Hey everyone,

It's Wednesday and I had an epiphany today that made me take a step back and realize I haven't yet told you guys how I'm doing. Am I happy? Is my new living situation any better? Am I still as active as I was a few weeks ago? In this post I want to answer those questions, and more. 

Lets start with the one I'm sure most of you are curious about: 

Am I happy?

In short, yes. In full, the happiest I have been in a long time. I've settled into my routine now and have found that the more comfortable I become to those around me, the easier I open up. I really believe this has a lot to do with saying "yes", as I have been putting myself more and more out of my comfort zone and, as a result, and finding that my days are spent with more smiles and laughter. During the week I spend most of my time independent and doing my own thing, and once the weekend comes you will find me out and about with my friends. 

Is my new living situation any better?

I won't even bother with a short answer because that wouldn't be doing any justice to the girls I am living with. Yes, a million times yes, my new living situation is better. I get along so much better with these girls than I did last semester with the others that I can see the positive impact it's having on my attitude and my schoolwork. I think one of the best things that comes with this new living situation is that they give me my space but still include me. I have not once regret my decision to leave that situation last year, and each day I am reminded of what a rewarding decision it was. I have movie nights with these girls (Last night: Mama Mia!), go out to eat with these girls (or, more frequently, BiteSquad), and have fun with them whether its in Waikiki or Target. I really wish I had been with them from the start, because I can see how much better of a semester I'm having already. 

Am I still as active as I was a few weeks ago?

Of course! I have been very diligent in my time at the gym, even though I don't go to yoga anymore. Unfortunately the REI yoga class was discontinued and there aren't as many classes that I'm interested in going to anymore. However, I've used this as motivation to do more at the gym. I'm really proud of how much I'm able to lift, as I'm now up to 110 pounds! I typically go for 45 minutes every MWF, so I'm curious to see how different I look at the end of the semester. 


Short and sweet was this post, and I hope it gives you more of an idea as to how I've been and how I'm doing. I hope everyone else is doing as well as I am!

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey everyone!

I wanted to incorporate a little bit of sightseeing on my blog, and in this post I'm going to share with you 3 places I recommend visiting while at the University of Hawaii. Whether you're looking for some instagram-worthy views, a shady study spot, or a serene place to relax, you are guaranteed to enjoy at least one, if not all, of these places. 

Place 1: Tantalus Lookout

Tantalus Lookout is located in the hills of Manoa just 16 minutes away from campus. The bus can't take you up there, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go! The official title of this location is, "Puu Ualakaa State Park", and is best seen if before 7:45PM, when the park closes. Views include: Diamond Head in all of her glory, the city of Honolulu and punchbowl, and a beautiful look of the Pacific. Bonus points for also having a rather large expanse of grass with no trees just in case you would prefer to lounge around with some friends. 

During the day:



During the evening:


Place 2: Lyon Arboretum

I've made mention of this before, but for those looking for a more secluded place to explore, the Lyon Arboretum is perfect. It is close to 200 acres large and is actually owned by the University (although you wouldn't know it). There are plenty of native Hawaiian plants and animals and are just as many  invasive plants and animals as well. Rumor has it you can see wild pigs, but I haven't been so lucky. There are plenty of hiking trails, a waterfall, and even an abandoned shack in this area, so there is more than enough for one to explore. My favorite part? The view of the mountains, especially when it's a little foggier than usual! You really haven't seen Hawaiian beauty until you're looking at the ridgeline that is framed by both fog and a light rainbow. Bonus points for also being right next to Manoa Falls, undoubtedly one of the top three most popular hikes to do on Oahu. 






Place Three: Island Vintage 

Lets face it, you can't always study outside. Sometimes sitting inside a cool room with the AC on is better than hauling your notebooks to a park or green lawn. Because of this, my third recommendation is someplace where you can study in a quiet place and then catch some well-deserved views afterwords: Island Vintage Coffeehouse. 
I know, I know, you probably don't feel like taking the 13 those 25 minutes into Waikiki to study. And you probably don't really want to go to what can be a crowded coffee shop, either. But have you had their acai bowls? I promise once you try one you'll go from "Ugh, 25 minutes?" to, "C'mon, it's just 25 minutes!". They're that good. Plus when you're done you can enjoy the beautiful beach at any time during the day. But be warned, as of late the weather has been spotty, so I would recommend saving this spot for a day when you need to study for finals or midterms. 




