A new semester is upon us! Our schedules just got busier and our workload is a little heavier. Just the thought of this would make any normal person a bit uneasy. However, there are ways to get ahead of the game so that you’re fully prepared for the semester and anxiety won’t creep up on you like those forgotten assignments!

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Pull up with a planner|

Planners are extremely helpful especially when you have a schedule full of club meetings, due dates, and get-togethers. It will allow you to write things down and have a visual representation of what your schedule looks like so you’ll know when you can squeeze in a nap!

Get a head start|
I know this is easier said than done, but anything you do to get a head start on an assignment will help you tremendously. You’ll have more time to plan and ask questions if needed. You’ll even have room for those days when you’re procrastinating.

Sleep, sleep + sleep|
This is a fan favorite. Sleeping is not only a hobby for those who stay busy; it is also an essential part of your health. Getting a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep a night will improve your mood and give you the energy you need to kill it!

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–Content Editor, Tia Banks

Scroll through the STYLE diary of Texas based college blogger, Lexi! 

What’s your name + the city you’re from?
My name is Alexia (Lexi) Stewart, and I’m from Houston, Texas!

Style is showing who you are with out having to speak! Name your top 3 trends you’re feeling this season?
My first trend that I’m feeling this season is long and lean. It’s a very clean and crisp trend with a lot of white and long, slim dresses, skirts and pants. I think that culottes would fit into this trend really well. My second trend is saville row! It features things such as herringbone, houndstooth and plaid items. The last trend would have to be the whole oversized and baggy trend that’s going on. I love wearing sweaters and cardigans that are two sizes too big because I enjoy being cozy and comfortable. I don’t have anything that relates to saville row in my closet yet (it can be a little pricey), but I admire the trend so much and love seeing the style on other people!

If you had 30 seconds to grab your 3 favorite style pieces, what would they be?

My three favorite style pieces would be my distressed denim jacket, my oversized burnt-orange cardigan and my distressed mom jeans that I thrifted and made myself!

Style inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate fashion icon + why?
Definitely feel that I don’t have a specific style icon. I love just spending some time browsing Pinterest and Instagram looking at outfits and trying to create something similar, but unique out of things I already own. If I HAD to pick, these are a few of my favorite Instagrammers whose styles I enjoy:

discoverbella
speakoftheangel
laurajadestone
thepatriciabright
itsdemib

I love them because their styles are very simple and minimalistic. A lot of basics with a few iconic statement pieces. That’s the direction that I want my wardrobe to go in for 2019.

Getting ready in the morning can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s your go-to look if you’re in a rush?
Oh my gosh, this was literally me towards the end of the semester because sleeping in just felt so amazing. I have two different scenarios with this. If my hair is natural, I usually put it in a high bun. I’ll put on my denim jacket with my black mesh leggings, a basic white or black t-shirt with a bralette, and my black adidas NMD’s. If I have a protective style such as braids or weave, I definitely make sure to grab my black adidas hat as well. It’s an outfit that is extremely comfortable, basic, still cute and falls into the ongoing trend of athleisure.

What’s your number 1 rule when it comes to style?
My number one rule is to never sacrifice comfort for style and trendiness. I had to learn this the hard way. My freshman and sophomore years of college were filled with me wearing wedges, heels, skirts, and tight clothing to class. Eventually, I got tired of doing that and focused on pleasing myself and just being comfortable. You can still look cute and feel cozy and comfy too!

Follow more of Lexi’s look here!

Instagram

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You and your bestie would never be caught without the other. You’ve spent a large portion of your friendship getting into wild shenanigans while making lasting memories. All of a sudden the good times start to slow down significantly. Why? Your bestie is boo’d up! And although you’re happy for her, you cannot stand her new man! What’s a supportive best friend supposed to do?

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Keep your FEELINGS out of it| Even though you tell your bestie everything, you don’t have to constantly remind her that you dislike her new bae. The only thing that should matter to you is her happiness.

