Okay, sometimes, I get really tired of carrying a bag with me to every single place I go. I mean, I do get that I have a lot of stuff to carry, but sometimes, I want my arms to be completely free from the burden of carrying a purse. So to paraphrase the title of this post: what should you take with you to wherever the heck-istan you're going if you aren't going to carry a bag?

First of all, if you aren't going to take a bag to wherever you're heading to... Wear something that has a few pockets! Jeans would be a good idea.

Now that we've straightened that out, you should take:

Your phone! Duh!

Tuck your phone into your jeans back pocket and voila. You won't even feel that it is there. Just be careful when you're pulling your pants down to go pee, 'cause your phone might just drop into toilet bowl. Yikes. But other than that, tucking your phone into your back pocket is an ingenious idea. I do it all the time. Even when I have a purse with me.

A little money

Put your money into one of your pockets just in case you need some cash. I always put my money into the front pocket of my jeans. The pocket is very tight, so there's little chance of the money falling out. Other times, I put my money into a pocket on my jacket where there's a little flap so the money doesn't escape from me.

Hair tie and rubber bands

Diamonds Hair ties and rubber bands are a girl's best friend. You can tie your hair up when your hair is getting in the way. You can use it to secure random things... As essential as hair ties/rubber bands are, they're also super easy to carry around. Just slap a hair tie around your wrist like a bracelet and put a few rubber bands into a pocket if you think you need them.

And... that's it! I've stripped down everything you usually put in your purse to just the bare essentials. Simple, right? But do you think I missed an important item? If so, comment below and let me know.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Summer Skyes 11 Read more »

So I decided to not go to college this year, which pretty much sucks. I sooooo wanted to get away from Korea, but I guess I'll have to wait another year. Unfortunately, I can't afford to go to college, so I'm taking a gap year and will apply to a bunch of different schools next admissions round as I pray for a different result.

When I first came to the realization that I might have to take a gap year, I was extremely disappointed. I hated living in South Korea and I just couldn't wait until the day I could start ALL over. I even deactivated my current Facebook account so that I could make a new one in college. Yes, I was and still am that desperate to leave my current life behind. But the only option I have is to take a gap year. Thankfully, now that my head has cleared a little, I'm starting to see that gapping might be a good thing.

Because if you take a gap year...

You mature

Students who go straight from high school to college often lack the maturity needed in an independent environment like a university. Instead, those who take a gap year, learn so much about the world and acquire more wisdom during their time off.

You have a new story to share

You can share a story with your college friends a year or two later about your adventures of teaching ESL students, learning French in France, or going on a world expedition with a group of complete strangers. Whatever you do in your gap year, it's going to make for an interesting story to tell.

You learn more about yourself

When taking a gap year, you have the opportunity to do whatever you want with your life for an entire year. If you've never danced, you can dance. If you want to earn money, you can get a job. You'll find new interests, new hobbies, and you'll even learn more about your own personality and limits. This could help you so much when you finally enter college. You'll have a better idea of what you want to do or what you want to be.

You'll be more thankful for the opportunity to study

Research shows that students who take a gap year are more likely to not take their education for granted. Having this mindset, you're less likely to spend all your energy on partying and skipping classes and more energy on doing things that are actually productive. Of course, this doesn't mean you'll end up having no social life. What I mean is that you're more likely to have the wisdom to balance your social life with your academic life.

Besides these four benefits, there are so many more advantages to taking a gap year. So definitely consider it! It'll be fun and worthwhile :)


-Barista Mia-

Image: justine-reyes Read more »

I'm a horrible person when it comes to gifts. I never prepare birthday presents, Christmas presents, or the like, until the last minute. I know most people think of what to get their parents, boyfriends, best friends, etc. weeks or even months ahead, but my ADD brain isn't wired to do that. I procrastinate. Even when it comes to gifts. Thankfully, though, although I'm bad at buying gifts before D-Day, I've become a sort-of expert on buying last minute gifts.

So now that Mother's Day is on its way (already?!), I decided to share some last minute gift ideas for those of you who, well, forgot to buy her a present.

Flowers and a card

Okay, okay. Flowers are such a simple gift. But hear me out, okay? Have you ever met someone who hates flowers? No. Duh. Flowers are gorgeous, beautiful, and very easy to get by. No one can ever hate on them. But since flowers are so cheesy to give, write a card as well. A heartfelt card will make anyone's day.

