In the Quiet

The Perfect Tune ~listen to music. Pick your favorite songs and just tune out all the other noise. A Breath of Fresh Air ~try going for a one-hour walk every day after school. Talk It Out ~tell your Mom, Dad, siblings, or friend what's bothering you. Feel the Burn ~exercise out any negative feelings. Work it out with crunches or whatever you want to do to get moving! Aromatherapy ~spritz on some of your favorite perfume or scented lotion. Me Time ~paint your nails, read a good book, sip a cup of tea, and take a nice hot bath. Word Workout ~write in your journal. It is your personal place to vent. Source: Seventeen Magazine website

I like to try new things with makeup sometimes, and this month, I tried something different with eyeliner. I use black eyeliner. Line your top lash line with the eyeliner, starting at the outer corner and going inward until your lashes stop. Line the bottom in the same way, except I start from the inner corner. Then connect the two upper and lower lines. Use a smudger to blur any separation on top.

I've been going to community college for awhile now, and I just thought I'd put down a few points here. My English teacher would faint if he knew I was using bullet points, but it works for this format. When you're taking math, you have to work on it six days a week. You need to keep your brain refreshed on concepts which are not natural to calculate, such as algebra. Make Saturday your break day. You need to work on it on Sunday so that on Monday, when you return to class, you are all ready to tackle the new material to build on what you did over the weekend. In English, start working on any papers or assignments the weekend before they are due, at the latest. This principle has served me well, and I have never turned anything in late. Take notes. Whenever the teacher sees fit to put something on the board or on PowerPoint, it is probably crucial, so write it down.  Use a pencil to take tests. Make sure it has a good eraser. Even if you're bored in class, pay ...

I quite enjoy Spotify. With it, you can enjoy any song you choose for free. I rarely buy CDs now. I also enjoy the radio show with Delilah. Once a month, she e-mails a list of songs. I then make a Spotify playlist and listen away. Here it is: 1. Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson 2. What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong 3. Higher and Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher) by Backtrack Professional Karaoke Band 4. Firework by Katy Perry 5. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban 6. When You Believe by Whitney Houston with Mariah Carey 7. Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes 8. Over the Rainbow by Eva Cassidy 9. Good Life by OneRepublic 10. Listen To Your Heart by Roxette 11. We Are the World - Demo by Michael Jackson

February begins on the Friday of next week, and I thought that this might be a good time to examine how our new year's resolutions are coming along. For my part, I wanted to work out three times a week for 20-60 minutes per time. I have been doing that faithfully, and losing weight steadily though gradually. I am becoming more trim, and that was my goal. I also wanted to read one classic per month. Though I am over half done with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, I am not sure that I can finish it by the month's end. Since that is the goal that I set, I must diligently read many pages each day for the remainder of January to make that possible. I wanted to discuss February a bit. On February 14th is Valentine's Day. Martha Stewart has some really elegant craft  projects  that you could attempt. February 18th is Presidents' Day. Enjoy your holiday off from school or work. Learn more about this holiday  here . In conclusion, working out three times a week is going w...

1. Paris Power Moisture Rush mask by L'Oreal 2. Nail lacquer in Angel Food by Essie 3. Infallible eyeshadow in Midnight Blue by L'Oreal Paris 4. Nail lacquer in Vanilla by Joe Fresh Source: January 2013 issue of InStyle Magazine

Hairstyles Want to know current hairstyle trends? Look no further. Elegant buns and twists are sitting low and neat at the nape of the neck. Part your hair in the center. Blow-dry hair straight, then mist on the hairspray over the finished style. Makeup Tips Dark hues can make eyes look smaller, so wear shimmery neutrals on lids (apply up to creases). Trace upper lashes with black pencil, but leave lower rims bare, as smudges can exaggerate under-eye circles. I actually choose to line my lower rims, but that's personal choice. Try L'Oreal Paris Infallible eyeliner in Onyx and eyeshadow in Iced Latte, $8 each, lorealparisusa.com. Source: January 2013 issue of InStyle Magazine

1. Nail polish in Spirit by Top Speed 2. Lip liner in Passion and Lipcolor in Hot Passion by Lip Perfection 3. Nail lacquer in Black Dahlia and Psycho by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics 4. Infallible eyeliner in Onyx and eyeshadow in Iced Latte by L'Oreal Paris

