Yes, watching TV is a nice alternative, but keeping your brain active after studying will help you retain information much easier in a short amount of time! Plus, if you’re the artsy type, you’ll be having fun in the meantime.

What I used:

Push Pins

Hemp String

Clamp Clips

Make three (or any number you want) equally spaced rows of hemp by tying the hemp string around the end push pins, pulling the string taught to prevent any slack. If you have a corner desk, like myself, loop the hemp around the push pin placed in the corner.

Then, decorate! Put up cards, drawings, anything that inspires you or makes you happy. Tumblr has awesome photos that you can print out and clip onto your clothesline bulletin board.

For more DIY ideas, style tips, & fashion fun, check out ToBeBrightStyle.com & be sure to LIKE To Be Bright on Facebook for your chance to win some awesome free giveaways!

Image Source: To Be Bright

Are you constantly opening new browser tabs when you should be finishing that paper worth 20% of your grade? Are those smart phone apps just too enticing that you find yourself four hours later with no work done at all?

Don’t worry, I know just how you feel.

Here's some help to break out of the grip of the World Wide Web and start cracking those books open that you bought at the beginning of the year so that at the end of the semester, you can show your parents a shiny A.

Did you know Internet addiction is a real condition accepted by the American Psychiatric Association and will be added into the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Static Manual of Mental Disorders?

It is defined as a disorder where one feels strong withdrawal symptoms when they are unable to use the Internet for an extended period of time and do whatever they can to find a way to get back in touch with it in order to improve their mood.

I don’t think that most college students are quite this bad, but I know procrastination can get us very close. But don’t worry! Here are some tools and tips to help you shut down your browser.

1. Extensions Can Do Wonders

An extension available only (for the moment) on the Google Chrome browser that allows you to pick out certain sites that the extension will block your access to for a designated amount of time. When that time is up, you can set an amount of “break” time where you will be able to go onto those blocked sites. This is great for school works because it not only keeps the distracting sites out, but also allows you to do online research.

Another extension is StayFocused, which is available for both Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.  It works much the same way that Pomodoro does in terms of blocking sites from use, but it is set up to make it a little bit harder for you to disable. Unlike Pomdoro’s easy in and out disabling, StayFocused won’t allow you to remove a site from your block list once your allowed time on the site is up. It also won’t let your change your allotted time for current day once it’s expired. You even have the option of setting up a challenge, like having to perform perfectly on a typing test, before you’re able to adjust any settings at all. 

2. Break the Connection

If you’re doing work that doesn’t require that you use the web for research, turn the wifi off for a while. Unplug your Ethernet cable, flip the wifi button on your computer, or put your phone into airplane mode and get to work. Even simpler than that? Turn your computer and phone completely off. In the time it takes for it to start back up you’ll be back to work, so why not just stay working?

3. Formulate a Plan of Action

Make yourself an itinerary for the whole week that includes all classes, labs, meetings and other things that are mandatory to take up your time. From there, look at all the time you have free. Set a certain amount of time each day designated solely for studying and solely for fun. It’s easier to get work done when you know that soon you’ll get to do something you enjoy instead.  Fix yourself a checklist of all the things you need to get done for the week before you can relax. The more things you check off, the closer you are to being free of schoolwork and back to checking up on Facebook and scrolling through Twitter.

4. Deactivate your Facebook

It’s not the same as deleting; you’re just hibernating your account. You can reactivate at any time, but while it’s down, your timeline disappears from Facebook’s service and people are unable to search for you. All your information is saved - all messages you’ve ever sent, any pages you’ve liked - it’s all there when you come back.  But for the week or so that you need to crack down, it keeps another distraction out of the way.

5. Find Yourself Some Self Control

I’m not into constricting, collared t-shirts, or t-shirts in general unless i’m sleeping, relaxing, or working out.  Target has some of the funniest graphic tees (MEN’S SECTION – girl t shirts are too stuck up to be cool), so naturally I snagged one to cut up and make it more wearable, in my opinion.

