Sunday August 14
Kyle left for CHINA! My sweet fiance left for his flight at the crack of dawn and spent basically the entire day traveling! So to keep busy I spent a lot of money and went shopping for our engagement photo outfits! (also some back to school outfits)

Monday August 15
I've never been more thankful for a long 8 hour shift than this day. At first I was so sad and wondered how the heck I'd get through an 8 hour work day without completely falling apart because of how much I missed Kyle but surprisingly the long shift helped keep my mind off of everything and kept me occupied! I went straight home and relaxed and slept off the rest of the day to keep myself from thinking (missing kyle) too much, haha.

Tuesday August 16
I had a shorter shift at work this day and got off a lot earlier too, so after work I got ready and got a HAIRCUT! Finally. I know. I cut off about 5 inches (just enough to get rid of some split ends, but also kept enough that my hair would still reach my belly button). I am SO happy about it! My hair feels and looks a lot better and it's EXACTLY the length I asked for! (yay for hairdressers that actually listen). I also shopped a little more for some back to school clothes!

Wednesday August 17
The day before the first day of school! I used this day to finally flip my drivers license #legal. And relax one last time before I go into full blown college student mode :'(

Thursday August 18
My first day of my senior year!!! I got super lucky this semester and the only two classes I had this day happened to be in the same exact lecture hall! Meaning I didn't have to walk back out into the heat (score). This also meant that I got to stay in my super great seat ;) I figured that while waiting between the two classes (there's a 50 minute break) that I could do some homework and catch Pokemon! Haha. I also worked this night and was exhausted by the end of the day.

Friday August 19
I only had two classes this day which could have potentially stressed me out because (1) my second class is 5 minutes after the first and (2) I'm not familiar with the building my second class is in so I kind of just walked around like a lost puppy, haha. HOWEVER, next friday I realized that one of the classes I was supposed to have this day (first week of school usually means no recitations) actually ends at 10:30, and my second class starts at 10:30 - straight - across - campus :') pray for me.

Saturday August 20
This day was strictly a homework/errands day! As much as I LOVE completing errands, I hate actually having to leave the house because Arizona is dreadful... seriously.

Sunday August 21
(pre-written) KYLE COMES HOME! The longest week of my life is finally over, haha. So this day is the day I do a little more homework, and then him up from the airport, and spend some time with him before the start of another school/work week :')

You guys, I will be starting the first semester of my SENIOR YEAR tomorrow... can you believe it?
It feels so unreal that I will be graduating from college in less than a year, I feel like I just graduated high school yesterday.
Anyway, I've almost always done a goals list each semester I've been in college so here they are for my Fall 2016 Semester!!!


1. Stay on top of all my school work & studying at least a week in advance.
This one is always a given for every single semester, but this next semester especially. Between planning a trip to Oregon, actually going on that trip to Oregon, planning a wedding, working, going to school full time, and spending quality time with Kyle - it's going to be such a busy semester. By staying on top of all my school work and readings at least a week in advance, I'll be able to relax more on my mini-vacation with Kyle, and throughout the semester in general!


2. Actually study and understand the material throughout the semester.
Finals week is crazy no matter how hard you study or how much of the information and material you understand. However, I definitely make it harder on myself by (falsely) believing that if I don't understand something that I have a ton of time to understand it later*** (which usually means the day before the final). THIS IS THE WORST THING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO. For one, material moves so fast and everything builds on each other for every class, if I don't understand something while it's being taught - I won't understand anything that follows after it! Second, like I said above - finals week is tough - I need to do myself a favor and make it as easy and pain-free as possible.


3. Do stuff after school/in between classes, seriously.
I'd like to blame the Arizona heat for the laziness I feel once I get home from my classes, haha. If I work immediately after work, it's a different story. However, I find myself having a lot of down time between classes and after classes where I either take a super long nap, or mess around and do nothing for hours and hours. THEN I have to cram my weekends with all the school work and studying that I should have, and could have, been doing between classes and after school. So, I need to really manage my time better this semester.


4. Set aside time to do fun things, and then actually do them!
Fall semester is generally so much fun because of all the different activities that most universities put together to welcome all the students back to another academic year, plus football season! However, I find myself getting stressed out early on in the semester so I end up not going out and doing anything! In addition, fall semester is so much fun because of all the holidays that go on throughout the entire semester! Last year I had so many fun festive activities planned out for every weekend from mid-September thru December, and guess how many I did........ none. Even though I set aside the time, and planned to do fun things weeks in advance, I never did a thing because once the time finally came I decided I'd have rather stayed in bed longer, or all day, than go out and make fun memories! So this semester, that definitely has to change.


5. Keep up with my daily habit tracker and stay organized.
It's easy to get lost during the semester and fall behind on daily habits and just keeping organized in general. So, I'm determined not to let that happen! I need to seriously plan out my days, and follow my habit tracker and not let myself get too caught up in school, and get too stressed out. Seriously, 18 credit hours gets crazy and busy and everything starts to get all jumbled up and confused - who has time to make sure that they apply moisturizer everyday??? I do, I need to have that time.


6. Get all A's.
This is always a goal.



So there you have it, my top 6 main goals for my Fall 2016 semester! Happy Back To School season everyone!


xo, me.

Daisy: How old were you when you had your first kiss?

- 12.

Carnation: If I handed you a concert ticket right now, who would you want to be the performer?

- Beyonce, or maybe Rihanna, haha.

Jasmine: What color looks best on you?

- I'm actually not sure, haha. I think like pinks and reds?? Maybe??

foxglove: Name three facts about your family?

- (1) We are from Guam. (2) There's a million of us. (3) My sisters & I have no brothers??

