35 Things to do Over Winter Break

Hey girls!
So Thanksgiving break is hopefully going smoothly for you... Here's a tip for all those times in the winter from now until new years when it's just so boringgggg. :P :D

- Decorate your room for the holidays
- Make a hot drink
- Fill up water balloons, leave them outside, then cut off the balloon! These are sooo gorgeous: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/571535008932123978/
- Watch a movie
- Make a gingerbread house
- Take Tumblr photos: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/329466528964610176/
- Take a hot shower or bath
- Go shopping
- Create new outfits (by just staring at your closet)
- Sketch while listening to music (I usually have a snack with this too lol)
- Make up a dance routine
- Create a YouTube channel
- Start reading a book series!
- Write a book series :) :)
- Experiment with your hair and/or makeup
- Get on Pinterest or Tumblr
- Start a blog
- Plan a movie night with your friends
- Go to the movies
- Plant a flower inside to grow this winter
- Sleep :P
- Have a video game marathon
- Bake
- Start a scrapbook
- Workout (yeah yeah I know I know...)
- Do your own photoshoot
- Go sledding (if there's snow)
- Two words: Ice skating
- Write a letter to someone
- Window shop online
- Give yourself a mini spa day :)
- Text your friends
- Get on Polyvore :D
- Watch cute gif's: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/525443481499150180/
- If you have an instrument, try writing a song
- Go to Starbucks

Winter Fashion Guide: How to Stay Warm and Fashionable

Hey guys! So I totally thought fall was my favorite season but I think with thanksgiving and things coming up I'm just really getting into a winter mood. :) :D :P. I hope this helps you out!

Tip 1: Fingerless gloves! I have no idea why but fingerless gloves just look so gorgeous and awesome. :) Plus it's easier to zip up jackets or boots or get on your phone without taking off your gloves in the winter.

Tip 2: Wear leggings or tights under your jeans. If it gets super cold where you live but you don't want to show up to school in three layers of sweatpants and a snowsuit, improv by layering!

Tip 3: Wear darker colors. :) Dark shirts, coats, pants etc. attract sunlight, so this is a really easy way to stay warmer.

Tip 4: Scarves and hats! These are superrrrr cute and they keep you warm. Pretty much sells the item, right? Lol. :D

Tip 5: Invest in a stylish but sturdy winter coat. You're going to be wearing this for like the next five months, so why not get a good one while you can? Also try and go for the shaped kind so you don't feel like a fat marshmallow when you go outside. :D :D.

Tip 6: Sweaters and plaid shirts. You pretty much know how this goes.

Tip 7: Boots! Boots are just like hats and scarves: comfortable and super stylish if you wear them right! It doesn't matter if you have just one pair or if you have thirty... Boots are awesomeness. :)

Tip 8: Fluffy socks. Keeps your feet extra warm and they're literally only like two dollars at walmart

Tip 9: Winter nails. This isn't really a way to keep you warm, but cool winter nail art like in the picture is always nice.

Tip 10: Last but not least, skirts and knee socks. If you just really aren't feeling the jeans this winter, there's no reason to be uncomfortable! Just wear any kind of skirt with comfy knee high socks, boots, and a sweater and you're good to go. :)

http://instagram.com/justforteengirls__ click the link to check me out on Instagram!

My Favorite YouTubers!

Hey guys!
I've been watching a lot of tumblr-inspired YouTube girls lately, and I just find them really awesome and of course inspiring :D, so I thought I'd share with you. :)

