One Pimple is One Too Many - Keeping a Schedule

Hello all!

How are you? We're in the second week of August and this college girl has already started her junior year! CRAZY!!! This month I thought it would be appropriate to talk about keeping a schedule.

If you have a lot on your plate or if you're free for hours and hours, it's always good to keep a schedule. If you're working in a professional environment or just want a neat way to stay organized, investing in a good planner is great way to go. You don't have to break the bank to get a planner; I find a lot of mine at a variety of stores for really cheap.

If a planner is not really your thing, maybe invest in getting a dry erase board or dry erase monthly calendar. That way you can keep track of what you're doing for day or for the month and you'll never have to replace it. (Well, you'll probably have to get more dry erase markers but that's not so bad.)

Sticky notes are also a fantastic way to remember what you need to do, especially when you place them in strategic places. I like to post sticky notes of important things on my desk so right when I sit down, I see what I need to. If it's really important I'll post a stick note on my bathroom mirror or on my door so it's right in front of me... can't forget something if you're constantly reading about it everywhere! 

Happy scheduling! See you next month!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - School Prep

Hey Everyone!

I know what you may be thinking... Are you serious Ariel? SCHOOL PREP? It's still summer!
Very true!
However, many of us (ahem, like me) are heading back to school in a month and sometimes need a reminder that summer doesn't last forever!

Even if school doesn't start for another few months in your case, it's never too early to be prepared!

Here are some fun ways to get prepped for school without making it seem like work!

Play a Game
- Whether it be a board game or a video game, there are plenty of games out there that promote education and learning without being stuffy or boring! BrainAge for the Nintendo DS is a good example as well as the game Cranium! Instead of breaking out the games only at parties, make playing "brain games" a daily part of your life. Your brain will thank you!

Read a Book
- I have always loved reading. My grandma taught me to read when I was three years old and instilled in me from a very young age to love books and reading. As I've grown up, that love has only grown. Although I have to read more for work than for pleasure, I still enjoy reading to this day. For some of you, that may not be the case. Maybe you've grown up HATING reading! Never fear my friends! I am of the firm belief that if someone doesn't like to read it's because they haven't found their book yet. By that, I mean the book that encourages a love for books and stories. For me, that book was Clotee: The Diary of a Slave Girl from the Dear America series. Although I have always loved reading, that book really made me appreciate stories, books and keeping a diary. (Which I started when I was eleven and still do to this day) Make it your mission this summer to find your book. Go to the library or to a local bookstore and browse! Look for things you're interested now and go from there... you never know what could be in store between the pages of a good book!

Research
- Before you stop reading, hear me out! Research is usually thought of as a form of torture brought on from teachers. Not true! Researching new and exciting things can be a lot of fun! Ever wondered how peanut butter was made? Or how the internet was invented? Look it up! Through the wonders of the internet and your local library, there's a whole world of information available to you! Find something you've always wondered about and see how it was made!


Previously, I posted this column weekly and then once I started college I posted whenever I had the time. After a lot of thinking, I've decided to post once every month. Not only will I have a chance to be consistent but it will still give me time to focus on my schoolwork and academics.

I hope you all are having a fun and restful summer!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Spring Break 2011

Hello all!
Hope you're doing well! It's spring break for this college student and she is loving every minute of it!

Here are some fun ways to have fun on spring break!

Water fun!
- If you have a pool, either in your community, through a friend or in your own backyard, grab some sunscreen and go out for a pool day! (Please remember to never swim without adult supervision!)
- If you don't have a pool, see if you can use a sprinkler or a slip and slide!

Crafts!
- If you're the type you likes to learn how to make things, use this free time to learn how to crochet, knit or paint!
- If you're already crafty, use this time to make something that will help someone else! There have been numerous natural disasters around the world, including the Japanese Tsunami, the earthquake in New Zealand and more. Use your gifts to raise money to help those in need!

