Katelyn Sinclair Blog

Life Update- December 2020

Hello, and welcome! Since it has been a while since my last post, I thought I would share with you what has been going on these past few weeks.

The lack of content was most definitely a result of the business of the season. From the end of semester projects to Thanksgiving to finals, and finally gearing up to Christmas, I guess you can say I have been a little busy (but haven’t we all?)

Fall Semester

Last Tuesday, I finished the fall semester of my senior year, which means there is only one more to go! I am honestly in shock that my college years have gone by so quickly, but on the other hand, I am very excited to graduate.

I was fully online this semester, which at first terrified me, but I ended up loving the online format and the classes I took. The online format gave me a flexible schedule, which made it easy to balance my classes with my internship (don’t worry I’ll mention that in a second). Although this semester was a bit challenging, I ended with a 4.0 GPA. Not only did I do well in my classes, but I felt like I learned a lot of useful skills in each class, which will benefit me in the future.

Classes I took:

News Reporting & Writing
Data Journalism
Media Ethics
Advanced College Writing
Popular Culture & Entertainment of the 1980s (probably the most fun class I’ve gotten to take in college!)

Before this semester, I decided to pick up a journalism minor, which was why I was in so many writing and media courses. I never really saw myself as a journalist, but I really enjoyed all of my journalism classes this semester. They taught me so much about writing, which has helped me get back in the groove of writing for my blog!

Internship

In August, I landed an internship with the Kentucky Campus Compact as one of their Communications Coordinators. This internship is a remote position, and I am incredibly grateful to have this job during the pandemic. As a Communications Coordinator, I have helped run the Compact’s social media pages, redesigned their WordPress website, written blog posts, and have helped create monthly newsletters.

My internship has helped me gain valuable skills in content creation and social media management. My position has given me a better vision of what I want to do with my future, which has me excited for life after graduation!

Holidays

‘Tis the season! Since my last post, I have been celebrating the holiday season with my family. For Thanksgiving, we had our first-ever mini-Thanksgiving, with just immediate family. Although I missed traveling to see my extended family, I enjoyed relaxing and having a low-key holiday.

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been rushing to finish my Christmas shopping before the big day. The holidays this year may look a little different, but I am still excited for this season. Christmas is my favorite holiday, mostly because of the music, the movies, and the food! I have already watched the movie Elf three times but will most likely watch it another 3 or 4 times before Christmas.

As 2020 comes to a close and we ring in the New Year, I am starting to think of goals for 2021. In the new year, I plan on refocusing my time and energy back on my blog and social media content. I have great content ideas in mind for the upcoming year that I cannot wait to share with you.

I hope you all have a safe and healthy holiday. I appreciate all who spend the time to read my blog and connect with me on my social media pages; your support means the world!

~Katelyn Sinclair

Tips to Stay Thankful- Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on what we’re thankful for, it is a holiday where we gather with family and friends to remind us of all the love in our lives. I think it’s safe to say that this Thanksgiving is different for all of us. Whether you are staying at home, traveling, visiting extended family, or just spending it with your immediate family, 2020 has changed our annual Thanksgiving traditions. As easy as it is to complain and feel negative about this time, I have been focusing my energy on finding new ways to practice positivity. Here are a few ways I have reminded myself of the things I am thankful for this year.

Surrounded myself with encouragement

I am a firm believer that the messages and media we expose ourselves to on a day to day basis affects our mindset. We spend so much of our time-consuming media, whether it is online, on tv, or on the radio. Shouldn’t we make sure that the media is bettering our thoughts?

The next time you turn on a screen, ask yourself:

Will this teach me something?
Will this bring me joy?
Will this inspire me?

We want to be surrounded by things that will encourage us to become better versions of ourselves. Doing this has helped me view media in a completely new light and taught me new ways to grow; which I am incredibly thankful for.

Wrote down things I am thankful for

This summer, I started writing down things that I was thankful for each day. At first, it was so hard to come up with a couple of things. But, the more I practiced, the more I was able to write each day. Gratitude is a quality, but it is not one that comes naturally. We must practice the way we view our lives so that we can be thankful for every aspect. The more time we spend recognizing the good, the easier it is to find it when we need it most!

