Hey everyone!

I've been home for three weeks now and felt it to be rather fitting that I share with everyone my plans for this summer and what I have done since being home! 

I want to start with the biggest things happening this summer. Typically I don't do much traveling just because my family is both big and busy. However I am lucky enough to be traveling not only in Colorado but to different states this summer. How exciting!

First my family and I are going to spend a long weekend in the mountains. Last summer, if you recall, we went to Vail and Breckenridge. This summer we're going to a place called Granby, near Fraser and Winter Park. We've only been to this part of the mountains once, so I think we're all pretty excited to go back and see what we can do-- this time in the summer. 

Second, I'm going to be flying to Boston later this month to spend a weekend with my cousin and uncle. I'm so excited to be going somewhere new to me and am not embarrassed at all to admit that I already have a pretty extensive itinerary moving forward. I've only been to Boston once and it was during middle school, so I'm really looking forward to going back and seeing everything again. 

Third is something that is small to many but huge to me: I got a haircut!

Pause. 

Yes, a haircut is something that many people find to be not that big of a deal, but would you still think that way when you found out how many inches I got taken off? That's right, I got a total of six inches cut and could not be happier with the way it turned out. Truth be told, short hair is something so liberating and is what I feel to be the best look for me. My first time I got my hair cut "short" was right before starting college, and while it was a complete accident, I would be lying if I said I didn't immediately fall in love with it. It was something I would not have chosen for myself, but is a look I get excited for every time I go to get my hair done (which is always before and after the school year). 

As you can see, I chopped quite a bit off! I love this length of hair and how healthy it looks, so odds are I'm going to go for this length after I return from studying abroad.

Now onto the smaller things!

One of the biggest smaller things (contradictory much?) is getting back into working. I'm not going to lie, this has been a really difficult transition for me because of how long it has taken as well as how difficult it has been to get in contact with management. Because of how tedious and frustrating this has been I have actually started applying to other places in hopes to have options. In the end I know things will work out, but I do wish that things would speed up so I could, at the very least, enjoy what I'm doing. 

Another smaller thing has been the updates regarding study abroad. While I had my reservations about going to China, I do think it's going to be a really fun experience. I was originally very nervous to be going and taking such an intense course load, but I have told myself that I want to, above all, enjoy myself and try and take in as much as I can while there. No, this doesn't mean I'm going to go out every night, and if I'm honest I don't plan on going out at all, but rather, I don't want to miss out or regret on doing or seeing anything. If I want to go to Shanghai Disney then I'm going to go to Shanghai Disney! If I want to spend an afternoon sipping on coffee inside the worlds largest Starbucks than I'm going to do just that. Shanghai is too big of a city not to explore and I cannot wait to share with everyone what I get up to while there. 

The third, and last small thing, was the satisfaction from finding out my grades from this past semester. First semester was my worst one yet, but I am proud of myself for picking myself off of the floor and sweeping my grades this semester. I got all A's and one B+, and could not be happier. This is my best gpa yet and feel so proud of myself. 

With all of this being said, I'm thankful to enjoy the time I have back home and look forward to three months of relaxation. 

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey guys!

Now that I'm home, and have quite some time until I leave, I really wanted to find more low-key, inexpensive ways to enjoy my time here while home. I understand that this is something unrelated to Hawaii, and is most definitely something that I've never done before on this blog, but nonetheless I hope everyone takes a little something away from it.

Here are 3 fun and inexpensive crafts to do either independently or with others! I hope you enjoy.

Craft One: A Simple Twist On a Photo Frame

The first project I attempted is a simple revamp of two old picture frames. Funny enough, I did this project the second day I was home, and I really think it set the tone for how the rest of my summer is going to be.

