7 Facts About Me

Hey Everyone, 

It's me again, and I think it's time we get to know each other. This is my ninth post, and you guys still don't really know that much about me. I got this idea from another blogger that has three awesome blogs, I will link her here. Today I'm going to be sharing 10 things about me.

1. My name is not actually Robyn Banks...

I think it would be cool though because 'robbing banks'. I don't have a problem with you guys knowing my name to be honest, the main issue is that if I start putting my name then maybe in my desperate mother's google searches this blog might show up. She literally stifles my creativity. Basically the reasons I won't are because Robyn Banks is cooler, and to keep people I actually know away from it. I'll give you a hint... rhymes with Blair ;).

2. I live in the Great White North (Canada- Antarctica is south)

I was actually born in the states (Iowa), but when I turned 8 my dad got a job at a big university in the city, and I've been here ever since. 

3. I've never broken any bones. Sort of irrelevant but we'll go with it.

4. I have really curly hair.

Like, super, super curly hair. Like the curliest hair you've ever seen. Like people compare is to a lion's mane, like look. This picture is also in my curly hair tips (read those here.) but it's the best picture to show it because it's full on.

5. I am mixed- (1/2 South American, 1/2 American)

My dad was born in south american but has some indian, african, and asian in him. My mother is all-american and her ancestors came in on the mayflower. Oddly enough, I get the curly hair from her, and it is really out of control.

6. I am competitive swimmer,

and I have been for like six years. I loveeee my swim team, they are like family. I love my sport, even though I suck right now thanks to an injury. It's been really hard to fall behind but it's going to teach my how to come back from being the under dog, so I just have to work really hard. (Another wild hair pic.)

7. I watch so much TV.

Like, an unhealthy amount. Like, every ounce of free time I have, I watch tv. I love Geordie Shore, Kardashians, Finding Carter, Pretty Little Liars, America's Next Top Model, American Horror Story, Biggest Loser, Married at First Sight, Teen Wolf, The Fosters, Reign, Ex on The Beach etc. I also LOVED My So-Called Life, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, there's too many I can't even think. The newest addition is one by Mark Schwahn? Anyways, he created One Tree Hill (one of my all-time favourites I even have a nathan scott jersey) so I thought I would love it. The first season just ended it and right now I am even more in love than I ever imagined it is so good. It's called The Royals, highly recommned. May write about it. 

I was originally going to do 10, but I changed my mind because it was getting long.

Hope you enjoyed, will be writing soon, I have lots of ideas .. Follow me so you know what's up.

:)
-Robyn Banks (aha)

Tattoos That I Love

Hey Everyone,

The title says love and a teeny tiny piece of me wants them but I don't know if I could ever commit.

So I'm one of those people who has big plans for the future, and is always thinking ahead, and thinking about what I want to do, and be. Don't get confused, I'm not the one who has their whole life planned out for them. I'm not the one who knows exactly what they want and how to get it. I'm the one who has lots of ideas, and gets excited about all of them. What I'm trying to tell you is that I definitely have a list on my iPhone of tattoos I want to get.

Recently I've been very into getting a tattoo. Most likely one with meaning, although I'm not against those who get them without meaning. Today I wanted to share with you some unique, girly tattoos that I would consider getting in the future.

This one is actually fairly common, but if I were to get it I would get it in this font, and probably even in this spot. Not to toot my own horn, but I have great collar bones and this would be a cute way to accent them. I also really like this tattoo because of how simple it is. It's a meaningful tattoo because it's a reminder not to get caught up in any drama and too just look ahead into bigger an brighter things. If I weren't to get it on my collar bone, I would get it.... ... maybe running down the bone on the top side of your forearm from your pinky. (Everyone look and see what I'm talking about.)

I think that this tattoo is like mega classy and even a bit sexy. I like the font, the placement is my favourite thing about it. If I were to get it I would probably experiment with different fonts. I don't really think that this would have any meaning for me, except maybe a reminder that if I ever want a boy to love me I have to stop burping in public. (Just kidding, sort of.) 

