ShaeLynnCo

How to Choose Your College Major

Here I am, only a few weeks from the end of my third year of University! Time flies when you’re having fun! As I face the next stage of my academic career, I wanted to write a little post about some of the strategies I used to help me choose my undergraduate college major as well as some things that I wish I had known back then. I want to clarify that these are MY tips based on MY experience…everyone is entitled to their own feelings so feel free to disagree, this is just meant to be helpful to those who may be feeling lost! This is also based on an American college experience, I understand that some of the things that I say may not apply to Universities in Canada/other countries. Most of it should be applicable to everyone though! Let’s get right into it! For those of you that don’t know, I am a Biology major at the University of California Santa Barbara. GO GAUCHOS!

First of all, congratulations on making the choice to pursue higher education! That is a big deal and it is definitely worth being proud of. Choosing your field of study can be stressful and overwhelming because, yes, it is an important decision.

Purpose-Venn-Diagram — Source: humanbusiness.eu

Most of us are probably familiar with this Venn diagram; take a moment to read it, maybe even print it out and put it up on your wall. Worship it (in a totally healthy non-creepy way). We are going to focus on the left side since we are discussing your major which will lead you to your career. This is where the “What I Love”, “What My Strengths Are” and the “What I Get Paid For” circles overlap. When choosing a major you really want to focus on your “Passion” (upper left).

1. Make a List of Skills and Interests

Write out a 2-column list; the first column being what you are good at, and the second column being what you are interested in learning more about. Now circle the things that are found in both columns. TRUST ME, this is so important for the next step. DO NOT get distracted by the “what I get paid for” yet. University is not about making money, it’s about finding your passion. My parents always told me: “Find what you’re passionate about…then figure out how to make money doing it”. Please, in that order guys!!

“In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those doing what they love” -Warren Buffet

“It’s easier to make money at something you love than to learn to love a job that you can make money at” -Kim Harrison

Hopefully you’re beginning to believe me. I don’t want to nag on this point but I think its probably the #1 mistake that people make when choosing what to study. I’ve noticed a sudden “passion” in Engineering that all these freshmen have…I wonder how many of them could tell me 5 things they love about engineering. Yikes! A huge percentage of students change their major in their first couple of years—which is totally fine and normal—but a shortcut to avoiding that headache is to choose something you are genuinely interested in. DO NOT choose your major based on prestige or what you think will make you “rich”. You shouldn’t choose your University based on those reasons either, but that is for another post 😉

BUT WHY??

Ok so maybe I haven’t convinced you yet. Here is the why. University is hard. No matter what you choose, you will have classes and professors that will challenge you, sometimes to your limit. Reality check: you have to choose a subject that you are willing to spend A LOT of time reading, writing and speaking about. Which subject are you willing to spend late nights researching? Discussing with professors about? Maybe you will fail one of your classes…are you willing to take it again? 99.99% of people who choose a major for the “wrong” reasons stated above, will bail when times get tough. I’ve seen it with my own eyes countless times. One study at UCSB in 2012 revealed that only 38% of “pre-biology” majors actually completed a degree in biological sciences.

Don’t worry about choosing a degree that will make you “look smart”…you won’t look very smart after you’ve announced that you’re studying rocket science at Harvard and then you drop out after one semester.

2. Make a CHOICE!

Ok my next tip: actually choose a major. Don’t go undeclared. I know what you are thinking: but what if I really don’t know and I want to try out a variety of classes blah blah blah. Trust me, you want to pick something because otherwise you are literally at the bottom of the hierarchy as far as class selection times. You will be last priority for everything and you may not get into the classes you want anyways. It is much better to have a major and then switch it if you find that you aren’t loving it. And guess what? I am a biology major and I have taken classes in ethnic studies, history of dance, nutrition, anthropology, psychology etc… You will get the chance to try everything out. It is COMPLETELY fine not to know what your passion is yet, in fact it is totally normal. Once again, that is one of the things that University should help you find. That is why I urge you to use this time to actively look for it. I am in my third year and I am constantly learning about this. That is why, when choosing a major, I implore you to just give it your best guess and see where it takes you! You have everything to gain.

