Back to School Advice (High School)

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Going back to school can be a fun, yet nerve racking time. Every year I always hear the same advice from friends and family. "Join clubs! Join sports! Be outgoing!" You know, the typical pep talks. Are any of your friends or family like this?

This post is meant to help you all become a little more pumped for school, and a little less nervous. These tips are for if you are going into a new school, or even if you're not. Tips marked with a * are for if you are going to a new school (middle school high school, transfer, etc.) The rest work for anyone!

Tip #1: Lock screen your schedule
This tip is for everyone. Even if it isn't your first year at the school, you probably won't know exactly where each of your classes are. Before you go to the first day, take a pic of your schedule and turn it into your lock screen. This way you can easily look at your phone and know where to go.

Tip #2: Map out your classes
I think one of the biggest reasons that we get nervous for school is because we are afraid of getting lost. Before I give you this tip, know that if you get lost, it isn't a big deal. You won't be the only one, just find the nearest teacher and show them your schedule. Now what I like to do before school is look to see if any rooms are near each other. If they are, I highlight them with the same color. This way I know at least where one or two rooms are. Also, if you can, get a hold of your school map and highlight your path. Trust me, it works.

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 Tip #3: Break the ice
When you get to your first class, don't sit by yourself. Sit near someone, even if you don't know them. Give them a small smile and say hi. If you have to do anything with a partner, ask if they want to work with you.  Then, at the end of class, if you feel comfortable enough, ask to compare schedules.

*Tip #4: Bring your own lunch
For the first few days try to bring your own lunch. This way you have plenty of time to find a seat. You are also in a new environment, so try to get used to your surroundings before you try to conquer the lunch line. Plus, you'll save money!!

Tip #5: New Friends
People change. So do friends. It is a new year, so you may lose some friends, but you will also meet many new ones! Try to be open, which I know can be hard. I am very shy, but if you close yourself off people will have a harder time getting to know you. One tip I have is to smile. If someone sits down next to you, smile. Not a huge freaky smile, but a quick small one so the first impression a person gets of you is a good one. Also, join something! I know, everyone says this. It really is a good way to meet people. Whatever club or sport you join, everyone else who is there also likes what you are interested. It also gets you out of the house. I personally am in the Key Club and Student Council.

My Own Experience:
I hadn't ridden a bus in three years, so riding one was foreign to me. In all honesty, I didn't like it all. I have gotten used to it, earphones and music are lifesavers. When it comes to classes, high school isn't like the movies where kids can talk or fall asleep without the teacher noticing. Overall, the worst part about the week was lunch. I had the opposite lunch as all my friends, so I sat by the fist people I could see. I did this for a couple days until I finally met some people who I could sit comfortably by. Another thing you should know is that high school is huge. So if you're worried about gossip, it won't be nearly as bad as middle school. People mature in high school, and it makes for a much more adult environment.

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 What advice do you have for students going back to school? If you're still on break I hope you enjoy your final few days. I have also been nominated for the Liebster Award, so if you would like me to look at your blog leave the link down below. I would love to look at your blogs to nominate some of you!

As Always,
xoxo Em

*This post is not sponsored, I don't need a license to these photos and all these opinions are my own*

Photo 1: "Noe classroom" by Flominator - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Noe_classroom.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Noe_classroom.jpg

Photo 2:  "Kmt hilversum". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kmt_hilversum.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Kmt_hilversum.jpg

Photo 3: "ZambianSchool4" by Florence Devouard - Florence Devouard. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZambianSchool4.JPG#mediaviewer/File:ZambianSchool4.JPG

Harborside Bus Line to Nowhere

As August rolls around, so do the back to school commercials. We start to feel both nervous and excited about the new school year ahead of us. Summer is waving its last goodbye, and fall is whispering in our ears. Slowly we start to await the time when we can put on cozy sweaters and drink warm cocoa while watching the leaves fall.

Now is a time to reflect on all the memories we, or I, in this case, made this summer. Other than watching countless seasons of shows on Netflix, I also went to Maine. Instead of writing down every little thing I did, I decided to just post tons of photos with captions. *Note* This is not me bragging about my vacation. I know that I am very fortunate to be able to go on these trips. I am posting these pictures for all of you to see as well as a diary/memory type thing.

 

In no order what so ever, here is a summary of my summer. From Northern Maine, to a small coastal town, to Quebec, I spent time in all the places I love. In future posts I may post one or two photos from my collection just to add some more depth.

 How was your summer? I hope you did things that you enjoyed, even if it was just relaxing at home. My fashion page is finally uploaded, so go check it out!
As Always,
xoxo Em

*This post is not sponsored, all photos and opinions are my own*

DIY Body Scrub

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

I love anything that makes my skin feel amazing. So naturally, scrubs fall into that category. Sadly, they are usually around $20 each. For years now I have been making my own scrubs, and I adore them! They are easy to make, and you can control what you put in them! 
Step 1: Choose your base
You have two options. Salt or sugar. I use sugar in the summer, because it is less harsh on the skin. In the winter my skin needs a deeper exfoliation, so during the cold months I use salt. Now sugar is a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture from your surroundings and pulls it into your skin. That is why this is perfect for the shower, because their is plenty of moisture there!  Sugar is also a natural source of glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which breaks down the bonds of skin cells, creating younger looking skin. It is also good to use this scrub at night, because your skin will be more prone to sun damage after the scrub.
Step 2: Choose your oil
My favorite is canola oil, because it doesn't have a strong smell. You can also use olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, etc. I don't like olive oil, because it has a strong smell. Now canola oil helps to prevent aging, acne, and spots. Sometimes I get bumps right above my elbows, and this gets rid of them right away. The oil also helps to moisturize and give your skin a smooth touch.
Step 3: Choose your scent(s)
For this post I used mint and lemon, but you can do anything! I also like grapefruit, lavender, and vanilla. I used fresh mint, peppermint oil, and lemon zest(don't use the juice!). Use any essential oil of your choice. If you don't have any essential oils, almond, vanilla, or any kind of extract will work.
Step 4: Create your scrub!!!
Start with pouring you base into a bowl. I only did a small amount because I'm leaving soon for vacation. Usually I do about a 1/2 cup. Next add your oil. How much you add is up to you, go by spoonful until you get the consistency you want. It can be like sand, or like syrup. I like mine in between, so that I can pick it up, but I like it kind of runny. This usually takes about 6 spoonfuls. Lastly, add your essential oil,leaves,zest,etc.. I store mine in a small mason jar with a rubber lid and keep it in my shower. After you use your scrub use lotion to lock in moisture.

I am back from vacation! School is starting, so I won't be posting as frequently as before, but it will be more than I was doing on vacation!

As Always,
xoxo Em
*This post is not sponsored. All photos, objects and opinions are mine :)*