Okay, so raise your hand if you are one of the unlucky ones that already started school. Right now, I am actually raising mine, thanks to college and whatnot. I know different areas start school at different times, but I bet every single one of you are (possibly begrudgingly) starting pretty soon. That means going to Target's school supplies section and smelling those new pencils and erasers and notebooks sprawled out for your choosing. It also means that new backpacks will be broken into... unless you're like me who's taking the easy way out and reusing that perfect condition bag from last year. I decided to show you guys what I decided to fill my backpack up with this year, and I hope you guys get some inspiration from this! (Is that even possible? If so, well enjoy!)

First up are those lovely little life savers I like to call planners! I know you all are wondering why I have two in my bag. The polka dotted one is actually from last year, and I'm keeping it to write down ideas I have for the blog! Besides it being a plain old planner, it has a section where there's a mini folder and a huge notes section, which I am fully intending to use. The one on the right is my new one that I bought from Target! I absolutely adore the whole black-and-white-with-gold-accents thing going on, so I had to get it! And I also really enjoyed the big planning space it comes with! I highly recommend this planner!

Lastly, I have just the basic essentials I feel that every student should have. A lot of the times, teachers want you to staple your papers, and when you do need them stapled, it just so happens the stapler isn't working (am I the only one this happens to??). I started making it my mission to always have one on hand, and I found this one in my brother's old room, which became very handy for me. 

I also have a little tab dispenser for textbooks and my planner. When renting books, it can be really tricky to keep them in the exact same condition you first got them in. Sticky tabs & Post-Its like these can help you so much when doing assigned reading or studying for a test, so you'll know where the information is right away instead of rushing to find it.

And, of course, we cannot forget about lip balm, am I right ladies? Who wants to walk around campus with crusty lips? I know for sure that I don't! This also becomes extremely necessary when it starts getting cold out. I recommend getting inexpensive ones, so that way if you lose it you won't be obsessing over losing your $6 lip balm.

Well folks, this is what I primarily keep in my backpack for school! Of course, I have more stuff as the semester goes on, but these are more of my essentials. What are some of your essentials for back to school? Let me know!

Yours truly,

Leighan

Hey friends!

So, if you guys have been following me on Twitter and Instagram, you will know that I recently got that pretty little piece of mail called an acceptance letter to the University of South Carolina. For all of my college people out there, you know how huge of a deal it is to get accepted into the school you wanted to get into. It is such an amazing feeling, words cannot describe!

I have been working so hard for this for the past year now. I originally was at another college that I realized I did not feel comfortable at. At first, I didn't want to leave because that would mean "wimping out" or quitting. I didn't want to end up messing things up for me, and hurting my parents' feelings by doing so. However, for me, it was kind of like God was calling me to go back home and review my options.

At the time, I was so lost. I was lost in the world, at school... basically, I was just lost in life. I was caught up in the college lifestyle, where drinking to get drunk was the "thing" and parties were an everyday necessity. I remember sneaking drinks in between apartment rooms in order for myself and my friends at the time to not get in trouble by the security at the housing development we were in. I had the mouth of a sailor, and was just an angry, lost individual. I remember calling my sister, trying to hold it all together even though I was breaking.

That last phone call I made to my sister about a pretty big falling out with my roommate was the final straw. God was definitely saying, This is not what I planned for you. This is not where you are supposed to be. After that, I called up my dad and told him I was leaving as soon as winter break started.

Coming home permanently from my previous education caused a lot of concern from people that I knew. They believed I was simply chickening out and not sucking it up. The thing is that they don't realize that it wasn't by my own will, but God's. It also made me really start falling back in love with God and strengthening my faith. Before, I was only just living in my parent's faith, When I came back, I started going back to church and befriending more people who were God's people and who would hold me accountable if I ever slipped up. I started reading more, started taking time out of my day to spend it with God. I'm still trying to better myself as a woman of God, and I am far from perfect, but I am farther away from sin than I was before.

