Hello friends! We all have daily tasks and routines and sometimes they're things that we aren't really motivated to do. Especially during the summer, not all of us are off on vacation. No matter your age, I think everyone is entitled to some responsibilities that are more or less "fun" and "exciting" to do (even during the summer); paying your bills, doing laundry, studying for summer school, cleaning your house, running errands, mowing the lawn, things that we have to do but, don't really want to do. It can be hard to do some of these things when the effort is not there. Sometimes we forget about the main goal of these little, tedious, tasks and I think we all could use a reminder as to why we do them even though we don't want to. Here are some tips on how to tackle these "unbearable" but, very important tasks:

1. Remember the Main End Result or Goal

If it's something like doing those last minute errands or maybe it's just getting all of your household chores done, remind yourself of how awesome it will feel after you've finished everything! If it makes it any easier, make a checklist of the things you need to get done. I love to cross out all of the things I have completed so it makes my mind a bit less stressed out. It also makes me more motivated to keep going. 

If this is something long term like studying for finals, remember what you really want to achieve like two weeks before the exam. If you want the A, you need to put in the effort and time into studying for your tests! 

2. Don't Procrastinate and Always Prioritize

Telling yourself that you can just do it all on Sunday is not going to help the issue. Procrastinating all of your chores will only add to all of the stress and probably make you even less motivated to do anything because you'll be rushed to get it all done in one day. Prioritize the time you have a make sure you get the most important tasks done first so you don't have to worry about the "big stuff" later. 

3. Wake Up Early and Manage Your Time

Sleeping in a few hours on chore day won't give you the energy or the time you need to do all of the things you have to get done. Manage the time you have by waking up a little bit early so you won't have to be up later in the day still doing chores! Even if it isn't chore day, being productive means getting a good nights sleep! About 8 hours should give you enough energy to do everything you have to do the next day.

4. Pay Your Dues 

Nobody likes paying bills, taking out loans, working late, budgeting for things we will need in the future like college but, it's something that we are all gonna have to do at some point and I think it's only necessary for us to make sure we pay our dues to the things that matter most. If you pay your bills on time or save and put off money every time your paycheck comes, it will relieve some tension financially and you won't have to worry about it later. I know that I can't relate to paying bills but, I am starting to save money for college and that's a pretty hard task in itself. Every time I get paid, I save a fraction of it and put it away in my savings account. Penny by penny will really help in the long run! 

If you would like some financial assistance on student credit cards, you can visit this website at Creditcardinsider.com, I found it very helpful for figuring out how to manage your student credit card and all things student loans for college!

5. Make a Schedule to Plan

I have this sticky note, weekly calendar that you can tear off once your done with the week and I find it so helpful to use to plan out all of the events that are happening. It's so satisfying to tear off the week and start fresh after you've done everything!  

I actually like doing chores--I am probably the 10% of people that actually don't mind doing chores and errands and that's totally okay if you are that 10%, too! Join the club :) I think people get too caught up in our daily tasks and "struggles" and don't realize how important they are sometimes. We're all human and we all have things that we need to do that we don't sometimes want to do. It's only a matter of motivation and effort that will help you succeed when doing these things. 

I hope these tips have helped any of you struggling with chores and are feeling a bit "laggy" when it comes to daily responsibilities. Not everyone likes doing chores but, always remember the end result and what you are initially trying to achieve: a clean house, a good grade on a test, good credit, and so on. No matter the chore or task, or even your age, everyone has some things they need to check off the to-do list. Don't let any task discourage you from getting it done and finished so you can relax and be stress free later!

What are some things you do to keep you motivated to tackle your daily responsibilities and chores? I hope everybody has a great week!

Xoxo, Nat

Everybody needs something to do on the plane or in the car. That's why I love picking up a magazine in one of the bookstores at the airport or bringing one from home! I have really been obsessed with Seventeen Magazine lately and I can't seem to put it down. I love reading magazines but, I also love reading a good book every once and a while when I am on a long and pretty boring trip. 

If you are travelling to a very tropical place or your hotel might have a swimming pool, packing a swim suit is always a must! The Stitched Fabulous Bikini from Victoria's Secret is probably my favorite bathing suit that I have ever owned. I love buying my swimsuits from Victoria's Secret because you can shop your actual cup size and not just small or medium and so on. The color is also amazing and the detailing on the top itself is really cute! They have this exact swimsuit in blue and you can mix and match the bottoms that go with it as well! 

If you are going to be out and about, like at the beach, then sunscreen is also a must! I love the Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55 by Neutrogena which is great for people with very sensitive and acne prone skin. It is oil-free and does not clog your pores while it protects your skin from the sun; a necessity during summer travel. 

Something that I recently purchased from Old Navy were these Braided Gladiator Sandals that I think are very cute and easy to wear when you need to make sure your shoes are secure on your feet when you need to travel and are easy to take off for airport security. I also think they add a nice touch to a cute sundress that you might wear on the beach once you get to your destination! 

I happened to pick up a pack of the Yes To Cleansing Wipes at my Target for the San Francisco trip and I used the whole pack there! I know it's kind of naughty to just use wipes on a trip to clean off your makeup but, they are really helpful when you need wipes on the plane or in the car and are super easy to carry on. 

I love bringing BB creams and tinted moisturizers on trips because I am usually outside all the time when I am travelling and it's nice to have a light cover up that also protects my skin from the sun. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude is an awesome foundation to take on trips! With an SPF 20, it's really great to use this time of year. 

Sometimes there is no way to avoid bringing full-size products with you during travel so occasionally you have to make amends and decide what products you really want to use. I like to bring my Benefit Hoola Bronzer pretty much everywhere on vacation. It just gives such a nice tan and warmth to the face. It has a little brush that is also handy when travelling! 

Hello! A beauty post is needed on my blog lately as it has been all lifestyle and travelling! Summer just started and I'm already going off on adventures. I want to be sure to take in every minute of it and capture as much as I can. Over the past month I have compiled a couple oldies and newbies to my makeup collection. I am always finding myself reaching back for these few, classic products and experimenting with new finds while chucking them into my travel makeup bag because they are just so good! 

I always forget what I like or enjoyed using and it was time for me to use up a lot of older makeup that I have. These products were just ignored and stashed behind all of the newer products I had and I was going through my collection the other day and realized how much I enjoyed a couple of these products! I made sure to put them into my basket on my vanity in easy reach for my daily makeup routine. 

Maybelline's Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation- If you have read my blog before, I have written about this foundation and raved about it. I did ignore it during the winter months since I didn't need a matte foundation because my skin becomes so dry. I love this foundation when I know that I am going to be outside all day in the heat. I wore it on vacation in San Francisco (post about my trip here) and my face was shine free! A little goes a very long way and this foundation has so many colors to choose from.

Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore- This blush has come back into my makeup regimen for good! I did a review of this in my top blushers and bronzers post, here. I have fallen in love with the "gold-goddess" look and the subtle sparkles of gold really compliment a nice, summer tan! With a small bit of pigment to your cheeks and a touch of sparkle, it can make any look a hundred times more glowy and very sultry. 

Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in Sphynx- Now I have just recently gotten into nude lips and I have to say that I'm really loving it. Especially for this time of year, I think it makes your look fresh and very natural. This lipstick was a new find and I don't know what made me love it more! Either the shade or the very cute, cat aestheticism that went along with it. The packaging is unbelievably cute and minimalist at the same time with the black and white. The lipstick itself is very nice and smooth while leaving your lips matte and crack-free. I might have to go purchase a brighter color!

Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Correcting Foundation Powder in Medium- I have always preferred to wear powder foundations over liquids. Especially when it's hot and humid out, packing on a ton of makeup can drag my face down overtime. This Laura Geller powder foundation gives just the right amount of coverage without leaving your face looking and feeling really cakey! 

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eye Shadow Primer- When I used makeup in the past, I never thought that there had to be something you need or should at least apply before your actual makeup so that it lasts a long time. Now that I wear makeup on a pretty constant basis, I need something to really help my makeup, like my eye makeup most importantly, stay in place and on my face all day long. I have tried all the different types of primers and I just can't "stray away" from this Benefit one! It's easy to blend and is super moisturizing so it doesn't clump underneath my eye makeup and stays for an incredibly awesome amount of time. The longest I had it on without creasing was like eight hours! 

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara- Mascara is one of those staples in my makeup collection and I can't seem to get through a single tube because I own way too many. However, this new addition was well worth it! If you are looking for volume and length then this is the mascara for you! I love the shape of the brush because it is really easy to get all of your lashes curled and coated! Only a couple strokes does the trick! 

Wet n Wild Coloricon Kohl Liner in Baby's Got Black- If you are on a really low budget and are looking for a classic, black eye liner, this is the one for you! I have been using this liner ever since I was in middle school. It's smooth application helps for anyone who is beginning with eyeliner. I love to use this as a way to smoke out my look by actually using it in my crease and blending it out. The best thing about it is that it is only one dollar! 

I'm sorry if this post was a little bit too late, but I just thought that many of you would have enjoyed my favorite products of this past month anyway. Sometimes going back and re-using old products can bring back new inspiration and spark more interest in the things that were actually really great and you just forgot about! I love trying new products but, I also know what I love and what works best for me. Makeup is a continual learning process and I can't wait to see what comes next!