My Nightly Routine

In my last post, I told you about my typical school morning routine. So today I would like to blog on my typical nightly routine for school. A good nightly routine is just as important to keep your organized as a good morning routine, and also helps to make your morning routine go quicker and smoother. So basically, everything that can be done at night, I'll do at night rather then in the morning. Some people may prefer to do a few of these things in the morning, like I know many prefer to shower in the morning, but everyone has a preference :) But then many of these things I feel should be taken care of a night. There's also a few things that I'll only do on a specific day of the week, or when I feel it's necessary. 

Since I don't have any strict bedtime, I go to bed between 11:00-12:00. Surely not enough sleep for someone waking up at 4:30 in the morning, but it's working for me. Though I would never recommend this bad sleep habit to anyone, and I really should try to fix it.  But typically, I'll start my nightly routine around 8:30, and I'm typically done with it by 9:30 or 10:00. 

So here is what I do at night

Around 8:30 I'll get off the computer and go take a shower- I know that many people prefer to shower in the morning, But I like to take my shower at night to save time for the morning. This also allows me to use overnight methods to curl my hair, as well as my extensions. Overnight curling methods save time, and save your hair from the heat. I wash my hair and body everyday. I know that it's not good for your hair to wash it daily, but it looks icky when I don't wash it.

      -I'll usually put the curlers, or use whatever method I'm styling my hair with, on my extensions before I do to take my shower. That way I'm sure they'll be dry by morning, since they are thicker than my hair. I'll also wash them before I take a shower as well. Usually this can be done over the weekend, but can be done during the week if needed. 

On Sunday nights, I'll usually shave my underarms and legs- For me, taking care of these kinds of things once a week is enough. I just prefer not to have extra hair on my legs and underarms, LOL. And it's much easier to manage if you keep up with it once a week. 

Moisturize- Just to keep my skin soft, I'll put on lotion at night. Drinking water can also help make your skin softer and healthier. I love to use lotions from Bath and Body Works! I love the scents, and I like to switch it up once in a while. Though my favorite scent in sweet pea! I don't have much of a problem with dry skin, except on the palms of my hands. But it's still good to stay moisturized!

Pick my clothes for the next day and set them out- Picking clothes the night before will save a lot of time in the morning. I also like to pick my accessories and decide how I'll do my hair and make-up as I pick my clothes out. Sometimes I like to make Monday's outfit go with how I'll paint my nails. 

     -Sometimes it can be helpful to pick out your outfits for the whole week. I usually only do this for spirit weeks for days I want to do the spirit day. I also like to plan some outfits, or get an outfit ready a few days in advance. Like the self-explanatory first day of school outfit, Picture day (though I'm a senior and I won't need to worry much about school picture day), my birthday (I like to dress up on my birthday, LOL), and days where I'm required to wear a certain thing for choir or quest.

Style my hair- I like to use overnight curling methods on my hair. So while my hair is still wet (but not soaking wet), I'll start putting in rollers, or I'll braid my hair for waves. My extensions are done before this. I'll have tutorials on the different ways I curl my hair in the future. If I want to straighten my hair I'll just do it in the morning. But I'll straighten my extensions at night if they were curled the day before.

Grab a last snack, and plan my breakfast- I can't sleep on an empty stomach, so I'll grab one last light snack at night. I try to stay away from heavy foods this time of night, but instead go for things like yogurt, fruit, veggies, or even some crackers. I may also have a glass of milk or juice with it. While I'm in the kitchen I'll also plan what i want for breakfast and get it ready so I can easily find it in the morning. 

Brush teeth- Obviously this gets rid of all the gunk on your teeth from throughout the day and leaves you with a fresh mouth. It also discourages me from eating more late night snacks and filling up on extra calories before bed. After I brush my teeth, I'll still drink water, but nothing other then water. 

Wash face- Just to get rid of excess oil and bacteria and help to prevent acne. Also makes my skin feel fresh and clean!

