In case you didn’t catch that, I just informed you of an effective tooth-whitening kit [ ...continue reading ]]]> A wise little girl once sang, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” Personally, as a girl who loves to laugh, I agree. It is incredibly important to take good care of your teeth, considering that they are one of the most important aspects of a smile (not to mention the eating process). This is why I tried out the Rembrandt Dental Care set. It’s a simple twice-a-day toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash combination that not only whitens your teeth but also strengthens the enamel.

In case you didn’t catch that, I just informed you of an effective tooth-whitening kit that is good for your pearly whites and doesn’t involve wearing any mouth gear or tooth strips for extended amounts of time. It’s barely even an adjustment to the everyday tooth-care schedule at all. And if you already use mouthwash, it’s no adjustment at all. The only catch is that because there is fluoride in the mouthwash, you can’t eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after using it. In reality this isn’t a very big deal, though, since most people brush their teeth after meals and not before.

After using the set for the last few weeks, my teeth feel healthier and look whiter. Maybe not movie-star white, but they’re definitely smile-worthy (not that I had yellow teeth before). Considering that teeth are something you wear everyday, I think that they’re something worth investing in and taking special care of. So go on and make your dentist and personal paparazzi proud. Try this new minty-fresh tooth-care set. You won’t stop smiling after you do!

My pearly whites now!

I often forget that my MakeMagic Twist is meant to be jewelry, as I find myself playing with it all of the time. It’s a convertible bracelet/necklace, and it morphs into different shapes, giving its owner the freedom to wear it in different ways. This versatile piece of jewelry is quite cool, as it changes from a simple necklace to a thick bracelet, to whatever you design. Mine is a distressed coppery/gold color, one of my personal favorite colors for accessories for wearing day to day.

In my dorm, I keep my MakeMagic Twist [ ...continue reading ]]]> Not Your Average Accessory:

I often forget that my MakeMagic Twist is meant to be jewelry, as I find myself playing with it all of the time. It’s a convertible bracelet/necklace, and it morphs into different shapes, giving its owner the freedom to wear it in different ways. This versatile piece of jewelry is quite cool, as it changes from a simple necklace to a thick bracelet, to whatever you design. Mine is a distressed coppery/gold color, one of my personal favorite colors for accessories for wearing day to day.

In my dorm, I keep my MakeMagic Twist bracelet out in the open, and it tends to be quite the conversation starter—usually with boys. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a boy so interested in any other form of jewelry, or so accepting of the fact that they are playing with jewelry once they discover what the thing is that they are holding. Yes, it is meant to be an accessory, but it also serves as a reasonably entertaining knickknack. I think this is the purpose of such a morphable item. It’s a cute accessory, a conversation starter, an entertaining object and more. And the best part is, it accomplishes all of this while looking cute (most likely its No. 1 purpose).

Milk and Honey Shoes

Needless to [ ...continue reading ]]]> Shoes—the thing taking up possibly the most room in my college dorm, yet the thing I will never feel I have enough of. They’re wonderful.  For me, sometimes putting on a hot pair of shoes is all it takes to turn a bad mood or bad day around. The thing is though, I often have the issue of not being able to find the exact shoes I have in mind for a certain outfit when I go out shopping at the stores… a common problem of shoe connoisseurs around the world.

Milk and Honey Shoes

Needless to say, I was more than interested when I heard of the website Milk and Honey Shoes, which is, as the name suggests, every shoe lover’s Promised Land. On this website, women can design virtually any fabulous shoe they want—there is a “Design Your Own” section, which is supplemented by an “Inspiration Gallery.” For the less creative but still adventurous type, there is a “Ready to Wear” section. Oh, and if you’re into being eco-friendly, or concerned with purchasing animal-friendly goods, they’ve got you covered!

It really is shoe heaven. From pumps to flats to platforms to sandals, this site has it all. If you want hot pink, peep-toed, Mary Janes… you can make them. Or gold sequined flats. Or zebra-print pointy-toed pumps with piping—whatever your little heart desires in a shoe. As crazy or as average as you’d like. Literally. If you want something outside of the listed design options, you can special order it. Never again should a girl have to go to a special occasion in less-than-special shoes.

