Halloween Playlist #9

Some of my favorite Halloween songs. I know Aaron Carter's "I Want Candy" is about a girl, but that was the one I grew up watching on Disney Channel. Really every Stellar Corpses song and Misfits and Calabrese. And there's some more modern songs for your modern party. "Uma Thurman" samples The Munsters theme.

Concerts, Tires, and Food

My tire blew out on the freeway. Thankfully my car kept going and I didn't spin out or anything. 

 I put a blonde streak in my hair. Just one streak. Travis Hawley of Night Riots has a blonde streak and I really liked the look of it. I think his is natural like a birthmark. I have some hair at the base of my skull that is lighter than the rest of my hair and the skin underneath it is slightly red like a birthmark, interesting how that happens. Anyways I like that hair too, but I wanted that look in the front. The top of my hair is pulled back a little, so the blonde is a little hidden when all of my hair is down. I like it a lot. My mom was joking that I like going to concerts so much that I dye my hair according to who I'm going to see because I am actually going to see Night Riots in October.

Speaking of concerts, I went to Bite of Las Vegas. I had Dole Whip OUTSIDE of Disneyland!! Who knew?! And Shake Shack, which actually has really good burgers, they have like a special sauce, but I wouldn't waste your time on the fries, unless maybe mine just got cold fast. Then like a good student, I read one page for a class because I have ADD when I'm supposed to be reading, but other things are going on around me. I saw Rachel Platten and Neon Trees, who are both soooo good live. Rachel Platten taught us the words to Gin and Juice, she was so adorable.

I finished Last Man Standing in time, before they took off of Netflix, but the thing that sucks is that they still have one more season that I haven't seen, and Netflix never got it. Also started listening to Gilmore Guys, which is a podcast on Spotify and itunes. They just go through each episode of Gilmore Girls and kind of critique them. They're pretty funny, especially if you've already seen Gilmore Girls, if you haven't I recommend watching along with them or watching it all first because they don't explain anything. 

Update:

This is being posted about a month later after all of this has happened, sorry it's school season and this is probably the worst semester yet. 

You've probably heard about what happened in Las Vegas and I have no words. It being my hometown I felt like I couldn't just post without acknowledging it. You always hear about it happening in other places and the feelings go away after a while, there is nothing to remind you, but when it happens in your city it's different. It's on all of the news channels, radio stations (some didn't play music at all, but just did updates), everyone has a connection or knows someone that does to the tragedy, my facebook timeline is filled with it because most of my friends are in or from Vegas, on the way to school I pass memorials and "pray for Vegas" signs, it's not something that you can forget. It really hits home, especially when you think I used to work at concerts, what if it happened then? My cousin even called  to see if I was ok because they remembered that I used to have that job. I've heard so many people say that they went Saturday and were going to go Sunday, but then decided not to, and can't even fathom what went through their minds, that it could have been them. I feel like I'm just rambling, but this kind of stuff just drains you emotionally. I kept getting facebook messages from people out of state seeing if my family and I were ok, I kept getting notifications when someone would mark themselves as safe. I heard that he was there during Life is Beautiful, which would have been, I don't want to say worse, but I knew so many people that went to that festival. 

Enough rambling, but to the good part, even though it feels wrong to say that, but the one good thing that comes out of this is unity. Las Vegas is amazing when they come together to get things done. People were lined up at the blood bank at 3:30 in the morning and they are filled now, they won't need any more blood for a few days. So many people wanted to help that if they couldn't donate blood then they would bring food and water for those who were standing in line for 8 hours to give blood. The city commissioner created a gofundme and it's already past $9 million. When the Paris tragedy happened, Las Vegas's own Eiffel Tower's lights went dark, so when this happened Paris reciprocated and their tower's lights went dark. Israel's city hall was lit up to look like the American flag. It's amazing what happens when people come together in light of a tragedy. 

It's been a very emotional week, but we're VegasStrong. 

Playlist #8

black hoops

sandals

boyfriend jeans with hole

black sleeveless shirt

cream cardi/shrug

Recap

I have no idea what to call this post. It may be named something different every time.

In my last week of summer I binge watched part of Last Man Standing. It's leaving Netflix September 30!!! Watch it while you can people! Currently I am on the last season, like episode 11? I'm pretty sure I can get it finished in time. I love all of their references to shows and movies that Tim Allen has been in, like Home Improvement (which I loved) and Toy Story. 

