Productive Pixie: September 2020

As much as I love wearing skinny jeans, sometimes I feel like wearing something else and I am sure you do too. Enter straight-leg jeans. But how do you style them? You can't wear skinny jeans and straight-leg jeans in exactly the same way. So whether you are getting tired of wearing skinny jeans all the time, or you are looking for fall outfit ideas, here are some ways to style straight-leg jeans for fall.

Side Note - This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy something from one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. For more information, you can read my privacy policy. Thank you for supporting my blog. :)

Updated for 2024

How to Style Straight-Leg Jeans

This post has multiple looks you can use as inspiration for styling your straight-leg jeans and it also has some tips that you can use to style your straight-leg jeans.

I also have written posts on how to style other types of pants, that you might also find useful.

But right now, we are talking about straight-leg jeans, so without further ado, let's get right into finding the right pair of straight-leg jeans.

Finding a Pair of Straight Leg Jeans You Like

The pair of jeans I am wearing in all of the photos on this post are Guess High-Waisted Straight Leg Jeans (I don't know the exact style). Guess jeans are on the pricier side (Some styles are well over $100), but they are very good quality and really comfortable so if they are in your price range, then I recommend them. Guess also has unique jean styles (The pair I am wearing has zippers going up the ankles) so if you are looking for something different, then check them out!

Side Note - Please note that this post is not sponsored. I just wanted to give a quick review of the pair I am wearing.

The most important thing when buying a pair of straight-leg jeans is the fit. They need to fit very well. Since they are straight-leg jeans, they are going to be looser around your legs. This means the top of your jeans should be more fitted. If the waist on your jeans is a little bit too big, you can simply wear a belt.

The other thing you should check when buying your straight-leg jeans is the length. You don't want to buy jeans that are really long if you don't want to have to cuff them. If you don't mind cuffing your jeans, then slightly longer jeans are okay. Ideally, you want your jeans to hit right above your ankle.

And lastly, the rise of your straight-leg jeans. I think that it is best to get your straight-leg jeans in a high-rise fit because it will highlight your waist, but if you prefer to wear mid-rise, then that is fine too. It's all up to what you prefer, and your body type.

Rips or no rips?

It depends on whether you want to wear your jeans as part of a dressier outfit or not. Non-distressed jeans always look more classic, so keep this in mind when buying your jeans. If you do decide to buy jeans that are distressed, keep the distressing minimal.

The Do's of Wearing Straight Leg Jeans

1. Do Cuff Your Jeans

The ideal length of your straight-leg jeans is just above your ankle, so cuff them, if they are a little bit too long, especially if you are wearing flats.

You definitely don't want your jeans to be resting on top of or covering up your shoes.

2. Do Wear a Fitted Top

You don't want to be wearing a loose shirt and loose pants so tuck or half tuck in your top to give your waist definition.

In the outfit above, I am wearing a really fitted top, but a top that is a little looser, like a button-up shirt works too because it still defines your waist when you tuck it in. Wearing a bodysuit would work too, and you won't have to worry about keeping it tucked in.

3. Do Tuck Your Top In

If your top is fitted, then tuck it in. If your top is loose, but not bulky, then you can still tuck it in. If you are wearing a sweater, like below, then I do not recommend tucking it in, because it will be too bulky.

You are probably thinking, "But wait... your sweater is tucked in."

Nope, my sweater is actually not tucked in. :)

I used a simple belt trick, that you can use too, to make your sweater look like it is tucked in when it isn't. All you will need is an extra belt. Put your sweater on, and then put your belt on over the sweater. Then simply pull your sweater out of the belt until it creates a nice fold. Voila! You no longer have the bulky sweater problem.

Another way to get this look is to let your sweater hang straight, and then to take a hairbow, and tie one-side of your shirt up. Then tie up a little on the other side too. After that, all you have to do is flip both sides of your sweater underneath so the hairbows aren't showing!