- nickiandgabi

- mylifeaseva

- alishamarie

- bethanymota

- stilababe

- sierramariemakeup

- fiercelytasha

100 of the Best Words Ever

100 super cool words you probably didn't know (neither did I) lol! :) :) :D

Ailurophile: A cat lover
Assemblage: A gathering
Becoming: Attractive
Beleaguer: To exhaust with attacks
Brood: To think alone
Bucolic: In a lovely rural setting
Bungalow: A small, cozy cottage
Chatoyant: Like a cat's eye
Comely: Attractive
Conflate: To blend together
Cynosure: A focal point of admiration
Dalliance: A brief love affair
Demesne: Dominion
Demure: Shy and reserved
Denouement: The resolution of a mystery
Desuetude: Disuse
Desultory: Slow, sluggish (like me :D)
Diaphanous: Filmy
Dissemble: Deceive
Dulcet: Sweet, sugary
Ebullience: Bubbling, enthusiasm
Effervescent: Bubbly (okay I really love the 'e' ones)
Efflorescence: Flowering, blooming
Elision: Dropping a sound or syllable in a word
Eloquence: Beauty and persuasion of speech
Embrocation: Rubbing on lotion
Emollient: A softener
Ephemeral: Short-lived
Epiphany: A sudden revelation
Erstwhile: At once
Evanescent: Vanishing quickly
Fetching: Pretty
Felicity: Pleasantness
Fugacious: Fleeting
Furtive: Sneaky (also like me)
Gambol: To skip
Glamour: Beauty (me again! joking :)
Gossamer: The finest piece of thread
Halcyon: Happy
Harbinger: Messenger with news of the future
Imbue: Infuse
Incipient: Beginning
Ineffable: Unutterable
Inglenook: A cozy place or nook (hence the name)
Labyrinthine: Twisting and turning
Lagniappe: A special gift
Lagoon: A small inlet
Languor: Listlessness
Lilt: Dancing, basically
Lissome: Slender and graceful
Mellifluous: Sweet sounding
Lithe: Flexible
Moiety: Half
Murmurous: Murmuring
Nemesis: An archenemy
Offing: The sea between the horizon and shore
Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning
Opulent: Lush
Palimpsest: A written manuscript
Panacea: A solution
Panoply: A complete set
Petrichor: The smell of earth after rain
Plethora: A large number
Pyrrhic: Successful with heavy losses (what?)
Quintessential: Essential
Ratatouille: A spicy French stew (you thought of the movie) :)
Redolent: Fragrant
Riparian: By the bank of a stream
Scintilla: A spark
Sempiternal: Eternal
Summery: Light and delicate
Sumptuous: Lush again
Susurrous: Whispering
Talisman: A good luck charm
Vestigial: In triage amounts
Wafture: Waving
Woebegone: Downcast
Wherewithal: The means
And my favorite: Serendipity! (a delightful occurrence)

Haha hope this helped you in a way... Or entertained you for a few minutes. :)

DIY String Lights in Your Bedroom

Hey guys!! I found this string light/christmas light bedroom decoration idea online and thought it was pretty cool... So I decided to share it with you guys. :) :) :D Definitely will be doing this to my room soon!

T Y P E S:
- There are a few different types of string lights; icicle lights (as shown in the picture) that hang down in several different places with one straight cord all the way along. The other ones are just normal and straight, some are colored, and some are in different shapes (or able to put paper decorations on them). If you're hanging them around your bed like the picture, icicle lights are best. :)

I N S T R U C T I O N S :
- To hang them easily without making nail holes, you'll need decorating clips or, if you want, strong double-sided tape (see-through).
- Drape them in several places along and around the place you want them. Make sure the cord is close to an outlet and un-noticeable.
- Click them on and enjoy!! These things are awesome. :) :D

I D E A S :
There are so many different ways to do these!
- Around a picture collage
- At the front post of your bed
- Around wall quotes
- Draped around your desk
- Across the top of your bed (if you have a top frame)
- Around your door

Hope I helped you guys a little. :) I know I will be trying these very soon. :)

http://www.pinterest.com/ilovewriting16/

The Five Step Guide to Amazing Hair

1. W A S H I NG

So I don't know about you, but I usually wash my hair every other night. Your body, sure, every night (put your hair in a bun or something so you don't have to get it wet), but hair, no. If you do it every night you'll eventually start to get build up and dry hair easier, and not really anyone wants that. 

