Traveling can put you into a bit of a frenzy when thinking of everything that you need, without forgetting it in the end. Now, we all know half of the stuff we bring definitely doesn't need to come with us but... today I am going to show you my must-haves for when I travel!

TECH

     Whether we are serious techies or not, we all use tech devices and accessories. I always carry my Sudio Vasa Blå headphones because they're super cute and practical. I don't have to worry about the annoying cord that so graciously comes along with regular earbuds. The Sudio headphones are wireless and also has five other earbud sizes to fit perfectly to your ear! This is great for when you're walking through check-in in the airport, when you're on a plane, or when you're even in the car and don't want to be bothered with the bothersome cord that other earbuds come with. I also like to bring my camera with me so I can take pictures or vlog while I am out and about. I use the Sony a5000 mirrorless camera for both my blog and YouTube. Now everyone doesn't have a camera so you can just use your phone! And of course, we all need our chargers for our many electronics because let's be honest.. we can't live without them. So make sure you pack all of your chargers to keep your devices juiced up. I also like to carry a portable charger around with me because sometimes when you're in big crowds or out for a long time, your battery starts to die and there's not always access to an outlet. This is when a portable charger is my LIFESAVER. I picked mine up from the register line at Old Navy but you can honestly get them anywhere; even the Target $1 aisle.

SNACKS & HYDRATION

     No matter where you're traveling, it's always important to keep some snacks and beverages on hand. You never know when you might have a layover for a flight, might be out exploring longer than you expected, or trapped in a snow blizzard. You just never know, ok. Personally, I love granola bars and nuts because they fill you up enough to hold you over until you can eat a bigger meal. I mean who doesn't like sweet and salty flavors? Having a water bottle is also important because you want to stay hydrated when traveling because it can get pretty draining. Pro tip for those traveling by plane: empty out one of your nice drinking cups with a lid and bring it along with you. TSA won't check in liquids, but if your cup is empty you can bring it in and fill up your bottle at a water fountain once you pass security! 

HYGIENE PRODUCTS

     Okay ladies, I know... there are just too many hygiene products that we use that sometimes it can be overwhelming. Just remember that you are traveling and you don't need to bring your whole bathroom along with you in the car or on the plane. Bring what you absolutely need until you can make it to the hotel or destination. Some hygiene products that I bring along with me are hand sanitizer (can't be dancing with those germs), lotion (for those ashy hands that you've washed 10 times in the last 30 minutes), facial spray, toothbrush and toothpaste, and makeup remover wipes. My favorite facial spray is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray. I have used the rose water and the cucumber one. They are amazing! Whether you wear makeup or not. They seriously leave your face feeling so fresh and hydrated. Makeup remover wipes are great for if you had on makeup and just feel gross after traveling, and want to take it off. I hate wearing makeup for too long and not having any way to take it off. 

FASHION NECESSITIES

     Did I just say fashion necessities? Yup, that's right! I always make sure that I bring a light jacket (or even a blanket) when traveling because I tend to get cold very easily, especially in the car and plane. It's always nice to be prepared for any temperatures and you can always take off the jacket if needed. I also recommend bringing a pair of your favorite sunnies and a hat. If you're anything like me, you go get ready, look in the mirror and see the mess on top of your head called hair. When you are in that 'ain't nobody got time for that' mood you can just throw on a cute hat and cover up that mess girl! I'm all about saving time and effort. The same goes for sunglasses. You can throw on a pair of cute sunnies and cover up those jetlag [designer] bags. They're also a great thing to have when you're napping in the car, on the plane, or even at the airport.

ENTERTAINMENT

     Raise your hand if you travel without any source of entertainment. If you raised your hand 1. you are crazy and 2. that's a lie because you know you have your cell phone in the palm of your hands girlfriend! I always make sure I bring along a good book to read or have some songs downloaded on my Spotify to listen to (make sure you download your music before getting on the plane so you can listen to your music on airplane mode). If you are interested in what I listen to you can follow my Spotify! Puzzle books are also fun to bring with you and you can even play them with other people you are traveling with.

