What I wish I Would Have Known as a Freshman

1.) You probably won't stay friends with most of your high school besties.

2.) I know homework is important, but you need to take time for yourself. Going out and having fun keeps a healthy balance.

3.) Stop saying no. When my friends would ask if I wanted to do something, no was my go to answer. I always had homework I wanted to get done, when really it could have waited.

4.) Try to keep up a healthy lifestyle. It's hard when all you want to do is cry and eat chocolate and ramen noodles, but you'll feel better in the long run if you try to be healthy.

5.) Ask for help if you need it. I'm really bad for not asking for help because I don't want to seem stupid. However, most professors will understand. It's better to feel stupid than to get a bad grade because you was too stubborn or embarrassed to ask.

6.) Take advantage of student discounts. There's no explanation for that.

7.) Go out of your comfort zone. I went to some activities on campus that I normally wouldn't go to by myself, which is totally out of my comfort zone. By doing that, I made some great friends, so don't be afraid to try something new.

8.) Procrastination is the devil. Waiting until last minute will just make it harder on yourself.

9.) Take classes that will interest you. You might have your mind set on a major, but try out classes that sound interesting. They might even make you want to change your major.

10.) It's okay to change your major. Yeah, that might put you a little behind. What's getting a year or so behind compared with the rest of your life with a job you can enjoy?

11.) Go to at least one sporting event. It can be fun, and you may even get a free t-shirt.

12.) Keep common medicine. Getting a headache and having to go all the way out to Walmart for medicine isn't fun.

13.) Take advantage of free food. In the long run, it can save you quite a bit of money.

14.) I know it seems like it's dragging by now, but when you look back, it goes by in the blink of an eye. Don't take it for granted.

Sunburn Remedies

Hey everyone! I started a new blog over at Thriving Wonders. Please go check out my blog! I have this exact post (but much better) over there! :)

I'm sure almost everyone knows the dangers of getting a sunburn. Sometimes that just isn't enough to keep it from happening. Whether you're trying to tan, or just got exposed to the sun without thinking about it, here are some ways you can heal your sunburn fast.

1. One obvious way is to use sunscreen in the first place. Yes, this doesn't actually HEAL sunburn, but the less burnt you get, the easier it will heal. You may tend to skip the sunscreen in order to tan, but you don't need to. You can tan with sunscreen without getting burnt so bad.
2. Apple cider vinegar is a great remedy for sunburn. Take a washcloth or paper towel, put some apple cider vinegar on it, and gently dab it on your burn.
3. Coconut oil is another amazing remedy for sunburn. Dampen your skin with a cool washcloth and apply coconut oil to the burn.
4. Black tea also helps sunburn. Put 3-4 tea bags in a glass of lukewarm water, dip your washcloth in it, and apply it to your sunburn.
5. Aloe Vera provides instant relief for burns. I buy an aloe Vera gel in store, but you can also apply it directly from the plant.
6. If you don't have aloe vera, just remember to keep your skin moisturized. Your skin is damaged, which tends to dry it out.
7. Take cool showers. Never take a hot shower with a sunburn! The cool shower will help soothe the burn.
8. Don't use harsh soaps. Soaps with a lot of chemicals will dry out your skin even further. Try finding a soap with natural ingredients. I use Neutrogena naturals.

With all of these remedies, you should definitely be able to heal your sunburn. Some of these take a little more time than others, but some will heal your sunburn overnight. Good luck!

DIY Terrarium (for free)

To be honest, it's kind of a funny story how I thought of this. I went to Dairy Queen for lunch and got the 5 buck lunch, which came with a sundae. What does this have to do with a terrarium? Well, when I finished my sundae, I noticed that the cup didn't have anything imprinted on it that had anything to do with DQ, so I figured it would be a great way to make a terrarium! Now, I know this actually isn't free because you obviously have to pay for the sundae, but if you want to go grab a sundae, make sure you keep the cup and it really is free!

As I mentioned, the first thing you need is a clear plastic cup, which I got from Dairy Queen.

