eva tries

Shows to Binge Watch

9:53 PM

Lately I've been seeing a lot of posts like this, and, since I'm a self proclaimed binge watching expert, I thought I would make one too. I made sure to include both easy, light-hearted shows and super 'gripping' ones, so hopefully everybody finds something good to watch! Let me know your favorite show below, and I might check it out.
Let's start with the shows that are so good, you wont' be able to stop watching them.

Shameless:
I have already mentioned this show in a favorites post because it is just so good. There's a lot of characters, but none of them get lost in the story. On the contrary, they all have a personality and a story; they're so well developed they feel like actual people. In the show, a poor family struggles with everyday life, but it isn't at all boring. There's always so much happening: between a drunk dad, a bipolar mom, and six kids there's a lot of drama.

Game of Thrones:

If you're one of those people, like I was, that didn't believe all the hype behind this show: go watch it. I'm not even going to try to explain the plot because it would be too complex, but the show is worth watching. The special effects, the costumes, the scenery and the acting alone are all spectacular. It has something for everybody: action, love, drama, comedy. Whatever you're looking for and more, this show has it.

Orange is the new black:
This is my last 'serious' watch. Now, I'll admit it's been a while since I've seen this show, so if it's still in my mind, it must be good. If you haven't heard about this Netflix original series than you must have been living under a rock because it has been everywhere. The show takes place in a female prison. It's filled with drama and heart break, but also friendships and relationships.

Last but not least, some comedy.

Two Broke Girls:
I've also already talked about this. It's one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. It's such an easy watch and it always puts me in a good mood. It's about two young girls who become unlikely friends and try to earn a living and pursue their cupcake making dreams. It's full of so many amazing puns that actually make you laugh.

Being Sick: the Essentials

11:03 PM

It seems to always happen. In rolls January, with its bottles popping and people dancing, and then, slowly but surely, those same people are snuggled in bed sick, and the music is replaced by their coughing and sneezing. I'm talking about flu season. Every year this nasty bug comes to bite us in the butt, and it seems 2015 is no exception.

I'm usually really lucky: I never get sick. I know that sounds like jinxing it and all that bad joojoo, but it's true. Or well, up until last week it was. Thankfully my immune system still maintained its top notch reputation, and so I was never too bad, but I was also not so good. I had a bit of a fever, stuffy nose, and-at most times- almost zero voice. However, I survived! And since I know it's not always that easy, I'm here with some "must haves" for any of you struggling right now.

Tea:
I cannot stretch this enough, but let me try. TEA. TEA. TEA. TEEEEEEAAAAA. Okay. But honestly, if you have a soar throat just drink hot tea. First off it will make you feel instantly better, but it will also actually help to make you better. These last days I drank at least 4 cups a day-it was not so fun when I was in school, as this forced me to go to the bathroom a bit too often for my liking.

Tissues:
Well, this sounds dumb. I know. But when you're sick you always have to have at least one pack on you. Even if you don't have a stuffy nose, somebody else might or maybe you'll need to use them as toilet paper (because your school can never have any) due to all the tea you drank.

Neck Warmer:
If you have a cough or a soar throat: buy this. Honestly, I think I'm in love with it. Okay, so it might not be as fashionable as your new scarf, but who cares? It's much warmer and comfortable and that's all that really matters. I actually stole my brother's because I didn't have my own, and I've been living in it (like actually, I think it's really gross I have to wash it). Long story short, he's never getting it back.

Tylenol:
I'm not one for pills. I've been raised to take the least amount of pills/medicine possible and only when necessary, but sometimes, it's necessary. When you have a fever or strong headache, tylenol is great, but don't rely on it. Only take it when you actually need it.

Blankets/Comfy Clothing:
When I'm sick, the idea of putting on makeup and nice clothes is not a nice one. My ideal day would be in bed, under a pile of blankets, but sometimes it's not possible. Comfy clothing is your best friend. Opt for a big sweater, leggings, and uggs (and of course your trusty neck warmer). Being comfortable and warm is the best thing when you're sick.

