#Because I'm going to try making a routine and sticking to it so I'll improve with all the stuff I'm working on

[studentbyday]

week 2 / small commitments challenge

Sometimes I think too much about the intermediate (a few months from now) and far future (a year or years from now) and get so worried that I won't "make it" in whatever way I determine is "making it" for a certain goal that I can't focus very well on the present. This week, this mostly happened at night when I finally go to or get ready for bed. The ochem midterm is coming up, which is forcing me to stay in the present more during the day. I think if that wasn't happening, I would be even more of a runaway train 😭 And yet when I focus on school, I just feel so sad being cooped up indoors, where I focus best, when the weather is so nice outside. The second half of the semester is always the hardest on my psyche. I want to remember why I'm doing this. But the reason is out there in the world, not at my desk...

In other news, I adjusted my study routine so that I try to do an hour of learning R (typically first thing...at first I tried for 2h but that never happened and I just felt discouraged), followed by ochem work, then driving practice. Much less overwhelming BUT still making decent progress on the highest-priority side projects when I can keep up with them... I'll need to keep at this routine or smth similar for a while tho because I fell off the bandwagon towards the end of the week, trying to focus on ochem. Whenever I end up feeling ready, I want to add in an hour of math bc that will open many doors for understanding cool computational biology stuff...or maybe I'll add in some music theory instead... Who knows, my priorities may change again by that point. 🤷🏻‍♀️ One step at a time! 👣 I also struggled to stick to a consistent sleep schedule this week...again. Briefly, before this challenge, I had been able to do this while I was on habitica...but then the novelty faded and I stopped keeping myself accountable for it as I tried to keep track of everything else on the app lol. So now I'll just use habitica to keep track of my sleep/wake times, using the minus button when I miss out on the habit. I also struggled with the meditating thing...meditation is one of those things where the benefits are subtle and last longer the more regularly I do it, so I think I just have to stick with it until that happens and serves as a stronger motivator...Maybe I'll just make meditating at night the "mandatory" one since that really helps me feel peaceful enough to sleep. Aaand I completely forgot about exercise. I haven't been doing that consistently either this week 🙃 Lots of room for improvement. 🪄

[ros3ybabe]

Daily Check-in - August 12th, 2023 🎀

My updates have been a little spread out, but I am happy to announce that I will be (hopefully) posting updates more regularly with my university classes starting for the fall semester and now that I'm also back at my original job! It definitely gave me a reason to stick to my routine so I have a good feeling about all of this!

With the new semester starting comes new goals, which I will be making a separate post about! It's going to somewhat detail my personal, academic, and social goals for the fall semester. So stay tuned for that!

I also began intermittent fasting recently as I have read that it helps with PCOS (which I do have, along with hypothyroidism). My goal is to become healthier physically and mentally, and I believe that doing this will only improve my quality of life! I currently am doing 16:8, and I love it because it works with my schedule and eating habits I usually already have!

🩷 What I Ate Today:

Brunch - One piece of brioche style white bread with two slices of cheddar cheese and a spoonful of scrambled eggs and a side of diced potatoes with ketchup.

Dinner - Taco Bell <3 A nacho bell grande and a crunchwrap Supreme with lots of Diablo sauce

Snacks - 2 cups of coffee with one sweet n low each and French vanilla creamer, and one mocha cold brew shake from the coffee shop on my university campus.

I decided to treat myself to Taco Bell tonight since I was craving it and had the money to do so. I actually ordered more than I ended up eating, so I gave the rest to my roommate.

🩷 Workout - Upper Body Pilates-ish

I loved this so much the first time I did it that I wanted to include it again! ait gives such a nice burn and feel after completing it and I honestly wish it was longer, it's that good!

I wanted to try this one because I think fixing posture is helpful, and honestly, those 90 shoulders are really aesthetic. I don't think this is going to give me *drastic* results until I lose some weight and lean out a bit, but I think helping to fix my posture is such a good idea to help with back pain and avoiding text neck! I liked this one, but there were a couple of stretches that were a bit hard to complete, given my current weight. But I'll keep doing this til I get it!

🩷 Habits I Accomplished Today -

Made my bed

Morning and Night Skincare

Morning Guided Journal

Daily Journal

Reas 1 Chapter of a book

Morning Workout

Stretching

Today was definitely a good day, especially since I completed most of those before going to work at 715am! I'm super proud of myself, and I hope to keep my progress going and continue bettering myself!

🩷 Song of the Day: Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift

This song is soo good. I've never been a Swiftie but I've started getting into a couple of her songs, I like how soft they sound.

🩷 Current Read - Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller

This book has been in my shelf for a few months and since I've recently gone long distance with my boyfriend, I figured it would be a good idea to educate myself on attachment styles and ways to healthily navigate relationships. I'm two chapters in and I already love it!

That's all for the day! I'll update you guys again tomorrow! Thank you for all the love <3

Til tomorrow, my lovelies 🩷

[vibinwiththefrogs]

How I'm studying Spanish after a long break

It's always hard getting back into a language that you know the basics in, because beginner materials are too easy and intermediate materials might be too advanced. After trying and failing multiple times to stick with Spanish again, I think I finally have a good system?

