beauty & a blog

be li e ve http://www.bubblews.com/news/1167735-i-believe-in-me It's been almost a year since I got my first and only tattoo on my left shoulder saying "believe." When people ask me why I got it, I give them the Spark Notes version of it, not really bothering to get into my whole reasoning.  Partly because it's a loooong explanation and partly  mostly because I sound so cheesy when I try to articulate it.  I think because of that, I've forgotten the true significance of it, especially this past semester when I got caught up in, well...life.  When I was worried about my future, or grades, or boys, or drama, and felt overwhelmed by it all, I used to ask myself: "What happened to the girl with the believe tattoo?"  This winter break has really given me the time to think and I've realized she's still here, baby.   http://thepursuitofriches.com/2013 /11/10/day-26-them-goals/ Many people think I got my tattoo because I loved Justin Bieb...

My first ever flowchart #LOL. Take this quiz to find out which celebrity would be your formal date! If only, if only... If it's too small, you can save the image to your computer to view it better :) 

With so many treats during the holiday season, it's easy to let your diet plummet. One sugar cookies leads to another...and another until you've realized you're closing to Santa-status. You could probably travel the world and eat all the cookies in one night too.  One important trick to preventing these sugar cravings is eating the right foods to make sure you're full throughout the day so you don't reach for the first thing in sight as soon as your mouth starts to water. (Speaking of water, you should also drink lots of water to hydrate you r body and prevent overeating!) Incorporate these eight superfoods into your diet to ward off the urge to overindulge. They're delicious , keep you satisfied ,  and  have many added benefits ! Lucky for you, you don't have to give up all of your favorite holiday temptations- dark chocolate is on list :)  Click on the images to get a closer look.  With all these amazing foods to enjoy, it really is the m...

Check out my article on hercampus.com! It's about the crazy, emotional roller coaster of registering for classes. Had a similar experience? http://www.hercampus.com/school/wisconsin/play-play-registering-classes

No Shave November in Haikus It's said that haikus are a form of poetry that express natural beauty. I thought there was no better way to show my feelings for No Shave November in an eloquent, poetic way. For those of you who aren't familiar with this art form, the first and last lines are 5 syllables and the middle line is 7 syllables. So here it goes:  A Gentle Reminder Boys with beards are gross  Shave it off right now or I'll Punch you in the face If you can't pull it off, please  don't do the whole No Shave November thing. It makes you look like a caveman. If I'm feeling nostalgic, I'd rather whip out some old pictures, not look at a prehistoric creature.  http://www.sleepwarrior.com/the-cavemans-guide-to-quality-sleep Waiting for the Day No Shave November The worst time of the year un- less girls can partake  As Americans we're promised equality and the pursuit of happiness so it's basically written...

So I may or may not have gained inspiration from my life and my friends' lives when writing this article... http://www.hercampus.com/school/wisconsin/telltale-signs-you-ve-been-single-while But the good news is that being single means that you're just too unbelievably good looking. I like the sound of that. 

School is important, don't get me wrong but sometimes you have to loosen up a little- especially when shake weights, Chipotle and Ellen DeGeneres are involved.  Last Monday night, the Ellen DeGeneres show took over the 600th block of State Street in Madison, where they held a costume contest. Ellen tweeted earlier that day, inviting people to be dress up in their craziest costumes and be ready to go by 4 p.m. Hold the phone. First off, I love Ellen; she's hilarious. Second off, I love going to stuff like that because it gives me inherent bragging rights. What did you do today? Class? Psh, I was on the Ellen Show. I'm so there.  Buuuuut I was drowning in midterms. As in floundering at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean amid a herd of angry great white sharks. Basically, I couldn't go because I had to study.  So I packed up my backpack, coffee in hand, and walked to the library. Too bad the taping just so happened to be conveniently on the way. WAT UP ELLEN?! ...

While casually perusing Facebook, something caught my eye. A diamond in the rough. The Top 10 Majors with the Hottest Girls brought to you by none other than Total Frat Move. While skipping through their slideshow, my heart started racing with excitement after I got to number three, knowing that the number one spot was within reach. "Come on journalism, pull through for me," I thought. "I'm not paying thousands of dollars  not  the be the hottest major." (Totally kidding BTW. Stay in school kids, regardless if you're the hottest or not.)  YES! Journalism for the win! My face immediately lit up and a sense of pride enraged through my veins. ...Until I realized, who cares if I'm in the hottest major for girls? WHY am I  not  in the hottest major for guys?! Talk about a good couple grand spent right there, showing up to class next to Mr. Beautiful and Price Charming. Study sesh anyone?!  Alright, again I'm kidding. But here's a list in r...

Always in the spotlight, celebrities are faced with the constant pressure of looking good. Often times, this can lead to unhealthy behavior by the celebrities themselves or by the people idolizing them. On the other hand, there can be some tricks that we can learn from the stars. After all, they most likely have personal trainers telling them exactly what to do to achieve a body of a god/goddess. Before we begin, let me clear one thing up. If someone tells you their diet trick is to eat whatever they want, whenever they want, they're either 1) lying or 2) on the fast-track to diabetes. Some people are blessed with an insanely fast metabolism, but just because they're skinny doesn't mean they're healthy. By the way, if you're one of those people, 97% of the population probably hates you, and by that I mean absolutely envies you.  James Franco:  Clearly this kid is doing something right.  http://collegecandy.com/2012/03/29/candy-dish-what-happened-to-jame...