This one, I don't know, now that I'm here I'm having some regrets. It kind of looks like you traced this guys athletes foot..... Maybe I don't like it so much anymore, lol. I do however really like the idea of that saying 'the world is at your feet'. I may have to remove this one from the list in my iPhones notes though because just now as I'm writing this have a realized that one day I am no longer going to be able to have the 'whole world at my feet'. One day I will have already chosen my path and be forced to live it, even if I'm not loving it. How sad, and depressing would it be to have the reminder of all that you could have done on the bottom of your feet forever.

Sorry guys, these were the only one that were inspired by pictures. I do have a few other ideas though, maybe if you're really lucky I'll talk about them some other time.

:)

-Robyn Banks

Deciding When to Update an iPhone

Hey Everyone,

Different kind of post today. Going to fill you in on something that has been happening in my life. As you all know, iPhones smash up pretty easily. They are quite fragile little things, and I'm willing to bet that either you, or someone you know has an iPhone.

I will do you one better actually, I'm willing to bet that you or someone you know has an iPhone with a broken screen. 

I am also willing to bet that either you or someone you know has an iPhone that is no longer the newest edition.

I am all of these people. I have a smashed iPhone 4 and I have been waiting for my plan to renew so that I can get a new phone for cheap.

The front looks like this, the back is worse and the glass is falling out. 

(Ok... I sometimes pick the glass out.)

Here is my dilemma: My phone plan ends in June, the iPhone 6 is basically already old news.

The way I see it I have two options...

1. Wait until apple releases the iPhone 6s/iPhone 7 (whatevers next) in what is expected to be September.

Pros

• I will have the newest iPhone
• It will still be kind of relevant three years later when my plan runs out again
• It will be nicer than the iPhone 6

Cons

• I have to go the whole summer with my crappy iPhone
• They might not come out with a new phone for a long time

2. Get the iPhone 6 in June

Pros

• I will have a new phone right away
• It is much nicer than my shattered 8GB iPhone 4

Cons

• It will become outdated much faster
• They may come out with a new phone right after, and I will be stuck for three more years.
• If they update right away my phone will actually be four years old (like my one right now) and be very slow and not advanced and crappy sooner

I know that both options are good options, but which one is better?

OR I could go down the samsung route. I have been a loyal apple customer for years, we are an apple household but I've been hearing good things about samsung.

:)

-Robyn Banks

The Best (and Worst) Cereals

Hey Everyone,

I love cereal. I love all cereal, I like the healthy stuff, the sugary stuff, even the stuff with fruit in it. As an avid cereal lover I have decided to save you some time in the cereal and spread the word down the street about what's hot, and what's just... not.

My Top 5 is ever-changing making it unreliable so I will name a few and rate them out of 10 on a) Taste Alone, b) Taste with Milk, c) Attractiveness, d) Texture and e) Filling-ness.


Cinnamon Toast Crunch (Current Fave)
The kind of cereal children beg for. Delicious squares coated on both sides with sugar and cinnamon. Often over-priced. Very cute commercials.

Taste Alone: 4/10 (sugary coating makes it very messy, sticks to your fingers in a cheeto-esque way)

Taste With Milk: 10/10

Attractiveness: 8/10 (lack of colour, milk sometimes becomes dark grey, friends think lowly of you for powering yourself only with sugar in the morning)

Texture: 10/10

Filling-ness: 7/10 (not the best, not the worst)

Harvest Crunch (Raisin and Almond, or don't buy it)
The kind of cereal that moms won't frown upon. You're classic, high fibre, health cereal. It's basically like eating trail mix with milk. One of my favourites in the category.

Taste Alone: 4/10 (could eat, kind of small pieces though)
Taste With Milk: 7/10 (good- but not the best you can find
Attractiveness: 7/10 (not because it's cute, because it looks healthy which makes you look like you know what you're doing with your life)
Texture: 7/10 (crunchy granola, chewy raisins really add too the experience)
Filling-ness: 9/10 (I'm the type of person who sometimes eats cereal out of a tupperware, and that never happens with this bad boy in my -average sized- bowl)


Lucky Charms (Like a VERY close second favourite.)
Master the marshmallow to cereal ratio, and you're golden.