So for formal studying I'm using Mango Languages, but not actually taking the lessons. I find that I know about half the material in their unit 2, and it gets very repetitive and boring to go through the actual lessons, but I still want to cover what I don't know. So I've been making flashcards with the given vocab, studying the vocab, and then when I've reviewed it all I only go through the listening, reading, and recap given at the end of each chapter. So I've been able to learn more level-appropriate vocab in a structured way without the slog of going over things I know over and over. This has been about 1/3 of my time.

The other 2/3 of my time I've just been doing immersion. For listening I've been bouncing between watching the Spanish dub of Death Note, and watching Let's Plays on Youtube (specifically, I've been watching one for FNAF Security Breach and one for Disco Elysium). For reading I've been reading the Spanish translation of the webtoon Ring My Bell. For listening I don't usually take notes and I just focus on listening intently, but for reading I'll write down phrases and words that repeat or feel important.

I'm not quite sure if I can see clear progress yet because I've only been doing this for about 2 weeks. I still struggle a lot with understanding verb tense/conjugation, but I found drilling it isn't helpful to me in the past. But I feel like my listening comprehension has improved in the past two weeks. I feel like I can follow Death Note and streams and understand about 50% of what is said (and the rest from context), and I'm starting to be able to pick out individual words more clearly if I don't understand something.

The important thing about his routine though is that I haven't felt like things are too easy, and I also haven't felt bogged down by things being too difficult. I'm probably at a A2 level right now, and I'm hoping to be a solid B1 and generally conversational by the end of August. So I'm going to keep up this routine and see where it gets me.

[medstudent03]

My Six Week Plan!

I have six weeks between the start of my Summer term at uni, and the start of my Summer holidays. I have created a plan to become the best self I can in that time, and I will be updating here every day.

The Goals!

In general, my goals are pretty simple; lose weight, get my skin as clear as I can, and pass my approaching exams. More specifically though, I want to be happier. 🩷

The Methods!

To lose weight, I plan on following a mostly liquid diet, with low calorie snacks to help feel full. (DISCLAIMER! This is not healthy and I do not condone this method to lose weight. I am not following it long-term.) I also plan on going to the gym 3-6 times a week, following a low-intensity workout plan that I have designed to be compatible with my chronic pain/disability.

To clear my skin, I have an appointment booked with my lovely GP to talk about medicated skincare. I am also going to try and stick to a skincare routine (which I'll admit I've never been great at), drink more water instead of diet coke, and sleep with my hair up to prevent any oils rubbing off on my face overnight.

To pass my exams, I am going to make notes every day on learning resources I can find online (since the lectures at my uni don't work for me). I am also going to chew gum during these sessions, and then chew the same flavour of gum in my exams. I'm not set on the idea, but I might also pull an Elle Woods read/watch my revision material while I'm working out.

The Rewards!

I work best with external motivation, so for every day that I stick to this plan I will move something small from my online wishlist into my cart, and checkout every week. I will also start going to the salon every fortnight to get my hair/nails done, but only if I've stuck to the plan the whole time.

The Exception!

Let's be honest, bettering ourselves is exhausting. So I will have one day a week when I don't need to follow the plan. This will be Sunday. I decided this because Sundays are quite busy for me, so I won't be able to spend time at the gym or working. I also always bake on Sundays, so I won't be sticking to my diet either.

I'll be updating here at the end of every week, talking about how well I've stuck to the plan and including a weigh in and talk about any noticeable improvements in my skin. I'm not sure when I'll get my exam results back, but I'll post them here when I do.

Wish me luck!

🩷🌸🎀

[bright-chld]

MY NATURAL HAIR CARE ROUTINE/TIPS

Okay so @zakofalltrades asked for my hair care routine and I am too long winded so I figured Id just make a post about it.

I'll just say for anyone who wants to approach their hair in this way, I just ask that you be patient with your hair. I think you have to be willing to open your mind to how you've typically thought and approached your hair. Seeing improvements to your hair is a gradual thing so just stick with it! This seems like alot but I hope from this you can take away that hair care for tight curled naturals doesn't have to be and shouldn't be complicated.

ROUTINE

How often should you wash your hair?

It's recommended you wash your hair every 5-10 days but capitalism still exist so my goal is to not exceed 2 weeks but pls do what your best and work from there. The way I understand it is that the longer you go without washing your hair the more time your hair spends in a dehydrated state. So washing your often just minimizes how long your hair spends in a dehydrated state. And we all know more dehydration = breakage

And when it comes to hydration, just know that WATER IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HYDRATE/ADD MOISTURE YOUR HAIR. I like to think of it like this: if your thirsty you don't drink oil or eat yogurt. You drink water.

