last first day of school

Chose a pink notebook for this semester! Then realized I also have pink nail polish and a pink jacket on....though I have to say I'm not surprised with myself. I'm also right-handed, not left. I guess I was trying to be cool for the photo (ha)

Today just flew by, and now I'm finally getting time to sit down and blog! I had three of my six classes today - advanced public speaking, graphic design, and my public relations capstone class. Based on the first day, all three classes are great. We have 45 students in capstone (a large class for our small Jesuit school). We're all PR majors and everyone is super chatty and awesome. I love it. Graphic design will be fun too because we get to work with InDesign and Illustrator. (Speaking of - my Photoshop is BACK! Finally.)

Tomorrow I just have journalism and marketing, and then next week I'll get into my multimedia class. This is my first semester with no core classes. I am so beyond excited to be done with biology, and if you've been following my blog for a while, will be relieved I won't complain about it anymore! ;)

I just got back from our first dance team practice of the semester, too. It is so nice to be back. All the energy of seeing everyone, the exercise (those endorphins!), and dancing just made me so happy! I also just became the Foursquare mayor of the gym on campus too. I got pretty embarrassingly stoked about that. Tonight, just like any other night after practice, I have a ton of energy. YAY.

I'm just trying not to think about how this is my last first day of school. Ever. I'm not planning on additional school, so....this is it. It is exciting and terrifying and sad and bittersweet. Any other college (or high school) seniors in the same boat as me right now?

xo-ally

practicing photography

I'm currently taking a photojournalism class and have learned a good amount about photography so far. It is so nice to take a class, because I have a nice SLR but don't really know how to use it (except for the handy auto setting). This class briefly covers the camera basics (shutter speed, aperture, all that good stuff) as well as concepts. Here are some photos I've taken so far. They're not perfect but I can see improvement compared to before the class!

I feel like photography is something you improve with every time you practice, and even professional photographers still get better with time. Hopefully I'll keep improving!

xo-ally

the summer reading books I actually read

Back in May I wrote a post on the books I planned to read this summer. I did read all the C.S. Lewis books and The Fame Game, but never got around to The Kite Runner or The Alchemist. The six weeks of the C.S. Lewis class was a whirlwind - we read 500 to 1,000 pages per week through his books and essays. I loved it and learned so much. Luckily, The Chronicles of Narnia books were easy reads and were mixed in with the tougher reading. (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite Narnia book!)

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I certainly did need to wind down with a light summer read after that class and did read The Fame Game. I really liked it. It was a great book for the summer and helped my brain chill out. I want to read the next one (I think there will be a sequel soon?) on my next break from school.

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Since my local public library now offers book rentals for e-readers I downloaded a few books on my Kindle. I could download books without having to go downtown! Plus, I like to read my Kindle at the gym :) The library doesn't have the best selection of e-books, but considering I'm renting for free I don't mind at all! I started with the classic The Age of Innocence but couldn't get through it.

I went back to my light summer reading idea with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I never read it when everyone else did growing up, but since it was my best friend's favorite book back in the day, I gave it a chance! I thought it was well-written and enjoyed the story. I was able to get through it pretty fast.

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Another series I never read growing up was Harry Potter! (My parents wouldn't allow me or my brother to read it.) Now that I'm older, I gave it a chance! I am almost done with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and I really like it. It's very well-written and a cute kids' book. I can already see why the series is so popular and have a feeling it will get addicting....

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Looking through this list seems like a bunch of kids' books, haha. (Well I guess they are...) At least it was a nice break from heavy textbook reading?

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This is my 200th post of 2012! I marked my 100th post of 2012 back in April and can't believe I've already done another hundred! It's crazy how fast time flies through blogging. Here's to another hundred - possibly before 2012 is over? We'll see! 

THANK YOU for reading my blog!

xo-ally

highlighters

I am a visual person when it comes to organization. I like to have all of my lists laid out and color coded if possible. Each of my classes has a different designated highlighter color in my planner, and the same goes for work and other activities outside of school. Color coding is a visual way to look at how much needs to get done for certain things.

Here are some great highlighter options. My preferred brand is Sharpie, but there are some other good highlighter brands too!

shopping link

Simple. To the point. Extra colors in case the first one dries out. I bought a pack of these this school year and they are wonderful.

shopping link

I got a 2-pack of these recently. They are great for highlighting notes! The small Post-It flags are very convenient and I am currently sticking them in some library books I am using for a research paper. The Post-Its will bookmark the page and won't leave a rip when I take them out to return the books.

Lilly Pulitzer (left) and Jonathan Adler (right) brand highlighters! The fun prints will brighten up the un-lively task of taking notes.

shopping link

I found these Dylan's Candy Bar highlighters on the same website as the Pulitzer and Adler ones above. These highlighters not only come in fun prints, but are scented too! It's like the grown-up version of Mr. Sketch Scented Markers.

Highlighters are a great way to color code notes, lists, calendars, and schedules. They're also fun to have on hand if you go to a neon or black light party! ;)

Enjoy the rest of the semester!

xo

print ad for marketing class

I've been so busy this week! I liked my outfit today but don't have time to snap a pic...(I'm wearing a gold braided belt and jeans with a tucked in blue tank and white cardigan. I'll probably wear it again...)

This morning my group for marketing class went outside to take photos for a "print ad" for our project. The finished ad is above! Our brand is Chevrolet (who is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year), so we did a "then and now" type of photo. I'm on the left and suppoed to be dressed like Audrey Hepburn/have an Old Hollywood feel. One of our other group members is on the right in a typical All-American baseball fan outfit. I'm taking an actual advertising class in the spring, so who knows if I'll think this is a well-done ad by then, but for now I think it's good. :)

xo