- Thursday, March 03, 2016
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Its getting pretty close to the end of the term and that means exam time is almost here :( Its also crazy to think that in a month the holidays will be here and you won't get to see you besties quite as often. This leaves you with a dilemma, how do you make time for both your friends and your studies? Fortunately, here are 5 easy ways you can get organized and start living the awesome life you deserve :) Lets get to it then!
1. Get a Planner!
Whether that means picking up a colorful notebook from Art Attack or grabbing an extra exercise book from home, having a planner is essential. I like to write down all the things I need to accomplish that week, including the time I want to hang out with friends, on a Saturday afternoon. Try to set an exact date and time, that way it can become a habit and you'll feel uneasy every time you don't do it. Ooooh, a hot cup of tea and some good music makes this a lot easier, and you'll even end up looking forward to it ;)
2. Work Ahead... Don't Wait till Last Minute
This can seem really hard sometimes, but I'm telling you doing this can save you a tonne of stress and time in the end. If you're teacher gives you a syllabus, try to work a few days ahead of it. That way you have more time to ask questions, if you're confused and also if you slack off on a certain day you're not too worried about it. If you're too far into the term and you feel like its too late to do this it isn't. Skip out on your hour of instagram scrolling or that episode of Suits for the next two or three nights and focus on getting ahead! Trust me it'll pay off come exam time.
3. Motivate Yo' Self by Treating Yo' Self
Yaaas! My favorite part of this process! If you want to do better at staying focused you need to motivate yourself. There are two ways I like to do this. Firstly, if I've just spent the afternoon studying, I'll make sure that right after I have something tasty to eat (I'm currently obsessed with bananas, honey and toast...healthy and so yummy!) You can also make sure you time you're studies so that maybe 30 minutes after you're done you can watch your favorite T.V. show (try not to have it right after so you don't feel rushed.) Secondly, at the end of the week try to plan a get together with your friends. This will give you something to look forward to on the weekends and you'll have a way to celebrate reaching your weekly goals. Coffee dates, youth group and wandering around the flea market are relaxing options for things to do on the weekends. If you're looking for something more exciting pass by a rugby game or planning a hike at Dombos :)
4. Learn From Your Mistakes
This is so important when you're trying to do well in an exam. If you didn't do well in a particular section on a test, don't just shrug it off, dedicate an entire night to it! Concepts don't disappear, they usually build on each other so make sure you don't sweep anything under the rug. If you have a friend that's really good in a subject that you're weak in ask them to explain it to you after lunch. If none of your friends understand or explain it well enough, go to your teacher and let them know you're lost. It probably won't seem super important at the time but you'll have a better understanding of the subject in no time
5. Get Involved in After School Activities
Finally, something I've noticed is that the busier I am the more driven I become. Try to join a sports team or school club, if you can't do that get involved in your local church. Being part of a team will improve your character and also improve your social skills ;) Keep yourself moving but make sure not to over do it. Everything in moderation, don't work yourself too much, you also need some time to rest.
I really hope these tips help you! Let us know if you'd like more tips like this and we'll get on it :) Good luck!
xoxo
Marly
- Monday, February 29, 2016
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So its 39 plus degrees out here and I am as
fluey as a koala bear…. I know that is not a real simile English majors, but
hey, I have to bear annoying headaches, sneeze fests and a stuffed nasal
passage so I think I get a ‘get out of jail free card’ for that one. If you’re
in the same boat as me, here are a few tips on how not to let the mean green
bug get the better of you:
1 1. O.J by the dozens. Load up on
that orange juice, whether it’s freshly squeezed (if you have the energy) or
store bought, pump some Vitamin C into your system.
2 2. Lemon and honey tea…. Yum! Bring
out that huge mug, put the kettle on and ‘let’s have some tea, shall we?’
(Insert British Accent)
3
3. Old movies. Trust me, the big
hair and dramatic dialogues will either distract you from the pain of the cold,
or send you right to sleep….either way, tune into TCM and it will do wonders to
the soul.
4 Take down your trusty little
ole blankie and cocoon yourself with
it. Staying warm is very essential
4. Finally, take a little time to curl up on
the couch, put together all the above tips and enjoy a speedy ride to recovery!