• Old picture frames
• String of choice (I opted for twine!)
• A stack of pictures, polaroid preferred
• Tiny clothes pins
• Gorilla glue

    First, remove the backing of your photo frames and take out the glass. You should have nothing but the frame itself. Next, measure out the length of string you need. It's helpful to make the string not go all the way to the outer edge of the frame, because the line will become too taut. Instead, I made my string go about halfway on both sides, and this left the string nice and tight. Before you begin glueing, double check that the photos will be at a far enough length apart that they won't be overlapping or touching any edges.
   After double-checking with your photos you can now begin to glue. This is the part that will take the longest because you will need to wait for the glue to dry before anything else can happen. However, a neat trick is to tape the end of the string to the frame so that you don't need to wait for one end to dry; tapping each end will allow you to glue them all down at once!
   Once the glue is dried now the fun begins! Take your pictures and arrange them in the order most preferred and begin clipping with the tiny pins. The nice thing about this project is that no two frames will be alike, as my frame is going to be different from yours, etc. This means that you could have three photos on a line, like myself, or as many as 10! Personally I think less is more for this fun project, but you have complete liberty to do what you please.
   With the photos strung, you will find that as you lift the frame they will begin to flip upside down. This is normal, so don't stress out about the staying put. What matter is how they look on the wall, not in your hands!
   The final step is either hanging the frame on the wall or placing it on a desk or shelf instead. To show you the different options, I've posted two examples below. The first is my frame on my bookshelf and the second is one on my wall. Personally I like them more on the wall, but again its up to you! I also think they look super cute on a bookshelf or desk, as I've shown below. 




Craft Two: Macrame (or "String Designs")

   String designs, or 'macrame', has become a quick summer essential. However, the price for some of these pieces has always left me a bit unsettled. Stores like Urban Outfitters have inspired me to save the $50 I could spend on this art and instead spend $10 to make it myself. Plus, what cooler way to make a space more unique than by creating the item myself?

• One wooden dowel 
• Cord for the string (4mm recommended!) 

   See how simple this craft is? You only need two things and a good half hour to finish this art. The knot you decide to tie is all up to you, but I opted for one of the more simple knots: the square knot.
  Because the product you will end with varies person to person, there is no way to really explain how you begin this project. Instead, I will insert a picture below of what mine looks like. I found that using 5mm string has its ups and downs, primarily because there simply wasn't enough string in the spool! I do plan on adding more so that my art has some depth. For now, this is what it looks like:

What is fun about this craft is that you can do as little, or as much, as you would like! For me, I'm rather unsatisfied with this and will be adding more to it later. Let me know if you try it out!


Craft Three: Scrapbooking

Have a lot of photos that are too big for your space or that don't yet have a space? If that is you than don't worry, this craft is for you! Scrapbooking, or even just memory keeping, is a fun way to keep your photos alive for years to come. For me, I have tons of pictures from Maui and throughout this school year that I really want to commemorate, and I'm going to be soon making a scrapbook to preserve them. If this is something that interests you, try and pintrest or google some cute ways to get started! Tip: Michaels always has a 50% off coupon on their website, use this as a tool to motivate you getting started!


So there they are, the three crafts I will be working on this summer. For now, as you've seen, I have two done and will soon start on the third. I'm always open to new ideas, though, so leave a comment on my post if there's something you recommend I try!

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey guys!

I hinted at this post a little while back on my instagram and am happy to share with you guys my take on the three hotels I had the pleasure of staying at while on Oahu over the past year. 

For record, I'm going to be discussing the hotels I stayed at while during the school year, not the ones I stayed at before. I will also not be including the hotel I stayed at in Maui simply because I want this post to focus more on Oahu hotels!

Hotel One: VIVE Hotel

Located on more of the outer edge of the Waikiki strip, VIVE Hotel is a great option for those looking to not pay those Waikiki prices but still want to enjoy parts of the area. Out of all the hotels this is the one closest to the zoo, no more than a 10 minute walk, closest to the pier, and treats their guests to a continental breakfast. Like all places, this hotel has their fair share of pros and cons.

