Reference Posts

Since it’s been a while since we last made a masterpost, I figured I’d make one. So below you’ll find a list of all the blogs you’ll ever need for your tumblr or photoshop needs. * = favourites.

GENERAL RESOURCES  ― @arabellasources  //  @chaoticresources  //  @fandomresources​  //  @fuckingphotoshop  //  @itsphotoshop  //  @manyresources  //  @peachresources  //  @photoshopcupcake​  //  @photoshopdeluxe  //  @quirkyresources  //  @reblogresources  //  @resourceme  //  @rresources  //  @whoaps  //  @yeahps  //  @yeahsource

COLOUR PALETTES  ― @1302933  // @color-palettes  //  @dailypalettes  //  @royalspalettes  //  @spectrra  

FANSITE HEADERS  ―  @arizonadesigns  //  @fansitehelp  //  @headersonline

ICONS  ― @aryavatars  //  @dashiconsxo  //  @dashtars  //  @firedash  //  @lightavatars  //  @toxicdash

PSDS  ― @artjunkpsds  //  @ameriepsds  //  @colorarepsd  //  @itscolour //  @pswonderland  //  @rosiepsds  //  @selenapastel  //  @sixcoloring  //  @stipslerie  //  @vannilapsds  //  @wasirauhlpsds  

THEMES  ―  @1204px  //  @acuite  //  @extasisthemes  //  @felinum  //  @mrsthemes  //  @neonbikethemes  //  @nymphthemes  //  @odeysseus  //  @painthemes  //  @shythemes  //  @solarre  //  @solitudethemes  //  @theme-hunter  //  @themesbysofia  //  @vortexthemes

OTHER USEFUL BLOGS  ―  @capsforedit  //  @colorgifs  //  @lovsgifs  //  @textureporn  //  @yourfonts

filetype:PDF

Or whatever the three-letter file extension you’re looking for is. This can be GREAT when looking for actually copies of journal articles or books, as well as PowerPoints for inspiration or training. 

I’m going to uni this autumn, and I feel like most of studyblr’s incoming freshmen are just as clueless as I am. Here’s a bunch of tips from the more experienced among us, and I hope it’s just as useful to you as it is to me!

