Friday, November 27, 2015

Brief NaNoWriMo Update

This year I decided to do National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I had tons of character ideas and a basic plot, but I just could not seem to get anything out. I'm going to try for 100 words by the end of the month. After NaNoWriMo ends, I'm going to continue the story, but I'm not worried about my word count this year. I'm going for the full novel next year, though. Who else is doing NaNoWriMo?

Saturday, November 07, 2015

Review: Naked Basics Palette

I bought the Naked Basics Palette back in September and I'm obsessed with it. I use it every day.

I use Venus, WOS, and Naked 2 for my everyday look and Carve as eyeliner occasionally. At first, I had a lot of fallout with Carve and Venus, but that ended quickly.

Pros:
The colors were exactly what I was looking for.
It doesn't irritate my eyes or cause those white bumps on my eyelid. (Those small white bumps are equivalent to clogged pores, but you just have to let them go away on their own.)
Urban Decay is a good quality brand who is also cruelty-free
Goes on well.

Cons:
The price ($34!)
The eyeshadow was more creamy than I was expecting.
The black and white caused fallout for several uses, with the white (Venus) having the most fallout.

Overall:
4.5/5
I will most likely purchase this again, but it's most likely going to be the full Naked palette, rather than the basics. It's a quality purchase that I strongly recommend.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

How I Organize My Planner

I use a MintGreen academic planner from Walmart. The tabs down the side separate the months. Each month begins with a monthly view followed by a notes section. The days are divided by weeks, with Saturday and Sunday getting their own individual boxes.

I use 6 colors, one for each class, one for other school-related things, and one for everything else. Black, pale pink, turquoise, and magenta are for my classes, blue is for general school, and green is for everything else. I also use post-it notes for to-do lists to move from week to week and post-it tabs to mark the current week.

As a student, I prefer academic planners over standard planners, as learned last year. Even though I keep blog and work schedules in my planner, I still find using this one academic one to be the most beneficial to me. Some people do better using multiple planners, but I color-code everything. I don't need two planners-yet.

If you have any other questions, you can just comment!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

What's in My Backpack?


I'm only in high school, so what's in my backpack reflects that.

The Backpack:
I use The North Face Women's Surge Backpack in TNF Black and Luminous Pink, which I can only find at Dick's Sporting Goods (aka not on The North Face's website).
Purchase here

The Laptop Compartment:
In the laptop sleeve, I keep my laptop and a folder of all my important papers. I also keep my MintGreen agenda and a pencil pouch in that compartment.

The Main Compartment:
This is where I keep my textbooks and binders, should I bring any home. I also keep my extension cord and wallet there for easy access.

The Small Compartment With Lots of Zippers
In the mesh pocket, I keep my charger and I don't really use the compartment for anything else, other than occasionally my index cards, especially around midterms and finals.

The Front Pockets
I keep my personal products in the horizontal pocket because it's actually very deep. One vertical pocket has my calculator and the other has my external hard drive and phone.

There's a ton of room, but you have to know how to access it. I used to put all of my textbooks and binders in the laptop compartment because I did not realize that the section directly in front was meant to expand and hold more. Now I keep either a notebook or my smallest textbook in the laptop compartment, should I need to bring anything home. It's also helped with my back. My old Swiss Gear made my back hurt almost all the time, but my TNF has yet to cause me pain. Fingers crossed!



That's all I have today! I hope you enjoyed it! I'm sorry if I don't post regularly as I just found out I have mono. I'm very tired, especially since I'm still attending school, so posting is likely going to wind up on the back burner for awhile.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

My Thoughts on White Feminism and Problematic Faves

White feminism: a form of feminism that ignores the needs of trans women, LGBTQIA, WOC, etc.

As a white person, my world view is limited, but I try not to practice white feminism. It ignores the needs of far too many women. I try to state my opinions without talking over these women. If you are any of these minorities and would like to write an opinion piece on a topic pertaining to you, either comment or email me.

Feel free to call me out if I'm being problematic. I'm still learning-honestly I'll probably always be learning, and I'll apologize for any of my harmful mistakes. For example, I'm neurodivergent but I still am ableist. (Neurodivergent means you have a mental disorder, learning disability, or anything similar.)


