Managing Your Time... With Everything Life Throws At You

Hey Girls! I know it's been waaaay too long since I've last posted, but it was mainly because I wasn't managing my time well! So here's to you, the girl who does EVERYTHING and is yet to stay organized!!

BUY A PLANNER
I swear this is the best thing for you. Yes, the calendar in your phone is great, but a daily or weekly planner is a must. You can write out assignments for any classes you may be taking, and be able to delegate enough time to make sure they get done and get done on time- without cramming that book report in at 11:00p.m. on a school night! Then, once you've got everything in for school write down any chores you might need to get done- like walk Fido or take the trash out on garbage night. Then lastly, make sure you leave yourself some free time to talk to friends or go to the movies on a Friday night :)

PRIORITIZE
Well, now that you've bought this (hopfully stylish) planner, you're probably wondering how you even use it! Thats where learning how to prioritize and put the must-do's before the want-to-do's. Here's  the system I like to use. 
A= Must-do, like a math assignment due the next day, it's urgent and must get done now or else there may be consequences (like a bad grade)!
B= Should-do, like work on the book report due Friday, it's something you should work on, but isn't due tomorrow but still needs to be done.
and lastly,
C= Want-to-do, like go to the movies with your boyfriend, read your favorite book, or watch your show on TV. It's something you'd like to do but you don't NEED to do (even if you really want to, you're A's and B's come first!).

By writing out your A's first and then B's and then C's you can get what must be done done and then work on your B's. This way if there's any time leftover, you can use it for your things ranked C. Though, always remember to designate time for sleep, meals, and some downtime for your brain so you don't get too stressed out!

HAVE A FILING SYSTEM
It may sound cheesy, but we all know technology is great in its own way, but pen and paper can't crash like a phone or computer. Though, with a filing system, you should definately keep it organized. An "in-box" is a great way of keeping everything together that needs to be filed, but what do you do when that "in-box" gets out of control? Well, you file it! Hanging files are a great way to keep instruction manuals, medical documents, bills, etc, all in one place and at your fingertips. However, priortitzing what gets filed is also a problem. Your light bill due Monday probably shouldn't get filed away but instead stay by your checkbook and stamps to get paid. The copy of the bill or recipts are a good idea to file until you are sure they are paid. Then, recycle and keep tidy the rest of youre important papers!

Alright girls, off for dinner! Hope this helps!
Amii

Products that actually work- all for $20 or less

Sometimes you just want a product that works, works fast, and isn't complicated. So, Ive compliled a great list of must-haves that really work:

For acne:
~ Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash- It clears up blemishes and isn't harsh on the skin, great for everyday use and for around $5

For hair:
~John Freida defrizzer creame- only about $5 and keeps those flyaways tamed
~ Bed Head-

For lips:
~Burts Bee's lip balm- pomegranate, mango, pineapple.... so many choices for around $4


Those are my quick tips for now! Hope you enjoyed!

xxx
Amii

Start out the school year right with these must-haves!

Every year we all wonder "what do I need for school this year??" Well, all you girls out there, these are my must-haves that every girl should need!

For your locker:
1. A sturdy locker shelf to raise up your books, making it easier to grab what you need in between classes without straining out your back from bending over. You can easily make or buy one at Staples, Wal*Mart, or Home Depot for $5 or less.

2. A small magnetic mirror so you can make sure your picture perfect for every class (or boy) that comes your way :)

3. An easy-to-grab pad or tampon holder you can grab when that joyous time of the month comes so you can be prepared in a pinch! We currently have a give-a-way from Dauzat Designs that has cute and practical pouches for all you girls in need and trust me, they are worth it :) and if you don't win our fabulous give-a-way (which you should totally enter *hint, hint*), you can visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/dauzatdesigns and pick one up for the upcoming school year!

For your classes:
1. A planner or agenda to write down each days homework assignments. It is definitely useful and helps you from forgetting when things are due!

2. A binder or folder to take everything home in in one place. It makes everything easier to carry and convenient as everything is in one place

And for you:
1. A backpack or cute tote to carry everything in. It also can keep your pads and tampons away from the eyes of everyone else and it will be better than carrying everything and risk dropping it!

2. A good fitting pair of dark washed jeans. It's a staple. All girls need a pair of jeans they feel good in. End of story.

3. Some bling. Some jewelry. Make yourself feel good. If you look good you feel good :)

And good luck to everyone this school year! Make it your best!

Lots of love,
Amii

Five Great Money Saving Tips For The Savvy Fashionista In You

Especially in these tough economic times, girls still want to look good, even if splurging on a $200 bag is out of the question. So, what do you do to still get "the look" without burning a hole in your pocket? Well,  I have some tips and tricks for you!

