Majexs03 - Aprilph

"Be confident, trust yourself and never let anybody put you down. If anybody puts you down it's because they're jealous."- Adriana Lima

favorite books on herbal beauty?

There is a difference between being with someone because you want to get married and have kids & being with someone you want to marry & give children to

One is driven by a desire to fulfill personal goals, while the other is rooted in a deep connection & a desire to build a life together

If you’re ready to get married, date someone who wants to be a husband/wife and a father/mother, not a someone that just wants a spouse and a baby

I been tracking my mood & I think social media is affecting my mood tremendously. Anything you recommend for boredom without instagram, tik tok , twitter , and even limiting myself on tumblr. I mentally can’t afford to spend so much time like this behind a screen.

I have the perfect thing to focus on….. yourself 😍❤️

These are all the things I do, that I thorougly enjoy and aren’t related to social media… and they all make me better too.

Cooking, farmers markets

Learning and taking notes about health, beauty, history etc

Learning new languages

Reading

A very extensive beauty routine

Going on long walks, grounding

Making my million juices

Pilates

Stock market

Creative hobbies

Journaling

Hair, nails

More income related things

Etc etc etc

I set a timer on my phone, and I limit my social media use to one hour a day. When you focus too much on others, you end up living for them instead of yourself. But when you spend your time on things that fulfill you and help you grow, you stop feeling like you’re missing out. You won’t care what others are doing because you’ll be busy doing what makes you feel good.

Start doing things that make you happy & help you improve. Think of time away from the internet as a way to take control of your mind and emotions. Value your time and invest your energy in things that truly give you a high ROI.

Hi Elle,

Did you take any etiquette classes, or red any books about etiquette? If so what did you take away from it? In general what is some basic etiquette everyone should know?

Yes, my mother made my sister and me take etiquette classes when we were growing up, where we learned how to make small talk, use cutlery properly, do the fox trot, and all that. It felt like torture at the time, but now that I'm an adult, I'm incredibly grateful for it. There are countless teachings I believe everyone should know, but I'll keep it simple and list the basics:

Socializing:

Greetings and Introductions:

Initiate Greetings: In formal settings, greeting the host and senior individuals first is polite.

Introduce Yourself with Confidence: When introducing yourself, make eye contact, smile, and offer a firm (but gentle) handshake.

Remember Names: Pay attention to names during introductions, and try to use them in conversation to show attentiveness.

Conversation Etiquette:

Avoid Monopolizing Conversations: Engage in a balanced dialogue exchange; avoid dominating the conversation.

Graceful Interruptions: If you must interrupt, do so politely with a soft “Excuse me” or “May I add…?”

Ending Conversations: Close conversations gracefully, e.g., “It was a pleasure speaking with you,” before moving on to another guest.

Small Talk and Topics:

Safe Topics: Stick to light, neutral topics like travel, the arts, or current (non-controversial) events.

Avoid Over-sharing: Keep personal matters private; maintain an air of mystery and sophistication.

Dining:

Seating Etiquette:

Wait to Be Seated: Wait until the host signals to sit, or until you’re guided to your seat.

Seating Order: If you’re hosting, guide guests to their seats based on seniority or guest of honor status.

Table Manners:

Utensil Use: Start with the outermost utensils and work your way in as the courses progress. After you've cut your food, make sure you move your for to your left hand even if it feels counterintuitive,

Bread and Butter: Tear off a small piece of bread, butter it on your plate, and eat it, rather than buttering the entire slice.

Resting Utensils: When pausing, place utensils on the plate in a “resting” position, such as crossed or angled.

Handling Courses:

Soup Etiquette: Spoon soup away from you and sip from the edge of the spoon without slurping.

Pacing: Match your pace to the host or the most senior individual at the table. Don't rush or lag behind.

Events:

RSVP and Invitations:

Timely Response: Respond to invitations promptly and never bring uninvited guests unless explicitly allowed.

Respect Time: Arrive on time, especially for formal events, but not more than 15 minutes early.

Host and Guest Responsibilities:

Host Etiquette: As a host, introduce guests to each other, especially if they don’t know anyone else.

