Dating: 15 things to not do

I think we all know relationships at this age don't usually work out. Even though we all think that, we still do it. From personal experiences and friends, I know things that you shouldn't do while dating.

Photo From
http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/heart-clipart

1) DONT SAY YES IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM-  I can't stress this enough. If you don't like him or don't know him well enough, TELL HIM.
2) Skip the awkward movie date- Movies are so awkward with paying and the classic arm around the girl. Skip it and do something more exciting.
3) Don't go swimming- If you're a confident person, go for it! But if you wear a lot of makeup and curl your hair often or maybe if your insecure, I wouldn't go swimming.
4) Be careful where you eat- Sushi; hard and awkward to eat. Burgers: You may look a little weird with your mouth open that wide. Pizza: The perfect in-between.
5) Make sure they have good eyebrows- Eyebrows are everything
6) Don't forget your mints/gum/toothbrush- Bad breath is the worst thing possible, so avoid that at all costs.
7) The boy better be taller than you- Its more fun hugging a tall boy.
8) Don't tell your parents at first- I would wait a little until you know he's the right guy.
9) Don't make it awkward.- If you need to put conversation starters in your notes on your phone, do it.
10) Don't skip shaving- You never know what the night will bring, so shave your legs
11) Don't make it a big deal with your friends- Friends are the people that make everything awkward, so don't tell them every detail about the boy.
12) Don't fart/burp on the first date- I don't need to explain this one
13) Don't make him pay for everything- It's a kind gesture, but make sure he knows you want to pay too.
14) Don't be clingy- There is nothing more annoying then the classic clingy and creepy girlfriend. Give him space.
15) Don't get comfortable too fast- Don't show your super weird side until you get more comfortable.

Get Ready Quickly in the Morning

We all have the nights where you watch an extra episode of Gossip Girl the night before, making the morning seem nearly impossible. When you sleep in a little too much, I have a few simple life hacks to help you get ready super quickly, but still make it look like you tried to look presentable in the morning.

Organization-

This is an incredibly simple tip to that will help you get ready faster every single day. Instead of digging through your makeup bag every morning searching for small things like brushes or tweezers, lay it all out. I put every product I use in a cabinet in the order that I use them. I still have a makeup bag near with some products I like, but may not use everyday for school. This is also good to show you your different options in the morning so you can switch up your look, and not just wear the first thing you grab out of your bag. I usually keep two or three different brands/types of each product. For example, I have two mascaras, three eyeshadow pallets, a few concealers, etc. Also, keep a mason jar full of longer things like brushes and eyeliners. 

My cabinet full of my everyday/favorite makeup products. 

                  Get everything ready, at night-

Photo from
 http://www.image4world.com/vb/imgcache/2/23912poster.jpg

There are nights where you need to shower, finish homework, and pick out your outfit, but you decide to put it off until the morning. For me, I sleep so much better when I have everything done the night before, even if it does mean going to bed a lot later. Have your clothes and shoes out and ready, shower before bed, and pack your backpack before bed, just incase you accidentally over sleep. 

Keep it simple!

If you are the person who needs to look presentable everyday, throw on a light sweater with leggings and Uggs. If you want to have a lazy day, pick your favorite sweatshirt or T-Shrit and leggings. This is so quick and simple, plus everyone has their go to "lazy day" outfits.

If you are like me and have natural hair where you have to either straighten or curl your hair every day, there is a few solutions to speed up the process. My first suggestion is a simple side braid, or any braid. Your natural curl in your hair won't show, so there is no need to waste time with the straightener. Also, using a beach wave or sea salt spray defines your natural curl. I have mainly straight hair, but there is a little natural curl; when I use this spray, it makes it look like I have natural beach waves. It takes under a minute to style and gives you an effortless, yet beautiful look. Another plus about this product is there is plenty of options at the drug store for under five dollars. 

Photo from:
http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/116333222/id/wKTh5JKs4xGxEPbI6xSULw/size/y.jpg

5 Easy After School Snacks

There are many store bought things to eat after school, but I find it much more fun to make a snack after school. I made every one of these after school to make sure they are super easy and achievable for the average teen.

1) Mac and Cheese-

My Mac and Cheese using
this recipe.

This one has been my go-to after school snack since I learned how to make it in the third grade. This one is a little more time consuming, but if you have time, it is worth it. I'm pretty sure this is the classic recipe, but here is how I've always made it:

Noodles: All you need to do is follow the instructions on your favorite noodles for mac and cheese. Elbow pasta is what I normally do, but penne and shells are also fun and tasty.

Sauce: Start with two tablespoons of butter in a pan. Once that is melted, add the same amount of flour, and quickly add around half a cup of milk. When that thickens, add a little more milk until it is a thick and creamy consistency. Add in shredded cheddar cheese to your liking. Put in the cooked pasta and you have the perfect Mac and Cheese.



