Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate

So this isn't the first time on this blog that I've raved about Influenster's VoxBox's and it certainly won't be the last! This time I got to try out Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate and for somebody who doesn't like hot drinks, I love the way it tastes! My boyfriend was my official test taster and even he gave it a two thumbs up. We decided to try it out during studying for finals week and it was a great study break. What I loved about this was that it wasn't so sweet that is was overwhelming. I will definitely be buying this in the future!

#SwissMissSimplyCocoa @Influenster @SwissMiss

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Organizing Your Planner

Let's face it- there are million and one ways to organize your thoughts. You can jot them down, make a mental note, ask someone to remind you, or set an alarm that will accidentally go off during a test. My first semester of college I really just went with the flow. I wrote everything in my planner in pencil and left it at that. Now however I found that method to be confusing at times. When everything is in the same color I tend to overlook important things just because I can't tell that I need to do them!




Step 1: colors!

This semester I invested in a package of pretty colored pens in order to help me accomplish my goal of better organization. It seems to have really worked for me! The hardest part is refraining from quickly needing to write something down and writing something down in the wrong color. Once I established my color code I was well on my way to missing less deadlines.

Pink: Everything I absolutely need to get done by that day. This could include tests, homework, presentations, quizzes, or even doctor appointments.

Purple: I like to stay really involved on campus. I'm pretty well known among my friends as the go to person to ask about what there is to do on campus. Purple covers all campus activities including crafts, library nights, Christmas week activities, final's week activities, homecoming week activities, hall activities, or extra credit opportunities. 

Dark Green: Now that I no longer play softball at my school, I like to add in extra workouts to my normal routine. At my school, we have free fitness classes and if we attend 20 we get a free t-shirt. Dark green keeps all of the fitness class times for the day in one place. 

Light Green: Reminders to study are written in light green. A lot of the times I don't realize how close it is to a test until I'm right on top of it. By keeping these little reminders, I have it in the back of mind that I need to study earlier. 

Blue: In blue I like to keep all of my personal notes. These could be date nights with Luke, birthdays, reminders to write letters, or that I need to make a phone call. 

Orange: I use this one rarely, but it covers changes in the cafeteria's plans. Usually it's because we have to switch buildings due to faculty dinners or we're eating on the forum.

Black: In black I write my notes for class. These could include reminders that I need to have my laptop or that I need to ask a teacher a question.


When I first started my color coding I kept a sheet of paper in my planner to remind me which color went to what. However since I've been using it for a couple of months now I can easily write something down without having to remember which color is the correct one.

Step 2: It's not just enough to say that you are going to remember something. I've made that mistake too many times to count and have regretted it. If you think you need to write something down, do it the moment you find out about it and it will save you so much time in the long run.

Step 3: Personally I am a very hands on learner. One way that I help myself to remember things is to draw it or doodle next to the entry in order to make it stand out. I also like to make holiday's look festive with ghosts, Christmas trees and so forth!

Step 4: Be picky! One of my friends prefers to keep her planner on her phone while another likes to have a planner as big as a notebook. It all depends on what you like and you will only get the most out of what works best for you!

Whatever you find that works for you, stick with it! Even if it's as simple as leaving sticky notes around your dorm you are better off not messing with perfection. With these tips I've found that I manage time better as well as have more free time because I'm more on top of things!

What are some ways that have helped you to become a better student? Have you had to change them since you started highschool/college?

If this has helped or wasn't very helpful, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. I love to hear feedback!

Influenster: Resource Spring Water

I've posted a few entries about Influenster but it just proves how much I love it! One of the products I received for free in the mail to review was a bottle of Resource Spring Water. As soon as I opened the box I popped the bottle in the mail and waited for it to get cool before drinking. Later I went to get it and took it on the go with me to the gym. The bottle fit perfectly in my gym bag and even after opening didn't leak everywhere. Another feature was how clean the water tasted! I'm used to just grabbing water from the water fountains around campus so taking a break and drinking Resource was so refreshing. I don't tend to spend a lot of money on water from the store but I do believe I will be buying this on the regular!

