1. Writing Portfolio
Kelly Mazur

2. 6 Weirdly Effective Hotel Hacks That Make
Living Out Of A Suitcase So Much Easier
March 1st, 2016
Sometimes you have to get creative in your hotel room when you realize you forgot something at
home or you just don’t have the things you need. After traveling full­time for 19 months I picked up
some incredibly useful hotel room hacks along the way! Check them out:
Dealing With Stained Clothes
When I got black grease on a brand new white bathing suit from lying on a dirty lounge chair I thought
my suit was garbage for sure. Turns out it was actually a super easy fix after I treated the stained area
in Coca­cola from the mini fridge. I let the Coke soak in for 45 minutes before hand washing the suit in
the bathroom sink. It worked like a charm and now I can’t even tell where the stain was! Side note –
the fact that a can of Coke can be used to get grease out of clothing is enough to make me never
drink it again.
Saving Leftover Meals
Have you ever ordered delicious (and overpriced) room service and ended up with a giant portion?
Swipe the shower cap from the bathroom and stretch it over the plate to keep your food fresh in the
fridge. Now that room service sandwich can be eaten for lunch tomorrow!

3. DIY Body Scrub
After too much sun my skin gets dry and scaly and the best way to deal with it is to use a body scrub.
To make your own scrub in a hotel room mix one package of sugar, one package of instant coffee
and a small dab of hair conditioner. Rub vigorously allover your (dry) body then rinse off with warm
water. Smooth, glowing skin in no time!
Laundry In A Pinch
Shampoo doubles as laundry detergent when you desperately need clean clothes and your hotel
doesn’t offer laundry services! Normally I bring a travel size container of liquid laundry detergent (or
buy small bottles in grocery stores abroad) but in a pinch shampoo works fine. I also pack a “pegless
travel clothing line” so I can easily hang laundry anywhere.
Getting Wrinkles Out
To get wrinkles out of clothes without an iron I boil water using the in­room kettle and run the creases
overtop of the escaping steam. It works like a charm – even better than regular irons in my opinion,
but that’s because I don’t really know how to iron…. #millennialproblems
Multi­Use Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner can be used for so many things. I’ve used it as shaving cream, makeup remover,
cuticle moisturizer and shoe polish. I even leave it in my hair overnight to act as a hair mask. Never
waste a tiny bottle of hair conditioner again – find a use for it!

4. 11 Tips On Looking Devastatingly Sexy In Your
Passport Picture (Or Other ID Photos)
February 12th, 2016
When Kim Kardashian’s passport picture hit the internet it left me wondering whether it was even real.
It looked more like a supermodel headshot from a casting call than a passport picture. But this is
when reality hit me: there’s nothing stopping any of us from looking hot in our passport pictures.
To come up with a foolproof plan for even the most cosmetically­challenged woman to follow, I called
on my past experience as a make­up artist for Lancome, Dior and Clarins. I’ve been to countless
training schools and I’ve really learned first hand what kind of makeup looks best in photographs.
1. Take the time to do your hair properly, but don’t look “overly done”. If you usually wear your hair
straight don’t spend hours creating bombshell curls…. just blow­dry it properly and clean up your ends
by using a hair straightener. Finish off a small amount of oil to tame flyaways and give your hair some
shine!
2. Make your eyes look clear and bright by using redness reducing eye drops. The drops tend to run
down your cheeks when you use them, so be sure to use them before you start doing your makeup.

5. 3. Use a foundation to even out your skin tone and cover blemishes. If you don’t have many
imperfections you can get way using a beauty balm or tinted moisturizer instead. Using the right
shade is crucial when you’re trying to create a natural look. Grab a mirror and head outside to see
how your foundation looks in natural sunlight. If your foundation passes this test, you’re good to go!
4. Avoid a shiny face by using a loose powder after your foundation. A loose powder works better
than a pressed compact because it looks more natural, and less cakey! Use a big fluffy brush and
lightly dust the powder across your forehead, nose and chin.
5. Define your eyes naturally, using neutral colors. Apply matte eyeshadow in beige, followed by
brown eyeliner and brown mascara. Using brown instead of black makes your appearance look softer,
and more natural. Avoid shadows and liners that have shimmer, as the sparkle doesn’t photograph
well. Finish by lightly filling in your eyebrows to frame your face.
6. For lips, use a tinted lip balm in a color that’s slightly redder than your natural lip color. Avoid lip
glosses because they look too shiny in pictures, and stay away from unnaturally bright or dark
lipsticks.
7. To avoid looking washed out, finish your look with bronzer. The trick here is to give yourself a
natural glow, not an unnatural orange tint! Lightly apply bronzer to where the sun would normally hit
your face – your cheeks, nose and above your eyebrows. Make sure you’re using an appropriate
color for your skin tone. It can be tempting to buy a darker color because you want to achieve a
deeper tan, but stick to one that compliments your natural skin tone.

6. 8. Wear a plain black shirt for a clean look. Avoid wearing a white shirt as some photos get denied
because the white shirt blends into the white background.
9. Tuck your hair behind your ears to get all of your hair off your face (another requirement for most
passport photos).
10. Just because you’re not allowed to smile in your pictures doesn’t mean you should look angry! Try
to keep a relaxed face and “smile with your eyes”.
11. Ask to see your picture before it’s printed to make sure you like it. Take your time looking at it and
don’t be shy to ask them to take another shot if you don’t like the first one.