How to Cook For One

One of the best, and most important, skill to start to master as an adult is cooking. Food is a basic thing to, you know, live, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to experiment and express yourself. Making cooking and baking a passion of mine has added something more to life. Dramatic, I know, but why do you think so many people have been sucked into cooking shows?

I'm not a master chef bt any means. I still make mistakes, recipes still don't come out quite like I hope, and sometimes I still burn cookies. But it's not something I dread, something that feels like a chore. Learning how to cook, and, specifically as a single person, takes a lot of trial and error. However, I'm here to share what I've learned works, for anyone that is still struggling, or will be soon entering into  adulthood where you can’t justify Taco Bell every night.

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1. Meal Planning

Meal planning is the most important step, for a number of reasons. One, you won't be figuring out what to do every night, instead you cram it all in one night, usually Sunday. It makes grocery shopping a lot faster, cheaper, and less stressful. Food also won;t go to waste, and if you love making lists like me, it's another opportunity to make lists. For some reason, meal planning stressed me out too much to start. I'm a super picky person, and I correlated meal planning with meal prep, which, as I work an inconsistent schedule, really doesn't work for me. That's not the case. I'm going to break down the super simple steps to meal planning.

First, although optional, buy a cute, but compact, small notebook. I did this for the simple fact that I can carry it with me, to work and the store, and will fit in my purse. I use it to make my plan and my grocery list, so my usual big spiral notebooks wasn't sensible. Second, if you already haven't. I encourage you to find a way to get ahold of recipes. Cook books are great, but take up space. There are tons of cooking pages online, I use the Tasty app, or just google recipe websites. Mostly though, I use Pinterest (click to go to my board) and honestly, just pin any recipe I find, whether it peaks my interest or not. To sum it up, get together a bunch of recipes. Third, just plan out what you want each day. I plan my week of meals based on my hours at work, and sales going on at Kroger or Meijer. Fourth, make your grocery list. When I pick what I'm making each day, I then make a list of all the ingredients I'll need with check boxes under it. I go through my kitchen and check off anything I have already, and compile the rest into another list. Lastly, I buy everything I need. I'll be going over grocery shopping later, but that's all it takes to meal plan.

It's important to stick to your meal plan for the simple fact that you buy your food based on that plan. Any produce or meat you buy, but decide not to use, is wasted food and money. It's also a great opportunity to keep ahold of any recipes that worked. I made a recipe book, because it's well known how over the top I am, but making a folder in your phone or just starring you already made meal planning list will work just as well. Don't give up on a recipe if it doesn't work the first time either. Cooking doesn't come natural and takes time and patience.

2. Grocery shopping

This is probably why most of you are here. I'm convinced that no one has any real idea how to grocery shop, I get irrationally angry when I see people tweeting a pantry full of sugary foods and pop talking about that's how their kitchen will look. So, it should go without saying, don't buy a bunch of fruit roll ups and call it a day. Alongside purchasing things from your meal plan every week, there are things that you should keep around, like basic seasonings (salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder, etc.), back ups for when recipes go wrong, (I have sooo much back up pasta), and it's fine to buy foods outside of your meal plan. Any frozen foods, canned food, snacks, for nights you really aren't feeling what you should be making for dinner. There are two big things I've learned; first, it's ok to buy in bulk, and second, it's not ok to buy produce in bulk. One of the hardest things to learn while cooking for yourself is how much to buy. It's ok to buy nonperishable items or foods with a longer shelf life you use frequently, in bulk. In fact, I always buy chicken in bulk and freeze it. It's cheaper, and as long as it's stored properly, it'll be good for months. Meats like fish, though, I don't buy in bulk. Most meats can be frozen though, in the freezer aisle, which will eliminate this need all together. I personally prefer fresher meat though, which leads me into my next point. When it comes to produce and perishable foods, be careful at how much you are buying. It's helpful to know the shelf life of things and how to properly store them to extend their freshness. When I first started, I would buy things like cilantro and parsley, and it would go bad before I could use it all. Although it's not as fresh, I opted to buy already chopped garnishes that last longer, which you can find with spices. I've learned to note how much I eat of things like bananas, apples, carrots, celery, and don't buy more than I normally eat. When it comes to buy fruits and vegetables I need for my meal plan, I will usually buy Monday-Thursdays when I go shopping for the week, and stop at the store Wednesday or Thursday to buy what I'll need the rest of the week. It ensures my produce doesn't go bad, and gives me an opportunity to pick up more things I need like milk or eggs. Ultimately, you need to gauge how often you go through certain food groups and shop accordingly. Don't be afraid of bulk, but also don't waste money buying too much food that will only last a few days.

