DIY Floral Letter

Today I created my very first DIY video and I'm so excited to show you all! With a lot of help from my roommate, my phone, creative engineering and editing software, I was able to whip up a little video as a fun way to show you the process. Here, you'll be able to see step by step how to make your own. I bought all of my supplies from Dollar Tree costing me a total of $4. If you are already someone who does a ton of crafts, you will most likely have most of the tools needed. This craft is a perfect decoration for either yourself or someone you are willing to give it too. Check it out!

If you didn't fully catch it in the video, the materials you will need are:

• Scrap cardboard
• Glue gun
• Paint & paintbrush
• Scissors
• Cardboard cutter
• Pencil
• Foam blocks
• Fake flowers

I hope you enjoyed my small homemade video and get a chance to try it out for yourself. It was so much fun to make and even better to look at. Thanks for watching! :)

How to Survive Finals Week

With the end of the semester just around the corner, the dreaded "finals week" is quickly approaching. Like most college students know, finals week is basically a week from hell filled with crammed study sessions, end of semester projects and packing. With everything coming to an end in this one single week, it is basically impossible to not be stressed. This being said, I have a few tips I have learned over the past year or so that could help you relieve some of that stress.

1) Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
This one is obvious. For all of those late nights studying or the dreaded all-nighters, coffee will be your best friend. Caffeine is a must and will keep you going when you're tempted to slow down. Whether it's iced or hot, shot of espresso or a specialty drink, anything will get the job done. Obviously, you don't want to get jittery which could be distracting, so make sure to keep track of how much coffee you've actually consumed. Either way, coffee will always be there to keep you going when you need to cram.

***Although coffee is a great energy booster, don't forget to eat healthy and drink water as these are both natural energy boosters as well.

2) Beauty Sleep
From first hand experience, I can tell you how important it is to stay decently rested during finals. Granted, you will need to stay up and spend a lot of time studying (hence the coffee) but don't forget to get your beauty sleep. Make sure to plan ahead and allow yourself time to get in a few hours here and there or even better, a full night of sleep. Being sleep deprived can really mess with your thought process and negatively impact your performance on the test. It will be tempting to just stay up and keep studying but I'm warning you now, sleep is just as important.

3) Break Time
Make sure to give yourself breaks from time to time. Now I don't mean take a whole day off to just procrastinate from studying. Instead, give yourself a half hour to just go take a walk and get some fresh air or maybe a few minutes to go grab a snack and reenergize. Either way, give your brain a break from the work once and a while to stop you from going insane.

4) Organization
Keeping organized is one of the best ways to ace your test. Make categorized study guides for each test using different colored pens or type them up. Or maybe you learn better from flash cards or creating a Quizlet online. Whichever method you choose, keeping everything organized will only make it easier.

5) Motivation
Last but definitely not least is to stay motivated. Believe me, I know how hard it is to concentrate when it's sunny and 75 out and summer is only a few days away. But I'm telling you, just work as hard as you can now and you will be rewarded. Once you're done, you're done for 3 months, so let that be your motivation. Work hard now and you won't regret it!

Color Up Your Life

With the end of semester assignments and final week approaching, stress is inevitable. A new trend that has picked up within the past year or two for adults are coloring books. This simple activity is no longer looked at as just a way to keep kids busy, but a way adults can effortlessly relax as well. Many stores including Barnes & Noble and Walmart now sell adult coloring books with more intricate designs. They range in sizes allowing you to carry one in your purse or to have one waiting for you when you come home.

I received my first adult coloring book in a small care package my mom sent me a few months ago. It was just what I needed to relieve some stress or just to relax at night. I absolutely love it and its fun designs!

If you're a little tight on cash, there are many websites that provide free, printable coloring sheets! That's right, free! Everybody's favorite word. One website that I found is Everything Etsy which provides 15 free designs. If you aren't interested in any of these, there are plenty of other sites that provide them as well. Just simply google "free printable adult coloring pages".

The next time you are feeling a little stressed out or just want to create a small masterpiece, try out these adult coloring pages. They are so much fun and cost nothing! Happy coloring!

Have A Good Hair Day

Ever wanted to change up your hair style and try something new? Or maybe you're hair just isn't cooperating so you need an idea ASAP? I have come across three hairstyles that are so easy and take no time at all. As someone with super thick and curly hair, finding easy hairstyles that will tame my hair and look cute is a gift. Today, I tried out a few hairstyles I've been dying to try on my roommate and plan to try them out myself as well!

1) Half Up, Half Down

 If you have thin, straight hair like my roommate, make sure to brush through it all to get all of the knots out. (You can also brush in some hairspray to give it a better hold).

If you're like me and have super thick and curly hair, do NOT brush it. As all curly haired people know, brushing your hair when it is dry is a sin. That being said, just run some leave in conditioner and/or anti-frizz gel through your hair.

Next, just section the top half of your hair either with a clip, bobby pins or elastic clear band.

 Lastly, grab a small section from each side of your head, bring it over the clip and bobby pin. Yup, it's that easy! If you're one with thicker hair, you may want to put in a few more bobby pins on each side to make sure the hair is held securely. I added a cute bobby pin to dress it up a little more!

2) Dutch Braid (Inside-Out Braid)

I really love this style because it is so simple, easy and keeps your hair out of your face. It is just like regular french braids but instead of going over, you go under. In other words, for a normal braid you intertwine three strands by putting them over each other. Yet with the dutch braid, you do the exact opposite by putting the strands under each other. 

