3 Essential Apps for Ethical Shopping

As I get older, I am becoming more and more aware of the toll we put on the environment, animals, and other people, so I try to make more mindful purchases when shopping for groceries and clothes. However, that can be difficult when reliable information is hard to find. Recently, I discovered 3 Android apps that have completely changed my shopping experience and helped me choose more ethical products. I hope they can do the same for you.

The following apps are not listed in any particular order.

Fashion Week Love Story

To my well-worn Levi shoes,

My year with you has gone by quickly, and you have been with me every step of the way. Through my every whim, through all the mud and the rain, thank you for being my loyal companion.

You are like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly into my style and my life. I love how great you look with every outfit. I love how comfortably you sit on my feet. You have definitely outlasted countless numbers of other shoes, and I hope that you can stay another year.

Although you are a bit muddy, a little worn out, every mark on you contains a story that we share. You have served me well, and I thank you for that. In honor of Fashion Week, I dedicate this post to you, my little shoes, and I hope our journey may continue for many years to come.

Love,
Annie

P.S. For more information on Fashion Week, check out FashionRevolution.org

Why I Gave Up Social Media for Good

I was just like you. Plugged. Wired. Addicted to the pleasures of social media. Like (or unlike) you, I was perfectly aware of this addiction. Everyday, after school, I immediately plunged into my Instagram feed to catch up on news that I had missed. Feeling inclined to spend a little bit of time on the Discover feed, I did not reemerge until an hour or two later. My undone homework still lay strewn across my desk, and the guilt flooded over me. Everyday, I find myself panicking to toss my life back together.

Last week, as I was sifting through Youtube, I came across a TedTalk by Dr. Cal Newport that led me to decide that I have had enough of social media taking over my life. In the spur of the moment, I deleted all of my social media accounts. Within the following week, I experienced life in a completely different perspective.

Better Quality of Life

We are all fighting a battle against time. There’s never enough of it. We want to spend it with family and friends, we want to get work done, we want to excel in our studies and our careers, yet, ironically, when we are given an opportunity to accomplish any of these things, we often find ourselves hiding, procrastinating, and delaying behind our phones.

After quitting social media, I, of course, found a great deal of time on my hands. Enough time  to study, to complete homework, to read, and even to blog again. However, the most important benefit of all is my renewed sight. Without my head burrowed between social media pages, I can finally experience the life around me to its fullest. The cotton clouds, the sea of billowing grass, the people rushing from place to place. I’ve never truly noticed them before. If you think life would be any less exciting after quitting social media, you’re wrong.

I’ve also noticed a spike in my own productivity. Without having social media to immerse myself in, I found absolutely no choice but to immediately start on my studies everyday after school. I no longer broke my concentration to check on Facebook or Instagram notifications, so study times were shorter and more intense. I even had more time to study ahead. My academic life can definitely go without social media. Don’t believe me? My grades can prove it.

Why Should You Do It?

As you see, quitting social media has numerous health and social benefits:

1. more time for family and friends
2. longer and unfragmented concentration
3. deeper conversations
4. more awareness
5. more time for hobbies/leisure

So, give it a try. If you are unwilling to give up social media completely, try deactivating your accounts for a week, and you will have an unforgettable taste of the invaluable experience of life!

7 Winter Skin Care Tips

With the onset of winter comes dry, cracking skin. Especially during the cold, dry season, skin can become hard to manage. Over the years, I discovered a few easy tricks to stay moisturized during the season.

My new Fossil watches!!

I know it has been such a long time since Black Friday, but I decided to show you what I’ve bought on that very special day: watches! I had been intending on buying one for a long time; however, good watches are really, really, really expensive. I don’t know about you, but $100+ watches are wayy over my budget.