Problematic Faves:

I have lots of problematic faves, 5 Seconds of Summer being the most outstanding. I love their music, but they are sexist and just flat out rude. The way I see it is that it's okay to enjoy a problematic person's work as long as you can call them out and accept that they are being problematic. Being a semi-decent person doesn't cost anything, so please call them out. It's also okay if you don't catch every single mistake. You're human, you'll make mistakes, but try your best.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Wanderlust

One of my goals in life is to be rich enough to travel the world and look pretty dang fashionable as I do it. (That's no exaggeration.)

Some of the countries I want to go include:

  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
  • Iceland
  • Spain
  • France
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Romania
  • Australia
  • Egypt
  • Poland
  • Japan
  • Costa Rica
  • Brazil (specifically Rio De Janeiro)

Other travel wishes
□ Take lots of photos that look so good, I frame them for my wall
□ Be able to have stepped foot on all 7 continents

Maybe I'll be able to start a page on this blog dedicated to my travels!

Friday, October 16, 2015

Back to School Round-up

Here's some of my favorite posts, along with any information I have on the subject.


Organization:
Class Folder Organization
Organized for the New Semester

Planners:
Semester Assignment Spreadsheet
I use the MintGreen academic planner. I got it at Walmart and honestly, it works better than some of the more expensive ones I've tried. I may blog about my planner organization in the next month or so. I'm not too sure yet.

Studying/Note Taking:
Retaining Class Information
Taking Notes part 1
How to Print Notes on Flashcards
How to Set Up Your Notes

Standardized Testing:
9 Week Study Plan
ACT Prep

Finals:
Ultimate Guide to Finals
Surviving Finals
7 Tips to Survive Finals

Monday, October 12, 2015

On SEC Football

Important Information:
O1: I'm Southern, born and raised.
O2: But I'm not a football fan.
O3: At all.


I went to my second-ever SEC game this past Saturday. (The first time, I was like 5.) The atmosphere is like at any other sporting event, thank goodness, but I got so confused trying to watch the game. It's really fun, though, especially since it was a rivalry game. After the game, I slept for at least an hour in the backseat. Seriously, just watching sports is tiring. I don't know how they play for that long!

Also, I'm not a fan of the team I went to watch. I'm a fan of our other local SEC team, so I was hoping Georgia would win. My blood does not run orange. (Unless we're talking Auburn, friends don't let friends wear orange.)

Whoops, I went off topic there. The game itself is super fun to be at, even though I was confused most of the time. 10/10 do recommend, especially if you are tailgating sober (but I'm not 21, so I have no comparison, but it's my educated assumption).

Saturday, September 19, 2015

September Favorites

Oh my goodness! I haven't posted in ages! I would like to apologize for not posting, as well as for the quality. I'm posting from my phone, so it's more difficult to code and add photos.

TV Shows:
Arrow
Supernatural

Movies:
Dirty Dancing
Grease

Songs:
"Me Gustas Tu" by GFriend (It's in Korean, not Spanish.)
"Shake It Off" by Twenty One Two (Excellent cover, and the parody used in the Supernatural Parody from The Hillywood Show is amazing too.)


Other musings:
Wanting to transfer schools halfway through high school is very difficult, especially when the schools have very different graduation requirements. (And assign different amounts of credits to certain classes!)
If I do transfer, I begin the process next month.

(Edited 07/31/2017 to remove broken links)

Monday, August 03, 2015

Review: Freeman Feeling Beautiful

I've always had pretty bad acne, but one of my friends recommended this mask for me. (Freeman feeling beautiful avocado and oatmeal clay mask.) I've been using it since May, and my skin has never looked better!
I wash my face once a day and twice a week (usually on Mondays and Thursdays) I apply this mask once I'm done. I rinse it off when it dries and my acne is either gone or almost gone. It's the only product that is removing my blackheads. It's a long process-I still have a ton-but my face is looking so much better. I usually go foundation free the next day because my skin is clear. I wish I could find a face wash that does the wonders that this mask does-without causing redness or burning for the next day like benzoyl peroxide does.

I have fairly sensitive skin (my skin is so red and usually burns after being exposed to too much chlorine-and of course, I swim in a not-saltwater-pool. Benzoyl peroxide is not my friend either), but this has never caused me any problems. If your skin is extremely sensitive, I probably would not recommend it simply because it is a mask, and it may irritate your skin more than a cleanser would, but other than that, it's one of my favorite beauty products.



