Heys peeps! Today I am sharing with you my top 15 praise and worships songs. I did a similiar post like this with my summer playlist, but this time I am focusing solely on praise and worship songs. I like to browse through Spotify and listen to praise and worship type of playlists. From there, I discover new music and then add them to my "jesus" playlist. I love discovering new music and sharing it with you guys. I will also leave my Spotify playlist link so you guys can look through some other songs I have added to that playlist -- maybe you will find some new songs that you have never heard before. 

1. There Is a Cloud - Elevation Worship
2. In God We Trust (Live) - Hillsong Worship
3. Sinking Deep - Hillsong Young & Free
4. Joy (Live) - VaShawn Mitchell
5. Falling Into You (Acoustic) - Hillsong Young & Free
6. One and Only - Rend Collective
7. Make Us One (Live) - Jesus Culture, Chris Quilala
8. I'll Find You - Lecrae, Tori Kelly
9. All Power - Nashville Life Music
10. Silhouettes - CASS
11. Lights Shine Bright - tobyMAC, Hollyn
12. Love Has A Name (Live) - Jesus Culture, Kim Walker-Smith
13. Wildfire - FUSE
14. Simple Gospel (Live) - United Pursuit
15. What A Beautiful Name - Hillsong Worship 

What are some of your favorite praise and worship songs? 

      Throughout my college years, I have learned what are some basic necessities for every student. Today I will share with you all my top essentials for college! The items I will talk about are ones that I use on a daily basis and that I fit in my book bag.

1. Water bottle

      We always hear "drink water, it's good for you" and it really is! Carrying a water bottle is great to have to keep you hydrated after walking around campus and after eating. Drinking water is so beneficial to your body. I keep some type of water bottle on the side of my book bag whether it is a plastic bottle that I can refill or my Camelbak. Most campuses have water fountains or places that you can refill water so this helps from using numerous plastic bottles and just tossing them to the side. I prefer insulated water bottles because I like to drink cold water. Having an insulated water bottle helps to keep your ice from melting quickly and also keeps your water cold throughout the day. Here are some of my favorite water bottles:

   

2. Sunglasses 

      I cannot stress how important sunglasses are! I carry my sunglasses with me every day on campus because I am constantly being sucker punched in the eyes by the sun (ouch). Whether the sun hurts your eyes or not, sunglasses are important to wear so you can keep your eyes protected. There are so many cute styles to choose from. Places like TJ Maxx, Forever 21, and Sunglass Hut are some good places to find sunglasses. I usually wear my Ray Ban aviators.

4. Hand Sanitizer 

      I am only slightly a germaphobe when it comes to public places. In college, you are constantly touching rails, doors, chairs, tables, etc. I love carrying around hand sanitizer in my bookbag or on my keychain so that I can easily squirt a little drop in my hand, obnoxiously fill up the classroom with a Bath and Body Works scent (whoops), and have clean feeling hands.

5. Planner

      OH MY GOSH... get you a planner! I know a lot of girls use planners because we just like to plan out things and see things visually, especially for those who are like me. I like to have a visual representation of something so I can see how my day is going to be and what I need to get done. Google Calendar is another great planner to use because it is online and you can use it both on your phone and computer. The great thing is everything syncs between devices! Google Calendar is a great backup to have if you ever forget your planner or just don't feel like getting it out of your bookbag. I am currently using the Happy Planner by Create 365. I purchased mine from Michael's and I have been loving it so far!

       

6. Headphones

     Headphones are a great thing to carry around in college. Headphones are a lifesaver when you are trying to kill time in between classes and want to catch up on your Netflix show, watch some Youtube makeup tutorials, or do some online work that you don't want to blast for everyone else to hear. I like to listen to music on the campus shuttle that takes me around campus and when I am walking to class. On those occasions when I take a trip to the library, I can listen to some calming music while I focus on my work. If you like to workout then headphones are a must to get you pumped while listening to music.

7. Charger

      I can't even count on two hands on how many times I have fallen asleep at night and forgot to charge my phone. Your alarm goes off at 8:45, your battery percentage reads 20%, and your class starts at 9:15. Yup, it happens. I always try and stick my charger down in my bookbag to avoid my battery from dying while I am on campus. I use my phone to get in contact with people, check my emails, and to keep up with the bus shuttles on campus so having a phone with no battery would not be good AT ALL.

8. Mini Wallet

      If you are anything like me, you carry around a big wallet to fit cash all your receipts and cards as if they're souvenirs. During the semester I sometimes switch out my "big" wallet for a smaller one that is less bulky in my book bag and carries what I really need on campus. These are the type of the wallets I like to use when I am on campus:

      

9. Rain Gear

        

        Rain gear is so important to have for college because you do so much walking outside. I highly recommend purchasing rain boots, a rain jacket, and an umbrella to help keep you dry on those rainy days. I use a Totes mini umbrella that I purchased from Walmart. It is great because it's small enough to fit in the little bottle pouch on the side of my book bag. It also came with a sleeve to go over the umbrella so this is great if it has rained and you don't want your umbrella dripping everywhere. Along with my umbrella, I like to wear my North Face rain jacket that I got from Dick's Sporting Goods. I also love to wear my UGG rain boots that I got from Belk last year because they keep my feet nice and dry. I don't have to worry about jumping over puddles or getting my shoes and feet soaked. 

