HELLO!

I’m back from my month-ish long hiatus, and ready to talk allll about being on that g-r-i-n-d baby!

I know, I took a fat minute to get back online but honestly it was a much needed break. I took the entire month of August off from posting online because honestly I didn’t want to post anything anywhere unless it was some solid content. Being that August had so much going on, I couldn’t focus on content creation and thus – no posts!

Anywho! I’m back today to give you a BIG update on the happenings in my life at the moment! To begin, I moved into my lovely new apartment in Arizona around the second week of August. I have three amazing roommates who are also my Delta Gamma sisters! I have my own bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet and desk nook, etc. which you will for sure see at a later date 😉 !

Now back-track a sec to April of this year; I started working at a local golf course in Arizona as a Beverage Cart Girl. I have absolutely loved my experience there and I’ve been working there all summer! (AKA, still working there!!)

Fast forward now for me – after moving into my new apartment, I began working for the amazing… Red Bull!! I am super excited to announce that I am now officially a Red Bull Wings Team member for Arizona! In my first month with this job I have made some great friends and had some awesome opportunities. I’m thinking of writing a post in “Day in the Life” style for either of these jobs… thoughts? Leave me a comment 🙂

Around my third week of August… I was offered a social media and pr internship position at Ali and Ariel! Ali and Ariel is a Greek Licensed apparel and accessories brand that allows sororities and fraternities to make custom designs for their chapters and events. I have been following and obsessing over this company since I was a freshman at ASU and I’m thrilled to be apart of the team! This first month-ish of interning has been so impactful and educational in all the right ways. My experience thus far has already been so hands-on and I’m learning a lot more about things I am passionate about!

On top of all those awesome things I am still a full time student at Arizona State University! This is where the main points of this post are located people…

Today I wanted to address the fact that HELLO college, part-time and full-time jobs, internships, social lives, clubs, etc. can be freaking busy and stressful. I am juggling a ton this semester and I know that there are people who are doing much more. I wanted to take the time – in this post to say, GO YOU. It was a difficult decision for me to take on this many opportunities knowing maybe my social life, or sorority or “me-time” would take the back seat for the semester. I’m tired, get cranky sometimes and I can feel burnt-out but ultimately it feels so amazing to say I’m doing it all. Obviously if you are going to college, academics are your number one priority but this time is also meant for networking, working hard for your career path, and getting your foot in the door(s). It is awesome that I have the chance to grow with these opportunities and learn even more than what I’m learning from class. Moral of the story is – even if it seems like A LOT, and even if you’re hesitant about having FOMO or not having the time you want to watch Netflix, or whatever it is – do it. This is freakin GRIND season baby, make the absolute most of your college years and opportunities. Don’t be afraid to take things on.

That’s all I’ve got for today – I hope this cute lil update + motivate did exactly that for ya! Thank you as always, for reading and supporting me! Don’t forget to share this post, like and comment – you know the drill 🙂

25 Things To Do Before Summer Ends

Happy Monday HoneyBeaners! This post is all about getting the most out of your 2019 summer.

I thought today I would provide you with 25 things you can do before summer ends – as we’re heading into August. I tried to keep majority of these things FREE or inexpensive – because hellllooooo.. that’s half the fun?

So without further ado, here are 25 things ya’ll can do before summer ends:

Start listening to podcasts (or begin a new one)! I suggest Serial!
Have a game night, invite people over and play board games
Go kayaking, canoeing, tubing or boating – we all know at least one person who has this stuff
Go hiking or biking on trails nearby
Rent a Citi-Bike and explore parts of your city that you’ve never been to
Go to a Drive-In movie and bring your own snacks
Volunteer at a local animal shelter, non-profit or senior center
Create your own secret recipe to something – but you have to share it w me!
Practice yoga in or outdoors with a friend
Learn a new skill; cooking, baking, ukulele, knitting, embroidery, skateboarding, etc.
Visit a free zoo or museum
Go to a free workout class (maybe a trial week)
Plan an upcoming trip; fall/spring break, thanksgiving, winter vacation, etc.
Do some cleaning and have a garage/yard sale
Sell your clothes/accessories on Depop, Poshmark, Mercari, etc. & make $$$
Go to state fairs, town festivals, outdoor concerts etc.
Cook or bake something from the fun Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram videos you’ve been saving
Create a personal budget for this upcoming year or semester
Write a letter to someone, even if you see them a lot
Start or join a book club, clothing swap or potluck dinner
Binge-watch the show you keep saying you’ll start
Learn a foreign language or the basics of a few
Take a photography, editing, art, or programming class at Apple for FREE
Play golf outside while it’s cheap
Read HoneyBean!!! Well that and maybe start your own blog