Cough Drops:
Most of the things in this post are against coughs, because that's what I mostly had. Cough drops are great: they help your throat, they taste great and they leave your breath minty fresh! Plus, they're easy to carry around in your purse and they don't make you pee like the tea does!

My Workout Routine (January)

11:25 PM

I have never been a sporty person. The whole idea of exercising, sweating, and feeling tired and dirty has never appealed to me. Trust me, I've tried to like it. Throughout the years I must have tried almost every sport there is. Anything and everything from gymnastics, tennis, athletics and swimming, but nothing has ever appealed to me. I would always get bored quickly and start hating it even more. However, a "nice" body and a healthy lifestyle, unfortunately, aren't the result of laying around all day without doing anything, so I decided to get active.

No, this time it's not one of those silly new years resolutions. My decision to join the gym actually pre-dates the new year (for once), and so far I've stuck to it. This summer, during a week alone in the city, I found a gym right by my house and decided to give it a go. I can't say going to the gym is fun, but it's not horrible. Your muscles are soar and you're sweaty after your session, but you feel as if you've accomplished something, and that's nice.

I forced my best friend to come with me, and it's been about 5 months of exercise so far (and still counting!). We go twice a week in the evening right before dinner for about an hour- more or less depending on how chatty we're feeling and how much homework we have. About once a month we also meet with our personal trainer ~~who tortures us~~ assigns us a new workout for the month.

Since it's still January and I know that most people are trying to be healthier, I thought I would share my workout routine for the month. The great thing about most of these exercises is that, if you're not ready to pay the gym, you can do them at home.

Legs:

lunges

We start with a little lunge warmup. One set of 20 repetitions, and then move on to lunges with weights. I do 3 sets of 20 lunges each with a 3kg weight for each arm.

We then move on to squats. I do not like squats. They always make me feel so soar, and walking all the way to the fifth floor to my house after the gym becomes a real struggle. I do 3 sets of 15 repetitions each, with 3kg of weights again.

Next up is one of the most awkward exercises. It's called the frog and it's quite hard to describe. You have to lie face down near the end of a bench, so that your legs are free to move. You start with your legs bent and open, and gradually put them together and lift them up. It's easy to think about it like swimming breaststroke, except you also have to lift your legs. I do 4 sets of 15 repetitions of this.

squats

Arms:
My first arm exercise is the 'dip'. It's kind of like an upside down pushup. You rest your hands on the edge of a chair or bench, bend your knees out in front of you, and lift your body up and down. (I'm starting to realize how hard it is/how bad I am at describing exercises). I do 4 sets of 12 repetitions.

dips

Weirdly enough this month I only have two arm workouts. The last one is actually a machine (which are my favorites). It's called the chest press, and I do 3 sets of 15 each, lifting 10kg.

the chest press machine.

Abs:
It's no secret that abs is my least favorite part, and, fortunately enough, I only have one exercise. However it's horrible. It's called an oblique up, and it's an ab workout for your side. You have to lie on one side, and simultaneously lift your upper and lower body. It's the worse. I feel like a fish out of water whenever I do it, but hopefully it will pay off.

how it should look

how I look

Last, but definitely not least, is the treadmill. Alongside the abs, this is my least favorite activity. I actually used to really enjoy it, but with every month that goes by I hate it more because it becomes harder and harder. I don't run, just walk, but trust me: it's not good. I first do 10 minutes with the speed setting set to 5 km/h and the incline setting set to 15. It honestly feels like you're rushing to get up a really steep hill. It's not pleasant. Then, without any break of course, I do another 10 minutes. This time both the speed and incline are set to 6.5. I get off the treadmill shaky and sweaty; ready to go home and get in a nice, relaxing shower.

If you've liked this, please let me know. I'm thinking about maybe doing a little monthly workout series, so let me know!

Empties #1

9:02 PM

DIY Body and Face Scrub (+mask)

10:12 PM

There's nothing better than a good ol'pampering session to let go off all the built up stress. This weekend I decided to treat myself and make a homemade body and face scrub/mask. It was honestly so easy, so relaxing and extremely convenient and functional, so here's how to make it.

