My Goals for Summer 2015

After reading the little engine that couldn't a.k.a. Matthew's post on his goals for summer I was inspired by his witty and sarcastic writing to share my goals for the upcoming months with you and tried to channel a bit of his style into this post.

I hope you find my goals entertaining and interesting.  I wanted to write about something other than the typical summer agenda of a majority of school kids: sleep until noon every day and go to the beach.

Without any further ado, here are my ten summer goals:

1. Read 5 books.
Since starting college I have fallen so behind on reading anything aside from what was assigned. I used to have at least two personal books in my backpack at any given time. Seriously, in middle school I would get in trouble for reading in class, get my book taken away and then just pull out a different book!

Will probably create a summer reading list on my Goodreads account.

2. Find a job.
This one is a must since I have moved and am now currently unemployed. My boyfriend keeps making jokes about being my “sugar daddy” in the mean time! As much as I love him, and that he is offering, being a grown up I unfortunately have bills that call my name every month.

3. Be more active on my blog and writing in general.
I have had this idea for a book in my head for years and I have written bits and pieces so I want to try and put that together.

I seriously neglect this blog during the school semesters and I feel bad about it, but unfortunately for the past year and a half I have been overloading myself when it comes to school and work and I barely have had time for sleep.

So believe me when I say that for the time I don’t have a job, I am taking advantage of sleep as much as I can!


4. Kick ass in my summer classes.
Since I am a double major I have a ridiculous amount of classes I need to take before I can transfer to a four-year university. My goal is to graduate from community by spring of 2016, however, that is looking harder and harder. So I am taking two classes online to try and ease the amount I have to take the coming year.

Or so I tell myself as I will likely continue in my overachieving, put too much work on myself, ways… Wish me luck!

5. Get my life in order.
Ah yes, the ever present, daunting task that every young adult, well really all adults, must face.

Can we all agree that it is ridiculous that in your senior year of high school you still have to ask for permission to use the restroom and then a mere months later upon graduation, you are expected to have your entire future figured out. Um, what?

So this one probably wont be completed this summer, but I can still try.

6. Come to terms with the fact that I am no longer a teenager.
Seriously! I find it so crazy that tomorrow is my 20th birthday! Where in the world has the time gone! I feel like just a short time ago I was still in middle school! Well it doesn’t help that I still get told I look like I am in middle school… But now I am a full blown adult with bills and independence and, and….can I just have nap time back???

7. Stop eating so much fast food.
I swear fast food is an addiction! My tummy pudge hates me.

Speaker box: “Hi, welcome to McDonalds can I take your order?”
Me: “Um yeah, food that is good…um just give me one of everything. And don’t forget the extra large oreo McFlurry.”

What am I doing with my life?

8. Get ripped.
Highly unlikely I will come out of this summer with washboard abs and a thigh gap (don’t really care about the gap anyway) but I would just like to get toned up. I think it is ridiculous that I am considered on the high edge of overweigh. I am supposed to be between 115-130. I am barely over that, well like 15 pounds over that but still. Shall we revisit number 7?

However, I do want to do a cosplay of Selene from Underworld and if I am getting into a spandex body suit, there will be no jiggle. I WILL DEFEAT THE JIGGLE! MWAHAHAHA!

9. Find the Holy Grail.
Or you know I could just rewatch the movie for the millionth time and laugh at the Monty Python cast and annoy my friends for the next two days with non-stop quotes from the movie. If you haven’t seen it, drop everything because your life is not complete until you do.

10. Go to the river.
I have lived about a 10 minute drive from the beach my entire life and it is really strange not being that close. But on the upside there is a cool lake nearby that allows swimming and has barbecues so that sounds like a fun weekend.


What are some of your goals for this summer? Anything life changing planned as we once again celebrate the two months we have to catch up on sleep and our social lives?

Hope you all have an amazing summer!
<3 Kimmie

12 Summer/Beach Essentials

Summer is officially in full swing! The sun is shining, the air is warm and the beaches are once again the go-to spot for a fun summer day. That being said, here are some essentials for when you are packing up for the beach.

Found on Etsy

So getting started, first thing needed is a large carry-all bag. First off, you are going to need something to carry all your stuff around. Find a bag that fits your personality and is big enough to fit all of your items.

Sunscreen! This is like the beach essential! You should never spend hours in the sun without any protection. So, how much SPF you should be wearing? "The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone apply a sunscreen with an SPF30 every day, and an SPF50 before participating in outdoor activities."