For those of us who are in college, a.k.a girls who are not rollin’ in the dough, this website isn’t quite as attainable for the average themed party, seeing as shoes run around $250. But hey, a girl can window shop right? I, for one, came across the website in my newfound wedding blog obsession. It’s comforting to know that when I’m planning my special day (many years from now!) there will be a place I can go to get the exact pair of shoes I want to rock at my wedding. And hey, maybe another for the reception! For now, though, it’s a fun place to go online and play with the different options as I create unique pairs of shoes. It’s the perfect way to take a study break!

http://www.milkandhoneyshoes.com/index.php

Milk and Honey Shoes: A Dream Come Shoe

College Sorority - more than a support system!

As I’ve explained in previous posts, I’ve always considered myself more of a guy’s girl growing up. Lately however, life seems to be pounding the idea [ ...continue reading ]]]> “Sisterhood is many things. It’s a warm smile on a cold and rainy day, a friendly hug, a cheerful hello…It’s all that a good and lasting friendship is, only better. It’s treasured. It’s sacred. It’s knowing that there will always be someone there for you. It’s dreams shared, and goals achieved. It’s counting on others and being counted on. It is real.” —Anonymous

College Sorority - more than a support system!

As I’ve explained in previous posts, I’ve always considered myself more of a guy’s girl growing up. Lately however, life seems to be pounding the idea of sisterhood into me. The latest part of this journey has been my going through the sorority rush process at my college. A few years ago, if you told me I was going to be joining a sorority when I went to college, I probably would have told you that you were crazy and then quickly pointed out the fact that although my best friends were girls, the majority of the people I spent my time with were boys. But now, I find myself excitedly looking forward to joining a sorority at the culmination of the recruitment process. Not only that, but I have thoroughly enjoyed each day of the process so far, as I realize more and more that sisterhood is truly a special thing.

There’s something about having a group of girls that you connect and bond with that is particularly extraordinary. It may sound silly when girls say they love their specific sorority because they feel comfortable showing up to the house in their worst state on a bad day. But when you step back to think about this, it becomes an idea that anyone would love to have be a real part of his or her life. Feeling comfortable and accepted without feeling like you need to impress anyone is rare. Furthermore, a good support system is priceless, especially in college where stress has a reputation of running high. Obviously, I’m excited to enter this new phase of my life, and I hope every girl out there can find her own support system, sorority or not, that she draws as much meaning out of as well.

Sisters

I’ve been in college now for less time than I spent filling out applications, and I can already say it was time well spent. The stress of taking standardized tests, addressing countless envelopes, spending hours looking into colleges across the country and writing essays that portrayed the essence of who I am in about 300 words all got me to where I am today. Although I am glad that I don’t have to do it again, I am so thankful I did it then. The stress and hard work has paid off tenfold, and I’m only [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Sisters

I’ve been in college now for less time than I spent filling out applications, and I can already say it was time well spent. The stress of taking standardized tests, addressing countless envelopes, spending hours looking into colleges across the country and writing essays that portrayed the essence of who I am in about 300 words all got me to where I am today. Although I am glad that I don’t have to do it again, I am so thankful I did it then. The stress and hard work has paid off tenfold, and I’m only four weeks into classes.

So to all you high school seniors, or even the younger ones starting to test out the college waters, hang in there! It’s more than worth it. Take your college apps seriously, and give them the time they deserve. I know how much of a hassle it can be, but I am starting to see the benefits. You will soon, too. Trust me when I say that college is a magical experience. As the president of my school likes to say, it’s the last time in life when you can be “irresponsible responsibly.” It’s a time to meet different types of people and try things that you have never even considered before.

