June 2012 Haul

Hi everyone! Here is a blog post about this months purchases. Many of the items were on my June Shopping List blog post, while others were not. I apologize for the crappy quality pictures. I may need to start using my camera rather than my phone's camera.

MAC blush in Peony Petal - this blush is beautiful! I originally wanted it when it came out with the Tres Cheek collection, however I couldn't justify buying 3 blushes from that collection at one time. I normally buy makeup in store, however this product wasn't available at any of the locations near me. This was my first purchase that I bought on their website.






Planner - I love shopping for new planners every year. I usually buy this brand of planners at Office Max for $20. However, I found this one for $10 at Target! I buy the ones that are July to June rather than January to December. Planners keep me really organized while I'm in school.







Headbands - I've been wanting a pearl headband for a while now and I finally found one at my local Charming Charlies. These two headbands came in a pack for $8. They look so preppy and summery!

 Scarf - I fell in love with this scarf when I saw it at Charming Charlies. It's very cute and lightweight. This is perfect for all year round, especially in the spring and summer.







Tumbler - I am in love with this tumbler. I found it at a local store for only $3. I saw a few online that I loved however they were pretty expensive. This is great for this time of year to drink lemonade or water.







Clarisonic Mia - This was a spur of the moment kind of purchase. I've wanted this for months and months, however I thought I would wait to buy this until Christmas since the price tag is so high! However, I received a 20% of coupon from Ulta in the mail and I finally decided to buy it. I knew I wanted to buy it either with an Ulta coupon like that or during Sephora's Friends & Family sale. I cannot wait to use this!



L'oreal True Match Natural Mineral Foundation and Finishing Powder - I have repurchased these products multiple times. I have lost count how many bottles I have went through. I bought the foundation shade 456 (soft ivory).

What have you bought this month?

XOXO

How to Succeed in School

As a college student, I have picked up a few tips and tricks on how to succeed in school. I decided to take a break from studying and let you all know some of my secrets (and not-so-secret things).



1. Get a planner. I prefer planners with a montly overview and a section for each day of the week. For the past few years, I've purchased mine from Office Max for under $20. In the month section, write down any important dates that you don't want to forget -- like, exam dates, due dates for projects and assignments, office hours, open labs, and of course days you have off! If you have a job, I recommend putting in the times and days you work as well. In the day of the week section, I recommend making to do lists. I've done them various ways, such as dividing everything into classes or times of the day, and check the box when your done!

2. Get a class binder. I prefer binders over notebooks and folders. You can choose which ever class organization tool you like. I like to have individual class binders so that it doesn't get too full or disorganized. If I have a lab class and a lecture class, I'll put them both in one binder. Dividers and tabs help in organization! I keep my class notes, syllabus, tracking calendars, review sheets, assignments, etc in my binders. I would recommend you keep your binders throughout your school years, especially college! Just recently I wish I had kept my Anatomy and Microbiology binders from previous semesters for references in my current classes.

3. Get highlighters and fun pens. Taking notes is key. If you don't like taking notes and studying (which most people don't), fun colored highlighters and pens make it easier and more creative.

4. Study 2 hours per class hour. Very few people enjoy studying, but its a must in school! Many of your instructors/teachers/professors will tell you that in order to get an A in the class, you must study 2 hours per class hour. Do it!!! However, make sure to take breaks every few hours so that your brain can process as much knowledge as possible. I recommend you go over your class notes after class or after school of the day you learned the topic.

5. Read the textbooks. I've heard that many people did not open a book for a class. However, many times your instructors/teachers/professors will take exam questions from the textbook that weren't mentioned in the notes! Make sure to read any summaries and end of chapter questions too. Some test questions may be taken from those as well. I usually will read the textbook the same day that we went over the topic in class. You could also read the textbook chapter the day before so you are prepared for class.

6. Go to class. This seems so simple, however your instructors/teachers/professors may give extra credit if many people don't show up. They give hints to exam questions and also review sessions! Some may also boost your grade at the end of the semester if you are borderline (close to an A, B, C, etc) if you attend 95% of their classes.

7. Don't procrastinate and don't cram. Many many many people do this in school. But please don't! Work on assignments as soon as you can. Finish projects weeks before they are due. Don't wait until the right before it's due when your stressed and busy. And never cram the night before an exam. Your brain will not process the information and you may fall asleep during your exam. Get a good night sleep before your exam and study ahead of time!!


That's all that I can think of at the moment. If you are in high school (or middle school), end the semester off strong! If you are in college, enjoy your summer vacation or good luck on your summer classes!

XOXO