       

What are some of your favorite essential items to carry around for college?




ftc: this post contains affiliate links through amazon. 

    Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

      So the book I read for the month of July was "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki and let me tell you... This book really opened my eyes to some things! This read is great for anyone in high school, college, and older adults. I wish I would have read this book earlier as a teenager because I feel like I would've had a totally different perspective on things that have to do with money. This book also opens your eyes to a new outlook on decision-making and what might hold us back, and how that one fear of taking a risk in something can actually make us miss out on a good opportunity. This book is filled with a lot of great tips and knowledge about things that we never really learn in school. This book is only 9 chapters and is a fairly quick read (unless you're like me and neglect your reading for Netflix, whoops). I HIGHLY recommend this to any and everyone. Seriously! Whether you are in college and not worrying about money, or if you already have a day job, etc. There is never a moment that you cannot learn because one day something you learn will be of use.

      Kiyosaki talks about the educational system, becoming more financially literate, the difference between what is an asset and was is a liability and the simple mistakes that people make when it comes to money and investing. 

What are books that you guys are liking?




FTC: This post contains affiliate links through Amazon.

Over the summer I have really been focusing on my blog because it is something that I really enjoy doing. It allows me to express myself and to reach out to others with tips, advice, etc. I have received a lot of support over the past few months with my blog and I am so thankful and appreciate those who support something that I love doing. People even tell me they are interested in starting a blog or a Youtube channel (yup I have a Youtube too), but they say they are hesitant because of fear of what people will think or that they don't know where to start. I tell them all the time please do what you love! Who cares what people think?? It is your life and it's something that makes YOU happy.

I remember when I first started my Youtube (so long ago.. and those videos are now on private lol) I was like "Oh my gosh what are people going to think?", "Are they going to even like my videos?", "They are going to take me for a joke". I felt the same way when I started my blog, too. Then I realized, why does it matter what others think? You're always going to have people who are not going to support or like the things you do. That shouldn't stop you. You are your own person and you were put on this Earth to be YOU and do what makes you happy.

I scroll down my Instagram feed and see so many talented people doing what they love. Making clothes, doing photography, making youtube videos, graduating college, making art, etc. Whatever interests you, DO IT. I cannot stress that enough. I love seeing people be genuinely happy by doing something that they enjoy.

This has been something that has been on my mind lately because of all the support and comments that I have gotten. I encourage everyone to follow their dreams and to do what they love to do, no matter what. Don't let fear hold you back from doing great things.

Hey peeps! Sooo... as we all know, the fall semester will be here sooner than we know it. There are so many things that I have come across that are a must for college. Apps are key in college. Apps allow access to so many different things at the touch of our hands. Today I will share with you 8 apps that are important to have in college.

1. School App 

      Free (some may charge)

School apps are SO important. I have my university app and my online academic app. My university app gives me access to pretty much everything I would need in a quick second. I can access a map of my campus, bus routes, printers, academic calendars, events, athletic schedules, and the school directory. It's so awesome!! (am I right??) I also like having my academic app, which is Canvas. The Canvas app allows me to see my courses, the sections, and I can see my assignments and grades. If I forget what I have due for the day and I don't have my computer on me, I can quickly access that information on my phone (no need to panic, yay). If you haven't already, definitely download your university's app and your academic app. 

2. Google Docs 

      Free

GOOGLE DOCS, GOOGLE DOCS, GOOGLE DOCS!!! Seriously though, Google Docs is one of the smartest things that anyone has come up with for college students. At the beginning of my college career I would hear people talking about Google Docs but I never really used it or looked into what it really was. BOY WAS I MISSING OUT! I have used Google Docs so much in the past year and it has been a lifesaver for not only me, but for group assignments as well. I can work on papers and typed assignments from any computer or device because it syncs onto my account. So I can work on a paper at home, go to work and use the computers to work on it some more. If I have to make any finishing touches I can even do it on my phone! With group assignments, you can make a document and share the link to all of your partners and everyone can work on it on their own time. This helps if people's class/work schedules are different and don't allow for meetup time. I highly recommend downloading Google Docs if you haven't already. 

3. Turbo Scan 

       Free

I downloaded the free version of Turbo Scan and it has been a great app to use. Whenever I send notes to people or turn in an assignment that needs to be a PDF file, I can scan my piece of paper and send it to someone. For example, I can take a picture of my math notes and send it to my friend through a text and VIOLA, they now have my math notes on their phone that aren't grainy and faded looking. 