Taste Alone: 8/10 (especially the marshmallow part)

Taste With Milk: 9.9/10 (they're magically delicious- AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE RATIO)

Attractiveness: 9/10 (while not the healthiest option, in the right lighting it could be insta-worthy. The colourful charms and the tinted green milk, magical.)

Texture: 10/10 (perfect mixture with the two different textures)

Filling-ness: 6/10 (these marshmallows are like air, you will still be hungry after, no matter how big the bowl)

Mini-Wheats

barf.

Taste Alone: 1/10 (barely chewable, especially without milk to wash it down)

Taste With Milk: 2/10 (two points for the frosting, that's all I got. Sorry mini-wheats fans.)

Attractiveness: 2/10 (without frosting, they look gross, with frosting, they look grosser but taste better- YOU CANT WIN)

Texture: 1/10 (like I said before, un-chewable)

Filling-ness: Un-answerable because no human being could ever eat more than one because it takes so long to chew it, and so obviously you're still going to be hungry. Even if your still-full bowl could have filled you up it doesn't count because no one can actually chew it so no one will ever know.

And Finally,

Honey Bunches of Oats

The happy medium between tasty, and healthy. Not as healthy as some, but the disguise all health hidden within so elegantly that people may actually enjoy eating it.

Taste Alone: 5/10 (haven't eaten alone before, shape would make it weird)

Taste With Milk: 9/10 (health is unrecognizable, wide variety of flavours, everyone can find their favourite)

Attractiveness: 7/10

Texture: 10/10

Filling-ness: 8/10 

Hope you enjoyed this review, feel free to weigh-in in the comments.

:)

-Robyn Banks

Jersey Shore vs. Geordie Shore (an easy choice)

Hey Everyone,

It's Robyn Banks and today I wanted to discuss something I'm very passionate about.

Jersey Shore vs Geordie Shore. Since I have currently seen all episodes of both, I am the expert.

Many people have heard of the wild and controversial show about the 20-somethings living in Jersey Shore. We are familiar with Snooki, the accents, and the spray tans. They have lots of attention for their scandalous episodes each week including fighting, partying, and relationships. But there is something better.

Much less known, at least in the US and Canada, hidden away from the spotlight, is a similar show. Similar name, similar theme but overall better. It's called Geordie Shore and it features a cast of twenty somethings with fake tans, fake hair, and better bodies than even the Jersey Shore. Their episodes are more interesting, their accents are funnier and the show in general is so much better.

Reasons:

1. Better Cast. 

a) Friendship Between the Cast.

The cast of Geordie shore is brilliant. In Jersey shore, the sense of friendship is often missing. There isn't really the same general sense of love in the house. There are way less fights, and if there are, everyone is trying to break it up. In Geordie Shoret here are no fist fights where the Jersey Shore guys just sit there and watch. The people in Geordie Shore really truly care for each other, at least it seems that way. It makes you feel like you're their friend.

b) Hotter Cast. 

I know this really is about personal opinion but, come on, Geordie Shore's cast is better looking by far. 

  c) Better bodies.

This one is not opinion based.

2. Less fighting.

For me personally I'm not one for violence, and in Jersey Shore, it just gets out of hand. I am all for drama, don't get me wrong. It's just less funny when people are getting hurt or arrested.

3. Funnier

4. More trips

Instead of working in a t-shirt stand, the Geordies travel all of europe and host a bunch of drinking games. It's hilarious, and leads to much more dramarama.

To be honest, I can't really explain why even though I'm trying. Watch both, you'll see.

Geordie Shore is better than Jersey Shore. Hands down.

:)
-Robyn Banks

How to Deal With Exam Stress (or any stress)

Hey Everyone, 

Robyn Banks here, I am a student.

The major downfall of being a student is that your are constantly being tested on your knowledge, and your performance on these tests will determine who you become in life basically. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of people who can beat the odds and even if their grades aren't perfect, they still become super successful and rich and they have a beach house or whatever. I, however, most likely won't be one of those people.