Jewelry

A quick trip to the mall is all you need. You can never go wrong with jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, earrings... it doesn't matter. Buy her something shiny and nice.

Cook for her

What's your mother's favorite meal? Bring out a cook book and cook it for her. Even if it turns out disgusting, it's the thought that counts. And I bet ya that your mom will think it's adorable. If you can actually cook the thing, that's even better. Mind, it doesn't have to be your mom's favorite meal, it can be anything tasty.

Do all of her chores for one day

How would you feel if all of your chores were done by someone else for a day? You'll feel refreshed, grateful, and happy, right? Right. So why don't you do all of your mom's chores for the day? It's a great idea and won't cost a cent.

Take her on a date

Watch a movie together and have dinner at a nice restaurant. Mothers love to spend time with their kids. Show her that you love her and that you care about her. It'll be an oh-so-special time you two can spend with each other.

So these are my last minute mother's gift ideas. Do you have any that you think I should add to the list?


-Barista Mia-

Image: Jen Novotny Read more »

I can't believe summer is already on its way! I've been waiting for summer to arrive for the longest time. The heat, the sun, the beach, the scenery, and most of all, the crop tops. Seriously. I'm eagerly awaiting the day when it'll be warm enough for me to bare a little stomach skin.

Anyway, for those of you, like me, who are looking forward to wearing crop tops in the warm sun, here are some ways you can wear these beautiful fashion pieces:

Wear them with high-waisted shorts

Crop tops are cool and all, but that doesn't mean I want to bear every inch of my stomach to the world. No way, Jose. Instead, I wear a nice pair of high-waisted shorts and rock 'em.

Wear them with high-waisted skirts

Wearing crop tops with high-waisted skirts are by far my favorite combination of an outfit ever. They're super cute, versatile, and uber fashionable.

Wear them with overalls

Ah, overalls. I'm usually not a fan of these strange fashion statements, but when it comes to crop tops... yes, please! Crop tops and overalls are a match made in heaven.

Wear a cami underneath

With my boxier crop tops, I tend to wear a cami underneath them for a little summer layering. It's super fun, cute, and less revealing. I personally have a black and white striped boxy crop top that I like to wear over my hot pink or black cami.


-Barista Mia-

Image: jess damen Read more »

I am personally a big makeup lover, but the problem is, I don't have enough money in my pocket to get all the makeup products that I want. I'm restricted to getting solely those makeup products that I actually need. I know that there are many other teens like me out there, so I decided to share what I believe are the make-up essentials every girl should have in her makeup bag.

Suncream

I always buy foundation with SPF, but that doesn't mean I'm still a little wary of how many sun rays might hit my skin. So for a little extra protection for my face, I put on some suncream before I put on foundation. Better safe than sorry.

Foundation

Duh!

Concealer

I honestly couldn't live without concealer. I get pretty bad under eye circles and some parts of my skin need a little extra covering up. Concealer is a savior for those who need to cover up those pesty imperfections.

Powder

Powder is literally something I cannot live without. Powder smooths out my face, powder makes sure I avoid that horrible shiny-face-syndrome, powder sets my foundation and concealer, and powder just makes everything look perfect. Powder is the best finishing touch for every girl's makeup look.

Blush

A little color on your skin can go a long way. In Korea, it's in vogue for students to slap on a whole heap of foundation that is two shades lighter than their skin and wear absolutely no color on their cheeks. It honestly looks super scary and unflattering. Blush is a must, people. Those rosy cheeks will give so much life to your skin.

Eyelash curler

If you're blessed with naturally curled lashes, good for you! I, and millions of other girls, on the other hand, are not so lucky. But thank goodness for eyelash curlers!

Mascara

This is the first makeup product every girl gets and for good reason. Mascara really opens up the eyes and makes you looks more awake. Mascara is a must have in every girl's makeup bag for sure.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is what puts a little more glamour into your makeup look. Seriously, a little eyeliner can go a long way. Besides, eyeliner also accentuates the shape of your eyes and makes them appear bigger and more open (similar to mascara).

Neutral eyeshadow palette

You have the greens, the blues, the pinks, but what you REALLY need in your makeup bag is the neutrals. Neutral eyeshadow goes with every outfit and with every look. You can't live without a neutral eyeshadow palette.

