5 Ways to Improve Your Sleep

If you are fairly normal, you probably like getting a lot of sleep. I personally always make sure to get 7ish hours of sleep, both during the school year and summer. I know that a lot of people's sleep schedule can get messed up during the summer, so I wanted to give some tips on how you can sleep better. 

Make your room dark
The more your body thinks it's nighttime, the more it is going to want to sleep. If your room has a lot of natural light like me, you might want to invest in blackout curtains so that your room can stay darker.

Cool off your room.
I personally love to sleep with the same bedding in the summer and winter, but this does get tricky when it's 100 degrees here. When my room get's hot, I can't sleep. I always sleep with my fan on and try to make my room cool, especially in the summer.

Ditch the caffeine.
I personally am not a coffee/soda drinker, but those who are often have trouble sleeping at night. Make sure that you are not drinking caffeine too close to bed time, and opt for a glass of water instead!

Don't nap,
Once again, this doesn't really apply to me because I hate naps (#truth). There's just something about sleeping during the day that I just don't like. Naps seem like a great idea in the moment, but you'll regret them when you're trying to sleep at night, because if you sleep during the day time, you'll be less tired at night.

Exercise before bed. 
Try to tire yourself out and use some energy before bedtime. If you feel tired, then you will obviously want to sleep. If you still have a bunch of energy, your mind will race and you won't be able to sleep.

I hope these tips were helpful!

xoxo,

Alyssa

How I Edit My Instagram Pictures

Hey everyone! Who doesn't love a good Instagram feed, amirite? Ever since I started my blog, I wanted to have a nice feed that expressed what my blog was about. It wasn't until now that I feel like my feed looks nice and represents Lots of Lys. Here's a picture of it (follow me @lotsoflys):

Step 1: Taking the Picture

I take most of my Instagram pictures on my iPhone 6, unless it's a picture from a blog post. If it's from a blog post, then I used my DSLR camera, which is a Nikon d3200. If I take the picture on my phone then I try to take it on "square' mode, unless I forget. It's super important to take multiple shots in case the first one doesn't turn out well (it almost never does). 

Step 2: Editing

I only use VSCO Cam for editing my pictures. I have gone through various filters and tools, but I have figured out my "signature edit":  +1 the Exposure, +1 the Contrast and +1 the Temperature. Here's the difference between the pictures, and after I cropped a few. 

After I edit, I save it to my camera roll and usually "test post" on Instagram (post to see how it looks with my other pictures and then delete really quickly). If it looks good then I come up with a caption and post!

How do you edit your Instagram pics?

xoxo,

Alyssa

How to Decide If You Should Purchase Something

{via} 

I love shopping (shocker). I enjoy purchasing items I love that I know I will get a lot of use out of. However, I am guilty of purchasing items and not really wearing/using them as much as I imagined, which is a waste of money and just a stupid thing to do. Here are my tips to decide whether or not you should purchase something.

Do I have anything like this?

Yes, a striped tee is a wardrobe essential, but do you really need 2 that are almost identical? Try to avoid buying duplicates/twins (unless it's an item you use a TON), because chances are you'll only use one.

Will it go on sale soon?

I don't care what you say: there is nothing worse than purchasing an item at full price and seeing that it's on sale a few weeks later! If you're considering purchasing something that you think might go on sale, try waiting until the next closest holiday when stores have sales (Labor Day, Black Friday, etc) and then purchase it!

Will I use/wear it?

How many outfits can I think of with this? Do I have shoes to match or would I need to purchase something else to go with it? Sometimes when I really think about how much use I will get from an item I find myself placing it back on the rack. 

Could I see myself wearing this in a few years?

It's okay to purchase "trending" items, but I wouldn't splurge on them. I'd rather spend my money on classic, high quality pieces that I know I'll wear for many years to come, not just this season.

Figure out how much it's worth.

Before looking at the price of items, I like to think to myself "How much would I pay for this?". If my answer is lower/equal to what the actual price is, I'll consider purchasing. 

Don't buy things just because it's on sale. 

Guilty! "Mom, it's XYZ brand and it's only $$! That's such a good deal!". Yes, it may be a good deal for the brand, but it's only a true good deal if you use it! 

Read reviews and do your research.

I always read reviews of products before purchasing them, especially if they're on the expensive side. Reviews could help you avoid a return or help encourage you to purchase something.

If you're still not sure, wait.

