It's Just Life

Top 3 Places To Visit During the Summer… On A Budget…

Ever find it hard to travel on a budget, especially during the summer months? Well, I am here to give you some ideas and inspiration on places that are fun and won’t break the bank!!

Location #1: The Beach

The beach is always a good idea. If you live near close to one, going to the beach is an amazing daycation during the summer months. At times it can get a bit packed, but if you are dedicated to get the best spot on the beach, then leaving early in the morning won’t hurt. When I go with friends or family, we usually tend to leave at 8 or 9 am and stay until about 2 or 3 pm, getting that prime time sun tanning. To keep the trip to the beach cheap, bringing snacks and a lunch, as well as drinks, can save you a few bucks and time. You won’t have to spend money or time waiting for food at the concession stand. They charge like $3 for a bottle of water, bring your own in cooler and it’ll be so much better trust me. Bringing chairs, a speaker, a book, and some water games are also a good idea so that you can occupy your time and relax. Going to the beach will always be a must for me during the summer.

Location #2: Newport, Rhode Island

Every summer, my friends and I take a little road trip down to Newport, Rhode Island. It is only about a two hour drive and we entertain ourselves very easily just by talking and blasting some tunes. In Newport, we take the time to walk down all the streets and take in the scenery and partake in some people watching. We usually only spend money on food like lunch and we always have to get Ben & Jerry’s afterwards, it’s the best ice cream how could we not!! We like to stop into some cute little shops, if we do buy anything, it is usually very cheap, since most knick knack stores are. An activity we enjoy doing is taking pictures, in Newport, there are countless Instagram moments, whether that be a mansions, the beach, or a cute colorful house, we always take time to get the best picture for memories and for Instagram of course. Overall, Newport is an amazing day trip and I would highly recommend to visit.

Location #3: The Park

Although it may seem boring or predictable, the park is a fun place to be in the summer. Taking the day to go to the park with some friends and having a picnic or tossing around a frisbee or a football, is the best feeling. It’s like being a child again, having moments like these are important, spending time with those you love and you are not spending any money. You can pack a basket with some sandwiches, fruits, cookies, and juices. Lay out a blanket on the grass, bring a board game, a speaker, and have some fun. My friends and I do this at least once every summer, we also love going during sunset to enjoy the view together and of course take some more Instagram pictures.

Go Out and Have Some Fun…

Making the most of everything is how everyone should be living life. As long as you are with your loved ones and are having as much fun as possible, life is amazing. These little trips will always be the memories you and your friends will cherish, you do not need to spend thousands to have fun. So, grab your friends and hit the road. Where will you be going?

So You’re Having Friends Over…

Your friends just texted in the group chat saying it’s your turn to host the group. You have only a few hours to plan an activity, a meal/snack, and some drinks. Luckily, I have been in a time crunch many times and you’ll only need to make one trip to the store for tonight. So let’s roll up those sleeves and get to planning!!!

First, An Activity…

Two words. Game Night. You can never go wrong with a board game, whether that be Jenga, Monopoly, What Do You Meme, or a simple deck of cards, playing a game with your group of friends is always an interesting combination. If you don’t already have any of those games, first of all, how do you not have monopoly??, then I suggest going to the toy section and picking up a game that is age appropriate for your friend group and something that seems fun and exciting. Some of my favorite games to play with friends include Cards Against Humanity, Pictionary, Incoherent, and Sequence. A little competitive game night with friends is always a good idea… until it gets too competitive.

Next, Some Food…

You need some good food if you are going to have people over. Something that is so versatile and easy is a cheese boards. Unless you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, a cheese board is always a good way to start off the night. You can put anything on it, cheddar cheese, colby jack, mozzarella, brie, pretzels, toasties, water crackers, grapes, raspberries, the options are endless. The cheese board is a good idea to keep your guests picking at something before the main meal. Something quick and easy that all of my friends and I always do is order pizza. Everyone loves pizza and there are also so many options, so you can please everyone. As for a little something sweet, chocolate chip cookies are the way to go. You can make them from scratch or if you are running low on time, buy some cookie dough at the store and throw them in the oven right before your guests arrive so it smells delicious when they arrive.

Lastly, Some Drinks

If you are of age, you can always opt in for those alcoholic beverages. However, if you are not, then there is always other options. Milkshakes and mock tails are the way to go. Buy some of your favorite ice cream flavors for the milkshakes and throw them in the blender and top with fudge, caramel, sprinkles, or marshmallows. As for the mock tails, try buying some of your favorite juices like pineapple, apple, cranberry, orange, and some tonic water or Sprite. To spice it up, buy some grenadine syrup and add it to Sprite to make a Shirley Temple. My friends and I usually like making milkshakes and then we add a bunch of our favorite toppings, it’s an extra activity to do and you get a milkshake after.

Happy Hosting…

These were just a few tips and ideas as to what you can do with your friends the next time you host. There are hundreds of other things that you can do, so modify it to fit your friend groups’ likes and needs. Happy hosting!!

Self-Care Sunday… But Everyday

Do you look forward to the end of the week so you can unwind and relax? Well, why wait until Sunday when you can unwind and relax throughout the week!! Let’s dive into the world of self-care and see what you can do throughout the week that will be short and sweet.

