October is here!

October is finally here which means it's time to break out the Fall decor and Halloween decorations. As far as months go, October is probably my favorite month. There is just so much to be happy about in October.

So for this month I will actually be doing something a little different. I have created a new blog that will be a little more interactive with travel tips, cooking and decor ideas. That blog will go live by the end of the month. But for now, I will be updating more on here until all is ready.

If you don't already, follow me on Instagram at kristinedillon for updates or Snapchat at kristinedillon7 to see what I have been up too.

It's Been Awhile

Hey everyone, it has been a while since I last posted. University is back in full swing and I have been very busy lately. Also, I haven't found anything interesting enough in my life to write. This post is really just to say hey and to see how everyone is doing.

Hope you all are having a fantastic school year (if you are in school) or life.
 :)

Senior Year

Finished the first week of my senior year of college. It is crazy to think how fast time has flown by. I honestly don't even know how to process any of it. All I can say is be ready for all types of blog post to come. I am very excited to share my senior year with all of you and can not wait to take you with me on this wild ride.

If you don't already, follow me on Snapchat (kristinedillon7) and Instagram (kristinedillon) to keep up with my personal antics. 

All Summer '16: August 1st

Those of you who live in Ohio of course know of the infamous Ohio State Fair. A place where all of us Ohioans can go and enjoy the wonderful things about our state. For those of you who do not know about the Ohio State Fair. I would recommend you attend it at least once in your lifetime.

So, I went to the fair with a couple of my high school friends who have not talked to in what feels like ten years. It was so fun to just catch up and enjoy the beauty surrounding us. 

To see pictures and videos of our fun time, you can follow me on Instagram at kristinedillon or on Snapchat at kristinedillon7 (I follow back)

All Summer '16: July 19th

So it was my 21st birthday. So my favorite thing is food so as long as I get the food I want I am set for any special occasion. For breakfast, I went to this new donut place in Columbus, Ohio known as Amy's Donuts and it was the donut form of heaven. Then I went to get my new licenses and spent the day running errands with my mom. For my birthday dinner, we went to Z Cucina, pretty sure it was the best Italian restaurant I have been too. I am not really one to drink but I did have a glass of red wine with my meal.

As I said earlier, I am perfectly fine with just eating for any special occasion.

If you want to see my daily life, follow me on Snapchat kristinedillon7 or Instagram kristinedillon

All Summer '16: July 16th and July 17th

So, I have headed back home to Ohio for the rest of the summer. I had an amazing time in Florida learning about the residential market of architecture. I will miss the many people who I came in contact with that made for a fun experience.

July 16th:

Once I arrived in Ohio, I had a giant meal from Wendy's waiting for me. Like when I tell you this meal was massive I mean it was massive. My dad ordered me a triple cheese burger with every thing, a large fry an a large frosty. He then told me I had to eat it in 30 minutes and he would give me 50 dollars. Needless to say, I won that 50 dollars but went into an intense food coma.

July 17th:

This day I spent 4 hours at Wal-Mart with my mom and sister. Who knew it would take 4 hours to buy groceries, not me. I later had a little dip in the pool which was much needed and enjoyed a little ice cream with it being National Ice Cream Day and all.

My summer home has been great so far and I am not sure if I am ready to head back to University.

To see what I'm up to follow me on Snapchat at kristinedillon7 I always follow back and on Instagram at kristinedillon

Hope you all are enjoying summer!

All Summer '16: July 9th and 10th

It was my last weekend in Naples and I did nothing, absolutley nothing which I love. I just ordered a pizza, binged watched the television drama Mr. Robot (definitely check it out, it is amazing) and relaxed. Which is exaclty how I love to spend my weekends. Even though I did not do much this weekend I really enjoyed myself and I think that is really all that matters.

Follow me on Instagram kristinedillon and Snapchat kristinedillon7 to see what I am up to

All Summer '16: July 4th Weekend

This 4th of July weekend was one of the most relaxing I have ever had. I spent all weekend binge watching The Mindy Project on Hulu. I highly recommend anyone see it. It will make you laugh feel sorry for yourself and maybe have a revelation on how dramatic you may or may not be.