Sometimes I get wrapped up in the moment of wanting to buy something and I need to take a step back. If I want to purchase something (especially a splurge item), I usually wait months to see if  I still want that item. 

xoxo,

Alyssa

The Perfect Stress Free Night

With the stresses of everyday life, it can be challenging to find time to relax. With my schedule getting busier and it being finals week (ugh), I have been trying to focus on relaxing more and not being stressed out. Either on Friday nights or Sunday nights, I like to take some time to do things that I don't really get to do during the week. Here are some things I do.

Take a bath
Showers are so much quicker and more efficient, but I definitely think that baths are more relaxing. I like to light candles and place them around the edge of my tub. I pour shower gel into the tub (shower gel works as bubble bath) and unwind from the week.

Listen to calming music
Spotify is my favorite place to get music. When I want to relax, I always listen to the Afternoon Acoustic playlist, which has slower, calming songs. Take a listen!

Apply a face mask
Although this is not pictured, I love applying face masks! My favorite is this one from Lush. It's a nice way to rejuvenate your skin and prepare it for the week to come.

Read a book
Whether it be a novel you want to read or a coffee table book (I'm reading this), take some time to do some reading that's not assigned for school.

Drink lemon water
I love drinking cold water before bed, and it tastes even better with lemon! Lemon water has so many health benefits such as clearing skin and helping digestion. Plus, it helps if you drink it out of a cute tumbler!

Scroll on Pinterest (or Tumblr)
Pinterest is one of my favorite ways to gain inspiration, and I find it so relaxing to just scroll aimlessly. I love looking at fashion, food, and just pretty pictures! Be sure to follow me!

Flip through magazines
Sometimes I receive magazines in the mail, and forget to ever flip through them! They can be great tools for gaining tips, inspiration, or for developing girl crushes (Bella Thorne is literally perfect).

What do you like to do to relax?

xoxo,

Alyssa

Gift Guide: $25 and Under

Okay, so you spent a bit too much money on Black Friday and now you're short money to buy everyone gifts... fear not! Here are some gifts/stocking stuffers that are sure to please without breaking the bank.

perfume | mug | lip balm | nail polish | earrings | bracelet | stationary | tee | keychain | candle | socks

xoxo,

Alyssa

Sick Day Essentials

Unfortunately, it seems like many people I know have been sick lately- what a bummer! Sometimes we need a day off to get healthy again, and when I have a sick day, there are some things that I simply need. 

pajamas

Being cozy and comfortable when sick is one of the most important things, in my opinion. Fun pajama pants and a simple t-shirt will do.

slippers

Okay, who doesn't want to walk on pillows even when they're not sick? Keeping feet warm is essential when sick.

lip balm

Having chapped lips is the worst, especially when you're sick. Keep your lips moisturized and maybe even add a bit of a tint.

nail polish

When you're bored at home with a fever, it's the perfect time to paint your nails. Pick a color that will brighten your mood-perhaps a hot pink!

magazines (or a book)

I love gaining inspo from magazines on the daily, but they are a perfect way to keep you occupied when sick. If you're feeling adventurous, dive into that one book that you've been wanting to read for a while, or catch up on that book for English class and yes, I know it's boring.

candles

For some reason I love burning candles when sick, even though I can't smell it (ha!).

tea

Whenever I have a sore throat, I drink tea to soothe it. Find a tea you like (add some sugar) and drink away. 

water

When you're sick, drinking a ton of water is a must. It's so important to stay hydrated, and while drinking tea is good, it dehydrates you. If you're tired of plain water, try adding some fresh lemon juice to give your immune system a kick-start.

facial wipes

Having clean skin is essential. When you're sick you may not feel like hopping in the shower, but you can still refresh and cleanse your face using wipes. These have grapefruit in them and will leave your skin feeling rejuvenated

What are your sick day essentials?

xoxo,

Alyssa.

How to Get the Perfect Haircut

{via}

Haircuts can either be the best things ever, or the worst experiences. I personally really enjoy getting my haircut, and I seem to have somewhat mastered the art of getting the "perfect" haircut!

Do your research.

There are websites that can help determine your face shape, and can then determine what hair cuts will look good on you. Just remember that just because the haircut looks good on someone else, doesn't mean that it will look good on you. 

Show pictures.

Instead of attempting to describe exactly what you want (let's be honest- this never goes well), find a picture similar to the look you're going for. Try to find both a front and back view of the haircut so that the stylist knows exactly what you want.  When looking for haircut inspiration, my go-to is Pinterest. 

Ask them their opinion.

If you are unsure about a color or length that you are considering going for, don't be afraid to ask the stylist if you will look good with "XYZ" style of hair. They will either say yes or suggest a slightly different color or cut.

Speak up. 