this took forever to make so i’m really hoping it’s good

Money Matters

Textbooks

Sites where you can get free textbooks by @thearialligraphyproject

Get textbooks online

Tips for textbooks by @theorganizedcoyote

Websites to get cheap textbooks by @theorganisedstudent

Ultimate guide to buying college textbooks

Safe ways to get free textbooks

Saving Money

A girl called jack: eating under the line

Qriket

Scholarship masterpost by @wallcalendar

Save money while shopping online

College scholarships 2016-17 by @wonderstudying

Tips for finding & getting scholarships

How to budget

Where to find student discounts by @collegerefs

Searching for scholarships by @collegesmarts

Creative ways to save money in college

Places that offer discounts with student id

Ways to save/earn money

Paying for college by @collegerefs

Student Life

Dorm & Living

PSA for college freshmen

Dorm tips from @humanitaes

Ultimate school locker (uni bag) kit by @girl-studying

Resolving issues with roommates

Tips for living like an adult

How to eat healthy in dining halls

DIY dorm decor by @notquitenightingale

Everything I actually used in my freshman dorm room

Guide to living alone by @piratestudy

Living with a roommate by @collegerefs

Packing Lists

Thing I forgot to bring to college by @myberkeleyadventure

Sam’s ultimate failproof guide to packing by @staticsandstationery

Ultimate college packing list for freshmen

College packing list by @kimberlystudies

What to bring to college

Checklist for dorms & campus living

Packing up: preparing for college in @theacademiczine

College dorm packing list by @produitivity

Recipes

One-pot chicken fajita pasta

100 dirt cheap recipes for students

57 go-to recipes for college students

Cheap & healthy recipes 

Over 400 fast & healthy recipes

Classes

Studying & Taking Notes

Organizing notes with Google Docs by @academla

How to write a lecture summary efficiently by @collegerefs

Symbols & abbreviations for note-taking 

How to take lecture notes by @hstrystdyblr

How to take notes in college by @determinationandcaffeine

Getting the most out of lecture by @strive-for-da-best

How to get your best grades in college by @saralearnswell

If you have a bad college professor

Essays

Transition words for essays by @soniastudyblr

How to analyze historical sources by @rewritign

How to write a university level essay by @healthyeyes

Analyzing a written text

Essay writing: university vs. high school

How to write a history paper by @thehistorygrad

How I plan and write literature papers by @notaperfectstudent

Exams

A quick guide to finals by @emmastudies​

10 revision tips for final & first year exams

High school exams vs. college exams

Crucial study tips for finals week in college 

3 day study plan by @getstudyblr

Low stress college study strategy by @plannerdy 

+ More

Masterposts

A college student’s masterpost by @eruditekid

Random college tips by @determinationandcaffeine

College advice by @studenting

Giant college masterpost by @heyiwantyoutostay

Advice

Advice for college by @collegerefs

10 tips for starting uni by @studycubs

Advice from a college senior 

Great tips from @fuckstudy

10 more excellent tips

Things nobody tells you about university by @polcry 

Miscellaneous

8 things successful students do by @frankfurter-studies

Email tips by @haileymostudies

@collegerefs‘ entire blog– so much good stuff that’s incredibly useful

my grace.uni tag– all the posts I’ve saved for university

Staying in contact with high school friends

Here are some recs for casual/feel-good f/f representation! All links are to my reviews.

Good Enough to Eat - super cute lesbian vampire rom-com

Promises, Promises - parody of LotR/D&D starring three lesbians on a quest for magical stuff

Everything Leads to You - Hollywood f/f YA about a young set designer who falls for a girl she meets under mysterious circumstances

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - ensemble-cast “crew of a spaceship” story. Mostly just random adventures, includes a f/f couple who survive the book.

Roller Girl - contemporary f/f romance about trans woman who joins a roller derby team

Not fluffy, but the angst is SFF-stress rather than “living under homophobia/biphobia” stress:

Ascension - queer disabled ladies fighting Big Pharma in space–you wanted space bi’s, come get your space bi’s (actually, if you want more space bi’s also check out the anthology Fierce Family.)

Chameleon Moon - review is of an earlier edition and I hear the new one has even more great representation. Trans woman superhero with two female partners living in a dystopian city that’s on lockdown from the government after everyone develops mutant powers in response to a wonderdrug.

Not Your Sidekick - in the future, what happens when your parents are superheroes but you never developed powers? You intern for the baddie, of course! MC is bi and ends up in a f/f relationship, and the sequel will star her trans bestie.

Gay Pride and Prejudice by Kate Christie - What it says on the tin. Elizabeth Bennett is a lesbian and the haughty Caroline Bingley is the last woman she could ever be prevailed upon to love.

Escape from B-Movie Hell by M.T. McGuire - Silly British sci-fi with a lesbian protagonist

Heart Trouble by Jae - A doctor gets shocked by a defibrillator while saving a woman’s life in the ER. Now they have a soul bond!

Finding Ms Write by Jae & Jove Belle - Collection of short stories about women who love women and also love books.

The Wind City by Summer Wigmore - Urban fantasy drawing on Maori mythology. Protagonist describes herself as “at least 60% gay” and falls in love with a monster girl.

Sword of the Guardian by Merry Shannon - Bi princess and lesbian bodyguard fall in love.