THE MEDS

     If you're anything like me, you are that lucky passenger who gets car/motion sickness. Woohoo, welcome to the club! It's not as fun as it sounds (trust me)... I used to just be a champ and endure being uncomfortable from the symptoms that come along with car/motion sickness, but I became wiser and went into my 'ain't nobody got time for that attitude' and bought some Dramamine. 10/10 recommend, as long as you aren't driving because it will KNOCK. YOU. OUT! If you're just riding as a passenger, then definitely take this and you will be knocked out the whole way. I kid you not. I took Dramamine when I went to New Orleans and slept the whole 9 hours! Another medicinal necessity is pain medicine so when you get those headaches you can have something to help out the pain. 

Those are my must-haves when traveling by car or on a plane. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this post! Comment down below and share some of your must-haves when traveling :) 

     
Hey y'all! Today I am sharing with you some tips on how to have a successful semester. Throughout college, I have learned some of these tips and tricks, and how they can beneficial to you.

1. Use a planner

    

    Using a planner is super key in school. There are many planners out there that you can choose from to best fit your needs and style. I actually talked about planners and my favorite kind in a recent post. For me, I like to have planners where I can write out tasks and assignments on an individual day, while also having a monthly view for each month so that I can also write down important assignments. Honestly, I could not survive without a planner in college. I am a full time student taking 17 credits and also working on my campus so it can get overwhelming at times. Here is a picture of my planner that I am loving:

     I like to plan out my month in advance with any major assignments that I have in my classes. I will go through all my syllabi and write them in. Another good thing to do in your planner is to color code your classes. Whether it is using different colored pens or different colored highlighters on top of regular black ink. I just find that using pens is easier and very colorful! I've also started using Google Calendar and OMG has it changed my life! Like I said earlier, I am taking 17 credits this semester (7 classes - 2 classes are 1 credit each) so keeping up with class times can be tricky. My two credit classes are only once a week on completely different days so it has been really confusing in the beginning to remember what day and time that I am supposed to go. The good thing about Google Calendar is that it is a "backup" for me in case I don't have my planner on me at that moment.

    

     I can add my class times (also, I can keep them color coded so they match with the colors I use in my planner), due dates, my work schedule, and any other important events/assignments. I can easily access my Google calendar on my computer, my phone, and my Apple Watch. It's super convenient! Sometimes I might be at a friend's house or I might be out somewhere and forget if I have an assignment due so I can check my calendar without having to have my physical planner. I highly recommend doing both because if you're anything like me (aka OCD and forgetful of things), you won't have to worry about missing something.

2. Communicate with your professors

    Some people don't realize how important it is to communicate with your professor. Now I'm not saying be a teacher's pet... You should communicate with your teacher though, and discuss any issues that you have in the class. Don't be so quiet and unwilling to speak with your professor about you not understanding any material. Most professors are willing to work with their students if they are having trouble because they want them to do well in their course. With doing that, you also can develop a better relationship with your professor so they know how to better help you with whatever it is that you're having trouble with. 

3. Participate in class

     Ok, you might be thinking "Mariah what the heck? Who wants to participate in class?".. I know, I know. I sometimes hate speaking out loud in front of the whole class, especially if I'm unsure if I'm blurting out the right answer or not. Participating is class is so important though because it gives you an opportunity to stay engaged in the lecture and also show your professor that you are trying in their class. This goes with what I said about communicating with your professor. When they see that you're trying and not just coming to class and falling asleep, or staring at your computer all class, they will remember you more and know that you are participating. 

4. Make a class friend/study group

    Going into class and talking to people who you don't know can be kind of intimidating for some people, but making a friend in class is beneficial. Not only are you making a new friend, but you also have someone that you know from class that you can talk about any assignments with. Within my major, I have had classes with some of the same people over again because we are all on the same track with our courses. I am more familiar with some people than others, but I still try and get to know at least one person in all of my classes. You could also make a study group with some people in your classes. Most people are interested in having a group of people to study or do work with. 

