What I've Learned this Year

2012 has been a phenomenal, life-changing year. I started off the year determined to make my last semester at a school I intended to transfer from a positive experience. I was ready to get out of there, but I left with a few new friends and a couple of good times. I spent the summer doing my dream job- teaching sailing at camp and wouldn't have spent it any other way. I survived my first semester at UGA with a not-too-shabby GPA. But the absolute highlight of my 2012 occurred just a few days ago when I found out the best news...

I will be returning to my camp this summer in a new role as a leadership counselor! This has been my dream since the first time I went to camp in the fifth grade. I'm excited to impact the campers in a new way and help my counselors through the summer. Also, there are a lot of traditions reserved for leadership that I'm really excited to do!

I've learned a lot this year, and some of it I learned the hard way. But I wouldn't change a moment for anything.

I've learned...

• I've definitely grown up a considerable amount in the past year, but I have A LOT left to do. I'm not nearly ready to be a real, live "adult" yet.
• I don't know how everything is going to turn out. I can't know that, but it's ok.
• Maybe my childhood dream of becoming a writer isn't so silly after all.
• The cost of eating out really does add up.
• Sometimes you make a bad decision. Do what you can to recover from it, and move on. Try again if you can.
• There's no point of making a to-do list if you're not going to follow through with it.
• I'm still not sure how one handles being sick as an "adult." I still text my mom with in-depth descriptions of my symptoms and ask what to do. 
• How to study. Seriously. I was NOT academically challenged in high school and my first year of college. This year has been the first time that I've ever had to seriously hit the books.
• Trust God. He has a plan, and sometimes that plan involves your dreams coming true. No matter what, it is what's best.

What have you learned this year?

Love and hugs, and Happy New Year!

Blake

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be." -Douglas Adams

Finals Survival Guide: My Study Tips

My last day of classes is today. Where did the time go? Unfortunately though, that means finals are in full swing. I stayed in the student center studying until 2:30 last night (well, this morning). It's open all night during finals, which I am so thankful for because I am so much more productive outside my apartment. I'm going to live there for the next week because all four of my finals at least have a cumulative portion. All. Four. So naturally, I'm not being productive; I'm writing this blog post to help y'all out since I'm such a nice person! Edit: At the time I finally returned to this post, I'm done with finals and somehow survived them. I managed to survive by neglecting my blog though :)

FIRST, preparing to study.

To-do lists are your friend. A week or two before your finals start, begin making a list of everything you need to do to prepare. Making flashcards, reviewing notes, doing problems, what ever you think you'll need to do, put it on there! I have my list organized by class and date of the final to help me prioritize. Also, sticky notes are your friend here too! Use them to mark places in your book or notes that you know you need to review, such as summary pages or important charts.

Then, figure out what to study.
This might be the hardest part. If provided a study guide, fill it out! Writing down the information will help to cement it in your brain. If not, create one! What has your teacher emphasized on previous tests? Have they mentioned anything in class that might help? What are the main ideas? Put it all on your study guide.

Actually study.
Find yourself a nice, quiet place free of distraction. I prefer to get a table outside Starbucks downtown during the day and a study room in the student center at night. If I absolutely have to study at home, I work at my kitchen table with little distractions. I also always have some study snacks and plenty of water and Diet Coke on hand!
How do you learn best? Do you review your notes by talking them out with someone? Reviewing flashcards? Rewriting and reorganizing the information? You know what's best for you and how you will best retain the information. Exhaust all your resources. Do review questions in the book from required readings. Go over anything your professor has handed out in class. Go over old tests if you have them and your final is cumulative.
Focus! That's probably the hardest part. Download the Self Control app and block any distracting websites for a set amount of time. If you don't absolutely need your computer, then don't use it. If you know that you won't get anything done studying with certain friends (you know who they are), study alone or with other people. They'll understand; you can see them when you're done!

Rock your exam!
Wake up on the morning of your test with a good breakfast. Dress for success- whether you prefer yoga pants or a cute outfit. Breathe. You're prepared. Don't psych yourself out.

Celebrate!
When finals are over, reward your hard work with a night out with friends, a big meal with too many calories, or just relaxing and watching too much Netflix. I might be guilty of doing all three of those when I finished my exams. Oops.

How do you study best?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"She turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans"

Finals Survival Guide: Essentials

This semester has flown by. I'm currently in my last week of classes and gearing up for finals- eek! I know most of you in college are too, so I'm going to be starting a series called my "Finals Survival Guide." First off- the essentials!