Volunteering!
- Speaking of helping those in need, it's not too late to help someone else! I can say from experience that when you use your "break" to help someone else, it really is a lot of fun! Volunteer at the local community center tutoring kids who need it, see if an elderly person needs help with their yard work... it's never too late to help someone out!


Whatever you choose to do, I hope you have a safe and fun filled spring break!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Love

Hello All!

My apologies for not getting to you sooner, midterms are coming up and getting good grades is a top priority for this girl :)

This week I want to talk about l o v e... (especially since last week we celebrated Valentine's Day!)

What is love?
(Baby, don't hurt me. Don't hurt me... no mo')
(Old song reference! 20+ cool points if you know it!)

Some people call love "genuine affection" or "a feeling of mutual respect".
There are many different kinds of love --
the love you have for your boyfriend or girlfriend,
the love you have for your family
the love you have for your friends
and hopefully you all have a love for your fellow human beings!

There are those who speculate on which kind of love is the most important or if a type of love can be more important than another...
I'm not here to speculate.

Instead, I say to just love.
It's so easy to get caught up in dating, relationship drama, friend drama and all other kinds of mess that we forget that people just want to be loved...

So love someone!

Doing random acts of kindness like opening the door for an elderly person or picking up a toy a child dropped...

Love my friends, just love.

Have a great week!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Making a Difference

Hello all!

I apologize for the delay, carrying a heavy load and writing a weekly column has been more difficult than I anticipated! Because of this, I may have to switch to writing my column every two weeks. I love writing for you all but my short and easy blogs have been pressed for time and low on quality. I believe switching to every two weeks will allow myself more time and give you all a better experience with One Pimple is One Too Many.

But back to the task at hand:
This week I want to talk about making a difference.
In America on January 17th, we celebrated the life, death and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an incredible man who started the Civil Rights movement, a movement that changed America forever.

In Dr. King Jr.'s day, people of different colors were segregated, or separate from each other. Discrimination, prejudice and judging others based on their skin tone was not only accepted but encouraged!

With the programs and rallies that Dr. King Jr. started, people started to see that judging someone based on their skin color was wrong. The color of someone's skin is just that -- a color. Looking beyond the skin color, you should see the character of a person. 

Dr. King Jr. isn't the only one who has and will made a difference in the world. Who knows? Maybe the person reading this (Y O U!) is the next person to change the world in a big way. Maybe you'll find the cure for cancer or AIDS. Maybe you'll help a forgotten group of people or help save an endangered species. Maybe you'll be the next President, Prime Minister or high ranking political official.

Who knows?

Until then, make steps today to make a difference wherever you are.

1. If you see trash, pick it up! I know, if it's not yours than why is it your problem? This isn't just an eco-friendly gesture, it also helps you practice humility. Never think you're more important than picking up trash. 

2. Don't look down on others. The people who clean, pick up trash, serve you food etc. -- treat them with just as much respect as you would a police officer, lawyer a doctor. Everyone's job is important and everyone deserves to be appreciated.

3. Believe in and love yourself. Now, I'm not saying to go off the extreme side and become extremely selfish. But have a healthy level of respect for YOURSELF. In P!nk's new single "Perfect", she says, "Don't you ever feel like you're nothing, you are perfect to me." I would recommend everyone to listen to this song. (HOWEVER THIS IS IMPORTANT: Listen to the CENSORED version. The ACTUAL song has a very strong curse word that I'm sure many of your parents would not appreciate you singing to. The overall message of the song is beautiful though and if you can, pick up the CENSORED and RADIO EDIT version of the song.)

You all are worth so much.

You all are capable of so much.

There are so many things to be done in the world but you know what?

You can do them.

Everyone believes in you...

Just take the first step!

Have a great week everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Happy 2011!

Hello everyone!

Happy New Year!
I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the new year :)

Today I want to take a little time to think about this new year we're in:
how we will be
what we will do
the words we will say
our actions and emotions

Many say that a new year is time for reinvention...
But I am a firm believer that every BREATH you take is a second chance...

