Every year, my parents ask me for a Christmas list, and in recent years they have changed a lot! There are a lot less toys, and receiving socks is now one of the highlights of my Christmas mornings. Whereas getting clothes as a kid was not cool at all, I love it now. Since Christmas is only a couple of days away (what?!) I thought I would share what’s on my list this year!
1. Gray socks
Is it weird that gray socks are seriously my favorite thing in the world? There is something about them that I absolutely love, and I am always in need of cozy socks!
2. Nike Frees
I’ve had my trusty Nike’s for a couple of years now, so I think it’s due time to get a new pair! I’m running a whole lot more lately, so I desperately need another pair to switch around with.
3. The illustrated copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
I was thumbing through a copy the other day, and ohmygosh is it gorgeous! I’m a total Harry Potter fanatic, so I’ve been dying to get my hands on it!
4. Ecosphere
These things are so cool!
What’s on your Christmas list this year?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
When I first heard of “Sophomore Slump,” I didn’t think it would affect me that much. At the end of freshman year I felt like I had a pretty solid plan of what I would be studying after struggling with it so much for the whole year. As I am about halfway through my first quarter of sophomore year, I am definitely in a slump. Honestly, it really isn’t a bad one, rather just a stressful speed bump in my motivation. I love most of my classes, so I am very motivated to do all of the work for them, but I really cannot stand Economics, so it’s so much harder to actually sit down and force myself to study and do all of my homework. I do in fact get around to it, it just takes a lot longer.
1. Have one solid day of rest.
This can be so hard to do, especially when you are worried about missing classes. If it won’t be the absolute end of the world to miss some of your classes, stay in bed for the day! A lot of my classes are recorded, so it’s fine to miss a couple and just catch up online. Having one day of full rest can give you a head start on the whole getting better process. If you absolutely can’t miss class – I definitely have some of those classes – just try and rest in between, and make sure to go to sleep early and take some naps during the day. This leads me to my next tip…
2. Make sure to get lots of rest!
Go to sleep early. Take a nap after classes. Whatever you have to do to get enough rest is worth it! Sleeping allows your body to heal and get better, so make sure you give it enough time to do so. It’s so important to get at least eight hours a night, especially when you are sick. Trust me on this one, sleeping for longer than usual when you’re sick can really help you get better quicker. Gone are the days where you yearned to be sick in order to miss a couple of days of school; in college, it’s so much harder to take a sick day! Getting better faster will be your best option for not falling behind.
3. Try and get your homework done early in the day.
If you get your homework done before nighttime, you will be more focused, not worried about falling behind, and again, you will be able to sleep more! Once all of the work you need to do gets out of the way, you will be able to relax a lot better, which will also help your body heal. Sitting around worrying about all of the work piling up will help no one, so make sure and get it done before you are too far behind. If it is work that can wait a day or two, don’t worry so much, but try your hardest to not fall behind.
4. Drink lots of fluids.
I know your mom and doctor have told you this before, but it really is important. I carry my water bottle around with me pretty much everywhere I go, and even more so when I’m sick. Drinking more fluids truly does help you get better faster, which is what we’re working for here, if you haven’t noticed. Emergen-C is also a great thing to add to your water, because it loads your body up with the vitamins it needs to get better.
5. If your throat is killing you, invest in some sore throat tea.
Having the flu right now, my throat has been extremely sore. I couldn’t eat anything without my throat hurting the first day I got sick, so I got some sore throat tea, and it helped immensely. If you can’t find a tea specifically for sore throats, peppermint tea is really good as well as lemon-ginger tea. I’m not the biggest peppermint fan, so I usually go the lemon-ginger route, and it really works wonders!
6. Get cough drops before you start coughing.
You know when you get to the coughing stage of being sick, and you become that person coughing during lecture? Make sure to avoid this whole situation, and get some cough drops before this stage occurs. Having mild asthma, I usually get a pretty bad cough while I’m sick, and I won’t be caught dead without my honey cough drops. They help a lot, and also relieve sore throats, so really you can’t go wrong with them. Try to avoid the super sugary one, because they really aren’t that great for you and are basically candy.
