#cheekyfawn

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Tell-All on Setting Goals

Photo: http://plantables.tumblr.com/

By Molly Weisner

To dream is to take a little bit of your heart and surround it with a warm embrace, but to believe is to let it go.

Part of what makes each and every one of us special are our aspirations and goals. They are the unique parts of ourselves that we launch into the world, hoping they’ll take flight—which takes a lot of courage! Frankly, goal setting is hard and going about it with too much or too little gusto can discourage the process. So here are three tips to help you make happy, healthy and attainable goals.

Take a Step Back: In the heat and sparkle of an idea-saturated moment, it’s all too easy to commit yourself to a goal that is too magnificent to be practical. Don’t take this the wrong way; there’s no dream you can’t achieve. However, take into consideration the amount of work and time a goal demands before setting your deadline. If you can, try to take a big goal and break into bitesize chunks, like mini-milestones. Otherwise, a long-term goal that is crammed into a short-term window is going to be more stressful than inspiring. Be ambitious, but also be patient with yourself.

Prioritize: Ordering and tackling objectives in order of importance is key in preserving your mental sanity and productivity. A giant laundry list of goals is much easier to sift through if you take care of the most important or time sensitive ones first. You’ll find that taking one step at a time gives you the freedom to breathe in between projects without worrying about whether or not you’ve missed something. After all, a little organization never hurt anybody!

Consider Your Resources: The nature of a dreamer doesn’t include relying on outside resources for help. In fact, it’s likely that a fellow goal-guru would scoff at the idea of even considering a helping hand. Before you nod your head in fervent agreement, know that there is no shame in asking for help. It’s not that you can’t do everything with perfect accuracy; it’s just that having your hand in fifty different pots prevents you from deeply sampling one. Specializing in a few things and contemplating the availability of experts in others will make you more productive and much happier.

Confidence is Key: The worst thing you can do while trying to achieve a goal is compare yourself to others. Goals are like snowflakes: no two are the same and no two can be compared against each other. The more you watch others run towards their dreams, the slower you’ll be in getting to your own. No one else is on the same path as you and so only you can judge how far you have or haven’t traveled. Keep your eyes forward and trust your feet to get your where you need to be.

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Self Love

Photo: http://favim.com/image/3252688/

By Mikaela O'Brien

I'm not going to sugar coat it,

Loving yourself isn't always as easy as you'd think, and well lets just say that EVERYONE has some kind of flaw. The only advice I can give you is this :

You may not be the “prettiest girl in school”, but who cares ?

You are actually a beautiful person that may not fit the mold that society has made for us, but why be that perfect Tumblr girl when you can be you ?

When you are yourself, you don't have to worry about having all your friends dress just like you because they too are copying the same girl on Tumblr.

I (like many others) work to make my skin clear and shiny but I don't drive myself nuts in the process. Because why stress about that pimple on your forehead ? 

There is not one teenager who has never had a pimple. So it is okay for you to face this normal struggle that everyone goes through.

If you are surrounded by negative people who often complain about their body, then you are probably going to pick up that habit as well. (We don’t want that!)

Your friends should make you feel good and happy with yourself and your life, and if they don't, then you DO NOT need them !

The way I see it, you will have different friends, boyfriends, teachers and neighbors, throughout your whole life, but the only person who you are always with, who stays with you 24/7, no matter what-- is you. 

So you might as well start loving yourself. 

I hope reading this helped you over come the obstacle of loving yourself !

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FALL INSPIRATION

By Mikaela Obrien

// a few ways to get into the fall spirit //

Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/BCVPr-LiS2G/

room decor // a few of my favorite simple ways to spice up my room for fall :

add light,I like to use candles or twinkle lights I find that they add a nice warm glow to my room. also add warm things,blankets and fuzzy pillows are a nice touch to any room for fall.

fall activities //

Photo: http://wxldwxrld.tumblr.com/post/151035259383

some fun things to do this fall:

reading: my favorite "fall time" read is Harry Potter,it's the absolute best book for the autumn months (spooky and magical) ! going to coffee shops,drinking pretty lattes and hot cocoas is just a given ! bring a book and some drawing supplies and spend a beautiful afternoon/morning in the most fall way imaginable !

autumn clothing //

Photo: https://www.instagram.com/kokokourtney/

fall fashion is one of my favorite parts of the season !

a few of my favorite things to add to a fall outfit are, black tights,turtle necks and overall dresses cozy clothing for at home, during fall time I'm always wearing fuzzy socks they are just a very important fall staple for me

hope these thing help get you into the fall spirit !!

