Easy New Year's Resolutions to Keep

Before the New Year just like most, I make a resolution. But like every year that resolution doesn't hold up. So this year I decided to make a list of resolutions that are definitely easy to maintain.

2016 Resolutions:

1. Exercise at least  twice a week.
2. Drink two bottles of water at least twice a day.
3. Eat healthier (as much as possible).
4. Travel

5. Do something everyday to better myself

My list is small because I have learned from the past that making a long list of resolutions adds to the difficulty of keeping them. Hope this small bit off advice helps you in making a resolution.

Happy New Year!

#ChristmasWithLee

This past Christmas I went to El Paso, Texas for the Sun Bowl against the University of Miami and Washington State with the Frost Band of the Hour. It was my first Christmas away from my family but it wasn't terrible. In fact, it was the most fun I have ever had with a group of people.

The bowl game wasn't until the 26th of December. On the 25th of December, we had a Christmas brunch and were given nice sweatshirts by the band department as a Christmas gift. After brunch, the piccolo section of the band gave their secret Santa gifts. I was given the cutest ornament ever. After our secret Santa, we had a 2-hour rehearsal before the Battle of the Bands took place. I may be biased but I think we won that Battle of the Bands ;)

The whole trip itself was a great experience. From leaving on Christmas Eve to having a massive snow storm during the bowl game. To 5-hour flight delays and almost missing a connecting flight. To finally be home with my family. It was all a great time.

7 Exam Study Tips

With exams quickly approaching I thought I would give seven study tips that I use to conquering exams.

1. Wear comfy clothes. If you are relaxed, that is one less thing you have to worry about when studying.

2. Keep your hair out of your face. Tie your hair back so you can focus more on studying and not on the hair in your face.

3. Good study space. Find a nice quiet place to study so you can focus. Or even buy some headphones and make a Study Playlist to help you stay focused.

4. Make flashcards. As time consuming as making flashcards is. You can quiz yourself while you make them so no time is wasted from studying.

5. Practice problems. If you have an exam coming up that requires you to do a bit of math or chemistry, find some practice problems out of the book to give you that extra boost of knowledge for the exam.

6. Review notes and all readings in class. Go over the syllabus to see if there are any readings you missed and review all the notes you took in class leading up to the exam.

7. Have a plan on what days you want to study. To keep from cramming for the exam a day before, get a planner and plan out the days you want to study. I recommend picking the days that are the least busiest.

Hope these study tips helped. Happy studying!

Concert Essentials

With concert season always in swing, there are some key essentials that need to take place for you to have the ultimate concert experience!

1. Don't forget your ticket; the key to getting into the concert.
2. Dress to dance and have a good time. Wear your best dancing shoes!
3. Money! Merchandise lets everyone know that you were part of the artist tour experience.
4. Full charged battery or camera to take loads and loads of pictures and videos.
5. Your favorite people. A concert is not fun unless you have your favorite people with you to act crazy with.

Now that you have the essentials have a great time and live in the moment as if you and that artist are best of friends!

Game Day Essentials

With college football under way, here are a few tips on having a successful game day!

1. School colors! Make sure you wear your school colors to show the most spirit at game day.
2. Hydrate! Drink whatever you want, but make sure you drink enough water. You don't want to pass out at the game.
3. Cheer! No matter what cheer for your team. The louder you are, the harder they play!
4. Dance! That is all, just dance. You never know, you might make it on the jumbo screen!
5. Cash! Bring money for food or drink.

These are a few essentials for those infamous college football games. Game day is here, let's get it!

Getting Ready for College

College or University is here and classes are getting ready to start or a just starting. Here are a few things I like to do/tips to get myself ready for the start of a new semester.

1. School supplies: I like to buy the essential school supplies such as folders, notebooks, pencils, pens, note cards and highlighters before any classes have started. Sometimes professors like to start teaching on the first day of class so make sure you are prepared.

2. Syllabus: Most people consider the first week in college or university to be syllabus week. I have quickly learned how untrue that is. Freshmen year maybe but as you move up higher and higher syllabus week turns into syllabus hour. So make sure once you get your syllabus for said class you write down all the test/projects, important due dates and get any material as soon as possible for that class.

3. Studying: As much as we all dislike studying it is essential in being successful. Even in the first week, start making some flash cards of material you may have covered. Read ahead in the text book just in case you are busy one day studying for another class. A good tip on reading ahead is to highlight whatever you think is important. Review the highlighted information before class to give your brain a refresh.

4. Free Time: And of course I can't forget free time. It is great to focus on academics but set an hour or so aside before bed or whenever to have some time to yourself. We all need to whine down from a stressful day full of learning. I like to hang out with a few friends and watch a television show or spend one day out of the week strictly for fun. It all depends on you as a person though and what works for you.

