Sunday, November 20, 2016

Sleep Schedule Differences: College Roommates 101


Hey guys! As you probably don't know, I've been in college for the past semester and have had to deal with all the ups and downs of having a roommate. Not going to lie, it's been challenging going from having an entire floor to myself after my sibling left to having to share an super tiny space with another person. But I have learned some things from it, which is why I've decided to share them with all of you!

What's been hardest for me is adjusting to the differences in the sleep schedules my roommate and I keep. I prefer to stay up until 11:30 or so and get up very early (otherwise I feel as if I wasted half my day), and she likes to stay up all night and sleep into the day. As you 
can see, they are basically opposites. Now, it's nice to have the room to myself at night, but- if any of you have been in this situation you'll know- it's difficult to study in your room with the light of a single bulb while trying to be quiet.

I became very stressed and anxious because of this and realized that I needed to do something. After talking with my mom she said that "I needed to take control of what I could do because I can't change her." So remember that. You can only control your actions and no one else's.

Here are 5 tips to get you through the stress of sleep schedules!

1. Get out of there
The best thing you can do when your roommate is asleep and you are getting annoyed or stressed because of it, is to get out of your room. Go to the library, go to your dorm’s common area, go to a coffee shop, take a walk. Just go. Even if you don’t think it will help, give it a try for a few days and I promise it will.

2. Make a schedule
Something that I found helpful was to make a daily schedule and stick to it. It doesn’t have to plan out your entire day, but something like:

6:00 Get up, shower
7:00 Eat breakfast
8:00 Get coffee (if you haven’t at breakfast)
9:00 Go to class

If you have a basic schedule you won’t have time to get bothered by your one light illuminating your room. You’ll end up being more productive and having more time to study or relax before class because of your “goals” that you’ve set for the day.
           
3. Find out what you can do
If your roommate’s sleep schedule is bothering you, talk to your friends, your RA, or your parents. Find out if there are any single rooms on your floor or if one of your friend’s roommates is moving out. Then jump into action and snag that room! Obviously this is more of a drastic step, but they will let you change rooms if you have a good reason (which you do).

4. Talk it out
Yes, you should try to stay positive, but in some situations you need to have a brief minute to complain about your roommate struggles. I can bet you most of your friends will have had even minor issues with their roommates- you aren’t alone! And tell your parents, siblings, or family members what’s going on too. That way they’ll understand if you seem a little snappier or more stressed than usual.


5. Accept it
This one's pretty self explanatory, but once you realize that you can't change someone's habits, it gets easier. It's hard, not going to lie, but just think about how your roommate is feeling too. Maybe they don't like coming into the room when it's pitch black, or they feel like you're always in the room because they're sleeping when you're not. It's okay. Everyone goes through something like this. They've all gotten through it just fine and you will too.

I hope you guys liked this post! Do you have any roommate issues or any funny stories? Leave them below!

Hope you are having a great day!

Au Revoir!

"Life is a journey not a destination." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Motivational Quote Monday

Here's a little motivation for your week!

In honor of the fall season...

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
   -F. Scott Fitzgerald

"I am better than I was. I'll be better than I am."

"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations."


"Life is tough, my darling, but so are you." -Stephanie Bennett Henry

"Stop letting people who do so little for you, control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions."

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." -Nora Roberts

"Tomorrow you will wish you had started today."

"Be with those who bring out the best in you, not the stress in you."

Have a great week!!!

Au Revoir!


Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Summer 2016 Book Wrap Up and Ratings

Hey guys! Today I'll be sharing with you every book I read this summer. In total, I read 40 books! Woohoo! Since I've started college, I wanted to read as much as I could over the summer when I actually had time to read. Fun fact: I am two books away from meeting my Goodreads challenge of 60 books (this is, of course, counting the books I've previously read this year)!

