The Burns Effect

5 Ways To Make Your Dorm Room Cozy

If you're anything like me, you had high expectations for how your dorm room was going to look as you got closer and closer to graduating high school. It would be your own space (albeit with a roommate, but we can deal with that later); you would be able to decorate to your aesthetic liking. I scoured Pinterest and Tumblr for hours, looking for inspiration. I jumped between having a modern room, a bohemian space, and a grunge space. We can easily all come to the conclusion that having a grunge room would not be very...nice considering it's too trendy and would be something I'd get over easily.
So, I quickly crossed the latter off of my list after 8th grade. The former two were the ones that lasted the test of time, and I had a hard time deciding between them. After all, I love clean, minimalist spaces; there's nothing like it. Nevertheless, I was slowly falling in love with bohemian spaces; not only were they visually pleasing, they also provided a sense of comfort, may it have been because of the cozy throws and blankets or the greenery everywhere. In the long run, I'd say that I have a bohemian space (but it's okay! I'll have my own apartment sooner than later and I'll be able to have the best of both worlds).
Regardless of what theme you want your dorm room to have, they can all be cozy. Considering it'll be your home for pretty much the next year, you might as well love where you are staying and make it a "home away from home." Here are some ways to make your space cozy!

1. Bring in various textures and patterns.

You can do this with your blankets, carpet, bed comforter, or futon. My dorm [luckily] came with hardwood floors, so my gray carpet is the perfect addition to make the room cozier! It provides the perfect soft space to cuddle into and relax. I also brought a tapestry with a really cool pattern, and it's hanging up on my wall. It complements my bedspread (color-wise). You do not have to be extreme in the patterns or textures you use.

2. Use fairy lights.

I have these lights up beneath my bed, and I absolutely adore them! While I am a huge fan of natural light, whenever I want to get cozy (doing homework or reading a book), I love turning my lights on. It provides such a great ambiance to the room. I have some friends who decided to string their lights along the edges of the room on the walls, while others have their lights going vertically along the ceiling.

3. Have a bunch of blankets!

You will not regret this piece of advice when winter comes around. There's nothing like cozying up in a thicket blanket. I have my big, blue blanket from Sam's Club underneath my desk that I curl up in my moon chair with; I also have a couple of smaller blankets that I share with my friends when they come over; on my bed, I have a heated blanket that I typically use when I go to bed.

4. Bring flowers and plants indoors.

I absolutely adore when people have plants and flowers in their rooms, real or not. Nature instantly makes me feel cozier, and it gives a room a very fresh feeling.

5. Burn Incense.

I know that not all dorm will allow incense, but mine [thankfully] does. Incense will make your room smell amazing and it typically calms me down. You can either burn various incenses whenever you want, or you can choose an incense and have it be your dorm's scent. That way, whenever you smell it, you feel at home.

0Comments

, by Unknown

How to Create A 4-Year Graduation Plan

College can last however long you want it to (or are able to afford, financially; and if you're like the vast majority of college students, this is seemingly the most difficult challenge of getting an education). Traditionally, students graduate in four years; however, it's becoming more common for students to stay for a fifth year. If you're like me, that's something you kind of want to avoid. Mo' money, mo' problems, unfortunately, and I don't want a fifth year to give them to me. Plus, after four years, I am pretty sure that I'll be anxious to graduate and move on from college. To make sure that I stay on the right path to graduate in four years, my advisers and professors urged (and even created an assignment) me to make a Four Year Graduation Plan.
This plan should be made as soon as possible, and yes, that goes for freshmen and all undecided majors. I made mine only a few weeks into my first semester as a first-year student. The great thing about making this graduation plan is that it's super easy to make, and you will be extremely grateful for it in the long run when you are trying to figure out what classes you still need to take, any prerequisites, etc. And don't worry! Making the plan will be easy (albeit a bit lengthy as you try to be as detailed as you can).

1. Add all of your general education credits.

General education credits are the easiest because it relates to students who have declared a major and those who are undecided. They're also the easiest to place in your four year plan. Most of the time, students like to get their gen eds out of the way; however, you have to consider various things, such as what you plan to do during your time in college, such as studying abroad or doing a national student exchange. If you are, then it'd probably be best to save your general education credits until then simply because they're the easiest to transfer back to your home school. Major-specific courses tend to get a little testing when trying to transfer back, so I'd personally save those for when I'm on campus (or take it online, if possible).