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On October 27th these sweaters will be available for all! 🌼🍂🍯🎃🍂 cheekyfawn.com

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Self Love: Mental Health & How I Conquered It

By Mikaela Bryan

Disclaimer: This post includes references to mental health and self-harm. If you are sensitive to that kind of material, please continue with caution.

Mental health has plenty of stereotypes to go with it; weakness, incompetence, violence, incurable, damaged, contagious.

While these are all stigmas, I can’t but help understand what the unaware believe about mental health.

I was once a cheerful kid, playing in my room by myself, going on adventures with my toys and letting my imagination run wild. I was oblivious to what was going on around me, my single mum going bankrupt, never having “new” possessions. It never bothered me that I wore second hand clothing, or that my toys weren’t fresh out of a plastic packet.  I was bullied from the beginning of school, excluded by the other children. I remember in grade three or four being a girl’s “slave” in order to sit with her at lunch. I picked up her rubbish and carried her bag for her, but that was the small price I paid just so I wouldn’t have to eat alone.

This is where I think my depression and anxiety started. As I got older I finished primary school and when to the high school nearby, all while still getting constantly bullied. It wasn’t until we moved three hours away so my mum could study nursing, that I was in my first fight. I didn’t fight back; I was cornered in the girls’ bathroom. I was punched in the back of the head several times by one girl, while being watched by at least six more girls, one who was filming the incident on her phone. We were both suspended, but I didn’t go back to school for the rest of the school year, about 3 weeks. I was too afraid to face everyone at school, worried that I’d be further shamed about what happened, or that it would happen again.

We ended up moving another three hours away, to the main city in my state. The bullying stopped in my three last years of school, after going through six schools in total. What came after the bullying was much worse. My depression seemingly came out of nowhere; it dragged me down like a ball and chain. Up until then mental health meant nothing to me, it was just one of those things some people got, and they were locked away from society, to magically get better, and rejoin the rest of us.

When the stress of school got so bad I started self harming, cutting my forearms and thighs. It helped me escape from whatever was going on in my head. I was prescribed an antidepressant and started seeing a psychologist. It was when I told her that I was hearing a voice in my head, not my own, telling me to do dangerous things to myself, that she went out of the doctor-patient confidentiality and recommended that I was admitted to the youth psychiatric ward at a nearby hospital. I was admitted and still managed to self-harm while I was there, slipping a razor blade in my underwear before we left home.

I was in and out of a few different psychiatric wards for about six months, missing school during that time too. It was determined that I was put on the wrong medication to start with, which caused me to go downhill. I received an exemption for the time of school I missed, and continued finishing high school. A lot of the time I was too anxious to eat in front of people, worried that they were judging me for what I ate. I lost a lot of weight, but kept a healthy bmi.

It wasn’t until I finished high school last year that I started to manage my depression and anxiety. I felt so free from the jail that was school; I could now do anything I wanted, theoretically. I got tattooed, and started studying nursing. When the stress became too much, three weeks into the 18 month course, I dropped out. I attempted the same course six months later, but the same result, except I made it to the fourth week.

I have since been job searching, which isn’t too good for someone who gets anxious when they have nothing to do, and in turn takes daily naps. I was always worried about what others would think about me having mental health problems, but I have since learned to accept that and the fact that I will probably be on anti-depressants for the rest of my life.

Learning to love yourself is so important, whether or not it is loving your body, your imperfections, or just the things that make you, you! Through my few years struggling with mental health problems, I have learnt that there are others out there like me, others who struggle just as much as me, and sometimes more. We’re all in this together, we all need to stop putting stupid stereotypes on mental health, as it’s these stereotypes that force some people to believe they’re abnormal, weird, unusual, freaks.