Went to my last baseball game of the summer. :'(

I found a new way to curl my hair! My curling iron has a clamp, but I used it like a wand by just curling my hair around the whole barrel. Plus the curling iron is upside down as you curl it.

This is the box my textbooks came in. It was not shipped to me, I picked this up at the bookstore :/

I have 13 books! The woes of an English major.

Then I spent the day in the library going through the 6th edition of this book because my professor refuses to tell me what the chapters are called, so that I can find them in my 4th edition book. Which was so much cheaper than the 6th edition by the way (a $90 difference!)

forget me not necklace

black t-shirt

light blue jeans

College Tips

I love finding new tips for school because I can really use them. I procrastinate a lot.
Here are some tips that I have found that work for me.

Get a Planner
I love planners, especially cute ones. I got mine in the Target $ section. It's small, so easily portable, and it is a weekly view. When I receive my syllabus, I write down all of the exams, quizzes, and assignment due dates in the planner. I also like to write down what readings need to be read by that day. I use this planner as a way to see what assignments are coming up and what events are happening. It's just a simple look at the week planner, so I would go for a cheaper planner.

Now this next planner, you could splurge a little if you want. It's not an actual planner, I just use a notebook, but I like to get a really pretty notebook that stands out from my other notebooks. This one is my daily planner. I use it all of the time even when I'm not in school. Splurge can mean whatever you want it to mean. My first planner was a dollar and this second one was around the $10-$12 range, so it doesn't have to be too expensive. The first one I had was a composition notebook with a pretty cover, so it can be whatever works for you.

This is the one I have for this year. I just plan out my day in it. I like to schedule what assignments I'm going to work on for the day and usually add the time that I'll work on it. Writing down a time helps with procrastination and I feel like I have to do it. I've also used it to schedule workouts, as a food and water tracker, jotting down notes, planning outfits, shopping lists... It's nice to just have a blank full page that you can do anything with. I may try planning a day hour by hour. 

Scheduling

A note to go along with the planner. If you're a procrastinator, try scheduling it. Like breaks. I'll procrastinate for this long and then I'll go do study. 

Set a goal everyday. Setting a goal for each day will have you working towards something each day and you'll feel good when you accomplish it. It can be something as simple as getting to class on time to finishing a book or assignment. Write this down in your daily planner as something to get done that day.

Class Schedule

I like to take a picture of my schedule for the first day of school. Let's be honest, I keep looking at the time the class starts for at least the first two weeks of school. This way your classes, the time they start, and the room they're held in will be on your phone. So don't sweat if you forget the room number or like me the time. Is the class at 10:00 or 10:30?? 

Reward System

I made a list of things that I like to do and things that are relaxing. They can be used as incentive to finish your schoolwork, the daily goal, or as breaks in between working. A few rewards that I have listed that seem normal, but can be amazing after finishing an assignment or studying are netflix, youtube, going for a walk, listening to a podcast, dancing, even using cleaning as a break. Just picking things up from my floor gives a good break in between assignments. 

 You can create a point system and give yourself a certain amount of points for studying, accomplishing an assignment or goal and have a total of points that you need by the end of the month or semester. If you accumulate, say 5,000 points by the end of the semester, you give yourself a nice reward, like buying a game or shirt you've been eyeing. 

Experiment: My Week

So I saw this format on another blog, where she gave a recap of her week. Ok it's simplytaralynn.com. She got real specific with what she did each week, where mine would be more relaxed and just random things from the week. If I keep going with this, I'd probably stop the monthly favorites, since I'd just repeat things. Plus not everything will be a favorite, some will be meh and not my type of thing. But you know me, it may not be every week, especially with school starting up again. So I think it's going to be super random with health, food, entertainment...

Here we go.

This is the sleep tracker on my fitbit app and it says I slept from 6:40 pm to 11:20pm last night. Apparently it doesn't know what a Netflix binge looks like. 

What was I binge watching, you ask? The Vampire Diaries. I watched the first season when it first came on TV, but fell off or I couldn't always watch it when it was on TV (thank goodness for DVR). 

The one day it rains in Las Vegas. 

Is Solar Eclipse day. 

I rarely go to Dairy Queen, but I saw the Triple Truffle Blizzard and really wanted one. It was good, but I get really high expectations for how things are portrayed on TV and it always looks better on TV. 

I tried this, so you wouldn't have to. I have been on a real avocado kick and thought I'd try something a little different. It was a little much, but maybe because I also just happened to have a little bacon with it. I think I'll stick with my regular avocado and tomato toast. 

