How to: Be Happier

We all have those moments in our lives where we think that nothing is going right and it won't get better and we'll be sad forever don't we. I've had my fair share of them, but I'm still smiling and happy with my life :) Here are some of the ways that I stay happy, even when I've had a rough time.


1. Surround yourself with people who build you up not tear you down
I've been lucky enough to be blessed with friends who accept me for who I am and make me feel like I can take on the world. I can say that surrounding myself with those people has made my school experience and what I've lived so far, so enjoyable. If you have friends who pressure you to do things that you don't want to do, or if they make you feel unimportant and worthless, then trust me... they're not worth your time. Everyone deserves to be loved, so make sure you're around people who love you.

2. Be optimistic
Now, I'm not going to lie and say that I'm an optimist all the time because I'm not, but I'm neither an optimist or a pessimist... I'm a realist (curse that Iggy Azalea song). But when it comes to situations where I doubt my abilities or I doubt that things will get better, I like to be optimistic about what will happen in the future. It's like that saying 'fake it 'til you make it'- if you think that things will get better, then you'll begin to believe it after a while. There's nothing more triumphant than proving yourself wrong, and thinking positively.

3. Listen to happy music
This is one of the best ways I stay happy. I like to listen to songs that make me want to jump around and dance and sing around the house with my friends, family and even my dogs. If you listen to happy songs then it boosts your mood. Proven fact.... (I think :P) Here are a few that I love:
- "Gotta Keep Smiling" by Scouting for Girls
- "Upside Down" by Tori Kelly
- "Keep Your Head Up" by Andy Grammer
- "She's So Lovely" by Scouting for Girls
- "Dreaming" by Smallpools

4. Doing what you love
Personally, I love playing tennis and spending time with friends, so that's what I do to stay happy. Doing what you love to do instead of what you hate doing will completely change your mood and make you a happier person. If a job you have makes you sad or you absolutely hate it, then find another job that you'll like better.

5. Forget what others think and just do you
I still struggle with this sometimes, as everyone does, but lately I've been a lot less concerned with what others think of me and I've just been doing what I love and not caring what others think of me. Social media has literally poisoned our minds thinking that we need to look a certain way, and act a certain way in front of people to be loved. But honestly, that is a complete lie. Have you ever noticed that you are so much happier when you let loose and forget who's watching? I have. I used to be so caught up in the lives of others that I neglected myself, and believed that I needed to be a certain way to be loved. But since then I've looked up and seen that I have friends who love me for me and they might not be there if I didn't be myself. Just do you boo (lol I felt so silly writing that but it't true!)

Those are just a few of many ways that you can be happier you. They've helped me so hopefully they'll help you too! :)

-Tianah xo

John Green's books give me life...

Hello!

I wanted to take the time to confess my love for John Green's writing... A little strange, but until you read just one of his book, you will not understand :P

Lets take a trip into my past...
Last year some time I was in PCG (home room) at school and my friend Emily told me that she was reading this amazing book called 'The Fault in Our Stars' by this guy, John Green. I thought, eh this isn't a book I'd enjoy since I tend to read books about dystopian worlds were the characters lives are at risk from some fiction event. But I decided that it might be nice to read something different for a change, so I bought the book and began to read. I personally don't read too fast, maybe a book in 2 weeks if I like it; but this book I read in just one week. It was incredible and amazing, and I was left wanting more.

So what else could I do to satisfy this 'want' of mine, than to read another of John Green's books... or should I say masterpieces?

I read 'Paper Towns.'.. In 3 days... It was so good!! The tale of a boy pining for a girl who has disappeared mysteriously, leaving clues for him to find her. How could someone not be intrigued by this, 'cause I certainly was! I even convinced my little sister to read it and she loved it just as much :D

Next was 'Looking For Alaska', which again, was MAGICAL! Learning the life of an average teenage boy at a new boarding school, where he meets a cool bunch of friends who include him. Then each of them destroyed emotionally when tragedy strikes, and they learn to cope with what's happened and learn life lessons. This book was so emotional and I loved it! One quote that stuck with me from 'Looking For Alaska' was "If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane" which is so powerful and shows the power of love.

