A Curly Girl's Guide to Flaunting Your Curls

If you were born with, grew up with, and still have super curly hair, then chances are at some point you’ve envied the girls with straight, luscious locks - I know I have! It seems like a lot of extra work to add to your hair care routine and, like many curly Sues out there, I’ve gone through bottles and bottles of products claiming to tame my mane but to no avail. I used to hate my hair because it never seemed to cooperate or fall casually around my shoulders the way hair seemed to do for other girls. It was when I learned to stop fighting what I was born with and instead work with it that I was able to capture the true beauty of my awesome curls! All you curly girls out there catch my drift. Here’s how you can stop wrestling with you hair and start looking even more fabulous. 

1. Create beautifully voluminous buns. 

Buns are super easy to create on anyone and are a cute way to keep the hair out of your face when you’re at the gym or you’re running late and you don’t want to swat the hair off your cheeks. Curly hair is already big and volumized so this guarantees a chunky and full bun that you can pile on top of your head. This is so easy to do and your hair is ready for class in just 30 seconds! 

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2. Redefine a flirty ponytail.

Don’t try to do those adorably messy loose ponytails where you’ve got a few strands of hair sticking out and the elastic is slack. You also don’t need a dramatically sleek ponytail either. You need a ponytail that’s smooth, casual, and effortless. Your curly hair makes the ponytail flirty and bubbly - and you didn’t even need a curling iron! 

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3. Do romantic twists.  

If you want to spice things up a bit, twists are a perfect way to change up your look. Like the bun, you can create thick twists without a problem. To do this, you can take a chunk of hair from the left side and right side of your head. Start with one side at a time. Divide the chunk into two sections and twist them around each other in a Dutch braid until you reach the end. Do the same with the chunk on the other side. When done twisting, pull the left braid across the back of your head towards the right side and secure it in place with bobby pins. Pull the right twist to the left side and secure with bobby pins. Leave the rest of your beautiful locks to go free! Now you have a fun hairstyle for a date, for class, a party, or just ‘cuz. 

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4. Give your curls some air. 

You don’t even need to tie your hair up or do anything fancy to it. Letting your curls hang down your back looks gorgeous all day, everyday! Curly hair has a youthful body. People will never get tired of staring at your intricate locks. This look can be wild and crazy but it also naturally gives off a free-spirit kind of vibe and is a super down-to-earth look that curly girls are born with. 

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5. Flaunt flower crowns. 

This is an exotic way to show off your hair texture. There’s something about flowers in your hair that gives you a preciously tropical vibe. Your curls are already super flirty - all you have to do is, literally, top it off with a pretty flower crown from Claire’s or Forever21 and you’ve got an easy way to decorate your curls. 

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6. Skip gels and mousses. 

After trial and error and countless bottles of hairstyling gels, mousses, “gum”, and such, I’ve learned that there aren’t really any products that provide proper hold to ensure that the frizziness and flyways stay at bay without making the hair hard and crunchy. Ugh, crunchy hair is a huge hair texture turn off and all that product will, without a doubt, make your hair feel sticky. I know, I know, it can be difficult to manage your crazy curls when everyday is a struggle against humidity and frizz so getting a little help from squeeze tubes of pretty smelling gel can be rather tempting. If you must apply a product to your hair, opt for a light hair oil instead. Argan oil has many beneficial properties for hair of all textures but it’s a great product to use to make frizzy flyaways settle down and it won’t make your hair stiff. 

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7. Hair masks are the saviors of dry hair, damaged hair. 

Curly hair craves moisture. No, it needs moisture.If your throat was dry you wouldn’t ignore it, now would you? Your hair should be treated in the same manner. Your hair will inevitably be dry and you’ll need something to soothe it. I find that applying hair masks as part of my hair washing routine really helps keep my hair smooth and super soft. My hair is usually noticeably less dry and stringy after applying a hair mask and washing it out. This is imperative because many shampoos contain sulfates which further strip the hair so applying masks religiously will help downplay that effect and make your hair feel and look softer. 

