Read This If You Want Study Motivation!

List of products and little tips that have made my skin (and my life) better pt. 2🌸

once again, this turned out way longer than expected, but this particular post doesn’t have as many product recommendations as pt. 1. this is more focused on tips that, i feel, make me a better version of myself

*the links show the brands i use but there are cheaper options you can find that work just as well

• shower at least two times a day.

• after showering at night use a pumice stone to remove dead skin from your feet then coat your feet with shea butter and put on socks overnight.

• have a diy manicure weekly. even if you dont paint your nails, make sure theyre clean and trimmed (or get your nails done professionally, whatever floats your boat.

• floss.

• y’all know im a natural ho when it comes to things i put in or on my body. ive always struggled with my teeth. they were yellow asf and i didn’t like it (if you dont care if your teeth are yellow and love them that way, kudos for you, i am not). i tried turmeric, oil pulling method, banana peels, strawberries, charcoal, baking soda… basically everything and it didnt work (these may work for some but they didn’t for me) so i bought crest strips and bitch. for $22 i have the whitest teeth ive ever had. it may not work for everyone but it did for me(ik that some dentists and orthodontists offer whitening services but my mom had it done and she has had sensitive gums ever since so due it at your own discretion).

• for fucks sake. clean. your. damn. ears. theres this beautiful invention called Q-Tips. use them.

• NEVER look at the floor while walking. look straight forward. if you make eye contact with a stranger, smile. this shows confidence and tbh i hate it when people, specially attractive girls, give you a nasty look. just smile. youll look good and possibly even male someones day.

• again, eye contact is hot. make eye contact. always.

• be polite and friendly. when entering a place say “good morning”, when leaving say “have a nice/good afternoon/evening”.

• your back should always be straight. posture is attractive.

• wake up early. (i usually wake up at six, go to the gym and in my opinion its the best way to start your day. ik its not for everyone but if you can, do so).

• do not. DO. NOT. drink sodas. its bad for you. plain and simple. drink water.

• try to get in 8 hours at the gym weekly. you dont have to go the 7 days but if you to two hours a day and have rests days in between youll be good. (before someone starts talking shit, im not saying to do two hours of cardio. nope. you do you. you can do 30 minutes of cardio and do weights or mat exercises for the remaining time. i usually do 1 hour of cardio and 1 hour of whatever i feel like doing (legs, arms, abs… sometimes i’ll combine them))

• i developed the bad habit of weighing myself everyday and im currently going to the gym and trying to lose weight so it’s frustrating if i dont lose as much as i wanted or stay the same weight. so if you can, try to weigh yourself only once a week. this is a tip im trying to apply to myself because obsessing over one’s weight is just unhealthy.

• if you part your hair, make sure the line is straight, not necessarily centralized.

• i have curly hair and my life has been a constant cycle of buying different hair products bc none of them ever seem to work but ive been using shea butter mixed with vanilla oil and damn. my hair has never looked/smelled better.

• own nice pjs. you never know if theres an emergency and you have to run out of your house with what you’re wearing. (i dont sleep with clothes so i just keep my silk robe near my bed whenever i go to sleep)

• this goes for underwear too. if you have hispanic parents you know what im talking about. (i don’t believe in period underwear. fight me.)

• please. please. always match your bra and panties. i was at the mall the other day and saw a woman bend over and her panties where beige……. her bra straps were black. just no. (im not saying i have a problem with seeing bra straps. but just make sure theyre the same color as your underwear.)

• get your hair professionally cut at least twice a year. if you can cut your own hair and not butcher it while doing it go ahead!

• stop eating foods you know bloat you.

• if you want to lose weight, dont focus on doing targeted exercises like crunches and squats. Do cardio. (not saying that you shouldn’t squat once in a while, but cardio helps you loose weight while targeted/focused excersices tone)

• if you happen to go to Planet fitness and want to shed a few pounds. use the Arc Trainer. its the best machine for weight loss.

