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 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
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
What Can be Fun, Stylish, and Comfortable? Shoes!
13 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Beauty and Health, Life, Misc.
One thing that I am always struggling with is finding practical shoes to add to my wardrobe. A good shoe should be interesting and unique, but still easy to match with lots of different outfits. In whatever you wear you want to feel beautiful, confident and comfortable, and shoes can be a huge part of that. But what shoes could possibly fit this entire description? Most shoes are either fun and unique, strictly for comfort, or really great with lots of clothes but painful. So here are some helpful hints of different kind of shoes that usually work for many different occasions and look super stylish:
1) The moccasin
These awesome shoes are super comfortable and warm for cold winter days. They are color neutral so they go with lots of different outfits. They look especially good with earthy tones and more of a hipster rustic look. And don’t be afraid to get your feet wet so long as you use the handy waterproofing spray.
2) Black Boots
These can be dressed up or down. They are simple looking so they are easy to match with things and they are super stylish right now. You can’t go wrong with a good basic boot!
3) Ballet Flats
Even though they are not exactly new to fashion, ballet flats still give an awesome statement with any outfit. They are cute and sensible, and can easily work with any outfit for any occasion. You can also buy them in all kind of colors and designs which makes it easy to find the ones that work best for you.
~Charis
Stay Warm This Winter With Stylish Scarves
08 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Beauty and Health, Make This!
Winter is here! Are you ready for it? The weather just keeps getting colder and it’s important to stay warm. An awesome way to keep from turning to a popsicle in the winter winds is to accessories with hats,gloves, and scarves! The most popular kind of scarf right now are pashminas. They’re soft, warm, big, and come in lots of fun patterns and colors. However, one of the most frustrating things is that its hard to figure out good ways to tie them. There are some obvious ways, but those can get boring really easily. So, here are three new fun ways to tie your pashminas that most people don’t know about…
1) Fold the pashmina in half first width-wise, then length-wise to form a loop. Place the loop around your neck and pass the top-end through the loop. Then take the bottom-end and pass it the opposite way through the loop.
2)Fold the shawl in half width ways and then place around the neck, with the loop draping round the front of the neck and the ends hanging at the back. Bring the ends to the front, then cross them over and bring the top layer back and through the loop you’ve created. Tighten to the neck and open out the fabric of the top layer.
3) Fold the pashmina in half width ways and place it over your neck. Tie it once loosely, then tie it again, but instead of pulling it tight into a knot leave it loose so it forms a chain link. Continue adding loose chain links as necessary
And there you have it! You’ll have the most stylish looking scarves out there =)!
~Charis
Under the Mistletoe
01 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Be Safe, Dating, Family, Friends, Health, Relationships
The holidays are a great time to spend with family, an awesome break from school, and presents galore! There are always things to be thankful for during this beautiful time of cheer. However, sometimes it can be a dreary reminder to the single girls out there that they have no one under the mistletoe. Or a time when girls feel pressured by the special someone under the mistletoe to show extra affection. If you have never had either of these problems consider yourself lucky! For the rest of us, let’s discuss how best to navigate the tricky holiday-in-relationship (or lack there of) season.
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES… First of all I know how you feel. I’ve spent countless christmas’ watching my sister cousins and friends getting sweet gifts from their boyfriends and marveling over their young love. They never seem to notice that the time that they spend reflecting (to often a loud to you) 
about how thankful they are for their boyfriend, you feel like you’re missing out on something. Trust me, it’s not as glorious as it sounds. Being in a relationship is a great thing, but worth waiting for the person you actually want to be with. There are so many fish in the sea that it is often times really hard to find the fish that fits you. But the mistletoe will be there for the rest of your life. And eventually the guy who wants you and only you to share that with him will come along and add romance to your holiday. In the meantime spend the holiday fully committing yourself to appreciating you family and friends. Give them your full attention and you’ll soon be forgetting about what you don’t have.
HOLIDAY ROMANCERS… I’m sure he’s really cute, and I’ll bet he’s sweet to you. But no matter how great a guy is, your present for him can be thoughtful and
romantic without making you go out of your comfort zone. Any guy who is worth your time should want you to be happy during the holidays and shouldn’t be pressuring you “under the mistletoe.” So hold your ground. I know that you want to make him happy and let him know how much he means to you, but gift giving should be healthy and happy for both of you. Get him something that means a lot to him, however, what happens under the mistletoe is meant to be special for both of you. So don’t sacrifice your part of the experience because you feel pressured. If he really cares about you he will wait for when you are both ready.
~Charis
Just Enough
24 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Be Fit, Be Healthy, Beauty and Health, Health
Thanksgiving is an awesome time for everyone. It gives us an opportunity to really connect with our family, eat good food, be thankful for what we have…. and hey, no school! But one major downside to this holiday, and christmas and new years soon to follow, is that they are centered around food. There is no mystery as to why so many people join gyms after the new year. We all commit to loosing wait in the new year right after spending weeks centered around holidays full of awesome food. This can be a super good thing. However, it can also be a little nerve-racking for those of us who would like to eat the thanksgiving turkey and christmas cookies without becoming them. How do we handle this dilemma? For one thing, look into the calories and fat content of what you’re eating before you eat it. That way you wont have to feel like you are constantly and blindly stuffing your face. Also, remember that everything is good in moderation. I LOVE mashed potatoes with a passion. However, I would not eat piles and piles of them. More like one serving and then more if I’m still hungry. When you eat something really good the automatic reaction is to say “I want more” rather than savoring the amount you’ve had and leaving it at that. So try to eat everything in manageable portions and appreciate it while you’re eating it, recognizing that there is no need to eat and eat until you can’t fit anymore.
However, it isn’t good to be too hard on yourself. Always keep in mind that it is a holiday, so eating more than you would on any given day is perfectly normal. Dont become so restrictive with your eating that you don’t allow yourself to enjoy all the delicious treats. But enjoy them responsibly by eating until you have had just enough.
~Charis
The Trend of Crackle Nail Polish
09 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Beauty
A new trend that we’re seeing among young women is crackle nail polish. This product is becoming very popular because it’s fun, colorful, and different. There are many different colors, which makes creating combinations fun. There are just three steps in applying crackle effectively.
Step 1: Apply a base color to your nails. If you’re using a simple colored crackle like black or white, you might want to use a bright color to provide fun contrast. If you’re using a bright colored crackle color, you can use a more simple color for your base. With crackle, it’s all about contrast.
Step 2: After you have let the base coat sit for quite a while to dry completely, you can apply a coat of crackle. Sometimes if you apply a thick coat the results aren’t very good, so it’s better to apply a very thin layer. Let this sit for a while, and cracks will begin to form all throughout your nails.
Step 3: It is very important not to forget this last step. Since crackle is an overcoat, it will easily flake off if you don’t apply a top coat. This is a simple clear coat to ensure the polish stays on, and it’s a good idea to use it even when you just have one color on your nails.
This is a fun style that has many options to go along with it. You can do a lot with crackle, and it’s a fairly affordable product. There are many different brands ranging in price. A cheaper, more basic option is the Mia Secret brand which you can purchase for $1.50. A very popular brand that is known to be trusty is Sally Hansen which can be found for $6.00 per bottle. You can purchase it in any drugstore such as Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy as well as in department stores and beauty shops.
Have you tried crackle? If so, what do you think? Do you like what you’ve seen on others’ nails?
