Basic Math II

Continuing with my course series I am going to talk to you about my math course. Math has been really hard for me for a very long time. For my first semester I took Basic Math II. I was familiar with a lot of the topics covered in this course but the problem was that it was so faced paced. This is my first year of college so I didn't know what it was going to be like. I had trouble keeping up with the readings and homework so I didn't do that great on the tests. One thing I should have done was buy the textbook instead of just using the eBook. I do much better with a book in front of me not on the computer! The photo shown is the access code so you can use the MyMathLab site you could choose to by the access code which is cheaper or the textbook and access code which cost more. The good news is that I passed the course! If you are in college and have a math final coming up make sure to go to a review class or study group before the final exam! That is what helped me pass the final.

New Agenda-Vera Bradley

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In the beginning of the semester I was using a turquoise colored agenda from Walmart. It was a nice agenda but it was too small for me. I started using my calendar on my laptop but it was inconvenient when I need to schedule an appointment because I would have to turn my laptop on and bring my laptop everywhere just in case. So I enjoy the old fashioned way with an agenda. I went to my schools bookstore and saw these Vera Bradley agendas which are sure cute but not only that they are a two year agenda! I fell in love and the price didn't hurt to bad either.

When you open the agenda it had a very useful pocket (I like to put "To Do" lists here!) along with some cute stickers.

The agenda is a two year agenda so it starts at May and ends in December and continues through 2014. It also includes 2013-2015 year at a glance pages, a holiday list page, and a semester schedule  section which make me really love this agenda; it's perfect for those in college! Then in the back the agenda also includes a Important Numbers, Weights and Measures, and Metric Conversion Table page. 

Year at a glance.

 Here is my favorite part of the agenda. I put my schedule in to know what classes I have. Since this is a two year agenda they have 4 semester pages!

Semester Schedules 

Here is the month overview, I use this to write down important things like test, appointments, events, ect. 

Month Overview.

I use the weekly view to write down homework.

Weekly View.

If you haven't read my post on the agenda I had before please check it out!
Other Agenda

Semester 1-United States History II

My United States History II course is about the 1800s to modern day. I was not always a fan of history but now that I'm older I find a lot of it interesting. My professor for this course makes this course fun. Though she does give lectures she also gives us group work. The only down side of group work is that I'm the one the usually leads the group and does what needs to be done. The course is made up of reading the textbook and assigned articles. We also have wiki assignments that are easy to do.
This requires only one book which is:

One the back of the book is says..."America's brief, readable analysis makes it an invaluable resource for instructors seeking to expand and enliven their students' understanding of our nation's social, political, and economic history. America provides a balanced, multidimensional narrative that helps students see what's important, and the discussion provoking primary sources, informative maps and figures, and lively art keep them engaged".

The textbook is easy to read and does have engaging maps, figures, and art.

You can purchase this book at Barnes and Noble.

Semester 1 - Philosophy of Human Nature

  Here is the first of my course series! I would first like to mention that I buy my books because I enjoy annotating and highlighting. Also, I enjoy books so they will be nice to have for future reference or interest. I'm starting with my Philosophy of Human Nature course because it has the most books. This is the course I was most excited about taking. In high school I read a book call Sophie's World which got me really interested in philosophy. Sophie's World is one of my top favorite books. The course explores the concept of human nature from the interdisciplinary perspective philosophy, religion, and behavioral science and also shows the connection between human nature and ethics. As of now we have covered over all Early Greek Philosophy, Thales (only a bit), Plato, Hinduism, and Aristotle. I enjoy this class overall but the downside is that I have a Professor who has a extremely monotone voice that makes you want to sleep the whole class!

We are required to have five books for this course which are:

1. Twelve Theories of Human Nature by Leslie Stevenson, David L. Haberman, and Peter Wright in the 6th edition.
2. The Study of Human Nature by Leslie Stevenson in the 2nd edition. 
3. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.
4. Contemporary Ethical Issues: A Personal Perspective by Walter Jeffko (my professor) in the third edition. 
5. Man for Himself: An Inquiry into Psychology of Ethics by Eric Fromm. 

