Checklist for college

Bedding and Décor

• Dorm Bedding Set (Tip: Get reversible quilts, because they get really dirty.  Dorm sets like these are often cheaper.  Remember, these don't have to be high quality, they only need to last 4 years.)
• 2 sets of bath towels (WALMART WISHLIST)
• 1 or 2 sets of extra-long twin sheets and pillowcases   (From M&M)
• Twin size extra-long mattress pad
• Dorm Room Space Saver (BED BATH & BEYOND)
• Pillow
• Bedspread or comforter
• Closet shoe organizer or under-bed storage box (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Posters, photos, artwork
• Calendar
• Message board for door if not provided
• Dry-erase marker
• Magnets for message board
• Small area rug  
• Floor pillow or beanbag chair
• Lamps or clip-on lights  
• Pictures of family, friends and/or pets
• Decorative shower curtain if needed  (URBAN OUTFITTERS WISHLIST)
• Anything to decorate your room and make you feel at home

 Technology 

• Laptop Computer (Tip:  Even techie teens may not know how to maintain and care for technology, so service protection is a good idea.) (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Printer with ink 
• Surge protector
•   Three prong extension cords
• Ethernet cord and/or wireless router
• Television   (Kass is bringing)
• DVD or Blu-Ray player if you have a TV
• NetFlix/Hulu Plus/Amazon membership 
• Stereo, radio, iPod, headphones
• Compact speaker system
• CDs
• Flash drive for portable file storage
• Digital camera
• Rechargeable batteries with charger 
• Cell phone (and charger) with good service/coverage at the college

School Supplies

• Textbooks
• Pens
• Pencils, mechanical pencils
• Notebooks
• Binders
• Folders
• Highlighters
• Dry-erase marker
• Markers
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Printer paper
• Calculator
• Desk storage tools (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Daytimer or calendar
• Rubber bands
• Paper clips
• Thumb tacks, push pins, or Sticky Tac to put up posters
• Sticky notes

Kitchen Supplies

• Small Refrigerator, or a micro-fridge combo unit (Tip: As with all electronics, make sure you check the university policy first.  They may severely restrict the size of the refrigerator you can bring!)  (Kass is bringing)
• Microwave (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Coffee maker/espresso machine (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Can opener
• Toaster/toaster oven (if allowed)
• Hot pad (if allowed)
• Microwaveable plates
• Microwaveable cups or mugs
• Microwaveable Bowls
• Glasses
• Forks, knives, spoons
• Cutting knife

Cleaning Supplies

• Hand soap 
• Dish soap
• Disinfecting wipes
• Nonabrasive bathroom cleanser
• Dusting spray/cloths
• Sponges

Clothing

• Mark all clothing with a Sharpie!
• Bath robe
• Slippers
• Shower shoes, flip flops, or Crocs
• Underwear, 1 month’s supply (really)
• Raincoat
• Light jacket
• Winter/heavy coat
• Mittens, scarf, hat
• Rain shoes/boots (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Swimsuit(s)
• Workout and/or sports clothes
• “Dress” clothes and shoes (guys, this means a blazer, tie, or suit)
• “Grubby” clothes
• Comfortable clothes and shoes you can go to class in

Toiletries

• Bathroom tote or toiletry bag (to carry and hold toiletries) (
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
• Brush and comb
• Shower Totes (2)
• Shaving equipment
• Hair dryer (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Straightener (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Loofah
• Bath soap
• Cotton swabs

Laundry

• Tote-able Laundry basket or bag (URBAN OUTFITTERS WISHLIST)
• Laundry soap (CREATE OFF PINTEREST)
• Iron, small ironing board
• Hangers

Food

• Vitamins
• Snacks to supplement campus food
• Coffee, tea, soda, bottled water

Miscellaneous

• Alarm clock (Tip:  Have your child use the new alarm clock before they leave, so they get used to it.  Plug-ins are hard to find, so try to get a good battery operated alarm clock.)  (from M&M)
• Back pack  (Update from NorthFace)
• Battery-powered flashlight
• Sports/recreation equipment
• Umbrella (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Air freshener and Febreeze (CREATE OFF PINTEREST)
• Duct Tape
• Bottle opener
• Storage crates (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Full-length mirror (WALMART WISHLIST)
• Multi tool or hammer, screwdriver, pliers
• Sewing kit
• Electric fans
• Bike and bike lock
• Decorative storage boxes (WALMART WISHLIST)

Documents

• Driver's license or state ID
• Health insurance card
• Social security card
• Health records
• Friends and family contact list
• Access to money (i.e. bank account, bank card, credit card, etc.)