For me and for people across the world, it's time to go back to school today. Hit those books and do what the teachers want. Do your homework and don't procrastinate. You know the drill. This quarter, I'm taking English, Math, and Interpersonal Communication. Should be interesting. Hopefully I'll learn a thing or two. I've had my English teacher before. He's funny, knowledgeable, and tolerant. Which is a good thing, because I give him a run for his money by arguing with him and challenging certain points. One thing that I both like and don't like about community college is that you're not going to agree with everything they say. Everything is from a liberal point of view. The textbooks are filled with propaganda designed to fulfill the popular, modern agenda. I don't like buying books and listening to people that I don't agree with, but then I get to argue with them, and that's even better. Do your best, work hard, and Spring Break wil...

To sleep better, don't listen to wild music before you go to bed. Choose calming selections that will soothe your spirit. Reading a book that isn't for school helps too. Also, don't drink cola or coffee in the evening. Don't use electronics before bed, and you might want to take a hot bath. Writing in your journal will get a load off of your mind while you sip a cup of herbal tea or warm milk. You can find calm music  here . Right now, if you've been reading my blog, you know that I'm reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Pick a classic to read. I know it's tempting to drink coffee, but what does that do to your nerves? I'm guilty of using my laptop before bed, but that's going to stop. Last night I turned it off early, actually. Taking a bath is so relaxing. So is drinking warm milk and writing in your diary. Source for first paragraph: Girls' Life Magazine December/January 2013 Issue.

If you miss someone who has passed away, you could write a letter to the bereaved. You can share something that you appreciated about the deceased. If you put a bit of sympathy in it, it can serve as a soothing balm to your soul. You can talk to others about your loss to make you feel better. You're not the only one thinking about the person who passed away. Something that helped me when I lost my Grandma who was very close to me was to write a letter to her after she died. This helped me feel connected with her and imagine her in Heaven where she could read my words. Though this exercise made me cry, it was a cleansing activity. I wrote until I could write no more. Don't worry if you miss the person for a long time. This just means that he or she meant a lot to you and that you loved the person now gone. Source for first paragraph: Girls' Life Magazine December/January 2013 Issue.

1. Slim lip pencil in Plush Red by NYX Cosmetics 2. Queen collec-tion LipColor in Paint the Town by CoverGirl 3. Diamond Strength in Wedding Crasher by Sally Hansen 4. Pure Ice in 581CP 5. China Glaze in Winter Holly 6. Essence Colour & Go in Chic Reloaded

After I took part in a walk for life yesterday afternoon, I watched October Baby . I was deeply impressed, deeply moved, and incredibly inspired. This movie is rated PG-13 not for any explicit or graphic content, but for the serious topics discussed. Hannah finds out that her epilepsy, asthma, and emotional trauma are all connected: she survived a failed abortion attempt. She tries to find her mother, and succeeds, only to find out that her mother still doesn't want her. She also discovers that she had a twin brother, Johnathan, who didn't survive very long. Hurt and confused, Hannah journeys through all kinds of situations and drama along with a guy who sticks with her through thick and thin. He is loyal to her emotions, comforting her when she cries and rejoicing in her triumphs. As I mentioned in my last post, this movie stirred up in me questions of why I am here. Because life is beautiful, never forget that you are here for a specific purpose. Because God forgive...

Today I watched October Baby . Movie review coming soon. In the meantime, the movie stirred up deep emotions in me and thoughts never before entered into. We are all here on this earth for a purpose. We were each given a mission by God that no one else could do just like us. That means that I was born for a certain reason, and created for a specific purpose. It is my firm belief that my vocation in life is marriage. I have no boyfriend, but somewhere out there is someone who is not perfect, but whom is perfect for me. Likewise, I am far from perfect. I always work to improve myself, but I will never be perfect. My future spouse doubtless has many flaws, as I have many. I think about what my vocation means for my future. About the sort of work cut out for me. Marriage means dedication and faithfulness to your husband, but also to your children. I understand that none of those jobs are easy and sometimes unpleasant. However, with the doing of those jobs which fulfill one's voca...

