aestrophilia

[aestrophilia]

Best Apps For Productivity & Studying

Hello there lovelies! It hasn’t been long since I started my vacay and soon enough, school is about to start. A few days from now I’ll be entering my school as a junior, aka 3rd-year college student. Time flies fast, doesn’t it? I started this blog when I was in my junior year of high school and now I’m a college student!

Speaking of school, I have here 4 apps that I really love to use for studying and any academic-related tasks, or whenever I need to be productive. These are 4 of the best apps out there that can help you be more productive and track your progress. You can also use these apps regardless if you’re in high school or college. Another thing about these apps is they are all easy to use and navigate. Lastly, these are all free to download on IOS and Android devices.

(Photo by Reclaim.ai)

1. Google Calendar

First on the list is Google Calendar. Of all the calendar apps to choose from, this is my favorite. I have tried several calendar apps in the past and this is the only one I continue using and will use forever!

The layout is simple, easy to use, customizable, and it has a lot of features. I like that you can notify yourself multiple times for an event or task. I also like that you share an event (or calendar/tasks) with your organization, friends, and family. Another thing that I like about this app is how convenient it is because you can use it via desktop or your mobile devices.

Note: you can also add more colors for your calendar/event by clicking the three dots when hovering over a calendar, then click add custom color.

2. Yeolpumta

This is probably one of my best discoveries last semester! It’s easy to use, very customizable, functional, and of course, very aesthetically pleasing.

The app itself looks very minimalist and there arent a lot of distractions. Aside from that, you can use this app for a wide range of options such as a habit tracker, study tracker, pomodoro, etc. I personally use this as a progress and study tracker. This also helps you to stay focused because it wont let you leave the screen unless you’re using one of the allowed apps, which you can also choose which to include. In addition, it also has tons of features like the timer and calculator option, a dictionary, and white noise feature as well as see the users who are also studying at that time.

3. Notion

Notion is one of my favorite apps and I’ve been using it since I started college. I use Notion for everything! My habit tracker, expense tracker, reading tracker, journal, class schedule, to-do list, or basically my life is in here. The screenshots above is what half of my Notion dashboard looks like.

You can find lots of cool templates online or you can just create your own. It can be overwhelming at first, but once you get the gist of it, the things that you can create are endless. You may search for Alyanna Ross on Youtube because she has a lot of Notion-related videos and you can learn so much from her.

(Alyanna Ross is one of my fave YouTubers so go check her out!)

As mentioned above, you can use Notion for various things, may it be for school, work, life, or productivity. You can add lots of widgets to further customize your setup and make it more tailored to your needs. Take advantage also of the tables and columns to enhance your Notion setup.

4. Forest

This app is one of my faves to record how long I am studying. It’s also easy to use and can be used on your mobile devices or as a Chrome extension. It’s up to you to select the time or minutes of studying and after that, you get to plant a tree. If you stop, your tree also withers.

I honestly prefer Yeolpumta nowadays because it has more features. However, I am also after the plant a real-life tree feature of Forest and so far, I have already planted 5 trees! Sadly tho, 5 is the maximum.

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That’s all for today’s blog post, loves! I also just want to say that this is not sponsored. I personally use all the apps that I have mentioned on this post. Anyway, at the end of the day, your progress depends upon your will to take action and nothing will happen if you will not act. Nonetheless, I hope that these apps can also help you to be productive as much as they helped me. Originally posted on my Wordpress blog Aestrophilia.

Stay self and healthy everyone!

Lets stay connected:

ask.fm: ereecuh

email: aestrophilia@aestrophilia

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[aestrophilia]

3 Ways To Keep Your Body Moving

Hello, lovelies!! It’s been so long since I have written anything here. I know I’m just reposting my previous content but I’m on vacay now and have more time to write.

Speaking of vacation, before college I will really just use this time to sleep all day and be a couch potato. But the pandemic happened and I wanted to break free from that routine. Something changed in me. I started to hate how sedimentary my previous lifestyle was. I wanted to keep my body moving so I started working out and I lost a few pounds eventually.

Anyway, losing weight and continue staying active is a bit of a challenge for me. I wanted to remain active but it’s the physical activity that makes me feel overwhelmed and unhappy with myself. Along the way, I realized that I didn’t really enjoy heavy workouts. So today I will be sharing 3 activities that I truly enjoy doing and helps me to keep my body moving. These are also beginner-friendly by the way! Continue reading if you want to know more

1. Walking

I love walking! It doesn’t really require much effort and it keeps you active. Short walks a day is proven to have several benefits such as keeping you strong and healthy, preventing various diseases, and improving your well-being (Mayo Clinic, n.d.)

Most of the time I just walk. Pretty basic to be honest. But if I want to spice things up, I follow these Youtubers:

Grow With Jo

Leslie Sansone

Reps to the Rhythm

Get Fit With Rick

Grow With Jo’s has lots of walking workouts (and other beginner-friendly ones) and they are really fun to follow. I always feel accomplished and happy after doing her workouts.

