Lifestyle – Page 66 – The Western Howl

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

You’ve put together the perfect outfit from head to toe, you’re almost ready to head out the door, but at the last second you decide you need one last thing to tie your entire look together: the right lip shade. You could search through your mountain of half-used lipsticks and hope that one will be just the right hue to perfectly upgrade your style, but odds are, none are going to be exactly what you’re looking for. That’s when DIY lipsticks come in handy.

Simple to make and created specifically for you, these straightforward projects take only a few ingredients and only a couple minutes of actual time to get them created. Never again will you have to dig through endless tubes of lipstick to find the right shade – just make that shade yourself.

What you’ll need:

1 tube of lip balm

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon of olive oil

1 Crayola crayon of whatever color you’d like (or a different brand, just make sure it isn’t too waxy)

Optional — an old eyeshadow you don’t use in a color you like

Instructions:

Empty the contents of the entire tube of lip balm into a microwave safe bowl. Peel the wrapping off of your crayon and add that in. Melt this in the microwave for about two minutes, or until the wax melts. Check periodically, as melting wax in the microwave can be dangerous.
Add the vanilla and the olive oil to the lipstick and mix with a fork or toothpick, as it will dry and harden on a spoon too quickly.
Pour the contents back into your lip balm container.
Allow this to cool, which would take about an hour or so.
Note: As an alternative to the crayon approach, you can use eyeshadow for a more matte look. With this option, follow all of the previous steps, but without the crayon. Between step one and step two, add as much eyeshadow as you deem necessary until you reach the right shade.

Instructions from instructables.com

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

The Western Howl

Home » Lifestyle

Beauty shouldn’t hurt

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

When you test out a new mascara to see what it can do for your lashes, do you think about the animals it was tested on before it reached stores? When you’re applying your eyeliner in the morning, do you think of how those ingredients were applied to an animal’s shaved skin, causing incredible irritation without any pain relief, before you were able to purchase it? The sad reality is many cosmetic brands that you’ve been using for as long as you can remember are guilty of exposing animals to the harsh testing done to create those different products. According to onegreenplanet.org, while animal testing is not required by the Federal Drug Administration, there are still 100 million animals that are subject to these painful tests every single year.

If you were unaware of this, or if you were aware but simply could not find a good option to replace the cosmetics you use now, I’ve compiled a list of cruelty-free options that will make it an easy transition away from brands that choose to test on animals.

You don’t have to say goodbye to the looks you know and love; instead, just recreate the new look with cosmetics that won’t cause anyone pain. Because when it comes down to it, beauty shouldn’t hurt — for people or for animals.

Foundation

If you used: MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

Try instead: Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation, priced $35 at Sephora

Mascara

If you used: They’re Real Benefit Mascara

Try instead: Milani Lash Trifecta Mascara, priced $7.99 at Target

Liquid Eyeliner

If you used: Maybelline’s Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner

Try instead: e.l.f. Cosmetics liquid eyeliner, priced $2 at Target

Blush

If you used: MAC Powder Blush

Try instead: Too Faced Sweethearts Blush, priced $26 at Macy’s

Eyeshadow

If you used: Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Slate

Try instead: Urban Decay Naked Basics, priced $19 at Ulta Beauty

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: pexels.com

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Home » Lifestyle

Graduation checklist

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

As the year begins winding to a close and the excitement of the quickly-approaching summer sets in, another emotion is felt by many of those who are on track to graduate this June: a mixture of stress, fear and, ultimately, relief. As if dealing with all of that isn’t enough, there’s also the need to remember several dates that are critical for graduating on time.

To help get you through this period of uneasiness, here’s a list of all the dates you should remember and prepare for. Finish the year out with confidence, knowing you’re up to date on all of the items on your long to-do list. Good luck with rest of the spring term, and make sure to stay on top of all the deadlines and dates necessary before you get that final sigh of relief this June.

