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Clothes,Fashion,Inspiration,Inspire,It's a Bug's Life,Life,Lifestyle,Pinterest,Stnkrbug,Valentine's Day

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas!

posted on : February 13, 2017 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

This is the first Valentine’s Day that I’ll actually be going on a date, and figuring out what to wear can seriously be so difficult, as is true with a lot of other occasions. I’m the type of person who constantly worries about being over or underdressed, so I put together a couple of different options for myself. Since I had them laying out, I decided to make a post about it to give you a little inspiration, too!

Comfy and casual

Shirt: Pacsun (similar one here)
Jeans: Bershka (similar ones here)
Booties: Nordstrom Rack (similar ones here)

This look is super casual, but still really cute and perfect for Valentine’s Day! This wine-colored bodysuit has been one of my favorites for the winter, because it’s so easy to dress up or down. I’ve always been wearing these jeans a lot because they’re so comfy! I got them in a little shop in Spain, but they’re super popular right now and could easily be found in most stores.

The pattern on the side of the sweater is also really cool and gives it a nice pop!

Girly and romantic

Jacket: Forever21 (similar one here)
Dress: Tobi (link here)
Shoes: Nordstrom (similar ones here)

This look is great for a romantic date! The sweetheart neckline is flattering on everyone, and the flowy bottom adds a feminine touch. This tweed jacket is also extremely warm and perfect for cooler winter nights, since it’s still getting pretty cold in Seattle!

Booties are usually my goto shoes when I don’t want to wear actual heels! These ones are comfortable and I can easily wear them for the whole night.

But can we talk about the back of this dress…

I was immediately drawn to this dress when I saw the back, because I knew it would show off my tattoo! This is great to surprise your date when you take off your jacket, and it’s always just great to have a little surprise to a seemingly simple look.

Bold and surprising

Jacket: Primark (similar one here)
Dress: Tobi (link here

This type of dress isn’t something I would usually buy, but the slits in the front (and back!) really drew me in. Ever since I got my back tattoo, any dress that can show it off is a winner in my book! I’m so excited to wear this dress out, and I’ll definitely be bringing it to Vegas when I go later this year with my friends!

Dressy Casual

Dress: Tobi (link here)

Interesting necklines definitely seem to be making a huge appearance lately, and I’m loving it! This dress has a combined chocker basically, and the large keyhole opening on the chest really makes the well-loved LBD a lot more interesting. Something like this would be great for a night out on the town, or a cute bar!

Alright, there are four different looks for last minute Valentine’s Day outfits! I hope this was helpful, and finding what you’re going to wear is a little bit easier! If you’re looking for some great dresses check out Tobi, they have some great options for both cold and warm weather!

What has been your favorite Valentine’s date?

Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day (and Valentine’s Day)! 🙂
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6 Ways to Stay Out of the January Slump!

posted on : January 26, 2017 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

I was sitting in class today and realized that it’s already week four of my university’s quarter. Being on the quarter system means that everything moves so quickly, but the fact that it’s already week four is so scary. Surprisingly, I have found myself to be really motivated this term, which can be hard during winter quarter since it starts out in January, the low point after the high of the holiday season. I’m actually really enjoying my classes so far, so that’s probably a huge part of it.