No one with mental health problems is alone. Find what you love to do, and do it! I love blogging, and expressing my feelings in a digital scrapbook.

I love you and your mental health hurdles. Please don’t forget that.

Stay strong xx

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Why A #Hashtag Is Not Enough

Photo: http://www.hellyeahjustlikethat.co.uk

By Molly Weisner

Social media is a powerful thing. Even in just the last five years, its influence has taken on a much more serious tone, from its involvement in elections to its ability to capture disturbing hostility both at home and abroad. Suddenly, small town tragedies that might seem remote are being brought to our front doors. Social media, because of its adopted priority in American life, makes it difficult for people to ignore the very real issues being faced by groups who might otherwise be unheard. It gets people talking about solutions, but that’s it. People are just talking. Sure, one hundred and forty characters and a trending hashtag is one nice looking sentiment, but is it saving lives? Is it outlining a plan for reform? Is it petitioning legislature? While good at creating a platform for awareness, social media must do more than that. And if it’s not, if the line stops where the tweet ends, then it’s not enough.

 It’s not that social media as a whole is an ineffective tool in promoting social change; it’s just that it’s often the only tool. For the most part, the ability to start virtual petitions and follow government officials online encourages people to be active and well-informed citizens. Politicians, in return, get an intimate view of various public concerns. However, let’s face it; there’s still little guaranteeing they’ll do something about it.

 Social media activism drowns itself in its own potential. Think about it: the Internet is giant treasure trove full of all sorts of information. When everybody is demanding justice on behalf of a hundred different things, each cause gets lost in a sea of other equally as “unbelievable” and “horrifying” wrongs. Logging on to any social media platform at any time of the day reveals just a massive collection of complaints. In the same breath that we post a complaint, we scroll right past others that are probably equally as important. We’ve all done it, though. We think social media activism works when we’re the author, but pay no mind to another hashtag-happy user’s outrage. The overestimated impact we think we have reveals that “liking” a sad story or slapping down a quick hashtag is a self-indulgent way of feeling like we’ve made a difference. And as an altruistic people, it’s only natural that we feel the need to fix harmful aspects of our society. (Kudos to us!) So if we really want to all be Supermen and Superwomen, we need to give social media activism some supplements.

 Here’s the deal: it’s time to put more emphasis on educating America’s youth about tolerance, diversity, and cooperation. If each person took it upon himself to be a role model of compassion and integrity, old traditions of prejudice and bad habits wouldn’t be passed on. Then, our children will grow up preaching their own good morals on social media and the happy cycle of goodness continues. Some will dispute how bad-proof this plan actually is, but kids only become hateful when they’re taught that way. Racism isn’t a gene; it can be bred out.

 The secret to a safer world is complex; advocating and petitioning and debating online is not enough if we want to see real change. But, it’s also simple: teach love, get love. And then become Superman.

xx Molly Weisner

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A Mini-Guide to Ethical Shopping & Consumption

Photo:  www.instagram.com/opialuna

By  Auna B. Grignoli

In the fast-paced world we live in today, it’s not always easy to keep the ethical side of things in mind. Our friends, Instagram feeds, and the world is always telling us, “Go! Buy! Spend!” which can shield us from the true side of how our clothes, food, or décor are made. Many people of all ages and communities (and animals!) suffer when things are made, with child labor or in dangerous and inhumane environments. 

In this piece, I will be telling you three foolproof ways to jumpstart your ethical consumption and shopping lifestyle. Trust me – it’ll be easier than you think!

Photo: www.americanapparel.tumblr.com

1.     Fast-fashion: Going into clothing stores like Forever21 and H&M, it can be very tempting to buy the entire stock because of how cheap everything is. However, do not let the price tag fool you! A lot of fast-fashion companies, such as Forever21, H&M, and Old Navy, use child labor or have cruel work environments. Additionally, there is a huge toll fast-fashion takes on the environment. While fast-fashion is essential to the fashion economy, take note of what you are buying next time you step into another storefront. Are those silver hoops really worth it if they’re just going to turn brassy in the next week? How about those $10 jeans that still smell like the factory?

