9 Tips to Stay Organized When You're Unbearably Busy

I have spent the past month and a half planning a brand new event for my executive position on UNA's National  Panhellenic Council. I'm the Vice President of Philanthropy and Scholarship, which means that I'm in charge of any charity events that we might have, as well as academic recognition. The event was called Pumpkin Palooza. I'm not going to lie to you, it was super successful and I'm really proud of it. We had about 150 or more people in attendance, including UNA students, UNA faculty/staff and their kids, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals. Everything about the event was free. There were 200 pumpkins to be carved for a carving competition, free t-shirts, face-painting, a DJ, an inflatable obstacle course, a Halloween costume contest, a pumpkin pie eating race and all the candy corn and apple cider a person could possibly want. The event was different from the other organizations' fall events because it had a little bit of everything, and it was fun for everyone! I really hope that this is an event that will continue in years to come at UNA; I am so proud of being able to be a part of something that could be come a tradition.

                        

All of that being said, I did get a little overwhelmed throughout the planning and execution of the event, especially while doing my best to fulfill my obligations as a good student, RA and friend. With that, I would like to leave you with some tips on how to stay organized (and in turn, less stressed) during your busiest times.

1.) Write everything down. Whether you're a list person or not, it helps to write things down. I know that in the midst of balancing all of my obligations, it seemed like I had 5000 things to remember, and all of those things had their own list. Seriously. I made lists for class, lists for RA stuff, grocery lists, and sometimes I even had lists that outlined every hour of my day. When you write things down, you remember them better. Plus, you have physical evidence of what you need to do!
2.) Keep a planner up to date throughout the week. Usually, I take the tasks on my to-do list(s) and transfer them to specific dates in my planner. This way, you don't have to worry about when to do what on your list.
3.) Set aside time to do all of the above. The beginning of the week (or month, if you want to stay on top) is the perfect time to do this.
4.) Make sure that your living and work spaces are neat and tidy. I am most productive when I have  clean room, made-up bed, and neat desk area.
5.) Do not procrastinate! I made the mistake of procrastinating on ONE thing during one of the busiest days I had, and it truly put my whole day one step behind.
6.) Say no to extras. Extra projects (unless it's for class, then you have to do it. Sorry.), extra responsibilities...basically anything you would be happy to do on a less busy week. This one seems obvious, but people often have a hard time saying "no." I promise that it is usually okay to say no, and that you'll feel better in the long run.
7.) Color-code your planner. This was my saving grace over the past 5 days. Yesterday I got so swamped that when I read sentences, I would seriously only see the first letter of some words and I would have to go back and re-read what I had just attempted to read.  If your to-do's are color-coded, at least you'll know what that item pertains to even if your brain is too tired to read it the first time. For example, in my planner, RA duties are listed in purple, academics are listed in blue, sorority/Panhellenic things are listed in pink and personal items are listed in green (my favorite color. I did this on purpose).
8.) Plan as far in advance as you possibly can! I'm talking like, if you can plan some things for  the next 6 months, then do it! I already have things in planner through April. It will cause a lot less stress when you have to do other types of scheduling.
9.) Finally, although it doesn't exactly fall under the category of organization, make time to take care of you! Always take your vitamins and stay healthy, plan out times to do something you love (I like to read--I realize I'm a complete nerd, sorry not sorry) and don't forget to have fun every so often. Laughing is a great stress reliever. When you're healthy and happy, you'll get more accomplished.

                           

These are just some really basic things that help me get through busy times. There are really advanced ways to stay organized, but let's be real, I'm a certified Type-A1 personality and I do not have time for some of those techniques, although I would love to try sometime.

Stay motivated and don't lose sight of your goals! You can do it!

Some of This Will Sound Selfish.....

Let me preface everything by saying that I'm super sensitive, and some of this will sound selfish, but it will all make sense at the end. Please bear with me!