Every year, though, it seems like I find it harder to stay organized and motivated as January is coming to an end. The month starts out great after relaxing during the holidays, and you feel the freshness of the new year. Towards the end of the month, however, you start to feel yourself tire out from all of the hard work of staying motivated, and it’s super easy to fall into the trap of letting yourself slide back into old habits, and not stay as organized. I hope that isn’t happening for you, but if it is, I thought I would put together a little guide on how to stay out of the “January Slump,” or get out of it if you find yourself there!
1. Exercise at least 3-5 times a week, or make sure to move a little extra each day.
I find that when I stick to my exercise routine, I’m more motivated in the rest of my life. Getting tasks done is easier because I have more energy, and the endorphins from working out really do help. If exercising isn’t really your thing, that’s totally fine! Do lighter activities like stretching-based yoga, walking, biking, or light swimming. You can even just make sure that you stand up throughout the day if you’re stuck at a desk, and do some simple stretches. This helps your blood to keep flowing, which is what you want in order to stay energized and motivated.
2. Fuel your body with healthy foods.
After the holidays, it’s easy to crave healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, but after a couple of weeks of an especially green diet, your body can go back to wanting sweet things. Moderation is key here, and it’s important to not slack off and fill your body with junk again. Sure, you can definitely have a small bowl of ice cream a couple of times a week, but make sure you’re giving your body lots of healthy food to keep energy levels high! There’s so many healthy recipes out there that are also really yummy, so if you need some inspiration, go to Pinterest! Macro-bowls are a huge trend right now, and they’re so great because not only are they super healthy and filled with great nutritional value, but they’re also really hearty and use things like sweet potatoes, brown rice, and quinoa to fill you up.
3. Make sure to use your planner.
This is a great tip if you’re in school, and tend to forget about assignments as soon as you leave the classroom (ahem, I’m pointing a big finger at myself on this one). Whenever my professors or TA’s mention an assignment in class, I make a point to take out my planner and write it down then and there. This gives me no excuse to forget about it later, and helps me get everything done on time. I also like to write down any big assignments I know will be due throughout the quarter, like huge papers, at the beginning of the term, so I have a heads up weeks in advance.
4. Write down your goals for every week.
I got into the habit of doing this last year, and it helps so much. I didn’t know how useful it would be, but it forces me to look at the week in a more wholesome way, and helps me get into the mindset of getting tasks done. Creating little boxes to tick off is also a super easy way to motivate yourself if you’re anything like me, because the satisfaction of marking something off is ridiculously pleasing. Doing this in the beginning of the week is also a really great way to start it out by knowing the things you need to get done, so you aren’t rushed on Friday trying to scramble a ton of assignments and other miscellaneous tasks together.
5. Change up your living space.
This can be as simple as moving your bed into a different part of your room, or putting up some new artwork on the walls. Changing up the spaces your in everyday and see multiple times a day can be a really great way to inspire yourself. I don’t know what it is about moving things around, but I’m always so satisfied afterwards. It keeps my creative juices flowing and motivates me to get other things done in my life. It’s also exciting to come home to a different space, and see how it inspires you in different ways.
6. Clean and organize your living space.
This sounds stupidly simple, but cleaning up your space can de-stress and motivate yourself at the same time. Whenever I’m super stressed and feel like I’m in a slump, cleaning perks me up and motivates me to get other tasks done. There’s just something super refreshing about cleaning up your living space that motivates you in other aspects of your life. I also just feel better when I know my apartment is clean, and it’s super relaxing to come home and be able to unwind in an organized space. Maybe I’m just crazy, but cleaning is one of the best forms of therapy for me.
Alright, well there are six different ways of staying out of the January slump, and how to motivate yourself if you’re already there! Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m definitely going to go and clean my bathroom and organize my desk, which will hopefully motivate me to get all of my class readings done for the week…
How do you stay motivated?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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How to Achieve Your 2017 Goals!

posted on : January 17, 2017 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

Happy 2017!

With all New Years come goals and resolutions that we try our hardest to achieve, but might forget about them after about a month. I’m so guilty of this, as I’ve tried to set goals for myself in the past, and easily forgotten about them once I start getting busy with the new year.
Last year I felt like I did a pretty good job about actually achieve my goals and holding myself accountable to them, so I thought I would share some tips with you on how to do the same! I’m no life expert – no one is except maybe Oprah – so of course take these tips and apply them how they would best fit your life. No one is the same so different things work for different people! These are just some things that really seemed to work for me.
Also, if you would like, here is the video I made about this same thing on my channel!
1. Write down your goals.
This may seem obvious, but writing down your goals in a place that you’ll see them often (i.e. a planner, or journal you use a lot) will keep reminding you of them. Constant exposure to them will also inspire you to actually achieve them, since it’s so satisfying to check them off! I don’t know about you, but that is seriously one of the best feelings for me. Whenever I make a to-do list, I live for getting all of the tasks done so I can check them all off. The same feeling definitely applies to bigger goals for the year, especially because you’ll feel even more satisfied once you achieve something greater than getting done a chore list you made for yourself. I usually try and write down my goals in my general goal journal, just on a page of their own that is highlighted and definitely distinct from the other pages. This helps me so much because I’m constantly reminded of them, and there’s no way that I could forget them!
2. Visualize your goals.
Once you have figured out and written down your goals, visualize yourself achieving them. Visualization is something that has been proven to work, because you feel that much more comfortable and confident in doing something or getting it done. I started doing this when I swam and danced, and it helped me immensely. I knew I could do the action because I had imagined myself succeeding it over and over – when the time came to do it in real life, I knew I could get it done! The same really goes for goals, especially larger ones. If you think about yourself having gotten all of these goals done at the end of the year, you’ll be really motivated to make that possibility a reality. If you have a goal that has to do with changing something about yourself, like being more outgoing, visualize yourself talking to more people in situations that usually make you uncomfortable. When the time comes to actually do it, you’ll feel a lot better a out the whole situation, and achieving that goal will be that much easier.