I am like the majority of the students in the world. I go to class, take notes, study, and complete evaluations in the form of tests or projects. For most students, there is a special time that comes once or twice (if you're in one of the schools like mine) a year where all your classes have a massive test in the same week. 

No, it's not spring break. It's exam period. You put your blood, sweat and tears into this week hoping to make it into whatever next level of education you're pursuing (if you're me, it is ultimately medical school- yikes). This week is basically the most stressful week of the year. As this doomsday approaches I thought this post would be entirely necessary.

So if you're stressing about exams, or anything at all, here are some de-stressifying tips.

1. Hang out with a friend who is not stressed. 

Choose someone carefree, maybe a cousin, someone you don't have to dress up for but will still take you out. Go do something you don't get to do enough. (If you're me it must also be something cheap ex. bird feeding in a city square). While you're there, don't talk about your stresser (eg. exams). *In order to make this date more interesting whoever mentions this stressful thing must go talk to someone they don't know (will also get your mind of the stresser plus is fun and inspires confidence... perhaps pretend that you met this person a long time ago and ask said stranger if they remember you. You will LOL.)*

2. Go for a run- even if you're not a runner... especially if you're not a runner.

It works great for me, I am not particularly a runner but while you are on said run you will be so focused on not dying, that you will have no time to think about the stresser (eg. exam). There also has to be something about the stress leaving in the form of sweat. If you're having trouble sleeping this is especially great because it will definitely make it easy to get some shut-eye. (It is also cheap.)

3. Watch trashy television.

Become so involved with their lives you forget yours even exists. (Pro tip: may not be the best option if you're a binge-watcher during exams because you will not study.) 
-Geordie Shore (personal fave, million times better than Jersey Shore)
-The Royals (new and promising)
-One Tree Hill (classic, especially season 4)
-Keeping Up With the Kardashians (you already knew this one)
-19 Kids and Counting (under-rated)
-America's Next Top Model- wanna be on top?

These are three of my go-to techniques. Please fill me in on any of yours.

:)
-Robyn Banks

Burt's Bees Review

Hey Everyone,

So I've fallen in love. True love, the kind that makes you do things you've never done before. Like... for example finishing a lip balm.

I am Robyn Banks and I am in love with Burt's Bees.

I have always had a thing for lip sticks, balms, or glosses. I distinctly remember a time when as soon as I had been able to gather up a dollar worth of loose change from the crevices in the couch I would beg to go to the dollar store and buy some new gloss. I still have that un-quenchable desire for more.

I recently was at my local shopper's drug mart and on a whim, I purchased a trio of balms and chapsticks I had never tried before from the Burt's bees collection. I chose the original balm, the pomegranate replenishing chapstick, and the pink grapefruit refreshing chapstick. 

Oh Boy, was I ever impressed.

Let's start with my favourite of the ones I tried, the classic original balm in the tin.                                                                                     

It's smooth, it's seductive. This lip balm isn't flavoured but if you rub it on you will feel a minty-tinge. It's cool, and energizing. It makes your lips look redder than normal and the best part is that it's all natural. It's my go-to, and it should be yours too. This lip balm changed my life, and it continues to amaze and impress me every morning. (only negative is that it's a bit awkward to put on because you can either smush your lips into the tin; much faster- or get your fingers all lip-balmy and use them to apply... however I do quite like the tin so, give and take).

Moving on the most delicious of the bunch, the refreshing pink grapefruit.

I personally, am a sucker for anything pink grapefruit. It is possibly my all-time favourite scent (for hand lotions and lip balms). It truly is refreshing as-well. This lip balm is great for when you're having a bad day. One application of this sucker and your feel like you're on a beach somewhere eating pink grapefruit off a silver platter. In general it's a good pick me up, love the scent... plus the cute pink packaging is a major perk.

And last but not least (ok-for me it was my least favourite), the replenishing pomegranate.