7. Take cold medicine during the day, and at night if need be.
I get to worst sleep while I’m sick, so I always take some kind of nighttime cold medicine. This helps a lot, because you are actually able to sleep, instead of just toss and turn all night. Cold medicine also helps a lot with body aches, which I have been suffering from with this flu. They are pretty miserable and make walking to class even more difficult! I don’t really like to take a lot of medicine, but when it really comes down to it, cold medicine can help out a lot if you are feeling really under the weather.
8. Eat food that will sit well with your stomach.
Generally, I don’t have much of an appetite when I’m sick, so I like to stick with things that won’t upset it. Toast, eggs, oatmeal, crackers, and soup are all really great options. I don’t know why, but every time I’m sick, my mom fixes me boiled eggs and toast, and it does wonders. Being at college, however, I don’t have my mom to take care of me, so I just stick with really simple and easy to make food, like microwavable soup.
Well, those are all of the tips I have, and how I survive being sick in college! Getting sick for the first time away from home can be pretty brutal, but if you follow this guide, I’m sure you will make it through. You can always give your parents a call, and beg them for a care package to help you make it through. Flu season truly is the worst, and with all of the germs in college, it makes catching a cold that much easier. Hopefully I get over this one soon!
Also, check out the video I did on my channel about being sick in college!
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
I used about 3/4 cup of pumpkin and added in 1/4 of water to make a full cup!
Mash the bananas until they look about like this!
All of the wet ingredients mixed up should look like this!
The batter should be really smooth once you combine the wet an dry ingredients.
You can totally add in some chocolate chips, too, because why not…
I made muffins as well as a loaf of bread since I had enough batter!
Just look at that pumpkin-chocolate-banana-y goodness!
Healthy Gluten Free Pumpkin Banana Bread
3/4 cup canned pumpkin (plus 1/4 water)
2 eggs
1/2 cup honey (or sugar if you would like!)
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup Bob’s Red Mill One-to-One Gluten Free Baking Flour (or any other gluten free flour!)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 mashed rip bananas (or about 1 1/4-1/2 cups)
1/2 cup chocolate chips if you would like!
Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a small bowl, and in another small bowl, mix the pumpkin and water together until it has an applesauce consistency. Add the other wet ingredients together, and mix until everything is combined. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together in a large bowl, and add in chocolate chips if you prefer – if not, you could add in some nuts, or nothing at all! Melt some coconut oil and soak a paper towel in it to coat your muffin tin and/or bread pan with. Pour the batter into the pans, and put the muffins in the oven for about 16-18 minutes, or until golden brown, and put the bread in for 45 minutes. Check on them regularly if there isn’t as much batter in the pan. Let your yummy gluten-free goodies cool and enjoy the wonderful taste that is pumpkin!
I think I could eat pumpkin year-round and be perfectly happy, but there’s something so special about getting to enjoy it as soon as it turns to fall! I’m so happy I decided to use those pesky brown bananas instead of throwing them away, because now I get to enjoy these gluten-free muffins and bread! The Bob’s Red Mill flour really does make gluten-free baked goods taste just as good as regular goodies, and it’s so easy to work with. I would definitely try it out if you haven’t already!
What is your favorite fall flavor?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
A year ago, however, I was so nervous to start college because it was my freshman year! I was terrified I would hate it, or that I wouldn’t be able to stomach the homesickness. Your first year of college is a big undertaking; you’re leaving home for the first time, and it’s on a whole different level when compared to high school. Since it can seem so overwhelming, I thought I would do a post all about how to survive your first year! I read so many last year to try and get caught up on all the things I needed to know for freshman year, so I knew I had to do one of my own now that I’ve been through it.
1. Don’t get too overwhelmed on move-in day.
This can be a very hard day, because you’re unpacking all of the boxes you overfilled, you have to say goodbye to your family, and you’re living in a completely foreign place. Don’t let it get to you too much! Just stay calm, get your boxes (or bags as I did last year) to your room, and just start unpacking. It only gets overwhelming if you let it, so just try and stay calm and excited.
2. Unpack right away.
Don’t let your boxes just sit in your room forever! This gets annoying really quickly, and it’s best to unpack right away while you still have help from your family, and while you still have the energy. If you don’t unpack right away, chances are you will just leave for the next day, and the next day, and the next day…you get it! Unpacking also makes your dorm feel more like home, which really helps when you start to feel homesick in the coming days. So get your closet done, your decorations up, and your supplies out!