- If you have long hair, do the conditioner first, everywhere but the scalp. Then follow up with shampoo, ONLY on the scalp. (Make sure you don't rinse and repeat, too). :P 

- It's also best to take showers at night when you're washing your hair, so you don't have to use a blow dryer and it has all night to dry. Blow dryers are horrid for your hair. :/

2. S T Y L I N G

You're going to school every day. Every single day except Saturday and Sunday, so why not take advantage of that and do cool stuff with your hair? If you don't like it that much, there's always the next day. And the next... Anyways, here are a few good style ideas:

- Messy buns (classic)

- Curls (it's best to do sponge curls the night before)

- Braids - Fishtail, French, Crown, etc. 

- Loose (you can add a headband, a clip, or just leave it)

- Half up half down

3. E A T I N G

Hair needs plenty of protein, so I suggest eating plenty of fruit (fruit has a lot of protein, yes it does). It helps your skin as well as your hair. :) But if you really revolt to eating fruit; eggs, yogurt, all that. 

4. W A T E R 

Yes, if you're dehydrated, chances are, your hair is too. 

5. H A I R  M A S K S

My favorite hair mask ever: Coconut oil!! Coconut oil is really rich and healthy, leaving your hair that way too. Just cover your whole head of dry hair in coconut oil, wrap it in a warm wet towel for about forty minutes, then wash well. Trust me, when its dry, you'll know it was totally worth it!!

Copy-Cat Pumpkin Spice Latte - Starbucks

Here's the delicious copy cat recipe for one of Starbuck's best fall drinks! You're welcome. :)

For the Pumpkin Syrup:
2 1/2 cups of water
1 tbsp of nutmeg 
1/2 tbsp cinnamon (or three cinnamon sticks)
1 cup of sugar
3 tbsp pumpkin puree
Cheese cloth

For Serving:
1/2 cup espresso or strong coffee
1/2 cup milk (warmed and frothed if drinking hot)
3 tbsp pumpkin syrup (more or less to taste)

For the pumpkin syrup, combine the water and spices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and allow them to simmer for 10-15 minutes. After spices have simmered, strain the mixture through the cheese cloth (you can then pass it through coffee filters for smoother syrup).
Rinse the remaining spices out of the pot. Return the reserved liquid to the pot, and mix in the pumpkin and sugar. 
Bring back to a boil - reduce heat and simmer for another ten minutes.

Store the syrup in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Can be stored for several weeks. For hot coffee, add syrup into mug, pour hot coffee on top - top with steamed / frothed milk. For iced coffee, mix syrup and coffee - add ice, top with cold milk. Enjoy! 

Fall 2014 Closet Must-Haves

Hi everyone,
So here are my recommended 2014 fall closet must-haves, from boots to oversized sweaters. :) :)

~ Lace up boots in any color

~ Distressed boyfriend jeans

~ Sweater cardigans

~ Light brown moccasins

~ Red Keds or Converses

~ Dark skinny jeans

~ Over sized sweaters (as before mentioned) :D

~ Printed leggings

~ Plain long sleeved t-shirts

~ Jean vest and jean jacket

Facts About: Emma Watson

Hi! I LOVE Emma Watson, so I thought I'd do a post with a few cool facts about her. :)

- Full name is Emma Charlotte Duere Watson

- Was born in Paris but raised in England

- Has a younger brother named Alex

- In the Harry Potter movies, she was age 11 up until the Deathly Hallows last part, when she was 20

- Emma has won twelve awards and has been nominated for over thirty (mostly acting or teen choice awards)

- She has done over ten impressive photo shoots

- Height: 5'6 approximately

- When she was not tutored on set, she went to a school for girls in Oxford

- Emma was the youngest artist at the time to ever grace the cover of Teen Vogue in 2005 at age 15

- Loves photography and painting

- She says that she's not good at cooking and that her first dinner party was a disaster!