5. Use your time wisely

     I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. I have been horrible at procrastination. Everyone is guilty of procrastinating at some point (don't lie to yourself..) Just don't let procrastination take over your life because this will only cause you to be stressed out and make you rush through your assignments to get it in before 11:59pm. I don't know about you, but when I procrastinate doing an assignment, especially a big one, my whole day just goes out of whack because I am so thrown off from rushing and doing something last minute. 

     If you know that you have some breaks in between your classes, use that time to eat a snack and work on a little assignment. Even if you have a big assignment, you can work on little bits at a time during your breaks. Don't use your two-hour break to sleep and scroll through social media; you will regret it later. At work, I am able to be on the computer at the desk so I will sometimes work on my assignments when we are not so busy. Another good thing to do is to schedule some study time into your day. I don't normally schedule study time into my day (I mean on pen and paper) because I just go home and do what I need to do. I think that I might start scheduling a time block in my planner of when I need to study or do work. 

     When I am studying or doing work, I like to sometimes set a timer on my phone for about 25 minutes, with a 5-minute break. I also turn my phone on do not disturb so my phone doesn't go off from notifications. This helps me focus on what I need to do and I don't have to worry about checking the time. I will just wait for the timer to let me know when to stop and then I'll take my 5-minute break. 

6. Get some rest

   

    If you're not getting enough rest, your body will definitely be able to tell. Getting eight hours of sleep is honestly not always realistic when you're in school. You spend basically half the day, sometimes longer, in class or working. Sometimes I am on campus from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, so I don't usually get home until around 6:30 pm. Those days are the longest and I just want to come home and curl up in bed, BUT I can't always do that because I have work to do. If you have to, take a quick 30 or 45-minute nap just to rest yourself. After that, get up and do your work so you can knock that out and go to bed after you finish. If you push off doing what you need to do, you're only robbing yourself of sleep.  In middle school and high school, I would stay up until like 1:00 am and sometimes later. Now that I am in college and working at the same time, sleep is my BFF (am I right?) 

  

    College can be hectic, especially with the many things we have to do, but make sure that you are making enough time for rest. 

7. Hang out with friends

    College shouldn't be all about going to class and doing work. You should make time for extracurricular activities and hanging out with your friends. Once you finish your work, you can reward yourself with going to get some ice cream or seeing a movie with your friends. It is good to step away from all the studying and work that comes along with college. Enjoy the time you have!

8. Make time for yourself

    Making time for yourself is another important thing to do in college. You can choose a night out of the week to just relax, do a face mask, catch up on your favorite show, make time for your hobby, etc. When I make time for myself, I like to light a candle and lay down and relax. I will also sometimes do an oil treatment with coconut oil in my hair and lay around while I let that sit. I am killing two birds with one stone because I can get my hair nice and moisturized and also relax while it soaks in. 

What are some things that you find important to do in college?

 

      Everyone has a bad day and sometimes it can be hard to make a better day out of all the bad things happening. Whether you just got a bad grade, a flat tire, you and your significant other got into a fight, or maybe Mcdonald's ice cream was down and you drove all the way there to get a snack size mcflurry. (Mcdonald's get it together..) Anyways, you get my point. There are so many causes for a bad day, but there are so many ways to turn those bad days around and make it better. It is so important that we don't get caught up in the negativity in the things that life throws at us. We have to be optimistic and try to find SOMETHING to appreciate each and every day.

