Prioritize Your Life

What do new year’s resolutions and studying abroad have in common? They usually don’t last as long as you want them to… As soon as February comes around, reality generally steps in a throws your plans for a loop. Anyone agree with me? And if not, more power to you! (Teach me your ways.)

I confess: my problem was a combination of both reality after returning from London and the fact that I tend to put too many things on my plate. (Does anyone else do that?) I want to do everything and make everyone happy, but I’m starting to learn I have to make time for things that make me happy too!

Although I can honestly say that I am happy to devote my time to everything I currently do. Either because I’m dedicated to the cause (event planning for recruitment for Gamma Omicron chapter of Alpha Delta Pi or helping to coordinate a 5K race to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation) or because I love the work (Sterling Communications and PRSSA).

But, there are so many other things I want to do: apply to more internships so I can get a summer internship, write articles for Mashed Marketing and Her Campus, read the Hunger Games… and write on my own blog!!

I know how to prioritize when it comes to my responsibilities and classes, so why can’t I prioritize when it comes to my own life? Taking time off is something I generally reserve for sleeping in on weekends and breaks from school. However, I have found recently that when I schedule in time to get tea with a friend or dinner with my sorority sisters my day gets a little brighter and things seem more doable. Do any of you find that you have to schedule in down time? It’s really not as bad as it sounds – my planner and iCal are my best friends! Intern Queen, Lauren Berger, demonstrates how to prioritize and schedule your life in her book All Work, No Pay.

So you might be thinking, what does this post have to do about fashion, not much except if you’re going to be busy all the time, look stylish while you’re doing everything! Oh, and if you’re not on Pinterest yet, get on there – tons of style inspiration.

Liz and I making diamonds! (Alpha Delta Pi symbol) One of my favorite recently documented outfits

And moral of the post is… The Naked Mannequin is back!  xx

New year, new look…

Every year it is the same old thing: you make new year resolutions that you intend to keep, and a couple of weeks in you’ve already failed to maintain them. Well, I want this year to be different!

It’s taken me a while to adjust to reality (being back in the US) after living my dream in London.  I worked all through the holiday season to make back some money for this next semester. Which explains, but does not excuse, my lack of blog posts recently. Now that I’m not completely broke, it is time to start getting everything else ready for this coming semester.

Since the new year began, I have been determined to check off all the things on my to-do list.  First item of business: write down my resolutions on decorative paper, and frame them.  If they are on my bedside table every morning, I will be more motivated to keep them (at least that is what I’m hoping). I got this idea from one of my favorite bloggers, Emily Schuman, who writes Cupcakes and Cashmere.  See her original idea here.

Second item of business, focus on my blog! (Which also happens to be one of my resolutions). Ever since I changed my layout, I have wanted to create a new header.  Now that I finally have the programs, and the time, I have created two options. As you may have noticed, one of the options is already visible on my blog. There is also another one, but I can’t decide which I like better. That is why I want to get your input on them! I’d love if you could comment on this post with which one you prefer.

Option One

Option Two

Hope you all had a happy new year! I’m looking forward to what 2012 has in store… What about you?  What are your new years resolutions?

Broke is the new black:

That’s the saying on the shirt I’m wearing today. I thought it was fitting, since I am going to have to make being broke fashionable when I go home.  Hashtag: study abroad problems.

I’m leaving London in 7 hours… and it still doesn’t feel real to me. Even though my roommates left yesterday and our room is empty except for my suitcases, I am in denial. Although, I know as soon as I get to Heathrow airport I’m going to be a mess of tears.

These have been the best 4 months of my life, and I don’t want them to be over. There is still so much I haven’t seen in London, there is so much I need to explore and discover. But, I am just reminding myself that I will be back in this city sometime in the future.

London will always be my second home, but now it is time to go back to my first one… It’s not goodbye, just see you later.

Working on finals in my last week in London. Photo cred: Becky McCabe

Finally finished my work and got to enjoy my last week. Photo cred: Becky McCabe

Cheers! Next time I will be blogging from the US. (More photos to come when I get home.)

Sleep is overrated:

At least, that is my motto for the next two weeks.  The past three months in London have gone by all too quickly, and now I have less than two weeks left… I know it sounds so cliché, but I feel like I just got here. There is still so much left to explore: museums to visit, buildings to tour, souvenirs to buy, markets to browse, and pictures to take.

But there’s looming project deadlines, papers due, and finals standing in my way.  As I’m a perfectionist, I’ve decided to sacrifice sleep. It’s the only option if I want to maintain my grades and still get the most out of my last two weeks living in London.

Even though it still doesn’t feel real, I’ve finally admitted it. I am leaving. Although, I truly hope I this is not the last time I will get the chance to live in London… because three months is just not enough.

Here are some photos from this past week in London:

Making my grandma's cranberry sauce! Photo cred: Lindsey Derstine

The impressive Thanksgiving dinner we all cooked! Photo cred: Lindsey Derstine

Enjoying our Thanksgiving in London. Photo cred: Lindsey Derstine

I apologize for the short post, but I have a deadline tomorrow and I’m going to see Pippin tonight for my musical theatre class (I know, rough).  Actually, my analysis on The Naked Mannequin is what is due tomorrow. I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but for the past couple weeks I have been focusing on generating more engagement as part of a case study for my interactive communications course. I really appreciate all those that have been reading in the past couple weeks! I look forward to continuing to develop The Naked Mannequin and my communication with my followers in the coming weeks.

Cheers! XO