College News (:

Herro Everyone! :)

This chick has SO MUCH exiting news! Sorry I haven't been on since Summer... to be honest, I kinda forgot that I had this blog. At all. Shows how much people care about my writing, lol. SO! Drumroll pleeeeeeease? DUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUMDUM BAM!

I've been accepted to THREE Colleges/Universities. Thank you! Thank you all so much! At this time I would like to thank my mother, who gave birth to me, my sister for being my best friend, and all the people that never thought I would succeed. Screw you! :)

Anywho I was accepted to Charleston Southern University, Mary Baldwin College, and Wingate University. I'm... so proud of myself. If you look at my last post, I was saying that I would be shocked if I got into college, but I did! And I got into THREE! SERIOUSLY GUYS. SERIOUSLY.

To add the icing to the cake, I received a $9,500 scholarship from Mary Baldwin and a $10,000 scholarship  from Wingate :)

What is all of this insane, beautiful, crazy, wonderful, mess?!

All that I've been doing for the past month is looking up dorm room ideas and different scholarships that I qualify for~ Searching for scholarships is a job, people. A freaking job. It's such an exciting time for me in life. Everything is just... college-wise.. wonderful.

Well, I don't know if wonderful is completely right. My first choice college, Anderson University, has put my application on hold until the end of my Senior year because of my GPA and SAT scores. I don't meet their requirements. So... I'll have to make a decision before the end of the year because what if I don't get in? Then I will be able to go... nowhere. So, it's probably Wingate for a semester and then a beautiful little transfer (: That's okay. I'll survive.

Hello dear self, I'm pretty sure your the only one that knows this blog exist, but if there are others out there "listening" to my horrible rants and adventures, I greet you as well. 
  So I was flipping around on Facebook today  (like I always do during the summer) just minding my own business, avoiding all other ways of communicating with people I don't feel like dealing with. 

When suddenly I scroll upon something that seems so... beautiful. Something so inspiring that I have NO OTHER CHOICE but to click on this article and read it. When reading this letter from F. Scott Fitzgerald, it seems like wonderful advice! He clearly shows how much he cares about the writer's passion and like his work. I'm not upset about the actual letter, in fact, I find it to be the brutal truth, it's the post script that really kills me. 

"P.S. I might say that the writing is smooth and agreeable and some of the pages very apt and charming. You have talent—which is the equivalent of a soldier having the right physical qualifications for entering West Point."



At first this wouldn't appear to be insulting to anyone, but as I researched a little more about Frances Turnbull (the young aspiring author that F. Scott was writing to) I found that he was an incredible student at Harvard University.

                                              (Excuse the language, this just summed up my entire life in this moment)

Guys, I attend a small, private, Christian Academy that NO ONE KNOWS EXIST, and this dude went to Harvard! He's being told that he's an average writer! That, basically, he's only good enough to be considered one of the guys. I have no experience in professional writing, my grades are average, and I feel like it would be a miracle if I got into college. Freak my life. I give up. All I've ever wanted to be is a novelist, and my dream is crushed. 

Yeah... Ruined. 

Breath Of Life!

I've been experimenting lately... Go ahead, congratulate me. Thank you, thank you very much. "How?" You may ask, and I would reply "in many ways..." just go ahead and put a winky face there...You know you want to.

Well, one way is with cooking! Yes, the girl who never cooks anything that doesn't cook itself in a microwave has done it! I was recently in my school production of You Can't Take It With You  written by George S. Kaufman and I played the comical character of Olga Katrina, a runaway Duchess who loves to bake BLINTZES! Well, I vowed at our first practice that I would make these so-called blintzes if it was the last thing that I ever did. The first batch turned out okay... I didn't really like the crepes and as for the cheesy inside... yum. But to be honest, I was afraid everyone else would hate them. So you can imagine my anxiety when I brought them to everyone. Thankfully, I was told they were a hit. (Although I am sure that some have lied to me and threw them up later) Oh well! 

Something else that I've been doing lately is taking my SAT. You know, taking a test that proves whether or not you are ready to attend college is a terrifying thing. I thought about that a lot while I sat there with that life changing test in my hands... then I looked around the room and assured myself that I was prepared. 

There was this one girl who sat near me. Goodness, she had some bubble gum chewing issues! And then the person behind me cursed every time they didn't understand a question. I'm almost positive that they failed. Little to say, I felt like a miserable oaf just waiting to attack someone from behind. 

Has anyone else heard Florence Welch's new single? Breathe Of Life was released for the movie Snow White And The Huntsmen and I just CANNOT stop listening to it. When I hear Florence sing... there are no words. And then there are those people are all like "she can't" sing and I dare them to do better. 

