My Top 10 Tips for Online Learning

Many schools are switching to online learning this year, and this has many students and parents worried about how this will affect their education, college applications, and home/social life. The switch to online school is a temporary one for most kids due to current circumstances with the virus. 
If this is your first time reading my blog, my name's Lauren and I grew up as a child model which meant I switched to online school for high school. 
My parents are both very traditionally educated, my dad's a lawyer and my mom works in business. My parents were also worried about how an online education would affect my education but as we went through it, we realized that this type of education is the wave of the future. I graduated from Laurel Springs School, an accredited private online school, and am now going into my junior year at Harvard University. Online school was a gift to me to be able to follow and achieve my dreams. It was the best experience, and I always made sure that school came first, which is why I'm studying at Harvard today. That being said, I know the ropes of online schooling very well and have gathered my best tips for a successful year. 

1. My first tip is to stay organized. Online school means that you are in control of your schedule. Therefore, you need to be a self-starter. Make a daily schedule and to do list every morning. This will allow you to see what you need to get done, so you won't miss any important dates or deadlines. If you're looking for a new daily/yearly planner, this one is really great and comes with stickers! 
Another extra tip is to make sure to keep your desk neat. This will lead you to have a more productive day. 
2. Set your alarm and wake up at the same time everyday. When you are doing online school, it's easy to get into the habit of sleeping in and taking naps. Keep the same schedule that you would have at a traditional on-campus school. 
3. Take a shower and put on everyday clothes. Don't change back into pajamas. You will feel so much more productive and less tired if you put on an outfit that you feel good in. 
4. Make time to go outside. Go for walks, sit outside, and take breaks. You don't want to be on the computer, all day everyday. 
5. Utilize all online materials. There are so many online resources that can help you with a subject or topic you are confused about. Some websites that may be helpful are youtube, Khan Academy, Course Hero, and Quizlet. Amazon has lots of helpful digital learning materials. 
6. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Some subjects are impossible to teach yourself, so don't be afraid to reach out to teachers, tutors, and online resources. When I was traveling or on set for modeling, I always had a teacher with me so I didn't have to teach myself the lessons. 
7. Don't procrastinate. Online school makes it really easy to get behind in homework. You will eventually have to complete everything and if you get behind, you will suffer in the end. Trust me, been there!
8. Find a quiet space to work. Designate a specific work space in a quiet area where you can focus. 
9. Find ways to be social.Given that we are living through a pandemic right now, being social might include FaceTiming with friends, playing games with family, or joining an online club.
10. Limit social media and distractions. I have my text messages connected to my computer, so I like to turn off notifications when I'm working by clicking do not disturb. This allows me to limit distractions. I'd also recommend taking breaks. I like to use the pomodoro technique, where you study or work in 25 minutes intervals and then take a break. This way you get work and homework done, without being overworked or overwhelmed. 
I hope these tips helped you. Comment below any tips you have!
xoxo

The Best Cozy Loungewear Sets for Working From Home

More and more people are working from home because of the Coronavirus. I've been social distancing in my house for months now. In the beginning, after I showered, I would just throw on sweat pants, but I didn't feel good about myself. I'm someone who loves dressing up and getting ready in the morning, so being at home has been really different. I've found a much better alternative to looking fashionable and feeling great at home! I love wearing loungewear sets because they are super comfortable, but still look really cute. It's feels like you're wearing pajamas but can still grab coffee (drive thru Starbucks for me), do homework, go to zoom meetings, clean, and feel productive. Femme Luxe has so many different loungewear set options and they are still completely affordable. 

I wanted to try two different styles of loungewear. The first one I picked was the loungewear tracksuit set in the color Wine. This set is super warm and cozy for snuggling up on the couch with a coffee and good book. The color also reminds me of Christmas time. 

The pants on all four sets are jogger style with pockets. The jogger style means that they are tight around the ankles. I prefer this style over sweatpants because they are more form fitting and don't look sloppy.

The next set is the long sleeve loungewear set in the color Camel. I love this color!! It's not as eye catching as the wine, so I would wear this to run errands. 

I also picked the cropped loungewear set in grey and black. These cropped sets are really cute. The top is long sleeve with a v-neckline which is a bit off the shoulders. This is a really flattering top to show off your collarbone. The top is very cropped but the joggers are high waisted so not too much skin is showing. These two different styles are very different from each other, but I like them both a lot. 