Beauty & Cruelty by Meredith Katz about the evil with falling in love with sleeping beauty (lesbian)

High & Mighty by S.S. Skye - a princess stuck in a tower who is decidely Not Amused about it (lesbian)

Humanity for Beginners by Faith Mudge - Two friends and a halfway house for lesbian werewolves (lesbian)

Hunting a Lady by Cari Z. and Caitlin Ricci - a woman who needs money goes to rescue a kidnapped lady for the reward (lesbian)

Lies & Reverie by Camilla Quinn - A shopkeeper’s daughter who loves to day dream, and the beautiful woman who runs the town (lesbian)

Love Rampage by Alex Powell - a girl in love with her best friend, and the unicorn who helps her (lesbian, trans)

Modern Serpents Talk Things Through by Jamie Brindle - a modern dragon who falls in love with the human who invades her cave (lesbian)

Prom and Other Hazards by Jamie Sullivan - super cute story about a girl, her best friend, and the prom (lesbian, bisexual)

Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller - a frustrated mage, some dragons, and the lovely new partner she’s stuck with (lesbian)

The Broken Forest by Megan Derr - a Huntress, and the beautiful witch she meets dealing with a troublesome forest (lesbian, bisexual, trans)

The Mercenary by Annabelle Kitch - a peasant girl, the princess she loves, a quest to win her princess’s hand in marriage (lesbian)

The Persephone Star by Jamie Sullivan- a proper lady working in the post office, a notorious criminal set on revenge, and a bit of kidnapping (lesbian)

The Secret of Mermaid Cove by Megan Derr - an improper lady, an unwanted engagement, and an island full of secrets

Witch, Cat, and Cobb by J.K. Pendragon - a princess fleeing an arranged marriage, a witch, and a cat (lesbian, trans)

Zombies in the East End by Roxanne Dent - steampunk, zombies, and two tough ladies

California Skies by Kalya Bashe - bandits in the wild west, a hunt for jewels, stubborn people (bisexual, genderqueer)

hey yall its me the Art Mom™ to help you shade pretty

rule 1: DO NOT SHADE WITH BLACK. EVER. IT NEVER LOOKS GOOD. 

red- shade with a slightly darker shade of purple

orange- slightly darker and more saturated shade of red

yellow- i think like..a peach could work but make it a really light peach

green- shade with darker and less saturated shade of blue or teal

blue- shade with purple

purple- a shade thats darker than the purple you’re using and maybe a little pink (MAYBE blue)

pink- darker shade of red

white- a really light lavender or blue..or i guess any really light colour??

black- okay listen dont use pure black to colour anything unless you want to leave it with flat colours because you cant really shade black lol

grey- a slightly darker shade of purple or blue (less saturated)

brown- slightly darker and less saturated shade of purple or red

I made some Balls of Colour to go with Art Mom™’s post:

Ani Roschier Photoshop Brushes

One of my favorite teachers had a paper on his office bulletin board that read Practicing Sucks.

Here are my favorite ways to make it not suck. 

Most technical difficulties can be fixed by breathing deeper and smoother.

Never practice unless you want to.

Find ways to want to practice every day.

Stop your practice session when you feel like it.

Find ways to not feel like stopping until work is done.

Use sleep to your advantage: nap or go to bed one hour after practicing to learn faster. Practice hard music in the evening and then again first thing in the morning.

Consistency is essential. Five minutes a day on one passage for five days in a row will yield better, longer-lasting results than twenty-five minutes on that passage once.

Improve 1-2% in every area instead of making unrealistic goals.

Pause between repetitions of difficult passages. My favorite pause is taking three breaths.

Stretch or do yoga for five minutes before practicing.

Be aware of your fingertips.

Allow your sternoclavicular joint to move freely.

Don’t push on the piano keys while holding a note.

Be OK with the process. It probably won’t be finished today.

There is no such thing as “finished.”

Failure is fine and helpful.

Technical trick for fixing the hardest passages: stop, walk around the room, take full breaths, consciously release tension, and return to the piano. Now play the passage again.

Keep water in the practice area.

Don’t go more than a couple hours without stopping to eat.

Sightread a lot - easy things and small pieces of hard things.

Listen to every sound you make.