These are food items that I like this week. Yes, I'm a picky eater and would totally live off of applesauce, chicken fingers, and pizza. I don't usually get capri suns, but they're such a childhood/nostalgia drink that I've always loved. Not having it often, just makes it more exciting when I get one. These GoGo applesauces are perfect as portable snacks, I stock up on them for school. My favorite flavor is the strawberry apple, but only in this brand. I got it in the Kroger brand and it was not good. Dehydrated food is good for a to go snack too. This is the Sam's Club brand Member's Mark and I really like the bananas and strawberries blend. The only thing is that the seeds get stuck in your teeth. Olives! I don't know why, but I love black olives. I eat them like a substitution for chips. I like to take them out of the can, put them in a ziplock bag, and store them in the fridge. IMO cold olives are the best. 

I watched the first episode of Iron Fist on Netflix last night. The Defenders just came out and I figured I should start catching up. I loved Daredevil and watched both seasons. I have seen 4 episodes of Jessica Jones and just stopped. I just wasn't really into her story and I guess it left a bad taste in my mouth because I didn't watch Luke Cage or Iron Fist. But after watching the first episode of Iron Fist I think I'll keep watching this one, so far it has captured my attention. 

I also watched Friends. I am on Season 2 Episode 13. Ross has found Marcel and it was so sweet. I've seen Friends when it randomly comes on TV, but have never watched all of the episodes in order, so that is my goal. 

Speaking of rewatching old series, my sister-in-law told me about these guys a while ago, but I didn't actually listen until today actually. It's the Gilmore Guys. If you binge watched Gilmore Girls in time for the 4 parts to come out on Netflix like I did, you'll love listening to these guys, especially if it's still fresh in your mind. Gilmore Girls is another one where, I was like 7 when it came on TV, so all I remember is my sister being really into the show and I remember watching it also, but it had just been so long that I didn't remember much. Anyways I found them on Spotify and I've only listened to the first episode, but I have a good feeling about this. Also they're pretty funny. They just talk about each episode of the series and give their opinions/reactions. One of the guys has seen the series and is a big fan, while the other guy is watching the series for the first time.

I found a playlist on Spotify called Weekly Buzz that has worked as nice background music while I write this and while I've been on pinterest going through school/college tips. I might make a post on what I've found or my plan for school. A lot of people may have started school already, but I have not yet, sooo it's still the beginning of the year and tips can still be integrated.

I have been doing a workout routine on youtube with Bikini Body Mommy. I'm not a mom, but she still has some good workouts. This is the challenge I've been doing and I have about a month left. I did another 90 day challenge, but they kept using the same videos where I was able to start mouthing along with the video and it became very boring. She has different videos every week and she is following this journey right along with you.

What am I reading? Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich. Yeah, it does seem like we get into the same situations in every book, but I can't stop? I have a hard time stopping series in case something interesting happens. It is a quick I don't want to think about anything read. Also I'm holding out to find out which guy she finally chooses.

striped shirt

black short sleeved crotchet cardigan

distressed boyfriend jeans

brown bag

sandals

Playlist #7

It's your lucky day! Two playlists for the price of one (visiting the site once)! I've had these songs lined up for a while and since the last one only had two bands, plus I should probably use "Feels Like Summer" before summer is over.

Playlist #6

I just bought tickets to see The Maine with DREAMERS and Night Riots. Here's just a few of my fave songs. Honestly I just wanted to go because of Night Riots, but they're just the opening band and I didn't want to go just to see them do a 30 minute set. I only knew "Sweet Disaster" by DREAMERS and I did like that song, but that was the only one I knew. I have now listened to all of the bands and this will be the first concert I have ever been to where I like all of the bands and actually want to be there for the opening bands. You're right, Night Riots is not up there. I have put them on playlists before and have talked about them, but here, here's a song that's been in my head: Tear Me Apart - Night Riots

Booktube-a-thon Update

I finished 3 and a half books. I knew seven would not happen, especially once I remembered that I would be out of town for four of those days. Ok so one of those books was a picture book, it still counts. I read The Book with No Pictures, Morning Star, and Ten Things Sloane Hates About Tru. 
It was fun because I would follow along with the twitter sprints. I think I get more reading in if I have someone giving me times, kind of like writing. For Camp NANOWRIMO they did writing sprints and I wrote so much more than I would have if I was on my own.
I'd do it again. I wonder if readathons would help me with reading books for school....