3. College major DOES NOT equal career

Ok so you’ve made it this far, now I am telling you that your major does not equal your career. You may be wondering what exactly I mean by this. In a nutshell…you are NOT confined to a career in the discipline that you choose. In fact just the opposite: your degree will open numerous and varied doors for you. This should alleviate lots of the pressure that you may be under. Choosing your major is not a lifetime sentence into any particular career. Most people have multiple careers in varied fields in their lifetime. A 2013 Washington Post article revealed that only 27% of college grads have a job related to their major! So my final piece of advice: if you are stuck between several options, choose the one that you think is the most challenging but that you can still get good grades with. Challenging because you want to feel like you’re doing this for a reason. University is time consuming and expensive. Make it worth your while. Also, generally speaking, more challenging = more open doors. You can’t be a scientist with a journalism degree, but you sure as hell can be a journalist with a science degree. Of course you obviously want to do well, as grades are a consideration. If you only plan on pursuing a Bachelor’s degree then I won’t lie to you, it doesn’t really matter if you get As or Cs. Where that does matter is if you plan on applying to medical school/law school/ getting a Master’s degree.

Speaking of passion I feel like there was lots of it in this post. Behind all the sass, my goal is truly to help you be decisive and feel confident with your choice. Congratulations again! Follow these tips and get ready for the most incredible 4 years of your life!

Feel free to reach out with any and all questions,

Shae-Lynn

Boozy Baileys Triple Chocolate Brownies!

I am about to make your quarantine so much sweeter!!

This recipe can be made with your favorite brownie mix or from scratch!

Totally Beginner-friendly!

I used Betty Crocker Triple Brownie mix, which includes all the dry ingredients and even white chocolate chips. All you need to add is 2 extra large eggs, and 250g, or 1/2 cup of melted butter. I also like to add 2 teaspoons of espresso powder to add that subtle coffee flavour. Next, you mix everything together with a wooden spoon, and then pour it into a 20 cm square baking pan. Preheat oven to 180°C (or 160°C fans forced) and then bake the brownies. 25-30 minutes is what is recommended but I like mine to be extra gooey, so I took them out at around 20-23 minutes.

Let the brownies cool completely at room temperature before starting your glaze.

In the past, I have added Baileys directly into the batter—but this time I made a glaze to drizzle over the brownies and I found that the flavor of Baileys came through a lot stronger using this method. I definitely recommend this if you love Baileys like I do!

So grab a bottle of Baileys, I used Original but I recommend the Salted Caramel Baileys for a truly amazing flavor experience.

Add 1/3 cup of Baileys, 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk, 1 2/3 white chocolate chips (you can use regular ones but I like the contrast of the brownie and the lighter glaze) a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to a bowl. Warm up and mix together, then pour and spread the ganache on top of the brownies. Sprinkle a few milk chocolate chips on top to be extra! (I guess these are actually quadruple chocolate brownies!) Store in the fridge for about 30 mins before cutting and serving! Voila, you’ve made yourself one hell of a brownie! This dessert definitely will not disappoint, please let me know if you try it!

xox

Shae-Lynn

Celebrating my 21st in Self-Isolation!!

Hey all you Quarantine Queens!

We’ve all been self-isolating for a while now which means we’ve inevitably had to change our routines and find new creative ways to fill our days. We’ve also had to find new ways to celebrate holidays and birthdays. Maybe some of you have already celebrated your birthdays while in self-isolation, or maybe yours is coming up soon and you’re not sure what to expect or how to feel. Well, I hear ya. I just celebrated the big 21 on April 12th while in self-isolation all the way in Sydney, Australia, miles away from friends and family! Very unexpected…but I think that pretty much describes 2020 thus far. I’m writing this in hopes that it gives you some fun ideas on how to make the day special and that it gets you excited to celebrate your birthday during this time. One thing’s for sure, we are all living through a moment in history that will not soon be forgotten. Let’s embrace that as best we can.

