Over this past week I was able to try out this Tea Tree shampoo by Maple Holisitics, a brand that I have never heard of before, but was very interested in their all natural ingredients. They are an all natural beauty brand that is sold online and in some Walmart stores. A representative emailed me and asked me if I wanted to try out one of their products and I was very interested in using tea tree shampoo for my hair because I have noticed my scalp has been a bit dry lately and I thought the first week of college would be a great time to try it out. 

I have recently been using tea tree oil on my skin and I love how smooth it makes my skin feel. I was unsure if I was going to react or something, but my head has felt fine and my hair is actually pretty smooth. I do have to say that it doesn't have the greatest scent because there aren't any artificial scents or chemicals to make it smell flowery and sweet like most shampoos in the market. I would say that if you are interested in using natural products, this brand would be great to explore to try out. You can try out some free samples through their website, too. 

This shampoo I would say is used more for treatment purposes and not as much for making your hair look voluminous or anything like that. I have noticed that I haven't been scratching my head or anything, so it really helps. I would like to look into their essential oils because I love using them in my oil diffuser and when I feel like I need to put some on for anxiety or stress. I would really recommend this brand for anyone looking for natural products! 

So, I was really looking for some bougie stationary and I was at Sam's club with my mom and I saw this ten dollar kit that had all cooper stationary: pens, scissors, a stapler, a pencil cup, and a tape dispenser. It was such a great price and to be honest, I really am obsessed with all of it. 

Lastly, along with a MacBook, I wanted to spruce it up a bit and add some stickers from Redbubble and had to make an aesthetically pleasing cover which is green and tropical. I love Redbubble and if you buy ten stickers you get half off of all of them. 

I think it really adds personality to any laptop or notebooks and can also be great to personalize things, too. 

There are many more bits where these came from and I am ready to take all of you on the journey with me as I am at college. What are some essentials you like to have with you at school?

In college I hope that I can create a routine that I am comfortable with and can deal with while staying on top of my studies. Personally, I do want to stay focused and not dilly dally through college winging most of my exams and projects--that's just not how I have done things, at least through high school I never did. Sure there will be low points and I will get through it, and hopefully I can reflect on this post and say "Oh, yeah you totally rocked it and graduated" at the end of college. I know that routines change and people change, too. 

Ask Yourself, "Who Do I Want to Be?" 

Obviously the answer should be YOU. I'm not asking you to change into an alter ego or anything, but consider what type of person you want to be and what morals or beliefs you want to have or keep. I know going into college I might be exposed to alcohol, parties, drugs, boys, all that stuff. Decide before going into it or at least think about types of situations you can be exposed to and how you can make the safest and most YOU decision. I can't decide for you and I know my opinion can't really sway anyone from going to a party when they should be studying--I ain't yo mama. I know that I want to be safe and also enjoy the experiences, while also having fun and keeping up on my studies. 

Having Some Self Control

Something as simple as the abundance of food at college can seem like Heaven on earth, but did you really need that extra bag of chips? Or that bowl of just-okay soft serve? I think the main thing I am kind of scared about is tuning into self control and knowing when enough is enough and how I should really be making healthier decisions. Instead of binge watching Netflix, maybe take a 20 minute run instead. Or even watch The Office while you run! 

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

I am in this little safe bubble in my town and everyone knows where they are and who their friends are, and to be honest, I am so ready to meet new people. I have been with the same class for about 13 years and I am so ready to see new faces and also new cultures. I want to join different clubs and get involved on campus, too. I want to really get the most out of my college experience and I am sure many freshmen do too. While I have no idea what to expect, I am ready for a new start and new activities. 

There's a lot more going on in my head right now as I begin to start school and I am sure that I will keep writing about my experiences on here when I start. I thought this might be helpful or somewhat relatable to freshmen in college or maybe seniors trying to help a newbie out. If you can take away one thing from this, then I would encourage any new freshman to consider what type of person they want to be seen as or they want to reflect off of others. It's a "fresh" start for all of us, so maybe it's time to be more open or contribute more? There's a whole list of things you could do to make sure your next four years are the best four years. 

Also, I have no idea what my blogging schedule will be like when I move in or start school, so please bear with me for the next couple weeks. I would like to keep it the same as it has always been, but I will for sure be back with great stuff! I hope the transition is smooth and I am able to post regularly.

And to senior Natalie who is probably reading this, I hope you have continued to be the best you you can be and hopefully you graduated. Also, if you would like to discuss freshman topics or simply offer an opinion on becoming a new college student, please share! I'd love to hear your thoughts :)