Dealing with mean girls

Hi,
It is a simple fact- at some point everyone is going to have someone be mean to them, no matter who they are and sometimes for no apparent reason. Today I am going to share a few researched tips on ways to deal with people who are being horrible to you, or you are in an argument with.

Everyone, at some point, will experience being the 'mean girl' and being the victim. Being the victim is no fun, and we have all been there. It is hard, and horrible and sometimes it feels like there is nothing you can do. Try these few things next time you are the victim, and see if it makes a difference.

1. Don't assume someone is horrible
It is important to remember that just because someone is being nasty one day doesn't mean they are a horrible person- you have no idea what is going on in their life. This is no excuse for being mean, but you still need to understand that there is almost always a reason behind this- it may just have nothing to do with you. Remembering this when you are being targeted is hard, but will almost certainly help you understand why this is happening. For more information, make sure you look at some websites, such as this one, about reasons behind bullying and nastiness.

2.Tell and adult.
You don't have dob the person in, but make sure that an adult knows that something is going on. They can then support you, and it will be much easier to explain when something that needs their attention happens. A lot of people think they can deal with it on their own, but having someone else (preferably an adult) know what is going on can be invaluable.

3. Don't spread it.
One of the worse things you can do, and one of the ways to most upset the 'mean' girl, is telling everyone about the issue- and getting more people involved. It is best to just leave the issue, and only tell one close friend if you absolutely have to.

4.Don't be mean back.
Don't give them anything they can use against you. If they say something, don't retaliate, and don't send messages when you are angry. And perhaps most importantly, don't give them back what they are giving to you.

5.Try and avoid talking/messaging on social media
Texting or sending messages is not the best way to deal with any situation. Try and avoid confronting or talking to someone who is being mean to you any way that isn't face to face, especially because messages can be taken the wrong way or used against you.

6.Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of emotional/mental abuse that involves manipulation of events, conversations and actions to make the victim believe they did something that they didn't do, or that they are actually the one in the wrong. Make sure you are aware of how to recognise gaslighting, and how to respond to it. It is really important to stop yourself from believing this stuff, because it can be really damaging and affect you dramatically.

Hopefully you'll remember these tips when you are next in one of these situations. If you need some more information this and this website may be useful.

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Relaxation

Hi,

I've been going through a lot of stress and pressure lately, especially with the end of assessment time at school and all the things that have been going on. I know that it is really important to relax and take some time out, especially when things are super busy and today I am going to share some ways to relax.

Why should you relax?

Stress is often seen as such an ugly word, and a horrible thing. Whilst this is not always the case it is important to take some time out, give your mind a break and relax. Relaxation does (according to this site) have some important health benefits including reduce your risk of some disease, improving your mood, reducing risk of depression and assist with decision making. It is actually a necessary part of your lifestyle. Believe it or not!

How do I relax?

Relaxing doesn't always mean sitting on the beach looking out to the horizon and day-dreaming. Although I wish it were true that is very rarely the case for many people. There are heaps of different ways to relax, google ways to relax and thousands of ways appear, today I am going to share a few of them with you. (I used this website)

Journal
Journalling (or maybe bullet journalling?) gives your creative side a chance to have a go, and that is really important. It gives you a chance to unwind and let all of your problems go. Try grabbing a notebook and a pen and give journalling a go, I'd love to hear if it works.

List the good things
Make a list of some of the things you are grateful for, or that you did that you are proud of. I've never tried it but apparently this is a great way to let go and be happy.

Be in nature.
Going outside and sitting in the garden, or (if you are lucky enough) onto the beach can be a great way to re-evaluate the situation and remember what is important.

Do some colouring in.
This is one of my favourite ways to relax, and there are so many 'adult' colouring books out there you have so much to choose from. Spending anywhere between 10 minutes and hours colouring really helps me to de-stress and relax. Particularly if I am having trouble sleeping.

Do something you love
If you get nothing else out of this list, I hope you take away that finding and doing something you love is the best way to relax, there is no magic solution- you have to find what works for you.

Hopefully you can get something out of this post and feel better by giving yourself time to relax. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Have a great weekend.

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Having an Creative Outlet

Hello,
Did you enjoy my bullet journal post? I loved writing it! Writing blog posts gives me a chance to have a break from school, and all the other things I have to do, it lets me be myself and have a chance to share my ideas. Today I wanted to share some thoughts about having a creative outlet, such as this one, and what it does for me...enjoy!