Links

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmehGcoONoN/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

Hair Cuts

I suggest you get your hair professionally cut. For me I think this is one of the first things to prioritize if you haven't gotten one recently or at all. Cutting your hair by yourself imo just doesn't get the job done in terms of ridding split ends and achieving a nice shape (if you care abt that)

Now hair cuts at salons usually fall under 2 types of cuts curly cuts (sometimes you'll specific types like deva curl cuts, rezo cuts etc) or blow out cut. A curly cut is when the hair is cut in it's curly state, typically when your hair is dry and in a wash 'n go (but ultimately depends on salon). For a blow out cut, the hair is cut when it is blow dried. One isn't better than the other its just a preference thing. Unless you wear your hair in it's curly state 90% of the time, a blow out cut should be sufficient. Plus I've found it's usually a bit cheaper.

In terms of frequency, this is something I feel is ultimately based on the state of your hair specifically. I've heard different things but if you need a starting point maybe try every 4 months and go from there.

Links

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CilJq-zv_MD/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

Finding products

I don't have a lot to say here because I feel you can use a good amount of the any of the products you can get your hands on but the most important thing for me when it comes to looking for products is definitely to find products without oils/butters within the first 4-5 ingredients.

WASH DAY

Shampoo

There are different types (hydrating, clarifying, etc). I am still learning about all of them so I won't go into too much detail

The only thing I'll say is that if you have been using oils or butters I'll recommend a clarifying shampoo to start washing your hair with for a couple wash days just to reset your hair and then transition to using a regular shampoo (i.e hydrating shampoo)

Clarifying shampoos I know of: Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo (I use this one), EDEN Peppermint Tea Tree Clarifying Shampoo

Links

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CezRBJtADbs/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjZOV6mtGTJ/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

Conditioning

Now i know we've all been accustomed to the idea that natural hair requires deep conditioner/hair masks, but I'm here to tell it's not the case. It's not so much that deep conditioners/hair masks are bad for you it's more so that it's not necessary unless you have a particular issue with your hair (and most people don't).

But if this is something that is hard for you to depart with just yet, I say continue using those for now and perhaps when you get more accustomed to the routine you can swap out for regular conditioners.

Okay now for the practical tips/important techniques for detangling

I say always detangle in section unless your just a boss like that

First rub the product in your hands so that it's equally spread out on your whole hand. This ensures even coverage.

You want your hair to be SOAKING wet when your adding conditioner. Here's a good video that explains why this makes more sense then conditioning on dry hair: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRbmfkHD/

Apply the conditioner to the ends first and work your way up

Always detangle starting from the ends and work your way up

If you use a detangling brush (i.e felicia leatherwood, tangle teaser etc) hold the brush in a vertical position and comb your hair downwards. (this was a game changer for me)

If you notice the section your detangling is losing water and is no longer soaking wet, just add more water along the way.

Links

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjZUNpag2_0/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ce84ICHAD2d/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

STYLING

So when it comes to products imo I think most styles will revolve around two products: foam and/or gel. Which one of these products you'll use depends on what hairstyle you're trying to achieve.

Also when it comes to using creams/leave ins, I have personally phased these out of my styling process because they don't have great hold for the styles that I'm trying to achieve. And when it comes to styling you want to use a product that will hold your hair/curls in place so that your style can last.

When it comes to leave ins specifically, again not a necessary part of the styling process since you would have already conditioned your hair previously. So its not bad if you feel the need to use it, just more so redundant.

Wash 'n go's

Personally I don't do a lot of wash 'n go's, but here's a little bit of what I can say abt them

I think using a foam first and a gel on top is probably a good place to start if you want to do wash 'n go's

I've also seen some people that can use just a foam to do wash 'n go's. Usually a foam with a strong hold is best to achieve this but some people may need something with a stronger hold to set their curls (i.e. foam + gel) which is okay too. You'll probably have to see what works best for your hair.

Links

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbOiXexgfzd/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Chur08fgq_H/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

Technique specific

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ce8k5MtApsk/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRbmVoEG/

Twisting & Twist Outs/Braiding & Braid Outs

To my understanding, it seems like just a foam should be sufficient

In terms of getting the style to look how you want I think technique is usually the thing that will make or break you in these cases.

Flat twisting tips

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ci1MU9SgeTt/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcrStB-AaBH/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

General styling tips

This applies to wash 'n go's, twisting/twist outs braiding/ braid outs is to use indirect heat to "set" the style in place

To my understanding these the best methods to do that: hooded dryer>diffuser>air drying

Air drying isn't really recommended for a neat finish because it typically allows your hair to frizz up and doesn't allow the style to set in place. But if a bit of frizz doesn't bother you (which is perfectly ok too) use what ever works best for you. Pls don't take this to say that you should buy a hooded dryer, use whatever is in your means.

Also, I've found that its best to have your hair to be drenched in water when styling (unless your style involves a fluffy look). Not damp, but soaking wet. The more water, the better.

