THE ADVICE: Being a Bullied Introvert in Highschool

I've always been shy, even as a toddler. I used to hide between mum's legs, and my hair served as a glorious shield at any social events that required human interaction. So, of course, attending school was as chilling and as hair-raising for me as any gruesome horror movie would be to anyone else. For shy people like myself, I was the swinging bait amongst savages. Starting grade eight, I knew one person out of my class of one hundred. Because I was quiet, I was vulnerable, of course. It followed a pretty standard formula, and I was at the bottom of the food chain. Naturally, the girls considered beautiful were at the very tip of this triangle. They also happened to be the loudest, the most fortunate (in terms of money) and the most experienced (in terms of boys).
I'll be the first to say it; school doesn't cater to introverts. It always seemed like the outspoken and outgoing students got all the opportunities. If you were anything like me, you struggled to even raise your hand in class because you were afraid your voice would be too quiet to reach the front of the room. Or you were afraid your opinion would be shut down. I went to a bitchy all-girls school, so raising your voice was like throwing yourself to the vicious cats. As dramatic as I'm making it sound, that's really how it felt sometimes. I'm not saying that all single-sex schools are all bitchy, but girls can be nasty when they're in a group setting like that. It's a breeding ground for bullies. Being an introvert isn't easy in a world where the extroverts flourish.

I have a lot of valuable advice for anyone who struggled with going to school every morning because you were scared, so listen up. The first thing you need to know is, as soon as I graduated, no one's opinion mattered anymore. I'm two years out of highschool now, and I can assure you, the people who bullied you only become harder to remember. Time really does heal all wounds. So when you're drumming your fingers on your desk, waiting for your class to end, just remember graduation's not too far away.
The second thing is, you need to realise your self-worth. It doesn't matter if you need to stand in front of your mirror naked and chant 'I'm a bad bitch' a hundred times, just do it. Do whatever works for you. Dancing in your room to Taylor Swift makes you feel beautiful? Do it. Faking confidence is a lot more powerful than you think it is.
My next big piece of advice (what I wish I did more of in high school), is believe in what you think is cool. You're passionate about music? Go pick up an instrument, or show someone your favourite song. If you love sport, go try out for a team. If you love art, craft your best masterpieces. It doesn't matter if you're not Monet or Picasso. You do you. Being passionate about things is important and refreshing. You don't need to listen to apathetic, negative people.
My very last piece of advice, the closest to my heart, is that your opinion matters. If you think you have a valid point, I dare you to say it. The more you raise your hand in class, the easier it gets. Be brave sometimes.

Let me know if this advice was valuable to you!

MY TIPS: 7 Easy Way to Save Money

Hello Queens! We're all trying to be better at saving money, right? I think that has to be one of the most common new years resolutions, and I have some tips for you to try and keep it up. They're not exactly groundbreaking tips, but if you're anything like me, you're a struggling university student with expensive taste and no money to burn, and it can really make a difference over time. Over the past year I've stuck with seven easy-to-follow steps that make my bank account a little easier to look at, and I wanted to share them with you.

1. Opt to Never Use Change
What use do those gold coins have in your wallet? Have you really thought about it? You might dig them out of your purse to pay for a coffee, or a quick snack in a vending machine, or street parking (My thing is hoarding gum. I have about 6 packets of gum at the bottom of my bag as we speak). The truth is, it does add up eventually, and there are cheaper alternatives. Perhaps bringing your own lunch to uni, work or school. Or taking public transport occasionally instead of driving in. Maybe make your own home brew instead of buying a coffee.

At the end of each day, I empty the change in my wallet and put it in a piggy bank. Rather than making your purse heavier and burning through your coins, why not save them up for a month? Banks are beginning to bring in those neat coin deposit machines now, so every month on the 1st I tip the change from my piggy bank in, and it always astounds me. My January sum was $58. That was $58 I wouldn't have had if I spent my change on a coffee every morning. I feel like this tip would work especially well for those of us who get tips at work. Empty those tips into your coin jar every night and you'll have a little extra money to cash in! 