The first thing I would recommend is baking yourself a cake! This was my mom’s idea. Whether you have baking experience or not, I definitely recommend trying it out. Not only will it give you something to do but it will make you feel like you accomplished something for yourself! I baked the cake 2 days before my birthday to let it cool, then the following day I decorated it with icing and sprinkles. I put it in the fridge so it was ready for the 12th! This is how it turned out!

(I used Betty Crocker cake mix and frosting–frosting is easy to make at home but I don’t have a mixer here haha)

My mom sent me some cute plates, napkins and cups to make it feel like a party! Don’t forget the candles!

The next thing I did was put up some decorations and balloons. This also helped create a fun atmosphere in my apartment. My mom sent me the banner and balloons along with some party hats. Shae-Lynn’s Touch: I cut the letters of my name out of the extra gold party hats for a personalized touch! Also gave me an extra craft to do which was fun and gave the decorations that extra flair! If it’s your thing, make yourself a little photo spot and do a little birthday photoshoot! Find the best lighting in the house, dress up or rock some quarantine-n-chill sweats, it’ll definitely be a memorable pic!

The last thing that really made the day special was talking to friends and family. I was on FaceTime with someone almost the whole day which I was sooo thankful for especially because I only live with 1 flatmate at the moment. Set a time to do a group zoom with some family members or a friend group. If you do this in advance then you won’t have to stress or worry on the day. I planned to have a virtual party with my family early in the morning and then I had some time in the afternoon to talk with friends. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who called, it really made the day special and made me feel so loved!

IMG_3521 2.jpg — Birthday surprise I get to come home to!! 😀

Obviously there are plenty of other things you can do to make the day fun depending on what you like and who you are spending your quarantine birthday with! You could do an at-home spa day, blast some good music, sing karaoke and dance, at-home movie and pizza night… The most important thing is that you are doing things that make you super happy (while staying home)! Celebrating a birthday in self-isolation definitely throws some spice into what can feel like boring/repetitive times so get excited for it! You can also plan what you want to do when everything goes back to normal—traveling to a fun destination (I’m thinking Fiji because that’s where I was originally going to celebrate, and Vegas when I get back to University in California), or going to a cute bar and ordering your first legal drink in the US if you’re me 😉

If you have any questions, need more ideas, or did something on your birthday that you loved and would like to share I would love to hear it!

xox
Shae-Lynn

Think with Love–a reflection on paying the social price for ambition and kindness

I was really upset today. Upset because I can’t even live in peace in my own apartment. Even though I might be “distancing” myself from society, I’m just as confronted by society’s perceptions and reactions to me. Let me explain…(I’d like to say now that if you want to stop reading already, please scroll to the bottom and at least read the quote). I live in a shared apartment with 5 people. I respect their space and literally stay in my room all day except to use the restroom and make my food…so do 3 of the other 5 people living here. But two people in the apartment show complete disregard for the rest of us…specifically me, but I won’t go into detail. I’m sure some of you are thinking “yep mmhmm I’ve lived with those flatmates”. Or maybe it’s the story of your life. You also might be thinking…what’s the big deal? Just tell them you don’t like what they’re doing, have a conversation blah blah blah. Well that’s the part that had me in tears today. I realized once again that I am unable to stand up for myself and what I believe is right. It is a really upsetting realization, because you know that it means that you don’t believe to your corps that you deserve the respect of others. You don’t believe that you are worthy of it. You don’t see others as equal to you, you put yourself beneath them. Why else wouldn’t you speak up? You imagine the scenario in your head: you’ll say what you feel, and they will shoot you down anyway because you show weakness. Whatever they say back will make you start to doubt yourself, and regret that you said anything in the first place. You feel uncomfortable and violated; they feel nothing. If you can’t relate to anything I’ve said this far, let me put it this way; it feels like a physical blockage—you physically cannot confront them, there is a brick wall in your way. It leaves you feeling hopeless; if you don’t speak up, nothing will change, but you know you can’t, so you’re stuck.