Anyway, the point of this post was to bring to your attention the brilliance of John Green and his books. If you haven't read them, read them. If you have read them, read them again. They're too good to not be read.

JOHN GREEN'S BOOKS GIVE ME LIFE :)

- Tianah xo

Cute DIY Wall Decor

Hello!

A few months ago I was feeling really unsatisfied with my bedroom. There was nothing on the wall. Now, I had this giant blank wall and I thought for ages and ages on what to do with it. I'm the type of person who needs things to look good for me to be happy with it, so I couldn't just put anything up there. So I searched endlessly on Pinterest (follow me ;) @tianahbanana97 ) for inspiration on what I should do and I ended up really liking the idea of having a photo wall where I could swap and change the pictures I had up.
So I decided to make a post about how I did it and how I like it :)

What you'll need:
- a bunch of twine
- 6 or so command hooks or nails (I would recommend nails if you can use them, otherwise the second smallest clear command hooks)
- miniture pegs
- a whole lot of printed photos

Now what you need to do!

1. To start with, decide how many strings of photos you want or will fit. Then depending on that number, measure out on your wall how far apart the hooks need to be and mark it. I made mine around 34cm between each of my three strings.
2. Next you'll want to attach your command hooks according to the instructions of the packet so the hook is facing away from where the twine will be. Like so.

Step 3

If you are using nails, then just drill the nail into the wall, and ignore the first part of the next step.
Leave it for at least an hour before you continue to the next step. I was impatient and didn't wait, so one of my strings fell down on me which wasn't fun, so I really recommend waiting :P
3. After the hour has passed, you can unravel some twine and make a small loop at the end of it and tighten it around the hook. Then carry the twine to the hook on the other side and adjust the length of it to your liking. I draped mine a bit so it would have a more tumblr-y feel to it. Also take into account that the photos that you put on it will make it droop lower that it is without the photos.






4. Next you just want to get your photos and start pegging them up randomly on the strings.
And your done!

A really easy way of personalising your wall without having to make commitments :)

- Tianah xo

The Giants (13/02 - 15/02)

Hey!

This post is a little different from my other ones, but then again, I don't want my blog content to be set in stone, so here is a little post about the cultural phenomenon that swept through Perth city from Friday 13th of March until the 15th of March.

The story behind The Giants is complex and I cannot explain the whole story, so I will link a website where you can read the entire story in detail.
https://2015.perthfestival.com.au/Whats-on-by-Genre/The-Giants/Story

It was amazing to see the The Little Girl Giant and the Giant Diver. They are simply incredible and are a story of Western Australia's Aboriginal culture being recognised in the modern society.

Hundreds of thousands of people came to see the Giants over the three days, so there was simply too many people to get a great look, but I managed to captured these shots.

The Little Girl Giant sitting on the Giant Diver's lap

The Little Girl Giant dancing

The Giant Diver getting his helmet on

The Giant Diver beginning his journey around Langley Park

Berry breakfast smoothie!

Hello!

Lately I've been trying to eat healthier and excersise more often to get fit for summer (only 1 month to go!) so I've been making smoothies in the morning. It's surprisingly filling and it tastes so good! Berries are great sources of antioxidants which can improve your health, hair and skin, as well as preventing specific diseases.

So here's the recipe! 

Ingredients:

- a handful of frozen raspberries and blackberries

- a small bunch of frozen blueberries

- 5 or so fresh strawberries

- tropical juice 

Method:

1. First, wash your strawberries, take the leafy part off and halve them.

2. Next, throw your strawberries, blueberries and raspberries into a blender. 

(I got this small one for $39 at Target which is designed so you can drink it straight from the blending cup, so it't great!)

3. Then just fill up your blender with enough tropical juice that it covers three quarters of your berries - this gives a nice consistency that isn't too thick or thin.