3. Cooking for Two

When I say cooking for two, I mean you and you. I have gotten myself into the habit of, when I cook, I make enough for two. This isn't essential by any means, but having leftovers for the next day will cut back on spending for lunch at work, and could save you from cooking on the weekend. Leftovers aren't awful, and it's totally ok to shake it up the second time around. Most recipes are made for a family of four, and most recipes should not be more than halved anyways, because it could mess up the taste. There are even some things, like soups and casseroles, that I will make four servings worth and use for a few days, if I know my schedule will be hectic. Instead of cooking one chicken breast for chicken parm, just make two. Make the whole box of spaghetti instead of half. You don't always have to make single serving dinners, sometimes it's more efficient to cook a little more. Just make sure to plan how much you'll need when meal planning and shopping.

4. Other Important Advice

If there's one thing I can't stress enough, it's how much of a difference quality cookware makes when it comes to cooking. I have slowly but surely started swapping out my cheap Walmart cookware with more quality things, like Rachel Ray. Good quality tupperware will help with freshness, I recently got a Faberware knife set from work as opposed to a random knife set I was given for Christmas and I was so excited as how much easier it changed my life, I had to stop myself from just chopping other random foods. Little appliances like toaster ovens come in handy too, although I've done fine without them, and are more of a fun thing to have rather than a necessity. As your cooking skills are more refined, the more small kitchen appliances you'll want and will come in handy, just don't get ahead of yourself. 

The best piece of advice I can give when it comes to cooking is just have fun! Try new things, and don't get discouraged when things don't always pan out as you had hoped. As an independent individual,  however, it's crucial to begin learning how to cook and how to work your kitchen properly. It's a great stress reliever, it's much healthier, and will save you tons of money in the long run. If you have any points I missed or any advice you would like to share, let me know, because I'm always happen to learn! I hope you learned a thing and too, and happy cooking! 

My Addiction and Recovery

I think it's important to clarifying two things before I start into something most of you will find incredibly mind boggeling coming from me.

First, I am getting help. Second, there should no cause for concern about my well being. 

So, what could the straight and narrow, even picked up a joint her life, never drank until 18 Samantha be addicting and be recovering from? Xanax, the white girls addiction of choice (see, there's that infamous "I'm trying to cover up the seriousness of the issue," humor).

I don't want this to be formal, not that my blog is formal by any means. But I'm typing this from my phone. See, it's been a demon I've thought hard and heavy about showing, because I have no doubt if I had never told anyone, no one would have any clue. I could no doubt continue on with my life, leaving this bump in the road as just that. But instead of that awkward moment where you trip but catch yourself, then look around hoping no one would notice, I'm instead going to tell everyone about me almost tripping, because I did manage to catch myself, instead of falling and struggling to get back up.

I'm as surprised to be writing this as you probably are to be reading it. My entire life I watched my father suffer from alcoholism, and for a few years I had to simultaneously handle a mother who would do any drugs she could get her hands on. Now, I'm not going to get into the nitty gritty of some of the shit I had to survive, because that's something I don't know if I'll ever be able to share. But, suffice to say addiction, abuse, homelessness, and hardships were the basis of my young adolescence. I faced situations and endured traumas no person should ever have to face. After losing my mother though, I was finally able to pull myself up by my bootstraps. From that moment on, I was always getting into something, surrounding myself with the most wonderful friends. I was never alone, I never dwelled on my past and only focused on the fact that I was not a statistic, as I should be, but had the opportunity to make myself a bright future. Throughout college I was more than lucky to have met the people I met, an unbreakable support system with my best friends never more than 5 minutes away. For 8 years I was too busy to be able to conquer the monster that was quietly preparing to remind me I can't run from my problems. I had a great life though, I wasn't about to let go of the happiness I had yearned for for so long. 

I knew I'd have a hard time adjusting to adult life, but, I had no idea that it wouldn't be just adjusting to adult life. It would be coming home to an empty, dark apartment, littered with just memories of all my years of uninterrupted bliss. It didn't take for the sleepless nights and overwhelming quiet to take its toll. I felt 13 again, with tbe dark thoughts of suicide and how was I going to do this? All I could think of was the thoughts I had been able to put on hold. But how many times had I told others, it's a permanent fix to a temporary issue? Nevertheless living day to day was a constant struggle. I wasn't taking care of myself, I wasn't eating, I wasn't showering, the only household chore I could bring myself to do was take care of my cats, they were my only saving grace so feeding them and loving them was the least I could do. I don't know how I managed to even work like I did. I knew I couldn't keep going like I was going. 

