Must Watch Summer Flix

In my previous post, I went over bucket list ideas for this summer, and the very first bullet point was to have a movie night with friends.

To expand on that, I figured I would give a list of recommendations for the next time you’re in the mood for a good movie or show!

Since Covid got many show filmings cancelled, we didn’t have a ton of options for what to watch for a while. But now that cases have gone down and networks have started filming again, new releases have started to come out! In this list, I’ll go over future releases, as well as currently streaming shows and movies to try!

• Outer Banks
  • Netflix just announced the July 30th release date for Outer Banks! I am beyond excited to see how everything unfolds after the cliffhanger they left us with.
• The 100
  • If you are a binge-watcher, this show is definitely for you. With 7 seasons and 13-16 episodes per season, it will take a while to chip away at this show. I’m only on season 5 so far, but I would still recommend this show to anyone that likes dystopian movies, like “The Hunger Games”!

• 47 Meters Down
  • This thriller is great for a summer night! One of my favorites! (It even has a sequel)

• Derry Girls
  • I have to say, Derry Girls might be in my top 5 favorite shows ever! This Netflix original is criminally underrated, despite how funny it is. 
• The Society
  • My friends and I started this over quarantine using Netflix Party, and we all loved it! Unfortunately, they had to cancel after just one season, which we were very disappointed about : (  Nevertheless, this is still a great show to watch with friends!

• The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
  • For all horror lovers– this just came out in theaters on June 4th! I haven’t seen it yet, but I looked up some reviews from people that have, and many seemed to like it! Apparently it’s a little different from the other movies in the Conjuring series, but people still enjoyed it.
• The Circle
  • Okay, normally I don’t watch reality TV, but this show is so funny. It’s both a game show competition and a reality series, which makes it more interesting to watch. The only catch is, none of the contestants have met each other, and they can only interact through “The Circle”, which is their online communication portal. The characters all have very big personalities, and it’s so fun to see them interact in such an out-of-the-ordinary way.

• Rust Creek
  • This mystery/thriller is a perfect movie to watch at night! You can access it on Netflix : )
• Hanna
  • If you have Amazon Prime TV, you 100% need to check this out! I’ve never seen a show like this before, but it is definitely one of my favorites. With elements of adventure, comedy, romance, thriller, etc., this series is a good fit for anyone!

Thanks so much for reading– happy watching!! : )

To-Do List: Summer Edition

After the year we’ve all had, I think we could all use a vacation. And with Covid dying down, everybody wants to make the most of this summer. But sometimes when you have a free day in the summer, you waste it by sitting around all day with nothing to do. That being said, here’s a list of fun summer activities that you might enjoy on your next free day!

• Movie night
  • Whether you watch it inside, or outside with a projector, get some friends together and find a good movie to watch! If you’ve watched “Outer Banks” on Netflix, season 2 is coming out soon– just in time for summer!
  • Even better, try a drive in movie!
• Amusement park
  • It doesn’t matter if you’re there for the roller coasters or the fried dough (or both?), a day at the amusement park is one well spent.
• Try new foods
  • Crumbl Cookies are an amazing one that my friends and I tried recently, with new flavors every week! (Chocolate Cake was definitely my favorite)

• Concert
  • If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that has concerts open again!
• Picnic
• Homemade slip n’ slide
  • I’ve actually done this with with my friends before! All you need is a tarp, a hose, and lots of dish soap : )
• Beach trip
  • Tan, boogie board, and snack all day (one of my favorite things to do there is collect sea glass)
• Learn a new hobby/skill!
  • Juggling, cooking, hula hooping, etc.
• Make your own jewelry
  • Another really fun thing to do at home when it’s nice out is to make bracelets! Michael’s has really cute beads to decorate.