Here’s the internal conflict: I love who I am, I love that I have a kind heart that just wants to live in harmony with everyone. I love myself. I don’t want to change who I am. But how can I continue going through life, staying in my own lane while people stomp on it incessantly and carelessly. I don’t have the courage to speak up, so no one will ever respect me enough to just leave me be. Is that just how I was made? Will it be this way forever?

I guess what I want to say to you, who may be feeling this way too, is that if people hate you or try to put you down, it’s because they see something threatening in you. It kills them even more that you are so kindhearted. They see that you have a gift, and the ability to actually see it through. In this way, your haters actually believe in your potential as much as your supporters do. Maybe more. They really think you will make it, so they have to find a way to put a stop to it, or at least take away your happiness. Well, I see it too. I also know that I have gifts, and that I have the ability to see them through. So to everyone who has manipulated me, insulted me, lied, or acted in any way towards me that didn’t come from a heart of pure love—I will not stop working and making my dreams come true. I am not the one who is going to crumble, you chose wrong. I will continue to lead and lift others up. If you see someone doing incredible things with their life, it’s fine if your initial instinct is to feel a little green…but then, I urge you to rethink it and get up on the podium with them. Encourage them and they’ll encourage you back, send them positive vibes and the positive vibes that come back into your life will grow tenfold. These people won’t come into your life everyday so when you meet one, don’t stomp all over them like they don’t exist. Don’t talk shit about them and treat them like a doormat. Because they probably won’t fight. They will leave. They will remove you from their lives and never look back. So instead, join them. Support them. Love them. See how your life changes. To all the people who have always been loving, thank you, I love you, I believe we will do great things together because we have the most powerful force in the world on our side.

Finally, if you haven’t heard this quote before, it is one of my favourites:

“Watch your thoughts,

they become your words.

Watch your words,

they become your actions.

Watch your actions,

they become your habits.

Watch your habits,

they become your character.

Watch your character,

for that becomes your Destiny.”

Notice the use of the verb “watch”: it is active, meaning that it is your choice to make.

Your thoughts are your destiny. Think with love.

Shae-Lynn

How to Enjoy Studying

With finals season approaching, I thought this would be the perfect time to share some studying tips that I find really helpful and that I personally use! 🙂 For those of you that don’t know, I am studying biology at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Before I get into more practical studying strategies, its important to set the mood. One of the most difficult things for me about studying is actually starting. The thought of learning material well enough to be tested on several chapters is really overwhelming. So let’s look at the positives of a study day:

The Attitude

-You can wear comfy lounging clothes and blankets, and do things at your own pace

-You can have good snacks and coffee at reach

-It feels really good to finally understand things you didn’t before working on them

My point is, all in all, it should be a chill experience. The earlier you start, the less you have to rush it and the more you can relax while studying. Now that we have a better attitude about the actual idea of studying, lets talk about why where you choose to study is important.

The Environment

Ok, so this one is definitely personal and different for everyone. I always feel much happier to be sitting in one spot for extended periods of time if it is a pleasant spot. The environment should reflect the attitude, and we’re going to go with chill. So I like to have a large table to work at so I can have more than one book open at once, paper and my laptop. If everything is accessible and spread out it will minimize time spent looking for things and thinking about them. We want to spend all our energy on the learning. I like to put out scented candles, or a diffuser for atmosphere. Sometimes I’ll even put on a face mask. Train yourself to associate studying with self-care or just general relaxation and you’ll enjoy it more. Now this one is probably the most important: lighting. When studying during the day, natural light is key. Go near a window whenever possible. The natural light will put much less strain on your eyes, especially if you’re already staring at a computer. It keeps your brain awake to have lots of sunlight.

