high school

How To… Experience Self-Growth!

~ ogaidry ~ 3 Comments

Hi guys! I turn 17 this week (on the 12th) and I decided I wanted to do a post about things and life lessons I have learned at 16 years old. This has been a year of tremendous self-growth! As I prepare to start my senior year of high school, part of me wishes that I could just be in kindergarten again, but I know I’m ready for bigger and better things! That being said, I think I will experience even more personal changes in my 17th revolution around the sun, so I want to document some of the things I feel like I have learned this year and compare them to a future list!

  1. You can’t please everyone!! Growing up, I was the type of kid that always wanted to make everyone happy. This year especially, I’ve learned that what one person loves about you may be what another hates. In one of my earlier posts about authenticity, I said that by being authentic, you attract the people who you’ll have the deepest connection with. As cheesy as it sounds, staying true to myself was what enabled me to make decisions I knew were right for me. You are in charge of your own happiness. 
  2. You are stronger than you think! Guys, having a thick skin is so important. As an actress, getting used to hearing “no” is a tough but necessary skill. There’s a quote that says, “You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it.” Oftentimes, our biggest setbacks reveal the most about who we are!
  3. Quality over quantity. I can count on one hand the number of people who I consider my close friends. These are people who I know have my back no matter what. This year, I’ve found out that in times of personal hardships, you discover who your true friends are pretty quickly (and consequently, which friends are not true). Connecting with people can be difficult, but once you find your tribe, you’ll know it. Cherish those people, and let them know often how appreciated they are. 
  4. It’s possible that you’ll regret some things you did, but more often than not, you will regret the things you didn’t do! There have been so many times when I was on an adventure and I was scared but didn’t want to regret not taking advantage of an amazing opportunity! I have swam alongside sharks, made new friends both nationally and internationally, and introduced myself to one of my heroes, Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz. I can definitively say that I have had absolutely no regrets this year!
  5. Trust your instincts. They’re usually right. 
  6. There may be times when you would rather have a Netflix night than go out and party, and that’s totally okay. 
  7. Sometimes it’s best to be alone with your thoughts. Meditation is so important, especially for someone like me who’s constantly busy! Eliminate distractions by turning off electronics and take time to be at peace with yourself and your surroundings.
  8. Traveling can change your life. See what the world has to offer!
  9. There is more to life than fancy cars, houses, clothes, etc. 
  10. Swearing is only effective if it’s done properly. Using expletives in every other word makes it lose its emphasis.
  11. Turn your dreams into plans. You’ll feel more accomplished, I promise.
  12. Live in the moment. Take in all that life has to offer!
  13. Learn about the people around you! People can be great!! People can be super incredible!! All it takes is one conversation to find out more about someone’s journey through life.
  14. For the love of god, tell your mother you love her!! We may still argue sometimes, but at the end of the day, my momma is the most important person in my life!
  15. On that note, tell your father you love him too. My parents are my number one supporters! I got lucky in the family department.
  16. Being authentic can be difficult. How can I be myself when I don’t know who I am entirely yet?! It’s okay!! Take time to work on yourself! The road is rarely ever easy (at least in my case) but I am pretty proud of my development as a person over these past 16 years.

Above all else, challenge yourself to be a better person than you were yesterday. You’d be surprised how much change can occur in just one year. 

Until next time…

xo, Liv

How To… Make a Killer Comeback!

~ ogaidry ~ 1 Comment

Woah guys, it’s been a hot second. Well, actually, 5 months to be precise. So, where have I been? Well for starters, junior year is no joke. Between managing homework, extra curriculars, an internship, a job and trying to squeeze some time in to be a normal teenager, blogging has taken a backseat for the past few months. It’s been a whirlwind!

On top of that, I’ve been wanting to switch up the content I produce here on the blog. While the fashion and beauty stuff was fun for a while, there’s so much more to me as a human being, and I really want this blog to highlight the life I live as a whole person. I love giving advice and talking (or writing, rather) through whatever life throws at us. Producing meaningful content is important to me, so I hope y’all will stick with me. And don’t fret! This doesn’t mean I’m completely cutting off fashion and beauty posts indefinitely, but expect more variety in the future.

With summer officially here, I’m determined to make this blog fresh, fun, and better than ever! Thank you for your continued support.

xo, Liv

Midterm Must-Haves!

~ ogaidry ~ Leave a comment

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Hi guys! So, it’s THAT time of year again…midterm season. Midterms are rapidly approaching, so to help prepare you guys, I compiled a list of my essentials for testing week. Read on to see what they are!

  1. WATER.

I always feel dehydrated whenever I’m in a stressful situation, so water is a definite need.

2. Snacks

Not the best idea to eat during the testing session, but a quick bite right before or after taking the test will help you avoid any embarrassing stomach grumbles while the room is silent!

3. Positive mindset

It sounds so incredibly cheesy, but positive reiteration could actually improve your performance on the exam! If you’ve studied adequately, you should be just fine. Believe in yourself!

4. Breaks

Allow yourself to take some study breaks! Allowing yourself a 5 or 10 minute break after studying for a half hour or so will give your eyes a much needed rest.

5. Sleep

I try to get at least eight hours of undisturbed, deep sleep during testing week, so I feel extra energized the next day. Midterms week is not the time to be pulling all-nighters.

6. Exercise!

Staying active during this stressful time is key to a mood boost. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which make you feel happier. I like to do yoga because I find that it relaxes me.

7. Meditation

Now that you’ve exercised your body, you can exercise your mind by practicing meditation. Meditation helps me center myself and keep my focus. If you’re not sure how to start, there are tons of guided meditation videos on YouTube that are great tools.

8. Airplane Mode

Yes, airplane mode is one of my essentials for midterm week. By blocking distractions like social media on my phone, it becomes so much easier for me to study uninterrupted. It can be difficult to disconnect, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and know that you’re doing the right thing by self-disciplining.

9. Breakfast

If there aren’t at least two essentials related to food on this list, is it really a Liv list? In all seriousness though, eating a healthy (keyword HEALTHY) breakfast before a test makes a world of difference. Fueling your body with proper nutrition is vital.

10. Friends

Midterms week is not a fun time for most people. So, when you feel overwhelmed, talk to a friend. They can usually help put things in perspective and make you a heck of a lot happier, too.

What are your midterm essentials? Let me know in the comments!

Good luck on all of your midterms! See you soon!

xo, Liv