Hello, all! I know it’s been a while. But trust me, I’ve got lots to talk about this semester, so stay tuned

I would like to dedicate this post to a project I’ve been working on this year with my roommate, Tessa. It is an experiment of sorts, but also a valuable life lesson.

I have a slight addiction to personal care products …

My current inventory is as follows:

• 7 bottles of body lotion
• 6 bottles of perfume (actually the total count is 10 because I have stocked up a lifetime’s supply of my favorite kind)
• 3 deodorants
• 2 face lotions
• 2 bottles of shampoo
• 3 bottles of face wash

… aaaand I started thinking in the fall, as I staggered down the stairs with a box full of these products, weighing approximately 5,000 pounds, that I own too much of this stuff. 

I don’t think I’m the only 19-year-old girl with this problem. Tell me if I’m wrong.

Anyway, I felt very convicted about being more intentional about how much of my money is actually going into purchasing lotion, perfume, etc. So I started what I’m calling “Do-you-hear-that?-It’s-the-sound-of-your-money-being-totally-wasted project” Here’s how it works:

1. I consume the products that I already own at a normal pace; that is, I make an honest attempt not to rush through them or use them extra slowly.
2. Opening an unopened product before the opened one is completely consumed is not allowed.
3. When a bottle, tube, or other product is completely consumed, the empty container goes in the Closet of Shame.
4. At any point, when I need to replace personal care products, I record the amount spent on those products and tally those figures up as the year goes on.
5. Collect data

Based on the observations I have made thus far, here are some hypotheses:

• I will not have to purchase more toothpaste until April.
• Face moisturizer needs to be replaced every 3.5 months.
• I consume one deodorant every 3 months.
• I have enough active bottles of perfume to last 10 years.
• I will not need to buy any more lotion until 2099.

My total expenditures on personal care products this year so far is $65.00. I have had to shop ONCE.  

The lesson that I am learning from all of this is simply this: I don’t need what I think I need. 

Pop quiz:

True or false: I need Bath and Body Works’ new line of body lotion!

FALSE

True or false: I need to buy another moisturizer soon; it’s been about a month since I bought my last bottle.

FALSE

Cool. I guess here’s what I’m trying to say to all you readers: in college, one doesn’t exactly have an abundant disposable income. It’s easy to get sucked into buying copious amounts of nice-smelling substances, but at least in my opinion, it isn’t worth it. Save the money and put it aside for books or, if you’re cool and social unlike me, spend it on fun outings with friends. The general public doesn’t care if your legs are luxuriously moisturized, they don’t notice when your armpits smell like pears, and they can’t tell the difference between Sensual Amber and Twilight Woods. So use whatcha got and don’t be wasteful

Life is so good! Classes are back in full swing and campus is bustling again. It’s wonderful to have everybody back at St. Thomas since it gets a little lonely around here during J-Term. The BRANDSPANKIN’NEW Anderson Student Center opened on January 17th and it exceeds all of my expectations. (I hope to follow up with a post about all the cool secret areas in the ASC.) What a gift to have such generous donors that have allowed St. Thomas students to enjoy an amazing new building completely free of cost!

In any case, here we are, hurled headlong into spring semester. Personally, I have really struggled with keeping up with the fast pace of homework, meetings, deadlines, friendships, applications, emails, yaddayaddayadda …

And this semester, I have resolved to change.

ORGANIZE ALL THE THINGS!

Realize that historically this is NOT. NOT. NOT. my forte. However, I’m willing to change and give it a good go. Here is my plan of action:

• Engage Outlook Calendar: One of the really awesome benefits of being a St. Thomas student is that we all get a free email address that magically uploads all of your classes into a magical calendar online. If you so desire, you can edit that calendar and create new events when things come up, so you can take a look at how your day or your week looks as a whole and prepare accordingly. AND if you have a smartphone, you can upload that magical calendar ONTO your magical phone. What’s more, you can set your phone to notify you 10, 15, 30 minutes or whatever before an event you’re concerned about forgetting. Perfect for space cadets like yours truly.
• Backup Calendar: I repeat that I am extremely forgetful. Things slip my mind really easily and as such, I require a little extra help in making sure events and assignments don’t fall through the cracks. Therefore I have a hard copy calendar, which I have nailed to my bedroom wall right above my desk where I’m very likely to see it.
• Planner: Yes, folks. A third medium for recording my daily responsibilities. Of course, the daily planner is more geared towards specific class assignments and readings, but while I’m at it I love to write down exactly what’s going on that day, what time it is happening, and where I need to go for it.
• To-Do Lists: I got some really cute stationary for Christmas, and even though that sounds silly, its cuteness is good incentive for me to use it. At the beginning of the week, I plan to write all of the things I hope to get accomplished before the END of that week. As they get done, I will cross them off on the list. Let me tell you folks, there is nothing quite like crossing something off a list. Not only did you complete a task (in itself gratifying) but you get to blot it out as if it never happened. It’s gone. It’s done. Now you get to forget about it and move on! SO GREAT!

So, basically, that’s how I plan to stay on top of things this semester. Hopefully this AIRTIGHT plan will prevent me from getting behind.