1. Very cost efficient 
2. Not a very noisy area
3. Free breakfast included in stay (along with supplies for the ocean such as umbrellas)

Overall I would recommend the VIVE hotel for those who are looking to experience a modestly priced Waikiki. If you don't mind walking a bit to get to the beach or the strip then this hotel might just be one you consider staying at! Be warned, some people have complained that the views of the hotel are not that great. While the view in my room wasn't spectacular I think it's nice to keep in mind that you're really going to be in your room only to sleep, so the view shouldn't make or break your stay. 



Hotel Two: Hyatt Centric Waikiki

The Hyatt Regency is conveniently located only one block away from the main strip and is equally as close to the International Marketplace. The hotel itself is huge, and the rooms mirror that exactly. Our room in particular had a lot of natural light which made the room appear so much brighter than other rooms I've stayed at. The pool is a cute splashed and one of the perks in this hotel is free printing! For those interested This hotel is much more different than the VIVE, so let's compare the pro's and the con's:

Pros:

1. Large rooms with an equally as spacious bathroom.
2. Thicker walls than VIVE, but you can still hear the music from the room next door.
3. No valet-- you park yourself!

Cons:

1. Much more expensive, but you're paying for the upgrade.
2. Loud location due to where the hotel is in Waikiki.
3. No breakfast included.

As you can probably tell, the cons are much more objective than the previous hotel. In the Hyatt Regency you will most definitely feel relaxed and at home, but if you're not comfortable paying the price that comes with staying so close to Waikiki than I would reconsider staying in this hotel. 





Hotel Three: The Surfjack

First things first, The Surfjack is a boutique hotel. This means that if you're looking for an aesthetically pleasing hotel that has an attached coffee shop and tailors to some of the more wealthier tourists then you should consider staying at The Surfjack. Right next door to the hotel, connected to it, actually, is the Olive & Oliver coffee shop. Inside you can purchase coffee and cute accessories for yourself or others. The pool is also stunning, but definitely not the size of other hotel pools. Don't let that stop you though, because the inside of the rooms are bright with color, but not so much natural light. 

Pros:

1. Boutique hotels equal lots of cute and unique photo opportunities. They also mean you're competing with others to get that perfect shot (a potential con).
2. Centrally located just a few blocks from the beach and next to plenty of other cute shops.
3. Extremely quite location at night.

Cons:

1. A bit pricey and, for better or for worse, you could find yourself in a different suite than what you wanted because of a "surprise upgrade".
2. For a boutique hotel you are bound to be surprised by the amount of kids at this hotel. This could be a deal breaker for those of you wanting to relax by the pool during the day.
3. Towel (pool & beach) access is limited. You are allowed to check only one out at a time and are given a special card to check out the towel. I've never been to a hotel that has done this before.

For those aiming for a nice, comfy stay with a cute pool and coffee literally next door, I would recommend this hotel. If you're trying for something just as cute but a little more open, keep reading!




Hotel Four: The Laylow 

The Laylow is a low-key hotel hidden in-between the International Marketplace and the Hyatt Centric Waikiki. This hotel is chic and has plenty of natural sunlight. The pool is interesting because it is spacious yet seating is limited. The hotel has 16 floors, and while I'm sure the top floor has a good view, you're unlikely to see the skyline because of your options: a carpark or the pool. Lucky for me I had the view of the carpark. 

Pros: 

1. Perfect location that is close to the strip and the marketplace.
2. Coffee shop & restaurant are all located in the lobby. Breakfast is not included but it sure is delicious!
3. Quiet floors and (I'm assuming) thick walls.

I loved my time at the Laylow, although if I had to bet I would say this was the most expensive hotel trip I was on. For those of you considering staying on Oahu I would really try and take advantage of the deals and discounts. Each of these hotels was expensive, and things like "resort fees" and "valet parking" will bring the cost up more than you would expect. If you live, serve, or study in Hawaii I would recommend purchasing under the Kama'aina rate, although some hotels don't accept this. Military is also worth trying for! 