Before you go 'oh, I'm not creative', consider this: creativity doesn't have to be painting drawing (which is lucky for me, I cannot do either), it, by definition, is use of imagination or original ideas to create something. Creativity simply means using your imagination to create something. And that something can be anything...from a photo, to a story, or even a blog. Don't tell yourself creative outlets are never going to work for you because you aren't creative. Everyone has an imagination- it's the thing that keeps you up at night worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow, and the thing stopping you from climbing a tree- because you are imagining falling. Don't let your imagination be wasted- use it for good!

Our world has become so obsessed with doing everything 'right' that we are losing our creativity. At school, I am constantly told exactly how to do something- and that there is no alternative. We almost never do something just to 'get it out', everything is about meeting deadlines, being good and getting it done well, quickly. Having some way to keep a hold of your creativity is really important, and it can make a whole lot of difference in later life. Expressing yourself and taking some time to do what you want is vital to staying mentally-healthy.

For me, having a creative outlet is really important, everything is always so serious and fact-based that I need some time to just do whatever I want and not let it be right or wrong. A creative outlet allows me to be free to express myself, without worrying about how it will affect me later. Even art classes at school cannot really be counted as a creative outlet because there is a lot of pressure to do something, and that can take the fun away from it.

One of the ways I use my creativity is through blogging. Whilst blogging is not necessarily entirely creative- it does give me the freedom to say whatever I want, without having to worry about what other people will think. It lets me get my opinions heard, when they may not be heard otherwise...

I find that blogging, and the other creative things I do, helps me de-stress and re-focus. When I have a huge day with lots of studying and/or homework, taking a small break to blog, take a few photos or just write helps me concentrate and be much more focused on what I need to do. Having a break to do something I love, and use some of the other parts of my brain really is one of the most effective ways for me to get a lot done.

Hopefully, from reading that, you understand why I believe a creative outlet is important. I assume, that you are now considering taking up some form of creative outlet yourself (if you don't already have one). Remember, when you are choosing \what you want to use to express yourself make sure it is

• Fun and enjoyable- having something that just stresses you out is not going to achieve anything.
• Not too time-consuming- make sure that you can fit whatever you choose into your schedule i.e. don't take up blogging if you will never be able to find the time to post.
• Not based on what other people think- it's their loss if they don't like something you do, and choosing something just because that's what everyone else is doing is not a great way to find a way to express yourself. Different things work for different people.
• Not full of pressure- doing something creative with pressure to do well, or succeed is sometimes great. But never forget that it is important to have some no-pressure time to just express yourself too.

I'd love to know what you do to express yourself, maybe I can find a new creative outlet, let me your thoughts in the comments below. Don't forget to take some me time once in a while.

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5 tips to help you manage peak-assessment time.

Hey,
It's just past the middle of term 3 for me and that means that all the assessment is piling up, there are so many dates to remember, things to write and bibliographies to write. Sometimes it all feels a bit too much and like you will never be able to get over the workload but using the tips and websites below will hopefully help make things a bit easier for you, and help you achieve your best. (I know they all help me a lot).

1.Make an assessment calendar! This is a super simple and easy way to know what is coming up. Assessment planners are pretty much a calendar of the term or semester in which you write all your due dates, tests, exams and distribution dates. To make one simply create a table with a row for each week of school you have (plus one extra) and 6 columns. The way I organise mine is to have the weeks down the right hand side, and the days of the week across the top. (That wasn't a very clear explanation so I've added an image below). You then add the dates (like a calendar) and fill in the assessment.

2.Use a diary/planner. A diary or planner gives you a chance to record all the things you have to do for each day, the classes you have and assessment that could be given out or due.

3.Start as soon as you get the task and work on it steadily. You've probably heard this a million times before but starting the assessment as soon as you get it makes a world of difference the night before it is due (you get that amount of time to do it for a reason). But make sure you do a little bit most days (or starting early will be pointless)

4.Break the task into mini-tasks. I find this a great way to make the task a bit more approachable. The day I get the task I usually spend about half an hour working out 'mini-tasks' and creating ',mini-due-dates' for the tasks. This helps me see how far along I am and how much I have left. It also helps you to not panic about how much you have left to do.

5.Use some of these websites. I use all these websites for pretty much all my assignments and they make things so much easier. Hopefully they will help you too.