That’s all I’ve got for you for now, but I’m hoping you were able to find at least one fun thing to do before summer ends! This week when deciding which topic to focus on I posted to my Instagram story asking you guys what you’d like to read. I’ll be doing that more frequently so if you don’t already – follow me on Instagram @sydneyattis to join in on that! Thanks for reading and see ya next week.

A First Apartment

It’s been a year… already! Welcome back to the blog! Today I decided to share all the decor, details and drama within my first-ever apartment. Oh, and P.S…. there’s pictures! I began this school year by moving into my very first apartment. A one-bedroom, fully furnished Downtown Phoenix apartment that to be honest was a … Continue reading “A First Apartment”

It’s been a year… already!

Welcome back to the blog! Today I decided to share all the decor, details and drama within my first-ever apartment. Oh, and P.S…. there’s pictures!

I began this school year by moving into my very first apartment. A one-bedroom, fully furnished Downtown Phoenix apartment that to be honest was a lot less exciting than I’d chalked it up to be.

Our apartment (I lived here with my boyfriend), lacked personality and decor for quite sometime. This can be attributed to the fact that – idk if you know this but – decorating and supplying a brand new apartment is HELLA expensive. I never truly factored in the small and tedious things we would need to purchase like;

plates, bowls, cups, glasses, utensils
pots, pans, cooking utensils, trays
lamps/lighting, towels, laundry detergent
cooking essentials like salt, pepper, etc.
sheets, pillows, blankets

and more of course! I guess my 18 year old self was pretty focused on the tapestries and photos we’d be hanging rather than the items we would need to function?

So this came as a big surprise to me, and it took a decent amount of time for us to actually start decorating and adding some “life” to the place. Eventually our apartment looked semi-decent… but it wasn’t really until summer began and I started working that I could finally afford to decorate as I’d planned. Are you interested to see what I’m workin’ with?

Did ya like the tour? Now before you leave I want to get into the meatiest part of this post and that is what I learned during my stay in my first apartment. I’ve narrowed the list to a quick 10:

The essentials are expensive – BUT they’re called essentials for a reason! The worst is when you’re in need of something you’re used to having at your parent’s house and you don’t have it.
Be practical! Don’t over-buy, make reasonable and financially smart decisions about decor and appliances.
It is EMBARRASSING inviting your parents to a messy apartment. Be mature, and clean-up after yourself.
*Depending on the complex* A/C + Heat is freaking expensive. Luckily our rent included utilities and electric – however, we had overages! Turn things off or unplug whenever possible.
The dishes and laundry unfortunately don’t do themselves.
Take advantage of the amenities your place has to offer! It took me a while to start going to the pool regularly and I’ll admit I didn’t hit the gym once until summer hit. These things are included in your rent – use them!!!
Thoroughly CHECK your apartment space when you move in. If there are issues, marks, dents, scratches, etc. you need to report or document them so you aren’t charged later on.
DO use your own parking spot, DON’T park in the visitor lot. Even if it’s closer. I have a $200 tow ticket to thank for this little lesson 🙂
Make the space your own in anyway possible! Even if you’re only living there a short while, this place is your home! You should feel at home here.
Cherish the opportunity, the space and the memories you make here. I am so grateful to have lived here for my first apartment. I can’t wait for this year and a new apartment but I will never ever forget my FIRST! ❤

That’s all for today folks. I hope you enjoyed my little apartment tour and hopefully you can relate to these things or learn from them for your first/next living situation!

Thank you so much for visiting the blog today! Go explore the rest of the site if you haven’t already and let me know what you think!

