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Cafe Review: Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up

So, if you know me you know how much I love going to different coffee shops and trying some items on the menu. I am a barista, so I naturally find cafes to be comforting and quite cute in their personality and decor. When visiting cafes, I usually pay attention to the customers and how the baristas interact with the customers. A few days ago, my friend and I were playing tourist on the Las Vegas strip and came across this little Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up. The bright pink color and cute decorations drew me to this pop-up immediately. The prices were amazing and were even cheaper than Starbucks. The pastries were absolutely adorable and looked amazing, even though I did not personally try one. I ordered the mango tea and was absolutely amazed. This tea had a great flavor, with actual mango pieces in it. On top of the amazing taste, it was served with a cute little message that said “Have a sweet day.” My friends cup had “You are amazing” written on it. As if these little sweet messages weren’t enough, the interactions with the baristas were even more amazing. They asked how we were, if we were visiting, and sent us off to the hand off window with telling us to have an amazing day. The service we were given was exceptional, which made my visit to this cafe very memorable. If you have any of these Hello Kitty Pop-Ups in your town, I highly suggest you check it out!

Starting your workout journey…

Hi everyone!

Today I wanted to discuss working out & starting a workout routine. I know what you’re thinking, how are you going to fit a workout routine into your busy schedule? Let me tell you, if you make working out a habit, you will do just about anything to fit it into your schedule. I used to work 12 hour days and go to school full time without having any days off and still fit a one hour gym session into my day, 4-5 days per week. Let me tell you, getting that gym membership will be the best investment you’ve made in a while. There is no better thing to invest your money in then your health and well being.

Going to the gym is more than trying to look good, lose weight, or gain weight. Yeah, it does help with these goals, however it can also help you mentally, can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, strengthens muscles and bones, helps with brain health and memory, increases energy levels, and helps with sleep quality . Sounds like a pretty good investment to me.

When I have a stressful day at work, I go directly to the gym from my workplace to let off some steam. When I was in college, a hard workout would provide me with a clear mind and the energy to get through my study materials. Now, when I first started working out, I am not going to lie, it was hard. The time I used to use relaxing on the couch or watching Netflix had to be sacrificed for an hour of lifting metal. In the beginning, there were weeks where I would not go to the gym. It took a lot of mental commitment to push myself to follow my routine even though I did not want to. Now, I have been consistently at the gym for almost a year without giving up. I know this sounds cliche, but I can’t go two days without hitting the gym or else I feel terrible.

Within this past year, I have noticed changes in my body and mind since working out. I started off weighing about 105-110 pounds, with no arms whatsoever. I look a pictures from a year ago and am shocked by how my body has changed. Now, I weigh about 130-135 pounds and I have much more muscle than before. I have found that my mind is clearer and that I relieve my stress much quicker with the gym. I find that I can lift items I could never lift before and it makes me feel empowered, especially as a woman.

I am going to post more about what to do when you first start out at the gym and what to do according to your goals, but I hope this post was somewhat motivating to go buy yourself a gym membership. I can say that my gym has been a great community to be a part of. I see the same people every day and everybody in my gym motivates each other to achieve their goals. Now go, tour some gyms and find your place.

To: The Incoming College Freshman

So, you just finished high school. Congrats! This is an exciting part of your life! You have made the decision to go to college & I have to tell you that this is an amazing decision. It probably will be one of the best decisions you have made in your life. Let me tell you, it isn’t always easy. There will be times where you are so stressed out you feel as if you are going to pass out. You will start breaking out and drinking five red bulls and trenta ice coffees to get you through a long night of studying. Being a college graduate, this time of year has me reminiscing on the good times of college and the feeling before you start your new classes. I am honestly kind of sad I won’t be attending classes this fall. So, I decided to write a blog post with some tips for your first semester of college.

If you’re anything like me, you are nervous as hell. You just paid what seems like a million dollars for classes, only to pay even more for textbooks and access codes so you can do your homework. At this point, you are probably looking at your bank account wondering if you are going to be able to eat for the next week before your paycheck comes in. You don’t know anyone at the college, you don’t know where your classes will be, and don’t even know what your professors are going to be like. Take a breather, everything will be alright.

Tip #1: If you haven’t already paid for classes, look up the professors on ratemyprofessors.com. This site has reviews from a number of students who have taken classes with the professor. It will give you a good idea of who the professor is, how they grade, how they teach, and the workload of their classes. However, I do not recommend that you follow this website too closely, as some students are just angry and write bad reviews because they got a bad grade. So look at this website with an open mind. Also, remember that choosing a challenging professor will only make your learning experience better. If you are truly looking to gain knowledge, I recommend choosing a professor who is more challenging. You won’t regret it.

Tip #2: Don’t just buy your textbooks from your university bookstore. Look around online on websites like Chegg or Amazon. Also, there are usually Facebook groups with fellow students who are selling their textbooks. However, before buying a used textbook make sure that you do not need an access code. Access codes can only be bought at full price and used once. They typically come with a new textbook, however you can check and see if they can be bought separately online and get the textbook used for cheaper. My main point, if you are trying to save money make sure you shop around and weigh your options.

Tip #3: Handwrite your notes, then go home and type them up. I promise you this will make the information stick in your mind and you will recall the information much easier when it comes to exam time.

Tip #4: Always study your notes from class, use your textbook as a supplement. Most professors quiz off of their lecture points. Sometimes, they may add a question or two from the textbook. To be honest, I never read my textbooks BUT you shouldn’t take that advice. Definitely crack those bad boys open to help you understand the material on a deeper level.

Tip #5: Following tip #4, make sure you show up to class. You can miss important exam material. If you have to miss, make sure you make friends with your classmates so you can get the notes.

Tip #6: Make friends in class. Make sure you talk to your classmates. Talking about class material outside of the classroom or in study groups helps a lot with retention. And who knows, you may end up with best friends of four years like me 😉

Tip #7: Make sure you enjoy your time in college. Go get dinner with your friends. Go grab a drink or go for a hike. These four years will give you some of the best memories of your life.

Drop any questions in the comments or share your experiences. Also, enjoy this picture of me and my bestie who I met on my first day of classes freshman year.