Comparison is the Thief of Joy

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I was asked a while back by some followers to address mental health on this blog, and it's taken me forever to write these posts because 1. I'm not exactly sure what topics y'all want me to address and 2. I want to present the best content in the best way possible without being one-sided or insincere. Mental health is such a personal topic to discuss, and everyone experiences something different. Without literally being that person, we will never know how someone else's experiences are different than our own. Not only for mental health issues, but this goes for anything. You cannot experience someone else's life, no matter how much detail they explain it in or how much you think you know about that person.

As we go back to school in the next few weeks, it's important to remember how superficial social media outlets are. We are part of a very unique generation, one that still remembers playing outside on the swings and riding our bikes around the block, but also growing up with technology and having access to a whole Internet of information simultaneously. I remember being one of the last kids I knew to get a desktop computer at home. When I think back, I was only in kindergarten, but it seemed like I was so much older. And frankly, it's crazy to think about that - even though it seems like I still had a whole lifetime of swingsets, kickball games in the backyard, and lots of dirt in my shoes, computers took over my life at a very early age.

The social media outlets that we have at our disposal are arguably the best, and worst, things that can happen to us, particularly as we live through high school and college. I love that I can see photos of my friends from home who go to college hours away, and that my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins can look at my Facebook photo albums and see what I'm up to. But at the same time, I see my friends who go to tailgating schools, and I regret that I won't have that experience at mine. I have the ability to know every date function, party, and social event that I was not asked to attend. And regardless of what my friends' Instagram feed looks like, I will never know if they are adjusting to college life well, if they are homesick, or if they are struggling. We have the very real ability to filter out parts of our lives if we don't want anyone to know about them. And we have the same capability to shove the good times down other people's throats, whether we realize it or not. 

No matter how much fun it looks like everyone else is having, remember that we are all real people and we can't have the best day ever all the time. A friend of mine once said that she likes to think of life as a sine wave, and that for each peak of happiness there will also be a dip of sadness of equal magnitude, but that the sine wave continues infinitely and that there is always something else coming up. In the meantime, the most we can do is live in the moment, in our moment, and no one else's. "A flower does not think of competing with the one next to it. It just blooms" - Zen Shin

Any suggestions for other blog posts like these? Comment below! I'd love to hear your thoughts (:

Phone Cases for Summer/Back to School

one // two // three // four // five (no longer available) // six // seven  (available in other colors) // eight (currently sold out) // nine // ten

Ever since I got my iPhone a year ago, I love having more freedom to choose a fun phone case! I have a simple clear one that I use on any days when I wouldn't want my case to get ruined, and I have a nice white marble case that I use during the fall and winter months. But, right now, my phone is sporting case #1 pictured above. I am seriously obsessed with pineapples, and spent the two-week delivery period anxiously telling my friends how excited I was to have a phone case with a pineapple on it. I'm pretty sure they're all tired of hearing about pineapples by now, but they can just wait for the excitement that is these socks I'll be wearing constantly at school.

I also really love cases 5 and 7, and think that the Karl Lagerfeld ice cream cone case is especially funny! Where is your favorite place to find cheap phone cases? I love getting new ones, but I hate spending a ton on them since they tend to get beat up :(

Back to School CAPSULE Wardrobe (Using Just 28 Pieces!!)

I've never been one for a small closet, but as a back to school experiment, I thought I would try making a capsule wardrobe. This uses only 28 pieces (woe is me having only 6 pairs of shoes) but I actually think this is quite doable. I tend to reach for the same types of items on a regular basis anyway, like white tops and striped tees. Take a look at the 28 pieces I put together below and let me know what you think! Could you ever do a capsule wardrobe challenge? 

I have to say it's tempting to try living on just these 28 pieces for a little while.. If you have any questions be sure to comment below and I can do a more detailed post about what a capsule wardrobe is and why it's beneficial! I can't even believe that it's August already, be on the lookout for more capsule-wardrobe related posts from me soon!

Ole Henriksen Voxbox

Welcome back everyone! Today I'm here to talk about some fun products I received from Influenster to try out. The Ole Henriksen Power Bright 3-Step Brightening System was so great to try out, and I can't wait to tell you more about the products I received!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

"I love to empower skin to be the very best it can be. And that's what Power Bright is all about." - Ole Henriksen 

Inside my Voxbox (that's what the awesome packages of goodies from Influenster are called!), I received three awesome goodies. Let's take a look at each one: 

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation

Influenster describes this product as "the perfect moisturizer before makeup." This moisturizer is oil-free and works with all skin types. I liked applying this moisturizer both in the morning and before bed. It left my skin feeling very soft and supple, and even the next day my skin didn't feel dried out, but plump and still soft from applying this product hours earlier. The only downside I found to this product was the smell - it didn't smell horrible but I didn't prefer the scent to that of the other products, which all smelled like orange creamsicle. 