This lip balm wasn't bad. It replenished me, it smelt fine, it tasted fine, however... not gonna lie, it didn't measure up the way the others did. I enjoyed it enough, but unfortunately it suffered an untimely death the way most lip balms do, and was melted and ruined in the washing machine. It will be missed, but not really because I still have two cuter, smoother, fresher, shiner, glossier, and better burt's bees to enjoy.

The original lip balm is soon to be the first ever in my all-time gloss collection to be completely finished without being lost... so long as my pink grapefruit doesn't beat it.

:)
-Robyn Banks

(ACTUALLY) Curly Hair Tips

Hey Everyone,

(I got a little carried away in the beginning scroll down for lots of amazing tips I have gathered from personal experience.)

If you have curly hair, this may be for you. 

If you have REALLY curly hair, you might find this useful. 

BUT...

If your hair is out-of-control, wildly, un-tame-ably, curly, this is your blog post. 

I'm talking to the girls that get the 'do you brush it?'. 

I'm talking to the girls who get the 'omg its so big!' 

I'm talking to you if your hair has ever been compared to a lion's mane.  

I'm Robyn Banks, and I'm one of you.

Here is your proof. This is really me. This is my hair in all it's glory- on a good day. I definitely do NOT however wake up like this.

I've been there, I've hated my hair. I've wished that my hair was straight. I've wished that my hair was thin, and I've tried everything under the sun to make those dreams come true.

I have read countless blogs and watched countless beauty gurus tell me how to deal with curly hair. But the issue was... none of them had curly hair at all. The closest person that I had found was a girl named Andrea's Choice (she still has much nicer, easier hair than mine). She has a youtube channel with hair styles (actually useful), product recommendations (don't work), and just beauty tips in general which I will link here. After all of this, all I have really learned is that you have to try it. It's completely necessary to experiment until you find what is right for your curls. No two curls are exactly alike is my theory, we are like snowflakes ladies. It makes us special and unique. And now, after discovering what works for me and my one-of-a-kind-curls, I can confidently say that I have learned to love my curly hair.

Three things that REALLY helped were...

1. Anti-Curl Relaxer.

     If you're like me you hear relaxer and immediately panic. My older sister had to try it first before I would trust it at all too. But be brave, it's a life changer. The one that I use is very mild, it merely tames, doesn't fry it straight like some of the others. This treatment simply loosens your teeny tiny extra tight curls.

2. Pantene Products

     I really love a lot of the pantene products right now. For me, my hair gets very dry (PERK: never had to worry about greasy hair a day in my life) so it's really important to have a good conditioner. Nothing works better than pantene curl-defining conditioner. I've tried 'morrocan-oil', ordered 'wen', fell for the clever title on the bottle 'mixed chicks', and even -at the recommendation of a friend- used horse conditioner. Pantene makes my hair feel soft and smooth and strong like no other. (Pro-tip: only shampoo your curly hair like twice a week, it really doesn't need it). 

     Another favourite that comes from Pantene is their mousse. The one in the pink bottle is a life saver. It actually holds my hair, keeps it soft and curly for up to three days. The only thing, I feel obligated to tell you, if that if youre using enough for it to really work is that your hair might be a little 'crispy' on day one. But it's only until the product has a chance to really soak in. Day two, three (sometimes four), are miracles though, and to me, it's worth it. Plus I think the way that it soaks in is part of the reason my hair is so silky smooth when I wash it out.

3. Olive Oil Conditoning Treatments

     Even with my beloved pantene, I still need something extra about once a month or so to really pamper my hair. The Olive Oil conditioning treatment really sooths my head and scalp and my hair comes out shinier than ever.

I hope these tips were very helpful and can assist my fellow curly, curly, super-extra curly girlies in learning to love their hair the way I have learned to love mine.

AND if you have any of your own personal pro-tips, I am always open to options.

:)

-Robyn Banks

Starting in Salmon

     Hey Everyone,

Not gonna lie this isn't my first time starting a blog.

Not gonna lie all others have failed. But I'm more mature now, I'm gonna stay committed. It's summer, I have big plans for this blog and I'm actually really excited about it.

Not gonna lie I've said all of that before, so here's hoping.

:) 
-Robyn Banks