What's in My Schoolbag?

I love this bag. So much. I had been wanting a timeless looking bag to take to school (art major, I have to think of these things--haha), and I stumbled on this Etsy shop.

I thought the bags were gorgeous and my birthday was coming up soon (I purchased this in May), so I begged M for the bag I wanted. The smell (of the real leather) takes a while to fade (I don't notice it anymore, but M hates it, haha)--but other than that, I am really happy with the bag and the quality. 

But on to what's in it! 

In my front inside pocket, I keep all my notebooks-- I have my planner, my idea/sketchbook, and the pink notebook for all my class/lecture notes. 

In the main pocket, I keep anything I would need for that day of class--sometimes my big folder, other times just another sketchbook and my box of supplies. Just depends on the day. 

I have a bunch of misc. stuff in the outside front zippered pocket or in other pockets in the bag. I have to have my glasses (I'm so blind), my pens, my chapstick, and my iPod Shuffle (I keep it in that container so I can always find it and so the headphones don't get tangled/ruined). Throw in some mints and kleenex for good luck. 

I love having this snack bag. It keeps everything separate from my books and getting smashed (it's slightly padded). I also don't have to worry about anything spilling (sometimes I will put a half finished granola bar back in for later). 

I have a few other random things in another pouch. I rarely use them, but since I have no car and am usually gone all day, they are nice to have. The pill container holds ibuprofen and Tums, and the little bit of makeup/wipes is if I ever run to class and realize I am a hot mess. 

I hope you liked the peek into my bag, I honestly love looking in other people's purses/bags (on blogs, videos, etc). It tells you so much about them. Is that creepy? Haha. 

xoxo

Time Savers

With working and going to school full time (both me and M), time is really limited. I try and do things on the weekend that will save us time and effort during the week when things are nuts. 

I thought I would share some tips we've developed this semester: 

Pack lunches the night before. 

Hubby and I never eat out for lunch, we prefer to spend our money to eat out together. So we always pack a lunch. Packing it the night before is a huge timesaver for me--

especially on those days I decide to sleep in... :) 

Pre-make breakfasts.

I'm all about an easy morning. So on Sunday, I will make a batch of muffins and boil some eggs. When the muffins are done, I'll divide them into some plastic bags so I can throw them in my bag on the way out the door. I'll sometimes do the same with the eggs, but for the most part they are in a tupperware in the fridge. But pre-made breakfasts are my jam when I am half-asleep in the mornings. 

Pre-cut your fruits. 

Whenever I come home from the store, I wash and cut the fruit into a tupperware. We then have a ready made fruit salad--it makes it way easier to eat fruit, and a nice pick-me-up during the work/school day. Does eating strawberries make anyone else super happy? :) 

Pre-bag your snacks.

With work and school, some days I am gone from 7am to 10pm. I love my food, so I can't go without a few snacks. Granola bars are great (and I always pack one), but I am a sucker for sweets or crackers. I notice a huge difference if I pre-package my snacks. IT'S SO EASY. I just snag a bag and go... And everyone in my classes always know I have some Sour Patch Kids EVERY. DAY. 

*Resident Fat Kid, Oh Yah*

Meal Plan. 

This saves time at the store and time figuring out what to eat. I make a list of what meals we will eat (generally quite fast and easy) that week and make sure I have everything to make those meals. No pointless wandering in the grocery store wondering what I need to buy, and no wandering from the pantry to the fridge every night wondering what will fix itself. 

Pick one night/day a week to go grocery shopping. NO MORE. 

I cannot spend more time shopping for food than absolutely necessary. I go every Friday night (sometimes Saturday morning if we work late) and get everything done. I condense all my errands into that one time slot so I won't have to go out again. The one exception--for a school project (if I need something printed (high-quality) or need more supplies).

Pack bookbag/backpack the night before.

