First week and already sick?!

If you have an immune system like me, you have probably already gotten sick within the first few days of living in your college dorm.

It has been two days and I already feel the horrible scratch and manly cough that comes with a sore throat. No one wants to start their college career off sick, so to help prevent that these are my tips that I use when I'm feeling a bit on the down side.

1. Take Probiotic and Zyrtec daily!

        When you're living in a new place so close with new people there are going to be germs. When you don't have a shield in a fight, it's easier to attack you. Probiotic and Zyrtec help create that shield. I take them both every morning. Probiotic when I wake up and Zyrtec when I go to bed.

2. Take lots of vitamin C.

         How ever you decide to take vitamin C (drink, eat, pill form, ect.) it is very beneficial to your health. Vitamin C is things like oranges and kale. I know for myself that when ever I'm sick I go straight for the OJ.

3. Drink fluid.

        My drink of choice is OJ (like I said previously) and Gatorade. Theres something about those electrolytes that help get you back up and running within no time.

4. Get some sleep!

     As a college student we usually don't get the amount of sleep that our bodies need. We should at least get 8 hours to function properly and even more when we're sick. I know you don't want to miss any exciting activities by staying in, but the sooner you get better the more fun you'll have. Just grab you blanket, curl up into a ball and fall asleep to your favorite show or movie! (I find Netflix and amazon prime come in handy during this time.)

I hope these are helpful to you! Just try to look on the bright side when your sick, you can have more time now for any homework or studying you need to catch up on.

* Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor a professional. These are based off of my experiences growing up. What works for me may not work for you or be right for you. Consult your doctor with any questions or concerns and always read the label of the medicine for directions.*

Move in day!

So I am officially writing my first blog post from my new dorm! I'm so excited to have this opportunity of living on my own (as far as "own" goes seeing how my brother goes to the same school!).

I moved in yesterday, Wednesday August 20th. It was extremely nerve racking and chaotic. There was so much stuff that I packed and as I look out into my new home, I realize there is so much that I forgot. I still need to print/hang all my pictures on my walls and I left all my jewelry, books and miscellaneous things back home by accident.

We packed up the car around 12 pm and headed out into the new life that was awaiting me at 1 pm.

Clothing and shoes

The bed of my truck was full (I couldn't close the top!) and the backseat of the truck was packed to where I was the only person who could fit. 

My school is an hour away so we got there around 2 pm. We finished unpacking everything around 5:30 pm. Can you say tired! It was 90 degrees outside and I was walking all over campus to get checked in. 

My rooms theme was blue colors.

The blue cork board panels are from target, my bedding is from bed bath and beyond and my lights are from a party supply store that I got for my graduation party. On the head of my bed I still need to hang pictures. I'm planning on hanging them with clothing pins and yarn. I think it will look great with my room. I'll have pictures of it in an updated version of this post. 

My dorm is a suite style which means it has four different rooms with two people in each. It has a common area which is out living room (beautiful view!).

We also have a bathroom of two school style toilet stalls, a shower and a bathtub/shower.

Another thing that our RA (room advisor) did was make cute signs on our door saying who was where. 

Cute touch!

So far I'm loving my room and campus! I'm so excited to see what God has for me this year. I'm extremely nervous and have intense butterflies fluttering all around my stomach at times, but I know God is good and that he's guiding my steps.

One of the hardest moments yesterday was saying good bye to my parents. After being in a familiar setting for 18 years it's hard to move away. You're moving from everything you know and have to learn a whole new area.

Can you say scary!

That's it for now loves!

Have an amazing day filled with joy. 

Dorm extravaganza

I shamefully spent close to $2,500 on dorm decor and essentials. On my behalf you have to buy as if you're moving out (would like to see how much I spend when I actually move out).

My theme for the room was centered around blues as you'll see throughout this post.

I've compiled this list into separate categories starting with bed supplies and making my way around.