3. Start with small goals.
It can be really easy to want to set huge goals right at the beginning of the new year if you are really hoping for a change, but be careful not to get too ahead of yourself. I’m not saying to limit yourself – if you want to set those goals then go for it! But if you know they’ll end up being too big for you to achieve all at once, start smaller in the beginning of the year and work your way up throughout the rest of the year. If you’re wanting to get in better shape, don’t start by making a goal to workout every single day for an hour if you haven’t been doing so. Start by motivating yourself to workout one more day a week, or maybe 15 minutes longer a day. Starting with these smaller goals will help you build on them throughout the year, and you also won’t get disappointed when you can’t get these unrealistic goals done, or are really struggling with them. This isn’t an excuse to not push yourself, though; on the contrary, this will help you actually achieve more because the small goals will snowball on themselves, and by the end of the year, you’ll realize just how much you’ve gotten done!
4. Check in with yourself.
This is something that is super important for goals. I remember in elementary schools my teachers would have the class set individual goals, write them down on paper, and a couple of months later we would have to read the goals again and see how we were doing. At the time we all thought it was extremely pointless, but looking back, I realized that this just motivated us further to get these goals done. Had we not been shown them again, we probably wouldn’t have been so inspired to get them done, or make a change. Checking in with your 2017 goals about halfway through the year in June will help you see how they’re going, if you need to adjust goals, if you need to work harder, or just simply remind you of what they were in the first place. A halfway point check in is great timing, because you still have six months to achieve your goals.
5. Keep yourself accountable.
Keeping yourself accountable is really similar to checking in with yourself, but it also has to do with keeping yourself motivated throughout the year. Don’t let yourself slack off if a goal is hard, instead try your hardest to get it done. That can be easy to say, but your mind is a really powerful thing. Keep thinking of the end result, and the effort you’re putting in won’t seem as difficult. It can be so easy to forget about a goal or give up, but you’ll be so much happier in the end if you stick it out.

Alright, well there are five tips on how to achieve your 2017 goals! I’m so excited to see what this new year has to offer, and let’s hope that it’s a lot better than 2016!

I wish you the best of luck!

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My Time in Spain

posted on : September 15, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

As you probably know, I spent this summer studying abroad in London and San Sebastián, Spain. I’ve already done an overview of my time in London, so I thought it was about time I did one for my trip to Spain. I spent four weeks in San Sebastián, with the last couple of days in the fourth week being in Barcelona, and I spent a fifth week in Madrid. I got to travel all over the Basque Country (where San Sebastián is located), and I definitely fell in love with it! The Basque Country is so beautiful, and is a very charming part of Spain. Here’s some photos!

 This gelato was seriously the best!

 My 10th gelato, probably…

 My favorite flavor combo – coffee and trufa negra (super dark chocolate)!

 The cute little town of Pasajes.

 A view of San Sebastián from one of the mountains! My friends and I did a sunset hike and it was beautiful.
 I loved the buildings in the smaller, surrounding towns.

 Caught the sunset one night – so gorgeous!

 This is the “romantic part” of San Sebastián.

