Simply, Sydney – Page 2 – live joyful. live intentional. live simple.

My Tips on living BALANCED & HEALTHY in College!

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Hiya!! I hope whenever and wherever you’re reading this, you’re smiling 🙂

Today’s post is all about some practical and realistic ways to live a happy & healthy lifestyle while in the midst of alllll the college craziness. This season of life is nothing short of hectic; change seems to be the only constant, and a new environment creates many an opportunity to neglect the necessary stability our mind and body craves.

Cutie pic from my walk yesterday.. I just *love* October!!!

My broken road to health is a story for a later time, but sweet friends, I would love to encourage you for just a moment: the Lord designed us not to be perfect, but to reflect His perfect image. He does not desire us to rigorously train our bodies to look a way that He did not design, or to frugally dwell on every bite we take. This is a sweet life that Jesus died so we could live; our striving for excessive control limits our ability to rejoice and walk in the freedom He gave us.

I am by NO means an expert in the vast field of nutrition/wellness/etc. (and my friends will tell you how huge my sweet tooth is…), but I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite practices to foster a little bit of balance during the frantic freshman experience.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with you bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Try to get your body up and moving every day!! While I used to be a bit more rigorous when it came to my exercise routine, I am learning to appreciate the ebs and flows of physical fitness, and trying to not put so much pressure on cramming a workout into my busy day if it does not fit into my schedule. Don’t get me wrong- I love a good sweat sesh, but sometimes a nice long walk around campus is just what my body needs:)
EAT YOUR FRUITS & VEGGIES!!! This is harder in college than it was at home, but I’ve learned how, where, and when I can get the nutrients that help me thrive with full capacity
Stay flexible with spontaneous plans! Go to ice cream or Insomnia with your friends- the extra calories are worth the extra memories. I promise. Ice cream is goooooooood for the soul :)))
Take advantage of your walks to class- put your AirPods in and a little pep in your step! Closes those Apple Watch rings real fast lol
On that note- take the stairs!!! (says the girl on floor 9…) A quick way to get your heart pumping!
On the side of mental health… sister, read your bible. Nothing else will fill the void in your heart but Jesus- trust me.. I’ve tried it all! Get into the Word & talk to Jesus like He’s your friend, because He is! When we invite Him into every aspect of our lives, our King of Kings works and intervenes on your behalf, for your good, and for His eternal glory. Don’t undermine this power!!!!!!!!!
Sleeeeeeeeeeeep!!! People really rag on me for going to bed early, but I just have realized how important sleep is to me, personally! Rest is so necessary and yet so neglected in “hustle culture.”

In vain you rise early and stay up late… for He grants sleep to His beloved.
psalm 127:2

Stay hydrated! Guys, water is legit so good for you AND it is so fun to drink out of a cutie cup! SO fun!
KEEP UP UR HYGENE. Don’t be the person that smells bad in the elevator… lol but this also means taking care of your hair, skin, nails, laundry, sheets, etc. etc. !!! Clean = calm 🙂
Get out of your dorm!!!! Study with friends! Go on walks! Go to dinner with your neighbors! It is soooo easy to get so stressed & overwhelmed that you isolate yourself- but life is so much sweeter in community.
Call your mom!!! Do it. FaceTime her. Right now. It will make her day & yours.
Eat an apple! SO random but literally I eat one every day.. so yummy, full of fiber, and gives me energy!!!
SKINNY POP AND OATMEAL. Need I say more ??
Steal bananas from The Caf LOL

There you have it! Some of my realistic ways of living a healthy and balanced life in COLLEGE! So fun! So worth it! Now go treat your body like the temple of the Holy Spirit that it is ;))

Simply,

Sydney

ON KINDNESS.

By Sydney Bush

On

In Faith

I had a totally different blog post planned for today (how I eat healthy & balanced in college coming soon!🥳) but the Lord has just put something else entirely on my heart!

Kindness seems like the most basic of human qualities, but I’m learning that is actually the most powerful. It sometimes feels like it’s dwindling in this world, and sometimes like it’s overflowing. Today, for me, it feels overflowing, and I’m inspired to keep it going!