Lipstick/Lipgloss

What's a makeup look without any color on your lips? I am a bigger fan of lipstick than lipgloss as I love the matte look of lipstick, but both lipstick and lipgloss perfects your makeup look to a T. Lip color is a must have.

So these are my make-up essentials. What are yours?


-Barista Mia-

Image: Andy Rennie Read more »

I've been really into chick flicks recently. Yes, I've already had my fair share of chick flicks before, but I've started to get super crazy about them nowadays. I've been watching one chick flick every two days now. Any more than that, I get a headache, which is a shame 'cause I really would love to watch chick flicks more often. But anyway, through this recent chick flick binge, I've accumulated a list of the best chick flicks ever, AKA the chick flicks everyone should love.

So here are my top chick flick picks that you can't miss.

Mean Girls

No chick flick list is ever complete without this classic.

10 Things I Hate About You

I watched this movie just yesterday and oh. My. Gosh. Wow. This movie is the cutest and most perfect little thing ever.

She's The Man

Amanda Bynes is a genius. I'm serious. She's funny, adorbs, and totes perfect for the role as soccer-loving Viola.

Pitch Perfect

This movie just might be my favorite of this entire list. And do I even need to explain why?

Miss Congeniality

A butt-kicking Miss USA candidate? Count me in.

Legally Blonde

With its perky main character, amazing law case that can only be solved by someone like Elle Woods, and wow-some ending, if you don't like Legally Blonde, something's wrong with you.

Clueless

Clueless is called the Mean Girls of the '90s for a reason. It's 97 minutes of literal perfection.

The Devil Wears Prada

This is the movie that introduced me to the wonderful world of chick flicks. It's pure amaze-balls.

So what do you think of my list? Are there any movies that I missed out?


-Barista Mia-

Images: Mean Girls poster, 10 Things I Hate About You poster, She's The Man poster, Pitch Perfect poster, Miss Congeniality poster, Legally Blonde poster, Clueless poster, The Devil Wears Prada poster. Read more »

I'm a Potterhead. And honestly, it's super disappointing that I have no more Harry Potter books to look forward to. Right now I'm suffering from Harry Potter withdrawal. I mean, don't get me wrong, rereading the HP series is great. You can't get tired of those seven ah-mazing books. But there are times when I just need something new. So what are some other book series that Potterheads like me might like?

Anything and everything by Rick Riordan

They don't call Rick the J.K. Rowling of America for nothing. His books are genius. Read his Percy Jackson series, the Heroes of Olympus series, and the Kane Chronicles. His writing is pure amaze-balls, the action is whoa, the characters are super duper loveable, the premise is just wow... Rick's books are everything good about the Harry Potter series.

Septimus Heap

It's got that kid with extraordinary magical powers. It's got seven amazing books that spans seven adventure-filled years. Oh, and it's got its own movie on the way. And guess which film studio is producing the movie(s): Warner Bros! Just like Harry Potter.

Artemis Fowl

A young hero, well, actually more like a young genius, magic, mystery, weird names, adventure, aaaannndd... Artemis Fowl is also going to become a movie. And guess what one of the screenwriters wrote? The screenplay for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

There are a whole bunch of other book series that you can read, but these would be my top three. If none of these are your type, keep hunting. Your next series obsession is out there somewhere!


-Barista Mia-

Image: Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan Read more »

Okay. With all our college acceptances in our back pockets, it's now time to choose which school to attend for the next four years of our lives. But how the heck do we do that?

List out the pros and cons of each school

List out everything that matters to you from the social atmosphere to sports to professors and classes... Write down every reason you would want to attend each school and write down every reason you wouldn't want to attend each school.

(Re)Visit the schools on your list

Visiting schools does wonders. It can help you like a school even more or it could help you like a school a little less. Either way, it can help you to reshape your college list.

Compare the aid awards

How much you pay for a school can impact your entire future. No school, not even the best school in the world, is worth ending up in deep debt. Only keep the schools that are actually financially feasible on your list. Say good-bye to the rest.

Keep your end goal in mind

If your goal is to get to medical school, it's a good idea to pick the cheapest option of all your schools (medical school can get hecka expensive). And it's probably a pretty bad idea for a premed student to go to a school with grade deflation. GPA is important when applying to med schools, after all. Just like this, keep your end goal in mind and compromise with it. Don't veer off track.

Good luck with finding the right school!


