Finishing Out Summer in Style

“Sometimes, you will never the know true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” 

It looks like the next 2 or 3 weeks of summer vacation will start dwindling down. What may seem like a long time will be over before we know it.

A great way to finish summer is to watch the London 2012 Olympics. I hope to join my family and friends to watch Team USA compete against the world. I plan to deck out in red, white, and blue top, skinny jeans, and my red ballet flats. During commercial breaks, I plan to organize and gather some important forms and documents needed for college with Five Star’s new horizontal expanding file! I love how this awesome product matches with my outfit. It even includes folders that are the same color as the Olympic rings! Did you know the colors represent the flags of the countries that participate in the Olympics? I can’t wait to watch some epic sports events like swimming. I’m definitely keeping my eye on Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps, and Ryan Lochte.

Speaking of swimming, I’m spending my last week with my swim team, Catawba Valley Aquatic Club. This is the last week I will be spending my time at our homely chlorinated pool. I’ve been with the Stingrays for 8 years now. The lessons I’ve learned, the people I’ve met, and the things I’ve been able to accomplish through swimming are moments that will forever be in my memory. This Saturday will be my last swim meet with this hardworking and inspiring group of people. I’m still undecided whether I’ll join the club team at the college so this may be my last race, forever.

My job as a Team Five Star® Ambassador has been going fabulous! I’ve been so lucky to work with some of the most awesome people in the world. They’ve been finishing out their summer in style as well so see what they’ve been up to at www.tinyurl.com/FSTeam

I hope to spend my last moments in my hometown by saying one last goodbye to some of my high school friends. It’s seems like moving day to college is forever away but it’s slowly becoming a reality. So, it’s time to finish out the summer in style! 

Dorm Shopping: Bedding

Searching for the perfect bedding

The past weekend my mother and I went dorm room shopping! We decided to look at some of the selections from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. We were looking for bedding that was bright and poppy. We didn't want anything that was too dark or dull. Since I am living in such a small room, it helps to find color that will make the room seem bigger than it actually is. 

Here is some special tips that might help anyone who is still in need of finding some bedding.

1. Make sure you are buying the right size sheets!
• If the mattress at your school is TwinXL, don't buy Twin! You don't want to be in that awkward situation when you have to call your parents to buy another set of bedding because your sheets are too short.
2. Buy some special allergy mattress protection.
• Because bed bugs do exist. You know that phrase "Don't let the bed bugs bite"? Buy this and trust me, they won't bite you..
3. Save money.
• Coupons, coupons, coupons. If you buy from Bed, Bath and Beyond, you can save lots of money by using the coupons that send in the mail and through the catalog. (Also, some stores will take expired coupons. So, start finding a place to stash them!)
• If style isn't that important, try to buy dorm bedding styles form last year. Usually, they are all ready discounted. Take it from my shopping experience. The picture up there is my dorm bedding for this year. It's from DKNY. If you bought it last year you would of had to pay $149.99. Well Bed, Bath, and Beyond had a clearance of it for 79.99. Think that's it? Well, no. It also had a sticker for 50% off making it 40.00. It doesn't stop there. We also had a 20% off Bed, Bath, Beyond coupon which made the total price of $31.99. 

$32 bucks for bedding. Win.

Hope some of these tips help out a lot! I will be posting some other tips so check out my blog later!

Need some money for dorm shopping? You have a chance to win a $1000 Visa Gift Card if you sign up for the Five Star® Gear-Up Giveaway. Trust me, I haven't been hacked by anyone. I really do think this is a fabulous sweepstakes! Plus, I really recommend it as a Team Five Star® Ambassador. More info at www.tinyurl.com/FSTeam.