Influenster: Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa

I posted a previous entry about how much I love Influenster and the love continues! I received all of the products mentioned below for free and all of the opinions of the products are my own. One of the items I got in the Moda VoxBox was the Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa. While I admit that I am not a huge fan of hot drinks, I was delighted to find that I adored the taste. My boyfriend on the other hand adores his hot chocolate and also loved this product! It was the perfect combination for one of our cozy Netflix date nights. My favorite part was how rich it was. Unlike other hot chocolates I have tasted in the past, it was not gritty at all. I loved the flavor all the way down to the bottom of the mug. Even though I am not crazy about hot drinks, this is something that I will continue to buy all winter long! I definitely recommend this for you if you like hot drinks or maybe even if you don't.

#SwissMissSimplyCocoa @Influenster

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Influenster: Moda VoxBox

Welcome to the world of Influenster! Influenster described by the site is "...a community of tastemakers, social media hotshots, and educated consumers who live to give opinions of products and experiences. In Influenster Nation, influence is currency." Put simply, if you connect your account to social media accounts you will gain influence. This influence gives you greater chances to participate in their campaigns. So far I have received two Ebay gift cards as well as this box. 

Recently I was notified by email that I was chosen to receive their Moda VoxBox. The box came in the mail on schedule but I was so surprised at how large it was! I could hardly stop myself from tearing it open before I made it up the stairs and into my room.Starting from left to right on the top are the items included in the box. Disclaimer: all of the products mentioned below or in the photo were given to me for free for reviewing purposes. 

First up is the Hair Food Moisture Hair Mask worth $14.99. The first thing I loved about this hair mask was the smell. It is honey apricot and smells amazing! Not to mention my hair has been feeling so much healthier after using. I would definitely recommend this product to others!

JERGENS Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer worth $5.99/$6.99: I've been using this every day for the past two weeks and I can see the difference already! My hands are noticeably softer and the skin around my nails have been so much smoother lately. Definitely a believer! 

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick $6.99-$7.49: I'm not usually a lipstick kind of girl. I have one or two for when I want to look extra dressed up but otherwise I stick to bare lips or chapstick. Regardless I was definitely excited to try out this lipstick! As someone who is used to a nude lip, the color seemed to wash me out. However I loved the feel of the lipstick! It didn't make my lips feel dry or stick at all which is a definite plus for me. 

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lip Liner $5.99-$6.49: I've never worn a lip liner before as I tend to stay away from lip products, but this felt light as well as moisturizing. Because I'm at college and have to walk around outside in the cold between classes, my lips tend to dry out a lot faster than they used to (other than softball season). Having this has made a huge difference in my makeup routine! 

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves Mascara $5.49-$5.99: I love, love, love mascara and this one was no exception! It's the first mascara I've used with a broken heart-shaped wand. I tried it out for the first time today and I am in love! My eyelashes are not very thick to begin with but this mascara compensated beautifully. It filled them out without making them look scary and spider luck-everything I wanted! 

Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa $2.29: My boyfriend is all for hot chocolate. I don't tend to like warm drinks so this pack was given to him to try out. He can be very picky with his hot chocolates but he loved the taste of it! 

Resource Spring Water $1.49: I am always up for trying new brand of water! As I tend to only drink water this was so exciting to receive. I immediately put it in my fridge and when it got cold, tried it out. Love! Also loved the fact that the bottle is 100% recyclable! 

Puffs Softpack: 1 pack for $1.99-$2.49 / 3 pack for $4.99-$5.99: Tissues are always in great need around college campuses and so these have come in great handy lately! I love how soft they are as well as the cute packaging they come in. It gives me reason to leave them on my desk rather than hide them away. 

All in all I was in no way disappointed with any of the products that I was given to review. Again all products were given to me for free and all of my opinions were not influenced in any way. Everything smelled amazing, felt amazing, and will be put to good use! I can't wait to get my next offer!