Get my bags ready- I like to change out my purse depending on what outfit I'm wearing. So I'll switch all of my things over to the purse I'll be using for school the next day. I'll also make sure to put my keys in my purse, so I won't get locked out of the house and I can't forget them, LOL. I'll also get all of my books and homework together and make sure I did all of my homework (if anything was forgotten, I'll need to remember it in 1st period study hall), and get it into my bag. I'll also check the weather to see if I might need to put an umbrella in my tote bag. I like to recheck all of these things in the morning as well. 

On Sundays, I'll usually paint my nails- I'll remove any old nail polish, and paint on a fresh new design or pretty new color. Usually this is just a Sunday thing, but I'll repaint my nails a new color if they get badly chipped during the week. 

Relax until bedtime- My usual way of relaxing before bed is to get on the computer and chat with some friends, or to read a book. I could probably leave this out and just go to bed after I either wash my face, or after my nails dry. Or i could reduce the time I spend online or reading. 

Go to bed between 11:00 and 12:00- This is really late, and I shouldn't go to bed so late. But I've been doing this for a long time and I've been fine with it. When I go to bed i like to spray a lavender sleep mist onto my pillow. I love the one from Bath and Body Works. 

I really do need to work on getting more sleep, but this has always worked for me. What is your nightly routine? What kind of things do you do at night to cut back on time in the morning? Let me know in the comments! :) 

My School Morning Routine

We all know that a good, organized morning routine, can really help to start off an amazing and organized day. It can greatly reduce your chances of forgetting something as you head out, and help you accomplish everything you feel the need to accomplish. And of course different people will want to do different things in the morning. Some may want to take longer on their hair and make-up, some might want some time to sit at the computer or watch some TV before school. Some may even want to just get up and go. Morning routines can often be shortened by taking care of a few things at night (I'll probably post my nightly routine tomorrow), or by taking a few parts out of your routine if you wish to sleep longer. 

So this is going to sound VERY crazy, but I usually wake up at 4:30 am, which is REALLY early. (Also why my routine may not work for everyone.) But this allows me the time to get through everything I want to get done, especially since my beauty routine tends to take a while, with putting in my extensions (since I'm rather new to it.) and styling my hair, and putting on my make- up. It also allows me enough time to eat breakfast, and even relax on YouTube for a bit before I head out to school. Some parts of my routine aren't really necessary or needed, but I like to have them in my routine.

So here is what I do...

Wake up at 4:30, to a song from my iPod- Waking up to a good song is much better then waking up to BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP, especially at 4:30 in the morning. I like to switch out the songs so I don't get sick of using one song. Music is really relaxing to wake up to, and you can even continue to play it as you get ready (as long as you don't have to worry about disturbing anyone, or keep in on a low volume). You could also use a happy and cheerful ringtone as your alarm. But if you don't feel this will get you out of bed, you may want to stick to the annoying beeps. Also it's not the best idea to use the tempting snooze button to much, LOL. You don't wanna be late for school. 

Eat breakfast- I wrote a post on how important it is to eat breakfast, especially on a school day! Breakfast gives you more energy, and holds you over until lunch, since you can't just eat when you feel hungry at school. Breakfast shouldn't be skipped, even for time purposes. Cereal bars can be great if you are in a hurry. I'll sometimes make my bed while my toast is in the toaster to save even more time. 

Make the bed if i haven't already- When the bed is made, it's less tempting to crawl back into bed. A one minute nap could turn into "AHH! I'm Late!" or even "OMG I JUST MISSED SCHOOL!" by accident. It's also nice to come back home to a straightened up room and a made bed (and making the bed can make a huge difference in how clean your room looks and feels. 

Brush teeth- This one is for obvious reasons, LOL. I like doing this after I eat, because I wouldn't see much point in brushing your teeth BEFORE breakfast, just to get them dirty again in a few minutes. Nobody likes bad breath, so I like to take care of if before I start doing my hair and make- up. 

Style my hair- This will tend to take the longest because I put in hair extensions, and I'm new to it so it takes me a bit longer. I also like to style it before my extensions go in so It'll be easier to blend them, and then fix it up once the extensions are in. I may even do a little bit more with it sometimes. I like to cut down on time by using overnight curling methods on both my natural hair, and the extensions. But of course straightening must be done in the morning. As well as putting in the extensions. If you don't use hair extensions, your time is cute down by a lot. 