Let me know if you've been to any, or all, of these places! I'm hoping to get out and explore more of the Manoa area over the next few weeks, so maybe next time I can update with some more unique study spots or relaxing areas? 

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey everyone!

This is a very unique post but it's one I am so excited to share with you all today. For a long while now I have been very insistent on implementing a planner as part of my "daily routine". In this post I'm going to highlight 5 ways in which you, too, can use a planner to enhance your college experience. 

Before we begin, let me introduce to you what a typical week looks like in my planner. This week my spreads theme was "Valentines Day". 

Blank slate!

 Feel overwhelmed yet? Here is what one page looks like after I begin to plan:


But don't worry! Below are the five ways I encourage you to start planning and why you should plan.

1. Allows for Creativity
   Of course we're all familiar with how planners can, quite literally, help us remember our assignments and upcoming events. However, were you aware at the different kinds of planners there are? From monthly, yearly, weekly, and hourly, you are sure to find a planner best suited for your needs. If you're someone who benefits from knowing the general rather than the detailed, I would recommend the yearly or monthly. For those, like myself, who prefer to keep myself a little more in-check, a weekly planner is a great asset. And, lastly, if you find that you prefer utilizing a more list-like style, then hourly would be your best bet!
   In addition to knowing the type of planner you want, you should also look into brands and styles. Erin Condren, Happy 365, and Bullet are all popular forms of planning. I personally like the Happy Planner because it allows me adequate room to plan and get creative through the use of stickers and such. Erin Condren is the same way, although I've found them to be a little pricey. Bullet journals are the "risk takers" of the group, as they come with no structure and allow you to format and design each spread. If these don't sound like your type of planner, you can always go with a Day Designer and use a more traditional form. 

The brightly lit Erin Condren

A very common Happy Planner

The classic Day Designer

The ever-popular Bullet Journal

2. Keep Track of Your Progress
   As discussed before, there are plenty of ways you can utilize your planner. Your details can range from the very general to the very meticulous, meaning they are much more freeing than you think. However, besides homework and meetings you can also use your planner to keep track of your goals! I like to use mine to remind me of my workouts and gym routine. I also like to use my planner to remind me to stay hydrated, stay focused, and keep track of how often I need to do laundry, buy groceries, and also prayer requests for that week. If you're not sure where to start, or even what to track, 365 Create helps you out big time by providing lots of useful sticker books like: Mom Life, Fitness Tracker, Faith Pack, and Productivity Pack (amongst many others!). 

My progress section looks a lot like this: 

The third column of my planner is used to motivate myself and keep my fitness journey documented.

3. Self Care 
   Planning is something that can either take you a few seconds or a half hour to do. However, if the idea of planning is something that appears daunting, have no fear! Look at planning as a way of self care. Every Sunday I like to sit down and plan out my next week. After arranging my stickers and writing my notes, the time spent totals to about 20 minutes. Some might say that is a waste of time, but if you really think about it, taking those 20 minutes a week to do something both relaxing and enjoyable could very well be something that you come to enjoy. It is something that varies person to person, but if you look more at planning as something to be enjoyed, I promise you it will feel less like a chore and more of an exciting thing you can do. 

4. Express Yourself in an Unconventional Way
   Back when I used to carry my planner around with me, I would oftentimes get asked various questions about my planner, my spread, and why I do what I do. While I appreciate the comments, above all I began to see that my planner tells a lot about me. If I have a messy, unorganized spread, than people are more likely to believe I am a messy and unorganized person. When they see that I have a brightly colored week with a clean design, the first instinct is going to be that I, too, am an organized person. Planning, if you really decide to put the time into it, can very well be that outlet you use to express yourself in a subtle way. 