Strengthened my relationships

Back in high school and even college, I didn’t really have strong relationships. I would get so caught up with school that I would find myself alone on weekends or time off. This year one of my resolutions was to make sure that I dedicated more time to my relationships so that I could show them that I am thankful and appreciate them. The pandemic, of course, made this a little challenging; but instead of just giving up on this goal of mine, I decided to continue trying.

Luckily, 2020 has brought so many new ways to strengthen relationships that I didn’t know about previously. With new ways of being able to communicate with someone, I was able to reach my friends virtually. I am very thankful for these tools, especially as a lot of my friends and I near graduation. We can continue to use things like Zoom, even after the pandemic to keep in touch.

I hope you all have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving holiday! How do you plan on spending the holidays this year? What do you do to stay thankful? I would love to know in the comments below.

~Katelyn Sinclair

Staying Humble

I am at a point in my life where I question if I am practicing humility to it’s fullest potential. Through trying to build my personal brand on social media, trying to prove myself in classes, and mentally preparing for finding a job after graduation, I can’t help but feel like I am pushing myself to be noticed for my accomplishments while competing with others. Every day I convince people why they should follow me, why they should like my work, or why they should choose me over hundreds of other applicants. In the past few weeks, this issue has taken a toll on how I view myself. You see, humility has always been one of my core values. It is a characteristic I strive to obtain in every moment, however, I have noticed the three things I have spent the majority of my time on have been making me feel like I am not focusing on it.

So how do we practice humility in a highly competitive world?

Grow closer to God.

God calls us to practice humility several times in the Bible, listen, and apply these lessons to your everyday life.

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12

“All of you, clothe yourself with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself.” Philippians 2:3

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12

Be grateful for everything, even the low points in your life.

It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives when you are at a low point, but the lowest points in life give you an even bigger chance to grow. Radiate gratitude with those around you, and appreciate everything you learned when God was challenging you.

Be present when you are with others.

Show your friends that you appreciate their presence by being present. Listen to them, and let them know that you care about their lives.

Remind yourself that life is not a competition.

Life is not a competition, so there is no need to compare your life with someone else’s. We all work through life differently and are given different paths by God. Judging our path with another’s will not make your path easier.

Listen to criticism.

There are moments in life when someone criticizes us. At the moment, you may feel defensive and say something against the criticism. You may decide to fight back and point out the other person’s flaws. Practice humility by listening to how other people view you. Learn your faults and own up to them. If you deny them, you deny yourself the chance to improve.

Stay humble, everyone!

~Katelyn Sinclair

Fall Bucket List 2020

Fall is my FAVORITE season, so I thought it only necessary for me to share my favorite things about my favorite season. Now, I understand that this autumn season may seem a little different than those in the past, but that’s not stopping us from enjoying it while it lasts! Here is my bucket list for fall 2020.

Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch

Nothing screams October more than visiting a pumpkin patch! The beautiful farm scenery, hayrides, corn mazes, apple cider… it always makes for the perfect fall day.

Make Caramel Apple Slices

An easier and cleaner way to enjoy caramel apples at home! Just cut up an apple, pour some caramel sauce, sprinkle some candy or nuts on top, and enjoy.

Purchase a Fall Scented Candle

My current favorite is the Autumn Woods scent from Bath and Body Works!

Go to the Drive-In

Drive-ins have been quite popular in the past few months due to the pandemic, and I am here for it! With the days getting shorter, drive-ins are a perfect way to see movies you love, plus the crisp autumn weather makes it all the cozier when you’re cuddled up with family and friends! I know that my local drive-in is showing scary movies during Halloween weekend, so be sure to check out what your local drive-in is showing.

Halloween movie night at home

Don’t have a drive-in nearby? Have a movie night at home! There are so many fall- festive films to choose from. Here are a few of my go-to’s!

Little Shop of Horrors
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Coco
Beetlejuice
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Bake Pillsbury Pumpkin Cookies

Also known as the best cookies ever made. Place ’em on a cookie sheet, pop them in the oven, and enjoy!