Put on my make-up- This can sometimes take a while for me to, since I like the colors I use to go good with what I'm wearing that day, and I like to try out many different things with my make-up. I love colorful make-up! :) Usually I start with my foundation, bronzer, and blush. Then I'll move on to my eyes.

Change into my school clothes and accessorize- I usually like to get ready in my pajamas, LOL, and I don't know why. My outfit is usually picked out at night before bed so that I know what I'll wear and I can plan out how I'll do my hair and make-up to go with it. 

Relax time- If I have time, I like to sit and relax and watch some YouTube videos. I like using the computer in the morning because it keeps my mind somewhat active so I don't fall back asleep, but it's not stressful. I'll also check the weather to make sure the report hasn't changed from the night before to see if I'll need to bring an umbrella or jacket. 

Check through everything- This part sometimes gets left out when I get in a hurry, and it's often bad when I don't do this. I like to make sure I have my keys, lunch money, homework, and anything else I may need for the day before I walk out the door. I also like to take one last look in the mirror to make sure everything looks okay. And maybe fix a few quick things. Usually if i don't do this I'll forget something. Whether my books, keys, money, or anything... It's not fun to leave things at home. 

Leave for school around 7:00- School starts about 7:30, and it takes me 10-15 minutes to walk to school. I allow extra time in case of icky weather, or if i need to take care of something in the morning. I also get plenty of time to socialize or eat breakfast if i didn't when I woke up. I also don't need to worry about being late for a class if I get there before the first bell rings at 7:25. But I'm not sitting at school for to long before school starts either. 

I really could cut back on time by taking a few parts out of my morning routine, but I like my routine as is. What do you do on a school morning? I'd love to know in the comments :) I'll be posting my nightly routine either tomorrow or Wednesday. 

Back To School: Organization

Hey everyone, I finally filmed my video on how I organize for school. These are the things that I find work best for me. Feel free to take a few tips from this video and mix them with other ideas. Remember that different techniques work for different people, and what works for one person may not work for another person. So most definitely check out other peoples videos! I didn't go into a whole lot of detail in my video, so I'll put a few extra details here. And feel free to leave a comment on your techniques for organization in the comments. :) I may do a separate blog for how I study for tests. 

My Take Home "Binder":

So I like to have a separate binder for every class, but I don't want to carry them all home every night to do my homework, especially since I walk to school. So I like to carry an accordion pocket folder instead. It's lighter then a trapper keeper, and I also don't have to worry much about things falling out of it on the way home, or in the halls. I'll store some papers from classes that I don't feel really need a binder in it as well such as computer classes and art classes. I also like to keep all my loose leaf paper in the back of it. It's a lot more convenient than having to clip and un-clip binder rings every time you need paper. I'll use a different pocket for different things so they don't get as mixed up. Since my folder has 7 pockets I may organize it like this (for example):

-Loose Leaf Paper

-Art Classes

-Quest Papers (Quest in an elective class I'm taking, mostly a community service kind of thing)

-Papers/ letters from the school

-Homework

-papers to get signed/ papers from choir

-papers from any other minor class

Which classes I put in here will mostly depend on how the class goes. I might put cooking classes in here as well if they don't give out a lot of papers, or any other class with few papers.

One Class Binders:

These are for classes that would give out more papers, like sociology/ psychology classes, English classes, or math and science if I had those classes. Depending on the class, I might also use this for a foods class or other electives. I don't have dividers in these because after a test I'll keep things that I feel are important (tests,quizzes, power point notes, handouts) in it and put everything else in a storage bin. I'll just keep different chapters together in order that we studied them. I like to put the class syllabus in a plastic protective sheet so that it doesn't get as ripped up. The class syllabus outlines the general details of the class. 

