Keep the summer boredom away

I don't know about you, but sometimes I can get a little bored with summer vacation, especially in the last few weeks. And while this may sound crazy, I'll even want to go back to school, just to have something to do. (And for the fact that I love back to school season, even though I'm not the biggest fan of school, LOL.) But since school is still 5 weeks away for me, as well as for many others, I have to make the most of these last few weeks rather than just watching them pass by. Since I'm going to be a senior, this is my last official summer vacation,(no job, or real responsibilities to take care of), and I really want to enjoy it. Even when things start to get a little slow.

So one of the best parts about summer is the lovely warm weather, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is to get outside, and even spend time with the besties. But I know that not everyone is an outdoors person, and that sometimes it can be just a little to hot to be outside for long periods of time. (If it is really hot out, and you plan to be outside, drink a lot of water. Especially if you'll be doing a lot of activity. You don't want to become dehydrated. And no matter what temperature, you should always wear sunscreen to protect your skin.) And sometimes, the besties may be away on a family vacation or busy with other things. So I came up with a list of things you can do to keep yourself busy,and entertained over the last few weeks of summer. 

Starting with the bleh... but time passing activities 

♥ If you have summer homework, work on that. I did an entire blog on this. 

♥ Clean your room, or even other parts of the house a bit- It may not be fun, but it has to be done. You'll be much happier in a cleaner room. You can even reorganize things a bit, and have a nice clean, organized room when school starts. And doing a few other chores, even if you don't have to do chores normally, can really help score some points with your parents. 

♥ Embrace the boredom- Just laze around a bit and enjoy the slow pace. Just remember, you could be loaded with homework and test stress. You don't have to wake up early, or go to bed early, or sit in class. It is better to be bored at home than to be bored in class. :) You could even take a little nap and not worry about it. 

And now for the more fun stuff :)

♥ Start a new hobby- A lot of people can agree that this can really help to pass time, and can be very enjoyable. It also gets your mind going and being productive. Think about what you are interested in, and start doing an activity based on that. You could start a blog on something you are interested in, or make a few videos for YouTube. You could even start scrap-booking, or even stop by a craft store or use items you already have to make jewelry. There are so many things you could do! 

♥ Watch some of your favorite childhood movies and TV shows- Pop in an old movie that you loved as a kid, but haven't seen in a while. Or if available, watch a TV channel like Nicktoons (separate from the usual Nickelodeon) that shows old shows like Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Rocket Power, and other childhood favorites all day. You could even look to see if you have TEENick, which shows some of the old favorites like Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, Drake and Josh, Zoey 101, and other favorites all day. (I have GOT to start watching this channel again, LOL) If you don't have these channels, you may be able to find a few episodes online, or on Netflix if you have it. This would be great to do alone, or with friends! You could even think of how your views have changed since you were younger, and pick up on some of the jokes you didn't get as a kid.

♥ Practice some hair and make-up styles you might want to wear for back to school- Try out a couple of those hairstyles or make-up styles you're thinking of for back to school. You can then decide on which ones you like best for that first day. And you can get better with practice, so you won't be as stressed as to how it may turn out when you actually go back. It can even bring on a little bit of the excitement of back to school. You can even make a tutorial to put on YouTube if you'd like.

♥ Pamper yourself- Give yourself a spa day. Take a nice bubble bath, or a nice hot shower with your favorite body products. (did you know that a cold shower is actually better for you than a hot shower? i didn't until i read it on elleandblair.com! but it is still nice to take a relaxing hot shower.) Put on your favorite lotion, give yourself a manicure or pedicure, just make yourself feel good, and relax for the day.

♥ Read a good book- Reading a book you enjoy is an amazing pass-time, and also helps to keep your mind sharp. Find a good book you want to read, and open it up. (If you have to read an assigned book for the summer, you may want to read that first.) There are so many amazing books out there! But if you don't have enough money to go buy a new book, you could always re-read other books you may have. You may pick up on something you didn't get the first time you read the book. It's best to find a book on something you are interested in. Don't read a book JUST because it's popular. You may also want to consider expanding and reading other kinds of books, or books by different authors. (I tend to stick with my Nicholas Sparks books, LOL)

     -if you aren't much of a book person, you could always read blogs.  