Watch Halloween episodes of my favorite TV- Shows

Here are my favorites!

Suite Life of Zack and Cody (Season 1, Episode 19)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 5, Episode 4)
Glee (Season 2, Episode 5)
The Office (Season 2, Episode 5)

Make Festive Drinks

There are so many recipes for fall drinks! Try your hand at making your own apple cider, chai latte, or even a pumpkin spice latte.

Eat Candy Corn and Peanuts

If you’re a fan of the salty/ sweet combination, this is a must-try snack. Trust me.

Paint Pumpkins

If you’re like me and hate the mess of carving pumpkins, try painting pumpkins!

There are so many fun fall traditions, but these ones are my favorite! What are you most excited for this season?

~Katelyn Sinclair

A Letter to the 2020 Seniors

Hello, this is my first blog post in a little over a month, so I thought I would update you all on what’s been going on. To be honest, I just needed a break. Back in August, I started my senior year of college, which has turned out to be a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. Being fully online with school, I pictured that this semester would be a breeze. I thought I would have so much free time to work on hobbies, like my blog. I figured that since most activities and events were canceled, I would finally have time to relax.

Being a senior in general is hard. I remember back in high school, I was juggling several different commitments. However, being in high school, I had so many “lasts” that kept me through stressful times. Whenever I felt anxious, I would think about all the things I was looking forward to. I looked forward to prom, my last musical, my senior trip, graduation, and much more. All of these events made the hard work worth it in the end.

But with our current state, seniors in 2020 don’t get any lasts. The lasts we did get, we didn’t realize they were our lasts. Our college experiences are over without them actually being over. Just yesterday, I was informed that my school is canceling spring break and possibly canceling graduation. Although I understand why they canceled these, it’s frustrating to think that seniors are working harder than ever without a break and the recognition we deserve. Finishing strong is hard as it is (senioritis is real y’all), so we’re expected to find a way to keep going with nothing to look forward to?

These past few weeks, I have been in a rut. I have the same routine and sad mindset every day, and I just cannot seem to get myself out of it. I am not inspired to work on the things I typically enjoy, which is upsetting. I am literally forcing myself to write this very post. But while writing this, I realized that it’s ok to be upset. We are in a hard season of life, but we will eventually get out of it.

I guess I am writing this for my fellow college seniors, all of whom are finishing their years of hard work during such a time of uncertainty. We deserve better, but I have a strong feeling that our hard work will not go unnoticed. If we can finish our degrees in the heart of a pandemic, we can do so much more. I am with you, I am praying for you, and I believe in you.

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”
–Harriet Beecher Stowe

8 Tips for Online Classes

There is no doubt that this new semester looks different. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many students are working through online classes for the very first time. Being thrown into a new format is never easy. So, I thought I would share with you all of my tips and tricks to help you through your education, even during these challenging times.

First off, I want to point out that everyone is different when it comes to learning, and that is ok! Sometimes school comes more naturally to some people than it does to others, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Please do not think that your grades, extra-curricular activities, etc. define your worth. Going off of that, some majors are more difficult than others. For me, Public Relations is something that comes easily to me because it focuses more on the skills that I enjoy, rather than having to comprehend and apply complicated concepts. If you put me in a science class that involves a lot of test-taking, I would really have to push myself (science is not my subject!) Define your success through what you learn in the class as a whole, not what grade you receive.

You can be successful in anything through hard work, time management, and being kind to yourself. So, let’s get started

Read the syllabus!

Usually, on the first day of in-person classes, you will have what I call “syllabus day”. This is when professors go over the syllabus and expectations for their class. Since online classes are on your own time, professors may not make it a requirement for you to go through the syllabus. I know it is easy to want to skip this step, but I am telling you that it is essential for being prepared for the semester.

Here’s why:

Because it’s an online course this is the only way to get to know more about your professor. Having a better understanding of your professor will help you feel more comfortable when you need help.
The syllabus gives you all the ways you can contact your professor, as well as when you can contact them.
The syllabus contains grading policies, so you know what assignments are the biggest part of your grade.
There is almost always a list of due dates for the entire semester. This can help you plan ahead.