5 subject notebook:

I like to keep my locker as clutter free as possible, so I use a 5 subject notebook rather then a different notebook for each class. I also don't have to worry about bringing the wrong notebook to class, LOL. I'll just use a different section for each different class. I may even use the same section for a similar class in the second semester. My classes don't always give out a whole lot of notes, so I don't need a big notebook for each class. If your teacher collects notebooks, I wouldn't go with this method for that class!Teachers will usually tell you if they collect notebooks or not the first few days of school. Also this wasn't mentioned in my video, but I like to take notes in different colors to make it more appealing to the eye. 

The whoopsie folder:

Even though I have a pretty good morning routine, I'll share this in a future blog, it sometimes slips my mind to bring my things to school. LOL! And I don't always realize I forgot my things until I'm halfway up the street or already at school. So I like to keep a folder with some extra paper and a pencil in it just in case. Though I did leave all my homework at home, I'll still have something to get through the day. It's never good to leave your things at home though, haha. And always be sure to bring back the whoopsie folder along with your usual things  the next day. The whoopsie folder can also come in handy if you are running low on paper, or cant find a pencil. You'll always know you have one in your locker. This could also be brought to class on a low class work day, like exam days when you don't need all of your things. 

Planner:

I highly recommend that you get some kind of planner to write your assignments in. Most schools will supply one, but not all, especially not in college. But if you don't like your schools planner, or if your school doesn't supply one you could always buy a cuter one. Walmart has some cute ones for really cheap. You could also get a plain little notebook to write your assignments down in. Make sure to write all of your assignments down in your planner when you get them, that way you won't have to ask anyone later. And you won't wind up doing more problems on a worksheet then you have to! Planners can also be used to mark important dates such as tests. They can even be used for personal things like appointments, birthdays, and more! You may also want to write different classes assignments in different colors. For example: English assignments in pink, history in blue, science in green, ect. It's really up to you :)

Pencil Bag:

I like to keep my pencil bag in my purse so I'm way less likely to forget it. I keep things like pencils, pens, highlighters, white out tape, and an eraser in this. My pencil bag is a make-up bag I had since 6th grade. Just the basics that we all need for school. :P

I will do another blog on my note taking and study method, but maybe after school starts so that I can show a better example. But I haven't decided yet. Of course I'll take home the one class binders when i need to study for that test, but I don't take all of them home at once. How do you like to organize for school? Let me know in the comments of this blog or on my video. You can even leave a video response on YouTube if you want :) Also feel free to link to organizational videos you made, or ones you like on this post. 

Back To School: New School Years Resolutions

Many of us make new years resolutions as January 1st approaches. Whether it be to get in better shape, be kinder to others, or to try certain things. We all have some kind of goal as New Years approaches. And like many others, I like to make similar kinds of goals as a new school year approaches as well. It's always important to have some kind of goal for the start of every school year. Whether it be an academic or social goal, or a goal in a sport or extra curricular activity (you could also make it a goal to join an extra curricular activity if you aren't already in one). You should always have something to aim for, whether it be big or small. You may want to become a little more outgoing, or even be friendlier to others. Or wanting to earn a certain grade in a class, or scoring so many points in your sport or breaking your old records. You could even have a fashion or beauty goal if you wish. Whatever your goal is, keep at it until you get there, and don't be afraid to go beyond your goal. 

When making your new school years resolutions, try to make at least one academic goal, as these will impact your future the most. Make it challenging, but realistic. For example, you may want to earn a A or B in a class you usually struggle in, but you shouldn't set your goal to get an A on every test. But of course test grades can make good short term goals to help you reach your longer term goal, and short term goals should be made anywhere. Your goal for the test grade should be based on how well you understand the current material, if you understand it very well, by all means shoot for an A. But if you struggle with it, try to shoot for at least a C or B (never go any lower then a C!). You may also make it a goal to earn certain grades on your report card, be it all A's and B's, or even all A's (this should depend on you and how well you usually do in school). And don't forget to ask for help from a teacher or parent, or even a friend when you feel like you're having trouble. 

