Stay Productive, Balance Your Stress
26 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Be Healthy, Beauty and Health, Health, Life, School, Youth Outreach
The end of the school year is coming and it can be a super exciting time of the year. We are all looking forward to summer plans and a time without homework. However, there are also a lot of things to stress and worry about. Some of you may have huge changes coming at the end of the summer like going from middle to High School or High school to College. Or you may be overwhelmed by finals and projects as teachers begin to calculate the final grades. Isnt it ironic that the most stressful time of the school year is always right before the most relaxed and happy time? But I am here to tell you that it will all be okay, you just have to make it through it! The first most important thing is to recognize when you are stressed. This can be kind of tricky if you have a crazy lifestyle and have become used to stress and agitation. However, stress effects you mentally, physically and emotionally, so it is important to be aware of. If you find yourself being overly sensitive emotionally (And you know it’s not PMS), you are anxious and can’t sit still and little inconveniences make you really angry, then be fairly warned that you may be stressed out. Or maybe you are the type of person who shuts down in the pressure. If your to-do list overwhelms you so much that you start feeling depressed, you can’t think and you don’t feel up for anything anymore, then you are probably stressed. Or the most extreme warning sign is when you are completely shut down on the outside and you can’t bring yourself to do anything, but at the same time you are super anxious under the surface. These feelings are not normal and it is your bodies way of telling you to take a few more breaths and possibly a really productive rest.
It’s important to remember that it’s not bad to feel stressed. If you are getting overwhelmed it doesn’t mean that you are a bad student or that you are not prepared for life. Stress is a natural response to a busy, scary schedule. The worst thing you can do when you’re stressed is to be more stressed out because you are experiencing the symptoms of stress and not slow down. At a certain point you will become so stressed out you wont be able to accomplish anything well. Therefore, usually the best and most productive thing you can do if you are getting stressed is to take a break. It will clear your head and make you more able to go out and accomplish what you need to afterwards.
Fun Things You Can Do During Your Break:
1) Bubble Bath
2) Window Shopping (either around town, or online)
3) Watch a funny sitcom (But just one episode)
4) Clean your room/ organize your space
5) Grab a bite to eat with some friends
6) Take a jog
7) Bake cookies
8) Read a magazine
9) Write in your journal
10) Come hang out at Youth Outreach
And just remember, there is a difference between a healthy break and procrastination. Take breaks with the intention of clearing your head and then getting right back to work. Procrastinating will make it harder to get yourself in the right mindset to be efficient. Try to be super aware of the different.
~Charis
Summer Lovin’
19 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Dating, Friends, Relationships
Summer Fashion Trends
12 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Beauty and Health, Life
So if you’re like me, you like to be aware of the fashion trends but pick and choose which ones you deam important and worth investing in. For example I love the new scarf popularity and I own more than 30 pashmina scarves, however, you will never ever find me in a pair of jeggings. Not because I don think they’re cool… I just have a certain style and stick with it. However, it’s always good to be aware of what’s popular. I looked around this spring to try to pick up on what was going to be cool, though, and didn’t seem to find much. Unlike the last couple summers when pastel floral, and 80′s floor length dresses made huge comebacks that covered the racks in stores everywhere, the changes in the fashion current are much more subtle this year. Florals are still a pretty high priority, however, you will see them in vibrant neons, muted pastels, and nuetral colors! The most popular color that you will see is mint green. Apparently the refreshing spring color has made a huge splash on runways. Also, lace will be huge. People dont want to be bogged down by heavy fabrics and stiffling material, so lace will be the perfect fabric for the hot summer ahead of us.
Trends can be hard to follow, especially if the changes from year to year are very subtle. What I like about the summer 2012 fashion is that it has a lot more variety. There isnt one big thing that everyone 
must have, but little new variations that can suit anyone without pushing them into a trendy bubble. So I guess for this summer, and every summer, the trendiest thing you can do is pick what you like to wear and know that you look awesome!
~Charis
Mothers Day Gift Ideas
09 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized
Wit
h Mother’s Day quickly approaching (only a month away!!) it is time to think about what you will do for that great mother figure in your life. Even if you don’t have a mother you can do something for, think about the female who tends to have a motherly role in your life, or someone who you can talk to like a mother, or even a sibling who has been there for you. These are all great people who deserve acknowledgement on this special day. After you have done this, check out some cute tips below for creating something thoughtful without having to spend a lot of money
.
1) Decorate a canvas bag with their initials and cool designs.
