One lecture and two exams...

...are all that stand between me and...uh, wisdom teeth removal, not much to look forward to there. Then ten days later I'll be going to New Orleans with Sister, and another week or so until MY 21ST BIRTHDAY IN NEW YORK CITYY! I've been planning it with my brother since finals in May, so I'm seriously looking forward to it.

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, but I've been super busy (read: listening to music and following other blogs). So Vampire Weekend. Yeah, tell me why I ever stopped listening to them. Never mind, I'm listening again now, so not to worry. A couple months ago they did a thing: the thing. I first saw it on F. E. Castleberry's blog Unabashedly Prep so I thought it appropriate to post the link to his post. Even though his blog is geared toward men's fashion, there's stuff for everyone; it's one of my very favorite blogs. Inspired by my rediscovery of my love for Vampire Weekend, I've started my August 2013 playlist on Spotify, be sure to look out for the finished product. 

I've also been listening to some Top 40 music (gasp), and I'm loving Ariana Grande, Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," and Selena Gomez (I promise I'm not a teeny bopper). I'm totally open to recommendations of any type of music. 

In the past week I've had tons of fun and humiliation. Live and learn, right? I also almost got a puppy, but it really wasn't a good time for me to take on such a responsibility, so Cee and J adopted her:

My sweet "godpuppy" Chloe Miley.

I can't wait to get a dog and a house with a yard for it to play in. Meanwhile I've got mosquitos to feed (not laughing).

Do you have any NYC recommendations? What about music?

KB

I'm still pretending summer school isn't happening...

...despite its being almost over. What I mean by that is I spent this weekend shopping and partying with my family when I've got finals coming up soon (#sorrynotsorry). 

Mom and I scored big at the outlet mall near Baton Rouge, so I'm looking forward to some excellent new OOTD posts. Sidenote: I found a couple things I liked in Crewcuts, and I was über surprised when they actually fit!

Today I started the day with a few episodes of Supernatural, typic, then read Carly's latest post. Then I went to my baby cousin's Baptism, which was great. After Fab Cousin J and Rock Star K had a bbq at their house to celebrate. So. Fun. Got to break in a new outfit and play with the baby! He has a dimple on his right cheek that only shows when he smiles really big, and I swear that dimple could end a war. Unfortunately I was having too much fun to remember to take pictures, so we won't be bringing about peace today.

I was supposed to do homework when I got home from J's, but that just wasn't happening. Instead I decided to try the crown braid from TCP, which actually comes from Cute Girls Hairstyles, the youtube channel of a mother of SIX(!) who just wants to teach others how to do little girls' hair (or big girl's hair in my case).

I encourage you to watch more of her videos, she makes it look so easy.

So I didn't time my attempt at this braid, but it probably took me 20 minutes or more just because it was the first time I'd done anything like it on my own head. More importantly is how sore my arms were afterward, but it was totally worth it, because it's pretty (in theory) and my hair is off my neck and shoulders. 

The braid wrapped around my head almost two whole times. 

A little messy, but I think with patience and practice I'll smooth it out. 

I'd like for the back to look a little sleeker. 

Not perfect yet, but I like the overall effect.

Whattaya think? Any tips on braiding, specifically crown braiding?

KB

Evernote

Maybe I'm a little late on the uptake, but have you heard of Evernote? It's an app for your computer, phone, tablet, what have you that allows you to take notes and sync them across devices. Not only can you write notes, but you can add pictures, record sound, and possibly even scribble on them, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

So you've got separate notebooks you can sort notes into, and you can even stack related notebooks. 

This is what the mobile app looks like.

So far most of my notes revolve around cooking, nail polish, and reading (#typical), but I'm going to work some school stuff and blog ideas into it. Oh yeah, and you can share notes with other people who use Evernote. Here's their blog, check it out if you're interested in finding a new way to organize your life. And the best part: it's free. Of course there's a premium version you can purchase, but I don't have a need for it yet. Maybe after college when I join the workforce.

So that's my beautiful weekend discovery. 

Do you use any apps to stay organized? Any other interesting apps you want to share?

KB

PS: Apple is celebrating 5 years of the app store by giving away 5 apps and 5 games, so get on over there and download your freebies!

Test taking

Until about 11th grade, I never really had to study for tests; not to sound my own horn, but I was smart. Receiving the information in class, then doing a worksheet or homework on the material was usually enough. Then pre-cal, AP English, AP Bio, and AP Calc happened. They were challenging, but my teachers were also forgiving, and eventually senioritis set in and I wasn't bovvered. 

Fast forward to college and I still don't know how to study properly: I'll make notecards, rewrite the lectures in my own words, sometimes even read the actual textbook (not very often though), but I find it hard to focus and/or apply the material in an understandable way. These summer classes are quite common sense based or based on things I've known since high school, so I've found it difficult to take them seriously so far. I'm still a decent test taker, so my grades aren't bad, but they aren't great either. I've got plenty time to study, I just can't find the will because I don't know how to study effectively. 

Anyone out there have any tips on studying? Leave them in the comments if you please.

KB

What a Weekend!

I spent my weekend in the small town of Hackberry, La, actually it isn't even a town, it's a "census-designated place" with a population of less than 2,000. It was definitely not in my plans when I woke up Friday morning. Alas, my Sister whisked me down La Highway 27 and thus began the most exciting weekend of my life. I'll try to give you a brief run-down using words (and phrases) of two syllables (mostly gerunds):

Gary

Royal

Boating

Blue skies

Boarding

Naptime

Awkward

Eating

Fishing

Thunder

Late nights

New friends

Sister

Lola

Suntan

Titans

Party

Bon temps

The only one of those I will explain is the first one. When Sister introduced me, someone thought she said my name was Gary Beth, not Kerry Beth (I have no idea why...), so Gary just kind of stuck and that's what my new friends called me all weekend.

Here are a couple pictures for your entertainment:

 Two boys and their dog snoozing away the morning.

 Lola in the foreground, another boy in the background.

I just loved being on the water.

How was your Fourth of July weekend? Any new adventures and new friends?

KB

Social media

You can add/follow/subscribe to me on lots of other social media sites. 

YouTube

Twitter

Instagram

tumblr (I also have a fandom-type tumblr, but I don't really post anything original, just reblog things I like. Bonus points to anyone who can identify it.)

Spotify (possibly my favorite social media ever)

I'm on Vine as well, but I'm not sure how to give you a link to that. Just search by my whole name.

For several reasons, I probably won't add anyone on Facebook. Some of those reasons are:

1. I don't get on facebook very often.
2. I don't like Facebook, and thus don't post, well, anything.
3. I gotta have some privacy, even if it's just a little.

Feel free to tweet me, message me, or e-mail me. I love e-mails, and I want to hear from you. Tell me if you like my blog, if you hate my blog, what you want to see on my blog, anything at all, I'd love some constructive feedback.

Front porch.

Saturday night, for no apparent reason, I had an epic meltdown. I'll spare you the gory details, but I will tell you who rescued me and that's Jayce, Cee, and their puppy Archer. They've been there for me through everything. Really. I love them like family. You know on How I Met Your Mother how Ted talks about his "front porch" friends, his true friends he wants to grow old with and while away the days sitting and visiting on a front porch (preferably with swings)? Well I see myself on that front porch with Cee, Jayce, Cam and lots of dogs (we all love dogs).

 Aren't they adorable? They're getting married in a year!!

Little Archer fell asleep in Daddy's chair.

Do you have front porch friends? What makes someone a front porch friend to you?

Thanks for reading,

KB