Beach Reads

So yes, I am officially on the first day of spring intercession!! It's about time! And while I've been obsessing over new swim suits and clothes, my hardest shopping is yet to be done: my beach reads!

Those of you who enjoy reading will understand how instrumental this purchase is to an awesome vacation! Too serious of stories can lead to a loss of the lightness of the season. A read without depth is just... well it's just boring. Nobody wants boring. So, after much deliberation and reading reviews on GoodReads, I've picked my top three!

Perhaps the most fitting read for the season, Lilly: Palm Beach, Tropical Glamour, and the Birth of a Fashion Legend has been on my list of books to read for a while. The reviews spoke quite highly of the authors accuracy and of the biography in general. I think it'll be an interesting read and will certainly be fun while in the car, on the beach, or by the pool.


That Book about Harvard has been on my "To Read" list for a while now... ever since I saw it a Barnes & Noble. The Ivy league - the culture, not just the schools- has always been of huge interest to me. This book looks funny and insightful! Just what I enjoy. I'm really excited to read this one. While it's last on my priority list for spring break, I'm hoping that I'll get to at least start it.


I've been a Hemingway fan ever since I read The Sun Also Rises for a school analysis (I know, I couldn't believe that I liked a school book either!). I actually have to read A Farewell to Arms for my AP Lit class, but it's a good read for spring break. I love Hemingway's writing style, and his stories are not a blatant love story, but still have a romance aspect to them, which is perfect. (I read too much Nicholas Sparks in middle school... no more sappy love stories for this girl!)

There's just something about the beach and a good book. After this strenuous year, I'm so ready to get lost in someone else's world for a couple of weeks while hearing the sound of the ocean. I promised myself that I wouldn't start these books until the trip down to Florida, and it's killing me to wait 4 more days! But the wait will be worth it, I just hope these books aren't a letdown.

What are you reading this spring season?

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

I am this close to losing all sense of motivation!!

Okay maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration... but seriously. Eight weeks from today I'll be walking across the stage accepting my diploma and finally getting out of jail high school! Having that knowledge, and the fact that tomorrow is my last day before a two week intercession, I am finding it incredibly challenging to get any studying for my 3 tests or preparation for my presentation tomorrow done (seriously, I've always wondered why teachers do this to kids). 

With giving up imminent, I decided to take a study break to write about... what else?! My study habits!

Let me preface this with telling you that I am ranked in the top 5% of my graduating class and have a 3.9 GPA.

I have almost an entire additional year of high school than what's required to graduate (credit-wise) and have taken almost every advanced placement possible since 7th grade. While I understand that I am only a senior in high school, I believe that my AP teachers have prepped me in every way possible for success in college. I understand that studying and succeeding in college is a completely different process, but this is what I have for now. 

1. Your first key to success is to do what your prof or teacher tells you to do! Yes, it is easy to show up to class and listen to lectures, but there's so much more that you can be doing. Always read the material being covered before you go to the class! Always do the homework, even if it isn't to be collected. But, most importantly, look at the outlines, notes, and book that you are covering before class. This not only helps you get knowledge that you may not get in class, but gives you an idea of what's going on and what you should know. This way, if you have anything that you still aren't understanding after the lecture, you can ask questions and clarify any rough spots. 

2. Make a to-do list! Okay, so i know this sounds very 30-year-old-housewife-ish of me, but I seriously make lists of everything. If I can organize what it is I need to be doing and physically cross tasks off my list, I feel so much more calm. Plus, I love the feeling of accomplishment as I see my list get smaller and smaller! 

3. Limit your studying time. And don't crunch material! I like to spread out my studying over the week before the test. Even if it's just reading through my notes at the very beginning of my "studying", it's a proven fact that your mind will subconsciously process material. The more you can get it into your head, your mind will be thinking about it and locking away the ideas without much effort on your part. It makes your real studying in the few days up to the test much less stressful! When it comes to my hard studying, I like to set a timer for 45 min on my phone. I work hard for that time, and take a 15 min break once it goes off. I might watch a few youtube videos, send a few texts/ emails, or online shop. I'm pretty good about getting back to studying, but if you tend to get distracted easily, I'd recommend setting a timer for your break, too. 

4. When it comes to the actual process of my studying, here's what I do:

quiz - throughly read notes - skim notes - make a condensed study guide - skim notes - quiz

I do this for each section or chapter and it's amazing to see how my quiz scores improve just with that simple process. I just added the step of making the condensed "notes of my notes". I try to fit everything for an entire unit or test on one sheet front and back. It's perfect for in between classes or at lunch glancing at and being able to jog my memory on a few major points or questions that I keep missing on the quiz. Repetition helps!

