Valentines' SOS

So Valentines Day is tomorrow! I personally don’t have any plans (except for the usual), but I know a lot of you do. The key thing to remember when putting your look together for a Valentines date is to keep it as soft and natural-looking as you can. Here are some tips on planning your look with minimal stress...

Hair - don’t spend heaps of time on it. Today isn't necessarily the day for tight ballerina buns and multiple cans of hairspray (unless, you know, that's your thing). Braiding your hair then taking it out after a few hours will result in soft, touchable curls - a great Valentines' idea. Remember to try to have a relaxed look, so wearing your hair out with nothing done to it is completely fine, too!

Makeup - this needs to be really natural. This means minimal foundation, long eyelashes (If you have brown eyelashes, use brown mascara if you can), and soft pink lips and cheeks. If you can, red lipstick is a great idea. Also, I'd try to stay away from eyeshadow unless it’s mostly shimmery/nude colours.

Clothes - try to wear something that suits your everyday style. This could be a floral dress with flats, or a knitted jumper with jeans and heels (if it’s cold). If you don't like wearing pink, but would like to dress in traditional Valentines' colours, opt for something like a red bag, pumps or baby pink nail polish. Just be yourself - really!

Jewelry - wear your normal earrings/bracelets that you would any other day, but just add something a little different (a statement necklace? An over sized ring?).

Okay, so this is actually one of the prettiest Valentines' Day outfits I've ever seen...

[Photo Source: Windsor Store]

Don’t get upset if you don’t have a special someone to spend the day with. Valentines Day is all about spending time with your loved ones, not necessarily your boyfriend. After all, what’s better than watching rom coms with a bunch of your friends, with lots of popcorn and ice cream? Happy Friday everyone! ;) xx

Taken from: My second tumblr (I've added a lot more to this post since I initially wrote it last year)

Next Week: When you don't like change...

Making a decision (the right way)

No matter who you are, no matter how smoothly your life may be going at the moment... there will come a time where you'll need to make an important decision sooner or later. Don't stress, though - I've compiled a list of questions (with not-so-creative examples) you may need to ask yourself before making the all-important decision, ASAP.

Is this possible?
Let's say you were wondering whether to put medicine as one of your preferences on a university application. If it's obvious you don't have the grades to get into this particular course (doctors have to be unnaturally smart!!), you may want to consider another course. On another note, if your grades are just a little away from being doctor-standard, you could consider an external program or a training course to make your application really stand out and higher your chances of being accepted.
-> Before deciding to do something, just check if it's feasible before you set your mind to it. :)

If I go through with this, how will it affect everyone around me?
So you've just been offered an amazing job... that's halfway across the world. Your decision as to whether or not to accept this offer really depends on how settled you are right now. If you're really close to your family and are in a serious relationship with someone who can't move, maybe taking the offer just isn't right for you. However, if you're a pretty independent person and the people closest to you wouldn't mind (or may even move with you), taking the offer may be the thing that really kickstarts a great career for you.
-> Of course, at the end of the day it's your decision that matters the most - but it's probably best to consider the feelings of those closest to you before you decide on something potentially life-changing.

Is this what I truly want?
So you live in a relatively small town and your parents are expecting you to move to the city for university. Despite the fact that you think it's a good idea, think about what you really want to do. If you'd feel comfortable staying where you are for a little longer (or maybe you'll never really want to leave), then I recommend doing what you think will make you feel the happiest at the end of the day.
-> Try flipping a coin to decide whether you should leave town or not - while the coin is in the air, you'll suddenly know what answer you're hoping for.

Will this make me happy?
Your friend has decided that she's sick of your long hair and has suggested you get it cut a bit shorter - no, make that a lot shorter. Other friends and family members may agree with this idea, but you need to consider your own feelings towards this decision before the opinions of anyone else (and no, this isn't being selfish).
-> Focus on making yourself happy before dedicating your time towards helping other people find happiness.

