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. :)

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.

   

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

Shine this week. :)

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.

Shine this week. :)

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. :)

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!

"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. :)

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!

Shine this week (and summer). :)

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.

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. :)

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.

    

"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. :)

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. :)

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?

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. :)