5. The Three E's
   Planning should be something that is easy, efficient, and enjoyable! In the stressful and fast-paced life that is college, having a little extra help should be something you find useful, not boring! It's a fun way to combine crafts, expression, and art and create something worth looking back on. Plus, planning is never as expensive as you think it is! I got my planner, my planner cover, and sticker packets at Michaels for less than $50! I encourage you, if you are actively seeking out a planner, to start at a craft shop like Michaels and use as many coupons as possible to help make the investment feel a little less heavy on your wallet. 

   Everyone's planning style is different, but that doesn't mean planning shouldn't be something you make part of your routine! I can't tell you the amount of times I have overheard a student say, "It's not worth it," or "I don't like wasting the paper". In the high-stress and fast-paced day that most of us college students live in, using a planner should never feel like a chore. I encourage all of you to look into the benefits planning can provide, as these are just 5 of the many, many benefits! 


Until next time,

Aislinn 

Hey everyone!

As hinted at in my previous post, this month I wanted to do something a little different on this blog. This month, which can be looked at as the "pilot month" of sorts, will be kicking off a little mini-series on my blog. Once every month I will post a list of 3-5 things there are to do on Oahu. I'm really  excited for these kinds of posts, because I think many of us are over the honeymoon phase on Oahu and would like to get an idea of other things there are to do besides luaus and walking on Waikiki Beach!

Let's kick things off with a personal favorite: 

1. Kaka'ako

  Kaka'ako, or SALT, or POW! Wow Hawaii, is a street known for its hipster coffee shops bordered by gritty walls of art. Off-putting at first, this section of town is best for those seeking cute profile pictures, delicious coffee, and for anyone looking to get outside of Waikiki but still remain close by. The nearest mall, Ala Moana, is actually less than 2 miles away, however you wouldn't know it once in the area. 
  What makes Kaka'ako very unique is that every year artists gather and redo their murals. This year the walls are getting redone in February, which is why I suggest that if you're interested in seeing these impressive art pieces that you hurry down there soon. They can be rather spread out, but thankfully their website provides a useful map for navigating their collection of murals. Be sure to keep an eye out, because you might find little gems (Like a cute wall of plants!) hiding amongst the art. My personal favorite is the brightly painted wall of sprites, but this one from today is a close second:






2. Punahou Carnaval

  I'm sure many of us have fond memories of trips to festivals or carnivals growing up. Actually, I could just very well be an outlier in this case because I don't really remember a time ever having gone to one. However, whether you've been or not been, the Punahou Carnaval is one I hear people rave about consistently every year. 
  I won't lie to you guys, I had to do some more research on this. Turns out the Punahou Carnival is actually a fundraiser for the school itself. Lasting only two days, and running for twelve hours each day, the carnival is chalk full of malasadas, silent auctions, and white elephant prizes. Turnout each year is, in a word, impressive, and parking is limited. I haven't been yet, but I do plan on going within the near future!

3. KCC Farmers Market

  This is the one I am most excited to share with you guys, as it's going to be the next thing I cross off of my list of things to do! Every Saturday from 7:30-11am at Kapi'olani Community College (across the street from Diamond Head) and Tuesdays 4-7pm you can find dozens of local vendors selling handmade goods. From food to plants to souvenirs, I guarantee you will find at least a couple goods for those back home! My plan is to go this weekend and snag a plant or two, but who knows, maybe I'll pick up some taro bread or kimchi poke! 



I hope this sparked a little more interest in the things there are to do around Oahu that don't consist of high-end excursions or being back to back with tourists. Let me know what event you go to as well as if you've been to any of these before!

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey everyone,

Today's post is going to be the first of it's kind on this blog. Typically when I have a plan for my future semester I include the classes I will be taking and thats it. However, in this post I really want to emphasize the options I have for the next semester. 

Instead of studying at UH, I've decided that for the fall semester I'm going to be studying abroad. I have applied to both Shanghai, China and Seoul, South Korea. At UH, there are two ways students can study abroad: MIX and Study Abroad. The difference is rather exponential, as MIX allows students to build their own schedule and live independently for the semester, while Study Abroad seems to keep students in a set schedule and don't allow them as much freedom. However, there is an evident difference in the monetary costs to go abroad, as well. MIX is costly and Study Abroad is on the more affordable side. 