2.  The Cash Envelope

One of my favourite tips is the cash envelope. If you're grocery shopping every week, formulate a budget for yourself (a reasonable one, not one that will leave you too short). Once you've decided how much you're allowed to spend, get the exact cash out. For example, if you set a budget of $150 for groceries, get $150 cash out, put it in an envelope, and leave your wallet at home. This will force you to only spend within your means. It should make you more conscious of what you're buying (what you need vs. what you want). As long as the budget you've set is reasonable, with a little bit of wiggle room, you shouldn't have to take a second trip to the grocery store. It eliminates what I like to call the magpie syndrome - shiny new thing? You don't need it. You can't afford it. You've only got your cash envelope, remember?

3. The Budget Book

This tip is completely based off guilt. Retain a receipt for everything you buy. It doesn't matter whether it was a $2.50 bottle of water or a tin of mints, remember to keep the receipt and staple it into the back of a notepad, or into an envelope. At the end of your day, look through your receipts, write down what you've spent, and tally it. I've been doing this for a few weeks now, and with every day that passes, I've found that I've stopped buying things I don't need, and I've stopped feeling guilty and cringing over my tally. If you see exactly what you're spending, you'll see how much of it goes to waste.

4. Open a High-Interest Account

At the start of the year I opened up an account that simply rewards me for saving. It's a high-interest account, so when I try to withdraw cash from it, I won't be awarded my interest at the end of the month. The more you put in, the higher the interest you'll gain. Some accounts are set up so you have to deposit a certain amount of cash every week, and others you could easily just transfer $1 and still get the interest. Obviously the more you deposit the more you gain, so this one's a win-win situation. You get rewarded for saving - it doesn't get easier than that. 

5. Leave Your Wallet at Home

Okay, this one sounds like an obvious one, and you might be rolling your eyes as you read this, but "out of sight out of mind" is a very powerful mind trick. I personally work in a shopping centre, so when I enter work I'm assaulted by a shop-a-holic's dream. It takes every crumb of self-control to not walk away with bags of shopping. If I don't bring my wallet, it eliminates the temptation. Or rather, it eliminates the power to act on it. 

6. Delay Your Purchases

This tip is personally the most difficult for me to obey. If I want something, I want it right then and there, so this is reserved for people with the virtue of patience. If you see something you want over $150, wait 10 days. If you still want it at the end of those 10 days, reward yourself with it. Most of the time, you'll find that waiting cancels out the temptation, and makes you question whether you really need it. If you find that you never really needed it, you've saved yourself a whole lotta cash. This tip could be customised to any length of time - if 10 days is too short for you, try a month. 

7. Change Your Account Names

This one's quite simple, but it's one of my favourites. Customise your online banking account names to things you'd like to save for. For example, I changed my regular savings account to 'Car Fund', and it reminded me of my goals to save for a new car. Every time you open your online banking, you're greeted with goals. It's a simple and positive way to adjust your mindset towards saving.

Let me know if any of these tips helped you!

THE COMPANY REVIEW: Bailey Nelson

I have some exciting news for all of you Australian spectacle wearers. Recently, I went for an eye test. Believe it or not, the last time I'd been to one was when I was six years old (I know, I'm an irresponsible adult). It wasn't until my eyesight in my right eye became obscure that I thought I should have it checked out. It turns out that I had a prescription written for me, and that I'd now be a full time glasses-wearer. Although the appointment came with relief, it also came with the frightening news that I'd have to spend a lot of money on frames and lenses. 

