Lessons Everyone Should Learn

Hello, everyone! I know I made it out to seem like my last post was the final post of 2014, but I lied to you.

Recently, I was reminiscing on the past year and how much I've grown as a person. Not only have I shot up 2 inches, but I've also learned a lot of things; unconventional things. I'm not talking about the standard 'drugs are bad', 'sleep is good for you' deal, I'm talking about some serious life lessons! The kind of stuff they don't teach you in school, and the kind of stuff you have to figure out through personal experience.

I'm still quite young, and I know I have many chapters to go in The Guide to Life, but everyone's gotta start somewhere. So without further ado, here are some of the lessons I've learned this year through my little experience.

For Goodness' Sake, Just Do It!

Everyone is different, but I'm sure this applies to you in one way or another. Step out of your freaking comfort zone every once in a while.

Always Be Straightforward

There's no point in wasting anyone's time, and if hurting someone's feelings is what you're worried about, you're never going to get anywhere in life.

Listen to Music with Meaning

No more of that big booty, blurred lines crap. Listen to the type of music you hear in films that makes you want to jump or cry, or confess your love to someone. That's the kind of music that heals and inspires you.

Not Everyone Will Like You

Unless you're Oprah Winfrey or Betty White, there will always be someone with something bad to say about you. Instead of changing who you are in the hopes of becoming a perfectly polished version of yourself, just do you. Frankly, they'd hate the new version more, and you're not going to get the right friends if you act like anything but yourself.

Windows are Great

Instead of staring at a computer screen or being on your phone 24/7, look out your window! At night, during the day, in the car, even when you're driving down a road you can follow with your eyes closed. You'll be amazed at what you see when you really look. It also helps with car sickness.

We Are All Going to Die

Let yourself grasp that concept for a second. When you're done having an existential crisis like I did, think about the kind of impact you want to have on this earth. Any at all? Do you want to leave something wonderful behind for the future generations? If so, think about what you're doing right now. Are your actions in the present day aiding in making the world a better place? If so, you're a wonderful person. If not, you're not living. You're merely existing, and you might want to do something about that.

Don't Take Animals For Granted

You shouldn't take anything for granted, but especially your pets. They're not going to be around forever, and you're going to miss their shnuggly faces when they're gone. Kiss them, hug them, cuddle them, play with them and give them as much love and attention as you can. They'll appreciate it and love you right back!

If It Doesn't Feel Right, It's Not.

To me, this came in the form of a bad friendship. For other people, it may come in the form of a testing situation, or even something as literal as an injury. I'm someone that commits very fullheartedly to relationships - probably more than one should - and I've lost many people in the past for being too 'committed' to the friendship. It happened again this year, only this time, it was a case of me thinking it was a 'best-friendship' and them thinking it was something far less. I should've known all along, as there were many signs. It didn't feel right, but I didn't bother to piece together the evidence and do something about it. In the end, it wasn't a good match. My advice to you is that if you sense something isn't right, whether that'd be in a friendship or in a situation where you don't feel comfortable, don't wait until the last second to do something about it. Get out as fast as you can! It will make your life a whole lot easier.

You Are Awesome

Well I don't really know if you're awesome, but I know I'm awesome. I know that because I decided it, and so can you! It's okay to like yourself a little.

Everyone Needs a Hug

And if you're someone that doesn't like hugs, you're doing it wrong. It's scientifically proven that a hug can improve not only your mood, but also your health. Can you believe that?! Go hug someone!

Change Is Good

It's okay to not be the same person you were a year ago! It's perfectly natural to like new things and hate the things you once loved. It could be a food, a genre of music, a TV show, a color, anything. Humans are constantly changing, and for some reason, people are under the impression that change is a horrible thing. Change is the only way we can survive! It's the only way we can grow and mature and find out who we are. Try something new, expand your horizons! Find out a little bit more about yourself.

Live Minimalistic

Don't overcrowd your life. If you haven't used something in the past year, throw it out. If you haven't talked to someone in 6 months, delete their number. If you don't need it, get rid of it. It's as simple as that, and you wouldn't believe the effects that a clear house, head, and conscience can have on a person! If you take one thing away from this post, make it to live simple.

Find Lessons in Everything

Sure you can listen to me talk all day, but that doesn't mean you'll learn anything! The best and most important lessons are the ones you come up with yourself. That means your brain is taking notes from previous situations and making it an 'enlightening experience'.

Those are all the life lessons I have for this year! Maybe I'll come back in December of 2015 and share some more life lessons with you! Until then, keep these in the back of your mind and use 'em on a rainy day.

