Making it work

So you have a history test tomorrow, your dog needs to be walked, you need to cite your sources for that science essay & you have to unload the dishwasher. Not to mention, you have soccer practice in 20 minutes.

All in a day’s work right? But if you want your day to go by a little bit easier, here are my favorite tips & tricks for saving time.

School

Cite your sources in seconds
– I love http://www.easybib.com/ as it allows me to make citations with the snap of my fingers (or a tap on the keyboard)

Find your way to study
– Do you work better with rap or country music? What about no music? Experiment to see what works best for you and stay with it to avoid ah-nother all nighter.

Make it digital
– Keep a bookmarks folder on your computer/tablet to quickly use your favorite resources. Some of my favorites include http://howmanysyllables.com/index.html (great for any language arts assignments) & http://www.mathdoesntsuck.com/.

Take nice notes
– Use pretty ink and pay attention to emphasized words/phrases. This saves you tons of time when it comes to studying.

Only check your emails 2-3 times a day
– A lot times, emails aren’t ASAP. Most likely, your inbox is filled with Total Beauty newsletters and WordPress updates.

Beauty

Flat iron your hair the night before
– Just touch it up in the morning & sleep with a loose high bun. Use that extra time for your much-needed beauty sleep or try something new with your makeup. Cat eyes anyone?
– Wanting curls? Try sponge curlers. Curls created with a heated tool (think curling wand or iron) tend to tangle and not hold very well. Not to mention, sponge curlers use no heat!

Set everything out
– Grab a cute tray from your local Hobby Lobby and set out all the beauty supplies you normally use each day. Save the special stuff (purple mascara?) in a separate location.

Dry shampoo
– What started as a trend is now a must have. Grab a can (I’m loving Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo) and spray away.

Soft and Smooth
– Put on thick body butter or even Vaseline on dry feet and slip your favorite fuzzy socks. You’ll wake up with amazingly soft feet.

Face wipes
– For those nights (or days) when you don’t want to wash your face, face wipes are the perfect solution. Just like any cleanser or face wash though, be sure to get the right kind for your skin type. My current favorite is Neutrogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes Pink Grapefruit ($6) which works great on oily/combination skin and does wonders for acne.

Skip the toner
– Oily/Combo skin? Your face doesn’t even need toner. It tries out your skin and send oil production on overload. (not great for acne) Not to mention, you’ll save extra money.
– Got dry or normal skin? Use a hydrating face mist instead of toner.

& the winner is

http://massieglamorousalpha.wordpress.com/

I loved her polyvore set, it was ah-dorable & she had such an amazing caption. You could really tell she put a lot of work and I’m happy to say, she’s the newest member of the A-list.

She’ll receive Polyvore & Blog promotions, a blog critique on any of her blogs & of course the password for my new blog, The A-list.

2nd place

http://dialmformassie.wordpress.com/

Her Polyvore was super important and she managed to make Hound’s-tooth wearable (is that not ah-mazing or what?) I adored her set and am now happy to say that she’s the latest member of the A-list.

She’s receive a blog critique on any of her blogsand of course the password for my latest blog, the A-list.

Thanks to everyone for entering! I had such a tough time choosing because everyone’s entries were so fab 🙂

In other news

-Thanks to http://diamond-prnicess.tumblr.com/ for the ah-mazing pictures! Go follow her, she’s so sweet and one of my best friends 🙂
– I apologize for the lack of tips. School has been soo crazy. That being said, I may not do weekly posts like in the summer. My posts will come around once or twice a month during a normal school month. During May (when I have so much testing it’s crazy), I may not have one at all. School has to come before blogging. Even if I like blogging better 😛

xx MBOB

Fab 5

Fab 5 by laylaheartsfashion featuring leopard print shoes

Keds floral print sneaker
keds.com

Black flat shoes
modcloth.com

Minnetonka leopard print shoes
hayneedle.com

JustFabulous ankle booties
justfab.com

Charlotte Russe red platform pumps
charlotterusse.com

Running late

Running late by laylaheartsfashion featuring gold owl earrings

Wal G skater dress
$28 – topshop.com

TOMS flexible shoes
toms.com

Black bag
amazon.com

Gold owl earrings
$3.92 – babi-online.com

Smashbox spf tinted moisturizer
sephora.com

Bare Escentuals clear makeup
$23 – johnlewis.com

Black mascara
target.com

Start of something new

Everyone knows that you have to look beyond ah-mazing for the first day of school. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of tips, tricks, and links to make your first day perfect!

Hair

Try going natural
– Embracing your natural texture is so much healthier and lots of times easier then flat ironing constantly. There are so many ah-mazing products for curly hair (and vice versa) that there is no excuse not to. The first step is to find out what your hair type is and go from there.
– For example, I’m a 2c/3a which means I have wavy/curly hair that’s very prone to frizz. To find out your own hair type, use http://hairconnection.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/hair-classification.png.
– http://www.naturallycurly.com/ is a wonderful resource for girls with wavy, curly, or kinky hair.