The beauty of kindness is that it is a ripple effect. One act of kindness inspires another, and so on and so on, until the world is just a bit brighter and our friendships are a bit sweeter!

I think sometimes there is a stigma around kindness; I’ve been called a suck-up for doing something sweet… it was pretty discouraging. There are some people who view generosity of heart with a self-seeking perspective, and honestly, I’ve found myself thinking those same thoughts, fueled by jealousy and insecurity of my own character. Thank God that He changes our hearts and purifies our sinful motives, because Lord knows I need it.
When reflecting on kindness this past week, my mind goes towards the ultimate act of kindness- Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins, just because God loved us so so so much. God is so kind, and sometimes I forget that because I’m so focused on how I can be seen, heard, loved, admired, etc. etc. in this world. God is so so so kind, He gave us hearts that when turned toward Him, allow us to want to show that kindness to others. That is so unfathomly beautiful!

“For you were called to freedom, brothers (& SISTERS). Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another.
Galations 5:13

Sooooo what are some tangible ways that we can live out our calling to freedom and love by serving each other??? Wellllll, let’s break this down!

Leave a friend a sweet/encouraging/funny sticky note! (MY FAV)
Offer someone a ride!
Bring someone coffee, donuts, candy, etc. etc. etc. (sweets and coffee are my love language….)
GENUINE COMPLIMENTS
Giving someone your full attention when they are speaking
Smile at people you pass by!

Let your passenger play the music in the car while you’re driving
Walk with someone to class, even if it’s out of your way
Speak LIFE over people! Encourage encourage encourage. Let your words build up the people around you; cheer your friends (and not-so-friends) on with a pure heart, no matter what your insecurities are making you feel

Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24

Start a nice conversation while you and another person are awkwardly riding the elevator together
Call a friend you normally don’t talk to just to ask about their day
Remember the things that people choose to share with you, & then follow up later on!!!! This shows that you care 🙂
Offer someone your seat, your jacket, your pen, etc. (my friend Madison is amazing at this, she levels up the friendship game!)
PRAY for + over the people in your life. There is nothing more powerful, kind, or selfless than prayer. When we seek, ask, and knock, the Lord hears us and answers us!!! I am trying to start praying over my loved ones more.

There are so many more ways to show a little bit of extra kindness each day! When we start to focus on the good we can do, the bad starts to fade to the background. Let’s all try to be a good friend today!!!

Simply,

Sydney

My Favorite Comfort Movies!

By Sydney Bush

On

In Lifestyle

Not gonna lie here, guys… I do not have the most sophisticated movie taste. While I love a film that will make me think and grow and challenge myself, most of the time, I watch movies to give my brain a break from thinking about the hard stuff of life!
My mom and sister both love deeper movies, or ones with a… darker… plot line (do not make me watch a horror movie. I will cry and scream and run away. legit)!
One of my favoriteee things is cuddling up with no phone, lights off, skinny pop, and a great movie that just makes me HAPPY and INSPIRED about life and love again!!
Soooooo, here is a list of a few of the movies that make my heart happy 🙂

Valentine’s Day!!!! Random movie, but one of my all-time favorites. Never fails to make me happy! And jam-packed full of CELEBS! Fun fact Taylor Lautner is my celeb crush #one #free #pass

Any old Disney movie definitely makes the comfort-list.. alllll the warm and fuzzy feels here!!! Cinderella has been my favorite since I was a little girl- reminds me of the power of a kind & generous heart ❤️

Ok this is a new fav of mine- I just watched this at a sweet friend’s house and we all DIED because of the cheesiness overload!!!! SO. STINKIN. CUTE. Also the main British guy>>>

ANY HALLMARK-TYPE CHRISTMAS MOVIE EVER. On repeat from Oct 31-Dec 25th… nothing makes me giddier!!!! It’s my pipe dream to be in a Hallmark Christmas Movie one day…

13 Going on 30!! Classic feel good movie, cutest romance story, best fashion, I could go on and on and on!

Forever and ever will love this movie- nothing gets me dancing like this soundtrack!! I grew up with my mom playing ABBA alllllll the time- so this is such a sweet story to me!