I did take a few hours of my day to see fireworks down at Naples Beach. Even though it rained, it was still a great show.

Follow my summer 2016 adventures on my snapchat kristinedillon7 I always follow back

All Summer '16: June 25th

Today was a very well spent day adding a few pieces to my summer wardrobe. I would definitely recommend adding a few pieces to your wardrobe each season as well as giving away/getting rid of a few pieces each season. It is a great way to revamp your style and be in sync with trends.

A few of my favorite stores to shop at are Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Pink, Old Navy, and H&M. Below are all the links to the items I bought today.

Forever 21
All clothes available only in store

Charlotte Russe
http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Accessories/Jewelry-Watches/Necklaces/-Cancer-Astrology-Necklace-Earrings-Set/pc/2116/c/2598/sc/2601/326547.uts?colorCode=302098254_710

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Accessories/Jewelry-Watches/Jewelry-Sets/Chainlink-Anklet-Toe-Rings-4-Pack/pc/2116/c/2598/sc/3853/326221.uts?sortByColumnName=SortByPriceAscending

Pink
https://www.victoriassecret.com/pink/bras-new-colors-the-date/the-date-racerback-lightly-lined-bra-pink?ProductID=300210&CatalogueType=OLS

https://www.victoriassecret.com/pink/unlined-bras/date-unlined-bra-pink?ProductID=300223&CatalogueType=OLS

Old Navy
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1051876&vid=1&pid=134585002

H&M
http://www.hm.com/us/product/45090?article=45090-C&cm_vc=SEARCH

http://www.hm.com/us/product/44922?article=44922-C

Don't forget to follow me on snapchat kristinedillon7 and instagram kristinedillon

All Summer '16: June 18th

What a day! Woke up early and did all the boring stuff that needed to be done like chores and such. Then I went to see Finding Dory and let me just tell you what a spectacular movie it is. From the beginning to the flashbacks to finding Dory then finding Nemo and Marlin and back to finding Dory again. Few! Every little detail in that this sequel encompasses is all I have ever dreamed of! I waited thirteen years, THIRTEEN WHOLE YEARS for this movie and I was not an ounce disappointed. I was tempted to buy another ticket just to watch it again. When this movie comes out on DVD that will be the end because I will watch that movie every single day for the rest of my life. Well done Pixar and Walt Disney!

Go out and see Finding Dory as soon as you can especially if you have been waiting more than half your life to see it!

Absolutely incredible! Six out of Five Stars

All Summer '16: June 4th

Was a much needed relaxing day! Did a bit of cleaning then went to Chick-fil-A for lunch and had what I like to call a 'Fast Food Picnic'. I love the concept of eating food outside, enjoying the sun and nature. I also love fast food so I combined the two to come up with 'Fast Food Picnic'. You all should try it sometime.

It was scorching today though and during my picnic I began to melt ! It was 91 degrees but the 'Real Feel' was 106! Anyway, the heat made me super tired so I called it quits and napped.

What a perfect way to end the day.

You can check out my Fast Food Picnic on my Snapchat kristinedillon7

All Summer '16: Memorial Day Weekend

Is it weird that we say Memorial Day Weekend? Can you even put "day" and "weekend" together since "day" is singular and "weekend" is plural...just a little thought I had.

Anyway, this weekend was so relaxing and I needed it. The start of the weekend began with cleaning, much needed cleaning if I do say so myself. Then, on Sunday, I did a little online and in-store shopping at PuraVida and DSW. (I will link what I bought below). On Monday, Memorial Day, I went with my host family to a birthday party and meet some pretty cool people.

PuraVida Gold Wave Ring  Steve Madden Black Flats Madden Girl Floral Sandals

All in all, tis what a great weekend full of relaxation and fun!

If you want to know more you can follow me on my Snapchat kristinedillon7 or Instagram kristinedillon

All Summer '16: May 25th

Today has been one hell of a day.

It all began yesterday night when my cell phone decide it was time to ends its life with me.

