Washi Tape Organization

I have a slight obsession with Washi Tape... Well, I guess any kind of decorative tape really. One of my favorite craft stores has a whole wall of it, and with the dollar aisle rolls at Target, my collection has grown exponentially over the last year. Before, I just kept the rolls in an Ikea box - so they were organized, but every time I wanted to use one I had to pull out the box and dig through for a specific one. Now, it wasn't particularly inconvenient, but when I spotted this thread rack at a moving sale, I knew right away I had to have it for my tape.

 There's a stand on the back that props the rack up, making it sit about six inches away from the edge of my desk. My desk is pretty wide, so this isn't much of a problem for me. The rack had one broken peg - probably why it was being sold - but it doesn't bother me so much.  I was worried that I wouldn't be able to fit a roll on each peg, for some of the rolls are wider than the spaces, but I have some smaller rolls (that I found at HomeGoods) that fit perfectly. I imagine that I might have an issue if I needed to use each and every peg... but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it! Right now, I'm just glad to have a cute display for all the bright & colorful rolls. It's really convenient to have it all right at my fingertips to use in my planner or on notes. 

Aren't garage/moving sales the best?! How do you organize your washi? 

XOXO

New & Upcoming Book Releases

Is it just me, or does it seem like the end of each spring is accompanied by the release of SO MANY YA BOOKS? Now, I'm not complaining! It makes sense that YA publishers would release books just in time for summer reading. One of my favorite activities during the summer is to sit outside with a cold drink, some sunglasses, and a good book. And by good book, I mean YA Fiction! Here are some new books that I'm looking forward to reading this summer. (click on the titles for plot summaries and info!)

P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han (already released!)

Jenny Han is one of my favorite authors. I find her heroines to be very relatable - dealing with real issues, and not just who likes who. This book is the sequel to To All The Boys I've Loved Before, so if you haven't read that, be sure to check it out first! While I was sad when the first book ended without a firm conclusion, I'm happy to have a whole other book to read about Lara Jean, Peter, and Josh. 

The Boy Most Likely To - Huntley Fitzpatrick (August 2015)

I also love Huntley Fitzpatrick. Her books are a perfect summer read - full of romance, family, and humor. While you're waiting for this book to come out in August, check out it's companion novel My Life Next Door.

Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen (already released!)

Sarah Dessen's books are like old friends - you know you can always count on them to have just the right combination of real life problems and dreamy boys. This sounds a little more intense than some of Dessen's other books, but I have no doubt it will be just as sweet on the romance front and just as moving when dealing with family relationships and friendships.

The Fill-In Boyfriend - Kasie West (already released!)

I've read some of Kasie West's other books and am looking forward to reading this one. Her books are a quick read for me, so I'll probably save this one for when I'm in the mood to stay up late reading. The premise of this book - pretty obvious from the title - sounds just like a Hallmark movie... so I know I'll love it! 

These last few books are by authors that I haven't read before, but I have heard of them on Goodreads or seen the books at the bookstore. I'm a sucker for cute cover art, and these ones caught my eye. 

99 Days - Katie Cotugno (already released!)

Last Year's Mistake - Gina Ciocca (June 2015)

Finding Mr. Brightside - Jay Clark (already released!)

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things - Ann Aguire (already released!)

What's on your summer reading list? I love to make a big stack of all the books I want to read - no school books or homework allowed!

XOXO

*All images from publishers' websites, linked to titles.

Surviving Finals Week

 

If you're heading into finals (or facing a major deadline), I'm guessing you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. Or a lot overwhelmed! I've been through many final exams, papers, and projects in my academic life, and I like to think I've learned a bit about how to successfully get through it all. I can't promise you'll get through it with no problems... I probably had a good cry session every finals week! But that was just how I needed to let some of the pressure go and move on. I hope these tips will help you find ways to approach finals week with a little more confidence.

1. Stay Calm... When the projects, papers, exams, and assignments start piling up toward the end of the term, it's important to remember that you've made it this far!  You've made it through the majority of the work, the bulk of the material, and all but a week or two of the course length. You can make it just a few more weeks!
2. Stay Organized... Before you start studying, writing a paper, or working on a project, figure out exactly what you need to get done, what you need to get it done, and when you are going to get it done.  Your planner is your BFF during finals week. I love a good checklist and to map out what due dates are first/which tasks will take the most of my time so that I can prioritize accordingly. Make sure you have all the course material and whatever sources/supplies you might need to complete a paper or project. Also be sure to show up prepared for each exam - bring extra pencils, pens, paper, scantrons, blue/green books - whatever you need to feel ready and prepared.
3. Get Creative... I'm very much a visual learner, so figuring how I am going to complete a project or how I am going to study is essential to my success. Remember that often times your teacher/professor only sees the final product - so how you get there is up to you! For me, this often means making flashcards for tests and using word/idea maps to brainstorm for papers and projects. Staring at a blank screen probably won't magically bring you an idea, and just reading through your textbook/notes probably won't help you retain information. You have to really engage with the material if you want to learn and come up with a great paper or project idea.
4. Use The Buddy System... Studying with a friend not only gives you a chance to learn from each other, but also makes sure that you carve out time to actually study. Even if your best friends aren't in your classes, just getting together to study independently will help you to plan more study time and to relieve stress during study breaks. That being said, choose your study buddies wisely - some friends are more distracting than helpful! 
5. Ask For Help... If you have a question about an assignment or exam, ask your teacher/professor.  It might prevent you from wasting time working on something that you might be doing wrong or studying something that you won't be tested on.  Also, ask your family and friends for help studying. Be sure to ask in advance, and to be specific. I've found that if you just say, "Hey, will you help me study?" you might not get the most enthusiastic response. But if you ask, "Will you help me study my art history flashcards after dinner tomorrow night?" it lets them know that you're going to be prepared to make the most of it, and they can plan around it too. 
6. Take Care Of Yourself... It's especially important to take care of yourself when you're feeling stressed. Figure out ways that help you relieve stress and remember to take breaks for those things. I always study my flashcards in a bubble bath - it is a relaxing atmosphere for me to study in, and it also helped me destress after a long study session and before bed. Some students live in sweats during finals week. If that helps you feel relaxed and comfortable, go for it! Personally, I prefer to spend a little extra time on my outfit/make-up/hair to make myself feel more confident heading into a test or presentation. Also remember to get lots of sleep and pack snacks! Getting hungry during a test is definitely not ideal.
7. Make It Fun!... When you've got major deadlines and a lot of pressure, it's the little things that will help you get through. For me, it's pretty colored pens to write with, special snacks/drinks, cute fuzzy socks, and bright sticky notes. For you, it might be typing in a funky font, listening to your favorite song every time you write a paragraph, or making up your own flashcard quiz-game-show. Whatever helps get you through it!

Remember to take it all one day at a time. Just think how AMAZING you'll feel when it's all over (and remember to celebrate yourself for getting through it). I wish you all the best of luck!

XOXO