Smile!

-Truvey in Steel Magnolias (aka Dolly Parton in one of the greatest movies ever) {via}

Just wanted to share a bit of Wednesday inspiration with y'all. Smiling is the best. Sure there are days like today where I have so much to do and get overwhelmed by that I just can't seem to think straight, but a simple smile can go a long way. Studies show that even forcing yourself to smile can actually improve your mood. I know that it seems silly to want to smile when everything is piling up and becoming overwhelming, but attacking it with a positive attitude helps. 

I recently watched a Ted Talk about smiling and remembered this technique I actually had been using when I worked long hours over the summer, especially when I finished a long day with grumpy customers at my retail job. Try it, I promise it will work. And smiling is contagious, so spread the joy!

Here is the link to that Ted Talk. If you want a link to any others I have dozens saved on my iPad now for 20 minutes of study break inspiration or knowledge.

Also, while looking for an image that had this quote I was reminded of how much I love this movie and need to watch it this weekend...seriously, so many fabulous, sarcastic one-liners, I love it!

xoxo,

SSP

Study Strategy: Pomodoro Technique

Happy Sunday! I have had a crazy couple of days with Halloweekend and other stuff and now it is definitely catching up to me. Sometimes I struggle to find the balance between school and social life, as does almost every college kid I know. There are weekends I don't see anyone because I am locked in the library, and then there are weekends where I never see the library. Now that I am back in full swing school work mode, I have a busy day and a long to-do list that is going to spill over into the week. I decided that I needed to work more efficiently a couple of weeks ago and have been trying to figure out exactly what that will entail.  

woohoo...studying in the stacks last year! {original}

College is all about management, it is all on you. Anyone who was that busy kid in High School with sports and/or a job had almost their entire day planned out and that included a block for studying. Now, if I want to take a nap at 3 and then spend the rest of my day watching Netflix, I can, and no one will say anything...my grades would definitely do the talking if I ever did that though!

sometimes I paint my nails while studying... {original}

Well, today is the day, I am starting a new efficiency tool. Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro Technique? I had heard of it before, but never really considered using it until I saw it on HerCampus the other day in a great post with a bunch of different study strategies. You commit yourself to 25 minutes of uninterrupted work or study time and then you reward yourself with a 5 minute break. Then, after 4 blocks of 25 minutes, you take a 15-30 minute break. It makes you work more efficiently, and studies show it is easier to focus and retain information if you break it up into blocks. If you want to know more about it, they have a great little video on the website.

For the timer, you can get the cute little tomato timer or use this website, which is probably best if you're doing it in the library where you have to be silent. If you aren't on the internet, just use the timer on your phone, but make sure it's set to vibrate if you're in the library!

A tool like this is perfect for me because my biggest struggle with working is staying focused. Emails, texts, and random website hopping always seems to cause me to waste my time. With a technique to make myself more efficient, I will have time to pin all the things and feel more relaxed about doing it because I will have my work done! The reviews for this technique are really promising, but most people says that it takes a little while to get used to. I am going to start trying it today and for the rest of this week and then next weekend I will post a recap of my experience with it.

Oh, and I actually used it while writing this post. The early results show that hiding my phone would probably be a good idea because I am very tempted to look at who the texts are from!

What is your favorite study tool?

xoxo,

SSP

P.S. Update: the 5 minute break is basically the perfect amount of time to send out an email or two! Yay for efficiency!

Easy Halloween Costumes

With Halloween a couple of days away, I guess I should figure out what I am going to wear. If you're a college freshman this year and you have never been out on Halloween (especially at UVA) get ready. Everyone and their mother gets dressed up to get messed up and it is a crazy weekend. Also, don't wear something you care about. Frat sludge (you know, the gunk on the floor) is gross, it is cold, and there's a good chance something will get spilled on you, plus, we're all broke and don't want to spend money on three different  costumes, right? Well, last year for one of my costumes I decided to channel my inner Slutty Pumpkin for one of the evenings and it turned out to be the easiest DIY costume, ever!

Here are all the things you could possibly need for a last minute costume that will cost you $5 or less, so you can have fun, look good, and still have money to buy a drink at the bar after you abandon that fraternity party...

1) Charlie Brown: Thanks to Meghan for the inspiration for this one. Just take a sharpie and draw a chevron line on a yellow shirt...wow that was easy.

2) Skeleton: Cut holes in the shirt that will leave strips of fabric to look like ribs and make sure you leave enough fabric at the center for a "backbone." Then, if you want, just apply some face paint...totally understandable if you're good just leaving it as a skeleton costume without face paint...who knows what that'll look like by the end of the night

3) Pumpkin: Cut a jack-o-lantern face in the orange shirt, wear a black cami, and add a green bow for your "stem" on top! Bonus points if you write "Slutty Pumpkin #HIMYM" on the back :P

If you want a slightly more official looking costume, I also recommend the Toddlers in Tiaras route, I did that last year and all you need is a tutu, tiara, and a sash...oh, and a binky if you want to be really official. Also, Duck Dynasty is an easy one for both ladies and gents, just make a fake beard with some felt and wear camo! You can also check out my DIY board on Pinterest for more inspiration!

What are you being for Halloween?

xoxo,

SSP

p.s. I am now a Lucky Mag Blog Contributer and this is one of my first posts to get published! Go check it out here and it can link you to my profile. Looking at this is a great way to discover other blogs to (but please keep reading mine!)