Don't waste any time.
Let people know how much they mean to you.
Look at the stars, the flowers, the birds and the trees...
Enjoy this beautiful world and the people in it.

Have a happy 2011 everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - 2010; a year in review

Hello Everyone!

I hope all of you are enjoying your break! :)
This week, I wanted to look back on the year 2010..

It was the "Year of No Fear" and rightly so.
Many of you went off to college miles and miles away from your family...
Some of you transferred into a new school...
Others graduated from elementary to junior high...

2010 was a great year to be fearless...

And you know what?
It doesn't have to end.

Well, 2010 has to end.. we have less than 7 days until the new year...

But this... the feeling of being fearless... to have courage in spite of everything...

We can all carry this into the new year and make 2011 our best year yet.

Never give up.
Hold on tight to what you believe in.
Be fearless.

See you next year :)

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Christmas

Hello :)

Hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas break!

Enjoy your family.
Enjoy your friends.
Enjoy the free time you have.
Smile. Laugh. Breathe.

Listen to music. Drink some cocoa. Play with our pets. Talk to your siblings. Hug your parents.

Enjoy every day :)

Merry Christmas everyone <3

Ariel

One Pimple is One Too Many - Finals!

Hello everyone!

My apologies for being MIA these past few weeks, I had finals!
Which brings me to my topic this week... GETTING THROUGH FINALS!

It may seem like a lot to stress about but I promise, you can get through it!

- Don't freak out!
The worst thing possible is to stress yourself out to the point of a breakdown. Believe me, you will get NOTHING done and will only hurt yourself more.

- Take it one thing at a time
Have a MILLION of subjects to study for?
Hakuna matata! Organize your time in order of most importance and get things done! It may seem like a lot but once you organize everything into a realistic schedule, it seems so much more manageable.

- REST
I can't tell you enough how important it is to get good sleep! An all nighter might seem like a good idea the day before a big test but I can tell you right now, IT'S NOT.
If you really feel like you need to pull an all nighter, consider doing one over the weekend. I KNOW, crazy right? But if you stay up all night before the big test, you'll be tired, cranky and you're not going to remember anything you studied!

- Work hard, play hard
Taking a break may seem counterproductive to studying but if you don't allow your brain to rest, you'll overwork yourself! Now don't take a five hour break -- fifteen/twenty minutes every so often will give you the break you deserve without getting you completely off track.

Hope you all have a good finals week!
Drink plenty of water, eat right and just remember -- you can do this!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Leadership

Hello all!
How has your week been? In America, we're only a week away from Thanksgiving (which means THANKSGIVING BREAK for this college student).
This week however, I want to talk about leadership.

What makes a leader?
Is it a great personality and charisma?
Is it good looks and money to spare?
Or is it something else?

I have the belief that anyone can be a leader -- regardless of their social standing, economic status or looks. Even if you're shy, you have the ability to be a leader.

Look at your life. Look at your choices. (If you get this reference, you win!)
Look at your level of influence.

Don't ever think you DON'T have a level of influence. You can help someone. Your experiences can help someone else.
You CAN lead.

When you have that kind of influence/leadership -- don't abuse it.
I love royalty and one of my favorite things to say to myself when I don't know what to do is to "think like a Queen."

A Queen acts with grace, mercy, tenderness and discipline. She is firm yet loving. She is kind and honest. She is not perfect but she owns her flaws and presses forward.

Acting like a Queen (or a King for all you guys out there!) isn't always a fail-safe plan (we don't ACTUALLY have a country to run after all) but it's a good start.

Be a leader.
Be a GOOD leader.
And remember, you never have to be perfect...
We all have faults :)

Have a great week!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Paying it Forward

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. - Princess Diana

Kindness should never be rationed.

I like Princess Diana's quote... you never do a kindness to get something in return -- it's more of an idea of paying it forward. 

It's easy to pay back someone for what they've done to you, whether it's good or bad. It's harder to pay someone forward. 

Do good deeds this week, without looking for a reward in return.

See how much it changes your outlook on life and other people!