2) Apple Sandwiches-

I love making these apple sandwiches because you can personalize them so much. All you do is slice an apple sideways with a hole in the middle where the core is so you have two pieces to act as the bread. Next, add your filling, either peanut butter, cookie butter, Nutella, or whatever sounds best to you. Add chocolate chips, coconut shavings, sprinkles, or keep it plain for the sides! This is fun to experiment with different flavors and decorations.

3) Smoothies-

All ingredients used in my smoothie

I'm sure I'm not the only one who forgets how delicious and healthy smoothies are and never makes them. As I am writing this I am drinking my absolute favorite smoothie, peanut butter banana. I took one banana, ice, a spoonful of Nutella, milk, and a few teaspoons of powdered peanut butter. I blended all of this with milk in my Magic Bullet blender to create a perfect, filling snack.

4) Tuna Melts-

There is only a few simple steps to follow to make some delicious tuna melts in under five minutes. Mix one can of tuna with two tablespoons of mayo. Add 1/2 teaspoon of dill and one stalk of chopped celery and set aside. Heat skillet over medium heat. Butter two slices of bread. Add 1/4 cup of the tea mixture to the unbuttered side of great and top with a slice of American cheese. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side out. Cook in skillet until golden. Then, turn and cook other side until golden.


5) Quesadillas

You can make this one super simple or super complex, its up to you! If you don't have much time, put two tortillas with shredded cheese in the middle into the microwave for about a minute. If you want to go a little more gourmet, use a skillet with a little butter instead. It doesn't take much longer, but it makes a huge difference. You can add guacamole, salsa, taco sauce or anything you want to personalize this.

These recipes are things my mom always made me or I made up, but if there are some great ideas on the internet. Food Network is a great place to find delicious and easy recipes for after school snacks.

Nail Tips-Pros and Cons

I wish I could be the girl that can go without nail polish and not mind it, but I am the opposite. I always need to have polish on, in fact I haven't had "naked nails" since the fourth grade when my obsession of nail painting began. There are a few ways to have your nails look good. All of them have the good things about them and yes, they all have some downsides. Here are some insight on all the kinds to find what best suits you.

Acrylic- I got acrylic nails for the first time last week and I absolutely love them. I got them done with my friend Alexis, and we had a few issues with the application process. It's all about where you get them done. We had an okay experience at California Nails in Redstone.
Pros- Last for a very long time, makes your nails longer, you get to pick your own length to your liking, and most importantly, no chipping.
Cons- Painful to get them on, weakens your nails when taken off, expensive, time consuming.
Gel- Gel nails are a great alternative for lazier people that don't want to re-do their nails often. It is a gel polish painted on in the color you want. Then you put it under a UV light for about a minute. When you take it out, another coat is applied and you repeat the process about five times.
Pros- No chipping, shiny, keeps the nail strong while on.
Cons- Expensive, weakens nails when taken off, and expensive.

My "polish station" kept in my
room with all my favorite nail colors. 

Paint/Polish- I have a full on nail rack in my room just for all of my polishes, clearly I have a slight obsession.
Pros- Cheap, easy, and you can either do it yourself or professional.
Cons- Chipping is really the only issue with painting your nails, but they chip so easily it becomes a big problem.
Glue on- These nails are super fun to have for about a week. You can buy them just about anywhere and all you need to do is keep the glue with you on at all times.
Pros- Cheap,  do it yourself, makes your nails look much longer, and fun designs to choose from.
Cons- Comes off easily, especially in PE (I know this from personal experience), doesn't last too long

If I had all the money and time in the world, I would pick Acrylic nails as my favorite. But sadly they were pretty expensive and took a really long time, so I won't be getting them done too often. I think having your nails painted is a super fun way to add a personalized touch to your outfit. I have always loved the looks of done up nails and I think its totally fine to occasionally splurge to make your nails look extra good.

Travel Guide

Over Presidents Week I will be visiting Seattle, Washington for six days and I am planning for my trip. I love traveling, I've been everywhere from Costa Rica and Mexico to Portland and Hawaii. I plan on my job being related to travel, and try to leave my town whenever I get the chance. From all of my travel, I have learned a few things on how to spend your limited time wisely. I hope my tips will help you have the best time on your future vacations.

1) Pre-Plan-

I've been planing for my trip to Seattle for several weeks now because I want to make sure I do everything possible to see the greatest aspects of the city. Trip Advisor is a life savor for pre-planning where you are going to eat, the best tourist attractions, and the little holes in the wall that you would normally not visit. TV Food Network used to have a show called, "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and if you type in Google, "Best Thing I Ever Ate" followed by the city you are visiting. My mom and I were watching that show and ended up going to Portland because of a restaurant featured on the show.