I found this great article and thought I should share. Too often, we tell ourselves we will be happy when something happens- when we get a raise, when we get a boyfriend, when we ace a test, when we buy a new outfit, etc. Instead we need to realize that we have everything we need and more to be happy right now.  http://logolitic.com/40-happiness-photography-inspiration/ http://beyoumediagroup.com/2013/09/07/how-to-get-flat-abs-have-amazing-sex-and-rule-the-world-in-8-easy-steps/

It's almost that wonderful time of year once again- Bid Day, where hundreds of girls parade through the streets to their new home, welcomed by their overly excited sisters who went through this same process a year or two ago. The active members are ecstatic to greet their  amazing, adorable, potential littles, and say farewell to hours and hours of hard preparation. http://m.pinterest.com/pin/119345458845465777/ Contrary to popular belief, sorority recruitment is hard work. Active members have to sing, clap, and scream simultaneously while flashing smiles that trump Julia Roberts' for at least two eight-hour days and then continue to talk to potential new members without breaking a sweat (literally and figuratively). And that's followed by a full week of practice. After going through the other side of recruitment, sorority girls develop so many more skills besides flawlessly walking in wedges and mastering the art of small talk; they can do just about anything. ...

Ahh, a new school year. Here's to a fresh start and new beginnings. As of this moment your grades are perfect, and you can't wait to get started making amazing memories with your recently reunited crew. This is your year, jam-packed with fun and good fortune. Not to mention you could be a stone lighter.  What's a stone? It's British for fourteen pounds! (I used that because you're gonna be more cultured and sophisticated this year. Just kidding, the health journalist Michael Mosley who developed this fad is from England so I copied him.) http://weheartit.com/?page=19&pgx=OpenMobileApp The trick? Fasting. I know, it sounds obvious right? Bear with me; there's more than meets the eye. The 5/2 Diet includes intermittent fasting, meaning you eat normally for five days of the week, and fast for two days. On the fasting days, you cut your caloric intake by 1/4. Women should consume only 500 calories, and men 600. By following The 5/2 Diet, also know...

Between rush, class, football games, formal, and socials, it seems like there's  always  an occasion to dress up and look cute. With your painted nails, hair bows, and lipstick secured, you're only missing one more thing- smooth, sexy legs. That means "No Shave November "  is  not  in the cards for you this year. They say that beauty is pain, but beauty is also hard work. Sometimes, you want to just sit back and relax for once!  As always, I have a solution. Call me your fairy godmother.  Crowdtap and Veet have partnered up to create a program specifically for sorority women called  "A Sorority Spa-cation" , where hosts will be chosen at different universities across the country and will receive  free  products from Veet that they can test out.   This includes anything from wax strips to hair removal creams, plus products like homemade lip scrubs and chalkboard nail polish. Think about it- you won't have to ...

a ship in the port is safe ,                                     but that's not what ships                                   are built for  http://acidcow.com/pics/37206-inspirational-quotes-40-pics.html You were made for more, now go do it!  What will you do today that will put you outside of your comfort zone? 

My life is complete!!!! MTV finally released the alternate ending to The Hills.  For a little background, The Hills  has been the only TV show that I've ever religiously watched. As a little-ish girl growing up, I wanted to be just like LC and Audrina so I'd tune in every Monday to follow their lives. Those were the days.  http://vipphoto.ru/t357/Audrina-Patridge-i21082-s120.html When the show finally ended, I was heartbroken 1) because it was over, obviously and 2) because it ended with someone yelling "cut" and the camera slowly zooming out showing the set and revealing that it was all fake! Low blow, MTV, low blow.  http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2010/07/14/hills-poll-did-you-dig-the-mysterious-last-seconds-of-the-finale/ After the finale aired, Brody dished:  "This ending was perfect because you still don't know what was real, what was fake and it's kind of like L.A. in a sense. I thought it was very clever, and I was happy with it....

As the sc hool year quickly approac hes, its finally time to say peace out to your summer job. Its important to leave on good terms t houg h- you'll never know w hen you'll need a reference for the future. As tempting as it is to make a dramatic exit worthy of the movies and call it quits rig ht on t he spot- or is it just me?!- follow t hese steps to make good lasting impression as you move on to bigger and better jobs.  http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/25/where-are-americas-most-peaceful-cities/ Give your employer at least two weeks notice In t he professional world, its pretty standard to give employers two weeks notice before your last day. Make sure you specify exactly w hen your last day will be to avoid confusion. Its always nice if you actually type up a two weeks notice t hat specifies your last day. Be sure to include a t hank you for everyt hing t his job  has taug ht you. Even if you didn't learn anyt hing and hated every second of it, make it up! Its b...