STATIONERY HAUL (VIDEO)

Hello beautiful humans!  Long time no see.

I just published a new video where I review a bunch of stationery supplies.  Most of them are brush lettering pens, so definitely check it out if you're interested in brush lettering or bullet journaling.

Love,

Tori

MENTAL ILLNESS ISN'T AN AESTHETIC (VIDEO)

 Hello lovely humans!

After taking a quick YouTube break, I'm back with a video on a topic that is not covered enough:  clothing brands selling items that romanticize and/or exploit mental illnesses and those who have them.

Hope you enjoy.

Love,

Tori

AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE LIGHT ACADEMIA (VIDEO)

 Hello everyone!

In this week's video, I'm tackling a subject that has garnered its fair share of controversy over the past few months:  Pinterest aesthetics.  Specifically, I'm covering the Light Academia aesthetic, its limitations, and its toxic exclusivity.

In the video, I also give a spotlight to some women who do not fit the stereotypical "look" for this aesthetic.  Please give them some support and love!

Love,
Tori

ZOOM UNI AS A PRE-VET STUDENT (VIDEO)

 Hello, hello!

Today I'm back with a video that shows the reality of navigating a virtual semester as a pre-vet, STEM major college student.

I also touch upon the classes that I'm taking this semester and some of my notetaking methods.

Hope you enjoy!

Love,
Tori

A GIANT BOOK HAUL (VIDEO)

 Hello lovely humans!

Today I'm back with another video.  This week's is a run-through of the (many) books that I've purchased since Christmas.

Hopefully, you'll be able to find some good recommendations in the video!

Love,

Tori

FAILING A BOB ROSS TUTORIAL (VIDEO)

 Hello lovely humans!

Today I'm back with another YouTube video.  In this one, I attempt to follow a Bob Ross painting tutorial using colored pencils--and the results are...interesting, to say the least.

Let me know what you think!

Love,
Tori

MAKING RESILIENT RESOLUTIONS (VIDEO)

Hello beautiful humans!

Today I'm trying out something that I've been curious about for a long time:  YouTube!

After months of debating with myself, I finally took the plunge and started a YouTube channel.  I can't promise that I'll be incredibly active because of my college workload, but I'm excited to start exploring this platform!  I've also decided to start using Instagram again so I can engage more with people.

Today's video is about creating New Year's resolutions that can allow you to become more resilient during 2021.

SEPTEMBER BULLET JOURNAL SPREAD

Hello lovely reader!  I'm floored by how quickly August has passed by.

I start my junior year of college on the last day of the month, and as that day approaches, I've been utilizing my bullet journal more regularly.  Click here to learn more about my first spread and the Bullet Journal method.

For September's spread, I was inspired by one of my favorite paintings, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.  An interesting fact about this painting is that van Gogh created it in his imagination rather than recreating real scenery as he typically did.  Also, one of my favorite YouTube channels created a video about the artist's life and the conspiracy theories surrounding his death;  please check it out if you're interested in learning more about him.

Supplies Used

Hard Cover Bullet Journal in "Sky Blue"
Hard-Tip Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (used for all black lettering)
Teal and Golden Yellow Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Painting Stickers
Yellow Washi Tape

I printed out pictures of The Starry Night and related color palettes to incorporate on most of the pages.

WHAT WE SHOULD TEACH IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS

I'm grateful to be an American, and I have a deep appreciation for this country--but I know that it must change.  For this country to make its own ideals come to fruition, it must undergo drastic, groundbreaking change.

Change often starts with young people.  We have our lives ahead of us and dreams in our heads.  Many of us set out to "make the world a better place."  For better or for worse, we can be quite open to change.

However, we can't make changes if we never learn why they need to be made in the first place.  How can a teenager address the stigmatization of mental health if she never learns about that stigma and how harmful it can be?  How can a student protest against harmful racial stereotypes present in media if he doesn't ever learn that they exist?

I believe that these are the types of issues that American students should learn about in school.  Rather than forcing our educators to "teach to the test,"  we should allow them to focus on topics that will enable American students to become more empathetic, open-minded, and informed.  We should give them the tools to become individuals who are willing to enact great change.

MY SKINCARE ROUTINE

An interest I've developed during quarantine is learning about skincare routines and regiments.  I definitely attribute this to my obsession with Skincare by Hyram's YouTube channel, but that's another story.

Partially because I've rarely worn makeup over the past five months, and even more so because I've created a stricter skincare routine, my skin has vastly improved.  I wanted to share my routine with you so that you can try out anything that might be beneficial to you.  Keep in mind that you aren't required to have an extensive skincare routine and/or expensive products in order to have healthy skin.