8. Don’t wash your hair everyday. 

This is another sure fire way for you to dry out your hair! I know a lot of people think it’s “gross” if you don’t wash your hair everyday or at least every other day however, for curly hair, that’s one of the worst things you can do. When you wash your hair so often, you strip it of its natural oils that are in the scalp to condition and moisturize the hair and what’s the one thing that curly hair craves? Exactly. Washing your hair once a week is a better alternative for curly hair so your natural oils are released and your hair will be less dry.

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'JADED' NAILS

Colors used: 

• Sally Hansen Electra-cute!
• Revlon Posh 

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My Study Session Playlist

You just can't help but get and shake it up when Taylor Swift's Shake It Up starts blaring from your headphones but it's just a little counterproductive when you get up from your textbook every five minutes to move your hips like there's no one around to watch.

I enjoy playing music while I study or do homework. In fact, if there is a lot of background noise while I'm trying to study, I'll put in headphones and play music to drown out that background noise. Sometimes, I can't even fully concentrate in dead silence either - it's the way my brain works.

So what songs do I listen to to keep me from starting a conga line while I'm studying? Taylor Swift? Fallout Boy? 5 Seconds of Summer? Or is it Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea? Ariana Grande? Would you believe it if I told you that I like listening to classical music and composed pieces while I study? I know, I know, Katy Perry is not a classic even though she's super awesome! (I love you Katy!)

I've been in the school band since the 7th grade - a proud clarinetist. We played a lot of classical pieces and a lot of medleys from Broadway. I also discovered some interesting composers by performing in the band so I like to listen to some of the songs that we performed and also look for others from my favorite composers.

I love listening this kind of music while studying because:

• there are no lyrics so there are no words that could confuse you while you're studying 
• many songs have five different atmospheres in one piece 
• this kind of music makes me overall more alert 
• the instruments sound so natural and not fake and it promotes calm in my opinion 

Have I sold you yet on the idea of listening to classical music while studying? I sure hope so! We know Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi - true classics - but here are a few other songs that I like to have ready for a study session:

1. The Witch and the Saint by Steven Reineke 
This is probably my all-time favorite piece ever! Steven Reineke's pieces are usually drawn from mythology (which I love to begin with!) and they paint clear and heated stories - like you could almost hear the saintly sister calling out to you through the flute. This eerie piece matches the mystery of college homework!

2. Fate of the Gods by Steven Reineke 
Another Steven Reineke favorite. This one depicts the primordial world and features Loki - the Norse trickster God in an intense battle against good. I love playing this one when I'm writing a paper because there are a few hurried ballads that promote a sense of urgency. My fingers literally type faster when these parts come on!

3. Goddess of Fire by Steven Reineke 
You're probably wondering when I'm going to shut up about Steven Reineke but what can I say - I'm a huge fan of his music! Goddess of Fire is a great warm up song - a song that can really get me in the mood for some intense Study Guide - typing! With many changes in tempo, like many of his other pieces, I seem to speed up and slow back down naturally.

4. Grand March from Aida by Verdi 
This song is truly grand! In high school we performed this piece as a band during our graduation ceremony. It's elegant and majestic and though I can't help but sway my head to the bright tune of the trumpet solo it's a great piece to accompany a reading assignment.

5. The Tenth Planet by Gustav Holst
This is great for angrily writing study guides. Sometimes when you're pen gets moving it just can't stop and with this song you won't want to take a break! Better for you since you'll get your work done quicker!

6. Hoedown from Rodeo by Aaron Copland
The Tenth Planet is great for angry writing while Hoedown is great for hyperactive writing though they both have the same effect. It's a great supplement because you feel uplifted while studying even though there aren't words in the song to confuse you!

7. The Tempest by Robert W. Smith
I love this piece because the rhythms are simple and create a sense of urgency to get those hands typing faster. I love that I seem to focus with the pace of the song while staying tuned into my work!

These are my top 7 songs to study to! They keep me focused while drowning out background noise. If you're having trouble focusing on work then I suggest adding in a healthy dose of the classics to your musical lifestyle. You don't have to start listening to them while studying right away but feel around for your favorite composers and pick and choose works from their collections. Can you guess who my favorite composer is? ;)

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bareMinerals Blemish Therapy Review

So I was in the market for yet another product that could banish my breakouts in a few days because let's face it - breakouts suck so much and you just want them to disappear as quickly as they appeared! Unfortunately, not everyone has that good fortune and I am clearly not one of those people.

