New Year = New Me

When I was younger, every New Year's Eve I would write down a list of 101 things I wanted to accomplish that year. They'd be easy, kid friendly things, like finishing up a color-by-the-numbers set, going to the beach and build a sandcastle, etc. 

Now that I'm older, I've decided to take the traditional resolution route. What was great about the "101 things" list is that it was filled with concrete goals to achieve. I think that's key to keeping your New Year's Resolutions--setting up concrete goals and plans on how to achieve them, then following through! 

Here are my five resolutions for 2013. I'll write separate posts on how I plan to achieve these goals, and will focus on them in my blog all throughout the year.

1. Read More
--Goal: 30 books this year
--Goal: No TV watching except during breaks

Personally, reading is much more fulfilling to me than watching TV. I've loved reading since I was three years old, and was always the girl in school who would read underneath her desk when the teacher wasn't looking. That being said, I'm going to try to stop watching TV this year and strive instead to focus that time towards reading. It's much more relaxing. When I'm watching a TV series on Netflix or Hulu, I get sucked into the "one more episode" vortex, telling myself I'll only watch one more Modern Family show before I study. Guess what happens? I watch Modern Family the rest of the night. Hopefully reading will get me out of this vortex.

I can't wait to share with all of you some of the books I'm reading. I have some great picks to share!

2. Be Persistent
--Goal: create a daily schedule and stick to it
--Goal: post at least 3 times a week on my blog

Yes, this blog was much more active in the summer. I guess that comes with the territory of being a student, but I still wish to be persistent by posting at least three times a week. Please, hold me to this! Bug me if I haven't posted in a while, I'm serious. I also want to create a daily schedule for school including study times. I want studying to become a habit, but also wish leave time in my day for fun things like reading and blogging.

3. Get Organized
--Goal: clean up your dorm room!

My dorm room is a mess, and I don't have any good excuse for it. I personally want to get everything organized by cleaning it up. I'll leave some helpful organization tips for living in a dorm room as I do so.

4. Get Healthy
--Goal: workout 30 min. 4 times a week
--Goal: cook as much as possible; 1200 calories per day

Ok, so this one isn't going that great so far. I have so many plans for getting healthier this year, but I just have to get the motivation to implement them. I'm going to be counting calories and cooking more at school--no more disgusting, unhealthy dining hall food. I also want to get fit. It's a dream of mine to run a 5k--I know, some of you are laughing at me right now, but it's true. Although it might not seem like much of an accomplishment, for a girl who has never played a team sport in her life, it is. So getting fit through exercise is one step towards this goal.

5. Be Positive!
--Goal: daily affirmations
--Goal: weekly "positive" post

I think I've mentioned this on my blog before, but it's hard for me to stay positive at times. I think I am naturally a pessimistic person, because I have to fight hard to think on the bright side of things. I also need to boost my self esteem, and I think I can do so through daily affirmations. Some people think affirmations are a joke, something to make fun of on SNL, but they really work! Once you repeat something to yourself over and over, you start to believe it.

I also want to write a weekly post featuring positive quotes and happy things that are going on in my life. There is goodness in this world, and I want to showcase it on this blog.

I'm sticking with my New Year's resolutions...who's with me? Comment below and tell me your 2013 resolutions, and pledge to stick with them! We're all in this together!

2012 In Review

So this is it. The end of 2012. It's been a weird year--a great year, but weird. So many unexpected, great things happened. I've definitely grown up a lot in the past year, whether it was learning my way around a foreign country or figuring out how to balance multiple friendships and relationships at once.

Here is my 2012 retrospect:

• I started this little blog! At first it was just an outlet for me to vent about my frustrations with organic chemistry, but it's grown so much within the past nine months or so. Thank you all for following my adventures! I know I've kind of slipped off the radar since the end of summer, but I hope to get back into the blogging mode this upcoming year.

• I saw the Dalai Lama! His visit was the coolest thing that's ever happened to Loyola. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience--especially seeing him wearing a Loyola baseball cap!

• I went to take classes in Rome. And it was, in the words of Barney in How I Met Your Mother, "legend-waitforit-dary!"

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• I began working in a research lab. I might not know what I'm doing all the time, but who knows? My cultivating bacteria could possibility contribute something to science. If anything, I've learned that plaques of bacteria don't smell all that great.

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• The Olympics were on! I'm a sucker for the Olympics. Although I didn't enjoy these games as much as I have in the past (due to NBC's absolutely TERRIBLE coverage!), I still loved the thrill of watching the opening ceremony, the U.S. "Fab Five" Woman's Gymnastics Team, and Michael Phelps win one last time in the pool.