Check yourself | Ask yourself why you hate your bestie’s BF. Do you not like his character, the way he treats her, or the way her relationship has affected your friendship? Take some time to do some serious reflecting.

Take advice from Frozen and “Let It Go”| Just because your bestie is in a relationship with someone you don’t like, doesn’t mean you have to let that affect your friendship. Yes, you may hang out a little less, but the time you do spend together can still be epic! Just make sure that you continue to be present in your best friend’s life (especially if she needs a shoulder to cry on when they break up).

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-Tia Banks, Content Editor

Making moves with the squad always calls for fun! But have you ever been craving alone time when your friends are begging you to come hang? Well, here are 4 ways to successfully have alone time when you need it. Also remember, time to yourself has a positive impact on your mental health and should be nothing to feel guilty about.

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Set Alone Time| Set aside a specific time of the day that you want to be meant for you and only you. By the way, this time shouldn’t consist of bedtime hours. It should be a time of day that you can have to yourself consistently so that your peers will understand and respect that as your time

Set an alone place| Find a place where you can go and embrace yourself. This place can be near or far but just make sure it is easily accessible.

Start a hobby| It sounds cliché, but hobbies are perfect opportunities to focus on something other than what’s going on in your busy life. It may take time to figure out what the perfect hobby is for you, but when you do, you’ll learn so much about yourself.

Put your phone on do not disturb| The ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature on your phone is a blessing. You can turn it on during your alone time to make sure you’re not distracted when the squad is calling you. Just don’t forget to turn it off when alone time is over.

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~Tia Banks, Content Editor

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The end of the semester is near and even though everything seems like it’s happening at once, just take a chill pill. You’ll be okay! Papers, projects, and finals are right around the corner and it’s nothing you can’t handle. We are here to help you manage these next few weeks so you can walk away from this semester with a peace of mind.

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Sashay Your Way To Class. This rule may seem so simple but is very important especially during the last few weeks of the semester. Professors will be teaching last minute PowerPoint’s and going over info from earlier in the semester. This is your last chance to ask questions so make sure you’re present.

Break Don’t Quit. In between studying, classes, and trying to stay focused, make sure you take a break. Go hangout with friends, grab a quick bite to eat off campus, or have a short workout session in the gym. Anything is a break as long as you’re focused on something else.

Prioritize your priorities. You have a million and one things to do but some things are more important than others. There are assignments that you may have procrastinated on for a while that you need to start before you begin that take home test. Just make sure you put everything in order of importance so that you’ll have a grasp on all of your assignments.

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-Tia Banks, Content Editor

Scroll through the Beauty Diary of LaQuin Simmons!

What’s your name + city you live in?

My name is LaQuin Simmons + I’m from the Philadelphia area.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

I don’t really follow beauty trends but two that I love and use are natural/boy beat and lip gloss.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

Colourpop Alissa Ashley gloss, nyx HD concealer and Pacifica dream big mascara are the ones I’m snatching on my way out.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

I can’t say really choose between Zendaya and YouTube Alissa Ashley. They really show the two parts of me the natural side and then the more glam side.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

My concealer has to be in my bag because I don’t really get much sleep in the first place.

The holidays are right around the corner, which means along with delicious home cooked meals will come lots of inquisitive relatives wanting to know all about your personal life. There are very little ways to avoid it but we are here to help you survive it. Relatives know how to push your buttons but with these tips, your holiday season can be somewhat peaceful and your business can remain private.

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Give Only A Little. When the family asks about what’s going on in your life, they’re going to expect a long summation of what you’ve been up to since the last holiday season. Throw them off with simple and vague answers.

Stay Away. Your aunties and uncles usually ask the hard-hitting questions around the dinner table. Therefore, once you’ve made your plate of food make a run for it to another part of the house or take a seat at the kid’s table. They’ll be sure to keep you entertained.

Be Petty.  The last resort is a bold one. If you’re feeling exceptionally petty, you can hit your relative back with a #thanksgivingclapback. We warn you to only try this with your cool aunt, your older cousin, or anyone that knows how to take a joke.

