How to survive your first year at university

This week I started my second year at university. Even though, last year was a hard one, I’m starting this one with high spirit and hoping to be a better one. Luckily I was able to survive, not by myself with a lot of help from friends and family, and in case you are a freshmen this year and you feel completely lost, which we all did, here are a few tips to get by your first year.

                                                                              

  1.    Use an agenda.

I know I’ve been saying this a lot but, an agenda helps you so much, especially in the first year. You’ll get ask for assignments, reading, exams, etc. an agenda will help you to remind you once you get home.

   2.      Re read your class.

It took me a while to realize how helpful this is. Not only are you getting yourself a head for the exam, but when you get back to class you will not be so lost.

  3.    Don’t stack up work.

I think it is so much better to do your homework as soon as you get it, because then you’ll get more and more work, but little time. So it is always better to do your work as soon as possible.

  4.    Take some time off, everyday

Everyday remember to take some time off to do something you like. Do not spend all day with work from university, take some time to read, go for a run or whatever you like to do. You’ll be more relax, and will go back to your assignment feeling fresh.

  5.    Buy all the materials.

Even though they cost a fortune, buy all the books you need and read them, of course.

  6.    Weekends are your days off, not every day.

This year, I promised myself I was hanging out with friends only on weekends, last year I will get distracted and do not do my homework. Even tough lunch with friends sounds amazing on Wednesday, you’ll stack up on work. By the way, if this is your activity to get your mind off, go ahead.

  7.    Learn to fail and learn from that.

You will fail, and you’ll hate it but you will eventually learn from your mistake. Maybe you didn’t study enough or you did not get enough sleep, so you know for next time.

Love

Pili

February Favorites

Another month of 2016 has come to another, way too fast. I hope you enjoyed my little reflection from my last post, I’ve been planning it all month and I was so excited to post it. Other than those things that I’ve mentioned in my post, there are some things I’ve been enjoying  from make up to a TV show I watched when I was way too young to get it.

   1.    Mac Lipstick in MAC Red

I’ve been wanting a red lipstick for a while now but I never really dare to buy it because I did not know how it would look. When I tried this one after my dad gave it to me for my birthday I feel in love. I felt pretty Taylor Swift when I wore it, an effect that only MAC can give you to be honest.

  2.    Haute & Naughty Mac Mascara in black.

My makeup got stolen in December and I was really needing a new mascara since I kept stealing my mom’s, she owns this one and I loved it, so my dad got me this one as well. I’m so in love the way this mascara makes my eyelashes and I love how you have two wands so you can have either voluminous or define eyelashes.

  3.    Mac PowerPoint Eye Pencil in Engraved.

I love wearing eyeliner, I can’t go out to parties or clubs without it. But I always have trouble since by the end of the night you can see the eyeliner smear all over my face. However, this eyeliner is clumsy me proof.

  4.    Mac Matchmaster Concealer

It actually runs in my family to have bag under my eyes, that and the fact that I barely get any sleep, this is a lifesaver. My concealer also got stolen so I asked my sister for this one while she was on vacation and I love it. Not only the fact that is a bar is amazing but the way it works, just makes wonders. Also, they have so many different tones.

  5.    Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream

Although this one is a little bit darker than my usual tone I think it is amazing for the summer, where you might want to look a little bit tanner. I adore BB Creams, and after a friend told me to get Maybelline I begged my mom to try and find it while she was in the US. This one leaves your skin so hydrated and so smooth, it’s perfect to wear it all day.

  6.    Cath Kidston Overnight Pouch//Similar here

Not only the design is really cute but I love the size and shape of this one. I love how all my makeup fits there perfectly and whenever I have to travel or go somewhere I can just grab that and take it with me.

  7.    Spotlight

Every single second of this movie I was focused on the screen, and that is hard for someone like me. Maybe it was because I want to be a journalist and do this kind of work but I couldn’t turn my eyes away. This movie is genius (it did win the Oscar for best movie), I love how it shows you an issue that many people turn their head away from. This is a movie I highly recommend to watch for anyone, but really, if you want to be a journalist this is a must watch.

  8.    Blue Neighborhood by Troye Sivan

No surprise here, another Troye Sivan album out, and it is added to my favorites. I’ve been listening to this album none stop, I listen it while I’m working out, while I take the dog for a walk or when I’m studying, it is just an album to do anything. Last week he released his Youth music video and I loved every single second of it, because it is my favorite type of music video.

  9.    Gilmore Girls

Oh yes this is an old one. I remember my sister watching this when I was younger and now that is on Netflix I decided to watch it as well. It is one of those shows that every girl needs to watch, like Gossip Girl. Just amazing.

  10.                      Looking for Alaska by John Green

Lastly, this book. I read it when I was 16 and I really loved, and now reading it again four years later I just remember how great it is. It reminds me a lot of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, so of course I’m a big fan. I simply adore the way John Green writes, everything he writes I feel in love. And I love the fact that is the 10^th Anniversary edition.

What have you been loving this month?

Love

Pili

Dear February,

You were month were I decided to finally be ok. But mostly, I made the decision to be myself, something I wasn’t for a long time. I started listening to Nirvana again, and Paul McCartney, some of my favorite artist I had miss in this hiatus of being me. I stopped listening to people and hop on the bike again. I also, threw myself in the water and no words can explain how it felt, to be one with the water, to allow my arms and legs to move freely, and to forget everything for an hour or more and just be inside the water. I opened my story again, a file that had been closed for months, I finally wrote again. I felt like my hand couldn’t stop and I felt that connection a writer feels with their characters.