I like an acne product that leaves my skin feeling good and can diminish my acne in, at most, three days. I know, I know, these things take time, there is no such thing as a miracle product, you cannot have overnight results no matter how hard you try, blah, blah, blah. This kind of product is still ideal, however, though unattainable.

In any case, I was shopping around and went to Sephora with a specific product in mind. The Sephora I went to didn't have the product in stock and what they did have didn't seem like it'd be okay with me. So I went to Macy's and browsed around the makeup and skincare section. I laid eyes on the bareMinerals Blemish Therapy. It was packaged in a nice box and I read what was written on the outside. The product contains about 6% sulfur, which I didn't mind since the product I was going to purchase from Sephora also contained sulfur. The directions I read said to swirl the brush in the product and apply to the affected area. Brush? I was skeptical so I took a peek inside the box and, needless to say, there was the small handy brush pictured above and a small pot of product.

Cool, I thought. I had never used a product like this. It was only $18 which was great since I  have spent $80 in the past on a single product for my skin and I was prepared to spend $30 on the product I had originally had in mind. Obviously, $18 was a steal for me!

I got home and opened the package. The cute little applicator brush came out and so did the pot of product. I opened the pack and realized that it was a powder based product - just like blush or something! I was slightly disappointed because I thought it was a cream formula with a fancy applicator brush. I was still determined to give this product a shot.

That night after removing my makeup and going through my skin cleansing routine I applied the powder to my face. I applied the powder as a spot treatment to my enormous breakouts and went to sleep. I awoke to a less red face where my breakouts had slightly diminished. I've been using this product for one week now and have noticed decent results.

When I apply this product I make sure to remove all makeup on my face first with the help of ELF makeup wipes then I cleanse my face with the Acne Free Facial Cleanser. On day that I exfoliate, I use the Tea Tree Oil Exfoliator from The Body Shop. I like washing my face with water as warm a I can handle at first and when I wash the cleanser off I like using really cold water to close my pores again. I pat dry my face.

I use this product twice a day and I do use it under my makeup. I apply my pore minimizer from Benefit to a fresh face and then apply the Blemish Therapy to my spots. I like to let it sit for about three minutes before I proceed to apply my full face foundation.

Now onto the pros and cons...

PROS: 

• Good price. Like I said, $18 was a good deal for this kind of product. I'm really sick of drugstore products that take three weeks to start working so I'm gravitating towards higher end products which are obviously more expensive, however, this product is pretty cost effective. 
• Results in a few nights. This is way better than having to wait weeks for results! If you haven't already noticed, I'm super impatient. 
• Easy to apply. There is nothing complicated about this product, though the fact that it was a powder formula threw me for a second. This is super easy to apply to your face - just get some product on the brush and pat it onto your breakout. 
• Dries up the breakout. I love the fact that this dries out the breakout without drying out my surrounding skin. I generally have oily skin, however, in recent months it has been neither oily nor dry. 
• Small breakouts are gone overnight. If you have tiny breakouts then you will definitely see them gone by the next morning! I love that about this product! At the same time I did have bigger breakouts which took longer to diminish. 

CONS: 

• Needs a bigger pot. I can definitely see myself needing to repurchase in three weeks or less since I apply a generous amount of this product twice a day everyday. If I can get my product to last me a good month and a half to two months before repurchasing then this is a good plus for me. 
• Stronger formula needed. This is probably me being impatient but anyone who has suffered with their skin problems totally has the undeniable right to be impatient here!! Though the current formula gets the job done in about a week or less I feel that a stronger formula would deliver even quicker results and thus even happier customers!! =) 

I don't have many cons on this product, which is a really good thing because I can be very critical of products! The product does smell of sulfur, however, it is of a very tolerable strength so I'm not listing it as a con.

I hope you all found this review helpful and will try this interesting acne product. The golden question: Will I repurchase? Yes, very likely!

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THE TANK TOP EVERY GIRL SHOULD HAVE

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You walk into the gym and get hit by the smell of sweat, protein shakes, and progress. Guys are going hard and perfecting their deadlifts in the weight room. You see the occasional sprinkle of girls with their hair tied back tightly sporting a dark top and matching bottom so as not to draw too much attention to themselves. Yes, I said girls in the weight room.