Which set is your favorite?
*Thank you to Femme Luxe for sponsoring this post

Best Father's Day Gift Ideas 2020

Father's Day is right around the corner so I've picked out the best gift ideas for your dad. If your dad is anything like mine, he's very hard to buy for. I rounded up a list of gift ideas that can work for every dad. 
 Sweet Card Every dad would love a thoughtful card. This one is simple and has room for you to add your own note. 
Go Pro Go Pro's are great for an adventurous dad! He can record videos and take photos of everything. Go Pro's are really easy to use and can be mounted to bikes, boats, cars, and anything else you choose. These cameras work underwater and film everything in HD, while stabilizing the recording. This is perfect for a dad who loves to record all of the family's adventures. 
Echo Dot The Alexa Echo Dot allows you to get news updates, see the time and set alarms, send reminders, voice control your home, play games, play music, and ask questions. It's really small so it can fit on any counter, shelf, or table. It's also super easy to use and will help your dad save a lot of time.   
Airpods AirPods are bluetooth headphones that can connect to your phone or computer. They are great when you are moving around the house or working out, and you still want to listen to music or a podcast. 
Dad Joke Book This dad joke book will make the whole family laugh. 
Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill This portable grill can be used indoors and outdoors. It comes with a stand to make grilling easy outside and is perfect to use inside on a countertop. This will allow your dad to cook year-round, regardless of the weather. It's also perfect to use in apartments!
Grilling Tools These grill tools are the essential BBQ set. This is the perfect gift set for any dad who loves to grill! 
Battleship
Jenga
Connect 4 This retro battleship game makes for a really good gift. You can wrap a couple of different games and play them with your family on Father's Day! 
Bucket List Book My dad loves exploring new places and he has his own bucket list that I swear is a mile long! It's a fun family activity to look through the book, at all the new places you can visit!

My Top Ten Amazon Purchases

Good morning! I love shopping on Amazon so I thought I would write about my top ten purchases right now. Here are ten things that I'm loving. All the products mentioned are linked so you can try them too!

Essential Oil Diffuser  An essential oil diffuser makes your home smell amazing and can help with sleep. 
Diffuser Oil Pack I completely recommend this diffuser oil pack! It's priced so well and comes with six different scents. The lavender oil is my favorite. Just mix a few drops to the water in your diffuser and your room will smell good for hours. 
Homesick Candle I bought one of these candles for my sister as a Christmas present and she loved it. They come in every state and are supposed to remind you of home when your homesick. Such a cute idea and they smell amazing!
Glass Shelf I have this glass shelf in my bathroom and I love it. It's the perfect way to display some cute products. 
Brita Water Filter  The Brita water filter is the best one I've tried! I had one in my apartment and at my parents house in Los Angeles. 
Glass Tumbler with Straw This tumbler is perfect for running errands. I love bringing iced coffee or water with me.
Reusable straws I try to always use reusable straws. You can make such a difference just by switching to reusable straws. So many marine animals die every year from choking on plastic straws. These metal ones are easy to carry around and come with a brush to clean them.
Planner I love writing in my planner and staying organized. I like to write a lot of to-do lists and make sure I have my day planned out so I can get everything done. The layout of this planner is my favorite because there are monthly and daily layouts. I use the monthly layout to write down any important dates, appointments, or meetings. Then, I use the daily layout to plan each day, the night before. 
Milk Frother This milk frother is great to make at home lattes and comes in lots of different colors. You can use it to make matcha, hot chocolate, lattes, and macchiatos. 
Face Masks I love these face masks! They are perfect for a spa night in your house! 

What I Eat in a Day + Healthy Recipes

Happy Tuesday! Today I'm sharing what I like to eat in a day. I try to eat pretty healthy and usually stick to a vegetarian diet. I'd love to go vegan in the future! 
My meals change depending on my schedule that day. Normally, I'm running around and on the go but everyone is home right now due to the Coronavirus, so I'm trying to get better at cooking. I also want to start meal prepping for the week. 
I always start my morning with a cup of hot water and lemon. After I get ready for the day, I have a latte or cappuccino. If I'm working or have class, I'll grab coffee at Starbucks or Peets Coffee. If I'm at home I use our Miele Machine, which will make any coffee drink with the touch of a button!
In this post, I will be linking some of the ingredients I use, to make it easier for my readers to find. 
For breakfast, I love eating Avocado Toast. I use whole grain seed bread, mashed avocado, a drizzle of lemon, and crushed red pepper.

