I'm Back!

The start of this semester has been incredibly hectic! I'll start off by apologizing for my lack of daily posts.  This week is the sixth week of the semester, and I am finally starting to get used to my new schedule, life of a commuter, being a volunteer high school field hockey coach, and adjusting to my new university.

So I'm sure you've been wondering where I've been.  I have way too much to write for just one post, so I'll leave you with some pictures and a little sneak peak.

1. Dinner with my roommate from last year jHg.

2. Reading, reading, and more reading for Children's Lit

 3. Squeezing in a breakfast date with my little brother before school.

4. Going through Formal Recruitment and then some

I know that was all really non descriptive, but I am going to share longer posts on each of these topics throughout this week.  I thought this would be better rather than publishing an extremely long post.

I'm off to school.

Have a great Monday.

Xoxo

-mQs-

Pom Poms

A few weeks ago my mom and I popped into the Lilly Pulitzer store while we were browsing in the mall.  As soon as we walked in I was instantaneously drawn to the new Pom Poms print.  I love the colors and the floral print.  The combination of these two things is absolutely adorable.

I always find it interesting to look at what the inspiration for each print is.  It just makes it more meaningful. You can find this information on the Lilly Pulitzer website.

There are so many different styles that come in this print.  One of the things I love about Lilly Pulitzer clothing, is that the same print looks completely different when created into a different piece of clothing.

1. Alexandra Top 2. Evelyn Dress 3. Clove Dress 4. Dahlia Top

What is your favorite Lilly Fall 2013 look?

Xoxo

-mQs-

Staying Current

Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't like watching the news.  I always feel like the daily news reports are such a debby downer.  In high school, I would stay current on big things ,going on in the country as well as around the world, through my teachers telling us and by talking to my parents.  However, since I am a sophomore in college and almost twenty I think it is important that I start to become aware of what's going on in the world. 

I'm sure you're now wondering how I know what is going on, if I never watch the news.  

The answer is... The Skimm!

  Every morning they send me an email with a short description of the most recent/ most important happenings.  This is perfect because it gives just enough information so that you know what is going on, but they don't overwhelm you.  All you have to do to sign up is go to their website and enter your email address.  Unlike most websites, they don't send you any extra junk emails just the daily news.

Xoxo

-mQs-

Monday

I found this on Pinterest and felt like it was perfect for this rainy Monday.

Happy Monday!

Xoxo

-mQs-

Backwards

Sunday Fun day? ...Not so much,  I've been forced to give up my busy day to laying in bed sick.  Such a bummer because I had a pretty jam packed day planned (I'll fill you in on these plans in about a week).  So what better way to spend my day in bed sick than to catch up on my readings for classes and to watch some movies on netflix.

I came across the movie Backwards.  It was such a good movie about a competitive rower who fails to make it into the olympic boat.  I was never a rower, but it has always fascinated me.

I highly recommend this, if you're looking for something good to watch on netflix.

Xoxo

-mQs-

Love is the Movement

You all know that today is Tuesday September 10.

 I bet you didn't know that today is national suicide awareness day.

Suicide is a topic that most people don't think about, and those who do try to avoid it.  Let's face it, it is extremely uncomfortable to talk about.  Well, it can't be avoided forever because at some point in your life you are going to encounter this topic, whether it's a friend of yours or somebody you know has lost a loved one due to this tragic action.

I am nineteen years old, and I have experienced this unfortunate happening twice.  The first time I lost somebody to suicide was three days before I graduated high school.  The girl who took her life, was two years younger than myself.  We had played field hockey together my junior and senior year.  Being a member of a team, you form strong sister like bonds with your teammates.  You share things with your teammates, and they help you through the good and bad times.  It is unfortunate that KH was unable to see how many people were there to support her and help her through her rough times. She was such a sweet girl with so much potential.  This year would have been her senior year of high school.  It is awful to think that she never had the chance to experience her remaining two years of high school, go to college, and grow up.

The night of graduation the seven seniors who were on the field hockey team wore Kim's number pinned to out cap.

The second time, suicide impacted my life rather indirectly.  This morning I woke up to numerous text messages, from my peers at the college I just transferred from, saying that somebody committed suicide last night in one of the dorms.  The boy who took his life was a junior.  Although I did not know him, my heart goes out to those who were close to him.  Being part of a small college, the sense of community is extremely strong.  This impacts everyone, even if they did not know him.  Washington College held a vigil at noon today.  From my friends who still go there, I heard it was a very moving experience just to see how many students came out to show their support.

Suicide prevention is something that needs to be increased.  There is not enough information being passed around about how to deal with situations where you feel like you just can't go on.  Personally, I have never had these awful feelings, but I think we need to be a little more conscientious at helping those who do suffer from feeling that they are no good.

Watch this clip about bullying.

 I encourage you to tell the people in your life that you care about them, let them know they are not alone in this world.  The number of people who feel like Jonah, from the clip above, is greater than it should be.  Next time you go to say something mean about somebody else, take a minute to, realize how what you are about to say will impact them.  