Leslie Sansone is one of the first Youtubers I followed when I started my “fitness journey” and she has this energy that transcends through you. Her videos are easy to follow and time flies so fast when doing her workouts. She also has 10 to hour-long videos to choose from.

Reps to the Rhythm and Get Fit With Rick are also my faves because they have various Kpop walking workouts which I really enjoy doing. Their videos are also easy to follow and they have a step counter which helps you to know how many steps you can do in a video.

2. Stretching

Stretching is one of the activities I do after I wake up. I also like to stretch a few times a day just to simply keep my body moving. When I have school I sit and read during most times of the day each week and stretching keeps my blood flowing and release the tension.

There are also many benefits of stretching like keeping you calm and stress-free, increasing flexibility, improving posture, and reducing risks of injury when working out (Bubnis, 2018).

For those days that I want to make stretching more advanced, I try to do yoga and pilates. It’s really fun. I seriously never thought that I’ll be into these kinds of activities. No regrets tho.

Aside from keeping you physically active, stretching (or yoga) is also helpful when you’re feeling stressed. Incorporate this when you meditate, find a quiet place, and just focus on your breathing. This method helps me so much to clear my mind whenever I’m overwhelmed or feeling stressed.

3. Standing

This is probably the most basic on the list lol. Although it may sound simple but standing actually does a lot to your body. Standing has more benefits and burns more calories than sitting.

Standing is said to reduce your risks of weight gain, lowers risk of heart disease, improves posture and productivity (Leech, 2017).

Moreover, the two ways to incorporate it on my daily activity is to stand for at least 15 minutes after eating, and to stand whenever I feel fatigued while doing my work.

This part is really basic and effective to prevent yourself from sitting or lying on your bed during most hours of the day.

NOTE: Resting is also important and I am in no way saying that sitting or lying down is wrong. Take as much time as you need to rest and of course, listen to your body.

The purpose of this post is to keep your body moving and your blood flowing, as well as prevent a sedimentary lifestyle. I also just wanted to share some activities that I enjoy to keep myself physically active.

There are also various activities that you may try to keep yourself moving. And if you have suggestions, please comment them down below.

You may also click the references if you want to read more

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That’s all for this blog post, lovelies. See you on the next one!

Lets stay connected:

ask.fm: ereecuh

email: aestrophilia@gmail.com

[aestrophilia]

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[aestrophilia]

What To Do During Quarantine

With all the stuff going on lately, I think we all deserve to pamper ourselves and show some love to ourselves. However, some cities are under quarantine while some are on lockdown. At this moment, it’s best to just stay at home to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

But staying at home and doing nothing can be boring too, don’t you think?

Fear not, because I got you lovelies! Here are some tips and ideas regarding what to do at home during the quarantine.

1. Movie Marathon or Netflix and chill

This is the time for you watch or catch up on your favorite series. Watch new movies or re-watch your favorites. Watch Disney movies, catch up on Friends, see new episodes of your favorite series, binge up on KDramas.

Highly recommend Hotel Del Luna, Crash Landing On You, Umbrella Academy, Money Heist, Brooklyn 99, and The Good Place.

But of course, not everyone has Netflix. Or you’re probably done catching up on whatever series you’re hung up on. Again, I gotchu covered loves!

2.  Read a book

This is something that I really appreciate because I wasn’t able to read often when the 2nd semester of my school started. I was kinda busy, but now, I try to finish a book within two days lol. 

Anyways, if you’re a bookaholic, this is the time for you to reread your fave books or to read new books. While, if you’re interested on making reading books as your new hobby, feel free to visit my book reviews page here for some book suggestions.

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*TIP*

You may try your like and search for “google drive name of book/movie/audiobook”. Sometimes you’ll find what you’re looking for and sometimes, better search for another one.

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3.  Organize things, clean room, declutter

Another thing that you could do is to clean your home, your room, organize your stuffs… Maybe you could remove the things that you no longer use and sell or donate them. You could also remove your old make up like the expired ones. You could also take this time to clean your make up brushes and sponges.

4. Feeling artsy or inspired? 

Get a paper or a notebook and write down your thoughts. Maybe you could write new poems or a novel if you wish. Maybe you could also create a song. You could also grab you sketch and your art materials and maybe do some drawing or painting. 

If you have Adobe Illustrator, Lightroom, or Photoshop, maybe you could also do some digital artworks. Take some shots of your pets or whatever you want and get creative with photography. Pretty sure there are so much more apps out there that you could try to express you ideas and creativity, don’t be afraid to try.

5. Get Creative Part 2

Wanna try new make up hacks or new styles? Grab your brushes and your make ups and experiment! Immitating IG filters is trendy nowadays and perhaps you might wanna try those as well. Or maybe you wanna try that new eyeshadow that you bought or perhaps you just wanna try on a different look, go ahead and waste no time! Remember: blending is the key!

Or what about trying on new outfits? Mix and match clothes that you haven’t tried before perhaps you’ll like it. Maybe you could also search for moodboards online regarding the style you like. You could also create yours too.