Studying and preparing is such a vital part of a student's life and I'm so glad that I kindof have a system down. While I'm sure it'll be tweaked this time next year, a foundation is all I need right now! 

I'm pretty sure this break has been longer than my typical 15-minute break... but I deserved an extended one!

Happy Friday! 

Worn Out Apps

So, my iPhone is basically glued to me on a regular basis. Even though I get almost no signal in more than half of my classes (yaaaay high school), I still manage to communicate with my phone throughout the day. When I just cannot get signal, I revert to a few of my favorite apps. These apps get a huge amount of lovin' on a daily basis, so why not share?

yes, some of the apps are old. but these are my daily go-to's

Twitter. Instagram. Facebook. These apps are 100% percent my obsessions. I pay attention to the lives of others way more than I should, but I have this weird fascination with studying others... maybe I should be a sociologist. But seriously, I analyze the feeds of everyone I follow. I find myself questioning why someone I've never talked to in person chooses to post certain tweets or images. For attention? For fun? who knows. I probably have a problem, but don't we all?

p.s. Instagram has been kindof beneficial to me in more ways that just the fact that I can share my pictures with the rest of the world. I never used to be the type to take pictures, but now I do. All. The. Time! I obviously don't post every picture I take, but I definitely document my life much more than I used to, which I enjoy.

Lose It. So, obviously it's spring break and summer time. While that means sweet tea, the beach, and sun, it also means swimming suits! And hopefully you understand when I say that I did a little too much indulging over the holidays. Lose It is the single best weight loss app... out of the free ones, at least! It's been super efficient in helping me track my meals and workouts. Seriously, with it I was able to reach my spring break goal this week! And I don't leave for another week. How awesome is that?! This app has definitely gotten a lot of love from me lately.

 Shazam. Well, to be honest, all my music apps all receive thorough use. I have been using shazam more than usual lately, because I'm keeping a list for my spring break playlist! I also use Pandora daily (and am not too happy to hear about the new time limits... I still haven't pulled the trigger on paying for Pandora) and, of course, the music and iTunes app. I am a music fanatic and I truly use my iPhone for the music almost more than anything!

Technology amazes me! I can do so much on such a small device.

What are your favorite apps? I'm curious for some other good ones to download.

5k is for wimps: week 2

I apologize for not posting week two last week... I'm a bit behind. Hopefully you aren't, though! Enjoy this week's workouts. I promise to keep up with it now! 

Get running!

My New Baby

So graduation just got very real to me; my parents decided to buy me an early graduation present. What is it, you ask?

via Instagram

This beaut right here: the 15" MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

Yes, I am a spoiled brat and yes, I am indebted to them for the next 6 years of my life.

This plus paying for all of my college? 

Like seriously, I feel like such a grown up!

This is the first step to becoming my own entity. I had to set it up under my own apple id (meaning... no more using dad's credit card for app store and iTunes purchases :'( ) and it's 100% mine. Of course, while I'm home I'll let my parents use it if they want.... and it is under their insurance. But this is my computer. And, while it doesn't seem like a huge deal, it really is! I'm starting my own life in a few short months. And, in a few years, I'll be completely on my own!

I kindof experienced a bit of an epiphany when I opened this up. I just realized that I'm growing up and I'm not a little girl anymore who can always rely on Mommy and Daddy... no matter how badly I want to. 

While I'm in love with my new computer,

I can't help but have a healthy fear and excitement for the years ahead.

Getting Outside of Myself

Last night was one of the most anticipated nights of my entire senior year! The Riley Dance Marathon was last night and it was an overwhelming success. We'd been planning since August, and our hard work paid off.... literally! We raised over $23,000 which put our total raised over $100,000! It was so much fun for all that were involved, and it was awesome to spend my night raising money and support for young kids. Those kids are stronger than I will ever be.

This picture was taken at the end of the night, when we revealed our earnings! Unfortunately, I left extremely sick and didn't get to see this in person. But I'm still so so happy for the results and am so fortunate to have been involved in such an incredible journey.

It feels so good to do good for others! 

Listen List

So, music is to the soul what chocolate is to the mouth. It is essential, makes everything better, and can capture so much in so little. I listen to a variety of genres, but there's one genre that just screams spring and summer to me: Country!

I'm not a crazy, die hard fan, but I love that all of the songs tell a story. Plus, they seem to capture the carefree attitude of summer beautifully! As always, I have a few songs that will surely be on my playlist these upcoming months.

This one is at the top of my list! It's perfect for being on the beach and having fun. 

Literally, I get excited when I hear this song because I imagine being not in the midwest (where it is currently snowing... in March. Don't get me started)

Country and Summer just go together, don't they?