3. Wear a comfy outfit with layers.
You will get very warm while lugging up boxes to your dorm, and then unpacking them. I suggest you wear something that is first, comfy, and also an outfit with layers so you can take them off as you get warmer. I did this last year and it really helped! I definitely broke a sweat moving all of my stuff in, so it was nice to just take off some of my layers when it got to be too much. Make sure all of your layers are comfortable and easy to move in as well!
4. It’s okay to be a little sad.
Once your family leaves, it’s totally normal to be sad and to cry a little bit. Everyone is saying goodbye to their loved ones, so you’re all going to be in the same boat! It can be hard saying goodbye to the people who you’ve lived with for 18 years, but try and remember this is an exciting, new adventure. It will get easier as the days go on, but it’s natural to be a little sad at first!
5. Get to know your roommate ASAP.
You are going to be living with this person for the next year, so make sure to get to know her! This will help break the ice, and help you feel more at home once you know the person you’re going to be living with. You both are going to be really nervous, so just talk to her about what all you’re excited for, scared about, etc., and you’ll start to feel better! I talked a lot to my roommate while we were unpacking, which made the whole process go by a lot quicker, and made it easier to not focus on home.
6. If you don’t get along with your roomie, immediately talk it out.
The other side of living with someone for a whole year is the negative one; it’s easy to get annoyed with someone whom you’re sharing close quarters with, which makes dorm-life miserable. The second you start getting annoyed or angry with your roommate, just talk it out. Calmly explain what’s bothering you, and maybe try and come with alternate solutions to problems. This can be really hard and awkward, but those couple minutes of a difficult talk can result in a much better year.
7. Find your way to classes before they start.
Once you are all settled into your dorm, get to know your new campus, and find your way to all of your classes! It’s really important to do this before they start, because you don’t want to get completely lost ten minutes before your 8:30 AM class, and end up missing it altogether. I was so glad I did this last year, because I ended up having some difficulty finding a couple of my classes. Instead of figuring this out right before class, I did it a couple of days ahead and found the best possible route to and from my classes. This can also be a chance to make a friend! Just ask someone on your floor to go with you, and chances are they will be totally down.
8. Print out pictures of home, and talk about it to combat homesickness.
The first couple of weeks are going to be the hardest. You’ll probably be a little bit homesick, stressed about classes, and a little overwhelmed from living on your own for the first time. It really helps having pictures from home hanging up in your room, as well as simply talking about your home with your friends. I underestimated how much this would help, and how much it would allow you to bond with others. They will want to hear about your home, and also tell you about theirs. This kills two birds with one stone because you’re able to make really good friends, and help keep homesickness at bay.
9. Leave your door open whenever you’re in your room.
Leaving your door open to your dorm is kind of a single saying “Hey! I want to make friends so come say hi!” People will actually swing in and introduce themselves, and it makes it so much easier to get to know people! Your floor will become closer if you all meet each other through open doors, and you’ll most likely meet some of your best friends this way. My first week was filled with awkward introductions that we all laughed about later, and most of these people became my closest group of friends.
10. Ask questions in class, and go to office hours.
Okay, this can be very scary, especially when you’re in a lecture hall full of 500 students. I am a very shy person, so it took me a little while to fully become comfortable with asking questions or answering them. This can be really beneficial, though, because you don’t want to be confused in any of your classes! That confusion can pile up very quickly, and make learning other concepts difficult. It’s better to just clear the air as soon as possible, and your professors like being asked questions! It shows you are an engaged student who really wants to learn, and they get to know you better and put a name to one of the many faces they see. You can also go to your professor’s office hours if asking questions during lecture scares you too much, or if you have a lot of questions.
11. Form study groups and actually study with them.
A great way to make friends in your classes is to ask people to study with you! Forming a solid study group you can meet with the whole term is a great way to do well on exams. Your first finals week can be really scary, so it helps you study with other people who are in the same situation as you. It’s also a very collaborative process because you can all learn from each other, and it really helps when you teach someone a concept, because it solidifies the knowledge in your own brain.
12. Make good decisions….
You are on your own for the very first time, so it’s important to make good decisions, because you will have a lot to make! You’re now entering the real world (albeit a more sheltered one being in college), so you will have to make real life decisions. Just make sure you keep yourself safe, and that you don’t put yourself into any dangerous situations. You can always call your parents when you need advice, because they will most likely gladly give you some!