Wunderlist- wunderlist is super useful for point four, it lets you create folders for different assignments and break the assignment into chunks. You can create due dates for each chunk and even break your afternoon up into sections (more about wunderlist coming up next week)

Cite this for me- I'm sure you've all heard of cite this for me but it is soooooo useful I couldn't leave it out of this list. Basically it creates a bibliography for you, all you have to do is copy and paste the website url.

Instagrok- Instagrok is like a search engine mind map. You type in a key word and it brings up heaps of relevant information in a mind map format.

Grammarly- grammarly isn't quite as helpful as I'd hoped but it still works pretty well and can really help push your grades up.

Hopefully these websites and tips will help you as much as they help me. Don't forget to let me know in the comments if you have any other tips or websites that might be useful.

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5 ways to find a new book

Hey,
It's Poppy once again.
Finding a new book is always a struggle for me. There is so much to choose from and I never know where to start or what I even want to read. Today I've put together a list of 5 ways you can find your next favourite book.

1.Look at books similar to the one you've just finished, or recommended books for next. -on the Kindle it automatically recommends similar books when you finish one that you have just read, I find that there is usually a good book or two in this list. If you don't have a kindle you can look up similar books on the internet.

2.Look at more books by that author- assuming you liked that book this is a great way to find another different yet similar book. Simply searching an authors name will bring up books that they have written. And if the author hasn't written any other books keep checking to see if they publish a new one.

3.Ask your friends- ask your friends or some people who have similar interests to you what they have been reading and if they are liking it. This is a great way to find a new book.

4.Ask an adult- ask your parents what they read when they were your age, or go to the book store and ask one of the staff members for a recommendation.

5.Read blogs/goodreads- blogs (like this one) often have lists of books to read, or book reviews and goodreads has heaps and heaps of different book suggestions and reviews.

Hopefully this list will give you an idea of where to start next time you finish a book. You can see all the posts we have written about books here. Let me know how you find a new book in the comments below.

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Doing the harder thing

Hi there, It's Poppy again.

Today I came across this video on YouTube. !Click the link if the video below doesn't work! I thought that it was a really good video and had a great message- so I wanted to share it with you. Go ahead and watch it then read the rest of the post and feel free to leave any thoughts in the comments.

At the beginning of the video Hank talks about having to get up and go for a walk early in the morning. Although it is unpleasant to get up early and he doesn't feel happy right then he feels better in the future. I think that this is a really good point- while it might be hard to do something it will be worth it in the long run. It is an important thing to remember and I know that I could certainly do better at it.

Let me know in the comments what you think of this video and if you would like to see more of this kind of post.

QOTD: What did you do today?

AOTD: Went to school

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G E T A C T I V E// by mop

Hey guys :) it's mop. I'm not dead, ik.

Today's post is all about getting active! I'm not going to sit here and preach at you to be active, but I am going to tell you why, and how to be active if you so desire.

Why you should be active

Being active has so many health benefits that if I wrote them all here I would probably have enough writing for blog posts for the next seven years, so I thought I'd list some of the ones that I feel directly benefit me the most.

-happier mind

Yes, sometimes doing the harder thing (a.k.a running when you could be a snail) is good for your mental heath. By waking up every morning and doing some form of physical activity you are giving yourself a better outlook on the day. Personally, I dislike (hate with a passion) waking up early, but I definitely do have a better day if I exercise first thing in the morning. Some good activities to try are shuttle runs, yoga and stretching, jogging or walking.

-better breakfast

As a person who struggles every day to even think about eating before 9:30, doing something that makes me hungry definitely makes eating a lot easier. Some great things I like to eat are crumpets (not very healthy but oops), carrots, honey and bread, but most mornings I make a breakfast smoothie using whatever fruit there is around.

-lowers risks of illness

Exercising regularly and keeping healthy drastically lowers the chances that you might get sick. This all comes down to everyones different immune systems (I exercise a lot and got really sick recently). However, being active and healthy really can make all the difference when it comes to bouncing back from a cold or other illness.

How I get active

I exercise quite a bit, and I'm going to share my favourite ways to do so with you :).

-organised sport

Playing an organised sport is probably my favourite and by far the easiest way to get active. Many schools in Australia have sports teams, and even if yours doesn't, there are always clubs. I play hockey, netball and volleyball through my school, but many girls at my school play sports through a club. Another reason why playing an organised sport is great is because it isn't self-directed and you owe it to your team/ squad to be at training and games and competitions. Most teams have one to three training sessions per week, depending on the intensity and level it plays at, with one competition/game per week. Personally, I love team sports because not only is it a great way to get healthy, you make some great friends.