Links

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cky6oiDOZtI/?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

Hopefully this makes sense? I'm still learning alot about my hair and hair care in general so pls also do your own research as well. Here are some people that I have found helpful in the process:

https://instagram.com/iamblackgirlcurls?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://instagram.com/protectedbylisahh_?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsthecurlsforme?_t=8YhRljGvbRq&_r=1

[gullethead]

hey! this is kind of spur of the moment, and i don't know if I'll keep up with it, but I'm gonna start keeping a daily... picture journal, i guess, of my body. i started HRT a few months ago, and learned i probably (definitely) have the eating disorder ARFID shortly after that, and i realized i want to keep a record of how my body looks as i work through both of those things. I'm gonna take pictures of myself and post them under a read more, probably with a stream of thought journal entry to accompany them. warning that there's going to be nudity and candid discussion of different parts of my body and disordered eating (not in the same vein as anorexia or other body image-related disorders, but it may be tough to read if EDs are a sensitive topic), and likely struggles with ADHD and other things like that. I'm going to tag them "#transition & recovery" if anyone wants to blacklist them! I'm not going to make them rebloggable because i don't see any reason to allow it vs the potential risks.

so, with that being said: T&R, day 1

so, starting out 121 days on hrt. not sure how much i weigh at the moment, but I'll estimate 120lb - on the heavier side of my weight range that hasn't changed for the last few years, still very light for my height. it's hard to show in a picture, but my chest is notably different from how it was before september. there are small masses of fat around each nipple. my right side has started developing a mammary gland - god knows i can feel it - but the left side hasn't yet, or it's at least smaller. this makes a noticeable difference in their shape where the right nipple is fuller and more round than the left under the same conditions. it's interesting to me how the body develops unevenly like that. arms are a bit more fatty now than they were before, too, but i don't know if that's the hormones or just my attempt at eating better

speaking of, mixed results on that the last day or two. made and ate Korean beef yesterday, which is definitely an improvement over most of my diet recently since i started my class. ate a full bowl of beef and rice around 3 pm yesterday, then a bit more around 7 pm, but i was still mostly full which surprised me. filled most of a square Tupperware with rice and beef and ate less than half of it. can't remember if or what i ate last night, other than some Reese's trees and a late night brown sugar cinnamon poptart sleeve. went to sleep... much later than I'd have liked and woke up for good around 12. since then I've taken my Adderall, eaten another poptart sleeve and a cup of butterscotch pudding, and taken a shower. I'm feeling very hungry and thirsty, i should heat up more of the Korean beef to eat soon and grab my water bottle.

last thing, i started what could generously be called an exercise routine last night. one three-pound dumbbell, twenty reps on each side. i need to research what proper posture and technique for dumbbells looks like; my right side felt fine, though i noticed my arm swinging which is why I need to look it up, but on my other side i noticed a... vein? tendon? rolling when i did reps. something around my bicep. that might be related to why it's so hard to get my blood drawn - I'll try having them start with my right next time i need to. hopefully it'll become less of a problem as my arms gain fat/muscle but it's concerning to me, so i want to keep an eye on it. feels mildly painful, i just did a mock rep to recreate it and feel where it was and my bicep stings a little bit

at that dip on the near side of my bicep, where it meets the deltoid, is roughly where the tension is. it probably just needs to fill in with fat to pad the veins and muscle structures under the skin, so they're not just kind of... hanging freely. honestly i hope my arm does that regardless, i hate how the humerus sticks out so far. i can feel a shock go up my ulnar every time i so much as brush it on something.

I'm probably going to end most of these posts without much ado whenever i feel like I've said enough, but I'm excited to do this. I'm going to be glad to have a record i can look back on to see how I change for the better. I'm looking forward to having a body that feels good to be in. i think that's whats spurred so much of this all happening at the same time - I'm tired of hating the body I'm living in. in both transition and weight I've always been so far from where I'd like to be, and i realized last year that i just... don't need to accept that. I'm not a prisoner in my body, i AM my body, and i can decide to make a change. it's tough as hell, especially trying to eat more, but goddamn, at least it's better than where i was. I've been dreaming of the future for years, but for the first time I'm making tangible steps towards it, and it feels great. anyways, that's enough for today, but thanks for reading!

[keefwho]

September 08 - 2023 Friday

12:22am

I'm awake right now because I woke up horny and had to take care of it but I'm chillin now.

I decided to take this opportunity to journal about how I've caught myself operating mindless the past few days. This is a cycle I'm recognizing. Sometimes I really feel like me and I'm doing the things I want and living life the best way I can. Other times I fall into a routine and stick to behaviors without thinking about anything which eventually wears down and doesn't work out in my favor anymore. I've been in one of those cycles but I can't blame myself for it. Everything is an up and down, I can't always be my best or on the attack. I compare myself to a Hearts of Iron unit, they have certain requirements that need to be met before they can advance and can never constantly attack. The general cycle is having a battle plan, optionally but optimally waiting for maximum preparedness, then executing the plan until supplies or unit organization becomes low. Then it starts over. There are always periods of silence and waiting that are crucial for advancement to occur well. I need to realize that for myself.

7:58am

I'm getting IRRITATED at myself. I really want to be able to grasp the consequences of my problems so I can do a better job of improving. I know some of my behavior can be described as toxic in a subtle/long term kind of way. I know it but I don't know what to do about it sometimes.

I have such a massive problem living in the moment or enjoying anything. Everything is another problem to be solved, I rarely have fun anymore. I have to practice taking my mind off of things. Deep down I'm afraid that if something doesn't have my full attention, that means it's falling apart. I guess in some way that is actually true, but it's MUCH slower than I act like it is. From experience I know anything can be stepped back from and come back to. Its something I want to stop talking about and actually start practicing.