- Loves the TV show Gossip Girl 

- A few of her favorite music artists are: Regina Spektor, Rihanna, James Blunt, and Damien Rice

- Favorite HP book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban

- Favorite HP character: Hagrid

- Favorite HP scene: Punching Malfoy (girl power) :D

20 Creative Things for When You're Bored

Hey guys! I hope this helps you out a little. :)

1. Do your own photography (see this link: http://www.polyvore.com/even_more_photography_tips_tricks/set?id=124132279)
2. Try out new hairstyles
3. Read or write
4. Try a new makeup look
5. Find some room DIY's on YouTube or Pinterest
6. Listen to music while drawing
7. Create/work on a YouTube channel
8. Start a blog!
9. Do yoga or stretching
10. Experiment in the kitchen
11. Create new outfits by staring at your closet ;)
12. Watch Harry Potter!
13. Organize your closet (http://www.polyvore.com/keeping_your_room_organized/set?id=110148380)
14. Make a movie script for you and your friends to film later
15. Plan something (like a party, sleepover, etc.)
16. Send a chain message or text (don't tell them it's you)
17. Go for a walk
18. Pen pal someone
19. Find an old t-shirt and find cool ways to transform it
20. Create a short song on an instrument

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ambroo/9634684367/">Broo_am (Andy B)</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

HTM: Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Hello everyone!! :D Here is a very easy recipe for a Homemade Peppermint Sugar Scrub.This can be a fun gift idea or just something to whip up for yourself. :)
 
You can use any variety of fragrance that you like: Lavendar, vanilla, lemon, rosemary, orange are all fragrance ideas to consider.
 
Also this batch is colored red just to show how that looks.You can skip the colored mica and your scrub will be white. For lemon and citrus fragrances using the extra coloring is a really nice touch!
 
Ingredients:
 
1 Cup Sugar
½ Cup Coconut Oil
2-3 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 tbsp Vitamin E Oil
Red Mica (Optional- this just gives it an extra shimmer and adds the color)
 
Directions:
 
Spray a container of choice with rubbing alcohol and set aside until dry.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt coconut oil. This should only take a few seconds unless you have your coconut oil stored in a warm place, in which case it is likely already melted.
Add in essential oil, vitamin E oil, and sugar, and stir until well combined.
Separate mixture into two bowls. Using your red mica, color 1 bowl of scrub red.
Spoon your scrub into your jar, alternating between the white and the red.
Store in a covered container at room temperature.
Easy!
 
I normally really like to use this for my hands because they get so dry in the winter.
 
Have fun making your own DIY sugar scrub and have a great day!! :) :) :D

HTM: Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Creamy strawberry cheesecake bars with cookies n’ cream chunks and an Oreo crust!

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 9-12

INGREDIENTS

crust layer

• 16 Oreo cookies
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• ⅓ cup sugar

cheesecake layer

• 1 egg
• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• filling from Oreos
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 small box strawberry creme Jello pudding mix (dry)
• 8 oreos, halved or broken into pieces

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8 inch pan with nonstick foil.
2. To make the crust layer: Pull apart 16 Oreo cookies and scrape off the creme center, put the creme in a bowl and set aside. Place all of the leftover cookies (just the black cookie part) In a blender or food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add sugar and pulse again to mix. Add melted butter and continue to pulse until mixtures comes together. Press crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl whisk egg until light and foamy. Add softened cream cheese, reserved Oreo filling, sugar, vanilla, and strawberry pudding and blend with a hand mixer until mixture is smooth. Spread mixture over Oreo crust. Gently press broken Oreo cookies into the cheesecake layer. Bake 15-20 minutes until cheesecake layer is set. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in airtight container in fridge.

HTM: Your Own Eyeliner

Hello everyone!! Hope the day is going well for you. :D Today i will be showing you how to make your own eyeliner! We all know that makeup can have some harmful chemicals in it, so this is a great way to replace some of that nasty stuff!! And, if you've been looking for some cheap liquid eyeliner, you should definitely give this a try! Lets begin!

* Keep in mind that as with all eye makeup, you should be careful to not try to get any in your eyes. :D This is a non toxic, chemical free eyeliner, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt if you get it in your eyes!

