North Central College Media 200 Class

  Lifestyle: Getting Organized The year is coming to an end, and you know what that means? "New year, New me". There is no better feeling than going through your stuff and getting organized. Whether that be donating clothes you don’t need anymore, throwing away old pantry items or just simply wanting to reorganize what you have. Here are a few things I use to help inspire a good cleaning. This is a Mintwood cotton rope basket that I use to hold my blankets and pillows. It is great for storage and also a cute piece to have at home! I really enjoy these storage cubes because they help clear up my room. They come in all different sizes which means they can hold all sorts of things!

  Lifestyle: Holiday Edition It's that time of the year! Christmas is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate because I can kick back and relax with my family...and get presents, too! One of my favorite things about Christmas is doing Secret Santa with my siblings.  It is such a fun way to trade present amongst each other. We have been doing it for almost 4 years now and found a new, fun way to do it! In the past, my siblings and I have just written down names and picked out of a hat. Last year, I found a website called Elfster and it totally changed Secret Santa for us! This Secret Santa/gift exchange website allows you to create different gift exchanges with as many people as you want. You can sign up and create your own wishlist. It choses your person for you and is completely secure, so no one knows who each other has.  There are multiple other sites that you can use for Secret Santa that draws names for you. But I love Elfster because it draws your name for you, t...

  Lifestyle: Upgrade Your Bedroom, Part 2 This first item is perfect for anyone who loves to feel extra cozy in bed . Whether you want to curl up in your heated blanket or you want to use it to warm up your sheets before getting in bed, this heated blanket is the perfect solution. It’s super soft and lightweight so it won’t overheat you and will just give you that extra cozy feeling we all desire when cuddling up with a blanket. The next item is my favorite. This candle  has become a new favorite of mine because it smells amazing and it also has a fun, positive message tied with it. This company  is all about empowering females and a portion of the proceeds go to charity empowering women in need, plus the candle is 100% made in the USA.                   Lastly are the Govee Smart Light Bulbs . When it comes to transforming your room, lighting is everything. Whether you want to dim your lights or change the col...

  Coffee at Home I don't know about you but I am someone who has to have a cup of coffee every morning or I get a headache. Let's be honest, if I could grab a Starbucks everyday, I would. But we all know that can add up and really break the bank. So I have found some products that makes making coffee at home fun! The first product is perfect for coffee or tea. T hese mugs are doubled insulated and really do a great job of keeping my coffee and tea hotter for longer periods of time. . These mugs are a game changer. Now I can brew a coffee, hop in the shower, do my makeup, and come back to a coffee or tea that feels like it was just poured a minute ago. These mugs are also very aesthetic looking and look great in any house or apartment. The other product on my coffee bar is a milk frother. This is a great tool to use whenever you want your creamer mixed in your coffee or whenever you want to create foam on top. I also like to add collagen in my creamer to make it extra frothy. I...

  Lifestyle: Upgrade Your Bedroom   After a long, stressful day, all I can think about is climbing into bed and relaxing. Here are some things to make your bedroom cute and cozy. First, I highly recommend the classic Barefoot Dreams blanket . This blanket is a bit more expensive than your regular blanket but it’s worth every penny. These blankets are the softest blankets I have ever felt! The next way to ensure your bedroom is the coziest it can be is making sure it smells good. I personally will have candles on my nightstand at night when I'm relaxing and during the day I prefer to have my oil defuser going. You can use several different scents such as lavender and eucalyptus. Also, it is really easy to use and can make any room in your house or apartment smell amazing. Also, there is something about having a cute nightstand that just helps me sleep better at night. I like to stack these designer books on my nightstand and then place a candle on top of them. You can...

  The Power of Journaling There is no better way to release stress, reflect on life, and just check-in with yourself more than journaling. This is especially true in the times we are living in. There is no right or wrong way to journal and there are so many journals out there that have their own unique purpose and format and my favorites are: The 5 Minute Journal is perfect for people looking to incorporate more positivity and gratitude into their daily lives with guided exercises and entries. Le t That Sh*t Go   is the journal for anyone looking to take out any stress or frustration in a fun way that will lead to more positive and mindful thinking.  Burn After Writing is a very popular journal that acts similarly to a diary but is filled with prompts that promotes self-reflection. The Best Journal Ever is a blank slate journal perfect for those looking for a place to vent and get any thoughts and feelings down on paper.  No matter what, there is something to be g...

Lifestyle: Music At Home   If there is one thing everyone has in common, it’s enjoying music. No matter how you listen to music or what kind of music you enjoy, there is something to be said about how listening to our favorite songs makes us feel. One thing that has been making a major return in recent years are modern record players. Whether it’s the nostalgia of listening to music via vinyl records or the decor element of having a record player in your home; it’s a revival and trend that I'm glad is back. This Victrola Vintage Record Player   has really set the standard for modern-day record players because of its capabilities and sleek appearance. Besides being a high-performing, portable record player, it also can act as a regular Bluetooth speaker. This V ictrola vinyl storage case is a great way to keep any vinyls you have safe and organized.    While you can find vinyl records for almost any artist nowadays, some of my personal favorites are The Beatles, "Abb...