(this is what my desk will often look like: books, computer, candle, water and coffee, snack like almonds)

Take productive breaks

Hold on a second.. did you say productive break? Isn’t the point of a break to do nothing?

You heard me right. Yes, breaks are important and we need them. Do not feel guilty for taking them, but do not give yourself an excuse to have them constantly. What I like to do is make a list of tasks that I have to do for a day, including both work and other (ex: laundry, groceries, exercise..). Then, when I need a break, I do one of those non-work related tasks. It could be something as simple as taking a shower in between practice exams (one of my personal favs). Or reading a helpful blog post (hey you’re already making progress!). You are giving your brain a rest and also using your spare time to get yourself ahead. This is so crucial. If you go from very actively studying to laying in bed watching Netflix, it actually doesn’t make you feel rested. Another rule I have is NO NETFLIX (*or insert your most common distraction here*) for the entire week leading up to an important exam. It is too big of a distraction, and it is something awesome to look forward too after the exam. It’s part of a really effective reward-system that you can train yourself to follow. If I study hard this week, I will eat my favorite dessert after the test, or I will watch that Netflix Christmas movie I’ve been looking so forward to. Its all about incentive. We need to give ourselves some short term goals when we’re working toward such a long term one. One of my favorite math tutors (I got an A in the class) told me that him and his friends used to set a timer for 30-45 minutes of studying, then when it went off, they would get out speakers and have a loud music/dance session for a few minutes before working again. It may sound ridiculous to you (or maybe appealing haha) but it was something they all looked forward to and worked hard for.

You Khan do it!

Ok this is a tip for when you start stressing out because you have been working on a certain topic for a long time and just can’t seem to understand it. Use your resources. Grab a friend to study with for that topic. I prefer studying solo but it can be really helpful to work with a friend on the harder stuff. Speaking of resources, I can’t stress this enough: Khan academy, Khan academy, Khan academy. Whatever the topic, chances are there’s a free video from Khan academy explaining it in detail even more clearly than your professor. As a STEM major I can particularly speak to their chemistry and math videos, but they also offer humanities and economics videos. Instead of struggling for 20 minutes to understand something, watch a 5 minute video. Do it. It really works. Also, what your professor or tutor has been telling you about practicing for a test in real test conditions is one of the most effective pieces of advice. If they don’t provide a practice test or practice problems, look online or ask around because it is so worth it if you don’t already do this.

Hopefully these tips on how to make studying more efficient and enjoyable are helpful to you. I really use these and they have been effective for me so I want to share them with you! The truth is, I can’t make you enjoy studying, that will really come down to your attitude on it. These tips should help you go into it with a good mindset if you aren’t naturally really motivated to sit down and grind. Let me know if you try one of these tips, or if you have your own study strategies that you find really helpful because I’m always looking for suggestions!

xox

Shae-Lynn

COACHELLA

First I just want to say…COACHELLA BABY!! Going to Coachella has been my dream for years. When choosing which colleges to apply to, you can bet that Coachella carried a lot of weight into my decision to apply to California (not to mention the beaches, the fashion, oh and um hello?? its California.) Anyways, I was lucky enough to spend my birthday weekend at Coachella this year and would love to share my top 5 favourite things about my experience. This post goes out to all my friends and fam on the East coast 😉

5. Time

One thing I really liked was that most artists only have a 30 minute to 45 minute time slot. Of course the headliners and really big name artist get between an hour and an hour and a half like a typical concert. I thought it was the perfect amount of time so you could see as many artists as you wanted during the day.

4. The Stages

There are 5 huge stages spread out across the grounds and an artist can be playing on any one of them at any given time. They are setup so that you can hear the music even if you choose to stand or sit further away, and yet there is no sound overlap between them. It was awesome to see how quickly everything got setup because each artist had their own (sometimes really elaborate!) props and there was only 20-30mins between performances!