I hope this post either inspired you or encouraged you to visit the island of Oahu. Any other information you would like to know? Leave a comment and I would love to answer those questions for you!

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey everyone,

Is it shocking to everyone that we are in our last month here at Manoa? In response to how much I have learned, grown, and been challenged this past year, I want to commemorate my time as a sophomore in the best way that I know how: by sharing with you all the lessons I have learned. To supplement this post I will also be using some photos I have never shared in posts. I hope you all enjoy.

...


You might remember a post a while back where I summed up my brief time at Manoa during my freshmen year. Looking back, the difference one year can make is huge. It feels like such a long time ago and I feel as if I have aged so much in only one year. In this post I hope to take you all back as we read about my second year, my sophomore year, on this little rock in the Pacific. 

My first semester was when I truly learned who I am and what I want. I discovered passions of mine and tampered a bit in subjects I was interested in. I changed majors, twice, and declared a minor. I excelled in learning my third language (second if you don't count English) and began to become what I would call an avid news junkie. I became very interested in the news and the world around me and even attended the gay pride festival in Honolulu. I visited my third Hawaiian Island, Maui, and drove the road to Hana twice. I ate Kalua pork out of a tea leaf and drank starbucks matcha lattes every day. At night I would stay out for hours under the stars at Kahala beach, playing with bioluminescence and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. I was scared to go home and scared to go to class. I sought help. I moved out of my old home and into my new one. I spent Christmas with my family and Daniel, who very much feels like family. 





My second semester I began to take more classes I liked and less that I didn't. I listened to myself and put my health first. I went to the gym every day and tried out yoga. I reached a state of peace I had never felt before. I looked at myself and one day I realized that my hard work at the gym was paying off; putting myself first for one hour a day changed my health and my confidence. I began to read more of the news and follow more podcasts that interest me. I explored more about the Korean language and found that I absolutely loved class. I explored temples, beaches, and food shacks. I took pictures, flew drones, and ran miles. I hiked new hikes, met new people, but I still felt like something was missing. I went to church, started devotionals, and began to invest myself more into my faith. I spent more time under the sun and less time inside, something that the older residents at my summer job used to encourage me to do. I befriended my roommates and let go of the pain from last semester. I felt at home and I knew that I was making progress. I took blogging more seriously and began to increase my presence online. I gained the start of a following and found a community online. I applied to study abroad and I got accepted. I made plans for the summer, the semester, and my future. 








The person I have become is one who is happy, confident, and knows she is cared for. I am so fortunate to have spent the past year on this little rock, and while I have had times where I have felt that I do not belong, I have used that as motivation to push me to try harder. Because of this push, or this drive, I am now someone who will be graduating early. I know exactly what I want and will do my best to get it. I hope that throughout this past year that you have seen this person reflected in my posts. I am leaving this year confident that I am where I am supposed to be and have done all that I can do. 

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey guys!

If you haven't already read, or seen, I have been officially accepted into a study abroad program. I didn't realize it, but studying abroad comes with so much more paperwork and requirements than I realized! Because of this lack of communication on all parts, which isn't necessarily bad but is something people should know, I'm going to be sharing with you guys what my process is like as well as the dates and deadlines for all packets!

To start, at UH Manoa students have quite a while to turn in their paperwork. Because I'm going abroad in the fall of this year, my paperwork is due in the spring. After turning in your application, which consisted of: a quick questionnaire, $30 application fee, brief essay, and three recommendation letters. After these parts get turned in the acceptance, or denial, will be released approximately two weeks after turning in the application. 

Upon getting your acceptance, students will have one week to turn in their first two packets (out of 4) and this includes: waiver forms, release forms, $500 non-refundable deposit, room preference, etc. I'm not going to lie, these two packets were very dense and very overwhelming. I definitely would not advise to wait until the last minute to fill them out, as some of the forms may require witnesses and even a notarization. 