While it is becoming increasingly common for girls to workout at the gym just as much as guys do, there is still a societal stigma that girls can either be buff or fragile. Sometimes when asked to picture a very fit girl who works out regularly at the gym, people can’t help but imagine a tall, 5’10’’ girl with bulky biceps, quads, and calves. Many people are actually surprised to see  obviously smaller girls try their hands at lifting weights. When I told one of my guy friends a while ago that I was joining a fitness class focused on toning and sculpting the body he replied with “what, are you trying to look like those super big, sweaty, buff girls?” 

There’s obviously nothing wrong with girls who look like that yet I’m always being warned that if I continue working out I will bulk up - a warning that I still do not heed. 

I’ve pretty much never heard these girls being described as the type to dress up, wear makeup, and throw on heels. It’s as though it’s expected that if you aren’t one of these girls then the alternative is a girly-girl with half a pound of makeup on her face wearing super cute and flirty dresses to class every other day. Let me just say that there are many girls out there who like to look pretty and can throw a knock-out of a punch when needed! 

I am that girl who works out at the gym with full face makeup on. What can I say - I love a good workout and I love my mascara! This brings me to the gorgeous tank top you see pictured above. “Muscles and Mascara” - two seemingly contradicting words - so why are they printed together on the same piece of clothing? 

When I first laid eyes on this gorgeous piece of work of a shirt I mentally applauded its message - simple, sassy, and so true. Why can’t I have the workout ethic of a dude and the beauty skills of a true guru? Why can’t you have the workout ethic of a dude and the beauty skills of a true guru? The answer is simple. 

“For me, ‘muscles and mascara’ means that I can lift weights and I can look pretty as hell - just like a badass,” says sophomore Wendy Zhao as she states her reaction to the message. And that’s exactly how girls who come in contact with this shirt should feel. They should get that surge of confidence and pride knowing that they embody something that is both strong and beautiful - the perfect middle ground. Wearing this tank top should make girls and women feel like superheroes - an army of Wonder Women who are impervious to the shade thrown by stereotypes and, justly so, bask in their own beauty. 

This empowering piece of clothing should be a reminder to society that girls can get toned and still enjoy enhancing their beauty - it doesn’t have to be one or the other! This adorable alliterative mash-up challenges the stereotypical fragile nature of girls who are one with their makeup bags. 

NEVER Do These 7 Things During An Interview

Interviews for jobs or other positions are stressful enough as is. With wardrobe, hair, and comfortable footwear, we all try to do our part to make sure we make a great first impression as an interviewee. But how much of an edge will that fancy pantsuit get you if you make these five mistakes at an interview: 

1. Don’t condescendingly correct your interviewer. 

No, you most definitely are not inferior to your interviewer just because they hold the fate of your job in the palm of their hands but doing this can be seen as rude. I’m part of the Emergency Response Team at my college and recently we were conducting interviews for new recruits. I worked with a partner to interview a girl and my partner didn’t realize that he he asked the same question in a different way. Our interviewee proceeded to say, “Umm, didn’t you already ask me that?” … 

After the interview my partner made sure to note that he didn’t appreciate the remark she made and I, needless to say, agreed with him. You, as an interviewee, might be annoyed at having to give the same answer twice because your interviewer made a mistake, however, if repeating yourself annoys you that much there are more polite ways to indicate to your interviewer that this question was repeated. For example, you could say, “As I said before…” This is more polite and you aren’t correcting your interviewer in any way. 

2. Don’t repeat the same strengths or skills over and over. 

Your interviewer will definitely take note of this. This shows that, first off, you don’t seem to possess many useful skills that will convince your interviewer that you’re the right fit for the job, and second, this shows that you lack substance behind any experiences you’ve listed. Also, this makes for a very boring interview - imagine having to talk about your positive attitude for thirty minutes straight! 

Referring to the same set of strengths and skills during an interview also seems very generic - anyone can be organized and this is probably one of the most generic strengths ever listed. 

3. Never forget to supplement the experiences listed on your application. 

Show your interviewer that you really got something out of your previous internship or your last job. You could have travelled to China and helped build a new elementary school for kids but if you can’t elaborate on the skills you used and how they impacted you and your colleagues then you certainly won’t be as strong of an applicant as you think! 