Hope these tips help. Here is to a new school year! Good luck!

Band Camp Essentials

With band camp in the midst or already happening there are some key essentials that you will need beside the usual instrument, drill, and music.

1. Sunscreen. Protect yourself from those harmful UV rays. I recommend Banana Boat Sport Performance coolzone. It has a refreshing feel as well as a being water resistant.
2. Bug spray. Bug bites are killer so I use Off! Deep Woods to stay free of bug bites
3. Sunglasses/Hat. Any pair of sunglasses or a hat should suffice
4. Water bottle. Staying hydrated is key during band camp. Try to have a liter water bottle so you do not have to keep filling up each break.
5. Bag to carry all these items. Any bag should work to carry these items since they are relatively small.

These few tips should help immensely during band camp and the rest of the season. Good luck at band camp!

First Year College Experience

With back to school approaching rapidly, I thought I'd give some advice on my first year college experience.

Since I go to an out of state university, I thought I would be scared, homesick and ready to transfer to a college/university back in my home town. Thanks to an amazing first year, however, I stayed and will be graduating in a couple of years.

Some ways that helped with my first year experience are:

1. Making a class schedule that I knew worked best for me.
2. Picking a roommate who enjoyed doing the same things I did.
3. Attending school functions (football games, basketball games, homecoming) with my friends.
4. Breaking out of my shell and getting to know everyone on my floor.
5. Having one of the best RA's.
6. Managing my time wisely.

and lastly,

7. Visiting my family and friends during breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, Summer).

Everyone's first year experience is different some bad and some good. All you have to do is figure out what works for you.

Enjoy the school year.

Welcome to New York

This past weekend (July 25th and 26th) I went on an adventure around New York City with a wonderful friend. There was loads of walking, tons of money spent, but a greater amount of memories made. 

Before you head out on any adventure in a new place you need to pack some key things:
1. A light weight bag such as a duffle bag and/or a backpack.
2. Ticket for your destination
3. Pillow for your travels
4. Everything you use daily in the bathroom (travel sized)
5. Clothes to accommodate the weather
6. An umbrella for the rain or sunglasses for the sun
7. Wallet and a backpack or purse to carry said wallet
8. Cash
9. Phone and phone charger
10. A water bottle; stay hydrated
11. A book to keep entertained when traveling to said destination.

Now that everything is packed and you are ready to go, make sure you have a game plan of all sights and places you want to see. Below is all that we did in two days:

Saturday, July 25, 2015

• Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
• Lunch at McHales
• Free Ferry Ride to Staten Island to get good pictures of the Statue of Liberty, New York City skyline and to find ice cream 
• Found great gelato at Fresco Gelateria
• Went out to dinner at Da Gennaro in Little Italy 
• Times Square including a trip to M&M World

Sunday, July 26, 2015

• Friend birthday brunch at Jane
• Walk along the Brooklyn Bridge
• Visit 9/11 Memorial
• Have the best cookies at Levain Bakery
• Enjoy cookies at Central Park
• Try to get into Gramercy Park (unsuccessful)
• Have a final meal at Young Chow III

And of course take pictures of different, interesting buildings along the way.

MOMA

McHales

Staten Island

Fresco

Little Italy

Time Square

Jane

Brooklyn Bridge

9/11 Memorial

Central Park

Gramercy Park

Young Chow III

Lonely Nights

Have your parents ever left you home alone or have you spent a night in alone? Lonely nights in do not have to be boring. In fact here are some tips to having a fun night in by yourself.

1. Lay out or go swimming. If you have a pool or live close to a pool what is better than spending those nice days outside? Answer: Nothing. Get some Vitamin D from the sun and enjoy your time outside.

2. Super clean your room. Get rid of all the junk you thought you would need in the future but do not actually need. Clean out your closet and give some clothes away. Get rid of all the notes and stuff that you kept from high school. Here is a link for all you Ohio residents to the National Kidney Foundation which will come to your house to pick up any items you want to give away. --> http://www.nkfpickup.com/donation_pick_up_ohio.html

3. Bake. I put baking in a lot of post because it is a fun way to relieve stress. Bake your favorite treat and eat all of it to yourself!

4. Order take out. Get a pizza. Get Asian food. Order a dessert. Don't want to leave your house? Order food to get delivered to you. Domino's doesn't just sale pizza. They now have pasta, chicken, sandwiches, breadsticks and of course desserts.

5. Make an ice cream sundae. Pick your favorite ice cream flavor, add your favorite toppings and pile it all into a big bowl.

