How To Shop (From A Retail Perspective)

If you've never worked retail in your life, you should. You'll learn a lot of great things, like basic manners and respect. For those of you that have worked retail before, you know the trouble we go to just to keep our cool when dealing with those customers.

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Honestly, I'm not sure how people are just so rude when they shop. Everything I list below is common courtesy. Regardless, here is the CORRECT way to shop in any store...

1. Put things where you got them, or hand them to an employee. You don't want it? Picked up the wrong thing? No problem. Put the item where you got it, or tell an employee you no longer want it. We know where it goes. It's such a bummer to think you're done and find a pile of clothing in the toy aisle. 
2. Pick up things you knock over. Don't leave that entire clothing rack on the floor. Don't kick it under the shelf. Seriously, it's right there. Pick it up. 
3. Notify someone of messes. We all drop things and they spill. It's actually very rare that any store has a "you break it, you buy it" policy. We will clean it up and damage it out, no problem. Just let us know so nobody slips and gets hurt when we are too busy to notice it ourselves. 
4. Don't argue over policies. If we make a mistake with pricing, that's fine. We will accommodate you. But if your coupon is expired, it's expired. If that brand is excluded, it just is. You can't always have your way, and there are rules for a reason.
5. It's probably not the cashier/associate/manager's fault. Sometimes our machines are slow or won't read your card. Sometimes the store is super busy and there are 5 people waiting for things before you. We are humans, we can only do so much. Sometimes we miss things or forget things. Sometimes technology doesn't work as it is supposed to. Don't get angry for things we cannot control. We are already stressed out enough as it is. 
6. Leave when the store closes. You would think this one is common sense. NOPE. If the music shuts off and the lights go out, chances are the store is closing. Hardly anybody in the store and the associates are up and down ladders? Probably closed. It's time to check out and head somewhere else. You wouldn't believe the people that ask when we close then stay another 30 minutes anyways. Or the people that ASK TO BE LET IN TO OUR LOCKED DOORS. And yeah, lots of stores are required to let you in. Which means we will be there an extra hour than we are scheduled, so we go over our hours, and we have to cut people other days, then you wait longer because nobody is there to help. See a pattern?
7. Don't shoplift then get mad at us for following you around. We are trained to spot you. We have cameras. We know what you are doing. Personally, if I know you are shoplifting, I will call over my other associates to follow you around. Then if you walk out with a bag of stolen items, we will take a picture of your car and license plate, then call you very rude names behind your back. And you absolutely deserve it. Just buy the things you want or go to goodwill. It's a horrible thing to steal. 
8. Don't leave your (empty or full) drinks/snacks on shelves. This one is so gross. We have trash cans. Use them. 

It's truly not difficult to respect retail associates. It makes everyone's life so much better. Just these few things will make a huge difference! Try them next time you go shopping!

xoxo, a. 

Stress Relievers

As final exams draw near, my stress levels increase like the amount of caffeine I consume. Admit it: you're freaking out a little too. Well, fear not! I have some silly tips for quick, easy stress relievers!!

1. Take a bubble bath. Fellas, don't write this one off just yet. If you've never experienced a relaxing bubble bath, I suggest you try it. Turn off the lights, light a candle, and listen to your favorite music. It's fantastic, really.
2. Play a stupid game. Preferably something simple and almost childish. Or just something that you like. I play CafeLand on Facebook. Don't make fun of me, it's fun and it helps me escape my troubles for a while. 
3. Write. Journals, letters, blogging... Whatever! Just don't constantly tweet or post Facebook statuses.... Please....
4. Drink some tea. And I don't mean sweet tea. I mean chamomile or green tea. Something warm. It's relaxing and healthy! Just add some honey for the best remedy to any ailment, mental or physical!
5. Walk outside. Fresh air is the cheapest stress reliever around, and one of the most underrated. If you just HAVE to stay in your room, at least open a window to let a little air inside! 
6. Play with animals. Montevallo is freakin' awesome cause they have a day during exam week in which they bring animals from Hand-In-Paw just for us to play with for a stress reliever! Whether your school offers this or not, find a way to play with some cute animals or something. Spend a little extra time with Rover or Sir Fluffy, they'll enjoy it too! 