1. Daily Beauty Routine by bodycology 2. Body cream, fragrance mist, and cozy sock set by bodycology 3. Matte Lip Color in Natural by e.l.f. Studio 4. Nude Matte Shadow in Haywire by NYX 5. Lasting Finish Lipstick in In Vogue by Rimmel London

1. Buddy Up When you exercise, do it with someone else! Studies show that people get fit more consistently with those who have like-minded goals. I do this with my Mom. Whenever I workout, I invite her to join me. The more, the merrier! 2. Go Outside Don't just workout inside or lay on your couch watching Jane Austen movies. Exercise outside, because experts are telling us that when we do, it has a 50% greater effect on your mental health than hitting the gym. In addition, you get great vitamin D from the sun. So dress warmer and workout once or twice a week outside. I need to do this; I think I'm going to shoot for once a week. I get lazy and I like my warm cozy house to work out in. 3. Get More Sleep If you get less sleep than you need, your stress levels will skyrocket and your immune system will weaken. New studies suggest that you can even have your risk of early onset diabetes increase just by not getting enough shut-eye! Get seven to eight hours a night, no matter wha...

Don't post 10 different status updates in less than thirty minutes. You have to pace yourself. People will get annoyed if you keep blasting their Facebook News Feed with constant pictures, words, and illustrations. I have been guilty of this. I see interesting posts, I have a fast internet connection, and faster than you can say "over-posting", my poor friends are bombarded with way too much content. I liken this phenomena to an overzealous grandmother or aunt. They simply must show you all of the pictures of their grandson or niece. They pull out their wallet and begin to show you twenty pictures within the space of ten minutes. Pretty soon, your eyes are tired and so is your tongue from saying "how cute" and "just adorable" twenty times over. It's kind of like etiquette for online use. You know how you feel when someone has played a game or has gone on a mad sort of posting spree. You sigh, roll your eyes, and keep scrolling. It doesn'...

I watched this movie in theaters and I was impressed. Personally, I thought that there was a bit too much violence, but it was PG-13 for a reason. It is a prequel to the Lord of the Rings . Bilbo Baggins is trying to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom. Funny thing is, Bilbo is not at all the sort of hobbit that would stir outside of his hobbit-hole. He is quite content to sit before the fire and comfortably eat a great deal. If you like action, fantasy, and unlikely situations, then this movie will appeal to you. How would you feel if one night, a bunch of dwarfs showed up on your doorstep and literally ate you out of house and home? Of course, Gandalf is in here, and he is as spectacular as ever. Remember this creepy creature? "Precious!" This is the main dwarf. He has some dark pasts, regrets, and grudges to hold. Watch out for him. Did you know that these even existed? Watch this movie, and wait for the next two installments. Patience is a virtue. Source: Girls...

Let's face it, ladies: too much skin revealed to the world is just not flattering! Leave some things to the imagination, and even when it comes to that, don't let the imagination run wild! Don't wear sheer tops to entice. Don't wear pants that look like they're painted on. Come on, it's just not classy. You owe it to yourself and your dignity to cover yourself up. This doesn't mean that you have to look frumpy. There are ways to take current trends and adapt them (because you just have to sometimes) and look totally in-style. I always wear an undershirt under my shirt in case it's too low or not long enough, etc.  Shade Clothing  is a great resource for these. Make sure that your pants are tight enough to show that you are a woman (by the shape of your legs) but not so tight that you can see every curve. If the back of your shirt plummets, wear your hair down. Long hair can be modest sometimes! Don't cover up too much. What do I mean by this? D...

So you want to do better in school. Get to class on time! Be prepared when you walk in the door. Whenever you need help, get it from teachers or student tutors. Don't be shy when it comes to participating and asking questions, staying extremely organized. Take care of yourself. Don't neglect your sleep. Try to get seven to eight hours a night. Eat nutritious meals and never skip them. Drink water and get exercise. Try walking to school or doing sports. Get some new pens and notebooks. Be sure that you have a clean, well-lit place to do your homework in. If you don't have a place like that, the library is there for you. I walked in late to my first class on the first day this quarter but that's because my schedule said the wrong building and I went to said building to find one other girl there. Last quarter, I got really used to taking part in discussions so I am no longer shy when it comes to speaking up about my opinion and challenging what the teacher has to say so...