6. Watch a movie. A go to lonely night in is to just relax and watch your favorite film. Examples of some great films to watch: I Am Legend, Frozen, Bridesmaids, Beauty and the Beast, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Happy Feet and Garden State.

7. Online shop. Indulge yourself with some new purchases. Or just browse and add selections to your wish list like I do.

8. Read. Get lost in a good book. Examples of books to read: The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Push by Sapphire, Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen and The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.

9. Dance Party. Have a dance party with yourself. Turn the music up and dance around in your underwear. Play the music so loud the neighbors have to ask you to turn it down.

10. The last thing you can do is just sleep the day away. Get that sleep that you have been deprived of for sooo long.

Lonely nights in will never have to be boring again.

Teatox

I have spent this past month detoxing my body by drinking two cups of tea a day for 30 days. I did my research on great teas to drink and found the company YourTea. At first the tea was hard for me to drink seeing as I don't like most teas, but as time grew on I began to enjoy drinking it. I even looked forward to 'Tea Time'.

For the last 30 days I have felt cleaner on the inside and outside of my body. I have felt happier with myself. I even lost a little bit of weight and for the most part had clearer skin. I did not change what I ate but I did workout a little more which probably helped in the process. If you are looking to detoxing your body I would definitely recommend YourTea.

Another good thing about this company is that they have tea to help combat anything from skin to digestive health to weight loss.

Check out the website ---> yourtea.com

Enjoy your detoxing journey!

Positivity

With all the negativity going on in the world around us, some may find it difficult to stay positive. Here are a few things that I like to do that remind me to stay positive.

1. Watch a movie. One of my all time favorite movies to watch that reminds me to stay positive is Happy Feet or Happy Feet 2

2. Play your favorite game. I love Just Dance for Wii and physical activity is proven to relieve stress leaving you feeling happier.

3. Eat a sweet treat. MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM IS LIFE!!! I love ice cream and just in case you didn't know, July is National Ice Cream Month.

4. Online shop or go out shopping. Even if you do not have the money, making wishlist on different sites is so similar.

5. Read a book. Get lost in another persons story.

6. Bake. Chocolate chips are golden! Take your frustration out on some baked goods.

7. Lastly, do a random act of kindness. Show someone else the joys in life which in turn should make you also see the joys in life.

All in all, do the things and surround yourself with people who make you the happiest!

Kristine's Bucketlist

In no particular order, just a few things I would like to achieve before I die:
1.Go backpacking around Europe
2.Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
3.Open a bakery
4.Open a little library
5.Go to Berlin, Germany
6.Attend fashion week
7.Participate in a Color Run
8.Go to Budapest, Hungary
9.Go to Italy
10.Hike the Inca trail
11.Go to Greece
12.Treat a homeless person to a full meal
13.Go to Tallinn, Estonia
14.Go to Thailand
15.Adopt a dog
16.Go to Bali
17.Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans
18.Visit the Taj Mahal
19.Visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia
20.Go to the Maldives
21.Visit every state in USA in One Year
22.Visit the 7 Wonders of the World
23.Have Nandos
24.Go Skinny Dipping
25.Go Paint Balling
26.Learn to Ice Skate
27.Start My Own Business
28.Live abroad for at least a year
29.Travel Abroad with my family
30.Go on an African Safari
31.Get married in a foreign country
32.Go to Peacock Pavilion
33.Stay the night in a Presidential Suite
34.Stay at the Burj Al Arab
35.Go to Harbour Island, Bahamas (Pink Sand Beach)
36.Go to Punalu'u Beach, Hawaii (Black Sand Beach)
37.Visit Cuba
38.Swim with dolphins
39.Ride an elephant
40.Write a book
41.Get on the first available flight at random
42.Nude beach (Go Nude)
43.Attend the World Cup
44.Become a citizen of another country/have two passports
45.Be able to speak Spanish and French fluently
46.Ride a jetski
47.Spend New Years Eve in Times Square
48.Adopt a child
49.Try IN n OUT
50. Complete 365 photo a day challenge
51. Go on a cruise
52. Name an Island
53.Go to Fiji
54. Go to Slide the City
55.Go to Electric Daisy Carnival
56.Go to Bora Bora
57. Go on an Alaskan cruise
58. Go to Haiti
59. Go to Greece

60. Go to the Glass Beach in California

61. Swim in the Dead Sea

62. 

What Should Be In Your Bag

Today's blog post will be about what I found to be great essential items to have in your bag our purse at all times.

