I could be doing something productive. It is a never-ending vicious cycle, and one that makes de-stressing very hard!

There’s a club at my university that is $5 for the whole quarter of yoga, so it’s basically unlimited yoga classes! It’s pretty amazing, and the classes are great because they have fantastic yoga instructors. I have done yoga here and there in the past, but never consistently, and ohmygosh does it do wonders for your body and mind! During the classes, I can feel myself relax into a place where I don’t think of anything else but what I am doing in the current moment. It’s calming as well, which is fantastic for my anxiety.

It can be really hard to be present in the current situation at hand; we are always so worried about the future, and how we handled the past, that we forget to live in the now. This is so important to do, however, because your whole life will pass you by without you even knowing it. Living in the moment is one of my goals this year, because I want to make sure I am making the most out of everyday. I am so guilty of worrying about the future to the point where I’m not even paying attention to the present. Yoga has really put that into perspective for me, because it makes you focus on the here and now.

Okay, I just had to quickly show you guys my new Nike’s as well! I got them for Christmas, and I have been loving them so much. They are so bright and cheery, but also super comfortable!

Look at those pastels, oh my gosh.

If we are talking about the logistics of yoga, I usually wear short or long yoga pants (okay, duh Kendra), with either a flowy long sleeve shirt, or a tank top of some sort.

Shirt: This was a Christmas present, so I don’t actually know where I got it. I think JCPenny’s!
Pants: Lulu Lemon
Shoes: Nike

I am so in love with these pants! The marble print is so cool, and they are really comfortable for yoga.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to make time to relax, and forget about the stress you are feeling. These last couple of weeks have been so difficult and stressful for me. I have been applying to my major, applying for study abroad programs, and I have had a multitude of tests and papers. Basically, it’s just been what every normal college student goes through by their sophomore year! As you get further into college, the stress gets more and more overwhelming, and I am trying to adjust to that. Going to yoga, though, has helped me have at least an hour a day to find time to relax and forget about all of my worries.

Even if it isn’t yoga, find something that de-stresses you, and allows you to have some relaxation time! It is invaluable to have an activity to alleviate stress, so go out and find one, and feel better. Your mental health will thank you.

How do you manage stress?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂

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How to: Actually Enjoy Running | Fit Friday

posted on : January 15, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

I always hated running while growing up; I was a swimmer and a dancer, so running was never an activity that I had to do outside of P.E. during school. I dreaded the mile runs that we would have to do throughout the year, and I knew I would end up having an asthma attack at the end. That was part of the reason why I never ran, because I had asthma pretty badly while growing up. As I’ve gotten older, my asthma has gotten a lot better, and I only have to use my inhaler when I’m sick, or run outside.

When I got to college, I decided I would start running, because I no longer had my swim team to keep me in shape. To preface this, I also had this irrational fear of treadmills, because I was convinced I would end up falling off tragically. I haven’t yet (knock on wood!), so all is well with that. I ended up starting to love running, and I was shocked. Running used to be the absolute bane of my existence, but now I look forward to my morning runs. I know there are a lot of people out there who hate running as well, but I really wanted to write this post on how I started to love it! So, here is my guide to how to enjoy running.

Start out slow
I think one of the biggest reasons why I hated running when I was younger was trying too much in too little time. I would throw myself into it full force, and not give myself a break. I like to really push myself when it comes to physical activity and working out, and it frustrated me so much when I couldn’t run for miles on end, or very quickly at all. When I started to run last year, I did a lot of HIIT workouts (High Intensity Interval Training) for beginning runners. Those helped a lot, because I was able to push myself for a couple of minutes, and then take a much needed rest. This really helped to build up my endurance, and I was still able to get a good workout in. I still do HIIT’s on the treadmill to this day!

Don’t go into it with a negative mindset
This goes for everything in life, but if you are already dreading a run, you are going to be miserable the whole time. You will be counting down the minutes to being done, and you will hate every second of it. It really helps to keep an open mind about it, so you will actually enjoy the run. Running can be very therapeutic, and it provides you with a lot of time to think about anything in your life. It also releases endorphin’s, so you will be happy afterwards! If you are absolutely unable to not dread the run, just think of how good you will feel afterwards! Which leads me into my next point…

Think of how great you will feel
I always feel so great after workouts, so the initial getting out of bed part is a little bit easier when I realize I will feel better afterwards. Running, and exercise in general, is a huge stress reliever. This is so important in college, because stress and worrying can quickly consume your life. For me, I feel so de-stressed after a workout, and I am ready to take on anything. That’s why I like working out in the morning; I start out the day happy from the workout, and with so much more fresh energy to tackle classes, work, tests, papers, homework…the list goes on and on.

Take it day by day
When trying to get better at something, it can be very easy to get frustrated for not improving over night. I am guilty of this, because I like to improve quickly, and it drives me insane when I can’t get something down. Gaining endurance for running takes time, and actually enjoying it does as well, especially if you don’t particularly like it. You can’t just give up after a week and you still don’t feel like it comes easily, or that you still hate it. Trust me, it’s going to take you a while to love running, but it’s really worth it!