Photo from Ulta's website.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Wednesday Wishlist: Accessories

A pearl necklace

White monogrammed derby hat

Black monogrammed tote bag from Marley Lilly
Black and white chevron garment bag

Always Keep Fighting Shirt

A note about AKF: Always Keep Fighting was set up by Jared Padalecki in partnership with To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit that educates and tries to remove the stigma attached to mental illness and addiction. Jared is one of my favorite actors and TWLOHA is one of my favorite organizations. I really suggest supporting them.

Black monogrammed North Face backpack




Friday, July 24, 2015

Wisdom Teeth Part 2

"Okay, so my whole experience was not rainbows. I refused anything but liquids for awhile and struggled to open my mouth, but I'm doing better. (The timing of this paragraph is Friday night, in case you were wondering.) My mom made a Taco Bell run because, even if I can't have tortillas, I wanted a bean burrito.
According to my doctor, the weekend will be the worst. Joy. I'm finally starting to feel better and behave normally. I can't fully open my mouth yet, but I'm also still swollen."


I haven't taken medicine since the writing of that. I went back to the surgeon to get checked up and the holes rinsed out. I missed the cup a couple of times and spit water and blood all over myself. I'm healing pretty well, but still can't have crunchy foods. I can start eating them again in about two weeks. I'm really excited about that.

More advice: Your gums are gonna bleed a bit after you rinse your mouth. That's normal. Don't sweat it. But try to open your mouth or it will literally freeze that way. It's not going to be as bad as you think it's gonna be, so enjoy those smoothies and milkshakes.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Roadtrip Playlist

Welcome to over three hours of songs to listen to on your next road trip. (Three hours and twenty-eight minutes, to be exact.)

"Strings" by Shawn Mendes
"Body Language" by Jesse McCartney

"Wherever You Go" by Sublime with Rome
"Cheerleader" by Omi
"TKO" by Justin Timberlake
"Back in Black" by AC/DC
"Dancing Queen" by ABBA

"Trap Queen" by Fetty Wap
"Amen" by Halestorm
"21" by Hunter Hayes
"Punk Rock Princess" by Something Corporate
"Gibberish" by Max feat. Hoodie Allen
"Hey Now" by Hoodie Allen
"London Bridge" by Fergie

"Somethin Bad" by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
"Kids in America" by The Muffs
"Santeria" by Sublime
"American Kids" by Kenny Chesney
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet
"What You Know" by Two Door Cinema Club
"My First Kiss" by 3OH!3 feat. Ke$ha
"Shake It" by Metro Station
"Shadows" by Breathe Carolina
"Paradise City" by Guns 'n' Roses
"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers

"Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake
"Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake
"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse
"How to be a Heartbreaker" by Marina and the Diamonds
"Young Volcanoes" by Fall Out Boy
"Stutter" by Marianas Trench
"Cardiac Arrest" by Bad Suns
"Wait on Me" by Rixton
"Social Casualty" by Rixton
"Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3
"Jumpin, Jumpin" by Destiny's Child
"Say You're Just a Friend" by Austin Mahone feat. Flo Rida
"Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne
"My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson
"Gives You Hell" by The All-American Rejects
"Everybody" by Backstreet Boys


"Wannabe" by Spice Girls
"Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus
"Around the World" by Natalie la Rose feat. Fetty Wap
"I Really Like You" by Carly Rae Jepsen
"Rumour Has It" by Adele
"I Want You Back" by Jackson 5
"All Summer Long" by Kid Rock
"Cowboy Casanova" by Carrie Underwood
"She Ain't You" by New Hollow

"Down" by Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne
"Juliet" by LMNT
"Butterfly" by Crazy Town
"Sexy Can I" by Ray J
"Country Girl (Shake It For Me)" by Luke Bryan
"Country Grammar" by Nelly
"Partition" by Beyoncé


All images/gifs from Google Images and videos are from YouTube

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Wednesday Wishlist: Beauty Products

I usually buy more makeup around my birthday and again when school starts. It's a beautiful 6 month schedule that makes buying things like mascara and concealer so much easier.


Clinque BB Cream












I really love Clinique makeup. As someone with sensitive skin (and eyes. I have no idea how I can wear contacts), this is one of the few brands that prevent me from drying out, turning red, breaking out, etc. I'm currently using Covergirl foundation, but I'm looking for something lighter that won't settle as much.


Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral

NARS Contour Blush in Olympia













I swear by NARS products. I love the look and feel, and (the most important!) I don't have a reaction!

Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara

Contour Brush Set

Blender Sponge

EcoTools Essential Eye Set Brushes

Urban Decay Naked 3
I'm pale and love smoky eyes. That's why I'm choosing the 3 over Naked or Naked2.

Essie Millionails

Essie Grow Stronger Base

Crystal Nail File


Cuticle Oil

Not Your Mother's Texturizing Spray












Dry Shampoo
(I need some recommendations.)

Chi Flat Iron

Monday, July 20, 2015

Review: Handwritten by Shawn Mendes

Handwritten is Shawn Mendes' debut album, consisting of 12 songs.

Favorite Song: Life of the Party
Least Favorite: Air

1. Life of the Party

I really love the piano and the lyrics to this song. It was the first song I heard by him, and it's my favorite.
Favorite lyric: "Take your shot, it might be scary. Hearts are gonna break, but we don't have the time to be sorry."

2. Stitches

"Stitches" has some of the most relatable lyrics on the entire album. The music videos did an excellent job of conveying the meaning of the song as well.
Favorite lyric: "Just like a moth drawn to a flame, oh you lured me in, I couldn't sense the pain. Your bitter heart cold to the touch, now I'm gonna reap what I sow."

3. Never Be Alone

This is one of the acoustics, and the lyrics are really sweet and it's just a cute love song. (I don't have actual thoughts about this song other than ahsdhfhdlhf, and I don't think that counts as a review.) Favorite lyric: "Take a piece of my heart and make it all your own so when we are apart, you'll never be alone."

4. Kid in Love

"Kid in Love" sounds like Hunter Hayes meets Ed Sheeran meets John Mayer. Basically, I'm in love. (Pun not intended!)
Favorite lyric: "If this is what it's like falling in love, then I don't ever wanna grow up."

5. I Don't Even Know Your Name

This is another song that sounds like John Mayer meets other singer-songwriters, in this case, Sam Smith. If John Mayer were a 16 year old boy, he would be Shawn Mendes. I'm sure of it.
Favorite lyric: "I'm dying, my love, you punched a hole right through my heart."

6. Something Big

This song sounds more dance-able than his others, but it's not really my style. His vocals are killing it, however.
Favorite lyric: "It's like that feeling when you're 'bout to win the medal and you worked so hard that you knew you wouldn't settle."

7. Strings

"Strings" is such an upbeat and fun song. It's the kind of song that makes you think of the guy you're seeing.
Favorite lyric: "Darling I want all the strings attached. I love it when you look at me like that, and you're the only girl that brings me back 'cause baby I want all the strings attached.It's like always and forever. I won't let a moment pass, and when I'm with you I feel better. I want all the strings, all the strings attached." (Oh my, that was a long lyric!)

8. Aftertaste

This song is the one that reminds you of that one ex you're somewhat over, but not quite. The instrumentals and his vocals are amazing and complement each other well.
Favorite lyric: "Turns out that no one can replace me. I'm permanent, you can't erase me. I'll help you remember me, one more kiss is all it takes. I'll leave you with the memory and the aftertaste."

9. Air

It's pretty good, but Astrid's voice gets on my nerves and it's an extremely repetitive song. The verses are extremely short in comparison to the chorus.
Favorite lyric: "Always tryna put your two cents in then expecting me to change. Tried to fix me up but I'm not broken. All you do is leave me stained"

10. Crazy

This song reminds me of the song "The Reason" by Hoobastank in terms of both instrumentals and vocals. The lyrics are beautiful as well. I adore his acoustics.
Favorite lyric: "That I just got this crazy feeling I've been making someone wait for me, for me. You're all I think about when I'm awake, part of every night and every day, and everything's a mess when you're away."

11. A Little Too Much

I enjoy the fact that this is an acoustic song. I feel like acoustics highlight his voice much better than full instrumentals. 
Favorite lyric: "Sometimes it all gets a little too much,
but you gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up."

12. This is What it Takes

It's a good song, but it should not have been the final song on the standard version. It practically kills the vibe.
Favorite lyric: "And if this is what it takes, then let me be the one to bear the pain.Oh if this is what it takes, I'll break down these walls that are in our way."