Over five previous editions, Ten Theories of Human Nature has been a remarkably popular introduction to some of the most influential developments in Western and Eastern thought. Now titled Twelve Theories of Human Nature, the sixth edition adds chapters on Islam (by Peter Wright) and Freud to those on Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, Kant, Marx, Sartre, and Darwinism. The authors juxtapose the ideas of these and other thinkers and traditions in a way that helps students understand how humanity has struggled to comprehend its nature.To encourage students to think critically for themselves and to underscore the similarities and differences between the many theories, the book examines each one on four points--the nature of the universe, the nature of humanity, the diagnosis of the ills of humanity, and the proposed cure for these problems. (Source)

Now in a new edition, this exceptional anthology provides an introduction to a wide variety of views on human nature. Drawing from diverse cultures over three millennia, Leslie Stevenson has chosen selections ranging from ancient religious texts to contemporary theories based on evolutionary science. The Study of Human Nature, 2/e offers substantial selections illustrating the ten perspectives discussed in Ten Theories of Human Nature, 4/e--The Bible, Hinduism, Confucianism, Plato, Kant, Marx, Freud, Sartre, B.F. Skinner's behaviorism, and Konrad Lorenz's ethological diagnosis of human aggression. The Islamic tradition is represented by a selection from the 20th-century Iranian philosopher Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari. The 17th- and 18th-century philosophers Descartes, Hobbes, Hume, Rousseau, and Kant are also represented. Selections from Rousseau, J.S. Mill, and Nancy Holmstrom discuss alleged differences between women and men, and a paper by Henry Bracken deals with racial issues. Examples from E.O. Wilson's sociobiology and his critics are also included, together with material from Chomsky and from recent evolutionary psychology. (Source)

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theory-known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")-holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful. (Source) 

This book explores a series of contemporary moral problems from a personalistic perspective influenced by the Scottish philosopher John Macmurray (1892-1976). In many books, articles, and pamphlets spanning fifty years, most notably his Gifford Lectures, "The Form of the Personal", MacMurray developed a robust personalism that emphasizes the primacy of persons as rational agents whose self-realization is achieved in community. Walter G. Jeffko utilizes key elements of MacMurray's thought in developing his own viewpoint, and he relates MacMurray's ideas to those of a wide variety of important philosophers, ethicists, and behavioral scientists. In the opening chapter, Jeffko develops a personalistic anthropological and ethical theory within a framework that views the person as a relational and rational agent, reason as the standard of value, and the principle of community as the supreme moral standard. In successive chapters, this theory is applied to such issues as suicide, abortion, euthanasia (including assisted suicide), the death penalty, privacy (including private property and capitalism), the moral treatment of animals, and affirmative action. Jeffko brings logical precision to the study of ethics, blending powerful scholarship with readability. (Source)

In Man for Himself, Erich Fromm examines the confusion of modern women and men who, because they lack faith in any principle by which life ought to be guided, become the helpless prey forces both within and without. From the broad, interdisciplinary perspective that marks Fromm’s distinguished oeuvre, he shows that psychology cannot divorce itself from the problems of philosophy and ethics, and that human nature cannot be understood without understanding the values and moral conflicts that confront us all. He shows that an ethical system can be based on human nature rather than on revelations or traditions. (Source)

All the book required are for reference only. I found the most use from The Study of Human Nature, Twelve Theories of Human Nature, and Contemporary Ethical Issues: A Personalist Perspective. I can't wait to read the other two but for now I get the most use out of those three I mentioned. 

I purchased all the books from my school book store. I found all these books that I mentioned on Barnes and Noble. I am sure you can find them at other book stores as well.

Freshman Year-Semester 1

 

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   I've decided that I want to share what I am taking for classes. I enjoy knowing what other students have for classes because to me it's interesting. Everyone has different majors and minors or maybe they could be the same but school's may offer different courses. I'm going to share what classes I am taking this semester and what textbooks that were required. I am a Psychology major and will minor in Literature but I haven't got there yet. I also just declared my major so this semester I took a lot of pre-recs.

Here is the list of 5 classes I am taking:

1. Basic Math II
2. Writing I: The Young Adult Experience
3. Health and Fitness
4. Philosophy of Human Nature
5. United States History II

   Throughout different posts I will talk about and share my feelings towards each course. Along with that I will feature the required books that go along with the course. 