The proof is in the pudding, or, in this case, the elaboration. Prove to your interviewer that you developed and used a valuable set of skills. It’s great that you’re quite the volunteer and enjoy helping people, however, if you don’t have any substance behind your work then you might end up being a ‘Maybe’ or even a ‘No’. 

4. Don’t blank on a question. 

Yes, I know - you’re nervously sweating buckets already and to top it off you get hit with an impossible question that you can’t find the answer to. You then proceed to say ‘ummm’ and ‘hmmmm’ and put on your best thinking face while your eyes dart from corner to corner of the room. We all get those questions that take us by surprise at some point but many times, these questions are there to asses your thinking. The best way to handle these questions would be to come up with a creative solution. 

When I was being interviewed for the Emergency Response Team as a freshman, my interviewer asked a question about an experience that I didn’t think I’ve had yet. As you can imagine, I had a mini panic attack in my head - “Crap, this question could be the difference between me making the cut and me getting rejected!” Instead of leaving a long awkward, tense silence in the air I simply told the interviewer that I couldn’t think of a past experience and asked if I could give a hypothetical situation instead. If all else fails, come up with a hypothetical! Your ability to do so also demonstrates quick thinking! 

5. Never have your phone out. 

This is a definite distraction. If you have your phone in front of you during your interview and your screen starts glowing from a message you just received, chances are, you can’t help but glance down at your phone. Give your interviewer 110% of your undivided attention! Keeping your phone hidden during an interview is a good interview habit to develop. 

Your interviewer is taking time out of his or her busy schedule to meet with you to hear you out while you bolster yourself for this position - do you really want to throw it away over a message on a phone? 

6. Don’t talk crap about bad former co-workers or employers. 

We’ve all likely been put in less than tolerable situations at work or at an internship but despite this, avoid trash talking the people involved, especially if you listed this particular employer as a reference! You need to show your interviewer that you were able to make the most of a bad situation. One of my interviewees described a situation in which she had to work with a girl who wasn’t a good partner but then proceeded to describe how she maintained civility during the project and tried to make the best of it. 

My partner and I definitely made note of her positive attitude during the situation and listed it as a definite pro. Fight the urge to talk crap about your disastrous former co-worker or your wicked witch of the west of a boss! 

7. Never curse!

Do I really have to tell you how bad it is to curse during an interview? You won’t win any brownie points no matter how colorfully creative your vocabulary is. Save your potty mouth for when you’re hanging with friends!

Hope this list was eye-opening! I have both been an interviewee and an interviewer in professional situations so I hope my two cents are adequate enough to show you, my readers, a few don'ts that can really hurt your shot at getting the desired job or internship! 

'PURPLE HARMONY' NAILS

I have this awesome light purple nail polish that I LOVE so much and really wanted to feature it again in another post so I created these 'purple harmony' nails! This design is peaceful and almost reminds me of nature because of the leaf vines I painted on my middle finger. 

The first thing I did was to apply a base coat and apply two coats of Full Steam Ahead from Essie (my favorite purple nail polish from them!) I didn't do any design on my thumb or pinky since I wanted to leave the plain in order to show off the true beauty of this super sweet and innocent color! 

Index Finger: 

On my index finger I took the gold nail polish from Sinful Colors (the one I raved about as my new staple) and I also took a tiny nail art brush and began painting these arrowhead-like shaped on the edges. Afterwards, I took a really small dotting tool and made dots inside all the open space. You can't see it too well because I should have done the design with white nail polish first and then went over it with the gold but I didn't want to paint white over that and then gold on top of that again in the case that I actually messed it up. Sometimes, it's better to leave well enough alone. 

Middle Finger: 

This is the nail that reminds me of nature. I took a thin nail art brush, dipped it in black nail polish and with one motion, painted two stems/vines that got thinner towards the tip. I then took the same dotting tool from before and used it to create tiny leaves on the vines. Super simple but super elegant and pretty! 

Ring Finger:

Finally, I painted this nail light blue - a color from Sinful Colors named Cinderella which is SUPER accurate! I took the nail art brush again and dipped it in the gold nail polish and painted an arrowhead (basically a triangle) by the tip of my nails. Once that dried I took the same brush and dipped it in white nail polish and made a smaller triangle inside the gold one. 

