Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers on Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ Unless you live under a rock, you're probably aware of the chaos that the coronavirus has created. From stores running out of toilet paper to churches going on lockdown, nobody is sure of anything anything. One thing that a lot of people are concerned about is the sudden responsibility of making sure their children have an education outside of the classroom. This is also true of adult learners in high school and in college. As someone who was homeschooled in my high school years, I didn't always follow a plan. I just kinda stayed in my PJs, put in my required hours, and watched All My Children. But over the years I've come across a few things I wish I knew or things I wish I would have followed. These tips will work for both high schoolers and college students. Feel free to share! ~ ~ ~ 1) Make a to-do list. You won't be scrambling quite as much to figure out what needs to be done if you have a simple to-do list. Priorities come first, so if you have a report due in two days, make sure that's at the top. If you need to read a chapter by Friday, write it in accordingly. 2) Create a schedule. As a homeschooler, the temptation to do whatever whenever was very real. You might be thinking, "Oh hey I can get up at 11 and not worry". Not true! For one thing, you'll throw your body's clock out of whack and by the time the schools open back up, you're going to struggle to get back into a routine. So, stick to a schedule. If your particular school's classes do not require you to be online at a certain time, be reasonable. Perhaps you're a math wiz at 9am; do your math in the mornings. History buff in the afternooons? Go for it! Don't forget to schedule in your to-do's! 3) Take regular breaks. Schedule in a "lunch time" or a recess (let's get real; Netflix) time. Or maybe this is a good time for your "gym" session. Take this time to recharge with food, water, and at the least, light stretches. 4) Use the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer on your phone or computer for twenty minutes and work for that allotted time period. Take a break for five to ten minutes, come back, and repeat. 5) Change up your study space. Stuck at a desk? Move to the couch or bed. Always studying on the bed? Give yourself more structure at your desk. 6) Stay clean! You've probably heard that two million times over the past two or three weeks, but I'm not just referring to your hands. Wipe off your desk regularly (at least once a day). When you have your study materials out, only have out what you need. You don't need your book report notes while studying the Pythagorean Theorem. Do you have any homeschool tips? Have you studied at home before? Leave your comments!
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The above image is courtesy of Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ If you're anything like me, you probably spend hours...yes I said hours...on Youtube. The majority of that time is spent searching for ideas for my own ideas or keeping up with my favorite online people. With the latter being said, I'd like to share five of the ones that I watch the most regularly. Granted I do have many more and this list is in no particular order, but I wanted to give these folks a shout-out. Note: These people are within the beauty and lifestyle realm. ~ ~ ~ The first person I'd like to mention is the queen of blending. Fans of Jaclyn Hill will know exactly what I'm talking about. When I moved forward and improved in my own journey with makeup, Jaclyn was the one that inspired me to do something different. It is because of her that I now have a humble filming set-up right here in my office. While I was initially inspired by another beauty guru to get into makeup in the first place, Jaclyn gave me that extra boost I needed to have fun with it. The next person is such an absolute sweetheart. Shannon Harris, aka shaaanxo, is definitely without a doubt one of the most talented ladies out there. She is genuine, funny, and is never afraid to give her opinion on new products. I can honestly say that my heart burst out of my chest the few times that she has liked one of my comments or responded back to me. She loves her audience and interacts with them in a way that a lot of people won't. Moving into the lifestyle category, there are three ladies that caught my attention some while back. Kalyn Nicholson has truly got to be the best lifestyle vlogger out there. Her content is inspiring and unique. She brings her audience into her own life via routines and work flow. Her yearly YouTober series is something that everyone looks forward to no matter what; there is a video for everyone for each day of October. I dare say she'd be the friend that you could go to for an extra oomph and encouragement. I only discovered Sunny Lenarduzzi a few months ago, but she has changed my game plan on my projects as a whole. Her content is centered around social media and productivity. While a much different vibe from Kalyn, she still has the same mindset when it comes to getting things done and reaching her goals. Her videos have taught me how to create my own goals and I now have a step-by-step plan on how to get there. The last person is a mix of beauty and lifestyle, but that doesn't mean she's any less awesome. Rachhloves won my heart about two or three years ago when she did some first impressions on makeup products. Since then, I've enjoyed her taste in humor and the hilarious intros. Her content ranges from beauty reviews to trying cooking hacks. Rachel not only is relatable to me as a beauty enthusiast, but many of the ladies that watch her are moms just like her. She has such a warm and positive energy about her and it's pretty hard to resist. BONUS YOUTUBER: While I'm on a roll here, let's give you one more! Safiya Nygaard is probably the most unique out of all the Youtubers I watch. Have you ever wanted to go to a Japanese theme park? She's been there, vlogged that. Have you ever dared to try $1 beauty products from an online shop? She's done that too! She never falls short of making my day when she uploads. You never know what she'll come up with next. ~ ~ ~ Do you have any favorites in the beauty or lifestyle category? Let me know! I might just check them out on your recommendation. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay. ~ ~ ~ So you wanna be a blogger? Fortunately, you can! These days, anyone can have an online presence. However, if you want to get any attention, you have to stand out in your own unique way. Thing about your favorite bloggers and the explosion of the Youtube community. What do they all have in common? They have a unique approach to their niche. Some are experts in marketing while others go in-depth with beauty tutorials. Whatever the case may be, I have some tips that will help you begin your journey in the blogging world. FIND YOUR NICHE As mentioned above, it's important to find what your message is. Do you have a product you can sell? Do you have tips that will improve someone's lives? For me, I have two niches; beauty and Christian lifestyle. START SIMPLE If you're just starting out, flashy and in-your-face may not be the best route to go. Whether you're choosing a platform or designing, (yes I know this sounds cliche`) but less is more. Be sure your blog is responsive and it has an easy navigation system (nobody likes a cluttered menu). LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION When it comes to choosing a platform, there are a few things you need to consider. 1) Cost. Will it save you money in the long run? Is what you're getting worth your money? 2) Ease of use. If you're not familiar with coding or web design, it may be wise to consider hosts that offer drag-and-drop features. Other bloggers like to gravitate towards WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get), but sometimes they aren't the best for beginners due to the overwhelming amount of options. 3) Time-saving. This kind of ties in with the last point. If it's easy to use, it could save you a lot of time. For instance, drag-and-drop features will save you time if you don't want to take a crash course in coding. If you don't know how to design a logo or template, many platforms already have them pre-made. INSPIRATION Once you've established your niche and built your blog, it's time to get inspired. Let me tell you this; Pinterest will be your best friend when it comes to inspiration. If your niche is in the beauty industry, go to Pinterest and type in "beauty blog ideas" and you'll have tons of things to write about. Use every-day life to drive your content. Make it interesting and relatable to your audience. GET NOTICED When you've gotten a few blog posts published, it's time to get your name out there. It won't happen overnight but there are a few things you should do to speed up the process. 1) Word-of-mouth. Just like running a business, sometimes the best way to draw attention to your brand is to physically tell someone about it. 2) Social media. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all great tools to use to advertise your blog. Post about upcoming entries, products you may be selling, or a day-in-the-life. Keep it relatable and relevant. Share work from other bloggers too! 3) SEO. Yikes, this sounds complicated. Also known as search engine optimization, it's simply a way to make sure your keywords are searched for and seen. When properly done, your blog will begin to find its way to the top of search engines. ~ ~ ~ If you are a Christian lifestyle blogger or beauty enthusiast, feel free to browse Southern Grace And Beauty for your inspiration needs. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ Every year about this time, hundreds of aspiring estheticians have registered for their state exam. If you're one of them, here are some tips on how to survive and ace the exam. Good luck!!! ~ ~ ~ 1) Review important points. The majority of esthetics classes will drill hygiene into your head, as well as skin conditions and contraindications. Pay attention to anything that is repeated. 2) Test yourself. If you're still struggling with certain subjects, it would be wise to revise (cute little rhyme there). 3) Before the practical exam, find a willing friend or family member that would allow you to practice on them. If your local cosmetology school has extra dummy heads, ask if you can borrow it for exam purposes. If you were provided one in your class supplies at the beginning of the school year, you can use that too. 4) Make flashcards. If you're creative, you can make them out of index cards. Another simple but effective way is to use Quizlet; your particular exam may already be on there so keep an eye out! If you have someone driving you to the exam location, take the commute time to look over your cards. If you are driving yourself, take off early so you have time to sit in the parking lot to study. 5) This may sound cliche` and basic, but be sure you have your brain foods. Eating right will improve your memory and score tremendously. Afterwards, reward yourself for a job well done with whatever you'd like. Sleep is important too! 6) Dress appropriately. Wear what your school required of you or dress as if you were going in for an interview. ~ ~ ~ If you've already taken your exam or have had your license for a while, share your tips!!! Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
