How to Survive Finals According to ME

Everyone handles the stresses of school differently, but these are the ways that I found make finals bearable. They may or may not work for you, but they work for me.

1. Get a stash of candy that is easily assessable in your backpack. Make sure its candy that doesn't melt or get swished easily. Cream Savers are one of my favorites.

2. Take one day at a time. Plan out and stick to the plan of when you're going to take each final. Procrastinators like me do not like this one.

3. Wear whatever you want, you can get away with it only during finals week. Got a navy blue shirt on with black pants? Go for it. Sweat pants strongly encouraged for comfort.

4. Switch up study locations. I go crazy if I stay in the same spot for too long. Different environments help, especially if its nice outside and you can grab a blanket and lay out in the grass.

5. Relax a little bit during reading days and let yourself do something fun. Too much pressure and stress never did anyone any good. Mulan is a great movie.

6. Create a relax playlist and devote your ears to it. Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and Coldplay are my top relaxing artists.

7. Take breaks. Even laying my head on the desk for a couple minutes can work wonders for my concentration.

8. Have a study buddy. Even if you aren't studying the same thing its nice to have company and know you're not the only one cramming your brain full of information you'll probably forget tomorrow.

9. Stay positive. It's the best medicine for anything in life. Don't let one test effect another test.

10. Be grateful for the little blessings in life. Too many times I find it easy to get caught up in the big, hard things that I have to do and I ignore the little happiness things around me.

Countdown to Relaxation

Here is a list of things I want to do between April 21st and April 26th. 5 whole days of no school.

1. Read a book. (preferrably outside)

2. Fix my bike. (help will be needed)

3. Go on a bike ride with my fixed bike. (All can join)

4. Organize my room/spring cleaning. (Label maker will be busy)

5. Scrapbook a few pages. (maybe)

6. Bake a cake. (happy unbirthday)

I really want spring to be here permanently. It keeps coming and going here in Utah. It's a new surprise everyday! My cardigans are still in use.

I Have A Say

So I found this really good quote today in a talk by President Packer. Here it is:

"The Lord is voting for me, and Lucifer is voting against me, but it my vote that counts."

This really hit home to me because it is so true. Satan tries everything to bring us down, but it is ultimately up to us whether or not we are going to be happy. We have our own agency to choose right or wrong.

Need an Umbrella

So these new bangs I got. They're pretty cool. They cover up a lot of unwantedness up in the forehead region. They dry nicely (sometimes) and I feel a little bit more fashionista. One day, I will be a fashionista. Let's hope. It'll probably be the day when I don't have to teach for the salary, if that day ever comes. But yeah bangs, I highly recommend them because they're awesome! I feel all cutesie when I wear them correctly instead of hiding them under a headband, which happens a little too often. They may even make it look like my sweat pants aren't as grungy as they really are. Magic. The only down side....here comes the truth...is that when it rains or snows they are the only things stickin out of your hood. So when you get to the library or wherever you're going, you take your hood off and low and behold your bangs are the only things that are wet and you're praying that they dry semi decently while you constantly run your fingers through them a million times. And then, you have to pull up the rest of your hair so that it doesn't look as silly that only your bangs are wet and nothing else. BUT I have come up with a solution: buy a new umbrella if yours breaks. Umbrellas cover your entire head pretty well, even if the hood doesn't. The next thing I need to do: buy a new umbrella.

But besides the rain, I really do LOVE my new bangs. :)

Injureless

Just about a year ago I had ankle surgery. Awesome, I know. I'm so grateful that I'm not at that point in my life right now. Granted there are some perks with being injured, I'm not gonna lie. I got pampered to death by Grandma and had a billion people sign my hot pink cast up to my knee, but besides that nothing really fun comes of it. I'm so grateful to have a working body that lets me run around and have fun. Granted my ankle still hurts from time to time, but nothing like it did before. I can go for a run without my brace and not be swollen like a balloon 10 minutes into it. I can walk down the stairs without fear of falling on my face again. Running is still out of the picture though. I'm amazed by those people that run down the stairs skipping every other. I will never be one of the people. I repeat, NEVER. I like my joints too much.

