Posts tagged "Teen life"

Introvert’s Guide To College!

Going off to college to be around unfamiliar faces can be nerve racking. Doing it as an introvert can seem impossible. But don’t fret because even the most introverted person can make a friend with these 3 tips below!

Love For The Clubs! Joining clubs is the easiest way to make new friends during your first semester on campus. You’ll be spending a good amount of time around people with the same interests as you while working together to achieve a common goal

Extra Study Sessions! When there is a huge exam coming up, professors will usually have the teaching assistant lead an extra study session. Go! Even if you feel confident about all the material, a quick review never hurts. Plus, you’ll get a chance to mingle in a smaller setting with other people from your major.

Come + Talk To Me! – If you’re still super nervous, it’s okay. Let people come to you first. Quick tip: Wear something eye-catching like a dope pair of sneakers so people will be inclined to approach you and strike up a conversation about them!

So don’t fret; you’re not the only one!

 

Tia B. , Content Editor

Broke Vibes?

Summer is in full swing + so are those part-time checks from your summer gig! Don’t fret; we’ll cover our eyes on how you’ve already spent your money on clothes, beauty goodies and concert tickets for the first half of the summer. Well, for the rest of the month we’re going to give you 3 reasons why saving your money is “not your enemy” in your life!

Clouds Are Rolling In!– Have you heard the saying “save for a rainy day” in life? Well, with all this global warming happening you never know when a storm will pop up. Okay, so maybe not a real life tornado but a shift in your money flow. An extra book for your college course? Your basketball uniform? I mean it’s always good to have a little cushion.

Hands Out Syndrome– So your parents love you and your homegirls have your back but let’s be honest they are not your personal ATM. Always asking for someone to spot you or cover you can be a bit draining and can even break up friendships. Keep a stash and play it safe.

Shrug That Feeling– It’s as simple as that feeling. We all know that feeling. That feeling of finding a quarter is an upgrade to our empty accounts. It’s cool to look fly but when you have an empty account can take away from your fab life.

So get to stacking!

 

Beauty Diary x Taylor!

Scroll through the beauty diary of Louisiana based teen makeup artist, Taylor Jones! 

What city do you live in?
I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana!

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?
Two beauty trends that I’m currently loving are glossy eyelids and A BLINDING HIGHLIGHTER!

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?
If I only had 15 seconds to grab three beauty products they would be my favorite lashes Malia V-Lux by ienvy, my favorite lipgloss Maybelline Shine Shot Prismatic Lip TopCoat, and my Laura Geller Highlighter Gilded Honey.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?
My ultimate beauty icon has to be Aaliyah Jay. I’ve been watching her youtube since she started and has always loved her personality. She recently posted that she’ll be more into editorial makeup now, and that’s something I want to venture off into so I’m looking forward to that.

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?
One beauty must have that will stay in my book bag is lipgloss!! I always keep lipgloss or some type of lip balm.

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?
My number one beauty rule is love yourself with and without makeup!

Follow MORE of Taylor’s beauty tip here!

Instagram: @dnamestay + @makeupbytrj

Dear Mama!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and everyone is asking everyone else the big question: “What should I get my mom for Mother’s Day?” Well, just know that moms are usually content with cards and hugs but here are three suggestions if you’re looking to go the extra mile:

1. Let’s Nibble with Edible Arrangements! These crafty flower shaped fruit baskets are a treat that will win mom over every single time.

2. Soothing Spa Gift Basket! Put together some facial masks, a cleansing bar, shower gel, and a loofah. This is a great idea because you can design it yourself with the scents you know she’ll love.

3. Light Up Your Mom’s Heart With Candles! Candles are a great “when in doubt” option. There are a multitude of scents to choose from as well as different shapes and sizes. Our faves this season are Lumiere by Lisa!

Here’s the bright side; even if you don’t pick the perfect gift your mom will still love you!

 

Tia B., Content Editor

Weekend Fresh!

Campus Crash? Zen Out!

Coming back from spring break + trying to focus on the rest of the semester is the task of the century. That’s not including the laundry list of responsibilities of  being a full-time college student, balancing a part-time gig, a dwindling social life and still trying to  scrape up all the extra-credit in an attempt to hold on to your GPA. Okay, so before you literally throw your hands-up + just pretend all of your responsibilities don’t exist, we have 3 for-sure tips to CREATE YOUR ZEN:

Breathe In, Breathe out + Chat it Out! Just breathe. Instead of stressing yourself with your  infinite to-do list of tasks in your mind, get out of your head. If that means writing out your thoughts or downloading the Talkspace app for a listening ear, it’s important not to drive your anxiety sky-high by bottling up your emotions. Although friends + family are great outlets, oftentimes they’re the ones bringing the most drama. So embracing online therapy can give you fresh energy to your situations.

Cleanse your CREW!– Speaking of friends, some of them you might need to sage. Okay, not literally burn sage everywhere they go, but  take inventory of who’s in your crew + the energy they bring.  Do you have that one friend that every convo is ALWAYS about her? Or the roommate who’s already on academic probation + gives you 10 reasons to skip class every day? Well, this is the time where you need to shower away draining ties in your life. It doesn’t haven’t to be a full announcement, just don’t be as available. They’ll catch the hint.

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Spring Space- So as the seasons change so should  your space! Do you need to be the next contestant on Room Makeover? Not necessarily, but a few tweaks here + there can help bring you peace while you’re studying for finals. So clean up all of your ramen noodles bowls and halfway full Starbucks cups. Add some color with fresh flowers + daily inspo quotes. You’re on the home stretch! Breathe, release + make it to the finish line.

You’ll thank us, later!