• dont use setting powder after concealing your eyelids (gotta thank my girl daisy marquez i love her)

• when buying gift sets at sephora, only buy hair/skin care sets (a friend of mine used to work at sephora and said only to do so if you wanted to try certain products for the first time bc its not really cost effective)

• y’all gotta stop sleeping on stores like marhsalls and tjmaxx when you can be saving loads of money (ask an employee which day of the week they put out new merch)

• invest in silk sheets (trust me if/when you shave your legs you’ll know what heaven feels like)

• make a cup of tea and sit down and enjoy a book

• the B E S T brand for lip balms is burt bees. i love the peppermint one but they are all truly good.

• buy a diva cup. they are comfortable. cost effective. personally i dont like having to change my pad every 2-3 hours and a diva cup can be used for up to 12 hours. i changed like 5 times a day during my cycle while wearing pads and now i change around 15 times per cycle. you have to be absolutely comfortable with your body, especially your vagina to start wearing them tbh (diva cups come in two sizes i believe model 1 model 2 i bought both because my first two days are my heaviest flows. so during the first days i use the biggest one and use the small the rest of the cycle.) if you want me to make a post about my experience wearing them let me know!

• castor oil hair mask every two weeks.

• invest in scrub gloves for life changing, smooth skin. (although i shower 2-3 times a day i only scrub at night then coat my whole body with shea butter) \ let me know if y’all want my night routine merged with my boob/butt care routine in another post!

• get a journal/agenda and plan your week (i got this bullet journal)

• always make your bed in the morning

• if you like someones outfit, tell them. if you like someones smile. tell them. give compliments every once in a while.

• dont judge people’s clothing, specially if they’re fat and youre thinking some shit like “theres types of clothes for those type of bodies”. just shut the fuck up. i do agree that there are types of clothes for every ocasion but not for bodies. if you, a skinny girl, can wear a crop top in public, so can a fat girl. (this coming from someone who used to be very fat and stopped wearing crop tops in public bc of mean ass bitches)

• if youre in an office, wether it be a doctors or some government office or whatever, dont be talking loudly on the phone. me and the rest of the population hate you if you do this. it’s annoying and rude. nobody cares if your sisters bestfriends boyfriend had sex with a dog. i really dont care. if you HAVE to talk on the phone, quietly exit the room and talk all you want.

• a friend of mine (a girl) told me that she doesnt hold the door for anyone, and i mean ANYONE, bc she’s a lady. thats bullshit. if you see a woman with a stroller, an old lady, or basically anyone, hold the door for them. its plain rude for you to let the door slam in someones face bc you believe everyone should treat you like a lady. (im not sayin they shouldn’t but act like a lady, not a bitch)

• iron your clothes.

• never use your phone at the table.

• dont point out acne or sun burns.

• if youre a vegan or vegetarian or eat, protein shakes are always a good breakfast option if youre in a hurry or dont want to cook

• if you have acne scars mix an egg white and an apricot in the blender. thank me later.

• buy african black soap for better skin. (if you have sensitive skin i wouldn’t recommend it tbh)

• if youre at the gym: fucking wear appropriate attire. (ive seen girls with jean shorts and flannels wrapped around their waists… i get that some girls wear red lipstick to feel hot and theres nothing wrong with that. but dont lie to me and say that you’re comfortable running with jeans rubbing against your thighs. everyone is probably judging you.)

• always tip your waiters/waitresses. if the service is good tip atleast 15%. (i always tip 20% / if you have a favorite restaurant and you like a particular waiter/waitress ask for them to serve you. its more likely youll get a better service.) whenever i go to my favorite restaurant the same guy always comes to my table and we chat. he memorized what appetizers, main courses, and desserts my family usually orders so when i go there hes like “welcome to *****, 2 lemonades and a room temp bottle water?” and same goes for appetizers and the rest of the meal. always be friendly to your waiters/waitresses. always.

• smile more often and remember self-care isn’t selfish.

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im sorry this took so long to post… i hope some of these are helpful. reblog if you’d like to see a pt. 3¿? theres not much more to add but i constantly change products and routines so who knows.

Constantly reminding that this body is fighting for you to be alive.

Stop belittling yourself.

