1. Have a planner, and actually use it
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| I have really been loving my Lilly Pulitzer planner! |
Writing your schedule down in a planner is the number one tip I could give you about staying organized. It’s so important to keep all of your important dates in one place, and to write down what you’ll be doing for the coming week. I like mapping out my schedule on Sunday evenings, just so I have a rough idea of what my week will look like. You of course don’t have to put every tiny detail in for the week when you aren’t too sure quite yet, but it’ll help to have an idea of how you’re week is going to go. Plus, it’ll be easier planning things during the week because you already kind of know what you are doing each day.
Using a planner to write down assignment due dates is also very important. As soon as you get your syllabus in the beginning of the term, write down all of the huge due dates for each of your classes because your professors will most likely only remind you the week before an assignment is due. It’s definitely your job now to keep track of due dates and to keep yourself accountable for everything. Plus, you can get a super cute planner from brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Ban.do….the list goes on and on! Target also has some really cute ones that won’t break your bank.
2. Keep a journal
I like to keep a journal to write down my goals – whether they are my yearly, monthly, or weekly goals, it really helps to keep me on track! I also love to write out organized to-do lists that are more longterm, and focused on my more creative projects. So lists pertaining to blog posts, video ideas, writing ideas, and other creative projects! This helps to keep my brain organized, if that makes any sense. Sometimes it feels like I get so overwhelmed with homework and tests, that I just have ideas swimming around and nowhere to put them! I decided to just write them all down in a journal, and that helped so much. It really helps to give you a creative outlet as well!
3. Use sticky notes
I am seriously a sticky note addict. Honestly, I probably over-use them, but it helps to remind me of important dates, or things that I need to do the next day. When you are finally going to sleep after a long night of homework, it’s so easy to forget things the next morning. I like to hang sticky notes on my desk, or put them on my laptop to remind myself to get important things done, or remember to bring the homework I just finished to class the next day. I know, that sounds crazy, but when you are an exhausted college kid, it’s easy to forget to print assignments, or just leave them in your dorm altogether! Sticky notes are really the best, and should not be underestimated in their importance on your college shopping list.
4. Set phone reminders
This is essentially the digital version of sticky notes, but they can be carried around with you, and remind you of things at certain times! Phone reminders are really great for appointments that you might forget about during the day if you’re super busy. You also most likely always have your phone with you, so you can easily set a reminder when you’re out and about and need a digital sticky note pronto. I personally like sticky notes better because I like physical reminders, but phone reminders definitely have their uses too!
5. Schedule free time and homework time
This goes along with scheduling your week, but having dedicated and consistent time where you are doing homework or taking a break is really helpful for staying sane. I like to get to work on assignments right after I get back from classes, so I can have free time later at night, and not be worried about homework while I eat dinner. Getting to bed early is also a really good idea in college, so getting your homework done right after classes helps you get enough sleep too.
Well, there you have it! Those are my five tips to staying organized in college. If you are going to be a freshman next year, don’t get scared about how crazy your schedule will be! You will find a balance after a couple of weeks of trial and error, and pretty soon you’ll be a college pro!
I made a video about this on my channel as well, so give it a look!
Do you like to use planners?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day!
I read the Selection series by Kiera Cass when it first came out, so I was really excited to see that she had come out with a spin-off series. The first book in the new series is called The Heir, and is about the daughter of King Mason and Queen America, who are the main characters from the original book. Eadlyn – the daughter – has to have her own Selection (where 35 young men enter to possibly woo the princess into marrying one of them…basically The Bachelorette for royalty) in order to distract the public from their growing discontent. I was glad there was a larger purpose to this Selection, but it soon became clear that that wouldn’t be the main focus of the book.
It is unclear what Cass was wanting to achieve in this book; to try and get the message of the public’s growing anger with the monarchy, or Eadlyn’s anger about the selection. While at first it seemed like Cass would really focus on how angry the public was about the hard financial times the country seemed to be facing, she seemed more concerned with showing how bratty Eadlyn was, and how poorly she treated those around her. The first Selection series was about Mason and America – both very down to earth characters who I did not think could create a child like Eadlyn. She treats her maid, whom she claims to be very good friends with, horribly, and is very unhappy with having to go through the selection, even though it is to distract the public long enough for her poor father to find a way to help out his struggling subjects.