Please feel free to leave request and don't forget to follow!

Productivity!

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Unfortunately it's that time...midterms. Now that I'm in college I've noticed how much my studying and learning skills effect my grades. I've known for a long time that I am a really slow worker. I'm like a sponge...I like to soak up every little detail. But thats a problem...college is to fast paced to be able to soak up every little detail. So a few days ago I downloaded this app called 30/30. You can get it in the app store and its FREE! So basically it's a timer where you make a list of things to do and you have 30 minutes to do a task. What I do is when I am working on homework I make a list of each  class I need to work on. So i'll work on philosophy for 30 minutes then when the times up I switch to the next subject and I keep cycling through. I found that this really gets things done. Many people would work on one subject and would have no time to work on the next subject. So I highly suggest trying this out! You can use it for school, work, fitness, and chores. Anything that suits you. I don't know about you but I LOVE being productive!

Here are some screen shots I got from the app store:

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated or sponsored by the app maker and all opinions are my own. 

Fall/Halloween Indoor Decor

Oh it is my favorite time of year! The leaves are beautiful colors, the air has that crisp fire place smell, tea is a hundred times better. The warmth and comfort of sweaters and scarfs just add to the enjoyment. But one of the things I REALLY enjoy doing during the fall is decorating! The decorations for fall are so cute it's hard not to buy everything in store! With that said I'm going to show you how I decorated my room for this time of year.


My mom really enjoys this time of year as well so she likes to pick things up. This leave decoration was from Family Dollar. I looped it in and around my mirror. The mirror already has some leave and flower detailing but I love how this decoration made the mirror look.

As you can see in my mirror in the other photo the bookcase on the other side of the room has spiderweb. I got a bag at CVS which was 2/$5. One bag goes a longgg way. I placed the spiderweb in a way so that it didn't block the things I used on a daily bases. Such as my fish, Howard, who is in the top left corner. Can tell I really enjoy reading?

I also went to The Dollar Tree and pick this little knickknack. I though it was perfect! I was only $1 so I couldn't resist. It surprisingly great quality. It well crafted and pretty heavy. 

Along with the grave knickknack I also picked up this adorable snow globe. It has a cat! I can't turn down anything with a cat. The detail on the bottom is very nice. It has spiders and little graves around it. Again this is superb quality for The Dollar Tree!

You can't go wrong with the beloved pumpkin. This has been around since I was really young. I have been putting this in my room for the last couple of year because my mom has her favorite knickknacks. Since this has been around for a long time I'm not sure where it from. 

Last but not least I have these two little pumpkins on a book shelf near my desk. These also have been around for awhile so I don't know where they are from. You can find many decorations around this time of year and I wouldn't be surprised if you found similar things. I find the The Dollar Tree is not only inexpensive but some decorations are great quality. 

Please leave requests for me to do. 

Don't forget to follow!

Disclaimer: All items purchased by me or my mother.

Filing System

I have two accordion files. One for important things and the second for school related stuff. 

The first accordion is a Hello Kitty accordion file that has six (6) tabs. I've had this agenda for a long time so I'm not sure where I got it. Its held up for quite some time so I'm very please with the quality. 

This accordion is my "School" filing system. Anything over the years of high school that seemed important to keep are in here. The first two tabs are Manuals and Science. Yes, I decided to put my manuals in here because I had no where else to put them. They are out of the way so I don't mind that they are in here. In the science tab I have some periodic tables from chemistry, star maps from astronomy, and some notes that typed up from classes and other helpful things such as that. 

The third and fifth tab are English and Math. I like to keep a lot that has to do with English since it is my favorite subject. I have a lot of informational papers such as: Elements of the Gothic Novel. Then I have a lot of short stories. In my math tab I keep a lot of notes. I'm not the best at math so keeping a lot of notes I can go back to look at is helpful. Then I have the handy formula sheets. 

The last two tabs are self-explanitory. The school tab has things related to school such as report cards, transcript, and scores on those assessment tests. Then last but not least my awards tab houses all my awards I received since 8th grade. 

I'm less likely to go into this accordion on a daily basis but its there if I need something related to school or if I need to look at a manual. 

The one I use most is a black four (4) tab accordion that I got from target a while ago. It was in the $1 section so it isn't the best quality but it does it's job. 

