01 May 2015

Lazy Weekends Are Best


It's been a crazy week and a half. It's been a crazy month, truly. After final exams and three term papers, I headed on home for the summer and tried my best to catch up with friends and family. I didn't have much time for blogging or anything else, and obviously I prioritized catching up with people rather than catching up on the blog and all else! 

However, I promise, I'm back now! And I'm hoping to bring some better content and updates! 

I've got an entire weekend to myself, without any plans or responsibilities other than handing out some resumes. I'm looking forward to doing absolutely nothing, taking several bubble baths and splurging on some new pampering products I'll be sure to review soon! 

(There will probably be a haul coming up, so stay tuned for that!)

In the mean time, here's some weekend inspo for you all! 




11 April 2015

Month At A Glance x April


I know technically we're almost a quarter of the way through April, but since I'm procrastinating actually being productive with schoolwork, I'm doing this now.

I've decided to make a very short list of a few things I'd like to get done each month. Be it with myself, things to see or accomplish, or even as simple as spending more time with someone. I'm going to jot them down at the beginning of each month, and then look back at the end of the month to see if I was proactive enough to do them.

I'm really hoping this forces me to actually be productive. Especially this summer.


Do you guys have any goals for April? I'd love to hear them! 

06 April 2015

OOTW: #Finals

fashion, spring fashion, polyvore, river island, topshop, forever 21, clothing, style, style blog, style blogger, blog, blogger, fashion blog, fashion blogger, outfit of the day, outfit of the week


This week is going to be hell. Just sixteen more days and then I'll be on a flight home for the summer! I've got a final tonight, two term papers and a final on Thursday, then the last couple exams next Monday and the 21st. 

Suffice to say, after this Thursday, I'm going to need one large bottle o' beer. 

I'm not sure if I'll have much time to update between now and the end of the week, or even until exams are finally over, so please forgive me for not updating!

xxx


05 April 2015

THE UNIVERSITY SERIES: Picking a School

university, the university series, school, post-secondary, choices, choosing a school, uni, high school, college, picking a college, graduation, graduating, degree, teenager, secondary school

So you've decided to continue your education at university. Now you've got some more important decisions to do: who, what and where?

The first question you should consider is: What are you wanting to study?

I've encountered several people who have gone to university, just to get their parents off their back. In the same realm, I've met people who have gone because "it's just the thing to do". If you're one of those people, I'd like to warn you to perhaps reconsider your reasoning.

However, I also know some who took general studies for a year before figuring out just what they wanted to focus on. That's fine -- in fact, most universities won't allow you to declare your major until your second or third year. That'll give you a chance to take different courses to figure out just what you're interested in. I do warn you though, the costs will add up, and when you finally do decide to finish a degree in something, those credits you've worked and paid for may not account for anything.

As well, when applying to a school, you have to have some idea as to the faculty you want to go into. Bachelor of Arts? Bachelor of Science? Bachelor of Commerce? Having even a little bit of a clue will help on your search.

I thought I wanted to major in communications when I decided to go back to school. I took a semester at my community college and took a CMN course, only to figure out it wasn't quite what I wanted. The realm of careers associated still interested me, so I researched other subjects. This is how I stumbled upon political science.

You may not know what's right for you until you give it a try. So if you're unsure but are definitely sure you want to go to university, take a bunch of courses in different disciplines of the area you like. Most schools will have a specific amount of requirement courses you need in order to graduate, and also in order to take upper level courses; I would definitely suggest you take these courses first year to get them out of the way.

For example, much of the second year courses required you to have a writing course that basically taught you how to write essays, etc. at a university level. You had to have these credits otherwise you couldn't register in many other courses. As well, for a Bachelor of Arts degree, you needed a language. I've spoken to several students in my Italian class last year, and they all said they had wished they had just gotten it out of the way instead of waiting until their last year to do it.

Now that you've figured out your focus, you need to do some research. Keep in mind where you want to study. Do you want to stay close to home? Do you want to go somewhere totally different? Also important: what is in your budget? Can you afford to move across the country for school, or would it be better to stay at home? All these choices will help determine what range you'll search for universities with.

