01. You Will Take Time to Adjust

It probably didn't take me until after winter break to feel comfortable in my dorm and being away from home for so long. Don't worry about other people who are so independent that they could care less about being away from home and their families. It's different for everyone, so don't feel bad if you need to facetime your dog or call your mom. 

02. You Will Be Sad

Sometimes you might just feel really down and have a short crying sesh in the shower. No big deal. You will get through it and you will have better days. Acknowledge it, talk it out, and move on. 

03. You Will Get Stressed

You will also have varying amounts of unwanted stress. It's normal. No one told you to go to college and be as cool as a cucumber. It's hard and finding ways to cope with stress and handle it such as working out, meditating, or treating yourself is a great start to relieving the angst.  

04. You Will Make Friends & Love Interests

You are probably going to meet your best friends some point in time and you will think the coffee shop barista is really cute. Embrace social moments and get out there! Say hi to that cute barista or just wave at someone in one of your classes you see on the quad. You'll find that you meet your best friends in the oddest of places and times. 

05. You Will Make Bad Decisions

You might stay out until 3 am, miss a class or two, you might drink, get a tattoo, you might try illegal substances, but you need to remember how to be responsible and realize that college isn't about wasting your experience and education on dumb mistakes. Everyone messes up and you're gonna pay for it. 

06. Your Communication Skills Will Improve

It will be uncomfortable trying to meet new people and get in front of your college seminar, but just like high school, you'll find your ease and talking to people and being upfront will get easier with time. 

07. You Will Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

You will probably have to talk and present in front of the class, go to a frat party, stay out really late, deal with a drunk person or two, have to write a 12-page research paper, travel alone, deal with bad roommates, or whatnot. Embrace it and learn from it. 

08. Classes Will Be Hard

I wrote a 15-page research paper on Buddhism and Buddhist thought, so at times things will get challenging and it will feel like work builds up. Time management and prioritizing things you need to get done in college is crucial. Don't procrastinate and stay at the library for 12 hours the night before an exam. 

09. Classes Will Be Suspiciously Easy

I've even had some classes where there were only two papers due for the entire course. You will have 100 level classes like that and they're usually the most interesting. I had my caveman anthropology class that only had three small papers due, but it was probably the most engaging and interesting one I've taken so far. 

10. The Food Will Suck

After the first week, you've already tried everything from every cafeteria kiosk and it starts to get a bit repetitive. Switch things up and try to eat healthy when you can. I know it might feel like you can't get away from cafe food, but treat yourself on the weekend and find a new hotspot in town. 

11. You Will Be Broke

If you don't already have a job or a way of constant income, you'll find that your bank account will start to cry. I have picked up many babysitting and nannying jobs on the weekend because I live close to home, but take advantage of your school's career center or Facebook groups to find and pick up extra jobs and extra Uber cash. 

12. You Will Be Homesick

You are going to miss your fam and your pets, you'll miss the easy access to food, good showers, a nice bed, and privacy for sure. It's important to bring things that remind you of home to keep you going and motivated to get through the semester. It might seem hard at times, but time really does fly in college. Look at me! I'm already done! 

13. You Will Be Confused

You will have moments of utter confusion: assignments might be hard, people might not know how to communicate as well, you might get lost on campus, it's all a learning experience. Don't be afraid to ask for help in desperate times of need. 

14. You Will Feel Lonely

Going about your 9am classes, then to yoga, and spending the rest of the night at the library might get to be a bit lonely. You're gonna find that some weeks you'll be really independent and things might just get really busy and you're routine will daze you. Try to find something fun in town or study with a friend. Also, don't worry about being alone in college, finding yourself introspectively is one of the most important parts of it! 

15. You Will Have A Great First Year 

Your attitude and approach to college will highly affect what you get out of it and make of it. Embrace all moments because it goes by fast. Go at your own pace, meet new people, be open to new perspectives, reach above your comfort zone, apply yourself, and you'll have a great year, just like me! 

If you're a beauty and makeup lover like me, then you probably collect dozens of minis and samples of products you want to try out or maybe just ended up getting when you bought a full-size product or gift box. Minis and travel size products are my favorite because you get to try out the product without committing to the full-size, they're usually a lot cheaper than the full product, they're easy to travel with, and no product is wasted. 

A lot of my makeup collection consists of minis, as shown above, and to be honest I wouldn't be mad if all makeup was sold in smaller sizes. It just makes sense for me since I don't wear a full face of makeup every single day. I do understand that a lot of people need more than .5 oz of something like an eyebrow pencil or foundation, but these little guys get the job done. 

Face
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- I have had to make sure that I take this tinted moisturizer wherever I go. This is probably one of my favorite, all-time tinted moisturizers and leaves a very natural glow without sinking into lines or feeling incredibly dewy.

Milk Blur Stick- This was a new discovery and probably one of the best lifesavers when it comes to covering up a zit or uneven pigmentation. It smells so good, too.

