LEMON SODA

So last night you stayed up til four in the morning, which may or may not have been due to studying, and after what seemed like five minutes your alarm goes off. Do not hit that snooze button!

First things first
Stretch before you get out of bed, and head straight for the bathroom. My great grandmother did not bother with face creams but despite the years her skin always looked young and fresh. Her trick: cold water. Wash your face with cold water and pat it dry. Moisturize, preferrably using a gel around the eyes instead of lotion, though anything works! Smile at the mirror, and while your face soaks in all the delicious goodies from the moisturizers have a glass of water to hydrate.

Cover up

• Hide any unsightly breakouts with concealer and focus on dark under-eye circles! Add illuminating powder for stubborn panda eyes that won’t go away.
• Use a white or beige eyeliner for your lower waterline to cover up the redness.
• Curl your eyelashes and pile on some mascara in layers. Make sure you only line your top lash line to open up your eyes up and away from all the chaos happening below!
• Go for a bit of blush and a strawberry gloss or lip balm to look more alive.
• Some people swear by bronzer, but I say you only just had about four hours of sleep, and bronze disasters can be very obvious so…au naturelle is probably a safer choice.

Finishing touches
Choose your clothes wisely; warm colors are best to tone down the paleness of a barely awake face. Opt for a messy ballerina bun or if you’re going to let your waves loose then pin them back away from your face.

That should do it for looking awake, actually being able to keep your eyes open is another story. I usually go for a warm drink (and coffee isn’t for everyone) and blast out some Lady Gaga or LCD Soundsystem on my way to class. Another tip: keep yourself busy on the bus/train, having your head fall over while your mouth is open on public transport is not very sophisticated!

What do you guys do to look and keep awake? Any ideas on how to hold in a yawn or two?

Not all of you lucky gals are cramming for exams like I am, but I thought we would all benefit from Hemingway’s Hack. Writer of The Sun Also Rises and For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway was definitely one of the greatest, whose influence reached writers like J.D Salinger. We’re all fascinated by lifehacks, by tips and tricks to get a little bit ahead, the secret to success. Fortunately for us seeking souls, Mr. Hemingway left behind the key to his success:

The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day … you will never be stuck. Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and your brain will be tired before you start. — Ernest Hemingway

Okay! So not the typical productivity advice you’d hear (get organized, outline steps, keep a schedule); none of that! Just let your mind go wherever it wants, let it conquer the wonders of your quest and when momentum is maximized: stop. Like a cliff hanger of a murder mystery. Then pick up right where you left off! Assuming you are a firecracker of bottomless wit and creativity, this is probably the best advice you’ve ever received. Like Tennis star Pete Sampras, retire with the gold.

For those of us who love working by a neat outline, checking off things as we go, this would be a giant leap. But ladies! If all else fails, why not give this a try? I will be taking said leap of faith tonight, and continue my studying tomorrow. Hopefully my subconscious will do all the dirty work while I am sound asleep. Who knows? I think it’s worth a shot!

• I found this gem via here. Check it out!

Do you have any unconventional productivity hacks? Any slightly unusual habits that get your brain going?

If you are not a morning person (like me) or put off getting ready in favor of some last minute tv watching or just got caught up in the shower singing a really good song (like me), sometimes you might find yourself with a little less than 10 minutes to actually get yourself out the door. An all too familiar time crunch I’d say. I usually prefer to panic a little, but I don’t recommend it.

Know where you’re going
Unless your boyfriend has just invited you out on a surprise date, make sure you know where you are going and who is going so that you can choose your outfit. It is always best to be a little overdressed. If your boyfriend really is inviting you out on a surprise date, ask him what dress code would be appropriate — you don’t want to arrive at the fanciest restaurant in town wearing jeans! As a general rule one should try to leave the house looking one’s best. This does not mean go all out on makeup and jewelry, nor does it mean go out in sweatpants and sneakers. It just means, look as decent as possible (you never really do know who you’re going to meet or bump into!)

Plan while you freshen up
Buy yourself some time, and instead of just staring at your closet trying to pick something out, go through it mentally while you freshen up. Brush your teeth (decide on a top.) Cleanse, tone and moisturize your face (decide bottoms and shoes. Unless you went for a dress, then think of the shoes.) If you really are panicking and some pieces of your outfit are in the wash or not properly ironed, go for something simple and classic: dark wash jeans, a flattering top and a blazer are always a good alternative. Or if you must wear a dress, pick a versatile one and throw a cute cardigan over. Shoes can ultimately make or break the outfit, so choose wisely! Consider whether and how long you’ll be standing up for or walking.
♥ Tip: if you had not had time to wash your hair, use dry shampoo or baby powder. It works.

