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Basic Closet Essentials Every Student Needs

4/28/2016

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College is one of the best times of your life, but also one of the poorest. That’s why, if you’re planning on heading off to college in September, it’s worth getting your closet sorted beforehand. That way, you can ensure that when you start college, you have everything that you need.

You don’t want to be stressing about buying new clothes when you’ve got rent, food and books to buy. So it makes sense to do your shopping beforehand, to ensure that you have everything you need. 

For all the closet essentials you’ll need for college, keep reading.

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Smartwear
College isn’t all parties and late night study groups; there’s also a more formal side to it. There will be times throughout your college career when you’ll be required to dress smartly. This could be for an in-class presentation or an internship interview; that’s why it’s important to pack both casual and smart wear. Blazers, pantsuits, and smart dresses don’t come cheap, so it’s best to shop for them before you become a fully fledged student with rent to pay.
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​Trousers
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It’s a good idea to pack two pairs of jeans, at least, ideally one blue and one black. It’s also worth packing a pair of stretch jeans as well, for those days when you just want to be comfortable. Two to three pairs of leggings are also a must - these are ideal for wearing when you’re chilling in halls or on days when you just want to be comfortable. A couple of tailored pairs of trousers are also a good idea, just in case you have anything that you need to look smart for.
Tops, jumpers, and shirts
For chucking on over jeans or leggings, you’ll also need a selection of tops, jumpers, and shirts. For tops, opt for mixture of long and short-sleeved designs, so that you’re covered whatever the weather is like. For jumpers, opt for a selection of thick and fine-knit designs. As for shirts, oversized flannel designs are super comfortable and fantastic for snuggling up in on cold days.
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​Accessories
Don’t forget to pack a few accessories to take with you, as these are essential for jazzing up your look. If you want to ensure that you’re able to dress up or dress down, it’s worth ensuring that you’ve got a selection of accessories packed. This should include hats, scarves, jewelry, and any other bits and bobs you can think of.
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​Shoes
Obviously, you’ll need a selection of heels for all the parties that you’ll be attending, but what other shoes will you need? Ideally, it’s a good idea to pack a couple of pairs of boots - one pair of ankle boots and one knee-length pair. It’s also worth packing pump style shoes, such as Vans, and a couple of pairs of ballet flats. That way, no matter what, you’re covered.

So there you have it, a guide to all the essentials you need before heading off to college. Take the tips above on board, and you can ensure you have everything that you need. ​


by Iconic Chica Contributors
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The Nighttime Routine Every Woman Should Be Following

4/22/2016

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If we asked you the question “How do you function best?”, we could probably guess your answer before you’d opened your mouth. “When I’ve had a restful night,” you’d say. “When I’ve had enough sleep, and I’m not tired,” you’d say.
Sleep is so important to us. It is the thing that revitalizes our bodies in their entirety after every day. It fixes aches and pains, spots and sores, bad mood and negative outlooks. And it is for these reasons we should be doing all we can to ensure a good night’s sleep.
But it is important to remember that good sleep doesn’t begin with the moment your head hits the pillow. Instead, it begins once you start your nighttime routine. This routine should be honed to become as streamlined and effective as possible. So how can you make this happen? 

How can you make a nighttime routine to smoothly transition you into that great night’s sleep you both want and need? 

Read on for some suggestions...

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Do A Benjamin Franklin
The American revolutionary, diplomat, and inventor Benjamin Franklin asked himself one question every night. What good have I done this day?’. Start doing the same. Go through different categories in your head. What good did you do at work? Whether you helped deliver a baby or just helped someone fix the printer, it all counts! And what about in your home life?
If you are a mother, take it one step further? How did you help your child grow today as a person? What lessons in kindness did you teach them? Then, ask yourself what you could do more of and what you should do tomorrow. Similarly, if you’re an entrepreneur or businesswoman, take some time to evaluate your day in that light. Look at the smaller things, like a project that is going well, or a presentation that fell a little flat. Ask yourself what lessons you learned. Then, look at the bigger picture. How is your career developing?
You could do this at a set time each night. We brush our teeth for two minutes per night, for example. Take this time to look in the mirror while brushing and answer the question; ‘What good have I done this day?’ ​
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Cleanse Your Skin Effectively
Whether you’ve worn seventeen different products on your face that day, or none at all, it is so important to effectively cleanse your skin. It is not a vanity thing; it is an investment in your future. Keeping skin clean and well-looked after in your youth means it will be healthier and more supple in the future. First of all, ditch the cleansing wipes. No matter how fancy they are, they just can’t do the same job as a good quality cleanser and fresh water. Start following this routine. Remove stubborn products, like mascara and lipstick, using a waterproof makeup cleanser on a soft cotton pad. Then cleanse with warm water, and wipe toner over your face, using a soft cotton pad again. Finally, ditch the moisturizer in favor of a retinol serum. Rather than just staying on the surface like moisturizer does, these serums actually go deep. This means that they make a difference you can see and feel immediately.
​Input Data Into Your Period Tracker
Unless you are one of the very few women in the world who has a regular, steady cycle, this should absolutely be a part of your nightly routine. Period trackers don’t just allow you to see when your next cycle is due. They also allow you to input your mood, breakouts, flow and other things in them. This gives you the ability to track these things too, and predict future occurrence. It could be that you discover you are always in a bad mood around the 12th and the 13th of each month. Once you know this, it becomes less of a surprise, and you can start to make plans to allow it to run its course without aggravation. ​
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Prepare For The Next Day
Stress and worry are one of the main reasons that we struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep at night. Worrying about the next day is pretty commonplace, so remove this from the equation entirely by getting prepared. Decide what you are going to wear, and find all the pieces you’ll need. Figure out what you’ll want to take in your bag, pack it and put it by the front door. Set your alarm, take any tablets and turn your phone to silent. By preparing these things in advance, you can fall asleep knowing that when you wake up you can get on with the new day seamlessly.