The first two tabs are Taxes and Medical. The tabs in this accordion are self-explanatory. I put all tax related things in the Taxes folder. All the medical related stuff I put in the medical tab. 

The third and fourth tabs are Receipt, and Misc. I put all my online order receipts into the Receipt tab. And I have random credit card mail ("brochures") in the misc. tab for future reference. I also have papers related to cats. I have a 12 year old gray cat who is the world to me. So if I find anything interesting or stuff from the veterinarians I keep in the misc. tab as well. 

Overall I enjoy my filing system. It simple and easy to put stuff away. I go through everything in the files every new year to discard things I no longer need. As I get older my filing system will grow but as I'm still young I don't need a very specific filing system. 

Please feel free to follow and request some posts for me to do!

Klorane and Pond's Review

What's better than taking off your makeup at night? Taking off your makeup with amazing makeup remover is! I got this sample of Klorane makeup remover from when I had a Birchbox membership. Birchbox is a monthly subscription of $10, you receive 4 to 5 deluxe samples of beauty product and a range of other products. This makeup remover was such a joy a to use! It smelt nice, didn't burn the eyes, it wasn't oily. You can purchase the Klorane makeup remover at drugstore.com for $16.

After I remove my eye makeup I use Pond's Luminous Clean makeup wipes. I have tried the original and the Evening Soothe makeup wipes. The Luminous Clean makeup wipes are my favorite because they smell amazing and make my skin feel better than the other wipes do. You can purchase Pond's makeup wipes at walmart.com and in store. You can also purchase them on ulta.com or in store.

My Top 8 Favorite Non-Scary Halloween Movies

Its my favorite time of year!

1. Halloween Town Series!

Yes, I am 18 years old and I'm in love with Disney Channel halloween movies. When I was younger I would be so excited to watch them and I still do!
Description: Marnie, Dylan, and Sophie Piper have their first out of many adventures! On Halloween, while Marnie is arguing with her mother Gwen, the kids' grandmother Aggie comes to visit. Aggie wants to start Marnie's witch training before her 13th birthday or Marnie will lose her powers forever. But there is another reason for Aggie's visit. Something dark & evil is growing in Halloweentown & Aggie wants help to defeat it. While Aggie & Gwen are arguing, Aggie uses magic which Marnie observes. After Aggie leaves to return to Halloweentown, Marnie, Dylan and, unknown to Marnie and Dylan, Sophie follow her onto the return bus. Soon afterwards, Gwen follows the children to Halloweentown. While there, Aggie & Gwen are attacked by the dark force in a movie theater. Marnie, Dylan & Sophie race to get the ingredients to activate Merlin's Wand to stop the evil. Description from IMDb.

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2. Harry Potter Series

Even though this is not a strictly halloween favorite, watching these movies during this time of year is so much better.

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3. The Good Witch Series
Description: Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale is a raven-haired enchantress with a hint of magic who moves into the town of Middleton's haunted Grey House. As if that weren't unusual enough, she also opens "Bell, Book and Candle," a wondrous shop full of unique items. For some, including the capiivated Police Chief Jake Russell, Cassie is a breath of fresh air and a love potion that spreads throughout the town. But before she can truly become part of Middleton, she will need to win over some of the more skeptical neighbors who don't approve of her unique ways. Description from Hallmark Channel website.

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4. Hocus Pocus
This has been a favorite of mine for many years. Such a good movie to get into the halloween spirit!
Description: After 300 years, three sister witches are resurrected in Salem Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it us up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to the witches reign of terror once and for all. Description from IMDb.

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5. Casper Meets Wendy
Casper the ghost is a classic! Got to love that friendly ghost.
Description: Casper, a ghost, teams up with Wendy, a witch, against an evil warlock. Description for IMDb.

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6. The Haunted Mansion
A wonderful "scary" movie that is a bit funny.
Description: Workaholic realtor Jim Evers, his wife/business partner Sara and their two children are summoned to a mansion. When they discover that the place is haunted, Jim discovers an important lesson about the family he's neglected as they attempt to escape. Description from IMDb.

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7. Corpse Bride
Description: When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.  Description from IMDb.