You may also want to make a few social goals as well, especially if you tend to be shy. You may want to try to be a little more outgoing, and talk to people you wouldn't normally talk to (you never know who might make a good friend!) You might even want to be kinder to others if you haven't been in the past, or you want to be an even better person than before. It can even be a goal to make at least one new friend. You shouldn't say I'll be friends with everyone, but at least try to get along with everyone (and not let unfriendly people get to you.) And don't forget to stay true to yourself, and the friends you already have. Make it a goal to never give into peer pressure. <3 

If you play a sport you could aim to score a certain amount of points in a season, or to break your previous records. Or even make it a goal to get closer with your teammates. You could also try to make a sport that you really want to play later in the year, or even work towards making it next year. If you aren't athletic, you could always join other clubs like choir, band, drama club, and other organizations. It's good to be involved in something outside of the school day. Sports and other clubs are a great way to make new friends, and learn to work with other people. If you are in an activity like choir or band, maybe work up the courage try to get a solo. You may also want to try to get a big role in a school play if you are in the school's drama club. (Quick question: what after school activities do you like to take part in?)

Just remember, almost all goals will take time and effort. You can't expect everything to go perfect the first day of school. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and always practice at things you're having trouble with. Keep your head up :) Even if you don't reach your goal, don't beat yourself over it. Try to find out what you can improve on and keep trying. Never give up! And remember that it's always amazing to go beyond your goal :)

Here are a few of my new school years resolutions:

I want to try to be a little more outgoing and be friendlier to people I wouldn't normally talk to.

I want to earn at least all A's and B's this year, closer to all A's!

Maybe work up the courage to sing a solo in choir!

Procrastinate less on important things like homework and projects.

Read some books from the school library on things that I wouldn't normally read about.

Stop sleeping in class, this may require me to get a better nights sleep, LOL.

Start taking the future more seriously and look into college, since I am a senior

Make the most out of my last year of high school :)

What are you goals for the new school year? Are you working on any goals that go beyond this upcoming school year? How do you keep going towards your goal, even when it gets hard? Let me know in the comments :)

Girl Talk: A Girl's Must Have App

Hey girls! Today's post is a little about something that every girl will go through at some point in her life, periods. I won't be going into much detail on that time of month when cravings, moodiness, and well... period stuff, rear their ugly heads today (more posts on that will be coming in the very near future). But I would like to mention a great way to keep track of that time of month and prepare for it, period predictor apps. 

Recently I was curious about an app that could better help me prepare for that time of month, and give me an alert when that time is coming around. And somewhat without surprise, there are many period predictor apps available in the app store! (Paid and free, I went for free, LOL!) After trying a few, I found the one that I liked best, and worked best for me, Period Plus. This app allows you to keep track of several factors: breakouts cramps, weight, flow, and more. You can even create a custom factor if you wish. You can set this app to notify you of your period starting up to 5 days before your period is estimated to start. And as you enter more periods and cycles (the amount of days from the start of your period, to the start of the next) the prediction will get more accurate, and make changes based on what you enter. You can even password protect this app if you don't wish for others to view your content. 

There is a paid version of this app ($2.99 american dollars), but the free version works just fine. Also feel free to check out other apps available on the app store. This app will run on iPhone, iPod touch, and I believe iPad as well. Feel free to check out other apps if this one doesn't work for you, the app can be easily deleted from your device if you don't like it. You may also be able to find many similar apps on the android market if you don't have an iPhone. But even if you don't have any of these devices, you can still keep track of your period. Simply mark your calender when your period starts (it doesn't have to be anything fancy, a dot, heart, or any shape you like will do. plus not many people would know what it's for other then you) and mark it each time your period starts. The days from one mark to the next is the length of your cycle, so you can use this to estimate when your period may start. 

The average cycle is 28 days, but EVERYONE is different. You may be a little longer, or shorter then other girls. Your cycle may also sometimes be longer of shorter then usual, you may even miss a cycle (this is very common when you just start having your period). This is completely normal, and you shouldn't worry about it to much. However, you shouldn't miss more then 3 periods in a row. And if you have any concerns, don't be afraid to see a doctor. And never be afraid to ask your mother, older sister or friend, or another woman you trust questions.

