Whistle While You Work

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This weekend was rather dull for me.  I have an exam (tonight, actually!) and spent most of the weekend studying.  With finals season about to hit, it seems that all of my professors are piling on exams and last minute assignments before we completely give ourselves over to studying day and night.  

Coming up with a proper method for studying has taken me a long time to figure out.  At times, it was an extremely frustrating process.  Why was I not retaining information that my classmates effortlessly did?  What was I doing wrong?  My grades would suffer because I did not have a method that worked for me.  So, this post is for anyone out there who is in this situation and needs a little guidance.  I have been in your shoes and I hope my advice helps!

Environment

Where I study or do homework is the biggest factor for me.  Do you like having background noise like music or a television show?  Do you like being comfy on the couch or at a desk?  Are you too distracted at home and need to go out?  Take the time to figure out what works best for you.  Personally, I like a relatively quiet setting.  I'm usually at my dining room table with soft music on in the background.  I love going on Songza and listening to the Classical for Studying Plasylist (how fitting!).  Also, for anyone who has Spotify, Erik Satie is a wonderful pianist with simple and calming melodies.  These are great options for those of us who need some background noise, but don't want anything too distracting.

Method

This was the hardest thing for me to figure out.  Do you need to take an active role in studying (retaking notes) or a passive role (rereading your notes)?  I found that an active role works best for me.  I need to take two sets of notes; one during lectures and the other from the textbook.  I will then compare the two and see if anything from the book was not covered in lecture.  Then, I'll combine my sets and rewrite them.  That may seem tedious, but rewriting my notes really solidifies everything for me.  If you're not too keen on that, writing important terms on flashcards is another great method.  Study groups are also a great way to review information.  Asking each other for clarification on a tough topic or "quizzing" each other is a great way to get a deeper understanding of the material.

Take a Break!

If you find that you're falling asleep on top of your notes or have read the same line 5438345 times, it's time to relax.  Take a few minutes to catch up on blogs, text your friends so they know you're alive, or get a snack to help you recharge.  You need to be diligent about your breaks, however.  If you only need 15 minutes, do not get distracted and turn that into an hour.  That has happened to me more times than I care to admit.  If I take a break for too long, it's so hard for me to get back in the swing of things.  No matter how long your break is, do not feel guilty about it.  Not everyone can study for three hours with no break.  We're not machines, after all!

I hope these tips make studying a little more bearable!  Work hard, take a deep breath, and go in with a positive attitude.  You will rock. :]

What are your study tips?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

Rachel

Review: ipsy November Glam Bag!

Hello, there!  One thing I love about the beauty world is the ability to try so many different things without having to buy the full size of a product.  Most beauty stores have some kind of rewards system where you get to try a mini or deluxe size of a product (mostly) guilt free.  It's such a great way to expose yourself to different brands and break out of your comfort zone without the commitment of a whole new product.

That's also why I'm a huge fan of mail beauty services like Birchbox and ipsy.  In case you aren't familiar with these types of services, you are able to customize what type of products you would like to try.   You can get skincare, hair care, makeup, or even snacks in these boxes.  Each month you will get a variety of samples sent right to your door!  The mail services vary in price to fit every budget, even us broke post-college girls.  

I have been an ipsy subscriber since August and I have really enjoyed it so far.  I love the variety of products you get in each bag.  Most of the brands I get I have not heard of, which is exactly what I want out of a beauty mail service.  I love anything that enables my addiction. ;]

Anyway, after all that blabbering, let's get on to the review!

The Bag

Every month, ipsy sends the products in a different makeup bag.  While I love this idea, the bags can be very hit or miss for me.  I understand it's hard to cater to thousands of people's tastes, but I was a tad disappointed in this month's bag.  The silver glitter with bright pink seems a little tacky.  The bag itself is decent, I'm just not a fan of the design.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray
I haven't used this enough to give a full review, but I have enjoyed it so far.  The smell is amazing and doesn't leave my hair feeling crunchy or sticky.  Has anyone tried this?