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8. The Tower of Terror
As you can tell I'm a huge fan of Disney Channel movies.
Description: The film starts out when 5 people walk into an elevator, but something goes very wrong. The elevator collapses 11 floors and the five people roam around the hotel as ghosts. 60 years later, reporter Buzzy (Steve Guttenberg) and his niece Anna (Kirsten Dunst) are trying to find out the mystery of the hotel. An old lady named Abigail tells them that if they find a belonging of each person on the elevator they will be free from the hotel. Written by Cory Thompson.

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I recommend watching all of these movies. By yourself, with your family, or your pets! If you have children these are perfect movies for them. I would suggest watching them just in case you feel they are not appropriate for them. They all should be kid friendly. I certainly enjoyed them when I was younger and still do! 
Please feel free to leave request for me to do!

Where have I been?!

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I started my first year of college on September 5! To add to that my boyfriend came home on emergency leave. So I have spent my time getting use to college life and spending time with my boyfriend for the seven days he had to spend at home. College is SO different compared to high school. I'm finally getting used to my class schedule and the homework. I'm still here and ready to add more to the blog! 

College Budget $$

Now that I am 18 years old...almost 19. I've become very cautious of what I buy. I was reading some of the blogs I follow and stumbled upon A Bowl Full of Lemons Budget Binder. After reading through the post I decided to make my own! Our binders are very different from each other because of our age difference and she owns a home + she's a mother. So with hers in mind I created my Budget Binder to my needs.
What you'll need to create a budget binder:

• 1" Binder (or whatever you prefer)
• Binder dividers (I used 5)
• A poly envelope
• Labeler or something to label the tabs
• Something to label the binder (I used stickers!)

For my budget binder I used a black 1" binder which I purchased at a Dollar Tree. The only downside to this binder is that it has no pockets. Still does the job though! I have a lot of binders in my room so I labeled my binder with stickers so I know what binder it is. My mom had these stickers with all of her craft stuff so I'm not sure where they are from. My best guess would be Micheal's Craft Store.

I decided to use 5 binder dividers. You can use as much as you need but 5 works best for me. I labeled them 1. Accounts, 2. Income, 3. Spending, 4. Monthly Budget, 5. Annual Expenses. 

The first tab, Accounts, has all my information for my bank and other money related accounts. The Income tab has all my hour logs which tells me how much I made that week. In spending I have a paper for each month. Every time I purchase something I write it down (the date, how I purchased it, what store, how much). The monthly budget tab doesn't have anything in their since I don't have any bills to pay for at the moment. But I would have a calender to mark when a bill would be due and when I paid it. The last tab has all of my loan information. Keeping that information handy really helps so I don't forget about it. 

Behind the tabs I have a poly envelope where I put deposit slips and things of that sort so they don't get lost. You can purchase a ploy envelope at the Container Store for only $4. I'm not sure if the Dollar Tree still sells them but you can always go check though they are not as nice as the Container Store brand. 

For receipts I use a plastic filing coupon organizer which I think purchased at Walmart. You can probably find one where office supplies are sold. I file my receipts by month and then once the new year comes around I go through and discard the ones that don't need to be saved. I keep the majority of receipts I receive just in case. 

Clothing Haul

Fall is on it's way so I ordered a couple things online from Alloy and Charlotte Russe. The one item I've been dying to get are a pair of riding boots. Alloy had some in clearance for only $24.99! The boots are knee high in a  brown chestnut color with buckle detailing as well as stud detailing going all the way up the back of the boot. Also from Alloy I got a pair of black peep toe pumps that where on sale for $14.99. The black peep toe pumps have scalloped edges.

Source: Alloy

From Charlotte Russe I ordered two scarfs and a wristlet for college. The scarfs where on sale for $5 each! And the wristlet was also on sale for $5! Such a great deal! The first scarf is lightweight with tribal and a paint splatter print. The second scarf is also light weight and has fall colors with mixed printed stripes.  The last item I purchased is a wristlet because no girl wants to be caring a purse around campus. It's small and light weight and it can carry my phone!

Source: Charlotte Russe

Source: Charlotte Russe

Source: Charlotte Russe

You can order the boots at Alloy.com
-The heels are no longer for sale (from what I saw).
You can order the scarfs and wristlet from Charlotterusse.com.
*Prices may have changed.