Things I wish I knew before entering college.

Hello internet!

As summer is right around the corner, I've had some time to really reflect on my freshman experience. It's crazy to think that this time last year I was so excited and scared for what college would be like. I have a lot of friends that will be entering college next year and they always ask for advice so I thought I would share my personal tips and things I wish I knew for surviving freshman year.

1. College is hard. In High School I was the type of kid who never studied for tests, never read assignments but still did really well in all my classes. In college however you have to study, A LOT. A lot of classes do not offer homework, which I always like because it meant free points basically. The most important thing to remember is to stay on top of your school work and classes, they move super quick. Falling behind will be a major pain to make up for.
2. Making friends isn't as easy as you think. You have to put yourself out there, in college lectures and classes you don't get to talk to kids in your class, making it hard to meet people. In the dorms is where you'll meet a lot of people, however it can be really intimidating. If you struggle to make friends, clubs and organizations are a great way to meet new people. I was struggling to make friends and so I rushed for a sorority and my branch of friends has extended tremendously.
3. College is what you make of it. If you didn't get into your top choice and are stuck going to a safety school or second choice, don't be upset about it. You truly end up where you belong and going into college with a negative attitude will really make for a negative experience. If you're unhappy with your school you can always transfer to a new school that suits you better. First semester of freshman year if rough for everyone, I highly encourage just sticking it out, because trust me it WILL get better.
4. Dorms are not as fun as you think. With only 2 weeks left I'm looking forward to being out of the dorms more than anything. Often, people do get roommates that they do not get along with, which will really damper the whole experience. There's really nothing that fun about sharing a room, bathroom, and shower for an entire year. Plus no kitchen, like hello I feel like I'm starving half the time.
5. 8 AMs are tough to go to. I started high school at 6:30, sometimes having practice at 5:30 AM. But for some reason waking up for an 8 am lecture is so difficult, could be due to staying up much later in college. I recommend taking classes that start no earlier than 9 Am if you can help it. 

Well those are pretty much the most important tips I believe I can provide you. College is fun, stressful, and overwhelming, but such an amazing process. It is the time where you really become independent and mature and find out who you really are. So don't stress about moving out or super far, because it might just be the best decision you'll make!

xoxo,

Taylor

How I made the Freshman 15 into the Freshman -30.

Hi guys!

I know, it's been awhile but I'm back and 8 months deep into my freshman year at college. Coming to college, I feared the freshman 15 like none other. Instead of the freshman 15, I've managed to make it the freshman -30+. Whenever people see my transformation they always ask how I've managed to lose so much in college. For those who are not in college at the moment, or do not understand the whole "Freshman 15" I'll go ahead and explain. The freshman 15 is the idea that one gains around 15 pounds their freshman year of college. This could be due to several factors:

1. The dining halls at a lot of college campuses offer buffet all-you-can eat style food.
2. The food served typically has no nutritional value
3. Excessive partying=drinking and eating a lot more
4. High stress=eating is an easy way to cope
5. No parents around to make you eat your veggies or anything healthy

Those are the 5 main reasons I've seen people gain a lot of weight in college. But by making simple swaps and choices this freshman 15 is very avoidable.

1. Simple, healthier swaps: In college I consume a large quantity of coffee, I dont drink coffee black which means I add a lot of cream and sugar to my coffee. I started adding almond/coconut milk to my coffee or nonfat if those are unavailable, as well as a calorie free sweetner. This is such a simple swap that really makes no difference in taste to me. At Starbucks my favorite drink is a caramel macchiato which contains about 240 calories for a grande, by simply asking for a skinny caramel macchiato you're cutting 100 calories off it while it still tastes the exact same.
2. Use of school gym: many universities have a gym/rec center that is paid for by your tuition. Take advantage of this! I have found the gym to be a great place to really de-stress and take my mind off school. Some rec centers will also offer group exercises like yoga, which I have picked up and fallen in love with. 
3. Walk and ride your bike around town: If your school is anything like mine, you have to walk and ride to get around, it's often hard and pricey to park on campus, so take advantage of that and walk! This will contribute not only to a healthier environment but also to the amount of calories you'll burn in a day.
4. Just because it's all you can eat doesn't mean you have to: Don't just eat 100 cookies because they're there. When I eat I always see kids with stacks of plates, its definitely tempting to eat a lot but all you have to remember is  that you really don't need it. Eat to live, not live to eat.
5. Calorie counting: this one might be a little iffy for some people and it's definitely not a requirement to lose weight. I have just personally found that when I'm not aware of how many calories I'm consuming, then I eat way more than I should. I use myfitnesspal, it's a free app that allows you to set weight loss goals and then will provide you with the amount of calories you should eat in a day to achieve those goals. I've made calorie tracking a habit and it's changed the way I eat tremendously by helping me stay on track.