 Throughout my life, I've experienced some really tough things. Parents splitting up, death and sickness of close loved ones, moving far away from what you thought would be your life forever, realizing that being independent isn't always what it's cracked up to be...just hard things that regular people experience in life. Regardless of these big, tough things happening in my life, I've never had any regrets about them. They've always turned into learning experiences and they've made me who I am today--good parts, and bad. But I've always had a really, really, really big heart. You might not be able to tell sometimes, because I like to act tough, but I'm totally not. The sad/bad/mean things cut me deep, and the happy/fun/sweet things made me feel like I could fly, and there's hardly an in-between! 

So, having a big heart can sometimes mean that when a couple bad things happen, it's really really devastating, right?  For example: feeling ignored and unimportant when someone doesn't say hello to you (when in reality they might not have seen you) really puts a damper on your day. Or, putting your best effort into an event or a gift and not feeling appreciated when no one shows up or wants to help, or doesn't seem to like the gift (when in reality, they might be busy or have other things going on in their life that are way more important). Or getting your parking spot stolen from right under your nose (there is no explanation for this, it is truly madness) or seeing that someone tore down all the signs that you made by hand that were meant to be a source of helpfulness (also madness, paired with meanness)....

All of these things could really make a good day sour for anyone. But when they all happen on the same day, then buddy you better watch out, because a sensitive person like me is going to cry and get mascara all over your new shirt because "everyone hates them and is out to get them and doesn't care about them at all." Me, me, me, me, me, meeeeeee.

*cries*

And none of that is really true, is it? Nope. It's totally not. 

Sometimes, you just want everyone to care as much as your very own big heart does. Sometimes, that's not going to happen.  Sometimes, getting your feelings hurt over those things is super selfish. And finally, sometimes, when I feel like I've been selfish, that hurts my feelings even more! (Can you believe it; I can be selfish enough to hurt my own feelings? It's shameful, really).

But it's not just me who is selfish. It's all people, everywhere that have ever existed, ever. And there has never been anyone to walk this planet that was not selfish. Except for one. Do you know how I know?

Because a long long time ago, there was a Man who was perfect. He never, ever did anything wrong. Ever. And people hated Him for that. They wanted to kill them for that. So they did. And He died because all of those selfish people wanted Him gone. So, He went. But...when He went, He kicked selfishness in the rear; He kicked hatefulness in the rear; He kicked all the badness in the world in the rear. He sho' did. And the best part about it was that He came back to let everyone know He did it for all of those selfish people. He let Himself be killed for all of the sensitive, selfish sinners in the world just like me. And that fact alone breaks my heart and truly becomes my saving grace all at the exact same time.  

I'm going to hurry up and finish this before I get any further into "the feels." Let's just say, sometimes you need to have a bad day or a bad thing happen in order to knock you off your pedestal. You're not the queen (or king) of the universe...but there is One... and He deserves all the thanks and praise in the world for knocking you off that pedestal because He died for you. And you'd have no hope without that. What do you even have to be sad about, when the person with the biggest heart in the universe died for you? Nothing...you ultimately have not one single thing to be sad about. 

I'm just saying, He must have really wanted me to get off my high horse tonight, because He sure did let me know that He's number one.

Just think about that, before you want to be selfish, and I'll do the same. 

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

How to Be in College, and a Sorority, and Still Save a Buck!

If you know me at all, you know that I try my absolute hardest to be as thrifty as possible. In other words, I like to save my money anywhere I possibly can. Don't get me wrong, I like to shop. I should really say, I LOVE to shop. I think its genetic, this love of shopping. Being a college student isn't easy, especially when you're funding your education by yourself...costs that include room and board, books and sorority dues. I got lucky this year with being an RA - an opportunity that is both helping me grow and also helping me fund my education (i.e., room and board). Books were affordable with some help from my family. Sorority dues aren't bad either; $65 a month shouldn't be a big deal, and honestly, its really not a big deal at all! But here's where they get me: t-shirts, becoming a big (for the second time in a row...its just so gratifying!), t-shirts again, sisterhood dinners... all of these amazing extra things that are part of being in a sorority that just happen to cost extra money. So, if you're really struggling to manage your school-related budget and your extracurricular-related budget, here are some tips that have helped be to be in college, and a sorority, and still save a buck.

