Friday Favorites

I move in today! AHH I can't believe I'm about to start my 3rd year of college and my 5th semester! Seriously, WHERE DID THE TIME GO?! This week has been a whirlwind - rushing to buy textbooks, cleaning my room, as well as finishing up some last-minute packing.

Random thought: Is anyone going to miss the songs from the Olympics commercials? I feel the need to make a new Spotify playlist..

Autograph Exchange
Duxbury, MA // Afternoon At Island Creek Oyster Farm

Everything Sweet Dessert Kabobs
Fairy Bread Icecream Sandwich
Jackson Hole Summer
Laurie Hernandez's 8 Year Old Self Does Floor Routine
LMM: Instagram Takeover + Live Version Little Mermaid

Mornings At The Beach
New Harrry Potter eBook Shorts
Release Radar

Sail Away With Me
The Londoner got an update!

Have a great weekend!
P.S. This will be my last post before school starts, and last post for a while now. I want to spend more time IRL and away from my computer, because I want to make the most of my last two years at college. Thank you to anyone who has ever read these (mostly random) posts, commented, or interacted with me on social media. I've loved blogging, but it's time for me to take a break and focus on my "real" life :)

10 Athletes 20 And Under

Every four years, we watch the Olympics with wonder and amazement. Sometimes we forget that these athletes are normal, everyday people like us who just happen to be extremely talented in their chosen sports. It's crazy to think that people your own age or younger are performing at the highest stage for an athlete. These women have worked so hard for the majority of their lives to be the best they can be, and I'm so happy that all their hard work and dedication are finally paying off. Here's a list detailing a few of the people who are not quite old enough to be called adults, but can compete (and win!) with the best of 'em!

Lilly King - 19
By mocking a Russian opponent's finger wag, and later talking to a reporter about swimming clean, Lilly made a statement for the sport of swimming. Despite the media storm surrounding this controversy, Lilly won 2 gold medals (100m breaststroke, 4x100m medley relay) in Rio. She also set an Olympic Record in the 100m breaststroke final, and she's only a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington.

Simone Biles - 19
She's the opposite of your average teenage girl (minus her crush on Zac Efron).
3x World All-Around Champion + 5 time medalist at the Rio Olympics (4 gold: team, all-around, vault, floor; 1 bronze: beam)
After her wins in Rio, she will be called the most decorated gymnast in America (and is only the 5th woman overall to win 5 medals at a single Games).

Laurie Hernandez -16
AKA the "human emoji"
She was given this nickname because of her bright personality and love of her sport and teammates.
She won two medals - 1 gold (team) and 1 silver (beam) - at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Laurie is the first U.S.-born Hispanic athlete to make the women's gymnastics team since 1984.
She is also one of the youngest competitors in Rio.

Gabby Douglas - 20
Gabby has impressed America ever since her breakout performance at the London 2012 Olympics.
Her story is amazing, and she should be proud of her accomplishments.
She aided in winning the Team All-Around gold medal at this year's Olympics in Rio.

Madison Kocian -19
She's the reigning World Champion on uneven bars. Team USA struggles the most on this particular event, so adding Madison to the team was a no-brainer. Her routine on the uneven bars is beautiful to watch!
Madison won two medals in Rio: gold (team all-around) and silver (uneven bars).
She will be a freshman at UCLA this fall.

Simone Manuel - 20
I love this picture, because it captures the joy and surprise she felt upon finding out she won her race. Simone won four medals in Rio: 2 gold (100m freestyle, 4x100m medley relay) and 2 silver (50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay). She is the first African American woman to ever win an individual gold medal.
She will be a junior at Stanford University this year.

Katie Ledecky - 19
During her time spent in Rio, Katie smashed records, won medals, and continued making history. She currently holds the 400, 800, and 1500m freestyle world records. She won 4 gold medals (200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay) and 1 silver medal (4x100 freestyle relay) at this year's Games. Katie will start and swim for Stanford this fall.

Ginny Thrasher - 19
This is the girl who won Team USA's very first gold medal (10m air rifle) at this year's Olympics. She loves her sport and is not ashamed to tell people about it (even if they don't understand exactly what it is). Ginny will be a sophomore at West Virginia University.