Literally this is so random but this specific remake of the Sound of Music is my FAV!!! I always used to watch it when I was sick so it just is super nostalgic for me! Loooooove Carrie Underwood too so

OK if you know me then you know… I am obsessed. And not ashamed. Will never turn down a Harry Potter marathon.

Alright folks, that’s it for today!! If you’re ever in a funky mood, consider turning on one of these sweet stories and let your heart be happy in another world for a bit ☺️

Simply,

Sydney

Little Things That Made Me Happy This Week

By Sydney Bush

On

In Lifestyle

Hiiii, Y’all!! I hope whoever is reading this has a smile on their face, but if not, maybe you will by the end of this lil post! 🙂
This past week has been DIFFICULT & sort of a BUMMER for me… I’ve been sicky and I hate being sick!! Especially now that I’m in college.. my mom isn’t here to take care of me! 🙁

this week sponsored by messy buns, Jesus, & Body Armor

This new week is here, and I’m determined to not let my physical circumstances steal my joy… soooo, I’m going to a compile a list all week of all the things (big or small) that made me smile each day, and post this on Friday! Join me in this next week, if ya want to!

MONDAY:

an iced green tea latte with oat milk and SF vanilla from Starbucks!! Perfect pick-me-up
sweet friendships that are beginning to solidify 🙂
made good progress on a research paper that I’m currently writing!
a BUCS boy handed me a rose at chapter!
at chapter, a cutie friend nominated me for Theta of the Week and wrote the SWEETEST message to me that was read in front of everyone! Really made me feel seen in a week that I felt overlooked… ❤️
my walk to Theta for dinner (SUPER YUM) in the sunshine ! Isn’t the big White House BEAUTIFUL?!

TUESDAY:

my roomie is HOME after a loooong weekend of being gone.. all is right in the world!
we are back on the floor of Phi Delt for USING rehearsals because… THETA MADE THE SHOW! I’m so excited for the opportunity to compete in OU’s University Sing Competition
got a sweetie voicemail from a new friend… heart is melted ok ok
slept in braids so I woke up with crimpy hair oooo ya

WEDNESDAY:

guys not gonna lie this was a hard day 🙂 still feeling super sicky
BUT still gonna choose joy !!!
saw the drum line perform while walking down the sidewalk!
ate a bagel
went to bed early
sometimes the best part of the day is going to bed!! that is okay!

THURSDAY:

went to urgent care and the doctor was super nice 🙂 🙂
got a Bondi Bowl last night & saved it for this morning for brekky!! YUMMY
only went to one class bc I was at the doctor… ig this is a happy thing ?? ??
DALLAS TMRW HOLLA

made this cutie insta story while waiting at urgent care…. #love #reality

FRIDAY:

legit had the best day!!!!!! was up bright and early with my sweet friends and drove to D-TOWN BABAY!!!!!
had the best intentional and hilarious conversations in the car on the way down 🙂
shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped #mydream
went to a yummy dinner & then to Billy Bob’s to TWO STEP THE NIGHT AWAY
spent the night giggling and cuddling with my best friends… so happy xoxo

I hope y’all had an AMAZING week and chose to find the joy!!! Circumstance wise, these last few days have been rough by being sick & overwhelmed with so much to do!!! But I’m learning that when I keep my eyes on Jesus and live for the happy lil moments, my days are so much sweeter.

Simply,

Sydney

tiny room, BIG FUN!

By Sydney Bush

On

In Lifestyle

HI FRIENDS! On this happy Wednesday (well, sort of happy.. I’m feeling a lil crummy and my DayQuil makes me dizzy.. but we are counting our blessings today regardless), I decided to whip up a short & casual post about one of my favoriteeee places- MY DORM ROOM!

Ever since I can remember, I have been decorating, re-decorating, and re-re-decoratng my bedroom; it’s one of my all time favorite things! I love changing things out with the seasons, following new trends, and creating a space that makes me happy, relaxed, and inspired.