The above photo is completely unedited.  I'd say that this is the best that my skin has looked in years!

A quick note before we dive in:  my skin is quite sensitive, so I have to be careful about the skincare products that I use.  It also dries out very easily, so I try my best to utilize gentler products, especially in regards to acne treatment.

AUGUST BULLET JOURNAL SPREAD

Hello, hello!  I hope you're staying safe and healthy, both mentally and physically.

Today's post is about one of my newfound loves, bullet journaling.  After years of struggling to find planners with layouts that I liked, I decided that the best alternative would be making my own planner.  I will say that I was a little intimidated by the bullet journal inspiration that I found online--some people turn their journals into literal works of art, but I can barely draw a tree on a good day.

However, the creator of the original Bullet Journal, Ryder Carroll, intended bullet journaling to be a way for people to practice mindfulness through intentional organization.  In other words, if my journal promotes productivity and intentional living, it's perfect--even without the flawless calligraphy and art pieces.

Without further ado, I'll take you through my August spread.  The theme is inspirational quotes, as I start my third year of college at the end of the month, and I want to encourage myself to have an optimistic mindset.

Supplies Used
Hard Cover Bullet Journal in "Sky Blue"
Hard-Tip Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (used for all black lettering)
Pastel Purple Tombow Dual Brush Pen
Gold Foil Washi Tape
Black and White Grid Washi Tape

The quote above is actually a Pinterest image that I printed and pasted on the page.

YESSTYLE REVIEW

Before I delve into this post, I urge you to read my "Black Lives Matter" post if you haven't already.  It lists a number of organizations and petitions that support racial equality and condemn race-based violence.  It also contains resources that you can utilize to support more black-owned businesses, black authors, and black creators.  Additionally, I urge you to sign the "Free Rojai Fentress" petition, which is attempting to free Mr. Fentress from wrongful imprisonment.  He is currently being represented by the UVA School of Law.
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Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with YesStyle, it's a Korean site that sells women's, men's, and children's clothing in addition to stationery, jewelry, home decorations, makeup, beauty products, and so much more.  I am so happy that I discovered this website about a year ago because it has made clothes shopping so much easier for me.

As someone who is more petite, finding stylish clothing that also fits well has always been very challenging for me.  However, I've been very lucky with Asian clothing brands because they often design their clothes to suit more petite frames.

If you're interested in shopping on YesStyle, I have a few general tips to remember.  First, although Asian clothing sizes tend to run smaller than American clothing sizes, you don't have to be extremely small and/or skinny to wear (and look good in) the clothes on the website.  It's simply a matter of looking at sizing charts and reading reviews.

Speaking of reviews, always read the reviews!  I'm not suggesting that you should never buy an item that has no reviews, but sometimes the realities of the clothes on YesStyle don't always match the expectations set by their photos.

Finally, not all of the clothing items are in stock.  When you click on an item, it should say how many days it will take for the item to ship out, ranging from one day to fourteen days.  Your order will not ship out until every single item is ready to ship out, so if you order just one item that isn't in stock, it may significantly increase the amount of time it takes for your order to be shipped.

Let's get on to the review!  Now is a good time to mention that this post is not sponsored by YesStyle, and all of my ratings of the items are my honest opinions.

Here are my measurements for reference:
Bust - 34 in (87 cm)
Waist - 24 in (61 cm)
Hips - 36 in (92 cm)
Height - 64 in (163 cm)

Top - Bottoms - Shoes

Ruffled Camisole - Light Pink, One Size

Summary:  Soft but thin material.  Nice pale pink color.  Not too cropped (hits just above my belly button).  Overall fit is good.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

In light of the tragic killing of George Floyd, I've been doing some research on how to show solidarity to activists and organizations who are peacefully protesting racial injustice.  For far too long, I've stayed silent about these types of issues on the blog and on my personal social media accounts for fear of "offending someone" or being "too political."  Unfortunately, it has taken me this long to realize that staying silent is just as bad as voicing racist or discriminatory opinions.

If a positive outcome can be gleaned from this event, I hope that it is the awakening of the same realization in others like me, who were too anxious and afraid to speak up before.

Without further ado, here are some of the resources that I've found:

Image via Morgan Harper Nichols's Pinterest

Nonprofits and Organizations Accepting Donations
1. Black Lives Matter

2. American Civil Liberties Union

MY FAVORITE NONPROFITS

"Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being's suffering.  Not a career.  Not wealth.  Not intelligence.  Certainly not status.  We have to feel for one another if we're going to survive with dignity." -- Audrey Hepburn

We're all facing difficulties in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic;  however, some groups of individuals are experiencing these difficulties more profoundly.  In fact, these individuals typically experience hardships more profoundly than the rest of the general population, and the pandemic has only made matters worse for them.