Expert tip: Clean your nail art brushes using nail polish remover - not water. Using water is a lost cause because it will barely clean the brush. 

There you have it folks! This post was short and sweet (just like my nails at the moment!) and I hope you'll get inspired to get creative and add your own flair to these nails!

31 Tips For Healthy College Living

College opens the doors to many opportunities for internships, networking, education, and even bad lifestyle choices! Follow these 31 tips to improve the choices you’ve been making: 

1. Replace breaded chicken with grilled chicken. 

This is a simple dining hall substitution you can make when ordering a sandwich or eating any meal given the choice between the two. Breaded chicken contains more salt, more calories, and more fat than grilled chicken since the skin is removed from grilled chicken. 

2. Go for frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. 

Replace that pint of ice cream from the grab and go section with a small cup of original frozen yogurt with fresh fruit on top. Frozen yogurt has less sugar than ice cream and the cups are usually smaller which allows for better portion control. 

3. Choose oil based salad dressings over creamy dressings.

I’ll admit, I’m a Ranch-girl…and Caesar-girl, and other deliciously creamy dressings-girl, however, these kinds of salad dressings may not have your best interests at heart. Oil based dressings are a healthier addition to your salad. They’re light and carry more nutritious calories. I’ve tried raspberry dressing over my salad and it’s absolutely delicious!

4. Substitute spinach for lettuce in your salads. 

It’s become common knowledge that leafy green vegetables are packed with nutritious elements - more so than other vegetables. I spoke to our previous on-campus dietician and she told me that Romaine lettuce is also a better substitution for Iceberg lettuce, which doesn’t pack as much of a nutritional punch. 

5. Enjoy a sweet treat once in a while. 

Okay, those with a sweet tooth (like myself) can’t stay away from sweets for too long! I know exactly how you guys feel but I also know that you know that sugary foods in excess will do more harm than good for our bodies. At the same time I’m not going to tell you that as a snack you’re allowed to eat an apple, some nuts, and carrot sticks because I’d hate to hear that myself. A cookie as dessert after dinner isn’t so bad - in my opinion, it’s actually just about right. Know what moderation means for you so you can avoid making not-so-sweet mistakes! 

6. Train yourself to enjoy tea without sugar. 

How many of you so-called “tea-lovers” actually drink tea without added sugar? It’s cool that you’re getting into herbal tea but it defeats the purpose if you’re going to add, like, three sugar packets every time you make it. Sometimes, sugarless tea can be an acquired taste and you’ll probably have to grow into it but in the end, it’s way better than your daily milkshake. 

7. Beware of bottled juice.

In recent years it’s become more and more evident that not all fruit juices are good for you. Many of them contain added sugar, which, like the tea situation, defeats the purpose of drinking something that should be good for you. Be a little pickier when choosing your juices - you can definitely end up skipping out on the unnecessary sugar.  

8. Need a boost of energy? Skip the coffee. 

How many coffee-lovers are reading this right now? Don’t hate me for saying this but coffee isn’t always the best way for you to pick up the pace or get off your butt. If you’re feeling drowsy and at a loss of willpower to actually do stuff then try exercising in your room to get the blood pumping. It doesn’t cost money for you to do 20 jumping jacks and you’ll instantly become more alert.

9. Join a fitness class at the rec center. 

If you can’t trust yourself to workout alone then joining a fitness class will give you motivation to actually show up and workout since you made a commitment to it. You’d be in a room with an instructor and a bunch of other people who want to get the most out of the class and you’ll look kind of stupid just standing there while everyone else is moving around. This is a great way to get in some exercise, which will contribute to your well being in the long run. 

10. Always allow injuries to heal completely. 

I get that you’re so excited to hit the soccer field again but running around on a half-healed ankle isn’t going to do you much good. If you’ve ever tried to to get back into the game with an injury that hasn’t healed properly you probably know that you’re making things worse for your injury. Please try to contain your enthusiasm at least for another few weeks. It’s great that you love being active but it’s in your best interest that you get back in the swing of things when you’ve definitely healed up properly. 