2) Make a bubble bath concoction, sugar scrub, or facial mask.
3) Cover a small binder with fancy scrapbooking paper to make a journal. Add ribbon, buttons, or monograms to the front for something extra special.
These are some easy crafts that don’t take much time or money, but are very thoughtful and hold a lot of meaning to the person you are giving this sweet gift to.
Break Time Chick Flicks
17 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Friends, Games, Just-for-Fun-Games, Relationships
For most of us spring semester in school can seem to drag on for forever. Do you realize that after christmas break there is only MLK day and Presidents day to give us a break from school. This means that for 10 long weeks straight we have ongoing classes, and homework and a rigorous schedule in the dreariest and rainiest months of the year… this is no bueno! So, to keep from going crazy with the stress of school and terrible weather of the past ten weeks, its time to sit back and enjoy some quality relaxation. And what’s better for relaxing then a good chick flick? So grab the popcorn and pick one of these must see chick flicks that I’ve always loved:
1) Made of Honor-
This is an awesome comedy about a guy who is super non-committal but then realizes that he is in love with his best friend while she is away on vocation. He plans to tell her about his newly realized feelings for her when she comes home. But then she shows up engaged! He is shocks but acts nice about it. SHe makes him her maid of honor (hee hee) and then a whole lot of trouble unfolds as he competes with her dazzling fiance to win her back! I loved this movie. When I watched it for the first time I almost cried from laughing so hard!!!
2) Bride Wars-
How do these best friends go from
to
?
Watch this super fun flick and find out. These two best friends struggle to both plan their dream weddings at the same time when all drama breaks loose!
3) The Proposal-
Watch this one to see how they two most unlikely people end up having to trick everyone into thinking that they are engaged and accidentally fall in love in the process. The movie is set in both NYC and Alaska (the two most beautiful locations in the world in my opinion lol) and is deep, romantic, and hilarious!
SO! If you like any of these options you see then take a break and check them out. It will be the best relaxation time you’ve ever had!
Homemade Lip Balm for Your Lips!
07 Mar 2012 2 Comments
in Uncategorized
Re
cently I have totally gotten into DIY crafts and simple things that make life a bit more interesting and makes me feel like I am saving money. I came across this pin on Pinterest about how to make your own soaps and lotions. This is so interesting to me because who knew you could make lotion??! And soap? I thought that was all about using fat and ashes or something like that… BUT since the process and the ingredients are not so simple, I will be giving you instructions on how to make lip balm! 
If you do want to learn how to make your own soap, follow this link!
Apparently this is a very cheap form of making lip balm plus it is super healthy for your luscious lips! The author says that you can usually find all of this at your local health foods store. Please note that this will not protect your lips when out in the sun. Enjoy!
Ingredients you will need:
- 1/2 oz. (about 3 tsp.) of grated or roughly chopped beeswax
- 1 oz. (about 6 tsp.) of coconut oil
- 1 1/2 tsp. lanolin
- 3/4 tsp. of vitamin E
- 2 tsp. of hard honey
- 3/4 tsp. of peppermint essential oil (you can choose any flavor you want actually!)
- Tin jars (found at a craft store) to store lip balm in
Directions!
- In a small pot over medium-low heat, melt the beeswax, coconut oil, lanolin, and vitamin E. Use chopsticks or other small, long-ish stick to stir.
- Remove from heat and add in the honey and peppermint oil. Whisk well with cho
pstick to distribute oil throughout the mixture. Beware, this is tricky! - Pour quickly into tin jars. Let cool on counter!
Pin Your Interests!
29 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beauty and Health, DIY, Life, Make This!, Misc., Tech
I
am sure some of you have already heard, or already are using, the website that allows you to pin-up all the things that interest you from DIY crafts to delicious recipes to fine art to spunky outfits! If you have never heard about this, go check out pinterest.com and find out what is so cool about it.
I am not into all the games that everyone else is involved in (farmville, mafia wars, storage wars, etc.) so I was pretty skeptical when I first heard my best friend raving about Pinterest. She showed me a couple of pages of cute things on there and I was hooked! Although you have to get an invite (which you can request and only takes a couple of days to b
e allowed to join) once you are in, there is no turning back because it is that wonderful!
It is simple to use and you get to put all the things you love or find funny or intrigue you on different “boards.” These “boards” can have any category that you chose and you can “pin” or place anything you find fitting on there. It is awesome because you are the designer, the storyteller, the boss of your own boards and you won’t be alone! You stay connected with friends who use Pinterest, too and you can follow anyone or specific boards to find great ideas to add to your own.