This recipe is perfect because it can be tailored exactly to your preference and it's all made with products you have in your kitchen. The first thing you're going to need is a lemon (I used the whole one, but again, you can tailor it to your needs). Lemon is great for the skin: it reduces the appearance of scars and age spots, it helps heal acne, it's a natural exfoliant, it's also brightening and it tones oily skin. Honestly, it's a miracle worker.

Next, you're gonna want to add in some kind of exfoliant. I did mention above that lemon exfoliates, but we still want something to really break apart those dead skin cells. Sugar is perfect for this. I would recommend brown sugar as it has a lot of benefits. First off it's gentler than other natural exfoliants (like salt or other sugars), it also contains this thing called 'glycolic acid' which fights bacteria and helps your skin look radiant and healthy. To top it all of, it's a natural humectant which means it absorbs moisture from your environment and gives it to your skin.

To add some more moisture we're going to put in some olive oil (or any kind of oil that you have-coconut oil is great too). The proportions between all the ingredients are a personal choice, but be careful not to add too much oil or it will become too runny. Olive oil, as you may have guessed, is great for the skin. It has vitamin E (which helps with anti-aging), it gives moisture, and it's a natural cleanser so it cleans and purifies the skin.

The last ingredient for our super quick scrub is honey. This will help everything stick together and stick to your face; plus it opens up and purifies pores-which is perfect for all us acne prone girls.

Now just mix everything and put it somewhere to store. This was so easy to make and it's so nice to use. I apply it first to my face, rubbing it in to exfoliate, and then let is sit as a mask for 5-10 minutes. In the meantime I also use it as a lip scrub (you can eat it and it's actually really yummy!) Last but not least, I show my body some love-it can really use a good exfoliation and some moisture during these cold winter months.

How To Keep Your Lips Happy

9:55 PM

There's lots of wonderful things to love about winter, but dry and chapped lips are not one of them. Nice, moisturized lips can have such a huge impact on your appearance and your mood, so lets give these bad boys some attention!

When it comes to keeping your lips happy, there's three essentials: a scrub, a "carry around" lip balm, and an intense lip balm. Depending on how your lips behave and your personal preference these products can vary from drugstore to high-end and anything in between. All the products I have (since my lips are usually quite good) are all basic, but they still work really well.

The newest addition to the family is my Duane Reade lip balm. I was surprised by how much I like this: it melts into the lips, keeps them moisturized for a long time, it's super small and portable and it has spf 15! Sun protection is really important even for your lips because, believe it or not, they can actually burn too and be affected by the sun like the rest of your skin.

Lip scrubs are easy to make, but if you're lazy like me, Lush has a really great one. I have the bubble gum flavor but there's lots to choose from (personally I recommend mint) and they're all pretty nice. The wonderful thing about lip exfoliants is that they literally remove all the dead and dry cells, so you're left with baby soft lips. Plus, you can eat the scrub after you're done!

The last important thing, in my opinion, is a nice thick and intense lip balm to use overnight. My room is personally always really cold, so I know that if I don't moisturize my lips before going to bed I'm going to wake up with horribly chapped lips. Even if this isn't your experience I would still recommend it- it won't hurt to give your lips a bit more of attention! The one I've been using is the Vaseline lip therapy that comes in the little pot. I like it but it's just a tad too sticky for me; I recommend the one that comes from the tube which-for some weird reason- is much better.

If your lips really don't agree with the wether I would suggest swapping out your bold berry lips for a tinted lip balm. Products like Baby Lips are great. They add some shine and color to your lips, but they still keep in the moisture and look natural. Two of my favorite shades are 'Cherry me!", a nice sheer-everyday red, and "Oh!Orange!", a bright-but wearable- orange. They both add a pop of color to your makeup, but without being too bold.