11. If it hurts, you’re probably doing something wrong. 

It’s very important to know when to stop a workout because continuation could lead to injury. There’s a possibility that you’re in pain because you don’t have the correct form or you’re pushing yourself to a level that your body isn’t ready for yet. In any case, this is a red flag for you to stop what you’re doing!

12. Drink plenty of water.

Whether you’re working out or not, you need to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Water does a lot for your body, including benefiting your skin and kidney function. Not taking in adequate water could lead to dehydration and passing out during a chem test most definitely is not fun! 

13. Start with small workout goals. 

Take your workout one step at a time so you don’t push yourself to exhaustion or injury. Like anything else, progress is a matter of time. Start off small and work your way up towards bigger goals. 

14. During allergy season, always have allergy medicine on you. 

Allergies can be the most annoying thing ever when you didn’t take your medicine so you’re sneezing up a storm in Multi-variable Calculus! If you don’t have time to take your medicine before you leave for class make sure you can grab it to go so you can take it before it gets worse. You’ll be able to focus better in class since you won’t have to look at lecture slides through itchy, watery eyes. 

15. Beware of sick roommates.

Don’t treat them like they’re flu-infested zombies but at the same time, be more aware of the fact that the two (or three) of you share a space so it’s easier for someone to catch a cold from someone else. In college, any time can be the worst time to get sick - mountains of homework, exams to study for, internship work - it sucks being sick when you have a lot on your plate! You and your roommate can take precautions to ensure that no one has more than a few sniffles in the morning. 

16. Drink plenty of water when sick. 

I said water, not Starbucks, even if the hot pumpkin spice latte tickles your tummy with warmness! Drinking water when sick can help calm or even prevent a fever. That hot latte probably isn’t looking so awesome now, is it?  

17. Have a steady supply of cough drops. 

Sore throat? Annoying cough? Rationing cough drops until your throat feels better? Yeah, we’ve all been there at some point. It’s the little things that add up to make us feel better inside. You may not think that cough drops are super essential but with a super stuffy nose, burning fever, and aching body, a calm throat is one less problem to worry about. 

18. Don’t party when you’re sick.

You already feel like crap and if you party too hard, you’ll feel even worse than crap the next day. I know, I know, you need a little pick-me-up despite the stuffy nose but if you involve alcohol and super loud music with your plans then I doubt you’ll give yourself a pat on the back in the morning. 

19. Know where health resources are on campus. 

This way, when you really need something you know exactly where to get it. The Health Center is definitely one of the places on campus you should be familiar with since it has a ton of resources for all your health related needs. 

20. Don’t hesitate to go to the Health Center when needed. 

Especially if it’s an emergency! This is also where knowing the exact location of the health center will come in handy. Your health is important and if you really need medical attention then you shouldn’t waste time getting it! 

21. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Don’t sacrifice comfort and your well being for fashion and looking hot. Short shorts and a tank top in the chilly autumn weather doesn’t sound found at all you’ll probably walk around shivering all day. Failing to dress appropriately for the weather can also result in catching a cold, which is completely avoidable. 

22. Sometimes, rest is the best medicine. 

You’ve got three exams to study for, four papers to write, and five different homework assignments due in two days but you’re feeling cruddy - like way under the weather. You’re probably wondering where you should start first but how about starting by taking some time to rest to regain your strength and focus is the best idea? This is the best way to go in this situation because you won’t be able to perform at half your best if you’re feeling this bad. 

23. Time out for a little bit. 

It’s okay to feel like you need to zone out for a few hours to gather yourself again. This is 110% fine because your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you’re really feeling like you need a vacation from school work, your part-time job, your roommate, and your friends then take a mental vacation for a little bit. 

24. Talk to friends about your worries. 

It’s not good to bottle up your feelings inside for a really long time. Everyone needs some way to vent their feelings otherwise it’s like three angry raccoons clawing away at your brain. Your friends are your friends for a reason - because you trust them so you should be able to confide in them whatever is on your mind. 

25. Don’t spread yourself too thin.

It’s great that you want to get so involved with your campus but also know when to tone it down and and just manage what’s already on your plate. 12-hour days 5 days a week can get kind of extreme and super annoying super quickly so make sure you give yourself ample time to not worry about club meetings, classes, and such. 

