August 2016's "Summer Set"

If you took the time to read my last post, then you might recall that I mentioned creating a "Summer Set" with some of my favorite gems in life at the moment. As promised, here's a little list that I've compiled. Be sure to be on the lookout for some more blog posts, including a set for every month!

1. Starbucks' Purple Drink

Okay. I already know how "basic" this sounds from the title of the item alone, but HEAR ME OUT. This is probably one of the greatest things that I have ever ordered from Starbucks, and it's the perfect refresher on any hot day. Simply order an Iced Passion Tango Tea and ask for soy milk instead of water, a few pumps of vanilla syrup, and blackberries. You definitely won't regret it.

2. Stephen King's It

I'm obviously behind on the trends here, but this read falls under the category of "oldie, but a goodie." I bought this book a while ago, never got around to reading it, and rediscovered it when I was cleaning my disaster of a room one day. If you're into thrillers, mysteries, and anything to do with Stephen King, I highly recommend this for you. (If you have a fear of clowns though, maybe don't read it.) There's a remake of the 1990 film coming out in 2017 too, in case you needed another reason to read it.

3. Post Malone

Ordinarily, I've been more of an indie/chillout type of music person. My best friend got Justin Bieber tickets for her birthday and chose to take me as her plus one, and Post Malone was one of the opening acts at the concert. He was honestly probably the realest act of the night and actually acted like he wanted to be there (unlike Moxie Raia or even Justin Bieber himself). If you've heard his single "White Iverson" and enjoyed it, check out some of his other songs, like "Go Flex" and "Too Young."

4. Lilly Pulitzer

I'm a huge sucker for organization when it comes to planning out my life. This year's Lilly Pulitzer planners have everything that you need for the Type A side to your personality. It even includes two of the cutest sheets of stickers filled with potential events, like "long weekend" and "date night," to stick on days and to make your week a look little more fun. The whole planner is filled with popping watercolor-like images, so even if you opt not to use the stickers, it's still super chic. (Side note: They have a planner with little gold elephants all over it, which is obviously the one that I bought with my elephant obsession and all. Seriously. Give them your money ASAP.)

5. NYX Lip Lingerie

This is probably my favorite lip product of all time. NYX Lingerie is a silky and rich color available in 12 different nude shades. It stays on for a lot longer than most products, and it's super lightweight with a matte finish. My personal go-to shades are Corset and Push-Up, but make sure to buy them according to what you love the most!

Keep on the lookout for my fall set, and many more frequent posts to come. Until next time!

5 Things You Should Stop Worrying About Right Now

Life gets hectic. There's no way around responsibilities, no matter what that word might mean to you. Meetings, classes, deadlines, relationships, obligations, events, work - everything adds up. It's difficult to keep from constantly thinking about such matters, but here's a list of just a few things that aren't worth worrying about. Life is too short to be concerned with little issues.

1.) How you look for the day.
The truth of the matter is that nobody actually cares what you look like or what you're wearing. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in and what you think looks good. Wear as little or as much makeup as your heart desires. Don't feel like doing your hair? Awesome. Feel like making it look extra special? Sounds wonderful. Try out new patterns and prints to spice things up.


2.) Comparing yourself to others.
Everyone is different, and that's a fact of life. No two people are the same, which means that not everyone is going to look the same or have the same skill sets as each other. Find your passion and hold onto it. Grow through it, and show the world what you have to offer.

3.) Petty arguments.
You're not always going to get along with everybody, especially if you're particularly close with them. Instead of letting such disagreements stress you out, keep in mind that things will more than likely be cleared up soon. Chances are, you'll look back on this and laugh.

4.) Making a mistake.
Sometimes, we screw up without even realizing it. Making mistakes is human nature, and they are there to help us learn from them. Don't be so hard on yourself, because there are always plenty of opportunities to try again.

5.) Over thinking.
I am perhaps the biggest culprit when it comes to over thinking about things. I think of situations in my head and play out every possible scenario that could come from it. I manage to think of every thing I might have done wrong to explain why I haven't gotten a call from someone yet, what the future holds, etc. Lately, I've been finding that this is one of the biggest wastes of time. Life is meant to enjoy the little moments, and not to dwell on the non-existent ones. One step at a time is all we can take.

Sidenote to my rambling: If anybody knows where I could get the shirt in the picture included please let me know because why wouldn't I want it?!?

11 Ways to Stay Calm During Midterms

Feeling stressed before taking your midterms? Most students are. Whether you have one test or five, here’s a list of 11 ways to keep your cool during this time of year.

1.)  Remember that break is just around the corner.