6. Workout and Yoga

Is your local gym close? Grab your mat (it’s also fine if you don’t have), and try for some yoga or meditate if you want. You may also do some workout routine. There are a lot of workout routines that you can find online like in Youtube or you may download it on Google Play or in App Store.

Find one that works for you and of course, be careful and do some warm ups to avoid injuries :)

7. Game time!

Still bored? Again, I gotchu lovelies!

Spend more time with your loved ones by playing jenga, UNO cards, poker, scrabble, chess, and other board games. If you know unggoy-ungguyan you may play it as well. Of course the classic truth or dare game is one of the options.

Games like color game, monopoly, and other board games can be downloaded online so if you don’t have the physical board game, you can still play it by installing the app. Twister is also another good idea to play with your family.

8. TIK TOK

Are you part of the Tik Tok Nation yet? Well, if not, it’s not too late for you to be a part of it. And if you don’t want too, it’s also fine. Sooner or later you’ll also be a part of it as well just like those who claimed they wont be

Anyway, there are many dance moves in Tik Tok and some cool content as well.

9. Bake/Cook

If you have enough supplies or materials, maybe you could also bake or cook. Try a new recipe, perfect your favorite dish, or create something new.

Another option is to cook for our front liners or for those who are in need, only if you want to or if you have enough supplies to do so.

10. Communicate with people who are special to you

Just because we’re advised to stay inside doesn’t mean that relationships will be canceled, friendships will be canceled, or living life will be canceled. Take this time to focus on your self and communicate with people that are special to you.

Call a friend, ask them if they’re okay. Reunite with people you no longer talk to. And remember: you don’t have to reunite with those you already cut in your life. You dont have to bring back people who are once toxic to you.

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That’s all for this blog post loves! See you all on my post! xoxo

You may click here for more posts.

Stay safe and healthy lovelies! Don’t forget to practice social distancing and observe proper hygiene.

[aestrophilia]

“Even the good people, the ones you dream of meeting, fuck up. People aren’t perfect and loving someone means handing them a gun and trusting them not to shoot you. But we’re all human and sometimes we get scared and we panic, accidentally pulling the trigger. That doesn’t mean that they don’t love you… it just means that Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual and sometimes we do the wrong thing. So do you banish them from your life and try to forget their existence when you might have made the very same mistake if the roles were reversed? If they shot you and are begging for forgiveness, willing to do anything to make it up to you, do you give them another chance and hope that the good you see in them will overcome the bad? Or do you just shut down and walk away?” — I guess it depends what kind of person you want to be

Jess Amelia

[aestrophilia]

August and September 2018 Favorites

Hello lovelies? How are you? I just cant believe that there are only 3 months left before 2019! Are you excited? Because I know I am!

1. Carmex Strawberry Lip Balm – I just love this product so much! It has done wonders for my lips. My lips is moisturized for the whole day even if I just applied once. Downside is, it doesn’t taste like strawberry and if you don’t like waxy lip balms, you may not like this one. My lips are no longer chapped and so far, this is the best lip balm I’ve ever tried.

2. Lip Tint – I like to use liptints to add color to my pale lips. I prefer liptints over lippies because lip tints are so much lighter and it pays off a more natural look.

3. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – This film is beyond expected. Although there are some parts that wasn’t included in the film, I still think it’s a good movie.

4. Crazy Rich Asians – THE  MOVIE OF THE YEAR!! Nuff said.

5. Wintermelon Milktea – There’s a milktea stand in our school guys I’m crying!!! For P45, it taste good and it’s affordable.

6. The Titus double hightlighter –  This highlighter is prolly the cheapest highlighter I saw in NBS plus it has two highlighters in just one stick. It’s convenient and it isn’t bulky like your normal highlighters. I have mine in pink and yellow.

7. Saturn by Sleeping At Last – Try listening to this song y’all! It’s worth it and very inspiring.

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That’s all for August and September 2018 favorites lovelies! I wish I could write more but school is eating all my time 😦 

Anyways, see you all soon on my next blog most! May you find the plot twist you’ve been waiting for on the remaining months of 2018. 

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

Senior Life (Part 2)

LIFE AS A SENIOR! Part 2.

Hello lovelies! This is the part 2 of my previous post and if you haven’t read that yet, just click here. Like what I’ve said on my previous post, part 2 will be about entrance exam, how to prepare for it, senior high, and what strand should you take.

If you’re living in the Philippines, I guess you know by now that after 10th grade, there are still 2 more years of high school which is senior high school. I don’t know how many exact number of strands there is but under the Academic strand are STEM, ABM, HUMSS, and GAS. For more info, just search it on the internet for a clearer explanation.

Last January I took my entrance exam. And a few weeks later, I received a good news and I passed! Anyway, entrance exams aren’t necessary unless you are planning on transferring to another school.

Before I begin, I just wanna say that Senior High is no joke. SHS is far more different from junior high school. I had been hearing that since 9th grade from my teachers. Ever since we started taking the NCAE, we were already asked to prepare and start thinking of what strand we’re going to take for senior high school.