Bed Supplies:

• Bedding-

• ·          Bed Pillows
• ·       Mattress Pad
• ·       Buddy Pillow- 
  
• ·       Sheets
• ·       Throw / Blanket- 
  
• ·       Bedside Caddy
• ·       Mattress Protector
• ·       Bed Lifts
• ·       Under bed Shoe Storage

Closet: 

• ·       Hangers- I suggest the felt ones to save space!
• ·       Purse Organizer- 
  
• ·       Drawer Organizer
• ·       Door Mirror 
• ·       Duffle Bag
•         Jewelry Organizer- 
  

Organization/Cleaning:

• ·       Desk Lamp
• ·       Desk Organizers
• ·       Wastebasket
• ·       Calendar
• ·       Dry Erase / Bulletin Board
• ·       Surge Protector
• ·       USB Flash Drive
• ·       Ethernet Cable
• ·       Extension Cord
•         Umbrella
•         Flashlight
• ·       First Aid Kit
• ·       Sewing Kit
• ·       All-Purpose Cleaner

Kitchen:

• ·       Plates & Bowls
• ·       Cups & Mugs
• ·       Eating Utensils
• ·       Travel Mug
• ·       Water Bottle
• ·       Water Pitcher & Filters
• ·       Can / Bottle Opener
• ·       Bag / Chip Clips
• ·       Coffeemaker- Mini Keurig
  
• ·       Microwave- My roommate is getting this. 
• ·       Food Storage
•         Mini fridge

      Bathroom:

• ·       Towels (full body, wash cloths, hair)
• ·       Mesh Sponge
• ·       Shower Caddy- Get a hard cover one!
• ·       Toothbrush and Case
• ·       Hair Dryer, Straightener, Curler
• ·       Robe or body wrap
• ·       Slippers
• ·       Razor 
•         Shower Shoes!!- You don't want nasty foot fungus!
• 
  

Laundry:

• ·       Laundry Basket- 
  
• ·       Laundry Detergent- The go pods are AWESOME!
• ·       Steamer- 
  

I still have A LOT to get but these are my essentials. The others I'll figure out when I get to school.

      When you find out about your roommate, talk to them and find out if you guys want a theme and what items you're willing to share! You don't want to buy double so figure out what you'll buy and what your roommate will buy.

      Sorry if this ended up being a post that is common throughout the blogging/youtube community, but i love these types of post!

Tattoos? Piercings? Decisions!

So.....I really want a tattoo.

I have so many ideas that I would want to do, but theres a catch. 

They have to be hidden! Or well, I'd like them to be hidden for work.

Since I want to be a doctor I'm assuming that having tattoos out in the open wouldn't be the brightest idea.

My list begins with:

1.

I want it to say something along the lines of "I walk with his strength" or "I walk with the strength of the Lord" but I think that one would be to long. 

Reason: I want to remind my self daily that it's through God that I'm here and doing the things that I've done. 

I've recently climbed a mountain in North Carolina that's 16,000 feet above sea level (The highest point of the Great Smokey Mountains) and I thought I was going to die! That saying kept replaying in my head and got me through it.

2.

I don't exactly know what I would want it to say but I love how this looks! It's beautiful the way it flows with your shoulder's curve!

I like the verse "She is clothed in strength and dignity" but that just seems so basic! So as of right now I'm not sure what I would get.

3. With this one I'm on the edge about. It's not so hidden (hehe)

So if I were to get number 2 then I wouldn't get this and vice versa. 

I've seen this on my friend and loved it on her! It was a fake that said strength. I'm not sure what mine would say, but this would be further down the road.

As for piercings: 

 This is exactly what I want. I only have one hole in my ears and that's the traditional piercing. Eventually I would want to get my second in both ears and then the two upper ones in the picture on one. 

I'm just worried about pain, which is silly seeing the post that I'm writing!

Well these would be in the future so until then I'm going to continue to try and do crappy temps in those places! 

If you have any advice or comments let me know! I want to know if you have any tattoos and what the pain level was.

Don't forget to subscribe for future posts!

Thanks

Don't rain on my parade

Why chose a major that would potentially throw you over the edge with its grueling studying, work and topics.
Why even try when you'll probably change it within the same year?

These are just some of the things that I've heard from people about my choice. Most have been supportive with everything, but there are those few people who twist the way you look at your future. They make you start to doubt. 

