At a Bookstore

I started writing this post as I was sitting in Barnes & Nobles at the Pruneyard. However, I am posting it a day later. Hehe, whoops!
-----
There is just something about being inside of bookstores that calms me. Maybe it's the fact that bookstores are quiet and you can actually hear yourself think.  I love just wandering through every aisle of the bookstore, even if nothing really ever changes. I love looking at all the different sections and seeing if a book pops out at me.
The two sections that I stop and look at, without fail, are the Christian Inspiration section and the Children's Section. I love seeing if there are any good Christian books that I think I would like to read and I also love looking at picture books. In my room at home, I have a huge bookshelf, just of picture books. I don't look at them often, but when I do, they smell the way I remember them smelling as I was a little kid and they bring back memories of my mom and dad reading them to me. Some of my favorite picture books are Miss Bindergarten Goes to Kindergarten, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Love You Forever, Jesse Bear, and so many other ones. I think that if you haven't heard of these or read them, you have to go to a bookstore and just sit there and read them. They are just wonderful children's classics!
What were some of your favorite children's books while growing up?

Feeling Good with my Summer 2012 Playlist

Have you ever woken up just not feeling like you can take on the things that life throws your way? I know that I personally learned that I have to have my morning routine to make sure that I have a good day. I learned that this past year, it can be hard to feel good and also be productive if you don't look like you can make it through another day. I can totally see a difference in the way I feel and act if I don't follow through with my morning routine.  

1. Get out of bed (Probably the hardest thing to do!)
2. Shower
3. Put on a cute outfit that makes you feel good. 
4. Do your hair and make up
5. Put a big smile on. A smile can make your day as well as someone else's day even better. 

Oh, and of course, you can't forget about the music! I love music. I always have to have music playing in the background while I'm doing homework or just cleaning up my apartment. I have to have music when I'm driving around in my car running errands. It's just something that makes me feel good and happy.  I love all different kinds of music. From Christian Worship music, to Pop Music, to Country Music, to Soundtracks. So, what's been on my "Summer 2012 Playlist"? 

Some of the songs that have been playing nonstop on my computer and iPhone are the ones listed above. Now, when I find a songs that I just absolutely love to listen to, I listen to them nonstop. I'm pretty sure that whoever is around me, gets tired of my music. I will listen to one song on repeat until I get tired of it, which usually won't happen until about a week or so later. (My poor roommates who have to deal with that!)  

So what songs have been on your Summer playlist? Any good songs that I should listen to? Maybe add them on since summer doesn't end until school starts! And what things do you do to make sure that you have a good day? Any tips? I'd love to hear them all!

Packing Up

I've come to the realization that packing is just so hard for me. And I guess it doesn't help that I have a lot of stuff too.  However, I've come to realize that while packing up to go back to Southern California for college, there are some things that I just can't live without.  Of course, I'm a girl, and I've got to have my clothes and shoes and purses. But office supplies is something that I just can't live without.  I've always been that girl that loves back-to-school shopping, just for the school supply shopping. I've always loved just wandering down that section of Target or going into some office supply store with my parents.  So, I've decided that I would make a little list of some things that I see as 'back-to-school essentials'.

1. A Planner
All the time, I am trying to become more and more organized.  But let's face it, it's not easy.  I always have to have a planner. One that I physically can write things in, and yes, people have told me that it's 'old fashioned' to actually use a planner that you write in. But I like to see all my assignments written out.  I also tend to use my calendar on my phone, but I know that I need to start just using one. I love going to Barnes & Nobles or Target to get my planner. This year, I got mine at Barnes & Nobles. It's not too big and it's not too small. It's big enough to write out my assignments, but it isn't as big as a notebook. Which I love, because I know that I can fit it in my purse (Yes, I do carry a large purse. I call it my 'mom bag'.) but it will also fit with all my school things.

2. Bright, Colorful, Fun Pens
What is more boring, than looking through your notes as you're studying for a test, than seeing your notebook full of just black/blue pen and pencil. Don't get me wrong, I love using black pens, but sometimes it is just nice to add some color to my notes. I love boxing important things my professor says or writing the title of the lesson with colorful pens in different handwriting than I normally would use.  I love using the Pilot Gel G2 (05) pens. I used to use the (07) ones, but somehow I would always end up smearing the ink and it would just get all over.  Plus, I like how it makes my notes look all clean because it is thinner.

3. My North Face Backpack

I am not a backpack person. I love being able to have different totes that match my outfit, but I have come to just LOVE my backpack. Yes, North Face backpacks can be fairly pricey. Well, North Face is pricey in general. However, this backpack is the perfect size. It has pockets for everything I need, and it manages to do the job by carrying my books, binders, notebooks, and anything else that I might possibly have to carry around with me.  Plus, it even has a buckle that goes around your waist which I love to play with as I am walking to classes or just standing and talking to friends. Yes, it does start to drive my friends crazy, but playing with that buckle is just so much fun!  So although North Face backpacks can get fairly expensive, depending on the one that you get, you have to remember that North Face backpacks have a LIFE TIME GUARANTEE!  Now, I'm the kind of person that had always gotten a bright colorful backpack, but this time I got black. And I love that it does match with everything. And plus, by having a back backpack, it made me feel just a tad bit older. It was like I didn't need that bright colorfulness. But, I do have a little color on there still, anyway. Now, I've had my backpack for a few years now, but as I was looking online for a photo, I noticed that they have all these different colors! Now I kind of wish that I had a colored one... But hey, now I match with all my friends who have black North Face backpacks.

So I've narrowed my list down to 3 things. But believe me, there are so many other things that I can't live without for school. But for now, those are my top 3 things. Oh well, and of course my phone, which is attached to my hand at all times.

For style advice, and to know if your closet is "Trendy or Not" for this upcoming school year, check out my friends blog, called "Trendy or Not".  Believe me, she knows what she's talking about when she talks fashion.