Kathleen Baker - 19

Not many athletes think of style when they compete, but Kathleen is an exception. Her signature pearl earrings set her apart from others, as well as the difficulties she has had to face to get to the Olympics. In 2010, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Her story is inspirational, and the medals she won at this year's Games, including a gold (4x100m medley relay) and silver (100m backstroke), only prove that you can achieve your goals no matter what. Kathleen attends and competes for the University of California, Berkeley.

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Sydney McLaughlin - 17
Her birthday was 11 days ago. Yes, you read that right. She was only 16 when she qualified and set a new Junior World Record in the 400m hurdles at the Olympic Trials earlier this summer. Even though she did not win any medals at this year's Olympics, I believe this is just the beginning for her. I'm also 99.9% sure we'll see her in Japan! She will be a senior at Union Catholic High School this year.

Happy Thursday!
+ Go Team USA :)

Summer Soundtrack

I love music. I  mean, who doesn't? Music makes me want to dance, helps get me energized and ready for the day, as well as making me feel happier overall. I bought the 3-month trial of Spotify Premium at the beginning of June, and now that it's almost over, I'm going to really miss it. I've been using the streaming service for awhile now, but ever since I got Premium, it makes me want to use it even more. A few of the extra features I like include the fact that I can skip songs as many times as I want without having to worry about commercials and also being able to download songs so I can listen to them offline aka on an airplane!
If you ever want to see what I'm listening to at the moment, search my username: smileshineinspire :)
Here's a list of what I would guess are some of my most listened to songs from this summer..

Comeback Kid - The Band Perry

Fake It - Bastille

History - Olivia Holt

Hold Back The River - James Bay

Kill Em With Kindness - Selena Gomez

Non-Stop - From 'Hamilton'

Something Wild - From 'Pete's Dragon'

The Arena - Lindsey Stirling

Torn (Redux) - From 'High Strung'

Water Under The Bridge - Adele

Have a great Tuesday!

Friday Favorites

Ohmygosh. I go back to school in less than 10 days and I'm gonna be a junior. IN. COLLEGE. WHAT?! This summer has been one of learning, in so many ways. I feel like I say that every summer, but it's true. Summer 2016 has been one to remember. Now it's (almost) time to hit the textbooks again and get one step closer to my future career! :) Oh, and I wanted to let you guys know that I'm including links from last week as well as new ones from this week (just in case you were wondering why you're reading links that seem 'old news', such as the Instagram stories article..). I wanted last Friday's post to be all about the Olympics! And one more thing, the picture below is one I took super recently! I went blueberry picking with a friend earlier this week, and loved it! :)

A Visitor's Guide To Savannah: Bookmarking this!
BIG NEWS: I don't know how to interpret this..
Coffee In Chicago: Love this outfit!
Diablo Lake: Adding to the bucket list..
Finding Self Love
First Job Advice
Instagram Stories Vs. Snapchat
Michael Phelps Wins 22nd Gold Medal: YES
Pike Place Market
Pizza ATM
Sightseeing Bucket List
Summer In Seattle
The Lavender Festival, Provence
Universal Studios Japan (+ The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter!)
Welcome To The World: Congrats Kelly + Mitch!

Where To Begin If You Want To Journal
4 DIY Pool Float Cakes: Can't wait to try these out!

Have a great weekend :)

Tips For Freshmen

When I look back on my freshman year, I want to tell my freshman self how much change she is going to experience in the next few years. Seriously so much change.. but it's okay. I've learned so much and am very thankful for all that college has taught me thus far. I've experienced everything from joy to confusion to disappointment. I was ecstatic when I learned I would be a campus representative for one of my favorite companies. I was so confused and uncertain when I realized that the major I was currently in wasn't where I was supposed to be, and I was sad when people I thought I knew didn't even talk to me. During both good and bad times, what I want to say is: All of this is temporary. In four more years, you won't remember the grade you got on a specific test or how you felt when someone cancels plans with you. Enjoy this time in your life and make it as special as you can. Don't worry. Just have fun (and study)!
If I could give incoming freshman some advice, here's what I'd tell them..

(I've probably used this picture before. I'm including it, because I really like it, and I can't believe that I took it over 2 years ago!)