 Okay, background to this picture: this was taken on the top of the mountain from one of the most grueling, terrible hikes that I have ever been on. It was one of the hottest days (about 85-90 degrees), right at the warmest and sunniest parts of the day, which our professors thought would be the ideal time for a hike. It was super steep in the beginning, which was fine because we were just starting out, but then we had to go up about 60 flight of stairs to get to the top of the mountain, in which a church was awaiting. Our professors gave us absolutely no context about the church, or why we had to hike the mountain (they didn’t even join us on the hike!) to go see this one-room church. The view from the mountain was exactly the same from the other side, so all of us were generally confused and struggling to find a point to the hike. Also, at the top, a ton of gnats where flying around everywhere. We’re talking get-in-your-mouth-and-all-over-your-body gnats. And the super steep part in the beginning? That was about ten times worse on the way back because we were exhausted and hot. Needless to say, the group was a sweaty, hangry mess by the time we got back on the bus to go to lunch.
 The mountain in question, with about half of the stairs we had to climb.

How beautiful are these sunsets?!

My time in San Sebastián was so much fun – we went to cooking classes, ate at a Michelin Star restaurant (oh la la), went on a boat tour, saw amazing fireworks from a boat during la Semana Grande (a week long party in the city, basically), tanned at the beach almost every day, ate amazing gelato, learned about Spanish culture, got to practice our Spanish, and just generally had tons of fun. It was actually surprisingly a lot of schoolwork, but I can’t complain because I got to do a lot of it at the beach 😉

After our four weeks in SS, we headed to Barcelona!

 The cutest little “eyescream” store!
 Flower gelato!
 La Sagrada Familia!

 Gaudi is seriously one of my favorite architects – the buildings in Barcelona are gorgeous!

 My friend and I went to a fútbol game, too, which was fun!

Even though I spent the majority of my time in San Sebastián, and only about four days in Barcelona, I quickly fell in love with Barcelona. The atmosphere was so fun, the streets weren’t too crowded, the food was wonderful, and the beach was beautiful and warm. Some places you just instantly feel a connection to, and that was Barcelona for me. I can’t wait to go back one day!

After Barcelona was Madrid for about five days!

Churros and chocolate is one of the best combinations.

The buildings in Madrid are so pretty!
Overall, I learned so much during my time in Spain. I loved my time in London, but Spain had such a different culture, and it was so fun to experience a country that’s vastly different than the one I grew up in. The people were so nice in Spain, and it was also super cool to actually use my Spanish outside of the classroom. I also fell in love living so close to the beach – it’s so nice being able to walk for just 10 minutes and have a gorgeous place to relax! I definitely wish the beaches here in the Pacific Northwest were as warm. I also think this is the tannest I’ve ever been, which is pretty cool haha.

I’m going to be doing another post that’s a reflection on the whole study abroad experience, as well as some tips, so be ready for that!

What countries have you visited?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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5 Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

posted on : May 3, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

I am a chronic last minute shopper. You would think I would’ve learned by now, but without fail, I always seem to wait till the last minute to buy gifts for people. It’s not that I forget about it, I think too much about what to get for people, and whether or not they’ll actually like what I get them. I’m actually doing pretty well this year for Mother’s Day, I just have a couple of little things left to get, but other than that I am all set. If you need some more ideas for something special to get your mom last minute, this guide is for you!

Framed Photos

One of my favorite gifts to give people is a framed photo. In this day and age, so many of our photos are just kept on our phones or laptops, so to receive a physical photo once in a while is so nice. I’m just a huge fan of photos in general, and I think it’s really cool to give them to others as well. I personally would probably not go for a frame as cheesy as this, but get your mom whatever she would like!

Lotion or Skincare of Any Kind
Lotion and skincare in general is also something I personally love getting for my mom, because she never gets it for herself. I love getting my mom nice lotion, like the ones from Kiehl’s, because it makes her feel special, and I know she secretly loves getting spoiled on Mother’s Day (what mom shouldn’t?!)