Water bottle and snacks. This is a must to keep you from getting dehydrated when you are in the sun and salt water and you should be eating regularly to avoid fatigue and getting heat exhaustion.

Found on AmazonSunglasses. Gotta protect those peepers! I usually take a cheap pair that you get at any drug store or the 99cent store.

Reading Material. I am the kind of girl who loves to flop down on my towel with a good book. I generally have my Kindle or some book with me everywhere I go. There are so many summer reading lists that bloggers put together, you are sure to find one that fits you. For reading list examples, try here and here, or even here.

Flip Flops. What is the beach without flip-flops? They are easy to wear in sand and around the area and plus, you don’ have to worry about lacing up tennis shoes and worrying about getting sand inside five seconds later.

A summer hat. Whether you are into floppy wide brimmed hats or are just fine with a baseball cap, you should find a hat that can keep sun off your face and neck. (as cheesy as it sounds, you can always take a bandana and have the tail end sticking out of your hat to protect your neck.

Check out at Target.

Beach Towel. Well I guess it is called a beach towel for a reason lol. I love all the fun designs you can get on a beach towel, plus they are so oversized you know that you can lay on one and it will pretty much match the length of your body. (Well I’m short so it works for me)

Waterproof Pouch. This is a must have if you are going to bring electronics to the beach! It will keep all your valuable electronics safe from water damage while you are out having fun. Life hack: sometimes I will just use a Ziploc bag.

Photo credit: here.

Wristlet. This will keep all your money safe and in one place rather than rolling around at the bottom of your bag. A lot of stores have really cute wristlets for cheap.

Leave in conditioner/detangler. Moisturizer.

After-sun moisturizer/Leave-in Conditioner. After laying about in the sun and getting in and out of the water all day the sun and salt-water can seriously dry out your skin and hair. These will put the moisture back, revitalize your skin and hair and a lot of after-sun moisturizers can help lengthen the life of your tan.

Tunes. You can’t forget some awesome beach music. Whether it is just you or a couple friends with a portable speaker it is fun to have a soundtrack to your day.

What are some of your summer essentials! I hope you all are having a wonderful summer!

Summer for College Students and Incoming Freshman

School years have to a close, the weather has been getting warmer, people are going to the beach and it certainly feels like summer is finally in full swing. I want to say congratulations to all the high school graduates this year. Four years of hard work has finally paid off. By now you have already picked the college you plan to attend, probably ordered some gear and are on your way.

But how do you prepare for that much anticipated fall?

1. Start narrowing down what you would want to take and put together a packing list. Remember that dorm rooms aren’t that big.

2. Remember that being homesick is perfectly normal. Some people get hit more than others but don't feel bad if the waterworks turn on every now and again.

3. Don't expect college to be like the movies. The way college life is portrayed in movies is so ridiculously over-dramatized and glorified and just flat out unrealistic. News flash: despite what Hollywood wants you to think, college is not one big party. I have a whole post planned on this so stay tuned!

4. Start checking things off the list. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a pretty good dorm checklist, as well as an apartment checklist, for what to bring and what not to bring to college. While not everything on that list is necessary it is definitely a good outline and hits all the major points of things you do need. Don't wait to the last minute to buy your items!

5. Enjoy your summer! Even though you should be preparing for fall there, one of the most important things to do this summer is to enjoy yourself, spend time with your friends before you all go different directions and make memories that will last.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and wish everyone luck in the fall! <3 Kimmie

A Message to Incoming Freshman

 Outside is getting a bit warmer and the seasons are changing, people are starting to go to the beaches, summer is right around the corner and graduation seems like it is seconds away.  The decisions on colleges have been made, deposits sent in and now, college isn't just some far away idea, it is real and it is coming up.

I want to say congrats to all of you. You made it, you are going to college!

Enjoy your summer, make the most of it because everything is going to change when you reach college and you are forced to ask, am I ready?

Have faith that you are ready. There are times when it is going to be difficult and you will just want to flat out give up, but the important thing is that you don't. Find a goal, a dream or something and always remember that is what you are striving for. Never give up until you reach your dreams. And if sometimes it just gets to hard remember if no one else, I believe in you and I know you can keep going.

Enjoy your summer and good luck <3 Kimmie

Here are some funny gifs about the application process to make you laugh.