My next issue is what led me down the road to xanax. I refused to see a professional. Besides being uninsured at the time, I refused to accept anything was wrong with me. I watched my mother struggle with no polar, and I refused to be labeled as a lunatic, despite all my advocacy for mental health, I was on the other side of the conversation. I wasn't on total denial though, something is very wrong with me. Depression at the least. I looked into what I could do, at home. Pot? I couldn't, I worked at a police department, and could be subject to random drug tests. Any drugs were out. The next was seemingly simple; self medicate. In my delusion I had rationalized my decision as I was fixing my own brains chemical imbalance. I had convinced myself I wasn't doing anything wrong, I was doing what any psychiatrist would do. Next thing I know, I couldn't live without my pills. But I was a functioning human again. For a while. After a few months I started to crash. All I could do was sleep. I'd get up to go to work, then go directly back to sleep. I was panicking, I had such a small window of freedom, and I was just not falling back down a hole, but I had dug the hole deeper. I was broke, I spent all my money obtaining the pills. I wasn't making much to begin with, so after my bills were paid, it was gone. The nights seemed darker and the thoughts were louder than before. And I was alone. No one knew what was happening. I had debates telling Alex and Carlos, but I didn't want to disappoint them. They had been there for me for years and it felt shameful for them to know what I had eventually stooped to. I've never been one to open up, I never let people know what's going on, which is a significant factor on why I felt like I had no options on the first place. 

When I got my interview for my job now, I was at my worst. I would go days without talking to anyone outside of anyone calling 911, and a few coworkers, when forced. After getting the job, I had my revelation. I couldn't keep doing this, I was better than this. I needed to stop letting myself continue to let myself think what I was doing was ok, just because I wanted to call it self mediciation instead of an addiction. I was making something of my life, I was in a place that I never though I'd be in. Things weren't good, but I was still able to land a job I had competed against many people for. I wasn't hopeless, my life wasn't hopeless. 

It's been a hard process, because my lifestyle hasn't changed. I come home to an empty, dark apartment. I love to be at work, where I'm around people who think I'm funny, who are more than happy to know how I am and ask me to go out, to come over. My best friends live within an hour of me, and I have a bright future. Everyday is a battle, but it's a battle I know I'm strong enough to fight. I tell myself everyday that I stopped before things got so bad I couldn't pull myself out. There are still those thoughts, the dark corners of my mind I find myself wandering into. I no longer have the distractions I had for years, the barriers keeping my suppressed traumas at bay. But it's been a wonderful proceeds, to find healthy outlets. Addiction is never a boat I though I would be in, but there's no question that I can be a better person from it, and to use this as an opportunity to let others know that anyone can be fighting demons you don't know about. 

If you feel like you're drowning, Iran important to keep in mind that all you have to do is stand up. Your legs may be weak, and you may be exhausted fighting the feeling of hopelessness, but air is just within reach. I know how much it's needed to hear you're not alone, and you're not.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any help you feel you need, and I'll help direct you to the right resources and people that will be able to help.

What's In My Gym Bag + My Fitness Tips

It's important to note that by no means am I a fitness expert. A novice really, but I do enjoy a really hard workout to let out the stress I feel from work. Fitness for me has been an on again, off again thing. I know the standard - what machines work what, what muscles are where, but I'm not an expert by any means. However, I know how hard it can be to get into the swing of things again, or to jump into fitness for the first time. So what do you need, and how do you get started?

What's in my gym bag:

1. I carry a nifty Victoria's Secret gym bag, one of those you get for spending too much money. It's big and cute, but any bag works.

2. Gloves, for lifting. My fragile hands can't handle weights without these.

3. Extra gym clothes; most important socks, quite a few pairs. I also keep my gym clothes in there; leggings, a sports bra, and a shirt. I also keep a spare shirt and underwear in there - yes, underwear.

4. A water bottle. In my everyday life, I use a camelbak, but at the gym, I use a wide mouth water bottle so I can chug it.

5. Earbuds. Anything to avoid talking to people while also letting me be graced by Missy Elliot's voice.

6. Personal hygiene products. Deodorant, Simple brand face wipes, body spray, toothbrush and toothpaste, a hairbrush, multiple hair ties,  and a headband. 