4. Now just blend it up and your all g!

If the raspberries and blueberries that you're using aren't frozen, you can just add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of ice, depending on how you like your smoothies. 

Also, you can add any greens like kale, spinach etc, or bananas (I found that it really overpowered the berries when I added banana, so I took it out) or anything really, this recipe is very customisable so if you don't like something in this recipe, then you can easily switch it out with other fruits or vegetables. 

Hope this helped you!

Goodbye and goodluck!

- Tianah xo

Subtle lips

Hello there!

If your anything like me then you don't like wearing bold colours on your lips, either because they're too coloured for your liking or you can't be bothered lining your lips to make it actually look good haha.

I like to wear the soft pinks, soft reds and if I'm feeling a bit more adventuress then I'll wear a deeper colour, but that's only on occasions. 

I'd like to share a few of my favourite tinted lip balms and lipstains, all of which I love wearing on an everyday basis or if I'm out on a casual date with my friends.

1. 'Baby Lips Colour' in Cherry Kiss.

This is a very subtle red-ish pink shade which looks lovely if your going for a bit of a classic look without going all out. It's very soft and goes on very nicely.

2. 'Cover Girl Smoochies' in 225.

I love this lip balm! It's super smooth and soft, and it gives a really nice pink glow to your lips. It's sort of a YLBB (your lips but better) shade where it will look nice on any skin tone.

3. 'Maybelline New York's Colour Sensations' in 05- In the Buff.

This is one of the lipstains I own and it is pretty good. It doesn't act as a lipstain as much as I think it should but it gives off a very nice colour that makes me forgive it's lack of stain. It's of good quality for the price - around $3.99 from Red Dot - so I really can't complain.

4. 'NYX Butter Gloss' in Cremé Brûlée.

NYX is very well known for its good quality for its price, and this gloss doesn't disappoint. It's got a very creamy consistency and goes on nice and smooth. The colour is amazing and is great for casual days or can look nice for more dressy occasions. 

5. 'Maybelline New York's Colour Sensations' in 65- Cranberry Crush.

As the name suggests, this is a very rich and berry coloured lipstain. This one, unlike the previous one, has a very long lasting stain and has a great colour payoff. It's not as subtle as the other products I've shown but this one is great I think for autumn where the rich, dark lip colours come into trend.

So that's all for this post. I hope this was helpful to you in some way or another, goodbye! 

- Tianah xo 

Ultimate Road Trip Songs 2014

Hey! 

As a teenage girl 2 months from finishing high school (too excited!!) I'm planning to travel to a lot more places with my friends and family. And I don't know about you, but everytime I go on a road trip somewhere or even a holiday by plane, I want to create a playlist that will remind me of that trip; so I start looking around for songs that will reflect my excitement! 

I am always stuck last minute before leaving trying to download all my favourite songs so I can listen to them either on the journey or while I'm there. So I decided to create this playlist of my ultimate road trip songs for 2014 that maybe you will find useful for your own travels! 

1. PARTY IN THE USA- Miley Cyrus

I don't know about you, but for me this song just screams road trip! Even though I live in Australia and this song is what... like 3 or 4 years old now, there's something about it that makes me want to sing it loud and proud with my friends ;) 

2. UGLY HEART- GRL 

This song is relatively new and super popular! It's got a great beat and gives you that feeling that makes you want to dance haha... That may not be the greatest thing if your the driver, but if your a passenger then dance all you like! I won't judge you :P

3. REALLY DONT CARE- Demi Lovato

Such an upbeat song, that makes you wanna let loose and just forget about all the negatives in life. Listening to this song in the car is great because, again, no one can hear you belting it out haha.

4. SHAKE IT OFF- Taylor Swift

Another new song, this one from one of my favourite artists. I absolutely love this song! It's got such a good message without being sad or slow. You can dance to it, even if your as bad as Taylor makes herself out to be in the video, because if someone sees you through the window being silly, JUST SHAKE IT OFF!

5. IM READY- AJR

I've already listened to this on a road trip and it had everyone in the car singing and being silly, making the memories that you never want to forget! Such a good road trip song!