Another cool thing is that if you are a planner like me and love to think about your future home or wedding, you can do all that on one board. For instance, I would love to have a house to call my own some day and I find cute ideas on Pinterest all the time that allows me to mix and match the things that I and only I can say will be there. Although some things may not go together, I still feel like I am in control of my dream home that someday I will have.
So, the next time you get bored, check out Pinterest and see what awesome ideas you can come up with! Also, once you and your friends start using this, plan a party with your girl friends! There is no limit to things you can do together in a group or by yourself. 
Modestly Sexy
23 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Beauty and Health, Dating, Health, Life, Relationships
It’s a classic bitter-sweet scenario when the nice boys who would be wonderful and caring boyfriends get left behind by the guys who are total jerks. Well, likewise guys tend to be attracted to the girls who flaunt their bodies and have the best moves instead of the ones who are smart, nice, a respectable. However, most girls are unaware of how different guys are in the way they think about scandalous clothing. It’s hard to imagine a mindset where physical intimacy is purely physical and doesn’t affect someone’s feelings for the other person. That’s why a lot of girls like the attention of wearing scandalous clothes, but in the long run they don’t like the result. Because while guys are distracted by their revealing clothes and the body underneath, they aren’t thinking at all about getting to know the girl or caring about her like she hopes he will. Girls ultimately just want to be loved, and when being immodest ruins the chances of that they end up just feeling used.
Now, there is nothing wrong with being sexy and feeling attractive. But you should ask yourself what your intentions really are wit
h the clothes you pick out every morning. If what you really want is to get the guys at school thinking about how creat you look all day, chances are they’re not going to respect you very much. Guys need to respect girls in order to love them. So if you’re dressing to look nice, but with the awareness that there is a lot more to you that can attract a guy than your body and how well they can see it, then that’s the look for you. The girls that guys want a real relationship with and imagine a future with are the ones who expect them to listen to what they have to say and look at their faces, not their bodies.
Don’t get caught being hurt because you tried to snag a guy with the wrong hook. Wearing scandalous clothes only seems to get girls positive results, when in the end they are the girls hurting because guys don’t take them seriously. But if you respect yourself, know that you are beautiful without having to show off, and that any guy would be lucky to have you, then you will be the person the guys dream of being in a real relationship with.
~Charis
Nails You’ll Never Be Bored With
17 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
I always get tired of having the same old boring solid colors on my nails. I have over twenty colors but I still end up feeling like there aren’t any colors that’ll work for me. So I got to searching the internet at my favorite crafty sites: www.pinterest.com and www.etsy.com and found so awesome “how to’s” with new nail designs.
Idea #1: XOXO Nails-
For this cute heart top shaped design all you need are the reenforcement stickers
that you can get from any office supply store.
Idea#2: Doily Nails
Idea#3: The striped Hearts
For those of you still in a valentines mood, all you need for these is a toothpick to draw with and a steady hand.
ENJOY!
~Charis
Spread the Love
09 Feb 2012 1 Comment
in Dating, Family, Friends, Relationships
Valentines Day is coming up soon and it tends to be a partially controversial holiday. It’s not as big as christmas, or humble as thanksgiving, but it is wrought with tons of emotion. Celebrating love, especially romantic love can be awesome. This holiday can be a beautiful reminder to every person with a significant other that they should appreciate him/her and
to keep the chemistry alive in the relationship. However, this very significant day has also managed to earn itself a new name: “Singles Awareness Day.” Because it serves as a very different, slightly more unpleasant reminder for the singles of America. People have also had issues with the holiday because of how commercialized it is (however, I have a theory that the haters who aren’t single are just to lazy to celebrate the holiday, so they’d rather argue about it).
The important thing to remember about Valentines day is that love is for everyone. It’s awesome to get romantic sometimes, but don’t forget to tell your best friends, and your family that you love them to. It’s easy to get caught up in the happy whimsical romance of it and forget about those people in your life 
who get to watch the holiday pass by without anyone to look them in the eye and tell them that they are cared about. And, for the single people, dont mope around! Love yourself!!! Life’s to short to spend time thinking about the guy you wish you could have, or the one who got away, or the one that was never there to begin with. Know that you are awesome, and you can stand on your own two feet without having someone else to prop you up. Even when you’re in a relationship its important to know that you are capable of being happy and feeling good about yourself on your own. But, of course a little love never hurt, so go for it! Spread the love this Valentines day (to everyone)!
~Charis