Make sure that your DegreeWorks is correct and all of your necessary requirements are in order as soon as possible. If something seems off, go to the registrar to get it all worked out.
Sign up for commencement on your WOU Portal
April 20: Approved substitutions and exceptions towards your degree requirements must be fully completed and turned in by this date.
Week five: Reply to the email regarding any necessary name-changes on your diploma.
Mid-May: Make sure that all of your announcements are sent out and get any graduation party planning done well ahead of time.
Order all of your graduation supplies, such as your cap, gown, frames and graduation announcements, from Wolfstore. While they will carry these items up until commencement, they can’t guarantee they will have everything in stock that long. Order online at books.wou.edu by May 29 to avoid extra shipping charges and make sure it arrives in time.
Week ten: Submit your diploma mailing address.
June 16: Commencement Day. Students who have graduated in the previous summer, fall or winter terms are eligible to attend the spring commencement ceremony. Those who have applied to graduate in spring may participate in the ceremony. And finally, undergraduates who will be graduating in summer or fall may also participate in the ceremony.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

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Home » Lifestyle

Dynamite Designs adds shopping variety

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

In a small town, such as Monmouth, when it comes to going on shopping sprees, options are limited. However, the list is slowly growing, as new locations have begun popping up. On April 8, a petite boutique named Dynamite Designs had its grand opening on the corner of Monmouth Avenue and Main Street.

Offering a plethora of different items and unique jewelry, the store sells almost everything at a range of $4 to $8. Under these prices lies several different items to browse through. While they do primarily sell jewelry, they also have other products. Things such as vintage or knitted hats are sold, as well as a few items of clothing and a few colorful pillows. They have handmade cards on sale as well.

Items that begin getting more expensive are the ones created by Jo Meza, the silversmith who designs her jewelry using real gemstones. She’s the owner of the store, and this is her third location; the others are in Salem and Albany.

While they do offer a range of different products, they also provide different services and events. They are planning to occasionally host paint nights, which will typically occur on Friday nights. They will also host VIP parties that are special invitation only. At these parties, they’ll help prepare you for any event you have coming up.

“If you want to go out on the town, you can come in here and we can help dress you up.” Meza commented on how they use their jewelry and other items to add to your look. They’ll also do your makeup for you, or help pick out your outfits. “You can bring in your own clothes, or you can purchase clothes here.”

On top of their regular items sold, they also sell jewelry which is marked with an animal tag, and the proceeds go towards a project called Global Possibilities. All of these products were brought in by a woman named Adelia, a veterinary student at Oregon State University who travels around the world to continue her project of helping locations that take in rescue animals and teaching them proper care.

While jewelry can oftentimes get expensive, Beza noted that she recognizes that students oftentimes can’t afford these high prices.

“We’re just here to help people out,” she added. “We know college students don’t have a lot of funding. With just $15 you can come in and get a couple pieces of jewelry, or some low-cost gifts.”

As of now, their hours are not permanent. However, currently, you can stop in anytime Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to come take a look at what the location has to offer.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Home » Lifestyle

Overcoming new struggles

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

This last term has been both an incredible struggle and a valuable 10 weeks of learning about who I am and what I’m capable of. My winter term was introduced by my roommates telling me they were leaving within the first few weeks and me having to find a new place. It wasn’t exactly a warm welcome to the new season but, luckily, I found a new place quickly, moved in and started my new term. That was what prefaced my next 10 weeks.

I wasn’t taking many credits; I had three classes in person and one online. It didn’t seem like the workload would be all that daunting. What I didn’t realize was just how time consuming all of my classes would be.

If I was only a student, then this would’ve been doable. However, I also work two jobs. During winter term, I worked anywhere between 45-65 hours a week. When you factor this in with the workload I had with school, I’d leave every week feeling exhausted and struggling to find energy. It quickly took a toll on my mental health. I was sleep deprived, I wasn’t eating well enough, and I would have frequent breakdowns. Constant stress kept me from feeling like myself. By the end of the term, I felt proud of what I had overcome but I wasn’t happy with where it had left me.

To manage and get through this term of hardships, I found myself looking to those around me for support. I had my key group of people who would always be there for me, whether it be for a spa day or a midnight run to get food. Whenever it became too much, I chose my health over my work; this wasn’t an easy decision to make. I found myself occasionally having to miss classes because I had surpassed my limit, and I’d use that time for myself and to destress. My health was my priority.

This spring, I’m making it my goal to reduce the time I spend on work, make sure I get enough sleep, make sure I’m eating well and find time for myself. Ultimately, my health is the most important thing and it has to be my focus. Had I continued to repeat that schedule that I was following in winter, I know my health would’ve rapidly declined — both mentally and physically. By learning a mixture of time management skills and an understanding of my limits, I know I’ll be far more successful this term, and I will finish the year out in a way I can truly be proud of.

Contact the author at chealy16@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Home » Lifestyle

DIY Tea and Beyond surpasses expectations

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Sitting off of Monmouth Avenue and Main Street is a small, contemporary styled restaurant: DIY Tea & Beyond. Serving a variety of different teas and snack-sized foods, the eatery makes an ideal location for studying, or just a place to sit back and relax for awhile.