• Hike
  • Grab your sneakers, trail mix, and a bottle of water, and you’re all set!
• Bonfire
  • If you or a friend has a bonfire in their yard, take full advantage! The best summer nights always involve s’mores.
    • Here are some unique s’mores recipes to try! These look so good that I think I’m gonna have to test some of them myself (besides the ones including bacon 🙂 )

• Make a summer playlist
  • Good music is a must for this summer, and Spotify can help!
• Sunset/Sunrise watch
  • I gotta say, I’m definitely more of a sunset person than a sunrise person, but whatever you’re up for will be a fun experience! 
• Spend the day or night in the city
• Bike ride
  • Such good exercise, and can be so fun with friends! 
• Have a paint day with friends
  • I’m not the best artist, but that doesn’t make it any less fun! Abstract art is popular now anyways : )
• Mini golf
  • Unfortunately, I am really really bad at mini golf, but I always have a ton of fun playing regardless. 
• Go to the mall
  • For the days when the weather isn’t so great!
• Read a book
  • Even if reading isn’t your forte, it can be super relaxing

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you all have a fun and safe summer!

Helping You Help Others

We’ve all heard the saying “leave the Earth better than how you found it”. While this is inspiring and all, how are we supposed to do something like that? Sometimes we might feel like no matter what we do, we’re only one person, and can therefore only make so much of an impact. But luckily, if we approach it the right way, we can seriously make the world a better place.

Your first thought might be something like volunteer work, which is perfect! But you might be wondering what to volunteer for– there are so many different causes and issues in the world, it might be hard to just pick one. But the good news is, you don’t have to! Here are some important charities, funds, and causes that you might be interested in supporting!

• Black Lives Matter
  • Charities:
    • This link will bring you to funding options for victims of police brutality, community organizations, youth groups, bail funds, and more. 
  • Books to read:
    • “Freedom is a Constant Struggle” by Angela Davis
    • “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou
    • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

• Ending World Hunger
  • Volunteer opportunities:
    • There are many organizations that hold events for meal prep, distribution, etc. To name a few, there is Rise Against Hunger, CRS, and the World Food Program USA. 

• Fighting Homelessness
  • One way to do this, without even getting involved in any official organization, is to just be generous to those around you. If you see someone in public who is in need, offering them a bottle of water or just buying them a hot meal means more to them than you can imagine. 
  • Homeless shelters:
    • A quick Google search will lead you to shelters nearby that you can volunteer your time at! As a volunteer, you can assist the shelter with their cooking, clothing drives, donations, etc. 

While I just discussed specific organizations, a huge part of “making a difference” involves our environment! Actually, in my previous post I talked about the impact of fast fashion and how to avoid it here! But that’s only a fraction of what we can do as individuals to help heal the earth. For starters, you can use reusable products in your everyday life. Substituting technology for paper is an easy way to do this. Things that you use paper for like grocery lists, agenda books, schoolwork, etc. can all be made just as easy (sometimes even easier!) virtually in your Notes app or a Google Doc.

Other ways to live more sustainably include driving less and walking more. This doesn’t mean that you have to hike your way 10 miles across town to get to your destination, but it could mean carpooling with a few friends rather than driving separately in five cars. You could also ride the bus when possible, or, like I previously mentioned, take a nice walk to get somewhere nearby. Conserving water is also a way to individually lend Mother Nature a hand. This is actually something that I struggle with. I’m ashamed to say it, but my showers are 20 minutes long, and sometimes I happen to leave the faucet running if I get distracted. But I know that I can definitely do better, so I’ve been trying to save water when I can during my daily routine.

Thank you so much for reading! : )

The Strive For Slow Fashion

It’s so hard to live a sustainable life nowadays. No matter how hard you try, you definitely own something that was made through fast fashion. And while it is good to try and reduce your amount of fast fashion items, I just wanna say that it’s completely understandable to own some! Buying from ‘clean’ brands is expensive, and sometimes isn’t accessible to everyone (which is something that I hope changes in the near future). But for now, if you are interested in getting your clothes from somewhere eco friendly, here are some ways to get started!

“Why stray from fast fashion?”

Fast fashion is produced in a way that is bad for the environment, has poor working conditions for its workers (including unfair pay and child labor), etc.

There are so many options to choose from when searching for cool, authentic clothes, whatever your style may be!

• Ethical + Sustainable Brands
• Thrifting
• Upcycling

Ethical + Sustainable Brands

Let’s start with some official clothing brands you may already know of that have committed to keeping their clothes viable. Unfortunately, a lot of brands like this are usually pretty pricey, since it is so expensive to make clothes ethically. But I tried to include some more affordable businesses, as well as some that you may already be familiar with!

