November 9, 2011

Feel Better List #3

So it's about time for a new feel better list.  Things have been getting crazy around here... As the saying goes, "When it rains, it pours." (and it's raining today.)



Having a watch
Good smelling things
Getting mail
Watching Beauty and the Beast
Playing Madden
NCIS
Skateboarding (without falling)
Hammock music
Taking medicine

I'm going to try, but it's going to be hard to Shine this week. :)


August 16, 2011

Last Week at Home :(

Less than 1 week before I head back to Mississippi.  I'm totally not ready!  So much family time left, so little time!  And not to mention ALL the packing left to do.  I'm beginning to feel the stress of school already.  Today I got most of my linens together!  Yay!  Ha... That is pretty vital though.  Now to finally gather and organize all my school supplies and things for my dorm.  I won't worry about clothes until the weekend... Trying to push that off as long as possible!  Anyways, as my efforts to clean out my room are being obstructed by my packing, I am trying to weed out what I need and what I think I might need to take with me.  After two years, I should have the hang of this... But I don't.  I absolutely do not like packing.  Better yet, unpacking.  So in order to have my preparation go a little smoother with a little less stress, I've created a back-to-school playlist to keep me going and keep me sane. 


Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez
Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffet
Wildflower - The JaneDear Girls
Who's Your Daddy - Toby Keith
Summer Girl - Leighton Meister
Country Girl (Shake It for Me) - Luke Bryan
Get the Party Started - Pink
All I Do Is Win - DJ Khale
Change -Taylor Swift
Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean
Mississippi Girl - Faith Hill
Beautiful Disaster - Jon McLaughlin
Rollerblades - Eliza Doolittle
Tonight Tonight - Hot Chelle Rae

A little bit of summer, a little bit of Mississippi, and some music to keep me from crawling into bed and not packing.  Shine this week. :)

August 10, 2011

Feel-Better List 2

Happy List 2

Writing Thank Yous
Watches that light up
Soft robes
Going to sleep fast
Vera Bradley
Luke Bryan
Scarves
Disney Princesses
Giving gifts for no reason
Sorting through clothes
Sequins


Shine this week. :)

July 30, 2011

Evan Almighty

Watching Evan Almighty the first time through this week actually made me step back and look at my life situations.  Some of the quotes in the movie from Evan Baxter and God (portrayed by Morgan Freeman) were pretty inspiring! 

Image result for evan almighty ending


Here are a few quotes that show exactly what I'm talking about:

Reporter: What makes you think God chose you?
Evan Baxter: He chose all of us.
  •  Ooohh... Burn. Ha! Really, though, it does hit ya pretty hard.

God: How do we change the world?
Evan Baxter: One single act of random kindness at a time.
God: [spoken while writing A-R-K on ground with a stick] One Act, of, Random, Kindness.
  • Seems simply enough, right? Try it.

God: Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?
  • Wow. "Opportunity" may be my new favorite word.

Opportunity. Shine this week. :)


Feel-Better List #1

Being down on myself, I starting thinking of things that would make me feel better about myself, things that would put me in a good mood.  I'm thinking of making these lists whenever I need a pick-me-up. 


Warm Delights
Wearing a loose-fitting t-shirt to work out in
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day (sounds weird but it makes me feel good!)
Color coordinating
Being organized
Crossing things off a list (even if I write down something just to cross it off!)
Cute band-aids
Making lists (if you haven't noticed, I'm kinda obsessed with lists.)
Saving pennies
Painting a canvas
Reapplying sunscreen


Here's to more Feel-Better Lists! Shine this week. :)

May 22, 2011

My Creativity!

Over the past several months, I have tried my hand at painting canvases.  I think they have turned out rather well! (By the way, none of these were stencilled or traced; all are uniquely my own creations!)

This was my very first one!

I needed inspiration for my hectic sophomore year.

Free-handed Disney font!

This one I painted for my grandmother who is recovering from her second stroke. 
This birdhouse was hanging in her backyard.

Miryam just graduated from art school and is going to film million-dollar movies one day.

My boyfriend said that if he ever got a tattoo, it would be something like this.
He is a huge Florida Gators fan, but we are both proud of our school, Southern Miss (To The Top!).


The K and R are initials for my parents.

I'm hoping to have a little side business out of my paintings! 
Shine this week. :)


May 16, 2011

From Prom to Gym

Thanks to Seventeen Magazine, I have found some adorable hairstyles that are not only ideal for prom (EEK!) but for the gym as well!  Who doesn't want to look amazing jogging at that treadmill as the buff guys walk in? Ha! For details on how to create these styles visit Seventeen.com or follow this link.
   