-Barista Mia- Read more »

I'm a YouTube freak. I'm always hanging around this site and, as a result, I stumble across new YouTubers constantly. Unfortunately, a lot of these users aren't really blog post-worthy. But a couple weeks ago, I came across this YouTuber called ClothesEncounters. She, as you can probably tell by her username, is a fashionista. She loves clothes, she dresses really well, and she has tips all over her YouTube account. I love watching her videos to pick up fashion tips. She's awesome. The best part is that short people, like me, can pick up her tips without the fear of appearing even shorter than usual. Jenn, AKA ClothesEncounters, is only 5'1.

I thought it would be great to introduce you guys to her, so here are some of my favorite videos from her channel:





Jenn knows exactly how to dress for different types of people. She's literally a fashion genius. I love her outfits and ideas.



I'm from Korea and I swear I've never even heard of some of these places/festivals. Boo. Tourists get all the fun. On another note, once again, I lurve her outfits. Her fashion style is so cute.



Not exactly fall right now (more like spring), but I seriously love Jenn's stuff in this video.



A spring version of the huge fall haul video.



This is one of Jenn's more popular videos. It's ironic 'cause her channel focuses more on fashion than makeup, but whatevs. She'd make a cool makeup guru too

I hope you enjoyed these videos. You can check out more of her stuff on her YouTube channel clothesencounters.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Jenn's Twitter Read more »

Ugh. I feel so horrible. I haven't been posting in LTC for the longest time ever! I had an absolutely horrible week and I'm still bawling my eyes out at everything that has happened. Now enough complaining about my life. I want to talk about... food. 'Cause we all know that food makes EVERYTHING better. Oh, and to make things even better, should we talk about both food AND travelling? Almost everyone wants to travel one day (including me) and for some of us, one of the top reasons for travelling is for the delicious food that we'll get to taste on our little adventures. So which countries out there have the best food ever?

France

France has everything from champagne to cheese to bread and even snails. France has it all. French food is versatile and awesome. They have every taste, every meal, to fill up every stomach. By the way, many of the world's famous chefs have studied at France.

Italy

I believe there's only ONE country in the world that can actually compete with France in terms of food and that's Italy. I personally adore Italian food more than I like French food. Their pizza, gelato, pasta, risotto, tiramisu cakes, wine... Italy has some of the world's favorite foods. No one can pass over Italian food like it's nothing. Just a little taste of Italian food will feel like food heaven.

India

Indian food is one of the more exotic foods on my list. Ever since my parents took me to Indian restuarants as a kid, I've absolutely fallen in love. Indian food is spicy, sweet, tasty... everything. You have not lived until you have tried Italian food. There are a whole variety of Indian food to try out, but one thing defines it all: their delicious spices that literally make your taste buds shudder in delight.

Mexico

Ah, Mexican food. I've got to confess that I haven't had my share of Mexican food until last year. Seriously. I don't know how I survived without the spicy, pure deliciousness of Mexican food. Tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas... Though I've never been to visit Mexico, I've been told that their street food is also to die for.

Turkey

The best part about going to Turkey for food is that EVERYTHING, and I mean everything, tastes good. It doesn't matter if you eat a meal that costs, like, a penny (an exaggeration, but you know what I mean), it'll taste good. Besides, Turkey is surrounded by three seas, which means there's a full variety of fish to taste. Mmm. Oh, and how can I not mention Turkish delight?

Did you notice that I haven't put much Asian food on my list? Well, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Chinese food is great. They're amazing, in fact. But, as an Asian, well, I've kind of grown tired of Asian food (not Indian, though. I could never get tired of Indian food). But for those of you who want to have a taste of Asian food, you should definitely visit Japan, Korea, Thailand (definitely try ALL the Thai fruits as well. Yum.), and China.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Arnaud DG Read more »

Sometimes, we get a little too stressed out and we find that we absolutely need to get something done about our messed-up thought lives. This is where therapy comes in. It's not really necessary for you to barge into a therapist's office and demand for some talking time unless, of course, you really feel like you need professional help. Instead, for those of you who just need some relaxation, here are the best types of therapy that is both accessible and cheap.

Music

Ah, music. Blissful music. Music can work to calm people down. I was having a very hard day yesterday, so I decided to listen to a whole heap of inspirational songs. And guess what? I feel so much fresher and so much better than I did the day before.

