Unfortunately, Christmas break is over. This means that we all have to pick up the books again (the ones that you didn’t look at for two weeks) and start studying. It is a fact that most teens find studying the most boring thing ever and I get it. Because it is. So, the solution is to have your phone playing your favorite songs from your favorite bands and artists, but this will not help. In fact, you will get distracted and start mumbling the lyrics without paying attention to your school books.

Scientists tell you that the best music to listen to while you’re doing annoying school work is classical music, which I totally agree with, but I understand that that type of music can be even more boring than studying. So, I decided to list a couple of alternative bands and artists that are fun and can make studying less exhausting.

If you’re studying subjects that require creativity and imagination like art and English, I would recommend the following bands:

1. The Black Keys – This band has some great songs that can make you want to dance for the rest of your life and can also inspire you on an essay. You will want to go back to the 80’s, I guarantee.
2. The Strokes - Another great indie rock band. You will fall in love with the vocalist’s voice.
3. The Black Lips – Their beats can make you feel all kinds of emotions.

For subjects like biology and history, I would recommend songs with great beats like:

1. Kings of Leon – It is impossible not to like them. Their songs are beautiful and I’m sure they will make you appreciate history in a way.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers – They are crazy, fun and absolutely talented.
3. Arctic Monkeys – These lads are British, amazing and have the right songs for every subject.

For subjects like Math and Chemistry, you need a lot of concentration so I think you should listen to bands and artists that have calmer songs. So, we have:

1. Coldplay – Ok, I know you might think that this is not the appropriate band for studying but their songs are actually great for it.
2. Damien Rice - His voice is amazing. That’s all I need to say.
3. Bon Iver – I know you love “Skinny Love.”

Excellent marks guaranteed!


-Barista Alexandra-

Image: Anita Hart Read more »

 

There was a time when everything was sweet and fair
When people could run in laughter by the sea
A time that was content just idling there
When loving arms would curl themselves round me.

The fishing boats came sailing into shore
I watched then from the lily-studded bay
Till one crashed in I hadn't seen before
At the end of the final old and righteous day.

There was no finity to what I saw
No ruth was shown in hunger's vicious games
Flat panic struck and slowly ate me raw
So saner critics judged and gave me names.

Now when people touch me from behind
All I sense is a truthless, snatching sting
I try to get up, search, but cannot find
The doorway to a new awakening.
Now I'm living, trapped, inside a seed
And the more that's snatched away, the more I need.


-Barista Sabita- Read more »

The world carries nearly seven billion people as of 2013. Meanwhile, in a parallel universe, the Internet’s hash tag selfie has gained 57,754,658 photos on Instagram this very minute. There are photos of people’s oily faces, people while sitting on the toilet, people sticking their tongues out, which are all absurd. This has to stop, pronto. Therefore, fear not! Here are better ways to make a selfie worth the space online.

Follow the light

Ever wonder why models from magazines look so flawless, even- toned and perfect? Well, behind every photographer, are blazing lights focusing angrily on the model. Pictures loathe shadows, so we must kill yours.
To have a brighter face, turn towards the main light source. Never, ever turn your camera against it. You don’t need studio lights, the window can work its magic, too!

Find Your Angle

Hold your camera and extend your arm and extend your arm out. The farther the camera is, the more you’ll reduce that old sweaty- big- pored pace effect. It can be a little tricky.
Turn your head and find the best angle you have. (Unless you have perfectly sculpted jaws, you really need to search for it.) You never see your “bestest” if you haven’t seen yourself in all angles.

Have Fun Making Statements

Your phone is all yours and you have every right to look stupid in every way you can possibly make. There are thousands of poses, the wink, the thumbs up sign (my best friend’s signature pose), the peace sign (ah, the good old days.), the mirror selfie and the like.
And innocent plea: Do not make duck faces, ever again! They can give me nightmares.

Filters, FTW!

There’s this application called Camera 360. And it has been doing a pretty good job at hiding dark spots, pimples and a lot of imperfections. Plus, the filters are everywhere. They can give you any ambience your please. Camera 360 has made its way through every selfie- er’s heart and it will stay there, forever. Oh please, it has a “Sexy Lips” filter for crying out loud. Need I say more?

When all else fails,

Just smile. It is the best accessory there is. Don’t be like every grumpy woman in every movie ticket booth. Making unlimited versions of yourself is one of the perks of living in the 21st century. So why waste the power, right?


-Guest Barista Czarina-

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Finals are coming up for some and for others, like a few of my friends, the SATs are just a week away. Of course, the panicky questions that run through our heads and tongues are inescapable. Have I prepared enough? Does my calculator have batteries? Do you remember what ossify means? One important question that seems to evade us every test day, though, is: what type of snacks you should bring to the test center? After all, some foods are natural brain boosters. It's a good idea to bring excellent-for-brains snacks that you can have in between tests. So what snacks are perfect for those dreaded exam days?