Coming into college freshie life, I was honestly really sad about leaving my beloved bedroom at home… I had cultivated it perfectly to the point that it truly felt like me, and it made me super happy!! But, with the help of my amazing mom who has the best taste in the world, and my sweet, down-for-anything roomie, I am just as in love with my dorm room at OU, and am excited for all the memories that will be created in this tinnyyy space!

Here are some of my favorite lil spots in our dorm; I hope they bring you as much joy as they do me, or even inspire you to create your own happy space!

THE ACTUAL COMFIEST BED. Also an actual pain to make each morning!!!! #realitysux

MY DESK!! Not much actual studying gets done here… def acts more as a vanity.. but still a happy space! feat. MY PLANNER AH ILY

lil affirmations + inspirations on the fridge! This is for real super helpful for memorizing a bible verse or just reminding yourself to focus back on TRUTH!

We have this huge cubby shelf where we keep all the cleaning, eating, fixing, etc. things! I LOVE these cute blue floral bins from Target. AND most importantly… we have my Keurig & TREAT JAR LOL!!! Currently holding mini honey biscuits and caramel candies…

I hope y’all enjoyed this little peak into our room! As followers of Christ, I believe it’s important to not only open your heart to others, but also to open your door; let the people that God has placed in your life into your life.. & your space!! He commands us to love our neighbors for a reason!!! And nothing is more an inviting than a smile and a pretty room that fosters true connection and community.

Who is someone that you can invite into your space this week?!

How can you beautify and steward well the environment God has trusted you with?

Simply,

Sydney

When Life is Harder than Expected.

By Sydney Bush

On

In Faith

Real talk: I’m a pretty confident person.. or so I thought. Like most of us it seems, high school was a fun, exciting, and breezy experience for the most part that left me feeling high on my horse! Coming into OU as a freshman, I had the perfect ideal of what my college experience would be like. I would ace all my classes, join the sorority of my choosing, have tons of sweet friends, meet a cute guy who loves the Lord and doesn’t talk to 15 other girls who look just like me, get immediately plugged into a church, join every leadership committee available, the list goes on and on.. and honestly, it’s embarrassing!

My list is embarrassing because it really highlights my not-so-humble nature to strive for things that aren’t meant for me, and also because not one of these came true…!

Took this cutie pic with my #friends when I didn’t know half of their names! Reality 🙂

College is FUN, EXCITING, & a huge BLESSING, but honestly, it’s also extremely overwhelming, a boatload of pressure, and makes me feel pretty inadequate most of the time.. not to mention homesick.

I’ve always been a pretty idealistic and optimistic person, but when faced with the reality of my not-so-glamorous college experience so far, I struggled with some depression from being let down by my own unrealistic expectations.

Everyone around me seemed to have everything all figured out, and I felt as if I was flailing, unable to catch my bearings. I didn’t feel worthy of the opportunities I’ve been given. Fear of failure, being disliked, and letting people down completely trapped me in my own brain. I was crying every night to my mom, doubting if college was the right path for me, desperately wanting to come home. The thing is, no one here knew I was feeling this way. I kept all of these dark and negative thoughts in my own head, posing as the confident girl I was known as in high school.

This is when the perfect grace of Jesus comes into play, for He opened my heart to help me realize that this “picture-perfect” life I had envisioned for myself was not from Him. To me, faith means that I trust the Lord’s plan for my life more than I trust my own, and I had completely disregarded this belief in hope that I was the exception! I was so focused on the ways I was insufficient that I forgot that grace means that I am sufficient in Jesus.

Sweet friends, I’m beginning to understand that what’s meant for me will find me because I have a perfect inheritance as a daughter of the King. I don’t need to strive for more, different, or better. Neither do you.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24

God has truly blessed me with health and ability, a small but growing community of family and friends that love me for me, and the opportunity to learn at a wonderful school filled with wonderful people. I don’t know what your blessings are, but I pray that you count them today instead of adding bullet points to your wishlist. Take your blessings and steward them well, working heartily and cheerfully in whatever endeavors, relationships, or experiences that God has placed intentionally in your hands. And I pray we can all lean into the Lord when life is inevitably harder than expected, expecting Him to fill our cup in only the way He can.