4. Do Mix Dressy + Casual

Mixing dressy and casual is a nice way to get a polished look. High heels and straight-leg jeans are always a good idea.

For the outfit above, I uncuffed my jeans to make this outfit more dressy and I wore a blouse.

5. Do Wear a Belt

While it is not necessary to wear a belt, it makes a nice addition to your outfit, when you have your top tucked in. So if your outfit feels a little bit bland, you can add a belt, maybe even one that stands out.

Are your outfits always feeling bland? 8 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Outfit

6. Do Wear a Fitted or a Cropped Jacket

Again, you want to have a defined waist when you wear straight-leg jeans, so your outfit is not too baggy. Avoid wearing any jacket that covers your waist.

2024 Update - I'm looking over this post right now and thinking "What!?" lol. I now think that straight-leg jeans can be worn with oversized jackets if it is done right. Go for something that is not baggy and has an open front like a shacket or a blazer. Just make sure the front is open and you should be good to go!

How to Style Straight Leg Jeans

Okay, let's wrap this post up! Here are the main things to keep in mind when you wear straight-leg jeans.

Wearing a looser top is fine, as long as you tuck it in.
Cuffing your jeans makes your outfit more casual.
The most important thing to remember is that you want to define your waist.

If you liked this post, you can also read these ones.

Let me know in the comments! Do you prefer straight-leg jeans or skinny jeans?

If you found this post helpful, please share it. Thank you! :)

September 26, 2020 2 comments

As a student in high school, it is hard to juggle everything. Homework, and extra credit, and sports, and practicing instruments, not to mention that everyone wants some free time to spend with friends. Yep, it is hard to get everything done. A bullet journal can help you as a student to be more productive, and help you keep your life organized. Keep reading to see what bullet journal layouts I am using this year for school!

Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Updated for 2024

Even if you aren't a student, you can still get some bullet journal layout ideas from this post to help you organize your life, because not all of these layouts are specifically for school. If you are in school, and you need help with being more productive, you can read How to be More Productive as a High Schooler.

School Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Last year, I also did a post on bullet journal layout ideas for students. I am using some of the same layouts for school this year, but with new designs. You can see those bullet journal school layouts here and here. I made those layouts when I was bullet journaling in a binder, so if you want layout ideas that work in a binder or ring-bound notebook, then go check those posts out!

I know that for many people school already started a month ago (me included), but if you don't have any organization system in place, it is not too late to start getting organized!

And with that, let's get into the first bullet journal layout idea for school. :)

Back to School/Monthly School To-Do List

The first thing I did, when I started getting ready to go back to school, was to open up to my monthly bullet journal layout and make a to-do list for everything I needed to do to get ready for school. I also wrote down all of the layout ideas I wanted for school, and what classes I am taking this year.

During the school year, I also use a to-do list every month, to keep track of the bigger school assignments I need to complete.

School Classes List

Having a school class list to refer back to is always a good idea because you can keep class information in one place.

On this layout, I have a list of the classes I am taking this year and some information about each one. You might include your teacher's name and contact info, where the class is, and what day the class is on.

A Motivational Quote

Definitely not necessary, but a quote can help motivate and inspire you each time you open your bullet journal. I put this quote on the page next to my goals page, so when I look at my school goals, I also see the quote.

The quote I picked is, "Success doesn't come from planning, it comes from doing, So hustle". It reminds me that no matter how much I plan, success comes from actually doing.

Find a quote that motivates you and create a layout that will inspire you whenever you need a nudge to start doing your homework. :)

If you want some tips and ideas for easily creating a bullet journal quote layout, you can read Tips for Improving Your Bullet Journal Quote Pages, which contains everything you need to know to make a quote page in your bullet journal.

School Goals

One of the most important pages I add to my bullet journal each year is my school goals page. Really just any goal-setting pages in general. At the beginning of the year, I set goals, but I also set goals at the beginning of the school year as well.