1.) The most important thing you can do when you become a legal adult (in Ohio 18, Alabama 19) is to open a checking and savings account. In case you didn't know, checking accounts are used for regular spending and bill pay and savings accounts are used for, well, savings. Just in case an unexpected expense comes up, or you just want to save your money (you are so smart).

2.) After you open your checking and savings accounts, sign up for your bank's online banking program. This way, you can constantly keep an eye on your accounts. I probably check mine every other day.

3.) If (and when) you get a job try to put 50-65% of your paycheck into your savings. If you cannot put a certain percentage of your paycheck into your account then make sure you account for your upcoming bills, and whatever spending money you may need throughout the month before you do this. That way, you don't need to transfer money back and forth between your accounts. I developed a BAD habit of transferring money instead of budgeting. It's hard to stop once you start, so make sure you start out the right way! Here's an example:

Monthly Paycheck: $400
Monthly College Payment: $150
Monthly Extracurricular Bill: $65
Bi-Weekly Grocery Costs: $50 ($100/month)

So... That gives you $265 already accounted for. That money is going straight to bills and living expenses. Then, a reasonable amount of spending money for the month for things that are just fun (t-shirts, clothes, shoes, accessories, eating out, birthday gift for a friend) could be about $30. Leaving a final amount of $105 to put in your savings account. After one year of budgeting like this, you will have $1,260 saved up! Here comes the hard part about this budget. It doesn't allow for much wiggle room.

4.) If you're serious about sticking to your budget, you have to realize you can't buy every t-shirt, milkshake or go out to dinner so often. This means that you maybe only buy one super-cute t-shirt from an event that you were involved with directly, and you only go out to eat once in two weeks instead of 4 times.

5.) If you have to get a gift for someone, use what you've got! Nothing beats a thoughtful, genuine homemade gift. Plus, it'll save you some major money! Craft supplies aren't cheap, but if you use your spending money to gradually get a good collection of supplies, you can make some pretty cool things.

I purchased this picture frame for $0.25 at a yard sale, painted it, and painted the quote using some paint and scrapbook paper that I already had laying around. The stickers were 40% off at Hobby Lobby.

6.) Try with all your might to buy things on clearance or on sale! 30% off is a great starting point, but always try to go above and beyond that. You never know what you can find on the clearance rack!

Wooden letters: each letter 50% off. Spray paint was on clearance for $5.48! 

7.) Use coupons when you can, especially if it's something you need! Try the RetailMeNot app, it's fully customizable for your favorite stores, and will notify you when there are deals going on in your
area!

With a little patience, a little bit of twine, some plastic flower buttons and stickers and a hot glue gun, you can make some pretty sweet gifts!

8.) Don't give up! Budgeting money is not hard, and you have to start small. For many college students, this is the first time that they've been in charge of their own money. To quote Uncle Ben, "With great power, comes great responsibility." Make smart choices, and think before you swipe that card! I BELIEVE IN YOU!


The more you know...the more bucks you can save!

Stay Savvy! 

Breaking Barbie

Background: 

Breaking Bad. The title of a show that comes with much debate, scorn and a huge - I mean HUGE, fan base. The show ran for 5 years on national television, and told the story of a man whose journey was not a pretty one. The main character, Walter White, was dying from terminal, inoperable lung cancer, and he didn't have any money to pay for his treatments with his teacher's salary. The 50 year old character and his wife had a baby, plus a son that had mental disabilities. So, Mr. White, the intelligent, quiet and respectable family-man high-school chemistry teacher begins to cook crystal meth with one of his former students who may or may not have ever graduated high school to get some extra money to provide for his family after he dies. Obviously the show is political; it has a deeper, underlying theme and meaning other than that cooking crystal meth and selling it leads to a horrible path in life. 