-running

There really is nothing like just going out and running (it is actually one of the things I do when I should be writing blog posts). Most districts have a local oval that you can run on, or you can just run around the block. Running is a great way to see how much fitter you have become because you can time yourself, but you can also see how fast you run and how much stamina you have built up.

-at home yoga and stretching

Stretch out your muscles and relaxing is the best thing to do after a workout. It lowers the chance of getting cramps, stressed ligaments or other injuries if you have a good stretch every now and then. I like to try and touch my toes, stretch out my shoulders, stretch my joints and work on my ankles. 

So there it is. How and why to get active *jazz hands*. I did put research into this post, but I'm not health professional, so remember to seek professional advice if you have any concerns. I hope you are inspired to go and get active, and do the better thing for your health. Make sure you find some funky workout songs too.

qotd: What is you favourite workout song?

aotd: I really like exercising to Teenage Icon by The Vaccines, buy I think that's just my music taste. I don't mind anything as long as it has a good beat.

Comment your answer xx

Follow us on ig: @poppyandmop.blog

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Winter Wonderland...

 Hey there all,
Hope you are having a fantastic week (I am now that my science test is done).
It appears that winter has decided to pay a visit to this part of Australia and now it is absolutely freezing (and I mean below zero temperatures). We've had both the fire and heater on and it's the kind of weather that makes you just want to stay cuddled up in bed, under the doona, drinking tea/hot chocolate, and not really focusing on anything.
But I've been thinking... everyone seems to love summer and spend all winter complaining about the cold and wishing it was summer. While I love being at the beach and not having to go to school during summer I also love winter and here are the reasons why:

1. SNOW. I love skiing and while it doesn't snow where I live it snows not too far away and I love travelling to the snow for a weekend and spending some time skiing.

2.MY BIRTHDAY. My birthday is coming up!!!!

3.Hot Chocolate and Tea. I love drinking tea and hot chocolate and winter is the perfect time for it.

4.It's not stinking hot. The good thing about winter is that it is so much easier to warm yourself up then cool down. This is probably my favourite thing about winter (apart from my birthday and skiing)

5.Cuddling up under the doona with a hot water bottle. No more needs to be said.

So hope you are feeling a bit better about heading into winter now (and anyone who isn't when it is your winter remember this). Let me know what your favourite things about winter are below.

PS. I've decided that I am going to post every Monday, Wednesday and on the weekends, Mop will probably not be posting every week.

Image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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Exams, Assignments, Tests- How do you stay on top of it all?

Hey there, just in case you didn't notice Mop and I have swapped posting days (so I now post on Wednesdays). Hopefully, Mop will start posting on Mondays from now on.

I am an organised person. I like things to be in order and I generally know when I have assessment coming up at school. But at this time of year, it seems a bit like all the teachers got together and decided to put all the semester exams within four days of each other. It is so hard to decide what you need to remember. Should I focus on these dates for history or the formulas for maths? So today I thought that I might share some of the ways I stay on top of this assessment.
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1. Start revising early (don't worry months aren't always needed, just a few weeks will do)
2. Focus on what you don't understand. (have a look through your book and think about what you didn't understand, spend more time on that but make sure you spend a few minutes on the other things as well.)
3.Write all the important information on a piece of paper or notecard as if it was something you were allowed to bring into the test with you. Revise using this.
4. Teach it to someone else. A sibling or friend who would be willing to listen to you for awhile could be a valuable tool. Teach them the important information.
5. Hand-write it- This won't make you magically remember everything but hand-writing is proven to help you retain more information.






The image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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Some blogging questions...

Hey there,
It's Poppy again.
I have been thinking about some ways for you to get to know me better and I thought that a question and answer post would be the best way. So here are a few questions that I think will let you know a bit more about the way I blog. I would love to hear your answers as well! Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging 6 years ago to share my favourite book reviews but recently I have chosen to create this blog, with Mop, to share advice, tips, tricks and stories from our lives. We looked at soooooo many other lifestyle blogs and we both really enjoy reading them- so why shouldn't we start our own.

2.What is your favourite thing about blogging?
I absolutely love reading the comments that are left on our posts. It makes me really happy to see that our efforts are being appreciated by someone and we are achieving our goals. Your feedback is one of the reasons we started this- blogging is not a one sided thing.

