Discoveries From the Bin

This summer the Bin has undergo many changes. I completely redecorated, but once I started, it couldn't end there. The more I read other blogs, and the more I learned about HTML/CSS the more I wanted to change. It has been an incredible experience spending more time with my blog, and I have loved every minute of it.

Today I will even be featured on a blog I've mentioned before, "Life Could Be a Dream." Check out one of my favorite blogs to see my feature and more. Jana has some really great posts--find some of here most popular posts here.

Check out some of my other favorite discoveries of the week.

From Her Campus--the UW-Madison Chapter--I found:

"20 Thoughts That Go Through Your Head Before and While Working Out" 

From Kiersten's, "She is Fierce", twitter I found:

"Are You Missing Out on Life While You're Checking Your Smart Phone?"

From Whitney Blake's blog I found:

"18 Things I Learned at My First Blog Conference"

From Gina Alyse's blog I found: 

"Destination: College - A Blog Hop

From The Daily Tay I found: 

"Exercise Tips For Those Who Don't Like To Exercise"

Just another day from the Life in the Lost and Found Bin. Hope you found something you like. 

What have you discovered this week?

P.S. I updated my About Page, added a Contact Page, and I have a few new Must Reads.

Why I Write 2.0

I first started blogging in September of 2011. It had been something I heard about and some people even told me it was something I should try when I told them about my writing. But it wasn't until that first day of AP Comp that I actually made it. It was called "Write Away", and my reader base consisted of my teacher and sometimes my classmates. This was the first time I was forced to articulate why I write. Up until this assignment I hadn't thought of it that much. Why do I write?

In 2011 I wrote this small post with seemingly banal reasons of why I write, essentially saying, because I like to, because I want to get better, and because it helps me keep my thoughts straight. At that time all of those things might have been true. All I knew was that I enjoyed spending hours in front of an empty page or blank document. I could carefully craft sentences to create meaning, and that made me feel powerful. Most of my writing up until AP Comp was fictional--I spent hours upon hours dreaming up characters and plot lines that sometimes I imagined myself in these made up worlds.

The semester after AP Comp I took a creative writing class. One day we were going around our usual circle talking about what we wanted to do with our lives. In AP Comp I had finally overcome my fear of being a writer, and decided to admit that I enjoyed it, despite the negative stigma often associated with choosing a "creative path". I wrote my final paper about my decision to become a writer, and ditching my dreams to be a doctor. My final line was something like, "Just call me Dr. Wordsmith." I had come to terms with my decision to follow my dreams, even if that meant sacrificing the stability that came with going into a field like medicine--or so I thought. That day my creative writing teacher asked me what I wanted to do I said, "My ultimate dream would be to do something in the film industry, but that isn't really possible...so, I don't know yet."

She looked at me funny and said, "Why not?"

I had never told anyone that I had this kind of dream before, and I definitely didn't expect that kind of response. The possibility of making it in the world of film seemed so daunting (still does) that I wrote it off before I let myself really want it. But when she questioned me I didn't really have a good reason not to do it. If telling people that I wanted to be a writer was difficult, admitting that I dreamed to make movies someday seemed next to impossible. Yet, once I got it out there I allowed myself to accept this dream--it was a challenge that I was ready to take on. Again, or so I thought.

Last November I wrote a post "Ten Thousand Hours" about my dedication to my passion. But I struggle with my goals every day. I worry that I am not good enough. I worry what other people think about my dreams. I worry about what it will be like if I actually try to go after my dreams. I worry that I will fail. I worry that the people who doubted me along the way will be there to say, "I told you so." I worry that these people exist--but I think I create most of the doubt. We really can be our own worst enemies.

Custom "Hey Girl"

However, these doubts and worries fuel my passion even more. They push me to get my writing out there. They push me to prove myself (if only to myself). They push me to keep going, even if I am busy or drained from the day.

A year ago, I wrote about someone telling me that I wouldn't make money from writing and I should keep it as a hobby. And it stung. It made me feel like I wasn't good enough--and it made me consider other options more seriously. That's part of the reason I thought about becoming an engineer last fall. That person still thinks it is simply a hobby to me, and that I spend too much time blogging and writing. They think of it as a waste of time.

But that's ok, because I think of it as happiness.

I write because:

• It makes me happy.
• At the end of a long day there is nothing I would rather do.
• I want to maximize the time that I spend doing what makes me happy.
• It's something I can share with others.
• I want to encourage other people to do what they love, and I want something I say to resonate with someone else. I want my words to mean something. 

How to Make the Most Out of the End Of Summer

Summer's End...Already?