You can see my goal-setting pages for the year here. I kept this layout simple, by just listing my school goals, but I did make them as specific as possible so I can tell if I am actually achieving them or not. Making general goals that you can't tell if you have reached or not, doesn't help you at all so try to make them as specific as possible.

Here are a few tips for setting goals for the school year.

Write them down (of course!)
Make them specific
Set goals for school, but set goals for your life too (healthy eating, sports, etc)
Don't make all of your goals really big (You have homework to do)

Now we will get into some layouts to organize your schedule. Let's make your life easier! :)

School Year at a Glance

With a layout like this, you can see exactly when you have a day off from school at a glance and you can see when school ends!

On this layout, I highlighted all of the days I have school. You might do color-coding so you can mark down the days you have important tests too.

Last year, I had one layout for the first semester and one layout for the second semester, but this year, I wanted to make things simpler, so I put them both on the same page. All I have to do is turn my bullet journal to the side, and I can see the whole school year at a glance. :)

Daily Routine

An easy way to be more productive is by creating a daily routine that you can follow. It stops you from being distracted because you do one thing in your daily routine after another. Of course, I don't follow this daily routine exactly every day, but it gives me a general guideline for what I want my day to look like. And yes, I do wake up at 5:30. :)

You can get started on creating your daily routine by reading How to Start a Daily Routine You Will Actually Stick To.

My Weekly Schedule

Along with my daily routine, I also have a weekly schedule and you probably should too! Unless you have the same school classes every day and then you can just have a daily routine. This layout is one of my most helpful school layouts because I need to know when my classes are, but also because it helps me to stick to a routine.

I didn't write down what each box is, because I wanted this layout to look more minimalist, but here is a quick rundown of what each one means just in case you want to do something similar for your own schedule.

Black Lines - My wake-up time and ideal bedtime (On the weekends I get to sleep in 😊)
Black Outlined Boxes - Meals
Blue Filled In Boxes - Classes and other things that have specific times
Blue Outlined Boxes - Time that is not free time (Homework, etc.)

Passwords

Especially if you are doing school online this year, this will be a helpful spread to have. Nothing can be as annoying, as trying to sign in to a website, when you are rushed for time and you can't remember the password! Then the site makes you jump through hoops to create a new password, or to recover your old one!

Skip the hassle, by creating a layout for your passwords. Please note that I do not recommend doing this if you carry your bullet journal around with you. You don't want someone to have access to all of your passwords in one convenient spot!

Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Those are all of the bullet journal layouts I am currently using to be organized for school! A few other bullet journal layout ideas for students that you might want to try out are listed below.

A separate layout for each class with important class dates and other info (I did this last year)
Taking notes in your bullet journal
School studying routine or hours studied tracker
Note-taking tips + ideas

If you liked this post, you might also like these other posts about bullet journaling.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found these bullet journal layout ideas for students helpful!

If you liked this post, please share it so others can read it too. Thank you. :)

September 19, 2020 No comments

We all know the dreaded feeling... when you have something you really need to do, but you keep putting it off, over and over, and over again. That one task you put at the bottom of your to-do list for days, maybe even weeks, because you never want to do it. Well, today let's get that task done! Stop procrastinating and be more productive today with these tips!

Updated for 2024

How to Stop Procrastinating + Be More Productive

Procrastination is something we all deal with, in our lives, whether it's on a day-to-day basis, or if you are lucky, you might only procrastinate once in a while.

I myself, procrastinate too! Just this morning, I was procrastinating cleaning my room, which is a weekly task I always do. I wasted some time scrolling on my laptop before I decided to just go do it. And guess what? It only took me fifteen minutes!

If I had done it right after I took photography for this post, then I wouldn't have wasted time on my laptop. But the point of this story is that I was procrastinating something that took only fifteen minutes! Because I procrastinated though, it took me around an hour instead because I was on my laptop before I went and did it.

