Monday 26 May 2014

Style Inspiration

I feel as though it is time for another style inspiration as I have been lacking in ideas for what to wear at the moment, here in NZ it is starting to get rather cold but we still have mostly sunny days, so here are some good ideas for May into June


I'm loving these skirts this season - i have one from H&M



A classic outfit, good for spring/autumn and winter 


Stripes never go out of style 


Brighten up an outfit with a colorful clutch













- Soph x 

Sunday 18 May 2014

Be The Better You


  1. If you like someone, wait.
  2. Give lots of compliments, even if you’re shy. Everyone else is too.
  3. Change. Get a haircut, try new perfume, get new sheets. Become better than you were before.
  4. Eat healthier. Learn to cook something fancy.
  5. Get up earlier and watch the sun come up.
  6. Wear soft clothes, take a bath, drink something warm.
  7. Meet someone new, even just a friend.
  8. Become closer with your friends and your family. Call your mother. Cry with your best friend. Tell everyone how much you appreciate them.
  9. Keep your room clean. Buy some candles. Let the natural light in. 
  10. Make a list of reasons why you’ll be better off without them. Believe they are true, because they are. 
  11. Listen to new music. 
  12. Write everything you’re thinking and feeling. Write letters. Write happy letters, sad letters, and angry letters, even if you’re never going to send them.
  13. It’s okay to be sad, but not forever. Sadness is not as beautiful as music makes it seem. Lack of sleep makes your eyes droopy, not deep. Wake up every morning and tell yourself you’re going to have a good day.
  14. Go to the library. Don’t forget to look in the music section. 
  15. Remove them from your life. Get rid of the things they gave you if they make you sad. They’re not worth it. You will never be happy if you continue to hold on to the things that make you sad.
  16. Make new memories.
  17. Try to find something to appreciate in everything you do or experience.
  18. Being alone is okay, you don’t have to surround yourself with people. 
  19. Become your own best friend. Buy yourself coffee and drink it alone in a cafe. Take your time. 
  20. Learn to love every bit of yourself.

*source: http://skinnyknees.tumblr.com/










I really hope you all have a great week, email me if you need anything, 
you beautiful, talented, kind people
- Soph x 

Friday 16 May 2014

Self Flattery

I myself can be quite an un-modest person when it comes to flattering ones self. But, it's really not that bad of a quality to have. It's not healthy to never compliment or flatter yourself.

If you're wearing a really nice outfit, with some nice makeup you should look in the mirror and say "well hello there, what's your name" "you look so good" "looking fab" "dayummm". If you're really good at something you should say "hell yes I'm good at this".

Sometimes when someone compliments you, saying something like "you look stunning" don't deny it, reply with "i know". Flattering yourself isn't being selfish, it isn't boasting, it's appreciating the beautiful, amazing person that you are?

























- Soph x

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Study Tips

So, i'm not sure about you but for me I have my mid-year exams coming up in a couple of weeks and it's study time again. If you're anything like me, you may be constantly distracted, find it hard to focus and have 100 other things going on, so I think I may be able to help myself at the same time as helping you (I hope). I've been thinking over study tips and here's some of what I came up with, but before I write anything you may do things differently to me, i'm not a study expert.

Gather Resources 
First things first, you need to collect the resources you need. Here's what I propose, write up a table like the one below,










For each subject write what the exam is on, then in the next column write what resources you need, then in brakets write what you need to do in order to get those resources. I think that this really helps you feel well organized and you don't have to waste time printing etc..

Create A Study Timetable 
Before I began studying I went to Kiki K and got a 'weekly planner' to use as my study timetable, for each day I have written what subjects i'll be studying, the length of time and what i'll be studying for that subject, as well as writing in other commitments like dance, running, social things. I think a study timetable is sort of essential to studying, even if you change things, for example I had it down to do a half hour of business, but I ended up needing about 50 minutes.



















This is my study timetable, as you can see i've circled my other commitments in green and bullet pointed study things in pink and the orange arrows are breaks.

Good Study Environment 
Everyone is different, you may prefer to study in your room rather than a study or at the dinner table rather than your room but there are some things that are the same. Be somewhere with little to no distractions, if there are lots of people and noise you won't be able to focus similar to if there is a TV on or if you have facebook or instagram open. Personally, I study downstairs at a desk in the kitchen/lounge area, my family is down here but they tend to leave me be or keep quiet when I study.

Sleep
So I always used to be the sort of go on my laptop until 11.00 pm sort of a person, until i went to France for 3 weeks and went straight to bed every night and got out of the habit and I can tell you - it helps so much. Getting to sleep before 10.30 makes me feel so awake and generally more positive throughout the day so getting an earlier night is beneficial overall as well as for studying, taking in and memorizing information.