So being one of those people who can not live without their phone I definitely panicked. I could not sleep because I thought I would miss my second alarm, my mind was racing about all the possibilities that could happen in the day to come.

So today, May 25th I took Uber upon Uber to all the Sprint stores to see if someone could fix my phone. Most did not know and some just wanted me to buy a new phone. I eventually found a store that gave me all the information I needed to move on with either paying to get my phone fixed or to either lease another phone. Since it was the same amount of money to lease a new phone as it was to get the old phone fixed, I decide to just go ahead and upgrade.

For as long as I can remember I have always had an LG phone and I loved them, but today it was time for me to try out something new, So here I am today with the Galaxy S7 by Samsung and so far so good. The phone is amazing light, easy to understand and the perfect fit for my hand.

After running around God's creation trying to get my life in order, I can now say I am a proud Samsung Galaxy owner!

To see my adventure through Snapchat; here is my username  kristinedillon7

All Summer '16: May 22nd

Took a little adventure this morning to Greenway Park and did a little nature hike. Such a beautiful place with beautiful scenery.

Later on in the day I went to Earth & Fire and painted a flower jewelry dish. The dish mimics my potential dorm room style.

As the day came to a close I watched the beauty that is music and performance through the Billboard Music Awards. Just wanted to wish a congratulations to all artist who received well earned award.

You can check out pictures of today through my Instagram kristinedillon

All Summer '16

Since I am going to be really busy this summer with interning and exploring a new city. I will be staying with a family in Naples, Florida while interning with a firm. I thought I would keep a little public inspired journal on all the adventures I am going to be taking.

Let the fun of Summer '16 begin!

Carry-On Essentials

With summer vacations starting up you will probably be traveling either by car or plane. And with traveling comes baggage, specifically carry on baggage. Here are some of my essentials when it comes to being comfortable with only having access to my carry-on:

1. laptop

2. book

3. notebook

4. pen/pencil

5. sunglasses

6. travel size toiletries

7. wallet

8. chargers

9. headphones

10 lip balm

11. gum

12. a form of ID

Hope this list helps for the next time you are packing for your next big adventure.

Surviving Architecture Hell Week

If you are an architecture major then you know about the dreaded hell week that comes toward the end of the semester. Here are some ways to combat those long sleepless nights.

Tip 1: Sleeping is essential as much as we want to get as much done as possible, sleep. even if it is for at least five hours. If you go many nights in a row without sleep you will definitely crash and it can be at the most inconvenient time.

Tip 2: Take breaks. For example, for three hours and take a max of a fifteen minute break. During this break go outside get some fresh air, walk around or eat some food. This break will get some fresh air to your brain which will refresh you to be able to work efficiently again

Tip 3: Do not forget to eat. If you are hungry your brain will not concentrate and it could take longer to get your work done.

Tip 4: Coffee. Drink coffee but do not rely on it. Coffee can cause issues for some people as in getting sick so be careful on the amount of coffee you intake.

Tip 5: Try to finish a day before the review. As hard as it is to finish the day prior to review day but it makes a difference when you are well rested and presenting because you can answer certain questions from jurors and get your points across better.

I hope these tips help you to survive the dreaded hell week. Good luck as you enter the final stretch of the semester!

March 2016 Favorites

This month I do not really have a long list of favorites but I do have a few. My first favorite is:

Kung Pao Pretzels for the company Nature Box. This company is all about creating natural, healthy snack for the snack lover. For the first time, you subscribe you receive your first box free and then you can decide what snack plan you want to go one. Below is the URL to their website.

http://fbuy.me/dE9R6

My next favorite is Tea Tree Oil. This oil leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft while also evening out your skin tone. You can find this product at your local CVS, WalMart or beauty store.

My last favorite for this month is Mind of Mine. That's right Zayn Malik's debut album. I love this album because I feel like Zayn is truly happy. He is singing the music that fits his voice and I can not wait until he goes on tour. You can purchase his album digitally from iTunes or the Google Play Store.

These are all my favorites for the month I hope these items become a few of your favorites too!