                                             

Present Day:

Somewhere after the Season Five finale, someone decided that it would be a great idea to make action figures of Breaking Bad characters. Not the kind that were marketed for show memorabilia collectors to buy, either. I'm talking about action figures for kids. Namely, they were action figures to be sold at large-scale chain, Toys R Us. And here is where things get dicey. A Florida mother, who wrote under the name Susan Myers (now revealed as Susan Schrivjer) created a petition on www.change.org in order to protest the sale of the dolls at Toys R Us. I can't say I blame her. The toys come with a miniature sized bag of cash, beakers, and a tiny plastic tray of crystal methamphetamine. The figures represent the ugly transition that Walter White makes from desperate teacher to hardened drug dealer throughout the show. 

                                              

Like I said before, I firmly believe that the show has a very different underlying theme - probably something along the lines of teachers not making enough money, teachers not getting adequate health care benefits in order to provide for themselves and their families et cetera, et cetera. Obviously, the show is about drugs. Hard drugs. It is not a children's show; it is most definitely a show meant for educated, mature adults. I do believe that the toys needed to be removed from the shelves of a store meant for children; if a collector wants the item, it can still be ordered on Amazon. 

But...

Chances are, your ten-year-old doesn't know what a methamphetamine is, specifically what crystal methamphetamine is. What your ten-year-old can see is that Barbies are inexplicably "skinny" with features that go right along with the unrealistic expectations of women that they see on the covers of magazines while you wait in line at the grocery store. What your ten-year-old can see is that G.I. Joe and Captain America are completely ripped, even though ordinary men look nothing like that. Does that stop you from buying either of these toys for your son or daughter? Aren't there other toys out there that can ultimately ruin your child, especially when what they're seeing is something they comprehend? 

Regardless, the show is about drugs. Drugs are bad for anyone and everyone, and they especially should not be marketed to children - AKA, the future of the nation. I don't disagree with Mrs. Schrivjer about wanting the toys removed, but I don't exactly support an extreme tirade against something that children mostly won't understand anyways. I think the whole thing is up for interpretation and that there are pros and cons to each side of the argument. But whether you're buying your child a pretty Barbie doll or a hardened-character action figure, think about the message you are sending. 

Think before you speak! (and petition and purchase)

Hailey

16 Things that are Actually Way Worse than Going to Class

I am writing this post at 1:30 in the morning. I am very very tired and very very sleepy and all I really want to do is maybe read a book, but mostly I want to sleep; I want to put on my comfiest sleep shirt and sleep pants, and cuddle up with my favorite blankets, and sleep a glorious sleep. I definitely do not want to set an alarm before I go to sleep. But remember, not every day can be a Pajama Day.  Also, being the college student that I am, I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO CLASS IN THE MORNING. However, I am going to go to class in the morning. Do you know why? Because there are tons of things that are WAY worse than going to class when you're tired. Mostly, I can think of 16 things.

1.) Stepping in dog poop. This is the worst thing ever. Which shoe is it on? Whose shoe is it on? Can I get it off by wiping my foot really forcefully in the grass, or is that how it got there in the first place? Crap...I think it's on my sock. It really stinks to step in dog poop.

2.) Finding another person's hair, or tooth, or fingernail, or a bug in your food. Need I say more? 

3.) Being unprepared for the weather. Nothing, and I repeat nothing, is worse than being cold on day that was supposed to be warm, or being wet on a day that was supposed to be dry.

4.) Forgetting to bring a pen. I hate borrowing pens from people simply because they may have put that pen in their mouth. Ew.

5.) Letting someone borrow a pen, which is probably your favorite pen, and then not getting it back. This is in fact devastating. 

6.) Losing, running out of, or otherwise destroying your favorite makeup item or chaptstick. Especially if the product is no longer carried. That's just sad. 