Overall:
The album is extremely good, but it's loaded with acoustics. If you like the acoustic vibe, you'll adore this album, but otherwise, I suggest specific songs.
8.5/10
Needs improvement in repetitiveness
Excellent vocals however

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Top Five Collegiate Blogs to Follow

Even though I'm only a sophomore, I follow several collegiates because their study tips are golden. My school treats us like we are older than we really are, which means that we have to shape up and learn what works and what doesn't. To help y'all out, I've compiled a list of my favorite blogs.

1. Mostly Morgan by Morgan Timm
Mostly Morgan is a lifestyle blog (kind of like mine!) but she also talks a lot about blogging. Some of her posts inspired me to include an about me and a contact me page. (The contact me page is a work in progress.) Her Collegiate Guide and her posts tabbed studying are absolutely amazing.
Favorite posts from her:
The Ultimate Guide to Finals
The Collegiates Guide to Taking Notes
Collegiate's Guide to Saving Money

2. My Life as Hayden by Hayden Lee
Hayden is a rising junior in college at Troy University in Alabama. Her cooler diys (found in her cross bar) are easy to follow. If I make one, I'll be sure to post how it went. Her best posts are her "How to Survive Your Dorm Room" series. Here's all the links-in order, of course
Dorm Room Closet
Dorm Bathroom
Your Bed
Everything Else

3. Organized Charm by Kirsten Horton
Although Kirsten is not a technical collegiate, she was recently in grad school. She really helped me and one of my best friends stay organized last year. She was also one of the first blogs I followed when I decided to start blogging again.
Index Card Assignment Timeline
Standardized Test Studying
Bloom's Taxonomy for Studying

4. Prep Avenue by Shannon
I've recently discovered Prep Avenue through pinterest (as I did most of these blogs!) and might I say, I'm in love! Besides the packing lists (which I'm including for any collegiate readers' sakes), I also really love her tutorial for creating monogrammed stickers. Although the program she used is no longer available, it is still a useful tool.
The 10 Most Forgotten Things
College Packing List (Updated Version)
BONUS: Monogrammed Stickers

5. The Pink and Green Prep
Although The Pink and Green Prep will no longer be updated, there is so much useful information on the site. I enjoy her "what's in my bag?" and what to wear posts. These are her two most recent What to Wears.
What to Wear: Sorority Formal
What to Wear: Basketball Game
What's in My Bag


Thursday, July 16, 2015

Reflection on: Wisdom Teeth Removal

Yesterday, I got all four of my wisdom teeth removed. My face is still swollen on one side and my lower jaw hurts like mad. Luckily, eating hasn't been too hard yet. Opening and closing my mouth hurt up until this morning, and the cleaning is a pain. (Let's be realistic!) I should be all healed within a week, but I'll be sure to update once I go back to the doctor.

Word of advice: Get yours out early if you don't have room. They will not have attached to the nerve, so you will heal much faster and have less pain when they come out. It's what my mom, doctor, and I decided on, and I'm thankful that's what happened. One of my friends waited and was in pain for several weeks and had a hard time focusing in school from all the added pain of waiting until they were nearly formed. This is one of the few medical procedures where getting it removed before problems arise is best. If you ever have any questions, feel free to comment or email me! (My email is on my contact me page.)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Sophomore Year Goals

With school starting in just under a month, I've decided to make a series of back to school posts. The first are my goals for sophomore year.

1) Keep up my 4.0
2) Post at least twice a week
3) Make a regional cut in swimming
4) Get more pageviews on my blog. I'm personally hoping for around 15-20 a day, but consistently getting around 15 would be wonderful as well.
5) Buy a DSLR so my photos look nicer.
6) Spend more time with my friends and boyfriend.
7) Enjoy life to the fullest
8) Become a better Christian (however, this is also a long term goal, so I was not sure if that belonged with this post.)

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Now on Bloglovin'!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

After some debate, I've chosen to join Bloglovin! Hopefully some of you will choose to join me. For now, this post is the way to add me, but I will soon post my link in the sidebar.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Summer Playlist

These playlists are much shorter than my usual ones, but with all the warm weather, I'm spending more time in the pool where music isn't the smartest choice.