Still I need to figure out how to get more value from talking to strangers/acquaintances. In some ways I don't see the point even though I can consciously list the benefits of cultivating new friendships. Maybe it's a case of so much energy going into over-maintaining everything that as much as I want new friends, I know I don't have time. But I can MAKE the time by addressing that issue.

I feel good in the sense that I have the motivation to do anything to improve myself right now but as usual there are too many things to address. More things that I talked about here. So many I can't even think of them all. I see no other solution than to stick to one or two of them, I can't tackle it all at once. But once one thing is figured out, the rest should be easier. But how to maintain that focus? And how can I step away if I need to because I feel a good opportunity to put time into something else? It all feels so hard.

My priority for awhile has been expressing myself more in the hopes that I'll feel more in touch with myself which has been working. I've been making it a habit to actually speak my thoughts instead of trying to say what I think people want to hear. Also speaking about something when no one asked because whats on my mind matters too. Perhaps in conjunction with this practice I could apply more focus to activities by letting go of everything else for a little bit. I can only think to do this by pretending everything is okay without my attention.

I feel a deep stress trying to figure out what to do about everything. Something needs to be chosen and stuck with.

[wandish-tarot]

Hii. How are you?

If I may have a free reading I would love one!

So at the moment I'm doing a volunteering project in Finland. I arrived on Monday and I'll be here 2 weeks. I'm a very anxious person so this is all extremely stressful for me.

I'm wondering if I'll have and if people like me? ( like if I'll make some real friends and stuff like that?) and there is this one French boy that I might have a tiny crush on lol which is so strange because I never have crushes and I literally know him for less that 2 days? But also I'm stuck in a room with 2 girls who are very nice but they don't seem to like hanging out with other people and I'm currently in my room and no one is talking and I have no idea where the rest of the group went(and that French boy). I always seem to end up with the introverts and never have the fun group of friends. I mean I love all of my friends but you know the group who parties and loves people. I don't have the problem when I'm in my home country but I'm in Finland to experience something new :/

I kinda feel like crying right now lol

Sorry for the rent

Anyways I'm buba, cancer sun, Leo rising

Hi buba!

I unfortunately do see a bit of a conundrum for you during your time in Finland the way things are going right now.

It looks like you could end up being stuck in a situation where you're lonely but not alone enough, which makes sense giving your living situation for the trip. And the Hierophant Rx shows that the differences between your home country and Finland could be a bit tiring. Nothing crazy but I've been abroad and sometimes the little things can make being out and about feel strange. People just occupy public spaces in a slightly different way. Go faster/slower on the sidewalk than you're used to, talk in a different volume when dining out. The cheapo public bathroom soap smells different. That kind of thing.

9 of wands here suggests a bit of fatigue, from the loneliness and the small cultural differences but also from your volunteer work. The good news there is that this feels like a more positive kind of tiredness. Like you're exhausted a lot of the time but it feels good to be tired because you're doing good work and trying new things. It's very "tuckered out (positive)" to me.

With the queen and the page, I think this is likely you and the French guy. If you look at the way they landed, if they had come out upright, they would have been facing each other. I think that it's showing that there is something there but you're both pretty overwhelmed and out of your depth so it's hard to connect. He probably seems to you from the outside to be handling the trip better than you but it's more because you benefit from routine more than he does so he seems more "normal" in a overwhelmed state than you do. I don't think you guys will get very close during the 2 weeks but you'll get along and I think if you get his contact information he's likely to stay in touch after the project's over.

I think you're going to be disappointed when the trip ends because it went very quick, but not sad that you went. A bittersweet departure.

With the playing cards I was thinking about what you could do to improve the trip. It seems like you just have to ask, as scary as that is, believe me I know lol. But it seems like the people around you are eager to get to know each other, it's just that everyone is nervous and that can get to them. Something that seems like it would be helpful is to make a plan, invite others to go with you but if people don't join you, still stick to the plan. I don't mean anything extravagant, the plan could just be going to a nearby park after volunteering or visiting a shop to see what a Finnish shoe store or something is like. Going through with getting out and seeing things the first time could show people that you're kind of, "stubborn" about having a good time on your trip and encourage them to join you or help them to know that you're "game" to do other stuff with them.

I don't really see like very deep friendships coming from this, but happy low commitment ones feel very possible. Nothing here suggests anyone disliking you or being opposed to being around you or unfriendly. The vibe here is just that no one's really at their best-most-confident selves and that nervousness can be a bit hard to work through.

Tldr; ask people to hangout, get the French boy's insta

[perle-in-her-boudoir]

Perle's Summer Plan

Hi. I am writing this the day before the CAPES oral exams hit me like a truck, and I need something to motivate me and to look forward for the summer. This year, I kind of let myself go, as this year was one of the toughest one of my life : I was stuck between the very emotionally draining MEEF master's degree, a year-long intership under an abusive tutor (I only overcame that experience with all my marbles because another girl was with me, and we were each other's emotional support) and the intense preparation for the CAPES certification. Now, I have to get myself up, and get good habits to face next year, as a first year teacher. It will be challenging, but in other ways. That's why I have a plan for the summer to improve myself.

