It's September!! And if you don't know what that means, it means its ihavetoomuchtodoandnotimetodoit season! Also known as, Virgo season! Which, I am a Leo-Virgo cusp and this time of year means chaos for me. All chaos aside, I've actually had quite the summer and was anticipating fall to roll around sometime soon. Everyone's back into their routines, or at least trying to cope with their routines, and I have just completed my first week of my junior year of college. Yay.
It can be overwhelming when the to-do lists, responsibilities, deadlines, assignments, projects, and every other stressful thing possible lands on your plate all at once. If there's one week I hate, it's syllabus week. When your professors hand you a packet of every single test and paper due in the next ten weeks of your life.
This weekend I needed to ground myself: I did some yoga, ran some errands, walked my pup, babysat, and tackled what now is an entirely full planner of commitments and things I don't want to do. So I took a step back and thought about ways in which I can make this overhaul of chaos better. Much better.
Make Your Schedule
It always helps me when I can visually see all of the tasks I need completed by a certain date and time. Choose what works best for you. I like to use a planner and highlight all of my classes, along with meetings and clubs, and other commitments in different colors. I also utilize a weekly desk calendar that only shows what I need to do that week. Even using sticky notes on your computer works!
Engage, Then Disengage
I am a victim of doing other things when I should be doing something else. Especially when I should be relaxing and I try to take advantage of my relaxing time for more work time. I understand time crunches and totally stand by that, but when you need a break, take it. Even if that means dedicating an hour to going to the gym, watching a movie, or getting your nails done.
Remember Priorities
Taking time for yourself is a priority. You have to remember that you will be working for basically your entire life and balance is key! Do what needs to be done, but don't push yourself if it's feeling like you can't handle so much at once. People are there to support you and want to see you succeed, sometimes that means taking your foot off the gas pedal.
Make Time You Need to Relax
Everyone says that "there's not enough time" for anything, but that's usually because they don't make the time to do something. "There's not enough time to relax," "I can't fit yoga classes into my schedule," or "I'm just too busy to get some time for myself," are some things I often hear. One thing to consider is your sleep-wake cycle. Are you getting enough sleep? What time do you normally go to bed? Could this be effecting your energy levels? Sleep is something to consider when you're staying up until 2am trying to finish work for Monday.
These are all things to consider that might help alleviate stress, anxiety, and a feeling of overwhelm as the new season transitions into a busy one. Balance is something I cannot stress enough. Divide up your day so that you have breaks and time to re-adjust and reset. What do you do to not overwhelm your busy ass life?
I've always loved a good, long weekend. I mean, who doesn't? An extra day to do nothing is the best. Knowing me, an extra day means an extra day to prepare myself for the short week ahead. Mostly an extra day to relax and rejoice in other people's company, read a book, do some yoga, and eat some ribs! Truly the best.
On Saturday, the parents and I drove down to visit my younger sister, Emily, at Valparaiso University in Indiana. She is a freshman studying Kinesiology and has adjusted quite well! It was nice being on campus and also bringing Cooper along to go see her. We had lunch at her fave, Culver's, met her sweet roommate, Sydney, and played fetch with Cooper on the quad.
Exploring downtown Valpo on a nice, breezy Saturday was all we needed. Especially their cute square with boutiques and artesian coffee places.
On Sunday, I connected with my best friend, Mikayla, who's my sweet friend from high school. It's always a nice time when we get the chance to hang out. We are the brunching buddies! I don't know if there's a duo that loves brunch so much more than we do. We walked around downtown La Grange, which I always forget is so nearby and a lovely place to explore, and ate at Blueberry Hill Cafe for the best banana pecan pancakes and bacon.
It's so nice catching up with friends and just enjoying each other's company when you can. Yesterday we had ribs with the neighbors and a chill day reading magazines and doing a whole-lotta-nothing. I have one more week of summer left, so I've been trying to use the most of my free time reading, getting things ready for school, writing for the blog, and working on my internship!
You don't realize just how great free-time is until it's gone. I'm usually one who loves to make the most out of a free day and be as productive as possible, but lately, I've just loved not doing much as time gets nearer to the busier days. What did you do over the long weekend? Or better, what didn't you do?
I still have two more weeks until move-in, but that still makes me feel like summer is over. School for everyone else has started and I've been scrambling around to get the last-minute errands done and making the most out of the last free bits of time I have. It's sad, I know, but I am anxious to get the year started!
I have been long overdue with a beauty edit this summer so, I've compiled a couple of the most essential products I have been using over the past few months—and really not many at all. I got very lucky with my skin this summer and was blessed to not have any bad breakouts (fingers crossed), so minimal makeup was a move—as per usual.
My tried and true all-time favorite...
Nars concealer is always at my reach. I can get by with just dabbing this under my eyes and around some trouble spots and out the door I go! I've really just embraced natural skin and only using concealer as a touch up (and tired-eye savior). It's reliable, long-lasting, creamy, and my best friend.
On days when my skin needs a little boost...
I've been trying out the GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer. First, it smells amazing and of green tea. It also gives me a very nice pearly highlight while hydrating my sun-kissed skin! A perfect pick-me-up moisturizer.
An added touch of glow...
The Too Faced Sweet Peach Papa Don't Peach Blush has been hiding from me for awhile until recently I discovered it when a Sephora beautician recommended it to me after searching for the perfect peachy-orange blush. I have olive skin, so most blushes can be too dark or show up too pale for my skin tone. The best part—it smells like peaches!
For unruly eyebrows...
The Glossier Boy Brow needs more praise! I swear, one swipe of this and my face already looks ready and prepped to go. There's something about groomed brows that just pulls everything together and cleans it up a bit. I always reach for this to add more depth and structure to my brows. A quick one swipe fixer upper.
When I need an eye-lift...
I made this splurge in Spain and I have not regretted it. The Givenchy Disturbia Mascara brings effortless curl and volume to my lashes with 24 hours of wear (which I have never tested), but it definitely lasts all day long. I love when mascaras separate my lashes without clumps, smudging, and smooth application—this mascara does just that.
For a clean eyelid base...
I'm not sure if I'm the only one who does this, but for someone with very oily eyelids, I like to dab a touch of eyeshadow primer to keep them matte and color controlled with the rest of my complexion. The Morphe Eyelid Primer dries on clear and lasts all day long. This is one of the best and most inexpensive eyelid primers I've ever used.
An added spritz of femme...
Last, but not least by far, this is my favorite product of the whole summer. I don't know how I never knew about it, but the Chloé Nomade perfume is me in a scent. It is a warm floral scent with notes of Oakmoss, Fressia, and Mirabelle Liquor. A combination I've never heard of before, but works so well together. It has a balance of floral and fruity—I'm terrible at describing scents, but it smells divine.
So, that's my wrap up for products I've used this summer and will continue to enjoy throughout fall. I'm a simple person when it comes to makeup, but I believe that there are some amazing products out there including the ones I mentioned. A little goes a long way, and that says a lot for a girl who only puts eyelid primer on. What are your go-to beauty products this month?
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