Summer: Where There Are No Problems, Only Situations

I just floated there in the Atlantic Ocean. The crystal blue waters were ever so refreshing. Underneath that H₂0 surface, schools of fish, colonies of coral, and clever, little crabs were abounding living in their salty environment. The sun was shining brighter than ever showing the beauty of the incredible landscape around me. I let my feet sink into the soft, grainy sand. I allowed myself to relax and forget about the world I left behind. Aboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world, I could close my eyes and hear the waves crashing to and fro and ever so slightly feel the ship rock back and forth. At night, entertainment was at its best. Jaw dropping acrobats and divers amazed me, as my eyes would blink in disbelief. Outstanding actors, singers, and musicians would perform and deserve those rewarding standing ovations. For one week, time was never a concern and perhaps even forgotten. It seemed as these moments on and off that ship could go on forever.  I was continuously thinking, 

  “This is Paradise.”

The past week I packed my bags (how much is too much?) and traveled on the Allure of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. I vacationed on and off board for seven days. I truly enjoyed it. I never really wanted to go home but now it looks like I’m back to reality.

Some of my favorite activities that I was able to check off my vacation bucket list included swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel Mexico, watching the Broadway show: Chicago, learning how to boogie Board and surf on the ship’s FlowRider®, participating in a flash mob, rock climbing, and drinking coconut juice in Falmouth, Jamaica.

A piece of advice for anyone going on the cruise: There is so much stuff to do. Luckily, I brought my Five Star® composition book so I could write down all the times of the activities I wanted to do. It was really easy to do.  I would bring it with me everywhere, even at the pool. This composition book has a hardback covering, therefore it can’t be destroyed.

Like I’ve mentioned before, I am a Five Star® Brand Ambassador. Other ambassadors on Team Five Star® have been traveling as well from the beach, to attending camps, and even going to other continents. Check out where they’ve been at www.tinyurl.com/fsteam.

Well, coming back to reality can truly be a Debbie Downer. It’s not a problem though, only a situation as they say in Jamaica. Looking ahead, I am spending my last moments with my swim team, preparing to move into my dorm room at UNC, and spending more precious moments with my family. So yep, life is good. No worries.

Twitter: @kconsing

Tumblr: kconsing.tumblr.com

A Summer Unlike Any Other

"Be Brave. Take Risks. Nothing can substitute experience."

~Paulo Coelho

My summer has been a summer like no other. I am blessed that God has offered me so much opportunities these few weeks of summer to experience things I have never done before. From UNC orientation to swimming with dolphins, I have so far experienced a lot in my summer vacation. Thankfully, it is only halfway done! There are still plenty of things to learn, discover, and appreciate.

For the first time, I am experiencing my first official job. I've been able to earn a couple of cash here and there from teaching swim lessons at the Catawba Valley Aquatic Club, but I was more of a substitute teacher because I had a busy schedule. So, my first official job is with Mead Five Star®. Yes, I'm talking about the notebook company.  Yes, the one that sells school supplies. To some it might be a bit ironic that I am working with a school supply company over the summer but, hey, why not?

I was picked along with 6 other high school and college students across the country to represent Mead Five Star's notebooks, binders, planners, folders, etc. The 7 of us are called Team Five Star. We are student ambassadors promoting the company. When I found out I was chosen, I was pretty shocked. I "liked" the Five Star® page a while back and saw the 2011 Team Five Star® Ambassador program on their wall. When the application came out for the 2012 program, I just filled it out for fun! I wasn't expecting to be chosen. Being chosen was a wonderful surprise.

So basically, I'll be discussing my love for the Five Star® school supplies throughout the summer! I can't wait to work with all the other amazing ambassadors that I met at Boot Camp in Connecticut!

I would love it if everyone who reads this would "Like" the Five Star® Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/fsteam. It's a really friendly page and normally Five Star® Likes or comments your post! So, if your bored, check it out! You can also learn more about their Giveaways and products as well. 

Summer may be hot and sweltering but it has definitely been a summer unlike any other. May your summer be unlike any other as well.

Team Five Star®: Meet Kirsten

I've been spending my summer with Team Five Star®! I recently met all the ambassadors in Connecticut. It was truly a fantastic experience! I am so excited to be representing Five Star® as a Brand Ambassador. Meet all the other ambassadors at www.tinyurl.com/fsteam.