For lunch, I made a Buddha Bowl. I recently discovered these and I've been making them all the time!
They consist of: A green such as spinach or kale A protein such as beans or chickpeas A grain such as rice or quinoa  A healthy carb such as fruit A healthy fat such as avocado or nuts  Extra flavors such as spices, dressing, or onions 
All you do is pick out your ingredients and mix them together in a bowl. So easy and a healthy lunch for when you are on the go or at home! 
They are so delicious and a great way to eat healthy and still have a meal with flavor. You can also change up the ingredients everyday! My mom and I make these all the time together. 
For dinner, I made Whole Wheat Rosé Pasta. This was so delicious and took barely any time to make! 

For this recipe you'll need:
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved 3 tablespoons olive oil black pepper 1 pound uncooked whole wheat pasta 1 large shallot, peeled and thinly sliced 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced 3 tablespoons of flour 3 tablespoons of tomato paste 1 1/2 cups dry rosé wine 2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup Parmesan 3 handfuls baby spinach 1/4 cup thinly-sliced fresh basil leaves 1. Heat your oven to 400°F. Spread the tomatoes on a lined baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes and let them cool. 2. Cook the pasta in a large pot and begin making the sauce.  3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a separate large pan. Add the shallot and cook for 4 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute, while stirring. Stir in the flour and tomato paste until evenly combined. Gradually pour in the rosé, followed by the milk, and whisk until combined. Continue cooking the sauce until it simmers and thickens. Reduce the heat to medium low and let simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Stir in the parmesan to the sauce and combine the cooked pasta, roasted tomatoes, spinach, and basil together in a pot. Stir together until the spinach has wilted and the sauce has coated the pasta. Enjoy! Some of my favorite snacks are:  Smoothies  Apples with peanut butter Yogurt with granola  Bowl of berries Granola Bars

xoxo

What I Wear to Runway Castings

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Tuesday's are always my busiest day with classes and homework, so I'm always happy when the day is over and I get to get into bed. 

With quarantine happening for at least the rest of the month, I have been missing modeling so much! I'm working on some upcoming projects while at home but I can't wait to get traveling and modeling again. 

I thought I'd make a post about what I wear to castings. I haven't seen many people write about what the casting process is like for runway modeling. The week before LA Models shut down because of Coronavirus, I had two runway castings and one runway show. 

Casting directors want to see you at your most natural. For runway castings, I come with very little to no makeup. If you want to see the products I use, you can read about it here. Sometimes, they will ask you to put your hair up so I always bring a rubber band. 

In runway modeling, you are basically the mannequin for the clothes. I wear all black to castings because it's easier for them to picture you in their clothes. Never wear any labels or patterns because it can call attention and make you stand out for the wrong reasons. I wear black leggings and a tight black tank top. In the winter, I'd wear a tight black turtleneck instead of tank top. I like to wear heeled boots rather than stilettos, because I think it looks more laidback and they are so much easier to walk in. You will most likely be changing at the casting, so wear nude underwear. I always bring my Tory Burch backpack to keep my portfolio and comp cards in. I think it adds some style while still looking professional. 

xoxo

Productive Things To Do During Self-Isolation

Life feels like a movie right now. It's spring break, but due to the Corona Virus outbreak, everyone is stuck at home. I'm back in Los Angeles with my family and trying to stay in as much as possible. Colleges have transferred to online using Zoom, and all of my modeling shoots and upcoming fashion shows have been canceled. That being said, I have a lot more time on my hands so expect lots of new posts! Today, I'll be writing about all the productive things you can be doing while stuck at home. 
I'm sure mostly everyone, including myself, used the first couple days of quarantine to watch Netflix and relax. Right now, no one is sure when we will be able to go back to normal life so here are eleven things to do when you are bored and still want to be productive.
1. Clean out your closet.
You can donate and sell clothes online through Poshmark, ThredUp, Buffalo Exchange, and Depop.  Buffalo Exchange and ThredUp will send you a bag in the mail to fill your clothes with. All you have to do is send it back to them. They will sell your clothes for you and send you a check. This is the easiest way to sell your clothes!
2. Get ahead on homework and final projects
With your extra free time, you can get ahead on homework or any work projects that you have been procrastinating. I've been working on my final papers in all my classes and I signed up for two summer classes.
3. Redecorate or clean your room
Having a space that you love is so important. Buy some new things for your room and get rid of any clutter. Do a deep clean by dusting, vacuuming, and organizing your things. 
4. Sell or donate your old books and textbooks
To get rid of more clutter, you can donate or even sell your old books and textbooks. There are a bunch of websites that will give you money for your old books such as Bookfinder or BookScouter. It's a great way to clear out and make some extra money!
5. Read
You can finally get to those books you've been wanting to read!