Let's get into it!

1. Get my hair and skin game right.

This year was not a disaster in those areas, but as I intend to grow out my hair to my original lenght (because I thought cutting it was about making my life easier), I need a more efficient wet set style and plan. Yes, my wet set is working wonders on my shorter hair right now, but I sometimes skipped setting my hair when it was longer because I was just too tired and I needed my good sleep, the kind without rollers on. BUT! I fond a video and the girl has the same type as me (or even thicker, as she seems to have more Hispanic blood than me) and her way of setting is gorgeous, easy to do and easy to sleep in???? Yes, it requires a bit of D.I.Y and it's not a traditionnal way of setting hair, but the results are just too compelling to me, and I am ready to go that extra step if it means getting le beurre, l'argent du beurre et le cul de la crémière.

My skincare is not horrid, but until recently, I had persistent pimples. I applied hazardly the B5 Cicaplast from La Roche Posay and them boom, all pimples are gone. Anyway, now I want to work on the scars I have, and a bit on the texture, so I'll make some reasearches and experiment!

2. Picking my workout habit (and sticking to it!).

I used to be an avid runner, as I am in a family of fanatic runners. I just love the meditative state of running, and getting that sweet, sweet endomorphins rush in my body after a good run. But I had no time (and I didn't make efforts to make some) to go run, and I feel it in my body: my thighs are not as firm, and my knees are unshapely (my mom said once that a women's knees are the best indicator of her beauty. I didn't get it in the moment, but now I get it. She's right.) For the summer, I need to get running at least twice a week, with a workout routine to strenghten my abs, legs and to maintain some elasticity, as running tends to tense the body. I'll make morning runs from now on, and I'll maintain the habit of going on a stroll with my boyfriend after eating dinner. Nothing is more romantic than walking in the summer breeze, while the sun sets. If you have a boyfriend (or whatever rocks your boat, a friend or a dog) do it, you won't regret it.

3. Upping my culinary game up.

I am very proud of my culinary talents. I don't simply cook, and I pride myself on always going to lenghts to make tasty and healthy stuff on a day to day basis, and some delicious pastries and baked goods on occasions. I had lots of compliments on my baklavas, madeleines, lemon pies, éclairs au chocolat, and I have people on multiple occasions beg me to bring my carrot cake on their gatherings, because it is always a hit and no crumbs are left. On the summer, I love trying out new recipes : I already tried miso ramen (delicious), and I'll be on the look out for new recipes. Today I'll make madeleines, for my boyfriend and family while I'm gone, and for the girls on the road to the exam (and it is on theme: as literature students, we reference Marcel Proust while snacking!)

4. Strenghten my teacher ethos.

Two weeks after my exams, I intend on working a bit on my teaching strategies, habits and mindset. I want to be ready on September, and brace myself. My reasearches will be focused on teaching strategies and class managing. I'll also look around for materials ressources, in order to extend my subjects of students, as I don't want to always teach on the same books. I am excited to do so, as I have no academic pression anymore!

5. Strenghten my mindset and fully control my emotions.

Well. Hum. Yes, I am very emotional, and prone to tears. I don't intend having meltdowns in front of students. I almost had one in my internship, and it was humiliating. That's why I began training to stop my crying fits before they happen. The training include relaxing brows, getting a Patrick Bates' stare and saying NO in your head. And pinching the skin between you fingers if everything fails. So, I'll continue that training and I'll continue my relaxing training in order to endure high stress situations. Of course, I won't stop myself to have those emotions, but the goal here is to hide the reactions until I am alone. I'll also continue to read the Daniel Coleman's books on emotional intelligence , as those are full of ressources.

6. Refining my flat decorum.

Nothing is wrong with the decorum, but it is....simple. I am a maximalist, vintage and kinda whimsigoth amateur at heart, but I am broke. I won't be in the near future, so I'll begin to plan to upgrade my decorum. Plus, we'll be very probably moving, so it is the perfect time to switch up the decorum and refining it. I have a lot of my drawings, paintings and miscallenous art hanging around (the easiest and cheapest way of decoring!) and they need some framing. I think I'll also invest on some plants to keep my basil and green onions company, mural installations for my Nana, arabian carpets because I love those.... The list is getting endless.

7. Stop and smell the roses.

Does it seems a lot? Yes, but don't worry, I will not forget to rest and enjoy my summer. I have a family trip around the castles in the Loire region, in the Limousin area, and I'll be seeing my friend in Montpellier. I already have various gigs lined up! As the sun is here, I won't forget to take naps outside, in the shade. I'll swim in bodies of water as much as possible. I'll eat as much melon, strawberries, cherries and ice creams as I can.

Des poutous,

Perle.

[sunnysviolin]

Roboheart, muntantheart, perfectheart, AND sweetheart for the ask post

Ahhhhh the trifecta!! Oh wait shit not the trifecta- the trifecta AND THE PERFECT ORIGINAL (/s /s/ /s /s) Nonnie!!! You are an angel and I hope you’re having a good day. This was so much fun to wake up to! 