Workout Hairstyles

This is my motivation to actually hit the gym this week!

Shine this week. :)


May 11, 2011

Summer Stripes

I've heard that stripes are going to be very popular this summer!  I have so many striped clothes, I don't know what to do with them!  But instead of the solids I wear so often, I'm going to start incorporating more stripes (colorful) stripes into my outfits.
Summer Stripes

Shine this week. :)

May 9, 2011

Summer Goals

Even though it's exam week, and I shouldn't be thinking about summer, I am.  I can't help it! It's so close, I can smell it!  Only 2 more days of exams and packing up my whole dorm, then home sweet home!  I miss Florida so bad! 


So to help me be a little less homesick this week especially, I've begun to think about what all I'm going to do (well... want to do) this summer.

1. Run. 
My neighborhood has hill after hill after hill, which would be perfect for those extra-calorie-burning runs that I want to start doing.  I want runner's legs.  I haven't really worked out since aerobics the first 8 weeks of the semester, and I'm not feeling beach ready at all!  So my goal this summer is to run at least 3 times a week.

2. Lose (another) 10 pounds.
Last summer I was so proud of myself that I lost 10 pounds all while working full time!  I went to the gym almost every day before work and watched what I ate.  Hopefully all the running I'll be doing will help me lose another 10 pounds. 

3. Decide on a thesis topic.
I am one of those unfortunate few who have to do undergraduate research and write a thesis paper.  Actually, I'm pretty excited about the work I'll be doing on this project because it's pretty cool stuff: medical physics.  I still don't have a specific topic, but I've narrowed down the field to radiation therapy.  My goal is to find a topic that will be of some use to me in grad school and hopefully be significant enough to be used in the improvement of treating cancer! Wish me luck!

4. Be a good big sister.
My little sister is going to be a junior in high school this next year, and I know when I was her age, I wish I had someone to look up to.  I'm definitely looking forward to some sister-bonding time this summer!

I never make New Year's resolutions because I can never stick to them.  My last goal is to stick to these goals!  Ha! 
Shine this week. :)

May 8, 2011

Taylor Swift Lyrics Part 2

This week is finals week. Pray for me. Seriously. Why I'm blogging instead of studying, don't ask. Reading through Taylor Swift lyrics aren't very motivational (unless you want revenge on an ex) but they do make lift my heavy and burdened spirits a little. Enjoy!
Taylor Swift



"Innocent"
Wasn’t it easier in your lunchbox days?
Always a bigger bed to crawl into
Wasn’t it beautiful when you believed in everything?
And everybody believed in you?

It’s all right, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you’ve been
You’re still an innocent
You’re still an innocent
"Mean"
Someday I'll be livin' in a big old city
and all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
and all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

"Never Grow Up"
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

"Ours"
So don't you worry your pretty little mind
People throw rocks at things that shine
And life makes love look hard
The stakes are high, the water's rough
But this love is ours


Shine this week. :)


May 7, 2011

Summer Sewing

I have decided that I will pick up sewing again this summer (in between my teen camp job, calculus 4 night classes, and trips to the beach).  I've gotten inspiration from Lilly Pulitzer.  Since I haven't sewn in a while, I've chosen tops and dresses that don't have sleeves (which are really hard to do) and are pretty simple and cute and can be worn in different outfits.  Unfortunately, I don't have Lilly fabric, so I'll find some bold solids or patterns that are versatile.  I've also sketched out some other tops, but my fashion design drawing skills are a little rusty, so I'll just keep those in my folder.  Let's just say I'll be hitting up Joann's fabric when I get back home!
Lilly Pulitzer
Shine this week (and summer). :)

April 15, 2011

Pearls are a (Southern) Girl's Best Friend!

Every Southern girl owns at least 1 pair of pearls.  I have 5-ish pairs, not to mention the non-studs!  Pearls are a great way to add a little class and polished look to your outfit.  Here are a few ways to incorporate pearls into any outfit.

Pearls

I think I wore that first outfit sometime this week... I love that pearls can be worn with almost anything! I wish I had the pearl embellished sweater and how adorable is the men's watch with the outfit? And I have the earrings in outfit #2.  Those earrings always get compliments!  I always wear my pearl bracelet; I feel naked without it and my F.R.O.G. bracelet!  Try this: go a week wearing pearls with every outfit, and you'll never want to not wear pearls!