Be kind to everyone.

You're going to spend four years on your college campus. You're bound to run into at least a few of the same people during the time you spend there, so don't ever come in contact with someone you cannot say 'hi' to. 

Don't be (too) afraid.

You're going to be a little overwhelmed your first day of college. It's okay. Everyone else is in the same boat. You're never fully prepared to be thrown into the world known as college. It's scary, it's intimidating, it's the place you go before you get a real, legit 40 hr. work week job. But it's also exciting, wonderful, and often referred to as some of the best times of your life. Don't be afraid to try new things, meet new people, and step a little outside of your comfort zone.

FOOD!

Eat healthy and drink water. It's tempting to buy snack foods or take full advantage of the food options in the cafeteria, but make sure you give your body the proper nutrients it needs. If you only eat junk food, you won't feel like focusing on your school work. Your body will feel much better if you eat right. A water bottle is also so very important, because drinking water helps you stay alert and hydrated.
Of course, it's always nice to treat yourself every now and then :)

Make your dorm 'homey'.

Most people I know are super excited when it comes to decorating their dorm, but others may not feel a need to go out and spend money on decorations. I believe that making a dorm feel as much like home as you can is essential to a fulfilling college experience. This is not just a place you sleep or study in. Your dorm is important, because you hang out with friends here, and somewhere where you can go to feel relaxed. (Here's how I decorated my freshman year + sophomore year dorms.)

Packing
You're bound to overpack. I know I did. But going into my 5th (!!!) semester, I can say that I feel more confident than ever about packing for my dorm. Refer to my packing list :)
My roommate and I joke about how we pack way less every year we move in, so when senior year comes around, we're only going to bring the "essentials" (coffee maker, bedding, TV, refrigerator) :)

Start finding out who you are.
You learn so much about yourself during the time you spend at college. Whether it be a group of friends, a new club, or an unusual class, start figuring out who you are. This is definitely not easy by any means, but how can you find out what you like and don't like if you don't at least try everything? Every single year, I've become more attuned to my likes and dislikes. I think it's wonderful, figuring out who I am (even if it is a little frustrating).

Use Chegg for books (or some other book-buying service).

Your campus bookstore is not the only place to buy books. Chegg has saved me hundreds of dollars on textbooks, and I have always been very satisfied with this company. Plus, they sometimes throw in coupons and little gifts such as Tide pods or energy drinks.

Have a great Thursday!

Also, check out my other posts on college: staying healthy: mentally + physically + studying tips.

Summer Reading List

Here's the post I promised! Don't worry, it's not one of those required lists of books you have to read before school starts. 

This is my own personal list of books that I've read over the course of this summer :)

+ I highly recommend each and every one of them!

The Nightingale

This was everything I wanted in a book - a historical fiction novel full of romance and mystery. So good. 

Since You've Been Gone

A book of friendship, love, and finding yourself. I loved it :)

milk and honey

This book of poems was so beautifully written. 

Harry Potter

A classic. Every time I read these books, I'm transported to a magical place filled with characters who have become my best friends. These stories have made me laugh, cry, and realize that the power of love is truly the best magic there is.

Big Magic

The author of Eat Pray Love writes this book detailing her experiences of life as an author and the lessons she's learned along the way. I was so encouraged and inspired while reading it!

All The Light We Cannot See

This was also a story that took place during WWII, but is completely different from The Nightingale. I loved the unique plot and endearing characters.

P.S. This has nothing to do with books, though I'm sure both of these have been adapted into books of some sort. I completely forgot about/left out two movies (that I absolutely loved this summer) from last Thursday's post. I do have to mention that I only saw Nerve last Thursday night after my post was already published. Oh well :) 

Finding Dory

Pixar does it again. This film was everything I could've ever hoped for in a Finding Nemo sequel and more. The ending made me so happy!

Nerve

I thought I was going to like this movie, but it really surprised me how much I loved it! I was blown away by how good it was. It was like the ultimate game of Truth or Dare, but all Dare. This was a crazy, action-packed film that had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved the thrill, and the ending - wow. 

Have a great Tuesday!

Friday Favorites (Olympics Edition!)

