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a day in the life of a college student

Chloe GordonComment

Going into college I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know what an average day looked like. I didn’t know what I’d be doing in my free time. I didn’t know what other people were going to be like. 

But, I’ve officially been in college for a whopping month, so I feel like I’m now an expert on the matter. 

So here’s what a day in the like of a college student looks like. 

Obviously, it depends on the day, but for the sake of this post, I’ll go through my Monday. 

I digress. 

On Mondays, I have an 8am class. I have absolutely no idea what was going through my head when I set up my schedule. I thought it would be easy because I was used to 8ams from high school, but lemme tell you. 8ams in college are absolutely, positively, not the same thing as 8am in high school. It’s so different. Next semester I’m going to try my hardest to start my days no earlier than 10am. 

So after I trek my way to my 8am math class and sit there for 50 minutes, I then trek my way back to the c4c (which is what my dining hall is called) and stuff my face with delicious breakfast food. I usually go for fruit, potatoes, and sausage, but sometimes I go for a bagel. It just depends on my mood. 

Also, side note, the food in college is not nearly as bad as everyone warned. I actually enjoy the food. I probably enjoy it too much, hello freshman 15. 

Then, after breakfast I head back to my dorm where I have another class at 10. This class is a one credit that focuses on thing such as our learning styles and trends around campus (like slam poetry). It’s so nice having a class in my dorm because it allows me to meet other people in my dorm and have a sense of community. Not to mention, I don’t have to hike it across campus to get there. 

After this class I have a nice break so I usually go back to my dorm room and either take a nap, watch some Netflix, or do homework, or all of the above. I love having time alone in my dorm room, especially on Monday just to rest up for the week and decompress from the weekend. I usually keep my dorm room door open if I’m not naping so I can be a little social with my hall, but for the most part this is just some alone time. 

After this nice break, I head off to my next class at 1pm. This class is called Idea Industry, and it’s seriously my favorite class ever. We have a lot of guest speakers from the Communications field, and it’s so interesting to hear all of their stories and listen to their advice. So far we’ve talked with people as cool as the Global Director of Facebook. 

Then, after this class I head to lunch. I either go alone, with people from the class, or I meet up with other friends. It just depends on the day. 

After lunch, I head back to my dorm to relax again. I usually take another nap, watch some more Netflix, and/or do some homework. Finding alone time in college is so difficult so I try to really appreciate the time when I have it. 

Then, after relaxing, a friend and I usually head to the gym. We try to spend a good hour to an hour and a half working out. The freshman 15 is so real, and I’m trying my hardest to stay away from it. 

After the gym, we usually head to dinner where we either meet up with other friends or just stick with the two of us. 

I spend the most time at the c4c during dinner. It’s so nice just to sit at dinner at chat for a long while. I definitely miss dinners with my family the most! 

After dinner changes from day to day. I either go back to my room and spend some time with my roommate, study with other friends, hangout with other friends, watch more Netflix, or go to some event that’s happening in the dorm or around campus. I feel like my nights are always changing which is so nice.

So there you have it, a day in the life of a college student. It’s a lot less scary than I thought it would be. I’m definitely a little homesick and miss high school (which I never thought I would say), but college is seriously so much fun and it’s definitely going to be the best four years of my life! 

If you’re in college or have been to college I’d love to hear about your typical day.
If you’re still in high school or middle school, was my day different than you expected a college student’s day to be?

Thanks for reading this novel of a post!  
xox,
Chloe 


Hiking

RANDOM STUFFKim & Chloe1 Comment

This post is sponsored by Flonase®

I always look forward to fall with its crisp, fresh air, turning leaves, and a promise of flaming fireplaces and snuggly sweaters. Since moving to Colorado and taking up hiking, I’m also anticipating cooler days and changing scenery as I explore some new areas and return to some well-worn ones. Looking at the fall colors from the car is always a treat, but walking in the middle of the changing scenery is a majestic treat! But it’s not only the fall foliage that captivates me, I’ve realized there are 3 things I really look forward to seeing on a hike:

Breckenridge 2015

1.    Kids and parents. I remember when I used to go hiking with my parents in the woods behind our home. We would hike for hours, or so it seemed, until we came to the end of the wooded area, or one of us sat on a cactus (that would be me). Those days instilled in me a love of wandering and a thrill in being outdoors. It’s a place where I find myself thinking more logically, letting go of the mundane, and focusing more intently on tasks at hand. There’s no other activity that revitalizes me so completely.

best family hikes

2.     A beautiful view. Considering that I’m in Colorado and the landscape is so different from anywhere I’ve lived, every view in Colorado is spectacular. But some are more memorable than others, such as The Burro Trail in Breckenridge or a view of Red Rocks from multiple hiking areas. The wildflowers and the peaks remind me of Switzerland… or the opening from the Sound of Music. My only drawback while outdoors on a hike is my allergies. When a breeze kicks up dust or we are hiking after a rainy day, my allergies can spring up and ruin my day. I’ve learned that the one thing I have to remember before heading out is to take Flonase® Allergy Relief (now available over the counter!), which allows me to be greater than my allergies. Once I do, I feel set for whatever adventures await on our hike!

Hiking views

3.     Hikers and their dogs. What is it about a trotting, panting dog that makes me smile? It’s probably the memories of the dogs in my life, and the love I see between the owners and dogs that I pass on the trails. They are all filled with happiness, and the energy they give off is contagious. Some dogs are carrying packs, some are happy to see people, and some are intent on finding wildlife in the area. But all of them are bursting with energy, which must mean they are enjoying their hike as much as their owners.

Seeing so many dogs on our hikes has made the conversation of having another dog in our family a constant discussion. We are seriously considering having a dog again and if we get one soon, I’m definitely going to enter our dog, who will undoubtedly be adorable, in the Flonase® Pet #FallofFame photo and video contest. Entering is easy. Show you and your pet being greater this fall for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize & other prizes (like $250 in gift cards) here.

Please let us know if you enter, we would love to see your dog!! This weekend we are off on another hike… and I hope you are enjoying fall too.

Happy Hiking! ~Kim

 

College: Expectations vs. Reality

CollegeChloe Gordon1 Comment

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and for that I would like to apologize. Life has been crazy, hectic, new, exciting, and weird. I’m writing this post while sitting on my college campus. COLLEGE. CAMPUS. 

     Who am I? Am I old enough for this? Am I ready to be an independent and responsible human? Honestly, I don’t feel ready. I don’t feel old enough. I don’t feel like how I thought I would feel going into college. 

    I feel homesick. I miss high school. I miss having a set routine. I miss home cooked dinners. I miss my family, my friends, and my own bathroom. I miss the old. 

    I’m not trying to make college sound bad, because it certainly isn’t. It’s fun and it’s exciting, but it’s new. Very new. I came here without really knowing anything. I know a few people that go to the same school as me which has helped, but I honestly feel like I was just thrown into a Hunger Games style arena and was just expected to know how to survive. I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m just figuring it all out. But I thought today I’d share a few expectation vs. reality stories with you. 

 

So I guess, per usual, I’ll just jump right into it. 

Expectation: It’s so easy to meet new people and make new friends. I’ve moved enough in my life to be able to understand how the whole “new friends” things works. I’ll be fine. 
Reality: There are the super nice people that are easy to talk to and easy to get along with, but there are also the people who have no interest (or seemingly no interest) in meeting or even talking to new people. I don’t know if these uninterested people have simply already found their best friends and future bridesmaids, or if they just have no interest in talking to new people. Regardless, I’ve become great friends with the people living in my hall and I’m forever thankful for them! 

 

Expectation: Taking an 8am will be so worth getting a class out of the way and having the afternoon to relax. I mean, waking up for high school really wasn’t that hard. 
Reality: An 8am class is literal death. Every night is basically a sleepover and getting to bed before 11pm is impossible when the people on your floor are awesome and fun to talk to. As I type this, my eyes are practically closing because I had an 8am this morning. Currently regretting signing up for this class. 