My classes just started this August but before that, my friends in my former school are already going to school since June. And I’ve been hearing complains how different and stressful SHS is. It made me really scared. But I’m not here to threaten you because I’m here to help and give a few tips.

First, I’ll start with NCAE. If you haven’t taken the NCAE test yet, please take it seriously. If you aren’t sure on what strand you wanna take, the test will help you to know where you’ll most probably excel in. But if you have taken your test and you already saw your results and the results isn’t what you expect, it’s okay. At the end of the day, what you want and what you choose is more important. So take the NCAE test seriously and choose what you want to be in, where you think you’ll grow more, and what your passion is.

At 9th grade it’s okay if you’re still unsure of your strand. But once you entered 10th grade, start deciding where you want to be in. Guys 10th grade passes so quickly and it will be over before you know it. I know grade 10 is already stressful but grades 11 and 12 is much much much more. Enjoy the last remaining days of junior high because you might not be as free as you are now once you entered shs.

If you are still unsure, your parents and counselors or teachers are always there to help you and guide you. But at the end of the day, it’s your choice that matters the most because it you who are studying, not them.

When you are studying for your entrance exams, for UST, DLSU, AMDU, or other schools, study but don’t pressure yourself too much. If it’s meant to be, it will be. If you didn’t pass to the school that you wanted to be in, its okay and don’t forget that. Don’t be too hard on yourself. God always has better plans for each one of us. Just study hard and do your best.

Another tip of advice, greet or talk to your seatmate during your entrance test. I don’t recommend this during exam hours but on your break or spare time, talk to your seatmates and others who are also taking the test. Who knows, your seatmate might be your next best friend. You don’t have to wait for the first day of school to make new friends when you can start on your entrance exam day.

Most important tip, take your time while answering the test but don’t be too slow. I don’t know if this applies to all school but on my former and new school, we have time limits on answering the test. Don’t be too slow on answering the test because you might not be able to finish it but also, don’t forget to analyze each question before you answer.

Not all schools are senior high ready. If you’re school is shs ready, you can stay IF you want. If you want to study in Manila or transfer to another school, you may IF you want. You always have options so choose what you think is best for you.

Go where you really want to be, not just because your friends are there. I know friends are important because they are family but at the same time, education and your future is also just as important.

Lastly, study well! If you really want something, work hard for it.

I have a few study tips and you can read them here. Part 1 of this post can be found here if you haven’t seen it yet.

Good luck on your future endeavors and may you achieve all your goals and dreams!

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

Senior Life (Part 1)

LIFE AS A SENIOR! Part 1.

More study tips and back to school posts can be found on my blog. Just click here.

Sit down and make yourself comfy because this post is kinda long so be prepared haha.

I’ve posted a few months ago that I just finished junior high. I’ve mentioned on my post how my life was for the past 10 months and some of the events that happened during that time. 

Well this blog post is going to be different from my previous post. I already talked about my life as a senior and you can read it here. So on this post, I will be tackling what to expect during your senior year, a few tips and expectations, entrance exams, and how to catch up when you feel like everything is moving too fast. And may this post be helpful.

First, what are your expectations? Whether your a senior or a froshie, in high school or not, you gotta ask yourself what you want to achieve during your current school year. 

Once you find out what you want to achieve, work hard for it. It doesn’t matter if you have just one goal or a thousand, what matters is how you achieve it. Work hard for it no matter how it takes and don’t settle for anything less.

Also, please don’t pressure yourself too much. We all want to be good and ace the tests and competitions, however, not getting what you want at first doesn’t mean you are already a failure. Stay motivated instead of pressuring yourself.

Next, keep in mind that it gets more difficult each year. There might be some lessons that you wont understand easily. I suggest, try to sit in somewhere in front and near the middle. I feel like that’s really the best place if you want to be more focused on the lesson. But whatever place you’re in try not to talk to your seatmates unless needed, jot down important notes, and most importantly, try not to get bored and stay awake no matter how hard it is sometimes!😂

Don’t expect too much. Things doesn’t always go as how we planned them to be. Most of the time God has a better plan for us. Just trust him, always.

Breathe, it’s okay to rest. When you feel like you are so tired but, rest. You’re human, it’s normal for you to be tired. Don’t abuse your body so much but don’t procrastinate. Do what you have to do and submit everything on time. 

And when you feel like you cant catch up anymore, take a breathe first. School isn’t a competition. It doesn’t matter who gets to the finish line first. If you have some trouble catching up your lessons, you can always ask you teachers, friends, or you can just google it.

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Here are some of my study tips:  

Try to discover what method/style of studying works best for you. Others can multi task while studying, like they can watch tv and listen to music while studying! I don’t know how they do that but it happens! Others also prefer group studies or studying in a quiet place. 

