6 Ways to Handle Stress

Being a college student, I know the amount of stress I feel can sometimes be overwhelming. Trying to find a balance between going to school, working, and personal life isn't always easy. Then if you're like me, you're so busy that you sometimes feel like you don't even have the time of day to eat and sleep! I'm not super woman, I can't do it all! Believe me, there are times I just want to forget all the things I have to do and just be like, "I'm just going to take a nap."

So I decided to share some thoughts on how to relieve some stress that I have found really helpful for myself. I thought that they might be beneficial for some people as well.

1. DO. NOT. PROCRASTINATE.
I repeat, do not. This is number one for me, and probably a lot of others as well. We all put off things we don't want to do, and this is something I still kick myself for often since I apparently can't learn my lesson. Whatever you have to do, whether it's homework, studying, cleaning your bedroom, do not put it off. It may not seem like a big deal that you're putting it off until later on when you really need to get it done, but this is only going to lead you to feel completely stressed out of your tree. I don't want you banging your head against the wall wishing you got it done earlier, just do it now. Think of it this way, the quicker you get monkey off your back, the more time you have to put fourth to other things! It's a win-win. I know some people feel like they work better under pressure, but you're still stressing yourself out waiting until the very last second. If you have a lot of time until the dead line, maybe just do tiny bits a day, and soon you'll reach your goal. Probably with some time to spare I might add.

2. Stay Organized
This has been such a huge help for me, especially if you're in school. If you have a ton of quiz dates, homework assignments, etc. It's a good idea to invest in a notebook of some sort or a planner. This will help you tremendously to stay organized. Even if you're not in school, having a planner for birthdays, work meetings, doctors appts. can be a savior. This will help you to manage your time better, and you'll be able to figure out free days to take time for yourself. We all know we need some of that.

3. Keep the Positive Vibes Up
I have struggled with negative thinking throughout the years. It's so easy to get caught up in it. I tell myself I'm going to think positively, but then it somehow turns into my over thinking things, which leads to negative thoughts. Stop. Let me tell you this kind of thinking is literally going to get you no where, and will only make things worse for yourself. Some ways that i have found to deal with this is counting my blessings every morning. Being thankful i have another day to live, i have a wonderful family, my health is good. Simple things like that can really put your life in perspective and make you realize the petty things are not worth losing sleep over. Use positive self talk. If you have something big coming up, repeat one positive thing to yourself. "You're going to nail this interview!" "I've reviewed for this test, i know i can handle it." "My outfit is on point today.".

4. Learn to Relax
Nothing is more important than your own health. You need to find time to relax and de-stress. Listen to some soothing music, pick up a good book, taking a nice bubble bath, or even writing down in a journal. Whatever it is that helps you escape for a little. You deserve to take some down time for yourself.

5. Get Enough Sleep!
There is nothing worse than trying to get up after 5, 4 or even 3  hours of sleep. It just throws your whole day off and you cant focus on anything except your bed. Been there...still there. When you have to be up early, figure out how much sleep your body needs to get and make sure you stick to this bed time! I know this can be easier said than done when you have a lot going on, but trust me when i say it's important. I recently started back at school from break, and let me tell you my whole entire sleep schedule was thrown off. I couldn't fall asleep, was getting up groggy. Not a good feelings. Getting your body into a routine is really helpful and beneficial for your body. You'll start to notice a difference in how you feel!

6. Eat Properly! 
Being properly fueled to handle your everyday activities is something your body needs to get. Make sure you're staying properly hydrated. Water has been shown to eliminate stress, so make sure your body is getting enough of it everyday. Another thing is to start your day off with breakfast. This is a big issue with me since I'm so bad at time management. I'm flying out the door before i even have time to put something in my stomach. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day because it starts your day off after a long night of sleep. Make time for it, your tummy will thank you later. One last tip is to take breaks in between things you need to do to eat a healthy snack for a pick-me-up. I found for me its better to consume several smaller meals than 3 large ones. Find what works better for you!

That's all for today. Maybe these are things you haven't thought of, or maybe they are something you needed to be reminded off. Hopefully there is something you can take away from this.

What's In My Purse!

Starting from the top left side,  is my battery charger for my phone. Let me tell you this thing is a LIFESAVER! Especially if you're out somewhere for a long time and your phones about to die with no outlet in site.

Next I have my Taylor Swift Incredible Things rollerball. Perfect for on the go when you need just a dab more of your perfume.

For my hair, i always carry some bobby pins/clips and some hair ties. Trust me, you'll definitely want to have a few in your bag. They will always come in handy.

For my face I always have some elf blotting sheets for some touch ups through out the day since my skin tends to be on the oily side. I also have my Lush Honey Trap and Blistex for my lips. Both are amazing, especially for the winter.

Lastly, I always carry some gum and can't forget the advil for life's daily headaches.

I also have my wallet and a cute make up bag (both not shown) that fits most of these items inside.