Cass seems to use Eadlyn’s feminist mind set to excuse her poor behavior, and public shaming of the men in her selection, but it just ends up being way too forced. I totally support strong female leads in books fighting for women rights, but Eadlyn is simply portrayed as being a snobby princess used to getting her way, yet complaining about how hard her life is. She is a fraternal twin with her brother, Ahren, whom was born seven minutes after her. The laws of her country dictated that even though she was technically older, Ahren was to be king due to his gender. Because their parents were so revolutionary, and America was a big advocate of women’s rights, they made it so the eldest child was to be the ruler, regardless of gender. Go them, right? Well, according to Eadlyn, very, very wrong. There is not a moment in the book when she isn’t complaining about how she’ll have to be queen one day, or how she is expected to get married soon. I get it, no one should be forced to marry young, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t make the best of her situation, and find a man she is actually happy with, and not some random person she’s betrothed to. She has the choice between thirty-five different men who she never would have met, had the selection never happened. She could at least try and look on the bright side that she gets a choice – something that not all the royals before her had.
I love that Kiera Cass is trying to make feminism a big theme of the book. I think more and more support for women is needed, but I do not like how it was executed in this book. Instead of Eadlyn portraying a strong woman, she is petty and cruel to those around her, especially the young men partaking in the selection. I wanted so badly to root for her and her feminist ideals, but I just ending up staring at the book like this a lot:
She questions why the public hates her, yet she gives them absolutely no reason for them to like her (i.e. at least having some sort of conscience). She insults the boys at every turn, and looks down upon people with “lower” statuses than herself. I found it hard to root for her at all, and instead was rejoicing when her brother tells her off at one point. I had such high hopes for this book since the first series had a strong woman lead, but I was deeply disappointed with this one. Eadlyn is not empathetic at all, and it was so hard to relate to her. Cass made it seem like women have to be completely rude and controlling in order to get anywhere in life. While we women have to be firm in many situations, we can also be human in order to be successful. I’m hoping Cass made us readers feel this way about Eadlyn for a reason, and maybe we will be able to see a drastic change in her for the next book, but for now I am simply disappointed. Feminism should not be portrayed as needing to be so independent to the point where women have to be cruel to anyone who tries to be remotely nice or helpful to them
All of the romance in the book is shadowed by Eadlyn’s attitude towards the whole selection. She treats the selected horribly, which in turn makes the public dislike her even more. There is also the “issue” she has with literally anyone seeing the real her, or trying to get close to her. I didn’t understand what the big deal was with people even asking her how her day was going, especially when she raves about how great and close her family is. The whole book was just a little bit off and forced to me, and it made me really sad. I had such higher expectations and I was definitely let down.
I hate giving bad reviews to books and movies, but honestly The Heir was not the greatest book in my opinion. It did have it’s moments, and for those I just might read the next book, if only to keep up with America and Mason. But by the end of the book, I was definitely questioning why I ever picked it up in the first place. It was very disappointing that this book was a let down, because the first series was really great, and I believe Kiera Cass really is a good writer. Hopefully the next one is better!
Have you read this book? What have you been reading lately?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend reading it because you will not be disappointed! I think Sarah Dessen’s books are also really good for people who don’t read too much, because they’re really easy to get into and are usually a pretty quick read.
I also made a video about my review of this book, so you can check it out below! 🙂
What have you been reading lately?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
There has been so much women empowerment lately, and I seriously love it. Women all over the world know how hard it is to be successful in any industry. It is still a male dominated world, but their are many women who are trying to break free of this. Emma Watson, J.K. Rowling, Lupita Nyong’o, Michelle Obama (she is definitely more than “just the First Lady”!), Beyoncé, Amy Poehler…the list goes on and on! All of these ladies make me so proud to be a women, and they prove that girls really do run the world (sorry, I had to). Because of all the inspiration lately, I thought I would put together some of my tips on how you can be successful and, ultimately, take over the world. I mean that’s obviously the natural progression of things, right?
Failure isn’t bad – as long as you pick yourself up and learn from it.