Personally I prefer studying alone in a quiet place while listening to classical music. Classical music makes me calm and helps me a lot to stay more focused and you might want to try that out. 😊I know a few people who can multitask, they listen to music while watching tv and at the same time, studying and they get good grades too. But I cant do that, I’ll probably just get distracted and watch tv and I wont study anymore😂 Also, group studies can be helpful sometimes but I really prefer to study alone because I’ll just end up talking to my study buddies and it will be very unproductive. Well, that’s me and I hope you’ll also find your own style or method of studying.

Another tip try using highlighters, post it notes, or post it flags for studying. You Image result for post it notes, highlighers, post it flags you can use this on your notebook, on your reviewers or directly on your book. They can make your notes and other important details to pop up more.

You can use highlighters to of course, highlight the important details. You can use different highlighters for different purposes. Like for example, pink for vocabulary words, blue for dates, yellow for important people, green for important notes, and orange for examples. Those are just my examples so your notes will be more organized and you wont end up highlighting the whole page like I do.😂 Personally I like the pastel Stabilo highlighters because they aren’t as bright and harsh like the original ones.

You can attach post it notes on your book, notebook, or reviewer for additional notes and other important details. Post it notes pops up more on your notes and you can see it easily. You can write there some reminders, projects that has to be passed, diagrams, questions you want to ask your teacher or words that you want to research later, etc. You can use post it notes for anything so don’t limit yourself.

Next, post it flags! I love using post it flags as page markers and you can also do that. One tip for post it flags or arrow head, you can stick it on the page that has important details or for some details you want to know more of or anything like that. 

Another tip, you can draw diagrams or illustrations for you to understand the subject or lesson more clearly. You can use graphs, you can draw illustrations from your physics, chem, bio class, you can also draw your favorite scientist if you want.😂 Again, don’t limit yourself. Whatever helps you understand the lesson better, do it. 

You can also personalized your notes. Others make their notes fancy and colorful, which is really pretty but I honestly have no time for that and I’m not that creative.

Just refer to the photos below on how you can personalized your notes and how to use sticky notes, etc. Also, these are just my suggestions. You can do whatever you want with your highlighters, and other stuffs but I my suggestions helped you somehow.

Here are a few more tips from me: 

Advance study and don’t cram. Do things and study ahead of time so you don’t have to worry before the due date of your task and on your exams. 

If you’re new to your school, don’t be afraid to make friends. Smile and be positive. Also, seniors aren’t bullies so don’t be afraid to talk to them.

Join clubs that you’re interested in. I don’t know about you guys, but in my former school, being a part of a school club/organization has points that will only be counted once you’re a senior. You can get an award depending on how long you’re a member of that specific club so basically, the longer you’re in, the higher your award is BUT that also depends if you’re an active member. Also don’t just join for the points or just because your bestfriend is in there, join because you want to be in that club. You’ll meet new people and you’ll learn more.

It also doesn’t have to be academic clubs. You can join the dance team, sports team, glee club, or whatsoever.

Don’t be afraid to speak your thoughts but of course, respect everyone’s opinions and beliefs. That’s what I’ve realized whenever we have our debates. Just because others have a different opinion that yours, it doesn’t automatically make you or them wrong. Learn to listen so you’ll be heard. And remember, you’ll never win against people who are closed minded and don’t bother explaining on people who doesn’t even want to listen. Some thoughts are better left unsaid, but some deserved to be heard because who knows, maybe it can change the world. 

Stay true to yourself. Be unique, be original.

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That’s all for now. Part 2 will be posted again soon because this post is getting long and I want to explain it better in a separate post. And there, I’ll be talking about entrance exams, tips and advice when taking entrance exams, senior high and more!

I hoped you learned a thing or two from this post. And if you like it, don’t forget to click the like button and follow this blog for more. I also posted some tips for back to school last year and if you want to check that out, just click here.

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

Parisian roses | dana_chels

[aestrophilia]

1st Week Of School

A Week In My Life: Senior High School Edition

Last Monday, August 6, was the start of my school. My school has just begun and I can’t wait for it to be over. I’m so tired, honestly. I feel like I’m so drained and I needed coffee every morning to help me function. Nevertheless, it’s a fun and I learned new things in a span of 5 days.

Anyways, if you’re an incoming senior high student or your just curious what it feels like to be a shs student, then just keep reading.

MONDAY

1st day of school.I woke up early to charge my phone and because, I’m so excited that I cant sleep anymore. And I kinda regret not having enough sleep later because during our orientation, I was really sleepy. 

My friends and I waited for each other before we go to our own classrooms. And after that, our first subject teacher for that day guided us on our way to the school gym, in our school, it’s called the Sentrum.

We had our orientation and it is followed by the campus tour. We walked and walked and my feet hurts so bad. I’m a new student and seeing the whole school for the first time overwhelmed me. My new school is so much bigger than the old one and I’m kinda terrified and happy at the same time, because y’know, new school, new environment.

The we had our lunch break. When lunch was over, we’re told that we may or may not have classes for the afternoon depending on the teacher. No one came in our classroom so we didn’t have any classes at all. But some sections already met one or two of their teachers. And while waiting for the bell to ring, I was chatting with some of my friends. What I like the most about my new school is that it’s a digital campus. The wifi connects automatically once you’re inside.