Make a weekly assignments list.

If you know me, you know that making lists is my favorite thing to do (hence why this blog post is a list!) Every Sunday evening, I like to take a look at my classes and see what is assigned for the week. This allows me to mentally prepare and get organized, it also helps me get an idea of how much free time I will have.

Just by spending 20 minutes or so going through each class and writing down every single thing that is assigned can help prevent missing smaller assignments such as discussion posts. Your list can also serve as a checklist throughout the week to help guide you.

Make a monthly assignments list.

Similar to the weekly assignments, a monthly assignment can help you prepare for big projects, papers, and exams. We have all been there when you check your assignments for the week, and that huge project you’ve put off for weeks is finally due, along with an exam, a paper, and several quizzes. Making a monthly assignment list can help you prepare for the month as a whole, especially if you are involved in things outside of your classes.

As someone who is heavily involved, having an overview of my month helps me balance meetings, work, and other extra-curricular activities. If I happen to see that a week is going to be really busy one week, it gives me enough time to get excused from any obligations.

Set aside time for each class.

Online classes are convenient because you can work on them on your own time, but when you are balancing more than one, it can be easy to put them off until the end of the week. To avoid scrambling to get all of your work done before Sunday at midnight, treat each online class like it has a set class time.

Creating a class schedule helps you spread out the work throughout the week. Of course, your schedule doesn’t have to be down to the minute, but having an idea of when you want to work on things will help you stay on track. I personally have my “school time” between 2 pm and 5 pm Mondays through Thursdays. During this time I focus on my work and try to avoid my phone. Each day I work on different courses, so I can focus on one class at a time. Implementing a class schedule for yourself may be hard at first, but just like all schedules, it will get easier with time!

Email professors when you need guidance.

From my experience, online professors are almost always willing to help in any way they can, as long as you reach out to them. Throughout my entire high school career, I HATED emailing teachers and asking questions. I found it awkward, and I hated letting teachers know that I was struggling, so I never reached out for help.

With college, I am the complete opposite. Why? Because I am spending thousands of dollars on my future career, and I want to make the most out of it. As awkward as it is to email a professor, I would rather make sure that I am completely understanding the material. Especially with online classes, professors have no idea that students are struggling. It is up to you to email them if you need help!

With COVID, my professors have been even more willing to help students who are struggling in the online environment. Be honest with your professors if you are not doing your best work due to this crazy situation we are all in.

Take notes as if it were an in-person class.

You may think that since your teacher isn’t watching you, that you can just skip over the lectures and just do the assignments. If your online class uses powerpoints or videos, be sure to take detailed notes as if you were in a normal in-person class.

I typically like going through and outlining the most important topics in each PowerPoint or video. I find that writing my notes out on paper is best for me, but I have friends who prefer typing them out. Be sure to do whatever works best for you!

Remind yourself why you are in school.

Whenever I run out of motivation, I have to remind myself why I am doing something. We all have a reason why we are studying in school, or else we wouldn’t be spending thousands of dollars and putting in countless hours of work. Reminding yourself of why you are doing something helps you visualize your goals, and makes you more willing to work towards them.

For me, I have big dreams of doing Public Relations for Disney. My dream job within the company is not an easy one to come by, which is why my dream has been a big part of my motivation throughout college. So, when you are stuck finding the motivation to do your schoolwork, think of your dream. Is putting off your schoolwork going to help you achieve that dream?

Don’t psych yourself out!

Online classes are just like normal classes. You are still doing lectures, you are still reading the chapters, you are still putting in the work. The only difference is that you are not physically in a classroom with other people. Remind yourself of that and don’t psych yourself out!

So many of my friends have told me, “I just can’t do online classes,” and have used that as an excuse to not do their best work. When you continue to tell yourself that you can’t do something, it makes it harder for you to succeed. Start telling yourself that you can, because you can do online classes! It may not be the easiest way for you to learn, but sometimes you need to put in a little more effort to overcome obstacles. You can do this.

I hope you all found these tips helpful, I am wishing you all a great semester! For more study tips, check out my post, 6 Tips to Conquer Finals During Quarantine.