Best/worst possible outcomes?
Okay, so you want to join a club/sports team, but you're worrying that it'll be difficult to make new friends/master the skill/etc, etc. Before you freak out, just take a moment to consider the best and worst possible outcomes from joining. The worst outcome would probably be that you hate the commitment and end up leaving after a few weeks. Not so bad, is it? However, the best outcome could be that you love your team/club and make heaps of new friends along the way.
-> Seriously, though - you'll never know if you never try.

Okay, so I accidentally posted this a week late... But I'll definitely try to keep up with blogging from now on! xx

Next Week: Valentines' SOS

When to replace...

Sure, there are a lot of things that need replacing - but this week, I'm going to be focusing on makeup and skin care products. I used to be completely clueless when it came to replacing pthese kinds of things, and often  freaked out when I realised the problems of keeping certain  products for  longer than I should be. So I've saved you the trouble of non-stop googling for 2 house and have compiled  everything into a list. :) Read on.


Makeup

Mascara (3 months) My sister and I used to think the "3 month mascara rule" was just a strategy that drugstore makeup brands used to sell more mascara, in less time. It turns out we were completely wrong! Since eyelashes are covered in a safe amount of bacteria (this is normal and completely fine), this bacteria is transferred to your mascara brush whenever you use it. After about 3 months of this multiplying bacteria sitting in your mascara, you can take a guess at just what you're applying to your eyelashes. It's just best to play it safe and buy a new mascara every 3 months.

Foundation (About a year) Since foundation isn't exactly a breeding ground for bacteria (you' squeeze the product out, rather than using it like a mascara/lipgloss tube), it can last for a while longer than some other products. This can also depend on how often you actually wear foundation - that is, if you use a small amount when you first purchase it, then don't use any for a few months - you should be fine (I really hope this is easy to understand).

Concealer (About 6 months) This is the same deal as mascara, only your skin is less likely to be holding the same amount of bacteria as your eyelashes.

Lip balm (9-12 months) It's usually easier to use one (and only one!) lip balm at a time. Once you begin to use it, the whole bacteria-spreading thing starts to happen. Just stick to one lip balm and you'll probably find that you'll finish the tube by the time you're due to throw it out.

Brushes (whenever) Depending on the initial quality of your makeup brushes, you won't need to replace them until you really need to (the bristles start falling out or become stiff, etc.). Instead, focus on taking care of your brushes by washing them 1-3 times a month.

Eyeliner (3 months) This is basically the same deal as mascara. This 3-month rule applies for any kind of eyeliner, whether it be pencil, liquid, gel or felt tip - if you've had it for longer than 3 months, get rid of it!

Hair

Brushes (depends) Once your hair brushes begin to dramatically lose their quality (you'll know when this happens), it's time to replace them. To avoid racking up some serious bills, invest in good quality brushes to begin with.



Anything else (whenever) When it comes to just about any other beauty product - toner, shampoo, etc... Replace it when you finish it. Also, please don't begin to use new products while your old ones are still half full - it's how girls archived the "goo hoarder" stereotype ;).

xx

Next Week: Making a decision (the right way)

Alphabet Creams Decoded

Sure, we've all heard of BB Cream... But do you know what it actually does? And did you know that not only CC Cream is on the market, but now even DD Cream is a new and growing makeup trend? This growing list of alphabet creams can get a little confusing, but don't worry - I've decoded it all for you. Read on.

BB Cream
Beauty Balm
The oldest and most widely recognised of the alphabet creams also happens to be, in my opinion, the most overrated. Sure, BB Cream is great when you'd like a little coverage while still achieving a barely there makeup look (perfect for school!). But when it comes to advertising purposes, certain makeup brands *cough* Garnier *cough* are guilty of  promoting BB Cream as a product that will perfect your complexion with the use of one single product. We all know this isn't true, as the models in these advertisements have likely been spending hours in the makeup chair to achieve this idea of "flawless" skin. The truth about BB Cream? It can be used as a primer, as it evens out your skin tone (but not as dramatically as CC Cream will). My mum and sister occasionally use their BB Cream as a light foundation, especially in summer when they want to look more natural. In addition, Maybelline has a BB Cream with added salicylic acid, meaning it will help fight acne during the day, while still maintaining coverage.