First of all, these are my two most used purses at the moment. This one is my cross body from Dailylook ($50.00). It's so cute and comes in multiple colors. It's just big enough where I can fit what just what I need, but yet not bulky.

This is my everyday 'big' bag that i take with me everywhere, so it's getting some good use. This also comes in multiple colors. I got mine from amazon. It's called the MG Collection Weave pattern Belt Accent Soft Hobo Shoulder Bag. ...That was a mouth full. I tend to put a lot in this bag, like probably too much, but it's held up really well considering i got it back in 2013.





Hopefully this gave you a few ideas what to put in your own purse. Just make sure you don't put too much in because you most likely won't end up needing it. So i ended up taking a lot out. What are some things you carry in yours?

Top Beauty Favorites of the Month

So these are my current favorites that i've been using a lot of lately. Although some of these products have been out for a while, i'd thought i'd share my opinion about them incase you were curious to try them for yourself.

1. Taylor Swift Incredible Things Perfume $50.00 (depending on size)- If you haven't tried this, you so need to! I am a huge fan of Taylor Swift and her perfumes, but this is one of my favorites of hers. The only thing I'm not the biggest fan about is the bottle itself. As you can see, It's really bland compared to Wonderstruck or Enchanted with their elegant bottles and pretty charms. It's just a white bottle and a sticker that wraps around. Oh well, in the end the scent is more important than the packaging. I would say to me it has a sweet smell with a mix of floral and vanilla, if that makes sense. I've honestly gotten a lot of compliments. A woman i work with literally stopped me to ask me what I was wearing, it was that nice. I bought mine from TaylorSwift.com because i was having trouble finding it elsewhere, but i've heard people tell me they have seen it at Kohl's. I just tried searching now and found it available on amazon if anyone is interested. If you're unsure, I'd try hitting up Macy's to see if they have it there for a sample!

2. Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub $9.95 - I've had this scrub for a while, but i recently started using it more with winter and the weather making my lips and skin dry. Not too much to say about this one, except that this stuff really helps get the dead skin off and (not that you'd probably want to eat) tastes/smells yummy! A little goes a long way. 

3. Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil by Maybelline about $6.00 - I usually use my elf eyebrow kit to fill in my brows, but a good friend of introduced me to this product. So I decided to give it a try and I love it! If you're looking for something cheap, this is a great drug store eyebrow pencil to try out. They have it in light blonde, light brown, medium brown, and dark blonde. The only problem I had with it was that I'd use it, and a piece of the pencil would snap off! I figured out that it's best not to twist the pencil to get too much of the product. A little really goes a long way with this, and then you don't have to worry about pieces breaking off. 

3. Tea Tree Water by Lush $9.85 3.3 fl oz  - I never really used toner before, but i LOVE this stuff. Any products that i've used containing tea tree have been great for my skin. I spray it on after i cleansed my face. If you have oily acne prone skin like I do, I think you'd find this product really beneficial!

4.  The Body Shop Skin Primer Matte It $15.00 0.5 fl oz - Okay, i've heard so many great things about this primer, so i just had to finally order it and i'm so glad i did! This stuff really helps matte my oily skin. I put it on after i moisturize my face, and it makes your skin feel so silky and soft. After I used it, i applied the rest of my make up and checked to see how oily my face got at the end of the day. The only place I noticed a tad bit of oil was around my forehead area, but if i applied powder after this in my T zone, i was good to go for the day. Once again, a little goes a long way with this product so i think it'll last months. 

5. Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer about $8.00 - I have tried a lot of concealers for my circles, but this one is my second purchase. I think it's safe to say I love it. I'm pretty fair skinned, but the lightest shade matches great with my skin. I even use it to conceal any small blemishes, and it works fantastic! There is 5 shades for it, but it's definitely a good drug store concealer to consider. Oh, if you're wondering what happened to the sponge applicator that comes on top of it, i took it off. I don't really like using sponges because of how much bacteria they contain, so i apply it with clean fingers instead. I find it blends better this way anyway. 

6. Benefits Poisetint and High Beam- I got these two in a cheek set by Benefit for Christmas. The poisetint is literally the perfect pink that makes you look instantly brighter. I've never used a stain blush before, but i find that i actually like how it looks better than a powder one. I was worried that when i applied it, it would be too much product since they recommend using three brush strokes on the apples of your cheeks, but it blends out nicely and definitely doesn't look overpowering. It says you can also use it on your lips for a pop of color with some lipgloss over it, but i prefer to just keep to the cheeks. The high beam is also a wonderful highlight when used together with the poisetint. 

7. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream $8.99 - I don't use foundation ever. If I'm not just using concealer, I prefer using a BB cream. Although this one has been out for a while, I love it. I wish it was a little lighter, but i find that if I mix it with moisturizer I can get it to the perfect shade. It's just enough coverage if you're looking for some light coverage on the skin. I'm one of those awful people who always forgets to put sunscreen on my face, but with this i'm getting coverage, while blocking my skin from the suns rays. 

What are some of your favorites this month? Leave me some recommendations to try out!