Do you use a similar app? How do you keep track of your period? Feel free to ask any questions, as well as answer any questions other girls may leave on this post. I'll try to answer questions the best I can. I'll also be doing many more posts on this topic. I am not a doctor, nor am I trying to be. What I know comes from personal experience and research. 

***FTC Disclaimer: This was a free app in the iTunes app store, and is free to everyone. I am not being paid to write this post. All opinions are my own.***

Summer Parties

Summer is probably one of the best times of year to have a party! With the weather being nice and school not  being in session, there's practically no better time for a fun get together with friends and family. You can have a party just for the fun of it, or for a special occasion like a birthday, graduation, or a summer holiday like Independence Day if you live in the United States. (Do you have a special summer holiday you celebrate in your country? I'd love to hear about it!) You can even have a party towards the end of the summer when school is about to start again! 

Planning is an important part of having a great party, regardless if it's during the summer or any other time of year. If you are planning to have a party, or are helping someone to plan a party there are always a few things to keep in mind. From planning the guest list, to refreshments, to parental permission if you still live at home there are so many things to do. It's always best to plan ahead of time, rather then the day before or the day of. Keep in mind that bigger parties will require more planning then small get togethers. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a party:

♥ Parent's Permission- If you are still living with your parents, you'll want to be sure that it's okay with them before you even begin planning a party. If they say no, you could always see about helping a friend plan a party. If your parents are having a get together over the summer, you can see if they will allow you to invite a few friends. While it may not be fun to ask your parents, it's always better then getting in trouble later. If you live on your own, you can skip this step :P

♥ Guests (if you live at home, your parents may want to know your guest list when you ask them)- This should be one of the first things you take care of when planning a party. If you live with your parents, or have limited space, it's best to keep the guest list small and only invite a few friends. You can have just as much fun with small group of people as you can with a larger one. Always let guests know ahead of time when planning a party to be sure they don't have other plans. 

      ~Other guests- Make sure to let your guests know your rule on bringing other friends or family to the party as to how many they can bring, or if others are allowed to come at all. You may also want to know who else they wish to bring with them. You want to make sure you have enough food and room for everyone, and avoid potential drama.

♥ Invitations- You can always make little invitations to send out to all of your guests. But phone calls, emails, or even Facebook is a great way to let your guests know about your party. Be sure that you let your guests know the location and starting time of the party. As well as how to dress, what to bring, and the rules on bringing other guests along. If you are having your party at a venue like a bowling alley, club, or recreation center, you'll also want to be sure they know how much money to bring, or if you have paid for them to get in.

♥ Location- Most likely you'll want to have your party on your's or a friend's house. But if you wish, you can have your party at a park (especially if you plan to watch fireworks for Independence Day or other holiday. You may also want to have your party at your local rec center, or at a bowling alley, club, or other fun place. You may need to call some of these places ahead of time to make a reservation. You'll also want to find out how much it's going to cost to have your party there. 

*for some venues such as clubs, you'll want to be sure that all guests will be able to get in. Know the age policy for the venue, many may not allow anyone under 21 or 18 to enter. 

♥ Snacks and refreshments- Make a list of all foods, snacks, and drinks you want at your party to help you when you go shopping. To save money, you can assign each guest to bring a certain thing. Try to have a variety of snacks and drinks. If you have a small guest list, you can ask each guest what they would like to eat or drink. You'll want to try to buy everything at least the day before your party. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare everything! If you are under 21, you should not serve alcohol at your party. If you are 21, do not allow anyone under 21 to drink. Never allow anyone to drive home drunk. If you are 21 and serving alcohol be make sure everyone has someone to drive them home. You do not want to get in trouble with the law!

♥ Decorations- While you don't always have to do a whole lot of decorating, some balloons, banners, or small decorations are always a nice touch. Many decorations can be bought at the dollar store for cheap. You can even check out Walmart or a party store to see what they have. An American themed party would be amazing for the 4th of July. Or you can get some Hawaiian themed items and have a luau! You may even want to have some themed items for your guests to wear such as red, white, and blue jewelry or a lei. 