Sephora Description: "This oil-free moisturizer has a unique lightweight, whipped texture that penetrates skin and with essential moisture. It’s infused with fruit acids to gently exfoliate, refining your skin’s rough, uneven texture, tone, and dullness and while it promotes cell turnover. Pea extract, sugar, and vitamin C work together to fade dark spots and even skintone. Antioxidant protection helps defend skin from future damage. It can be used as a base for makeup application, and it leaves skin looking and feeling soft, healthy, nourished, and radiant."

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

This product, described by Influenster as being "like a multivitamin for your skin," is quite nice! With a citrus-y, almost creamsicle scent, I really enjoyed applying this serum every morning under my makeup and my Sheer Transformation moisturizer. It made my skin feel a little bit tight after application, and it dried fairly fast into the skin, but after adding the moisturizer my skin no longer felt taught. I didn't see much of a difference in my skin texture over the course of using this product, but I do think my skin looks very radiant recently and I would give these Ole Henriksen products the credit for that!

Sephora Description: "This high potency serum is formulated with Ole Henriksen’s proprietary 5-source Vitamin C Complex to help brighten, boost collagen, and minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps to prevent further damage and reduces the signs of aging by defending skin from environmental aggressors and free radical damage. Enriched with green tea extract and sodium hyaluronate, this weightless, fast-absorbing, oil-free formula penetrates deep within the skin, delivering antioxidant protection and essential hydration. This serum’s iconic and uplifting citrus scent will pamper your skin and your senses."

Ole Henriksen Power Bright 3-Step Brightening System

This last product was so much fun to try out! The Power Bright system has three steps, and includes a sponge that is used for cleansing the skin in the final step. To begin, apply the Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask to the face, leaving on for 5-10 minutes. Then, add warm water, massaging the scrub into the skin and then washing clean. The second step is a Truth 25% Vitamin C Concentrate, which you apply to dry skin after the scrub, leaving on for 2-3 minutes. This product you don't rinse off; instead, apply the Pure Truth Melting Cleanser directly on top, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Finally after that time, you dampen the sponge with warm water and remove the product with the sponge. 

I really liked this system! I enjoyed using the scrub and the cleanser especially. They made my skin feel nice and soft!! I also liked the Vitamin C Concentrate, but not as much. It was quite thick and felt heavy on my skin, so I recommend only using a little bit. I also was interested to see this product included in the system - I've never thought to use concentrated vitamins on my skin before! I will say that I probably didn't leave these products on for as long as recommended, mostly because I have been going to bed insanely late and get tired of sitting around waiting for the products. I was able to use each product about 3-4 times, which is super awesome! I definitely recommend using this kit at night, and allowing yourself plenty of time to let all the products set. Overall, I really liked this kit and being able to try it out through Influenster. I always hear about the importance of skincare at a young age, but don't normally think to buy skincare products for myself, so it was nice to test these out!

Sephora Description: "Experience the ultimate Ole Glow instantly with this professional-strength, three-step system featuring an unprecedented 25 percent vitamin C concentrate. In as little as one use, skin looks brighter and more radiant, and fine lines and wrinkles appear diminished. Ole Henriksen was one of the very first skincare brands to champion vitamin C, the gold standard for fighting signs of aging. It helps brighten and even the complexion and promotes firmer, more youthful-looking skin. This formulation features a 25 percent concentration of stable ascorbic acid, the pure form of vitamin C to provide immediate brightness. 

This three-step system takes inspiration from Ole Henriksen’s POWER Peel, the most-requested treatment at his spa. Each box contains six treatment sleeves with three numbered pods. The pods help protect the benefits of the formulas. Begin with Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask enriched with sugar, honey, and pomegranate seed powder to help polish away dull skin, for a smooth, radiant complexion. Next, apply Truth 25 percent vitamin C concentrate, and let it sit on the skin. Finally, Pure Truth Melting Cleanser layers on top of the concentrate to help activate it: the warming sensation signals that it’s working. This luxurious, three-in-one cleansing formula nourishes skin with vitamin C, cherry seed, and rose hip seed oils. Rinse it off, removing with the Power Bright complexion sponges provided, and skin is soft and supple with the ultimate Ole Glow."
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Overall, I really enjoyed sampling these products! I should totally get more into skincare, but need some suggestions! What is your favorite skincare item?

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

The "There's One Month Left of Summer" To Do List

Can you believe that there is only one month left of summer?! For us college students, it's even less time since we have to be back before the month ends. In the meantime, make the most of your final days by doing at least one of these activities every day!