Life Update

Well hello...very long time, no post.

I've said several times on posts on Instagram that I've been working on a post about my trip to Italy in May of 2018 and that it would up soon. I lied. I just started it...on January 13, 2019.

What can I say? I've been busy.

While I work away on that post, I thought that I would share a quick life update that can fill you in on why I haven't been writing blog posts or posting on Instagram often.

And if you've forgotten what I look like:

I got a job in July of 2018.

I currently work for a medical device company as a hire through a contracting company. This started out as a "work for three months until the contract is over then take the GRE" kind of deal, but then my contract kept getting extended. Low and behold, here I am still working and I still haven't taken the GRE. I have applied to jobs though.

Progress? Maybe.

This is the primary reason of why I haven't been sharing a lot. I never have time to take photos of anything and I stare at a computer all day at work so the last thing that I want to do is go home and write a blog post.

All of my free time is devoted to family, friends, exercise, and reading.

I live in my hometown now. 

Unlike other bloggers, I don't live in a hip city, have a great social life, or a great relationship (I'm very single). I generally believe there is nothing going on in this city that any of you would be interested in learning or seeing. However, let me know if you would actually like to see a post on that.

I live in a town with nothing cool going on that I believe would interest the people that actually still follow me on Instagram. If you still do, thanks for sticking around. I appreciate it.

While I hope to move to a larger town or to a city (Indianapolis, fingers crossed), you're stuck with my ramblings from small town Indiana.

I want to change the blog. 

Ever since I graduate in May, I have wrestled with the idea of ending my blog. Completely. I figured that being a sorority girl at a Big Ten school may have a been a large part of my identity

I am no longer a "college blogger". I graduated in May and I'm still trying to 'find myself' if that's how you want to think about it'.

I haven't been a fashion blogger for long time. Maybe I never was. So that is definitely out. I may still share my current favorites from a brand, but I doubt I will be styling any outfits for Instagram any time soon.

Hoosier State of Prep will now become a lifestyle blog. What I mean by lifestyle is that from now on posts are going to be about travel, books, recipes, health/fitness, and general ramblings about both personal and current events.

(I'm sure that you'll all be thrilled to hear how life is in a small, Indiana town)

There will be a blog name change. 

I haven't dressed 'prep' in awhile. I haven't felt like I identify with my current name and handle for awhile now, so it is time for a change.

I'm not sure what the new name and handle will be, but if you have any ideas please message me on Instagram or comment on this post.

Along with a name change, I want to be able to have my own domain instead of ".blogspot" in my URL, so I need to keep that in mind with my new name.
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That's it for now. You can thank my friend Ashley for inspiring me to finally write a blog post! It's been a year and two days since my last post (yikes).

Believe it or not, I have at least three blog post ideas in my head right now that I will be begin drafting, including the long awaited post on my trip to Italy and London.

I cannot wait for what is to come on Hoosier State of Prep, soon to be something else!

Smart Study Habits

It's midterm time in college and I'm currently studying up for my second round of exams of senior year. My first round of exams didn't go as well as I hoped, but I'm hoping these exams will go better. Here are some study tips and habits that I swear by.

Use Pocket Points to stay off of your phone 

Pocket Points is an app available on iPhone and Android that you can use as motivation to not look at your phone while you're on campus. When you're on campus, simply open up the app to the home screen, and then close your phone. When you open your phone back up, you'll earn points. When those points begin to rack up, you can use them to get coupon codes for local restaurants, stores, and online shops. I personally use my points for food coupons. I've used Pocket Points since sophomore year and I've racked up 8424 points and I'm ranked 47th on IU's campus. 

Make a to-do list 

I always make a to-do list before I go study so that I know what all I need to get done that day and I will not go home until I finish it all. 

Study somewhere other than your room

I cannot focus in my room. When I need to study for a long period of time, I will go to a local coffee shop, Barnes and Noble, or the library. My room holds way too many distractions and I find myself going to the kitchen for snacks too often. 

Color code your agenda 

I color code each of my classes, clubs, and my sorority events. It helps me keep track of everything that I need to get done and it helps me not mix any due dates up. 

Study with or without music

I personally study with classical music most of the time just so that I have something in the background to block out talking. I also frequently listen to rain or rainforest noises, but it's important to figure out what you can study with. 

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Fitness Routine + Go-To Snacks

This summer I'm focusing my fitness routine back to a schedule while supplementing it with more plant based meals along with quick, easy snacks.

My summer fitness routine is somewhat similar to my routine at school, but I've added in workout classes from my favorite local gym. At school I try to workout 5-6 days a week depending on school work load. I switch between arms, legs, full body, and cardio while supplementing with HIIT, body barre, rowing, and Zumba. 

Here's a basic run down of my weekly fitness routine:

Monday: 3 mile walk + Dance Fuzion + Barre

Tuesday: 3 mile walk with sprint intervals + Arms

Wednesday: 3 mile walk + Dance Fuzion

Thursday: 3 mile walk +  Legs

Friday: 3 mile walk + HIIT or Fully Body Workouts 

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: Rest 

It works better for me to rest on the weekend because my parents and I are always on-the-go on the weekends.  I use 8 pounds for my heavy weights and 4 pounds for my light weights. 