Sometimes it feels like we take one step forward and two steps back as a world. That’s why it’s important to always try your hardest in everything you do. That definitely doesn’t mean that failing is terrible – sometimes it’s necessary! It makes you work even harder to achieve your dreams, and can help you realize what you should do differently. It’s really important to not let failure knock you down; that’s when it’s bad. If one little failure knocks you down and causes you to lose sight of your dreams, then you’ve only failed yourself.
Don’t ever lose sight of what you truly want.
Going along with failure, never lose sight of your dreams. This year I’ve dealt with that a lot; it’s really hard trying to decide what to do with the rest of your life, and consequently, what to study in college. Ever since I could read I’ve always wanted to be a writer. To create my own stories and share them with other people has always been my dream, and it makes me so excited that that could actually happen one day. It’s been a constant in my life, and the one thing that I’ve always had my eyes on. It’s so important to never forget those goals – your dreams from your childhood can turn into your future, so never forget that!
Don’t let other people’s words get you down.
My dad has always told me that no one can ever make you upset unless you let them. I never really understood that as a kid, but now that I’m a young adult (what?!) I definitely get what he’s saying. You are the only person who can let other people’s words bother you or not. If you choose to ignore them and not let their words get to you, then you will have such a better life. The world can be a hard place, especially when you go to college and meet new people every day. Some people feel better about themselves by bringing others down, and it’s really important to realize that. A person’s mean words about you most likely aren’t even about you; they are merely a way for the other person to make themselves feel bigger and better than everyone else.
It doesn’t make you weak to ask for help.
I am definitely guilty of this because I’m extremely stubborn. It can be hard to realize that asking for help won’t make you look weak, or that it’ll be a bother to other people. Strength isn’t measured only in the things you do by yourself, and in fact can be shown by the things you achieve with others. Admitting you need help can also help you grow as a person because you learn from others, and oftentimes learn more about yourself.
Celebrate the little victories.
All of your little victories add up over time, and nothing is too small! If it’s important to you, then it matters. Period. Life can be hard, so being happy about all of the little things can make it easier and more exciting. Everyday is filled with both sad and happy things, so it’s your choice which ones you let affect you for better or worse. But just remember that every minute spent upset is one you could’ve spent being happy!
Treat others as you want to be treated.
This is simply the golden rule, and the courtesy that every human being deserves, no matter how much you dislike them, disagree with them, or how different you are from them. I am a very firm believer that this will get you far in life because people will notice how you make them feel. When you try and treat everyone the same – with kindness and respect – it reflects on the kind of person you are, and shows people that you are someone worth recognition, and support. Plus, the “golden rule” is something that everyone should live their life by, even (and especially) when dealing with people whom you don’t get along with the best.
Well, those are my tips on how to take over the world. On a more serious note, I believe that being a woman should not give you a disadvantage in any way. The world can be a very hard place for women because of reasons out of our control. We shouldn’t let those reasons keep us down though, and should rather work extra hard to overcome them. Women should also always support each other, and it makes me so sad to see girls tear each other down. If we all supported each other, we could make leaps in bounds in terms of equality, in a shorter amount of time.
What is your tip on how to take over the world?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
In order to make this little fairy garden, my mom and I got most everything from Michaels, and what we didn’t get there, we already had at home. The piece of wood was found on our property, and we thought it would be perfect for this little project!
Here is the whole thing completed! I love how it looks as a whole, and when you look at each individual detail! There are so many little adorable details all over it, so it’s cool to look at it closely!
We put little lights on it as well so it lights up at night. We of course bring it in at night since we don’t want the outdoors to damage the lights!
My mom and I were so pleased with how it turned out! My dad ended up loving it, although the hummingbirds are still a little unsure about it. We put little tiny straws into the jars that are surrounded by flowers, so we’re just waiting for them to get a little bit more used to it. I’m sure with time they’ll be more willing to check it out! For now, it’s just really adorable to look at and use as a sweet little decoration.
This project would be so perfect for little kids as well! I’m sure they would have an absolute blast making this, and then playing with it once it’s finished. I remember I had this little fairy book when I was a little girl, and I absolutely adored it. There’s just something so fun about fairies for little kids! And even as adults, we’re all still enjoying this little project!