jeans

burgundy top

black short sleeved hoodie

Merida Inspired

credit

brown beaded bracelet

arrow necklace

shorts

turquoise top

Booktube-a-thon

I love books! And what's better than just reading 24/7?! So this summer I have been trying out all kind of new things. I am participating in Camp NANOWRIMO and I'm actually doing it and on track! I mean my goal is only 5,000 words, but that's a lot for me, especially when everything I'm writing is being made up as it goes, instead of doing research and writing a report on something. The word sprints and youtube write-in videos have really helped with that.
So with my ambitiousness of late I found this youtube video and have accepted the challenge:



My Reading Challenges Picks
1. Person on the cover: Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick
2. Hyped: Morning Star - Pierce Brown
3. Read in one sitting: Ten Things Sloane Hates About Tru - Tera Lynn Childs
4. A character very different from you: Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board - Zoe Aarsen
5. Read a whole book outside: The Book with No Pictures - BJ Novak
6. Bought because of the cover: Psych's Guide to Crime Fighting for the Totally Unqualified - Shawn Spencer
7. Read seven books over the week: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares

Pretty sure I will not get 7 books read because I have work and other life responsibilities. I would just feel so lazy if I stayed in all day reading, but if you can do it more power to ya. My seventh book would have been the booktube-a-thon's pick, Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index, but I couldn't find it at my library and I don't like to buy books unless I know that I like them. Finale and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants are rereads, but I haven't read them in a very long time. Yes, number 5 is a younger book, but it is really hot outside and I've actually wanted to read this book. I wanted to see how he writes a picture book without pictures, plus it's the guy from The Office, so it's gotta be good. I love the show Psych and this is written in the voice of Shawn Spencer, it's gonna be sooo good! I'm so excited, that I think I might start a little early, I mean are there really any set rules that the book has to begin and end in the same week, except for 3 and 5?

Update: I just remembered I'll be going out of town next week, yeah I don't think seven books is going to happen, especially since I'll be the one driving. I'm going to see AFI again! Twice! I'm going to see them Friday and then follow them and see them Saturday!!

June Favorites

I saw the Newsies traveling Broadway show and it was so good! I wasn't real excited about it because the reporter is a girl and I didn't see how that would work, but it did! The dancing was amazing and girls played some of the Newsies and they were so good. The only thing that I have qualms about is that Spot from Brooklyn was played by a girl and I wished it was a guy because I had a crush on him in the original movie.
*When I say some were played by girls, the girls were dressed up like guys except for the reporter.



I tried out a new foundation from elf. It is the oil-free, SPF 15 sunscreen, flawless finish foundation in natural, previously porcelain. It is light weight, has a semi-matte finish, and a refreshing smell from the sunscreen that's in it. It gives good coverage and has a natural feeling and look.
 

http://www.prepinyourstep.com/2017/06/summer-bucket-list.html?m=1

I love this Summer Bucket List and I've already done a few of these things such as, create a summer playlist, go to a baseball game, try a new workout, take a road trip, plan a trip, and create a summer reading list. Things I have planned to do is go to a concert, another baseball game, and three more road trips. I watched the sun set can I interchange that for sunrise?

I haven't been able to put my hair in a side braid because it's too short to keep all of my hair on one side. So I figured out a way to do it! I just braid it like a french braid at an angle going to one side and it works!

It kind of looks a little bit like a disneybound for Fix it Felix.

denim shirt

jeans

teal shirt

brown bag

April/May Favorites

Movies
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 was so good. I love baby Groot, I want him to stay a baby forever. The movie was so funny too, just everything they said was humorous.

Youtube
brittany dawn  It's pretty much a bunch of vlogs, but all have to do with fitness and her healthy lifestyle. She answers questions about health and I've liked the videos where she goes to a place like chick-fil-a and gives you the healthier options that you could get from there. I've been really into vlogs lately. I really like Remlife and TeeandEss although they haven't been vlogging as much lately.
rhett and link So they have been around for a while, but I just recently found them and they're so funny. They're like a little morning show, but they're usually only about 15 minutes long, so I can watch one in the morning.

Products
I love the Cubs and I love Bryant and Rizzo, so I had to buy this shirt. If you've watched any cubs games you'll have seen this commercial. I bought it in a men's size because I was so excited to find that there were actual shirts that I bought it right away instead of searching other sites and seeing if they had it in ladies' which of course they did. 
I also got this beanbag chair! It's so pretty I love the color, which is brighter in person. It looks so mermaidy, with the color and kind of looks like I'm sitting in a shell.