♥ Activities- Be sure to prepare some fun activities for your guests. If you are having your party at a venue then be sure your guests know what you'll be doing there. If you are going to a water park, be sure everyone knows to bring a bathing suit! If you are having your party at home, try to get a few board games, outdoor games, or video games to play. You may even want to play some music from your iPod, or even off of YouTube. Movies are also a great activity for smaller parties. 

♥ Weather- Keep an eye on the forecast for the day of your party. If you are having an outdoor party, be sure guests know what will happen in the event of inclement weather. If you can still have the party indoors, be sure to let your guests know. You may need to cancel the party if you don't have enough room for everyone inside, or if you are at an outdoor venue. It's best to call or text all of your guests if you have to cancel the party to let them know. You don't always have to cancel an outdoor party for a light rain if it wont interfere with anything. But you should never keep a party outside in the event of a thunderstorm. If you can reschedule, make sure everyone knows the new date of the party. 

These tips don't just apply to planning a summer party. They can be used any time of year! Try not to stress to much when planning a party, and get help from others if you need to. And remember to have fun :) If you have additional tips to add, please leave them in the comments. I'd love to hear them! 

Summer Schedules

So this may sound a little crazy, but I am working on creating a summer time schedule for myself. I feel that this would be a great way to not only manage time a little better, but also to make sure that I will work on my summer goals, and so that going back to having a stricter schedule in August won't be as big of a deal, or as draining. 

So I have to admit, that I have tried this in the past and it hasn't worked out very well for me. I think that my problem was that the schedule was WAY to strict, and also rather unrealistic. I would follow it for about a week, but then I would just get tired of it, literally. I had my wake-up time set way to early at 7:00 am, as well as my bed time.  I scheduled workout time everyday for an hour, way to much when you are just starting off. I had a set time to spend outdoors, and for web browsing, and even for eating! I also tried setting the 3 meals a day plus a snack standard for myself, epic fail, LOL. Crazy right?! But my point is, when creating a summer schedule, it's best be realistic and flexible with it. And come on, it is summer vacation, so why follow such a strict schedule every day? 

A summer schedule shouldn't be so strict as to say, you have to do this on this time on this day. For example, you shouldn't force yourself to workout everyday from 10:00 am- 11:00 am, especially if your body isn't use to working out. Nor should you have a certain time to eat, or do anything else. A summer schedule should be more of a to do list of things you'd like to get accomplished every day, or every week. It wouldn't hurt to try and do certain things around a certain time of day as well. For example, reading a chapter or two from a book you enjoy (or that dreaded summer reading book from the school, just to get it out of the way, LOL) before bed. Or to have breakfast (very important!) slightly after you wake up, and make your bed a little bit after breakfast. 

The only thing I'd really put a set time for is waking up. Primarily so I don't just sleep the day away and sleep until 2:00 pm or later! Having a set time to wake up during the summer can also help for when school starts again, when you have to get up early. It's important to be realistic and choose a time where you'll feel as if you've still slept in. Saying you'll wake up at 7:00 am, unless you're an early bird or have to get to work in the morning, just seems unrealistic and crazy during the summer. 10:00 or 11:00 would probably be more reasonable. But of course, that all depends on you. But don't forget to go to bed at a reasonable hour as well. Though I wouldn't pick a set time to go to bed,  at least not until August approaches, I do like to have a one to two hour time frame in which I should go to bed. For me I'd say between 2:00 and 4:00 am (LOL, late/ early right?) 

*as back to school season approaches I'll be doing a blog on preparing for getting back on school sleep schedule. 

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Here is an example of what the average day would look like for me:

Morning
♥ Wake-up around 10:30 a.m.
♥ Eat breakfast, most important meal of the day! 
♥ Make my bed so I'm not tempted to go back to sleep, LOL
♥ Take a nice hot shower to wake myself up
♥ Relax a bit :)


Noon, around 12:00-ish
♥ Have a little 15 minute workout *at least twice a week, preferably on Mondays and Thursdays
♥ Eat Lunch
♥ Do any cleaning that may need to be done. 
♥ Relax outside for a bit if it's not raining. 