♥ Make a snack- You could find some recipes online or even from your mom or grandma, or even a friend. You may even want to get creative and come up with your own! It can be a yummy desert item, lunch item, or even just a healthy snack. It doesn't necessarily have to require the stove. You could make a nice fruit salad, sandwich, or a smoothie or milkshake. You could make it for yourself, or even make enough for a few friends. 

♥  Computer Time- Normally it's best to try to get off the computer and try to go outside... But the computer is a pretty good pass-time. You could spend a day reading (or even writing!) blogs on things you are interested in. Watching YouTube videos you like (maybe watch some tutorials or organization videos to get back to school ideas.) Chat with some friends on skype, aim, or any chat service you may use. Play some games (they can be as simple as a few Facebook games, or even games like The Sims 3 if you have it) if you play games like The Sims 2 or the Sims 3, you could create a different type of family you wouldn't normally play, or even get an expansion pack you don't have (if you have the money.) You could also play video games on your Wii, PlayStation, or Xbox if you have one. 

What do you like to do when you get bored during the summer? Leave any additional tips in the comments. And enjoy your summer, you only have so many summer vacations left. :)

Summer Parties

Summer is probably one of the best times of year to have a party! With the weather being nice and school not  being in session, there's practically no better time for a fun get together with friends and family. You can have a party just for the fun of it, or for a special occasion like a birthday, graduation, or a summer holiday like Independence Day if you live in the United States. (Do you have a special summer holiday you celebrate in your country? I'd love to hear about it!) You can even have a party towards the end of the summer when school is about to start again! 

Planning is an important part of having a great party, regardless if it's during the summer or any other time of year. If you are planning to have a party, or are helping someone to plan a party there are always a few things to keep in mind. From planning the guest list, to refreshments, to parental permission if you still live at home there are so many things to do. It's always best to plan ahead of time, rather then the day before or the day of. Keep in mind that bigger parties will require more planning then small get togethers. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a party:

♥ Parent's Permission- If you are still living with your parents, you'll want to be sure that it's okay with them before you even begin planning a party. If they say no, you could always see about helping a friend plan a party. If your parents are having a get together over the summer, you can see if they will allow you to invite a few friends. While it may not be fun to ask your parents, it's always better then getting in trouble later. If you live on your own, you can skip this step :P

♥ Guests (if you live at home, your parents may want to know your guest list when you ask them)- This should be one of the first things you take care of when planning a party. If you live with your parents, or have limited space, it's best to keep the guest list small and only invite a few friends. You can have just as much fun with small group of people as you can with a larger one. Always let guests know ahead of time when planning a party to be sure they don't have other plans. 

      ~Other guests- Make sure to let your guests know your rule on bringing other friends or family to the party as to how many they can bring, or if others are allowed to come at all. You may also want to know who else they wish to bring with them. You want to make sure you have enough food and room for everyone, and avoid potential drama.

♥ Invitations- You can always make little invitations to send out to all of your guests. But phone calls, emails, or even Facebook is a great way to let your guests know about your party. Be sure that you let your guests know the location and starting time of the party. As well as how to dress, what to bring, and the rules on bringing other guests along. If you are having your party at a venue like a bowling alley, club, or recreation center, you'll also want to be sure they know how much money to bring, or if you have paid for them to get in.

♥ Location- Most likely you'll want to have your party on your's or a friend's house. But if you wish, you can have your party at a park (especially if you plan to watch fireworks for Independence Day or other holiday. You may also want to have your party at your local rec center, or at a bowling alley, club, or other fun place. You may need to call some of these places ahead of time to make a reservation. You'll also want to find out how much it's going to cost to have your party there. 