Find something to look forward to
      Ok, so maybe you went to bed in a bad mood and you wake up still in a bad mood or worrying about yesterday. Instead of doing this, go to bed looking at tomorrow as a new day! People sometimes take their days for granted and worry about things that aren't worth fretting about. On some occasions, we might worry about things that are just a part of life and cannot be avoided. In this case, you can still find positivity behind that situation. Don't let the little things get to you and make way for a bad day. Wake up with a fresh start to your day! Look forward to a yummy breakfast, or eating lunch, or getting a new lipstick later at Ulta. Make a plan to do something fun to get your mind off of things.

Be optimistic
      Bringing positivity into your life and being optimistic about things can really change your mindset and play a role in your every day life. We can't always avoid things that happen to us because life throws many curve balls and headships at us, and that's just reality. BUT.. we can look for positive things in our life to help us get through tough times. Made a bad grade on a test? How about looking at it as, "I tried my best and there are many more opportunities for me to improve". Didn't get the job you wanted? Look at it as, "Maybe that job just wasn't for ME and there is a better opportunity that is waiting for me". Y'all, positivity is EVERYTHING. I'm tellin' you! (.. in my Southern accent)

Surround yourself with family or friends
      You're probably thinking to yourself "surround myself with family and friends? Why would I want to be bothered with ANYONE when I am having a bad day??" That's where you have to think differently. Sure there are times when you just need that time for yourself, but don't sit in your room hiding in the corner for hours and hours. It's important to surround yourself with people who are there for you! Now some people might not have family near them where they can just drive down the street, or maybe you moved to a new city and haven't met a lot of people yet... I'll get to that in the next tip! Back to family and friends... When I am feeling down, I like to go home sometimes and be around my parents and brother. My mom is my mother and best friend and I can talk to her about anything. Even if I don't want to talk about things, she is still there to comfort me. Sometimes we sit on the couch and watch our favorite shows together, or a movie. I also like to hang out with my boyfriend and make cookies and watch a movie. We love to watch movies! Call up your girlfriend(s) and hangout with them! Eat some popcorn, have a dinner night, etc. There are so many things you can do with your family and friends.

Get Out!
      No, I'm not talking about the movie. Like I mentioned in the previous tip, some people don't have family or friends near them because they are in a different city. Hey, that's ok though! You can still get out and do something. This still applies to people who have family and friends near them. Make plans to stop by a new store, a new coffee shop, museum, or any other place in your town that you haven't been. There are some new places that have been added downtown in my city and this would be a great thing for me to do on a bad day. I could go downtown, walk around, and see the establishments and art that have been added.

There are so many ways to turn a bad day around. Find things that fit your interest! Just be optimistic and remember that every day is a NEW day.

Okay, let's face it. We all get a little lazy, especially during the summer time. For most of us, we see summer as a relief from all things related to school (which can be a lot). Even though it's summer, don't waste your time laying around or missing out on opportunites!

1. Wake up at a decent time

      You're probably thinking, what?? It's summer why can't I just sleep my life away? During the summer we might have jobs, summer classes, etc. If you have more time in the mornings before work or class, take the initiative to wake up a little early so you can have time for yourself before jumping out of bed to go get ready for work or class. I love waking up early because I feel like I can make more time to catch up on a book I am reading, work towards any goals, or just enjoy the morning beauty. 

2. Use a planner or some sort of to-do list

Even though I don't have loads of work to do over the summer, I still like to make a to-do list or write down anything in my planner that I need to plan out for the week. I think it is important to do this so you have some sort of tasks to tackle for the day. The tasks don't have to be big every day, it could be as little as "clean bathroom", or "wash clothes", etc. I love making to-do lists because I can visualize a list of what I need to do for the day and if I need to get a lot of stuff done then I can plan my day better. 

3. Get out of the house

Use the time that you have during the summer to get out and go places with friends, family, etc. Visit places that you've never been. I like to visit new restaurants, shops, etc. One thing that I want to do before the summer is over is go hiking at this place near my school. Just find things to do throughout the week whenever you have some free time so you can enjoy life and all of its experiences that it brings. Don't sit in the house all day binge watching Netflix, and scrolling through your Instagram feed for 2 hours over and over. You will look back and see how much time you wasted over the summer. 