How To: Survive the Heat

I’m talkin’ dry and humid…!

Living in Arizona I get asked regularly how I’m “surviving” the heat this summer. So today, this New York (humid heat) bred gal is going to be giving you tips on surviving both humid and dry heat.

It’s no secret that we can attribute the astronomical temperatures and wanky weather conditions to global warming. We’ve dug ourselves a pretty big carbon hole and people don’t seem to be quite as concerned as they should be. At the bottom of this post I’ll leave some informational resources on how you personally can help to change that.

Here is my list of 6 ways to “survive” the heat – wherever you may be:

Purchase a reusable water bottle & DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

Yes, this one is an obvious one and I bet you knew it’d be the first on the list! But that’s because it truly is the most important. Hydration is key in surviving the heat.

Some of my favorite reusable bottle brands are linked below –

HydroFlask

S’well

Klean Kanteen

2. Purchase or DIY a car shade!

Leave this baby in the trunk or folded up in the back and you’re good to go. Car’s can get reach extreme temperatures in the summer and you might as well combat the issue with some shade!

I’m linking cheap shades, a DIY version AND window shades for the kiddies in the back –

$14 Sun Shade

DIY Sun Shade

Window Shades

3. Invest in sun protection – hats, sunglasses and SUNSCREEN!

We are surviving not just keeping cool folks. I’m sure you do tan! But your scalp can’t afford to be raw and your skin doesn’t want sun poisoning!!! Skin cancer, sun spots, and some lovely wrinkles are all things that should stray your rebellions against hats and sunscreen.

I’m not gonna link any of these – you can find your own hats and SPF!

4. Make yourself healthy and refreshing snacks!

Cut up some watermelon, DIY healthy icepops, or even make your iced coffee into ice! Maybe you won’t feel the heat so much when you’re not eating burgers and dogs.

Here are a few really yummy lookin’ DIY snacks (including those I mentioned above) –

Easy Homemade Popsicles

Pink Frozen Lemonade Margarita Pops

Iced Coffee Ice Cubes

5. Cool yourself in style!

These items will help you to stay comfortable and cool in any kind of heat.

Iphone Fan – plugs into your phone and keeps you cool on the go – and it’s small enough to fit in your pocket.

Milk Cooling Stick – skincare product that refreshes and cools your skin

Rose Water Facial Spray – skincare product that refreshes and cools your skin

Cooling Towel – rock this around your neck

6. Take advantage of indoor activities!

You should be enjoying the outdoors and getting in touch with nature – sure! But on those days when it might just be a little too hot for swimming or hiking, these places have you covered.

Here’s a list of unique and fun indoor summer activities –

TopGolf – somewhat indoor golfing

A good old fashioned arcade, bowling or movie night

Duff’s Cake Mix (and other places) – purchase and decorate your own cake

Sur La Table Cooking Classes (again, and other places)

Head to a local museum

Apple Sessions – free photography, videography, art and drawing classes

Pottery and painting classes, Wine and Design Events

Check FB’s “Events Near Me” page to see what’s happening locally

MAKE THE CHANGE:

Donate to ocean research, conservation and clean up OceanConservancy.org
What can YOU do? National Geographic Solutions
Reducing your carbon footprint CarbonFund

Well, that’s about all I’ve got up my sleeve for surviving the heat. I hope at least one of these tips were new and interesting to you! If you have more of your own tips feel free to comment them below! Thanks for reading 🙂 ❤

Changing My Major

I’M BACK Y’ALL! For good this time, I swear. For my big return to HB I’ve decided to get you up to speed on some of the changes I’ve navigated over this past year or so, the focus being *changing my major*! So to begin, I am now a rising junior at Arizona State University – a … Continue reading “Changing My Major”

I’M BACK Y’ALL!

For good this time, I swear.

For my big return to HB I’ve decided to get you up to speed on some of the changes I’ve navigated over this past year or so, the focus being changing my major!