Hope you all have a great week everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Living the Dream

Hello everyone!

Happy November! Can you believe the year is already almost over? Time flies when you're having fun :)
Today I want to talk about living the dream -- no, not the Jonas Brothers' miniseries on Disney Channel -- but actually living the dream.

What is your dream?
What do you aspire to be?
Do you want to be an astronaut, a teacher, a rockstar?

Whatever you want to do in life, with hard work and determination -- YOU CAN DO IT!

It's possible for anyone to live their dream,
as long as you believe in yourself
and never EVER give up...
Anything is possible!

Hope you all have a fantastic week!
Live the dream!
Live YOUR dream!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Perseverance

Hello hello!

This week, I want to talk to you all about perseverance -- the determination to keep on going even when the going gets tough!

"When the fight gets hard, you fight harder. When the mountains get steep, you climb faster." - Nick Jonas


If you ever feel like you can't go on, if you ever feel like the world is crushing down on you, if you ever feel like it's all just a little too much to handle --

Breathe. You can do it. Keep going.
I believe in you. We all believe in you.

Just take one step at a time :)

Don't give up! Keep going!

Have a great week everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Breathe

Hello all!

How are you doing this week?
Good I hope!
I want to talk about something so simple that you do it without even realizing it...

Breathing


Now as a science major, I can tell you that breathing is anything but simple but for metaphoric purposes, my example will work.

Breathing is simple... it's easy.
You breathe in and you breathe out.
But sometimes, we forget the little things.

We forget to just breathe.


This week, I challenge you to breathe.
Whenever something goes wrong,
Whenever you're running late,
Whenever you feel as if you can't take it anymore.

Just. Breathe.

Remember that each new minute is just that... new.


Don't forget to take a breath. - "Take a Breath" by the Jonas Brothers


Have a great week everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Technology

Hello hello hello!

How are you this week? Doing well I hope!

Today I want to talk about technology, something that in this world you cannot get away from!
In fact, if you're reading this right now you're using some form of technology -- either through your computer, laptop, iPad, iPod, phone etc etc etc.

But I wonder: how would we all survive WITHOUT technology?

Recently, a college campus decided to go wireless -- not not wireless interent, REALLY wireless -- for a week and see how the students would fare. Facebook, myspace and other social networking sites were blocked. The internet was widely closed down except for research purposes.

The goal?

To see how students today would react to a world without all their gadgets.

The results?

Many students found that they liked living without their phones. No pressure to answer a text. No pressure to call someone back immediately. Imagine -- freedom to just be.


Personally, I think going without technology for at least a week would be fantastic. Of course, if you need to keep your phone with you for safety reasons -- please do so. Otherwise, if it's not life or death -- don't answer it. If you don't need to do it (as in it is not imperative to your physical health and mental well being), then don't.

You'll be surprised how the things you consider "important" (Facebook friends, twitter etc) will seem trivial compared to the face to face interaction you can have with the people around you.

Hope you all have a great week!
(And if anyone participates in the week without technology, let me know! I'd love to hear your stories!)

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Deadlines

Hello all!

Hope you're having a wonderful week! Fall is officially here and I am loving every minute of it :)

Today I want to talk about DEADLINES.


We all have deadlines -- bills to pay, assignments to turn in... it seems like it never ends!
But don't worry, with good time management and practice you can stay ahead and meet your deadlines!

First and foremost, it would be GREATLY beneficial to get a day planner or calendar that you check daily. Not only will you have an organized way of knowing what needs to get done -- but it's all in one place!

If you prefer more instant gratification, there's also a nifty little invention called the POST IT.
I love post its. If you could see my room, you would see dozens of little post its reminding me of what I need to get done for the day, the week and the month. The best thing about a post it? When you've completed the task, you just crumple it up and throw it away! (Or even better, R E C Y C L E)

If post its aren't your thing (or they're too expensive in large quantities) you can go to the dollar store and pick up a little memo pad/note book. Small enough to fit into a purse/back pocket but large enough for you to write down what you need to get done for the day. I promise you, it's a great feeling to have crossed something off your checklist... even if it's going to lunch!