Shine this week. :)

April 14, 2011

Inspiring Taylor Swift Lyrics Part I

Listening to Taylor Swift (sometimes) just makes my day 10 times better.  You know how you use some songs for specific moments in your life.  Every T.S. song can be your theme song at some point.  (Some of them I don't listen to anymore!)  Here are some lyrics that will hopefully make your day just a little bit better.


Taylor Swift    


"Breathless"
When you feel the world is crashing
All around your feet
Come running headlong into my arms
Breathless

I'll never judge you
I can only love you
Come now running headlong into my arms
Breathless

"Change"
'Cause these things will change, can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win

"Fearless"
And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me headfirst, fearless
And I don't know why but with you I dance
In a storm in my best dress, fearless

"Fifteen"
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors


I didn't realize how many T.S. songs there were... So this concludes Inspiring Taylor Swift Lyrics Part I.
Shine this week. :)

April 12, 2011

Lab Goggle Headaches

If you're in any sort of science lab like I am, you probably own a pair of lab goggles.


These things are terrible.
Not only are they ugly as all get out, but they leave those horrid marks on your forehead and cheeks. 
It seemed that every Tuesday around 2, I got strange looks from people walking around campus. 

Goggle lines.

Over my 4 semesters of chemistry labs, I have finally found a way to mostly get rid of those lines.
Most students have their goggles suctioned to their face.  Not me.  Mine are so loose that if my ponytail wasn't there to support the strap, they would fall right off my face.  Ok, maybe not that loose, but they are loose enough to where I don't feel much pressure on my cheeks.  Even if I do have lines on my face right after I take my goggles off, they are usually gone by the time I get my things together and walk out of the building.
Students also complain about their goggles getting foggy during lab, but I think its because their skin doesn't have any breathing room with goggles so tight on their face.  My goggles haven't fogged up once since I loosened them.
So just a little tip, loosen up your goggles.  You'll have less deep goggle lines, less fog, and less headaches.

Shine this week. :)

April 11, 2011

Elementary School and College

Elementary school is without a doubt one of the best periods of a student's life.  I mean, who didn't love naptime, show and tell, and the teachers who were there to help whenever we needed them?

Image result for elementary school

In a way, college is similar.
Here's how elementary school flashbacks can help you survive college.

Naptime.
Every now and then, classes can become overwhelming and it seems that college is more than you bargained for.  Sometimes, we just need a break.  Whether its taking a nap once in a while, releasing endorphins at the gym, or getting a mani-pedi, we all need to take a load off for just a little while when things become too stressful.  I'm not saying just push aside everything you need to get done, but prioritize and take some breaks.  

Sharing.
We were all taught in elementary school to share our crayons, cookies, and toys.  In college, share your ideas to your professors and classmates, time to help others, and advice to those who might just need it.  Sharing will help you build relationships which will be invaluable to you throughout your college and professional years.  Once you build those relationships, you'll begin networking which will boost your ability to do better and get farther.

That awesome teacher you looked up to.
Everyone remembers how helpful and cool their elementary school teachers were (well, most of them).  In the same way, college professors are extremely helpful, and once you get to know them, can be pretty cool.  Professors are there to help you learn, think, and graduate, not to destroy your life.  So be nice to them; they are more than willing to help you if you need it and (probably) won't laugh at you if you ask a dumb question.

Shine this week. :)

April 10, 2011

New Blog. New Bible Study. Psalms 1 & 2.

Psalms is one of my favorite books of the bible! Almost every emotion and situation can be found within this passage of God's Word. 


So how about 2 chapters a day? Sounds good to me.

v. 6 "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish."
Isn't it amazing that out of all of God's creation He takes care of, He chooses to watch over us? As if He wasn't busy enough to help us on our paths of righteousness! 

v. 11 "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."
Not going to lie, this verse scares me. Rejoicing and trembling at the same time? Fear God? I've always struggled understanding the full meaning of fearing God. His Word relates "fear" to reverence, love, and responsibility. To fear God is that in order to have a relationship with Him, it is our responsibility to love and revere Him, just as we should love others whom we have relationships with. I pray this week that I will better understand what it means to fear the Lord. 

Shine this week. :)

April 9, 2011

Style Saturday

When you're out shopping this weekend, or going through your closet, look for clean lines and classy pieces to mix in a simplistic way.  Pearls enhance any outfit so invest in a pair, or two, or three, if you don't already have any. 
Style Saturday
I have pieces like these in my wardrobe; jean capris are perfect for spring when your transitioning between warm weather outside and class inside.  And who doesn't have a ruffly white blouse?  Khaki wedges will give you that extra height and style while keeping it low key.  A floral clutch will add that extra pop of color that will complete your simple and classy look.  Shine this week. :)