7. I also keep a small emergency kid, with bandaids, tampons, Midol, and pain relievers.

8. Most importantly, because I love food, I keep protein bars in all the time, and will throw fruit in before I go to eat on my way home.

Fitness Tips:

1. Most importantly, get into a fitness habit. Find the best time for you to go to be able to go consistently.

2. Set goals. Something I've stressed on my blog is setting goals, and that will change your life. You can set goals on losing weight, how much you lift, how long can you run, whatever you are striving for. Once you achieve your first goal, working out no longer feel like a chore, but becomes something you want to do.

3. Learn how to properly work out! I was so bad at this when I first started, because I thought running would be all I needed. Lifting is one of the best things to do for your body. But every workout has proper form, and not using the proper for will not give you results. Do your research on workouts, what you want to do, and how to do it correctly!

4. Pain is good. You have to push yourself passed what is comfortable, because your body is not getting the work out it needs. Now, if you break a bone, that's not the good pain. But feeling that burn is what you should be striving for. Be sure to see your doctor on this issue, because I am not an expert.

5. Don't be intimidated, and don't be afraid to ask questions. People at the gym are worried about themselves, and are not focused on you. Don't be scared to sweat, and pant, because you're working to make yourself better, and everyone respects that. If you don't know what you're doing, trainers are there to help you! Most people will not go out of their way to correct your form, however, if you ask, most people will be happy to help. Beware though - if it's not a trained professional, they could also be doing it wrong!

A Southern Answers Buzzfeed's Questions

I was scrolling through the web earlier when I found this article, linked below. 26 questions people from the south need to answer. I decided that, being from the south, I would take it upon myself to answer these questions.

Although I've been displaced for a few years, I still have quite a few quirks, like how I pronounce some words, my inability to drink tea that isn't 75% sugar, and adamantly believing that BBQ is a way of cooking pork, not the sauce you put on it (fight me). I don't mean for this to be serious, it's all for fun. So, enjoy!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/jonmichaelpoff/26-things-that-really-bother-people-about-southerners?utm_term=.xhnn5M1zN8#.neymGZXROl

1. Why do southerners call raccoon's "coons" like are y'all friends or smth?!

Easy - we are friends. As Southerns, we are held to a high standard of southern hospitality. We extend that t our furry folk, too.

2. why do people from the south like mason jars so much

Versatility - you can use them for food, decorations, piggy banks, vases, you name it, you can do it Who doesn't love that really?

3. Why do people from the south always feel compelled to talk to everyone they see? WE'RE STRANGERS. Leave me alone.

Because we're fucking polite, Kelsey Smith

4. Why do Southerners dress for college football games like they're going to church?

Despite our devotion to following the Bible's teaching, we sure do love our pigskin, almost as much as the lord.

5.Why do southerners call their shopping carts "buggies"??

Historically, it comes from the idea of horse and buggy. And since we're always 6 decades behind the rest of the country, we still fancy the horse and buggy.

7.why do southerners get a boner from riding a truck in the mud i just dont understand

Mud is our version of snow. You have snowboarding, we have muddin'. Just let us have this.

8.Why do people from the south call men younger then them son?

I don't know how many people this person knows from the south, but son isn't common. It's more of "boy" and I think it's more of a way to put down the youngin's

9.Why do people in the south insist on getting married and having kids so young?? Such a weird shift from the norm here, I don't like it 

Technically, all throughout history you marry and reproduce young. So the south stuck to the tradition.

10.Why do people from the south always have add an S to the last name of stores' names? "Girl, I found these at Belks, girl!!" 

Well there's more than one Belk isn't there?

11.People from the South... Why do you guys monogram EVERYTHING????

That old timey saying "well it ain't got your name on it." Hold your horses - it sure does.

12.Why do people from the south call large roaches water bugs?

Does it matter what we call them? They're devil creatues

13. Why do people from the south talk so damn slow, like I feel like they think we're stupid and don't understand anything so they talk slow...

If the shoe fits honey, wear it.

14.why do people from the south have to say mondee , tuesdee etc

Our cute accent. That's why

15.why do people from the south call all pop Coke like that's confusing to me

That's not even the confusing part. The confusing part is you say it, you always mean sweet tea, and it's like the waitress just.. knows. Say Coke, eat sweet tea. A completely unflawed system. I love it.

16.Why do people from the south love to tell you they're from the south? lol

Because we love being from the south. Beautiful beaches, warm weather, great fucking food, sweet tea.. and you never see 3 feet of snow.