Dean Winchester:
Coming for You by The Offspring
Talking Body by Tove Lo
Losing My Religion by R.E.M.
Spoonman by Soundgarden
Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
No Sleep Til Brooklyn by Beastie Boys
Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue
Paradise City by Guns n Roses
Walk this Way by Aerosmith
Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash
Enter Sandman by Metallica
Hells Bells by AC/DC


Sleep:
Photograph by Ed Sheeran
Come on Get Higher by Matt Nathanson
The Only Way Out by Bush
She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5
Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park
Stitches by Shawn Mendes


Party:
Trap Queen by Fetty Wap
Partition by Beyonce
Feeling Myself by Nicki Minaj and Beyonce
Worth It by Fifth Harmony and Kid Ink
Stutter by Marianas Trench
Talking Body by Tove Lo
Amen by Halestorm
Lovin So Hard by Becky G
Gas Pedal by Sage the Gemini
Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliot



Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Review: Jesus>Religion by Jefferson Bethke

My friend had this book and I saw it when she was cleaning out her locker. She let me borrow it and I finished it within three hours. 

I related to Bethke's sentiments about how the church does seem unwelcoming and has made its own culture-not that independent culture is a bad thing. However, when the focus becomes on earning salvation and on making the Bible about how God helped the heroes-who were already ideal-the message is lost. God took those heroes, flaws and all, and helped them to become better people. And I think that important distinction isn't always in place. I know I never learned that. For example, in Sunday School, the whale swallows Jonah because he is facing the wrath of God. According to the story, Jonah realized he was wrong and jumped in the water. God had the fish (not whale fyi) swallow him, most likely to get him to the Sin City of his day. God's love is not conditional. God loves you, no matter if you are a believer or not. 

Also, as the author blatantly states, alcohol is not a sin. The sin is being extremely drunk. (I haven't found anything going against marijuana either. If you find one, be sure to tell me.)

Basically this book expressed my feelings far more eloquently (and probably just all around better) than I ever could. 


Last week, the friend and I were talking about religion. I admitted to the fact that I'm not a big fan of organized religion, but I love Jesus. She informed me that, technically speaking, being a follower of Jesus does not necessarily make you religious, but neither does being religious always mean you are a follower of Christ.

Saturday, May 09, 2015

Temporary Hiatus

I haven't posted in nearly a month and for that I apologize. School is becoming more stressful as it gets close to exam time, so I've been spending more time with schoolwork than I have been. It's leaving me too stressed out to blog.

Week 3 will not be posted for some time, as I've had to declutter again. I plan on decluttering as much as I can next week as well. I may have to go on a temporary hiatus, at least until school is over.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Fed Up Challenge Days 3-5

So I've had to add grains (like crackers and pasta) back. Low carb is not working for me. I'm halfway done with the challenge, and the only difference I've noticed is that I'm always tired and drained of energy (which is because I'm not getting enough carbs). If I had sugar cravings like basically everyone else, I'd be a mess right now. However, I don't get sugar cravings, and if I do, they tend to go away pretty quickly. I feel like that's why I'm not noticing any of the promised changes. I guess we'll see how the next 5 days go.

Tuesday, April 07, 2015

Fed Up Challenge: Day 2

Today, it started getting more difficult. Because I'm not eating starches, I don't feel as full, and I'm eating like I do while my sport is in-season.

Breakfast:
Omelet with feta and cheddar cheese, peppers, and mushrooms

Lunch:
Leftover salmon and veggies

Dinner:
Chicken, squash, and broccoli

Snacks:
Fruit
Cheese
Almonds

Monday, April 06, 2015

Fed Up Challenge Day 1

Today was my first day of the Fed Up Challenge, where there is no sugar (except the sugars found in fruit and milk) for 10 days.

Breakfast:
Scrambled eggs and cheese

Lunch:
Salad with olive oil
Sweet potato

Snacks:
Almonds
Hard boiled egg
Watermelon

Dinner:
Salmon baked with olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper
Stir-fry veggies (minus the sauce) with brown rice

So far, it hasn't been too bad. I'm just upset because I can't have salad dressing, sweet tea, or toast. I feel limited on my breakfast foods, though. Lots of omelets and quiches for the rest of these days.

Saturday, April 04, 2015

Fed Up





Fed Up is (yet another) documentary about food and sugar in relation to the obesity rates. There is an accompanying challenge where you cut all added sugar out of your diet for 10 days. That means no soda (no big deal for me), no tea (darn my Southern roots!), nothing with added sugar, such as yogurt or sauces, and no breads. The only sugar you can have is the naturally occurring sugars found in milk and fruits.

The challenge is the fact that sugar is addictive, goes by at least 56 different names,  and is added to nearly every food in America.