Face Masks…

Face masks are simple, yet effective. There are thousands of different types, so you can never get bored; this includes sheet masks, which is the most common. Sheet masks are like the first picture above, you put the sheet infused mask on your face for about 10-20 minutes, depending on what the face mask is (i.e. brightening, moisturizing, toning), then remove and throw the sheet away. Other types include peel off masks, which usually come in a container and you spread the product over your face and then wash it off after the suggested waiting time. In addition to these two, there are also specific masks for certain parts of your face, there are under-eye masks and lip masks too. Face masks take very little time and while you wait to take it off, you can relax on the couch or listen to some music.

All Things for the Bath…

Baths is the old school way to relax. However, there are so many products that you can use to spice up your bath! You can put anything in your bath that will help you relax and feel amazing afterwards. A very common item to add to your bath is a bath bomb, these are basically “bombs” that you throw into your bath and within a few minutes they will dissolve and will give your bath a nice color and scent. Something else you can add if you want to relax your muscles can be epsom salts or any type of bath salts. These salts moisturize the skin, reduce pain, and help you wind down, making you feel a bit sleepier. In addition to salts, you can add oils, oils are similar too salts in that they moisturize your skin and also provide rejuvenation. Baths are amazing when you have had a long day and cannot wait to snuggle up in bed, feeling refreshed.

Skin Care…

The most important step to self-care is taking care of your skin. It is the largest human organ of course! There are millions of skin care products out there, ranging from body lotion, hand lotion, face moisturizers, face oils, sunscreen, primers, toners, serums and so much more. At first, skin care can be very daunting, especially if you are just starting out. But, do not fear, the first step that you should do is RESEARCH!! This is such an important step, research your skin type, there are quizzes online that you can take to find out what type of skin you have. Once you have your skin type, look up the best products for you and try some out. Skin care can get quite expensive, but there are amazing dupes and drugstore brands that have amazing products. Some of my favorite drugstore products include: CeraVe moisturizing lotion, any product from The Ordinary, and Elf primer. These are just a few products, but learning more about which products will be best for you is where I suggest you start. In addition to drugstore, there are also high end products, which are more expensive. Some of my favorite high end brands and products include: Glossier, Clinique, Mario Badescu, and Drunk Elephant. Investing in high end products that you like and are beneficial for your skin is worth it in the end. Skin care is everywhere and it is really important to take the time to take care of your skin.

So Where Will You Start?…

Photo by Natasha Fernandez on Pexels.com

Obviously there are hundreds of other things you can do to improve your self. But, these were just some of my favorite ways I take care of myself and unwind throughout the week. You always have to start out somewhere, so start off where you feel most comfortable and go from there. Taking care of yourself does not have to be considered as selfish or conceited, you are improving yourself to become the best you. So, this week consider trying something new to become a better you.

3 Tricks to Keeping a Clean Space

Trying to balance school, work, social life, and self-care time can be challenging. On top of all that, you’re also trying to keep your space from looking like a tornado just passed by. Keeping a space clean can be overwhelming, but I’m here to share 3 tricks that I use, or at least try to use, everyday.

Trick #1: Make Your Bed As Soon As You Wake Up

“Flat in Lodz, Poland” by Monika Siwińska is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Making your bed first thing in the morning automatically crosses something off your to-do list. Getting in the habit of making your bed mot only makes you feel accomplished early in the day, but it also increases your productivity for the rest of the day. By having a made bed, it immediately makes your bedroom look cleaner. A quote from Amalia Home collection that resonates with this trick is…

“If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.”
Amalia Home Collection

Trick #2: Invest in Hidden Storage

“Home Styling | Tel Aviv | Vipp” by Line Øhlenschlæger is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Storage is an amazing must have in any household, it keeps all the clutter organized neatly. What is even better is HIDDEN storage, no one can see your mess of papers or random things lying around your home. Some hidden storage that many people have started to use are things like a bathroom mirror case as seen in the picture above. This keeps all the products neatly tucked away and out of sight for your guests. Other hidden features can include under the bed storage, living in a dorm, I have tons of drawers or boxes that keep extra clothes or cleaning products that I don’t want out in the open. There are endless ways that you can hide all your mess from anyone’s sight, get creative with it!

Trick #3: Designate a Day to Cleaning

“Minimal Interior” by Vaidotas Darulis is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

A trick that has always worked for me is dedicating an entire day to cleaning. Living in a dorm it can get pretty messy, so what my roommate and I have deciding is that every Sunday we set aside about an hour or two to clean the room. This includes dusting, swiffering, putting on new sheets, doing laundry, cleaning our mirror, and washing dishes. Having this time every week allows us to get ourselves and our room in order for the upcoming week. Now that I am getting older, it sounds kind of weird, but I am enjoying cleaning. a lot more. If you hate cleaning like I sure did in the beginning of the school year, throw on some tunes, at full blast of course, and get cleaning!!

The First of Many Blog Posts…

Hi and welcome to my first ever blog post! This blog is all things home, fashion, lifestyle, travel, and food. I will feature my favorite tips and tricks, or just random tidbits about my personal style and everyday life. As for a little look into my life, I am a freshmen in college studying Fashion Merchandising. I always knew that I wanted to study something in relation to fashion, but it wasn’t until later in my high school career that I knew exactly what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go to college. Life has a strange way of working out, but in the end, I wouldn’t want to be at any other college.

Photo by Jess @ Harper Sunday on Pexels.com

As I continue to navigate through life and school, I hope that this blog will become a place where I can speak my mind and share my daily life thoughts and ideas. But for now I leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I try to live by.

“Treat People With Kindness”
Harry Styles