2. What prerequisites are there?

It's extremely important to know whether there are prerequisites for courses that you want to take. There is nothing worse than going to register for a class and getting told that you cannot because you haven't taken a required course (or worse, simply getting booted out of the class without any warning). The worst part about that is that some colleges allow you to register for the class (with or without the prerequisite completed), and you'll only get booted from the course during the first week of class by the professor. So do yourself a favor and write down all prereqs for the courses you are planning to take.

3. Can you save money? Take summer courses!

A lot of people think about college as Fall and Spring terms, but there's one more that is important to think about; Summer Term. Do not hesitate to skip out on taking a course during the fall or spring term at your college, so that you can instead save money and take the same course (or equivalent) at a community college during the summer. Mark this down in your four year plan so that you will not be confused and know what your plan is.

4. Create using any method.

I've made a four year plan on Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as Google Sheets. On Excel or in Sheets, I can easily set up my rows and columns with each year, semester, as well as classes that I want to take (both require and electives). Microsoft Word isn't hard to use as well because of how easy it is to add a graphs, graphics, and organize to your liking. The only disadvantage to Word is how it lacks automation. All of these programs allow up to you to make your four year plan however creative or simple as you'd like it; you have the ability to color-code, star, filter, and more.

Freebie time!

Because I want to help you all get going with your four year plan, I created a freebie template for you all. I organized it with color-coding and categories. You have full customization with your courses, course ID #, degree requirement (general ed, major requirement, electives, etc), # of credits, prerequisites, and which semester you plan to take the class. Everything is manual (sorry! no automation this time); however, the document is extremely easy to edit. To go ahead and download, click the following to go to Dropbox.

0Comments

, by Unknown

In College, College Classes

How to Successfully Complete Your Online College Class

College is extremely diverse when it comes to what classes you can take, where you can take them, and how you can take them. Once upon a time, you had to go on-campus to complete your courses; now, you can go to remote sites or stay in your bed. Now, before you get all hyped up about the latter (because, who am I kidding, it sounds like a dream), there are pros and cons to taking online courses. Last semester, I took two online courses, and this upcoming Spring semester, I'm taking two more. Let's say that I'm bittersweet right now.
Online classes provide you with accessibility because you can literally access them anywhere as long as you have working Wi-Fi or a steady Hotspot. So, if you forgot about an assignment that's due tonight at 11:59 PM, yet you are out partying with your friends, as long as you have your assignment saved online (such as on GoogleDocs or Dropbox), you can quickly and easily download it and submit it. Whew. But there's the dilemma of actually remembering the class and its assignments when you do not have a class to attend daily. It's really up to you to prioritize and keep track of everything. While that can also be true for actual classes that you go to, you have to be far more organized with online courses because your only method of communication or finding out anything pertaining to the class is through the worldwide web. Of course, most professors still have office hours, but in reality, most students don't take advantage of that.
Along the way, I have learned some tips for how to successfully complete your online college class.

1. Print out your syllabus.

It's easy to neglect this task because it's online (and you're trying to be eco-friendly, right?). However, this can make or break your semester. I found this out the hard way; it's pretty annoying having to constantly go to Blackboard, find the syllabus again, and possibly have to download it just to see when that one assignment is due. It's far easier to have a tangible copy that you can quickly pull out and reference daily.

2. Attend Your Professor's Office Hours

If your professor does not have set office hours (which is normally not the case), do not hesitate to reach out and set up an appointment. Some professors do not like to sit around in their office for no reason, so they might not be there if you decide to just pop up. That's why it's best to e-mail or fill out a form, letting them know that you plan to come and chat with them. This is especially important when you have an online class because it's great to create the rapport with your professor. Since you won't be seeing them during the week, it's nice to let them know who you are as well as you get to know them. Just because they're teaching an online class doesn't mean that they cannot prove to be a great reference or friend in the future!

3. Get organized online.

By this, I mean find some organization method that works best for you. You need a way to keep track of deadlines, host your assignments, and keep everything together that you'll need for your class. I personally love using a calendar for inputting my deadlines and miscellaneous tasks for classes. SolCalendar is the calendar that I use; it allows you to add marks and little graphics, set reoccurring dates (perfect for when you have a class multiple days throughout the week), invite people to the event/task, and color-code, which I find works out best for differentiating my courses. I'm also planning to use Trello this upcoming semester after reading about another student's method of organizing. I set mine up yesterday, and I'm excited to see how this works. So far, I've added all of my classes and organized what books and the costs for each of my classes. I'll update you guys once I finally start to use it.

