Dec 31, 2012

2012

2012.

January: Went to mission training, found out I was going to India, the YSP turned two, I was quoted in the NY Times and took the SAT!
February: Tried to keep my head afloat during Junior Year. Really.
March: Started work with SGG, went to FRANCE
April: The Jet Crash, turned in my Ronald Reagan paper, went to INDIA
May: Brother graduated from college, I finished off Junior Year with a bang
June: Camp!
July: More camp, went to Columbia, Tuscaloosa, and Athens
September: Got into Alabama, took the ACT
October: Went to DC, gave my senior speech, Sandy hit the beach.
December: Decided to don my houndstooth and yell Roll Tide next year, got my iPhone, and turned 18.

2012 was a pretty fantastic year. I can't wait to see what happens in 2013!

xx,

Royar

Dec 30, 2012

New Years Resolutions: Pass or Fail?


I thought it would be fun to look back at my resolutions from last year!

1. Stick with my running club and yoga: Yesterday morning I set out on a 5 miler with a new running group. Needless to say it kicked my butt, but the girls were so awesome it didn't matter. It did hurt a little bit to get up at seven in the morning, but by ten, I was super happy.  I've also been going to hot yoga every friday afternoon for the past two months.  Now with my class package and new yoga mat (Thanks Mama!) I don't have any more excuses.

2. Stop bringing my computer to bed with me: After I finish my homework and I get ready to go bed, I will bring my computer back to my room "just to finish one more thing". This normally turns into five more things and before I know it it's midnight or later.  It can all wait until the next day. I also need to get better at scheduling my blogposts ahead of time so I'm not stuck at 11:00 without a post.

3. Go to bed earlier: See #2. And I just need to stop being a night owl, so I can start getting up earlier and be more refreshed in the mornings.

4. Read more books: I only read 118 out of the 150 books I set as a goal for this year. I am currently on #119, but I want to give this goal of 150 a retry this year. 

5. Follow the 5 P's: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. This is so true for me in 2012. This spring alone, I have Winter Mission Training for Operation Smile, the SAT, two weeks in Paris, history thesis, weekend of work at camp, AP Exams, Brother's graduation, english credo final, finals, camp and applying for college!

6. Keep my Starbucks visits to once a week: I spend WAY too much money at Starbucks. It's obscene. And it needs to stop.

7. Make a budget and stick to it: I need to learn to manage my money better. Now that I have my not-so-big-girl job of working at Camp, I need to actually be responsible.

8. Take it one day at a time: There is a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks and months, but I have to make the little things count in order for the big things to work.

9. Give and work more for big things outside of school: Some of my big goals for this year are: meet the Republican candidate if he comes close to my city, get published on a website like Back Down South, get published in Southern Living, Matchbook or Garden & Gun, do more work with military families in my area, work on outreach for my school's Happy Club, keep volunteering with Operation Smile and work on some business ventures, both personal and with Ensley, get into college, keep donating blood and last but not least, sell my life story to Nicholas Sparks. I'm only half-kidding.

10. Stop and enjoy the little things; Let go of things that are out of my control

So, how did I stack up in 2012?

1. Between my foot injury and other injury issues and run club only meeting in the summer, I didn't really pass or fail on this resolution. I've gotten better about going to the gym and swimming and running on the treadmill, though, so I give this a pass.
2. I've gotten a lot better about this, but I also have my iPad and now my iPhone with me, so I really need to get better at this. Fail.
3. Complete fail. This year I did get exponentially better at coming home and crashing until the next morning, though.
4. I got better, but I still haven't made my goal of 150, and I'm farther away this year than I was last year. Fail.
5. Pass! I did really well on everything that I set my mind to, and reaped the results. 
6. Pass! I barely go to Starbucks anymore, and I haven't been before school once this year.
7. Pass/Fail. I learned how to make a budget, but I still need to work on saving money.
8. 2013 is going to be all about being in the moment for me. I failed big time in parts of 2012.
9. I got a lot of big things done in 2012: Column in SGG, Internship at HerCampus, meeting John McCain, and I got into college! Pass!
10. Still need to work on this. Big time. Fail.

Four passes, five fails, and one middle of the road. Not so bad for 2012. 

Have you taken stock in what you did during 2012 and re-evaluated your resolutions?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 29, 2012

What Royar Read: December






Out of all the books that I read in December, The Double Bind was by far my favorite. It took me over a month to read it, but it was so worth it in the end! It's a mystery, has a tie-in with The Great Gatsby, and is so amazing. 

Did you read anything great this month?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 28, 2012

Les Miserables


Yesterday afternoon, my Mummy and I saw Les Miserables! I have been waiting anxiously for this movie to come out, as it is one of my favorite musicals, along with Jersey Boys! The storyline is such a great tale, and this version did not disappoint. All of the actors did such an amazing job, and the singing was gorgeous!


Eddie Redmayne is fantastic, and I can't wait to see what else he does in the future! 

My favorite songs are One Day More, the end of the Epilogue, and Do You Hear The People Sing, which wasn't included on the soundtrack. I highly recommend both the soundtrack and the movie, which is quite rare! The Francophile in me loved all the Parisian scenery and waving of the French flag, and the history from that time is fascinating. Les Mis will not disappoint!

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!


Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas spent with family and friends!

See you in the New Year!

xx,

Royar

Dec 23, 2012

Santa is almost here!