Nars Concealer- I've also loved Nars's concealer and a lot of their face products. This mini concealer is also another lifesaver when I'm traveling or at school.

Nars Pore & Shine Primer- I'm gonna have to buy the full-size of this primer because it does an amazing job leaving my skin matte and smooth with my foundation on.

Bare Minerals i.d. Powder- I also have been a big fan of Bare Minerals and their powder does wonders, especially around the t-zone and areas that produce the most oil on my face during the warmer months.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer- This mini bronzer is so cute and all of you know how much I love this as it's the only one I use and like to use doing my makeup. It's the child of my full-size one!

Eyes

Lips
Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel- This is a given, but the lip caramel by Fresh is by far the best tasting lip balm I've ever tried. So smooth, too!

Makeup Forever Lip Gloss in Sweet Pink- I have had my doubts and dislikes over this lip gloss, but I've started to like the simple shine and sheer color on my lips. It's nice to have as an option when you forget to bring your other favorite gloss on a trip.

Fragrance
Chloe Perfume- This scent has also been a favorite. It's super floral and summery. It adds a bit of flirtation and can save you in desperate times. These mini sample perfumes are literally found in every bag I own.

I thrive off of mini samples of products because they're the best option for trying out new products and not having to commit to spending so much money on a large product you may not like. In the future, I will continue to try and find new products that work for me and going small. I would like to know if any of you try to buy the travel size or get samples a lot before you go out and buy the full product! Or do you stick to samples? I am finishing up my last couple of weeks of school, so there will only be one post for this week! Hope you guys understand!

This year has been way more about skincare and body care than my past blog posts in other months and I am quite okay with it. Lately, my skin has needed some major TLC and I have been going sans makeup for awhile, not to say that I don't use it anymore, but my collection has been the same for some time now. 

I've talked about both of these two brands, Khiel's and The Body Shop, many times on my blog. They have been two of my all-time favorite brands to use. I love The Body Shop's butters, gels, and lotions so much and Khiel's skincare range is out of this world. 

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter & Lotion- The mango scent has always been my go-to Body Shop scent. However, I also love the coconut and strawberry scents just as much! When you walk in the stores, it is so relaxed and doesn't overpower you with a fragrance like many other body care stores do. I love how subtle the mango scent is and how moisturizing the butter and lotions are. I can't find myself using any other body butters except The Body Shop's! 

Khiel's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve- When my hands really need repair or any skin on my body that needs extra love, I use this hand salve and immediately overnight it is 100 times more smooth. I also never need to keep reapplying it once I put it on my skin. It's a skincare staple that everyone needs to have. 

Khiel's Creme de Corps- Another lotion I love is this Creme de Corps. It is unscented and super rich and moisturizing. When I'm not feeling in the mood for mango (which is rare), I'll use this one as well! I usually have a couple of these lotions lying around when I need it. These small tubes are perfect for travel. The best is when you just shave your legs and moisturize all over for silky smooth skin. 

I would say that it takes me a while to go through lotions and body butters, but actually, I really don't want to use them all up so I can have them with me all the time! I just love these body care products so much and need to extend their lives! Are there any lotions, scents, or skincare brands you always use? 

If you didn't already know from my instagram or other social media (links on my homepage), I actually just dyed my hair. It was time for a change and I am obsessed with the balayage trend. That said, I've kind of switched up or have been using some fairly new products for awhile for my lob hairstyle. My look when I usually curl or style my hair is with texture and loose hold. 

I actually have two dry shampoos that I have been using on occasion. The first one is the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing dry shampoo in toasted coconut. It is probably my favorite drugstore dry shampoo so far. It reminds me of vacation and the best part is that it gives your hair more volume and texture while also getting rid of the excess oil. 

Another dry shampoo that has come in at a close second is the Herbal Essences Bio Renew dry shampoo in cucumber and green Tea. I honestly am not a fan of cucumber, but the combination is just so refreshing and nice. This one doesn't add texture, but is probably better at cleaning my hair more than the NYM's one. Both are great and inexpensive options! I use them interchangebly when I feel like it. 

So my experience with the products may have been affected by using the different formulas together, but I don't see how that would be a major issue since it's the same brand. Following many other bloggers and seeing the great reviews, I wasn't too skeptic paying ten dollars for a shampoo and conditioner that has been praised by many. I was just trying to switch it up a bit with my hair care.

Not only are these containers aesthetically pleasing, they are very small and you don't get much product for how much you spend. Since I was the only one using them, though, I found it fine and both lasted me a couple months. Both different types of shampoos and conditioners smell entirely different. The gentle formula smells like coconuts and vanilla which I love, but the signature formula smells very strongly of rose and floral which I did not enjoy at all. 

