Recently, I created my own digital journal template which has revolutionized my life. I’ve spent way too much money on planners, blank journals and bullet journals that were all supposed to help me collect my thoughts and be a better me. None of them worked. I found myself never using them and only sometimes remembering or wanting to write in them. I still had hopes of at least pretending to have my life together. At the beginning of Jewell’s spring semester, I decided to create my own template to follow. 

When drafting this idea, I was realistic about what I would actually be willing to do. On my iPad, I used the note-taking app Notability to create my template. I started out by drawing some squares, used my best handwriting for the titles of each box and finally had a planner I could actually use. I kept things simple, attainable and neat. 

I’ve learned that I only wanted to plan day by day, since my phone has all of my future plans. Then I tried to brainstorm how to make a to-do list less intimidating. I settled on a “Top Three” box with three things I knew I had to get done each day, then everything left on my to-do list was just extra. I had managed to keep the planner part of this project simple, but I knew that keeping track of my moods and giving myself a reason to reflect was vital too.

I decided to add two more boxes to improve my mental health –  a simple mood tracker with different levels of happiness or sadness. I would circle how I felt each day and possibly write a simple phrase to explain how I had felt throughout the day. Then I made a large box for affirmations, wanting to give myself space for self-love and there’s no better place than the same page I would mark off my daily triumphs. 

So far, I have used it almost every day. It helps keep my thoughts in one place, was cheaper than buying a new planner I wouldn’t use and every day I copy the template from the last day to start my next. It isn’t perfect and I don’t doodle on every page. My journal is messy like me, but it has gotten me through just fine and that’s all I need.

Planning and journaling is an individual activity –  there is no one way to do things and the more specific you are with your needs, the more practical things will be. Try to think of the things you’d be willing to do and just give it a shot. You can always try something different the next day – that’s the beauty of DIY journals. Good luck!

It’s spooky season! With Halloween just around the corner, the perfect costume is a must. Whether you plan on going out or staying in, here are some costume ideas that won’t scare your bank account. 

Most of these ideas would work for groups, couples or individuals.

Buy a bag of Smarties candy from the store and tape them all over a pair of pants to immediately become Mr./Mrs. Smartie Pants. This idea can also work with Nerds candy to be a nerd – add a pair of glasses to really look the part. 

Have a tropical shirt but don’t want to be a tourist? Add a pair of khaki shorts and boxing gloves to become Hawaiian Punch. 

Grab a loaf of bread from the store and some trophies or medals to be a breadwinner. 

When life gives you lemons, make a Halloween costume out of it! You can make a shirt that says “life” on it or carry around a box of Life cereal. Either way, don’t forget to bring the lemons!

Speaking of cereal, buy some mini cereal boxes from the store and empty them out. Tape the boxes and some plastic spoons to a plain t-shirt for a “Cereal Killer” look. If you want to make it a bit scarier, splatter some fake blood or red paint on the shirt. 

If it’s supposed to rain on Halloween, repurpose your umbrella into your costume. Print off pictures of Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, Tom Holland, Tyler Cameron, your Jewell crush and others to tape to or hang from the umbrella. It’s raining men!

Arguably the easiest group costume is being M&Ms. Plain colored shirts with a white “M” pinned to your chest will do the trick. Coordinate your socks or pants color to your shirt for added effect.

A similar costume would be to tape “A” to a red shirt, “S” to the blue shirt and “T” to a green shirt for easy Alvin and the Chipmunks costumes. 

Another classic, easy costume is Sully, Mike and Boo from Monsters Inc. For Sully, get a blue shirt and put purple patches in a few spots. Mike’s costume would be a bright green shirt with a giant eyeball made of paper pinned to the stomach. Boo would simply need a pink shirt and pigtails. To make yours unique, add colored tutus or buy oversized shirts with colored shorts. 

Throw it back to April 2020 for this next look. Save up the empty toilet paper rolls from your bathroom to tape or pin to a shirt to remind everyone to be thankful we all have toilet paper now. You could also add masks, hand sanitizer bottles and signs to keep six feet away for a complete COVID-19 themed costume. 

For a more upscale look, you’ll need an old prom or homecoming dress. You can either carry a rose and be a Bachelor contestant or wear a tiara, sash and bouquet of flowers for a Miss Universe look. 

A perfect couple’s costume could be Jake from State Farm and Flo from Progressive. For Jake, you need a red shirt and khakis. Flo should be dressed in all white with a white apron. Adding name tags and talking about insurance all night would really drive home the point. 

Another fun couple’s costume is Bob Ross and a Happy Little Tree. You can find a Bob Ross wig and paint pallet at Party City and other costume stores. For The Happy Little Tree, you need a brown shirt with leaves taped or pinned to it. You can even channel your inner Bob Ross to draw little branches on your face. 

If all else fails, places like Spirit Halloween have great last-minute masks, wigs, hats and costumes. No matter what costume you decide on, have fun, and be safe this year. Happy Halloween!