TUESDAY

2nd day of school. So far I still feel excited and not tired on this day.

Unlike Monday, nothing much happened on this day. We met our some of our subject teachers and we have classes already. And of course, some teachers asked us to introduce ourselves. Although nothing exciting happened that day, it was a productive day. Some already gave activities and thankfully, we passed it later on the evening even if the submission date was still on Thursday.

WEDNESDAY

Nothing happened this day. Wednesday is like the day wherein we can do whatever we want. We can study, do our assignments and projects, but we cannot be absent because it’s still a  school day. And since it’s just the first week of school, we don’t have much tasks yet.

During the morning, I was busy chatting to my friends because I have no one to talk to on our classroom. I feel like crying because I thought I’ll have no friends and that scared me. However, after lunch, everything feels a bit better. My classmates are approachable and I realized, I have nothing to be scared about.

THURSDAY

On this day, I cant remember how many times I’ve said that I want the school year to be over. I feel so tired and I just want to sleep. We did a few subject related activities, and by this time, I can almost wander around the school without being lost.

I’m an ABM student. Although I haven’t met all of my subject teachers, by this time, the teachers that we’ve met are sharing some stories and experiences of what we will also be experiencing. I can feel the pressure already but I don’t want to pressure myself too much. I just want to do my best, study well, and learn something new everyday.

FRIDAY

5th day of school.

I was so sleepy and I’m so happy that the next day is a Saturday because I could finally get some sleep.

But anyways, teachers are starting to give school works and I have no idea how I could finish them. Thankfully, my group mates aren’t responsible and every is cooperative. Unlike in junior high I noticed that if not all, most students are more responsible and more mature. We finished everything on time and submit what is needed to be submitted earlier than the due date.

That’s just a short glimpse of what it feels like to be an shs student. It’s hard especially if you’re in a new school but life goes on. The only way out is through. You just gotta face your fears and do your best.

Like what I always say on my school related post, don’t be afraid to make new friends. Smile and don’t be shy and of course, treat everyone with respect. Whether they’re the janitors, teachers, school chancellor, seniors or freshmen, respect everyone and be kind. And also, allow yourself to learn something new each day.

Radiate positivity and love yourself.

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

:))

[aestrophilia]

1st Day of School Tips

It's that time of the year again! Back to school season is here!

Some of you had started their school already since June, but mine will just start tomorrow (August 6) that's why this post is late. Whether your school has begun or your school hasn't started yet, I hope you'll learn a thing or two from this post.

*This post is in continuation to my back to school tips.

1. My first advice and prolly the most essential one, get enough sleep.

Make sure you're well rested on your first day of school and the following weeks because once finals is near, you wont get to sleep as much as you want. And also because you'll be needing a lot of energy because some school prepares few activities on their first day.

2. Prepare yourself.

Make yourself, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, prepared on what possible thing can happen. By that I mean the projects, assignments, lessons that you might not understand easily, annoying people that you might encounter, and so on. School can sometimes be really stressful and frustrating that's why as early as the 1st day, be prepared so you can catch up easily.

3. Organize your things.

Aside from yourself, prepare your school supplies. Bring what you think will be needed on your first day of school and organize the things that you might need along the school year. Typically, on your first day of school, you wont be needing much. Me and my classmates usually bring 2-3 pens (black and red ballpen), one notebook, and some personal belongings like wallet and phone.

You can use envelopes, folders, or any file organizers to put important papers like test papers, worksheets, and hand outs. You can bring one on your first day of school if you think your teachers will give your class hand outs, etc.

4. Smile and say hi.

You don't have to act like you're confident just because you're nervous. Everyone is nervous on their first day so that's fine. Just smile, say hi to the people you encounter and don't be afraid to make friends.

If you have questions don't be afraid to ask. Also don't be afraid of your seniors, they don't bite.😂 Not all seniors are bullies, okay?

5. Bring foods.

If you have orientations on your first day, it's a good idea to bring snacks because you might get hungry before, during, and after. And the line in the caferia could be long that's why bring some food so you wont be hungry.

6. Write important notes.

There's not much to do during your first day but when your subject teachers are telling you what to bring and what school supplies you'll use on their class, you better write those down because in case you forget what your teacher said, it's good that you have a copy.

7. Know the courses or subjects you'll be taking.

After knowing the courses or subjects, you can start reading and researching about them. You can start writing your reviewers if your want. It's good to advance study and be prepared because there are some teachers who are really fond of surprise tests or graded recitations and if those things happened, you wont be nervous of not knowing the answers because you're already familiar on your lessons.

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Thank you for reading this blog post! That’s all for now. If your freshie or someone who’s school will start soon, I hope this helps!

I have a little back to school series going on in my blog and if you’re interested or you wanna know more, just go to my blog then go to the category school or tips 101. A few days ago I posted some back to school tips and if you wanna check that out, just click here. And check my blog every week because I have more stuffs that might help you, which I’ll be posting soon.