• Patagonia (US)
  • Price range: $$
  • Recycled materials, organic cotton
  • Environmental sustainability
• Levi’s (US)
  • Price range: $-$$
  • Ethically + sustainably made
  • Wide availability
  • Recyclable denim
  • Reduced water use
  • Gives back to their workers + community organizations 
• Pact (US)
  • Price range: $
  • Responsible supply chain
• Able (US)
  • Price range: $-$$
  • Fair labor
  • Feminist brand
    • Clothes are made by women who have overcome great adversity 
• Kotn (Canada)
  • Price range: $
  • Safe + fair labor
  • Making the switch to organic cotton

Thrifting

Thrift shopping has so many benefits. The choices with brands and styles are endless, so you know you can always find something that’s down your alley. Even better– you won’t burn a hole through your wallet! While thrifting is cheap, it is also environmentally friendly! Buying second hand helps keep these clothes out of landfills, which pollute our water and air.

One thing you may even want to do first is to sell your own clothes! Some stores not only put their own clothes on sale, but buy them too! Selling/donating your own stuff first may give you some extra money to spend in the future and help create more closet space. Some places you may be able to find near you are:

• Goodwill 
• Savers
• Salvation Army
• Online shops
• Small, local thrift stores

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

If your style is more unique, you may want to look into upcycling clothes you already own! While this is obviously great because of the money saving aspect, you are also expanding your creativity on the way! I personally would have no idea where to start if I wanted to make my own clothes, so here are some tips and tutorials to get going!

Denim Ideas:

• Fraying
• Stitching
• Hemming 

T Shirt Ideas:

• Cropping
• Tank top
• Add ties

Design Ideas:

• Fabric paint
• Sewing patches
• Embroidery (here is a how-to video!)

I really hope you enjoyed this post, and maybe it inspired you to try somewhere new to shop! Thank you so much for reading– happy shopping! : )

Create Your Destination

I think everyone could use a vacation.

Especially since we’ve been quarantining for what seems like ages. All anyone wants right now is a change of scenery, and I get it. Once we get the green light in terms of traveling, here are some ideas that you could use to guide a future vacation or spontaneous road trip! : )

(Pangkor Island, Malaysia)

It’s a good idea to figure out what you are interested in doing before you plan anything further. Some people have a bucket list, which is an awesome way to start! At some point I would love to parasail, or visit a pink sand beach, or see the Northern Lights! If you don’t have anything in mind, here is some inspiration to help you realize which destinations are calling your name. And which ones aren’t.

Warm Beaches

• San Diego (Coronado Beach)
• Myrtle Beach
• Daytona Beach

Big Cities

• LA
• NYC
• Paris, France
• London, England

Tourist Attractions

• Niagara Falls
• Grand Canyon
• Times Square

Underrated Destinations (check out this link for a whole list of cool, underrated spots! Some of my favorites are listed below)

• Valparaíso, Chile
• Apostle Islands, Wisconsin, United States
• Puglia, Italy
• Assateague Island, Virginia and Maryland, United States
• León, Nicaragua
• Pangkor Island, Malaysia

(Valparaíso, Chile)

Closer To Home

Depending on where you live, you might not have many big attractions like beaches or cities near you. But that’s completely fine! There’s always something to do, even if you live in the middle of nowhere. Here are some spots to try that can be found no matter where you are on the map:

Hiking Trails

• Even if there are no traditional hiking trails near you, most paths in your area can be used for a hike.

Underground restaurants that you haven’t heard of

• You might discover your new favorite comfort food!

Roads to drive around aimlessly on

• Whether you drive until you can’t anymore, or you take random turns to end up in an area that you’ve never visited, driving around can sometimes introduce you to the most interesting places!

Traveling Tips:

I had a history teacher in middle school that traveled a lot and told us a lot about the places he had visited. He had pretty much mastered the art of traveling. One thing he told us that stood out to me was that when you are visiting a country that you’ve never been to before, never go to the most popular restaurant in town. Instead, find out where the natives usually go to eat, and head there. That way, you will get the authentic experience of what people usually eat there, rather than a knock-off version. I always found that very intriguing, so here are some other things to know when you are on a trip!