17.Why do people from the south love fried foods? Because they worship the Lard. #pointsme

hahahahha, truuuu

18. why do people from the south think Olive Garden is fancy

You mean to tell me it's not??

19.why do white people from the south always have weird names for their grandmas

Northern grocery store, you yell for your grandma, 34234234 old ladies turn around.

Southern grocery store, you yell memaw, only your granny turns around.

20.Question of the day: Why do people from the south add the word "salad" to a dish? It doesn't make it healthier or make me wanna eat it!

We have two categories, fried foods and not fried foods. So, we just call the not fried foods salad. We get it.

21.and while we're on shit that's been pissing me off, why do southerners pronounce "wash" as "warsh"?

Nothing wrong with spicing up words.

22.why do people from the south think it is ok to go out in the snow in their underwear

We don't get snow. It's still warm enough to wear our underbritches outside

23.I have issues with how southerners pronounce "spoiled." What is "spolt" and why the hell do you keep calling your dog that?

The great thing about the south is our cookin'. that's been established. So, we like to add spice to our words as well as our food.

24.why do southerners all have two first names. one name is hard enough to remember!!!!!!

Try singing Billie Jean without the Jean part. It just ain't the same, is it?

25. why do southerns make the word oil sound like earl

Spice of life

26.Why do southerners turn 1 syllable words into 3?some lady just lost pa-yu-ounds" probably from all that extra speaking

We like to talk. We have a lot of good things to say, so we want to say as much as we can. Bless your heart.

Why I Joined Alpha Phi Omega

Coming into college, I was as frazzled as any other freshman. I had moved a lot in my life so I had become accustomed to having to make new friends. But college is different, because everyone is trying to make new friends. In the first few weeks, or even months, of college, you meet a ton of people you call friends. People on your floor, in your classes, you sign up for 1001 clubs at your campus club extravaganza (campusfest as we call it here), and your Facebook blows up with friend requests and your twitter following doubles.

I was one of those people. My freshman year roommate was random, but we clicked super well, and were instantly great friends, and I don't think I would've made it freshman year without her. My best friend from high school also went to college with me (not on purpose though), but I was looking for something more; sisterhood. Yes, my APO journey begins when I rushed a sorority.

I'll save the details, because that's another story all together. But my freshman year put me in a dark place. I didn't find the sisterhood I had hoped for, and had been through a lot in my personal life. I felt hopeless and homeless going into my sophomore year, because although it was a rough sisterhood, I still knew I could knock on the door to my sorority house and my sisters would be there for me, even if they didn't like me.

But, I had heard about APO, and figured it was my only option; once being initiated into a Panhel sorority, you couldn't join another, and to be honest, I didn't want to.

So I went to my first recruitment event; which was desserts with APO. Classic, really, and always my favorite event. As soon as I walked in, I felt a sense of belonging, as if this is where I needed to be. I looked around the room at the diversity of people, tall and short, boy and girl, different races and religions, all laughing and legitimately enjoying being with one another. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I had never seen anything like it. And I haven't since. Thinking about it now, I'm tearing up, because I knew at that moment I had found my true home. After the initial presentation of what the requirements are, all that, some brothers shared stories of APO, and I was jealous of the experiences they had all had already, while I felt as though I was already wasting my time in college. I left that room that night feeling something I hadn't felt before, true brotherhood and as I would later learn and appreciate as a historian, I was surrounded by men and women that had a passion to change the world.

Now, Alpha Phi Omega is a coed service fraternity, with it's legacy being built on our founder's idea that war is not the answer to the problem, and it is important to hold its members on a high standard of manhood, serving the world and bringing peace to all. It sounds super dramatic, but I tried to sum up a lot about our founding very quickly. Up until pledging, I had never done a lick of community service. I participated in Dance Marathon my freshman year, standing for 32 hours, but that was it. In my 19 years alive, I had only done 32 hours of service, which looking back now absolutely astonishes me. Why you may ask? Because APO instilled a passion for service in me. Like about 80% of people that join, my main reason for joining was friendship. I never imagined the love of service it would should me I had. Two things really stuck with me my first semester, and truly solidified why APO was the place me. 