As an esthetician and beauty blogger, I strive to help ladies young and old to look and feel good. With that being said, it breaks my heart to see so many of them literally dying to be pretty. It's no surprise due to the large amounts of media they consume on a regular basis. Women all around the world are basing their self-esteem on Instagram photos and the latest fads in the fashion and health industries, but what is it really doing to them? What price are they really paying when they focus so much on appearance? Right from the start, we are told that we have to look good in order to be taken seriously. Gotta have the pearly white teeth, the perfect hourglass figure, and the shiny hair or nobody will like us. Fast-forward to the age of the selfie and it may seem like those words ring true. Fashion companies force their models into extreme diets, beauty companies pile on foundation and concealer, and it's no wonder that we've got millions of girls hating themselves for not looking like the women in the magazines. I'm not talking down on looking good. Yes, we have to make a good impression (estheticians are under a lot of pressure), but how far are we willing to go? How far have we taken it already? In my opinion, too far. Women all across the world are LITERALLY dying to be pretty. They're guilt-tripped by that article that says you can't eat but so many calories. They're drawn to the full coverage makeup because acne and redness are deemed unattractive. But yet...we don't see the reality. We don't want to admit the damage already done. We see their beautiful smiles on the signs at the mall. We hear testimonies of the latest and greatest diet pill. But what's it really doing? They photoshop the imperfections. Brittle nails? Let's slap on some color. Yellow teeth? Edit that out! We've taught an entire generation that any imperfection, no matter how small, is horrible. We have become so obsessed with appearance that a thirteen year old would rather spend more time in front of a mirror than riding on a bike with friends. The same thirteen year old will refuse to go to the beach because she "doesn't look like the other girls". You know the phrase "beauty is pain"? Well, it's true. Ladies these days will go to great lengths to be accepted by their peers and people in general. They'll starve themselves, get face lifts, and spend far too much on a bikini that they'll maybe wear one week out of the entire year. They are DYING left and right because they've limited themselves to lettuce and water, and filling their bodies with unnecessary chemicals from cosmetics. Stop telling our young people (and the older ones too) that they aren't pretty without all the lights, clothes, and makeup. Stop pushing the diets and the guilt-trips. Let them have a burger! Let them wear what they want! From one young woman to another, empowerment starts with us; we can't do that if we're too busy judging one another. ~ ~ ~ To the girl reading this who doesn't feel good enough, you are. You're beautiful, amazing, and have your entire life ahead of you. Got a zit? That's totally okay! Hair out of place? It's fine! Can't find anything cute to wear? Anything goes with a pair of jeans! Get out there gorgeous and show off your beautiful self. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
At the time that I am writing and posting this particular entry, I am in a season of unemployment. I get it. I understand. So often when we settle in that rut, we get discouraged and wonder what we're supposed to do when there's no structure. Hopefully some of these tips will help you get back on track and help you stay productive and positive. You know how the "employed" crowd will accuse us of "having too much time on our hands"? Well, yea to an extent we do, and we can use that time to our advantage. Is there a hobby you want to pursue? How about that online class you've been eyeing? Keeping busy will free your mind from getting discouraged or worried. Stick to the schedule you once had. If you're recently unemployed, the last thing you want to do is stay in bed until noon. Continue to follow a routine. You want to avoid being a bed rat, especially if a potential employer is going to take you seriously. One of the perks of not having a nagging work schedule is you have more time for yourself. To some people, especially those that sulk at us for not working, it may seem lazy and selfish. But taking time for yourself is vital to your well-being. Take an extra five minutes in the shower if need be. Spend a little more time caring for your physical and mental health. When people begin to discourage you or make you feel bad about yourself, don't let the guilt hold you down. But don't get angry or frustrated either. Just realize that you are you, and you are not on the same path that they are. It's not easy to be the black sleep in a world where everything is "busy, busy, must stay busy". It will destroy a positive mindset and ultimately cause you to spiral down a hole that's hard to get out of. ~ ~ ~ Do you have any tips for someone discouraged due to unemployment? Share your thoughts! Good Sunday afternoon dearest readers! I'm writing to you from the depths of my nearly empty wallet. Yes folks, I spent nearly $50 on makeup; I know it isn't much compared to other influencers but t'was a lot for me. I'm going to be doing a haul/review so that you are updated on my thoughts on all products. I'm also writing this up just in case you are more of a reader than a Youtube fanatic.