Guest Behavior: Engage with other guests, but don’t cling to one person for the entire event. Mingle politely.

Handling Alcohol:

Moderation: Drink alcohol in moderation. Know your limits and avoid overindulgence.

Toast Etiquette: Stand if a toast is being made in your honor, and wait to drink until after the toast is given.

Dressing:

Dress Code Adherence:

Understand the Code: Whether it’s black tie, cocktail, or casual, always adhere strictly to the dress code specified on the invitation.

Subtle Elegance: Opt for classic, understated pieces that are elegant but not overly flashy.

Grooming and Accessories:

Impeccable Grooming: Make sure your hair, nails, and makeup are neatly done and appropriate for the occasion.

Minimalist Accessories: Choose simple, elegant accessories that complement but do not overpower your outfit.

How suppressing emotions affects your body

We may think holding back feelings, especially difficult ones, helps us cope. However, neuroscience shows that bottling up emotions, particularly negative ones, directly impacts our brain and body

Fear, anger, and anxiety trigger the body's "fight or flight" response. Suppressing them keeps the body in a prolonged stress state, leading to cortisol release, a weaker immune system, high blood pressure, and increased heart disease risk

Suppressing emotions doesn’t stop stress—it lets it fester. Ever feel your shoulders tense or jaw tighten when stressed? That’s your body storing emotions, which can cause chronic muscle pain, headaches, and tension

The brain and gut are deeply connected. When overwhelmed with suppressed emotions, the gut responds with bloating, constipation, and IBS. Emotional suppression also affects mental health, increasing anxiety, depression, and emotional numbness. The brain struggles to regulate emotions when they remain unprocessed

Long term suppression raises inflammation levels, contributing to autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and heart disease. A mental block can escalate into serious health issues if emotional stress is ignored

No emotion, good or bad, is harmful—emotions are signals guiding us. Anger can push us to take action, sadness helps us process loss, and fear prepares us for challenges. The issue isn’t the emotions themselves but how we handle them. Suppressing them only prolongs their impact

By embracing our emotions we can maintain a healthier mind and body. It’s not the emotions themselves that cause harm, but our resistance to them

It’s okay to feel. Your body and mind will thank you

Hello there. I find you blog extremely inspiring.

I myself am something of a "former gifted kid". Back in school I was at the top of the grade, best skin, many skills etc etc. And though I'm still *extremely* young (~20) I've descended into a hellish level where I look disgusting, can't study properly or am performing poorly, my hobbies are all well and good but I can't spare time to do some actual intense projects like I used to, I couldn't get into med school this year and yeah. I just feel like shit. I'm trying my best to rebuild my life. Sorry for the rambling.

Everyone has their up and down cycles. This too shall pass.

Whenever you’re struggling/ having a hard time sticking to a routine, there is only one solution. Break your goals down to not more than 3, which can be achieved in a year.

One. your most important goal seems to be med school. What are the two-three habits that you need in order to achieve that?

two. Unless your school counsellor or advisor has recommended you take on intense projects, I think it would be a better use of your time to focus primarily on med school. Eliminate distractions and things that do not directly contribute to your main goal of getting into college.

if med school is not in the books anymore, talk to counsellors, advisors, alumni, teachers, and most importantly - figure out what it is you truly want to do in your career.

three. If med school is still your top choice, and you want to try again…. If you can’t study properly, stop studying the way you have been your whole life. There’s no one single way of studying properly. You can create a schedule that’s a mix of flash cards, videos, Quizlet, tv shows that are directly related to your career choice, podcasts, magazines, books, tv interviews… If any of my followers have any more suggestions for OP, shoot below!

and lastly. It’s okay to not look like a beauty pageant 24/7. Like I said, make your routine simple. A 20 minute run, a weekly face mask, focusing on skincare (face wash, toner, sunscreen and moisturiser is more than enough at your age), showering regularly, eating loads of veggies and fruits, drinking water - what goes inside your body is more important than how you look outside. The second you fix your inside, your outside gets fixed.