theSkimm

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As I entered college there was a lot on my to-do list as I entered into the next chapter of life. College is a liminal stage between being a kid and being an adult--you're on your own for the first time making decisions but your also still under some kind of structure. This to-do list was everything that I thought I should do or habits that I should form as I am becoming an adult. One of those habits is reading the news every day. 

Now, I never have been one to actively keep up with current issues unless I happened to catch them in passing as my parents were watching the evening news. I have certainly tried before to commit to having CNN as a bookmark online, however checking every day was not something I could ensure. 

A few years ago I learned about a little email subscription called: theSkimm. TheSkimm is my new favorite email--this is coming from someone who takes joy in deleting emails without opening them. I get an email every morning around 7 AM, which is just in time for me to have something to read on the bus to work, and in this email is a sample of several different news topics that are important to follow. Even better? Each paragraph (that's it! A news story in a paragraph!) is written in an easy to read and even humorous way that still gets the important parts of the story across. They even frequently feature getaway contests and highlight good books that you need to read.

Here's how it works: click on this link, submit your email address and get ready for your first Skimm tomorrow morning! Also check out this piece about the founders of theSkimm on StyleList.

<3 Ashley

Do you read theSkimm? If not, will you sign up? How do you get your news?

The Chronicles of a Morning Person

I always get comments from my roommates about how I am always the first one up in the morning (unless they have 8 AMs!) and how I am rarely ever dragging my feet. I have never really considered myself a morning person--or rather I hadn't thought about it--but since they have started saying something about it I guess it is safe to say that "My name is Ashley, and I am a morning person."

When I really get down to thinking about it, I have kind of always been this way. My parents always took us to our elementary school before-school program since they worked early so I was usually up at 5:30 or 6 in the morning. This carried over into high school since we lived like 25 minutes from the school and our house was the first on the bus' route. I think it's safe to say that I didn't choose the morning life...it chose me.

Now in college, while I do appreciate those days where I get to sleep in until 11 AM because of a late night out, I still wake up every day at 8 AM whether I really need to or not. I find the mornings are a very useful time where I can relax and get things done at a good pace. I thought today that I would share a bit of my AM schedule with you guys.

8 AM: The alarm on my phone goes off and I have to lay in bed for at least 10 minutes (unless it's a really good day) and encourage myself to start the day.

8:15 AM: Roughly the time I start showering. This is where I really wake up. Ten seconds under some cold water can really make you alert!

8:30 AM: I like to try and get some light physical activity in to start the day. I usually try to find a light yoga or pilates routine to fill about 15-20 minutes.

Somewhere between 8:45 and 9 AM: Make breakfast. Since I now have a kitchen in the equation of my college life I like to make oatmeal or omelettes in the morning. Once in awhile when I have an earlier class or I start work early--towards the end of the week--I just mix up some yogurt and berries.

While I am eating I like to catch up on the news. I'm not the type of person to read an entire page of copy on CNN; I just don't have the patience. Instead I have an email subscription to TheSkimm. I love getting this in my inbox daily; it quickly became part of my morning routine.

9:30 AM: After my breakfast is done and I have been updated on the goings on in the world, I head on back to my desk (or bed!) and do blog work with the help of my friend, Dunkin Dark Roast. I also listen to some chill tunes; if you are a Spotify user--sorry, T-Swift!--check out the playlist Your Favorite Coffeehouse. Hands down my favorite thing to listen to in the morning. Great songs!

From 10:30 on depending on the day it is, I tie up any loose ends on assignments for the day if I still need to. Then I enter the process of trying to get myself ready to go out into the world!

<3 Ashley

What is your morning routine like? Are you a early bird or a night owl?