Trip Advisor has everything from restaurant reviews to local's favorites.  Photo from http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60878-Seattle_Washington-Vacations.html

2) Find a Reason-

Vacations are always so much more exciting if you have a reason to go. The reason I'm going to Seattle is for the coffee shops and flannels, so my mom and I will have a plan on what to do, making the trip have a purpose. This also makes the "pre plan" part much more exciting. My mom and I had a great experience when I was in fourth grade in Portland, OR. We saw a clip on TV Food Network about a biscuit place in Portland, so we made it a priority to go. I think this makes the experience so much more exciting and you may end up somewhere you love, like I did.

Pine State Biscuts was featured on "
Diners Drive-in's And Dives"
and we ate there as soon as possible. 

We made sure to find the "Keep Portland Weird"
wall while in Downtown Portland

3) Know where you are-

Although this is a vacation and a break from school, it helps a lot to know where in the world you are! Look up the city you're visiting on the map, you will then learn the area, landmarks, and surrounding rivers, lakes etc. This may sound ridiculous but I can guarantee it will make a difference in your trip.

I hope these few simple tips will help with future vacations, because I know it has helped me.

The Mental Aspect of Sports

I've been playing different sports my entire life: Gymnastics, Dance, Soccer, Tennis and mainly volleyball. There's not many things that those sport have in common, but they all need a positive mental game. I really figured out that this is important this year in high school volleyball. Being team captain on the Freshman team, and one of two freshman on the Junior Varsity team, I had to have a positive attitude. I had to stay positive and bring my team up even when the score was 2-20.

Something particular about being positive is keep in your mind what you want to do, no negative words. In soccer don't think to yourself, "Don't miss, don't miss," but "Goal." While serving in a game of volleyball, every single time I think "Ace" and never anything with negative words, because that is what your mind will be focusing on, causing you to mess up.

Another thing while playing a sport is to forget about your mistakes. Plenty of times I focus on what I did to mess up and I can't stop focusing on that, then your attitude goes down and you typically will bring your team down with you

Surrounding yourself with people you love for teammates makes all of the difference. I wouldn't be where I am with my wonderful teammates that I love so much. I don't think I would even still be involved in volleyball without my wonderful team. 

Obviously the physical ability is important too. In volleyball, you always need to be in your ready position, down low and ready for anything. This applies to many sports other than volleyball, you can always be ready. When you are low and focused it sets your mind and body to get ready for the game. 

Last, always be prepared. Jerseys, shoes, food and everything should always be prepared because if you're worried about those things, part of your mind will be focused on the things you need or what's going on after the game.

The biggest tip I have is stay focused, keep your eyes on the ball, and as Troy Boltin says, keep your head in the game.

Huddle with the JV team.

Warming up before my first high school home game on JV

With JV team waiting for the serve to come over. 

How to Get Your Learners Permit

My blog is titled, "Freshman Survival Guide," so chances are if you're a freshman, you'll be getting your permit soon like I just did. Oh the process is not so fun, but the driving part sure is and trust me, it will be worth it. I failed the test my first time but ended up getting it on my second try, I'm going to share with you the things that worked for me to help you get your permit.

Photo Courtesy of : http://www.carson.org/modules/showimage.aspx?imageid=4345

1) STUDY!

This tip is obvious, but it is the best advice I can give, just study. What worked best for me was not reading out of the dull and boring book, but online tests. In fact, my mom grabbed me the wrong book, the one that teaches you how to drive semi trucks so that wasn't too helpful. With only taking the online tests, I think I did pretty well.

2) Practice-

I drove a lot before I got my permit, but mainly on roads without many other cars. I think its important to practice a little so the day you get your permit, you won't be driving a car for your first time. Also, there were a few questions on the test I wouldn't know without previously driving.

3) Talk-

Having an older sister that's a senior and being best friends with a junior really helped me. My sister took the test 4 times so she knew what she was talking about and the questions that could be on the test. I highly suggest talking to someone who has their permit about what to expect and see their tips and tricks.

4) Don't get too confident-

Yes, confidence is key, but don't expect to know the questions on the test. There was a question asking about motorcycle insurance in other states, and I'm expecting not many people know that without learning it. The questions really do vary and you may get lucky. I also got a question that had a picture of a stop sign with the "Stop" blurred out. So some are incredibly easy and some are just random.

How to prevent failing more than once:

I assumed the test I was going to take the next day after not passing would be completely different, was so wrong. The test was almost identical. At the end of the test they show you the questions you got wrong, so got through them! It will help so much if your test was anything like mine because all you have to do is memorize a few answers.