How I made my graduation cap

 Step 1: I went a week before cap and gown pickup and bought all of my supplies before they sold out. I bought more than I needed but I was better safe then sorry. I bought:
2 sets of letters*
1 Scrapbook paper that showed traveling*
1 each of scrapbook stickers- Bahamas, U.S, Traveling and Ireland*
 1 roll of a Gator ribbon
1 Modpodge bottle
2 rolls of pearls strands (1 yd each)*
1 roll of double-sided tape*
( * shows what I actually used)

Step 2: Take out your cap and measure the paper against your cap. Especially pay attention to where you need to cut the hole for your button to ensure you can wear you tassel!
Gotta be able to the world you graduated! Look at me now, world!

Step 3: Cut that hole out, son!

 Step 4: Now put the paper back on and tape it up with double-sided tape (I wrapped it like a present). I then cut out all the letters to be used and then placed accordingly. I peeled the backing off the letters and stuck them to the paper. 

Thank you Mom and Dad: for giving me the world.

Step 5: I added the pearl accents along 2 of the edges of the cap and on the underside of the cap. I did it on the underside as well because it cleans up the look 

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Fowey, Cornwall, UK

The day after Tintagel I made my way over to Fowey which is on the southern portion of the county. It is a seaside town that is mountainous and was gorgeous. It is pronounced 'Foy', the family I stayed with had to correct all of my pronunciations. Fowey is a town that survives on tourism which as apparent to me because I grew up in a tourist location.

The reason for my visitation was the Tristan stone, which stands 3 miles outside of town. Luckily I had my hiking boots.

The Tristan stone, according to legend this is where he is buried and this is his tombstone. The second photo has the inscription written in 6thc letters but when translated says "Tristan here lies of Cunomorus the son". Cunomorus is King Mark.

Fowey the seaside town

Stopped into a local eatery and had an English delicacy with a Cornish flair. Tea, fruit scone, jam and clotted cream. Clotted cream is much like butter.

Cornish pastry:  YUM, it was shredded beef with veggies.

Walking around the town

View to the bay from a higher point in town, there is hardly any vehicle access around town so one must walk everywhere. My thighs were burning after this trip because of how steep it was.

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Great Craic!

           The title of this post means ‘Great Fun’. It is already week 3 and I find myself using Irish terminology and using some similar pronunciation. The accent although is easy enough to seemingly pick up because I never realized how similar it is to some of the pronunciation of certain words in Bahamian English. In Irish Gaelic the ‘h’ does not exist so many words that have the ‘th’ sound; those ‘h’s are not pronounced. Instead of ‘three’ ‘tree’ is said. So I am slowly reverting from my American English to my original Bahamian English.

           Many of my roommates and I have been going to the pubs a bit and we have introduced beer pong to some of the locals. Which many have heard of in passing but never played it, they found it enjoyable. The one thing I love about pubs and bars here is that the idea is to not get drunk but to socialize. Many locals leave for the pubs around 8 and leave at midnight, now we have begun to follow that pattern.

          Since we don’t have cars here we have been walking and utilizing the bus system on weekend trips.   I have found since we walk everywhere and are doing manual labour at the site we are gaining muscle and losing fat. I have not lost weight per se but I have gained a lot of muscle which I am happier about. I am very happy that I decided to spend my summer excavating because I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life. We are not allowed to disclose our exact findings on social media but I can say we have found some amazing and shocking things. I am sure I have said this before but it is amazing how I am helping to bring history out from below the ground. That I have a hand in the past, present and future; the past because I am taking out of the ground and the future because future generations will know about these findings and understand the history of humanity and their ancestors.

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Frugal Eating on Vacation

           As some of you may know I had a kitchenette in my hotel room last weekend. And with good reason, it is a good idea to always get a room with one or even a microwave and fridge.
          Before you leave depending on how long you are traveling you should stop at your local grocery store and buy cheap and easy food items as well as snacks. For me I will always lean for sandwiches. (I can't say no to a good PBJ or Turkey sandwich) These items are good to have so that you  don't have to buy overpriced and unhealthy foods at the restaurants. Trust me your wallet will thank you.
           If you still want to go out and not eat in your hotel, you can always make a picnic. Everyone loves a picnic.  That's why sandwiches are a great idea, also food items you can make easily like potato salad, cole slaw, any items you can make in your simple kitchenette or hotel room. Sometimes you don't have a stove or availability of utensils and pots to make fancy dinners. Last I checked we are not the Prince who will have eggs benedict made on a hot plate in a dorm room. Unless you bring your own hot plate then you can but that is all you honey.
          These items I would recommend the most based on my personal experience

•  Bread
• Deli meat
• PBJ
• Jelly
• Some fixin's for you sandwich like maybe a premade salad and you add the lettuce and dressing to your deli sandwich for flavor. (Hey don't judge me I am a college kid)
• Mayonnaise
• Potatoes -Some stores allow you to buy individual .
• Coleslaw mixings - I know there are prepackaged mixing for this, I have bought this before
• Some snacks - chips, peanuts, bananas- try to stay as healthy as possible. Bananas are easy cleanup and can be bought individually.