I realize that not everybody can afford $198 Reformation dresses or $80 ethically-made silk tanks, but I urge you to be conscious of what you buy when at fast-fashion retailers. Do you really need it, or are you just buying because of the satisfaction of buying? 

Fortunately, a lot of fast-fashion retailers realize their own practices, and have made lines dedicated to sustainable clothing. Check out H&M’s Conscious Collection or ASOS’ Eco Edit next time you want to support sustainability in an affordable way!

Photo: www.an-tisocialoptimist.tumblr.com 

2.     Food: In the 9th grade I was shown Food, Inc. in a health ed class (pretty progressive for a traditional Catholic high school, am I right?), and it changed the way I looked at food forever. A lot of the products we see at local and chain grocery stores are not produced in an ethical or sustainable way. In order to be more conscious of what you buy, try to progress towards a vegan, vegetarian, or just plain organic, fair-trade lifestyle. While these ethical products may be more expensive than the others, I guarantee that the extra dollars are worth it. Also, online organic, fair-trade retailers (and even Amazon!) tend to be less expensive! Again, especially with food, I suggest you do more research in what interests you and works best for your lifestyle. Not everyone can use the same meal or food plan—it has to be adjusted to the life you lead and what is doable for you.

Photo: www.tumblr.com

3.     Beauty Products: Testing on animals is something I’ve never understood. Why should animals have to suffer for our beauty and skin care products? I’ve recently made the switch to using all cruelty-free products, and it’s been great! In fact, with more companies realizing this, there are more cruelty-free products on the market than ever before! It does take some time researching on the Internet and reading product labels, but our mindfulness will benefit us and our furry friends! There are a ton of informative videos and articles on the Internet about making the switch to cruelty-free products, and it definitely is not as hard as it seems! There is probably a dupe (if not better product) for your setting powder by L’Oreal or waterproof mascara by Maybelline. Check out brands like Glossier, Wet n Wild, Mario Badescu, and Essence to get a head start on using humane products.

By no means is this the only “guide” you should read—after taking in all of the follow information. Don’t be afraid to do some further research, join online groups, and find the best plan that works with you and your life!

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The Importance of Living in the Moment //

GIF source: http://flyngdream.tumblr.com

By Ketki Mkar

Now, midst first reading, this appears to be the elaborate title of an even more eloquent book, written in the height of eloquence about how you, yes YOU, a mere mortal can change your lifestyle to look like grinning bubbles of people doing the most elaborate activities every weekend.

Wrong.

Although, you and I are both mortal ((I assure you of the latter)) this daunting idea of living in the moment, and making every second count, is mildly a paradox. We all are sensitive emotional beings that constantly feel. Aggravated, ecstatic, dejected, is a selective few, of how turbulent we really are. Do you wonder, why we name storms after people?

But it’s a thrill to feel, no matter how downwardly dastardly the emotion is, because it’s essential to growth. Taking time off, because the world just doesn’t feel quite right, is perfectly okay. You are not submissive to your emotions, rather, you simply are your emotions. They cause you to draw away from moments, and sometimes make you feel every heartbeat to its very core, but uniquely, they are what makes you.

So how then, are we expected to live in every moment? Smiles wide, teeth out, and this summery scented bliss? That sounds like a candle name – how are we supposed to be shimmery scented candles every second of the day?

The truth is, we’re not. And that’s where the Importance comes in.

Living in the moment, is really not grinning bubbles of you doing elaborate activities every weekend. At least, it doesn’t have to be. Living in the moment, is to fully allow yourself to be in tune with what’s happening. Laugh until you cry, in understanding that life is a beautiful beautiful thing, and no moment is the same as the next. You will feel so many things in your lifetime, and you will also learn to deal with all them, and within each second passing, you will also learn that each moment is important, because here you are, grinning, sobbing, breathing, and living within it. In this chaotic organised mess of moments which you can also call, truly your life.