If your stylist asks you if you want something longer or shorter or if it's fine the way it is, speak up and tell the truth! Sometimes I find myself saying that "it's okay" just because I don't want to hurt the hair stylist's feelings, when in reality I am the one who will have to live with the hair cut. Don't be afraid to speak up!

xoxo,
Alyssa

How to Eat Less Sugar

I would consider myself to eat pretty healthy, except when it comes to this time of year. Between Halloween candy (one piece? ha!), festive fall treats, and all the fun Christmas sweets coming up, it's hard to avoid sugar. Here are some tips that I use to keep from eating too many sweets!

Less is more.

Instead of having a bowl of 30 M and M's and then refilling that bowl 5 times, try only putting 10 M and M's in the bowl. You can still refill the bowl 5 times (although you probably shouldn't), and you will feel like you've had a lot when you have really just tricked yourself. 

Chew gum. 

Whenever you are tempted by sweets but you know you shouldn't have them, chew a piece of gum. It will give you a taste of sweetness and give your mouth something to do. 

Move the sweets out of sight. 

I don't know about anyone else, but when I see that my mom bought ice cream, I suddenly really want it! If I had never seen it, I wouldn't have wanted it. Move the sweets out of sight and you won't be reminded and tempted by them. 

Eat fruit.

Sometimes sugar cravings are signs that you're really just hungry! Instead of reaching for a few cookies, try eating an orange or an apple. You will get a taste of sweetness without the calories and fat!

Remember that I'm not saying to never eat sweets- everything is okay in moderation!

xoxo,

Alyssa

7 Tips For Clearer Skin

Hey gals! Today we're going to be talking about a topic that greatly intrigues me: skincare! When I first started getting breakouts, I did a lot of research on what was causing the breakouts,and what I could do to help prevent them, and I learned a lot! Here are a few things that you may be doing wrong that could lead to breakouts.

{via}

one: clean anything that touches your face.

Talk on the phone a lot? Disinfect that screen! Wear a mask, or helmet for a sport? Clean any part of it that touches your face. If you wear a bike helmet often and you see that you're breaking out on your chin, clean that strap!

two: change your pillowcase.

This goes along with my first tip, but I feel like it's easily forgotten, so I made it it's own category. You (hopefully) spend at least 6 hours in bed each night, so if your pillow case is dirty, your face will be gross! I change my pillowcase every other night to ensure that it doesn't get disgusting. 

three: take off your makeup.

Skin needs time to breathe, and if you wear face makeup, then that time is at night, Take the few extra minutes to take your makeup off and wash your face- your skin will thank you. 

four: eat/drink less dairy.

If you are a teenager, one of the main reasons why you could be breaking out is because of an imbalance of hormones. When you eat/drink a lot of dairy (which has hormones in it), it will only add to this imbalance. So swap out the milk for almond milk and lay off the ice cream for a month and see if your skin clears up. 

five: clean your face before and after working out.

Don't ever wear face makeup to workout! If you're wearing foundation and you sweat, the sweat will be trapped between the foundation and your skin, which will cause your pores to become clogged. Wipe your face off with a cleansing wipe before you workout and after, and try to shower as soon as you can. 

six: don't touch your face.

This can be super hard to do because I do it without even realizing it. Don't lean your chin on your hand and definitely try to not pick your skin because that can lead to scarring, which no one wants. 

seven: clean your makeup brushes. 

If you wear makeup, make sure that you clean your makeup brushes, If you don't, bacteria can build up causing your acne to worsen as you continue to use them.

I hope you found this helpful!

xoxo,

Alyssa

How to Get Good Grades: Tips for Studying

I'm one of those people who obsesses over their grades (#nerdalert) and has only gotten one B (8th Grade, Geometry, 2nd Trimester *cries*) in their entire existance. The thought of anything other than straight-A's stresses me out, so I try my hardest to keep my grades looking nice. Here are my tips:


Start Your Homework Right After School

I know, I know. You just finished school, only to go home and do more schoolwork! Outrageous! In the past, I have gone on my phone when I got home, and lost track of time after scrollin' through the depths of Insta and Twitter, only to find myself starting homework at 4:00! If you start right after school, you will have more time to go on your phone (or do whatever you heart desires) after your homework is done.

Get Rid of Distrctions

I'm guilty of checking my twitter feed every 5 minutes in the middle of trying to solve for "x"- it just doesn't work! What I like to do is give my phone to my mom *gasp*. When I'm done, she'll give it back, and I can then check social media. You can also do this with your laptop if you find yourself checking J. Crew's newest arrivals in the middle of a study sesh #guilty. Without these distractions, you'll get the work done so much faster!