During my workouts, I track my steps and activity with my FitBit and use the app CharityMiles so that my miles can go to donating money to a charity of my choice. I personally have my app set to donate to charity:water. 

Go-To Snacks 

During high school my go-to pre(and post)-tennis match snacks were Luna and Clif bars, but I started looking for more options once I got to college. Since I've been in college, I've added three more healthy snack bars to my snack bin. More often than not, I grab a nutrition bar for a quick breakfast on the go.

1. The RXBAR 

What I love about the RXBAR is that the bars don't have any filler. What you see on the wrapper is what you get, and the bars are delicious. With no added sugars, preservatives, dairy, soy, or gluten, it's basically what every one is wanting right now. I'm not dairy or gluten free, but I appreciate the care that goes into these bars to make sure that only healthy products go into the bar. I've been trying to limit the amount of dairy I'm intaking so these bars are right up my alley. My favorite bars are the Chocolate Sea Salt and the Peanut Butter Chocolate.

2. GoMacro

A new addition to my bin. Some of the friends that I've made in CHAARG recommended GoMacro to me after having them at the national leadership retreat. So, I decided I had to try them out. GoMacro is a sustainable living company that makes nutrition bars that are vegan, organic, R.A.W, C.L.E.A.N, kosher, and non-GMO. I was sold on the non-GMO and organic, but I also love that there are no refined sugar either! I know a lot of vegans have talked about having issues finding nutrition bars, but I recommend checking these out. Check out these nutrition bars, here. 

 My local store only had the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, but I visited Fresh Market this weekend and hit the mother load so I stocked up! I'm so excited to try the rest of these flavors.

3. LARABAR

What I like: gluten free and only have 9 ingredients (or less). Honestly I just really love the flavors available. 

Comment what kind of workouts you do and what kind of snacks you eat before or after your workout. 

Get to Know My Roommates

So as a fun, little post I thought that I would post some pictures and words about my roommates this semester! I asked each one, I have four, to write a little bit about themselves and send me some pictures that they would like me to use. This post was actually an idea given to me by one of my roommates, Tristan. Thanks, Tris! xoxo

Tristal (Tristan + Krsytal)

"Hello we are Tristan and Krystal, from here on out known as "Tristal". We spend our days sharing adventures, books, and most importantly our every thought. When we aren't together we are snapchatting, instagramming, and/or texting one another. Few people know us separately, but we do have our own interests. For example, Tristan will be completing an internship in Austin, Texas this summer while Krystal will be suffering form ICORE in Bloomington, Indiana. Our wonderful roommate Mallory has agreed to post about our goon selves in her fashionable blog. Enjoy reading! "
xoxo, Tristal 

Alexis 

"Hello this is Alexis, she's related to a Salem Witch, so she's basically everyone's favorite colonial history teacher. She loves fashion and her Subway sandwiches. She never works out and never plans on it. Follow her, @alexisthewitch on Instagram for a peek into her illustrious life. ~me~ "

Grace

"New York state of mind is the best way to describe her. Jet setting her way to the big apple this summer, this girl can never slow down. Grace is an avid tea drinker, gym enthusiast, and can never eat too much ice cream. Her favorite book at the moment is #GIRLBOSS and she suggests you all go read it. "

We've made so many memories already this semester and I'm sure we'll have many more to come! 

IUDM Recap

Where was I this weekend?

Well, I was having the time of my life at IUDM 2015. For those of you that are unfamiliar with IUDM, it's Indiana University Dance Marathon. IUDM celebrated it's 25th anniversary year this past weekend. That's 25 dance marathons celebrating FTK (For the Kids), for Ryan White, and for Ashley Crouse. IUDM benefits Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, specifically Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis and has raised over $20 million FTK since 1991.

In the past, IUDM had been 36 hours long with two shifts of 18 hours. However, this year there were three shifts of 12 hours within the 36 hours. To even dance 12 hours, dancers had to raise $500 FTK. To dance 24 hours, dancers had to raise $740. This ended up being the top 11%-25% of fundraisers. To dance 36 hours, dancers had to raise approximately $1030+. These dancers were the amazing top 10% of dancers!! All committee members danced for 36 hours, those guys were amazing!

I am so proud and excited to say that I was able to dance 24 hours, Friday night to Saturday night FTK! I danced with some of my Phi Mu pledge class sisters and in the end, four of us danced for 24 hours while one amazing sister made it to 36 hours. Yay Bailey, you rock!! Huge shoutout to the sisters that were on committees, you guys were so passionate and really pumped us up when we needed it! I am so glad that I got to spend 24 hours at IUDM dancing, walking around, listening to Riley Kid Stories, and making memories that I will never forget. To my friend Camille that shared her story after I went home, I know that you did amazing and don't forgot that you and your family rock!

Phi Mu Total as of today: $26,135.89
My First Personal Goal: $500
My Second Personal Goal: $650
My Ending Total Before IUDM: $791.50
After IDUM: $891.50

Some Phi Mu sisters with our Riley Kid, Sneha 

Morgan and Abby holding up our 36 hour dancer, Bailey! 

Two of my fellow 24 hour dancers: Katelyn and Sarah

Experience what I experienced:

And the final total is....

IUDM definitely made an impact and I hope to continue dancing there until I graduate. Congrats everyone, we stood for those who can't, and raised money for the ones who need it most.

 FTK RW ALC