In this post, I will dive into the reasons why people procrastinate, and what you can do to stop procrastinating so you can save time. Who doesn't want to have more free time?

If you just want tips on how to be more productive and you don't need tips on not procrastinating, then you can check out the post How to Be Insanely Productive During Quarantine, which is one of my most popular posts.

The Reasons Why You Procrastinate

Why are you procrastinating? Before you can figure out how to stop procrastinating, you need to know why you are procrastinating.

You Don't Want to Do It

You are probably nodding your head right now. :)

I know I am. One of the biggest reasons, why I procrastinate is because I simply don't want to do it. If I can put it off, then I will, because I can do it later. Right? I am sure we have all used that excuse.

All of the other reasons for procrastinating can probably be put under this because whatever excuses you make, it comes down to the fact that you probably just don't want to do it.

But, when you put this certain task off, it is constantly nagging you, so you can't enjoy whatever you are doing.

You need to figure out why you don't want to do it.

Do you not fully understand the task?
Is the task too time consuming/too big, maybe even intimidating? (cleaning and organizing your whole house)
Is the task too hard?
Do you just want to do something else because it is more fun?

Think about one thing you are procrastinating about right now and try to decide why you are procrastinating doing it.

One thing I need to do is update old posts on this site that are no longer relevant. :) Here are the steps I have taken to not procrastinate on this task.

I identified why I am procrastinating (The task is large and it is going to take a lot of work)
I figured out how to make the task smaller and not as time-consuming (I decided to update each post one by one and not try to do it all at once, which would be impossible)
I made a plan and I track my progress (I made a bullet journal layout so I can see how much I have left to do, and I now update one of my old posts around once a week)

Do I still procrastinate on this task sometimes? Yes, I do, but this task doesn't have a due date on it and some weeks I am really busy, so I don't actually have time to do it. If this task did have a due date, I would make a weekly schedule for it and make time for it in my routine. (For example, taking photos on Monday after breakfast, and rewriting the post after lunch.)

Now that we have identified the reason for procrastinating, we will break up the bulleted points above and create fixes for each one. If you have a reason for procrastinating that doesn't fall in the "I don't want to do it" category let me know in the comments below. :)

Fixing Procrastination Problems

1. Not Fully Understanding the Task

If you don't know exactly what you are supposed to do, then of course you will procrastinate it! If it is a goal, you set that isn't specific enough like "exercise more often" then you also might procrastinate it.

The task needs to be specific enough that you are clear on what you need to do. If it helps, make a list of the steps you need to do to complete the task.

2. The Task is Too Time-Consuming/Too Big

Make the task smaller. Easier said than done, I know. You might make a chart and try to divide it up. This goes along with point number one.

If you have a deadline, you could do a little each day (I do this), or you can try time-blocking (Doing the task for a set amount of time, and then taking a short break and coming back to it).

If it is something you do daily that you procrastinate, then you should work on incorporating it into your daily routine. For example, if you procrastinate exercising every day, you could do it first thing in the morning (even before you turn on your phone).

3. The Task is Too Hard

Are you using this as an excuse for procrastinating? This also ties back to the first two points. If the task is too hard, then you need to figure out what you are doing and make a plan.

If it is a habit you are trying to make that you are procrastinating, then you should make it easier, and see if you still procrastinate doing it. For example, if you want to do 25 pushups every morning. The first few days you do it, and then you start procrastinating because it takes too much time, etc, etc. Make it a little easier by doing 5-10 pushups and then build up from there once it is already a habit.

4. You Would Rather Do Something Else First

Distractions! They are everywhere. If you are procrastinating doing something simply because you want to do something else, then you need to remove the distraction.

For example, you need to do your homework, but you want to check notifications on your phone first. You aren't going to use any apps; you just need to check your notifications. Well, we all know what happens. Thirty minutes to an hour later, you realize how much time you have wasted.