Write it all out

Writing is GREAT therapy. It's a scientific fact. Write down all your thoughts onto a piece of paper and let out all of your feelings into words. Translating your thoughts and feelings in a way that is actually tangible can make you feel so much better as you understand exactly why you're feeling so horrible.

Sing some songs

This is similar to the first tip except that you're actually going to sing the songs instead of just listening to them.

Go somewhere remote and nature-y and scream

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This helps. Really. I've tried it countless times and releasing all those emotions with a loud shout can be a real relief. Just ask Zac Efron (HSM3, anyone?).

P.S. Sorry that I've only been posting downer posts recently. But I'll be back tomorrow with a more fun post for y'all to read.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Rebecca L Read more »

So after writing that post about having senioritis, I decided to Google for some reliable ideas on getting over senioritis quickly before I fail a subject or do something I'll regret for the rest of my life. I had tried different methods beforehand as I noted in my previous post, but those hadn't worked. These new tips, though, I haven't tried yet. So in case they DO actually work to heal senioritis, I decided to share these cures with you.

Do something new

One reason seniors get senioritis is that they fall into a routine and everything just seems so boring. So do something new with your life. Play a new sport, take up a new hobby, take a trip to the beach, whatever... The novelty will make everything seem fresh and cool to you.

Guide the freshmen

Be a role model. Show them the ropes of how to handle high school. Tell them how to balance fun and work in a way that really works. Teach them what foods are edible in the cafeteria and what aren't. It's not every year when you're the oldest and wisest in school.

Hang out with others that have a bad case of senioritis

That way, you guys can suffer together. Just kidding! Surrounding yourself with people who understand exactly what you're going through will make you feel heaps better. And who knows? Maybe you can all push yourselves to get out of that sucky trench called senior year. Of course, this can all backfire and maybe you'll end up motivating each other to get even worse senioritis haha. To make a long story short, be cautious with this tip.

Graduate

This is the traditional cure for senioritis. And yes, there's absolutely no doubt that this cure works. It's worked for millions of high school seniors. So if the above tips don't end up working for you, I guess you'll have to wait till graduation, which actually isn't too far away.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Tammy McGary Read more »

I don't know if you've noticed, but I used to put up one blog post per day here at LTC, but recently, I've been more lazy about posting blog posts. Why? Well... I have senioritis. I can't find the motivation to do anything anymore. I just can't wait to graduate. I wish there was something I could do, but all I can do is wait for this stupid, lazy feeling to fade away. I've tried everything to motivate myself, but it's just not working. I just want to lie in my bed and stay there until senior year is over. But alas, that isn't something I can do. I can only wait. For those of you who also have senioritis... hang in there, guys! We can get through this together.

Just for fun's sake, I decided to list the various symptoms associated with senioritis.

Laziness

"Ain't nobody going to get me out of my bed today."

Physical decay

"Sweatpants and sweatshirts are my life. I don't even remember why I used to stress about getting changed for school. As for showers? Meh."

A lack of motivation

"Oh, yeah. I forgot that I had that paper due today. *stares at blank doc for two hours* Whatever. I'm not doing this."

A dismissive attitude

"Homework. Who the heck cares?"

Forgetfulness

"Ohhhh right. I forgot all about that musical rehearsal LOL... I was in the computer room looking for prom dresses."

Exhaustion

"I'm basically living on caffeine, but even still, I'm finding it so hard to focus on anything at all. Everything's just a fuzzy blur. *snores*"

Recognize yourself in this blog post? I do. Well, I better get back to rocking back and forth in my chair as I wait for graduation day. Blech.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Incase Read more »

Now I think I've already mentioned a billion times in previous posts that I am currently a high school senior applying to colleges in the US. Well, I wanted to take a break from all this stressful college stuff and decided to focus on high school, where I am right now.

Here are the things EVERY high school student should do before graduating:

Start a band

Come on! Everyone's dreamed of starting a band and jamming along to tunes and, y'know, participating in competitions and stuff. It doesn't matter if you sound horrible. The point of starting a band is to have fun.

Play a sport

No one. I repeat, NO ONE should sit still on their lazy bums and do nothing. Everyone should go out and play a sport. You can make amazing friends and have some of the best experiences of your life.

Get straight A's for at least one semester

It doesn't matter if you're naturally a C student or something. Work your butt off for just ONE short semester and get those elusive A's. It'll be fun to boast to people that you once got straight A's.