My main issue with this product is that there is an insane amount of build up. At first, I thought it was my college's really bad water pressure, but I brought the shampoo and conditioner home to see if normal pressure affected the distribution and rinse of the product and I still woke up with greasy and sticky hair. I wasn't noticing it much until I started to style my hair and I noticed combing through it with my fingers that it felt oily and not soft or fluffy. 

While I appreciated the easy-to-close cap and how it was paraben-free, sulfate-free, and aluminum-free, there are way more options that work better than these two do. I haven't tried any of Kristen Ess's other products, but I'm not entirely swayed by these two to give the rest a go. Tresemme and L'Oreal have some great products that I always fall back on.

I'll be honest, I am the type of person to buy things because they look pretty or because a majority of people enjoy a product. However, I've tried to stick to my own opinion when it comes to products because some just don't work out for some people, and that's okay! You don't need to spend much for great beauty products and this goes to show that not everything is as great of quality as it seems. 

One of my goals this month was to improve my blog and that I did. I totally re-designed it (with the help of Themxpose) and am really happy with how it looks now. I think it is more visually appealing and balanced. 

It is definitely refreshing to have a new look and new vibes all around. I hope you guys enjoy the new look. I really want to change the way I take photos and write posts, so little by little it will evolve throughout the summer. It's a well needed change and something new to revamp my mood. 

To be honest, lately, I've been in a slump. It's May and that's a very promising month. Yet, I've felt like I've been so focused on other people lately and what other people are doing, that I've honed out of my routine and have been slacking on taking care of myself. I was doing so well doing my own thing, but when I wanted to be more social and "out there," I was so worried about what other people thought of me. 

Since it is the beginning of summer almost, I'm confident that I will eventually get back to my yoga-doing, blogger self. I have many trips planned and places to go or things to do this summer, so I am excited and looking forward to it.  I will be doing an end of freshman year post, but college has gone by incredibly fast. I'm going to be a sophomore in college and it doesn't even feel like I should be in college right now. Time truly flies and I am trying to make the most of it the best I can really. 

This year has been a year to find and reinvent myself. There have been highs and lows, but I would say that overall this year has been an extremely positive adventure. I survived my first year of college and all of you newbie freshman will too. The most important part of college and especially growing up into a mature adult is finding yourself and knowing who you are before anyone or anything else.

The Buddhism class I am currently in has a lot for me to think about. Specifically, the idea of mindfulness. Mindfulness has been the topic of my self-care and reevaluation. In my Caveman, anthropology class, I have also learned that we are all human beings making mistakes and carrying on through struggles. Great classes amirite? It's time for me to focus on myself and I hope this inspires you to do the same. 

It's been one heck of a couple weeks and April is gone as I speak. May is so promising and it's that inch closer towards summer. I can finally wear shorts and get my hammock hung to chill out and enjoy this weather that Chicago finally gets to see. I have a lot of goals for this upcoming month and this I really want to accomplish during my last month of freshman year. I still cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. 

01. I have been planning on a total blog revamp and would like some tips or ideas on how I can make my blog a bit better. I took this past week off for midterms and have realized that my blogging game is not what it used to be. I think I would like to change my template or the aesthetic of my blog a bit, but that'll be a night of finding inspiration and reconfiguration. I think it'll be a fresh start into the summer. 

02. Last time this year it was a month full of events for me: prom, graduation, trips, etc. This month really isn't as packed as it was last year. That said, I need to make more time for myself. I don't know if it is the warmer weather or the spark of the social atmosphere, but I've been feeling very high strung recently and always on edge about things. I'm going to finally start up yoga again and I cannot wait. 

03. Since the school year is coming to a close, I would like to start getting back in touch we people I haven't seen in so long. Everyone leaves for college and it's like you cut off all communication with them because you get so busy with your life. Yes, I've kept in touch with some friends, but not as much as I would have liked to. 

04. I do want to plan a road trip with some of my best friends this summer because college is the time to explore and go on adventures. I want to make plans, but also not make plans and go with the flow this summer. I have hopes of getting out of my comfort zone, too. 

05. I have plans on going to a few more Cubs games this month and possibly this summer. I can always find really cheap tickets and Wrigley Field is literally a stop away from campus. It's always a fun time at Wrigley. I would also like to try and see more bands play around the area. I have been to a comedy club called Annoyance Theater off of Belmont. It's a really fun place to go late at night when you just want to laugh at dumb sketches. 

06. I've been really into astrology lately and reading my daily horoscope to see what my day has in store for me. I don't think I believe everything it tells me, but I've been liking this app called Daily Horoscope a lot. It gives you your daily horoscope, weekly and monthly horoscope, sign meaning, compatibility, and more. It's just something fun I like to do when I wake up every morning.  

I don't like to be too ambitious with my goals for the month because things change, but I am going to try and stick to these for now. The sun is shining and everybody's mood is uplifted this time of the year. What are your plans this month?