Learn some of the local language

• It will be useful to understand key words and phrases, like greetings, while on your journey. Duolingo is a great way to get started!

Reduce your suitcase

• Lay out what you think you need for the trip, and cut it in half. I always seem to pack way more than what I need when I go on vacation, and it ends up taking up space that I might need later. It’s always better to travel lightly!

Save the memories!

• Take as many pictures as you can– without overdoing it. Obviously it’s not good to be on your phone snapping pictures 24/7, but you’ll be so glad to have so many memories to look back on later! After all, the most valuable parts about traveling are the experiences you have and the memories you make.

Thank you for reading, and happy traveling! : )

Little Things, Big Difference

We’ve all struggled with staying healthy at some point. Sometimes a bag of party size Doritos sounds more appealing than a kale smoothie. Or maybe that’s all the time. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are so many easy ways to be healthy, whether it is what you eat, how you stay active, or the way you de-stress! Let’s start off with some ways to eat smart, without having a plate of lettuce for every meal.

You Are What You Eat

• Add fruit to your meals! Sliced banana on peanut butter toast, blueberries with your Cheerios, or just having strawberries on the side can really improve your health! Eating fruit can even help you live longer because of the polyphenols that they contain!
• Drink up! Green tea has so many health benefits! While it’s low in calories, it also has many nutrients and antioxidants that reduce your risk for disease and speed aging. Other ways to drink healthier are to have your coffee black, but I know that most people wouldn’t be so happy with that, so try to reduce the amount of sugar, milk, and cream you add. Switching out sodas for other flavored drinks, like seltzer, can also help!
• Keep it close! Always keep healthy snacks around– in your pantry, car, purse, backpack, whatever. This helps you save money and keep a healthy diet! If you are out and about and suddenly become starving, reaching into your bag for a granola bar or trail mix is better than taking a quick pit stop at McDonald’s, although that’s always tempting.

Move It Or Lose It

• This or that! Stairs instead of elevator. Parking your car in the back of the lot instead of the front. Taking the longer route when you go for a walk on a nice sunny day. All of these small choices really add up! Although it may seem redundant after a while, overall it well help you stay more active if you can’t find time to work out!
• Daily doses! Exercising every day has so many health benefits– even if it’s only for 10 minutes! Improved eyesight, normalizing blood pressure, improving lean muscle and bone density, and lowering cholesterol are all rewards for getting active every day! Some quick n’ easy workouts could be an ab ladder or cardio exercises.

Take Care of Yourself

• Consistency is key! It is so important to get a healthy amount of sleep every night, even though it is a struggle for many. You may read this and think, there’s no way I can get more sleep, with all of my homework, sports, chores, and other responsibilities, it’s just not possible. Try using an agenda! Studies have shown that if you go to bed around the same time every night, it decreases your risk for chronic diseases (and you wake up feeling much better)! If you plan out when you are going to get things done after school and then sleep, you will be more organized and feeling much better!
• Sit back and relax! Nobody can go full speed all day everyday– you deserve a break! One way to relieve stress at the end of the day is to do yoga or meditate. Yoga increases flexibility and muscle strength, helps protect you from injuries, and improves athletic performance!

Stay happy + healthy! ❤

A “Major” Change In Your Life

Choosing Your College Major

So, what do you wanna be when you grow up?

-Every adult to ever talk to a teenager

Whether you choose to go to college or not, becoming an adult is stressful. Everybody expects you to know exactly what you want to do with your life, and how you are going to do it. I, for one, have absolutely no idea what I want to major in, let alone do for the rest of my life. There’s just so many options out there. Teaching. Engineering. Nursing. Management. It’s a black hole of choices.

Sometimes, you have to make the decision- are you going to do something that you are passionate about, or something that earns you a lot of money? This may sound like an obvious choice to some people, but there is much more too it. Trendy clothes, eating out several times a week, a big house and a nice car don’t always come in a package deal with your dream job. To my dismay, living lavish comes at a price.