7.) Writing a 13 page research paper only to have your computer crash and lose the whole thing...the night before it's due. 

8.) Discovering that the delicious snack you were about to eat actually expired last weekend. 

9.) Getting food poisoning from the aforementioned delicious snack that you ate anyways.

10.) Stubbing your toe. Twice in a row.

11.) Tripping, falling and all other components of clumsiness consisting of looking like a newborn giraffe in a public place. How embarassing! 

12.) Realizing that you forgot to put your clothes in the dryer after you've already left to go out of town. Just imagine that mildewy smell...mmmmmmmm.

13.) Going to change a sweet little baby's diaper and then getting peed on. This has actually happened to me on more than one occasion.

14.) Accidentally putting A LOT of taco seasoning on your homemade oatmeal because you thought you were reaching for cinnamon...then wondering why it smelled like tacos at breakfast time..then realizing that it's actually coming from your breakfast. Not like I know how terrible this is from experience or anything...

15.) Realizing all too late that you're out of clean underwear.What are you even supposed to DO in this situation?!

and finally...

16.) Actually, literally running into a glass door that you thought was open (it wasn't) and not only hitting your head super hard, but also falling down onto your bum, in front of more than 3 people. This really really is no fun.

Some of these things are things that have actually happened to me, and some of them are things that have happened to my friends and some of them are things that have probably happened to you, and they're all pretty gosh darn terrible! So when you think that going to class or going to that pesky little meeting that'll probably only last 20 minutes is just the absolute last thing you want to do, remember that things could always be worse, and you're probably lucky to be going to class or a meeting in the first place!! 

Stay Positive! 

Hailey

Pajama Days

Well, today is the day. October 9th. The day that will (probably) infamously be called "The time that someone wrote threats on the bathroom wall in the library and in the parking garage elevator and we didn't have class."

I'm on duty today. For those of you who have never experienced the life of an RA, being "on duty" means that I stay in  my residence hall for a set period of time; during the week from 4:30pm-8:00am the next morning, and on the weekend from 4:30pm Friday - 8:00am Monday. That's correct, I do not leave the building for a solid 2 and 1/2 days. The reason for this compensated house-arrest is to make yourself available to any residents in the building that may need your assistance when they have locked themselves out of their room, are unable to remember how to do their laundry or cannot access the Internet. 2 of these 3 problems are easily solved. To fix the third problem, you have to be a wizard. So anyway, since UNA doesn't have class today, I began my duty day (ha ha) at 12pm today and I will finish it at 12pm tomorrow. I'm not going to lie to you, I was pretty nervous about it. I have a tendency to be dramatic...but since UNA took the threats seriously enough to cancel school, I may have taken the threats seriously enough to move my bed in front of my door last night so that no one could get in my room, but you'll never know that for sure. I could totally be making that up. 

My original plan was to post a timeline of how my day has gone in relation to the threats. But alas, my body needed sleep and I didn't wake up until 12:54pm...Yeah, you read that right. 12:54pm; as in: the afternoon, as in: the middle of the day, as in: my mother never let me sleep this late when I lived at home. My point is, it's now 3:00pm and I am still in my pajamas. So, I want to take the time to give you 7 reasons to have a pajama day every once and a while.

1.) There may be a death threat out for one's college campus...what a better way to go out than in one's pajamas?

2.) Pajama days are great for catching up on rest. I didn't know I needed to sleep in until 1pm until I did it. Obviously, my body needed sleep. Duh.

3.) If one is usually quite the hard worker, a necessary pajama day once a month should be prescribed to you. Goodness knows I could benefit from that. 

4.) On a pajama day, the possibility of being productive is still there. In fact, I have taken an online test, made a smoothie and thought about finishing my door decs. 

5.) Quite possibly the most important reason to have a pajama day: There is no need whatsoever to shave one's legs. Why, you may ask? You have been in your pajamas for at least 12 hours; no one will want to touch you anyways.