*for some venues such as clubs, you'll want to be sure that all guests will be able to get in. Know the age policy for the venue, many may not allow anyone under 21 or 18 to enter. 

♥ Snacks and refreshments- Make a list of all foods, snacks, and drinks you want at your party to help you when you go shopping. To save money, you can assign each guest to bring a certain thing. Try to have a variety of snacks and drinks. If you have a small guest list, you can ask each guest what they would like to eat or drink. You'll want to try to buy everything at least the day before your party. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare everything! If you are under 21, you should not serve alcohol at your party. If you are 21, do not allow anyone under 21 to drink. Never allow anyone to drive home drunk. If you are 21 and serving alcohol be make sure everyone has someone to drive them home. You do not want to get in trouble with the law!

♥ Decorations- While you don't always have to do a whole lot of decorating, some balloons, banners, or small decorations are always a nice touch. Many decorations can be bought at the dollar store for cheap. You can even check out Walmart or a party store to see what they have. An American themed party would be amazing for the 4th of July. Or you can get some Hawaiian themed items and have a luau! You may even want to have some themed items for your guests to wear such as red, white, and blue jewelry or a lei. 

♥ Activities- Be sure to prepare some fun activities for your guests. If you are having your party at a venue then be sure your guests know what you'll be doing there. If you are going to a water park, be sure everyone knows to bring a bathing suit! If you are having your party at home, try to get a few board games, outdoor games, or video games to play. You may even want to play some music from your iPod, or even off of YouTube. Movies are also a great activity for smaller parties. 

♥ Weather- Keep an eye on the forecast for the day of your party. If you are having an outdoor party, be sure guests know what will happen in the event of inclement weather. If you can still have the party indoors, be sure to let your guests know. You may need to cancel the party if you don't have enough room for everyone inside, or if you are at an outdoor venue. It's best to call or text all of your guests if you have to cancel the party to let them know. You don't always have to cancel an outdoor party for a light rain if it wont interfere with anything. But you should never keep a party outside in the event of a thunderstorm. If you can reschedule, make sure everyone knows the new date of the party. 

These tips don't just apply to planning a summer party. They can be used any time of year! Try not to stress to much when planning a party, and get help from others if you need to. And remember to have fun :) If you have additional tips to add, please leave them in the comments. I'd love to hear them! 

It's a nice day, get outside!

I have to admit, that while I do like the outdoors, I tend to spend a lot less time outside then I did when I was younger and more time inside. As I grew out of the days where having a backyard adventure on the swing set was the time of my life... I just didn't know what to do outside anymore! I tend to spend, even the nicest of days sitting inside playing computer games or watching TV, simply because I can't seem to find anything better to do. What can a teenager (or young adult) do to enjoy a sunny day outside? When you think of it, there are quite a few simple and relaxing ways you can enjoy a nice summer day. And while they may be really simple, they beat just sitting inside all day!

So one of my favorite things to do outside on a hot day is to go swimming, though I admit that I mostly swim in indoor pools. If you have a pool in your backyard that's great! If not you can always head out for your local recreation center or even to a nearby beach. Don't forget your pool/ beach bag! 

*some recreation centers may have a fee you need to pay to get in,  If you plan to go swimming or do other activities there frequently, i may suggest looking into getting a pass or membership. 

If you don't have access to a pool or beach, you can always chill at the park with some friends. You can even bring some snacks and have a little picnic. If you want you can even play a game of catch, or even a game of baseball, basketball, or soccer. Or you can just relax on the swings and chat with your besties. 

Going for a walk or riding your bike around is also a great and really simple way to get out of the house.  You don't even really have to go anywhere. A nice walk or ride around the block can help to keep you from getting stir crazy (give yourself a pat on the back if you know what I'm referring too :D). A walk through the wilderness would also be great if you have a trail nearby. 