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On-the-go wardrobe

Hello my dears:

Sooooo.
    I was speaking to my father today and he asked if I had started packing. It was in that moment I realized that I had forgotten that daunting task. I have to pack for 6 weeks; the most I have ever packed for. When I went to Montana last summer I had packed for 4 weeks and just reused certain items, but brought plenty enough undergarments in case I didn't have access to a laundromat, all that packed into a carry-on and a backpack.
     This time will be a little different, in part that it is an excavation, so I have to think about the clothes I will be wearing onsite and the clothes on the weekend. I essentially need different sets of clothing: work and for lack of a better word, fun.
     Now I am a notorious list maker.I love lists, I love planning, I love being given opportunities to do such a thing. This is why for the next trip with my friends I have told them I am making an agenda for us so that we can actually hangout at the same time together since we only see each other once a year.
     Anyway down to business. Luckily I am at university because I accumulate so many t-shirts, I don't have to buy one. You know those old ones that you sleep in and you got it from that club you went to one meeting to. Yea those, I've got 2 drawers full of those. I also never get rid of clothes, so my closet hanging space is quite tight, it's a wonder it hasn't exploded yet. BOOMMMMMM! Okay, my point is that I have a lot of old clothes, PERFECT FOR A DIG AND SLEEPING. ZZZZZZZ. So I pack all of those.
       Then for the weekend I need my decent and cute clothes. Now I have to think about the fact that people don't dress the same as in the States. I can't wear my daisy dukes and low cut shirts. So fashion has to be thought about. Now since I come from a semi-preppy background. Most of my clothes is preppy and mostly Tommy, Ralph and so on and so forth. I think I'll be okay. But sadly the weather is different than my normal Florida/ Bahamas weather. It will be raining a lot and not so warm. It'll be like Fall again. YAYYYY! Not.
      So I will be doing a video of things to take for a 6 week trip. But for now I will make a list. A very long list.

• Toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup, makeup remover, loofah! I plan on buying soap and shampoo/conditioner over there to save weight and space. Since they'll most likely be left there.
• I'm bring a swimsuit. Just in case, you never know. Don't judge me I am Bahamian raised and go to school in Florida, I have a whole drawer full of swimsuits.
• Clothing- I am bring 2 pairs of gloves for sightseeing. 
• Scarves- they do wonders for outfits and can change an outfit up. So one less outfit to pack. You have to think about the space you have in your suitcase and want to bring only basics. I usually choose 3 colors and use those as a base to make my on-the-go wardrobe. See I incorporated the title. Fancy Schmancy. 
• Shoes- I will only bring 1 pair of heels- black. They go with everything and in case my buddies want a night on the town. I will bring 3 pairs of boots, one for hiking, one for fashion (jockey), and one pair of rain boots. 3 sperrys, 1 flatt, 1 pair of flipflops, 1 pair of slippers.
• In case I get invited on a date by a cute European. Ohhh la la! I will be bringing one night-time dress. But I will also bring 2 dresses for sightseeing and for going out with my friends.
• 2 raincoats, my anorak, a cardigan, and a jacket.
• Shirts- now this is the fun part. Since I have packed a lot so far, I will be mixing and matching. If I put a shirt over my dress it doubles as a skirt. A cardigan changes an outfit, scarf changes an outfit. Now add all of those together you have a new outfit. See what I mean about mixing and matching? So I'll pack maybe 5 shirts since I will only being wearing those of the weekend. I could go into how many probabilities I have of outfit but I won't.  Stick with basics: basic styles and solid colours. Or at least not too flashy, we want to look classy and fit in. Or as a Brit would say, 'Posh'
• Now pants, I'm sticking with regular jeans. Eh boring I know, but basic.
• Accessories: Bobby pins, Hair bows, headbands to keep your hair out of your eyes (great if your hair is dirty!), ribbons! Ribbons are great because you can use it to cinch your waist and to make a unique outfit!

Anyways I hope this list gives you an idea of what you should bring. I haven't decided on my colours yet, but I will get there when I begin the process. Also I think this list makes me sound as least touristy as possible, they're easily pickpocketed over there. Lucky for me I have spidey sense!

I'll see y'all next time. :)

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How-to: Jet Lag

So I have been thinking about how I am going to cure this jet lag. I have heard many ideas on how-to by my friends and family. While the most jet lag I have experienced is a 2 hour difference, which believe me you can feel it.

Here are some tips that I have compiled:

1. A week or so before your trip try to sleep on that time. So when you arrive you're rested. For example: if the time difference is 5 hours, then go to sleep around 5pm your time so your sleep schedule will line up with theirs. Then wake up around the time you'd be waking up, for me I would have to wake up 2:30 am my time because I would be waking up at 7:30 am their time.
2. Keep hydrated. You may think that you should drink a lot of coffee during your travels. Wrong. Drink some but drink a lot of water. Stay hydrated my friends. :)
3. When you arrive in your destination do not do things you would on your schedule, many airlines arrive in Europe from the U.S in the morning. Do not go to your hotel/hostel and sleep, stay awake. Besides you may be too excited to sleep ;)
4. There is also another thing my friends told me about, don't not to eat a lot of fried foods, eat healthy. I feel this would go along with staying hydrated. Fried foods, despite them being wildly available and cheap especially in the U.S, they can make you feel ill during the travels. He told me that eating fruits was the best idea.
   

I will update this list with more tips! I'll talk to y'all soon.

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