Afternoon (wait are Noon and Afternoon the same thing? LOL), around 3 or 4:00-ish
♥ Have Dinner
♥ Work on my blog when I have ideas


Evening/ Nighttime
♥ Relax on the computer
♥ Read a little bit before going to bed
♥ Try to get to bed around 2-4 am. 


This is just the general list of things I'd like to do daily. Things can always be added or put into a different time :) A summer schedule should be based off of your wants and needs, and help you to have a great and productive summer :) Just remember to be realistic, and be flexible! 

What to take to the pool or beach?

One of my favorite parts of summer time is going swimming. I love taking a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot summer day. But you can't go to the pool empty handed! So I have decided to make today's post on what I like to  put in my pool/ beach bag when I head out to go swimming. You can always give or take a few things. But here are the things I find to be crucial:

♥ Bathing Suit (of course!) It's always important that your bathing suit fits you correctly, not to lose or to tight, to avoid a potential swimsuit malfunction! Also, always pick a bathing suit you feel comfortable in. If you don't want to wear a bikini, you could always find a cute one piece, or a tankini (two piece like a bikini, but with a more tank top like top, you may of already known that though :P) Here's a picture of what I'm taking about:

*if you wear your bathing suit under your clothes, don't forget to pack a bra and an extra pair of undies!

♥ Towel- Even if you just plan to sit out and relax rather then get in the water, a towel is always nice to lay on! And it's never fun to have to walk around dripping wet after a swim! 

♥ Sunscreen! I can not stress this enough! Especially if you are going to be at an outdoor pool (as for indoor pools at recreation centers, you may be able to skip out on this. But if you are going to be spending any time outside, even if you are not swimming, you need to wear sunscreen!) At the very least I would go with SPF 15 if I was trying to get a tan. But it's best to go with SPF 30 or higher, depending on how sensitive your skin is. It's always best to play it safe. Sunburns are painful and can cause premature aging and other potential problems down the road. You should still wear sunscreen on a cloudy day, because UV radiation still gets through.

♥ Something to hold your hair back- I was actually thinking of doing a post on hairstyles to wear to the pool. You can of course always go with a simple ponytail, or even wear a swimming cap! Just as long as it keeps your hair out of your way (especially if you have longer hair). It also helps to keep your hair from getting tangled and messy while your swimming. 

♥ A hair brush- to brush out any tangles you may have gotten in your hair while swimming. having you hair tied back will reduce the amount of tangles you get. 

♥ A plastic bag to put your wet things in- this is simply to protect other items in your bag from getting wet after swimming.

♥ Sunglasses- Mostly to protect your eyes when you are lounging on the beach or by the pool. I know it can be hard to wear sunglasses if you wear glasses like i do. But transitions lenses will work perfectly to protect your eyes from the bright sun. 

♥ Water bottle- Since you can't drink water from the pool, lake or ocean (I mean it would be quite icky and not very healthy!) You need to have water to keep you hydrated. Especially on a really hot day. 

I also like to take these things with me sometimes, but these are (almost) COMPLETELY optional:

♥ Something to read- If you just plan to relax by the pool, it's always nice to have a book or magazine to read.

♥ iPod- i would be careful about bringing this, if it was going to be unattended i would lock this up in a locker if available. Many places will make you pay a small amount of change to lock the locker. But it's always worth the 25-50 cents (give or take a little) to protect your iPod, phone, or other valuables from theft or getting wet. I wouldn't bring this unless I plan to relax by the pool for a while and listen to some music. 

♥ Phone- Always a great idea in case of an emergency. Or to text some friends while your sitting by the pool. But same with the iPod, it's best to lock it up when left unattended. 

♥ A small amount of money- you may sometimes need this to get into the pool or onto some beaches, depending on the place. It's always nice to have some change with you to lock up your locker if needed. I wouldn't bring any more then $10 (in american dollars)

So these are the things i like to bring to the pool with me. What do you like to bring to the pool with you? Let me know if you feel I've left anything out. I'm always open to suggestions.