So to begin, I am now a rising junior at Arizona State University – a change in which I am very excited for. But…this past school year didn’t necessarily go as I had hoped or planned and quite frankly I felt like I was sort of “rolling with the punches” for the majority of it. In the Fall I was having a bit of a lack in motivation – toward academics but also within my personal life. My sophomore year didn’t exactly start off the way I had anticipated it to and that realization was a harsh one for me. I found myself extremely un-interested in my school work – particularly my major’s curriculum. It seemed like everything I was once inspired by was now something I despised doing! I knew something was off but I couldn’t quite figure out how to handle the whole thing.

Fast forward to the very beginning of the Spring semester. I had just gotten home from one of my videography classes; a class in which I filmed, edited and presented my journalistic works. I dreaded going to this class every Monday and Wednesday because I knew it was something I didn’t enjoy and wasn’t very good at. On this particular day we had just presented our reels and I returned home feeling absolutely defeated. I called my mom, practically in tears and asked her for advice. We talked and talked and I finally realized how much my interests had changed, and how pointless it was to continue learning (and paying for!!) a major that was clearly no longer suited for me.

The following day I visited my advisor and we discussed alternative majors that were still available within my school (Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm.). After lots of thought and guidance I decided that I was no longer interested in becoming a broadcast journalist, but now determined to make a name for myself in public relations! My advisor and I crafted a schedule that better suited that degree path and I began taking my first PR class a few weeks later – only to LOVE it!

In the Fall semester I finished out with a GPA lower than I had ever had before – with both my parents and myself quite disappointed. In the Spring, after switching to a path that fit me, and my talents and interests – I finished with my highest GPA yet. And made it on the Dean’s List!

In summary, the point of this post isn’t to have current or prospective collegians questioning themselves, or even to talk about how easy it is to change majors. The point here is to expose how sometimes, things just need to change up. You don’t always know what you think you do – in terms of what’s best for you – and that’s ok! From my junior year in high school I believed broadcast journalism was my ticket to career-happiness, and it may have been for those few years! But I’ve changed, society has changed and my interests have changed. And yeah, it was scary, changing my career path just-like-that. But I’m better for it and honestly more content knowing that my education here will be focused on what I enjoy and what I’m good at.

SO be bold and change it up! Give yourself options, and allow yourself to find what really is best for you. And if that changes down the road?! cool freakin beans.

Thank you so much for reading along today, I hope you’re just as excited as I am for the upcoming content I’ve got planned! If you have any suggestions or things you’d like me to write about please head over to the contact page and let a girl know! 🙂 ❤

Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year! I can’t believe we’re already a week into a new decade but I am ready to dive in. I have big plans for 2020, and for my first post of the new year I figured I would share some of those with you along with my resolutions.

Every year I tell myself to be realistic and practical when listing my goals, and every year I think I do just that… This year I’ve decided to list any and everything I want to accomplish, big or small as realistic or overzealous because, why the heck not.

1. Establish an appropriate sleep schedule.

2. Read more.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a reader – which is bizarre because I love to write! A goal of mine this year is to spend less time on my phone and devices before bed and read some mighty-fine literature. Recommendations are greatly appreciated.

3. Grow out my hair.

This is one I’m on the fence about actually. I currently love the style and cut of my hair, however, I always find that when I have short hair I’m wishing hair down to my butt. To help with this goal, I am trying to take biotin and vitamins, which leads me to my next –

4. Take vitamins regularly.

When I’m in New York my grandmother insists I take my “women’s one-a-day” multi-vitamins everyday and that’s great! But once I’m back in Arizona, that regiment disappears. I want to change that up and take my vitamins + biotin regularly going into 2020.

5. Always have my nails done.

Having my nails done just gives me such confidence and when I don’t have them I kick myself for not going to get them done. In 2020, hopefully you’ll never catch me without my claws.

6. Decorate my apartment with the seasons.

I LOVE some good seasonal decor and I find myself buying loads of it throughout the year but never actually getting around to decorating! This is something I am really going to get into this year, especially since I just resigned my lease and won’t need to pack up and move once this year is over!

7. Get all A’s this semester.

**DISCLAIMER** This is not a promise, Dad. This is a personal goal and while I sincerely hope it is one I accomplish, I also recognize the work I have cut-out for myself this semester. Essentially, I hope to end the Spring semester feeling confident about my academics.