Putting my trust in God has led me to so many great things. At first, I was at this job where I had a horrible boss who would belittle you for every bad mistake. When I started letting Him take control, I was presented with a better job opportunity, and the Lord has blessed me so much. I now have a great, understanding boss and I actually like going into work. In regards to school, I am doing so much better than I was at my previous school. I'm at a technical school and will transfer to USC next fall. I have a 3.2 average and am still holding onto it. 

Looking back at it all, if I didn't listen to God calling me home, I would have never gotten this opportunity to go to a school that is closer to my family (and better for my major) and be closer to Him. My favorite verse that can probably best describe this post is from James, and it says,

I hope that this post will inspire you guys to listen to the call of God and listen to what he has planned for you. I know that if I wasn't as broken down as I was that night, I would have never heard God saying that where I was wasn't the place for me to be at, and I would have been still stuck in this rut of sin and debauchery. Break down your walls. Shut the world out. Just take some time to hear what the Lord has to say today, and you will be glad you did.

Yours truly,

Leighan

Hey guys! I am currently sitting in Starbucks right now as I am writing, and I just finished up homework assignments that were due. As I was finishing up, I was thinking about how much work I got done in the few hours I've been here. It also made me think about this post I am giving you right now! 

I am SO horrible at trying to be productive. Whenever I actually sit my butt down to do work, I end up being distracted by my phone or my sister wanting to watch Glee with me. However, whenever I want to get stuff done, here are some things that I do to keep moving on!

1. Get out of your house! I know that our teachers/professors assign us work to do at home. But who said it had to actually be at home? I find it better for me to not be doing homework at my house because I get so distracted. I like to go to Starbucks and sit with my latte and cake pops (am I the only one who does this?), and have my huge laptop sitting out, finishing up assignments. I don't know what it is, but I get everything I need to done outside of my home. And, it doesn't necessarily have to be at Starbucks. You can go to another favorite coffee shop you like, or even right outside of your house. I love doing homework outside during this time of year because it is just so relaxing, and I get a bit of a tan out of it!

2. Write it down! Whenever you have homework or projects due, it is so important to write it down. Now, I am not saying to type, because typing doesn't count! For me, I find it best to write it down because if I'm typing it, it just doesn't go through as much as if I write it down. Which leads to my next point...

3. Add some color in those notes! I started doing this at the beginning of the school year, and it helps out so much! Color-coordinating your notes not only makes writing out those boring, long lecture notes fun, but it definitely assists me in memory. I usually write in ROY G. BIV order, but any kind of color combo works!

4. Put the phone away! I am with everyone else in the world when I say that my phone is the biggest distraction for me. It distracts me from doing devotionals every morning, from listening in on conversations, and from studying for my exams. I watched a YouTube video on how to be productive, and they suggested to hide your phone. Whenever we have our phones by us, we feel so compelled to check Twitter or aimlessly scroll through Instagram liking Taylor Swift's photos for the millionth time. I leave my phone on my bed while I'm trying to get stuff done and do my work by my desk area. I realized it cuts out all of that wasteful time and I actually finish what I'm supposed to have done!

5. Find/Create the perfect homework/studying playlist! Let's be honest: studying sucks. I absolutely despise studying because I cannot sit for that long reading a textbook or keep going over notes or notecards. Listening to music can help with that! I do suggest whenever you are finding or creating your own playlist, go for more mellow songs. Upbeat, poppy songs will definitely be a distraction because it will make you want to get up and dance, which is not what you want! Indie music and acoustics are what I tend to go for. You can look at 8tracks for some really good indie ones. Spotify is another one that has a really great selection of study songs.

I just thought I'd share this with you all! I really hope this helps you guys get down to business and get through those long hours of homework and studying! Also, let me know what you guys do to get stuff done! I would love to have more tips to have under my arsenal!

Yours truly,

Leighan

photos: title, 2, & 3: my own. 1, 4, 5