~Katelyn Sinclair

10 Ways To Get Prepared For Back To School — Rosethorns and Honeydew

September is rapidly approaching… which could only mean one thing, it’s back to school season! Whether you’re dreading the classes and work or excited to tick off another year, this post is here to get you prepared for school. 1,634 more words
10 Ways To Get Prepared For Back To School — Rosethorns and Honeydew

Plan With Me: New Goals

One of my favorite things to do is to create goals for myself. It helps me reflect on what I really want to be spending my time on and gets me excited for what the future holds. The tough thing about goals, though, is holding yourself accountable to achieve them. When creating my goals for this new semester, I thought it best to share them all with you in a way to stay motivated.

Below are a few of my goals, as well as the techniques I plan to use to help accomplish them. I encourage you to read them in hopes that you become inspired to create and plan new goals for yourself!

Become a Morning Person

My first goal is to become a morning person. This summer, I stopped participating in morning routines and wouldn’t roll out of bed until 10 or 11 am. With school starting back up again, I think it’s best to start a schedule that will allow me more time to work during the day.

Ways I plan to accomplish this goal:

Stop using screens by 10 pm on weeknights
Going to bed by 11 pm
Waking up at 7:30 am every morning

Start Each Morning with a Devotional

I find that being able to start my day in the Word has done wonders for my anxiety. When I positively begin my day, I feel like I can carry that feeling with me for the rest of the day. Lately, I have been getting in the habit of doing my daily devotionals right before I go to bed when I am tired and not as focused. By sharing my mornings with God, I hope that I will be able to grow closer to Him.

Ways I plan to accomplish this goal:

Set aside time to read my Bible before starting the day
Adjust my phone settings to where I cannot get on social media before a specific time, so I don’t put off doing my devotional.

Read Every Day

Ever since quarantine started, I have noticed that my weekly screen time has increased quite a bit. I used to spend around 5 hours a day on my phone, but now, I am averaging around double that amount, and I am embarrassed (especially since most of that time is scrolling through Instagram). To lessen the amount of time online, I thought it would be fun to pick up reading again. Not only will I consume less media, but I plan on reading books that will teach and inspire me.

Ways I plan to accomplish this goal:

Set aside an hour before bed to read
Set app limits so I don’t get distracted and go on my phone
Research and purchase books that interest me

Stretch Every Day

My entire life, I have always struggled with flexibility. Even though I danced for fifteen years, I was never even able to touch my toes, let alone do the splits. By stretching every day, I hope to feel better both physically and mentally, and maybe be able to do the splits in the future!

Ways I plan to accomplish this goal:

Add stretching to my morning routine
Set aside 20 minutes a day to stretch
Make sure that I am holding each stretch for at least 30 seconds while breathing to improve.

What do you hope to accomplish for the rest of this year? Let me know in the comments below.

10 More Things to Stream During Quarantine

A few months ago, I compiled a list of some of the things I had been watching during the quarantine (click here to read). Well, since you all seemed to like that post, and we still have a lot of extra time on our hands, I thought I would share a few more of my quarantine streams. So, let’s get cozy and start talking about a few of my favorite shows and movies!

Movies

Hamilton (2020) on Disney+

I am sure most of you have seen Hamilton by now, or at least have been told by someone that you should watch it, but if you STILL haven’t seen it, go watch it now! Musical theater is very special to me, and it is remarkable that one of the biggest shows in Broadway history is easily accessible for the world to see. I hope that with the popularity of this film, we will get access to more Broadway shows in the future. So if you haven’t seen Hamilton, what are you waiting for? Do not “throw away your shot” at seeing this incredible piece of theater.

Star Wars Movies on Disney+

I was “a girl who had never seen Star Wars” for the longest time. I grew up not understanding the hype, without actually giving it a try. When they released Rise of Skywalker on Disney+ back in May, I made it a goal of mine to at least watch the first few movies. After watching The Empire Strikes Back, I was a changed woman. Let me tell you, Star Wars is worth the hype, y’all! Of course, I did prefer the original trilogy over the prequels and the new films, however, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed all of them. If you do plan to watch all nine movies, make sure to watch them in release date order (episodes 4,5,6,1,2,3,7,8,9).