If you ever have any questions, problems or need advice on something more specific,
my email is arielsmiles (at) rocketmail (dot) com!

Hope you all have a great ORGANIZED week!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Procrastination

Hello hello hello!

Hope you are doing well!

This week I'd like to talk about something we've all been through -- the struggle of procrastination.
For some (like myself) you are able to work well under pressure. If anything, it inspires you to do more and to do better.
For others, the pressure and stress of a deadline is too much to handle and everything must be done days, weeks and months in advance.

Procrastination is never a good thing -- working well under pressure or not.
If at all possible, do what needs to be done as soon as you know about it. Don't wait until the last minute to turn in an assignment, pay a bill or get a chore done.

The sooner you do your "work" (whatever that work may be) the sooner you will be able to have "fun".
Now hear me,
Getting your work done quickly but POORLY is not good.
Do your best in everything that you do, even if it takes time.

You would rather to do something well that takes time than do something poorly but quickly.
(Especially it's an assignment; poor work = poor grades)

Hope you all have a safe and procrastination free week!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Labor Day

Happy Monday everyone!

How is your side of the world?
Today I want to talk about Labor Day -- a holiday that Americans are celebrating today.
You may be wondering, what exactly IS Labor Day?

Labor Day (according to google) is the celebration of the achievement of workers in trade and labor organizations. In honor of their hard work, the United States gives them a day off... also known as LABOR Day.

If you're out of school or off of work for Labor Day, congrats! Enjoy and rest up!

If you're still working/going to school for Labor Day, that's perfectly fine! Enjoy the time you have anyway!

Life's too short to complain about the little things.
This Labor Day, decide to enjoy every singe part of your day -- the good AND the bad.

Remember,
Every breath is a second chance <3

Have a great week everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Limits

Hello hello!

How are you?
Everyone should be started back at school by now. Hope you're all doing well!

This week I want to talk to you all about limits.
What is a limit?
There's speed limits.
Time limits.
Even height limits.

You can also have limits when it comes to your personal life.
When it comes to dealing with people, you should always use kindness.

Trust me.

It works.

However,

You should never mistake someone's kindness for weakness.

Being kind does not give anyone the right to make you their doormat.

I've seen a lot of this happen in my life and in the lives of those around me.

Just because someone is nice does not mean that you should walk all over them.

Keep limits.

Know what is right for you and what is not.

Know what works for you and what does not.

Yes, it's good to be flexible...

But you should not allow anyone to make you do or be anything other than what you feel comfortable being and doing.

Hope you all are well this week!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - Time Management

Hey Everyone!

How are you?
This week I want to talk about something VERY important -- time management!
This will definitely help you the older you get -- junior high, high school, college and beyond!

What is time management?
Exactly how it sounds: learning how to manage your time!

It's easy to slack off and just ~go with the flow~ but when it comes to important things (like classes, homework and working) you need to have enough time to get where you need to go and to do what you need to do before the next thing on your agenda :)

First,
Write out what you have to do. Chronologically would be the best but you can write it in whatever way works for you.
Once you've written that all out, organize it in a way that you'll understand.
Then, you're all set!

But it's not enough just to make a schedule -- you have to stick to it!
That's where wise time management skills come in!

If you have from 4:00 - 4:30 to clean your room -- don't slack off or talk to your friends after school... get home and clean your room! Believe me, it feels SO GOOD to have checked something off your schedule!

An important sidenote that will sound like a contradiction:
while it's good to have a schedule, remember that if your schedule gets thrown off -- IT'S OKAY.
You don't live by your schedule, your schedule lives by you!
By all means, follow your schedule and what you need to do.
But if things don't go according to plan, it's okay! Take a deep breath and keep on going!

Remember, time management doesn't just benefit you but the people around you. When you care about your time, you'll be more conscientious of the time of the people around you! :)

Hope you have a great week!

Ariel <3