4. Take Notes On and Off the Computer.

I find taking notes using Microsoft OneNote the easiest for me. However, it's not always the best solution when your class is strictly online. This is for two reasons: 1) it can be difficult having to switch from your class online to taking notes on another screen; this can work because of the split-screen function that laptops have now; nevertheless, I prefer to have a full-screen versus two mini ones, and 2) writing things down helps you to learn and memorize it. You can take online classes at your pace (as far as note-taking goes), so use this to your advantage and hand write your notes. In-class note-taking is more so at the professor's rate, so having a laptop accessible to take notes seems to be easier. Use the advantage an online class gives you and take your time to truly learn the information on your time. Also, once you finish handwriting your notes, feel free to type them up (as they say, looking at and writing stuff down multiple times help you to remember it!).

5. Try to Find and Get to Know People in Your Course

One of my hospitality management classes was online, and my professor tried to get us to establish a relationship with others in our respective groups that she assigned. She did this by having us do a forum board where we introduced ourselves and had weekly discussions that were worth a grade. While this is not necessarily the best way to get to know people (because most people are just doing this for a grade + simply talking to someone online doesn't foster a relationship like seeing someone in-person does), it's still a great way to learn names and the basics about your classmates. If you seemingly click or are interested in a particular person, do not hesitate to reach out and try to meet them in person. You never know who could become your next best friend or great study buddy.

0Comments

, by Unknown

In Goals, New Year Motto

"Why the Hell Not": Happy New Year!

It's officially 2017! Woooo! I love the beginning of each year. The energy in the air is insane; everyone is ready to let go of the old year; parties are still raging; champagne is being popped; fireworks and sparklers are shining in the air; and the Time Square ball is dropping. I relish this time of year. Once the night festivities calm down, the energy is still there. Everyone is ready to start the new year off great: setting goals, finding inspiration, planning and organizing, and more.
I typically like to do New Year Resolutions, but I find that I don't normally follow up with those. I don't know what it is, but I feel like it's too much pressure. If I don't actually complete my resolutions, it can be tolling on how I view myself and what I'm doing. I don't like that feeling, so I've decided to come up with another type of way to encourage myself during the new year. Instead of pressuring myself to complete a set of goals by the end of 2017, I am going to set a motto for the year that I want to live by.

I feel like this is a great motto for 2017 for me. It's motivating me to be as daring as I can be; instead of asking "why?" the question will be "why not?" I have so much that I want to do in 2017, and this motto will be what I fall back on each time. Starting to blog more frequently: why the hell not? Falling back in love with photography: why the hell not? Reading 40 or more books: why the hell not? Working and successfully completing my internship: why the hell not?

What would be your motto for this year?

0Comments

, by Unknown

In 2016 Books, Book List

Best & Worst Books of 2016

I am a bookworm, through and through. There's nothing like picking up a good 'ole book and getting lost in it for the day. Rain, shine, snow, or hail - I'll always have a book with me. Last year, I set a goal on Goodreads to read at least 20 books. Proudly, I read 22. This year, I set a goal of 30, which I just hit. I'm currently reading Rush (Breathless, #1) by Maya Banks, so I might hit 31 books before the year is officially over.
Now, you might be thinking that these goals are nothing. Regardless, I'm proud of myself because of how much I forced myself to read, despite having such a busy schedule. During 2017, I plan to read at least 40 books. While I do have a busy schedule, I do recognize that I find time to watch Netflix and Hulu, so there isn't really an excuse for me to not reach my book goal. So, my goal is to limit my screen time and substitute it for reading time.
Now let's get to it. Here are my favorite (and least favorite) books that I read this year. It's a mix of romance, crime, thriller, erotica, and action. Feel free to follow me on Goodreads.