Nuts and seeds

I'm not much of a nuts and seeds person, but for every test, I always bring along a packet. They prevent fatigue, help people's memories, and they're healthy too.

Water

You probably already saw this coming. I mean, water is good for everything. Skip those caffeinated drinks and stick to pure water. Dehydration is something to avoid in the middle of a test. Who wants to take an exam with a foggy brain and a dry mouth?

Dark chocolate

Milk or white chocolate probably isn't the best idea for a test. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, can awaken and sharpen your senses. Eat the chocolate in moderation, though. Don't gobble down a whole bar. Just a little bit will do.

Granola bars

They're light, portable, healthy... what's not to like?

Just be wary of sugared snacks (a teensy bit may be all right, though). They may keep you awake for a little while, but you will CRASH in the middle of the test. Not good.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Alberto G. Read more »

 

Winter has finally reached its peak. I absolutely loathe the freezing January, but there's nothing I can do to stop the cold wind from entering my country. There is something we all can do though! That is, make sure we are stocked with all the winter fashion must haves. How can we survive without keeping warm and stylish at the same time?

A knit

It's warm, fashionable... what's not to love about these totally adorable knitted clothes, hm? They come as boxy tops, tight tops, and dresses, too! Wearing a knit along with leggings and loosely braided hair, you could look so chic.

Black boots

I'm actually going out this Saturday to get a pair of my own after, uh, an unfortunate adventure that involved my beloved boots' heals breaking. These shoes literally go with everything.

Leather jacket

I don't know why, but there's something about wearing leather jackets with a nice girly skirt or dress. The two clothing items complement each other really well. Of course, in some places, just a leather jacket won't suffice. Put on a pretty coat over your outfit and voila!

Scarf

Scarves are by far the most versatile item in anybody's closet. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and color. They keep your neck and face warm and they make an awesome fashion statement too.

Warm tights

Ah. I don't know what I would do without my favorite pair of winter tights. I can literally wear them with anything (in a stylish way, I might add) and they keep me warm too!

Denim shirt

I've recently gone all gaga over my denim shirt. It looks so good on anybody. I know a lot of people say denim on denim is a bad idea, but a denim shirt with a pair of skinny jeans looks so perfect for some reason.

Coat

Now who could forget the most important winter item of all? We'd all freeze without a coat we can snuggle in.

There you go! My winter wardrobe must haves. What does your list of must haves look like?


-Barista Mia-

Image: Barbro Andersen Read more »

 

Ah. Those envious elementary school days when we all had flawless skin. Sigh. But unfortunately, now that we've all grown up, our skin has, well, turned less than pretty. Acne, scars, blemishes... Ugh. Now we spend a lot of our time trying to find the best concealers, foundation, and everything to look like we have perfect skin. Now we all know that eventually, to have good skin, we need to have good face washes. So what are the best ones out there?

Cetaphil

You can buy these at your average drugstore. Cetaphil, a classic face wash, is perfect for almost any type of skin. If you have shiny, oily skin, Cetaphil might not be the best for you. However, if you have dry or normal skin, this product is the One. It doesn't leave your skin all dried out and it doesn't have any chemicals hiding behind the product. Plus, it's affordable too!

Purpose

Another one that you can find in the drugstore, Purpose is great for all skin types. Don't be turned off by its cheapness, though. It's recommended by dermatologists all over for being soap-free, oil-free, gentle, and effective. Many of us feel our skin tighten after washing our faces, but Purpose doesn't do that nor does it leave any type of residue. Whoop!

Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream

For those wanting to go natural, I would suggest the Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream. It's not very traditional, so you might get a bit of a fright when you use it. It leaves your skin slightly oily when you're done, but very clean. Don't worry, though. Even if you have oily skin, this product will work fine. And the product seems more like a mask when washing your face with this cream. This exfoliates (really well, I might add) too. It's actually very, very good. Your pores are cleaned, your blackheads disappear, and your pores get smaller. A lot of people say their skin glows and that they get compliments about their complexion after using this product. The catch: for this product to work effectively, you need to use Dr. Hauschka's press and roll technique (Youtube it!). And for the BEST of the best results, use this cleansing cream with Dr. Hauschka's Cleansing Milk. Oh, and as you only need to squeeze out, like, a pea size worth of cleansing cream, this face wash lasts forever, so no need to run away from the price tag.

These are my top three face washes in my opinion. You should really check them out. They're really good!


-Barista Mia-

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