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–Tia B., Content Editor

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College brings on many new responsibilities and being fiscally responsible is one of the hardest. It seems like money leaves your wallet faster than it goes in and your bank account is starting to collect spider webs. Believe it or not, there are plenty of ways you’re wasting your money in college. Check out some of these things to cut back on so you can stack those coins!

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Junk Food Foodie?– Although it is nice to treat yourself to fast food every once in a while, the campus is full of eating spots that are included in your meal plan. This is so much better than having to spend money on take out every time you’re hungry. The other benefit is that campus usually offers healthier options so it’s a win-win.

Rent’em + Return’em- Buying textbooks is a hard financial hit in the beginning of the semester. In order to cut costs, rent your books from websites like Amazon and Chegg. You should also ask your professor to see if you’ll even need the book before you buy it.

Ride Along– Having a car on campus is obviously convenient, but the money you spend on upkeep isn’t worth it. You’ll have to pay for gas weekly and some colleges even make you pay for a parking pass every year. Ditch the car and opt for a bike or walk like most students do. Large campuses even provide transportation to your classes.

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~Tia Banks, Content Editor

Scroll through the beauty diary of Atlanta based teen blogger, Haley!

What’s your name + city do you live in?

My name is Haley Cencere and I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

One trend that I am loving to see is how women are now more comfortable wearing their natural curls. Many women on social media have embraced their natural hair as well as their natural face and I am living for it. Beauty can be seen in many shapes and forms and I believe this trend is truly spreading that message. Many celebrities are now posting bare face pictures and it is truly inspiring. I am also in love with glossy eyelid trend that has been on seen on celebrity such as SZA and Kylie Jenner. I am in love with the effect that it gives to their makeup, it simply gorgeous!

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

I would definitely grab lash glue, my favorite foundation and definitely a moisturizer like shea butter or cocoa butter.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

My ultimate beauty icon is supermodel Duckie Thot, she is beautiful and is always stylish. She has been a rising supermodel this year and I believe her imagine inspires many girls of a darker complexion to embrace their melanin. In my experience growing up as a darker complexion often times, I found people addressing my beauty being prefix the terms of you’re a beautiful dark skin young lady. Instead of just saying I was beautiful.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your book bag?

Lip Gloss is always a must have at all times. I will NEVER leave the house without my lip gloss because it is an easy touch up for a plain face or for a made up face. I am in love with MAC’s glass or you could go to your local beauty supply store for lip gloss.

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

Embrace your truth and natural beauty. Find beauty in your insecurities. I have always wanted to spread this message to woman all over the world because I lived in my own shadow for years not embracing my unique beauty mark. I have a birthmark on the right side of my face that covers the entire right side of my face and I used to try to hide it by covering it up at a young age. The day that I embraced my beauty mark was the day the world around me embraced it and I am now known for having this very unique trait. I stand for a platform that promotes “ find beauty in what makes you uncomfortable or different because that is simply what makes you, you.”

Follow more of Haley’s beauty inspo here!

Instagram

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‘Tis the season to be cuffed and everyone you know is starting to get boo’d up, except you. The colder months also mean the social activities slow down and you see your friends less. Suddenly, you find yourself getting a little lonely. How are you going to make it through cuffing season uncuffed? Read on to find out!

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Netflix and Chill Comfortably| It’s time to throw on your favorite pair of sweats, get in a comfy spot, and binge watch all of your favorite shows with no complaints. You can even re-watch The Office for a third time.

More Money, No Problems | The holidays are coming up and since you don’t have a significant other to buy a gift for, this means you have a little extra cash to spend. So treat yourself! That matching purse and wallet you’ve been eyeing is all yours now!

Date Yourself | Tired of being trapped in the house? Go on a date by yourself. It sounds weird, but spending time by yourself is very therapeutic. Some places you could go are the movies, out to breakfast, or even to get a massage.

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–Tia B., Content Editor