Most Favorite

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix This book was unbelievably unique and awesome; it kept my attention throughout the entire thing. It's a little bit (ahem -- a lot of bit) crazy, full of suspense, and will really have you anxiously waiting to see what happens next; nevertheless, it's worth it. Do not let the title or cover fool you. This is a book that you definitely will want to read. The Pact by Jodi Picoult This was another book that will have you anxious to see what happens next. It's a peculiar case of loving someone too much, and Jodi definitely hit it right on the head. It took me forever to finish reading this one, though, but that was my own fault (seriously, guys, college is a *insert profanity here*). Once I finished reading this gem, I fell in love with Jodi's writing and everything about this book. And to think that I randomly chose this book at the thrift store.
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks First of all, I absolutely adore Nicholas Sparks and all of his books, no matter how cliche they get. There is something about love and Nicholas' writing that draws me to his books. I got The Guardian from a book-sale at the library, and I immediately wanted to read it because of how enticing it sounded. I never could have imagined how much my heart would swell from reading this. It was a little bit crazy, a little bit adorable, and a little bit heartbreaking.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith If you love crime novels, this is a great one to read! I remember when I was about to sign up for a book club, this was the book they were initially going to send me. In the end, I didn't; however, I found this book at Dollar General (really!) for $3, and I was immediately sold. Regardless of the price, though, this book drew me in from the description all the way to the cover. The thing is -- about this book -- you cannot expect it. It was oddly familiar yet new, and this ranged from the setting to the characters to the plot. I absolutely loved it.
After You by Jojo Moyes I wanted to add Me Before You to this list as well, but I technically read that in 2015. But I'm going to speak on both books - FREAKING AMAZING. They make my heart experience all types of emotions and I don't know how to feel about that. In Me Before You, I cried, smiled, laughed, and went through the whole nine. In After You, I think my emotions were trying to get back on my good side because I did not cry, but I did feel hope and love and faith. (And please, please, please do not base any commentary on MBY on the movie. It was good, but the book was far better.)

Least Favorite

Bared to You by Sylvia Day I overall enjoyed the book, but it there were far too many moments where I wanted to stop reading because of how much it lacked a plot. It was also far too similar to Fifty Shades of Grey; the only difference was the better development and interest of and in the characters, which I greatly appreciated. I will be continuing with the series, nevertheless.
Looking for Alaska by John Green The ending of this book drove me nuts! The premise of this book seemed like it would be good, but I personally feel like it lacked. While I wanted to fall in love with Look for Alaska, the beginning was slow, the middle was blase, and the ending made me want to throw the book out of the window like in Silver Linings Playbook.

0Comments

, by Unknown

In Christmas Break, College

4 Things to Do Before You Return to College After the Holidays

Christmas passed by extremely fast. I honestly was not expecting it to come and go so quickly. One moment I was on the plane, flying away from Ames to Detroit, and the next thing I know, gifts have been opened, food has been eaten, and the Christmas music is drifting away. What's next? I suppose my flight back to Ames, which I am bittersweet about. But I'm not going to sit here and dwell on the amount of days I have left here in Michigan, and I don't want you college students to become bummed out about going back to uni. Let's focus on the time you have left at home and what to do with it!

1. Hang out with your hometown friends!

Remember all of those "I miss you"s and "We'll definitely hang out when I get back home!" messages that you and your hometown friends shared when you left for college? Don't let them be in vain. Hit up your friends and seriously hang out with them. Maintaining friendships can be hard when you don't put in the effort. I know that my friend group and I do not always communicate (we have different schedules!), but when we do, it's like we never stopped talking. Now that I am back home for the holidays, I am trying to get around and spend much needed time with my friends. "I miss you" doesn't mean much when you have the chance to hang out with someone, yet don't. Actions speak louder than words, my friend.

2. Spend quality time with your family. (No, saying "hi" and "bye" doesn't count. Get out of your room.)

I know that I missed my family a lot when I was away at college. As soon as I got home, I hung out with my parents, sister, grandma, aunt, and some cousins. I know that family can get on your nerves in a special kind of way that nobody else can, but it's all out of love. Allow yourself to hang out with them and not just in passing by.

3. Hit up some of your old-time favorite places.

Were there any places that you consistently went to back when you were in high school or middle school? A place that you know like the back of your hand, or that you consider your second home? Make sure you stop there are experience a bit of nostalgia.

4. Grub, grub, grub.

I'm talking homemade food and some city specialties that you won't be able to find back at your university. Before I even flew back to Detroit, I already had a list of foods that I wanted before I returned to college. I'm still waiting to get my favorite Mexican food, but I've been gradually crossing places and foods off my list. Enjoy while you can!

0Comments

, by Unknown

In Best places to Study, College

Best Places to Study at Iowa State

Finals week is officially here! Day one is over (hopefully, unless you have a night final tonight - good luck, then). How are you all keeping up? I can say that I am beat down and ready to go home and sleep my break away. But alas, finals is not over for me and for plenty other students. I realized that I probably should have posted this post about a week ago during Dead Week, but it's better late than never, right? Here are some of the best places to study on campus or near campus when you attend Iowa State!