I usually have a goal that I want to accomplish when I publish a post, and my goal for this one is simple:  to inspire you, reader, to have some empathy for the individuals who are struggling now, who are always struggling.

Each of the nonprofit organizations listed below has a mission to help those who need help the most.  Most of them have a 4-star rating (the highest rating) on Charity Navigator, so you can rest assured that these organizations are not relying upon lofty words alone.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF FREE TIME

Long time, no see!  So much has changed in the world since I last posted--most notably, COVID-19 has spiraled into a pandemic that has impacted all of us in one way or another.

Before I delve into this post, I want to say thank you to the healthcare workers, researchers, policy makers, restaurant workers, store workers, delivery workers, and many others who are on the front lines, tirelessly working to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to help others in need of medical care, food, and supplies.  You are truly what has kept the world functioning to this point, and I am so grateful for your bravery and compassion.

To all those who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19:  to those who know people suffering from the disease or who are suffering themselves, to those who are struggling financially, to those whose mental health has been shaken:  I am so sorry.  Please don't feel guilty for feeling sad, or lonely, or hopeless;  your feelings are valid.  Please, remember that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can't see it yet.

With that being said, many people have found themselves with newfound free time, and sometimes it can be difficult to know what to do with it.  It's tempting to sit and dwell on the state of the world for hours, but that typically doesn't do wonders for your mental health.  Here are some alternatives:

1. Read a book:  an old favorite, one that you never quite finished, a new e-book, etc.

2. Make a list of charities that you want to donate to.  Do your research!

2019 IN PHOTOS

What a year.  2019 seemed so long yet so fleeting.  It's fascinating to think about where I was at the beginning of the year and the beginning of the decade.  I was still in elementary school then--mindblowing!

I wanted to wrap up this year in a creative way, and I was inspired by a few of my favorite bloggers to create a "year in photos" post.  I hope you enjoy this peek into my hectic (as always) year.

JANUARY

During the first month of 2019, I started taking walks on the weekends.  It doesn't sound like much, but at the time, I was struggling with homesickness and negative thoughts.  The simple act of being outside in the fresh air, watching the beautiful sunrise and sharing little moments of camaraderie with other walkers, really improved my attitude.

COLLEGE STUDY TIPS

August is quickly approaching, and the beginning of the fall semester is following closely behind.  I know that many people are going to be starting college for the first time, so I wanted to round up a list of my favorite tricks for studying and doing well in college classes.

Since college classes typically require your study routine to be highly disciplined, I've had to slightly modify my studying habits from high school in order to stay on top of the material.  These tips are the result of that modification.  Without further ado:

1. Read your required materials before class.  Even if you just take five minutes to skim over the main ideas of a reading excerpt, you'll be more knowledgeable than if you do nothing.

SNAPSHOTS FROM NYC

I've always wanted to visit New York City, especially as an American citizen;  so much of the country's history is housed in the streets and waterways of that island.  I am extremely blessed to have an aunt and uncle who were willing to take me to see all of the sights there for a few days.

I think that the city has countless opportunities to see and experience new things, but it's too fast-paced for my liking.  Too many people, too much traffic, too much smoke:  it was a total sensory overload for someone like me.  That being said, it was an incredible place to visit, and I would gladly go back to see another Broadway production.

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

I've always been fairly open about myself and my life on the blog, but as I've matured and my blogging has become more sporadic, I've realized that there are some facts that have yet to surface.  Because some of these details constitute large parts of my personality and my interests, I thought that now would be as good a time as any to write about them.

1. I really enjoy listening to K-pop.  It all started about two years ago when I watched an interview with the K-pop group BTS (yes, that BTS), and as I learned more about the members and their music, I became hooked.  I wouldn't consider myself a connoisseur of K-pop by any means, but I particularly like listening to BTS, Blackpink, Red Velvet, Twice, and Got7.  I would love to know any recommendations that you have!

A COLLEGE DAY IN MY LIFE: FRESHMAN YEAR

Hello everyone!  My first year of college is coming to an end (I'm heading home in less than a week!), so this post is a bit late, but I want to share it while I still can.

If you're curious about what a pre-veterinary student's typical college day looks like, you've come to the right place!  This is a brief description of a pretty busy Thursday in my life.  Please enjoy!

6:00 AM - Rise and shine!  Get ready, eat breakfast, and watch some mindless YouTube.

8:00 AM - Leave for my first class of the day.