For students August usually signifies the end of a much-needed break. It's usually not over right away, but you are already on the downward slope, and there is no slowing down from here. All of the things you want to do have to get done in August. Forgot you wanted to stay up all night having a Harry Potter marathon with friends? Now's the time to do it. Forgot you wanted to take a spontaneous road trip? Now's the time to do it. Forgot you weren't ready for summer to end? Now's the time to accept it. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but summer doesn't last for ever. However, it is not over yet (for most of us--sorry if it is for you). So take this time to really make the most of what is left.

We are close to halfway through August. I already move into my first apartment a week from this Saturday. Last year it seemed like something we only talked about, an imaginary future that would never truly arrive on our doorstep. But this is for real now. My roommates and I spent 2 hours delegating who would bring what last weekend over video chat, and I still can't believe we are actually moving in this soon. 

1. Summer Bucket list: It's never too late to make a tangible representation of what you want to do before summer's end. Maybe if you have it written out, it will make it feel more official, and you can hold yourself accountable for what you want to do. It might be easier to make plans at the last minute or overdose on Netflix, but if you have bigger plans for this summer, make them happen. 
2. Make Concrete Plans: Early June is the time to say "I am free whenever." Mid August is the time to say "I am available at 6:30 on Thursday. Make time for me." You don't want to miss out on your final days with friends you won't see for a long time because you couldn't coordinate schedules. So make the time, and make sure you don't miss out. 
3. Live in the moment: Yes, summer is almost over. But it is not over, so don't count it done and spend every second obsessing about what Fall will hold. Of course Autumn is filled with wonderful things, too--for many it's big sweaters, Pumpkin spiced anything, or football season. These are all things to look forward to, but it is not time for that yet. Appreciate the sunshine and warm weather while we have it. 
4. Take Advantage of End of Season Sales: But don't go crazy. What you like now might not be the same by the beginning of next summer. So be cautious, but there are plenty of end-of-summer sales that are filled with wonderful items at a great price. I know I said "live in the moment", but in terms of shopping, that's usually not a good idea. After all, if I purchased everything my heart desired at that moment, I would be as much debt as my credit card limit allowed. 
5. Have a lazy day: Forget everything I just said for a moment, and take a day off. Save all of the stuff I just mentioned for all of the other days of summer, and take one day to do absolutely nothing. You deserve some time to yourself to be a beach bum or even lounge around the house. For those over-productive types this can be the hardest one on the list. If you feel like you always have to be doing something, relaxing can be incredibly challenging. You're thinking, The lazy bird didn't catch the worm--or something like that. But sometimes your body just needs to be at rest. A day off will leave you feel refreshed and give you the energy to conquer anything you want to get done when you get back to work. 

#Foodgrams

A couple of weeks ago I posted "10 Must See Instagrams". I enjoyed creating the post, because I love finding creative photos, and I always want to share them. So today I decided to create a food-themed instagram post. Some people gag at the sight of a foodgram, because it is terribly "cliche" and "amateur". But instagram is for the amateurs. It is "insta", because it is an app created to share special moments insta-ntly. These photos are not supposed to be professional quaily (they are usually taken with smartphones, after all)--yet some take professional-looking photos, and I envy these people. So check out some of my favorite Instagrams, featuring food, from the last few months.

Warning: these photos might stimulate hunger.

 

  

11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Freshman Year

Going to college is exciting. It is a new chapter of your life, and it is a transitional period. You are becoming an independent adult, and that is an incredible thing. But it is also scary. You are in a new place with a lot of unfamiliar faces, and if you are living on campus, you have to adjust to a new home.

Last year when I was getting ready college, I spent a lot of time finding articles (mainly from pinterest) with lists about things I should know before I go and what I should bring. No list is going to be able to cover everything you want to know before you head off, but I know they brought me a lot of comfort. So I want to share a few things I wish I would have considered before I moved in.

1. Befriend your RA. Your resident adviser--house fellow, floor adviser, community adviser, or whatever you call it at your school-- is there to help you. Sure, they get paid to make sure that you are behaving and not harming yourself or floormates, but they are more than that. They are people, too--often people with a lot of experience on campus. These guys know the best restaurants, the best ice cream, and best discounted text books. If you need advice, they are a great resource just down the hall. Take the time to get to know your RA, because upperclassman friends can be the best kind.