Good luck on your school lovelies! Have fun and study well. xoxo

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

Optimistic Monday (Reminder)

This is your reminder that whatever darkness you are facing will eventually become light. That whatever knots are tied around you will one day be released. That you should not feel invalidated, or think what you’re experiencing somehow doesn’t matter (because it does), but that everything in this world is temporary. And this too shall pass.

This is your reminder that sometimes the hardest moments of our lives shape us. That sometimes the deepest heartache changes us for the better. That the relationships we lose teach us what to value when the next person comes along. That the unanswered prayers might be what we really needed. That every awful thing we experience makes us who we are.

This is your reminder that you won’t always feel the way you do right now. That in time, you will wake without thinking of the person who walked away, or the mistake you made. That with space, you will begin to find yourself again, in ways that you never imagined you could.

This is your reminder that what breaks will remold. That what bends can be reformed. That what shatters can be put back together again, this time with even more patience and care, and into something that doesn’t resemble the original but shines even brighter in the light.

This is your reminder that a breakthrough always happens in the midst of pain. That even when you think you cannot pull through, you crawl and scratch and kick your way back to your feet.

This is your reminder that you can be defeated, but not destroyed.

This is your reminder that you can, and will survive.

Words: @_marisadonnelly (instagram)

(found this on Thought Catalog and I want to share it to you guys)

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Hey lovelies! If you want to be a part of Optimistic Monday, you can and anyone can join. Just post some words of positivity. It can be a poem, a prose, a paragraph, or quotes that you’ve found in books and online. Any words of positivity or words of encouragement the helped you or you think will help you and anyone who reads it. Post it every Monday and don’t forget to add the #OptimisticMonday.

I started doing Optimistic Monday since last year and most of them can be found on my blog. And I’ll be glad if more people will start doing it as well.Treat everyone with kindess. Spread love and positivity!

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

17 Things That I’ve Learned in 2017

You might be wondering why I’m only posting this now, but actually, I’ve posted this before 2017 ended on my other blog. And I haven’t posted here in a long time so I’m trying to catch up.

For more, feel free to visit my wordpress blog just click here.

N°1 – Life is truly beautiful

I always put la vie est belle at the end of my posts, but it wasn’t until now when I realized that life is beautiful, I’m just blind to see it. We just have to look on the positive side of life to truly see how wonderful life is.

N°2 – Get out of your comfort zone

I learned that once you get out of your comfort zone, you get to do more things that you once thought you couldn’t. Results are not always positive but at least you get to know yourself better. It’s okay to take risks and slowly leave your comfort zone because that could help your grow more.

N°3 – Trust

Trust in yourself is important. You wont be able to do amazing things without it. I learned that we are all capable of doing amazing things, we just have to trust ourselves.

N°4 – Cut toxic people in your life

Some people are not good for you, no matter how much your love each other. An unhealthy relationship isn’t good for you. It’s okay to cut toxic people, fake friendship, and meaningless conversations. Help yourself to leave from the things that no longer grows you.

N°5 – Find yourself whenever you feel lost

One of the biggest thing that I learned this year is whenever you don’t know who you are anymore, go for an adventure. Find a place that will remind you how small your problems are. Find a place where you can see how beautiful nature is and where you can be at peace. Looking at the endless horizons could make you feel more lost, but that’s where you’ll know who you really are.

N°6 – Appreciate little things 

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that matters the most. Happiness doesn’t have to be grand or expensive. I find happiness in sunrises and sunsets, I find hope at the sight of the moon, and I find peace when I’m one with nature. Whatever you have, always be thankful.

N°7 – People are like seasons, they come and go 

Some people are seasonal. Some are just meant to be a chapter of your life, not to be a part of your whole story. Don’t beg for anyone to stay. Appreciate those who stayed despite every ups and downs. Not everyone will stay in your life, but if they come back, keep them. 

N°8 – Time waits for no one 

Life wont stop for you to catch up. Whatever you want to do today, do it now before you regret it later. Time is precious. Spend it right and don’t waste it on the wrong person. Say what you want to say right now before it’s too late. Life is short. Don’t wait for anything, now is the right time. 

N°9 – Be kind You have nothing to lose if you are being kind

Every person that you’ve met are fighting a battle that you knew nothing about. An act of kindness could help someone fight his battle. And at the end, kindness always wins. Never stop caring.

N°10 – Don’t be to hard on yourself 

It’s okay to take a little break once in a while. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience and dedication. But whenever you feel tired, rest but don’t quit. 

N°11 – Forgive Just like you, no one is perfect

Learn to forgive, it will make you more free. 

N°12 – Your parents are always there for you 

Once in a while, I think we all struggle to feel this. But at the end of the day, no one cares for you as much as your parents care for you.

N°13 – Listen

Speak less, listen and do more. Don’t judge without hearing the whole story first.

N°14 – Don’t be afraid to try something new

Don’t let fear stop you from trying new things. It’s okay to fail, what matters is you learned.