Roboheart: What languages do you speak?

English, and I’m progressing pretty good in Spanish! Yo estudiando para muchos años pero yo no soy bueno en gramatica (I bet that was slightly wrong haha!) I also just started Japanese but that’s like literally just started (everyone thank @omorimewo for helping me and encouraging my Japanese journey!!) 

Mutantheart: What aspects about you do people find charming and loveable?

Haha....we’re asking me questions where I have to say nice stuff about myself? Oh boy...

Okay being serious(ish) I think people like how dedicated I am? I care about a lot of stuff and I’m really passionate about putting work behind that, so I’m always willing to help. I do theatre, and the joke is that if we don’t know how we’re going to block a scene, I’m the one to go to because I always have an idea. (I have some pretty funny stories about this actually lol) I also give pretty good advice and I’m good to talk to (so I’m told!) Also my best friends tell me I’m really funny, so I guess I’m funny!

((Can you tell how awkward I am with this kind of questions? haha, I’m working on being nicer to myself, which includes acknowledging I have good traits OWO))

Perfectheart: What skills do you wish you were better at?

Oh studying and organization....I’m a mess and I get pretty good grades but I literally don’t know how. I procrastinate everything always and forever. I also said this previously, but I would like to stop killing plants 0-0

I also wish I was better with people skills! I’m not the type who reaches out to make friends, and I have some trouble getting to know people. Once I do, we’re fast friends! But the initial reach out is hard for me. I also wish I was better at letting people in, I generally internalize everything when I know it would be easier to just ask for help lol

Sweetheart: How would you describe your self-image?

.......Geez. Like internal? External? Generally not great? I’ve never been particularly kind to myself, not exactly sure why. My fic New Normal is super important to me for that exact reason. Not to get depressing on my side blog about a video game but....yeah. We’re working on improving that one though! 

Thanks for all the questions Nonnie! These were fun to answer (The spanish took me too long to write though...time to start hitting thebooks!!!)

[kangals]

So I'm looking to adopt a greyhound in the next couple of months after I start my new job. More than likely I'll be working from home so I figured it'd be a better time because I could be around more and help a new dog get comfortable. But I'm worried that whenever I have to start going into the office, there might be issues with separation anxiety. Did you have an experience dealing with that with Boone? And any tips?

I have.... some experience you could say, yes lol. Boone had a pretty solid case of separation anxiety when I got him that even now, years later, still makes itself known from time to time.

One of the best things you can do is to be very clear with your rescue group about what you can and cannot manage in a dog. Lots of greys have SA, yes, but certainly not all. Most grey rescue groups that I’ve seen try to get their dogs into foster homes for at least a week or two before they’re up for adoption, so they can get a sense of what the dog is/isn’t comfortable with. Let your group know SA is a concern so you’d prefer a dog that isn’t showing signs of being prone to such. It’s no guarantee, but it can help improve your odds.

Your group will also likely provide you with lots of resources about settling your dog in and adjustment periods. Let your dog go at their own pace - some will adjust fast and want to get out and see the world, others will be very nervous and want to hide for the first few weeks. I’d strongly recommend utilizing a crate (most greys should be crate-trained when they come OTT) or at the very least baby gates/x-pens to minimize how much they can get into. SA can present itself in different ways - some dogs get very vocal, some dogs soil inside, some get destructive, or a combo. Boone, for example, never soiled inside or chewed up things, but he did howl/bark for hours on end, which sucked in an apartment unit.

The most helpful thing I’ve found is to set up your routine and stick to it! For example, if you know that at some point you’ll be going into the office from 9-5, get your dog used to getting up/eating/getting exercised before 9am, and work on minimizing your interaction with them until 5pm. This will help teach them that mornings and evenings are time for exercise and attention, and midday is time for sleeping/doing their own thing. Greys are VERY sensitive to routine changes, and I’ve found that keeping a strict schedule has been very helpful for minimizing anxiety.

So I guess those are my three pieces of advice - look for a more confident/independent dog who won’t be as predisposed to SA, let them settle in at their own pace, and stick to a consistent schedule so they know when to engage and when to disengage. I hope that gives you a good starting point, at least! Enjoy your new greyhound - they are the most wonderful dogs :) 

[kachulein]

Kachu's Skincare Routine☁️🌸☁️

Okay so, @minberryy and @xiaocity-main have asked about my skincare routine and therefore I'll drop it here. Tbh, if I followed my routine regularly, my skin would probably be happier too. :')

I usually have a routine for the morning and one for the evening and also a lazy version in case I'm too lazy to do it all, which happens a lot.^^"

▪Morning:

The first thing I do is wash my face with a product called Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash from The Body Shop.

Then I use 3 drops of the Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution, one on my forehead and one on each cheek and rub it in.

And last but not least I put on the Tea Tree Mattifying Lotion

If I decide to put on makeup I don't use the Mattifying Lotion but instead take the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream.

All these products are from The Body Shop and their Tea Tree line is suitable for blemished skin.

▪ Morning; Lazy Ver.

If I'm being lazy, I'll just wash my face with water first.