• I was a Welcome Week Leader, meaning I led new freshman in orientation activities at Loyola before their classes began. I gotta say, I had as much fun doing all the fun activities as they did. I was basically a freshman all over again, at least for a few days. 

• I worked as an academic coach to high school freshman through Target New Transitions. Yes, it sucks to get up at 6am on Saturday mornings, but, once I get enough coffee in me, I love the whole experience. I'll save it for another post, but the gist is that I coach freshman in all things to do with high school, from math to meeting new friends. The students I work with amaze me every Saturday, and remind me how tough high school was. 

• I became a lifetime member of Alpha Chi Omega. Being in a social sorority is something I never planned on doing in college, due to the stereotypes that surround "sorority girls". I've spent my Christmas vacation telling my relatives that sororities are not what they look like on Animal House. I've met some AMAZING friends that I never would've had I not joined my sorority. Our saying goes "Alpha Chi, Alpha Chi, Alpha Chi, 'til I die", and it's true: I'm going to have these friends for the rest of my life!

• I turned 21! Enough said.

• I voted in the presidential election. My only regret about voting absentee is that I didn't get one of those cute "I voted" stickers they give out on election day. Bummer. 

What's in store for 2013? I honestly have NO idea. I have the MCAT coming up in April and sorority events, of course. I'm continuing my jobs and will probably be a Welcome Week Leader again. This summer I apply to medical school. But other than that, so much is up in the air at this point. I'll just have to see what life throws at me...and I can't wait.

Happy 2013 everybody!

Books Read 2012: And the Bookie Goes To...

I'm pretty proud of my reading accomplishments this year. I read thirty books and, although it may not seem like a lot, it is to me! Here are all the books I read this year, followed by my "Bookie" awards (think Oscars)!

Any questions? Check out my Goodreads account and friend me to see more recommendations and books I'm dying to read. 

Bookie for Making Me Keep the Lights on at Night: The Passage by Justin Cronin

The book is about a vampire apocalypse, but these aren't your Twilight vampires that are taking over the world. One difference? Their teeth are described as being as long as toothpicks. And that's only part of the picture. The book might not seem up my alley, but you'd be surprised. You really become attached to the characters--a colony of people who have survived 100 years after the apocalypse--and follow them as they venture out to look for others like them. (And there's a sequel!)

Bookie for Being a Surprisingly Amazing Book: Tie between Villette by Charlotte Bronte and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

I love it when I dread reading a book that's required for class, and it actually turns out to be great. Villette was required for my Victorian Lit class, and I spent a whole Saturday in my bed reading the 400-plus page tome. I couldn't wait to see what happened to the main character, a teacher at a foreign all-girls school.

The White Tiger had a similar effect on me. The book is about a boy who rises from the slums of India to become a wealthy entrepreneur. It reminded me of Slumdog Millionaire, yet seemed more realistic. I really was able to understand the caste system in India, and the conditions of those living within it.

Bookie for Being Overrated: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Ugh, I hated this book. Okay, hate is a strong word, but I was expecting so much more of this book due to the glowing reviews I had read of it. The book is told from an eleven-year-old girl's perspective as the world ends due to the rotation of the earth slowing down. It's a genius idea, but the narrative of the young girl brings the whole book down. I feel like having the girl narrate the book was just an excuse for the author to write at a lower level.

Bookie for Not Being Able to Put Down: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I can't say anything about this book without spoiling it--it's just amazing. The book opens with a husband who's wife has gone missing, and he's the number one suspect. That's all I can say, for the book takes so many twists and turns from there on that I don't want to spoil anything. Just read it!

Other Favorites:

• The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

What were some of your favorite books this year?

One Item, Three Ways: White Crewneck Sweater

Hope everyone is staying warm out there! I'm home from college only to be hit with a blizzard. We got 18.5 inches of snow today alone! Since winter is in full swing, I thought I'd share one of my favorite winter essentials with you: a cable crewneck sweater. Not only is it incredibly warm, but it goes with literally anything. 

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You can wear a crewneck sweater for a variety of different activities. Here are three outfit ideas for you to try out!

Class Time

• Statement necklace
• Tote bag for books (pictured is a Longchamp)
• Bootcut jeans or colored denim
• Watch
• Blazer
• Statement earrings
• Cute flats

Volunteering/Casual Day at Work:

• Scarf
• Skinny jeans
• Brown riding boots
• Backpack
• Winter jacket
• Classy earrings and bracelets

Studying:

• Backpack
• Skinny jeans
• Black boots
• Backpack
• Puffy vest
• Hat
• Winter jacket

What are some of your winter essentials?