Enjoy! ~ ~ ~ ESSENCE LASH PRINCESS VOLUME MASCARA (4.99) Y'all, listen, mascara is a tricky little thing. But if you want some volume, Essence is where it's at. I use a lash curler before application and let. me. tell. you, my lashes look incredible. NYX MICROBROW PENCIL - ESPRESSO (10.00) It's horribly frustrating how "expensive" this brow pencil is, but it's worth it. It does the job but your brows still look natural. Bonus? It comes with a spoolie. It's not too creamy or waxy, but it still holds your brow hairs in place, but you can still add a gel for longer staying power. ELF LIQUID MATTE LIP - PRALINE (5.00) I'm not a liquid lip person. I'm not usually a matte person. But ELF has stepped up their game and I highly recommend their liquid matte line. Most liquid lips are very drying on me and it just does not look cute. But this, however, applies so smooth. You can barely feel it once it's dry and it's not sticky whatsoever. ESSENCE INTENSIFYING EYE BASE (3.49) I find that this eye primer is unique in the way it applies. Most primers apply very sticky (not necessarily a bad thing) and you know for a fact that it's ready to do its job. The Essence primer is smooth upon application and it's very cooling. The staying power is really nice and for the price? Yea I dig it. FORMULA 10.0.6 BE BERRY SASSY SCRUB (6.99) Exfoliation is super important for me since I have dry skin, and it's hard to find something that's aggressive on the skin since new guidelines have been placed on skincare recently. I honestly wasn't expecting a whole lot from this face scrub since I'd never heard of the brand before but it feels really nice on the skin. It's not terribly aggressive but it's enough to make me say "Yea this feels much better". The smell isn't too aggressive and there are several skincare benefits in the ingredients. ESSENCE BE-YOU-TIFUL EYESHADOW PALETTE (9.99) Eyeshadow palettes are kind of a "whatever" thing for me. If it gives me pigment, cool. But seriously this palette blew me away. The blendability, the pigment, the everything about it...I'm impressed. For nearly ten bucks, completely worth it. ~ ~ ~ Okay, I hope you enjoyed my little haul/review for Ulta! It's very rare for me to do this kind of thing, but I had fun! Let me know if you've tried any of these products and let me know what you thought! Yea, yea, yea...sip that coffee girl (or dude). But seriously, I get it. Mornings can be a pain in the behind, but thankfully, one of my favorite Youtube channels has us covered. Coffee And Bible Time uploaded a video a while back going in depth about their morning routine with Jesus and I thought I'd share it with my readers. Perhaps it can spark some inspiration into your time alone with God. Let me know down in the comments what your morning routine consists of. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay. Be like the ocean. Let yourself roam wild and free, to and fro, with no particular direction. In one swift motion, allow yourself to just...be. Be calm and still. When you need to, be stormy. Just be. Be a beautiful sight for sore eyes. Be the one that someone can go to for a good time or relaxation. Speak soothing words to yourself and to others. Be like the ocean. Because it's all a part of simply...letting go. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
In the last post, we discussed how to spruce up your living arrangements such as a home office and/or bedroom. This time, we will look at how to keep your vanity or beauty area tidy. *coughs* This post is brought to you by...a very messy filming area with makeup and brushes all over the place. If your brushes haven't been cleaned since your New Year's sparkle look, now would be a good time to do so. Cleaning your brushes (a deep clean) will prevent bacteria and ick from building up in the bristles and your makeup will go on a lot better. Clean brushes are satisfying! Organize your products. The dollar stores have tons of containers you can store your palettes and lipsticks in. But don't just "store" them; get creative! Label your containers. I've seen beautubers label their drawers "warm palettes" or "drugstore highlighters". Have fun with it ya know? Wipe down your vanity and mirror. This should be self-explanatory! ~ ~ ~ Quick tip: Now that you've got clean brushes, let's try on a fresh spring look shall we? Pastel eyeshadows Pink lipgloss Subtle highlight (let's get real, we all want the bling...go as blinding as you want) Fluttery, girly lashes ~ ~ ~ Got any makeup declutter tips you'd like to share? What about your favorite spring makeup looks? |
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