The first essential is of course your wallet. But within your wallet you should always have your I.D. and cash. I keep a minimum of 20$ with me when I go out at all times.
The next essential is one that our generation can not live without; that is our phones. My phone is with me 24/7. The next item goes along with the phone and really isn't essential but rather optional and that is a phone charger. Have to make sure that phone battery does not die!
The third essentials are mints or gum. We have all been in a situation where we go out for lunch and might get a dish full of garlic or onions and we do not want our breath to stink. Mint and gum is a big essential to having fresh breath after eating. You can even get some gum that taste like your favorite dessert. I like the one that taste like mint chocolate chip.
The fourth essential is a chapstick. Chapstick is great so you can always have nice, subtle lips. Especially in the winter. You do not want to be out and have crusty, dry, chapped lips. I use either baby lips (medicated version or EOS in the mint colored container).
The fifth essential that I like to carry around with me are a pair of sunglasses. It is nothing like driving on a cloudy day and then the sun all of a sudden comes out and you can not see. It is awful! Make sure you have some sunglasses.
This next essential is not really an essential unless you have bad allergies like I do. If you have allergies, make sure you have a travel size pack of Kleenex tissue. Those bad boys come in handy!

These are a few essentials that I like to make sure I have with me at all times in my bag or purse. If you have any essentials that you always have in your bag; comment below.

:)

Love Wins.

One thing I have learned through my 19 years of living is that equality is something we should all strive for. Everyone should be given the same opportunities as each other with regards to race and gender preferences. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it is not kind to judge. Look at a situation from all angles instead of one. Put yourself in the shoes of a gay man or woman living in this world. Put yourself in the shoes of a black man or woman, a middle eastern man or woman and see what it is like for them. There is always more than one side to a situation. Open your eyes and don't be closed minded. Change is a part of Growth and we all should want to Grow each and everyday. #LoveWins

Start of Summer 2015

It is the first actual day of summer, thanks to the summer solstice, and you know what that means. Schools out, time for fashion forward trends, hanging with friends, family vacations and parties. But no summer is complete without the ultimate Summer Playlist.

This link is a playlist I created. Check it out if you want for music that speaks to all genres and emotions. Enjoy xox.

https://open.spotify.com/user/kdillon719/playlist/6CZSgq46wyg1CcjvpwYVc2

Teatox

Hey guys!

Recently I ordered some tea from a company called Your Tea. You may or may not have heard of them. Either way, they carry many tea related products that do amazing things for your body! If you want to know more, you can go to their website ---> yourtea.com to look at some of the amazing teas.

I purchased the Skin Magic Tea to help clear up my skin. I have always had skin issues and couldn't seem to find remedies that work. So I have been doing a ton of research on foods and beverages that are good for the skin. The number one and most free of course is water. I have cut out soda and juices from my diet and now drink water and milk. You may think that is crazy or even impossible, but I saw a difference in my skin in just one week so it was definitely worth it. 

Now back to the topic on hand which is the Skin Magic Tea. Even though my skin is much clearer than it used to be, due to my daily intake of water, I still have redness and an uneven skin tone. I did not want to use creams and such because my skin drys out very easily. So I did a little more research on beverages or foods that help bring back the skin tones natural color. And BAM! I found the wonderful company YourTea. This tea treats your most stubborn acne and it comes with a months to two months worth of tea depending on how much you drink. They also gave me a cute little mug! (picture below)

I am just starting out with this tea and will be posting updates on if the tea is working or my skin. If you want to check out the progress, you can continue to read more blogs that will be coming in the future or you can follow my instagram ---> kristinedillon

Thanks xox

Insidious Chapter 3

Disclaimer: May or may not be spoilers in this post. So, read at your own risk ;)

This past weekend I went to see Insidious Chapter 3 with a friend and I haven't been scared that bad in awhile. I also may just be a wimp. The weird thing is that I knew when all the scary parts were coming due to the change in music or to when the scenery became darker.

I thought the plot was well written. It was easy to follow. I knew, however, where the story was going to go but it still was interesting to watch.

On the drive back from the movie. My friend and I discussed how Chapter 3 is really the beginning to the whole Insidious story. The old lady who died in the first movie is back and it shows how she teamed up with the two men. All in all some questions I had from the first and second movie were answered. The acting was very well portrayed as far as the young girl (Stefanie Scott) who played Quinn goes. Below is a YouTube video of her talking about her role in the movie.

If your daughter or son had summoned demons, would you react the same way as her dad? What would you do?

I recommend this movie to everyone, well everyone who can handle scary movies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipftw_zvayU

Summer 2015

Hey fellow humans. It has been a long time since I have written a blog. I have been very busy with University work and am now home for the summer. This mean I will be blogging more again!

This summer I move into the world of adult hood (meaning I turn 20) and I am beyond scared. So some of these blogs will be tips that I will come up with as far as anxiety and early adulthood go. I'm glad to be back and writing!

Here is to the summer and starting fresh in the middle of the year!