Have a wonderful 2015!

Jordan x

My Favourite Christmas Present

Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and got everything you wished for! I was going to do a whole "What I Got For Christmas" schpeel, but that'd take forever and I'm sure no one wants to see that! Instead, I'm going to show you a cute little present that I got from my brother.

This beautiful package is the Letterbox Tea Trio from Collectivo. Collectivo is a small chain of coffee shops with a 'down to earth, hippy kinda vibe', as my brother states. For the past few months, he's been raving about this cafe. Finally for Christmas, he got me a souvenir! Right off the bat, they get an A+ for presentation.

All of Collectivo's teas have really cool, unique names. For this particular Tea Trio, I got a peppermint tea called Pure, a black tea called Anthology and a green tea called Mystic.

They even have a little stamp!

How adorable is this? I love cute little touches!

This is what you see when you open the box.

Even the lids are cute!

Every tin has a little message on the back, talking about the tea and the perfect way to brew it. This is the back of the Anthology (black) tea.

These are the teas out of their boxes.

Green tea...

Black tea...

And peppermint!

I think this is a wonderful gift, especially for someone who loves tea! The teas are delicious, and the black tea doesn't have the bitter aftertaste you get with other black teas. It's much more enjoyable! If you're able to get this exact set, I'd definitely recommend it. If not, all you need is three (or more) teas and some cute tins!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a great time with your families! I'm very fortunate that I have the luxury of getting presents, but most importantly, I'm grateful that I have a family to spend the holidays with. Anyway, I'm going to get off the computer now and play with my new toys!

Have a great rest of 2014. Here's to a new year! (And many cups of tea.)
Jordan x

Maybelline Brow Drama Review

Hello, my loves! Today is another makeup product review. It's been a while since I've done one of these, but a few days ago I bought something from Maybelline and I want to tell you all about it!

This is the Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama. It's a tinted eyebrow gel to keep the caterpillars in place while giving them a hint of color! There are three shades in the range but I got the darkest, Deep Brown.

I absolutely love this brush. Look at how cool it is! If gives you the perfect amount of product; not too much, not too little.

The picture to the left is my natural brow with no product in. The picture on the right is my eyebrow with the Brow Drama gel, nothing else! I have fairly light eyebrows so when I have nothing on but the gel, it gives my brows a nice, natural looking tint!

In this set of pictures, the one to the left is my eyebrow filled in as I normally would. The picture to the right is my everyday brow routine + the gel. I fill in my brows with powder, so they can tend to look a bit matte and fake. The Brow Drama gel brings back some of the 'liveliness' and sheen of the brows, while also combing them back into place! It doesn't like much of a difference in these pictures, but it's easier to see in person!

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Overall, I'd give the Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Drama a 4.5 out of 5. It's a great product, but it can leave your eyebrows feeling a little hard and crunchy. There's not anything you can do about it as it's literally mascara for your eyebrows! You get used to it anyway. Go try it out for yourself!

Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays!
Jordan x

Edgy OOTD

Hello, my friends! As most of you know, I'm a fan of social media. I love to look at other people's blogs and Instagrams see what kind of stuff they get up to. As long as I can remember, I've seen these #OOTDs all over the place. For the few people who've never heard of it before, OOTD stands for Outfit of the Day. It's basically just people taking pictures of their outfits and talking you through what they're wearing. I thought if they can do it, so can I!

This is a new type of blog post for me. I've never done anything fashion related before! There's no real significance behind this outfit, but I thought it was cute and simple and a little bit edgy, so naturally I wanted to share it with you guys. Anyway, let's get on with it.

This is my complete outfit:

Shirt- Jacky Oversized Tunic Top from Boohoo $14.00

Leggings- No Boundaries Zipper Ponte Pant from Walmart $13.88

Shoes- Critely Bootie from Blowfish $49.00

(Note: Sadly the outfit does not come with a chihuahua!)

The leggings go up to a little over my hip and are super stretchy and cool. I don't wear jeans often because they're rough and uncomfortable, so if I'm gonna wear leggings all the time, the least I can do is make them fancy leggings! These make me feel super classy and punk at the same time; they're great!

The pockets do unzipper, but you can't fit much in there. I usually slip in a hair grip or two for when I want to fix my hair on the go.

And these are my shoes. My lovely, lovely shoes.