Familiarize Yourself With Sleep Hygiene
You’ve heard about not keeping your mobile phone under your pillow, and making your room nice and dark. But did you know that all these things together, plus a handful more, fall under an umbrella term that is becoming more popular?. That term is ‘sleep hygiene’. Here are some of the basics. Set your body clock and then stick to it. If this means that you still have to get up at 7 am on the weekends too, then so be it. After a time, it will become natural. If you do it for long enough, you will likely be able to rise without need for an annoying alarm clock. Also, keep your bedroom for the things it is supposed to be for. This means that working, exercising, using your laptop or watching movies should be done in another room. When it comes to making the room suitable for sleep, think ‘dark,’ ‘quiet,’ and ‘cool’. These are the three key things that will help you get a restful night’s sleep. The National Sleep Foundation has more tips and guidance, but for darkness, invest in blackout blind. For a quiet room, consider double or triple glazing, or earplugs on a budget. And for a cool temperature, be sure that the room temperature is correct and that your mattress and pillows allow air to flow freely in them. 

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by Iconic Chica Contributors 
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5 Instant Confidence Boosters

4/22/2016

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Confidence is something that many of us lack. Everyone has days when they feel a little fragile, or they can’t decide what to wear after trying on everything in their closet. It can be a tough and long process to build confidence, but these five fixes will help to give you an instant boost along the way. 

Spring is here, and it’s time to treat yourself to some TLC.

1.Go shopping
Retail therapy is a tried and tested method of making you feel that little bit better. Shopping for a new outfit, some new cosmetics, or a pair of shoes can lift your mood and make you feel more confident. If you feel self-conscious shopping with others, try going solo. When you shop on your own, you can focus on the stores you want to visit and try clothes on without worrying about other people’s opinions. Take the afternoon to have a look around, and try things on. Go for styles you wouldn’t normally choose, and be open to new trends. If you like something on the hanger, don’t automatically reject it because it won’t suit you. Until you try, you never know. You don’t have to go on a spree to feel more confident. Investing in accessories, for example, will enable you to make existing outfits more versatile.
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2.Exercise
When you work out, you may feel like you’re about to pass out and you might be worried about your sweaty, red face. But shortly afterwards, you’ll feel much better. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are a natural mood booster. Exercising helps you to stay in shape and burn fat, which could increase your confidence. You could go to the gym or book a dance class. Alternatively, take advantage of the pleasant weather and go for a power walk or a jog at the beach.
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3.Treat yourself to a blow dry
If you struggle to recreate that salon blowout at home, you’re not alone. No amount of practice can make your hair look quite as fabulous as it does when you’ve had a blow dry at a salon like Heat Lounge Blow Dry Bar. Book yourself an appointment and you’ll look and feel a million dollars in no time at all.
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4.Spend time with loved ones
Have you been so busy at college or work that you’ve barely seen family and friends? Take a weekend off and arrange to visit loved ones. Organize a night out with the girls, or a day at the beach with your parents and siblings. Spending time with people you love is great for your confidence and wellbeing. 
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5.Give your skin a healthy glow
Most of us feel more confident when we’ve got a golden tan after an exotic holiday. If you haven’t got plans to jet off to sunny climes for a vacation, don’t worry. There are myriad tanning products out there, which can give you some colour without damaging your skin. You can book a treatment at a beauty salon, or invest in DIY lotions and potions. If you are tanning at home, always remember to exfoliate first. Apply a thin layer of moisturiser to your feet, hands, knees and elbows. Use a tanning mitt to prevent staining on your palms. 
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If you’re having one of those days when you don’t feel like you look your best, take these top tips on board. Treat yourself to some pampering and you’ll feel better in an instant.


by Iconic Chica Contributors
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3 Ways To Get Yourself Prepared For Student Life

4/12/2016

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If you’re soon to be starting a new college or university, you need to get yourself ready for student life sooner rather than later. It a big step and it’s understandable that you might be feeling anxious or scared. Especially if this is your first time living away from your parents. It’s important to realize that you are not alone, and this is a typical reaction. Going to university or college not only gives you the know-how to start a career,  but it also teaches you a lot about yourself.

