Month: August 2017

Meal-Prep Monday

Today was such a great day! Hellaciously long – but great! I made my day much easier by packing my breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner (that’s right – freaking dinner) before leaving for class this morning.

Mondays are my long days. 14 hours on campus. 9am-11pm. Brutal. The key to making it through such a time-intensive day, is to plan for meals. I’m basically a rogue honeybadger, and completely fit for a Snickers hangry commercial, when I lack sustenance. In an effort to keep myself from fast-food lunch runs, or snapping at my peers for chewing too loudly, I made the effort to pack my lunch.

I’m trying to eat healthy, without breaking the bank. Student loans are enough debt for me to be in, without adding in eating out and coffee runs. Don’t get me wrong – splurging every now and then is awesome; I simply can’t live every day that way. My world would crumble and my credit score would, presumably, implode.

Foregoing chaos to my financial situation, it made much more sense to prep my meals. It’s simple. Either pack something you made for dinner the night before; or, put together a set of five protein boxes on Sunday night. My inspiration came from the Starbucks box, which is tiny and compact. I needed a bit more oomph in my meal, so I added turkey and an extra cheese stick instead of the grapes.

4 slices of turkey + 1/2 apple + 2 Mozz sticks + 1 egg + grape tomatoes + Cucumber slices
That’s all.

Since I don’t like eating the exact same thing every day for a week (unless that something happens to be Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli), I made 3 boxes; there are just enough to get me through the hectic part of my week. On Wednesday night, I’ll make sandwich pinwheels!

In addition to my protein box, I packed some snacks! They were perfect to munch on during class. I did feel a bit like a chubby squirrel though, and I’m not entirely sure I wasn’t making too much noise while trying to woodchuck the pretzels. No one complained. Hopefully.

See? Meal prepping is easy! Don’t let the “prep” scare you. Just pick a few things you love to eat, place them into a portable container, and voilà! Personally, I do not enjoy eating the same thing every day – which is why small-batch cooking works well. I’ll be sure to post some recipes for breakfast sandwiches, tacos, and lunch boxes – SOON!

In the meantime, tell me – what are you planning on taking with you this week?

Tags #LawSchoolEats, #MealPrep, healthy living, Meal Prep, weekly meal plan

Reviews

Winery Adventures

funny-drinking-alcohol-gif-8 — Spontaneous winery visits are equally grand!

Last week, I met my sorority sisters for lunch at Landon Winery, in Greenville, TX. This particular location is in the heart of Downtown Greenville, and is nothing short of idyllic. This quaint little pop-stand caught me by surprise. I hoped for their wine selection to be phenomenal, but my palate only fell for the Rose. I brought two bottles home for myself, to sip while frantically finishing my ConLaw readings. [I’m still pining over a potential wine club membership, btw.]

Since the girls and I met for lunch, and I’d been in too much of a rush to eat a proper breakfast, my eyes flew straight to the available pastas. Chicken + broccoli alfredo? Yes, please!

Let me just say – the core of this establishment houses one helluva chef! Nearly every last morsel was devoured. I honestly don’t think many of us did much talking once our plates arrived. For 8 chatty women, this was definitely a FIRST! Everything was so scrumptious. I already want to drive back out for another visit.

20938697_1529263657096283_1694774753_n — Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich & House Fries

The menu provided ample options, and all items were college-budget friendly! Honestly, the food was served in hearty portions. Had I know been so ravenous, I could have brought home half of my pasta dish. The fact that I left nothing on my plate is a testament to the delectableness of my lunch choice.

The service here was spot-on! The waitress doubled as a sommelier, who was kind and accepted the challenge of finding a wine “just right” for some of us. The ambiance of the winery + bistro had such an inviting feel, the dark wood floors almost seemed like we were soaking up time inside a cask of our own. [Note to self – check to see if wine baths are a thing…]

If you need a break from your hectic week, or simply want to enjoy a great meal with wonderful people – stop by Landon Winery. These loves do not disappoint.

Tags Greenville, Landon Winery, Texas Winery, Wine

Freebies Law School

Free Swag

You’re a broke student.

Law school (higher education, in general) racks up some incredible bills. I want to make a lucky student’s semester a bit easier, by providing a great backpack! If you win, then this item is one less thing to worry about buying!

I purchased myself this Kuakko backpack style, in Navy. I luuuurve it. It’s professional enough for class, and last-minute networking events. Surprisingly, it holds quite an impressive number of law school accoutrements (not too unlike a *magical* bag of holding…)

All you’ve got to do is click the link below, and follow the instructions!

ENTER For Your Chance to Win!

Good luck, amigos!

Tags #Free, #GradSchool, #LawSchool, #UNTDCOL, Kaukko

Law School

First Day Jitters

Orientation week (or, Fundamentals Week on our campus) is nearly over. If you were lucky, orientation lasted one day. However, many law schools cram 6 days of information into 2 days of real-time. Our campus demands a whopping 40 hours! It’s grueling, especially coming off of a relaxed summer. If you’re feeling utterly spent, don’t fret – you’re NOT alone!

The first day of class is just a few days away. I’m sure you have a list of tasks to get done, and a pile of reading to start, but I wanted to give you a bit of a brain break. Consider this a “heads up” for your DAY 1.

Pro-Tip: Confidence goes a long way.