I can't believe that Christmas is tomorrow! Have you prepped, packed, and gotten your presents ready, or are you a procrastination Queen?

xoxo

Dec 22, 2012

Royar's Favorite Things


These are a few of my favorite things. What are yours?

xoxo,

Royar
{The YSP}

Dec 21, 2012

RCL: Gifts That Keep On Giving

One of my favorite gifts to give is a magazine subscription! They keep giving all year long, and are just as easy to give!

Some of my favorites...








What are your favorite magazines to give and get?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 20, 2012

Christmas Break!

As of yesterday at 12pm, I'm officially on Christmas Break and a second semester senior! It's an incredibly bittersweet feeling, and while I'm excited to be away from schoolwork for awhile, I will have some college work to do: submitting my UGA app, starting to plan for APs in May (scary!), finishing two scholarship essays, and studying for the SAT in January!

But my top five priorities are:
1. SLEEP
2. Get into a regular gym time that I can keep up with
3. Lots of coffee and lunch dates
4. Reading!
5. Netflix

Seeing as I managed to contract laryngitis and a sinus infection during exam week, I will definitely be having lots of naps and rest for the next week, but after a few rounds of meds, I'm excited to be back up and running!

This Christmas will definitely not be as high-stress as last year, but I still have some shopping to do this weekend! Have you finished your shopping?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 19, 2012

Just Madras

The other day, I was on the Just Madras website, and I wanted to show off their holiday silks! I am a brand ambassador for them, and am currently planning a trunk show for the spring!

I love their bow tie/cummerbund sets! They would be perfect for a black tie holiday gala!

Their bow ties are perfect for boyfriends, brothers, and dads!

This tunic would be perfect with a pair of black skinnies and TB flats!

Their cosmetic bags are perfect for holiday traveling, and it can even be monogrammed!

If you and your beau want to match for a holiday fête, this clutch would be lovely!

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 18, 2012

OMGG


Gossip Girl has been on since I was in seventh grade, and it's so scary to think that was six years ago! The clothes, the storyline (while at times insane), and the characters have all been memorable, and I can't wait to keep watching season 3 again on Netflix over the break!

I always loved Chair, and didn't like Lonely Boy, and the ending was a shock!

Did you watch last night? What did y'all think?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 17, 2012

Opposite of Adult

Today, I'm eighteen years old. I'm an adult, legal, another year older, another year wiser, and another year smarter. But in some ways, I'm not quite an adult, yet not still a child. Yes, stationery was on my wish list, but a pony will never quite be deleted off of it. 


I'm celebrating today by taking two finals, teaching swim lessons with my precious six year olds, and having a quiet dinner with my parents, since my brother won't be home until Saturday! I won't be able to use this as my jam or anymore, but this and this will do.

Happy Monday!

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 16, 2012

The iPhone.


Today, I am officially in the 21st century as a proud iPhone owner! My blackberry has been a faithful phone for the past two years, but ever since it started acting up last summer, I've been itching for an iPhone! My "replacement" blackberry was worse than the first one, as it wouldn't turn on at first or add my contacts, and has been in danger of being almost run over by my car... about once a week. So needless to say, I've waited patiently, and I'm so excited to get my new phone! What apps do I need? Case recommendations?

xoxo,

Royar

Dec 15, 2012

Love


Today, tell someone you love them. Hug your kids, hug your parents, hug your friends. 
Hug a stranger. Be thankful the good Lord has given you another day, another breath to breathe. We were all put on this earth for different reasons, but we're all here to love each other. 

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 14, 2012

RCL: The Luxe List


A few things I wrote on my list to Santa...







What was on your luxe list to Santa?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 13, 2012

FINALS


Finals season is upon us! Sadly, I have two today, one tomorrow, two on my birthday, and one next Wednesday! But it will be my last set of exams as a high schooler, which makes me very happy!

1. Focus: Put your phone on silent, turn Self-Control on on your computer, if you have to study with music, use Pandora or your iPod, as well as your noise canceling headphones.

2. Be in a quiet environment: Go to the library, go to Starbucks, go to a random coffee shop, but don't study in your bedroom/dorm unless it's absolutely necessary.

3. Be comfortable, but dress for success: I wear leggings and an oxford to study in, but will wear a pencil skirt and pearls for my exam.

4. Organize your binders ahead of time: Make sure you have all of your books, notes, homework, tests and quizzes on hand so your don't have to keep hunting for things.

5. Make Study Guides: I make a "things to know" sheet with all of the information/for each question so that I can have a concise study guide!

6. Drink water and keep healthy snacks on hand: Make sure to eat right during finals week so you don't crash and burn during the middle.

7. Sleep: Don't forget to sleep, and if you do, lots and lots of iced coffee.

8. Exercise: Yoga is a great de-stresser as well as a run.

What are your finals tips?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 12, 2012

All Wrapped Up!






All via

I love prettily wrapped presents!

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

Dec 11, 2012

RCL: For The Man


Whether it's for Daddy, a brother, boyfriend, or a close friend, it's no secret that men are hard to shop for. Many thanks to the brother, who sent me a list of five things with colors and sizes pre-selected, this year. And also many thanks to Will for other suggestions.







Chubbies Shorts (I'm partial to the Tuscaloosa's)








What will you be buying for the men in your life this Christmas?

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}