Room Organization

I am the kind of person who at the start of the school year must ALWAYS have everything and organized in their place.  If things aren't in their place when it comes to school, I feel like I'm losing my mind.  I have changed a few things that I am doing this year, which is starting by ALWAYS making sure that my desk is clean and my bed is made. Last year, my bed was in this weird position where it was hard to make it everyday.  This year, I'm able to make it very easily and it also helps knowing that when people walk into my room, it's one of the first things that they see.

I also added curtains right above my windows, just because the blinds don't do a very good job at blocking out the sunlight if I am sleeping in on the weekends. It also helps when it is hot and it keeps our room much cooler.  I keep my "regular" bags hanging right on my bedpost and keep my laundry under my bed where I store my suitcases and things.  My dresser as well as one of my roommates is also under my bed as well.

Next to my bed, I have my desk area.  My roommate found this great little bookshelf that we share. The top shelf is mine, and it houses all of my textbooks and library books that I am using for my senior thesis paper (Ethics & Education: Music in the Elementary Schools).  I also have one of our 4 lamps on the bookshelf and a photo of my family, a clock, and other random things that I just happen to use all the time.  I also have my wall calendar, class schedule, and other things up on the wall.  I'll go into detail more later on how I stay organized more specifically!

What are some ways that you keep your areas neat and organized? I always love hearing different tips that other people have!

Welcome to the School Year

After a very busy summer and taking a break from blogging, I'm back!

This summer was great! It was busy, productive, and fun.  In a nutshell, I was able to do summer school, go to Boston, New York, cabin lead at camp again this year, go down to LA a few times, and I also got to work.

Being back here at APU is somewhat unreal for me. I know I'm a senior now, but it still hasn't fully hit that it's my last year here.  It's hard to believe how fast it's gone by. Now with choir camp all over and a whole week of school under my belt, I have finally gotten into the swing of things. I've created my schedule for everything and I am really enjoying the classes that I am taking this semester.
I am excited for this year, and I can't wait to see everything that happens!

P.S. Keep posted for a post coming up about a little spontaneity! 

Junior Year Comes to an End

There's always a huge weight lifted off my shoulders whenever I walk out of my last final.  I'm done. I have nothing to worry about until the fall, and it's summer break!

With all the craziness going on with dead week and finals, I feel like my life was in complete chaos.  From studying and packing up the apartment, I had no idea where most of my things were.  In the midst of packing up things to go home with my parents a couple weeks ago, packing up things to go into storage, and things to go on choir tour with me, I felt lost.

Luckily, that's all over now and I can focus on one thing: CHOIR TOUR. I am seriously so excited for it. It's going to be so much fun. We're going from California to Texas, and back. I love all of these girls so so much and I can't wait to spend the next 2 weeks with them, hanging out, singing, and not worrying about what paper is due at 8 in the morning or what tests I have that week.

There's many things that I've learned this past year, as a junior in college. I honestly loved every bit of it. But now comes the time when I really have to wake up. 4 summer school classes this summer and a job (hopefully!).

Then, when I get back to school in 3 months, it's back to the craziness. Yet more.  Yes, I've already filled out my planner for next semester... and into March of 2014. Just thinking and knowing that I have to fill out my "Intent to Graduate" form, apply to graduate school, and everything like that, just makes college seem like it's gone by so quickly already. I'm growing up, and there's nothing that can stop it.

I'm excited for this summer, even though it'll be my last one at home.  I'm ready though. I can't wait to enjoy every moment of it. Lots of fun things will be happening, like going out to Boston, cabin leading at camp, and a possible family trip to Lake Tahoe!

So I'm excited to be done. If you can't tell already. But if you have any fun summer ideas for me, please tell me! I love doing fun new things. :)

Take time to Relax

For some reason, this semester seems as if it has been more stressful than other semester.  While trying to get papers done, studying for tests and quizzes, other homework assignments, getting work done for Bel Canto, as well as trying to make time for myself where I can relax and hang out with friends, the time has gone by very quickly.  It's like this semester has been squished into one month of craziness. Except for the fact that the semester is practically over.  

I've been trying to figure out ways in which I can make myself relax so I can make it through whatever is going on in my life.  In my Psych class last week, the whole class period was devoted to making us relax and not think or worry about school.  At the beginning of the class period, my teacher collected all of our phones.  We watched a video and closed our eyes and just listed to music.  She then sent us outside to not talk to anyone and just sit for 20 minutes. Or walk around.  Lastly, we came back in and she had us lie down and just meditate and relax our bodies. I honestly fell asleep.  

This semester I've learned how important it is to 1, have a bedtime and actually get a good amount of sleep. 2, to make time for yourself to just sit and relax without everything running through your brain.  3, the importance of being patient and not worrying so much.  4, time management is EXTREMELY importnat, and lastly, 5, Downton Abbey is a great show! Seriously, you all need to go watch it.  

Zack and Zach Take LA

So here's the deal. You need to check out this video. It's a new reality web series.  My friends are trying to make it big. So watch this video. Share this video. Let's make this happen! Click the link for the video!

The Magic Pillow Case

Like I said in my previous post, during spring break I was able to just relax and hang out with friends and family.  During that time, I also pulled out my old sewing machine.  I've been missing doing crafts like that and so I decided to make myself a new pillow case.  Well, 10 pillow cases later, and spring break was over.

If any of you want to make your own pillow case, you should really follow this pattern: The Magic Pillow Case.  It's a very easy pattern for a beginner sewer.  I know that when I get home, I'll be back to sewing.  I am hoping to find some more simple projects that I can make and use as gifts.

The new pillow case I made for myself!

4 Weeks Left

It's kind of scary to think that 4 weeks from now, I'll be on a bus full of girls for our choir tour.  School will be over. Finals will be behind us. It's amazing how fast this school year has gone by.

Spring break was wonderful. It was a very much needed break.  When I went home, I took no school work with me.  I just really needed a break where I didn't have to think about school. I did do a little choir work though. But that's always fun.  I was able to catch up with some old friends from high school and some friends from church.  I was also able to enjoy a nice week at home with my family.

Baseball season started, which means talking about the Giants and the Dodgers has become an every day conversation topic.

I've been back to school for a week now, and it's taken me a little while to get back into "school mode".  Luckily, I've been able to get all my work done on time and some papers have even gotten pushed back!  However, with only 3 weeks of school left and 1 week of finals, there is still a lot of work to get done.

Go Giants!