Rocketman (2019) on Hulu & Amazon Prime

Elton John has always been one of my favorite artists. In fact, a lot of his songs are actually on my list of all-time favorite songs. When I saw that it was being added to Hulu and Amazon Prime, I was ecstatic. I had gone to see it twice in the movie theater when it was released, and I was excited to watch it again. The thing I love most about this biopic is how personal it is. Instead of just playing Elton’s songs, they matched each song to a specific point in his life, making the lyrics of his famous songs tell his story. In a way, it was like watching a piece of musical theater. I also loved seeing the cast perform the songs, versus lip-synching to the original. Plus, Taron Egerton’s performance is outstanding. If you are a fan of musicals or even just love Elton John, give this movie a try!

I Still Believe (2020) on Hulu

As a Chrisitan, I have to admit that I have never enjoyed Christian movies. Maybe it’s the former actress in me saying this, but, Christian films are almost always low-budget movies with predictable scripts and horrible acting. When I first saw commercials for I Still Believe, I was surprised that Riverdale actor KJ Apa was playing the lead. Personally, I was interested in seeing him in something that wasn’t, well… Riverdale. When I saw it on Hulu, I thought “might as well give it a chance.”

Five cries later, and I have to say that this is probably the best romantic movie I have seen in a long time. In my opinion, it was a more realistic version of The Fault in Our Stars (2014), it had a decent script with believable actors, and it had a great message! Even if you do not share the same beliefs as me, I would still recommend this film. I think they did a great job focusing on the story-telling aspect while implementing Christianity. If you do give this movie a try, make sure you have some tissues nearby! (This is coming from someone who rarely cries in movies.)

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) on Disney+

I’m going to be honest here, I have never really liked Sleeping Beauty. It’s probably my least favorite Disney Princess movie, and when Maleficent (2014) came out, I had no desire to watch it. Through my old internship, I actually got a chance to go to a screening of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, before its release and ended up really enjoying it! Going in, I had no expectations of it being good, I was honestly shocked when they announced they were releasing a second Maleficent movie because I didn’t think the first one had great reviews. When they put this movie on Disney+, I rewatched it with my family and they loved it as much as I did!

After watching this film, it encouraged me to watch the first movie. Unfortunately, the first film is not available to stream anywhere, but you can rent it through Amazon. In all honesty, this movie makes me hopeful for the future of Disney’s live-action films. I hope they continue adding to the stories of their original characters, instead of just creating copies of their films. If you feel like you’ve run out of things to watch, definitely check out this movie!

Shows

You (Netflix)

I am not one for thrillers, but wow, did this show get me hooked during the first episode. You is about a man who becomes obsessed with a woman, to the point that he is willing to do anything to make sure nothing gets in the way of his relationship with her. This show is psychological, sinister, and just plain creepy. Yet, it’s addictive to watch. I will say this show may be hard to watch for some people, and it is definitely not good for children. My boyfriend and I both got overly cautious when we were watching this at my apartment, but we still thought it was a great show to binge!

Interior Design Masters (Netflix)

Does anyone else just crave a good competition show every once in a while? If you do, check out Interior Design Masters on Netflix! It’s only one season long, and it is a friendly competition between Interior Designers. I loved seeing all of the creative things people could do with a space. Warning: you may want to redecorate your house after watching it!

The Politician (Netflix)

As a Public Relations student, I find this show so fascinating. The Politician follows a young high schooler with big dreams of becoming the President of the United States. We see everything he is willing to do in order to improve his image and his campaign. Yes, this show is overly dramatized and not a reliable representation of politics, but it is so interesting to see the way people act and what they do in order to move up in the world. This show also made me think a lot about the political topics I am passionate about, which is so important, especially during an election year. Ben Platt is great in this show, and he even sings a few songs which are a nice touch! Definitely check it out if you need a new show to binge.