4. Quizlet 

      Free

Quizlet is really popular for college students but the great thing is you can access the app on your phone. So I can make flashcards and quizzes on my computer and access that information on my phone. Great right?? You can access your flashcards anywhere. Whether you're traveling, on the bus to school, in bed, etc. You can also make changes and create flashcards through the app. 

5. Group Me

      Free

Group Me is a great app to communicate with people from class, especially for group assignments. This is great for people who don't want to give out their number to everyone that they have to do group assignments with. This still allows you to send messages to them just as you would a text. You can add and delete users and send attachments. 

6. Music App

      Free or at discounted price

Music is such a great thing to have whether you're walking to class, at the library, or doing work in your room. I use Spotify at a discounted price of $4.99 since I am a student. Five bucks a month to access and download thousands (probably millions) of songs and albums is a steal! Spotify premium has been such a great (small) investment in college. I have heard that Apple Music has the same thing but I have not tried it out for myself. Whether you use the free version or the premium version, having a music app is great!

7. Cash App/Venmo

      Free

Cash apps are so key in college! They are so convenient to have. I never really used these types of apps until I came to college. I live in an apartment at college so I have to pay for electricity separately from my rent. One of my rommates has the bill in her name and when the bill comes she will divide the bill into 4 (there are 4 of us) and she will request that amount to us. We can easily accept and transfer her the money and, BAM! Our portion is paid. I also use this app to pay people back if they bought me lunch or something. This is great if you do dinners with your roomates/friends because you can pay for the groceries and just split the cost and they can pay you back through an app. Sometimes paying back with cash and through your bank can be time-consuming or complicated. I don't always have cash on me and you have to set up accounts to transfer to (ain't nobody got time for that!) 

8. Mail App

      Free

I use Gmail for school and my personal email account. I highly recommend downloading the app of the mail platform that you use because it notifies you better than the one that comes on your phone (at least for iPhones). I used to use the mail app that already came installed on my iPhone but it would never notify me at the real time that it came in. I would have to open my mail just to wait for the emails to load and come through. (BOOO.. I need to know when I get emails) I downloaded the Gmail app and it always alerts me as soon as I get an email. This is so important because my professor might send out an important email about an assignment or a cancelled class. I definitely don't want to miss out on an email about class getting cancelled! I can also organize my mail within the app. I love being organized!

What are some of your favorite apps that you use for 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.

Choosing your classes can sometimes be overwhelming if you're an incoming freshman or a returning student. When picking your classes for the semester be sure to follow some of these steps to ensure that you get the classes that fit you and your needs. 

Tip 1: Rate My Professor

      Rate My Professor is such a great website to give insight on what you're getting yourself into. Rate My Professor will help see ratings of professors and also see feedback from previous students. Sometimes you can see whether you will need a book a book or not, the type of assignments that will be expected, and sometimes the teaching style of the professor. These are all important because everyone learns differently and I like to know what kind of assignments I will be having. Some classes might have a pop quiz every class, or the class might only have 3 tests and a final, etc. It is good to know what you're getting yourself into before registering for a course. I will look at the classes that I need to take, look at the classes and professors offered at my university, and then look each professor up on Rate My Professor that would best fit in my schedule with my other classes. 

Tip 2: University's Grade Distribution 

      Some universities offer grade distributions online. This shows the different percentages of grades that students received from professors from the previous semester. It will have a chart and have grades A-F, below that will be the percentage that students got for each grade category. This is another helpful tool in figuring out what type of class and professor you will have. Now, if 85% of the class got an A in the class you can't expect the same if you're not putting in the work for it. This just shows that the class is not super impossible to obtain an A. This goes for Rate My Professor also. 

Tip 3: Scheduling Classes 

      Scheduling your classes are very important. 15 credit hours is about the normal amount of credits students take each semester. Some have to take more or less depending on the number of classes that they need. If you are a student who is taking 6 to 7 classes in a semester, it would be best to break your classes up and not take them back to back. Here's why... If you are taking classes back to back you will burn out, have no time to study, or grab some lunch. Classes usually have a 15-minute break in between and if you're walking around campus to different buildings it can be impossible to do anything but walk to class. I like to break up my classes if I can so I can have time to sit down and study some more before a test, finish an assignment, to eat some lunch, or to just relax. Also, space out your classes each day if your schedule allows it. Instead of taking four classes in one day back to back, try and take three on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and three on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Ya see what I'm sayin'?) 

Tip 4: Take Classes That Interest You 

      There are so many classes that you can take within your major. With that being said, find classes that stick out to you that you would enjoy taking. Not only will the course satisfy that credit that you need, it will also be something that you look forward to learning. When I sign up for classes I will look at the descriptions of the courses that are provided on the registration site and see what interests me the most. I will also ask other people in my major if they have taken it to see if I can get a better idea of what the course is like. 

Don't let registering for classes overwhelm you. Just be smart when choosing your classes and do your research! Hope these tips help. If you have any other questions about choosing college classes send me an email or message me on my social media :)