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Love Yourself IRL x Shelby Bentil

Scroll, double tap, scroll. Repeat. This describes our daily habit as we operate without even thinking while subconsciously comparing ourselves to glimpses + fake images of both friends and strangers. With social media acting as the number one addiction, learning to love yourself in real life can seem almost like an impossible task. Young + thriving author Shelby Bentil shares an impactful story of a teen girl struggling to discover herself + dreams in her first book, Diminished Dreams. Get to know how Shelby was inspired to create this story and how it represents numerous girls learning to love themselves while going after their dreams!

Your new book Diminished Dreams is a fiction story that shares the journey of a teen girl + her struggles after she finds out about her pregnancy. What inspired the story line of your book?

My inspiration behind Diminished Dreams is actually pretty complicated. I created the story at the age of 16 and at that time my focus was making the character this deranged teenager who became fed up with everyone hurting her and turning their back on her. This was actually an issue I was dealing with at the time. During my teenage years I experienced so much hurt that I channeled all of it into the character Castel. Now over the years, as I developed emotionally, mentally and spiritually, Castel’s story evolved and I used the character to express only that small part of me. If you notice in the book, Castel is constantly trying to be the positive one and give people chances regardless of how they betray her. In the first draft this was not the case. Castel was actually out to destroy everyone.

How important is it for young females to be proactive when it comes to attacking their goals rather than simply reacting from what their environment gives them? 

For me being proactive and focusing on your goals should always be number one on your to do list. Now don’t get me wrong I know it can become very difficult to not react to what happens in your environment, I myself had to learn the hard way. It took me years to realize I couldn’t fight the world and I am still working on what to give my energy to. What I’ve learned is the more I focus on who I see myself becoming the more I tune out the negativity in my environment.

Getting a grip of who you are as a girl is tough due to a collage of media, school, life’s pressure, & the list goes on. How did you relate to the main character in your book when it came to understanding true self-love?

Castel is me. Well part of me. As I became a woman and learned self-love I transformed her story to reflect that. This is why in the book she grows the way she does. She goes from this girl who is so wrapped up in pleasing others and living how she is told to putting more focus on doing what is best for her and cutting the strings of control.

As a girl do you feel like it’s pressure in high school + college  to conform to be accepted in different areas of your life? For example do you believe you have to be a completely different person with your boyfriend than you are with your parents or friends?

Oh, absolutely there is pressure to conform if you want to be “accepted.” Ironically, as I got older I found myself conforming in different ways than when I was a teenager or a child. For example when I was a child and a teen my main struggle with conformity was the pressure to be “tough.” Growing up in an urban environment, if you were not tough or getting into fights then you were an easy target for bullying. This resulted in me actually turning into a bully and being a very angry and mean child just to have a voice among my peers. As a young adult the levels of conformity transformed into what I looked like, who I dated, what I believed and more. It wasn’t until about several years ago that I really started to embrace me just the way I am. This started with my big chop. Cutting my hair during the “long hair don’t care” movement was a very significant moment for me because I was finally breaking away from labels and other people’s opinions.

(Beautiful comparison photo of legendary author + poet Maya Angelou to young + thriving author Shelby Bentil)

What’s one way girls can block out the noise of distractions early on and embrace their insecurities instead of trying to bury them?

As a young girl what I found most helpful to avoid distractions was getting lost in a hobby connected to my passion, which was writing. Going back to one of the previous questions, your reactions to your environment can really make you or brake you, so for me taking out a pen and my journal to write down what would have gotten me in trouble, allowed me to express myself, move on from an issue and keep pushing forward to my goals. Girls need to find outlets that are not friends, boyfriends or social media but hobbies that will help them discover their seed of greatness. From baking to sports, anything positive and productive will help them keep their head afloat. In terms of insecurities, I understand that is a lot more difficult to deal with because it has to deal with loving yourself. Self-love is easier said than done especially with this wave of social media that pretty much every female you look at appear to be exactly the same. What I believe is most helpful is to always keep positive sayings around to read and tell yourself something positive everyday. When we speak to ourselves positively we feel and live a positive life.

How does writing allow you to go deeper into yourself and grow as a person?

Writing allows me to awaken my creativity. When I write there are no boundaries, no rules. I can create a whole world based on my thoughts and events in my own life. The more I think, the deeper I dig into myself and it amazes me the where my mind wonders off to when I glide my pen on paper. Writing opens this door to an unknown place that only I have access to and from there I begin to challenge what I know and who I am until I reach the next door to the next unknown place, which will lead me to another path of understanding.

Check out more of Shelby here!

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Weekend Fresh!

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Happy Weekend!

Holiday Hunt?

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It’s about that time again! Holiday commercials, pumpkin spice latte in the air and empty pockets? Yes, we get it.  Even though it’s a festive time a year that doesn’t mean your pockets always match the season. With the holiday season + right around the corner and gearing up for gift giving season you might need a few extra dollars your way. So what’s better than a part-time gig to help you stack up for the holiday? Check out these quick tips to get a head start on your search!

Start Early + Research- Ok, yes there are numerous job openings but that doesn’t mean it will always stays that way! To not get left in the dust create a quick list of places that you would like to work + that are hiring.  This makes your search clear, focus & easier for you to snag a gig.

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Fun times, Fun place? – Just because it’s work doesn’t mean you have to dread going there. While you’re on your job search and pick a place where you actually shop or an environment you enjoy.  Find a place you like and go for it! This makes your work days go by faster and you’ll actually want to learn more about your job that can aid you in the future. Also, a killer discount always helps when it comes to gift giving!

Second Glance +Follow Up- So before you turn in your resume take a second glance! If you’re submitting it in person or online make sure to double check your resume for the correct info & proper presentation. Also, make sure to follow up to make sure it’s received!

Weekend Fresh!