If you’re completely lost on what you want to focus on at college, always remember: you are not alone. Nobody has their entire life planned out step by step, even though it may seem like they do. In the meantime, here are some tips to help you narrow down your potential options!

Breaking It Down

• Identifying Interests

What are your favorite subjects in school? Favorite hobbies? Passions? Your answers to these questions can definitely help you narrow down your options. If you take great pride in helping others, you may be happy with a career in medicine or education! If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, you can at least recognize fields that you are definitely not interested in. For example, if history class and essay writing had always brought you to sleep at school, you may want to stay away from jobs in literature and think about a major in STEM instead!

• Get A Better Feel Of The Field

A lot of high schools have a huge choice of electives that can be really useful for students who are ‘undecided’ when it comes to their majors. If you think there is a possibility that you would want to go into business some day, you could take a marketing or public speaking class that your high school offers. Try it on! I do know that not all schools have classes that match the interests of every teenager, but there are a ton of other options if that is the case. You could always take an online class that you think you might be interested in, or you could have a chat with others who share that major.

• 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Opinions

It’s always good to talk out big decisions with someone else. People who have your best interests in mind, whether it is your counselor, a teacher you love, your parents, or even your friends, are great to talk to about the college process. They can help you with some of the nitty-gritty stuff, while the final decision lies in your hands. It’s all up to you now!

• Remember: Anything Is Possible

Although it sounds like something out of a motivation video, it’s true- if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. As long as you are willing to do the work to get there, you can do whatever you set your mind to! Good luck with all of your college preparations, and remember to have fun and make memories along the way! ❤

Everybody Needs A Break

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Time management is a tricky thing. It comes easily to some people, and not so easily to others. Managing a schedule can be especially difficult for teenagers, seeing as they have to balance schoolwork, sports, jobs, extracurriculars, helping out at home, and anything in between. That’s a lot to take in. It’s also hard for teens to organize their own schedule because they may not be used to doing so. Their parents may have helped them in the past, but they are all on their own now. If you are feeling lost and confused on how to make your schedule work for you, while still needing free time so you don’t go crazy, I have compiled a list of time management tips that will definitely help!

Techniques

1. Plan It Out

Getting out everything you need to do- whether it is with an agenda, the Notes app on your phone, or on the back of your hand- is a great way to organize your thoughts. Some popular apps that you can use for your to-do lists are Nozbe, Evernote, and Todoist.

2. Check Your Messages!

And no, even though it may be tempting, I’m not talking about messages from your friends. I’m talking about emails, online class assignments, grades that have been posted, etc. It is necessary to check in on these things, but be sure not to be checking in all the time. Try to limit the time you spend checking these messages, while still replying to any important ones. This may sound like a challenge to someone like me who can get distracted easily by other tasks while I am doing my work. But trust me, once you get into a solid routine, everything will fall into place. And that leads me to my next tip.

3. GRWM

Creating a morning routine that works for you is crucial in managing your time. If you achieve something as soon as you wake up, then you are more likely to have a more productive day. For example, somebody who makes their bed as soon as their alarm goes off is gonna get more done throughout the day rather than someone who lies in bed looking at their ceiling for 20 minutes, dreading the crawl out of bed. A productive morning routine may consist of making your bed, eating a nutritious breakfast, and planning out your day in advance.

4. When + Where

You might like to work in a nice quiet, calm place, like alone in your room, and your classmate might like to study in a place with other people, like the library, and listen to music. Some people’s minds are the most awake at 12am, and others at 12pm. Everybody works differently. The good thing is, there are no rules in making a schedule. You get to choose what works for you. So, if you’re an early bird, get up at 5am to finish your paper. If you are a night owl, don’t be afraid to get stuff done at midnight. Hey, if it works, it works. However, some work methods can work for anyone. For example, it is usually best to get your most important assignments done first. If you have an English essay, 20 math problems, and a biology worksheet due on the same day, it is probably wise to do the essay first, and then the math and biology assignments, since they are worth less of your grade.

5. Relax!

Nobody can work productively for hours on end. It’s just true. Everybody needs a break here and there. Whether it is a quick power nap, grabbing a snack, or scrolling through Instagram, it is better for you to rest throughout your assignments than to overwork your mind. Take a breather, you deserve it.