1. If you see a product you like, find an off brand or store brand. With medication this is pretty easy, just find the same thing under a different name. Well, with Runway looks and top of the line clothing stores, its a little harder to do that. If you print out a photo of a look you like, say from a magazine or online source, take it with you to the store and recreate it for less. No, the shirt wont be Dolce and Gabanna BUT you still have a comparable look and for a much nicer price. :)

2. Don't forget to buy staples. Now, I'm not talking the metal things you put in a stapler to hold your papers together, but something like a nice pair of black slacks, a good pair of dark jeans, a white cami, a good fitting bra, etc. These pieces are the kind of things you want to work off of and can dress up or dress down. They are the foundation to a good wardrobe and easy to find, and if they don't fit perfectly, you can send them to a tailor or (if you're good with a sewing machine and have one) tailor them yourself. They will last for a long time and save you from wondering if you have something that matches every new top you buy. And for all you girls out there, I bet you've already got a lot of these items in your closet just waiting to be unleashed, and all you have to do is find a  few things to jazz them up. :)

3. Don't buy everything at once. By doing so you immediately burn a big hole in your pocket and, if your not having a good day, may blow this month's rent money before you know it. By shopping in small increments, you still will have a wardrobe that looks amazing without paying a fortune.

4. Hit the sale racks. Anytime something's on sale it doesn't necessarily mean its damaged or broken. Most stores just want it out so they can bring in a new line. By shopping on sale days, you not just save money but save having to work an extra few hours every week to pay off your spendings. Another way is to cut coupons. Yeah, Grandma Pearl and Grandpa Joe did that in the Depression, but you'd be surprised how much 50 cents here or there adds up. A great time to shop (if you don't mind crowds) is a few days after each holiday. Most things are half price or 75% off and are still perfectly good.

5. Save your change. At Wal*Mart or BJ's (I can't remember now) we found a jug that holds change but counts it as you put it in. Every time I come back from the store or have loose change we put it in the jug. In six months we have passed the $100 mark- all in change. With the jug, you can't take it out until you absolutely need it or have a plan for what you want to do with it. For us, its a great way to save up for that summer trip, without having to save out $5 every week, and still be able to have a great time. It also shows us how change does add up and is a great learning tool for younger siblings or younger children in general. It also makes it more fun to spend as you know you personally have saved it yourself.

Now, hopefully all you girls out there will become great at saving your money for everything else life throws at you and don't forget to enjoy these last few days of warmth before good Old Man Winter arrives!

Lots of love,
Amii

Pros and Cons of Pads!!

Hey girls, I know I just did a post about the Pro's and Con's of Tampons, BUT I almost forgot to do a post on the pro's and con's of pads so here goes:

Pro's of Pads:
1. They don't need to go inside your body
2. They are more comfortable to sleep in
3. They're easier to change so you can easily see when you need to change them
4. They're simple and easy to put on
5. They stick to your panties so they don't move around too much
6. You can be sure you have the right size and absorbancy before you leave the store based on your body
7. They may have wings (depending if you buy them with wings) so they protect your panties
8. You don't have to worry about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) as you would with a tampon
9. It doesn't matter if your cervix is tipped
10. They work with all body types :)

Con's of pads:
1. They sometimes smell a little funky, even if they are fragrance free
2. It's uncomfortable to run and exercise
3. You can feel like your bleeding and will worry if you are going to bleed out
4. Can't wear thongs if you're a thong kind of girl
5. They're bulky
6. You can't swim in them
7. They're a bear to dispose, and you can't flush them
8. You may get VPL
9. They take up a lot of space if you throw them in your bag
10. And they aren't that great for sports and may move and you could bleed out

And like I said before, e-mail us with your pro's and con's at girltalktime@yahoo.com and let us know what your pro's and con's are!

Love,
Amii

Pros and Cons of Tampons!!

Now, we all have the good days and the bad days during our period and sometimes its great to vent about the pros and cons of the kinds of products we use to control it... So, Alli and I have come together and made a pros and cons list just for you- all about tampons!

Tampon Pros:

1. You can swim with them :) (A definite plus!)

2. They are easier to store or throw in your bag

3. You don't get a visible pad or panty line (VPL)

4. You can't feel them if you put them in right

5. You can flush them away in the toilet, making disposal more discrete :)

6. They are smaller and don't take up as much room as a pad

7. You can (at times) forget you even have one in

8. They are more comfortable

9. No one else can hear the crinkle of the wrapper or the peeling sound like a pad, so a more discrete way of changing them if you're in public

10.They catch everything a pad would and its all kept inside until you change your tampon, so less mess than a pad

Tampon Cons:

1. They are harder to know when to change

2. They may cause you to bleed out and through your clothes if you can't go and change it soon enough

3. Sleeping in with a tampon in without having to get up is out of the question

4. Not very eco-friendly

5. They aren't natural for your body

6. They go inside you

7. If your cervix tips they become harder to insert properly

8. Tampons often make cramps worse.

9. Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) can happen if they are left in too long

10. Some people find them uncomfortable to wear

And for all you girls out there reading this, e-mail us your pro's and con's lists at girltalktime@yahoo.com

and let us know what you think!

Pros and cons for pads coming soon!

Love, 

Amii