26. Enjoy the preciousness of alone time once in a while. 

You’ve probably already realized or are starting to realize that when you can have some alone time it’s one of the best feelings ever. Don’t misunderstand - having some alone time is not the same as being lonely. Yes, you might love your roommate(s) but it’s healthy to require alone time once in a while and don’t be surprised if your roommate expects the same as well. It’ll give you time to collect your thoughts and compose yourself and just breathe on your own. 

27. Have one or two really good friends. 

You don’t need to be that kid on campus who’s friends with everyone and knows everyone. Having one or two really good friends is all you really need - a few people to rant to and have fun with who you can be completely honest with is probably better than having a colossal group of friends where someone has a problem with someone else and there’s drama. 

28. Develop a stress-coping method. 

Stress happens. Maybe not as frequently for some people as others but everyone feels the pressure once in a while. It’s important to have a strategy for dealing with stress when it comes up because you’ll already know how to deal with it so that you get right back on track. Many people listen to music, some like having a nice workout at the gym. Find what works for you in stressful situations so you’ll always bounce back quickly!

29. Develop a ritual for relaxation. 

You don’t have to be stressed out to need a little rest and relaxation from time to time. It’s completely healthy (and a great idea) to create a schedule for how you’ll relax when needed. Maybe you like giving yourself a facial while painting a sweet mani on your nails and kicking back to some Orange Is The New Black on Netflix. Believe me, Netflix and nail polish works wonders when you need some down time. 

30. Master the art of napping. 

We aren’t all going to have the ideal sleep schedule so napping during the day is a great way to re-charge before taking on another task. Nap smart by paying attention to how napping corresponds with brain activity. For example, taking a 60 minute nap will help you be able to recall facts that you studied better. Make your naps work for you even when you aren’t actually doing work! 

31. Interact with your college. 

Get out and participate in an on-campus event. These events are a great way to bring the campus community together and allow students to take a bit of time off and hang out with their friends. If there’s always something going on at your college then take advantage and get out a little bit. You don’t have to go to every event that pops up but take a look around once in a while.

'TASTE THE RAINBOW' EYE MAKEUP

I used to be a big Skittles lover. The enticing little pebbles came in all the deliciously sweet colors of the rainbow and, to top off the experience, the candies had a crunchy shell and soft inside - the ultimate mindblower for a seven year-old. Though I don't like Skittles anymore, I decided to pay homage to the popular candy by doing this makeup look.

Now, first things first, I am so clearly NOT a professional makeup artist so don't mind whatever tiny mistakes I might've made if you're a professional makeup artist who happens to be reading this (if you are, WOW, I am super honored!) but if you don't see anything wrong with my makeup application then yay!

So, I know some people might find it a bit strange that I used a combination of yellow, green, blue, and pink eyeshadow - some people might not even dare leave their room looking like this let alone post a picture to Twitter but I took one for the team and decided to do this to inspire any of y'all who are curious and want to experiment with their eyeshadow a bit.

Method...

1. The first thing I did was was apply eyeshadow primer to my lids and a little under my eyes. I used the original Urban Decay formula to do this. Primer helps your eyeshadow last longer and really good quality primer can help prevent your eyeshadow from creasing. 
2. I went in with my ELF studio eyeshadow brush and put a generous amount of the bright green color that I drew a heart around in the picture on the bottom left. This eyeshadow palette doesn't name their  shades, unfortunately. I applied this green color to the inner corners of my eyes and to the first quarter of my eyelids. I also applied a bit just under my lower lash line. 
3. The next color I used was a fun yellow (which actually matches my backpack!). I applied that to the second quarter of my eyelid and blended it a tiny bit with the green. I also applied this color just under my lower lash line like I did with the green. 
4. Next, I took the bright blue that I also drew a heart around in the picture and I applied that to the rest of my eyelid and outer corner of my eye. This color is one of my favorites on this palette. 
5. Finally, I took the pink that you see from the palette and I used it as a crease color. The pink actually looks more like a cranberry color but I felt that it was a good accent for the look. 
6. I finished off the look by doing a very thin line of eyeliner on my lid using my ELF cream eyeliner. I also applied one coat of the Maybelline Pumped Up mascara. 

There you have it!
This was my tribute to Skittles! I suggest topping the look off with a bright pink lip but only true Skittles fans can accept that challenge ;)