I've been starting to doubt a lot. Doubt in my school choice and my future career. I've started to think that I'm not smart enough to study science.

BUT, I have to remember why I've chosen this future.
If I go back to 4 years ago when I was just a teeny tiny little high school freshman and made a decision to spend my spring break on a missions trip, I'll remember exactly why. Last minute (like the day before I had to leave) I was given the opportunity to go for free to Haiti and the Dominican Republic (for now on known as the DR). In the DR we went to a home that held orphans. These kids had stories that I would never wish upon anyone. Stories that break my heart into many pieces everyday. There I met this girl along with many other beautiful kids.

This is Juanita. She was the first seed that was planted in God's huge garden that's known as my life. 

We then went to small villages in Haiti where we brought different items such as food and toys for the kids. We also showed a film about Jesus. We wanted to share the love while we were there. 

Here is where the seeds began to grow a little. 

Now let's fast forward to my youth camp in 2012. 

(Caution, you may find this absolutely insane if you haven't experienced it. Proceed)

This is where I felt the Lord speak to me. During worship I felt numb all over like I couldn't move. I was sent to the floor on my knees and just praised. I began to repeat the phrase; where ever you lead me, I will follow; which for me comes from Matthew 16:24 (Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.) 

Forever I will choose to serve the Lord. Whatever his plan says for me is what I will do. If  you truly do what you're called to, you'll love it! I says that God gives us the desires of our heart as long as it serves and glorifies him!

Through this night I realized that God wanted me to do something for his people. I need to go out and reach the unreachable, the incurable, the ones that no one wanted and serve them. 

How did I decide to do this? Through Pre-med. 

Now that you know my desire to be a missions doctor....

Please, 

Don't rain on my or better yet, Jesus's (he gets all the glory) parade.

Are you nervous, or nah?

    Alright so if you aren't nervous than you must be an alien. Even if you're telling yourself that you'll be fine and that you don't need any comfort, you're nervous. Just the wonder of what is going to happen in that new place where you'll know close to no one is enough to throw you over the virtual edge of sanity.

Personally, I'm terrified. I'm anxious of living with someone I don't know, of the classes that I'm going to have, the professors that will be teaching me and so much more. I'm a pre-med major and that is filling me with so much anxiety that I can fill a whole state with it!

BUT! I know that God has so much in store for me. I know that he has me right there in his hand and that I'm doing what he's put on my heart. I can do all things through him! (Philippians 4:13)

Just some encouragement for your day. Take this with you. Even if you're questioning if there is a God or flat out dis believe, just take this positive thought and put it in your life!

That's it for now!

Let's get started...

So let's start by saying the things that I am absolutely going to miss the most when going to college. We have to leave so much behind when starting that next chapter. Now, I'm getting it better than most students who leave home for college, I'm only going an hour away from home and my brother is at the same school as me. I know, I know "well why are you complaining, I'm going to a whole new state!" I decided to go to the school I chose for two reasons:

1. I desperately wanted to go to a christian university. I'm planning on being a science major and I'm a die hard christian. I just wanted for once to not be pounded with the evolution talk.

2. I couldn't stand with being far from my family, biological and church family. I have become who I am today because of these people. I'm a youth and children's leader at my church and I am completely in love with these kids (not in a weird way)!

So not that we all know and understand why I'm going an hour away, it's time to acknowledge all that I (and probably you in some way) will miss while going to school.

- My Family
      The people who have been with me since the very beginning, literally.
- My best friends
      I have absolute and complete trust in these people. I don't know what I'd do or who I'd talk to about all these crazy college things I'll see and hear!

- My church
     I've been attending this place since I was 5 years old and I'm fully committed to it and am so blessed by everything God has given me through this.
- My full sized bed
     I mean who wouldn't miss a bigger bed than the piece of cardboard on sticks...I mean twin xl mattress.
- Being able to miss school
    No more days of staying home because you don't "feel good", now we actually have to go to class! Time to open the books and study because we aren't in high school any more!

There's a lot more that I'll be missing until the summer but these are just a few on the top! With all that I'll be leaving behind I know that it will be a sad yet beautiful experience that I'll learn a lot from!

What will you be missing when going to college and are you leaving or staying?

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