Then I take a pad a clean my skin with a Seaweed Oil-Balancing Toner from The Body Shop. It's suitable for combination/oily skin.

Sometimes I use the Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution and the Mattifying Lotion I mentioned above afterwards but not always.

▪Evening:

Sometimes I use the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash here but I prefer to stick to the Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Foam by Estée Lauder.

Then I proceed to use the Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution like I do in the morning

Last but not least I use the Tea Tree Night Lotion before going to bed, another product from The Body Shop's Tea Tree line.

▪Evening; Lazy Ver.

Again, I'll wash my face with water and use the Seaweed Oil-Balancing Toner

Then I might proceed to use the Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution and The Night Lotion afterwards but not always.

As for Exfoliating;

First of all, I've never heard nor seen someone talk about this before and I didn't read about it either, it's just something I figured out myself.

So, usually when you get a facial treatment, they will start off by putting a hot and damp towel over your face(in my experience), so that the warm and moist atmosphere opens your pores.

Open pores = deeper/thorough cleaning

Therefore I decided to exfoliate my face (and cleavage) at the end of taking a shower. Why? Because the hot water and the damp and foggy air will open my pores just like a hot and damp towel will when getting a facial treatment. That way, I can exfoliate and clean my skin more deeply than when I just randomly exfoliate.

If you try this out and you've got very sensitive skin, please be careful since I've never heard a professional talk about this and I don't want any of you to hurt your skin. It's just something that works very well for me, therefore I decided to share.

However, don't exfoliate your skin more than 3 times a week, there's also such a thing as doing too much, which is just as bad for your skin as not doing anything.

Products I use to exfoliate:

Tea Tree Squeaky-Clean Scrub by The Body Shop, and is suitable for blemished skin

Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Exfoliator by The Body Shop, and is suitable for combination/oily skin

As you can see, almost all of my products are from The Body Shop since I'm a big fan of their products in general. Their Tea Tree line is with purifying tea tree oil from the foothills of Mount Kenya. Tea Tree oil is said to be very effective for blemished skin and my cousin swore by Tea Tree oil, as it was the only product that helped him with his acne. However, I've heard some people are allergic to Tea Tree oil, so please do a spot test before if you're unsure.

The Seaweed line is with mineral-rich seaweed from roaring water bay in Ireland. It's very refreshing to use and I've specifically used this exfoliator for a long time.

Here's a photo of the products I mentioned.

click for better resolution

On the right is one product I didn't talk about since I don't use it frequently. It's the Tea Tree Pore Minimiser, another product from the Tea Tree line and also a cool product to use if you want your skin to look more flawless.

Ending it with some tips;

Make sure to change your covers often since dead skin cells etc will settle on your pillow and can cause your skin to breakout.

Try not to touch your face too much (I do that a lot ugh) since your hands are dirty (even if you wash them 1938x a day like me) and especially if you scratch your face, you may transfer bacteria into your skin that cause breakouts.

Drink lots of water (at least 2 litres a day) since it will hydrate your skin and make it look youthful, glowing and fresh for longer.

(My mom has always been drinking a lot of water and the both of us drink 2+ litres a day. She's 60 by now though her skin has almost no wrinkles and she looks at least 10 years younger. Drink water, it's good for SO much)

Try to eat healthily. It's no secret that what you eat stands in correlation to your bodily functions and also your skin. You don't need to eat 100% clean, I don't do that either but a healthy diet can improve your skin.~

So, that's it for my skincare routine and some additional info. I'm sorry it got so long but I hope this can help some of you.

[projectema]

Ariane's Road to Fitness (RTF) 2020

Hi.

Today, I faced THE scale. I kind of already knew what will come out of it but I was not expecting it to be like that. I currently weigh 58kg. 🙃 This is my heaviest weight so far (and hoping it won't progress anymore). I remembered being this heavy when I was pregnant with my son. My pre-pregnancy weight was 55kg.

Because of this, I decided to motivate and discipline myself with my diet and activity. I've been really trying so hard even last January. I started trying keto/intermittent fasting but I just can't do it. Why didn't I bother checking my weight even before??

I reinstalled my MyFitnessPal app so that I can track my food intake and exercise. Oh this morning, and a few mornings back, I started exercising again but I'm still thinking if I'll continue doing PIIT28 -- pilates + HIIT (which I used in 2017 -- my target weight back then was also 48kg but I only achieved 50-51kg and then I got pregnant so that's a bummer. Lol) or if I'll use the workout routines in the app as they already have calorie burn estimates which will give me more accurate daily log.

Right now, I'm not really thinking so much about losing weight (just a lil bit). I just want to accomplish even a week of sticking to my routine. Starting over again is the hardest.

I also needed some inspiration and Cassey of Blogilates has always been my go-to for such. Her blogs and challenges just have this energy that will make you want to get things done.

I hope that aside from my goals this year (freelancing and CA application) I could continue to focus on my fitness/myself. Being a first time mom is already a big challenge and I don't want to be "losyang" in the long run (especially when there are those who are dying to see you like one).

I pray for positivity and overall improvement for my life this 2020. 🙏✨

Bye for now. *wink