Those are my top tips for staying on track/losing weight in college! It's not easy, but it's not impossible, you just have to stay positive and keep your goals in mind! It's very easy to let go of yourself in college, but by avoiding certain things you can definitely achieve your goals!

xoxo,
Taylor

Juice Fast?

Long time no talk!! Been busy with finals... yuck.

Anyways, I've always been very into "juicing". Today in government we watched a documentary on a man who went on a juice fast for 2 months. Juicing is a very fast way to drop weight, some people might argue that its like starving yourself, but it's not at all. The fruits and vegetables provide so many yummy nutrients to your body.

The Argument:

• It's not providing you enough nutrients.
• It's like starving yourself
• Once you finish, you'll go back to your eating habits and gain it back, quick.

From my series of blog posts that I read almost 100% of people results were:

• They were happier
• Healthier
• Saw improvements in their hair, nails, and skin
• All averaged at least 20 pounds a month!!!! (almost 1 lb a day)
• Started craving raw, organic food (fruits and vegetables), rather than processed foods.
• Their stomachs shrunk, causing them to become fuller much quicker

I'm very convinced with this juice fast, my mom and I are planning on going out this weekend and purchasing a juicer. I'm planning on doing it at least a month. After a month, I might keep going, or start to eat solids as well as juicing. Before I leave for college I want to be like 30 even 40+ pounds lighter so I have about 8 months, plenty of time. To be there before prom or graduation would be amazing and quite frankly with juicing I think I will get there within 3 months. I mean lets be real the sooner its off the better. 

I'm planning on updating you guys every week, or if I see improvements fast I will update you then. With me starting a full time swim practice schedule I have a feeling the weight is going to drop VERY quickly. Being in one 2 hour practice I burn around 1,000 calories! My mom is worried that I might pass out at the start of this fast so before practice I might drink a protein shake to ensure my body is prepped for a pretty extreme workout.

And for the topic of gaining it back quickly, that is something I'm very worried about. I think if I get to a goal weight and start feeling so good with my body, I will be soooooooo inspired and pumped to make sure I keep it off. Also I will be so used to eating natural foods that if I eat anything greasy or processed my body will reject it and make me feel sick. After getting my wisdom teeth out I really couldn't eat much for a good week, I went to lunch while shopping at a fast food restaurant, after over week of no grease I felt extremely sick after. So after a month I can only imagine that I probably wont even crave anything unhealthy.

I really hope that this works and I hope that you follow me along on this journey!! Maybe I will inspire one of you to start juicing!

xoxo,

Taylor

50 Random Facts About Me

Stolen from: http://aziaanderson.blogspot.com/ hahah it seemed like fun so here we go.

1:Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed
2:Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? Who doesn't?!
3:Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Tucked in
4:Have you ever stolen a street sign before? Hahaha no!
5:Do you like to use post-it notes? Rarely! I probably should to remember things haha.
6:Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? I just rip them off haha.
7:Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? Both would be horrible, but bee's I guess!
8:Do you have freckles? Only on my arms!
9:Do you always smile for pictures? Guilty for the Miley tongue/duck face
10:What is your biggest pet peeve? When people smack their food ughhhhhh!
11:Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Nope!
12:Have you ever peed in the woods? Yes! 
13:What about pooped in the woods? Never took it that far hahah
14:Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing? Yessss
15:Do you chew your pens and pencils? Nope!
16:How many people have you slept with this week? Hmm about 3: Me, Myself, and I ;)
17:What size is your bed? Full
18:What is your Song of the week? Someone else, Miley Cyrus
19:Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Yes!!
20:Do you still watch cartoons? No :(
21:Whats your least favorite movie? Uhh I couldn't tell you!
22:Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? Middle of the Pacific Ocean.
23:What do you drink with dinner? Water
24:What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Ranch 
25:What is your favorite food? Chicken Parmesan 
26:What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Any Disney movie.
27:Last person you kissed/kissed you? My pup!
28:Were you ever a boy/girl scout? Yep!
29:Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? I really don't know!
30:When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone? Awhile ago!
31:Can you change the oil on a car? Yes, one of the few things I can do hahah
32:Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Thankfully not! *Knock on wood*
33:Ever ran out of gas? Again no, *knock on wood*
34:Favorite kind of sandwich? PB & Banana! 
35:Best thing to eat for breakfast? Breakfast burrito!
36:What is your usual bedtime? In bed by 10 on school nights, 12 on weekends!
37:Are you lazy? Yes unfortunately 
38:When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? A ton of different things!
39:What is your Chinese astrological sign? Rat, gross.
40:How many languages can you speak? English and a little French.
41:Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Seventeen and Teen Vogue 
42:Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Lincoln Logs were my thannnng!
43:Are you stubborn? At moments.
44:Who is better...Leno or Letterman? Letterman
45:Ever watch soap operas? I watched Degrassi, does that count.
46:Are you afraid of heights? Yes
47:Do you sing in the car? Duhhh!
48:Do you sing in the shower? I sing everywhere
49:Do you dance in the car? When I'm with my friends!
50:Ever used a gun? Just a BB/Airsoft haha

Thanks for reading! I tag all of YOU to do this! Hope you got to know a little more about me!

xoxo,
Taylor

My Winter Candle Collection

Lately I've been OBSESSED with candle burning, something about the way it makes my room smell and adds a little comfort and warmth just makes it addicting. I've stuck to mini candles this winter, I'm thinking of making a Bath and Body Works visit soon because as you will notice I'm really low on some candles. Heres my candle collection for this winter!

For the winter time I stick to more vanilla-y warm scents, as opposed to the summer where I go more fruity.

 So black tie was being very stubborn and wouldn't light, this is such a good scent, as you can tell I've practically burned through it, this is one where I'm thinking about buying a bigger version. It smells like my ideal man, as BBW describes it, "Your perfect escort to any holiday party- Green sage, sandalwood, and Tonka bean". In short, it smells soooo yummy.

Mint Chocolate, doesn't need much explaining because it smells exactly like the title. I love this scent as well, feels like I'm eating mint chocolate chip ice cream, but there are no calories included. Sweet victory.

If you couldn't read the label it's Pumpkin Caramel Latte. It may be considered more of an autumn scent but oh well, BBW describes it as, "Gather with friends and celebrate the season with warm, rich blend of creamy pumpkin, spiced caramel and sweet cream" If that doesn't sound delicious I don't know what does. I picked this up last winter so I'm not sure if it's still available.

This was purchased last winter as well, I sure hope they still have it because it's so yummy. It smells very warm, vanilla-y and a hint of cinnamon, but BBW describes it as, "a fragrance inspired by dreamy mornings drinking coffee in a Parisian cafe - warm caramel, brown sugar and creamy vanilla"  how delightful does that sound.

Last but not least, Champagne toast, another one I would like to repurchase in bigger version. This one is a bit fruity, a hint of orange and pear. BBW says, "pop, clink and sparkle with an effervescent blend of champagne, juicy nectarine and blackcurrant".