Incentives are a great thing to help you stay focused during a week of tests. If you’re going home for break and you’re excited, that’s definitely something to look forward to. If you aren’t, treat yourself to some online shopping or a much deserved iced coffee.

2.)  Keep in mind that one test or class won’t matter years from now.

Tests do not determine the course of your life. One bad grade will not decide where you end up working or how well you do in the rest of your academic experience. Although you should definitely study and aim for a high grade, don’t get too discouraged by your score if it’s not what you hope for.

3.)  Stay focused.

Your friends’ Snapchat stories can wait. The more important thing to pay attention to is studying and making sure that you know what to expect on your exams. Put your cell phone on silent and turn on some music that won’t distract you.

4.)  Don’t overthink things.

Personally, I know that I have a major tendency to overthink everything when it comes to tests and what might be on them. Instead of trying to retain every last bit of information from your readings and/or notes, try to understand the key points and phrases and what they relate to. That way, when test day rolls around, you’ll be able to see a word or phrase and know what it’s about.

5.)  Use your time wisely.

Cramming the night before a big test is never a good idea. Instead, try spanning out your time and scheduling when you want to study for different classes.

6.)  Try out different study methods.

Flashcards, slideshows, and highlighting textbooks or notes are just a few ways to keep your mind on track with what you need to know. Try a few methods out and see which ones work the best for you.

7.)  Study in different places where you know you’ll stay focused.

Personally, I know that I’ll get distracted in my room. By going to the library or the café on campus, there’s a much better chance that I’ll get things done with limited distractions.

8.)  If you don’t know the answer, take a guess.

Leaving an answer blank on your test isn’t going to get you any points at all. With a guess, you at least have a chance of earning full or partial credit.

9.)  Get plenty of sleep.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is getting enough sleep ahead of time. Taking a test too tired can result in a bad grade. Plus, there’s the added fear of sleeping through every alarm that you set for yourself.

10.) Eat something before the test.

By eating at least a granola bar or an apple before your exam, you’re more likely to focus. Besides, nobody likes to be that kid who’s stomach can’t stop growling in the silence.

11.) Try your best.

No matter what the grade comes out to be, you’ll still know that you tried your hardest. At the end of the day, that’s what counts. Like I said in #2: one bad test grade isn’t going to determine the rest of your life, and it really won’t matter down the road.

Good luck!

8 Ways to Stay Positive Through Distance

Distance sucks. There’s no way around it at all. Right now, I’m in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend who is leaving for basic training in five days and I won’t be able to be with him or really talk to him all that much until January. Having not seen each other since August, we make time amidst our busy schedules to Face Time and talk on the phone while we still can. If you’re in a similar situation, here’s a list of eight ways to stay positive (from personal experience).

1.)  Look through old pictures.

Looking back on some of my favorite memories is something that lets me know that, even though we’re apart right now, there’s plenty of opportunities to make more in the future.

2.)  Keep yourself busy.

One thing that really helps me keep my mind from dwelling on negative thoughts is making sure that I have a lot on my plate, schedule-wise. I’m not saying get involved in so many things that you can't breathe, but do enough to keep yourself occupied. Having fun and doing what you love is important!  

3.)  When you are together, make every second count.

Cell phones and social media have a tendency to take over our attention spans, whether we realize it or not. When you actually are with each other, set the cell phones aside and put them on silent - the cell phones will be there everyday, but your significant other won’t be.

4.)  Motivate each other.

Being so far apart means being extra supportive for each other. You both have aspirations and dreams. Cheer them on, no matter what goals they have in mind. While you might not be there physically, let each other know that you’re always by their side.

5.)  Stay updated on each other’s lives.

If you haven’t always been a long distance couple, you might have been with them everyday once upon a time. If you can’t do that right now, ask each other how your days have been. Including funny details can make it seem like you’re not so far apart.

6.)  Remember to stay focused on yourself.

Obviously, you’re going to be missing your significant other a lot. Regardless, one of the most important things to keep in mind is to stay focused on yourself and what makes you happy. You know yourself better than anyone else, so make sure that you are okay before worrying or stressing out too much.

7.)  Surround yourself with people who love and care about you.

It’s not always going to be easy. You aren’t going to be cheery 100% of the time. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but it also leaves you with a temporary feeling of emptiness. Hang out with your friends and family as much as possible. Laugh, have fun, and look at the bright side of life instead of what you can’t change.

8.)  Count the days.

Remember, you aren’t going to be apart from each other forever. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow - but sometime in the future, you'll be together. Look forward to the day that you’re reunited with your loved one, and think of the sparkle that you’ll get in your eyes when you’re with each other once again.