If you're completely open as to where, the list of options might be a little overwhelming. You should have some sort of idea of location. If you like the sunshine, maybe focus on the environments that get the most sun. Or maybe you're into having all seasons, and so you can narrow it down that way.

When searching for schools, you should look at what types of courses and the number of courses available for you in your faculty of choice. Which schools have the best reviews?

I picked Dalhousie because they had a large number of programs and courses you could pick from.

Another thing you want to look at is the community. Do they have student societies? Are you interested in getting involved around campus? Generally, the more societies and events held around campus, the closer knit the community is. If you're into school spirit, you might want to take a close look at that. If you're just in it for the education and would rather not get that involved, this probably won't factor in much to your decision making. (However, I do extremely urge you to get involved.)

Another note to keep in mind: If you're interested in searching up professors in the department you're going into, or a certain class you're considering taking, you can look them up on RateMyProfessors.com. This site is a great tool to decide which section of courses to take, and also what to expect from them. They also offer ratings on certain schools.

The most important thing is to make an informed decision. Make a list of schools you're interested in and apply to them. I'd suggest rating them from top to bottom, with number one being your first choice.

I'd also add that if you're worried about not choosing the same university as your friends, stop worrying now. I promise you that you will make friends if you go to a school where you know nobody. You will find similar people to you, and you will have fun if you choose to let yourself have fun. University can be the time of your life if you let it be. It might take putting yourself in uncomfortable situations at first, but that's what university is for. It's more than just life inside the classroom, it's also the life that it will give you outside.

24 March 2015

OOTW: Give 'Em Something to Talk About

Untitled #54

Today's outfit of the week is hopeful wishing for warmer weather, I guess you could say! 

I've been really stressed both with school and some personal things in life. These next five weeks are going to be a challenge to stay sane, I can already tell. But then it's time to head home for summer! 

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Have a great week, loves! xx

PS - I've added a few things to the layout of the blog. I hope you like it! :)

Polyvore | Instagram | Tumblr

21 March 2015

THE UNIVERSITY SERIES: Now What?

blog, blogger, university, university tips and tricks, after high school, lifestyle blog, lifestyle blogger, uni, college, tips and tricks, lifestyle advice, university advice

So you've done it: you've graduated high school. You've made it through those four hormone led, confusing filled years of teen angst and rebellion. You made it up to that stage to collect your diploma, posed for the photo mid-stage and got to the other side.

After the euphoria of finally getting out of the so-called prison, away from your teachers and all that horrid homework, you might realize you haven't a clue what you're about to do.

You might be asking yourself: Now what?

I remember being there. Wondering what the hell was going to happen next. Where I would end up, what I'd end up doing. I didn't know what I wanted to do, and I was even more frustrated at the fact that people actually expected me to know. I wasn't even eighteen, I hadn't even hit what is supposed to be middle age. How was I supposed to know for sure what I wanted to do for the rest of my life? How was I supposed to know what I wanted to spend thousands of dollars studying, to help me graduate once more and get an adult job and do adult things.

Some people are lucky. They know what they want, and they know how to get it. They're passionate and driven and have their eye on the prize. Some know by the time they hit sixteen what they were meant to do in their lives. That's all fine and dandy, but for the most of us out there, we simply play along and pretend like we're on the same page. In actuality, we haven't a smidgen of a clue.

And that's okay, too.

You don't have to know. You don't have to have a clear idea. Hell, you don't even have to have an idea. You're young, and you might be confused but I'm going to let you in on a little secret: we're all a little confused. Even now, at twenty-three, I'm not sure where I'm going to be and I'm almost done my second year of university.