Black Friday Deals 2012: Gift Ideas

Hello everyone! Hope you all had great Thanksgivings. This is just a quick post with some great deals they have going on this Black Friday. Usually I'm not a big fan of Black Friday because I hate how it's getting earlier and earlier, ruining some employees' Thanksgivings, but most of the deals listed here are online. 

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I have a ton of gifts to purchase this year, so some of these free gifts they have with purchase would make perfect stocking stuffers for friends. It's also nice that some stores are offering a certain percentage off of one item. Have fun shopping!

• J.Crew: 25% off purchases in store and online; free shipping on $150 or more (ends Sun.)
• Check out the accessories section for fun stocking stuffer ideas; you can get the prices of iPhone cases and jewelry down using the 25% coupon

• Kate Spade: Free tote when you spend $250 or more (Fri. only)

• Barnes and Noble: Deals on Nook Simple Touch ereader; 30% off one item until Sunday (see all deals here).
• There's a sale of crossword books going on where you can buy two and get the third free...perfect for a crossword lover you know!

• Amazon: TONS of deals...see all here

• Marley Lilly: free gifts with every purchase on Friday
• Make a monogrammed item and get another gift for your friend, free! (or keep the gift for yourself, I won't judge)

• Bath and Body Works: $20 VIP tote; $5 2-pack wallflower refills; buy 3, get 3 free of signature collection; 3-wick candles, 2 for $20 
• The VIP tote is worth $100, so you can divide the goodies inside among several friends

• VS PINK Line: see Facebook event here

• Something Greek: free giveaway on all orders through Friday night
• Sorority gear can be expensive...so why not get a little extra something with your order?

• Best Buy: deals on front page.
•  For gift ideas, check out video games, headphones, USB drives, and wireless mouses

Good luck fellow shoppers, and may the odds (I mean, deals) be ever in your favor.

GFC Blog Hop: Link up!

Hey guys! It's Tuesday again which means it's time for the GFC Blog Hop! Even better, I'm cohosting the hop this week! Thanks go out to Melissa at The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife for allowing me to cohost. So what are you waiting for? Follow the rules below and link up! It's a great way to meet new bloggers.

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When I want to follow a blog the first thing I look for is GFC (Google Friend Connect), it's so easy and  nice to be able to go and see all of the blogs you follow in one spot. It's really a great tool to have. 

One side note- Did you know you can follow through GFC using your Twitter Account? TRUE, it's definitely an option!

Ok, so let's get to the party, shall we?

RULES are simple:

1. Follow your host via GFC

The First link below

2. Follow your co-hosts via GFC

The Next 8 links below

3. Link up below using your main blog url not a specific post.

4. Make sure to visit some of the blogs in the link up and follow them via GFC 

and if you want to leave them a comment, I'm sure they'd appreciate that as well.

5. Tweet about this blog hop

Tweet

6. Share about this blog hop by grabbing a button and putting it on your sidebar!

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Guilty Pleasures, Fall 2012

C'mon, you know we all have them. Guilty pleasures. Those things we know we shouldn't want, but they make us so happy.

Here are a list of my fall guilty pleasures:

Justin Bieber's new song, "As Long As You Love Me"

If I just pretend that someone else is singing this song, everything will be okay. I have an absolute HATRED towards the Biebs, but the song is so dang catchy. Speaking of the Biebs, I'm surprised he hasn't disappeared into obscurity by now. I still don't think his voice has changed yet though.

A blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese

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Best combination ever. I try not to think about the calories--if it counts for my breakfast and my lunch, then I can justify it. And c'mon, strawberries? Blueberries? Those are all fruit...so doesn't that mean that this is (sorta) healthy?

Chipotle

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It's the only decent, somewhat-affortable restaurant near my dorm, so my roommates and I grab their burrito bowls all the time. It's a good deal if you only eat half of the bowl for supper and save the rest for lunch the next day--two meals for the price of one!

Revenge, the TV series

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I think of this show as basically the grown-up version of Pretty Little Liars. The main premise is about a girl who's father was accused of being a terrorist. Now, as an adult, she goes back to the Hamptons to try to wreck havoc on the rich people who ruined her life. Yes, the Hamptons...half of the reason why I watch the show is just to ogle at the amazing dresses and outfits!

Gangnam Style by PSY

The music video is epic, and the song is so much fun to dance to. I have no idea what it's saying, but that makes the song even better.

What were your guilty pleasures this fall?