In addition to paperwork you will also need to attend a handful of mandatory meetings. My first meeting is coming up and will be approximately 5 hours. That's just one of four! I'm not sure how long the other program's meetings are, because it all depends on where you're going and when. 

For students going to China, I want to make it a point to tell you that you may have visa problems arise. For me, I have the L visa, the visa specific for tourists. I can enter China for 60 days at a time and can go back anytime over 10 years. Now, however, there is apparently a new policy that requires students obtain an X visa, the visa specific for students. This has caused some tension for me because, to put it simply, I had been told numerous times that I would be "fine with the 10 year visa, other students in the past have gone with it and it's been okay". I understand that rules change, but how convenient is it to tell students after they paid the $500 non-refundable fee. It's frustrating, but something you have to deal with.   

The information is stressful, but I promise the more you turn in the easier it gets. Of course, you are bound to have complications throughout the process, but so far I have found the study abroad center to at least be timely in their responses. 

Until next time,

Aislinn

Hey everyone!

If you've kept up with me throughout this semester than you're probably more aware of my fitness goal than those who have not (or who have just started reading!). While this resolution of mine originally began as a New Year's Resolution, I have found that working out has positively changed many aspects of my life throughout this semester. Before I get too ahead of myself, I want to share with you all what my workout routine is while also sharing what worked for me and what didn't. 

First, I committed myself to going to the gym at the very beginning of the semester for only an hour a day M-F. I quickly learned that the weights were the key to seeing a difference, and through consistency I found myself, within six weeks, having built up both strength and endurance. Consistency is key, everyone! You cannot go a few times a month and expect to see some sort of miraculous result. If there is one thing I can guarantee it's that consistency makes the difference. 

Because I like the weight room more than the cardio track, I have taken to ending my workouts in this room. But, during those initial six weeks, I started my workout down at the weights. Personally I don't think where you begin matters, just working out does! For the record, I do about 5 reps and change the set to fit the machine, so it varies from 15 sets to 20. 

My hour starts at the leg press. At the beginning of the semester I was doing 85 pounds and about 50 reps. At my peak I was doing 110 pounds for 100 reps, but I took a brief break and now am working on 100 pounds and 50 reps. This machine is my personal favorite because this is where I've seen the biggest difference! It is also, in my opinion, the easiest machine to use. 

The next machine I work with is the leg curl. I've found that the leg curl is a little more difficult to do (very strange but it's true!) and so I can only do about 70 pounds and 45 reps. For the record, I do about 5 reps and change the set to fit the machine, so it varies from 15 sets to 20. Quite clearly there is a mcc larger gap using this machine than the leg press. 

The last machine I work with is the glute press. This is my least favorite machine and I don't work out with it as much, but for the six weeks I was very much committed I worked on this quite diligently. However, I can't deny that I can work better with heavier weights,  so because of that I'm able to use 90 pound weights on this specific machine. All around I believe this puts me at 30 minutes, give or take. I don't like to rush my time on the machines, but sometimes I finish a certain machine earlier than the previous ones. 

After my time in the weight room I like to cool off with a run on the upstairs track. I do a brief warmup (7 min) and go another 13 minutes afterwords. For the warmup I don't have a specific MPH that I prefer, but when I'm onto the actual run I prefer to go anywhere between 6.5-7mph. I've learned that anything less than 6 feels "too slow" and I actually like the page of a 6.5, so only during my runners high will I strive to pace myself faster than that! While I wish I could say this was a "cool down", unfortunately the fans on the treadmills don't work well, in some cases not at all, and I find that this exercise keeps my heart pumping. I strive to go about 2 miles in those 13 minutes, and it is what keeps me going throughout my run. 