So when you're sitting in your room, surrounded with school applications and job applications, and trying to figure it all out, I want you to consider a few things:

  1. You don't have to go straight to university. If you don't know what you want to do, spending thousands of dollars just to do something seems a little like a waste of time, right? University is a smart choice for some, but it most definitely isn't a one size fits all thing. If you don't think it's for you, you do not have to go. One of the smartest decisions I ever did was wait. I went and did what I wanted to do, because at the end of the day, it was me who had to live with myself. 
  2. There are amazing options that don't have to be university. There's community college, trade school, or getting a job. The great thing about not going straight to uni is that it will still be there if you decide at some point it's for you. Trust me when I say that you will never be too old to go to school. Education doesn't have an age limit, just like people who have been in the same career for twenty years can suddenly change their minds and quit their job. I have people in their forties and fifties in some of my classes, so don't be afraid to take some time to figure it out. 
  3. You should also consider the financial side. Unfortunately, university is expensive. It's the most expensive decision you may make other than purchasing a home (maybe even more damaging than purchasing your first home). If you do it just to please your parents, you're going to be 25, with a massive student loan weighing you down and an overwhelming sense of regret because you got nothing from it. If you're one of the lucky ones to have your parents pay for your education, it's still important to remember that even if you don't have to pay for it, you still have to do the work. 
  4. Is university the right road for the career you want? Are you doing this for you or for someone else? 
  5. Life experience is just as important. Travel for a year, get a full-time job, try new activities. These things could lead to you figuring out what excites you and what you may want to do. When I graduated high school, I barely knew who I was and was so afraid to tell people how I really felt or what I wanted, I never did. I spent two years studying acting after graduating, and I not only grew as an actor, but I grew as a person as well. Having the courage to take a road that nobody else was, and ignoring the negative comments from people who didn't agree with what I wanted is one of the things I'm most proud of. I don't think I'd be the person I am today if I didn't have that experience.
What I want you to remember is that this is your life. You have the control to paint that life as whatever you choose. Don't let others have the ability to keep you from chasing your dreams. You're the one that has to live with your choices, so make sure they are yours.

19 March 2015

Spring Style x Selena Gomez

fashion blog, fashion blogger, fashion, spring fashion, spring style, style, style blogger, style blog, spring style blog, spring style blogger, spring, floral, flowers, blog, blogger, what to wear, wardrobe, beauty blog, beauty blogger, beauty, selena gomez, selena, gomez, disney, cosmetics, forever 21

I'm a huuuuge fan of Selena Gomez's style. She's right on up there on my list of wardrobes to raid... you know, if I ever had the option. Unfortunately, we are neither besties nor on that level of friendship where it's acceptable to steal clothes and never give them back for months on end. So, I'll settle for making a blog post of some of the candid shots of her with some of my fave outfits. 

The only problem with lusting after Spring fashions is that I'm living in a place where it just snowed 30+ centimetres just last night. I think I've forgotten what Spring even feels like. 

Mother Nature, calm yourself, please. I beg you.

(Just 35 more days, then I'll be back on the west coast. I. Cannot. Wait.)

Anyway, here we go...

fashion blog, fashion blogger, fashion, spring fashion, spring style, style, style blogger, style blog, spring style blog, spring style blogger, spring, floral, flowers, blog, blogger, what to wear, wardrobe, beauty blog, beauty blogger, beauty, selena gomez, selena, gomez, disney, cosmetics, forever 21
fashion blog, fashion blogger, fashion, spring fashion, spring style, style, style blogger, style blog, spring style blog, spring style blogger, spring, floral, flowers, blog, blogger, what to wear, wardrobe, beauty blog, beauty blogger, beauty, selena gomez, selena, gomez, disney, cosmetics, forever 21
fashion blog, fashion blogger, fashion, spring fashion, spring style, style, style blogger, style blog, spring style blog, spring style blogger, spring, floral, flowers, blog, blogger, what to wear, wardrobe, beauty blog, beauty blogger, beauty, selena gomez, selena, gomez, disney, cosmetics, forever 21
** All photos are taken from here.

Winter always seems to be filled with neutral and dark colours -- which is what most of my wardrobe is comprised of. Black, black and some grey with added black. 

But I associate spring with florals and those colours you find along with the blooming flowers. I'm all about the black with a pop of colour. 

Selena's choice of colours and patterns never disappoint. I'll definitely be stealing some of these outfit ideas, even if these photos were from last year.

Who's your fave celebrity with A++ style? What's been giving you the most Spring feels lately?


17 March 2015

OOTW: No Sign of Spring Here

Untitled #52

I was going to post something St. Patty's inspired, but I love this so much I had to post it instead!

Happy St. Patty's Day! Please celebrate responsibly, and have a great Tuesday!