Eating
Don't starve yourself when it's study time, don't go on a no carb, no sugar, no protein diet because you need all of that in order to firstly sustain a healthy diet unless you've got all the facts, but you need it in order to learn and study properly. To start of the day eat a healthy but more satisfying breakfast, followed by snacks at break times, a fulling lunch and an afternoon snack followed by dinner. You should be eating 5 meals a day when it's study time. Here's some suggestions:
Breakfast:
- Muesli + fruit + yogurt
- Egg + toast 
- Wholegrain toast + penut butter 
- Smoothie (make sure you have banana and protein powder in there) 
Lunch:
- Roll/sandwich/wrap + protein + vegetables 
- Pasta 
- Salad + protein 
- Hummus + pita + vege sticks 
Snacks:
- Fruit/fruit salad/fruit platter 
- Vege sticks + hummus
- Muesli bar
- Mixed nuts + dried fruit 
- Dark chocolate 
- Popcorn 
- vita-weak crackers
- Slices of cheese 

Water
Stay hydrated you can't function properly without water, you need to drink at least 2 bottles a day, I possibly drink a bottle a class - possibly because i'm sicks. A nice thing to add to your water if you're not so fond of drinking a lot of it is a fresh squeeze of lemon or lime.

Exercise 
I don't know about you, but I can't sit down for 5 hours and do solid study, I have to get up and move around for a bit. Either put on some very loud music and do a bit of dancing around the house, go to the gym, do some yoga inside or outside, go for a run or walk, just do something other than study a few minutes or even an hour. This will refresh you a little bit and allow you to stretch your limbs, making it easier to get into the next task - I would suggest not watching TV or a movie because you may just get drawn in and not feel like continuing to study.

Ask
If you come across something you have no idea about or are unsure of, don't just sit there or leave it, go ask or email your teacher and continue asking until you finally understand, because I bet that thing will come up in the exam/test? Friends are also good to ask, and if you're asked, do your best to answer because it will also help you thorough your understanding

Stay Positive  
Panicing and having a nervous break down is not the best option, if you're very stressed, are drowning in your study or are very confused, you need to take a deep breath, get some fresh air and either look at it again or get help. If you think you're going to fail or you're not going to get it, you most probably won't, so stay positive and as cheesy as it is, believe in yourself.

So there are some study tips, I'm sorry I haven't posted a lot but i've been incredibly busy, I still have an April favorites to post! But if any one is stressed or is lost, or just needs someone to talk to, you can always email my, it's confidential if you want, just type 'confidential' in the subject bar
sophrosed@gmail.com 

Happy studying!

- Soph x

Saturday 3 May 2014

There And Back Again

After a 12 hour flight back to Singapore followed by what seemed like a forever lasting flight to Auckland, I arrived home from my three weeks in France - apologies for the lack of posting.

I seem to live with the disability to some things up, so when I tell you about something you result in having to open your ears to the whole story - that is why I shan't describe my French adventures to you, unless we're in person and you have about an hour to spare.

What I will talk about, was how this trip made me realize that I don't want to be stuck in one place for the rest of my life. The thought of going through life living the same routine, seeing the same people, eating the same food, experiencing the same things, constantly makes me feel bored. But the thought of waking up in an apartment in Paris, opening the shutters and breathing in the fresh air and seeing all the people moving, the streets buzzing, the sun seeping through onto the floor, working out the metro excites me and inspires me, Paris is somewhere I could stay in for years. Paris suits me, I feel as though I belong there. Comfort lies in going somewhere in which nobody knows who you are or what you've done. I had previously been very bored and unsatisfied with my life before this trip, quoting a fellow blogger "I feel like i'm existing but barely living". Turns out those three weeks were exactly what I needed, to get away - out of the same routine, to be put in completely new scenarios and experience new things, make the most of new opportunities and take risks. Walking down those Paris streets made me realize how I need to work hard to be able to come back here, to explore my favorite city once more and fall in love with it all over again.

Throughout this trip I had met so many new people and made so many new friends, as well as getting closer with some I didn't know hugely well prior. I have grown more confident and independent and have matured a bit, my willingness to work hard has also developed.

Thankyou to all those who were involved in this journey,

This was taken in Paris
The Notre Dame 

Inside the Versailles Castle

Outside Versailles after waiting 2 and a half hours with Maddie and Fraser 
With Jamie at Versailles 
Maddie and I in the Versailles gardens - I didn't get photos because my phone died
On the Eiffel Tower 





My friend who I met in Paris called Matt 
Grace and I in Dijon - Dijon is very cute 

In our beloved hotel room in Dijon 
Jamie and I at the top of the Eiffel Tower
Montpellier 
A modern art museum in Montpellier 

Maddie and I with ben and jerry's


Carcassonne 
A lolly shop in Carcassonne
Sette



The Pont Du Gard bridge 
A palace in Avignon 

French markets 
This stunning lagoon 



In Nice
Nice's stunning beach 

This is a famous hotel in Nice where lots of celebrities stay, including Leonardo Dicaprio 

In Vence 




Back to Paris - it's stunning when it rains 


The Eiffel Tower on the train 
L'arc de Triomphe 
Champs-Elysees 
View from l'arc de triomphe 

Champs-Elysees 
Did a bit of damage...
The Louvre Museum
Famous painting in the Louvre 
The Mona Lisa 


A lock bridge 
On our boat trip 



The Eiffel Tower at night 
In the morning at our favorite hostel - it was beautiful 
The science museum 


Our second hostel in Paris 
Our beautiful view 
I fell in love with this balcony bit 
One of the many French girls we chatted to 
With my favorite French friend - Naomi 

A famous patisserie 

- Soph x