So instead of even turning on your phone, you need to put your phone out of sight, put it on silent. Do whatever you have to, to remove the distraction.

How to Stop Procrastinating + Be More Productive

So what can you do to stop procrastinating doing something? Write these down, so you can refer back to them later or make sure to pin this post. :)

Identify why you are procrastinating
Fully understand what you need to do
Make a plan
Divide up the task
Incorporate it into your schedule
Remove distractions

Sometimes all you need to do is just start the task! I know that most of the time when I decide to just start the task, I find out that it wasn't actually that bad, and I end up doing the whole thing in one sitting. The next time you are about to procrastinate something, try simply starting it, and then see how much you can get done.

If you liked this productivity post, you can read these ones too!

I hope this helps you stop procrastinating! If you have any questions or want some specific tips, leave a comment below and let me know!

Save this post for later, if you found it helpful. :)

September 12, 2020 2 comments

Fall starts this month! I am back in school and I can't wait for the weather to cool down. For my bullet journal layouts this month, I went with fall colors, and my theme was falling leaves. I usually stick to using pastel colors in my bullet journal so I decided that this month I would switch things up! Keep reading, to see how I set up my bullet journal layouts for September. :)

Updated for 2024

Plan With Me September Bullet Journal Layouts

I made this set up very similar to my August bullet journal layouts, though the design is very different. Last month I did more of a minimalist-style layout because I used only two colors (green and black), but this month I used around five or six markers because I wanted this layout to have the colors of changing leaves.

Last month, I used new fonts on my layout, which I found on Creative Market. I did the same thing this month, but with different fonts. It takes me longer to make my layouts now, but I enjoy trying out the new fonts!

If you want to see how you can easily use the fonts on Creative Market in your bullet journal, you can read Plan With Me August Bullet Journal Layouts. I have a whole section on how to use the fonts found on Creative Market in your bullet journal in that post.

September Bullet Journal Supplies

Crayola Super Tips - Crayola Super Tips are used on almost all of my spreads! They are great for beginners, really affordable, and there are tons of colors. If you are looking to buy some markers to use in your bullet journal, then I recommend these ones.
Ecoline Brush Pens - The Ecoline brush pens are the newest addition to my stationery collection, and I really like them, but they are on the pricey side. The ink is really smooth and juicy though, so I think they were worth the money. :)
Black Sharpie Pen - If you have read probably any of my other posts, then you will know that I always use a black sharpie pen for writing in my bullet journal.
Tombow Fudesonuke Brush Pens - Another great option for beginners, the Tombow Fudesonuke brush pens come in a two-pack: one hard tip, and one soft tip. I used the hard tip Tombow Fudesonuke brush pen for the calligraphy on this layout.
White Gel Pen - I use a white gel pen to mark out any mistakes I make on my layouts, and while it is sometimes still a little bit noticeable, it doesn't bother me.
Mechanical Pencil - I use a mechanical pencil to do some of the hand lettering before I use ink especially since I used new fonts on this layout. I also used a mechanical pencil to sketch in the rest of the layout.
A Ruler - I always want straight lines and I definitely can't get them without a ruler!

September Bullet Journal Monthly Layout First Page

Header

For this layout, I used the font "Hello Paris" from Creative Market and because I wanted to use both fonts in the header, I wrote "hello September" instead of just "September. I really like using the fonts on Creative Market in my bullet journal, so if you are looking for font inspiration for your bullet journal, I would recommend checking them out.

I used a Tombow Fudesonuke hard-tip brush pen for the calligraphy and Crayola Super Tips (My review of the Crayola Super Tips) for the serif font.

Doing serif fonts is easier than it looks! Simply write the word, you want to do in a serif font, and then go over the downstrokes, to make them thicker, just like when doing faux calligraphy.

Mini Calendar

I have been doing a mini calendar every month this year (except for January when I missed making a monthly layout due to being sick) and I still love them! The size of my mini calendar varies from month to month.