Who's ready to watch the Opening Ceremony tonight?! I love the Olympics, and am so excited to watch non-stop for the next almost 3 weeks. I love the unity the Games brings to our wonderful nation as well as seeing countries join together to celebrate sports and each other. The media has been full of sad and difficult tragedies that we've all had to deal with in some way or another this summer, so it will be good for everyone to relax, have fun, and most importantly, celebrate the world's very best athletes. This post is so very important to read, with all the publicity (mostly negative) given to the Olympics this year. I cannot wait to watch the events, cheer on Team USA, and admire the talent and work these athletes have put in to get themselves to Rio. Each and every athlete is so admirable, every back story is incredible, and every country should be proud. Watching the Olympics only encourages and shows me that hard work and dedication definitely do pay off. Here's to safety, fun, and (hopefully) a few gold medals :)

Aly Raisman's Floor Pass: I watched this on Snapchat, and thought it was so cool!
Athletes' Height Difference
Facebook's Personalized Olympics Newsfeed
How Ford Is Snapchatting The Olympics Without Breaking Any Rules aka these rules
Olympics + Marketing: I guess I never really thought about how much of an impact marketing has on society until I switched majors. An ad as short as a 30 second spot can really make a difference if someone never watches TV except for when the Olympics are on. It's crazy and awesome to see how much has changed in just two short years in terms of social media and the Olympics!
"One Journey. Two Teams."
Postcards From Rio
Ralph Lauren Team USA
Refugee Team
Uber Driver Gets Chance To See Son Compete At Olympics
USA Spoof Carpool Karaoke
100 Years Of Olympics Opening Ceremonies
30 Olympians To Follow On Social Media

Have a great weekend!
P.S. This didn't start out to be an all-Olympics themed-post. It just kinda turned out that way.
The Olympics only come around every two years :) 

Summer Favorites

I honestly cannot believe some people are already back in school! I have trouble comprehending that we're in the month of August, and that I go back in less than three weeks. I feel like I have so much to do, and not enough time. I'm excited about this upcoming semester, but I'm also terrified. I'm taking 15 hours, but these classes are some of the hardest ones I've ever taken. Oh gosh. Wish me luck! Anyway, today I decided to reminisce and share some of my favorites from the summer :)

Already Tomorrow In Hong Kong

Seriously so good. I love Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung anyway, so the both of them in this film was awesome!
Also, they got married last year! AHHH

Books

I know I promised a more in-depth post about the books I read this summer, so that's still in the works, and will be posted before I go back to school, but I loved this book (pictured above) so much that I wanted to share it now. I can't really pick just one part in the book, because there were so many that I connected with. Definitely a must-read.

Food in general :)

I'm a big foodie, so of course this item made it on the list!

I've loved every minute of being in the kitchen this summer.

Yay for apple pie, cooking more, snickerdoodles, and Wonderballs!

Harry Potter

Obviously HP is a book series, but I felt it deserved its own spot on the list, because the latest story set in the wizarding world was released Sunday!

I ordered it on Amazon earlier this week, so I'm expecting it any day now, and am so excited to read it! No spoilers please :)

High Strung

This movie. I love ballet and violin, so when you combine both of them into a movie, I'm sold. There are exactly three songs in the movie that are constantly on repeat on my Spotify. The storyline isn't the best, but the dance and string performances are amazing and totally worth it!

Random roadtrips

I love taking mini day trips to somewhere new or unexpected. It's really fun to explore places within a day's driving distance so that I can sleep in my own bed at night :)

Spotify

You guys have heard me rave about Spotify countless times before, but ever since I bought the Premium 3 month subscription at the beginning of the summer, I have used this streaming service more than ever. I love finding new artists to listen to and creating new playlists. If you want to check out what I'm listening to, add me: smileshineinspire.

Texas

This trip was definitely a highlight. The circumstances surrounding the trip were not exactly the happiest, but I'm glad we (my family) were able to travel to visit our relatives there. Still craving that Birthday Cake shaved ice..see here.

Happy Thursday!