I'm going to begin this challenge Monday, simply because I recently decided to do this, and we already had our Easter meal planned. There's no reason to inconvenience others since there will be no other food planned.

The hardest part for me will either be the fact that I can't have my tea for 10 days (!!!) or that my dad, who can't afford healthy food, will not be able to understand this. Luckily, I have until day 7 to figure out what to do about that one.


Beginning Monday, I plan on posting what I ate. If you would like a recipe, just comment which one you would like. Most are pretty simple, as my culinary expertise is limited to scrambled eggs and baking. (It's okay to laugh-I won't be offended.)

Helpful links:
Shopping list
Other names for sugar

If you want to join me, feel free to! There's no limit to when you can start. And if you've done this challenge previously, let me know how it went-even if it was a bad experience.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Review: Blogilates

I've been using Blogilates workout videos for about two years now. Cassey is so optimistic and her videos are without a doubt effective, but she's also body shamed, and not really apologized for it. Granted, she was trying to state her opinion on their eating habits, but some of her wording was not the nicest. However, I digress. This is meant to be about how effective her videos and meal plans truly are.

Her workouts:

 I prefer her song videos, such as this one, over her full 10-15 minute long workouts. There are exceptions however-her Victoria's Secret workouts are challenging but fun at the same time. Contradictory, I know. A usual workout, for me, is a cardio warmup, an ab workout, a butt workout, the prom dress workout, the primadonna pushup challenge, and finally any aspect of her Victoria's secret workout series. This, done about two to three times a week, has kept me in decent condition when my sport is in the "off-season," meaning those couple of months in between school season and regular season. While my sport is in season, I only do this about once a week.
I will note that some of her workouts can be extremely challenging, especially if you aren't in shape (believe it or not, I've been there), and she has said that a few are difficult, even for her.

Workout rating:
Effectiveness: 4.5/5
Innovation: 4/5
Total: 8.5/10

Summary: Not too bad! Her workouts have really helped me to tone up, and the majority are creative with cute titles (Abominable Abdominals, anyone?)

Her meal plans:

I'm about to start her 90 day meal plan, with some modifications to the calorie and carb intake due to sports. Keep an eye out for a new page about it!
Her 90 day meal plan is where you eat clean for 90 days. Of course, there are birthdays and some of my friends are graduating during this time, so I will deviate from her plan to allow for that. Her other plans sound extremely restrictive and I do not recommend those. To avoid writing a novel before I even begin the plan, just be wary to not become obsessive about calorie count, as it can lead to disordered eating. Eating disorders are not fun, not pretty, and are hell to recover from. One of my friends is finally recovered, and she still has situations where she easily could relapse.

Oh my, I really changed topic with the meal plan one, and I apologize for that, however, I also feel like that needed to be said. As I previously stated, keep an eye out for a new page that tells about this plan, what I like, what I don't, and how well it's helping me on my goal of toning up and staying in shape for my sport.


In summary, Cassey is not too terrible. There are parts of blogilates I enjoy, just as there are parts that I think are questionable, just like with every other fitness blog I know of. If you like some of her things, do that! If you don't, cool! It's just another plate being served at the world's largest (albeit fitness) buffet.

(Alex Gaskarth quote being modified because I wanted to use it)

Thursday, March 26, 2015

March Playlist


I listen to so many genres of music, and this proves it. These playlists go from movie soundtrack to emo to rap within 5 songs. 

Workout:
"Get'cha Head in the Game" from High School Musical
"Bounce" by The Cab
"Black and Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa
"Gas Pedal" by Sage the Gemini
"Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns n Roses
"Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship
"Savages" by Breathe Carolina
"Paradise City" by Guns N Roses
"SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
"Centuries" by Fall Out Boy
"Immortals" by Fall Out Boy
"Break the Rules" by Charli XCX
"Sugar, We're Going Down" by Fall Out Boy
"Wild Boy" by MGK
"Lolly" by Maejor Ali
"Last Resort" by Papa Roach
"Kick Me" by Sleeping with Sirens
"The Phoenix" by Fall Out Boy
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" by Kendrick Lamar
"Uma Thurman" by Fall Out Boy
"Stutter" by Marianas Trench