Perfume
Perfume is also something that my mom never really buys for herself, so it’s fun to get some for her on special occasions. My mom and I tend to have the same taste (or rather smell, should I say) when it comes to perfume, so it’s always a safe bet that if I like, so will she. Perfume also comes in such pretty bottles and packaging anymore, so it’s always fun to get a pretty bottle as a gift.
Flowers
Flowers are seriously the unsung heroes of the gift world. They are so pretty, and are just so nice to receive as a little bonus gift. I personally love flowers, whether I am giving or receiving them, and my mom especially loves to get them for Mother’s Day. Since I live in Seattle, I love getting them from Pike’s Place, because they seriously have the best flowers!
Jewelry
Special jewelry is always a great gift to give your mom, especially if she’s like mine and never gets it for herself! There’s so much cool jewelry out anymore, so there’s definitely something for every mom. You could even get creative and make some! Plus, every time she puts it on, she’ll think of you!
Alright, there are five last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day 2016! I am so excited to give my gifts to my mom this year, and I also have something else really special planned that will be going up on my YouTube channel at the end of this week, so keep an eye out for that!
What are you getting your mom for Mother’s Day?

Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Disclaimer: this is NOT a sponsored post, and not all photos are mine.
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Favorite Quotes of the Week

posted on : April 29, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

I am a very quote-oriented person. Call it cheesy, but I really love motivational quotes, especially since I love reading and writing. Words can be transformative, and can give people the courage to make a change, inspire them, or just make them feel good. This week hasn’t been the best because of stress, and I’ve been in this weird funk that I’m trying to get out of. Whenever I feel like this, I always turn to quotes to make me feel better, so I thought I would share some that’s been helping me a lot this week!

It’s really easy for me to get caught up in the stress of life and consequently forget about living in the moment. This quote really puts things into perspective, and helps me live each day to its fullest! When I was at the beach for my birthday weekend, I really felt like I was living in the moment, and because of that I ended up having the best time. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, so I think I’m going to do a whole post about it soon!

This is a very important quote for college students. Sometimes it feels like we are suffering through classes for no reason, but it’s really important to keep in mind that all of these hardships we are going through now will result in incredible futures! Keep this in mind when it feels like you are drowning.

In media today, shaming people is something that is huge. Oftentimes people are spoken badly about, and things get way out hand, and it’s completely unnecessary. I really love this quote because it’s so true; when you try to be kind to people and show them compassion, it makes it that much less believable when people are putting you down. This is really similar to the whole “kill ’em with kindness” mindset. It’s really important, though, to not do this in a fake way. Be your genuine self, and try to be kind; however, on the other hand, never let anyone put you down.

Alright, those are three quotes that helped me get through this long and difficult week! It wasn’t even bad or anything, I just have so many things going on that I’m feeling very overwhelmed. Plus, we’re getting close to the end of the year, so all of my classes have been kicking it up a notch. Hopefully I’ll be able to relax this weekend!

What are some of your favorite quotes?

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful weekend! 🙂

Disclaimer: None of these quotes are mine!

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5 Easy Ways to Help the Environment Now

posted on : April 22, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

Happy Earth day! Some of you might not know this, but I am very passionate about helping out the environment. Being from the Pacific Northwest, it’s something that kids are educated on very early in their lives, and it’s drilled into them that something needs to be done to help the Earth. This was how I grew up, and I’m very glad that I did. My family has always been really good with separating out trash and recycle, making sure nothing bad goes into our water, and just generally trying to help out the environment. It can seem like a daunting task sometimes, and people often think that it’s a lot harder than it actually is. Anymore, there are so many easy switches you can make now that can help the environment later; here are five!

1. Carpool, walk, bike, or bus.

I know this one is the most obvious, but it’s also something that helps out a lot. It’s super important to try and find ways to cut out the use of fossil fuels because it’s something that hurts the environment very much! There’s so many different options for getting places, so make sure you check out yours before you immediately get into the car.

2. Be mindful about your waste.

This applies to many different aspects of your life, anywhere from plastic packaging to leftover food. Try to remember to bring reusable bags to stores instead of using the plastic ones they give you. If you’re really bad at this like me, put some in your car, or right next to your purse so you’ll see it as you leave. If you do end up forgetting them, use the paper bags instead of plastic since you can end up reusing those for a lot! For food waste, start a compost bin so you don’t have to throw out as much food! There are a lot of great guides online, so I definitely recommend checking those out on how to start one, how to use it, and how to regulate it. There’s also a surprisingly amount of things that you can compost, a lot more than you would think! Also, get a reusable water bottle so you aren’t constantly getting plastic water bottles from the store. This not only cuts down on waste, but is also better for you! Bottled water often sits in a warehouse for long periods of time which allows the chemicals from the plastic get in there, which is not good for you at all.