I've never gotten shoes from Blowfish before, but I absolutely love them! They're very comfortable and sturdy. I don't think they'll fall apart any time soon! *knocks on wood*

That's it for my outfit of the day! I hope this has given you inspiration in some way, shape or form. I apologize in advance if any of the clothing items are discontinued by the time you read this. Also I apologize for the lack of close ups on the pants; it's kind of hard to photograph yourself when you're a one man band! I hope you forgive me.

Happy December!
Jordan x

When I Grow Up

Hello, everyone! Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my blog. A year of travelling, friend-making, risk-taking and goal-completing. And now, 30 blog posts and 2,400 views later, here I am still loving every second of it.

Like I say in my 'About Me' page, this blog not only serves as a place to review products and share recipes; it also doubles as my diary. I'm at the point in my life where I only have a couple years left of school and have to start thinking about 'my future'. People are asking me what I plan on doing after I graduate, and I have so many plans, but everything seems so far-fetched and I'm always losing track of them.

I was laying in bed one night watching YouTube videos - as one does - and I started taking mental notes of the YouTubers' lives; things I liked, things I didn't like, things I'd want for myself when I'm older. I thought I'd put them down on (virtual) paper so whoever reads this will hold me to it! I thought now, being the one year milestone of my online antics, would be the perfect time to share my list with you. Here it goes!

Buy Cruelty Free Makeup

Wear Rings

Take Great Photos

Travel Everywhere

Have Cute Knick-Knacks

Wake Up Early

Use Reusable Water Bottles (Not Plastic)

Use Cloth Grocery Bags

Eat Unusual Healthy Foods

Drink More Tea

Go Outside

Wear Blazers

(Try To) Be Vegan

Be My Own Boss

That's it for today! I'm sure I'll be adding onto the list as time goes on, but for now this is all I hope to do with my life. (You know, besides the whole 'marriage and kids' thing.)

I want to say a big 'thank you' to everyone whose supported me throughout this year, whether you were there from the start or joined me somewhere along the way. Your encouraging words and input give me the motivation to keep going, and I couldn't thank you enough!

Remember, if I could go after my dreams and make something out of it, so can you.

Here's to another year!
Jordan x

Autumn/Winter Favourites

Hello, everyone! It's that time of year; time to share with you some of my favourite things! A while back I did a Spring/Summer Favourites and it seemed to go down very well. Why not do it again this season?!

This autumn/winter, I've been rediscovering my love for things I haven't used in a while. Some of these items/products you might've even seen in previous posts! As the days are getting colder, I've been pulling out clothes from the back of my wardrobe, cranking up the heater and drinking more hot drinks than ever. My favourites for Autumn 2014 are very peculiar, but their my favourites nonetheless. Let's get into it, shall we?

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The first of my favourites is chia seeds. For those of you who are wondering what the heck chia seeds are, they're a teeny tiny super food from the chia plant. You could use chia seeds for smoothie making, bread baking, salad sprinkling and much more. Whenever I make smoothies, chia seeds are a key ingredient!

In 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, you get 5g of fiber, 3 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of omega 3s. That's why they're considered one of the world's super foods!

Another food favourite of mine this season is cayenne pepper. I've been cooking a lot recently, and I find that everything I make needs a little kick in the taste buds. This has been a life saver!

A more unusual favourite of mine this season is the Dove Advanced Care deodorant in Shea Butter. I know some people might think it's odd for me to put my deodorant online, but (hopefully) everyone uses it! I can't stand sweet smelling things, especially deodorants. I was kind of skeptical when I saw the shea butter, as shea butter usually smells very sweet. Turns out, it smells sort of fruity and florally; just the way I like it!

It says it functions properly for 48 hours, but that doesn't mean I'd recommend going 2 days without using deodorant!

Yet another food favourite of mine is bee pollen. I told you my favourites were going to be peculiar! Don't worry, it's completely edible and good for you!

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the taste. Some people love it, but it's just too strange. It's sweet, nutty and bitter with a hint of something funky. I usually have it in my smoothies or on my yogurt. 

Bee pollen is richer in protein than any other animal source out there. It's been proven to increase your energy, treat allergies, regulate the digestive system and even curb your addictions!

A staple for everyone during the autumn/winter seasons is lip balm. There's nothing worse than having dry, painfully cracked lips. There's no need for it! This is the Lypsyl LypMoistuizer in the Original Mint formula. What a mouthful!

I got this chapstick at my local drugstore for around $2.00. I'm already on my second tube!