Study:
"Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon
"Rolling in the Deep" by Go Radio
"Bounce" by The Cab
"My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit
"Gas Pedal Remix" by Sage the Gemini feat. Justin Bieber
"Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne
"Sugar" by Maroon 5
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet
"Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship
"Shake It" by Metro Station
"Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake
"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse
"Harlem" by New Politics
"I Don't Wanna Be In Love" by Good Charlotte
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" by Kendrick Lamar
"How to Love" by Lil Wayne
"Wait on Me" by Rixton
"Backseat Serenade" by All Time Low
"Gas Pedal" by Sage the Gemini
"Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
"She Knows" by Ne-Yo
"City of Ocala" by A Day to Remember

Party:
"My First Kiss" by 3OH!3
"Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship
"Wobble" by V.I.C.
"London Bridge" by Fergie
"Miss Missing You" by Fall Out Boy
"Only" by Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown
"Like a G6" by Far East Movement
"Bass Down Low" by DEV and The Cataracts
"SOS" by Rhianna
"Now or Never" by Outasight
"The Walker" by Fitz and the Tantrums
"She Knows" by Ne-Yo
"I Don't Mind" by Usher

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

(Re) Organizing the Bedroom-Week 2

Last week, I decluttered my room. This week, I'm taking inventory of the current storage I have, along with making a list of storage I need.

Currently, I have a small three-drawer cart to hold my markers, pencils, and other basics for school projects, along with a larger cart for my paint, glitter, string, and other art supplies that are used, but not as frequently.

New storage needed includes:

  • bookshelf
  • magazine holder
  • accordion file
  • Stationery holder
  • Canvas bins
  • Guitar stand (I'm not sure of the proper name)

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Class Binder Organization

I only need two binders for my four classes I'm in this semester. One teacher makes our binders be a certain way, the other couldn't care less. And, as it always goes, the teacher who is strict about our binders does it in a way that doesn't work for me or any of my friends. My history binder (the teacher who doesn't care) is much more organized, and far more efficient for me.

I use a white 1.5" binder (I get a different color for each class) and an 8 pack of dividers. I currently only use 5 of the 8, because I plan on using the remaining dividers closer to the final. I have the syllabus first, with some loose-leaf paper behind it, just in case I need it. Then, I have my dividers. The first divider is for the History Herald, which details each week as we get to it. I go back and refer to them to collect the vocab and main points when I'm studying for a test. The second divider is for printed out copies of the powerpoints. I don't use this divider as much, primarily because I type notes on my laptop. It's only useful if you miss a day, but I have friends who swear by taking notes on printed out copies of the powerpoints. My third divider is for my notes over the textbook. Not a fun section, but by far one of the most necessary. The fourth and fifth are for classwork and homework (read: essays), respectively. I keep my flashcards or study materials I'm working on in the interior pocket.

You may be wondering what I do with my typed notes. I honestly leave them on my laptop. I compile the notes over the lecture with my notes from the book and upload them into one document that I send to the entire class. (Classic overachiever me.)

If you have any more questions or a comment, feel free to post below!

Saturday, March 07, 2015

(Re) Organizing the Bedroom-Intro and Week 1

This is, rather unfortunately, not the first time I've had to reorganize my bedroom. Last week, I literally just sat in the floor and threw away a TON of stuff. The bad part is, I can still only see about 60% of the floor that doesn't have furniture on it. For the next 8-ish weeks, I plan on decluttering, reorganizing, and cleaning my room. 

Since today is day/week 1, I'm going to be taking a bunch of pictures of the after and decluttering. I'll upload my pictures next week, as I don't have my USB cable with me to transfer my pictures over.

I'm using A Bowl Full of Lemons, Organized Charm, and iHeart Organizing to help me with clever organizing ideas.

Basically, I've spent about 8 hours today, sorting through all my books, separating them into piles: sell, donate to goodwill, and keep, and my floor is almost entirely clutter free, along with my closet. All that I have left to declutter are my dressers and under my bed. I plan on doing that tomorrow morning, as soon as I get up. 

I currently have two large bags full for Goodwill, along with three medium sized canvas bags of books to sell on eBay. That's not even including the trash.

Week 1: Declutter
Week 2: Take inventory of storage and make list of storage needed.
Week 3: Buy or DIY the storage needed
Week 4: Organize the dressers and nightstand
Week 5: Organize the books, movies, and CDs
Week 6: Organize the craft supplies
Week 7: Organize the closet
Week 8: Clean!

UPDATE: I have everything de-cluttered, except for under the bed. I don't exactly have a way to get under there, along with a third Goodwill bag. I can't wait to see how the remaining weeks go!