WHAT YOU NEED:

- Regular Tee

- Scissors

 - Average ‘follow the line’ skills

Step 1: Follow the collar’s seam and cut the collar off entirely so you can breathe when it’s worn

Step 2: Follow the sleeve seams and cut off the sleeves for that open side look.

- You may experiment and make the sleeve opening longer by following the shirt’s seam and cut a little down the side, just be cautious, as this will stretch out on its own without the seam there to prevent it from doing so.

And voila, you’ve made something cooler out of the basic and the ordinary.

Check out To Be Bright for those everyday trends reflecting personal style.

LIKE 2BB's Facebook page - fun & neat opportunities await you.

Image Sources: http://tobebrightstyle.com/2013/03/02/diy-like-a-rolling-stone/

kick-start (kkstärt)

1. 1. Informal to start or reinvigorate (an activity, system, or process)

kickstarter (kkstärtr)

1. 1. Informal a website that gives people’s dreams the kick-start it needs to come true

Have you ever heard of Kickstarter.com? If you haven’t, you should; especially if you have a great idea to develop, but currently on a financial diet. So, for those of you who have dreams of making the next technological breakthrough or top hit album, let me tell you about Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is described as a funding platform for creative, ambitious, and innovative projects that encompasses everything from films to games, music to art, design to technology. Since the site's launch in April 2009, Kickstarter has raised over $450 million, with donations by more than 3 million people supporting over 35,000 different projects from a variety of innovative areas.

Any project on Kickstarter is created and crafted by the people or groups behind it; They have complete control and responsibility over their individual projects.

When a project gets put up on the site, you create a goal, determine the amount of money needed to bring your product to fruition, and develop a deadline to reach said-goal. If you’re able to raise the money in the slated amount of time, you get to keep and use that money to support the creation of your idea. If you don’t reach the goal,  the money gets returned to the donors.

Why does the money go back though? It’s Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing clause, otherwise known as the less risk advantage. Say you need $5000 to effectively support and create your project but you only receive $1000. You’re still expected to create your product on a fifth of the money you need to do so. The clause is there to protect you.

And it all seems to work. 82% of all of the projects on the site that reached 20% of their goal successfully reached completion, and 44% of projects on the website have reached their funding goals as of today.

During the time Kickstarter has been online, it has helped to fund an incredible bunch of projects; For example, projects like SafeCast. This is a website that was created during the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Three friends researched ways to assess and report radiation data in real time. Through Kickstarter, SafeCast able to send hundreds of Geiger counters to Japan and provide data to the public.

Just the past few days, the 3Doodler, a pen that allow you draw in 3D by melting and cooling plastic thread, met it’s project goal in only a few hours and $600,000 in donations. It’s sure to be a  big hit when it comes on the market.

If you’re a little skeptical about donating to projects on this site, don’t worry! Most all of them have different options of prizes or products for the different amounts that you donate; the more you give the better the gift. Many will guarantee you a copy of the product for donating, and often times, something extra as well. 

Kickstarter is a site for the inventions, albums, books, art, and technological innovation that need a boost to make it mainstream.

Kickstarter collects a 5% fee on all projects - a stipend to keeping the site up and running- but it's worth it for the service they’re providing. This fee is only applicable if you’re able to raise your money goal; you’re not penalized for trying to achieve it. 

So, Carolina Community, I know there’s some of you out there that are thinking, “I could do something for this,”  go forth! Sign up for Kickstarter and get creating. 

Image Source: http://thetechblock.com/kickstarters-new-rules-for-project-creators/

I have nothing against the blatant consumer holiday, I mean there’s always a multitude of half-price candy on February 15^th that I’m happy to buy and take off the stores' hands. There’s nothing against spreading love and kindness the world sometimes feels a little devoid of. Valentine’s is actually one of my favorite holidays of the year.

But I was kidding before, I DO have something against Valentine’s Day and that is clichés. Everyone knows the cliché gift of roses, a box of chocolates, and a cloyingly sweet card written by someone else. Can’t we mix things up a little?