Upon hearing of its opening, I was immediately thrilled; I grew up near Portland, Oregon which was full of tea bars, so I’ve always loved milk teas. Of course, I had to try DIY and see if it could bring me the same enjoyment that I used to get from bubble tea shops around my hometown.

Once you arrive, you walk into a modern looking room designed with large windows, charging stations around the walls, stools, couches, tables — even bean bag chairs. The dark wood used throughout the location contrasts sharply with the natural light flooding the room, creating a pleasant environment. I wanted to try a few different things, so my friend and I ordered the lavender milk tea with tapioca balls, as this was my favorite at home, the passion fruit tea with passion fruit jellies, cuttlefish balls, french fries and egg pudding.

The two teas were amazing; since we ordered them for there, it was served in a cute Mason Jar with light ice. Honestly, I’ve been craving the lavender milk tea everyday since originally ordering it. One thing I did learn the hard way, though, is while it may be tempting, do not drink it too fast as you will end up with an awful stomachache. The passion fruit tea was sweet and satisfying, as well.

As for the food, the cuttlefish balls were delicious. I loved every single bite. The french fries were pretty good, but nothing too special. I had never tried egg pudding before so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but I actually really enjoyed it.

While we were eating, the worker brought us out some rose petal tea to try, and I drank the entire pot. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and every sip was as good as the last. He kept coming back to make sure that we were satisfied; the service was top-notch and you could tell they genuinely cared about their customers.

This restaurant is something I’d definitely recommend to anyone. Perhaps you aren’t familiar with the type of food on the menu, or you don’t like tea — they have options for you. It’s a chance to branch out and try something new, or stick with something you know you’d like. Whatever you choose, I’m almost certain that you will enjoy it.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Home » Lifestyle

Attaining fitness goals through IIFYM

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

A recent trend that has been gaining more visibility is a type of dieting called IIFYM — if it fits your macros. Seen and often advertised by fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes, it’s a diet that revolves around providing the right amount of nutrients that your body needs, down to the exact gram.

Often displayed by fitness accounts on Instagram, the diet for many is regarded as the one that finally worked for them — it’s the flexible eating that allowed many to see the results they want in and out of the gym. It can be adjusted to match any need and will help you get to where you want to be.

Essentially, this dieting revolves around three main macronutrients: your protein intake, your carbohydrate intake and your fat intake. By calculating your fat percentage and describing your fitness goals, which is either to lose, maintain or gain body fat and muscle, you can determine what your macros should be. You can also determine how many calories you should be consuming a day. In other words, you’re figuring out how to reach the appropriate amount of each macro, and the amount of calories you should be aiming for in your consumption of these macronutrients.

IIFYM is an ideal option for those who are serious about trying to attain specific goals in the gym. “It can work for anyone who wants to use that mode of motivation to reach their goals,” commented sophomore exercise science major Mikaela Wong. “If your goal is to become more aware of what you’re eating and what you’re putting in your body, macro counting is an option to do that.” You break down the food you’re eating and know the ways that each type of nutrient affects your body. It allows you to be more flexible in your eating and can also make meal prepping a simple task, as you know exactly what you should be consuming.

That being said, it’s also a difficult diet for many to follow. As a student at Western, if your only option is Valsetz, prepping for this type of diet will take far more planning and time than if you were shopping for yourself.

Speaking from my own experience, I tried planning meals for a while under the IIFYM diet, and I struggled greatly. It was a lot more work than I had anticipated, and I truly just didn’t have the time or the resources to eat like that. Instead, I just focus on aiming for what would be the right amount of protein, carbs and fats for myself. I don’t focus on hitting an exact mark, I just eat in a way that hits close to where I should be.

Ultimately, this diet is meant for those who have the time and resources to be dedicated to it. If you have those options, then this diet is an effective one that is tailored to your needs and your body’s composition. But if you’re someone who lacks the ability to follow through, or you simply don’t have the right tools to do it, then you might want to consider another nutritional path. “If you want to have a successful macro-counting diet, then I’d say go for it, but set realistic goals.” Wong added. “And if you’re going to do it, think long-term. Because if you only go through a three-week dedicated phase, it could potentially hurt your body by going into extremes. Just choose something realistic for you.”

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: stocksnap.io

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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Getting crafty with cosmetics

Beauty shouldn’t hurt

Graduation checklist

Dynamite Designs adds shopping variety

Overcoming new struggles

DIY Tea and Beyond surpasses expectations

Attaining fitness goals through IIFYM

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