Simple Ways To Stay Healthy

So many icky germs are going around right now! I myself have come down with a nasty cold, which is nothing compared to the flu that's going around. I feel really crummy and I don't want to do much, but I can still function well enough to go to school. This flu that's going around seems to be really persistent, and can take you out of school or work for quite a while, which isn't fun when you need to try to get caught up. Nobody wants to get sick, and while there's no sure-fire way to guarantee you won't get sick, there are a few things to help prevent it, and help you fight it off sooner. 

The first, and most important thing is to wash your hands, I can't stress this enough. Your hands touch so many germy surfaces; doorknobs, keyboards, desks, pencils, ect. Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and as often as you can with warm soupy water. If you can't get to a sink right away use hand-sanitizer, but don't rely completely on it. Don't touch your face with dirty hands. Touching your face with dirty hands can also cause acne, along with putting germs in your face. Avoid putting any filthy surfaces near your face. Don't sleep in class, not only because you aren't paying attention that way, but also because that desk is COVERED in germs. EWW! (That should be incentive enough to not sleep in class, LOL). Also it wouldn't be a bad idea to wipe down your phone with slightly damp disinfecting wipes once in a while. And don't forget simple common sense; never share lip products with anyone, especially someone who is sick (make-up products should only be used by one person anyways). And never eat or drink after someone is sick!

Using good hygiene is the least you can do, but shouldn't be the only thing. Just doing the right things for your everyday health can help your ability to fight infection. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and flush out nasty things from your body. Practice good eating habits and get the right nutrients, and stay active to keep your body strong. Don't forget to get plenty of sleep to help your body out. Not only do these things increase your body's ability to fight infection, but are a step in living a longer healthier life. 

If you do get sick, relax as much as you can. It's best to stay home so that you can relax better, and prevent spreading it to others. If you just have a cold, and you have to go to school or work, cough into your arm, and sneeze into a tissue. Keep those tissues handy, they are nice to have just to blow your stuffy nose, and you never know when a sneeze might be... gooey and yucky, and a sneeze can travel quite a long distance. Try to get some extra sleep at night to help you throughout the day, and take some cold medicine to help out with the symptoms. 

If you feel any ickier than a typical cold, then it's best to just stay home and rest. It's best that you stay in bed and sleep it off as much as you can, but if you're like me and you feel the need to be doing something, do something that doesn't involve much movement or stress. Lay down with a warm blanket, some warm soup, a warm drink like tea, and watch a movie, read a book, or even do a little bit of web browsing. Don't forget to drink plenty of water as you would any other time to stay hydrated and help flush what you have out of your system fast. And remember, when you're sick your body needs extra rest, sleeping all or watching TV all day won't make you lazy. 

If you rest up and take care of yourself, you should start to feel better within a couple days. Keep activity light until you feel completely better. Don't forget to change your toothbrush after you get better as well so that you aren't putting the germs back into your mouth. You may also want to wash your bedding, just to freshen it up after you've been sick. 

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and this does not replace medical advice. If symptoms worsen or don't get better within a week, seek medical attention. 

Snow Day!!

Today I ventured out into terrible, nasty weather to find out my school was on a 2 hour delay once I got to school. I admit that I was a bit ticked that I walked to school just to have to walk back home, then back to school in 2 hours. My own fault for not checking the school closings before I left, but there wasn't any snow on the ground. It was still nice to know that the school day was shortened, even though I spent part of my delay walking to school and back home. My 3 day week had just become a 2 and a half-- wait no, a 2 day week!! Shortly after I got home school was cancelled for the day. SNOW DAY! Or more like... freezing rain day, but hey any day off school is a good day. My first snow day since my sophomore year!

The first thing I did was grabbed some hot chocolate, and watched the local news to make sure I was seeing this right, my school called a snow day, LOL! As I sat there drinking my favorite cold day treat, I kept thinking of all the things you can do with this extra day off school. And before I went back to bed, I had a pretty good list of ideas of things you could do after waking up from some much needed extra sleep. 

Snow days are the perfect opportunity to get some things done. Use the extra day off to get organized. Clean your room, or reorganize your school stuff, get all of your school things in order. You could even use the day to reorganize something in your room that you feel could work a little bit better. Freshen the place up, get some dusting done, wash your bedding, and vacuum the floor. You could even rearrange your room a bit, and get a little change of environment. Sometimes moving just one piece of furniture can make a huge difference. Perhaps you might want to use it as an extra day to study for a big test, or work on a big project. Whatever you feel you need to get done, you have an extra day to get started on it.

Of course... snow days don't have to be used productively, and are also the perfect opportunity to take a lazy day. Get some extra sleep, and spend the day in your pajamas. Watch some TV, browse the web, or play some computer games or video games. I love to spend my days off playing The Sims 3! Do anything you wish, read some blogs, write a blog post, listen to music, it's your day off. If you were called off on an actual snow day, LOL, you could even throw on your winter gear and play in the snow like you may have done when you were little. Invite some friends over and build a snowman, have a snowball fight, and make some snow angels. And don't forget to enjoy a nice hot cup of hot chocolate, coffee, tea, or whatever you like to drink on a cold day when you come back inside! :)

What do you like to do on a snow day? Does your school call them often, or are they a rare occurrence like at my school?! Or do you live in an area with very little snow, and get called off for other reasons, or not at all?

Prom Series: My Dos And Don'ts

The big dance is coming up in a few months, and it's time to start preparing. It's time to start thinking of what kind of dress you want and how to accessorize, how to do your hair and make-up, and everything else related to the big day. But before I get into any of that, I'd like to share my list of prom dos and don'ts. These are things that I see as essential to having the best night you can, with no regrets. You want to remember your prom as a night of fun, not as a night of disaster or regrets. You only get four proms at the most, if you are invited your Freshman and Sophomore year. Some of you may even be like me, and only get one prom your senior year. Some of these things are more serious then others, but it's all for having the best night of memories as you can.

Dos and Don'ts

Dos:

Do- At least go to your senior prom. Even if it's the only prom you go to.

Do- Wear a dress, and do your hair and make-up in a way that makes you feel beautiful. It's your night!

Do- Go with friends, and hang out with your friends while your at prom. Even if you have a date, spend some time with your best friends as well. Take some gorgeous pictures together!

Do- Bring a camera, preferably not just your phone. Take lots of pictures!

Do- Attend post-prom activities planned by your school if they make them. 

Do- Remain true to yourself. No matter what, stick to your values. 

Do- Hang around people that want the best for you. (Everyday, not just for prom.)

Do- HAVE A GREAT TIME! :)

Don'ts:

Don't- Skip y:our senior prom. It's a great night of memories, and you wouldn't want to miss out on one of your biggest high school memories. 

Don't- Feel as if you need to go with a guy. You don't need a boyfriend to have fun. 

Don't- Go alone. Like I said, go with friends if you don't have a guy to go with.

Don't- Feel as if you need to break the bank to get the best dress and look you can get. There are plenty of ways to save money.

Don't- Feel that you need to wear heals. Remember, you are going to be dancing. So you should pick shoes you feel comfortable in. There are plenty of gorgeous flats that you can wear as well as heals.

Don't- Spend the whole night on your phone. You should bring your phone in case of an emergency, but don't spend the whole night texting or on Facebook and Twitter. You can post about if after the dance. Prom is a rare opportunity. You can text any other time.

Don't- Go to someone's after party that you don't know very well. There is a potential that there could be things there that could get you into trouble. Also don't stick around a friend's party if drinking and drugs are involved.

Don't- Give in to any kind of pressure. Prom night can come with many pressures to drink, smoke, try drugs, have sex, and try things that can get you into trouble. Don't give in to please anyone else, or to "have a sense of adventure". Stick around people that support you and your values, and that don't want to see you get in trouble.  One mistake, in one night can change your life for the worse. Stay true to yourself,and your dreams.

What are your prom dos and don'ts?

Yummy Treats: Veggie Pizza

I am loving my Foods & Nutrition class which gives us ideas on how to eat healthier and live healthier lives. I'm also loving learning new recipes and trying out new foods. From time to time, I'll share a couple of the recipes I get in this class with you. I really liked this veggie pizza we made, it's different from the typical veggie pizzas I've tried. It tastes really fresh, and I love the idea of using ranch as a pizza sauce. If you don't like one of the vegetables in this recipe, you can always leave it out. You may also switch out for different veggies such as olives and tomatoes, or anything you like. 

Veggie Pizza

What you will need:

-1 container of crescent rolls

-broccoli

-shredded carrots

-cauliflower

-green pepper

-shredded cheddar cheese

-ranch dip mix

-sour cream

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) 

2. Roll crescent dough onto a baking sheet. Pinch the edges together to hide creases and form pizza dough.

3. Put pizza crust in the oven and bake for 12 minutes

4. While the crust is baking, chop up all veggies into small pieces. You may use as much or as little as you want.

5. Once the crust is done baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheet in the fridge for at least 10 minutes.

6. Mix ranch dip mix and sour cream.

7. Spread the ranch mix over cooled pizza crust.

8. Arrange veggies and cheese over sour cream.

No more baking needed! Enjoy! :)

Feeling Better When You're Depressed

I've been really down and depressed over the last week, which may have played a part with my lack of posting this week. We all have our bad days, but allowing it to persist for days, or even weeks is not healthy, and can eventually lead to serious depression. It's important to try to pull yourself out of a slump as soon as you can. This isn't to say that you shouldn't allow yourself to feel those emotions, denying them and just pushing them aside is just as bad as staying depressed for a longer period of time. You need to let your emotions out before you can start feeling better, otherwise you're only holding them inside and allowing them to build up to something bigger.

The first thing is to remove yourself from the troubling situation if you can. Go somewhere that you can be alone, or with someone that you really trust. If you are upset because of a fight, it's best to get away anyways before it escalates into something bigger. It also allows time for things to cool down a bit and gives everyone some time to think about what happened. If you can't get away right away, find some kind of distraction for until you can, but try to get away ASAP. For many, the best place to get away is their room. Lock yourself in there and let your emotions out (in a healthy way). Have a good cry, and if you are home alone, scream at the top of your lungs. Write down your feelings on a piece of paper that nobody will ever see. Get as mean and nasty as you want, say exactly whats on your mind. Just NEVER let anyone see it! Listen to a few songs that describe the way you feel, anything that lets you get out your emotions, as long as it doesn't involve hurting yourself or others. If you feel you need someone to talk to, talk to someone that knows how to cheer you up. Don't stick around the people that are upsetting you.

After you've given yourself a chance to let off your feelings a bit, start working towards making yourself feel better. There are a variety of ways to go about this, and whatever works depends on you. Take my challenge, think of all the good things about yourself. Do something you enjoy, or even try something new. Write a blog post, play your favorite game, get active! Getting active can actually help both your physical and mental health in the long run, is a great way to burn off steam. Shoot some hoops, jump rope, or even go on a jog or for a walk. Allow yourself a little bit of a tasty snack that makes you happy. Watch a (preferably not sad) movie, I like to go for more comedic movies that make me laugh. Listen to music, and try to start moving away from the sadder songs and add a couple of upbeat songs into your playlist. I alike to listen to some funnier, or sometimes more aggressive songs that make me smile, especially Blood On The Dance Floor's music. What you listen to is all based on your tastes. Sometimes going to bed early, or taking a nice nap and sleeping it off can help a lot too, or try going out and doing something fun with your friends. Have a good time, get your mind off of whats going on.

Don't let your sad feelings linger for to long. We all have days when we feel like nothing is going right, and that life just doesn't like us. But remember, there are also days when things will go your way, and you'll feel like nothing can stop you. Let the good times lift you up, but don't let the bad times keep you down.

"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain <3"

What do you like to do to make yourself feel better when your down? I'd love to learn some different ways that you guys cheer yourselves up. :)

Glitter Diaries: Job Shadowing

At my school we have these character learning, or cohort, groups that we have to meet in every once in a while. Last year we met with our cohort groups every other week to learn about different traits of good character such as respect, compassion, integrity, honesty, empathy, and cooperation. Things that we should have been taught when we were little by our parents and elementary school teachers. Many students, myself included, and even teachers didn't see much point in these groups. Most of us know what good character is, whether or not we choose to use it is up to us. Sure it is nice to have these ideas reinforced, but I don't it should have been in a forced cohort group. It didn't help that nobody, not even the teachers, took it that seriously, and we didn't do many hands on activities. 

This year, we only meet in cohort groups once every few months, and it's a little more activity based. Freshman went on some kind of team building field trip, and did other things outside of the school. I'm not sure exactly what sophomores did, but they had some kind of an assembly. I just know that juniors and seniors were forced to do job shadowing. We had to think of a career were were interested in, and on our own, with no help from the school, find someone from that job that we could go to work with for 4 hours to see what their day is like and experience that workplace. After that we're expected to write a 2 page essay on how our day went. And as you can probably guess, our initial reaction was "WHAT?! Why are we being forced to do this? This is so stupid!" Even though we got a day off school to do it. Personally, I would have actually been thrilled about the opportunity, had it not been forced on us, and we would have had help setting it up (and if we didn't have to write an essay, LOL). 

They didn't want us to pick something that was convenient for us such as job shadowing a family member unless that's the job we really wanted, nor did they even want us to be in town, but many of us did just that, LOL. I decided to job shadow at the elementary school with the teacher I helped out for my quest class. Teaching isn't really my dream job, but I have always had an interest in it. If becoming a writer, or interior designer doesn't work out, I would definitely turn to teaching. 

So here is how my day went... 

Of course, I woke up grumpy at the fact that I was being forced to do this. Admittedly though, there was a bit of excitement. I mean I did get to sleep in, and I didn't have to go to class. And the fact that I was going somewhere I was familiar with made me feel a bit better about it, and calmed my nerves a bit. I pretty much knew exactly what to expect when I got there. I knew everyone in the office, I knew where most things were in the building, I was confident with it. Although I did feel like a bit of a fail when I couldn't find the teacher I was job shadowing right away, LOL. But after I found her the day went really well, and it was actually really enjoyable. 

I started off the job watching the kids eat lunch. Making sure they are following the rules, and helping them open the things they needed opened. Made me remember how I always needed things opened for me when I was little, and I sure did get a workout running around the cafeteria to help the kids out. Although I did think they were really strict on these kids during lunch, and I didn't agree with the rules (no talking, no buying seconds, ect...), I had to go by them. After lunch, I really got into the teaching part of it and helped out with the classroom.

The teacher I was with teaches kindergarten specials, and it was art day when I was there. The kids were decorating valentine bags. Oh how I miss the elementary days when everyone got a valentine and got to eat candy, LOL. My job was to walk around the room and make sure they were following directions, and to decorate bags for the kids that were absent. The hardest part was keeping the kids calm, because let me tell you, kindergartners are rowdy and energetic! Not all of them want to follow the rules, and some seem to not know exactly what the rules are. They're little though, and they'll learn, and their energy is still really fun. The little kids are really sweet, and they say the cutest things! 

At the end of the day I was tired, and ready to go home but I did enjoy my day at the elementary. Everyone was friendly, and I had a good time job shadowing there. If I actually were to become a teacher, I'd prefer to work with kids that are a little bit older, and that have more independence and a better understanding of the rules, but the kindergartners were fun in their own way. :) 

Long Distance Relationships

I have never been in a relationship with a guy that I go to school with, or a guy that lives in my state for the matter. Let alone someone that lives near enough that I can see them everyday. The one relationship I was in was long distance.  For me, it was always nice to now that someone out there cared for me, and I didn't care about the distance. Although it would have been nice to be able to go to a movie with him, or snuggle on the couch on a cold day, or in my case... be able to talk to him more often. Perhaps it was our lack of communication, which should have been a red flag from the start, but he was physically ill at the time, that ended our relationship. Or maybe it was a combination of that, and the 2000 miles between us. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like for us if we'd lived closer together, but the only thing I can do at this point is move on. 

I met (let's just call him Charlie) online back when I was in middle school, and we started dating a year after we met. I had always had the dream that someday we could actually be together at the same place, although how little we actually spoke made it seem unlikely already, but I have always been a dreamer. Not all long distance relationships start online, it could be someone that lived nearby and moved away, but you decided to stay together. Or it could be someone that's overseas serving our country. No matter what the situation, the feelings you have for them are just the same as you'd have if you were actually there with them.

While my online romance with Charlie ended badly, as well as many other online relationships I know about, but that doesn't mean it's always going to end like that. Someone I know is now engaged to a guy she met on MySpace several years ago after meeting face to face. Just remember to play it safe if you plan to meet someone you've never met face to face. Video chat with them so you can see for sure who they are, meet in a public place, and don't go alone. People aren't always who they say they are, and going alone can be potentially dangerous. Although this isn't always the case, it's always nice to know beforehand who they really are, and a friend with you just to be sure.

In any relationship, communication and trust are most important. Talk with them online, through text, and over the phone as often as you can. Modern technology gives us so many ways to stay connected with the people we care about. Both people need to make an effort to make time talk to the other person in order for it to work. If either of you don't have easy access to Internet or a phone, write letters if possible (getting a letter is more special then getting an instant message or even an email to start with), and try to email once in a while. But if both people have easy access to technology there's little reason you shouldn't be able to communicate almost daily, even if it's just for a few minutes. You don't need to talk 24/7, not even close distance couples communicate all day- every day, you each have lives and other things to do. But going for weeks , or in my case months, without any communication puts even more strain on a relationship.

As months would go by without a single message from Charlie, I started to have a few doubts and a few suspicions. Perhaps he may have even had a few about me. And the fact that he wouldn't get online for months at a time made it impossible to talk with him about it. When he did come online I didn't want to get in an argument, so I just pushed it aside. He would tell me that he couldn't be on because of his medical condition, which may have been true. If you start having any doubts, try calmly talking with them about whats bothering you. Don't point the blame at them, just tell them how you feel, and use the words "I feel..." to avoid serious conflict. But remember, all relationships are going to have some kind of argument. If anything turns into an argument, try to work it out. If they won't take anything you say into consideration, or they are rude to you, whether it be in a short or long distance relationship, it's time to call it off.

If both people are willing to put an equal amount of effort into the relationship, and the trust and communication are there, you can have a lasting relationship, no matter how far you are. When the time comes that you can be closer together, take that chance. If you truly love each other, it will all be worth it in the end. It's never easy, no relationship is easy. There will always be struggles, ups and downs. But there's also the happy times. Distance doesn't have to ruin your relationship... It can even make it stronger in the end. <3

My Hair Extensions: Euronext Remy 18 Inch Clip-In Human Hair Extensions

I've wanted long voluminous hair for as long as I could remember. Unfortunately, my thin hair won't grow very far beyond shoulder length. I've been trying to grow it our for years and it just won't grow. I would always get so bummed that I didn't have the long beautiful hair that I wanted, and that my hair was to short and to thin for many hair styles. Having the long hair I wanted seemed like a dream that I could never achieve. But then... I found hair extensions! Or more specifically, clip in human hair extensions that give me the length and volume that I've always wanted. Now I absolutely I love the length of my hair, and I have the option of having my hair shorter if I want. 

My Hair Without Extensions

When I was shopping around for hair extensions, I originally wanted to go for what's the cheapest... But after reading the reviews on the cheaper products, I decided against that. I wanted quality, something that would look natural, and stay nice for a long time. I actually wound up getting the Euronext Remy extensions, the most expensive hair extensions that Sally's Beauty Supply carried, and I actually don't regret paying the extra money for them. I certainly feel they were worth the $140.00. 

I've been wearing them since the beginning of the school year,and they still look amazing! And since they are made of real human hair, they can be curled, straightened, and style in many ways using overnight methods, or using hot tools. I personally choose to use overnight methods so that I can keep heat damage on the down low, and it also saves some time in the morning. They can also be incorporated into up-dos to give your hair that extra length and volume you need to achieve the look. And since they are clip ins, you can take them out at night and not need to worry about damaging them while you sleep. You also don't need to worry about glue or other bonding methods ruining your natural hair. 

My Hair With Extensions

My hair extensions are 18 inches (About 46 centimeters) long and in the color Chestnut Brown. Sally's also has 14 inch extension available if you want a little bit of a shorter length. You'll of course want to choose a color that fits your own hair the best, The best way to do this is to ask for someone to help you, and hold the hair to your ends to see which color is your best match. Mine are very slightly off, but you honestly can't even tell. If you choose to dye your hair, you can also dye these extensions, and you can test out the color on one of the test pieces (The small pieces without a clip) before you dye all of them. If you pick the right color, and you put them in right, many people won't even be able to tell you're wearing extensions. People are actually surprised when I tell them that I wear hair extensions. 

Just remember to take good care of them to keep them looking nice longer. Try to use more overnight methods of styling rather than using hot tools when possible. I actually found a way to straighten them overnight, and I'll do a post about it in the future. Take them out before showering or sleeping, or as a general rule of thumb doing anything that would cause your hair to get messy such as swimming or going to an amusement park. Hand wash them in the sink with warm water and the same salon quality products you use to wash your natural hair, and set them our flat to air dry, I'll also do a post on how to wash them properly. Don't use to many hair products to avoid product build-up, I have found that I don't need to use a lot of product in them anyways. Always be gentle when brushing through them, the hair won't grow back if it gets ripped out, LOL.

The only downfall to this product is the price. $140.00 is a big investment, and if you are thinking of getting these, you should most certainly read other reviews. In my personal opinion they are worth the price. Remember, sometimes it is best to pay more for a product if it means better quality. Personally, I feel that paying $140 on something you love is much better then wasting $20 on a low quality product you don't like. Hair extensions are not something to mess around with, or to skimp with quality on. 

I realize that this is a really expensive product, but I would not be recommending it to you if I didn't fully feel that the price is worth it. I am very happy with the way they look, and what I can do with them. I paid for these extensions with my own money. The opinion expressed in this review is 100% honest, and I am not at all being paid for this post. Feel free to ask me questions in the comments, or on my twitter. 

More information on these extensions, as well as reviews can be found at this link. 

Super Quick Update: Follow Me On Twitter!

Hey Everyone! Just thought I'd make a super quick post to tell you what I've been up to lately, and tel tell you the latest in my internet world, LOL. Anyways, I just made a Twitter! I will post tweets on things relating to my blog, YouTube (as I start making videos), and other random things relating to my life and beauty, and just about anything! I feel this is a great way for you to get to know me, so feel free to follow me, I'll follow back! Maybe we can even chat a bit? :) I have also added my Twitter updates to the sidebar in my blog so you can tweet me from here! 

My Twitter is: @AngelicGlitter :) 

Single On Valentines Day?! Don't Bum Out!

I used to absolutely despise Valentines Day. I thought that the holiday was stupid, and I didn't like to see other people celebrating it. I never wanted to go to school and see all the couples get all lovey-dovey on that day, and I always hoped for it to be on a weekend or for school to be called off for a snow day. You could probably say that I was the Ebeneezer Scrooge of Valentines Day. What the heck was my problem?! LOL! 

As you can probably guess, I was single, and I was really young at the time. All I wanted in the middle school, and early high school days was a boyfriend that I could spend Valentines Day with. I was pathetically jealous of all of the happy couples in my school. I didn't understand at the time that there are so many more important things in life than middle school/ high school romance. And I always thought that those couples would be extra affectionate and lovey-dovey on Valentines Day, when in reality, it's pretty much just like any other day. As I got older, and a little more mature, I realized that while it's nice to have a boyfriend, it's not the most important thing in the world. Nor do you need a relationship to celebrate Valentines Day. 

You can celebrate Valentines Day with friends, family, or even all on your own. Show the people you care about some love, and get creative on how to go about it. Make your best friend a card, and maybe even give her a nice candy bar or make her a friendship bracelet. If your school sells Valentines Day treats or flowers, send some to your friends and add a silly note. Make Valentines Day a day for friendship, and have your best friend be your Valentine! 

Have fun with the day. Wear red or pink, and maybe even go for a pink eye shadow look. Wear some accessories with little hearts on them. Treat yourself to a box of chocolates or something special. Buy yourself that romantic book, or any other book, you've had your eye on. Watch a romantic movie, or any movie you'd like. Watch it with friends or on your own. Don't be a humbug and sit around loathing the day like I used to. :)

It's nice to have a special someone to spend Valentines Day with, but you don't need a guy to be happy. What do you like to do for Valentines Day? Do you have any special traditions with friends, or things you like to do? Do you love or hate the day? Do you choose to just ignore it and treat it like any other regular day? Do you have that special someone this year?! :)