Things You Don't Comment On:

- someone’s eating habits

- appearance issues that can’t be fixed there and then

- someone else’s “bad” decision if it can’t now be undone

- someone’s laugh or voice

- someone’s “unrealistic” dreams

- someone “not looking their best” in photos

- someone not wanting to do something and trying to subtly avoid it without making a fuss

- anything that you know will make someone self conscious or insecure unnecessarily

Every “failure” is a lesson

We’re praised for our successes but we rarely see someone having a positive attitude towards failing. Quite early on we learn to fear failure, even though it’s a part of life. We will always fail at something. Sometimes we might fail at everything.

We have to accept failures and what’s more, we have to see them as learning opportunities. Our success teaches us very little and rarely so but mistakes always teach us something as long as you are willing to learn that lesson.

Next time you fail at something or do something wrong, don’t beat yourself up about it. That does nothing. Find the lesson, figure out what you did wrong and then promise yourself you won’t do it again. Then move on. There’s nothing else to do but move on.

See the failure as a learning opportunity even before you fail. Take more chances, use your opportunuties, because you either succeed or you learn. Things are far less scary when you gain something from either outcome.

Do you have tips to becoming more lady like/classy ?

(Keep in mind that this is simply from my own perspective and everyone’s definition of what is considered “classy” and “ladylike” varies.)

1. No drama! Classy women do not participate in drama or messy behavior of any kind. Of course, this doesn’t apply to serious matters like being threatened or assaulted or any kind of situation where your safety is at risk. Pick your battles wisely. Sometimes it is more than okay to say “You know what? I’m too grown for this.” Or “I’m too classy for this.” The last thing you want is your name attached to some mess that you could’ve simply chosen to ignore and not participate in. This goes for gossip as well. There are some celebrities who never have anything to say about anyone. Even when they’re asked outright, they’re smart about avoiding the question. What’s the point?

2. Discretion, discretion, discretion. When I think of women in the media who I consider to be classy and ladylike, they have several things in common, but the main one is that they’re discreet. They’re very careful about what they say, how they say it, and how they move in the public eye. Yes, I might consider them to be very ladylike individuals, but in truth, I really know nothing about them. The generic information like education and background and such might be out there for me to see, but when it comes to their personal life and ideals and opinions, I know next to nothing. And that’s how it should be! The whole world does not need to know your business or what you think of every insignificant thing that’s popular at the moment.

3. Time and place! Some people will tell you that classy women don’t listen to rap or rock or whatever other music they’ve deemed off limits to ladylike individuals, but I disagree. I think the true definition of class is knowing there is a time and place for everything. This goes for any kind of media you consume or any kind of way you choose to enjoy yourself. There’s no law on class that says you shouldn’t let loose and have fun, because you certainly can! As long as it’s understood that certain behaviors are not for certain spaces.

4. Manners! I cannot stress this enough, but manners will take you far. Make “please” and “thank you” a regular part of your vocabulary. Offer condolences to people you know who need it. Send thank you cards to people who have been a great help to you. Check on those close to you here and there. Be polite and show that you are a thankful individual.

5. This is sort of an extension of part 4, but be mindful of the things you say. Do not be the kind of person who only says things out of anger that you know you will regret hours later. Be respectful to those you love even if you’re mad at them (obviously this doesn’t apply to truly toxic and abusive situations but more so petty arguments that, in the grand scheme of things, really do not matter all that much). Even in more tame discussions, you don’t always have to say what’s on your mind. If it isn’t going to help someone, then ask yourself why you feel the need to say it? Furthermore, if there is something you feel needs to be said, there’s a way to be honest without being rude. Now yes, in some situations, you can’t spare someone else’s feelings. This is the truth, but there’s a way to stand your ground and get your point across without being malicious and ugly about it.

6. Carry yourself well. You’re poised and always put together and you’re articulate in how you express your thoughts. Please keep in mind that I do not mean you speak perfect and fluent English or anything like that. In my eyes, someone with broken English who knows more than one language will always be above a native English speaker who only knows English (sorry not sorry). You take the time to think about what you’re going to say before you say it so that you are heard and understood. You walk with confidence and hold your head high. You have wonderful etiquette.

