Study Smart: College Entrance Exam Preparation

Dun dun dun... college entrance exams!!

The dreaded college entrance exam is in three weeks and I don’t know about you but I’m already freaking out. The last thing I remember from review class is my review mate who finished a giant burger from Zarks. As if that would help…

My older sister is now a proud upcoming UP Diliman freshie and she was nice enough to give me study tips for the college entrance exams. Her way of studying might seem a bit too harsh but it was all worth it in the end. Heck, she passed every exam she took!

I hope this guide will be useful to you. I won’t post that frequently anymore since I’m preparing for college entrance exams myself.

God’s bless you on the UPCAT, ACET, DCET, and USTET =))

1. Allot 1 hour of review every day. After doing your homework, go through your old notebooks or review materials. Don’t allow yourself to go to sleep without reviewing for at least an hour. But if you’re too busy with afterschool activities…

2. Use the whole weekend as review day. Try to study for a good 12 hours, preferably 7 AM to 7 PM. After waking up, take a bath immediately, do some exercises for 10 minutes, then hit the books. If you really want to pass UP then you have to sacrifice your weekend plans. One of my teachers in MSA Katipunan suggested that we finish at least one of the seven modules each day.

3. Review with your friends. This is great if you and your friends went to different review centers. You will be able to share techniques and information that the other might not know.

4. Add a bit more importance to your course’s highlight subject. If you chose engineering (like me), brush up on your math skills and try to learn new techniques. If you chose pre-med, go through your science books and notebooks especially general science. If you chose business course, work on your history skills and read about current events (ehem DAP ehem). You get the picture.

5. Studying for 50 minutes then taking a 10 minute break is the most efficient way of studying. However don’t lie down on your bed or couch since you might fall asleep.

6. Snack smart. I recommend eating almonds or nuts since it’s a very light snack. Chewing actually boots your brainpower. Avoid sweets since the energy it gives you is temporary end you will feel lethargic after.

7. Don’t study the day before. Studying the day before will make you anxious and forget about everything that you studied.

8. Have a positive mindset. Before going to bed or after studying, imagine yourself in your first day in your dream school, walking in the hallway to your first class. Whatever we imagine sooner or later externalizes in our affair (The Game of Life)

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Psalm 128:2

DIY Wet to Dry Shampoo

I think we’ve all been in the situation where we woke up super late after a sleepless night thanks to a “group” project. Or you know maybe you’re just like me who is impossible to wake up in the morning. You don’t have time to wash your hair so you just throw it in a lazy bun so no one would notice your bed head hair.

Dry shampoo is a must-have product for you busy bumble bees and lazy girls. It removes dirt and grease in your roots and combats odor, leaving you with fresh looking and smelling hair. The best part is you don’t have to hop in the shower and wet your whole head. This product is also helpful for athletic girls who end up with limp and lifeless hair after varsity training.

I will show you a quick and inexpensive way to make your own dry shampoo. It’s very easy and you might already have some of the products at home.

(via beautylish.com)

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of cornstarch
• 4 tbsp of water
• 1 tbsp of rubbing alcohol or organic ethanol
• A few drops of peppermint or any essential oil of your choice for scent
• Small mixing bowl
• Small spray bottle (available at any Watsons branch)

Procedure

Combine everything in the small bowl then transfer the mixture to your spray bottle. If you want to use it, spray and massage the product to your roots then brush out the oil and gunk with a comb or brush.

You could also purchase one from Etude House for P448.

(via candymag.com)

(Source: http://www.beautylish.com/a/vxriy/diy-dry-shampoo-spray)

Simple & Easy Makeup for School

Part of being a prefect is being a role model to your fellow students. Besides following the school rules, we must also look well-groomed and presentable all the time. If you want to look prim and proper without slathering too much products on your skin, then this makeup tutorial is for you. This only takes about 10 minutes or less which is perfect for the busy-bees.

1. Start with a clean face. Make sure to wash your face twice a day to keep it healthy and pimple-free.

Calming Seed Cleanser, The Face Shop

2. Achieve an even complexion by applying BB cream or CC cream on your face. These two products are timesavers since you don’t need to apply moisturizer, sunblock, and foundation separately. Evenly spread to product all over your face with your clean hands or with a makeup sponge.

BB Cream, Myra
Dinoplatz Cinema City, Too Cool For School

3. To add some color to your face, apply cream blush on the apples of your cheeks. Blend it up to your temples. Make sure to blend well so it looks natural.