3. Cut down on electricity use.

There are so many ways you can cut down on electricity use, like getting higher efficiency light bulbs (they’re sold at virtually any hardware stores nowadays), LED lights, putting a sweatshirt on instead of turning on the heat, or opening a window instead of turning on the AC. All of these tricks end up saving you money as well, so it’s really a win-win! I love to use little fairy lights to light up rooms rather than ceiling lights, because they are a lot more energy efficient anymore, they look prettier, and I just generally don’t like rooms with really bright lights. You can also light a couple of candles for lighting, smelling, and general pretty appearance!

4. Use less water

Cutting down on shower-times can be hard at first, especially when you have a lot of hair to wash, but it get’s easier with time! This is a great way to use less water since people tend to use a lot of it while they shower. If you like to leave the water on while you brush your teeth, turn that faucet off! This uses a lot of completely unnecessary water, and adds up over time. If you really want to save more water, you could even install more efficient shower heads and faucets.

5. Be mindful of where you get your food.

Eating locally is something that not a lot of people think about when trying to help out the environment. Not only will you find some yummy food to eat, but you also eat things that didn’t have to use fossil fuels in order to travel to the store. Big name brands ship out their products all across the country, and consequently, end up using a ton of fossil fuels to make it happen. Eating locally also supports small businesses, and can just generally be a lot of fun to find new places. Local food is often organic as well, which most often means that it wasn’t sprayed with any harmful pesticides. It also feels great knowing where your food comes from!

Alright, there are five ways that you can help the environment in honor of Earth Day! This is such an important day, and really helps to bring awareness to the disparities the environment is facing in the world today, and it’s also a great way to celebrate this awesome planet that we live on!

How do you help the planet?
Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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20 Things I’ve Learned by the Age of 20

posted on : April 8, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

It is Friday, April 8th, which means it’s my twentieth birthday! I cannot believe I am twenty years old – two decades! The years seem to go by faster and faster with every birthday, and here we are at twenty of them! I really don’t feel old enough to no longer be a teenager, if that makes any sense. For so long I have identified as a teen, and now I am a full-fledged young adult. I know I’m still young – I still can’t even drink – but it’s crazy to think that I have entered my twenties. Even though I’m pretty nervous and scared to be in my twenties, I’m also really excited to see what the future holds. I still have to get through college, but who knows where I’ll be after that! That’s a scary thought to have, and I can’t believe that it’s one so real and applicable to my life right now.

Since I’ve been alive for two decades on our lovely planet earth, I thought I would share twenty things I have learned thus far!

1. It’s okay to mess up.

2. No one notices things as much as you think they do.

3. You can’t control life.

4. Times spent being crazy with friends are just as important, if not more, than when you were ten.

5. It’s okay to ask for help.

6. Don’t bottle things up, because you will end up emotionally exploded, and it won’t be fun or pretty.

7. Stop to pet the cute puppy (after asking the owner’s permission, of course), you will regret it if you don’t.

8. Cherish the time you spend with family, because it gets harder to do so as you get older and busier.

9. It’s okay if people don’t like you, not everyone will no matter how hard you try.

10. Make time for yourself.

11. Stand up for yourself.

12. Life gets a lot easier when you love and believe in yourself.

13. Your parents advice might seem like they are nagging on you, but they are only telling you these things because they love you.

14. Treat your body well by exercising and eating right.

15. …but one cookie won’t hurt.

16. ‘Treat yo self’ when you need it.