You can even enjoy the day by just sitting in your own backyard if you don't wish to leave the house. You can simply lounge in a lawn chair and work on your tan. (Just don't forget your sunscreen! No matter what you choose to do outside, you should always protect your skin from harmful UV rays.) Even just laying outside and reading a book or magazine, or even just playing some games on your phone and listening to your iPod, beats being cooped up inside all day. Just remember, when you are outside you need to drink plenty of water,especially in excessive heat. It's best to bring a water bottle with you everywhere you go, especially during the summer. 

What do you like to do outside on a nice day? I'd love to see what others like to do to enjoy a nice day. Or even if you hate being outside completely because of bugs, heat, or other reasons. 

Rainy Days...

Rain, rain, go away come again some other day! 

Rainy, gloomy days aren't always the funnest days in the world. Whether you are an indoors or outdoors person, a gloomy day can just seem to bring you down. While i personally love rain at night, (I just LOVE the sound of the rain on my roof, it's so relaxing!), I don't usually enjoy waking up to a dark cloudy, rainy day. It can be hard to any  motivation on these kinds of lazy days. Sometimes I don't even want to get out of bed on these days, LOL!

While rainy days may not be the most cheery days. I think that they provide the perfect excuse to just lounge for the day. It's one of those days where I like to just stay in my pajamas and browse, watch TV, or ready a book and just listen to the rain. I also like to treat myself to a special snack on these days, just to help boost my mood a little bit. If I want to have a more productive day, I'll just do a little bit of cleaning or organizing. Perfect opportunity to tackle any of those small, hard to organize spaces! 

These are just a few things i like to do on a lazy rainy day. I also have to say it's okay to sleep in a little later (as long as you don't have school or work) on these days. Everyone deserves a lazy, relaxed day once in a while. And a rainy day can be the perfect opportunity to just kick it for the day. 

What do you like to do on a lazy rainy day? Do you like to relax, or do you prefer to use a rainy day to get stuff done? Let me know in the comments! 

Summer 2012 is Here!

For my first blog post, and I must say I am VERY excited about starting this blog, I want to talk about one of my favorite times of year. SUMMER VACATION! I just love the hot weather (crazy right?! But i just can't stand the cold!), relaxation, swimming pools, and not having to wake up early to go to school. (But really who likes to get up early? LOL!) 

So as of today, I am officially a Senior in high school. Meaning that this is my last high school summer vacation, and i really want to make this a summer to remember. I really want to try to get out of the house and get to the pool, or even just go on a nice walk once in a while. Maybe I'll even try some new things, but I'm a pretty shy person. I also really want to tackle the summer goals I've set for myself. Many of them are beauty related, of course! 

Some of my summer goals include, some may even seem kind of silly LOL!

♥ Get into better shape- I want to to this to lose some weight or course. But I also want to feel better, and feel better about myself. This can be difficult for many to accomplish, but I'll post some tips as I find things that work. If you are planning to get into shape this summer. It would probably be best to start off slow. Slow and steady wins the race. 

      - i want to try to do some light work outs at least twice a week. 

      - i also want to try to eat healthier foods and control my consumption of junk food. 

♥ Get off the computer and go outside- So usually, I spend a lot of summer cooped up in my room playing The Sims 3 (awesome game!), watching YouTube videos, or sitting on Facebook. While these things are fun, they shouldn't make up my whole summer! I need to get off the computer more this summer and get some fresh air. And maybe some color, LOL. 

♥ Organize those messy areas of my room. Drawers, Closet floor, cabinets, ect. Out of site isn't out of mind!

♥ Start posting videos to my YouTube channel. I'll post the link to my channel after I upload a video. 

♥ And most importantly, I just want to make this summer last. I want to enjoy my summer and not rush into back to school season (another one of my favorite times of year). Summer only lasts 3 months, and I want to make the best of every last day of it!  

I'd love to hear what you are planning for this summer! Leave any plans, goals, or anything you want to do this summer in the comments. I'll eventually be posting more blogs relating to beauty, fashion, or anything!