à la une   on the front page

les achats de précaution   panic buying

l'actualité, les actualités   news

affolé (adj)   panic-stricken

allégué (adj)   alleged

un appel   appeal, call

une arme   weapon, gun

une arme blanche   knife

les armes de destruction weapons of mass destruction

assassiner   to murder

un assaut attack un attentat   attack

un attentat-suicide   suicide bombing

l'avortement   abortion

la banlieue   suburb

un bilan   death toll

blanchir exonerate

blessé (adj)   injured, wounded

une bombe   bomb

un bouchon traffic jam

braquer to hold up, point a gun at

la canicule   heat wave

un cas de force majeure   disaster (natural or man-made)

les Casques bleus   UN peacekeeping forces

un casseur   rioter

une catastrophe aérienne   air disaster

une catastrophe écologique   environmental disaster

une catastrophe naturelle   natural disaster

censurer to censure

un cessez-le-feu   cease-fire

un cible - target

le chômage   unemployment

un collecte au profit des sinistrés   disaster fund

coupable guilty

un coup d'état   overthrow

une coupure de courant   power outage

le crime   crime

un criminel, une criminelle   criminal

une crise   crisis

un cyclone   cyclone, hurricane

se déclarer - to break out (eg. a fire) 

déclencher to launch 

décréter to declare 

des dégâts   damage

le deuil   bereavement, mourning

un désastre financier   financial disaster

un désastre politique   political disaster

les drogues (fem)   drugs

un éboulement   rockslide

une élection   election

une émeute   riot

une enquête   investigation

une épidémie   epidemic

extrader   to extradite

un feu   fire

un flic (informal)   cop

flotter le drapeau en berne to fly flag at half mast

la garde à vue   police custody

être mis/placé en garde à vue   to be kept in custody, held for questioning

le gaz lacrymogène   tear gas

un glissement de terrain   landslide

une grève (faire la grève)   strike (to be on strike)

la guerre   war

la grippe aviaire   bird flu

la grippe porcine   swine flu

hexagonal   French

l'Hexagone   France

un immigrant, un immigré   immigrant

les impôts (masc)   taxes

un incendie   fire

une inondation   flood

inonder   to flood

un insurgé   insurgent

des intempéries   bad weather

IVG   abortion 

le kamikaze   suicide bomber

la loi   law

la lutte (literal/figurative)   struggle, fight

une manifestation   demonstration

le meurtre   murder

la mondialisation   globalization

une navette spatiale   space shuttle

un obus   explosive shell

opération escargot   rolling blockade

un ouragan   hurricane

une panne d'électricité   blackout, power cut

la peine de mort   death penalty

la pénurie   shortage, lack

la police   police

un policier   police officer

la politique   politics, policy

le politique   politician

poursuivre en justice   to sue

le pouvoir d'achat   buying power

présumé (adj)   alleged

un procès   trial

le réchauffement de la planète   global warming

la région sinistrée   disaster area

une réplique   after-shock, counter-attack

la retraite   retirement

un scrutin   ballot, election

un séisme   earthquake, upheaval

selon (prep)   according to

un sinistré, une sinistrée   disaster victim

un soldat   soldier

un sommaire summary

un sondage   poll

soupçonner to suspect

le suicide assisté   assisted suicide

les suites aftermath

un syndicat   union

le système de santé publique   health care system

un témoin   witness

une tempête   storm

le terrorisme   terrorism

tirer (sur)   to shoot (at)

les titres   headlines, headline news

une tornade   tornado

les transports en commun   public transit

un tremblement de terre   earthquake

une trêve   truce

tuer   to kill

un vaccin   vaccine

une victime   victim  (Note that this word is always feminine, even when referring to a man)

viser  to target

Macromolecules and Biochemistry

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Quizlet (mine - stuudytips)

Macromolecules Practice Quiz

Macromolecules Practice Quiz 2

Web Pages

Macromolecules - Nucleic Acids, Proteins, Carbs and Lipids

Macromolecules, Dehydration Synthesis, Monomers and Polymers

Lab Activities

Identifying Macromolecules in Food

Videos

pH Scale Lecture

Properties of Water

Macromolecules

Macromolecules Song

Intro to Macromolecules

Biological Molecules

Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis

Proteins

Notes

Cell Transport and Structure

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Quizlet (mine - stuudytips)

Web Pages

Lab Activities

Videos

The Cell Membrane

Feedback Inhibition

Endothermic Reaction

Cell Membrane Transport

Cell Membranes and Transport

Cell Membranes

Osmosis (really helped me understand the concept!!)