This month, I went with a very simple mini calendar. I didn't even write the days of the week at the top, but I always put Monday first, so it doesn't make a difference to me. I also put the numbers for the days, in the center of each box and I like how it turned out.

Highlights

Pretty self-explanatory. I write down everything that happened during the month that I want to remember. :)

Then I go through later and pick out my favorite memories and add them to my "Best of 2020" layout.

Goals

If you read my posts regularly, then you will already know this, but for those of you who are reading my blog for the first time, this is how I do my goal setting for the year.

At the beginning of the year, I created a "21 Before 2021" layout, on which I wrote down all of my goals for the year.

Each month, I look back at the goals I created for the year, and I set a few mini goals, that help me get closer to my goals for the year.

This month, I am doing six goals instead of my usual five, because I had enough room on my bullet journal layout.

September Bullet Journal Layout Second Page

To-Do

Last month, I went back to having a column with my tasks for the month and because I enjoyed having it, I am going to continue to use it instead of having a column with the days of the month.

I may use simple weekly layouts along with this for my to-do list, but I haven't decided yet.

October

I always add a spot for the next month in the year, but I make it small because I usually don't use it. It's just nice to have in case I have something big coming up in the next month. :)

Habit Tracker

In July, I did six habit trackers, but because they were all too much to keep up with, I went back to only tracking one habit per month, especially since school has started for me.

The habit I am tracking this month is to "get up before 7 AM". During the school week, I get up at 5:30, but I also want to start waking up earlier on the weekends so I can create a habit of always going to bed early and waking up earlier.

The Quote

I still had a lot of room left on this layout, so I looked on Google for a quote about fall. I knew I had to pick a long one since I had so much room left on the page!

The quote I decided to do is, "Anyone who thinks that fallen leaves are dead, has never watched them dancing on a windy day."

The lettering was a little off-centered, so I added some leaf doodles, to help balance it out. If you want some tips on making your bullet journal quotes (And all of your layouts in general) look better, you can read Tips for Improving Your Bullet Journal Quote Pages.

Plan With Me September Bullet Journal Layouts

I'm sure you have probably noticed by now that there is a large maple leaf in the center of this layout. I drew the maple leaf in a medium-brown color, so hopefully, it won't be too dark, when I try writing on top of it.

Overall, I really like how this layout turned out and I am going to enjoy using it this month!

If you liked this post, you can read these ones next.

I hope you found some inspiration for your bullet journal, and that this post was helpful!

Let me know you liked this post by sharing it. Thank you! :)

September 05, 2020 2 comments

How to Style Straight-Leg Jeans

Finding a Pair of Straight Leg Jeans You Like

The Do's of Wearing Straight Leg Jeans

1. Do Cuff Your Jeans

2. Do Wear a Fitted Top

3. Do Tuck Your Top In

4. Do Mix Dressy + Casual

5. Do Wear a Belt

6. Do Wear a Fitted or a Cropped Jacket

How to Style Straight Leg Jeans

School Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Back to School/Monthly School To-Do List

School Classes List

A Motivational Quote

School Goals

School Year at a Glance

Daily Routine

My Weekly Schedule

Passwords

Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

How to Stop Procrastinating + Be More Productive

The Reasons Why You Procrastinate

You Don't Want to Do It

Fixing Procrastination Problems

1. Not Fully Understanding the Task

2. The Task is Too Time-Consuming/Too Big

3. The Task is Too Hard

4. You Would Rather Do Something Else First

How to Stop Procrastinating + Be More Productive

Plan With Me September Bullet Journal Layouts

September Bullet Journal Supplies

September Bullet Journal Monthly Layout First Page

Header

Mini Calendar

Highlights

Goals

September Bullet Journal Layout Second Page

To-Do

October

Habit Tracker

The Quote

Plan With Me September Bullet Journal Layouts

About Me

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