Get your driver's license

Now here's one item in the high school bucket list that I haven't accomplished yet. I have no money or time. Sobs. You people who are able to get driving licenses, think yourself lucky.

Go camping with your friends

Ah, memories. Going camping, starting a camp fire, eating marshmallows, playing around with fireworks... What's a better way to spend your vacations than among your friends and nature?

Ask your crush out

You heard me. Suck it up like a big girl and ask your crush out. You'll regret it if you don't. And if he ends up rejecting you, shrug it off. He's not worth it.

Go to prom

I seriously cannot wait for this year's prom. I couldn't go last year due to stupid SATs, but this year, nothing's going to stop me from dressing like a princess for the night! Prom is something EVERY high school student should experience whether you have a date or not.

Be weird

Yes, be weird. You won't have many excuses to be weird when you're older, so do it all now when you're young and free! After all, you're only young once.


-Barista Mia-

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Most of us don't have time to have breakfast. We know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but with waking up taking about 30 minutes and choosing clothes taking another 30 minutes, plus makeup, packing bags and all that stuff, it's really hard to find time to stuff some food into our stomachs. But do not fear! There are many different types of breakfast you can have with very, very little (if any) preparation.

Fruit

Just grab a fruit on your way to school or work and chomp it down. I personally like to have an apple for breakfast when I'm in a hurry. It's easy to eat and it fills me up.

Cereal

A bowl, milk, and cereal. That's it. Cereal is simple, tasty, and healthy.

Toast

All you have to do is put a slice of bread in the toaster, grab your favorite jam (Nutella or blueberry jam for me!), spread your warm toast with the jam, and voila. Breakfast in a minute just for you.

Smoothie

The fun part about making smoothies is that you can dump whatever you want into the mixer. If you don't know what to do, dump in banana, vanilla ice cream, a lot of sugar, and some milk into the mixer and mix it up. It's really good! Smoothies are an easy and delicious breakfast to have for any busy day.

Starbucks

Ah, Starbucks. What will we ever do without it? Go to the nearest Starbucks and grab a bagel plus a drink to start your day. A perfect breakfast.


-Barista Mia-

Image: John Herschell Read more »

There are times when we just feel absolutely exhausted. We have no motivation to do anything and we feel like crawling into a ball and sleeping until we die. Unfortunately, this is not an option for many of us. We still have stuff to do no matter how annoying it is. So what are some things that we can do when we're utterly burned out and exhausted?

Sleep

Sleep is the best medicine, they say. And it's true. When you're feeling burned out, rest your mind a bit. Give yourself some rest

Eat healthy

Believe it or not, but eating healthy can make even the laziest person in the world feel good. It's the same case for people who are burned out. Your head will feel lighter and you will feel happier after you start eating healthier.

Exercise

Exercising really clears the mind in my opinion. When I'm feeling a little burned out, I always go outside with my badminton racket and play a game with someone.

Say no

One reason people get burned out is that they have way too many things on their plate. So when someone asks a favor or tells you to do something and you KNOW that doing that certain thing will put a lot more baggage on your shoulders, say no.

Don't give up

Feeling burned out isn't the end of the world no matter how much it feels like it. Don't give in to lack of motivation and don't accept defeat. After all, this is a battle between you and your mind. In the wise words of Dory, "Just keep swimming."


-Barista Mia-

Image: Michael Dorokhov Read more »

Skinny Jeans

Every girl needs a pair of skinny jeans in their closet. No girl can be complete without it. They go with literally every single thing! A lifesaver in fashion emergencies, for sure.

Print Jeans

You need to be extremely careful when you're picking out print jeans for you to wear. Make sure they fit you and your style and make sure they don't look like PJs on you. If you've got these tips under control, you'll have a fun pair of jeans to wear whenever you feel like going a little hyper with your style for the day.

Bootcut Jeans

They make your legs look long. End of story.

Color Jeans

I personally have electric blue jeans right now. Once, I had pink. Next, I think I want to go for mint green jeans. I really, really love colored jeans as you can see. They make a boring outfit look absolutely awesome.

High-Waisted Jeans

There. I said it. I know many people would want to burn these type of jeans, but I think there's a way to get them to work. First, make sure your butt fills in the back of your jeans. Second, work 'em.