How about making something for your loved ones?

We’re all so dependent on the crutch that is Hallmark but let me tell you how wonderful it is to see someone’s face light up when you give a card tailored exactly for them. Whether you utilize an inside joke, their favorite TV show, or a song that they can’t stop singing they’re going to be so elated that you paid enough attention to them to know exactly what to make the card with. Trust me, the day I decided to start making all of my cards myself was a great day.

Don’t have the money to buy a whole bouquet for your significant other? Use your crafting skills (don’t even start with that, everyone has them) and MAKE a bouquet. There are numerous patterns online for paper flowers, from simplistically easy to moderately challenging, and instead of being confined to red, you can make them in whatever color you want!  Just fix ‘em up and attach them anything from pipe cleaners to twigs collected outside. Make a bouquet that will never fade!

Forget the box of chocolates and treat someone special to dinner instead with a custom "Free Dinner Pass'.  It doesn’t have to be fancy, simple and easy is all you need. As long as you don’t burn it, you can’t go wrong with making their favorite dinner just for them. How about make it a picnic out on the Horseshoe? Even better! Nothing says love like cute gingham pattern blankets and wicker baskets.

If you feel so creatively inclined you could even write them a poem.  It doesn’t have to be the most astounding piece of work to grace the Earth, they’re not expecting you to wax prose like Pablo Neruda. Just taking the time to find words that rhyme in order to describe them and how they make you feel, is going to, and I guarantee this, gonna blow them away at least just a little. I admit poetry may be slightly cliché but who's actually writing any dactylic lines for the person they love these days?

Taking the time to make a gift for the person you admire can mean a lot. You don’t have to go the extra mile to make sure they know that you love them and in reality, settling for an overused and unoriginal concept of a gift. No more cookie cutter cards: write them your own words.

So, go forth, create, and may your Valentine’s Day be full of originality, not half-priced chocolate.

Image Source: http://geekisawesome.com/7026/card-for-your-geeky-better-half/

Have you ever witnessed a success story in your hometown? In my small town of Libertyville, Illinois, nothing big ever happens; it's actually considered a village.  However in 1999, two ambitious friends, Sue Katz and Lisa Thurman, got together and created Amazing Cosmetics.

The company started out small as on online venture and has now grown to enormous proportions.  Amazing Cosmetics sells all different types of makeup and is best known for their outstanding concealer.   My personal favorite is their lip-gloss.  All of their products are excellent quality, definitely worth the pretty penny you will spend.

Growing up, I attended school with their sons.  I remember in middle school, when I went through the infamous Hannah Montana phase,  I had a moment of insanity when I found out they used Amazing Cosmetics on their show!  It was my first glimpse seeing how far their success had taken them.  I begged my best friend Alex to snag me the signed poster, but that never worked out.  Alex would always sneak me lip-gloss whenever he worked at the warehouse on the weekends. I definitely felt like the coolest kid on the block for knowing the families personally.

Over the years, their products have been featured in movies such as The Notebook, Looper, Lincoln and many other films.  They have also been featured in several shows, such as Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars to name a few.

When I arrived at USC, I never thought I would find their products - there was a slim chance that I would find my favorite lip-gloss in Columbia.  Little did I realize they have branched out even farther, selling their products in stores like Sephora and Ulta all over the U.S.!  Once again, I had a moment of insanity, jumping up and down telling the sales girl how it said, “Made in Libertyville, Illinois” and how I knew the creators.  I proceeded to sit there and contemplate which lip-gloss would be my next purchase, even convincing the sales girl to buy some too.

I could'nt be more proud of my small village of Libertyville.  I feel lucky to know the families and see where their adventure began.  Amazing Cosmetics continues to grow and will be working with New York Fashion Week this month! It’s cliché, but the saying is true, big things really do come in small packages.

Image Source: http://www.soapboxstudio.com/samples.php?cat=3, http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2008/Shopper-Amazing-Cosmetics/