First, every semester we hold an event called Rockathon, where for 12 hours a day for three days, we sit in rocking chairs and collect money for an organization. How do we pick the organization? Brothers present organizations near and dear to their heart, and the chapter decides, and the orgs are almost always organizations that aren't well known, for example, in the past we've raised money for our local domestic violence shelter, the local humane society, ALS, and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. My first semester, however, we were raising money for Baskets for Care, an organization that puts together baskets for those going through chemo for breast cancer, and I was so moved because I lost my mother to breast cancer. Then, in November, right before initiation,  participated in my first Relay for Life, which is put on by the college, but is also one of the fraternity's national partners. Since, as I said, I lost my mother to breast cancer, I was distraught, crying hysterically and not able to contain my composure. That night, brothers held me, cried with me, and walked with me, being there for me in ways no one else had been. They shared the pain with me, and I never experienced anything like that before. To this day, it is my favorite memory of APO.

Alongside service, leadership is another cardinal principle of Alpha Phi Omega. I'm not a natural leader. so I didn't think about being in a position in the chapter. There were 100 brothers, all much more qualified than me. I had ran for positions in my pledge class and didn't win, so I assumed it was destiny and figured I'd play my role as an active, since we have a common saying, "you don't have to have a position to be a leader." However, my passion for APO pushed me to run for pledge ed after my second semester. I've already told the story, so I'll spare the details, but after losing twice, I won on my third try. Recruiting, educating, and helping 41 pledges with two other girls was so hard, so much more rewarding, and taught me so much about myself and who I am as a leader. It gave me invaluable leadership skills, like teamwork, patience, delegating, how to deal with criticism, time management, the list really goes on and on and on and on and on. These are skills I only learned because of APO; no other organization could provide me with the position and opportunity. My recent trip to Pittsburgh for the national conference gave me so much advice about how to handle life post-graduation. How to help my career path, how to network, how to perfect my resume, interview tips, again, the list goes on and on. APO constantly offers opportunies at multiple levels that I have taken advantage of on how to become the leader I want to be. This semester even, I'll be earning my LEADS certificate, which offers 5 leadership courses on conflict management, finding your leadership style, event planning, and so much more.

Our last, but certainly not least, principle is friendship. Thinking about what to write, so many memories filled my mind, and I could talk about APO for hours, but I could talk about the friendships I've made in APO for days. I don't know where to end, but I know where to begin; my family. My big, my littles, my grandlittles, and now, my great grandlittle, are all the most wonderful women in the world. Being with them puts me in my happy place, and they are my inspiration. They're my best friends, and they all have a special place in my heart (hi best damn fam I love you all xoxo). Every time our family grows, I feel more love for a girl I didn't know existed a few months before, and thoughts about how APO brought all of them into my life overwhelms me every time. I could go on forever about my family, because they mean so much to me. However, it's the little fellowships that mean the most. The impromptu times with brothers in dorms, the library, the ice cream parlor, someone's apartment, mostly the office, that truly make your APO experience. I tried to think of some examples, but I had a hard time narrowing down. My favorite in the past year, though, was at nationals. Five of us and two alumni ended up chatting for quite a few hours in the hotel, while we caught them up on what was happening on campus and in the chapter, they told us stories of their time in APO and at BG that had our jaws on the floor. There was the time at a conference at University of Dayton where our chapter led all the brothers in attendance, schools from all over Ohio, to dance and spend hours getting to know each other, having dance battles and making memories. I couldn't tell me how many hours I spent on the fourth floor of the union, just stopping by the office to see people, and ended up spending my whole afternoon laughing and conversing with brothers. Do I even have to mention all the grown up fun we have together?  In my 4 years in APO I've met hundreds of people, all of them leaving a last impression on me. Our chapter has regularly 130-150 people, all willing to help you out whenever you need it, all of whom you can talk to about anything, go to them with your problem, and they'll be there for you. It's a truly spectacular thing to be a part of.

Alpha Phi Omega is unique experience, truly. For me, it pulled me out of my dark place and put me on a path I never dreamed of, granting me with opportunities of a lifetime you'll never find anywhere else. I wish everyone could pledge APO, because everyone has something to gain from it. A popular saying when I joined was "come for the friends, stay for the service." On top of all the amazing people you'll meet, APO strives to build you and make you the best a person can be, providing you with the tools you need to grow as a person, and in turn, making you a person with the drive to make a difference. Your letters make you a better person, a better friend, a servant leader, a person that the rest of the world will look to as someone who change the world. APO is for everyone, and building a strong brotherhood is what we are all about. 

Letters today, leaders tomorrow, brothers forever.