A year ago I wouldn't be able to rock climbing, hop a fence, do a cartwheel, or even swim. For all those people who are injured out there, there's hope! It's so worth it in the end when you get better because you will no longer take advantage of the working body parts you have. I learned a lot about myself and the type of person I am too. I had to do rehab consistently for about a year after the surgery after doing it for a year prior as well trying to fix the problem without having surgery. It takes a lot of patience and time. My practices ended an hour after everyone else because of the exercises and therapy I had to do. There were some days where I would moap into the training room or to physical therapy very unmotivated. I had absolutely WONDERFUL trainers and physical therapists though. They should have a national yay for trainers day! They were always so supportive and happy to be around. I loved the friendships I gained through my injury. It was fun to go and just talk about my day after practice with people that actually cared. We laughed and made the most of my situation. There was a joke that I should interview the next trainer to work at BYU considering I was there everyday.

The only thing I worry about these days are foot cramps. Those little boogers get me a lot sometimes, but I'd much rather have those then have surgery again! Shari's many nicknames for me is "Hopper" because I have to hop out of the pool to stretch my struggling foot.

Greatisms of BYU

Today I was doing some last minute studying in the testing center before my test. A girl came up to me and handed me salt water taffy and a peppy, "Good luck on your test!" How cute! She deserves lots of blessings.

Also today, I was walking to class and there was a guy whistling behind me. You may be thinking, annoying right? Well, it wasn't. Why you may be asking? BECAUSE...the guy was whistling "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" and it was in tune and everything! I love my university and all the wonderful people in it. It made my day and made me feel grateful for being at a place that I love and for our wonderful prophet who leads and guides us today.

Yesterday another great thing happened. Once again I was walking, but home this time instead of to class, I had just finished practice and didn't have class until later in the day. A guy behind me took almost the exact path that I did. I know you're thinking "creeper" right now, but he was just going to the Crabtree. nbd. I know this because he finally passed me towards the end of the journey. (only because I slowed down due to curiosity however) Well this guy walking behind me name was Warren. Yes, Warren. I have never met a Warren, but maybe someday I will. I've never heard so many people give the same expression to the same person in such a short amount of time. I'm not kidding. Three different people uttered the exact phrase, "Good morning Warren!" and then he would respond, "Good morning...[insert name here]..." Crazy right?! I would think that a "Hey Dude!" or a "What's up man!" would be more common, but not for Warren. Apparently when you have a name like Warren you have to say the complete "Good Morning" phrase. How awesome. I'm pretty sure my name is just good for the usual "Hey, Karalee!" which is just fine by me. Let me know if you ever meet a Warren. I want to meet him too.

[insert picture of a Warren I will someday meet here]

Never Eat a Messy Burrito With a Paper Cut

Yes, I did that today. I ate a messy burrito with a paper cut and boy was it stingy. Ouch. But on a better note, this past weekend was AMAZING! Here's some of the awesome things I did at grandma's for conference weekend:

-Hide n' Go Seek in the Dark

-Hot Tub

-Eat Delicious Pot Roast

-Go to Dairy Keen

-Ride on a Train

-Jump on a Trampoline

-Play "Snorta"

-Laugh My Head off

-Listen to General Authorities

-Watch Dan in Real Life

-Sleep in a Bunk Bed

-Do Cartwheels

-Be in a Human Pyramid

-Win a Game of "PIG"

-See my Grandparents

-Star Tripping

-Eat Girl Scout Cookies

-Get a New Necklace

-Have Good Conversations

-Paint Nails

-Feed Baby Goats

-Face masks

-Tease Boys About Getting Married

-Wear Sweats

-Be With Some of My BEST FRIENDS :)