Amazing Adventures of Emma-Lynn

Most girls agree that a good coat of mascara can add glam and confidence to your look, however, there are some general rules of mascara that speak for themselves. I jumped on the bandwagon a little late with this purchase and I have to say I wasn't too satisfied with the product. The Two Faced Better than Sex Mascara mascara has some points that could use some improvement.

1. Applies Clumpy- This mascara is incredibly wet and the brush picks up an extreme amount of product. It makes it hard to get the right amount of product on your lashes. I found that my lashes appeared clumpy and a bit spider-webby. Not quite the look I was going for.

2. Smudging- Ahh the dreaded racoon eyes... almost every girl has had them and almost every girl will do whatever she can to avoid them, including not using this mascara if you have oily eyelids. Within an hour and a half, my mascara was smudged underneath my bottom lash line and the darkness had begun creeping its way into my under eye area. The look was not cute.

3. Flakes- Flaking is possibly the worst symptom of mascara use, it impairs your vision, it's incredibly annoying and it's not safe. Within three hours this mascara was flaking off, very noticeably. I was wearing a white shirt and I looked down and there were two tiny flakes resting on my chest. For the money I spent on this product I would love for them to improve that formula just a tad.

It happens to the best of us... you slip in between the sheets, rest your head on the heavenly pillow close your eyes and then.... nothing. You try counting sheep, breathing deeply, laying there with your eyes closed and you still remain locked out off dreamland. For me this usually happens when I am experiencing intense stress, things like projects, tests and deadlines dance through my head. There is nothing more frustrating than going to bed at 10pm expecting a lovely 8-hour rest and glancing at the clock at 1am and thinking about how you have to get up at 6. These are my tips and tricks to help stop the sleepless nights... I hope they help you achieve the great quality restful sleep that you need. Remember I am not a medical professional, if you feel like something is really wrong to discuss it with your doctor it's better to be safe than sorry.

1. Get Your Count On -  Get ready for bed and try and think about how excited you are to achieve that lovely rest that we all wish we got every night, make sure that you do not think about any potential stressors (exams, due dates, family dinners, friend situations) When your head hits the pillow lie in your usual position and begin to imagine your body relaxing, from the tips of your toes to the furrow between your brows it all becomes smooth relaxed. Then begin to count backwards from 100, time your breathing with your counting and hopefully you will get some success. The last number I see before I'm out is usually in the seventies, however, different people take different amounts of time, don't rush it sleep will come.

2. Imagine A Vacation- While I'm trying to fall asleep I like to imagine myself on the beach in Hawaii. I think of the colours of the water, the sand, what's in the water (more brightly coloured fish and lovely coral reefs than possible man-eating sharks, it takes away from the stress-free imagination experience) as well as how tan is going to be by the time I return to rainy British Columbia. And bam eventually you should be fading away on a lovely warm wave into dreamland.

3. Lavedar Oil- Sometimes your imagination just doesn't cut it, this happens to me all the time, maybe your just a little too stressed or upset. No worries there are optional methods that can be used to help with your sleeping. The first being lavender essential oil. You can pick it from any wellness store and some grocery stores carry it as well. Rub a tiny bit on your neck and wrists and the effect should soon sooth you to sleep. I defiantly recommend trying the brain tricks first but this will do the trick as well.

4. Sleepy Tea!- Sometimes a good cup of tea calms you right down and this tea does a rocking job! Traditional Medicinals tea called Nighty Night is an amazing alternative to lavender oil. Simply boil some water about 40 minutes before bed and put your tea bag in, let it steep for about 5-10 minutes and then get drinking. I find it works the best if I use it while I'm reading, however, do what's right for you. Try and avoid drinking it while looking over your to-do list, it kinda takes away from the relaxing experience and will make it harder for you to go to bed.

5. Turn Off Your Phone!- This probably the most amazing tip that I ever had the pleasure of learning. I would lay in bed scrolling through Pinterest and Facebook wondering why I wasn't getting sleepy. I learned that the exposure to the screen lessons the quality of the sleep you're are getting as well as lengthens the amount of time it takes you to get asleep. Now an hour before bed I plug my phone in the room next to mine and begin the process of shutting my brain and life down for a good nights rest!

1. Volunteering- Volunteering is extremely useful when applying for college/university. It creates a win-win situation for you, not only do you get the hours to put on scholarship applications but you gain the reward of knowing that you did something great for your community as well. It’s best to start early, in Britsh Columbia scholarships usually, start looking for volunteer activities in the 10th grade but if you start earlier it is an added bonus! Commit to an organisation and put in as much effort as you can, you will be rewarded with an inner happiness and hopefully a little less debt.
2. Start Looking at Colleges Early – Looking early -and by early I mean the summer before your senior year- gives you time to make a decision that is not rushed, fleeting or wrong for you. When you evaluate schools it’s best to research things including distance from home, financial aid programs, courses, programs and of course tuition. Apply to two or three schools so you have more options. I spent a good part of my summer binge-watching Gilmore Girls, I watched Rory Gilmore’s system of choosing a college and thought it rocked! In the show she used the pro and con system to determine what school was best for her, so in mid august, I dragged out the whiteboard and compared tuition, distance from my home, courses and my thoughts on the school! It sounds silly ut it was a huge help and makes the process clearer, there is nothing worse than losing yourself in paperwork and then making assumptions, with the facts in front of you, it’s easier to compare schools holistically.
3. Keep Your Grades Up- While I personally believe that people are not defined by the numbers on their GPA colleges think a little different. Aim to do the best you can in every course that you are taking. Researching the grades required by your list of schools will help give you a better idea of what your grades need to be
4. Keep Your Personal Wellness In Mind- While I am not a doctor, med student or therapist I do now the importance of making sure you take care of yourself mentally as well as physically. Mental health is an important thing, it determines how you view the world, there is nothing wrong with realising you need help.  Senior year is majorly stressful, you are planning your life in the span of a school year and that alone is enough to make even the calmest people panic. Make sure to tell someone you trust if things are getting too much. They can help you move through this process, you are not alone.
5. Hold Off On Buying Books – Usually, when you pick your classes and start to buy your school supplies students will want to rush and buy their books. Usually, in course outlines, you professor will include the number of your textbook, plug that into amazon and see how the prices compare to your bookstore. My bookstore was selling a book I needed for my European history course for  $150 I found it on amazon for $60 dollars later in the semester, needless to say, I was a little gutted when I realised my error. Use caution though and make sure you check everything with your parents first.
6. Notes- before my first term I was so stressed about finding the right computer to tend to my every academic need, for me, that included projects, essays and online school (as well as some Pinterest surfing). However I soon found that my secret  Pinterest surfing had got a little out of control, so I switched to writing my notes. I feel better now that my focus is on the professor the entire lecture. Don’t stress so much about how fancy your computer is, make sure it can do what you require and keep your focus on the class.
7. Early Admission – I took advantage of early admission at all the schools I applied to, I found it helped me relax knowing that my application was done and submitted, as an added bonus it frees up more time for school work and friends. People who apply early admission have access to the big entrance scholarships that everyone wants to scoop up, keep it in mind!