2. Find out what makes you look like a freshman. But don't be afraid to look like a freshman, because news flash: you are one. (Unless you're not, and you're just reading this for fun. In which case, I hope you realized this at one point, too.) As soon as I got on campus, I learned there are many indications that you are a freshman. Some of them include, having a lanyard for your keys and/or Student ID, not starting to walk into the crosswalk before the walk sign turned on (this one is not necessarily an indication, but it quickly became apparent that most people who had been around a while knew exactly when they could start walking), walking around with large groups of people at night (because no one knows what is going on yet and everyone wants other people to be lost with), and of course, the obvious one, asking for directions to any building. Like I said, it's okay to look like a freshman; just know, it might be painfully obvious at first that you are a newbie.

3.You don't need to be in a sorority or fraternity to find friends. You will make friends! This is the scary part: coming into college without your best friends that you have known since kindergarten. It doesn't mean that you won't keep your high school friends (I still love mine!), but you need a little time apart. "It's not you--it's college. And I think we should see other people." Just kidding. I am telling you that you don't have to break up with your old friends--just find new ones, too. And you don't have to join a sorority or frat to do it. If that's not the reason you want to join one, and you want that experience, by all means go be recruited! Personally, I found out quickly that sorority life was not in my future.

4. It's okay to be "undecided". Unless you are considering being an engineer. If you think you might want to become an engineer, you should start on that track right away. It is much easier to switch out of that program than to try to get into it once you start taking other classes. But if you don't want to spend your time engineering anything, than you probably have time to get it figured out. Don't feel like you need to know what you are going to do by the end of your first lecture freshman year.

5. Be Yourself.  Everyone wants to "reinvent" themselves in college--to be someone different than they were in high school.  This desirable person is more mature, good-looking, suave (uses words like suave). It's okay to want to present yourself differently, but make sure you are being true to yourself. You can still be a more mature version of yourself with doing a 180. Don't pretend to be someone you're not.

6. College is not, at all, like the show Greek. When the show Greek came on ABC Family, I thought it had college spot on. All of the movies I had seen always involved endless wild parties and people standing up in lectures to profess their love for someone or tell their opinion on life. Maybe I am not taking the right classes, but usually when I go to class I can expect to listen to a professor drown on about whatever the subject is without any significant disruptions. With that being said, I did have a professor dance Gangnam Style last semester while we watched the music video--so I guess they are somewhat entertaining. But I remember watching an episode of Greek with my mom one time and saying that I hoped my college experience would be as exciting as that. My mom warned me not to expect it to be like that. College involves work--a lot of work, and that means sometimes saying no to fun because you have study or write a paper. Even on--gasp!--a Saturday night.

7. Don't try to be an engineer just because all the cool kids are doing it. That one is a bit specific, I know. But this can apply to any field that other people revere. Your major is a MAJOR decision. And it should be 100% your decision. You are here for yourself, and you know what makes you happy. At the end of the day, what you are the most passionate about is what you will be the most successful in, because you will enjoy doing it and put more work in. First semester I talked to a lot of people who were going for engineering, and I have heavily considered engineering in the past. So I thought, maybe this is it. Maybe it is worth staying in school longer to have a more successful career. But then I realized I don't have to be in a STEM career to be successful. After talks with a fellow classmate, Nan (my wonderful floor-mate), my grandma, and best friends, I knew I should pursue my dreams. But it was so scary--but one of my favorite quotes is "If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough." So do what you want to do, and don't become an engineer, businesses person, medical professional, etc. unless it is 100% your dream.

8. Go to the Student Organization Fair, but don't give everyone your email. My friends and I really enjoyed the Student Org Fair, and we even joined a couple Orgs. However, my roommate and I gave out our email to almost every stand that seemed interesting. And that was a big mistake. We received so many emails over the course of the year that I felt like I was a part of some of these organizations that I never attended. As a student you will already get a surplus of emails, and it is overwhelming. Don't make the mistake of trying to join every organization on campus (don't worry we didn't try to join every org, but it was bad).

9. Be prepared for encountering situations that you don't know how to handle. Whether or not you want to admit it, you were at least somewhat dependent on your parents to help you deal with your problems until you went off to college. It's not like you can't call them to help you through certain dilemmas, but now is the time to start figuring things out for yourself. And there will be certain times that you don't know what to do, but you won't want to talk it through with Mom and Dad. You won't have all the answers, and sometimes you will mess up. Learn from those times, and be really proud of yourself when it turns out well. Now you take all of the responsibility if it goes wrong, but you get all the credit if it is a success.

10. Find your friends, but don't worry if you are not friends with everyone. I found the majority of my college friends within the first couple weeks. Throughout the year I felt bad that I didn't even know some of the people on my floor, and that I wasn't very close with certain people. But you can't be friends with everyone. If you were, you would be a crappy friend, because you would have limited time to dedicated to all of them. You have the opportunity to make a lot of great friends, so take this time to figure out who you click with, and work on time management so that you can spend time getting to know them. (Late night talks are the best! Who needs sleep anyway?)