The very last step to my regime is a brief climb on the stairs. I don't mind the stair master, but it's most definitely not an exercise that I swear by. If I had to, those would be the weights. However the stairs get me sweating so there has to be some legitimacy to them! Depending on how I feel I will either do a 5 minute or a 10 minute climb, both ranging from the 5 level to the 7 level. Because I don't swear by them I don't want to tell you which is better, because truthfully I don't think this is the machine that you will be guaranteed to see results with. But that's just me.

While I've mentioned it before, one good option for a cool down would be to attend classes at the yoga studio across campus (or anywhere, for that matter!). I spent the first few weeks supplementing my workouts with 2 sessions of "ray yoga": half vinyasa and half meditation. Unfortunately the class is no longer in session and I haven't been going as often, but for those looking for a way to cool down that doesn't require a machine, yoga and/or meditation is my suggestion for you! 

So there you have it. That is the workout that I swear by and the weights the have helped me lose close to 5 pounds in this semester alone! I hope you've found this a little helpful or a little inspirational.

Until next time,

Aislinn 

Hello everyone!

I guess I spoke too soon, as the weather on this island has once again turned grey and cold. As of late I have been inspired by those on the mainland, who I envy for enjoying the spring weather, to embrace all that comes with the spring, including cleaning. 

Don't be mistaken, I'm a very organized person, but I have my days where I feel so overwhelmed by what I have that I feel, more often than not, it would be easier just to purge all of my things and start over. 

Anyone else?

To combat this I have decided to do a "Spring Cleaning Guide for College Students". I understand how hard it is to let things go, especially when you think "Well I used ___ last year, maybe I will use it again next semester!" but in reality, lets face it. If you haven't used those objects in the past semester, odds are you're not going to use them anytime soon. With only a month and a half left of school, this is the perfect time to clean your space and prepare for the next semester. It's not going to be easy, but keep in mind that the room you have next year will thank you for the lack of clutter you bring along with you.

My case is a little different. I'm going to be studying abroad next semester, and because of this, I am needing to look ahead at what I would need an entire year from now. At first the idea of spring cleaning was rather daunting, but now that I have realized the need for it I no longer feel so intimidated. 

First, look at what you have around your room. You need to start with what you see rather than what you don't. Organize your space and then look for those things that either seem out of place or just unneeded. Those books on your shelf that haven't touch since you've been gifted them? Put them in a box and set them aside. Besides harboring too much dust for comfort, they also take up space that, lets face it, would better off hold something else. What else do you see? Decorations such as picture frames or lights are other good things to consider sending home. Decorations are cute, and they help add personality to your space, but think about what you want your space to look like next year. This is crucial, because what you leave behind in storage is what you're going to have to use next year, and if you would rather send those photos home and opt for less decorations next year. Personally, the photos I hung up in my freshmen dorm no longer serve me the same purpose now as they once did. For this reason I will be taking them (and the 3 yards of twine and 50 clothespins) home with me.

Once you have those things gathered, decide where you're going to put them. Are you wanting to donate them? Send them home? Throw them out? There's nothing wrong with whatever you choose to do, but keep in mind the cost of shipping and whether or not you think someone else will get use out of those things.

Next, and bear with me now, you need to target those "catch-all" places in your room. Yes, we all have that space where you've shrugged your shoulders and said "Eh, I'm sure I'll find a place for it," but still haven't. Listen to me, the phrase: out of sight out of mind, is too real for college students. I have both a junk drawer and a storage bin with things I have come to realize that I don't need. This, of course, is one of the harder things to go through, because you will undoubtedly be battling thoughts like "Oh yeah! I could always use this for that one project I wanted to do," or "This would look really cute if I did this...maybe I do need it after all." And it is at that point that I wish I could shake you by the shoulders and scream No! You don't need those things! I know it's hard, but I swear it's what you don't see that you hold on to more than anything. This is what I'm keeping in mind as I clean, and I hope that helps you, too! 

I hope you are all doing well. I hope my advice was helpful and that you were able to learn at least a little something! Happy spring cleaning, everyone!


Until next time,

Aislinn