Furthermore, I have been very diligent in planning out the next few semesters at Manoa, and have found that instead of graduating in the spring of 2020 that I can graduate in the fall of 2019. All things considered, I believe graduating sooner will be better for me not just financially but also socially. As I've said in previous posts, Manoa is not the school for those who want an active student body. By limiting myself to only two semesters I feel less guilty for picking this school and more excited for what is to come. In a way, it also makes me feel better about living here because it allows me to know exactly when I'm leaving and helps me look farther than where I'm at right now. It also makes me feel like there is an end to this and that I have something to look forward to (graduation!).

In addition to that, I've been really active in doing more both in and off of campus. Since the new year, I've been very diligent in going to the schools gym and, in addition to that, I've also been getting more into yoga. A typical week looks like this:

MWF: Gym for an hour (I've recently gotten very interested with the machines and it seems like every day is leg day.)
TR: Yoga for an hour and a half (My favorite classes being vinyasa and meditative ones!)

I've found that since implementing these workouts into my schedule I feel happier and healthier. 

As far as the rest of this semester, I'm really going to try and get into Honolulu more and experience more of the surrounding area! In my next post I think I'll highlight more of what there is to do in the area, and perhaps even tell you guys what there is to do on Oahu this month! Personally I'm over all of the tourist-y things, and have been for quite some time, and I'm sure the rest of you are more curious to see what fun and exciting things there are to do on island!

Until next time,

Aislinn

Ps: look at how pretty the beach was today in Waikiki! 

Hi guys,

This past Monday I had the opportunity to complete the most intense hike I have ever done: Pali Puka.

Before I get too deep into this post, let me cover a little bit of backstory for you all.

First, this hike is found just off of the Pali Lookout. Sound familiar? It's where Daniel and I went on one of our first dates and where we took this cute picture:

You can read more about our trip to the lookout in this post.

One of the few times I could stand with my feet side-by-side.

Myself and Shannon, who went on the hike with me

Hey everyone,

It is with a grateful heart that I am able to write you this post today.

This morning, at 8:00am, amber alerts went out across the state to all residents with the caption, "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." 

Naturally, most students were asleep at this time. However, as the seconds turned into minutes more and more students began to wake and, with that, began running. I was lucky enough to live in a space where my roommates not only all woke up, but also made it a priority to keep everyone accounted for. This even included our newest roommate, an international girl from China. Even more in our favor was the luck we had securing a car. One of my roommates' boyfriends happened to be over, and in this case drove us to the nearest bomb shelter. 

It is right here that I would like to paint this picture for you all. 

We're in the car, driving to a place we're not even sure exists, and all around us are students running. Up the walkways, out of the apartments, people are sprinting to find cover. A girl runs up to our car and tells us she knows where to go and is she allowed to come with us. We let her in and are immediately told, "Spalding". 

I'm going to do something unusual for my blog, and that is disclose the location. Up until now, absolutely none of us knew where we were going, and Manoa has never issued a statement saying where to go. Even at this moment Manoa had still not released a statement. 

After she gets in we take off and are met with cars of people jumping out and running towards different buildings. Busses are pulled over, more and more students are where we are. However, many of the students we saw running are not with us, which leads me to believe that many buildings must have been unlocked. Otherwise I'm not too sure of where they can go.

Regardless we arrive at Spalding, which is just a lecture hall, and take a seat, surrounded by students and civilians. Some people brought food, others water, and some pets. No one knew what was going on and no one knew if it was even real. 

After a good half hour we are finally told that the missile is fake. We're told countless times that "nothing is truly confirmed, but this is what so-and-so has posted and we just want to keep you updated.

I'm posting this because this is the raw side of Hawaii. The unusual, the unexpected, and the barely covered side of Hawaii. To put this in perspective, I was hiding in a bomb shelter before news outlets on the mainland even began to cover what was going on. This is quite literally a possibility of what Oahu's reality is becoming, and if you are interested in coming to Hawaii for school, something you could very well also experience. 

We're all safe now. This was my experience. 

Until next time,

Aislinn