Actually get some clothes on
Put some music on, whatever makes you feel pretty, and start getting dressed. Do not overlook your underwear. Make sure it doesn’t show through or peek out at inappropriate places. Depending on how much mother nature has blessed you with, decide what kind of support is best for that look. Most of all make sure you feel amazing in them!
♥ Tip: spray on perfume before you get dressed so that it sinks in your skin. This works really well if you’re using a body spray that compliments your body wash or body lotion. Before you leave the house do an extra spray and ‘walk through it’. Don’t spray over your hair, otherwise dust is bound to stick on and make it look greasy by the end of the day.

Quick makeup
Go for simple makeup: cover up untimely breakouts or facial redness, brigthen any undereye circles, pile on the mascara, moisturize your lips and add a light lipstick or lipgloss. Ready! If you must go through your makeup routine, try to keep it simple.
♥ Remember: if you are emphasizing your eyes, keep your lips light or nude; if you are emphasizing lips, keep the eyes simple with some eyeliner à la Dita Von Teese. If you have no time to comb your hair in place, a messy updo will make it look intentional and as long as the rest of you is well put together, it won’t matter too much.

Turn off the music, grab your bag (which should have your keys and phone inside at the very least) and go!
♥ Tip: unless you are a master, do not run in your heels! Remember that you want to actually make it wherever it is you’re going.

Good luck!

My fine hair has been battling frizz eternally, and no matter how dry it is where I live, rainy days will be sure to ruin my life. It is a damn struggle. The worst periods of frizz fighting occurred while I was living in Hong Kong (thanks to the unbelievable humidity). At that point I decided to give up on straightening and blowdrying and just let my hair naturally curl and frizz any which way it so pleased. I have to say that actually did wonders for my super damaged ends.

But you know the old “we want what we can’t/don’t have”, and so I have always been set on straight hair. Or at least wavy NON FRIZZY hair. Here are six main principles that years of trial & error, frustration and hairbrush fights have taught me:

1. Do not wash your hair every day! This will strip it of natural oil and your ends become dry. Figure out how long you can go without washing it before you look like you’ve had an olive oil shower, and keep that interval. I’ve always washed my hair every other day, but I’m finding every two days works as well! I have yet to try the wonders of dry shampoo, and I’m guessing that would reduce hairwashing by about a ton.
2. Do two rounds of shampoo, massaging the scalp for volune (great for fine hair). Rinse and condition from your ears down. I have found that it is actually better not to comb hair at this point, but that may be personal preference.
3. Before you jump out of the shower, rinse your with cold water to close the cuticles; this seals in proteins & actually makes it look healthier.
4. Gently towel-dry your hair. Add a little bit of protecting serum and start blowdrying with cold air and finish off with hot air. Keep the nozzle on the hayrdryer so that the air hits exactly where you want.
5. Pick out soft hairbands to tie your hair up. I usually go for hairclips or bobby pins though.
6. Water, lots of water and protein based foods (hair is protein after all); healthy diet healthy hair! I’ve also heard salmon is good for its omega-3 fatty acids — did someone say salmon sushi? YUM!

I’m sure some of these were no mystery to most of you, but man did it take me long to figure out the entire routine! What is your hair care routine? Any favorite products?

A list of pickeruppers:

• Get out of the house and get lost in your city. Draw a map of where you went and what you found.
• Have a Disney marathon.
• Get yourself over to Polyvore and make outfits. If the crisis hasn’t affected you, buy them!
• Write a short story/poem/novel. Send it in for a contest or just let it sit for someone to find.
• Chick lit! Nothing like a lighthearted read for when you don’t want to do too much thinking.
• Buy yourself a birthday cake and eat it (or save a slice for every day of the week).
• Re-read a favorite.
• Maybe overdone, but definitely still cute: Maru the Cat. Favorite it.
• Dance around the house.
• Go to a movie/show/exhibition on your own.
• Draw your favorite possessions.
• Collect your favorite pieces of writing in a notebook.
• Write about your dream house/apartment/loft.
• Have a 3 way with friends, reminisce about the 90′s.
• Pick a book by its cover and buy it to read.
• Love your ‘self’ and stop picking up rocks.
• Make a video of a day in your life and adorn it with your favorite song as a soundtrack.
• Clean out your closet.
• Start on Your Piece and complete the 100 Acorns project.
• Watch back to back episodes of your favorite TV shows with some wine and friends.
• Send a letter to someone far away.
• Le Love.
• Sing, even if you think you can’t.
• Get your nails done, then buy a cute ring to match!
• Follow a tutorial and create something.
• Plan a short trip somewhere. Pack accordingly!
• Print off beautiful pictures/pictures of beautiful things and stick them on your wall. We Heart It can help with that.
• Get/make someone a gift just because.
• Write an honest letter to your body.
• Draw your favorite outfit.
• How is your life wheel? Make one and assess what you need to change.
• Dye/cut/curl/straighten your hair.
• Start a challenge (e.g. 50 Books, 101 in 1001)
• For mindless celeb gossip: Oh No They Didn’t
• For inspiration: Hairspiration (but of course!), Foto_Decadent, Lace and Flora, Polariode, Pretty Books, Saucy Dwellings (!!!)
• 100 Ideas from Kerismith.com