Six More Days

I still have one (open note, open book) final left, but for the most part my college career is over. I turned in my last ever undergrad paper today and walked back to my apartment to do laundry.

Six more days.

It seems like a long time to wait, sitting in my room, hanging out with my friends, eating at our college town's finest. But in a lot of ways, it's not enough time.

Six days to meet up with favorite professors, one last time. Six days to see the people who populated my time at DePauw. Six days to visit each academic building one last time. Six days to hit up all the bars (all four of them) in Greencastle.

One of my friends signed a lease for her apartment today. Another found an apartment and is applying for jobs. Two friends finished their senior seminar projects. One came back after sending her fiancé to his first day of work. We're already adulting. College is basically over.

Six days to tell everyone how much they've meant to me. Six days to walk over to my friend's house because she lives just across campus. Six days to see everyone in person, without plans.

Six days left of being a college student.

See you on Sunday.

Leeann

Best Studying Tips | The SECOND Day of Blogmas!

On the second day of Blogmas, Leeann's blog gave to me: the best study tips... As I've struggled through studying and paper writing, I've hoped and prayed for some solution to my agony and dismay. "Please," I say to anyone who passes by, "tell me how to stop this!" My friends and fellow students pat me on the back then go into their finals sob stories of two finals in one day and a project with a group that won't meet.

I needed a hero, and it came in the form of this article from my dearest mom. It lists "scientifically proven" methods to success during study week, and while it had quite a few suggestions I already knew it also gave me the proof that I was making the right decisions (I've never had an all-nighter and I plan to keep that streak; this article told me why that's a good thing).

But it got me thinking, what else is out there that can help all of us suffering under the biggest tests of the semester? So here is my list of the best finals studying tips I found across the Internet:

• Scientifically, The Best Ways To Prepare For Final Exams by the SUNY blog (this is what my mom sent me!)
• My Favorite Study Method by Cardigans and Chai
• A Love Letter for the College Students by More Love Letters (for the 11:00 p.m. freak out when your spirits need a boost)
• 22 Science-Backed Study Tips by Greatist
• Tips on Studying for Finals by University of Pittsburg Bradford

What are your top studying tips?

On the second day of Blogmas, Leeann's blog gave to me:

the best study tips and 10 Christmas songs to sing!

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Below the Line:

• One test down, one test and two papers to go
• #2days

Favorite Christmas Songs | The FIRST Day of Blogmas!

On the first day of Blogmas, Leeann's blog gave to me: 10 Christmas songs to sing! Hello everyone, and welcome to Blogmas Day One! While I'm stressed and freaked out to the max right now, trying to get all my work done for the two papers/two tests I've got going on in the next three days, I'm also super excited to spend the next 12 days with you getting ready for Christmas. Something to enjoy while write 24-pages over the next 24-hours... :)

But since it is finals season, I'm listening to quite a lot of Christmas music. It's what keeps me sane during winter finals. Knowing that the "Christmas spirit" is still around keeps me motivated. So for this first Blogmas post, I'm going to share with you my top ten Christmas songs for studying:

10: We Three Kings, Aly & AJ Ah, the favorite duo of my past. I love We Three Kings, and these sisters do an amazing job with it.

9: Silver Bells, Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald Nothing like some Bing Crosby. I love all of his songs, but Silver Bells makes me think of 1940s Christmases.

8: 12 Days of Christmas, Straight No Chaser This is just a fun song I like to listen to after a particularly long study session.

7: The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole A classic. All the feels.

6: O Holy Night, Nat King Cole Yes yes, another Nat King Cole because he's the king. And because this version of another favorite Christmas carol is simply beautiful.

5: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Andy Williams Another king of Christmas music, Andy Williams's version of this song is just perky enough to make that Environmental Crisis paper seem worth it...

4: The Nutcracker Symphony I choose the Nutcracker when I need to do some serious thinking but need some background noise. It's just soft enough to be in the holiday spirit while letting me do my work.

3: It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas, Michael Buble Ah, Michael Buble. The 21st century version of Bing Crosby. How I love his voice; this song is so soothing, so one of my top picks when I'm at my stress peak.

2: Christmas Time is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio Because it's from one of my favorite childhood Christmas shows, it gets me pumped to go home at the end of a long line of finals.

And my all-time favorite song...

1: Suite from the Polar Express It's hard to convey how much this song (and movie and book) means to me in one line, so just trust me when I say this song is so full of meaning to me that I pull it out frequently during finals.

There are some favorite Christmas songs missing, such as Carol of the Bells and O Come All Ye Faithful; but those aren't really songs I listen to while studying. I need tunes that will perk my spirits or get me in the mood to finish my work and go home!

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

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Below the Line:

• As soon as I publish this post, I'm jumping straight into studying for my U.S. Women's History test. After tomorrow morning, I can kiss that class goodbye!
• Still haven't finished buying all my Christmas presents yet... I really like to find people something they're going to love, so it's difficult to spend that much time looking while writing a paper at the same time.
• 3 days! 3 days and finals will be over.

Time to Deck the Halls!

Oh you know, just checking in to make sure you haven't forgotten about me :) Now that December has finally come, I'm in all-out Christmas mode. My little desk corner is filled with holiday clings, Merry Christmas banners, and my mini tree. There's nothing some decorations can't fix, if you ask me. One of my roommates also decorated our door with Santa wrapping paper and stockings for the four of us.

I love Advent.

The lead up to Christmas is just as wonderful as the actual day. I love my daily Advent readings, Christmas songs, and the anticipation of a new beginning. Another semester comes to a close, the weather settles into it's winter state, and everyone gathers together to celebrate. I've always found something magical in holiday spirit, and I refuse to let that go as I grow up.

While I haven't been blogging much this semester, I want to record my favorite time of the year. So get ready for... the 12 Days of Blogmas! I will be posting 12 days in a row starting December 14th. They might be festive photos, an account of what I did that day, a book review, a gift list--anything Christmas related! If you have any requests, leave them in the comments below.

I hope you are all having merry holiday seasons! I'll see you on the 14th :)