1. P.S. I still Love You by Jenny Han  5/5
2. The Crown by Kiera Cass 4/5
3. The Last Star by Rick Yancey 5/5
4. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson 5/5
5. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot 4/5
6. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson 5/5
7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 3/5
8. Pink and Green is the New Black by Lisa Greenwald 3/5
9. Mother- Daughter Book Camp by Heather Vogel Frederick 5/5
10. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 4/5
11. Two Summers by Aimee Friedman 5/5
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling 5/5
13. Princess in Love by Meg Cabot 4/5
14. Summer Days and Summer Nights by Various Authors 3/5
15. Steel Scars by Victoria Aveyard 3/5
16. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson 3/5
17. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella 3/5
18. Hearts, Fingers and Other Things to Cross by Katie Finn 5/5
19. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella 5/5
20. Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot 3/5
21. A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall 5/5
22. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler 4/5
23. I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson 4/5
24. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling 5/5
25. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling 5/5
26. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 5/5
27. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 5/5
28. You are a Badass by Jen Sincere 4/5
29. Austenland by Shannon Hale 3/5
30. Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson 3/5
31. Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella 3/5
32. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella 4/5
33. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling 5/5
34. Whatever You Are Be a Good One by 5/5
35. Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli 5/5
36. Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot 3/5
37. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5
38. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5
39. The Penderwicks on Pointe Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5
40. The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall 5/5

If you guys want more in depth reviews of any of these books, please let me know!
What was your favorite book you've read this summer?
Out of the new books I've read, I'd say it was a tie between Two Summers and The Last Star!

Good luck in school guys! Study hard!

Au Revoir!

"You have to embrace the idea of imperfection, even in the thing that is most perfect for you"
 - The Crown by Kiera Cass

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

5 Things I Learned in High School

Hello, you are reading the words of a new high school graduate!!! Over the past four years, I've learned a lot about, well, a lot! Today I thought I'd share 5 of those things with you!


1. If you want something done right, do it yourself
I cannot tell you how much I learned this lesson this year. Whether it's in a project, a lab, or a club, having an unmotivated partner happens to the best of us. It may seem like the end of the world, but think about this: would you rather force someone to do work and have it not be at your standard, or would you rather take on extra work and know it's done right? Probably the latter. People won't always care as much as you do, so you need to be a leader and step up!

2. It's okay to change
Change is okay! It's a good thing! Do you want to end your high school as the same person you entered as? High school is a time to understand who you are as a person, grow in confidence, and develop new skills. Being timid and naïve is fine as a freshman but isn't so great when you're a senior! If you're unhappy with who you are, you're free to become the best version of yourself!

3. You are successful
This has been the hardest lesson I've ever had to learn. The end of senior year is filled with students receiving awards and being recognized for their successes. Even if you aren't recognized, it doesn't mean you aren't successful. Personally, I have taken almost all of a certain type of class offered at my school and done quite well, but I didn't receive the award for that area. Initially, I was angry, but then I realized that I didn't need validation because I knew that I did well! Believe in yourself and know that you are successful.

4. Chase your dreams
After high school, it's up to you to put your dreams into reality. There won't be teachers or parents alerting you of certain opportunities and pushing you to do them. So take control in high school, push yourself to find opportunities. If you've always wanted to be in a theater production, go for it! If you've always wanted to take computer science classes, do it! High school is what you make of it, so find something you're passionate about and take advantage of opportunities!

5. Don't base your beliefs or wants off of what others think
This can be hard, I know, but you have to do what's best for you. If you don't hate someone all your friends seem to, tell them! Don't do things based on what others are doing. It won't make you happy in the long run. If someone's ripping on your favorite English class, shoot back at them and say everything that makes it special to you. You're not obligated to believe or need something just because others do.

I hope this was helpful for some of you guys! If you have anything you learned in high school that stood out to you leave it down below. 

Have a great summer everyone and congratulations to all those who have graduated!

Au Revoir!

"You are so close to the victory, don't you dare give up now."



Friday, February 12, 2016

Favorite Pride and Prejudice Spin Offs

In honor of the new Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie, I have decided to compile a few of my favorite P&P spin offs for you guys! Can we pause a moment and think about the fact that Matt Smith is playing Mr. Collins? Oh my gosh, that is perfection.


The Youtube Version (With Book Accompaniment)
- The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (find the videos here)
  with The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

The Young Adult Tales
- Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
- Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
- Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

The Film Variations:
- Bridget Jones's Diary
  with Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

You may have noticed that I did not, in fact, have the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book on this oh-so-short list. That is because I didn't actually like it that much. I found that it dragged on and on and it wouldn't end! Maybe it was because I was in a huge reading slump or because it seemed to be lacking in the zombie area- I love graphic zombie scenes, and this didn't fill that void- but it just didn't live up to its praise from others. I wanted to like it, I truly did! Although that's not to discount the movie, I've heard that it is amazing!!!

Au Revoir!

"No ninjas! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without any ninjas!I never heard of such a thing." - Seth Grahame-Smith, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies