TIPS FOR FRESHMAN GOING INTO HIGHSCHOOL (from a highschool student)

School is JUST around the corner omg! Or maybe you’ve already started your highschool year..hm…. Well advice is good for everyone, so here are some tips and tricks for starting up the best four years of your life! (from a highschool student).

  1. Know your school well. Once you’ve got your schedule, walk around your school to see where your classrooms are located. Besides knowing your classes, know where your locker, washroom, cafeteria and forums are! You don’t want to be that kid that shows up in the wrong classroom on the first day! The first day can be very chaotic, even the teachers are stressed out! So to make everyone’s life easier, know your school well. You can ask for a map, or ask teachers if you get lost. I’m sure people in the older grades would love to help you, because after all, they’ve been through this too! I know, personally, I had a tough time finding where my classrooms were on the first day. What I did was, saw one of my old classmates walking in the same direction as me, asked them where they were going, and we helped each other find our classrooms together.

2. 

Have a phone with you at all times. You shouldn’t need your phone when you’re in class, so keep it in your locker or backpack. However, phones are very essential to have. You can call your friends and meet up at lunch time, or call your parents for a ride home. If you don’t have a phone, be sure to tell your friends or family member to specifically meet you at a certain location.

3. 

Get to know your teachers. It is important to behave yourself well and be a good student, but it is even more important to have your teachers as your friend. They can be beneficial when you want that recommendation letter to college or a job.

4. 

Be friendly. Get to know your classmates. They are going to be around for the next 4 years! The best way to meet other people is to obviously, join clubs. Another way I made friends was by asking the people who have the same classes as me to walk together to our next class. That way, you guys at least have something in common to talk about, your teachers and classes!

5. Don’t make a fool out of yourself! I know I’ve definitely made a fool out of myself more than once in school. It is embarrassing. But I eventually did got over it. Sometimes, you’re just nervous and feel insecure in your new school. That’s alright. But you do not need to run to your next class if you’re late, like in movies. Highschool students all learned this, when you’re late, accept it. Other students can be mean and make fun of the freshman who’s running to their classes, so just try to be cool and next time, try not to be late! If you do not know what’s going on, try to look like it. That’s the secret to looking cool (even though obviously that’s not the goal here). Just keep calm and keep your head held high!

PLL (SPOILER) : WHY CECE DRAKE IS A HORRIBLE -A

I know, it’s been 2 weeks since the big -A reveal on PLL but I have to agree with the majority of the fans, the -A reveal wasn’t exactly the most exciting. I mean, I don’t hate it, but I wasn’t surprised or terribly excited when the black hood unveiled itself. Here are some reasons why….

1. She wasn’t on the show from the start. We always suspected that -A was someone who was on the show from the very start. Someone like Melissa, Lucas, Wren, Jason, Ezra, Jenna, Ian, or Maya (they can come back from the dead right?). So the fact that Cece, who came on the show at the beginning of Season 3 makes all the characters I’ve listed above seem…unimportant. Which is sad, since those characters would’ve been very interesting. 

2. There isn’t an -A team. Remember all the times that -A bought black gloves for many people, well who are they? They either haven’t been revealed, or that most likely there isn’t any at all, and this is all just Cece’s own doing. We were kind of hoping there was a group of people hating on Alison and the girls … preferably the NAT Club. 

3. Cece is tortured the girls because she was addictive to playing the game. We’ve always known that -A was a bit mentally unstable, but the fact that she tortured the girls just because she wanted to play a game? Well you could always pick a different set of dolls to play with Cece. We were kind of hoping that -A had a real good reason to hating the girls, but nope! Just a psycho here. The girls were unlucky.

4. She got her money from being a reaaallly good investor. Yes, -A is really smart but come on! PLL writers can’t think of anything better than that? Like she could’ve been secretly married to a rich man or blackmailed the mayor at least! 

5. Cece has no real connections with any of the other PLL characters. Cece kind of just came out of nowhere. She has no connections with anyone else besides the DiLaurentis family. I mean, the writers could’ve just gotten any blonde character and say they were part of the DiLaurentis family right?

SELENA GOMEZ AND BFF DEMI LOVATO UNITE!!

DELENA FANS! The former bffs have made your dreams come true by becoming BFFs again! For those of you that don’t know, Selena and Demi have been besties since they were on Barney when they were only 6. Since then, they’ve both landed roles on Disney channel as Alex Russo, from Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny, from Sonny with a chance. They were both even in a Disney channel original movie together called “Princess Protection Program.”

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However, things have taken a toll for the BFFs after their time on Disney channel when they were seen less in public with each other, especially at award ceremonies where Selena would be sitting next to Taylor while Demi sat with her former Camp Rock co-stars, the Jonas Brothers.

Demi even unfollowed Selena on Instagram and Twitter saying they’ve “grown apart”. This left Delena fans devastated, especially after re-watching all their funny Youtube videos they’ve made together.

BUT don’t loose hope! Cuz just recently, a few days before her 23rd birthday, Demi followed Selena Gomez via Instagram! Embedded image permalink

And two days later @selenagomez tweeted:

IM so grateful you were born.

@ddlovato ofc would reply:

I’m so glad you were born too… 😛

Can we get an awww for how supportive these besties are?

TOP 5 JENNIFER LAWRENCE MOVIES THAT’S A MUST WATCH!

Jennifer Lawrence turns 25 today! There are so many things we love about this Kentucky-born star. She’s down to earth, funny, kind and of course, possibly the best actress of her generation! So, in honour of our favourite actress we decided to list our top 5 favourite Jennifer movies of all time!

5. The Poker House. This is the first leading film role Jennifer has been casted in. She plays Agnes, the daughter of a whore who is in love with her mother’s pimp. The film was inspired by a painful day the director, Lori Petty went through when she was a teen. The movie also stars actors Selma Blair, Chloe Grace Mortez, as well as Lawrence’s dad who plays her basketball coach. 

4. The Burning Plain. Another serious film that focuses on three different periods of time with three different female focuses and Jennifer being one of them. Some parts are slow, but watch till the end and it will be worth it!

3. X-Men series. Jennifer plays a blue Mystique in this American superhero film. Fun fact: It took over 7 hours for Jennifer to be in makeup! It is also where she met her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Hoult! 

2. The Hunger Games series– Jennifer’s shot to international fame was thanks to her epic role as Katniss Everdeen. Because of this role, we got to know Jennifer and her charming personality through interviews that made the whole world love her. She also met some of her best friends through these movies such as Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson aka. Joshifer. ❤ Katniss Everdeen is her most well-known role to date. 

  1. Silver Linings Playbook – Jennifer starred alongside Bradley Cooper for the second time as Tiffany Maxwell in this commedy/romance film. The movie got tons of nominations and received several awards including the Oscar for Best Actress for Jennifer Lawrence! It is one of her most notable films as well! Comment: Which movie is your favourite? How many have you’ve watched?

Also, check out www.straphie.wordpress.com for more CELEB NEWS, DIY AND FASHION TIPS!

DIY Saturday – Melted Crayon Art

Image result for melted crayon art

Melted crayon art is super cheap but it looks totally cool on your wall. It is a great way to spice up your room and make it more colourful and vibrant. Everyone needs to try this at least once, in their lifetime!

Materials: A canvas, blow dryer, packs of crayons, newspaper, hot glue gun

Steps:

  1. Place your newspaper on the floor or on wherever you’re going to blow dry your crayons. Tip: Get LOTS of newspaper! This DIY is meant to get messy!

2. Sort out the crayons by colour and place them in the order you want it to be. Once you’ve settled with the order you like, hot glue the back of the crayon, and firmly place them on the top of your canvas. 

3. OPTIONAL – If you want a silhouette or an image on your canvas, print it, cut the shape out, glue it onto your canvas. Then cut out another piece of paper (big enough to cover your silhouette, place it above your image, and carefully tape the sides. this way, the melted crayons won’t splatter onto your image. Tip: Put extra tape when you’re taping your cover because sometimes the melted crayons would slip inside your tape. 

4. Now start blow drying your crayons. It can get very messy so it is suggested you wear ragged clothes when doing this DIY. It is also recommended that you cover your blow dryer as well as the crayons can make your blow dryer colourful too. Also, make sure you point your blow dryer downwards so that the crayon would melt straight downwards. Unless you want the crayons to melt diagonally, then point your blow dryer to the direction you want your crayons to melt. 

5. Let your wax painting dry while you clean up the mess. If you taped a piece of paper to cover your silhouette earlier, carefully uncover the silhouette by ripping the tape off.

6. Now that you’re done, you can display it or wrap it up as a gift!

DIY Saturday – BRANDY MELVILLE HANGERS (3 easy steps!)

Brandy Melville hangers are so easy to make and are honestly one the DIYs I’ve been most satisfied with. They are not only cute and require materials that are already in your house, but they also prevent clothes from falling off the hangers, and they don’t make the squeaky metal sound when you move it on the rack!

Materials:  Old hangers, glue, an old tshirt.

*One t-shirt can approximately make 7 hangers

Steps:

1. Cut strips of your t-shirt that are about an inch wide. Then cut the sides of the strip so now the cloth strip is only one layer thick instead of two layers.

2. Put some glue on the tip of the cloth and start wrapping your cloth around the hanger. You can start anywhere on the hanger. When you’re done wrapping the strip, glue the tip of the end of the strip. Get another strip of cloth and continue to wrap until you’ve wrapped the entire hanger.  

3. Now that your hanger is fully cloth wrapped, get a leftover piece of cloth and finish off by tying a bow tie on the neck of the hanger. 

Now you’re all done!

Comment: What type of clothes do you hang on your hangers? I put silky material clothes as well as dresses!

Also, check out www.straphie.wordpress.com for more DIY, CELEB NEWS, AND FASHION TIPS!

9 Ways to Improve Your Life!

School is just around the corner, and well, a new school year should be for new improvements right? Here are some ways to better yourself so you can be in general, a happier and healthier, better person.

1. Make lists. Making lists keeps your life organized and helps you remember what you need to do or want and makes those things a priority. Lists can range from To-Do lists to must have items for back to school to jotting down materials for your next assignment. I usuallly tend to make lists when a busy occasion (such as Halloween) is upcoming. Then, I jot down all the things I need to do in the morning to prepare myself for the busy day.

2. Drink water. Water helps you keep dehydrated and keeps your syAmericans Who Drink This Much Water a Day Are More Likely to ...
stems clean. It is recommended that you drink 6 cups of water everyday (250 mL). I know, I have a problem with drinking water too!           Tip: Have a daily routine of when you drink water (i.e. once in the morning, once before bed, once before a meal).           Tip 2: If you’re not at home, use a water bottle and put 6 rubber bands on your bottle every morning. Each cup of water you drink, take 1 rubber band off. This will help you keep track and stay motivated!

3. Set goals. Goals help you keep track of what you want in life. Actually jotting down your goals on paper makes them important to you, thus, it is morel likely that you will achieve them.            Tip: Make sure your goals are achievable. Don’t wait to achieve them. Start working towards them now!

 

 

4. Exercise. Exercising is very important and a key staying healthy andBetter Sleep with Better Exercise - Wolf Mattress Corporation
fit. 30 minutes of exercise per day is required. Try this scientific 7 minute workout where it is scientifically proven to workout every part of your body.   Tip: If you don’t like the normal working out exercises, try dancing, a sport, skipping, or even taking a walk after dinner. It’s better than nothing!

5. No electronics (i.e. cellphone, Ipad, Computer, tv, etc.). Spending less time in front of electronic devices will keep you more active and more productive. Try to give yourself a limit, lets say only an hour a day. Keep up with this limit, and trust me, you will feel so much more productive.

6. Volunteer. Giving back always feels good. It’s true. Not onlyVolunteering and its Surprising Benefits - HelpGuide.org
are you doing something good, you are also making new friends, being productive, and giving yourself a more positive resume. Can’t find a place to volunteer? Check up for any community fair/festivals nearby and send them an email to see if they are interested in any volunteers!

 

 

 

 

7. Meet new people. Be open to others who are different from you and get to know them a bit more. Make it your goal to meet someone new every 3 months. In a whole year, you could have 4 more friends!           Tip: When meeting new people, don’t start by asking them what they do, ask them What the like to do. People usually have a lot to talk about when it comes to their hobby.

8. Explore. Do something new. Try a new restaurant, theme park, mall, anything Go exploring downtown. Get to know your city, or even your neighborhood. You will become much more individual, open minded, and adventurous. Make it your goal to do something new every month!

9. Develop a new hobby. Hobbies are sometimes what defines you. Explore what you can or can’t do by learning a new craft. Whether it may be piano, blogging, sculpting, tennis, running. Be opened and inspired everyday and you may just surprise yourself.

Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards SPLIT

It’s a sad, sad day for #Zerrie shippers! The two former couple recently called a split in their engagement!

Perrie and Zayn met on the set of X Factor in 2011 when they were both 18 years old. Soon, they started to develop a friendship that eventually developed into a relationship. Fast forward to August 2013, Zayn confirmed that he and Perrie are engaged. Their engagement caused quite a stir when One Direction fans were devastated with their loss of chance to marry Zayn (lol!) while others judged them for being engaged too young, calling them the next Miley and Liam.

After 2 years of engagement, a lot of changes started to happen as Zayn left One Direction while Perrie is still going strong with her band Little Mix. According to sources, they haven’t seen each other in a while.

According to People, two weeks ago, Zayn was the one that contacted Perrie saying it was over, leaving her devasted. She has taken off her diamond ring and is supported with love by her band mates.

We hope Perrie and Zayn both continue to stay friends and as well as their successful journeys in the music industry.

Comment: What was your reaction on Zayn and Perrie’s split? Did you expect it?

FASHION 101: MUST HAVE WARDROBE PIECES EVERY GIRL SHOULD HAVE (HIGHSCHOOL)

Okay school is coming and obviously back to school shopping for clothes is on top of your list. But somehow you still don’t know what to get to impress…? Well….Straphie girls, here’s the list to take notes from!

1. Graphic tees are a must! They are super cute AND comfortable, they look good on everyone and every pair of jeans you own.                                          Tip: If you find that your t-shirt is a bit too long, you can tuck the front in a bit like the two middle models in the picture, or tuck the whole shirt in.

2. Crop tops. Crop tops can be worn many, many ways. For example, with high waisted pants, skater skirt, tank top, cardigan, flannel..you name it! However, a lot of times, schools place restrictions on crop tops, so to be safe, wear high waisted pants, or have a tight tank top underneath if you wearing a flowy crop top.                                                        Tip: Try striped crop tops. They can literally do no wrong regardless of colour or your body type!

3. Flannels. Flannels are one of the few long sleeve shirts that can make your whole outfit put in seconds. Therefore, it’s a must. You can wear it buttoned up, buttoned down, or around your waist for an edgier look.          Tip: If you are wearing your flannel buttoned down, try to have a simple looking shirt on the inside so it does not distract with the pattern of your flannel!

     4. Knitted sweaters. They are by far my must have, especially in the upcoming fall season. They are comfortable and stylish. You can wear them with jeans, and a set of boots or with a collared shirt inside for a classier, more professional look. BTW, burgundy coloured sweaters are my fave in the fall!

5. Jean jackets are my favourite spring/summer look. They just make you look hip no matter how you wear them – sleeves rolled up, buttoned up, buttoned down, with dresses, with casual clothing, simple inside, patterned inside…anyway!                Tip: Try not to pair blue bottoms with a jean jacket (especially denim!) or it will make your entire outfit very …blue…and that’s often hard to pull off!

6. Black/Blue skinny jeans. Having at least one pair of basic colour skinny jeans is very important. They are you go-to jeans and you feel good in them!         Tip: When trying on jeans, sit down to see if the jeans still feel comfortable.                                                   Tip 2: You can easily tell if a pair of jeans fit you by wrapping the waist part of the jeans around your neck.  If the two sides just touch, it will likely fit perfectly. If they don’t touch, that means the waist size is too small, and vice versa.

7. Tights. Tights are like jeans, but MORE comfortable AND it basically goes with every top you can find. You can dress it up with a crop top and a skater skirt, or with just a simple graphic tee and boots.                                                         Tip: If you don’t feel comfortable wearing tights, you can always start wearing jeggings first. This is what I did in middle school until I finally started feeling comfortable wearing tights in public.

8. Ripped jeans. They are super street style and is rippedjeanstotally edgy. They go well along with simple plain white tees or blouses and you can rock it along with combat boots any day.                                                 Tip: Keep your top simple and let your distressed jeans do all the talking. Also, if you don’t feel comfortable with holes in your jeans, try wearing the ones that are less distressed and less obvious.

9. High waisted jeans are to those summer days where the sun just makes it impossible for you to cover your legs. Plus, they are great for two reasons: 1, They help cover your bellybutton when you wear crop tops. 2. They help tighten your stomach area, making your stomach look less bloated. You can choose to dress it down with just a simple tee and some sneakers or choose a fancier look like the bottom picture by pairing the shorts with fishnet tights, a tucked in blouse and a cute pair of boots.  Tip: If your school has a dress code, pairing high waisted shorts with tights is a good idea. 🙂

10. Jogging Pants/Joggers, ya know for those lazy days                                             where casual and sporty is just the way you want to be. Wearing basically anything that is comfy and casual (i.e. graphic tees, hoodies) will work.

11. Converse. Converse look great with a lot of street wear outfits and they are great to walk in as well! A simple colour pair of sneakers (black or white) will go with almost any outfit!                                           Tip: White converse get dirty easily. If you consider yourself to be a messy person, I suggest black to be your colour.

12. Combat boots. They are perfect for fall (especially to go with your knitted sweater!). They look great with any type of fitted jeans (i.e. tights, skinny jeans) and just makes your outfit look more put together, just like your flannels.

 

 

13. Infinity scarves. Whether they are thin or thick, they make your entire outfit look A LOT more dressy.                                                              Tip: Make your outfit simpler when wearing an infinity scarf to let the scarf take the spotlight.                                        Tip 2: If your scarf is of a brighter colour, make the rest of your outfit a darker colour so again, the scarf would stand out.

 

 

Check out www.straphie.wordpress.com for more CELEB NEWS, DIY, AND FASHION TIPS! 🙂

DIY Saturday – Painted Keys

Welcome to the first blog post of DIY Saturday!

How To Paint Your Keys With Nail Polish | FIVE DESIGNS! - YouTube

Looking for a way to jazz up your boring house keys? Well, instead of going to get a design painted on, you can do it yourself! Here’s how you can paint your keys:

Materials:                             

-Nail Polish

-Keys

Steps:

1: Grab your favourite nail polish, and a set of keys you’d like to paint.

2. Paint one side of your keys. Let it dry for about 4 minutes (it depends on how fast your nail polish dries). You can choose to paint the full key or just the top half.

3. Paint the other side.

Suggestions:                                                                                                             

You can add polka dots, stripes, hearts, or using colour block to spice up your keys! Check out this Youtube video to see a DIY example!

DIY CHIC PAINTED KEY TOPS | Paint keys, Key diy, Crafts