Fosse/Verdon (Hulu)

If you can’t tell already, I love musicals. Growing up, I did a lot of theater and dance, so when I found out they were making a show about Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon, I just HAD to watch it. Bob Fosse is the famous choreographer behind musicals like Pippin, Chicago, Sweet Charity, and Cabaret. There is no doubt about it that his choreography and direction had a huge impact on musical theater. This show is so incredibly well done, and was nominated for several awards. If anything, watch this show for Michelle Williams. Her performance as Gwen Verdon is phenomenal, and she deserves all the praise she has received for this role.

Hollywood (Netflix)

This show has a very similar feel to Fosse/Verdon, which is probably the reason I enjoyed it so much. Hollywood is about aspiring actors, writers, producers, and agents trying to make it in the Golden- Age of Hollywood. What I loved most about this show was the fact that they included a lot of real Hollywood names and history. They also touched on a lot of issues that are still current today. Representation in Hollywood has been an issue since the beginning and sadly is something we haven’t fully overcome. In a way, this show shines a light on actors like Anna May Wong, Rock Hudson, and Hattie McDaniel, who faced a lot of challenges in the movie industry. Overall, this was a great mini-series to watch and has an excellent cast!

I hope you guys enjoyed these suggestions, I really enjoy creating these for you! And if you need more suggestions, be sure to check out my previous blog post 10 Things to Stream During Quarantine. What are you currently watching? Let me know in the comments!

~Katelyn Sinclair

5 Small Ways to Grow Closer to God

Within the past year, I made it a priority to grow in my faith. I wanted a close relationship with God that would last a lifetime. During the past few months, I made some small changes in my life that I believe have helped my relationship with God grow. So, here are a few ways you can grow closer to God in your everyday life!

1. Switch Out Your Music With Worship Music

I am not saying you have to completely get your favorite playlists, but the next time you turn on music, try turning on a worship playlist. This is something I started doing back in January and, I’ve learned to love it! Instead of listening to the Hamilton soundtrack (for the millionth time) in my car, I turn on some worship music. For someone who is not a fan of driving, I’ve noticed that it makes my drives a little less stressful! I’ve also started listening to worship when I am studying or working, again, I feel as though I am a little more focused and relaxed.

2. Turn on the Verse of the Day Notification

This is one that is so simple, yet so important! Sometimes one verse can change your entire day, so why not get a little taste of what God is trying to speak to you? I have found so many incredible verses through the verse of the day on the Bible App, which has helped me feel closer to God.

3. Listen to Christian Podcasts

If you are like me and are trying to get into listening to podcasts, try listening to Christian podcasts! I know that my church, as well as many others, post their weekly services on apps such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This is a great way to catch up on weeks that you missed church, or relisten to your favorite messages!

A few of my favorite Christian podcasts:

4. Write Out Your Prayers

Feeling stressed about something? Take a second to write it down and then pray about it. No matter how big or how small your prayer is, God will listen. I suggest writing down prayers because it gives you a few moments to actively pray about it. Plus, writing it down helps you remember it.

I love to write my prayers in a small journal, that way, I can pray over the same things later that evening. This also helps me look back and see which prayers were answered, and which ones haven’t!

5. Follow Christian Bloggers/ Influencers on Social Media

We are what we consume. Think about who you are following. Are you following people who inspire you? Or are you following people who are making you feel poorly? If you are constantly consuming negative media, you are going to start feeling negative emotions.

A few months ago, I noticed I was mostly following people who I compared myself to. I found myself wishing I looked the way they did, wanting what they had, and comparing my life to theirs. Back in April, I did a HUGE unfollowing of people who did not bring me joy in any way. I unfollowed a lot of celebrities, huge Instagram Influencers, Youtubers, you name it. I then started following more people who had similar values as me and people who genuinely inspire me. Now, I love going on Instagram. I learn new things every day, I feel more engaged with the community I created, and I am inspired to share more about myself on that platform.

A few of my favorite Christian Ladies on Instagram:

***Of course, I cannot list ALL of my favorite bloggers but feel free to check out who I follow!

I hope you all enjoyed this list! These are small things you can incorporate in your everyday life, and grow even closer to God. Are you already doing some of these things? Let me know how it has impacted you!