For a more detailed tutorial, watch How To: Double Dutch Braid

3) Braid & Bun Up-do

Flip your hair over and braid up towards the top of your head. You can either do a regular braid, french braid or dutch braid; whichever you prefer.

Once you have reached the top of your head, gather the rest of your hair and create a bun. This could be a messy bun, a braided bun, sock bun or just twisted like I did. This hairstyle can really range depending on what look you are going for. 

Make sure to bobby pin any loose strands and hairspray to make it hold. You can also choose to spruce it up by adding a cute headband or bobby pins. 

The next time you have no clue what to do with your hair, make sure to remember these three hairstyles. They are so easy to do and take about 5 minutes! 

Happy Styling!

The Finger Lakes

With the weather getting nicer, it's almost inevitable to get excited for summer. Plus, as someone who lives on the lake in the Finger Lakes, summer is constantly on my mind. From jet-skiing to just laying out in the sun, summer is with no doubt my favorite season. My friends and family always find something to do to take full advantage of summer!

Being on the Water
If it were possible for me to be a mermaid, I would 100% be one. My whole life, I have loved the water. I could be in the lake all day whether I'm just swimming, tubing, boating or jet skiing. Any water activity and I'm there. I live about 2 seconds up the road from Seneca Lake in New York and also have a cottage right on the lake which is about 5 minutes from my house. The lake is my number one go to in the summer and I wouldn't have it any other way.

My Cottage
Like I just mentioned, I have a family cottage on Seneca Lake. This has been in my family for many years and is shared between relatives on my dads side. This is practically my second home over the summer since it is so close to my actual house. We have tons of family get togethers here especially for the Fourth of July or just for Sunday cookouts. Sometimes I'll just go over myself and hang out or invite a few friends over. It is the perfect place to just relax and enjoy the weather. Some of my favorite things to do there are laying in the hammock, playing in the water (once and a while my Uncle's dogs will join me), laying out and boating. No matter what, there is always something to do here no matter who I am with.


Finger  Lakes Events
Since the Finger Lakes are obviously known for their bodies of water, there are many recreational places and events to attend near them. It is basically known as "wine country" being there are over 100 wineries in addition to newly added breweries and cideries. As you can probably tell, I live in an area where drinking is a huge focus. I will definitely have a new appreciation for this when I am 21 and can actually take advantage of it. But for now, I am forced to find something else which luckily isn't too difficult. In addition to activities on the actual water, there are tons of restaurants right on the lake along with festivals and concerts. 

If you ever get the chance to visit the Finger Lakes, New York I highly recommend you do it! I absolutely love where I live and there is so much to do during the summer. Whether you're a big wine drinker or just love to be on the water, this is the place for you! I am so incredibly lucky and happy to call this my hometown. 

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Happy Wednesday everyone! To help get you over the hump of this long week, I have a delicious and fun recipe to share with you all....lemon blueberry cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting. Of course, they were as amazing as they sound. This dessert is perfect for the warmer weather as it is light and fruity yet still satisfies that sweet-tooth craving. 

I came across the recipe while browsing through Pinterest and knew immediately that I had to try it. The recipe came originally from a blog, "Annie Eats", which is an overall adorable and fun blog full of recipes. The pictures make the cupcakes look amazing and she makes the process super easy to follow. 

It might seem like a lot of ingredients at first, but a lot of them are ones you would most likely already have if you are an avid baker. The only things I had to go out and buy specifically for this were the blueberries, lemons and cream cheese. 

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour, divided
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 8 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar
• The zest of 1 lemon
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. milk
• 1 cup blueberries

For the Frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese frosting
• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• The zest of 1 lemon
• Fresh blueberries to garnish

***For the original source of ingredients and directions go to Annie Eats

I highly recommend trying these out sometime. They really were super fun to make, decorate and of course, eat. Next time you're looking for something to bake, try this recipe out and I promise, you will not regret it. Have fun and enjoy!

 

DIY Marble Mug

If you're looking for a quick and easy DIY project, I have found the perfect one! I saw a quick video when scrolling through Facebook that I immediately wanted to try. With only 5 simple steps, you will get an adorable marble designed mug that will brighten up your desk or morning coffee. It costs almost nothing and takes about 5 minutes. Check it out!


After watching this video, I went to the Dollar Tree to get my supplies. Pick up a white mug and any nail polish color of your choice for just $2. The third item you will need is acrylic salient spray, which can be found at a number of places. My dad happened to have some already, but it sells in Walmart for about $4. This sets the nail polish onto the mug so it doesn't peel off.

I followed along with the directions of the video to help create mine. My version is in no way as perfect as theirs, but it's all about making it your own.

1. Fill up a plastic container with warm water
2. Pour in the nail polish
3. Make sure to blow to disperse the nail polish (I forgot to do this and it does make a huge difference!)
4. Dip your mug in the water until all nail polish is on the mug
5. Spray with the acrylic salient spray

Once your mug has fully dried, just hand wash it out and it is ready to use! I chose to use it to hold pens and pencils for more of a decorative/organizational piece, yet as the video shows, you can use it to drink out of as well. This was really fun to make and the best part is how quick and cheap it was as well. You could make a whole set of them and even play around with different colors. It would make a perfect gift to go along with some tea bags, set of pens/pencils or even planting a little flower in it! This little DIY project has a number of uses, so get creative! 

Enjoy and have fun!