Use Flashcards/Quizlet

I love flashcards! I usually quiz myself before tests- write the question on one side, and the answer on the back! You can also do this on Quizlet, which is an online study resource. Definitely check it out!

Keep a Snack and Drink Close-By

When you are hungry or thirsty, it is harder for you to focus. I recommend keeping a healthy snack on your desk (almonds, trail mix, a sliced apple + peanut butter, etc.) to reach for when you get hungry. This way you won't be wandering down to the kitchen (another distraction!!). For drinks, keep a bottle of water within reach.

Teach The Lesson Yourself

Pretend that you are teaching someone about the Civil War, or how to do a certain kind of math problem, and try to teach them without your notes. Talk it through out loud, draw pictures (whiteboards work great); do whatever you would do to actually teach it! After, check your notes. Whatever you forgot to teach is what you need to review for the test!

Find What Works Best For You

Everyone has a different way of studying that works for them. Some people study a little each night, and others study a bunch the night before (this works for me!). Find what works for you and stick with it!

I hope this was helpful! Good luck in the upcoming school year!

xoxo,

Alyssa

How To Get Free Preppy Stickers

{some of my stickers}

I love collecting free stickers from companies I adore. They are so cute, and someday I'm going to put them on a water bottle or my planner or something and stop hoarding them (or so I tell myself). However, it can be hard to know where to get them sometimes, and hopefully this post fixes that! 

Some online websites have a form that you can fill out and they will send you stickers! This is the easiest way to get them. Here are some places where you can do that:

Jadelynn Brooke

Chaco

Brewers Lantern
Backcountry

Southern Marsh
Coast Apparel
GoPro

Patagonia (make sure to request a sticker, not a catalog)

Sloane Ranger (send them an empty envelope and they'll send you back stickers)
Marleylilly (currently sold out, and you have to pay for shipping-add them if you are making a purchase)

To get stickers from some companies, you have to send them an e-mail. When you do this, make sure that you are very polite, and that you mention your love for the company. Say something like, "Hi! I'm ________ and I love _________. I was wondering if you have any stickers that I could use to put on my agenda/planner/laptop/water bottle (etc.) to show my love for your company?". The company will respond either saying yes or no, and then you can reply with your address (or you can include you address in the original e-mail). Boom! Here are some companies that will do this (but feel free to e-mail literally any company- most of them have stickers!):

Sperry: customerservice@sperrytopsider.com
Summer Ties: staff@summerties.com
Vineyard Vines: tieguys@vineyardvines.com

In my experience, stickers typically come in 2-4 weeks. Be patient and don't freak out if they don't come after a month- they take time!

Do you love preppy stickers?

xoxo,
Alyssa

P.S. Tonight I'm off to the East Coast for vacation! I am so excited!! Expect recap and outfit posts when I return. Don't worry- I wrote a bunch of posts for when I will be gone!

P.S.S. I made a snapchat! Add me; lotsoflys, to follow along with me on my daily adventures (and my trip)!

My Packing Tips

I love travel and packing. I find it so fun to plan out outfits for my trip, and packing gets me even more excited for travel. However, packing can be difficult and stressful (*tries to pack whole closet into carry-on*). But fear not, because I am here to help!

Take Only A Carry-On

As easy as it can be to get carried away with packing and pack your whole wardrobe, if you take a carry-on sized suitcase, you will save a few bucks by not checking a bag, and it will keep you from overpacking because you have limited space. A win-win situation!

Roll Your Clothes

Rolling clothes saves a lot of space and allows for more clothes to fit. Unless you have something that wrinkles really easily (and you won't have any way to iron it) you should roll every item you are taking as tightly as you can.

Use Hollow Items

Shoes take up a lot of space. The best thing about packing shoes is that they are hollow, meaning that you can place things inside. If you don't already, place rolled socks, swim suits, or underwear in your shoes to use all the space.

Wear Your Bulkiest Shoes On The Plane

Like I mentioned above, shoes take up a lot of space. To ensure that everything fits in your suitcase, wear your largest shoes on the plane. For example, if you are taking sneakers, boots and sandals, wear your boots on the plane (although they might not be the most convenient for security) and pack your sneakers and sandals because they are more compact.

Bring Only What You Need

This may seem obvious, but overpacking can be an issue. I've seen people bring both a curling iron and a straightener for a 3-day vacation. Instead, just pick one (you can actually curl you hair with a straightener- tutorial here)! Think of ways to minimize your packing- do I really need 3 jackets, or could I make do with 2?, etc.

I hope this was helpful! Happy packing!

xoxo,

Alyssa