1. The Library (duh!)

This one is pretty common, as it's a library and libraries are the best place to buckle down and get your head in your books. (Please don't do this literally, as you will most likely fall asleep and defeat the entire purpose of you going to the library.) Park's Library is great to study as there are a bunch of space to study, whether you want a private room, a concealed space, or a large area for a group study session. The only downfall is that everyone is literally thinking the same way as you and like to study in the library, especially during Dead Week.

2. The Multicultural Center

I love going to the MCC in Memorial Union! It is literally the best place to study because it's rather quiet, there are private cubicles as well as open spaces and rooms to study in. And no, you do not have to be a multicultural student to go there and study. Everyone is welcome!

3. Cafe Diem (Main Street)

This is a cute little cafe that I recently found with a friend. It is literally the most adorable place you might ever go. The decor is cozy; there is free WiFi; and the lattes are amazing! (I am drinking an Eggnog Gingerbread Latte right now. Yum!) It's standard size for a cafe, and it's a semi-popular place, but you most likely will find a spot to study. The later it gets, though, the more crowded it can be.

4. Your Dorm ('s lounge or Mezz)

I like the convenience of study in Larch's lounge. I can literally not change out of my pajamas, yet still get the heck out of my room for the day.

5. MWL Commons

Can you say food an study sesh? You literally have Season's downstairs (and East Side Market), so if you ever need a break or to grab some food, it's extremely convenient. During Dead Week and Finals' Week, it tends to get pretty crowded the later it gets in the day, so be prepared to have to spread out on the floor (if you don't mind).

0Comments

, by Unknown

Newer
Stories

Older
Stories

Pages

5 Ways To Make Your Dorm Room Cozy

1. Bring in various textures and patterns.

2. Use fairy lights.

3. Have a bunch of blankets!

4. Bring flowers and plants indoors.

5. Burn Incense.

How to Create A 4-Year Graduation Plan

1. Add all of your general education credits.

2. What prerequisites are there?

3. Can you save money? Take summer courses!

4. Create using any method.

Freebie time!

How to Successfully Complete Your Online College Class

1. Print out your syllabus.

2. Attend Your Professor's Office Hours

3. Get organized online.

4. Take Notes On and Off the Computer.

5. Try to Find and Get to Know People in Your Course

"Why the Hell Not": Happy New Year!

Best & Worst Books of 2016

Most Favorite

Least Favorite

4 Things to Do Before You Return to College After the Holidays

1. Hang out with your hometown friends!

2. Spend quality time with your family. (No, saying "hi" and "bye" doesn't count. Get out of your room.)

3. Hit up some of your old-time favorite places.

4. Grub, grub, grub.

Best Places to Study at Iowa State

1. The Library (duh!)

2. The Multicultural Center

3. Cafe Diem (Main Street)

4. Your Dorm ('s lounge or Mezz)

5. MWL Commons

About me

Krishaun.

Add Me ON

recent posts

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Pages

5 Ways To Make Your Dorm Room Cozy

1. Bring in various textures and patterns.

2. Use fairy lights.

3. Have a bunch of blankets!

4. Bring flowers and plants indoors.

5. Burn Incense.

How to Create A 4-Year Graduation Plan

1. Add all of your general education credits.

2. What prerequisites are there?

3. Can you save money? Take summer courses!

4. Create using any method.

Freebie time!

How to Successfully Complete Your Online College Class

1. Print out your syllabus.

2. Attend Your Professor's Office Hours

3. Get organized online.

4. Take Notes On and Off the Computer.

5. Try to Find and Get to Know People in Your Course

"Why the Hell Not": Happy New Year!

Best & Worst Books of 2016

Most Favorite

Least Favorite

4 Things to Do Before You Return to College After the Holidays

1. Hang out with your hometown friends!

2. Spend quality time with your family. (No, saying "hi" and "bye" doesn't count. Get out of your room.)

3. Hit up some of your old-time favorite places.

4. Grub, grub, grub.

Best Places to Study at Iowa State

1. The Library (duh!)

2. The Multicultural Center

3. Cafe Diem (Main Street)

4. Your Dorm ('s lounge or Mezz)

5. MWL Commons

About me

Krishaun.

Add Me ON

recent posts

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Subscribe