What you will need:

1. 2 teaspoons of coconut oil

2. 4 teaspoons aloe vera gel

3. 1-2 capsules of activated charcoal (for black eyeliner) or 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder for brown. 

4. a small clean airtight container for storing your eyeliner

5. a new, CLEAN eyeliner brush. (you could probably just use a NEW paintbrush if you wanted)

You can get the charcoal at most health food stores, but you can also order it online! :D

How to make it:

All you have to do is thoroughly mix all the ingredients together. then, put your mixture into your clean container for storage. And that's it!!

Easy right? and you will feel so much better without having to put all those chemicals on your face! 

Hope you enjoyed this tip, I will be doing more HTM beauty posts soon! Good luck making your own eyeliner!!

HTD: Ten Cute Hairstyles in Under Ten Minutes

Hi again. :) Here are ten cute hairstyles you can do in ten minutes! Starting with number one...

1. Leaving your bangs out, wrap a headscarf up into a headband, then tuck in the excess hair in the back. 

2.  Using an oversized bun donut, pull your hair into a high ponytail and loosely wrap ends around the donut, resulting in a large ballerina bun. 

3. For a bedhead messy bun, loosely pull hair into a pontail and when securing with a hair tie, don't pull the loop of hair entirely through on the last twist. Then, pull out a few wispy, face-framing pieces at the front. 

4. This five minute side bun works both for running errands and attending weddings (it's the jack-of-all-trades hairstyle), and you can actually do it in five minutes. Put your hair into a low ponytail on the side of your head, then loop hair around the base and tuck ends in with a bobby pin. Simple! 

5. It may take a little work, but the braided rose hairstyle is so worth it. Braid a small section of hair on each side of your head, securing at the center in the back, then create a rose-like piece in the center by pinning hair into place. 

6. Create a French braid on one side of your head, continuing to braid around the back of your head and finishing the look with a large, piece-y bun. 

7. Create a French braid on either side of your head, braiding towards the back, then finish the style with a low bun donut near the nape of your neck.

8. With a small braid on either side of your head, finish the style with a low ponytail, then wrap one piece of hair around the hair tie to disguise the base of the pony. 

9. Using texturizing spray or dry shampoo for gritty texture, put hair up into a messy, voluminous ponytail and pull out a few face-framing pieces at the front. 

10. Tease hair at the root before starting this braid for extra volume, and finish it by tucking and pinning underneath the lengths of your hair. 

Read more: http://beautyhigh.com/cute-hairstyles/#ixzz2xFP5V1eP

HTM: Oreo Peppermint Cookies

Hi guys! I'm going to show you how to make delicious oreo peppermint cookies! Warning: These cookies will disappear as fast as you make them!

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix (15.25 oz.)
1 stick butter, melted (8 Tbsp.)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup Oreo cookie chunks
1 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch pieces
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions:
Combine the cake mix, melted butter, egg, and extracts. Beat until a soft dough forms. Add the cream cheese and beat in gently until combined. Stir in the peppermint crunch pieces and chocolate chips first. Then gently stir in the cookie pieces by hand being careful not to break up the cookie more. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.
Roll the dough into 36 balls. Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Do not over bake. The cookies will be very soft and look undone. Let them sit on the hot cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then gently remove them with a spatula to a piece of wax paper on the counter.
Very gently tap the tops of the cookies with the bottom of the spatula to even out the tops. Let them sit until completely cool. Store in a sealed container. Makes 36 cookies.

Well that's all for now guys! If you plan to make these enjoy and don't eat too many. :) :) :D

DIY: Ombre Journals

Hey guys! So Girls Express is a blog full of crafts, recipes, DIY's, tips, fashion, etc! And my first post is.... How to make super-easy ombre journal covers! This will work great on any paper-blanks, card stock, or just blank hard cover. :) Here are the few simple steps:

1. Create broad scribbles with crayon across the card stock, allowing shades to overlap slightly.

2. Use a baby wipe to blend colors in a circular motion.

3. As you blend colors, apply more color where needed. Repeat until a smooth, blended ombre effect is achieved!