Christmas + Hunger Games

My Christmas Consisted Of Family && Music Releases

First of all, thank you to all of my viewers! It's pretty cool realizing that people actually DO read your blogs and that I'm not just sitting here wasting my life. I hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas eve and day with yourself or your Family/loved ones! My Christmas was very.. eventful. 

           If you know anything about my family, you know there is bound to be a fight on any major holiday and Christmas is no exception! So, like always, it started out with a fight about being late.. psh. We were totally fashionably late :) But once the festivities began it was a great holiday! My brother and his fiancee came down from Virginia to visit which was probably the highlight of my week. I received great gifts from my sister and her husband, but to be honest, I would have been content with a hug and some more time together. Now that my brother has moved (and I've taken it hard) I really begin to appreciate family like I never have before. I have no younger siblings, so you get the aftermath feeling of being alone. It's really not great. 

           Also, with the loss of a dear friend, Evan Michael Wolfe, over the summer all holidays are harder. I was sitting on the couch this morning opening gifts, thinking about how my brother wasn't there. I thought about how Evan's family must feel, and for a moment I was ridiculous enough to think that I understood, but I never could, possibly never will... My prayers go out to them.

  DO WE HAVE ANY HUNGER GAME FANS?

 Following contains spoilers. 

          Taylor Swift rocked the newly released single Safe & Sound ft. The Civil Wars -Now available on ITunes ( http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/safe-sound-from-the-hunger/id490735511 ) and I'm not even that great of a Taylor Swift fan! The music is apparently going to be some form of support for a certain scene with a certain character named Rue from district 11. Alright, I've already warned you but I'll do it one last time SPOILER ALERT: Rue's death : SPOILER ALERT (that shouldn't catch attention should it?) Anyway, it's a super beautiful emotional tear jerking song that will crush you if you love Rue as much as I do!

         Not only is it just a beautiful song for one of the most popular YA books of 2010-2011 (said to be the next Twilight), it's one of those songs you have to sink your teeth into! The lyrics and meaning behind the songs have you considering what you would do in those moments, how you would react, and it stirs many emotions. Most comments on Youtube for the hit have stated that the user cried over it. 

                  "Just close your eyes

                  The sun is going down

                      You'll be alright

                 No one can hurt you now

                        Come morning light

                          You and I'll be safe and sound"

  http://mockingjay.net/ is my source for all the new Hunger Games and cast news! Keep up with me if you like :)  This song absolutely consumed my entire Christmas! 

                             I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas & spend time with the people you love. Long live Hunger Games!

Yeah, We Went Ice Skating

The girls and I when we went ice skating on December 20th 2011 as a way of bidding Abigail (far right) a great journey to Ethiopia on the 26th! 

So, as the title clearly states, I went ice skating today with some of my best girl friends! It was really a blast. I haven't been on the ice (or any type of rink for that matter) in a few years! Many of you know that I roller bladed for years when I was younger. To be honest; it's probably still my #1 favorite that no one knows about. I would rather roller blade for hours than read a book, or attend a dance/party, and if you truly know me, you might think I'm lying, but I'm not! :) It's just something that I've had to give up since I'm not home schooled anymore, unfortunately, but it's still there burning. 

              On the ice today, I felt the most alive that I've felt in awhile. Think that I'm cheesy, that's okay, because a fellow skater is going to come along and read this and totally understand. And it's not like skating was just a hobby. I competed quiet a bit in my day. I'll never forget my first competition in High Point, North Carolina when I was eleven years. My parents, siblings and cousin, Adam, all traveled up to High Point at 9pm to attend a conference at 7am. We arrived a little early so we rented a room in the nearest hotel across the highway. The hours consisted of playing cards, prepping my skates, and trying to sneak in a few hours of shut eye. Before I knew it dawn had broke over the horizon and it was time  for us to pack up and get a move on. I was so nervous that I insisted my dad pull over at a local McDonald's so I could pee! I still remember the feeling. I knew I would never make it to the rink without wetting myself. Without going through every horrific detail, I finished 2nd in my league with speed and skill. I was pretty excited to receive that little ribbon :) Still have it. 

             So... that was really weird. I just gave you guys the "When I was a child..." speech didn't I? Yeah. Sorry about that. Anyways, I love skating and I was really just comfortable out there with my girls. Yeahh.. that's about it. Ohh && follow one of my BFFs, Holly on her blog, http://itsthethingofit.blogspot.com/ 

                                            May He forever be with you,

                                                             Rebecca Leigh