Dorm Room Spring Cleaning

It's finally spring! This means that it is time for spring cleaning, dorm room style. With finals coming and trying to find storage units for those out of state students, cleaning is the furthest thing from anyone's mind.

Speaking of storage units, College Boxes is a great place to check out. They will pick up your items straight from your door, store them for you over the summer and deliver them back to your new dorm room. Link to their website is below. 

https://www.collegeboxes.com/

Back to cleaning; I think it is easier to clean your dorm room especially if you are an out of state student and have to travel by plane back home. Pack what you NEED to take back with you and box up all the important things you want to keep for the new semester. Whatever items don't fit in the boxes is what should be given or thrown away.

When cleaning your room make sure to start at one corner and work your way around the room. I like to give myself a certain time limit to clean an area so that I do not get distracted by random items I may find. Also playing your favorite tunes helps. 

The first step to cleaning is to remove everything and clean the surface. 

Second is to add pieces back that do not need to be thrown away while also arranging items in an orderly fashion. I found this to be the most effective.

Finally, once all spaces have been disinfected and items properly placed, spray some Febreze or get a wall plug in to keep the room smelling fresh and clean.

Hope these tips help. Happy Spring (cleaning)!

How to Memorize Quick and Easy

When it comes to taking a test, memorization is key. But if you are like most people you wait until the last minute to memorize all the information you need to know. Here are some tips to memorize information quick and easy.

Tip #1
Separate study material by theme (i.e chapter, key terms)
Read through each chapter separately; one chapter for a minimum of 50 minutes.
You might read through the chapter multiple times during those 50 minutes, but that helps with memorizing.
Take a 10-minute break between each 50 minute time period; helps refresh the brain.

Tip #2
Carry your study materials with you.
Look through study material as you walk around (still pay attention to where you are going)
Bring material to the gym and while on the treadmill or elliptical read through your notes. (helps with the repetition)

Tip #3
The oldest tip in the book is to chew gum while studying and also to chew gum while taking the test.

Tip #4
If you have very minimal time to study see what was written most in your notes and study that information in as much detail as possible so that you get the most amount of points for that section.

Tip #5
This isn't really a tip, but my dad told me that if you sleep with you notes under your pillow at night then you'll remember the information in your notebook. So if you believe in that too give it a shot and let me know how the test goes.

Happy memorizing :) and

Spring Break 2016

This year I spent half of my Spring Break in Orlando, Florida and the other half in Boca Raton, Florida with a good friend of mine. It was nice to escape spring break town Miami and have a relaxing break. We went to Universal, Gainesville, the movies, an art museum, Boomers and played with puppies.

February 2016 Favorites

As the month of February came to end I decided to do a favorites post of some of the things that I have not only been loving but have also changed/saved my life.

February is one of my favorite months because of it being Black History Month as well as this year it being a leap year. So my first favorite for the month of February is not an item but an emotion. I was so proud of all my fellow African-Americans this month for partaking in educating those who know little to nothing about Black History. Also I am proud that we as a community are addressing issues that have been put on the back burner for awhile now.

The next list of favorites will have links attached so if you want to purchase anything you can.

The first is a Valentine's Day gift I received from my parents while I am at University. It is a mailbox shaped cookie box from Cheryl's cookie company. If you have not had Cheryl's cookies it is a must.

www.cheryls.com

The next is a book all about bettering yourself in both the work place and your personal life. The book is The Success Principles by Jack Canfield who also is the author of the Chicken Soup books.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0062364286/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1457019154&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=the+success+principles+by+jack+canfield&dpPl=1&dpID=51FPvcGsOtL&ref=plSrch

My favorite beverage at the moment besides water is Pomegranate Rasberry Tea by Stash it taste sweet and has a very nice smell. If you are not a big tea drinker I recommend this tea because it is very subtle.

You can find this tea at your local Wal-Mart.

This next favorite saved my academic life. In the middle of the semester at a very important time, the cooling fan on my laptop broke which means I was unable to use it. So while I waited for my laptop to get fixed I had to use the computers in the computer lab. Thanks to my external hard drive I was able yo save all files and continue to work on what I had been working on prior to my laptop breaking. My recommendation to anyone and everyone who has important files on there computer is to purchase an external hard drive and backup your files.