NIKE hoodie / Vera Bradley Forget-Me-Nots / Home Elemental Poppy Mug

1. Comfortable clothes | I could care less about looking fashionable during finals. It's all about the comfort when you're spending long hours in the library or at your kitchen table like me! Hoodies are perfect for this.

2. Coffee (or tea) | I'm absolutely guilty of overdoing it on the caffeine when I'm studying. At least I hate cute mugs! Lately, I've been making my own vanilla chai- it's super easy and tastes just like Starbucks!

3. Your favorite pens | If I don't have my favorite pen, it's really easy to make more excuses to not start making notes, so I always have several on hand.

4. Study Blue | Y'all know how much I love Study Blue. I'm going to be glued to it for my Anthropology and Weather and Climate flashcards.

5. Sticky Notes | Perfect for marking readings that you need to review!

6. Pandora | I love music, and Pandora provides good background study music. I love studying to either my Alabama Shakes or Avett Brothers station. Or you could check out my playlists for suggestions!

7. Snacks | I'm an awful snacker when I'm studying. I concentrate better when I'm crunching on something like Chex Mix.

What are your finals essentials?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." -Vincent Van Gogh

Movie Season

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! I know mine was spectacular. I ate way too much, but that's what you're supposed to do! I must confess though, I never participate in Black Friday. Crowds are certainly not my thing. Also, my sinuses have been very mean to me lately and I was not feeling leaving my bed! I did look for some deals on Amazon and a few online boutiques, but then realized how soon rent is due...

I also saw Lincoln with my family yesterday! I love seeing movies. My roommate works at a movie theater, so she can get in free and get in another person, so we see a lot of movies together. Another reason I love Thanksgiving because it marks the beginning of prime movie season.

I thought Lincoln was amazing. For a history nerd like me it was so fascinating to see this point in history come alive. Daniel Day Lewis was an amazing Lincoln. He captured everything I imagined him to be: witty and kind but fierce and determined. I also loved how the plot kept you on the edge of your seat even though you knew what was going to happen.

I want to see this movie so badly it's not even funny. It looks ridiculously good, plus I just love Jennifer Lawrence. Look up the trailer if you haven't seen it already and try to tell me you don't want to see it. The bad part? It's a limited release and the closest theater to me playing it is almost an hour away. 

My inner musical nerd is about too pee her pants waiting on this movie to come out. I'm so excited. The trailer I saw in theaters really gives me hope that this will be an excellent adaption. I also really appreciate the choice to have all of the actors sing on set instead of dubbing over like most musical movies. Only 32 more days...

I also still haven't gotten to see Argo or Wreck-It Ralph which I have been wanted to see. There are just so many movies and such little time!

What movies are you looking forward to?

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve y'all! Though I know we all love stuffing our faces with mom's cooking (I know, my mom is a GREAT cook), I really think it is important to remember what it stands for. Everyone has something to be thankful for, and I feel like I am abundantly blessed. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the little things going wrong in our lives that we miss the good.

The Big Stuff:
I am thankful for my faith. God is the one that has blessed me beyond belief. None of my accomplishments would have been possible without Him. My faith is incredibly important to me and I would be lost without God.

I am thankful for my family. My parents and brother are seriously the most supportive, wonderful people in my life. I'm also thankful that I only live fifteen minutes away from where I grew up and can go home anytime I want!

I am thankful for my wonderful friends. I have the best friends anyone could ask for. They are so much fun and always have my back.

I am thankful for my job. I absolutely love my job at the barbecue place, mostly because of my wonderful coworkers. I'm also thankful that I have a way to pay rent!

I am thankful for my health. I feel as though this is something we all take for granted a lot of the time. I'm thankful that I wake up everyday happy and healthy.

I am thankful for my education at the amazing University of Georgia. I'm so lucky to have this opportunity and to not have to pay any money out of pocket (thanks, scholarships).

The Small Stuff:
I am thankful I spent today painting, watching Sherlock, and spending time with my family.

I am thankful that my mom picked up a pecan pie from work and I get to eat it tomorrow!

I am thankful that I came home to my roommate making cookies tonight.

I am thankful that everyone is gone this week so I can always park right next to my building.

I am thankful for my Dawgs being number three in the nation and SEC East Champions!

What are you thankful for?

Love and hugs, 

Blake

"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." Elise de Wolfe