7. Cut back on vulgarity. It’s going to ruffle some feathers, but I don’t consider constant swearing to be ladylike. I myself have stopped swearing as much as I used to. I really only swear in the privacy of my own home and it’s here and there (usually when I mess something up or hurt myself 😭). Let my coworkers tell it, I never swear, and the thought of me cursing doesn’t even sound right to them. Out in public, there’s also a way to say certain things. If I’m at a company dinner or something, I’m not going to tell everyone I need to go pee or do number 2 🤢 I’m going to politely say I need to excuse myself or as my aunt likes to say “I need to use the ladies room”. In addition, if you can’t get your point across without yelling, then you need to re-evaluate that. Again, this does not apply to truly toxic and abusive situations, but simple discussions and disagreements. You should be able to convey what you’re trying to say in a calm and respectful manner.

8. You mind your business! I do not mean in the selfish way of being unconcerned with the hardships your loved ones are facing, but I mean out and about. You’re not judging some random woman on what she’s wearing or some man on how he’s eating. You’re focused on yourself. If you’ve ever seen Gilmore Girls, there’s an episode in the first season when Dean first approaches Rory, and he tells her that he absolutely had to get to know her because he saw her reading a book one day, and all the while, there was a commotion with a fight and an ambulance and this whole big thing that captured everyone’s attention, but the entire time, she did not look up from that book even once. Now I’m not saying you have to be that extreme, because if there’s a fire or something serious, you need to know so you can skedaddle. But don’t always concern yourself with what everyone else is doing or how they’re behaving. Focus on your food, focus on your book, focus on your podcast. Just focus on you!

You need to understand that studying requires extensive training. Study habits, amount of sleep, timing. Therefore, you should see it as a sport. In order to get better you need to repeat and practice. Your brain needs to be recited all this information for long term memory. It's a hard process, I know, but trust me you'll get there.

this is so important 🙌

If you’re constantly doubting who God is, it’s because you’re allowing life to speak louder than truth.

“Can I tell you a secret? You don’t have to be in a relationship. I mean it. I know they force it down your throat until you choke on it. Girls aren’t pretty unless they’re wanted. Boys aren’t men unless they’re having sex with someone. People aren’t lovable until they’re dating someone. But a relationship won’t always make you happy, and as wonderful as romance is, it isn’t the only love that exists. I have seen friendships that are deeper and more pure than couples who swear it’s forever - and yet the friendship is the one people ignore. I have heard so often “nobody loves me” out of the mouths of people who are single. And it kills me because if you ask them: where are your parents, your teachers, your classmates, your pets - they say, yes, okay, but it doesn’t count. Of course it counts, love doesn’t diminish just because someone doesn’t want to have sex with you. In fact, doesn’t it sort of make that love more real that they want nothing - not even a date - out of you? It is pretty to be in love. It’s magical, I’m sure. But it’s also wonderful to stop for ice cream in your prom dress with six other girls. It’s also wonderful to go visit the world with nothing but a bunch of buddies who are really excited about learning. The problem is: we’ve made everything about “the one”. But maybe “the one” is just you, loving yourself, having fun, and being happy. Maybe instead of looking for our other halves, we should be piecing ourselves together. Maybe I wasn’t born unfinished. Maybe I am the one who makes myself better.”

— Single serving size // r.i.d

The problem is a lot of people are scared to fail. They opt for not doing anything at all so their ego doesn’t get hurt. If you can’t risk failing you’ll never win. How can you commit to anything & succeed if you can’t even commit to yourself & conquer your feelings.

Advice your mother should’ve given you.

Stick by your word and stand firm with your boundaries. Don’t allow people to poke, probe, and push your limits, boundaries, and no zones after you told them not to. Don’t be fooled, all people need is one warning to get the memo that something is off limits, but no one will respect a person who is all talk and no action. Put action behind your words, no one will take your words seriously if you don’t, empty threats get you nowhere. People only continue trying you when they know/think they can get away with it. Say it with me, first times a warning, second times a done deal. Don’t disrespect yourself by going against your boundaries and personal code.