I hope these ideas will help you chill out! Just don't forget to study! Good luck to everyone taking exams in the next few weeks!! I feel your pain. But soon it'll be over and we can stuff our faces with food and fill our rooms with presents! Yay! 

xoxo, a.

How To: Prep for Freshman Year

So, I'm actually sitting here starting this post in the middle of July, when I still don't know how I really need to pack. But I'll forget to write this if I don't start now... Scatterbrain problems. Anyways, I love packing and organizing. The neat and orderly part, at least. All the messy bits annoy me. Whenever I decide to clean out drawers and such, I always end up with that one freakin' pile of random crap that has absolutely no place in my room. As I get ready to move out on my own (kinda), I am bound and determined to make it all as physically painless and seamless as possible. The emotional part carries no such promises, though. These tips are based on my personal situation, with one roommate with whom I share a bedroom and a bathroom, and we each have our separate closets. Plus, I will be going to school not far from home, so I have that advantage. So, once again, take these tips with a grain of salt, everything can be molded to your own situation in some way.

• Label your boxes. This one is kinda a no-brainer... If you use any plain cardboard moving boxes, just stick a sticky note on them saying what specifically is in them!! (Sticky notes so you won't write all over the box- they can be reused a million times and constantly marking things out gets really annoying) That way, you won't have to run around screaming "WHERE ARE MY UNDERWEAR?!?!?"
• Put things in their designated drawers/containers and take it all in together. For example, I'm using a small plastic set of drawers for my makeup. Instead of boxing up all that crap and having to reorganize it on move-in day, go ahead and put it in the drawers! Just tape the drawers shut really well for traveling. You'll save room in the trunk, plus you'll keep yourself sane when you  move in! It may be a little heavier than carrying things in separately, but it's totally worth it. Just don't load cheap drawers with heavy sweaters...
• If you can, leave seasonal stuff at home. I'm lucky enough to be going to school less than an hour from home. Hence, I will be leaving my sweaters and boots home until the weather starts changing. No fear, I do understand Alabama weather (or.. I know to expect really crazy stuff... ) so I know to keep a few jackets with me, because you never know when you'll need a blanket in August.... If you live too far away, I really dunno what to tell you. Your best bet would just be to buy a couple big bins and stuff them under your bed.



Yes, I have things designated for specific drawers.




Who's bringing what? Color coded, naturally.





• Plan ahead. Y'all know I do this big time. Make lists, spreadsheets, whatever it takes to stay organized. I have spreadsheets on my computer as well as handwritten lists in notebooks. Everyone is different, I just do it all. Some may call me crazy, others call me.... Crazier.

• Get creative. Who needs air freshener when you can just tape a dryer sheet to your fan? It works, I do it all the time! Leave it on for a few minutes to get a nice fresh smell, then stick it in your drawers to make your undies smell all purday. Better learn to play Jenga, your room is about to be stacks on stacks on stacks. (Unfortunately, said stacks are plastic and filled with sweaters, not cash)
• Learn to be cheap. Or, to be proper: thrifty. I prefer to be honest and say cheap. The Dollar Tree is your friend, folks. Dollar General brand products are actually fairly decent. In general, generic brands are the best thing ever. School supplies from the dollar store are my particular favorite. Soon to come: an entire post on my money-saving cheapskate strategies! Be on the lookout!
• One step at a time. You have all semester to procrastinate. Don't do it for move-in. Us Montevallo folks move in on August 22nd. Guess what day classes start? The 25th. That is 3 days to get settled in before it all begins. 3. Days. Although I won't complain, it's all because of some awesome renovations on campus (brand new furniture- turn down for what). Box up what you can as you go. Start a few weeks ahead of time. Whatever you can live without until you move in, pack it up. That way, you'll have even more time to keep it organized.

Erin and I!! She's a doll.

• Get to know people ahead of time. I'm fortunate enough to be a fantastic social media stalker (it's a known fact, I can do some major damage), so I have been able to make several friends by putting myself out there and introducing myself. I feel much more comfortable knowing a few people that will be living near me or in some of my classes. Of course, we're all gonna be strangers the first few days, but it's still nice to have someone to get lost with.