Make sure you have good running shoes
Being physically comfortable while running is very important. If you don’t have good running shoes, your feet will definitely tell you the next day. It’s super important to make sure that your feet are well-supported, because it can cause a lot of issues later down the road. I have a couple pairs of Nike Free’s for running, and I really love them. Some people don’t like Nike’s, and that’s totally fine because there are a ton of different brands out there! Some of my friends swear by Brooks running shoes, so I would just look around and find your favorite pair! Try and get your foot fitted by the store, since sizes vary a lot.

Go on runs with friends
If you have friends who are trying to get into running as well, go on a run with them! This can be intimidating at first because you might be scared you can’t keep up with them, but just explain to them that you are a beginner and may need to go slow or stop often. I’m sure they will be totally fine with that, and it can be really fun to exercise with friends. This will help you enjoy running more, because you will be able to be social while doing it, and you can grab breakfast/lunch/dinner together afterwards!

Put together a great soundtrack
I love blasting fun, upbeat music while I’m running, because it really helps to pump me up! There are tons of workout playlists out there, so you can listen to one of those, or make your own! I like to just listen to my iTunes library, because I have a lot of upbeat songs on there, and my personal favorite bands to listen to while running are Bastille, Imagine Dragons, or basically any popular pop songs. 
Alternatively, if you are running on the treadmill, you could watch Netflix or Hulu
I love to do this, because I don’t have a lot of time to stay caught up on my favorite TV shows, being a busy college student. This way, I can watch TV and run at the same time, so it’s really a win-win situation.

Do you like running?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful weekend! 🙂 
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Why Cutting My Hair Was The Best Decision Ever

posted on : January 14, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you know that I’ve had long hair for the greater part of my life. I started growing it out around fifth grade because I always had short hair when I was younger. My mom always cut it into a bob to thicken it up because I had thin hair when I was a wee little tot, and that backfired because now I have enough hair to share with about five people. Okay, maybe it’s not that thick, but cutting it into a bob really must’ve done the trick.

Summer 2015
Because I had short hair, I always envied the girls who had long and flowing hair in my classes. I became obsessed with growing it out, and it was uber long until I cut it about a month ago. I loved my hair once it was long, and had no desire to cut it. That was all well and good until I started to really rely on it; my hair became my security blanket, and having it long made it easier for me to hide behind it in a way. I never did up-do’s for events like Prom, rather preferred to have it down and curled. I did not feel comfortable having it up because I truly felt naked without it. When I was in one of my best friend’s wedding a couple of summers ago, everyone suggested I put my hair up for the wedding, precisely because I never did. I actually went along with this, and felt super self conscious at first. As the day went on, I got more and more comfortable with it, and I began to put it up a lot more after that.

Spring 2014

The last couple of times that I’ve gone in to get my haircut, I played around with the idea of cutting all of my hair off, but I never did because I always chickened out. It wasn’t until I got six or seven inches cut off a month ago that I realized I relied on my hair way too much. I felt that it was kind of the last transition I went through in my 2015 journey to loving myself. (Will I ever stop mentioning The Year I Learned How to Love Myself? Probably not…) In order to be comfortable with myself, I wanted to challenge myself, and so I finally made the decision to cut off my hair. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but when you’ve had long hair for most of your life, it’s a big decision! All of my friends said, “Oh it’s just hair, Kendra…” and that was well and good, but to me, my hair had been my security blanket for the last ten years or so.
Summer 2015
I went to a new hair stylist to get my hair cut, and I’m really glad I did, because she didn’t know that I usually chicken out of cutting my hair. She just said okay, and chopped away. I think I worked myself up so much before, that I had no energy left to feel worried or stress about my decision. (I’m a very indecisive person, if you hadn’t already gathered.) After she cut it, I was so happy! My hair is so much lighter now, and it really fits where I’m at in my life, if that makes sense. I changed a lot last year, and learned just as much. I’m so much more comfortable with myself, and a lot more outgoing, so having short hair just felt right. It’s so much fun to play around with (is it strange that I feel sassier?), and I feel like it makes me look a lot older. It’s also a great decision logistically, since I workout every morning, and simply don’t have the time to deal with fixing long hair. Not that I make too much of an effort with my short hair, but it’s a lot faster to wash and look presentable.
The day I got my haircut! December 2015
My hair is still auburn, but it’s a lot shorter. I seriously couldn’t be happier with it, even though I can’t braid it anymore. That’s probably the only thing that I miss, but I can braid my hair into half-do’s at least! It’s so cool to have a different length of hair to play around with, instead of my ultra-long hair that I was getting pretty bored with. I think my short hair is around to stay for a while, and it’s a really good thing for me right now! I don’t rely on my hair to hide behind anymore, and having it short makes me feel a lot more confident.
January 2016
All of my family commented on how much older I look now, and that my this length really suits me. I just couldn’t say enough good things about this decision, and I have no #ragrets. I’m sorry, I had to. This was the perfect way to end 2015, and the transformation of learning to love myself! It forced me to take a different look at myself, and take a risk of absolutely hating my new hair length.
Do you like taking risks with your hair?

Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day! 🙂