My favourite ever candle scent is apple. Not spiced apple, just apple. I got this generic, drugstore brand candle ages ago but it's lasted me forever! I admit, there was a brief period where I wasn't allowed to burn candles as I almost set my sister on fire, but that's over with now. Let the candle burning commence!

This candle smells delicious, and it really does fill the room with its fragrance! I strongly suggest you buy yourself an apple scented candle. Do it for me!

As the weather gets colder and your hands get drier, hand lotion is an essential. This is the Gold Bond Ultimate Intensive Healing Hand Cream. There's nothing special about this lotion, but it smells of citrus fruit and I absolutely love it. I always carry around a tiny lotion in my bag, and I suggest you do too!

Something I've been using for ages but just got around to realizing how much I love it is the Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Smooth & Shine Serum. I put this on my hair after every shower and it helps to keep my hair moisturized and manageable. Especially the little flyaways! And yes, hair can be moisturized.

It says for frizzy and unmanageable hair, but I think anyone can use this in moderation. Something else I've noticed while using a hair oil is that it makes my hair a lot shinier and vibrant. If you suffer from mousy hair like me, do yourself a favour and purchase a hair oil!

Something I featured in a post a while back was the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation. I haven't used this in ages! I never wear foundation in the warmer months because there's absolutely no point in it. You want to let your skin breathe, not be covered in gloopy layers of foundation in the blazing heat!

In the colder months, it's almost natural to wear heavier makeup. Once in a while when I'm having a bad face day, I'll slap on some foundation and be ready to go! This foundation is a medium coverage with a shinyish finish. You can always powder over!

Whilst in London over the summer, I picked up a nail polish from one of my favourite YouTuber's cosmetics line. This is the Tanya Burr nail polish in the colour Penguin Chic! You can tell Tanya named the products herself because they're just so cute!

All of the colours in Tanya's collection are amazing, but I chose Penguin Chic because I thought it suited my skin tone the best. It's a greyish, mauvey brown colour and I absolutely love it. The consistency and application is great; I'm just upset I didn't buy it in more shades!

Featured in my last favourites post was the Eyebrow Kit from H&M. One day, I went on a spur-of-the-moment car journey with my dad and sister and ended up at a shopping center in another state. I walked into H&M, had a stroll through their accessories section and found this!

It has 3 brow (possibly even shadow) shades, complete with a tweezer and shadow applicator/angled brush. What more could you want?! The product is great and it's perfect for traveling. It's the only thing I use on my eyebrows!

This tea bag represents all the hot drinks I've drank this season. I don't have them very regularly, but I rediscover my love for hot beverages every time! I don't know whether it's the hot beverage itself or the process of making it. I love putting on the kettle, dunking the tea bag and cozying up in a blanket with a nice cup of tea.

That's it for my favourites! I hope you take something from this, whether it's a new food you want to try or the realization that I'm just a big weirdo. I shall see you soon for something wonderful!

Love,
Jordan x

Autumn Playlist 2014

Hello, everyone! I was brainstorming ideas for blog posts when I was inspired by brilliant Steve Booker. This season - along with a few of today's hits - I've been listening to loads of nostalgic songs that bring back great memories and happy thoughts. Not necessarily old songs, but ones that haven't been listened to or talked about in while. While flipping through my albums and YouTube playlists, I rediscovered my love for a few of these tracks, and I enjoyed them so much that I thought I'd share them with you! This is my autumn playlist.

I have a very obscure taste in music, so when I find an artist that I really like, I tend to not listen to anything else. I think you'll find there's a pattern! This playlist is obviously built on my own likes and preferences, and I understand that it might not be for everyone, but maybe I can expose you to a new genre of music that you never imagined yourself liking! Anyways, let's get started.

Bones- Josh Record

Lego House- Ed Sheeran

Heart's Of Fire- Passenger

Come To Me- Goo Goo Dolls

Take On The World- Luke Friend

Photograph- Ed Sheeran

27- Passenger

One- Ed Sheeran

Never Be- 5 Seconds of Summer

Wonder- Josh Record

Drunk- Ed Sheeran

Feather On The Clyde- Passenger

The A Team- Ed Sheeran

For Your Love- Josh Record

Firefly- Ed Sheeran
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That's it for my favourite autumn songs! I created a YouTube playlist of all the tracks featured in this post, just for you! Click here to listen to them. I apologize if any of the videos get deleted over time, I'll try my best to fix it! I hope you enjoyed this post and possibly enjoy these songs as much as I do!

Have a great day,
Jordan x

Dealing With Stress

Hello, everyone! This is a very spur-of-the-moment post, but I feel like it's something most people should hear. I've never written anything like this before, so please bear with me!