LIP COUNT: 24

Tumblr Photography Inspiration

1:55 PM

My Goals For 2015

10:17 PM

I've already blogged about my New Year's resolutions, so some of you might be confused. To me, goals and resolutions are two completely different things. Resolutions are lifestyle changes and reminders. They are things I want to be or become rather than I things I want to do. Goals, on the other hand, are concrete achievements. So here is what I want to have completed by the end of 2015:

Read at least 10 books: Reading is somethings I really love to do, but with schoolwork and technology being both such a big part of my life, it's hard to find the time to sit down and enjoy a good book. This year I want to challenge myself to read more and better books. I want to transition and start reading more "grown up" books (at least 3 this year); whether they be philosophical, anthropological, or even just biographies, inspirational books, etc. I really enjoy 'teen books', and I won't give them up, but I want to start gaining and learning something from my readings (even though I'm a firm believer that all books teach something).

Start coding: I've actually already started this earlier this week. Codes have always intrigued me, but also scared and confused me. I want to become more familiar with them so I can improve the appearance of this blog, but also so that I have an extra life skill. If this is something you're interested in, this is the perfect way to start (free).

Give to charity: I'm a very privileged person and I think it's time I start giving back. This year I want to donate to charity and help out others. While I may not have money to donate, I have plenty of other goods. For example, clothes. I have so many shoes and bags and jackets that I don't use anymore that other people could benefit from. I'm still not sure exactly how I'm going to achieve this, but I'm working on it.

Reorganize my room: This year I started putting together my room a bit more, and I need to continue because it's a mess. I don't like most of the furniture and I hate the layout, so there's a lot of work to do. I want it to become a space I'm proud of, and also something that embodies me. At the same time, I don't want to spend too much money so DIYs all the way!

Keep a "tumblr" like journal and paint more: I'm not good at keeping journals, I always give up, so I don't know how well this is going to turn out but I'm still determined to try. I want it to be an outlet where I can be creative and start to paint more (which is something I really want to do). I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the process of this diary.

For those of you who might be confused, this is kind of what I mean when I say "tumblr" journal. (this image is not my own and comes from tumblr)

Stop popping pimples: Yes, this might be gross, but it's true and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. For me, popping pimples is a bit of a stress reliever. If there's a pimple, I just have to pop it. It's bad. They become red and often leave a scar, and in the end they're more noticeable than they were originally. Plus it spreads more bacteria which favors the birth of new pimples, so it's a never ending cycle.

Reach 30 followers: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: blogging for me is not about the numbers. However, I do want to create a community and receive feedback on my posts. I don't want my hard work to go unnoticed and I want to gain new tips and new friends. I'm currently at 20 followers (which is crazy, thank you so much!) and I have no idea if I'm going to reach 30, but I would really love to.

Everyday Simple&Natural Makeup

10:10 PM

After a lot of work I've finally found a makeup routine that works for me. It's still not perfect and there's a couple of products that could be swapped out and improved, but the finishing effect is pretty good (at least in my opinion). Plus, the whole look is quick to put together and really natural.

This last month I've gotten out of the habit of priming, so I start with concealing. For a while now I've been using the Garnier Pure Active 2 in 1 concealer, which I've mentioned in my September favorites, and which I still really like. For highlighting the under eyes, which for me is one of the most important steps in the whole routine, I've been using a new product, the Dior Diorskin Star concealer. I received this as an early Christmas gift from my uncle, and I was in awe. Never had I imagined owning such a luxurious product-IT'S FROM DIOR! (sorry I still can't get over how amazing that is). Along with being extremely expensive, it's also a great illuminating concealer- even though there are cheaper options I would recommend instead of splurging so much money. Another present from my uncle (who really spoiled me) was a Sephora foundation brush, which I actually use to blend in all my concealer.

Based on dermatologist recommendation I've switched to powder foundation and I've been trying out the Revlon Nearly Naked one. I apply it using another Sephora brush (yet another generous Christmas gift from my uncle) and I've been quite liking it. As the name would suggest, it is light coverage and really natural, but it's also buildable. The only downside is that I picked up a shade a bit too dark (thanks to bad advice from the employ at the shop), but thankfully, once it's all blended, it's not really noticeable. To set it in place I use my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - which I've mentioned in my 'best purchases of 2014'- and which helps my makeup last all day and contain shine. I didn't mention any blush or bronzer because, although I love them, I often tend to skip them when I'm in a rush.