3. The Art

The art pieces really add to the whole Coachella atmosphere. The ferris wheel is iconic, and any other pieces brought in always become a recognizable symbol of Coachella that year . Some are fun to pose in front of and some are interactive! For example, this year they had a rainbow cylinder that you could walk through!

2. The Vibe

I don’t think I have to explain this one too much—all I can say is that everything they say about the Coachella vibe is true. Everyone, including the performers and all the other celebrities that go, is there to have a good time. Everyone is dancing and singing their hearts out and appreciating the music.

Ok fine, there’s always that one person that you almost get into a fist fight with because they believe that personal space and being front row can exist together at once and that you are clinging to them like you’re a koala and they are the tree by choice, but what can you do.

1. The Fashion

It shouldn’t be surprising that I would absolutely love this aspect of the festival. Coachella is literally like Halloween but better. No one looks lame or plain. Everyone brings out their edgiest, sparkliest, and most risqué festival wear. Everything from hairstyle to shoe choice is super important. One of the things I loved most about being at Coachella was just admiring everyone’s awesome outfits.

Now that you know the things that I loved, I’m sure you want to know if there is anything I didn’t like. While I literally have no negative feelings about the festival and had an INCREDIBLE time, there are a couple things that I can mention. Of course, no outside food or drink is permitted inside. There are plenty of food places and drink places inside (including beer gardens for 21+) but everything is pretty pricey. I paid $9 for a lemonade. Also, there is nothing extra included in your General Admission pass. You have to pay separately for all food, drink, and even the ferris wheel. It would be nice to ride the ferris wheel for free, but I did feel like for the amount of artists I saw I got my money’s worth. Also, because its GA you can literally elbow your way to the front and see like 5 concerts front row for less than it would cost to pay for a front row ticket at a theatre.

Overall, I had an amazing weekend and already wish I was going back for weekend 2. It felt like a giant playground for adults. I mean, if you think about it, could you possibly think of a better weekend besides walking around seeing live concerts from your favourite artists and taking bomb Instagram photos? Because I can’t.

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Frank Body Shimmer Scrub

I had seen Frank Body products blow up all over Facebook and Instagram, especially the shimmer scrub. Of course I wanted to try it out myself. I went on the website and…they were all sold out. Recently, I was downtown shopping at Urban Outfitters and, there it was sitting by the cash! How perfect, I thought, “this way I don’t even have to pay shipping!”.

First of all, I really like the chrome packaging. The scrub itself comes in a resealable waterproof chrome bag. The first thing that I noticed after opening the bag was the smell: coffee! Coffee grounds is one of the main ingredients of the scrub which is supposed to be really healthy for the skin (my mom and aunt have used it for decades and they have no wrinkles!). I really liked smelling the coffee grounds initially because it reminded me that what I am about to use on myself is from natural plant based sources. This product is vegan, and cruelty free.

I first reached into the bag and picked up some of the sugar crystals:

It looked like there wasn’t too much in the bag, but the amount shown in the photo above was more than enough for one of my legs. I scrubbed myself and rinsed it off with only water as per the instructions and it didn’t leave behind any strange residue like some scrubs and soaps do, so I liked that a lot. But you really don’t see the benefits of the product until you step out of the shower: My skin hadn’t felt that soft in a really long time! And the coffee leaves a fresh natural smell on your skin (in other words it does not leave you smelling like a grande mocha frappe if you were wondering). I also found it really cool how there wasn’t any visible glitter in the product, but when the light hits my skin it has a really nice natural glow, and some subtle shimmer.

I am really glad I got to try this product and am really happy with the results! I will definitely be using it again, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for hydrated, soft skin with a healthy glow!

Send in any other questions you have, or if there is another product you are curious about and would like to hear a review!

xoxo Shae-Lynn

(Frank Body Shimmer Scrub—$19.95)

75th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Q: “What’s your favourite season?”