17. It’s okay to need your parents and family, you’re still learning.

18. The first time you have to ‘adult’ is scary, but it gets easier with time.

19. Make time to hang out with your friends.

20. Taking time to appreciate all that you have makes it easier to get through the tough times.

–

I’m not saying that I am old and wise now that I’m twenty; on the contrary, I know I have a lot to learn and many mistakes to make. I just thought it would be cool to list these things out, especially so I can look back on it later in life! The beauty of having my blog and YouTube channel is I can look back on all of the events in my life, and remember how I was feeling at the time. I’m so glad that I decided to start both, and I know I will be really grateful in the future as well. I also want to take this time to thank each and every one of you who takes the time to read my blog, and watch my YouTube videos! I really appreciate all of you, and I hope that you enjoy both my blog and channel.
I’m going to go now and enjoy my birthday, but expect a lot of pictures and a vlog after my birthday weekend! I’m going to the beach with family and friends, and also doing some fun things here on campus, so I will make sure to document them all 🙂
For now, I hope you all have a wonderful day, and as always, thank you so much for reading! 🙂

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DIY Crescent Moon Dreamcatcher

posted on : April 5, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

I have been on Etsy so much lately looking at room decor, and everything else really. You can find some really adorable things on Etsy, and it’s super fun to just browse around! While I was looking the other day, I came across a really cool crescent moon dreamcatcher. I have always loved dreamcatchers, and have had a lot through the years. When I saw this one, I knew I wanted to make one like it! I absolutely love DIY-ing, so I really wanted to make one rather than buy it, especially since I knew I could simply make one myself.

I made a video about this on my channel, and I definitely recommend watching it if you make it, since it’s usually easier to follow along with video instructions!

Here is all that you will need for this DIY (side note: I got everything from Michaels just to keep this easy! This post is in no way sponsored by them, however!)

I used the twine to wrap around the metal loop, and the mini rope to make the long strings that hang off of the dreamcatcher.
I used these metal loops for the base of the dreamcatcher, which my dad cut down for me to create the crescent moon shape. You could also use these wooden ones if you’d like!

How pretty are these feathers?! I saw them and knew I had to use them for this DIY.

I also got these feathers since they are nice and fluffy and large. I also like the natural color that they add to the dreamcatcher since a lot of the pieces are white!

Here is the metal rod cut to the crescent shape!

I have been obsessed with Michaels stone and crystal collection they’ve had in the jewelry section! Everything is seriously so gorgeous, it was so hard to choose which crystal pendants to get. I have this really nerdy rock collection, so the inner rock geek in me was crying when I saw all of the stones.

I got this really pretty shimmery embroidery floss for the web part of the dreamcatcher, and I think it ended up looking so cool! I love how it’s basically a dark copper color, and it really added a cool dimension to the web, especially since they can be kind of bland sometimes.

Here’s a nifty action shot of my dad cutting the metal. He was very proud of himself for making it on the blog, ya’ll (he didn’t realize he wasn’t actually in the shot…poor guy).

These are the little clippers my dad used to cut the metal!

Let’s get started with the actual process:

To get the beginning of the twine to actually stay on the metal, I used a hot glue gun (I completely forgot to take a picture of it, sorry!) to glue the end of the twine down. After it was dry and the twine was secure, I went ahead and started to wrap the twine tightly around the metal.

I first quickly wrapped the twine, and then went back and pushed it all together more.

Once I hit the end of the metal, I did the exact same gluing process as the beginning!

For the strings that hang down, I decided to do slip knots. I first pulled off how much I wanted from the spool, and then doubled it back up it’s length so both sides where the same size. After you have one long string folded in half basically, grab just below the part where it is folded in half.

Fold the loop back behind the base (the metal rod covered in twine).

Put your fingers through the loop, and pull both lengths completely through the loop.

This is how it should look after you pull the whole thing through the loop.

Tighten up the knot, and situate it how you want!

Keep going until you have as many knots you want! I went for eight in total.

Okay, now time for the web! This is the time I definitely suggest watching the video to see exactly how this is done. I completely forgot to picture this on the first “layer” of the web, but it’s exactly the same process. To start it off, wrap the string around the base about five times, or however many you think it takes to anchor it tightly, and tie it off. So take the tale of the string and fold it to the right of the base, or in this case the second “layer” of the string.

Pull the tale over the second layer. You will see a kind of loop form, especially if you are on the second layer.