From left to right: Duane Read powder brush(my first ever real makeup brush, which I still use for powder- I don't have the courage to throw it out); sephora mineral foundation brush; sephora foundation brush; mac 217 eyeshadow brush

Moving on to eyebrows and eyes. I start off with my Kiko Precision Eyebrow pencil. I think that this is great if you're just starting out with brows, like I am, because it's cheap and not too pigmented. On a day to day basis I usually only use the brush end just to organize my brows. For my eyes, I start by using my beloved Elf Eyeshadow Primer (mentioned in a previous favorites post), and I then just blend a bit of eyeshadow in my crease using the Mac 217 brush. The eyeshadow often changes, but one I find myself often going back to is the Mac eyeshadow in Quarry, a really nice matte shade.

To finish off the eyes I use my Wet n Wild pencil, which I've had for far too long and never fully got along with. Depending on my mood I will either use it on the lid as a smokier eyeliner, or just use it to add definition to the waterline. Last but not least I curl my lashes and add the Maybelline Big Eyes mascara- I love that this mascara has a separate wand for lower lashes, such a neat idea! To complete the whole makeup look I've been loving Baby Lips, which is so unlike me since I usually reach for more pigmented lipsticks.

Top 5 Tips for Going Back to School After the Holidays

7:33 PM

*it's the most depressing time, of the year!*

As it does every holiday, the most dreadful day has finally come: we must set aside the comfy pjs, set down the steaming cup and pick up our books; it's time to go back to school! As always, I spent the whole break procrastinating, and thus these last few days have been spent frantically trying to study and finish up everything (pointless to say I'm still not done). Not to mention that for the last couple of weeks my sleeping schedule- and I'm sure I'm not the only one- has been totally messed up: going to bed at 2am and waking up at noon (if not later) has become the norm. What I'm trying to get at is that I assume nobody wants to venture out into the cold streets tomorrow morning and go to school/work, but we all have to, so I'm here to share some ways to make my-and your- dive into the real world less traumatic.

Go to bed early. Yes, I know it's not easy but it's going to be worth it. My goal for tonight is to be all tucked up by 10:30-which is earlier than I would go to sleep on a regular school night. I know I'm going to have a hard time falling asleep, but I also know that it's important to try and rest as much as possible. Trust me, if you stay up, you're going to regret it when you hear the alarm clock.

Pick out an outfit the night before. This move has double the benefits. First off, you waste less time in the morning destroying your wardrobe, and gain those five extra precious minutes of sleep. And, second of all, if you're anything like me, it will make waking up easier. If I like what I'm going to wear, I wake up faster because I'm excited to get dressed. If you got some new clothes for Christmas or at the sales: flaunt them!

Don't stress out too much. Personally I know that I have anxieties whenever I go back to school because I feel unprepared. I'm afraid there's going to be some kind of pop quiz or the teacher is going to ask me something I don't know the answer to and I'm going to embarrass myself: calm down. Remember that everybody-including teachers- has just come back from break too. They all have to get back into the routine just like you do, so you're all in the same boat.

Try to be positive. For me, this is the hardest one. Going back to school feels like selling my soul to the devil and heading to jail. It's hard to look past all the negatives and find some positivity in the situation, but it's necessary. Try making a list of pros and cons... but leave out the cons. You're going to be seeing your friends, (if you have one) your crush, you're going to learn new things, etc.

Remember how privileged you are. Look at me, I'm here dreading going back to school, when in fact, it's a privilege. I am lucky to have the opportunity to study and so are you! So many people in the world have to fight for this basic right, and we are here complaining about it. We get to learn so many amazing things and educate ourselves and grow up and we really should be grateful. We need to try to remember this, and maybe we can realize how lucky we are and appreciate going to school tomorrow.