• That being said, don't be a stranger. Open your door! Talk to people! Your life starts outside of your comfort zone, so do something different! I would never have met Erin and become so close if it weren't for me commenting on her instagram picture. (Yup, I'm a creep. And yes, Ern, you have me to thank. Love ya!)

Yes, I am well aware that I'm giving you tips on stuff I haven't experienced yet. So, this is partially a reminder to myself of what I really need to do... Sorry for such a long post, I combined several drafts that I couldn't quite pull into full posts on their own. Best wishes!

xoxo, a. 

How To: Be a Military Girlfriend (During His Deployment)

How freaking good does he look in that
uniform????? 

There's probably a million posts and books and forums about this very subject (there is, I checked). You can read millions of accounts of this situation. But nothing will prepare you for the real feeling of your best friend being thousands of miles away in a foreign place where s/he may or may not be in serious danger. I got lucky, Zachary is in the National Guard, so he's safe and gets pretty decent deployments. He's also fortunate enough to be able to communicate regularly through text and FaceTime.
Okay, so here's my thoughts on the matter so far, and my ideas on how to stay sane (from only about 20% into his first deployment). I may be a newbie in this lifestyle, but you gotta start somewhere. I'll admit, some of these are really lame, but at this point ya stop really caring.

• Make a Pinterest board dedicated to your military man. You think I'm kidding? Nope. It makes you feel cute and it definitely distracts you. Plus, homecoming pictures are so precious.
• Go all-out. If you feel that you're both in it for the long run (chances are, you definitely are. Why else would you go through this together?), do it all. Wear your RED on Friday (Remember Everyone Deployed). Put a yellow ribbon on your car. Buy a cute personalized decal (this is the one I bought) to honor your man. It's fun, and it shows him how proud you are!

R.E.D. shirt (that he bought for
both of us, twinning!), yellow
deployment ribbon, and
red/white/blue/yellow bracelet
that I made and wear all the time. 

• Take every chance you can to talk to him. You're going to miss him. A lot. All the time. Especially for the first few weeks, when you're still trying to figure out how to go about your day without him anywhere near. Time differences suck. But they're workable. Learn his schedule and figure out when you will have the best chance to talk to him. You may have to stay up late some nights, but hearing his voice and/or seeing his face is so worth it.
• Take care of yourself. You will feel crazy, depressed, lonely, upset, scared, discouraged, and a whole medley of other things. But, no matter what, don't let yourself go. He needs you to stay strong. Keep on with your life, and keep him updated. Don't just give up.
• Learn the term "milso" and use it regularly. You definitely aren't the only one, and tagging this term on social media will help you connect to others in your same situation! P.S. "milso" stands for MILitary Significant Other.
• Encourage him. He will probably hate it there. He will probably be really cranky sometimes. His constant "I hate it here. I wanna come home. How many more days?" will probably drive you crazy, but who can blame him? Keep track of the days if you want to. Remind him every day that you love him. Send him silly pictures and let him know you're thinking of him. Let him know that yes, it's a long time, but no, he will not go crazy. Just let him know that you are by his side no matter what.
• Listen to music that reminds you of him. Maybe it's his favorite song, the song y'all listened to in the car all the time, or just a song that reminds you of why you love him. I personally think "Wait For Me" by Theory of a Deadman is perfect, but everyone has their different tastes. 

Some great songs for military girlfriends/spouses!

• Write letters. He may not writing a lot (yes Zachary I'm calling you out), but he will appreciate something he can physically hold in his hand to remind him that you're actually real, not just a voice or a text or a picture on a screen.
• Give him a separate ringtone. There are some calls and texts you really want to miss. Not his. You need to know when you better be bustin' your butt to reach that "answer" button.

I can't tell you how hard it is to deal with this situation, nor can I tell you how much I love my airman, and how worth it he is.

Keep calm, he's worth the wait.

If you're going through this, you're not alone. Please feel free to share your experiences and personal advice below. :)

xoxo, a.