Prevent worried headless-chicken like behavior (usually with wet hair and half a face of makeup) the morning of and just pack everything the night before. You'll have time to double check your schedule and make sure you have everything for the next day without feeling pressure the next day 

(More of what I pack in my bag specifically will be in another post).

Use a planner!!! 

I went a while without using a planner, but I am converted again and completely obsessed. As you may be able to tell, I color code mine--but unless you are anal like me, it's not totally necessary. But planners are so helpful to keep everything straight. I write my to-do lists in there along with homework assignments, church meetings, things I have to get done at home (i.e., laundry, dishes), etc. 

And those Papermate Flair pens are my absolute FAVORITE. 

Check the weather and plan your outfits.

I've heard of some people looking an entire week ahead, but I'm not gunna go that far. Just when I am getting ready to jump into bed, I'll grab an outfit that I think looks good. I'll check the weather on my phone to make sure it will work. I have to walk/take Trax everywhere, so it's essential that I wear the right shoes or pack an umbrella. 

Whew! Hopefully that helped some of you other busy college students. Maybe some of it is overboard, but a lot of it has helped me stay sane, organized, and on to more important things--

good grades and spending time with M. :)

xoxo

What I Learned From the First Week of Design School (U of U)

(First Week's Outfits) 

No Textbooks! Yay!

Uh... $500 in supplies and software? Not so yay...

Get to know the people in your class, if you don't already... Uh, because they will be in all your classes.

They'll also be in the bookstore, trying to get the same supplies you are... Which can be fun. Or awkward, if there is only one bottle of spray adhesive left.

People always know you are an art major. It probably has something to do with the 4'x5' museum board you just bought and have to haul around campus with you all day.

There's another drawing class. Really.

Your teachers tell you not to work over 20 hours, and you know you have to work 30... Crap.

The teachers referred to the first year in the Design Program as "Boot Camp." Um, yay?

You already have a project due in your Visual Design class.

Everyone on campus will be very aware of what your major is. Mainly because you have to haul around giant poster boards, rolls of paper, and 24x36 drawing boards. And your other materials. 

The first day is just going over the syllabus and you are out, right? Wrong.

That 6pm-10pm class you signed up for? Yah, that dude took all 4 hours on the first day.

It is so incredibly interesting, exciting, intimidating, time consuming and amazing. And it's only the first week.

You will fall in love with it. 

An Unnecessarily Long Story (But It's Worth It)

Ok, for everyone with a short attention span, here's the short version: I got accepted to the University of Utah's graphic design program (for my bachelor's degree). 

For anyone who wants to hear an awesome story, stick around. :)

The 25th was marked on my calendar in red. 3.25.13, the date of truth. I nervously assembled my artwork and walked to the art building. After an agitated office lady and a little paperwork, I was walking into the gallery area, my feet echoing against the wood floor. I set my portfolio against the wall, took a deep breath, and silently prayed that it would be good news when I picked it up. It sounds soooo dramatic, but I had worked it up in my head so much it felt like I was in a Mexican soap opera. :)  Then the waiting began.

I would not receive a phone call or anything, I was just to return on Friday to gather my portfolio. If I was accepted, there would be a letter of acceptance in my portfolio. On Thursday I asked the office when I would be able to pick up my portfolio. She revealed that it may be as soon as this afternoon! I came back at 3:30, walking slowly up to the building, telling myself to not get my hopes up. The construction on campus was making those high-pitched noises you hear in horror movies--the kinds that screeches and wails and makes your hair stand on end. Perfect life theme music in that moment. I walked in to find the gallery doors open and the lights on. I tentatively asked the office if it was ok for me to pick it up. They nodded. Oh my goodness it was happening. My footsteps echoed again, and I knelt down to open my portfolio leaning against the wall. I flipped it open, ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh, pleasepleaseplease. Don't make me take another year of generals. Let me get in. Let me be moving on with my life.  2 Papers. I grabbed the white one on nice stationary (usually a good first choice). I read the first line and burst into tears (thank goodness I was alone). Congratulations on your acceptance into the Graphic Design Program. Me. With my name typed out and everything.

