Climbing the popularity ladder

Picture this. A sunny afternoon in the mall. A girl and her friends are hanging out, shopping and laughing. A crowd of envious girls and adoring boys all surround her and stare. She's pretty, cool and most importantly, popular. How many of us have had this dream? How many of us want to be that girl? Well, why are you dreaming when you have the potential to be that girl? Popularity to parents is something useless, something that won't matter a single bit in the future. But, to us it means a whole lot more.  Popularity isn't all gossip and Mean Girls, however it may seem in the movies. It's being nice without being boring, and having fun with friends while acing your tests. It's a very fine balance. Today I'll share with you some handy tips on becoming popular in the best possible way.

1. AMP UP THE APPEARANCE
Have you notice that all popular girls share this quality, they're all knockout gorgeous. Let me be honest, looks matter. Not to the extent that you might think. Just a little bit. Because you are more compelled to start a conversation with a neat looking person compared to a scruffy one, it's human nature. Let me be honest again, you're beautiful. And you have got what it takes to look good. I'm not talking plastic surgery and all, just a few tweaks and you'll be looking and feeling great.

• Body- A big part of being of being beautiful is having a beautiful body. Not only does it make you look attractive, it also prevents health oriented diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart conditions. Again, no plastic surgeries needed. Just hit the gym a few times a week and do 30 minutes or hard-core cardio. Great alternatives include biking, dancing and hula hooping.
• Face- Your face is an important part of your beauty too. Don't mask it by caking on makeup. Let your natural beauty shine through. Take a look in the mirror. What is your best feature? Is it your expressive eyes? You cute earlobes? Your pouty lips? You should always aim to accentuate your best feature, instead of just covering your face with tonnes of makeup. For example, I slapped on some eyeliner on my eyes yesterday, and you won't believe how many compliments it got me!
• Hair- Your hair is your crowning glory, so be sure to care for it. Shampoo and condition with a product that works best on your hair type regularly, but on the days you can, let it get greasy. Your hair needs it's natural oils. Get a haircut that best flatters your face shape and get a trim every 6 months to avoid split ends. Always remember to use heat protection while styling!

2. TAKE AN INTEREST IN INTERESTS
Having a talent or hobby is a great way to meet people like you. You can have common ground to talk about if you share the same interests. Don't have a particular hobby? It's never too late to develop one! Why don't you try guitar, keyboard, soccer, cheerleading or maybe basketball?
Once you've got a hobby, join some clubs and contests. You don't have to win right off the bat, it's a learning process. Start talking to the "cool kids", make some friends, and just have fun! You might have reached a new level of popularity before you know it!

3. BOYFRIENDS AND BOY FRIENDS
Now, you don't have to go through a new boyfriend each week to be popular. Frankly, it's just a slutty and stupid habit. Wait until you actually feel the attraction before roping him. What you can do though, is have guy friends. Talking to the opposite sex builds your confidence, and those boys are a straight line to popularity!

4. COOL, COLLECTED AND CONFIDENT!
Lastly, remember not to be nervous when talking to the popular kids or just anyone. Be loud and clear! Make their heads turn when you walk into the room girls, and soon a you'll be one of them! Just remember to avoid unnecessary drama because it does no good to anyone in the end. And always remember the popular girl dress code: Keep it classy, never trashy, and just a l'il bit nasty!

Have fun being popular ladies!

It's a spa day!

Teenage Spark everybody!

This week has been really hectic for me. A never ending cycle of waking up, school, homework and bed, with many dramas everywhere. I swear the rumor mill is on a roll!
I cracked under the pressure (not my proudest moment) and a close friend gave me this idea.
This friend (I'm gonna call her Poppy, to preserve anonymity) suggested I have a spa day. I was skeptical at first, but you won't believe the wonders it worked for me. And best, it doesn't even involve going to an actual spa!
So if you're ever having a chaotic, tiring or wearisome day, here's a remedy for you!

STEP 1- Get a cleared planner
Stress kills a spa day. Big time. So what I would do is make sure all my homework and work issues are sorted out first. Because let's face it, how are you gonna relax while worrying about next week's homework assignment?

STEP 2- Jam it up
Get into you comfiest PJs. Wearing something which you would normally associate with home and peace is proven to instantly relax you. You know what they say, 'there's no place like home'.
(I've always wondered who the they in these quotes are. Another post, for another time.)

STEP 3- Pamper the head
So after a long day, I'm physically and mentally drained. But I've realized that on a good hair day I always feel better than on a bad one. I guess that's how the teenage girl's mind works. Look good, feel good!
So Poppy and I treated ourselves to hair and face masks. They don't have to be store bought either. A homemade one works just fine. I'll leave a link to some great ideas.

Homemade Face Masks
Homemade Hair Masks

STEP 4- Paint 'em nails
Poppy and I had the most wonderful time trying silly patterns with funky nail polishes. You won't believe the wonders it does to relieve stress. It'll also leave you feeling extremely pampered. Remember, when you shake somebody's hand, your nails are the first place they'll look. So keep 'em sexy.