Allium: What's the best thing you can cook?

- I can make a mean spaghetti, and an equally mean lasagna.

Orange Blossom: If you could pick the gender and appearance of your child, would you?

- I don't think I'd be able to decide on a gender, but I'd hope that it has Kyle's curly hair and green eyes! Haha.

Calla Lily: If you died right now, what song would you want to play at your funeral?

- Kiss It Better, because I can't get enough.

Poinsettia: Favorite holiday dish?

- Egg nog (and yes, it counts).

Oxlip: Would you ever get into a long distance relationship?

- I don't think Kyle would ever put me in a position to? Haha.

Primrose: Favorite kind of soup?

- All of them. Literally. I love soup.

Daffodil: What's the most thoughtful present you've ever received?

- Kyle always writes me the sweetest notes/letters, so those - always.

Rose: Are you currently in love with someone?

- KJM.

Amsonia: Would you ever become a vegan?

- Maybe, I always decide to do weird and random things like that every once in awhile, lol.

Peony: What's your favorite hot beverage?

- Hot chocolate.

Tulip: For your birthday, what kind of cake do you ask for?

- I'm not big on cake, so I usually don't care because I usually don't eat it.

Myrtle: Do you like going on airplanes?

- I've only ever been on one airplane in my whole life, so I'm not sure.

Hibiscus: Did you ever play an instrument? If so what?

- I used to play the flute in 4th or 5th grade.

Zinnia: Who was your best friend when you were six years old?

- Valeska S.

Poppy: What color was your childhood home?

- I consider two homes my "childhood homes" so the first one was white and pink, and then the second one was like completely brown.

Hydrangea: Starbucks order?

- Vente Passion Tea Lemonade with light ice.

Violet: Do you like where you're from?

- Yes!

Locust: What was your favorite book as a child?

- All of them, haha.

Rhododendron: What's the scariest dream you've ever had?

- UGH, okay so I had this dream that this crazy ghost lady was pretending to be my actual mom so she tried to wake me up one morning while I was still in bed (but already awake) and I KNEW she was a weird ghost lady. But anyway she like couldn't get into my bedroom because I had this sign near my door that said "I Am A Child Of God" (LDS peeps, whatsup) and she FREAKED because she couldn't get past the door frame and she had the scariest face and went full blown demon trying to get me to come outside my bedroom and basically I woke up crying, haha.

Queen Anne's Lace: Would you rather carve pumpkins or wrap presents?

- Both, how could I ever pick.

Magnolia: Favorite kind of candy?

- I like sour and gummy kinds of things.

Aster: Would you rather be cold or hot?

- COLD.

Marigold: Do you listen to what's on the radio?

- Yes.

Heliconia: Do you like when it rains?

- I'm obsessed with rain.

Azalea: What's a movie you cried while watching?

- SO many.

Dandelion: Do you think you're important?

- I'd like to think so, yeah.

1. Sturdy Backpack.
***** I recommend one with mesh pockets for water bottle(s).
Seriously, I think a bought a new cute backpack/large tote purse EVERY SINGLE SEMESTER before finally realizing that when in college function beats fashion every time (at least when it comes to backpacks). I always saw people with cute little pull-string backpacks or even super trendy totes (I even spend $160 on a LongChamp Le Pliage foolishly believing that I wouldn't mind lugging around a giant tote on ONE shoulder every single day). It wasn't until my FIFTH semester (that's right, 5/8 semesters) that I decided I was going to get a plain black North Face backpack with thick straps, back ventilation, a laptop pouch, and tons of room. It was such a good idea. I never really worry about my backpack breaking or it getting ratty if I throw it around a lecture hall or my house or the light rail or wherever. It really is soooo nice having so many pockets and not only one, but TWO mesh pockets for water bottles. Especially in Arizona where you need to carry water everywhere with you!!! Go simple and spend ~$100 on a North Face ONCE than buying a new ~$50 backpack or tote every semester!

2. Planner/Organizer.
Planners have saved my life, seriously. This is also another thing that I like to change up just whenever I feel like it. Target is my go-to place when looking for a new planner because (1) they're cheap! (2) they're super cute! (3) they do the job. I've never been one to spend more than $20 on a planner that I bring around with me because they get pretty beat up when they're constantly in and out of my backpack and accompanying me along my library dates. There are also other options such as Erin Condren, Lily Pulitzer, and Kate Spade that offer super cute designs! However, my #1 suggestion is that you find a planner that offers what you need whether it be weekly/monthly/daily layouts, a goals page, a place to keep track of birthdays, a notes sections, time blocks, ect. Again, function > fashion.

3. Laptop (Working & reliable Wifi while you're at it!)
You're going to be writing lots of papers and researching a lot of different things while in college! In addition, there are a million websites that help with studying and/or staying organized. A laptop (preferably a light-weight laptop if you're bringing it with you to your classes and all over campus) is a must. I have a Macbook Pro that stays home because of how heavy it is, and a new Macbook (the super light gold one) that comes with me to school!

4. Laser printer.
If you type out your notes I still heavily suggest printing them out and highlighting/annotating as an additional study aide! Plus, buying toner is so much cheaper thank buying regular ink. And it lasts a million years. Seriously.

5. Sticky notes, highlighters, colored pens*.
These items are more for fun/visual aids (if you're a visual learner like me)! I generally print out my notes or the posted slideshows and go completely nuts highlighting and annotating and making little pneumonics all over each sheet of paper and having all my scattered thoughts in one place and color-coded keeps me sane throughout the semester!


And there you have it! My top 5 college essentials that I seriously would be so lost without!
Have a great semester/school year everyone! Happy studying ;)