These are some thoughts I had on my first day. [Since I journal & doodle – I’d actually written a few of them down, and scrounged them up just for you, my lovely readers!]

Oh, my god. How much time do I have to get to class? Because, I need a good seat. Which means I need to be on campus at least 30 minutes in advance.
Geeeeez, chill! It’s 7am. Of course, there’s time for coffee.
What does this outfit say about me? I look so lame compared to her.
How much of this shared space can my colored pens take up?
Is intentionally forgetting to bring lunch a bad thing? I kind of want to mingle.
Umm….yeah, sure. Go ahead. The seat’s not taken.
I wonder if she studies like I do?
After being the first cold-call in the first class of my law school career [Torts] –> Holy SHIT! Did the Professor just call my name? Dear sweet nuggets of knowledge, don’t fail me now!
Just. do. it! Ask the new friends to lunch.
Is it ok to drink before our next class?
::after lunching with new law school babes::
Thank goodness! They feel the same way I do. Scared. Nervous. Freaked out. Totally pumped!
::after two classes::
This wasn’t so bad. I’ve got this! #VoteForElle
Wait. How much do I need to read?

To be completely fair…my mind is a hectic place. I’d venture to imagine that yours is similar. It takes a special brand of unique to keep up with law school stresses. Just know that everyone is nervous, but sizing you up as well. It’s perfectly normal to feel intimidated, or thrilled. Everyone is different. No big deal. All you need to do is start off on the right foot – get your reading done, don’t miss [too much] class, make a few great friends, and review your notes!

Enjoy your first day!

Tags #1L, #1LAdvice, #UNTDCOL, First Day, UNTDCOL

Advice Law School

Advice from 2Ls

I want to tell you all the secrets. Law school will create moments in your daily life where your soul is crushed. Everything may suck, and you’ll remember this advice (which you skimmed, but really should have read in great detail.

Here’s the advice that counts, matters, and may quite possibly save you a load of heartache.

No one likes a know it all.
Especially when you’re the type to rub someone’s face in it.

Don’t be the jerkwad gunner (law school term for ass-hat), continuously answering questions in class, and adding in your two cents everywhere. No one cares how smart you seem. So, when you’re interacting with your peers, behave like you’ve got some manners. Be kind. Work hard. You won’t have anything to worry about.

Check your ego on day one.

No one gives a damn about what you did in undergrad or your masters programs. I actually met a guy at school who said this to me, after I shook his hand to introduce myself: “Yeah, I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to be the best.”

Law school is a new ball game. If you go into it with an ego, law school will check that ego for you. It will hurt. Do yourself a favor, and lend advice to others when your experiences might be useful. Once you get to know your peers, feel free to let your ego into more conversations (at your own risk, of course). But, don’t you dare tell people how great you are all the time. Let your work speak for itself.

Don’t live off coffee, pizza, and chili cheese fries.

You’re about to spend a butt-load of time studying, talking yourself into studying, and reviewing the notes you made while studying. Truly, it’s a crazy amount of studying. There will be many breaks (usually sponsored by the law school) where free food is provided. Law school is expensive, which means we pinch pennies and fall prey to the free food…so we can afford happy hour drinks.😅 With that in mind, make sure to maintain a workout plan. Adding alcohol to the free food will result in an increased waistline. [You’ve been warned.]

Outline!Outline!Outline!

Everyone will stress this to you, and you won’t listen. But the fact is – outlining as you go, SAVES TIME! Studying for finals with your own outline is comforting, particularly since you’ll have put the time in reading and briefing. In the same vein as prepping for class, hold off on study groups. You might find that you mesh with people in conversation, but not in study groups It may sound harsh, but no one will take it personally [if you’re not a jerk about it]. I have some great friends that are perfect brunch-buddies, but we don’t learn the same way at all! Therefore, we don’t study together. We’d drive each other crazy!

Pro-tip: You can always share study materials with your peers, but I’d recommend only sharing with those you trust. It’s a small number of those who get the materials I work on, and a small number of those who share their materials with me. Don’t be upset if someone doesn’t offer their study materials – you need to earn that privilege.

Take care of yourself.

Trust me when I say, it’s easier said than done. Be sure to take days off, maintain relationships, work out, and keep doing the things that bring you joy. These are essential to surviving and thriving in law school. You can definitely make it to spin class, or go rock climbing, without needing to worry about slacking.Those books will still be there after an hour yoga class. They kind of apparate to wherever you are. Studying follows you everywhere. But, it’s of utmost importance to remember the reason you decided to attend law school. It’s a consuming process, and it will attempt to define how spectacular you are based on numbers, clubs, and awards. It’s stressful. Make the freak out a bit easier on yourself by knowing the best ways to unwind.

Avoid Taking Summer Classes.

One of my favorite professors said that it’s important to take breaks, and that any 1L would be stupid to take summer classes. Several of my peers ignored her. They regret it. Trying to intern and attend a full load of classes is madness. Avoid adding unnecessary stress to your life, and don’t bite off more than you can chew. There’s plenty of time in your legal career to experience burn-out, no need to encourage the feeling in law school.

Your 1L year is important. Take it seriously, but not so serious that you’re the Boo Radley of the 1L class. You need friends to make it through, and there’s not a long, novel-length of time for them to develop a deep love for your presence. First impressions count!
Work Hard + Be Kind. You’ve got three years ahead of you – make the best of it, friends.