Water

Something that I've developed a taste for over the past few years is plain water.

Now, that might seem strange, but I used to be the girl who always had a Diet Coke in her hand, a Sprite at dinner, and other sugary water-replacers that did absolutely nothing for me.

Then college happened.

Now, you may ask why a change in scenery made me give up my lovely soda addiction. Well, here is your answer.

1. Soda is WAY too expensive (and who wants to throw away THAT much money?)

(Besides this cute baby, that is.)

2. Water with lemons is delicious

3. Being vegan has complicated my soda intake because they're not all vegan-friendly

So, now that I understand the value and "thrill" of water, (and if you're interested in that, just Google it) I drink it constantly.

But, for those of you who are like me, water takes some... getting used to.

So, here are my tips for drinking enough H20:

• Add some fruit that you like to your water (seriously, sounds obvious but you're be more likely to drink it if you actually like it... shocker.)
• Keep away from "triggers" (You can't drink soda if it's not there...)
• Don't quit cold-turkey because you'll have caffeine headaches and you'll hate yourself 
• TREAT YO SELF 
• Notice that you haven't had a soda in (remarkable amount of time for you)? Let yourself enjoy one
• If you do buy soda, buy smaller cans
• This serves two purposes, one to make sure you don't drink absentmindedly and two to make sure you know how much you've had instead of "half of a two liter"

SO NOW, let's salute water.

Being Busy

Being busy doesn't have to mean that you leave your dorm looking like a mess...

Or that you don't brush your hair/teeth...

OR even that you have to skip meals.

At the end of the day, your busiest days are the best days to: 

Now, that doesn't mean that you have to scarf down your food...

Or show up to everything you have that day like this:

It really just means that you have to find 20-30 minutes on your busiest days to eat your favorite food, listen to your best "pump it up" song, or whatever you need to do to get through the day and make it your own. 

College is the time to overwhelm yourself, to explore new things, and to decide at the end of the day what you don't want to do tomorrow. 

Don't be afraid to say "no," but also don't let something you might be interested in pass you by. It's all part of the experience.

So, take a minute now, and relax. You'll be fine. 

Hello, all!

Today I learned something new!

I truly love Naked's Probiotic Machine Tropical Mango. It's just enough energy to help get me through the day without feeling like I should end it at the gym. It keeps me awake, takes the place of a snack, and it's mango-filled which is a win right there. (:

So, you might be thinking.. "What's the point of sharing that?" But, the fact that I'm trying to get to is often times, college kids rely on terrible "study snacks" that (should!) take the place of full blown meals.. and that's no bueno. So, instead, try nuts, fruits, and other crunch-filled delights to keep your brain awake.

I know that for me, That means kettle corn, carrots & hummus, and Clif Bars, but for you, it could mean salted peanuts or celery sticks, or maybe even grapes.

Who knows, but as we reach the time in the semester where you're going to be writing your first papers, remember this blog when you go to reach for that Monster cookie that Target had on sale. (;

Well, that's all for now guys!

Sick Days

Just like in high school, in college, you're going to get sick (occasionally).

But, unlike high school, you won't necessarily have your parents or caregivers there to make you soup, or (easy!) access to a full kitchen to make your own "get better quick" fixes. You also will be living with about 200 other people, who you guessed it, probably got you sick to begin with!

So, here are my "Survival" guides for the common college cold:

1. Don't use your "sick day" as a day to do this:

 If you're well enough to have a dance party in a snuggie, chances are you could have sat through a 75 minute class... 

2. If you can, actually get something done. Not only will you feel better about yourself when you make the transition back to being in class, but you'll also feel less overwhelmed by what you have left to do. 

3. With that being said, don't sweat if you can't. Being sick is NO fun and it's completely understandable to take the entire day off and give your body what it needs- REST.

4. Eat your vitamins and minerals! 

A sick day is not the day to order pizza, avoid your greens, or to try that new spicy curry dish. Even if your stomach isn't hurting, still stick with neutral foods that will still provide you with the nutrition you need. (Think all natural and fresh, warm and soupy, and mellow and vitamin C filled!)

5. Vitamin C tablets, cold medicine, Advil, etc. are your BEST friends. 

But, unlike this GIF, DON'T GO CRAZY with them and always follow the directions on the bottle. 

If you want to get well quicker, your body needs to be calm enough to heal you. So, use over the counter meds, see the school nurse, and go to a doctor/Urgent Care facility.

6. If you're sick, remember to TREAT BEFORE YOU EAT.

There is no use in taking medication to only have your body... evacuate it. So, with that being said, take medications, then eat some food. Not the other way around. Trust me.

7. Avoid human contact. No one wants your germs. I promise.

"Sharing is caring, but giving someone a virus makes you the worst person to ever live."

P.S. the person who inspired this post- see point 7.

XOXO, 

Katie Blairs

=

Late Night Posting

Some things are of more use in the wee hours of the morning...

Grammar check...

Doughnuts...

The library...

The list goes on and on.

Unfortunately though, life is full of disappointments.

Your computer can't fix "it's" versus "its," doughnut shops close at 10pm, and Marymount's library isn't exactly open 24/7 either.

FORTUNATELY THOUGH, there is hope.

In late night take-out.

Perhaps I should have followed my own advice regarding the hump-day blues...

Oh well.

... I'm left with my lasting thoughts towards pizza:

Better luck next time, pizza.

Wednesdays: A Survival Guide

The middle of the work/school week can be a lot of things.

It can be a relief that you're almost done, a challenge to persevere through the week, or even your near breaking point where you have 5,000,000 things going on and the weekend is a mythical land that not even magical unicorns can allow you to reach.

But at the end of the day...

But, hump day doesn't have to suck (I promise).

Here are my Wednesday go-to's to make sure that not every "hump day" is a mountain in disguise:

1. Use this day to eat your fruits and vegetables. 
• Your body needs fuel to get through the week and spending your day binging on day-old Chinese food or two cans of Pringles will only make you feel worse. Trust me.
2. Try making a list of goals that you hope to accomplish during the rest of the week.
• Not only will you remind yourself of things to do that you've maybe forgotten, but you'll also become more motivated to actually get them done if you know that you have an incentive (see point 3).
3. Give yourself an incentive for finishing your list.
• Maybe it's being able to play three hours of Grand Theft Auto on Saturday night, maybe it's a night out, or it might just be allowing yourself to eat that can of Pringles... Whatever it is, make that the last goal on your list and DO IT.
4. Lastly, make someone else smile.
• It's harder to hate the world of Wednesdays if you're smiling and laughing your way through the day. Even if it's just that co-worker/classmate that you only say "hello" to when you need to borrow (Insert Office Supplies Here), try to bring a little bit of joy to their life. Who knows, you might make a new friend.

So, embrace the Wednesdays! 

A Reminder...

In college, some things are easier to learn than others.

Like how to cook your own meals...

Or how to avoid gaining the freshman (insert ridiculous amount of weight gain here)...

Or maybe you're just trying to learn how you can possibly save money when you're tempted to spend your life savings on literally everything...

Well, for all of those times in college when your common sense hasn't quite caught up to your ability to regurgitate pre-algebra, this blog hopes to provide you with one easy answer that I've learned through my own journey thus far...

You have to work.

Regardless if that's working out, working on a budget, or even working a job on or off campus, (college) life is a lot of work!

But, also know that sometimes things don't work out just as you have planned, and I promise you, that's okay too.