Life

CSET Exam Preparations

9:16 AM

Last week, I purchased the CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers) Test Prep Book in Social Sciences.  Of course, I began studying for the test to be better prepared after one of my closest friends, who already took the exam told me that I would be given a map of an ancient civilization somewhere in Asia and would be asked to identify what battle took place in that region.  BLOODY HELL!

I'm only on Domain 1: World History, Skill 1.1b and I already have seven pages worth of material from the book, and I'm using the Cornell Notes technique.  There's so much to relearn and remember.  I might just employ flashcards, a method I have not used in a few years.  

If I just keep going like Nemo ... Just keep swimming.

Planner

Long Lost Vintage Planner

11:26 AM

A few weeks ago, I was on this organizing mood and decided to clear out my closet of the things I don't use anymore. I have a decent size walk-in closet and I'm in a constant battle for space. So, as I was tossing some clothes, bags, and shoes into a charity pile, I came across an old DayPlanner.

I was so excited to see it. Really, I was.

For a few years now, I've migrated my schedule from my last planner, which was a zippered Roxy planner to a Blackberry and soon after that into an iPhone. Needless to say, my schedule went digital. As I sorted through the old pages of this vintage planner — this one particular planner dates back to the late 90s — I realized that I really couldn't go digital since I love looking at the week and finding out what I need to do without swiping up or down on my iPhone. I decided that I was going to be a Planner Girl again and pulled out the old sheets and began using the DayTimer until I can find the right planner for me or the other ones I've stored or buried in the closet.

It was a whirlwind schedule a couple of weeks ago. It's the primaries here in California and I've been working hard on a couple of political campaigns, not to mention I have regular chores as well as preparing to take two exams, the CSET Social Studies and the CBEST.

I haven't quite found the right planner I want to use and this one DayPlanner is made of leather, I'm going to be using it for a while. It was also nice to be able to write down how long it took me to read the Fifty Shades trilogy, which I found quite alarming since I read a book a day and have not really done anything.


Photography

Roses - Instagram

1:50 PM

As much as I love taking snap shots with my iPhone with the Camera+ app, I just can't seem to get away from my dslr Nikon D5100 camera.  With Instagram so handy on my iPhone, I wanted to share my photographs from my dslr, I had to load those photos onto my Photo Library and share them.

A few months ago, my rose garden in the front yard started to bloom.  I love the pop of colour that comes in the spring.  So with my Nikon, I went and took some pictures of the rose blooms, loaded them onto my phone and edited the photos with the ColorSplurge app.

Beauty

Summer Essentials

7:59 AM

Summer is officially here and since the temperatures in Northern California is getting hotter and hotter that I had to change my beauty regime and what I keep in my makeup bag.

Unlike most women who stuff their portable make-up bags with practically everything in their collection, I tend to lean more to the minimalist option. After I've applied my make up, all that goes into my make-up bag is my trusty pressed powder from Boots, Burt's Bees lip balm, and my choice of lipstick colour. Since I use the Bare Minerals make-up, I don't find the need to continually touch up and now that it's summer, I normally opt for the no make-up look in which I use foundation, eyeliner, brown mascara and a hint of blush. I don't go for the full on counter, eyeshadow, etc. since under the intense heat, all that make-up will just end up melting on my face.



If I'm on the rush, I skip the whole no make-up look. Instead, I use a tinted moisturizer and some pressed powder and I'm on my way. I might end up tossing a brown eye-liner into my bag and that's about the rest of it.

As for my hair, I let the whole thing go. No flat irons or curling irons. I let it air dry and with the assistance of a leave-in conditioner, my wavy hair doesn't go all frizzy. By going with less make-up and letting my hair dry, my prep time is cut in half.

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