I'm currently in school, and for those of you in the same boat, attending high school/college/university, I'm 110% sure you can relate to the stress that homework, assignments, tests and quizzes can bring us. Recently, some of my friends have been opening up about their school-related anxiety, and it pains me to see all of the people I love under so much pressure. The worst part of the situation is that I feel as if I'm unable to help them at all. All I'm successfully able to do is offer them my ears and a shoulder to cry (or possibly hyperventilate) on.

Recently, I grew fed up with the title of the 'okay friend' that can only acknowledge your problems without any surefire way to get rid of them; so I scoured the far corners of my mind in search of the Cure to Anxiety and I think I may have cracked the code! I looked back to all of the times I've ever felt stressed and anxious and remembered what it was that helped me in the past. Using my prior knowledge with a mixture of tips I've received over the past year or so, I've come up with the surefire way to prevent/rebound from an anxiety attack. It's more promising than it sounds!

1.) Separate Yourself from the Source

If your schoolwork is stressing you out, take a break. If your family is causing you anxiety, excuse yourself. The stress isn't going to go away if you continue to suffocate yourself with the source!

2.) Take a Deep Breath

Deep breaths give your body the signal to relax. When you're having a panic attack, steady breathing can be quite difficult to maneuver; this normally causes more stress and panic. Try to control your breathing with deep, drawn out breaths. Put that moment into perspective and think about how small your problem is on the timeline of your life, let alone the earth!

3.) Don't Worry About Them

If you're in a public place where it's possible for people to see you, your mind can be consumed with the thought of what they're thinking of you. Do not worry about it. You can always explain to them later in as much or as little detail as you want. At this point in time, you need to focus on you!

4.) Find a Good Playlist

I find that music is the best way to get your mind off a stressful topic. Make a playlist of your favourite artists  (preferably their slow songs), sit down or curl up in bed and just listen. My favorite chilled out artist is a man by the name of Josh Record. Click here for my playlist of his greatest songs!

5.) Cry

We all know that's what it's coming to! It's completely okay to have a cry. Crying is the final release of all the stress; you must get rid of it!

6.) Put On Some Comfy Clothes

Do it. Don't you feel so much better?!

7.) Watch Your Favorite Program

Whether that'd be on TV, Netflix or YouTube, switch on an episode of your favorite show and grab some snacks to go with it!

8.) Sleep

You need it.

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I hoped this has helped at least one of you in the search for a cure! Remember, as important as you think schoolwork is, your sanity and happiness is far more valuable. You can always go back to it! Of course, this doesn't only apply to students. These steps can be helpful for people with all different sources of anxiety.

If you have any other tips, feel free leave them in the comments section below so we can help each other out! Thank you very much for reading and I shall see you later!

Have a wonderful October!

Jordan x

Ed Sheeran Concert

Hello, everyone! A few days ago, my family and I went to the Ed Sheeran concert in Rosedale, Illinois. It was absolutely magical! The concert was everything you'd expect from him and more, and I'm here to tell you all about it.

The first time I saw Ed was 2 years ago on the 11th of September. In 2012, his venue was an old theatre and general admission was only $25.00! Back then, it was only him, his guitar and a microphone onstage. It was a very chilled, intimate experience and I couldn't help but get enthralled by his mesmerizing voice! 2 years later, after all his television appearances, tours with incredibly famous celebrities and a triple in popularity, it was exactly the same.

Now before we can get to Ed, I must tell you about the opening act. I must say, the man has a great taste in music. In 2012 his opening act was Passenger, whom I now deem as one of my favourite artists of all time. This time around, his opener was an act called Rudimental. If you're from the UK, you might've heard of them. When I first heard their name, I was expecting a hardcore, punk rock band. Turns out, they're super awesome! Rudimental is a group of nine people who sing beautifully and play all different types of instruments. There's even a trumpet! They all looked like they were having a blast onstage which gave off an exciting energy and really pumped up the audience. It was lovely!

After about an hour of jamming by Rudimental, is was time for Ed.

He opened with a sped up version of I'm a Mess and the crowd went wild. I forgot how cute he was!

Not to mention, he's rocking the facial hair.

Everything after that was a glorious blur, but thank goodness I took pictures. Enjoy!

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I hope you've enjoyed these pictures of Ed! He really is the nicest, funniest guy you'll ever see. If you haven't got the chance to hear him live yet, click here for his upcoming tour dates! You won't regret it.

See you next time!
Jordan x