N°15 – Have courage

I learned that growing up is inevitable. The only constant in life is change. You cant be a kid again no matter how much you want to. Keep going, keep growing, and most importantly, have courage.

N°16 – God is bigger than your biggest problem 

Never lose your faith in Him. He will help you through your darkest nights. 

N°17 – Keep loving You can never run out of love. 

Because once you love, you are always full. Don’t be afraid to love but most importantly, love yourself. Loving yourself isn’t selfish and walk away from the things that no longer help you grow as a person.

May the remaining months of 2018 helps us learn more, grow more, and achieve more. And if you liked this post, please give this a like and follow my blog. I hope you also learned a thing or two. See you on my next post! 😘

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

Optimistic Monday

Sometimes you have to save yourself. You have to mend your broken heart. You have to be the person who decides to change their own story and rewrites a new one.

Sometimes you need to give yourself the wake up call you need when you’re lost. You have to be the one who searches inside and outside for the truth, for your passion, for where you belong and what kind of life you want to live. You shouldn’t wait for an opportunity to knock on your door or for someone to save your life.

Sometimes you have to break your own heart with the truth instead of living a lie. You have to leave certain people behind, confront those who wronged you in the past and walk away from the people you once loved. You have to knock some sense into yourself and force yourself to move on, to stop waiting, to stop wondering, to stop questioning. You have to convince yourself that you deserve better, that you shouldn’t settle and that you should wait for a love that matches the one you’re willing to give.

Sometimes you have to get comfortable with being alone.

Because at the end of the day, no one knows who you really are when all your masks fall off, no one sees what you see, no one feels what you feel and no one knows what truly keeps you up at night. You have to be your own person, you have to hold your own hand because you won’t always be lucky enough to find someone who understands your journey or stands by you until you make it.

You won’t always find people willing to climb a certain mountain with you. Sometimes you have to climb alone — it’s exhausting and tiring and draining but once you get to the top, everything will look so small. Everything will make sense. You’ll be glad you made it, even if you’re the only one enjoying the view.

Words: @ranianaim (ig)

(found on thought catalog, instagram)

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Hey lovelies! If you want to be a part of Optimistic Monday, you can and anyone can join. Just post some words of positivity. It can be a poem, a prose, a paragraph, or quotes that you’ve found in books and online. Any words of positivity or words of encouragement the helped you or you think will help you and anyone who reads it. Post it every Monday and don’t forget to add the #OptimisticMonday. 

I started doing Optimistic Monday since last year and most of them can be found on my blog. And I’ll be glad if more people will start doing it as well.Treat everyone with kindess. Spread love and positivity!

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

March Favorites | 2018

Before I start my March Favorites, I would like to first congratulate all my batch mates and fellow students for completing the school year 2017-2018. I know this school year is stressful af and there were lots of challenges we’ve came across with but hey, the school year is over and summer is here!

Here are my top faves for this month:

Croissants – Have I ever mentioned that I live for croissants? Croissant is my ultimate favorite and I love them so much. This is like the bread of your dreams.

Cinnammon rolls – I also love cinnammon rolls but unlike croissants, I don’t like eating this on a daily basis. I like to eat them once in a while.

Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte – First, it reminds me of the milk tea my mom always buy for me. Second, it smells like milk tea. And third, it taste like milk. It’s different from any Starbucks drink that I ever had.

Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble Frappuccino – If you’re reading my previous monthly favorites, by now you should know that I’m a Starbucks girl. Anyway, this is good, I just don’t know about the salted caramel and the mocha part. In my opinion, it doesn’t taste like it. It tastes like chocolate and I also like the combination of the flavors. I just dont know if this and the Okinawa drink is still available by the time this post will be posted. 

The Blonde Cheerleader by yourstrulytrina – I’ve read this a lot of times and of all the Wattpad books that I’ve ever read, this one is my favorite!! Clara Harper is my spirit animal. By the way, I made a book review about this a year ago and if you want to check it out, click here. And if you want to read the book, click here.

The Lion King – I know I cant be a kid again so I’m trying to watch my favorite movies when I was kid, and this movie is one of my faves. The songs are catchy and I just love Disney movies. Also The Lion King 2 is so underrated, if you haven’t watch it yet, go watch it now!!

Aladdin – Another one of my fave childhood movies and is still one of my faves until today. Plus, I can show you the world is such a bop.

Les Misérables soundtrack – The songs are far from the songs I usually listen to and it is not my genre however, the songs are a masterpiece.

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That’s all for now. See you all on my next blog post!

Again, congratulations to all the students of the year 2017-2018. May we all learn something new on the coming school year. And may all of this help us to be stronger. God bless us all! xoxo.

La vie est belle,

[aestrophilia]

Beauty & The Blog by Aestrophilia

Bonjour and welcome to my blog!

Book reviews will be posted weekly. Monthly Favorites will be updated every month. Tune in every Monday for new posts mostly about positivity, some thoughts I want to share with you, and some words of encouragement. And I will also be posting random stuffs occasionally.

Thank you for visiting my blog! La vie est belle.