6. ALL ABOUT THAT BASE- Meghan Trainer

Lastly on this list, one of the most popular songs of 2014! Wanna get everyone in the car singing along with sassy fingers and awkward seat dancing, then this is the perfect song! 

Well that's all of my songs for my ultimate road trip songs! These are just a few of what I consider the best, so feel free to give me some song recommendations because I'm up to listen to new music! 

- Tianah xo

Organise!

Hello!
I'd like to think of myself as quite an organised person...sorta... But over the last year ive tried my hardest to become more organised so i dont feel so overwhelmed with things to do, and we all know how horrible that feeling is! I've started doing things here and there to keep things in order and get my thoughts straight, so im going to share them!

Sticky Notes
Now this is probably one of my favourite tips I've got. My friends know that I'm obsessed with sticky notes/post it notes, as I carry around 2 packs with me in my pencil case at school! I find it so much easier to remember things if I have them right in front of my face, ie. on sticky notes!
I have a 2 door floor-to-ceiling mirror in my room which I like to use to stick reminders of what I have to do, and also sometimes quotes to keep me motivated to do those things. I find it really effective and has definitely helped me stay organised over the school year.


To Do Lists
If you can't tell, I'm a visual person! Writing out lists for things is how I keep calm about situations, and wrap my head around everything I have to do. For example, whenever I go on a holiday I write out a list of what I need to bring and how many of each. Another example is with my homework over the weekend. I obviously want to be able to have time to relax after a hard week of learning, so writing what I need to do gives me an idea about how much time I have to relax.
I got given this super cute and handy to-do list from my sister for my birthday and it's from Kikki.K, and it's so useful because it lets you write down your priorities and what you must do, but also has a place to write how you're going to treat yourself. Genius!

The Night Before
Now this tip is great for those in school or uni, but also for if you're just going somewhere the next day. Every school night I pack my bag for the next day with all my books and pencil case inside. This lessens the panic in the morning when I realise that I've overslept and I need to leave in 20 minutes. When that does happen I know that I only need to get dressed, pack my lunch (which would make the rush even less but I don't like it when my lunch is all cold so I make it in the morning), clean my teeth and get out the door.

Get a Pet
Okay now this is kind of a strange one but I swear it helps! Buy or adopt a pet, even if it's simply a fish. By now having something to look after and care for you are going to feel more organised because you have to clean out its bowl or tank and feed it (if its a fish). I bought a Siamese Fighting fish and named it Gus (TFIOS reference there!) and I know I have to leave time to do all the things to keep him alive, so it's taught me that I have to be organised to keep him alive.

So that's a few of the things I do/have done to organise myself and my thoughts better! Until next time!

- Tianah xo

Perth City Sunset

Hi guys! 

I'm no professional photographer obviously but I wanted to get some of the photos I've taken out there so I thought I'd post them on my blog! 

These were taken at sunset on June 14 2014, on the shore of the Swan River in South Perth, WA. 

I'd love some feedback so feel free to comment :) 

- Tianah xo

Ally Beanie

Hi guys! 

It's officially winter here in Australia and that means it's beanie time!! I was shopping yesterday and I went into an Ally store because my sister was trying to find jeans. As I wondering around waiting for her to finish I walked up to the counter and sitting there was the most amazing beanie I have ever seen in my life... And before I knew it it was mine. :)

It's a pinky-purpley-browny colour with a white pom-pom on the top, in a sort of fishtail pattern. It just looks very flattering on and is very warm and cosy for the cold winter months (and even the summer if you love it that much hehe). I already know that this is going to be a regular item in my winter wardrobe, since I wore it until 9 o'clock last night! I think the colour would also look very nice on every skin tone which is a plus. 

Well this was a rather short and random post but if you want to purchase the beanie because I was  very convincing (hehe let me know if I was :P), you can get it at Ally Fashion for $9.99 (AUD) :) 

I guess that's all for now! I hope you found this helpful :) 

- Tianah xo

Fuji Film Instax Mini 8 - review

Hi guys! 