Before I get ahead of myself, though, let’s get back to high school for a minute. If I can give you only one piece of advice that you’ll take to heart, I hope it’s this: DO EVERYTHING! Seriously, go to all the dances, games, charity events, plays, parties and other miscellaneous events that you can work into your schedule. Especially those special senior events. If it sounds lame, make it fun! Spend time with and support your friends. Make new friends (it’s never too late). In short, live it up. Enjoy being young and relatively carefree; I mean, it’s not like you’re paying the mortgage. Life isn’t that tough yet. And, hey, at the end of all these things, you have college to look forward to. What more could you ask for?

Sisters going to college now!

Recently, I made the cross-country trip from Orange County to New York City to visit my older sister. Needless to say, it was amazing. Not only did I get to see my sister, whom I miss constantly when we are apart, but I also got to do it in one of the coolest (in my opinion) cities in the world.

I took a red-eye flight, complete with a three-hour layover, to get there, so I was pretty exhausted at the beginning of the adventure. Luckily, after catching up on some sleep, I was able to immerse myself in [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Recently, I made the cross-country trip from Orange County to New York City to visit my older sister. Needless to say, it was amazing. Not only did I get to see my sister, whom I miss constantly when we are apart, but I also got to do it in one of the coolest (in my opinion) cities in the world.

I took a red-eye flight, complete with a three-hour layover, to get there, so I was pretty exhausted at the beginning of the adventure. Luckily, after catching up on some sleep, I was able to immerse myself in the magic of the city. Every corner you turn has something new and interesting to offer. In Southern California, we drive everywhere, so when you go out, you leave with a purpose and destination. Although it took some convincing, my sister and her fellow NYC buddies were able to open my eyes to the beauty of walking just to walk. I now know that the world is full of amazing things if you’re willing to take the time to walk and discover them.

One of my walking adventures took place on Monday, when my sister had to go to work. I ventured out into the subway system on my own and met her boyfriend for lunch in Central Park. (So cool! Everyone should do it at some point.) After that I walked about 20 blocks (past Bryant Park!!) to meet my sister at work. A walk that may seem long at home went by pretty quick, as there was so much to look at.

Gabs, my sister, works for Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, which happens to be the headquarters for The Sisterhood. By visiting my sister at work, I also got the opportunity to meet another “sister,” Evelyn. It’s always fun to meet someone you’ve heard a lot about for the first time. It was also cool that two girls from different sides of the country can come together and form a friendship. I guess that’s really what The Sisterhood is all about: bringing girls together.

I’m home again now, and I absolutely love it here, with the warm weather and beaches, but I can’t wait to go back to NYC sometime soon to see my sister and all my new friends!

I tend to forget how important girlfriends are in life. I’m friends with mostly boys and spend a lot of my time with them. But when it comes down to it, I have a core group of girls who mean the world to me. They’re the ones who would be there for me at 3 in the morning if I needed something. They’re the ones who know me to the core.

Last night the seven of us girls went to Color Me Mine for a girls’ [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Photo taken by Tori S.

I tend to forget how important girlfriends are in life. I’m friends with mostly boys and spend a lot of my time with them. But when it comes down to it, I have a core group of girls who mean the world to me. They’re the ones who would be there for me at 3 in the morning if I needed something. They’re the ones who know me to the core.

Last night the seven of us girls went to Color Me Mine for a girls’ night. This is a place where you paint ceramic objects (from plates to picture frames to figurines) and they get fired and all that good stuff, and you pick them up about a week later. We decided that instead of just making things for ourselves, we would do a Secret Santa–ish thing and draw names out of a bowl and make something for one of our besties. I decided to make a mug for my friend McKenna since she will have her own apartment next year when she’s in L.A. for college. It was a special gift to be able to give her. The time we spent together was the best, most fun night I’ve had in a long time.

Lately, I have been overly stressed with school, moving and trying to choose a college, and spending a night with my best friends refreshed me. It was nice to just be with the people I love and be able to relax. We talked about things that were stressing us and laughed at silly things that only we would understand. It was perfect, and exactly what I needed. I really believe that you can get through anything with a solid group of friends by your side. A sisterhood is priceless.

So, girls, go out and spend some time with your best friends—you won’t regret it. It’s a good way to remember how blessed you truly are. And, hey, even if you aren’t all headed off to different places around the country for college next year, the time you have to spend with friends should still be treasured.