Monogram Monday: Let Them Eat Cake!

To start this post off on a totally unrelated note to this post, I am wearing plaid and cable knit today and absolutely loving it. Seriously, nothing screams cold weather like this combo to me, now if only my fireplace actually worked (it's okay, the heater and a scented wax melt can make up for that, right?

Anyways, I turned 21 last Saturday and I had the best birthday! I got to go out the night before with one of my best friends here at UVA and my roommate and paint the town red...sorry, not regaling y;all with those crazy stories ;P

But Saturday I rang my birthday in with a pretty classy celebration at the International Gold Cup. 

Gold Cup is a horse race event that happens twice a year and is a bit much less of a hot mess than Foxfields in the Spring. I love the fall event because everyone breaks out their tweeds, furs, and boots and in the deep, rich fall colors...it's just perfect. We had the greatest time and I thought I'd share a few of my favorite photos, including a very special monogrammed item...

Nate and I

my wonderful Momma

love these ladies!

go Chi O

the toast!

and, of course, the monogrammed...

BIRTHDAY CAKE :D

xoxo,

SSP

See the Good

Sometimes we need to just call our mommas or best friends and vent, but I really like this quote and I thought I'd share this bit of wisdom. So, this is my goal for the week. I know I will still need to vent and unwind, but I want to try to embody this as much as possible. 

Also, once this crazy weekend is over, I will be back to blogging in full swing starting with a special Monogram Monday birthday recap!

Enjoy this video puts a smile on my face every time.These kids are my heroes!

xoxo,

SSP

The Essentials: Kitchen Edition

This is probably strange, but I love grocery shopping. I think it's that I feel so accomplished after I do it...you know, because without it, I'd starve. Well I was grocery shopping the other day and I realized that:
A) it is much different to grocery shop for an apartment than for a dorm (much less Easy Mac)
B) there are a few essentials that I always have at my disposal. 

Fruit and Veggies

Everyone thinks fresh produce is expensive but it really isn't. If you buy it, eat it and you won't have to spend money on more unhealthy snacks. Bell peppers are a personal favorite because you can chop them up and throw them in a salad, bring them as a snack, or sauté them to accompany your main course. I also love bananas, apples, berries, spinach, and carrots. 

Coffee

Keurig. Duh.

Chicken

It's cheap and it freezes well. I get the value packs and then just cook up one or two for the week and reheat them. I would absolutely fail as a vegetarian so this is a must for me.

Pasta

Kroger brand whole wheat pasta is $0.99. You can't beat that and a box is good for a couple of meals. Just grab some olive oil and seasonings or red sauce and you have a quick and easy meal. I also get the bulk pack of frozen meatballs to heat up and toss in with the pasta...perfect and cheap!

Sandwich Supplies

I love sandwich thins because they're perfect for a regular sandwich or a breakfast sandwich. I get the vacuum-sealed deli meat at Harris Teeter because it's a great selection at a great cost.

Ice Cream

How do I avoid exhibit self-control with ice cream? I buy the individual serving cups when they're on sale. I love the Skinny Cow Carmel Cone ice cream (which apparently Kroger doesn't have...). These are sometimes put on sale for 10/$10 so stay on the lookout. And don't worry, the cashier's judgmental face when you buy 7 single servings doesn't seem to matter when you get all that goodness ;P

Snack Foods

If I am running out the door to a meeting or classes, I often don't have time to prep something. I usually grab a trail mix and an apple for lunch and that easily gets me through to dinner. My friend at tech had a great idea to prep snack baggies ahead of time for the week so it's cheaper and just as healthy!

Instant Meals

Sometimes it is just a easy mac kinda night. There's no shame in being too tired to cook. I have easy mac, soup, and tuna at my disposal for nights when cooking just isn't happening.

It was really hard for me to pare down this list, and honestly there are quite a few other things I rely on, but what are your kitchen essentials?

xoxo,

SSP

22 by 22

HI! I'm 21 today!!!! I really wanted to do something for my 21st that would be meaningful to me and so I decided that I would take a page from Mackenzie Horan and do a list. Now mine is not quite as intense as her 101 in 1001, but I thought a 22 by 22 would be a good idea. Anyways, I am posting it here and later this week I will add a tab to the blog so that y'all can keep up with my progress.

turning 21 with some of my favorite ladies at Gold Cup

1. Get in Shape

2. Read 13 books just for fun

3. Feel like I've made a difference in my community

4. Manage money and balance my budget for the rest of the year

5. Hold a conversation in Spanish with a Native speaker

5. Learn to fly fish

7. Consign some old clothing (use money made towards #22)

8. Figure out my favorite "big girl" drink

9. Get a pajama set 

10. Develop a daily routine

11. Host a dinner party

12. Spend a Day Downtown (in DC)

13. Hike Old Rag (traumatic experience last time I did this when I was 12...)

14. Read Anna Karenina (it will happen one of these days)

15. Make 10 pinterest recipie dishes

16. Snail Mail Coorespondence

17. Make business cards

18. Blog 4 times/week

19. Raise $1000 for Relay for Life

20. Make an at-home face mask

21.Visit a friend at a different college

22. Put $10 in savings every time I check one off and then invest in something I love for my 22nd Birthday 

Do any of you have a list?

xoxo,

SSP