J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Mad Splatter

As soon as I took this product out of the bag I gasped.  The color is stunning.  It's a perfect dark magenta color that can be built up to look a little more on the purple end of the spectrum.  They remind me of the OCC Lip Tars in terms of the packaging and consistency.  Not sure if the staying power matches up as well, but this product still lasts a long time.

Starlooks Gem Pencil in Ultra Olive

Now, don't be intimidated by the name like I was.  I was afraid the color would be too yellow for me and make my eyes look all weird and zombiefied.  My goodness, I was wrong.  This liner is so pigmented and shimmery that I can't even.  Yes, white girl can't even level.  I'm also pretty sure this is a full size which is a nice plus!

SeaRx Birchsap Moisturizing Lotion
This product is a tad confusing.  It says on the tube that I should not put it on my face, but various things online are saying that's okay.  Just to be safe, I have only been using this on my hands.  It has a lovely mild smell and absorbs incredibly fast into the skin.  I like it well enough, but it's not something I will be running out and buying the full size of. 

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye in Neutral Medium
I have always wanted to try this product so I was really happy to see this in my bag!  This is an incredibly thick concealer that works well under the eyes and on other areas of the face.  Even though the tube is super small, you only need the tiniest amount of this stuff.  It has wonderful staying power and matches my skin tone really well.

All in all, I really liked this month's bag of goodies.  Are you a subscriber to any mail beauty services?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

Rachel

Tutorial: Everyday Fall Look

Well, hello there, everyone!  I hope you all are having a great week so far!  I'm back today with my everyday Fall makeup routine.  I've been really into champagne eyes and pink/berry lips.  I think that combination works really well this time of year without being too intense.  If you want to see how I do my makeup on a daily basis, keep reading after the jump!

A Cherished Bond

I'm going to be honest with you all, I have gone through so many introduction drafts for this post it's overwhelming.  After all of the metaphors and images I could craft with words, there is only one way to properly start this post: 

The bonds that you make throughout your life should always be cherished.

Seems a tad obvious, I know.  There are times in life where we get a bit lost in our own world.  Our schedules are filled with appointments, obligations, and responsibilities that often leave us drained by the end of the day.  There are times where after a day of classes and work I just want to go to bed and sleep until the cycle needs to start again.  This past weekend, I was able to put down my weekly planner and reconnect with an old friend.

I drove to Virginia to see a childhood friend of mine.  I have known her since the first grade, which makes this a whopping 16 year friendship.  During the college application madness in high school, I knew one of her top choices was a school in Virginia.  Several months later, when I heard she was accepted to that school, I was a mix of ecstatic and selfishly upset.  My best friend was going to school in another state, hours away from me.  I had no idea how to maintain a friendship with that amount of space between us.  I was always terrible at keeping in touch with people who moved away or did not go to the same school as me.  The last thing I wanted was to lose touch.  

It did not take as much work as you would think.  Phone calls, texts, sending stupid pictures (usually of cats) through Facebook or email, and the occasional surprise visit was all it took.  I realized we did not need to talk every day.  All we had to do was make time for each other.  I understand not all friendships work the way mine does, but the point of this post still applies to everyone.  Make time for those who mean the most.

It's easy to get lost in our own lives.  It's just as easy to take a moment and appreciate those around you.

Until next time,

Rachel

October Favorites!

Another month has gone by all too quickly.  I don't know about you guys, but I had a great month.  I've gotten into a groove between school and work, got in some great quality time with loved ones, and, of course HALLOWEEN.

In terms of favorites, this month is all about rediscoveries.  Even though I did a haul a couple of posts ago, I have been pretty well behaved (sort of) in terms of buying new makeup.  So, let's get on to my (first!!) monthly favorites!

Recovery Nights

Everyone has busy weeks that require a fair amount of recovery.  With Halloween weekend came three parties, all of which were amazing.  However, after several days of only a few hours sleep and a hangover resembling the movie "Drumline", I needed something to help me bounce back.  Here is my routine for a recovery night.