You can get one at any computer store such as Best Buy or MicroCenter.

My last favorite is a bracelet by lokai. This past month they had a limited edition purple bracelet. This purple bracelet symbolized Alzheimer Awareness with $1 of every purchase going towards the foundation. This company continues to support organizations raising awareness for all things such as cancer, water and wildlife. If you are looking to give back buy a bracelet knowing your money is going to any great charity out there.

http://mylokai.com/shop/lokai-bracelet-clear.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA3t-2BRCKivi-suDY24gBEiQAX1wiXCYpbMcvwXw_qhnBSIl_41VIDyT-wkmKGNmTbAICyZwaAiX68P8HAQ

How Not to Procrastinate

As we get further into the school year and with spring break just around the corner, many of us like to relax. But we need to finish strong and get those grades.
Here are some tips on how to stay focused and beat procrastination.

1. Set a reasonable schedule. Write down everything you need to get done in planner

2. Plan based on time of due date. Do what ever is due first.

3. Give yourself breaks. The worse thing you can do when studying is study nonstop. Breaks help refresh your brain to start on the next study session.

These few tips should help limit the level of procrastination and stress you put on yourself due to the procrastination.

How to Land that Internship

There comes a point in every college students life where they need to find an internship or job. Most of the time it feels like no one wants to give you that opportunity. Sometimes it's who you know and sometimes it's what you know. Either way there are some important keys to getting and keeping an internship or job.

Tip 1: Dress as if you already landed the internship. This means dress professionally and look professional.

Tip 2: Be the better version of yourself. It never hurts to smile. A smile brings a positive vibe to the interview.

Tip 3: Make it about the persons business. Yes you are there to sale yourself but make it into a conversation between you and the employer.

Tip 4: Always have a resume on hand. It shows them your major accomplishments that you can then elaborate on.

Tip 5: If you want to go above and beyond, create a business card so they can contact you with any questions.

These tips are just little steps to landing you that internship or job.

Being Single on Valentine's Day

If you're like me then this Valentine's will be like no other. You'll be single and loathing everyone who has a Valentine. But that can all change. You don't need to have a significant other on Valentine's Day you just need to be surrounded by people who love and care about you. That's why this Valentine's Day I am changing the way I look at the holiday. I am going to enjoy this holiday with my friends and just have a good time.

Here are some tips to enjoy being single on Valentine's Day:
1. Enjoy the company of your friends
2. Go see a movie (i.e. How to be Single)
3. Get brunch
4. Get dinner
5. Have a slumber party
6. Throw a singles party
7. Eat all the food deemed unhealthy
8. Most importantly, be happy and have fun.

Happy Valentine's Day

Super Bowl Sunday

Hi, so if you are reading this you either are a friend of mine, were interested based on the title or were just bored and wanted to explore.

As you may know, Super Bowl Sunday is underway. And I am here to give you some tips on how to have a great Super Bowl Sunday:

1. Find some friends who also want to watch the Super Bowl
2. Find a television to watch it on.
3. Order pizza, wings, cheesy bread, cookie cake, make chips and guac. Just make or buy all foods that are fattening but would be great to eat while watching football. (Make sure you order in advance)
4. Wear your favorite teams jersey or do what me and my friends do and wear a onesie.
5. Enjoy the company of your friends, food and football fun.

Hope this helped anyone who need plans this Super Bowl Sunday.

Motivation After Winter Break

With school in full swing, the majority of us are reminiscing on the good ole days such as winter break. Here are some tips to get you back into the mindset of school (university).

1. Jot down all things to do once you receive your syllabi

2. Plan out alone time.
    For example, go to the gym, meditate, read a book, clean

3. Make a game plan with your friends so you all stay on track and you are not alone.

4. Get involved.
    Nothing helps you manage your time more than being involved.

These tips should help you in getting back into the swing of things and not being stressed right off the bat.

Enjoy your semesters,
Kristine D.