Milking It For All It's Worth

From last week's post on my love for food here

Besides the fact that this post started off with a pun, I'm gonna get real with you guys today. I've needed to type this out for quite some time, but I never felt like it was the right time, you know? With all the cooking/baking I've been doing of late as well as the recipes I've been sharing on the blog, I've never come right out and said what I consider to be a big part of my life. I'm lactose intolerant, which means I can't eat food items with dairy in them. This means no cheese, ice cream, milk..you get the idea. Every now and then, I complain to my mom and/or sister about this or that when we go out to eat because they're able to find an endless number of options, and I'm stuck with like 3 dishes to choose from. To be honest though, I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't have to worry about consuming a food product with the chance that it could be life threatening or having to be rushed to the doctor. The only items I can't eat are ones that include dairy. Thank goodness Birthday Cake Oreos don't! I've certainly had to adapt over the past five years, but I think finding out I was lactose intolerant was actually a blessing in disguise. After I came to accept the fact that I had to "give up" my favorite food in the world, pizza, I actually learned so much about food and my body in general. My mom helped me so much when I was in the process of transitioning my current diet to foods I could eat without getting sick. She looked on the Internet for alternative recipes, and allowed me to buy whatever I needed at the grocery store so I could still maintain somewhat of the same diet. However, it's taken me almost five years to understand that what my body wants and what it needs in terms of food are two completely different things! I've realized that I eat when I'm emotional or bored, and I have a major sweet tooth! I can buy many alternative versions of the 'real' item, with the only downside being that they're usually more expensive. Thank goodness for places like Trader Joe's :) I can always find good deals there! Whole Foods is awesome too, but expensive for this college girl's budget!

Here's what I use in lieu of 'regular' ingredients.

I use dairy-free butter and/or vegan butter. I'm partial to Earth Balance and/or Smart Balance.  

I buy dairy-free chocolate chips at Trader Joe's. I mean, $1.99 for 12oz. dairy-free chocolate?! You can't beat that price! :)

I buy Blue Diamond Almond Breeze almond milk (vanilla and chocolate flavors) at my local grocery store, and drink a few glasses a day. It's around the same number of calories as regular milk, but has twice the calcium! Note: Almond milk has somewhat of a nutty taste, but I've gotten used to it. The vanilla flavor makes it taste better, and I often add it to my recipes which gives them added flavor. But, ohmygosh! The chocolate milk is seriously so good. My family's had to cut back on drinking it for every meal, because we could go through at least 3 cartons a week.

Another benefit to this whole lactose intolerance thing is that I buy way more fruits and vegetables than I used to, and I love it :)
I sometimes buy them at Farmer's Markets, and when I'm unable to go, I purchase them at a store that sells local produce. If I could, I would definitely spend every single Saturday at a Farmer's Market..

One of my favorite things I've done this summer is try new recipes. I always get so excited making food for my family, and yes, that even includes grocery shopping! I think what I love the most about cooking/baking is the fact that I'm creating something tangible for my family and friends to enjoy. I love seeing the happiness it brings them even if it's only fleeting. There's nothing more wonderful than a meal baked with love. Okay, that sounds super cheesy, but whatever :)

Oh, and speaking of cheese, I definitely did not give up pizza! Just to clarify, I still eat pizza as often as I can. My roommate totally gets me. She understands my love for pizza, and even encourages it which is one of the reasons I love her. When we're at school, and don't like what the caf has served that night (which is rare, because to be honest, we love our school's food), we order pizza. Domino's is the closest to our campus, and probably the best fast food pizza option. We're able to split a pizza and customize it to our individual preferences (with an awesome option for 'no cheese' on one side!). Some people may think it's weird to eat pizza with just sauce, toppings, and crust, but what I say is it's less calories, which means I can eat more pizza, so win-win, right? :) For my birthday this year, my friends and I went to eat at Mellow Mushroom. It's a really cool pizza place and they offer customers the option of selecting vegan cheese for their pizza! Vegan cheese is one of the best things ever. Definitely try it if you're able to :) It's funny when the waiter/waitress asks me my order, because I get the same thing every time: Mighty Meaty with vegan cheese, because "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." :)

So excuse the punny title, but I'm making the most of what I have with my lactose intolerance.
See, I'm "milking it for all it's worth" ;) Insert laughing emoji here.

Have a great Tuesday!