Ok, I recently (January... But anyway :P) got a Fuji Film Instax Mini 8 for my birthday! Before asking for it I wanted to look on the internet for some reviews about it, but I didn't really find any which was disappointing. But I decided that I would take the plunge and just ask for it. Fortunately my parents bought it for me, so I was super excited to start using it! 

Now there are 5 different exposure settings that you can choose from: indoor, cloudy, sunny, really sunny and high key. When you turn it on there will be an orange light that will choose the setting that will be most suited to where you are and the weather. So you just turn the dial and stop when the little hole stops on the lit up setting. 

There is no way to turn off the flash, since there are no other settings to choose from. But the flash is what makes the photos come out so original and unique, because you don't know how the lighting will go with the flash. They are very easy to learn how to use which is great for those who just want an instant photo to share with their friends and family. It just takes AA batteries so it's super easy to get it working again after the batteries have run out, because AA batteries are just everywhere... Well they are in my house anyway aha.

I have the white instax mini so it gets dirty quite easily as you can see in the picture above, soo buying a darker colour will mean that you don't have to clean it as much. It comes in 4 colours which are white, black, pink, blue and yellow- where the pink, blue and yellow are pastel and very pretty. You can buy cases for them but I just can't be bothered.. Typical me :P 

Now the only thing I don't like about it is the cost of the film! It's really pricy- $20 for 10 at JB HiFi and Dick Smiths. I was fortunate enough to get a pack of 50 for my birthday (5x10 packs) but I'm almost out so I'll have to fork out a heap of money to buy some more. But it's defintitely worth it if you love the vintage look of them like I do :) 

Here are some that I took that I thought came out pretty good ----> 

 

As you can see, I just used a fine felt pen to write the date/event so I will remember later on when and where I took the photos :) 

That's all for now! I hope this has been helpful to you :) 

- Tianah xo

Study Tips

Hi guys! 

So at my school the year 11 and 12 first semester exams are starting this week... Scary... Now being in year 12 I have lots of exams to study for 7 -to be exact- and all are within 3 weeks so I decided to start studying last week. I was looking up helpful ways to study just to add to what I already do, so I've come up with a few tips that help me and hopeful you too! 

1. Write a list! 

For me writing lists helps a lot with getting myself organised and ready to conquer all the topics I have to cover. So I have 5 subjects which all have heaps of topics in them which I've covered over the semester. Now, by writing a checklist of everything you need to study you are making a physical reminder of how much or how little you have to remember, and it will help with getting you ready to start. 

For example, I study chemistry. I went through my notebook and booklets that my teacher gave me, and made this list with all the topics I need to remember or perhaps relearn before the exam. 

So now whenever I have finished studying one of those topics, I can just tick it off and not have to stress... As a bonus, ticking things off on a To Do List is always fun and makes you feel like you've accomplished something! :) 

2. Study in an environment where you know you can concentrate! 

Some people can study really well with music, whilst others can't. I can't. I need things to be super quiet so all my attention is on what I'm suppose to be doing. If you know that you can only study with music then listen to music, and if you can't then don't. I personally think that studying without music is more effective. My maths teacher is a firm advocate of studying and doing work in a quiet environment, because studies have shown that when you listen to music while you study your brain doesn't make the right connections and you only remember things for a short amount of time, and if it's quiet then information can reach your long term memory and stay there. 

3. Flash cards!

Even though it's the 21st century, flash cards are still one of the best ways to remember information! You write down the question or word, write down the answer or definition, and bam you're ready to start studying! You've probably all heard of flash cards.. Who hasn't!? But did you know that you can get apps for your portable devices which I think most of us have at least one! I have 2 (not sure why I have 2 but anyway..) called FlashCards++ and Flashcardlet. Both are great, yet one is free and one isn't. You can write your own flash cards or download ones that other people have created and made available on Quizlet which is really helpful if you are too lazy to make your own sometimes! Hehe 

4. Have food!!!!! 

The exclamation marks were totally needed there! You get to eat while study! Whateven!? 