If you are a BG student, and are interested in pledging, here are our events for spring 2017 semester:

With the pain of 2016 behind us and five days deep into 2017, people everywhere are signing up for LA Fitness, trading in those empty calorie beers for clear liquor and locking away twinkies and cheetos until at least February 1st, while the rest of us have whole heartedly given up the idea of New Year's Resolutions completely. I mean, I already disappoint my family by being in college five years, why disappoint myself by failing to lose those freshman 15 I swore I'd lose January 1st 2014, 4 months of mondo and steak escape deep into sophomore year? Although I am happy to announce I did keep my resolution for 2016 - to maintain my bushy and unruly eyebrows - (seriously, what am I going to do when thick eyebrows go out of style? Or thick thighs, for that matte?) so maybe not all resolutions are a total loss.

Halfway through that paragraph I lost sight of what was happening, I'll be first admit it. What I'm getting at, though, is that New Year's Resolutions are a thing of the past. They're rarely kept, and usually unattainable (see 2016's New Year's Resolution's blogpost for more. [Or don't, I'm just here to please the 500 of you that have stuck around through my on an off posting. Shout out to Nay Nay and Diego, I know you're reading this.]) It seems to me the best thing you can do, is make little changes this year that will either set you on course for a great year, or hopefully become healthy habits that will follow you throughout 2017, and even into 2018. 

1. Purge your social media

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with accepting the fact that Melissa from biology in high school posts too many annoying pictures of her engagement ring, maybe one day that'll be you when you stop sitting in bed, eating pizza and watching the Office for the 2349 time and proudly announcing you're in the bad guy house (where my slytherins at?!) and finally find a man (or woman) who will agree to move to Florida with you just to go to Disneyworld every Saturday. But for now, the thought of this girl you haven't talked to since 2010 just irritates you more than anything. So, why not just unfriend her?

For younger generations, i.e. millennials, Facebook has really become obsolete. Personally I only get on when I see a notification from my frat, and I don't even have messenger. That's why, when you decide to clean out your friends list, no one will really notice, so don't worry about offending anyone. Now, if uncle Jim-Bob posts too much about dear old Putin - I mean, Trump - just hide his posts. It's not childish, it's not immature, if you don't like you, you're in control of your own social media platforms, all of them. Unfollow people on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, whatever you use. 

2. Purge your social life

I am lucky enough to have avoided drama since my sorority days. Not saying my sorority was the center of my drama, but, it was. I'm not putting down sororities, because sororities are really truly fabulous, but mine was seeping with mean girls and drama. After essentially cutting my ties, on purpose or just unfortunately becoming distant, with many sisters I surrounded myself with, I noticed how better my life turned out. Ever since, I refuse to surround myself with people that pull me down, create a constant negative energy, enthrall me in never ending drama, etc etc. If you're in the situation where you find yourself constantly trying to justify why it's ok to be friends with someone that puts you in constantly unideal situations, it's your right to cut ties. Delete numbers, stop going to get drinks or dinner, whatever it is. You come first, and the company you keep impacts your habits, energy, health, and well-being. Stop making excuses for their bad behavior and just be done with them. That includes David from Tinder - block him. You're not a bootycall.

3. Clean your space, and keep it clean.

It's worth noting at this moment I have 3 piles of dirty clothes, with another in the wash. All the blankets from my bed are on the floor and my desk is cluttered with makeup brushes and makeup products. After 2 weeks of visiting family and a conference. my room is destroyed. But there's no better feeling than getting it all nice and clean. But the problem isn't so much cleaning it, but keeping it clean. I have discovered a few things I can do that helps me, like keeping my dirty clothes hamper outside of my closet so I'll actually throw clothes in it, creating more storage to store things like books, movies, and pictures, and tucking my blankets under the mattress so it's harder for me to make a mess of my bedding while I sleep, and easier and quicker to make in the morning. I will also clean out my closet and drawers every so often, donating clothes I don't need to putting up clothes not fit for the season, like flip flops in winter and boots in summer. For any space you have, the initial cleaning is half the battle. Finding organizational methods and cleaning habits really help keep things clean and uncluttered. I'm a big believer that if your important spaces are clean. it makes everything in your life easier.

4. Do Good

Would this be a blog spot without me throwing in community service? No, no it wouldn't. Volunteers have generated BILLIONS of dollars worth of volunteer work the past few years, and donating your time is the most rewarding thing you can do. It doesn't have to be big, if you're strapped for time; write cards to sick children in hospitals, spend a few hours at your food bank on a Saturday morning, or just shoveling snow for your elderly neighbor. I think it;s incredibly important to take some time to give back to your community, it helps give you a new perspective on what others go through, will make you feel like an incredible person, and really light a spark in you to want to change the world. In a time with a lot of discrimination, tension, and just general not niceness, lending a helping hand benefits all parties involved.