To tell the truth, I am still working through many of the struggles I’ve opened up about, and I know that it’s a longggg work-in-progress! But this progress is beautiful in its own way, not by my own actions but because anything that is formed by the good hands of the Lord is beautiful. Opening up about this kind of thing is difficult for me, but oh-so freeing.

Simply,

Sydney

My Morning Routine!

By Sydney Bush

On

In Lifestyle

OK Y’ALL. This is where it gets fun… I’m going to dive into my favorite part of the day– MORNINGS!!! There is something so sweet and special about a fresh day with so many possibilities. Full disclosure- I am NOT this positive in the morning (just ask my roomie) but by the time I’m out the door I’m feeling good! It’s a process 🙂

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22-23

This week, I decided to be super consistent and intentional with how I start my day, and let me tell ya, this week has been nothing short of incredibly sweet, fulfilling, & productive! I am slowly beginning to wake up excited to live this blessed life.. so much so it’s sometimes hard to sleep! 🙂

8 AM – WAKE UP!! Here is where I definitely hit snooze a few times and soak in the last few moments of dreamland…

8:15 AM – QUIET TIMEEE! This is the key to a peaceful day: intentional time spent seeking Jesus by prayer, worship, and reading the Word. I always make a warm cup of coffee around this time, sit up in bed, and open up my Bible, journal, and devotional. Currently, I am reading The Armor of God by Pricilla Shirer, so I will go through the day I am on with the required readings, and then I will usually journal out my prayers for the day! If my roommate is up at the same time, we’ll play worship music and have quiet time together.

8:45 AM – The time comes to get out of bed, so I’ll roll out and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth! After that, I put on my workout clothes, throw my hair in a pony, take my vitamins, and make sure my backpack is packed.

9:00 AM – Usually around this time I start to get hungry, so recently I’ve been making a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. It’s nutritious, filling, and gives me the energy to make it through those first few tough hours.

9:15 AM – By now I’m grabbing a mask, filling my water bottle, and running out the door to make it to my 9:30 AM class! 99% of the time, I am running 5 min late… :/

10:30 AM – I am out of my first class & ready to get my blood pumping! I head straight to the gym on campus to get a good workout in. This everyday practice leaves me feeling energized, healthy, and peaceful for the rest of my day. Still working on my 6 pack, though!

11:30 AM- I’m finished working out and head back to my dorm room, where I actually get ready for the day. I usually fix my hair, put on some makeup, and pick out a cute but comfy outfit! I check out my planner to see what I have to get done for the day, and then head out to my 12:30 PM class.

The rest of my day always varies by class schedule, social events, club meetings, etc. etc. etc.! One of the BEST things about college is how everyday is different & special! Personally, having a consistent routine in the mornings gives me the structure I need to accomplish my spiritual, educational, and health goals while having a FUN TIME!!!

Here’s to making something that I used to dread, turn into something I look forward to 🙂

Now, I encourage YOU to find out what makes you the happiest & healthiest, and then make it a priority to incorporate it into your day! I promise you, consistency in any endeavor, especially seeking the Lord, pays off tenfold in your heart and mind.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!

Simply,

Sydney

What are the 5 steps in the critical process? Which of these is most important, and why?

By Sydney Bush

On

In Homework

This is question number 9 from the back of chapter 1 one of Media and Culture!

STEP ONE. DESCRIPTION: The 4 W’s and 1 H! Who, what, when, where, why, and how! This can be just as one would imagine- a super basic and observable description of the media.

STEP TWO. ANALYSIS: This one is alllll about the patterns we can observe throughout the piece of media! For example, some patterns could be the color scheme, the attitudes of the characters, repeated phrases, common themes, technical aspects that strive to make a statement, etc. etc. The possibilities are endless and specific to each piece of media!

