Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

I've taken a bit of a break since the semester is over, and I can have some happy holiday time with friends and family… But I'm back now!!

Sadly, the semester did not go as well as I would have liked. But that is done, and a new semester is starting in January, so all I can do is work harder to make sure that my last semester is a better semester!! So here is my plan to make sure that happens!

1. Stay on top of my reading! ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get this done before class, and I'll prepare notes on the readings so I can discuss them in class confidently.

2. I will also be making lists, and tracking due dates to make sure that I'm not forgetting anything.

3. Get my homework done at the earliest possible point!! Do not procrastinate!! Get in done, get it handed in, and move on to the next thing!!

So that is the game plan!!


Aside from that, I'm just busy to try to plan my future, grown up, post school life!! I want to get a job that pays me enough to pay off my debt, afford a place of my own, and plan for my future! So I'm busy researching and investigating, exploring, and I'm really enjoying the process!! It's great to sit down and plan and shape my life and see what I love and find interesting. I really recommend to anyone who is feeling stuck, to sit down with a piece of paper and engage with your life and your goals. I think there is something about seeing it on paper that makes it very real, and gives you that physical and mental map to get you there! I feel really calm about where I am, and where I'm going!

So that is all from me right now!! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!!
Much love from my Mad Mad World!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Another Semester in the Bag


Well, this semester was a tough one, but I managed to get through it. I haven't had any grades posted yet, but I really hope that I passed everything! I'm sure that I did… But I'm always concerned. You never really know!

But aside from that, I'm just trying to get myself set up for next semester. I have a pretty brutal one ahead of me, with my senior thesis, a senior seminar and Statistics (anything math related that doesn't involve money is not a strong suite.) But hopefully, I can get ahead of the game a little bit, and not have the meltdown that I had this past term!

So that is the goal for now. I'm also hoping to get back on the YouTube and get some more videos done, and posted! I have a few ideas, but if you have any ideas about what I should do, or any videos that you would like to see… Let me know!!

xoxo

Friday, December 6, 2013

I LOVE TO DO LIST'S!!

I know this seems like a really random thing to blog about, but it's my Mad Mad World, and I'm mad about TO DO LIST'S!!

If you have read my previous posts from the last few months you have seen that I have been pretty stressed out and unhappy. Well, the way I combat that is by making to do list's, whether they are daily to do list's, to do's for each class, and even a life goals to do list that I have in my Moleskine journal that is almost always with me. I also use my journal for ideas for blogs, videos, any information that I need to remember… it's all in there!

I highly recommend making TO DO LIST'S if you are like me and super busy (and maybe a little absent minded…)! They are a great way to organize your thoughts, keep track of what has and still has to be done, and I find that just getting it out of my head and onto paper helps reduce stress.

Part of what makes life stressful is having everything you have to get done or want to do, bouncing around in your head, fighting for attention! So I love my Moleskine agenda, because I can have the basic information like what time I work, or when an appointment is on a specific day on the left side and can have a to do list for either the week or a specific day on the other!! I LOVE having that visual representation of my time, and I can prioritize it so much better when it's on paper and not bouncing around in my head.

So, if you are curious about what my agenda looks like and would like me to do a post on that, let me know in the comments!!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

What's in my purse!!

I felt like my blog has been very ho-hum as of late! So I thought I would do something fun today and show you what I carry in my bag! And yes, this is what is in my bag on almost a daily basis… It's shocking and a little heavy!



So this is my current bag. I bought it from Oldnavy.ca about a month ago because it was on clearance for $2.97!! I thought it was prefect for my trip to the U.K. in the summer because it has two short straps that I can get over my shoulder, and an attached cross body strap that tucks nicely under the bag when you have it shortened which keeps it out of the way! It's a great size for my carry on and I can either pack it nicely on the way back if I buy a new bag there, or I can just leave it in the U.K. because it was only $3!


So here is the inside and as you can tell… it's packed!

So the first things that I pulled out are my toque and mitts! Living in Canada in December means that this is pretty standard in anybodies bag. I also live in the country and have about a 45min drive to school, so I like to have these with me incase I end up in the ditch, or if traffic stops because of an accident, I can stay warm without having to be running my engine the whole time!

The toque is from Old Navy and the mittens are Beaver Creek and I bought them at Target!









I always have my agenda with me. I just switched over to a Moleskine agenda (skull bookmark) that I love because it has Monday through Sunday on the left side and a lined page on the right, so I can have my to do list on there and just stay more organized that way. I also have a Moleskine journal (ToyStory bookmark) so if I have any ideas for a blog or YouTube video I can jot them down, or again, just making a to do list. I also have a pencil/pen case where I keep all my school essentials including my USB.


I have to book I'm reading right now. This is a book my mom recommended to me, and I've really been enjoying it! I haven't had a lot of time for non-school related reading but finals are going to be done next week and I'm hoping I'll be able to finish it!

I have a travel size deodorant by LaVanila. It's an amazingly good deodorant from Sephora. My Nivea Soft hand cream, a winter essential. And Evian facial spray, which is just a cooling, refreshing spray that I like to use when I'm tired or stressed out when studying. It gives me a boost! Also bought at Sephora.













I have my little emergency kit, that has dry shampoo, blotting sheets, mini toothbrushes, perfume, stain remover, glasses cleaner, nail files, tissues, face wipes and painkillers!

The bag is by Sonia Kashuk and I bought it from Target!















Anyone who knows me, knows that i have a very serious lip balm addiction. I usually only have one of my lip balm pouches with me, but for some reason, they are both in this bag, along with two EOS balms and my Bite Beauty Superfruit lip balm from Sephora. The sparkly bag that looks like a candy wrapper is from Bath and Body Works, and the purple bag is from Old Navy.

I have my wallet and keys. The wallet is from Target and I love it because it has tons of spots for cards!!

















And the last thing, and arguably the most important this close to finals, is antibacterial hand gel. This one is from Bath and BodyWorks, and is called Christmas Cookies! Smells sooooo good!















So that is everything I have in my bag right now! Hopefully you enjoyed the break from my usual "This is how my life is going… no change… *shock*" blogs as of late. I also have plans to film a few videos and get them up over the Christmas break!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Life is slowly returning to "normal"

Well, I have slowly been feeling better and better over the last few weeks. My stomach is still a little wobbly, but it is getting better and I feel less sick all the time. I continue to struggle with sleep and getting enough of it, but this too I think will get better with time. I'm going to buy a new pillow and see if that changes the headaches and sleep deprivation!! If anyone has any good suggestions for pillows, please leave it in the comments!

This semester is coming to end, with only about a week left in classes and then finals. I'm not doing as well this semester as I would have liked, so I'm disappointed about that. But I can always try harder and give more of an effort next semester, which is going to be the hardest semester to get through.

I really have realized that I need to make a few important changes in my life if I'm going to survive. I have to make more time for friends, family and life as well as school. I think I get so depressed because I never make time to do anything but work and school and then I don't even want to focus on the school part, and my school work suffers as a result. I sort of have to get a balance going in my life, and then everybody wins!! But mostly me!!


So, if you have any tips or tricks to find a balance, reduce stress, or just little ways you make yourself happy, leave it in the comments!