I kept putting off burning a hole in my wallet, until an upcoming company had caught my attention: Bailey Nelson. A new store had opened up where I live, and I was blown away by how beautifully set out the boutique was. Warm and inviting, I stepped inside and excitedly tried on dozens of frames. Not only was the new store swanky and stylish, the staff were absolutely wonderful, too. They were never pushy or sales-driven, just genuinely interested in guiding and advising me. I tend to ask a lot of questions, and they were only ever patient and willing to chat with me. You could almost call the retail staff 'stylists', as they were well-versed in what frames suited my face shape, what colours would be flattering on my skin tone, and were attentive to every concern and need of mine. And for first-time spectacle wearers like me, I needed all of the help I could get. 

The actual frames came in an extensive range of styles and designs, and the colours were unique compared to anything I'd seen before. The staff assured me that the glasses were great quality, and the lenses were scratch-resistant and anti-reflective. 

I nervously took the frames that had caught my eye up to the counter, expecting them to be horribly expensive, and she told me they were only $95. $95 for the frames and the lenses! My jaw hit the floor. I was expecting to pay hundreds. The process was fuss-free, the staff just took some measurements and some of my details and they were off to be developed. I recieved a text message only three days later, saying that my glasses were ready to be picked up. 

The returns policy and customer service is fantastic (you're even able to order online!), they do bulk bill eye testing, they're covered by health funds, and they're unbelievably affordable, without having to compromise quality or style. These frames are for those who are more interested in style and affordability rather than labels.

Check them out and let me know what you think!

THE BEAUTY EDIT: The Foundation I Couldn't Live Without

Hey Queens! We're going to talk my favourite makeup base today. I've found a little gem that every girl needs in her makeup bag. I'm talking about the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation.

Now, this may just seem like an ordinary, run-of-the-mill foundation you've probably already heard everyone rave about, but let me assure you; this is worth the hype. For girls like me with dry, dehydrated skin; you absolutely need to try this. A lot of trouble I've had in the past with my skin is applying products that automatically look flaky and dry on my complexion. It didn't matter how 'dewy' and 'moisturising' a foundation claimed to be, I'd always end up with it clinging to dry patches. And trust me, worrying about people looking at your crusty foundation isn't a cute look.

Sheer Glow comes in a thick, glass 30ml bottle. It applies as a medium coverage, but is easily buildable if you're seeking a full coverage. Now I personally prefer to use a buffing brush to apply my base, but it works perfectly with fingers, too. It requires a little bit of elbow grease, but the end result is radiant, plump and glowing skin. For best results, you need well-prepped, moisturised skin, but I think that's pretty standard to make any base look good. I've had strangers tap me on the shoulder and ask what I'm wearing on my skin before, and in my books, that means it looks pretty darn good. The finish is silky and velvety on the skin. If you tend to get a bit shiny in your t-zone like I do, I'd recommend patting it down with a pressed powder.

I use the shades Gobi and Mont Blanc to get my perfect match, but on most days, Mont Blanc does just fine for me. NARS features an impressively extensive shade range, and caters to all undertones. Being white as a ghost has always been a struggle with foundation; they always seem to be too pink. However, even the shades with pinker undertones tend to fall on more of the in-between, neutral fence.

Although I've been in a long-term relationship with this foundation, I only have two gripes with Sheer Glow, one of them being the price. Everyone knows that Australian prices are ridiculously inflated. I suppose we have the exhange rate and taxes to blame for that. On the NARS website, Sheer Glow retails at $48.00 US. Don't get me wrong, it's still expensive for a base, but in Australia we pay a steep $68 at Mecca Maxima. And an extra $5 if you want the pump; which brings me to my other gripe. The foundation comes without one. If you don't mind unscrewing the lid and pouring it onto your brush or the back of your hand, you won't have any trouble. But for clumsy people like me? We have no hope. Instead of pouring out one application, you pour out four or five, which just wastes the product. And if you're a poor university student like me, we just can't have that.

Now although it's expensive, I'm loyal to Sheer Glow. I nearly have a breakdown after I use the last droplets from the bottles, but I always find myself going back to her.

Go give this a try. I dare you!