11. Go to Welcome Week events. I put this one last because it is the first thing you will encounter. At the beginning I remember we spent time considering what we should really go to, because some of the events sounded pretty pointless. But these events are created for you. They are to help make this new place seem a little less scary and more like home. One of my first experiences on campus was sitting on a bus for over an hour, because my roommate and I didn't know which stop to get off on to find one of the unions. We completely missed the introductory event for our dorm. Later we learned, if we would have just walked there, we would have only been a couple minutes late. So I guess this one is two tips: wait to get to know the bus system until you have the time to get lost, and make sure to make the most out of welcome week. Plus, there is always tons of free stuff. Who doesn't love that?

If you enjoyed this, you should also check out "10 Things You Learn At College."

More college:
"Finals, Freak-Outs, and Other Fun"
"Ten Thousand Hours"
"Time Management"
"I've Been in Love With Love"

Happily shared with "Seeking Individuality."

On Being Minnesoooooootan

I am a midwestern. But to make it even better, I am from the land of 10,000 Lakes (Or around that. Who's counting anyway?). If you aren't from the Minnesota, you might have an idea of what a typical Minnesota looks like:

• Way too friendly.
• Minnesota Nice, am I right?

• Enunciates nouns waaaaaaaaay too much.
• You betcha.

• Says things like "You betcha".
• That's not even a word.

• Always wearing a parka.
• We have summer, too. And it gets hot--not like in the South, but it gets plenty hot. 

• Plays "Duck Duck Grey Duck" instead of "Duck Duck Goose."
• We call it both, and some Minnesotans have never even heard it called "Duck Duck Grey Duck".

• Refers to drinks like Pepsi, Diet Coke, and Dr. Pepper as "Pop.

 Am I close? There have been many times in my life when I have met someone who has never been to Minnesota who has had a humorous idea of what Minnesota is really like.

So you like live in the middle of nowhere, right? I've heard it's all farm land and cows poop everywhere. 

It's like always winter, right?

Say "Boat."

It's called a bubbler.

First things first, in what world would there be cows going around doing their business where ever they please? That's just gross and unsanitary, and why would you ever think that would be unacceptable anywhere? Secondly, ever heard of Minneapolis? While it is much smaller than Chicago, and much much smaller than NYC and LA, it is hardly farm land.

We don't live in Antartica.

I will not say "Boat". So maybe I pronounce certain words a little different than you--it's not like the rest of the world except Minnesota has the same accent and dialect.

It's actually a drinking fountain. So this one is specific to a West Wisconsin region, but since I go to school in Wisconsin I hear this quite a bit. This only originated because of good branding, like how we call a tissue a "Kleenex." More here.

My friends from Wisconsin always make fun of my accent, but I honestly don't think I talk differently then they do. And if I sound Minnesotan, it' probably because I am from Minnesota. Duh. Either way, I am proud to be a Minnesotan. We have one of the best State Fairs in the country. We have one of the largest shopping centers in the country. We have many, many lakes.

Blog Envy

This summer I have been working a lot to improve my blog. Even though I have had this blog for three years, I have never been very consistent with it. I only posted when I wanted to--basically whenever I had time and deemed an idea worthy of writing about. This all started when I came upon the blog "Life Could Be a Dream."

The one thing I distinctly remember is being so impressed with her blog. Soon I discovered that there was a lot more to the world of blogging than I ever dreamed. The power of hyperlinks is outstanding. By visiting a fairly popular blog, you discover more blogs: people sponsoring them, people collaborating them, and people creating for them. This blog has become like an unpaid job for me. I have been working hard to create a more aesthetically pleasing blog, with the necessary features to become successful.

I know that I still have a long way to go, but since these blogs have given me so much inspiration, I decided to give back a little. Check out some of my new favorite blogs.

1. Life Could Be A Dream
 Jana Toloman is a designer, life and style blogger, and a culinary school graduate. She has great posts on a variety of topics, and if you happen to want some blog consultation or redecoration, Jana is the person to go to. She also has many posts on tips for improving your blog and what makes a blog successful.

2. The Daily Tay
Taylor Wolfe is a stand-up comedian and writer currently living in Chicago. She is hilarious, stylish, and charismatic. Also, she has a pretty cool name.

3. The Modern Tulip
Maegen is The Modern Tulip. Stop by and be sure to peak through her boutique. You just might find something you have to have. (Also, you should definitely congratulate her on her recent news of a little one on the way. I don't even know her, and I am excited for her!)