Perfect it
– Dying to recreate that braided bun on pinintrest? Summer is a great time to try it not 5 minutes before your ride for school leaves.
– Same goes for makeup. This is a great time to finally learn how to curl your lashes or perfect your smokey eye.

Do a deep conditioning treatment
– This is a must have for dry, frazzled, and frizzy hair. Not to mention, your hair will look great in time for the first day! I love Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery hair mask.

Skin

Do a face mask
– It doesn’t matter if you DIY or just pick one up from Ulta; Face masks are great for your skin and can be super relaxing. Plus you’ll have great skin just in time for the first day of school.

Buy the right makeup
– With tests, texting and yet another track practice, finding the time to buy the proper makeup can be tricky. Use your extra time now to do some research and buy the right type of makeup.

The Night Before

– Set out your outfit! 6 am outfit panics are the worst!
– Go over everything. Look at what classes you have, etc. That way, you won’t be lost.
– Relax! Take a bubble bath, go on a run, etc. Just do something that makes you relaxed and happy.
– Do your nails! Youtube has tons of great videos so you won’t wear Ballerina Slippers again.

Fab finds

These are my favorite back to school finds all under $30.

– Maybelline bouncy blush ($8) These are so cute! Not to mention the great colors and staying power!
– Old Navy The Rockstar Floral print skinny jeans ($17.87) So flattering on any body type! Not to mention the print adds a cute twist to outfits.
– Forever 21 Two tone scarf ($7.80) This is so perfect for fall time! The beige keeps it classic while the pink adds some edge.
– Vera Bradley 2014 Student Agenda ($18) You may be thinking “18 dollars for a planner?” But this planner is super cute not to mention the fun stickers and amazing quality.

Study Tricks

Buy cute supplies!
– If the extra $1.50 spent on your binder makes you more likely to study, then spend it! I’m not saying that you need a be-dazzled calculator (but that would be cute!) to study, but there is nothing wrong with spending a little bit extra money.

Invite a Friend!
-This is such a great way to meet that new girl in AP Bio or bond with some old ones.

Play some music
– If Macklemore helps you study better, then go for it!

Take breaks
– After 45 minutes or so, I typically take a break. Why? This keeps me from going crazy and/or having a fried brain. Just limit your breaks to 15-25 minutes.

Getting Appy

Let’s be honest. Apps like Instagram & Twitter are major distractions. Avoid checking more then twice a day and save Snapchatting for after Math homework.

Think Twice
– Do you really need to follow 678 people? Exactly. Delete the ones that haven’t posted in over 2 months or that you don’t really care about.

In other news…
– I added an FAQ page 🙂 & deleted my PC page.
– The A-list contest deadline is coming soon. Deadline is 8/26/13!
– My next post is on taking good notes.
– My wrist is doing better 🙂 I just recently hurt my ankle and am in a boot as well. Perks of being a klutz.

xx MBOB

Ah-nother fabulous update

Hey girlies 🙂

I recently injured my wrist which makes typing much harder. Since I can only type with one hand, I’m undergoing a small hiatus until my wrist heals.

However…

– Expect a post or two, just not at my usual speed.

– I’m doing my best to reply back to comments, but as stated before not like my usual speed.

– My contest (The A-list) is still going on! Can’t wait to see more entries.

xx MBOB

The A-List

“Where getting in is the easy part”

I’m talking about the A-List of course. Which is a brand new contest brought to you by MBOB.

The premise

Imagine seeing trends before they hit Vogue, product reviews and beauty tips, and a sneak peek on what I’m posting next. How about all that for a whole year? That’s right.

The Rules

– 3 fabulous girls will be a part of the A-list.
– To become a part of this, leave me a comment on this blog post saying that you will enter. You must have a WordPress, email, and Polyvore to be qualified.
– Make a polyvore set. Your topic must be one beauty or one fashion.
– Tag me in the set and email me a link of the set.
– Your sets must be entered to me, by 8/26/13. This gives you plenty of time to complete the sets and enjoy your summer. 🙂
– Want more info and/or see who you are competing with. Go look at my new page, titled “The A-list”

Benefits-

– Access to the A-list for one whole year. You will get the password by email.
– A blog critique by me on any of one of your blogs.
– The chance to be promoted on my “Blogs I heart” page permanently.
– Secret discount codes for your favorite stores.
– The chance for your polyvore to be promoted in my polyvore bio.

I can’t wait to see everyone’s entries!

In other news…
– Like the makeover? I did a vintage/floral theme complete with new images for several of my pages.
– Love this hair tutorial! http://www.xovain.com/hair/easy-voluminous-waves
– Also, I’ve been getting tons of comments from people that just want to talk. AIM or email is a much easier route.

xx MBOB

Confidence is key

In case you need a reminder, you are fabulous!

Now it’s time to show the world how fabulous you really are. “With what?”, you might ask.

Confidence of course! In this post, you’ll find some of my favorite tips, tricks and suggestions to show the world how ah-mazing you are 🙂

“It only matters if it flatters”
Remember this? Dylan’s mom AKA Merilee Marvil had this as her motto. This is a great philosophy towards clothing. Nobody feels comfortable in too tight skinny jeans or clothing that doesn’t suit their body type. Which is a great reason towards not trying every trendy thing out there. For example, fall 2013 is all about baggy clothing, but that doesn’t suit my hourglass shaped body. Buy clothes that you like and look great on you!

Remember what you are ah-mazing at!
Maybe you have a good eye for predicting trends, are great at basket ball, or can go without spell check when writing emails. It’s so important to realize what you are good at! Find something that you are good at, and use it.

Don’t over apologize
While saying “I’m sorry”, is sweet and often must needed, you don’t need to say it for every single thing. It makes you seem unsure of yourself.

Don’t get discouraged
Every one gets bad hair days and/or doesn’t perfect things on the on the first try. Chances are, the girl in your homeroom is hiding her frizz ball with a well placed beanie. And as for being perfect? Puh-lease, that’s as rare as the world ending in the next 3 seconds. What makes everything seem so perfect, is tons of hard work and practice.

Accept compliments gracefully
Smile, say thanks and make eye contact. 99 times out of 100, someone is saying that your shirt is cute because they like it.

Steer clear of depressing music
Put on songs that are inspirational and happy. Music after all, really can reflect your mood.

Form a new habit
Dying for those biceps you saw on tumblr? Want better grades? Buy some protein powder and/or an agenda. Commit to it, and you’ll see a big change.

In other news-
– My blogs I heart page is getting updated! Leave me a comment, if you want yours featured 😉
– Speaking of updates, I now have a new Polyvore username. Follow me at LaylaHeartsFashion
– Super useful for fall! http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-wear-leggings/

I hope everyone enjoyed this 🙂

xx MBOB

Read all about it

Chances are, if you are reading this that you love the Clique series by Lisi Harrison. And don’t get me wrong, it’s one of my favorite series (after all, I made a blog about it 🙂 ) But sometimes, it’s a good thing to try other book series.

All of these series are Massie approved and have all been read by me. In other news, they all have to fabulous in order to make it into this post. I also picked a few books in other genres if you are looking to branch out a little farther. So what are you waiting for?

Realistic Fiction-

These books are written in the style of the clique, focus on similar things or feature some of the same qualities that you loved about the clique.

I’d tell you that I love you but then I’d have kill you by Ally Carter
– A cute and funny read with plenty of action. A must for any James Bond fans.

Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
A older version of the clique filled with tons of gossip and drama. Warning- I wouldn’t read these if you are under 13-14. There is some not very PG content, just to warn you.

Alphas by Lisi Harrison
My other favorite series by Lisi Harrison. It’s filled with the same things you love about the clique only with 3 new girls.

Secrets of my Hollywood life by Jean Calonita
A fun series on what it’s really like to be famous. I loved the Hollywood facts introducing each chapter.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Besides being a fabulous TV series, this is a wonderful book series. All the drama and mystery makes it super addicting. Warning- I wouldn’t read these if you are under 12-13. These may not be suitable for younger girls (or guys).

Airhead by Meg Cabot
A addicting read about a model’s identity theft.

Talent by Zoey Dean

 A fast paced book about an Alpha and her clique trying to make it in Hollywood.

Other picks

These are great picks if you are interested in branching out even farther or are a fan of other genres.

The lost hero by Rick Riordan

 A fast paced action read with plenty of humor. If you like mythology, you’ll love this book.

The Penderwicks by Jeanie Birdsall

 A charming book that makes for a great summer read.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
A mesmerizing paranormal book set in the south with the perfect mixture of action and a little bit of romance.

The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

 A fascinating story about a rift between 2 cliques set in the 1950’s.

Matilda by Ronald Dahl

 While this may not be for your age, it’s an ah-dorable must read classic children’s book.

Lauren Conrad Style by Lauren Conrad

 Anyone can learn something from this book. And I was no exception. From a great guide to shopping vintage to perfecting Lauren’s signature cat eye, there is something for everyone.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

 What if a lottery allowed 35 teenage girls to compete for the hand of a handsome prince? The drama and mystery all unfolds in this fabulous read.

The Teen Vogue Handbook

 A must have book for anyone who loves fashion and/or ever wants to work with it. The interviews (like the one with Marc Jacobs for example) are super fun to read and filled with fab advice. Not to mention tons of outfit ideas and a list of colleges that are fashion focused.

Want more suggestions?

– Try book review blogs and sites like Goodreads to find what’s worth reading.
– Ask friends, family, etc. for suggestions.
– Go to a library for advice, books and not to mention free wifi

In other news….

– Plus sized? This is a fabulous link- http://www.collegefashion.net/shopping/the-top-10-stores-for-plus-size-fashion/
– Makeover is coming soon! As much as I love my current one, I feel that it’s time for a new change. My posts don’t really suit the whole vintage theme.
– Also, I’ve been getting some rude comments recently. Please keep them to yourself. Calling me a “fraud LBR” doesn’t make you any better and is a waste of both of our time.
– Massie’s diary is going to be re formatted. Maybe I’ll start a wattpad or something, and you can read the chapters there. Details are coming ASAP.
– Let me know if you want an Instagram and/or kik. I personally think what I currently have is enough, but let me know what you think.

xx MBOB