Love always
Noni
- Thursday, February 25, 2016
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Last year was a pretty crazy year for me. I went through a lot of changes and said way too many goodbyes. Relationships mean the world to me, so I try to make them as deep and concentrated as I possibly can (this is one of the reasons I hate texting people. Its so hard to connect with someone when you can't look into their eyes or squeeze their hand, ugh!) Anyway, when I feel like I'm losing touch with a friend, my heart feels like its being torn apart. Last year it felt like it was ripped to shreds. I remember listening to a mix CD that one of my friends had made me as a goodbye present and crying my eyes out because I felt so sad. Leaving people you care about can be a tough thing! (*before I go on, if any of you are going through something similar, it gets better and you end up with a warm everglow of gratefulness for the friendships you had :))
For some reason, during times of turmoil I tend to become extremely introspective and reflect on some of life's greater themes (I hope I'm not alone in this.) The August winds carried along with them thoughts of my existence and purpose. One of my goals in life is to provide people in under served communities access to world class health care and treatments. You're probably thinking, woah Marly, that's pretty noble! Well, the fact that I can think about your response and feel better about myself, immediately counteracts that and makes me question my motives. Is my internal compass actually just a feel good tank, leading towards whatever can fill it up? Why do I feel like this is something I'm supposed to do? I'm not entirely sure. Some part of me recognizes that I'm selfish and that I enjoy being affirmed, but I don't think that's the true reason, at least I hope its not. I remember sitting on my bed, thinking, even if I go on to complete my goal, will it be enough to satisfy me? Why do people go into business or art or ministry? Is it just because they are good at it? Is that enough of a reason to spend your life on something? The questions are endless, "a chasing after the wind."
St. Augustine writes "Our hearts are restless, until they find rest in you." Our purpose (I think) is outside of our current disposition. C.S Lewis writes "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.' Yes, I think thats part of it! There is something within me that knows that it is not enough for me to do good, maybe have a family and develop a career. I yearn for something intangible, something I cannot see. Although this is true... what then am I doing here on earth then? An answer that gave me some sort of peace was brought up in Westminster a really long time ago. A group of "divines" got together and wrote what we know today as the Catechism. In this they all agree that man's chief end (purpose) is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever." I think that a lot of the stuff we have in our hearts is stuff that was put there by God for His glory. The Bible even talks about us eating and drinking for His glory. What does that look like? Biting into a cheesy slice of pizza and thanking God for the ability to taste such goodness (#blessed). For me maybe that means trusting that my own desire to be glorified would be overshadowed by my need to glorify Him. Also choosing to do something I enjoy so that my appreciation is genuine and not out of obligation.
Aaah! I'm still trying to figure things out. My thoughts are based so much on my own circumstances and experiences, so they are definitely tainted and flawed. If you're trying to figure out your purpose, I would recommend you look for something that you thoroughly enjoy and check if it glorifies God too. Also know that you aren't the only one who hasn't figured it out. I'm still trying to get a clearer picture too.Oh and one last thing, my own version of the Catechism would mention love. The Bible says in Romans that he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Loving the people around you can lead you smack into the place you're supposed to be, that's how I ended up here ;) "...and these three things remain faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love."
xoxo
Love Always,
Marly <3
- Tuesday, February 23, 2016
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- Saturday, February 20, 2016
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It's the weekend!!! If you are from gateway and took a raffle ticket with the number 7, 32 or 218 you WON!!! email us at wearepurplelipstick.blogspot.com or message us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know! Thank you Gateway for such an amazing time, we'll be seeing you soon <3🎉If you're from gateway and took a raffle ticket that has the number 7, 32 or 218 you WON!!! Message us to claim your prize smile emoticonLove Always 💜
- Friday, February 19, 2016
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Hey Gateway! Thanks for passing by the blog :)
We're giving away a gift bag and airtime to 3 people! We'll be back at your school next week to give the winners their prizes! We've selected 3 random numbers that we will announce on the Blog, Facebook page and Instagram on Friday. To be eligible to win the prizes, you must have liked our Facebook page, Purple Lipstick (if you can't find it, type in Purple Lipstick Harare). If you don't have a Facebook, comment down below with your name or DM us on Instagram (@wearepurplelipstick).
When the numbers are announced if you have the winning ticket inbox us or comment here letting us know :)
Thanks for hanging out with us girls! Your photo booth pictures will be up in a bit, tag yourself and your friends or share them onto your page ;)
Love Always,
-The PL Team
- Tuesday, February 16, 2016
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