8. Maintain a clean room.

Yowza, this one has always been a challenge for me. It’s gross, I know. A step toward this goal is to make my bed every morning. You know, the bed I’ll be leaving at 8:30am every morning 😦

9. Have more smoothies.

I have just recently discovered that I love a good strawberry banana and spinach smoothie! So moving forward in 2020 I hope to have lots more of em.

10. Save money.

Every year this is a goal, for idk like… everyone? But I promise I am really trying this year to put away some of the moola and spend less on dining out. lol, we’ll see.

11. Drink more water, and less soda.

12. Take up a new hobby.

I used to knit with my grandmother and that was a tiiiime. So this year I’m thinking of taking up sewing or embroidery or learning to make those huge knotted blankets. I think this would be another great thing to do before bed (in my new sleep schedule).

13. Travel on a whim.

My family likes to travel to the greatest places and usually without much planning – and I love that! In 2020, I want to travel by myself, with friends or family on little weekenders, day trips, etc. and plan absolutely none of it.

14. Adapt my style.

15. Make gratitude apart of my daily routine.

I think that we all have so many people, things, aspects to be grateful for and so often we overlook and don’t acknowledge them properly. I want to write down at least 3 things (small or large) that I am grateful for each day and save them up to re-appreciate at the end of this year. No repeats!

16. Write more.

17. Take more videos and pictures of my freaking cats.

They are just so damn cute and I need more evidence.

18. Reach out more.

I think about like 2837 different people throughout my day. Even if it’s a 30 second thought about something you said or a memory we had, etc. I want to reach out more. Let people know I thought about em.

19. Increase physical exercise.

20. Pay it forward.

Enough said.

21. Call my sister.

Ok well really I’d have to call my dad or my step-mom because she’s four and society hasn’t given phones to four year olds quite yet. But either way, I want to call her more because she is the best little human and she makes me smile.

22. Stay organized.

23. Take off my makeup before bed.

It’s so nasty when I think about it but the problem is my bed is just so comfortable, guys. Like once I’m in – game over. So the plan is to start taking it off as soon as I’m home and know that I’m in for the night. Fingers crossed!

24. Study abroad.

25. Say “yes” more.

As a lasting note to this post, I read a quote the other day that truly inspired me – it read: ” Be intentional with who & what you carry into 2020″. I think this is so ~important~ to think about moving into this new decade. I.D.K, just some food for thought.

Thank you so so much for reading my very first post of the decade! I cannot wait to see what 2020 brings and I look forward to the growth, success and power to come. Talk soon.

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HELLO!

I’m back from my month-ish long hiatus, and ready to talk allll about being on that g-r-i-n-d baby!

Spread the word & share this!

Like this:

Happy Monday HoneyBeaners! This post is all about getting the most out of your 2019 summer.

I thought today I would provide you with 25 things you can do before summer ends – as we’re heading into August. I tried to keep majority of these things FREE or inexpensive – because hellllooooo.. that’s half the fun?

Spread the word & share this!

Like this:

It’s been a year… already!

Welcome back to the blog! Today I decided to share all the decor, details and drama within my first-ever apartment. Oh, and P.S…. there’s pictures!

Spread the word & share this!

Like this:

I’m talkin’ dry and humid…!

Living in Arizona I get asked regularly how I’m “surviving” the heat this summer. So today, this New York (humid heat) bred gal is going to be giving you tips on surviving both humid and dry heat.

Spread the word & share this!

Like this:

I’M BACK Y’ALL!

For good this time, I swear.

For my big return to HB I’ve decided to get you up to speed on some of the changes I’ve navigated over this past year or so, the focus being *changing my major*!

Spread the word & share this!

Like this:

DISCLAIMER This is not a promise, Dad. This is a personal goal and while I sincerely hope it is one I accomplish, I also recognize the work I have cut-out for myself this semester. Essentially, I hope to end the Spring semester feeling confident about my academics.

For my big return to HB I’ve decided to get you up to speed on some of the changes I’ve navigated over this past year or so, the focus being changing my major!