-Barista Mia-

Image: Maria Morri Read more »

Our first college decisions have started to arrive! This is an exciting process. I mean, all that waiting is finally over! At least, that's what we thought. Some of us open our decisions, our hearts beating like crazy, and what'd'ya know... we've been placed on the waitlist. A deluge of emotions start to wash over us. Relief, disappointment, and lastly, disbelief. We have to wait another two to three months for our final results?! Oh, heck no. But alas, this is our fate. But then, what can we do about this bubble called the waitlist? Is there anything we can do about it?

Well, first...

Express your interest in the school

Send an email to your regional admissions officer of the school(s) you've been waitlisted at. Make it heartfelt, but don't go overboard. Write about why you want to go to said college, program, or whatever. Basically, write a "Why This School" essay and send it.

Then...

Send updates

Keep in contact with your admissions officer. Whenever you get an A in something, receive a type of award... it's time to send an email. Don't become a pest though. You don't want your admissions officer thinking you're annoying, which gives him/her a reason to reject you in the end.

And finally...

Pretend it's a rejection and move on

Truth be told, getting off the waitlist is... difficult. Don't be overly optimistic and think that you have a great chance of getting in. Focus on your other schools instead. If you eventually get rejected, oh well. You've already moved on, so it won't matter for you anymore. And if you get accepted. Whoop! An awesome surprise just for you!


-Barista Mia-

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I'm probably one of the worst sleepers out there. I find it extremely difficult to fall asleep even though I am super tired. I just lie on my bed for hours, thinking about the meaning of life, my crush, and other weird stuff like that. Of course, to fix my dilemma, I tried so many different tricks and tips to fix my sleepless nights, and after three years of experimentation, I think I finally know which tricks and which tips work best in helping me to fall asleep.

Get cozy

Pretty straightforward, eh? But there's no better trick up there to help you fall asleep than to get cozy. It's pretty cold in my room, so I jump into my bed at night, crawl underneath my thick blanket, and make myself super comfortable in my bed.

Use up every inch of your energy

Sounds tiring? You bet! And that's the whole point. Go exercise, go run around on errands, go hang out with friends. Do everything that will make you exhausted by the end of the day so that you'll just collapse on your bed.

Set a wake up time and a bed time

Yeah, yeah. You're too old for that stuff, but guess what? Setting the time to go to bed and the time to get off the bed to start the day really help.

Don't be hungry

So I was on a diet a while back and I decided to eat absolutely nothing after six. Every night during that diet, I thought I would never be able to go to dreamland. All I could think about was how hungry I was and how many hours I had to wait til breakfast. In the end, I gave up on that particular diet. The lesson? Don't go to bed hungry.

Avoid drinking too much liquid in the evening

Do I really need to explain why?


-Barista Mia-

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Jealousy is inevitable. I myself have felt it for two different reasons just this week. I'm not usually the type to get jealous as I have a pretty optimistic approach to life, but I just couldn't handle it this week. Sigh. First, one of my closest friends got accepted to a school that we both applied to, but I ended up getting waitlisted. I honestly was pretty happy about the waitlist as this is a top-tier school, but after hearing that my friend had gotten in... well, let's just say the green-eyed monster inside of me didn't really like it. Second... um... this is a more personal thing so I'll keep quiet about this one.

I hate feeling jealous. I really do. I feel nasty. I mean, why the heck am I jealous of my friend for getting in when I should be congratulating her from the bottom of my heart (I am happy that she got in, but the jealousy's messing up my emotions). Anyway, I looked for ways to kill the jealousy that is killing me inside and I came up with a list of tips. I feel heaps better now and hopefully, if you feel jealous about something right now, you will too.

Treat yourself

Go shopping, take a nice bath, whatever. Just make yourself happy so that you forget about who and what you're jealous of. There's one CON to this method, though: As soon as you're done treating yourself, there's a possibility that your jealousy might spew back out.

Count your blessings

A surefire way to stop your jealousy. Instead of focusing on what you DON'T have. Look at what you DO have.

Distract yourself

I distracted myself by reading a hundred different books. Okay. Not a hundred. But I did read three books so far.

Write, shout or sing it out

Believe it or not, but when you write, shout, or sing about how you're feeling and such, you're going to feel so much better.

Be nice to the person you are jealous of

*snort* Yeah, right. But seriously. When you're nice to the person you're jealous of, you're going to forget how jealous you are of him/her. Give that person a present, hang out with that person, strike a friendly conversation with that person. Make that person happy and you will be happy too as weird as that sounds.


-Barista Mia-

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