CC Cream
Colour Correcting
In my opinion, this is the perfect alternative to primer. It evens out your skin tone before you apply any makeup (this is especially helpful for redness or dullness), causing less foundation needing to be used. CC Cream is lighter than BB Cream and targets problem areas rather than giving a light overall coverage. CC Cream is also better for your skin than BB Cream, with the majority of CC Creams being packed with vitamins C and E, in addition to added SPF. L'Oreal has three different CC Creams available, and from what I know, they're pretty amazing.

Anti-dullness                             Anti-redness                             Anti-fatigue

DD Cream
Daily Detox
Now, I don't know how long this has been out, since the first time I heard about it was a few days ago. Since DD Cream is the newest "alphabet cream" to be introduced to the market, it can be a little confusing to understand what it actually does. The simplest way of describing this is that it's a daily cleanser for your skin.
Dynamic Do-all
Uh, oh... there are two types of DD Creams! This one combines the "powers" of both BB and CC Cream, giving you one powerful face product! In addition, the majority of DD Creams have anti-ageing benefits, and will supposedly improve your skin with prolonged use. Seriously, give this a try!

Dynamic Do-all

Daily Detox

Although I doubt there will be an EE (Excellent Editorial??) or FF (Fancy Facial??) Cream, I suggest you try at least one of these alphabet creams in the next month or so. Who knows?  Maybe you'll find your new beauty best friend :) Till next time xx

Next Week: When to replace...

New year, new you!?

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Yeah, it's pretty crazy that 2013 has already been and gone, especially with all the drama that has happened in just one year (Miley Cyrus' crazy performances, Kimye's, ahem, very public confessions of love for each other, and of course, Cory Monteith :'( ). But anyway, you've all probably been thinking and reflecting on how the past year has gone for you. Hopefully, it's been great! But if you feel like there's something you may have to change, such as stopping a bad habit or spending more time and effort in your schoolwork or sport. These things are perfectly fine to make your New Years resolutions list; however, there are unnecessary wishes you may be adding that are likely to end in excessive worrying if/when they don't come true. Some things such as...

I will get a boyfriend. 
No, no, no! You can easily ruin love by wanting it too badly, especially if you force yourself to put up with bad behaviour from other people. Love will come at the right time, trust me! For now, focus on loving yourself and maintaining good relationships with friends and family.
"Never allow loneliness to drive you into the arms of someone you know you don't belong with."
- Unknown

I'll get straight A's at school
This could only be a reasonable resolution if you were previously sitting on a B+ in a few subjects, and getting straight A's in the others. In most cases, this resolution will only cause you unnecessary anxiety and stress over assignments you can only do your best in (I'm not saying you will never get straight A's, though - try your bet and that's seriously all that matters). Instead, promise yourself that you'll put an extra effort (and procrastinating less - yeah, we all do it) into your schoolwork this year - who knows, your grades may end up skyrocketing before you know it!

I'll stay best friends with ____.
Ba-bow! Once again, you can't force something like friendship. Sure, you can definitely make an effort to maintain a friendship with someone (but don't force the pressure of being their best best friend), but who knows? If you're weighing yourself down by a friend who's clearly moved on from your group of friends (keep in mind that this may also be temporary), you could also be stopping yourself from making new friends of your own.


Instead, say things like...

I'll try to be more positive
I'll learn to cook/clean/master another important skill
I'll put more effort into sport
Etc, etc...