Finding Something to Look Forward To

Last November I started making a list of things/events that I was going to do. Mostly I did it because all of the sudden I had a bunch of concerts that I was going to and movies that I wanted to see, so I wrote them out to keep track. All of the sudden I had an event for each month and I loved it. I decided that from now on I'm going to have at least one thing to look forward to each month and that will help me keep chugging along.

I actually feel better than I have in a very long time. I've gone through a rough couple of years, especially after graduating high school and becoming an actual adult. I wouldn't admit it, but I think I was depressed or on the verge of depression. I did get my life together once I returned back to college. I had something to work on and I've just been flowing through the motions. Slowly my family and I started going on more vacations and doing fun things together. We went to Disneyland after not being there in a decade and all of the sudden we were going back for a third time not long after. We started going to this place that does Broadway musicals 3 years ago and made it into a tradition to go every summer. 

So this past November I went on my first plane ride, something that I just thought would never happen since it hadn't happened yet. This was on my bucket list. Also I did my first 5k that November, another item on the bucket list. This kicked things off and I started making the list. I'm LDS and in I think one of the conferences a speaker said to always have something to look forward to. This was life changing. Since making this list and having something to be excited about for the next month I've been a lot happier and it's kind of like (forgive me for saying this) a yolo moment. It leaves less room to have depressing thoughts and I feel like I'm living life to the fullest, which is what it is for, to be happy.

 AFI is coming back for another round of tours and I thought, but I don't really want to see the other bands with them and I just payed to see them twice. Also they're going to be in Salt Lake City one night and the very next night they'll be in Vegas. So I'll drive up and drive right back down to catch them again. But you know what, they are my favorite band and my sister who is going to do this traveling with me, said it will be a great story to tell, and we'll literally be following the band. Seriously had a yolo moment, so I'm doing it and it's going to be amazing. Plus just another thing for me to look forward to. 

It helps especially like with school. Everything can get piled on top of you, but there's a light at the tunnel and having something to look forward to each month helps break up the semester. It's not like you have to wait until summer to be fully happy and free. Also it doesn't have to be anything big, like one of mine was to get a shake at PDQ (delicious!) after I finished my midterms.

So one more thing that I used to think while I was feeling down. I've never told anyone this, but I hope it can help somebody out there. When I was feeling depressed and just like the world was against me, I used to wish that all the problems would go away by me getting really sick and having to be hospitalized. Obviously that wouldn't make problems go away and would probably just create more problems like hospital bills. And it's wrong because there are people out there who are really sick and would probably love to be in my place. Anyways having something to look forward to can change your perspective. Now that I have this list, if I'm in a car with a crazy driver or the wind feels like it's going to blow my car away (because it's like a tin can) I feel like "don't let me die today, I have to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie next month!" I know it's silly, but my outlook on life has totally changed and I'm happier. I was even wondering what am I going to do for August, September, October... when I only had it up to July and I got so excited just to find something to add to the list even if it is just for the next month (August). 

This has been pretty long, but I hope someone finds this and is inspired. Or even just inspired to make a bucket list and look forward to or working towards checking those things off.

P.S. You can totally steal some of my ideas. Go to my bucket list page and get inspired or copy and paste, whatever floats your boat. I'm updating that thing all the time, so check back whenever you feel like it.

P.P.S. It's totally cool to add something to your bucket list after you did it. It may have been something that you hadn't thought of until you did it, but is definitely bucket list worthy. It's another crossed off item on your list and just adds to your coolness factor.

March Favorites

Movies
I saw The Shallows and Beauty and the Beast.
The Shallows stressed me out! I know it's just a movie, but that shark was very persistent. Beauty and the Beast was so fun. It was a lot like the animated version, which I liked. I also liked the new music that was added. I have to say once he turned back into the prince, I wish he was the beast again.


Netflix
I went on a Netflix binge and have restarted some old shows. A lot I started and never finished when they were on TV including One Tree Hill, 90210, and Last Man Standing. Then I started shows that began a while ago that I never got to watching including Leverage and Grey's Anatomy.


Cucumber Plant!
I grew it from a seed and it's gotten so big! I love watching the progress of it and really hope it doesn't die before a cucumber grows.

I would have added a skinny brown belt, but it was too small

gold necklace

cream dress

burgundy cardigan

black tights

brown booties