STEP 5- Set the mood
Now for the actual relax part. This is when you can get a nice glass of juice or wine (depending on your age) and get some soothing music too. I know nature sounds calm some people down but they only make me more agitated. Like, cricket sounds creep me out because insects scare me to death. But whatever works.

STEP 6- Tub of relaxation
Now's the time to wash all weariness from your body. It depends on whether you're a shower person or a bath person. Now I'm more of a bath person, so that's what I'll tell you about.
The first thing I do is fill the tub with water and then drop some scented bubble bath and a bath bomb into it.
I've been loving this collection called Paris Amour collection from Bath and Body Works. It has not only bubble bath but also body mist, perfume, body lotion, body cream, sugar scrub and body wash. I have them all and I love it!

STEP 7- Soak up the calm
Just sit in the tub and relax. Close your eyes and use the time to think, or if it works read a book. This is the time when you just clear your head and completely relax.

STEP 8- Get some beauty sleep
Spa day ain't gonna solve everything sweetheart. Get some sleep. You're body needs it more than you think. Sometimes the best solution to a long day is to just get 8+ hours of rest. Don't neglect it!

So that's my solution for dealing with a particularly hectic day. I hope this helps! If you have a really bad problem stressing you out, feel free to comment or send me a message. Who knows, maybe my lovely readers or I can help you out!
Have a great day!!! 

The crushing weight of crushes

Teenage spark everybody!!

So today's discussion is going to be about crushes.
I'm sure everybody has had a crush at least once in their lives. Heck, I'm only 17 years old and my list of crushes is longer than my ever growing obsession with food!
Sorry, bad analogy.
Back to the point, here are a few thing I sincerely wish I had known when going through my infamous 'Crushing' stage.

1. TELL SOMEBODY!
I've noticed that keeping your crush's identity to yourself just ends up in a complete disaster. Like on a scale from my-friend-is-mad-at-me-because-I-didn't-tell-her to my-best-friend-actually-likes-the-same-darn-person (I've actually been through both) and everywhere in between. So tell your bestie or a trusted family member. Your confidant can give you tons of advice and do some inconspicuous spying, and telling them might lift a weight off your shoulders! Who knew crushing could be fun?

2. DON'T READ TOO MUCH INTO SIMPLE ACTIONS
A mistake I've continuously made with all my crushes is reading far too much into ordinary actions. Like, maybe he held that door open for you because he was being chivalrous and not because he's desperately in love with you.
But how can you distinguish innocent gestures from possible flirting?
This is where your trusted confidant comes in. Tell him/her what happened and ask for their views. If they think that you might be right then good job girl! You might be on your dandy way to hooking a man! But if they think your theory is far-fetched, do not get mad at them!
I speak from personal experience, my best friend was the only thing anchoring me from spinning off into ImaginaryCrushLandia! Oh good times, good times...

3. DON'T LET A CRUSH CONTROL YOUR LIFE!
This is very important. If you notice yourself changing for the worse because of your crush there is a problem. I'm not saying that all changes have to be bad. Like, if you notice yourself brushing up more on studies so you'll have something to talk about with that super cute nerd, then that's good!
But, if you start becoming more rebellious in order to grab that bad boy's attention, or start neglecting your homework because you've been Facebook-stalking your crush, this is not a good sign! You should in no way change yourself for anyone! If he likes you, he should like you for who you really are. It's cliche advice, I know, but it will save you many from problems in the future.

4. THERE ARE OTHER FISH IN THE SEA
This is far by the most cliche thing I've ever read on a website.
Like the amount of times I've scrolled past this and thought 'it's not that darn easy' is uncountable. But when I'm writing my own blog, I've realized the importance of stressing this point to you.
If he doesn't like you back, it's completely his loss and there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
I'm serious, somebody will realize what an amazing person you are! And if it's not him, it's someone else.
I've gone through this, so I know exactly how it feels. I very clearly remember forlornly wallowing myself in ice cream because my crush had asked this really bitchy girl out. The very next week, I saw the cutest barista in Starbucks and thought 'Oh well'


So, the next time you're crushing on some cutie, remember all this. For now, put your man-hunting skirt and go get a pole sweetie!

Prologue

Teenage Spark everybody!!

Chances are you've stumbled across the blogs because you're having some teen girl problems. Well, you're not alone! What teen girl doesn't have problems? It's like our thing. Like Taylor Swift's breakup songs or Harry Syles' trademark swoopy hair

But real talk.. You're not alone. I know you might feel as though nobody gets you. Not your family. Not your friends. I know because I feel those things too. Every teen girl does. So you're welcome to my blog, where I'll talk about some problems and happy incidents that I'm going through and give you some tips on how to deal with them. And maybe you can help me too!

Be a part of this safe haven, where you can voice your feelings and nobody will judge. Maybe you'll find that someone else is going through the same thing. We can help each other out, and maybe find some true friends in the process. Because we're teen girls, and if we don't stand together, how will we stand?

So here begins the journey of The Teen Survival Guide. Shall we?