STEP THREE. INTERPRETATION: This is where it gets FUN! As analyzers of the media, we get to ask “so what? why are these patterns important?” What message is the creator/author/actor/etc. trying to tell? How do the above patterns and elements work together to tell this message in an engaging way?

STEP FOUR. EVALUATION: Now, we arrive at a judgement! Was the media successful in portraying the message that we deciphered in step 3?

STEP FIVE. ENGAGEMENT: How did people receive this piece of media? Was there a positive or negative reaction? What actions were taken by the audience? Here, as the analyzer, you can also take steps to engage with and share the media as you see fit!

While all 5 steps are important to fully critically analyze a piece of media, I believe that the Interpretation aspect is the most important, in order to dive deep into the author’s purpose in creating the medium!

What question drives your interest in media? What question(s) are you hoping you will find the answer to regarding your media world?

By Sydney Bush

On

In Homework

When asked what question drives my interest in the media, I honestly go back to the basics- why do people consume the media they do? What experiences back their interests in the content that they so readily intake, and how does it make them feel?

Personally, the media I consume is most commonly the kind that leaves me feeling positive, inspired, and content. I unashamedly put on the ‘rose-colored glasses’ that cheesy movies, shows, books, videos, etc. strive to give. Honestly, I feel as if the world around me brings enough ‘reality’ and discouragement into the picture; if an hour spent reading a sweet love story brings me joy and the encouragement to love the life I live, then so be it!

Just a few of my favorite movies during the holiday season! 🙂

In the same breath, I am so interested in the reasons why others consume certain types of media and what extent of fulfillment it brings!! I personally don’t feel much fulfillment through media consumption, but I know that this is not the case for everyone, and I would love to learn more about the driving factor behind the scrolling of our thumbs.

That’s all for today, folks!

Simply,

Sydney

Live Simply.

By Sydney Bush

On

In Faith

What part of yourself can you embrace more?
Bob goff, live in grace. walk in love

When asked this question at the bottom of my daily devotional, I stopped and really thought about the answer before continuing my quiet time. Was there a part of me that I was suppressing? I spent some time talking to Jesus and thinking about my life, and how much it’s changed recently. I’m a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, learning how to navigate life in a new home, in a new routine, with new people, and basically new everything! When thrown into a fresh season of life, I’ve realized how easy it is to “reinvent” yourself and become whoever you want to be- no one would know the difference! The thing is, maybe no “reinventing” was necessary in the first place, and you (and I) were completely perfect just as we were. In this process of trying to be more, better, or whatever the case is, it’s also easy to let the little aspects of your heart that matter the most slip through the cracks. You know, the tiny things that really make a person who they are. For me, I realized that my thing I let slip through was my heart for the simple things in life.

I’m just gonna be honest here- I love love, cheesy romance movies (especially the Christmas ones), a warm cup of coffee in the morning, a long walk in the sunshine, making breakfast, curling my hair, and wearing a cute outfit for no special occasion. I adore the simple pleasures of life, and understand how blessed I am to experience these little things! I sometimes feel as if everyone is moving at just a slightly faster pace than me, trying to grow up and get on with the big, important milestones. I think moving to college was enough of a milestone to last me a few years!! In a new environment, it became easy to suppress my heart for the simple in lieu of following the hustling pace of my peers. This left me feeling nothing but drained, empty, and homesick not just for my family and bed (lol), but for the girl I used to be.

So, here I am. Writing this blog in my dorm room with Disney piano music playing, my bed made and room clean, and a warm cup of sleepy time tea brewing in my Keurig, perfectly content and excited about this journey that God is taking me on. I’m ready to embrace the simple, happy moments of life and seek joy in all that I do, while rooting myself deeply in the love of the Lord. I understand it’s bold of me to assume anyone other than my teacher will even read this, but I’m more than grateful for a new project that will hold me accountable, give me a creative outlet, and help me embrace this wonderful life that God has blessed me with!

Now, what part of YOURself can you embrace more?

What are the little things that your heart loves?

Find a way to revive these in your life, today!

Simply,

Sydney