Osmosis

Diffusion 

Notes

Cell Transport Notes (By rebeccaxstudies)

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Cellular Respiration Quizlet (mine - stuudytips)

Photosynthesis Quizlet (mine - stuudytips)

Web Pages

Connecting Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis vs Cellular Respiration

Glycolysis Video and Overview

Lab Activities

Videos

Cellular Respiration Overview

Transpiration

CAM, C4 and C3 Plants

Relationship between Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Glycolysis Animation

Notes

The Calvin Cycle (by haleystudies)

Cellular Respiration (by gameofstudies)

Biomes

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Biomes Quizlet

Web Pages

Different Biomes

Lab Activities

Videos

Intro to Biomes

Biomes

Biomes 2

Notes

Matter Cycles

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Web Pages

Lab Activities

Videos

Notes

Ecosystems

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Web Pages

Lab Activities

Videos

Notes

Reproduction, Genetics and Heredity

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Web Pages

Lab Activities

Videos

Notes

Cell Division Notes (by rebeccaxstudies)

Inheritance Notes (by kierendering)

Natural Selection and Evolution

Quizlets/Online Quizzes/Worksheets

Natural Selection Quizlet 

Evolution by Natural Selection Quizlet

Speciation and Natural Selection Quizlet

Web Pages

Natural Selection

Lab Activities

Videos

Natural Selection

Notes

Evolution Notes (by kierendering)

General

Note-taking Methods

Forget overpriced schools, long days in a crowded classroom, and pitifully poor results.

These websites and apps cover myriads of science, art, and technology topics.

They will teach you practically anything, from making hummus to building apps in node.js, most of them for free.

There is absolutely no excuse for you not to master a new skill, expand your knowledge, or eventually boost your career.

You can learn interactively at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. It’s hard to imagine how much easier it can possibly be.

Honestly, what are you waiting for?

Take an online course

edX — Take online courses from the world’s best universities.

Coursera — Take the world’s best courses, online, for free.

Coursmos — Take a micro-course anytime you want, on any device.

Highbrow — Get bite-sized daily courses to your inbox.

Skillshare — Online classes and projects that unlock your creativity.

Curious — Grow your skills with online video lessons.

lynda.com — Learn technology, creative and business skills.

CreativeLive — Take free creative classes from the world’s top experts.

Udemy — Learn real world skills online.

Learn how to code

Codecademy — Learn to code interactively, for free.

Stuk.io — Learn how to code from scratch.

Udacity — Earn a Nanodegree recognized by industry leaders.

Platzi — Live streaming classes on design, marketing and code.

Learnable — The best way to learn web development.

Code School — Learn to code by doing.

Thinkful — Advance your career with 1-on-1 mentorship.

Code.org — Start learning today with easy tutorials.

BaseRails — Master Ruby on Rails and other web technologies.

Treehouse — Learn HTML, CSS, iPhone apps & more.

One Month — Learn to code and build web applications in one month.

Dash — Learn to make awesome websites.

Learn to work with data

DataCamp — Online R tutorials and data science courses.

DataQuest — Learn data science in your browser.

DataMonkey — Develop your analytical skills in a simple, yet fun way.

Learn new languages

Duolingo — Learn a language for free.

Lingvist — Learn a language in 200 hours.

Busuu — The free language learning community.

Memrise — Use flashcards to learn vocabulary.

Expand your knowledge

TED-Ed — Find carefully curated educational videos

Khan Academy — Access an extensive library of interactive content.

Guides.co — Search the largest collection of online guides.

Squareknot — Browse beautiful, step-by-step guides.

Learnist — Learn from expertly curated web, print and video content.

Prismatic — Learn interesting things based on social recommendation.

Bonus

Chesscademy — Learn how to play chess for free.

Pianu — A new way to learn piano online, interactively.

Hey!

How to Study Chemistry

Chemistry Study Tips

Chemistry Study Skills

Chem Collective

Chemistry Masterpost