Often in class I find myself counting down the minutes until the bell rings. On Mondays, I tell myself Friday will be here again soon. The other day my friend and I counted up the days of school left in our senior year. We were shocked to find that there are less than 65. This got me thinking…why am I so anxious for time to pass quickly?

This is my senior year of high school. I should be soaking up every second, not wishing them away. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way unsatisfied with the [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Often in class I find myself counting down the minutes until the bell rings. On Mondays, I tell myself Friday will be here again soon. The other day my friend and I counted up the days of school left in our senior year. We were shocked to find that there are less than 65. This got me thinking…why am I so anxious for time to pass quickly?

This is my senior year of high school. I should be soaking up every second, not wishing them away. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way unsatisfied with the course my life is taking at the moment, and I’m a generally happy-go-lucky girl. So what in the world is up with this obsession I’ve formed with countdowns? Why am I pressuring the proclaimed “best time of my life” to go by any faster than it absolutely has to?

Honestly, I have no idea. Life is crazy enough already. On Friday, February 12, our boys’ basketball team had a game. The next day I had a college interview in the morning, followed by winter formal at night, and it was my best friend’s 18^th birthday, which put me in bed around 4:30 a.m. Sunday was Valentine’s Day, which I got to spend with my boyfriend. Monday we had a “day off” that didn’t involve much relaxing. After that came four days of school (filled with countdowns to lunch or the end of the day). But when school ended Friday, the week was far from over as I ran to another college interview and then a basketball playoff game.

I guess what I’m trying to get across is that my life is hectic right now, and this is making my senior year fly by. There is really no need for my silly little countdowns.

Hence, I have come up with a resolution: to truly live life to the fullest, as cliché as that may sound. Life is short and tomorrow is never a guarantee, so it’s crucial to view the time we do get as a gift/blessing and make the most of every moment. Those classes that I count down the minutes to get through could really teach me some important things if I just let them. From now on, I’m going to live in the present and appreciate it. After all, you only live a moment once, and once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.

Posted by Tori S., age 18, California

Boys. The ones who question why it takes us so long to get ready. Also the ones we do it for.

One of my really good guy friends and I are really open with each other and talk about things that we wouldn’t say to other people. While he is a great guy, I’ve got to say, he’s shallow. But he knows this. A few days ago he informed me that some of my girlfriends are unattractive. When I fought him on this statement, he told me I think they’re cute because I know them and [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Boys. The ones who question why it takes us so long to get ready. Also the ones we do it for.

One of my really good guy friends and I are really open with each other and talk about things that we wouldn’t say to other people. While he is a great guy, I’ve got to say, he’s shallow. But he knows this. A few days ago he informed me that some of my girlfriends are unattractive. When I fought him on this statement, he told me I think they’re cute because I know them and they have good personalities. Boys totally care about looks. So why do they criticize the things we do to look good?

Example 1: On New Year’s Eve, I wasn’t ready when my boyfriend came to pick me up. In fact, he hung out with my family for a good 20 minutes before I was ready to go. We spent the car ride talking about why it takes girls so long to get ready, but the rest of the night he kept telling me how good I looked. I want to know what’s up with these mixed messages. Does he want me to look good or does he want me to get ready fast?

Example 2: My boyfriend says I look beautiful when I wake up in the morning. I think my hair’s a mess and my makeup from the day before is smeared. But when he wanted to come over the other day and I told him no because I was still in my pajamas, he said there was nothing wrong with that and that he wanted to see me. It reminded me of the line (which I happen to find adorable) in the Drake song “Best I Ever Had” that goes: “Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin’ with no makeup on/That’s when you’re the prettiest, I hope that you don’t take it wrong.”

I guess there’s just a balance to find. Boys don’t mind when we’re just comfy around them, but they like to see us put in the effort to get dressed up once in a while, too. Anyway, the effort we make to look good, at least in my case, isn’t just for the people looking at us. I do it for me. It feels good. And it’s fun. Who doesn’t love wearing a great pair of heels?