Winter Wardrobe

Some people absolutely hate the cold weather, but to me it means that I get to wear the clothes I've been dying to wear all the rest of the year.  I love scarfs and boots and jackets and sweaters.  I love being able to wear layer upon layer of clothes.  Plus, it's just easier to look good when you are dressing for cold weather; there are so many more options for downplaying the bad and accentuating the good.

But whether you love it or hate it, winter is here. (though technically not for another 20 days).  So get out the layers! Her are a few ideas to start you of:

We have the basics:

And then we have the more edgy:



So look through your closets.  This is the chance to rework your clothes and make outfits you wouldn't have dreamed of before!

Distraction 101

When you have been studying for an extending period of time, a break is needed.  Badly.

Of course, if you have procrastinated to extreme measures (like myself), you may want to avoid this whole distraction thing.  Though, not to say it's a good plan, but I procrastinated like a champ and am still taking advantage of the distractions around me - like this blog. :D

But if you somehow teared your eyes away from books, papers, screens, and whatever else you may be trying to accomplish during the end of the semester (or really any time during the semester), and are looking for a distraction, I have some great ideas for you!

This lovely little gem was recently introduced to me by a friend (thanks Leah).  You want to know the definition of procrastination?  I think it originated on this site. You create an account, pick some categories you are interested in, and click "Stumble."  That's it.  Then you can spend as much time as you want, as often as you want, StumblingUpon various websites, pages, pictures...anything really.  I've gotten everything from an article on Wired to a game where you have to catch sheep before they leave their pen.  There is some really cool stuff floating out on the Web, and if you want to find random (and usually awesome) stuff StumbleUpon is your best bet.


Bored.com is great for a quick escape.  In a sentence, it is basically a collection of games that are scattered throughout the internet.  You can find games that require actual thinking and problem solving or you can play something that is so elementary you'll feel like you don't have to do anything but stare at the screen.  It is exactly what the site is suppose to be though: a place to browse when you are bored.






You most likely know and even have used Hulu before.  I usually make it a policy NOT to watch shows I can't watch on Hulu; it is just so convinient (right now...but that's a different conversation).  Of course, you're probably caught up on your favorite shows, right?  Or if you aren't go ahead and do that first.  But what I love about Hulu is all the great miniseries they have floating around.  In particular, I LOVE Dorm Life and The Loop.  The only bad thing about these is that once you reach the end of the number of episodes they have on Hulu, you are pretty much out of luck.  Regardless, check it out!  Dorm Life in particular will rock your mind! ;)



This is actually a little weird.  All you do is click on various colors randomly, without really thinking about it too much, just what colors make you happy.  Then you do it again, trying not to duplicate.  The results are oddly accurate and quite interesting.  I took it twice and both times it gave extremely accurate and different answers about my personality.  I'm impressed. 







If these four don't distract you enough, there is always facebook, youtube, flikr, and random google searches.  You can watch a movie, paint your nails, color in a coloring book...there are really lots of things to do to distract or procrastinate.  Or you could take a nap - napping is almost always a good decision :D

ENJOY! 

Dead Week

Ah dead week...back so soon.  If this is your first year facing this week before finals, congratulations on making it this far and good luck! 

In case you aren't sure what exactly dead week is, here is a definition (according to urban dictionary):
At any major college or university, the week before finals are administered and most major projects and assignments are due for submission. The late night working and hardcore studying for finals gives the students a zombie like atmosphere, and causes an eerie silence and many blank, unseeing expressions.

Even more tips here

It is, of course, a different experience for everyone; some people do cram like it is their sole purpose in life, going without sleep and living on caffiene.  Then of course there are people like me: it's just another week with some assignments due, and I'm not going to destroy myself preparing for tests (the few that I have) or finishing projects. 

So whatever your situation, here are some dead week tips, tricks, and other things to keep you sane:
1. Prioritize - I'm very pro-list.  Make a list of what you need to study, what paper(s) need to be written, and what projects need to be finished.  Then, put due dates in (parentheses) next to it.  From there you can rewrite it in the order of when it's due, in the order of the percentage of your grade it is worth..whatever.  Just get a list of some sort so that you know what to study/do/write and when.  It will save you a few hours staring blankly and a pile of notebooks trying to decide where to start.

2. Indulge yourself - if you wanted an excuse to eat raw cookie dough or buy that sweater you've been drooling over, dead week is as good excuse as any.  Eat your favorite foods without feeling guilty, you've earned it for getting through yet another [grueling] college semester! So break out the brownies and the ice cream!

3. SLEEP - power naps, real naps, all day sleeping fests...however you choose to do it, get some rest.  You can't pass the test if you fall asleep or into a zombie-coma while taking it.  The best option: have a set bedtime and wake-up time every day.  We've heard it forever, but it really is the best possible thing to do for your healthy and to feel well-rested.  But if you are up till 4am finishing a project (we've all done it) treat yourself to a four hour nap later - you earned it.

4. Eliminate Distractions/Find a "Study Haven" - step away from Facebook. Turn off your cellphone.  Move your desk so it faces the wall, not your TV.  Do what you can to eliminate distractions.  This might mean moving yourself and your study materials to a different location (like the library) or it might mean deactivating your Facebook account for the week (I know people who do this).  Whatever will help you focus wins out over whatever you think you "want" to do (like Facebook and Glee).  At least it does if you want that A you're likely after.

5. Perfect Playlist - if you like to study with music, as I think most people do, make yourself a playlist.  Don't just put something on shuffle.  It's been proven in studies that music with lyrics is distracting (regardless of whether you think so or not, it is), so I suggest movie sound tracks.  (I personally am a fan of Hans Zimmerman)  Or tune into a classical station on Pandora.  Find something that fits your study style and go with it.  I have a specific playlist of "mellow" tunes that I play on low volume when I'm really working on something.  Once you find that perfect mix (or perfect Pandora station), you are all set.

Most importantly though, don't stress about it too much.  Finals are not worth losing sleep or sanity over.  They are just tests/papers/projects.  You'll get through them like you have before and will again.  Take some time to relax.