She dances to the songs in her head, speaks with the rythm of her heart, and loves from the depth of her soul.

[peanutbutterandchill-deactivate]

If you’re a positive, fitness/healthy eating blog please reblog this &/or follow. I need to see more happy posts on my blog

[stolenwine]

THINGS WE WERE NOT TOLD EARLY ENOUGH 1. There is a lion in the throat of every girl put there by her mother the day she is born. This is important. They like to cage natural things and tell the people who buy tickets to feel dangerous, getting so close, that the magnificent creature teeth grinding against metal bars better serves her public, this way. They think you are made to be looked at. Do not open your mouths for them. 2. You dance how you like to dance. If it breaks you open, welcome the draft. If it makes you free, welcome the new territory, every inch of it yours to call ‘body.’ 3. No skin makes you any less woman. No body makes you any less woman. Stand with your sisters, speak with your sisters, but never in place of them, never presuming the shape of their tongue for your own. We are woman and we will stand, but my grief is not shaped like hers, we have different teeth. The stories come out different when they must watch for the way they were shaped by the mouth who is speaking them. 4. Loving yourself has nothing to do with vanity. It is letting the windows open after living an entire lifetime within a perpetually burning house. It is learning not to pick the flowers so that they may grow stronger, so that they may look more like you. 5. That beating inside of your chest is a giving of sorts. It is not something knocking to be let out, but your body reminding you: You Are Here. Open it. Listen to how it sounds so much like the way you are alive.

“THINGS WE WERE NOT TOLD EARLY ENOUGH” By Emma Bleker (via stolenwine)

[dailyblossom]

What have I learned?

In my first semester of college I have learned more about my self as a person, student, friend, and woman than in any other time of my life so far. I have learned good study habits, true friends, and have progressed beyond my imagination. If you would have asked me last year what I would look like as a college student, I would never have imagined the person that I have come to be.

(Where it all began, on the corner of Magnolia Drive)

I have grown into an actual student. In the beginning of the semester I struggled, but as I grew as a student I have developed confidence in myself, and my work. I have discovered that I am a student that is hardworking and persistent. I now know what it takes to get work done and get it done right. While I am far from perfect, and still have a long way to go, I have become a better scholar than I ever dreamed of being in high school. I know things that had never even crossed my mind before this semester; like the fact Charles Goodyear made the athletic shoe possible with vulcanized rubber, how to operate photoshop and illustrator, and how much coffee it takes to stay up three nights in a row. I learned that we have Hugo Grotius to thank for modern international law, and Sara Blakey to think for Spanx. I know all the categories of intimate apparel, and the names of most of the nations in the world. I have discussed and thought about crucial topics such as prejudice, animal liberation, and poverty. I have listened to lectures that made me rethink everything I have done so far, and ones that inspired me to never stop reaching for my dreams. I have written four papers that I am extremely proud of, and one that I learned a big lesson from. I think my progression as a student this semester will set the tone for the semesters to come, and make my college career one to be proud of.

(Me at 4AM cramming for a test, was I crying or laughing? probably both… Class: Survey of Fashion)

I learned the meaning of friendship. Never would I have thought that I would make as many genuine friendships in such a short amount of time. In the past four months I have developed and maintained more beautiful relationships than I can count on three hands. Previous life experiences taught me who were real friends, and this semester I have learned what being a real friend to someone else means. I have learned that I am loyal, caring, and forgiving. I’ve learned that I can sometimes be forgetful and dependent, but in the end I will never let anyone down. I have found what I believe to be my best friend in a girl that I admire deeply. She sits beside me in every class, and we encourage each other to be the best we can be in every aspect of our lives. We challenge each others thoughts and opinions, and she can make me laugh like no one else. I used to think a best friend was supposed to be someone that you could count on no matter what, but now I think its much more than that. I know she’s always there for me, but I also know that she’s going to help make me a better person as well.