Now, it's all up to you! You can do whatever design you want with different rocks and soil. I added some rocks in first, and then some soil, and then another layer of rocks, and another layer of soil. My biggest tip? GET CREATIVE! Smaller rocks work a lot better, so you can lay them flat and not as much dirt will fall in between the rocks. That was my first mistake, as you can probably tell, so keep that in mind!

When you're done adding the layers, you can add whatever you want to be on top! You can buy a succulent, but I just added some moss and other random plants around my yard. Baby pinecones would look good as well! This is the last step and you're done!

There is your cute little decoration FOR FREE. I hope you enjoyed the post, and have an awesome day!

16 Ways to Make Great Grades

As a college student, my main goal is to achieve great grades, and I'm sure that is your goal too. I know people have different standards for what a good grade is. C's get degrees, right? But you should always work your hardest, because that's how you'll get the best outcome. Aim for the highest grade, even if you think it's impossible.

Here are 16 tips to guarantee great grades:

1.) Go to all of your classes. Even if it seems like it's a class that you can miss, don't. It will always end up hurting you. You will either miss something important such as information for a test or you won't learn something that you could use later on. It mostly just looks good on  the student, and the professor will remember that.

2.) Get to know your professors. They will remember you, and that can help you out. Also, don't just get to know the professor in that way. Know what kind of discussions they will have. Know what kind of questions they will ask. If you take multiple tests in one class, pay attention to the types of questions they ask on the first test, and you will have an idea of what kinds of questions will be on the next test.

3.) Get involved in the class. If your class is having a discussion, make sure you are involved. You don't only learn more, but it looks good on you as well.

4.) Read the syllabus. Look at all of the assignments, and see if there are any you can get ahead on.

5.) Get organized. Use a planner or an assignment sheet to write down your assignments and readings, and when they are due. Refer back to the syllabus every now and again to make sure you didn't skip any assignments.

6.) Do NOT procrastinate. I know, basically everyone does it, but it is best if you get a head start. You'll have more time to edit papers, so you'll find more of your mistakes. And of course, you just don't want the quality of work that looks like it was turned in at 11:55 P.M. when it's due at 12:00 A.M. the same day.

7.) Listen to the professor. I know, this is a given. Make sure you pay attention to the things the professor emphasizes. There is a great possibility that it will be on the test.

8.) Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you don't understand something, never be afraid to ask. I know sometimes professors can be mean about it, but that's as far as it goes. It doesn't hurt your grade to ask.

9.) Study early in the semester. Start studying a little bit for each class throughout the semester. I always take and organize notes after each class, this way I don't have to cram, and I better understand the concepts.

10.) Read your chapters. I know in some classes, you don't actually have to, but if you're going to have a test or an assignment, it's always better to read than not.

11.) Find sources online. A lot of textbooks have supplemental sources that go along with your textbook. Try to find those. If you can't find those, get on Quizlet and find sets with some topics of your class, and look at those to obtain a better understanding. You can also find websites to correct your grammar for papers.

12.) Prepare strategies to deal with stress. You're going to be stressed throughout the semester. It always happens. Sometimes you have freak-outs. Find a way to manage your stress, because stress can affect how well you do in the class. Prepare strategies to help you cope with presentations and exams.

13.) Know how you study. Most people like to study in certain ways. Flashcards help me, re-writing notes might help others. Find the best way that you retain information and use it.

14.) Get in groups. This goes along with figuring out how to study, but find a few of your classmates and get together. You can review each others papers and help each other study for tests.

15.) Learn to take notes. If your professor doesn't post a powerpoint, this is especially important. There are several methods of taking notes. Learn which way works the best for you. Ask questions in your notes. Make note of things you don't understand. Make it colorful.

16.) Don't memorize. Sure, memorization can be good for tests, but sometimes not. A lot of questions on tests are hypothetical, so you will not only have to know the definition, but you will have to apply it. LEARNING instead of memorization is not only better for tests, but for a foundation for other classes.

I hope these tips help, and have a great semester!