Take a look at this list and get yourself ready for this exciting stage in your life.

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Find suitable accommodation
Nothing will make you feel more prepared than knowing where you are going to live as a student. It may seem premature, but student accommodation gets booked up quickly. So to ensure you don’t end up in a flat that is miles away or costs too much, find your accommodation as soon as possible. You can visit websites like Iglu Student Accommodation or Student Housing Australia to get you started in your search. Or get in touch with your uni or college as they may have some on-campus options available. Try to visit the flat or apartment beforehand to make sure it’s up to standard and in a suitable location. This will take some of the mystery out of the whole thing and give you a clear idea of what your room and communal areas will be like.

Work out your finances
Being a student will teach you more about responsibilities than ever before. Taking care of your own money is one of them. Whether you’re getting financial support from your parents or taking out a student loan, you need to make a plan. Try to get a rough estimate of how much money you will need per week for essentials like rent and groceries. You can also talk to current or ex-students on forums and ask them how much they spent per week too. You should also consider how much you need to spend before you get there on bedding, toiletries and kitchen supplies.


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Get started early
Many universities and colleges will send out reading lists and tasks to do before you start. So don’t leave these to the last minute or overlook them. They are there to help you start on the best footing possible. Meeting new people and having fun is one part of student life. But remember that your education needs to come first and foremost. Buying the books, doing the reading and completing set tasks will get you in the right frame of mind to start learning as soon as lectures start. Plus it also makes you look like a good student who is eager to do well. Give yourself plenty of time to do this and you won’t regret it later on.

The most important to remember when starting your new student life is always to be yourself. It will be easy for your classmates and roommates to tell if you are trying too hard to fit in. Be friendly, open to new experiences and meeting plenty of people and you’ll have no trouble fitting in.

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Become A Good Student Overnight: Easy Tips and Tricks

4/11/2016

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Education can be one of the greatest advantages we can have in life. It broadens the mind and gives us perspective. It opens up worlds, cultures and experiences that are different from our own. Whether formal or informal, academic or practical, our education can shape our lives. Some people seem naturally able to learn and study. They find it easy to memorize things, plan tasks, write essays and meet deadlines. For others it can be far more of a struggle. The majority of us are somewhere in between.

But whatever your level,
there are some tips that anyone can use to improve and study successfully!

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Discover Your Learning Style
It is important to know honestly how you study best. Many people learn best by listening to experts speak, for example. Others need to discuss things they have learned with their peers or repeat things in a new way. Some are almost entirely reading-based learners. They like their textbooks, sources, and note taking to see them through their studies. Many people are a combination of several of these. What is essential is to identify the ways that you find the most and least helpful, for example. Visual learners may find a “mind map” or diagram to be invaluable while it is meaningless to others. Some students may flee in the other direction if faced with pages of solid text while others will dive in! No single method is any better than the other in itself. But they can have very different levels of success in your own learning. Try to identify which is best and incorporate it into your learning routine. You may not be able to change the fact that some of your classes or lectures are delivered verbally when you prefer to read. Or that some of your subjects have a visual aspect when you’re really more of a listener. But with a bit of self-awareness you can adapt almost any delivery style to suit you. Why not read some of the notes aloud and record yourself, playing it back when you have some spare time or need to study? Or take notes during the lecture that you can re-read or type up so that they are more likely to stay in your head. Whatever method you choose, make sure it is one that works for you and that you’re more likely to stick to. It is also important to discover whether you consider yourself a social or solitary learner. Solitary learners need their own time, space, and quiet to study. Social learners often like to be in a study group with friends or to discuss things out loud. Select a method that suits you. If you don’t dread the method of learning itself then it will be far easier to stay motivated and productive!
Plan Ahead
There is no faster way to become a weak student than by leaving things to the last minute. Some people find staying organized and ahead of schedule easy, but most of us need a little help. Try making a timetable or calendar and include all important deadlines along with their word counts. If you’re writing an essay that is not due for a while but has a large word count, maybe start work early alongside other projects. Planning ahead means that you have the space and clarity to actually be calm with your projects. This means that you are more likely to express yourself clearly, structure an argument well, or respond creatively to a task. If you are tired, stressed, and overworked, your work will suffer. Some projects may by nature be last minute but it is not a good habit to have. If you find yourself in a last minute position time and again, you’re probably not doing yourself justice. You can still have a social life and work effectively. The trick is to be honest with yourself about what needs to be done and then work at it over time. Cramming and last minute dashes have been shown to be ineffective. Even though many of us have tried to make them work!
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Make Goals
Becoming an excellent student includes knowing exactly what you want to achieve. It is only then that you will be able to identify when you’ve gone off track and can then correct it. Be very clear on what each piece of work is asking of you. Approach it methodically and know what you should have learned by the end of it. Setting goals and achieving them will help to give you the self-motivation to continue with your good habits. Before you know it, you and your work will be more successful and productive than ever before!

by Iconic Chica Contributors
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