Why Should I Do It?

If you think that you won’t need any free time and that a full schedule will work for you, here are some reasons that having some spare time will benefit your health to persuade you : )

1. Something To Look Forward To

Having something that you are excited about is a great way to motivate yourself throughout the day. It also acts as a reward for all of your hard work!

2. Stress Relief

If you are able to rest your mind a couple times through your work, you will feel a great weight lifted off of your shoulders. You will be happier, more productive, and even physically healthier! This is because stress can have many negative effects on the body, such as headaches, acne, insomnia, frequent colds, etc.

3. Getting Things Straight

Free time can always be used for scheduling. You can figure out how much time you have to work and how you are going to use it. This way, when you get back to work, you already have an outlined plan made!

I hope these tips + tricks help you create a schedule that fits your needs and gets you more free time! Happy working 🤍

Ways To Make This Your Spookiest Halloween Yet

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

It’s Halloween, everyone’s entitled to one good scare.

-Brackett, Halloween (1978)

Snacks: Halloween Smore’s Dip Recipe

This recipe is perfect for anybody who wants to get in the Halloween spirit in the form of a delicious treat, but doesn’t want the hassle of baking a gourmet meal. This smore’s dip is a simple, easy dessert that can serve 8-10 people, but only takes 5 minutes to make! To make things even eaiser for you, it only requires 5 simple ingredients!

• 4 packages of ghost Peeps
• 2 cups of semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup of warmed heavy cream
• graham crackers
• mini chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 ° F.
• Spread out chocolate chips on the bottom of a square baking dish
• Pour cream on top of chocolate
• Cover cream with one layer of ghost Peeps
• Place the mini chocolate chips on the Peeps to make a ghost face
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the chocolate is melted + the ghosts are golden
• Serve warm + dip graham crackers in them!

Decorations: Painted Pumpkins

Pumpkin carving isn’t for everyone, and I get that. Scooping out the seeds and the orange goo might sound like a fun autumn day for some people, and that’s fantastic, but I am aware that a lot of people would rather not do that. That is why this craft is perfect for anybody who would like a decoration to spice up their front porch, living room, or bedroom without having to break a sweat. What is this decoration, you may ask? Painted pumpkins, of course! The best part about this activity is that there are no rules or guidelines, you can make this Halloween pumpkin as spooky, elaborate, or colorful as you would like! If you are having trouble on finding a place to start, here are some suggested materials/techniques that you can use:

• paints (many people have had the most success using acrylic paint)
• studs
• glitter
• toothbrush (to swirl paint to make designs)
• pointed object (to carve designs)

Costumes: Easy, Last-Minute DIY Costumes

Wearing a costume is one of the most exciting parts of Halloween. Whether it is a group costume, couple costume, or your’e going solo, it is always more rewarding to make your own costume instead of purchasing one. But creating your own costume can also cause red faces, clenched fists, and gritted teeth for people like me who don’t have that natural artistic ability. That being said, I compiled a list of a couple of my favorite DIY costumes that I have seen and know that anybody is capable of making!

Scarecrow

This costume is perfect for Halloween because it goes along with an autumn theme, and you may have a lot of the materials needed to create it! All you need to recreate this costume would be a plaid long sleeve, overalls or jeans, boots, and a straw/beach hat! If you wanted to add some flair, you could even stuff some fall leaves in the pockets of your jeans or shirt to add extra pizzazz.

M & M

This costume is very easy + convenient because you could recreate this in the form of a group costume, couple costume, or by yourself! All you need is an old t-shirt, and either some white felt or a marker! As shown in the example, this costume can be worn by people of all ages!

About Me

My name is Caileigh, and I am a high school student in the northeast. When I’m not in school, there’s a good chance that you can find me at soccer practice, the beach, or with my friends. I have played soccer basically since I started walking, and I hope to continue playing in the years to come!

My goal for this blog is to spread information, advice, and creative ideas to teens and anyone else who wants to learn more about a wide variety of topics. I decided to make this blog because I knew that I wanted to create a platform where I could share ideas to help people. Thank you for joining me here, and I hope you learn about something that you’re interested in!
-Caileigh