(Ft. Nikki Gay at 3AM. Class: Computers for fashion)

I have changed and learned a lot about myself as a woman. So many aspects go into this part of my identity, and I never thought about what being a woman meant until coming to college. Womanhood means so much more than just being able to grow a little human, especially in this day and age where we can aspire to be whatever we want. My best friend from high school is currently living with her boyfriend, and just announced that she is expecting. She is 18 years old and holds down a job as a waitress. Her boyfriend is fortunately a really nice guy, and has a stable job at a naval ship yard. I still call her every week; she updates me on her life of early adulthood, and I update her on my latest college endeavors. One day it hit me how different we were, and how thankful I am to be the woman that I am. Emily is an awesome person, the best friend anyone could ask for, and loves the life that she has chosen for her self. I admire her for being brave and following her heart, but I know that I do not want to live that life. Emily’s life is great for her, but I would not be happy in it. I am a woman full of hopes, dreams, and aspirations. I aspire to be independent and successful. I need the education to think freely, develop my own opinions, and be a great contributor to this society. I want a long and fruitful career that I love. Emily wants a baby, and that is wonderful for her, but I want so much more. This semester I learned that I am a different woman then I thought I was in that I am not going to let anything jeopardize my goals and aspirations. Whether it be friends, boys, failures, or this  society nothing is going to stand in my way.

(Ft. my best friend Emily Bellflower)

I now know things that will help me in my day to day life. Hard lessons like the fact that the sidewalks next to the cathedral are so unforgiving, and will bruise your chin if you fall on them. I got the hang of actually taking care of my physical self by going to the gym and eating right. I have learned ways of dealing with this demanding atmosphere. My main technique for combating stress is puppy therapy, which I recommend highly.

(Ft. Moe, Arlo, Nala, Bonnie, and Bear <3 the cute faces that kept me going)

The first semester of college is life changing for a lot of people, and I do not  think that someone can truly know themselves until they are put into an educational environment like college. I’ve learned that college is stressful, inspiring, at times painful, but most of all rewarding. It takes everything you have, spits it out, and somehow leaves you waiting to give more, do better, and work harder.  I have learned that I hate college, and I have learned that I love it. Hopefully the skills I’ve obtained this semester will make the rest of my college experience less of a love hate relationship.

[stability]

[charlottewinslow]

[labella-instagram]

[stability]

Don’t ever become so consumed with someone else that you forget your own existence.

(via stability)

[sister-for-a-day]

[theorganisedstudent]

I get a lot of questions about how I take my lecture notes, and so I thought a quick post might be helpful! I’ve said many a time that I don’t do anything too complex with my notes, nor do a re-write them - but this system really works well for me!

The Basics

First off, I write all my lecture notes in black pen. Sometimes this is a Bic pen, sometimes a Sharpie Fineliner. My highlighters are the Zebra Mildliners. I don’t underline and highlight my notes until after the class, usually the next day. This allows me to focus more in class and gives me an opportunity to review the information at a later date. 

Structure

At the top of the page I’ll always write the date in full and the name of the module that those notes are for, followed by title for that lecture. Underneath, you can see that I’ve devised a colour coding system with highlighters. I usually do ‘citations’, 'examples’ and 'important info’, but this may vary depending on the lecture content, so I do this step after I’ve completed the notes. 

Subheadings

Each section of the lecture is given a subheading, which I will underline - again after the class has ended, usually at home. I use the subheadings which feature on the PowerPoint, but rather than writing the information shown on those I base my notes off of what the lecturer is saying.

Indentations

I indent my writing for examples and for the text that follows them, as you can see with 'the diggers’ and my definitions of the green economy. I find this makes it much easier to identify and follow as you re-read your notes. 

Symbols and Shorthand

I use little right-angle arrows like you can see at the top of the page for my 'follow through points’, which act as consequences for the point that is mentioned above. I will use three dots {like this ∴ } as a symbol for 'therefore’. It concludes the points that I have made and is usually based off of how the lecturer has summarised the point they are making. This makes my notes much more coherent.

I hope this has been informative and has maybe given you a few ideas on how to do your own lecture notes! xo

[charlottewinslow]

[yoga-teacher-youneekornzy]

[coral]

[coral]

If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

Martin Luther King Jr. (via feellng)

[symphonyofawesomeness]

[sangreymiel]

[luzdenetuno]

[shawnraeyoga]