 

Expectation: The food will be gross and I really won’t have to worry about gaining the Freshman 15.
Reality: The food is amazing. there are so many options, and the bottomless soft serve ice cream with sprinkles is really killing me. Seriously though, the other night there were jalepeño poppers (ie deep friend jalepeños) and I about over dosed on them. So. Much. Good. Food. So. Many. Options. 

So college might not be what I was expecting, but it’s fun. I can already tell that it’s not going to be easy, but I’m taking classes that interest me beyond capacity. I honestly was questioning my major (strategic communications) but my classes have made me feel 110% better about the career that I want to go into (marketing and branding). 

So sometimes life is different than expected, but usually this difference is what teaches us new things and makes us appreciate the old and the so called “normality” of our past.

Stealthy Skincare

BEAUTYKim & ChloeComment

Mom's mentions

I have been having the worst time with my skin lately: sun spots, wrinkles, breakouts and redness. I've been examining all my skincare products to make sure that each is contributing in a positive way and not causing any of the irritation and aging effects I've been having.

The first in line for review, is my sunscreen, since it's a daily necessity and is an enormous cause of frustration for me. Living at a mile above sea level has its problems: dryness and sun exposure at a new level. This year, I've tried at least 6 sunscreens on my face (I kid you not) and each has had its plus and minuses. The biggest plus I'm looking for is whether or not the sunscreen is effective. The biggest drawback I'd like to avoid is causing breakouts. 

 

I was recently sent a sample of Oclipse® Smart Tone SPF 50, sold by ZO Skin Health, and am truly impressed. 

What I like about Oclipse:

  • Customizable color beads with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection to match any skin tone
  • Provides additional protection against HEV light (cell damaging high energy light)
  • Anti-redness properties
  • Moisturizing
  • Vitamin C to prevent sunspots
  • Exclusive 12-hour time release antioxidant complex guards against photo-damage

While not a foundation, it does smooth out my skintone and blends into my skin with no telltale lines. It's light and sheer, but provides a small amount of coverage, which I love. I'm able to skip Vitamin C, coverup, and powder! 

My only complaint is the price at $70.00. I'm interested to see how long my sample lasts and if it's a good while to make the high price tag justifiable, I will be restocking my Oclipse and discarding the rest of. It's that impressive.

What sunscreens are you using on your face? I'd love to hear.

 

 

procrastination station

RANDOM STUFFChloe Gordon1 Comment

This summer has been absolutely, positively, jam packed. I feel like I can never catch a break. Between working at the golf course, hanging out with friends, or just chilling with family; I’m constantly on the go. However, I’ve been trying to take a few minutes to myself each day to just chill so I don’t get too burnt out on human interaction. What else would I do to unwind but scroll through the amazing thing that is the internet? I’ve compiled a list of a few share worthy links so if you’re in need of a time waster or a little break, don’t you worry, I’ve got you covered. 

Micellar Water: lazily clean

BEAUTYChloe GordonComment

Mom's mentions

I'm not lazy when it comes to working out, getting work done, or powering through a Netflix series, but I'm incredibly lazy in my skincare routine. If it's not easy, it's not happening. In the past, I usually went to bed with my makeup on. But I've found a miracle, a remedy for both my laziness and my skincare issues: Micellar Water. It deserves all the one-swipe hype it's been getting. 

Micellar Water is the coconut oil of face cleansing since it does more than you ever think it could:

  • it take off makeup
  • it tones
  • it hydrates
  • it clears pores
  • it doesn't need to be rinsed off

I just take a cotton ball, rub my Micellar Water over my face and I'm done cleansing.  This simple addition to my beauty routine has changed my skincare for the better. Now that I've found a simple way to cleanse, I'm even moisturizing. Unsurprisingly, I have less breakouts, and I'm noticing my skin is brighter and clearer. Simple, fast and effective, I think I've found my beauty bff in Micellar Water.

XO ~Kim