5. Start a book and/or TV series

Currently, I'm on a Harry Potter kick. I went through books 1-7, the Cursed Child, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them way too quickly.  For brief periods of time, I'm able to escape my problems and worries here in the muggle world and place myself in a world of amazing heroes, enchanting scenery and mind blowing character developments. I'm about to start the Inheritance Cycle for the 100th time, because it's a world where dragons roam and brave men are fighting off the evils of the world.

I tend to have rather dorky taste in books, but that's because I love magic and far away places where the hero always wins. What I want to get across is that books and shows let us temporarily be somewhere else, ease our minds with what is troubling us and see that happy endings do exist (just don't watch Breaking Bad), and giving us something to look forward to when you're sitting at your 9 to 5 or struggling to finish that 10 page research paper. Invest in something that takes your mind somewhere else, when you need to get away from the stress that overwhelms you,

6. Find a new hobby

Or, rekindle an old hobby that has fallen to the wayside. The point is, it's important to take some you time this year. We run ourselves ragged and it's not healthy. Hobbies let us express ourselves in ways we want and gives us the release we need. I'm an incredibly creative person, and am always looking for new ways to express myself in an artsy way. I've moved away from crafting, and started to take an interest in photography and aesthetics. Every person is different, and it's ok to not really know what a good hobby for you is. Try new things until you find something that makes you feel happy and gives you something to look forward to every day, week, or month.

7. Break one bad habit and start one new healthy habit

Someone much smarter than me researched it takes three weeks to make or beak a habit. 21 days of consistent work may seem like a lot, but to stop eating fast food, quit smoking, to start drinking more water or getting to bed at a decent time, is a small price to pay. It's also a great time to grab your best friend and do it together, to keep each other on track and hold each other accountable. It's ok to have days where you fall off the wagon, the important thing is to get up and get back on!

8. Take lazy days

What's the common theme here? Take time to take care of yourself. Every now and then, call in sick to work, skip your Monday classes, and amerce yourself in things that you love and make you happy. Work on that hobby, read that book, watch that show, drop a bath bomb in the tub and soak, it;s important to understand that it's ok to take you time every now and then. Life is fast and if you don't take the time to slow down sometimes you'll run yourself into the ground.

9. Make a memory jar, mood board, or keep a journal.

I think everyone needs a creative outlet, even if you aren't artsy. We all have a little Bob Ross or Andy Warhol in us. Make a memory jar by simply taking a mason jar, and filling it up with quotes, pictures, or memories showcasing what happened throughout the years. Bullet journals are amazing too, and totally personal. If that's too much, many stores sell journals that give you a prompt to write everyday,

10. Celebrate little victories

Little victories are as important as big victories. Glorify when you've worked out every day this week, or you took all the steps you needed. Splurge on something when you finally paid off all your bills. Milestones are milestones, and they're something to celebrate.

11. Be more positive

A bad day doesn't make it a bad life. No matter how many things go wrong, it's crucial to look for those little rays of sunshine; you have shelter, air in your lungs, someone that loves you, or whatever you need to realize that whatever you're going through may be bad, but there's always something good, too. The glass may be half empty, but it can be refilled, right? I'm a pessimist, and I love to make positive quotes as my screen on my phone and laptop, write them on sticky notes to stick around my room, and write a happy quote on every page in my planner. 

Make this year your best year yet! I hope this helps, and that you are able to take at least one thing from this! It's ok not to set a New Year's Resolution, and it's ok to set one. No matter what happens this year, you are in charge of your life, and you can take control of it. 

Study Playlist

Happy Wednesday to all my lovely readers! Today's blog will be short, sweet, and to the point; my study playlist! Now, I know a lot of people use instrumental music because it's suppose to help you focus. I've tried that before, and well, I fell asleep. Oops. But for someone who has fallen asleep on gravel before, it's not much of a surprise. I made my own playlist, and I really don't follow any rules. I know the words to most of the songs, but because most of them are slow and calming, I'm able to focus on my work instead of singing in my head, but I also don't follow asleep because when the blaring of Green Day comes on, I snap out of my half-asleep trance. Did I mention it's 6 and a half hours? Yeah, it'll definitely get you through that huge study session without being repetitive.

There's not one specific genre here, although a large chunk seems to be 2000s indie, I don't know how that happened. Now, this won't be everyone's cup of tea. But, I encourage you to give it a try, maybe find some songs that do the trick, or maybe just find some new music. Either way, I hope you enjoy!