PhotoReady Cream Blush in Flushed, Revlon

4. Curl your lashes and apply lash lengthening mascara. Your lashes should look long and clean and you can also wear waterproof mascara to make the curl last longer. If you wear glasses, mascara is optional.

Eyelash curler, Makeup Factory
Lash Potion Mascara, Revlon

5. Finish the look with a lip stain or a tinted lip balm.

Lip and Cheek Stain, The Body Shop
Oh My Baby Lips Loves Color in Berry Crush, Maybelline

Nica's Essentials: Relaxing Rainy Day

School is fun, but sometimes I need a break from it all. I normally recharge over the weekend by sleeping in but this isn’t enough. That’s why I love suspended classes. I sometimes use this time to make up for missed homework or do my notes. Since it’s only 1^st Quarter, I don’t have that much to worry about. Except maybe of course the UPCAT and ACET.

Today I decided to unwind by blogging and showing you my essentials during a relaxing rainy day.

1. Tea or Hot Chocolate – Little known fact about me is that I am a tea addict. I always go for the Lipton Original Flavor Milk Tea to help calm me down.  If I’m feeling a little tired I would drink the Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows. C’mon, who doesn’t like a hot beverage during a rainy day?

2. Movies – I love watching movies on my laptop when it’s rainy. What I watch depends on my mood but my usual movies are the classics like Romeo and Juliet, Les Miserables, and Phantom of the Opera. If I’m really stressed, I watch animated films like How To Train Your Dragon and Rise of the Guardians. And yes, I ship Hijack.

3. Fuzzy socks – I don’t understand why my feet get cold first and I used to pile two to three socks just to keep them warm. (Don’t get me started on the number of socks I wear when I’m in Baguio) I got myself a pair of fuzzy socks and they do a pretty good job in keeping my little toes toasty and warm.

4. Books and magazines – If I’m not in the mood for a movie, I would flip through teen magazines like Candy and Seventeen or read teen novels.

5. Fluffy blanket – I love sleeping in during a cold rainy day. I would open up my bedroom door to let the wind in and curl up in my bed.

Spotify Playlists

• Your Favorite Coffeehouse
• Acoustic Lounge
• Acoustic Morning

Nica’s Pick 

• Baby Blue Eyes by A Rocket To The Moon
• Beautiful Day by Joshua Radin
• Color On The Walls (Don’t Stop) by Foster The People
• I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab For Cutie
• Naked As We Came by Iron & Wine
• Perfect Day by Collective Soul ft. Elton John
• The Mrs. & Me by The Rees Shad Band
• She Is Love (Acoustic Version) by Parachute
• Sunday Morning by Maroon 5
• The A Team by Ed Sheeran
• Whispers in the Dark by Mumford & Sons

5 Tips to Start a Healthy Lifestyle

Having a beach body and posting a picture of hotdog-like legs is a fad right now. I know that we GC (grade conscious) people with higher goals in life don’t have any intentions of attending the batch Bora at the end of the year. But eating healthy and exercising has a lot of benefits like better concentration, better mood, and better energy level.

A healthy mind should also have a healthy body.

Here are five tips to get you started.

1. Eat healthy, not less. Don’t starve yourself or eat inadequate amounts just to lose weight. This will confuse your body’s metabolism and increase your craving for junk food, eventually make you gain more weight. Don’t eat too much either or you’ll feel lethargic from being too full. Eat in moderate amounts.

2. Slowly incorporate healthy food to your daily diet. You can start with your snacks for school. Ask your mom to buy you yogurt and mixed nuts instead of the usual cookies and chips. If you buy snacks in school, check if your cafeteria sells fruits or other healthy food.

3. Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is very beneficial for your skin and helps you feel fresh until dismissal. You can zest up your water by adding lemon slices or frozen blueberries. Carry a water bottle with you in school especially if you’re going to have PE class.

3. Refrain from drinking coffee, carbonated drinks, pre-packed juices. Replace these with tea, fruit smoothies, and pressed juices. If you need an extra energy jolt for those late nights, drink tea or eat an apple instead of drinking coffee.

4. Get moving. Exercise at least 10-15 minutes in the morning after waking up. This improve your ability to concentrate during the day. Create your own routine or download a workout app. There are several apps available in the App Store and Google Play.

5. Move your feet. Avoid the temptation of talking the elevator if you’re only going two floors up or taking the car if you’ll only cover a short distance. Use the staircase to go your next class and walk or jog to school if you live close by.