Pull the whole tale back through the loop.

Pull it tight, and make sure to try and keep it tight to make the next layer! I found this whole process to be pretty tricky at first, so you just have to remain patient, and it may take you a couple of tries to get it down. I had to start over completely twice! My web definitely isn’t perfect, but I like how it looked, anyway. After you are done with the first layer, flip the whole base over so it mirrors how it was initially, and just keep going through the same process over and over, in order to get the number of layers that you want. I believe I did four! After you are done with the final layer, take whatever tail you have left over, wrap it around the end of the base and tie it off!

Now it’s time for the fun part – decoration! My parents had this copper wire hanging around that I decided to put around some of the string (you can also find this at stores like Home Depot if your parents don’t just happen to have some haha), and I absolutely love how it turned out. To keep the feathers on, I hot glued them to the strings, and tied the string around them to make it appear as though I had tied them on rather than glued them on.

Here’s how everything turned out! I love how the gold feathers look with the more natural ones.

The crystals really add a lot as well!

I couldn’t be happier with how this dreamcatcher turned out!
You all know how much I love DIY’s, and this one was so much fun. I really hope you guys make this, and if you do, let me know on Instagram and Twitter!
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
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My 20th Birthday Wish List

posted on : April 1, 2016 posted by : Stnkrbug 0 Comment

I cannot believe that I am turning 20 next week. My teenage years will officially be over, and I will be entering the second decade of my life. That is a crazy thought! It seems like it was just Christmas; this year is seriously flying by. It always felt like it took a crazy long time to get to my birthday when I was younger, but now that I’m older time is starting to move a lot faster.

Since my birthday is in exactly one week, I thought it would be fun to share my birthday wish list with you all! I do not expect to get all of these things at all, it’s just fun to see all of the new items out right now and dream of getting a couple of goodies!

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Collection
Honestly, I would be so happy to get anything from the new Tarte collection. You all know my love for Tarte, and this new collection looks so gorgeous! All of the lipsticks that are out look so pretty, and the foundation and skin care products sound divine.

Copper Birkenstocks
My love for Birkenstocks runs deep; I wear either my brown or floral pair pretty much everyday during spring and summer because they are so comfortable and cute. They go with pretty much everything, and are also so practical to wear with all of the walking I do around campus! Birkenstocks actually provide a lot of support for your feet, and I recommend them to everyone.
Calvin Klein Bralette
I know this is very “basic” of me, but I really want a Calvin Klein bralette! They are supposed to be super comfortable and soft, and I basically live in all of my lace bralettes, anyway. Also I probably only wear a bra maybe once every week or two, oops…..at least this would get a lot of use!
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

Or…

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens

I’m not sure which lens I want yet, since I’m going to be using them when I study abroad in Europe this summer. My family has a friend who is a photographer, so I need to ask him which one would be best for scenery pictures, as well as taking pictures of all of the gorgeous architecture. 


Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Honestly, I am always so happy when I get gift cards to Barnes and Noble! I am an avid reader, so there is no better gift than a good book, or a gift card that can buy a good book. Some people don’t like getting or giving gift cards since they seem less personal, but I really don’t mind it because I know they just want me to buy something that I will genuinely like.
Tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in LA
Last but not least, this is a gift that I would probably just pass out if I received it. I know the likelihood of actually getting this is slim to none, but hey, a girl can dream!
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I am still in shock that my birthday is only a week away. The years go by faster and faster as you get older, which is really scary! I don’t feel like I should be 20 years old, and it also doesn’t feel like it should already be April. Where is 2016 going so quickly?!
As I get older, it also gets harder and harder to actually think about what I want to receive for my birthday. With every year, the things that are important to me are becoming less material; I now value time with family and friends over anything else, and the simple feeling of happiness. When we’re little it’s so easy to get caught up with the latest and greatest toys, and be happy just from the gift of things. I think that’s a part of everyone’s childhood, and it’s a natural, healthy experience. As we get older, though, our set of values change, and it’s no longer important to receive a ton of presents. What’s truly important is that we spend our time being happy with those we love.
Do you find it harder to make birthday lists as you get older?
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful weekend! 🙂