And it was then that I saw clearly how everything in the past few months had been laid out perfectly for me to get in. It started last Fall, when the U lost all of my incoming transcripts. What did they tell me? Tough luck, try next semester. Paperwork drama is the worst. But thankfully, I was able to get in for Spring semester (this semester). I didn't know I could "test out" of any art classes, but my adviser rushed me to apply and try to get into an upper level art class. I applied and got out of a few drawing classes. This gave me the opportunity to apply to the graphic design program in March of this year, and not next. Needless to say, this saved me a whole year and thousands of dollars.

And if I hadn't been "rejected" in the Fall, I would have never tested out of those classes in the Spring. I would not have been a transfer student, and would not have been eligible to apply (I would have had to take 2 semesters of more basic art classes).

I prayed so hard to get in, especially in the week leading up to my application and the days when I was waiting. But I didn't realize that the Lord had been guiding me since the Fall, watching my back. I was upset about Fall semester--I was only thinking about the "now." But He knew it was better in the long run, just like he always does. Trials so often lead to bigger blessings, and I am so grateful for all the little adjustments he made in my road to lead me to right now.

So maybe it sounds cheesy. Or lame. Or coincidence. But I know in my heart that my Father in Heaven loves me, and cares about the little things in my life that are important to me. In the grand scheme of things, was one more year of school going to make that much of a difference? No. I would get through it. It would probably fly by. But the Lord saw how important it was to me, and made everything work out.

 "It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." - Gordon B. Hinckley

Yes, it works out. Yes, He loves you so much. And yes, He's listening. 

xoxo

New Artwork

Just popping in to let you know-- I just uploaded some of my recent school art projects. 

Take a look! You know. If you feel like it. :) 

http://www.behance.net/sydbishop

xoxo

Life Changing

Have you ever realized something life changing is coming up-- that in (insert time frame) your life may never be the same??

For all my family members: I'm pregnant. 

HA! Nope. Totally kidding (Heart attack yet, Mom?). 

Actually, I'm talking about school, and in 17 days (yup, totally counted) I apply to my degree program. It's pretty competitive, and would basically be the dream of my life if I got in.

 Holy crap. I am getting chills just typing about it. 

So wish me luck. 

In 17 days, I will apply. And 21 days I will know. 

Kill me now. The suspense. :) 

                                              

xoxo

#WhileRunning

It may or may not be a giant secret that I am not the biggest fan of Utah (I'm not). 

But... I do like the University I attend, and I do like our apartment, and yah--City Creek is pretty bomb. 

So I thought I would be positive and find little things about SLC that I like. I went for a run today in the older neighborhoods and found some old and lovely things. The architecture is really pretty on some of the houses, I will have to figure out how to get pictures

 of my favorites without looking like a creeper. :) 

FYI, this hill is killer. Running, walking, crawling, whatever. 

And it is really about twice as big as it is in this picture. 

View from the hill

Love it when cities have the street names on the sidewalk! 

Just me? ok. 

xoxo

The Movie That Ate My Life

Just a quick post in between studying and finishing up art projects! 

This is the movie I may or may not have mentioned. It probably took about 30-60 hours to complete, as it was all stop motion. Whoo. Not doing that again. But my group and I are pretty proud with how it turned out. I did a lot of the "set design" and the guys brought equipment and did editing, etc. I think we were a great team, which is rare in the case of group projects, haha! 

Here's the video that ate my life. :) 

By the way, the theme we were given is "Transformation." We figured the 'caterpillar into a butterfly' idea was a little overdone, so we decided on giving it a twist. We decided that transformation is everywhere in the universe, and we took the most roundabout way. Hope you like it! 

Or watch it on YouTube: 

http://youtu.be/dgC6zPOFRY8

xoxo