6.) Pajama days are a perfect time to update one's iPhone to the latest iOS 8.0.2 software because it truly might take all day. Or at least 1 hour.

And finally...

7.) Pajama days remind you to take time to appreciate and reminisce the simpler things in life: a cup of coffee, birds chirping outside your window, old Lifetime movies and dial-up Internet.

If you know me at all, you know that I do not usually take the time to relax, so this post may have come as a shock to you. But, I think that being lazy once in a while allows you to appreciate the hard work you did yesterday and the hard work you'll do tomorrow. To perfectly sum up a pajama day, Jarod Kintz (an author whose work I have not yet read but might someday) said this: "Hoping to get a head start on the next day, I eat breakfast the night before. That way I can sleep in until two in the afternoon."

In all seriousness, if you're like me and you rarely allow yourself time to slow down and breathe and take time to enjoy your life and the life happening around you, then you should make time for it. Make time to relax. Make time to be with your friends. Make time to be with your family. Make time to be by yourself and do things that you love. Hard work is an attribute that is highly respected by many, but relaxation and self-love are attributes of happy, healthy people. Have a pajama day every once in a blue moon...you probably won't regret it.

Stay lazy (but not for too long...)

Hailey 

P.S.--This sweatshirt would be perfect for the pajama days where I'm not actually on duty! 

It's Been a While...

Well, it's been a while since I last blogged. Over a year, to be exact. And quite the year it has been! I'm planning on blogging more regularly (partly because I have to for a 200 point grade in my social media marketing class, #unamk375, and partly because I just need to). After this post to catch you up on my life and all of the strange happenings, I plan to actually give this blog some sort of randomized purpose. I really want to write about how I save money while paying  my own way through college (thanks Mom, for teaching me how to be responsible with finances!), about the different "healthy" baking experiments I've tried (doctor's orders!) and about all the cute crafts (and Pinterest fails) I've made (or attempted to make) for my little sister in Phi Mu. But that all comes later.

Summing up the last year and 3 months can be made simple. I quit my job at Cracker Barrel, set the fire alarm off in Appleby East a few more times (see It Was Just a Potato for reasons why this is important), was elected as Vice President of Philanthropy and Scholarship for National Panhellenic Conference at UNA (of which I will be President of beginning in January 2015), planned an event for said position, signed a contract with Residence Life as an RA in a freshmen residence hall, quit band, finished my sophomore year of college with a great GPA and watched as one of my best friends made the bold decision to travel to England AND Germany all by herself. I'm totally living vicariously through you Bethany, by the way. Then, I worked at the YMCA as a lifeguard where I made lots of new friends and closed the pools because summer camp kids pooped in them. After that, I watched my first baby brother graduate from high school and begin his college journey, and I'm so proud of him! Later on, I celebrated 2 years of dating Mr. Jeremy Curry, and it's totally crazy how time flies. I'm pretty sure it was just yesterday that I was totally intimidated by the large southern man who oh-so-sweetly introduced himself to me. Those are pretty much the important things that happened to me in the last year.

Recently, I've been plowing through my junior year at UNA with suprisingly slow speed. It seems as if reality hits the hardest when you're almost done with school. Classes are actually not easy, and I totally regret never getting into the habit of doing the textbook reading when I was a freshmen. I promise I'm working on it now. But take it from me, always do the reading. I found out that I actually have a problem with my insulin (not diabetic..hopefully never will be) and I had to totally change my eating habits, which is great for me, but super-duper hard. I got another little in Phi Mu, shout-out to June for being my tuba-playing protege and twin soul. Ultimately, 2014 has shaped up to be a great year, and hopefully it'll go out with a bang.

I know this was a super random, rambling post and I promise I'm working on it. Thanks for your patience! I'll actually be posting again later this week, provided I survive Thursday(sort of kidding) but watch this video to fully understand what I'm talking about! UNA Closing

Thanks for reading!

Hailey