3. When you are stuck for post ideas what do you do?
When I have absolutely no idea what to post- which happens often considering my mind is normally full of ideas- I look at pictures on Pinterest, or some websites with post ideas. Often thinking about something else can make a great idea pop into my head.

So there are 3 blogging questions that will let you know a bit more about the way I work around this blog. If you have any more questions, or would like some helping setting up your own blog leave a comment below or use our contact form.

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Delectable Dutch Pancakes

Hey there, it's Poppy. I decided that I would love to share this post with you (it is one of my favourites from our old blog) and it seemed like an excellent opportunity. Hope you enjoy...
What you need;
1 cup of Self raising flour
Margarine or butter (to grease the pan)
2 tablespoons of caster sugar
3/4 of a cup of milk
1 egg, lightly beaten

Method
1. Combine flour and sugar in a large bowl.
2. Add egg and combine
3. Add milk
4. Stir until the mixture is smooth and has creamy texture.
5. Heat a fry pan (any size will do, the bigger the more pancakes you will get at a time)
6. Scoop mixture out using a dessert spoon (half a spoonful for a pancake) and place in the frypan
7. Wait until bubbles rise on the top of the Dutch pancake and then carefully flip.
8. After about 1 minute get the pancake out and serve.

We had chocolate sauce, strawberries and blueberries on our pancakes and they were delicious! As a variation you may want to put 3-4 spoonful's of mixture at a time to create full size pancakes. 

If you had a go let us know in the comments below (I didn't make that rhyme on purpose). Did yours work? Don't worry if they didn't, I am the worst a making pancakes and I always manage to burn them or not cook them enough)

Image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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Live a life you are grateful for

Hi, it's Poppy again.
Sometimes we can get caught up in what we want and what we don't have that the things that we have are sometimes forgotten. 'You don't know what you have until it is gone'.

Recently I started a gratitude journal and I have found it to be a really relaxing, thoughtful and interesting exercise.It helps be me thankful for the things that I have not just the things that I want. 

Each night before I go to sleep I write one sentence about what I did that day and one sentence about something I am grateful for. It helps me relax and reflect on my day and often puts me in a much better mood. 

So... how to start a gratitude journal.
You will need a diary or journal of some sort. I use a 2016 diary with a few lines for each date, but you could have a plain notebook and add the dates yourself.
That is pretty much all it is. Just spend five minutes every day writing something that you are grateful for.
Do you do something similar? What do you get out of it? Let me know in the comments below.

Image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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Why I have a personal art journal.

Hey there,
It's Poppy, today like I said in my last post I am going to talk about a personal art journal. //just a warning I have a lot to say about this so get comfy- we could be here a while as I dive into my gazillion reasons why I love my personal art journal.//

Some people might be different to me. Some people are completely confident with every idea they come up with. These people might have every single one of their drawings stuck up on the wall, proudly showing off what they have created. But I am not that kind of person. I like to show one or two close friends my creations. It is rare that I will post pictures of my art on social media, or even share them on this blog. This is why I have a personal art journal. If you, like me, are shy when you meet people, don't really like making a big fuss and aren't particularly confident in your ideas, or are a perfectionist who wants their ideas to look perfect. A personal art journal is just what you need.

Your personal art journal will vary depending on what type of art you prefer. It could be a folder on your computer- for digital artists, a pile of paintings, a box of origami, a sketchbook of drawings- really it can be anything.

For me, a personal art journal is a way of experimenting with new ideas, gaining confidence with my drawings and having an artistic outlet with no pressure.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Have you got a similar project? Did you try this one? Did I miss anything?

Image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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April's finest Instagramers

Hey guys! It's Mop, again, and I'm here with my favorite instagram accounts of April. I try and find the coolest ones for you to follow, so your feed is filled with fabulousness...

1. @thepaperbeast {Carla McRae}
This account is full of artsy goodness, and adorable illustrations.

2. @glittrsmack {Juliana Horner}
I am absolutely in love with glittrsmack's illustrations. They are just too cool for words, and pics always make me smile.

3. @klikadesign {Monika}
Super cool watercolours.

4. @copicmarkerau
Copic. Need I say more?

5.  @pantone
Oh,  I love colour.

6. @poppy_and_mop_blog
This is our account- get updates on new content and see some amazing photos.

Let me know your thoughts below.

p.s none of the accounts above sponsored us to feature their name here.

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