Have you ever made a fairy garden before?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
When I found out I had to stick to a gluten free diet – you can read more about it on my post How To Eat Gluten Free – I knew breakfast would be a little difficult to figure out. I usually ate some kind of cereal that had wheat in it, so at first it was kind of hard adjusting. But, after reading from sources online and just simply going to the grocery store to check out my options, I’ve come up with some really solid go-to recipes for breakfast!
2. Gluten Free Toast and an Egg
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| Can we just appreciate how good this egg looked before I tried to flip it? |
Since I was a kid, toast and an egg has been one of my favorite breakfast foods. It really fills you up (especially this 7-grain kind!), and gives you a lot of energy for the rest of the day. I have also been obsessed with Cajun seasoning lately – I have been putting it on everything guys – and I put some on my egg and it tasted amazing! You seriously need to try it. I just put grape jelly on my toast with no butter or anything since I’m not the biggest fan of butter, and it tastes great! This is also a really fast breakfast for days that you don’t really have time. And nowadays, gluten free bread doesn’t taste any different than regular, so you can have your toast and eat it too!
3. Omelette With (optional) Salsa
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| You know this is full of Cajun seasoning. |
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| Another obsession of mine: salsa. |
Omelette’s are such a great breakfast food! Not only do they taste great, but they are great for you! I fill mine with sautéed vegetables, Cajun seasoning, and a little bit of cheese, and top it all off with a generous amount of homemade salsa! My taste buds are probably numb from all the spices I put them through, but ohmygosh does it taste amazing. Seriously, add in some bell peppers too and this is heaven!
Well, there you have it! Three different ideas for gluten-free breakfasts! There are definitely more that I love (gluten-free pancakes, oatmeal, Puffins cereal…) so if you want some more ideas, just let me know! I seriously always wake up hungry so it’s super important for me to always have solid breakfast ideas I can regularly fall back on. And since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I like to keep them healthy so I can get my body ready for whatever!
What is your favorite breakfast food?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Dear Freshman Year,
I learned a lot from you this past year, and not all of that knowledge was from the classroom (or lecture hall, for most of my classes). Thank you for teaching me how to be an adult, and that I can be completely self-reliant but still lean on my parents when I need to. Thank you for making me realize that family isn’t always flesh and blood, and can be found in those people you awkwardly meet at your very first floor meeting. Thank you for showing me just how great my parents are, and that it’s okay to call them while crying when finals get to be a little too much. Thank you for allowing me to be truly young and carefree – if only for a night – with some of the best friends I’ve ever made. Thank you for teaching me how to live with someone I don’t exactly get along with, and how to make the best of a bad situation. Thank you for forcing me to break out of my shell in order to meet people that I’ll probably be friends with for the rest of my life.
Freshman Year, you were a difficult, crazy, exciting, adventurous, brand new year for me, and I’ll be eternally grateful to you. As I sit here in my kitchen at home and recall all that happened this year, it truly seems like a whirlwind. When I look back to last September, I remember a girl who was absolutely terrified to leave home. Now I see the girl I am today who has so much more experience in the real world. While it’s nice to be home now and have a break, you were truly a blast Freshman Year. I made some amazing friends, and learned that I really can rely on myself, even if I don’t always have to. I’ve had to make real-world decisions because of you, and I’m so glad that I was able to learn how to do so. A year ago, even the thought of those huge decisions would have me shaking in my boots (or Birkenstocks, as I always wear).
Freshman Year, you were probably one of the most difficult years school-wise. I was definitely pushed to my limits by you, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Getting eight hours of sleep this year was nearly always impossible, but I also wouldn’t have made a lot of the memories that I did, had I went to sleep at a healthy time. My grades would’ve suffered as well, and I had to pull many all-nighters in order to do well in my classes. I’m glad I learned that all-nighters are a lot better when they’re spent with coffee and friends. Speaking of friends, I learned from you, Freshman Year, that it’s okay to lean on them and let them help you with tough situations. It taught me that my friends really don’t mind listening to me list my problems, and then helping me find solutions to them. I wouldn’t have made it through this year without the friends I made, and also my best friends from home.