13. …but don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
You will make mistakes, and that is okay! How else are you going to learn? I made my fair share of mistakes last year, and I know I have many more to make. We’re young, so it is to be expected. Don’t beat yourself up over these mistakes, though! Mistakes can be learned from, and the next time you are in the same situation, you know not to make the same decision as last time. Think of them as real-world-life-lessons, and also realize that all of the successful adults of today made the very same mistakes.
14. It’s okay to change your major.
It’s okay if you change your major three times within the same term, we all do it! I had a plan of what I was going to study in college, and it is not the same one I have now, or probably the one I’m going to have by winter quarter. Some people do stick with their original major, and total props to them, but plans can change very quickly in college. You are able to take classes about what you truly love for the first time, and it’s okay to take a class and realize you actually hate it. Everyone does this, and it’s better to figure it out your freshman year, rather than a couple of months before you graduate!
College is the time to get to know yourself, find out what your dream and aspirations are, make mistakes, and to ultimately have the time of your life. You will have so many ups and downs, but at the end of the day, college is really incredible. You have to rely on yourself for the first time, and you make some of the best friends you’ve ever had. These people turn into your family, and you really will make memories to last a life time. So don’t take yourself too seriously (although, take your classes seriously!), and enjoy the ride! Home is also always a phone call away, so when you’re feeling too overwhelmed, take some time out and call your loved ones.
I also made a video all about this, so give a watch to hear me talk about all of these points a little bit more! 🙂
Are you excited for school?
Thank you so much for reading, have a wonderful day, and good luck on your freshman year! 🙂
I got some really great things this year from Nordstrom, Pacsun, and Brandy Melville! I went to an actual Brandy store while I was in California, so I was super excited about that! I think my favorite place this year for back to school was Pacsun, though! It’s probably my favorite store in general, so no surprise there, but they always have great deals for back to school! I also just love the clothes at Pacsun, so it was a win-win all around. I’m so excited to wear them all this fall!
I’m really looking forward to going back to school this year, since I’ve felt so inspired this summer. My schedule is going to be a lot of fun next quarter, and I think I’m finally starting to figure out what I’m going to major in, and a general plan for my life! I just hope I don’t go through the “Sophomore Slump” this year, and stay on track with my classes.
You can check out all of the pieces down below in the video I posted on my channel! 🙂 My cat, Perry, makes a surprise entrance, so keep your eyes out for that!
Thank you so much for reading (and watching!) and have a wonderful day! 🙂
It is the end of August, and I am already looking forward to fall. Crisp, cool mornings, pumpkin everything, huge sweaters, crocheting scarves for winter, Halloween…I could seriously go on and on! I grew up with a mother who absolutely lives for the fall, and as I get older I find that I fall in love with fall (ha ha ha get it) more and more each year. It’s the start of the two coziest seasons, and I love watching all of the leaves turn towards the more golden side of the color spectrum.
I have been using almond milk lately since I have a slight sensitivity to milk (I’m just not supposed to have it on an empty stomach), and I really like it! I tried it a couple of years ago and really didn’t like it because of it’s nutty flavor, but now that I’ve been eating more nuts, I don’t mind it at all! I love the flavor it gives oatmeal as well.
You can’t have pumpkin oatmeal without the classic spices that always go into pumpkin pie! I found this really helps give the flavor more depth, and who doesn’t love cinnamon in oatmeal?
Quick oats really don’t take long to make (obviously), but I find I like them best when they are super mushy. It doesn’t sound the most appetizing, but I love gooey foods like undercooked cookies! Super weird of me, I know.
My dad thinks he’s hilarious with his labels on my gluten free foods.
Peanut butter is the secret ingredient here that really finishes this oatmeal! I actually always add peanut butter to my oatmeal, even if only a little bit, because I love how it makes the oats taste! I get tired of bland oatmeal really easily, so it helps to keep it flavorful. And I’m just addicted to peanut butter.
Ahhhh Libby’s pumpkin! I love this stuff, and I’m so excited to be using it more and more in fall-inspired recipes! Pumpkin is also really good for you, folks.
Look at that orange-y goodness. You can add in more pumpkin than this, or less! It just all depends on your own personal pumpkin pallet.
This is after I added the honey, and boy is it pretty! I love using honey to make things sweeter, and to avoid sugar. You can definitely add some brown sugar, though, to sweeten this up! It’s really up to you.