A: “Awards”.

Just one of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite shows Schitt’s Creek. Any Schitters reading today?? If you were to ask me what my favourite season is, I would probably say “awards”, then “spring”.

I have always LOVED watching all the award shows, and I mean all; from the Oscars, to the Grammys, to the Tonys, to the SAG, to any where Leonardo Dicaprio makes an appearance. This year I was fortunate enough to attend the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards! One of my favourite parts about watching the awards is the Red Carpet. I love to look at which designers clothed the most stars each year, and just admire (and critique) all the beautiful (mostly beautiful) garments. It was even more amazing seeing it with my own eyes. This year, my personal best dressed were Kendall Jenner and Dakota Johnson. We were stationed in bleachers right along the carpet and watched as the stars walked by. What was really fun was calling their names and having them look right at you and wave back.

After the carpet comes the awards show and then after the awards comes the….AFTERPARTIES! Everyone was there. It was such an unreal experience to just be walking around the hotel lobby and talking to James Franco, Hailey Baldwin and Mariah Carey all in the same room. It was definitely one of the coolest parties I’ve ever been to.

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Here is my look: a gold, sheer, sparkly gown with a deep V and an open back.

Reporting live from the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, my name is Shae-Lynn.

xoxo

Shopping in Santa Barbara

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows I LOVE fashion. It only took me a couple weeks living in Santa Barbara before I hit State Street (the main shopping street downtown). I noticed that these tube tops are super in style here so I bought one black and one white one at Brandy Melville and I have already gotten a lot of use out of them. They look great with boyfriend jeans, ripped skinny jeans or jean shorts. Stripped pants are also really popular and I find them really cute so I found 2 pairs also at Brandy Melville. The white crop top with long sleeves was on sale at a local store. I bought the sweater because it’s light and makes a cute outfit with jean shorts on a cooler day. My next stop is bikini shopping!

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I also got my nails done with a brand new colour called Mermaid, check it out below!

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Oh I almost forgot…my first gift in Santa Barbara was a vintage Hermès bangle from my mom!

xox Shae-Lynn

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Everybody Dyes

I was watching a tv show on Disney channel where there was a hair dye workshop at an old folks retirement home. Above there hung a huge banner that read “Everybody Dyes” in bold letters. Needless to say I thought it was pretty hilariously dark for a Disney show which made it even funnier.

I had been thinking about changing up my hair for a while. I had tried some different cuts (layers, side bangs..) but it wasn’t giving me the oumf I was looking for. I LOVE being a brunette, but I wanted to experiment with something fun and edgy while I’m young enough to pull it off. My mom’s hairdresser found a hair colour line by Joico that is gentle on the hair and even has a product called “the eraser” that can strip the colour out of the hair in one wash.

So there I was sitting in the hairdresser’s chair, never having coloured, highlighted or bleached my hair in any way, ready to dye my entire head purple.

It was literally one of the best decisions I ever made and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I had the purple in my hair for 5 months (only had to recolour 3 times) and my hair has never looked fuller, or felt softer.

I loved the edgy look it gave me, and I got a ton of compliments. There’s just something people appreciate about others who have the confidence to dye their hair an unnatural colour. The thing is though, so many people told me it suited me so well that it looked like my natural colour!

So you may be wondering: if you loved it so much, why don’t you have it now? Well,

I decided that I didn’t want to worry about maintaining it on top of every other worry I will have as an incoming freshman college student
I loved the shade of purple because it looks elegant (there’s a fine line between elegant purple hair and trashy/cheap purple hair), however it was also very dark. Seeing as I am attending school in California, I decided I wanted a more beachy, sun kissed look.

So there you have it! If you have any questions I didn’t answer about dying your hair, or how to care for it, or anything I’d be more than happy to answer them!

xox Shae-Lynn

(colour: Amethyst by Joico)