Overall I have to say Bath and Body Works makes amazing candles, each one is very scented and different. Whats in your winter candle collection? I'd love to know suggestions for some more candles!

xoxo, 

Taylor

Forever 21 Blog Haul

For Christmas I was given a $50 gift card to Forever 21, My mom and I went out and spent it yesterday, and I'm very happy with what I was able to pick up. They were having a little sale (as if they aren't cheap enough, no complaints here!) where you get an extra 30% off all markdowns, so basically sale on sale.

The first thing is this mint green sweater, it has 3/4 sleeves and some studs on the shoulders, which I seem to have been picking up a lot similar. The material is thin so it is perfect for transitioning into spring, and Socal isn't having a very cold winter (70s &even low 80s). Here's a close up of the studding on the shoulders (below) This was $17.80

 Sooooo school girl chic. Plaid seems to be making a bit of a come back, I think the last time I wore red and black plaid was my 1999 Christmas dress. Anyways I'm really loving the plaid! This is also 3/4 length sleeves (most of what I bought is) and the material is super soft. This was originally $19.80, marked down to $14.99, and with the extra 30% off it was $10.49. GO DEALS!!

 This is very light weight and perfect for the weather, it is 3/4 sleeve (surprised?) and it's got some speckled gray in it, I tried to get a picture that showed that off but it didn't really work out. Lately I'm starting to really like neon pieces, I have too much browns/blacks. This was originally $14.80, marked down to $9.99 and with the extra 30% came out to $6.99! Ahh I love getting good deals.

 I picked up 3 camis, yes I know only 2 are pictured but I'm wearing one of them, that one is navy blue. They were only $1.80, originally $2.80. So I just had to pick some up, because I believe you can never have too many!

 Last clothing purchase was this full length sleeve (!!!) lilac-y that looks like THIS color with some light lime green stripes. It's pretty basic but I love it. This was another sale item, but as I'm wearing it I pulled off the tag before so I can't tell you how good of a deal it was but it was only $5.59 with the 30% off!

 Lastly as I was checking out I was overwhelmed by the nail polishes that surrounded me, I caved into 3. This first one is a light blue with a little hint of purple which matches the shirt above, it reminds me of Cinderella and her dress, the next two are perfect for Valentines day, the 2nd one is a clear polish with pink hearts and the last one is the prettiest red with sparkles! Each of these were $2.80!

Forever 21 never ceases to amaze me at how good of deals they can have. One thing I noticed while writing this is, all of Forever 21's prices usually end in $0.80 why is this?? Anyone else notice this or know why?


xoxo, 
Taylor

p.s I know I've posted 5 posts in 2 days, yes I'm obsessed.

Drum Roll... The Naked 3 Palette

My favorite Christmas gift I received was the new, beautiful Naked 3 Palette, by Urban Decay.

Here come the crappy, 10 pm at night lighting, iPhone quality pictures that do the palette no justice whatsoever but here you go.

                            

This is the only Naked Palette I own, and to be honest I'm very happy I've waited. The rose gold tones compliment my skin tone and eye color perfectly. I've always been a fan of pink/goldish tones in eye shadows. If you don't own any Urban Decay eye shadow, I certainly believe it is well worth the investment. The color pay off is great, each shadow I've used is very pigmented, and the color lasts all day. I'm very excited to start using this everyday. I've always thought Urban Decay has had very good quality brushes, I own some of their "Good Karma Brushes" and use them everyday.

My personal favorite  in this palette is a tie between Buzz and Trick, which happen to be right next to each other in the palette:

(Again sorry for such horrible lighting)

There is only one thing I would change to this palette. I've never been one to pull of black/gray eye shadows, so I would have rather seen more chocolaty colors in here to substitute for factory, mugshot, darkside, and blackheart in this palette. However that is just a personal preference.

Urban Decay is cruelty-free/vegan/marley approved. Which in my opinion makes the brand all together so much more lovable.

Being this is my first review I thought I'd give you a run down on how I rate:

A- Completely Happy, wouldn't change a thing

B- Love it, would make very few/minor changes

C- It's alright, probably wouldn't purchase again

D- Has some potential, but disappointed

F- Completely Hate it

So that being said, I give this palette an A!!!

xoxo, 
Taylor