Without you, Freshman Year, I would not be the person I am today. While I’ve always been mature for my age, this past year has taught me more about the world than I ever could have imagined. I thought I already knew a lot about being an adult, but I really didn’t. I know I have a lot more to learn from the next three years in college, but you, Freshman Year, have taught me a lot. It’s crazy to think four years ago I was finishing my freshman year of high school; it really seems like worlds away. And in just three years I’ll be finishing college. I promise I’ll try and make every year count, but you’ll always hold a dear place in my heart.
I’ll never forget my memories from you, Freshman Year, and I know I’ll be telling some of these stories to my children one day. Hopefully all of the friends I made during this past year will be there when I do so, and we can look back on you with all of the fondness in the world. I’m excited for the next three years, but I promise I’ll never forget you. You are just the beginning to a brand new chapter in my life, and I’m so excited to continue my journey.
Love,
Kendra
So, what is endometriosis anyway?
Endometriosis is a condition that a lot of people don’t know about, but is becoming more and more prevalent among women today. It’s a disorder that is oftentimes very painful, where the tissue that usually lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, usually around the ovaries, bowel, or the tissue lining the pelvis. The extra tissue outside of the uterus causes cysts to occur because the tissue has no way to exit. These cysts are very painful and sometimes have to be removed with surgery if they don’t go away on their own. Endometriosis can also cause scar tissue around the uterus, which can lead to fertility problems later in life.
My Story
(Side note, this story contains a lot about periods so if that isn’t your cup of tea, you have been warned)
How I Deal With Endometriosis
Now that my endometriosis is mostly under control, the pain has lessened immensely. Before we knew that I had it, the pain was sometimes unbearable which caused me to occasionally stay home from school and lie down for most of the day. I had no idea that other girls didn’t get such bad cramps, or feel pain in their lower stomach throughout the month. I’m actually really allergic to ibuprofen so I can only take pain medication with Tylenol in it, so I typically just lie down and let the pain subside. Using a heating pad can really help sometimes, too! Since the hormones that cause the tissue to grow uncontrollably are under control, I have a lot less pain, and a lot fewer cysts.
Why I Decided To Post About Endometriosis
When I first heard the term “endometriosis” I had absolutely no idea what my doctor was talking about. We of course came home from the doctors office and researched it as much as possible, and found some great resources. It turns out it is a hereditary disorder, and affects the women in my own family on my dad’s side, and a couple on my mom’s side as well. Endometriosis is something that needs to be talked about a lot more because it’s affecting more and more women. It’s something that can easily be controlled once known about, but also something that can get out of control if let alone. There are some great resources, like the Endometriosis Foundation of America, that have information about endometriosis and just general support. I learned a lot from their website when I found out I had endometriosis, and it made the whole situation feel a lot more manageable!
I wanted to post about endometriosis, though, so there’s a little bit more awareness about it. I really think more people should know about it, because it’s something more and more women are suffering from, but they don’t even know it. Early detection can literally be life-saving, because some women become infertile if left untreated. This has happened in my own family, and it’s so sad when it happens, especially to women who really want children.
Symptoms
-Pain in the lower stomach and back, especially during your period
-Excessive cramps during your period
-Heavy flow
-Excessive fatigue, especially during your period
-Basically, every symptom during your periods are far worse than normal
Treatments
-Pain medication
-Hormone Therapy
-Low-dose birth control pills
-Surgery (laparoscopies usually)
When should I see my doc?
If you are having sever symptoms during your period, you should just go see your doctor to get things checked out. Periods suck in general, but if they are debilitating to you, then you should really go in. Early detection is key with anything, so it never hurts to ask your doctor if you could be experiencing endometriosis. It can be a little scary at first (I was only fifteen at the time so I was quite terrified to say the least), but it’ll work out in the end, and you can always take someone with you to the doctors! I had my parents with me every step of the way, and the rest of my family was there for me after my surgery to constantly check in on me, so that was really wonderful.
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Wow, this ended up being long! I’ve been wanting to write about endometriosis for a while now, though, because like I said, it’s something that I believe needs more awareness. I’m also in the middle of dead weak (finals are in a couple of days!), so it was nice to take my mind off of studying and just write about something that’s been a big part of my life in recent years.
Have you ever heard of endometriosis?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