Thank you Mother Nature! Snow is finally on the ground and it looks like winter! I’ve decided to take full advantage of this beautiful weather and you can too! Here are some ways to have fun in the snow…

1. Have a snowball fight – get a bunch of your friends together, make teams, and have at it!
2. Make a snowman – Do you want to build a snowman? Despite the overplayed Frozen song, building a snowman is so much fun to do and an awesome way to unleash your creativity!
3. Make snow angels – if you’re willing to get a little cold, snow angels are a lot of fun to do, especially if the snow is fresh and soft!
4. Go cross-country skiing – I did this with my girl scout troop many years ago and had a blast! Cross country skiing is a great alternative for people who are a little hesitant to ski down steep slopes but still love to take in the winter scenery.
5. Build a snow fort – unleash the inner child inside of you and make your own epic igloo!
6. Sledding – find a hill close to you & go for it! (side note: know how to steer so you don’t crash into any trees!)
7. Have a photo shoot – these are fun at any time of the year, but in the winter especially the snow makes for a gorgeous backdrop!

Happy winter everyone!

xo, Liv

P.S. Photo credits to my extremely talented friend Alex!

Midterms. The very word sends a shiver through any high schooler’s spine. But with these tips, you’re sure to breeze through them without too much pain. Read on…

Tips ~

1. Be Prepared!! – This tip may seem extremely obvious, but midterms are not something you can cram for. Start studying in advance so you can avoid the stress that comes with cramming.
2. Organize – Using an agenda to plan out what subjects you will study each day makes it so much easier. In addition, making sure you have all the necessary study materials available saves you some hassle. Having an organized space helps you concentrate!
3. Highlight – Highlighters will be your best friend while you study. Seriously. When studying, annotate your notes. Color coding important information makes your brain remember that information better. With that in mind, make sure to only highlight IMPORTANT information. Highlighting an entire paragraph won’t do you much good!
4. Block Out Distractions – It’s difficult, but turning off your cell phone will keep you focused.
5. Reward Yourself – Taking a break once in a while is healthy. After a decent amount of studying, allow yourself 10 minutes of social media or a snack. Make sure to set a timer to keep yourself on track.
6. Stay Active – Sitting at a desk for hours on end is nearly impossible. Every hour or so, get up and do a quick 5 to 10 minute exercise before getting back to work.
7. Your Future – Be sure to keep in mind that in high school, things really count. Doing well in school will set you up for a successful future.

Hacks ~

1. Maintain good posture while studying. Having good posture will help you be more efficient and awake.
2. Designate a specific type of music to each subject. For example, listen to classical music while studying math, indie while studying english & rap while studying history. *if listening to music while studying distracts you, don’t do it!*
3. Chew gum, it helps to process facts.
4. Let your hair down while you are studying to prevent headaches!

Good luck! You got this!

xo, Liv