6. Make a dream board with goals for the future.
Dream boards are so inspiring. I create one every year of all the things I want to accomplish during the year. You can print out pictures and make a collage with your dreams. Every time you look at it, it will inspire you to start working towards your goals! 
7. Learn a new skill
Whether it's cooking, painting, or learning a new language, learning skills are a great way to spend your time. 
8. Look for new opportunities
Research new school or work opportunities; maybe it's changing companies, learning how to start your own business, or applying to graduate school. 
9. Work on self care.
Spend time taking care of yourself. Take a bath, put on a face mask, drink lots of water, lay in the sun, and catch up on your sleep schedule. 

10. Work out and stretch
While you are stuck inside, grab a yoga mat and do a workout. There are tons of workout videos on youtube. 
11. Make a Difference From Home
You can donate your time by volunteering from home. You can decorate cards for senior citizens, make toys for animals, or create bird feeders. 
What productive things are you doing at home? xoxo

New Photos for LA Models

I recently updated my portfolio for my modeling agency, LA Models, and wanted to post some of the pictures! My photographer was Mark Mendez and he was so great. We shot these photos in an alley, behind a supermarket, in Los Angeles. Proof that you don't need to be in a studio to get cool photos! 

Elton John's Oscar Party 2020

Last week, I went to Elton John's Oscar Party. This was my third year going and every year is so much fun. I was supposed to be in Boston that weekend for a class but I had to change my schedule around because when you get invited to Elton John's party, you go!
The first part of the night is to walk the red carpet. This is when you get your pictures taken by a bunch of different photographers and do interviews. This year, I did my own hair and makeup which I was really nervous about but I think it turned out okay!    My dress is by JarloLondon and my shoes are by Nina New York. For jewelry, I'm wearing a ring by ShaneCo that my boyfriend bought me for Christmas and a necklace that my grandma gave me. 
This was my little sister's first year going and she looked so beautiful. She's in the entertainment industry too and is always doing amazing things! You can follow her on instagram @graciedundee.

During dinner, everyone watches the Oscar Award Show. Last year, Gordon Ramsey was the chef! After drinks and dinner, the auction begins. The auction is always crazy! Elton John's piano was sold for over $200,000. Other auction items were Vanity Fair Afterparty tickets, trips, and a signed picture of Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Elton John gave a speech and introduced Sam Fender and his band. They performed some songs while everyone danced the night away. 

Towards the end of the night, Elton John always performs a song! 

Award Show season is always so fun and I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to go again. 

Can't wait until next year...

xoxo

Get Ready With Me | "No Makeup" Makeup Look

Good morning! I hope you're all having an amazing week. I'm trying out a new blog format where I'm making videos to insert into my blog. Let me know if you like this style better than just writing.
I'm going to be showing you how I do my makeup for modeling castings or meetings. I call this my "no makeup" makeup look. I love how natural it looks! 
I start with my Clinique lotion. Clinique has a ton of different lotions for every skin type.

Then, I use my Clinique CC Cream in the shade "light". I've used this for years and I love it because it looks so natural. CC Cream stands for color corrector so this is a great product for you if your skin tone isn't completely even. I have some redness to my skin and it completely covers it. It also has SPF 30 in it.

Next, I use my NARS concealer in the shade "Vanilla". I apply it under my eyes to get rid of any dark circles.

For eyebrows, I use the Benefit GimmeBrow Gel in the shade 3.5.

For mascara, I use Neutrogena's Healthy Volume Mascara. It's super easy to remove, has no clumps, and the formula protects your lashes. 

The last step I do is a little bit of bronzer. I use Benefit Cosmetic's Hoola Bronzer.

I hope you enjoyed getting ready with me! Let me know what you think of the video.

xoxo