4. Living in Yellow
Erin is passionate a witty. Her blog is well-designed and fun to read. One of my favorite parts of her sidebar is her little introduction under her picture. It's makes you feel comfortable right away.

5. Always Ashten
Ashten is a funny Californian currently residing in Georgia. It's a lifestyle blog filled with lots of laughs. Be sure to check out her "Best of Always Ashten" page.

Reality TV: In What World Is This Reality?

Oh, Reality TV. There are two types of people in this world: those who are obsessed with Reality TV and those who detest it.  Let's be honest: whether or not you like it, many people have a love-hate relationship with Reality TV. And by many people, I might just mean myself, but I have a feeling I am not alone in this. Part of it is because of the very reason we enjoy watching TV in the first place: we like watching other people do interesting things. After a long day, it can be nice to unwind by watching others and living vicariously through them--whether they are real people or fictional characters in your favorite sitcom. 

But Reality TV takes it to a whole new level, because we are watching real people do ridicilous things. If they were doing things normal people do, they would have no viewers. Who wants to endure watching other people do errands or watch TV? Why do you think The Office was a fictional hit instead of a reality show? Nothing that comical actually happens in an office on a regular basis. (I mean I am not in an office on a regular basis--but if an office like that exists those people should work on getting their own show. Or maybe new management is in order, preferrably not in the form of Will Ferrell, cough, cough.)

Anyway, do you ever find yourself shouting at the television for someone to stop opening their big mouths on secret alliances because this is Big Brother and you never, ever, trust people--especially in the first week of the show? Ok, maybe that one is just me. But if you have ever watched reality television, against your better judgement, you have gotten more invested then you ever intended. Every week you tune in, telling yourself this will be the last time. Just put down the remote and back slowly away from the TV. Whether your guilty-pleasure show is The Bachelor or Jersey Shore (That's not actually on anymore, right?), you know it is wrong. So wrong. Spoiler alert: They break up, and Snooki's hair is still higher than her IQ. 

So why do we do it?

Maybe it is because we are creatures of habit. Or maybe, just maybe, it is because the ridiculousness that we bash with friends and colleagues, is just more exciting than watching real people do normal things. Last time I turned on the TV I didn't spot "America's Next Top Blogger" in the TV Guide (which is a shame). I can't see them making a "Survivor: Poor College Kids Edition" any time soon. And "16 and on the Honor Roll" doesn't have the same ring as 16 and Pregnant. We don't want to watch normal, because we are terribly normal. Reality TV is somewhat (sometimes more than 'somewhat') staged, and if there are new people every season, they pick the people with the most outrageous personalities. They want drama. They want scandal. They want viewers. 

My guilty-pleasure show is Big Brother. It's a show where a group of 16 or so people willingly cut themselves off from the outside world and compete to stay in the House for two-and-half months. Oh yeah, and the house is full of cameras and microphones, and it is nationally broadcasted. The photo above is from the current season, Big Brother 16. Yes, there has been 16 seasons of betrayal, deception, and half-naked men (and women--but look at all those abs. They stand out). But it get's worse. I have a confession: I have always dreamed of being a Big Brother contestant, but I am not old enough yet (contestants are 21+--two more years!). I know, I know. Why would I want to engage in this kind of behavior on national television? Week after week, people lie to each other, form alliances, and vote each other out. Yet, I have been watching this show since I was 5, and at times I even fantasized about what it would be like if they created a kid version. It's sad, really. But here's the thing: the grand prize is $500k. Do you know how many times I could pay off the college debt I am currently accumulating? It's not all about the money, though. Like I mentioned, I have been watching quite a while. After 16 seasons, I would like to think that I know the game pretty well. But show's motto is "Expect the Unexpected", so who knows what it would really be like. 

Mostly, I think at this point I am just really curious about all of the behind-the-scene details. What does the diary room look like to the House Guests? What do the House Guests do while the Big Brother people are setting up for a competition in the backyard? Is drama ever staged? What does slop really taste like (slop is the punishment food for the "Have-Nots" of the week, apparently it looks like oatmeal but tastes so foul some people barely eat those weeks). Ok, maybe I don't need to know what slop tastes like. But I have a lot of questions. 

The next time you sit down to watch your guilty-pleasure show, maybe you will think about this post again and reevaluate your life priorities. To become a world famous novelist in my spare time or to watch a broken-hearted hunk from The Bachelorette find "true love" as The Bachelor? And inevitability, you will tune in again next week, because we live in reality. And no one has time to write the next Harry Potter when The Bachelor: Women Tell All is up next.