Having food with you when you study will prevent you from wondering around the house, continuously opening and closing the fridge expecting something new to be there every time, and endless procrastination (because let's face it, food is amazing). Having healthy food with you is even better for your studying. It will give you energy that you need to be able to remember information or stay up. A good choice is some fruit like a banana or apple, or saltanas (mmmmm my favourite). 

5. Have a clean study area! 

My mum tells me this nonstop and I think it might just be starting to kick in after 17 years... I always find that I study better and have less distractions if my desk is clean and tidy, that way I can't play with anything that shouldn't be on there, and trust me it happens. You won't even notice that you're doing it until 10 minutes or so has passed and your still playing with that bouncy ball on your desk. I don't know, who even has a bouncy ball on their desk... Not me :P 

Now that's all for now! Hope these help and good luck! :) 

- Tianah xo

Great Reads!

Hi guys! 

Books! There's so many of them in the world. Some funny, some action, some sad and a some are romantic. Sometimes you just can't work out which book to read because there are so many you want to read, but so little time! 

That's the situation I'm in right now. I've got a book to read for school, books to read for myself and books to read so I can talk about them with my friends, and the list just keeps getting longer...

So I thought I'd write out a list of books that I have loved reading, or in the middle of reading, so you can start making your list! :) 

First, The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner. This is one of my favourite series due to the fact it is sort of futuristic, it's full of action, it's romantic and it mysterious... Everything I personally look for, all in one book!! You'll start reading it and you'll just refuse to put it down, PROMISE! But one strange thing is that it is a trilogy, yet there is actually 4 books... Strange huh?! Hehe. The books in order go: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure and lastly The Kill Order. The last book is actually the prequel to it but you should definitely read the others first! 

Second is the I Am Number Four series by Pitacus Lore. These books are great! They're action, sci fi and romance, where things get intense in all 3 of those categories... If you saw the movie for the first book you'll know how amazing the plot is, and when you combine an amazing plot with great writing and another 3+ novels what could be better! The books in the series are I Am Number Four, The Power of Six, The Rise of Nine, and The Fall of Five. They are amazing! 

Thirdly is Divergent of course, by Veronica Roth! I was a bit late to the craze of this book but I jumped in with full force after reading the book in a whole 3 days! Now I'm not a fast reader so you can see how much a read each day to finish it in that short amount of time! I'm half way through the second book, Insurgent, which I can say that I'm thoroughly enjoying and I can't wait to read Allegiant!  

Fourth is probably the most chilling of all, The Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz. This is a great book for those of you who like novels which make you wonder how the author thought of it. It can give you shivers in some parts but also give you a sort of adrenaline rush because your so involved in the characters lives! There are 5 books: Raven's Gate, Evil Star, Nightrise, Necropolis and Oblivion. They are quite large books but well worth it! 

And lastly, the one and only... The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I'm only just starting this but I can see what all the rave was and still is about! It's amazingly written and is very interesting. I can't really say much else about it since I'm only on chapter 2... I should really get on with it shouldn't I ;) 

That's all for now, hope this helped in giving you an idea about some books that you might like to read! 

Byee

- Tianah xo 

DIY Customised Phone Case

Okay, as I have an iPhone 5, there are so many different cases and covers to choose from. However, choosing one from the shelf at the shops just doesn't always satisfy my creativeness!

So after some browsing I found the perfect clear phone case. I think the blue edges give it more personality than a plain clear case too! 

So what I did to personalise it was get some scrapbooking paper with a pretty pattern on it, and trace the outside shape of the case onto the paper with a pencil. 

Then what you'll need to do is cut it out. Now you'll need to remember to trace and cut out the camera hole so you can still take gorgeous pictures!

Now you can just slip your paper into the case and put your phone in :) 

This is perfect if you're the kind who likes to change their phone case every other day but don't want to break the bank by buying 1000 different cases, like mwah aha. You can just cut out as many different background slips as you like and keep swapping them out :) 

- Tianah xo