4. Work on goals 

So this is a biggie. During the regular semesters, we spend so much time studying, going to class, and juggling so many other things. Last semester I was taking 16 credits (I had a 1 credit class that legit felt like a 4 credit class with the amount of work I had to do), and working during the times that I didn't have class. When I got off from work I would go straight to class. I had no time to really sit down and think of ways to achieve any goals that I had. I was just taking everything day-by-day. Now that summer has rolled around, I have really sat down and made time for blogging. I wanted to do this so bad last semester but time just wouldn't allow. Now that I have gotten into the habit of writing and posting, I know that I will make time for it during the fall semester. Another goal of mine that I have been working on is reading. I used to LOVE to read until reading became an obligation and I was forced to read books that I didn't like. I gave myself a goal to read a book or two every month. This gives me something to do in my free time that is enjoyable. So, work on any goals that you didn't have time for during the regular school semesters. Don't keep pushing them to the side. 

5. Get fit

In reality, we all want to workout and get fit but sometimes our schedules just don't allow it. Summer is a great time to get in the habit of working out and to make it a priority. Summer is a great time to start a habit for the future. If you know you are going to have earlier morning classes this upcoming semester, try waking up early to get your body used to getting up and going to the gym. When the semester comes around, you will be used to waking up early and it will be easier for you to make that trip to the gym. 

Since middle school, I have always used a planner. My middle school and high school even provided students with one. In middle school, I used the planners that were provided but when I got to high school I got one that was suitable for my liking. There are some really good planners out there but you just have to find what works best for YOU! Whether you are a student or not, planners are a great thing to have. 

For me, a planner is essential for as a college student. I love to plan my months, weeks, and days, so I thought I would share how I organize my planner.

Choosing your planner

It is very important that you keep in mind what kind of schedule you have when picking out a planner. There are different styles of planners for those who are more laid back with their time and for those who need to be on a strict/planned schedule. For me, I like to have a more laid back planner that doesn't have time slots. I feel like this allows me to go at my own pace throughout the day and not beating myself up when I have not completed a certain task within a certain time frame. The planner that I am currently using for 2017-2018 is from HomeGoods, but there are some similar ones on their website.

What I love about this planner are the colors, the material, and binding. I don't like planners that do not have a ring binding. I feel like I have more flexibility with having planners with a spiral because I can bend it and not worry about creasing my planner. Pink and gold are my two favorite colors so... you can already see why I like the colors. The pink is very bright but the simple "2017" keeps it looking classic. This planner is also very big compared to normal everyday planners. This is good for me because I am taking 6 classes this semester so I need all the room that I can get. 

Yearly View

Having a yearly view in your planner is a great thing to have because you can quickly look over the months to see what days any important dates are on. 

How I Organize My Planner

Monthly

 Ok so this is where my OCD comes in! In the beginning of the semester when I start my classes, I print off all my syllabi and I write down important due dates for the whole month(s). I color code each class using my favorite pens so I can easily know what it is that I have due for the month. I am currently taking 6 classes like I mentioned before and as you can see there are a number of colors on this monthly view. April is such a hectic month because it is the last month of the semester before exam week (cringes while typing the word "exam"). As other assignments or events come up I will jot them down. If I have any extra credit or appointments on campus I will write those down with a black pen.

Weekly/Daily

These are some overview pictures of my weekly/daily view of my planner. When I go through at the beginning of the semester and fill out my monthly part, I also go in and add the due dates through the weekly view. This way I already have everything written out beforehand and I can just add the things I need to as I go. For each day, I write assignments that are due or quizzes/tests on the top portion of the day. For homework or tasks, I need to do for the day, I put those at the bottom. Having my whole week filled out at the beginning with important assignments helps me prepare for each week.




I can't stress enough how helpful it is to have a planner. It helps a bunch!!
What is your favorite planner, pens, etc?