At times, however, I felt suffocated. Like I could not breathe in this town. I felt trapped, trapped in a world I didn’t not belong. A place where I do not want to felt classified as. I need to get out, that’s the only thing that went through my mind. I realize I needed time off, but I still haven’t taken it. I felt like I could not continue living in this town and I needed to step aside. I still do, but I have to live with it at least for three more years. That’s ok I guess.

And lastly, in this second month of the year, I saw life differently. I made the decision I was not going to care. I was just going to “ef it”, if you know what I mean. My life is moving forward, I was going to go on without a care in the world. Not only what people say, but what was happening around me. I need to just think for a second and then turn around. I realize that by caring and worrying nothing happens. I realize if other people do not care, then nothing is going to change them, so just go on with life.

Love

Pili

Cocomelody Wedding Gowns*

The lovely people at Cocomelody asked me once again to write a post about their gorgeous dresses. If we are being honest, I’ve never been a fan of wedding dresses, but this ones are seriously beautiful. Pretty sure when the times come I’ll pick a dress from their site.

There is something so dedicated and beautiful about a low back wedding dresses and this ones are no exception. Not only does it give it a sexy touch but it is also so beautiful. I always felt like low back dresses do not anything else to make the dress perfect. I love the fact that Cocomelody offers different shapes and designs.

Not only are there low back dresses, but they also have backless gown which I also adore. They have that detailed touch with a little bit of sensual feelings. To be honest I wouldn’t be able to choose between these two!

Also, before I get back to studying, a little reminder that Cocomelody is having a great sale that you should really check out!

Love

Pili

*This post was sponsored by Cocomelody

How do I stay motivated

Photo credit: 9gag

I feel lIke we all go through some moments where it is hard to find any motivations. Sometimes we lay in bed and do not find the need to even get up, I get it, I deal witH it first handed and had peOple around me deal with it. Other times, we simple feel like giving uP, the amount of times I wanted to quit the blog bEcause I did not find a reason to go on, or maYbe yOu feel like quit yoUr workout. I wrote a list of the things that helped stayed motivated when I lack of any of it.

Picture your goal

When you feel liKe you can’t go on and you feel like there is no reason to go oN, remember why you started. Remember what your gOal is. When I feel like giving up, I remember I alWays wanted to be a wrIter or a journalist. Even if it is for the money, reMember why you started doing this.

Surround yourself with people who help you

Some people are toxic, and they are bad influence. Some people make you lose motivation and drift you away from your actual goal. Surround yourself witH people who motivate you Every day and remind you every day why you started.

Work on it everyday

EveRy day, take some time to work on your goal. WeathEr is 5 minutes or half an hour, do it. I try to write every day, is a nice reminder as to why I started not only the blog but my career. Even when it comes to staying healthy and working out, do a small workout every day, even a 20 minute walk is something.

Do your research

Take your time to do your research and understand what you want. Understand how you really want to achieve the goal. How should you approach it? Also, do in research reminds you of what your goal is all about.

Take some time off

Maybe this one helps me the most. I like to take some time off For myself usually when I wOrk out and Remind myself whY I’m working so hard. SO, take some time for yoUrself to simply think.

Love

Pili

Ps: this is one is dedicated to someone I know, who has a hard time getting out of beds some days. You probably don’t read this, but I did think of you.

Small things that matter

Last two months have been a Little hard. I have decided to see life in a different, I’ve decided to enjoy a little bit more life, but not going big, instead I started appreciate the small thing, those that happened daily but we do not take the time to actually enjoy them. So I wrote down a list of all this tiny things:

·       Sunsets and sunrise

·       When you start a book     

·       When you finish a book

·       Finding a new song that you love

·       The way the light comes through the window in rainy days

·       Coffee in the morning

·       Relaxing with a warm cup of tea after a long day

·       The way the water hits your body and face when you shower

·       Hugging your friends after you haven’t seen them in a while

·       When you find that song that describes your feelings perfectly

·       Wrapping yourself in a warm onesie in the winter

·       Fresh sheets

·       Taking good pictures

What are the small things that matter to you?

Love

Pili

How to be organized

I think one of the biggest struggle people go through in college and school is trying to stay organized and on track of everything. I know that I love to have everything organized and it has help me a lot, especially this last few years. Here are most of the things I’ve been done to stay organized.

Use an agenda

I feel like agendas need to be your best friends through high school and college. I know I don’t leave my house without when I go to university and I try to write everything they tell us, every exam and assignment. I also like to use it to keep me organized on the blog and all my doctor’s appointment.

Use your phone calendar

All my exams are in my phone calendar as well as all my doctors’ appointments. It’s just one of the easiest ways to remember since you carry your phone around all day. Also, it is better than writing down your appointments in a piece of paper that it will get lost or sometimes when you do not want to carry your agenda.

Make to do-lists

There is nothing more satisfying than crossing things off of your to-do list. I have them on sticky notes in my room where I know I will see them throughout the day. I know they are some great apps and also using your phone’s note app is a good way too.

Use sticky notes

I think my room is full of sticky notes, not only with to-do lists but with what I need to remember for specific subjects. I have my history sticky notes and my Culture sticky notes. I think the best you can do is put them somewhere where you can see them, I know mines are in my desk and on my wall behind my desk.

Plan your day

Lastly, I started doing this recently and I’ve notice how effective it is. The day before, before going to sleep I make a list of everything I plan on doing that day in a specific order. You end up being extremely productive and getting everything done.

Love

Pili