Remember that you too are loved.

Xoxo

-mQs-

Advice- College Note Taking

Day One: Blogtember

Day Two: What If..

Day Three: Pass on some useful Advice.

My Advice today is on College Note taking:

This is the second week of sophomore year of college for me.  In the past two weeks, I have already taken a large amount of notes.  I'd imagine all of you have done the same, if not recently then definitely at some point in your life.  Well, in case you didn't know I am an organization freak!  Needless to say my notes are pretty organize, and yes they are color coordinated too.

I take notes both in class and while I do my outside reading (depending on the class).  However, my approach to them is about the same.

In Class Notes:

This is what my in class notes look like.

• Avoid using laptops, they provide you with unnecessary distractions.
• The key to good note-taking is paying attention!
• Use at least 2 different colored pens or pencils- I like paper mate marker pens and plain black pens.
• Highlighters! Use them, they are really helpful!
• Color Coordinating- I color coordinate headings, sub headings, equations, examples, and key terms. This really helps with the organization of your notes.
• Make your notes attractive. The more attractive they are the more likely you are to look at them again.  I know this sounds really silly, but believe me it is true! (This is where colored pens and highlighters come into play)
• If there are PowerPoints online: print them out and read them prior to class.  This will help you follow along with the lecture much easier.  With power points, I tend to take notes on the handouts in class, and then I rewrite them in my own words after class.  This provides as a nice built in review too. 
• Use Post It notes: I use these when I have questions or to draw my attention to important things that the professor hints at, will most likely be on the exams.
• Lined paper is perfect for classes where outlining is needed, but don't be afraid to use blank paper too this allows you to make your notes the way you want them to be, visually.
• Date things: I always put the date at the top of my paper and if handouts are ever given in class, date them too.  This helps when you go back through everything when exam time comes.

These are my reading notes for Science.

I hope this helps some of you!

Xoxo

-mQs-

What If..

Blogtember- Day One
Blogtember- Day Two: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?


If I were to take three months off of my current life, I would basically just be skipping over this semester.  That sounds nice right about now, if only I could do that without falling behind in school.  Anyways, I have always wanted to go to Europe, so this question is an easy one for me to answer. I would probably spend my time in France, England, and Italy with my mom.  A month at each location would be perfect! The timing would work out well too because we would be home just in time for Christmas.

Bastia. Corsicia, France (Pinterest)

Brighton, England (Pinterest)

Vernazza, Italy (Pinterest) Xoxo -mQs-

Blogtember Day One

This morning as I was reading some blogs I came across this blogging challenge that jenni from Story of My Life has created for the month of September.  Since September is a busy month with transitioning back into the flow of school, I thought participating in this challenge would help me make sure I continue to post regularly.  Plus, I will be able to focus more on school and less on what to blog about.  Also, this gives me some time to create some great posts for October.  Day One: Describe what or where you come from. The people, places, and/or factors that make up who you are. I was born in February 1994 in Pennsylvania.  It was just my parents, my dog, and I.  When I was three and a half we moved to a house of our own in a small neighborhood, and three weeks later my younger brother was born.

sQt and I are really close. We get along so well, I consider him one of my best friends.  

I was home schooled from second through sixth grade by my mom, was is a teacher. When I was younger I tried a bunch of sports: basketball, gymnastics, cheerleading, softball, lacrosse,  and field hockey.

Fun Fact: I was a cheerleader for six years.
The summer before fourth grade I met my best friend, mIr. This Summer was our tenth anniversary of being friends.

In high school, I was really involved. I was in numerous clubs, I played travel field hockey, and field hockey for my high school. I had many different friends and so many good memories.

My junior and senior year I spend Thanksgiving playing field hockey in Arizona.

 Homecoming Sophomore year

 Homecoming Junior year.

 October 2010, I met tDn. We went to homecoming together.

 Senior Night.

 Dodge ball Tournaments

Senior Prom
After I graduated high school, I went off to a small liberal arts school in Maryland to study biology and play division III field hockey.

 Being able to play field hockey at the collegiate level, was one of the most amazing experiences.  It was quite interesting to experience my freshman year of college as a student athlete.  I learned how to push myself to the limit, organization, not to be so easy to trust people, and to be self advocating.

 It was at this school that I met one of my best friends jHg.  We were roommates last year, and I swear she is the blonde version of myself.

In the middle of last year, I changed majors to elementary education.  Because of this, I ended up transferring schools.  

Currently: 

I attending college in Pa, where I commute to from my parent's house.  

I am studying to become a middle grades teacher. 

I have been dating tDn for almost three years.

I have entered a new realm of field hockey, as I am an assistant volunteer field hockey coach at

 the high school I graduated from. 

I wouldn't be half the person I am, nor would I have experienced the things I have without the guidance of my wonderful parents. It is because of them that I am the well rounded person I am today. 

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about me.  I thought it would be fun to change it up and use more pictures rather than words for today.
If you want to join the blogtember challenge, don't forget to check out Jenni's site.
Xoxo -mQs-