Really, it's what you think you can accomplish in the time frame of one year, in addition to school, work and any other commitments you have. And definitely don't try to reinvent your personality ("New year, new me!!"). Just stay true to yourself, be kind to others, and accept the fact that either way, 2014 will be amazing xx

Next Week: Alphabet Creams Decoded

Make your own cute wall art

Hey everyone! A few months ago, my school started talking to us about what we wanted to do as adults. At that point, it dawned on me that I’m growing up way too much, not to mention how often my interests are changing. I decided to make my own wall art filled with pictures of my current obsessions, so I can keep it and go back and see what my interests were at a certain point of time. I think it’s pretty cute, and I hope this inspires you to do something similar. 

You will need:

- Scissors

- Glue

- A3 paper (this will be the size of your poster, so you can use a bigger or smaller page if you like)

- A4 paper (to print your pictures out onto)

- Coloured pens

- Access to the internet and a colour printer

How to make it:

- Search the web for about 20 pictures that make you happy (I normally just go through my tumblr archive) and make sure you get some pictures of your current interests, such as your favourite actors or singers. Below are some examples of pictures I've used for my latest posters. 

Emily from Pretty Little Liars

This is just a cute photo I wanted to add

Who doesn't love sparklers?

I say this way too much...

- Load these pictures onto a Word document, (I use two A4 pages) making sure you leave a good amount of space between them. 

- Print the pictures and cut them out

- Lay them down on an A3 page and decide how you’d like them to sit, leaving a generous space in one of the corners bare. 

- When you’re happy with the layout, you can start gluing the pictures to your page. 

- While you’re waiting for the glue to dry, you can use some coloured pens to write the current month/season and year in the corner you left bare. You could also draw some hearts etc. if you want (and if there's room). 

- Tape/stick your poster to your wall, stand back and smile at your work!

That’s it!

I really hope some of you decide to do this yourself, because it only takes me about half an hour and I do it four times a year (the beginning of every season). I started doing this about a year ago, and my wall's already filling up. By the time I finish school, my whole wall should be covered with posters showing my current interests as I've grown up. I really hope you guys try this out, because I seriously think it's one of the best ways you can document your teenage years! xx

Next Week: 

Speak Now. Yeah, right now

Whoa, Katrina's posting again?? Sorry this blog hasn't been updated in ages, but things have been so hectic at school lately. But, guess what? Tomorrow is my last day of school for the year, which means I'll be regularly posting again! Yay! Oh, and if you haven't noticed (well, of course you have), I've updated the entire theme of my blog. Let me know if you like it!

So, to start things off again, I wanted to post about something I think everyone should know. Because if you don't learn this lesson, things have the potential to get pretty ugly. So what exactly is this "important life lesson?" It's to speak now. Yeah, right now.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you really like someone, but you're not good friends with them and want to talk to them more often, please listen to me when I say SPEAK NOW. No, this doesn't mean call that person up right now and express your undying love for him/her. It means that starting from today, you should definitely begin to either start making contact with this person (smiling at them when you catch their eye, or just saying "hey" as you walk past them), or try to become better friends with them (snapchat has definitely made me closer with some people). The reason I'm insisting you do this ASAP?? Because I've had a few moments where I've either been too shy or worried over what people will think of me to have the courage to talk to certain people. And trust me, this hurts more than rejection. I mean, I'd much rather feel temporarily sad because I've made a bad impression on someone, than stay quiet and feel horrible because I'll never know what would have happened if I'd only done something, anything!

On the last holiday I went on, there were a bunch of people my age there - with the added benefit of a "teens club." Normally I'm quite shy when it comes to meeting new people, but for some reason I turned into a very loud person on the first few days of this particular holiday. Long story short, I ended up in an amazing group of friends from all over the state who I'll never forget. It's also pretty safe to say that it was the best holiday I'd ever been on, ever. I mean, imagine if I'd been my usual, quiet self in those first few days of the holidays? Would I have seen them doing everything together while I'd wondered what it would be like to hang out with them?

I really hope you get the point of this post, because you know how the famous quote goes, "I'd rather have a life of 'oh well's' than a life of 'what if's.'" And as of today, I'll be continuing to post every Thursday afternoon! :D So that's all from me for now, so I'll talk to you all again next week, bye! xx

Next Week: Make your own cute wall art