Auself

Three steps. Set a goal, make a plan, and do it.

I've been using planners to help me with my chaotic and busy life since I was in college. Back then, I was not very good at utilizing my planner to make my life easier. The only reason I actually got one was to look "busy and professional". To my regret, there were weeks or even months that I totally forgot and ignored my planner. I would write down my daily or weekly schedule and tasks but still end up doing whatever I wanted and oftentimes, these things were very unproductive. They were a wasteful use of my time.

Time is the most precious gift and resource we have in this life. We cannot turn the clock and get back lost time. It was important to me that I stop this awful habit of misusing my time so I continued to use a planner until I got used to it and made it a part of my daily routine. Keeping and using planners have amazing benefits.

Get order and clarity in your work/school/day-to-day life.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how busy are you, 10 being super busy you have no idea what's going on around you? You can overlook some tasks and become overwhelmed with multiple deadlines, meetings, to-do's, and events in one day. You become an overworked zombie who loses sense of time for yourself and your loved ones. There are no clear boundaries because all you do is work, work, and work!

With a planner, you are able to control and schedule the flow of your day the way you want and which soothes you. You are able to create and have time for all aspects of your life.

Time Management.

If you are a relatively busy person, you need a planner to help you set time to complete all your goals and projects. Making a mental list of things you need to do and places you need to be will not meet the cut because we think of a million things in one day and the chances of forgetting that one task or deadline is possible. It is important to have a planner to organize and plan time for each specific task or activity.

Improve productivity.

Imagine each day is a project. To finish the project, you need to create a plan, determine the supplies you need, gather these supplies, and follow the steps of your plan to completion. If you do not have a plan and start your project blindly, you will meet a lot of problems along the way and may not be able to finish the project. That is a lot of wasted time and energy.

When you have a lot going on, you may not know where to start. It is important to have a set schedule or action plan for the day. When you have a clear plan, you will be more productive and confident in what you do because you have set everything beforehand. You know what you need to do.

Reduce stress and anxiety

Having a lot on your plate contributes to the pressure of your work, resulting in added and unwanted stress and anxiety. Using a planner helps in easing this stress and anxiety by making sure you are aware of upcoming deadlines and events, you know where to be and what to do and you are not just going around in circles wondering, being nervous, and panicky.

Keep record

The great thing about having a planner is having a record of all the events and activities you did during a long period. It shows your progress and your capabilities in what you do, and all the amazing celebrations and memories you have made.

Sometimes I will look at my planner and see all the tasks I've completed and goals I've reached. It's just beautiful and fulfilling seeing how far I've come during the year.

You will see your priorities.

Not everything will be a priority and that is okay. Repeat that to yourself.

You do not have to do every single request or task given to you if you know it does not benefit you or it is not your responsibility or obligation to do it. By setting a schedule in your planner, you will see your priorities in life and you will realize that all this "extra work" that people give you is not worth it. People will ask for a favor or push you to do things, but when you know that you have a full plate and it is not your job or problem to do the work for them, it is okay to say no.

Stress relief or a creative hobby/outlet.

The amazing thing about planners is that there is no steadfast rule to how you use them. Some people just write everything in while others use stickers, washi tape, and different colored pens in their planning routine. If you really want to let your creativity run wild, you could even start bullet journalling. It all depends on your creative desires and what works for you when it comes to planning and setting goals.

Focus on important things.

During a week, you may have several major events to attend to do. In the days leading to a major event, you can be distracted because of your excitement or nervousness about the upcoming major event. It happens to all of us.

With a planner, you can focus on the present important things for the day because you have written everything down. You know that the event on Saturday does not call your attention right now because of the four tasks and two meetings you have to accomplish and attend for Tuesday.

Know your limits and when not to overbook yourself.

Planning is like practicing life. We write down all the things we have to do on the pages of our planner. We may not accomplish all of them. We may hate doing some of them. A planner helps you realize how much workload you can take, what time of the day you are most productive, what makes your day productive and better, and when you need to rest and recharge.

Feel better at the end of the day by crossing out to-do's or tasks.

There is just something great about knowing that you completed your work for the day and crossed or checked out all your tasks on your planner. You feel accomplished and happy because you know you did your best and you were able to finish each task. You are closer to reaching your goals and dreams.

So, what are you waiting for? Start using a planner for all your goal-setting. You lose nothing when you decide to use a planner to organize and enjoy your life. Find the right planner and planning style for you and you will reap all the benefits of planning and hit your goals in no time.

Happy Planning!

x Bella

Photo Credits: @fotografierende via Pexels.com

A lot can happen in a year.

This quote is one of two on my vision board. The other one being "Your only limit is you." The first one reminds me that time is a precious gift and I should take action to grow and improve myself. The second quote inspires me to never underestimate myself and always do my best to go after my dreams.

It is quotes like these ones that should be on your wall-- to remind you of the good things and the possibilities of change and growth.

In this post, we will be discussing:

What is a Vision Board?
How to Make a Vision Board
The Purpose and Power of Vision Boards
Tips for using Vision Boards
My own Vision Board + Goals

Here is a little confession: I did not make a vision board at the beginning of 2021 because after 2020 it seemed like all my goals just went out the window and I just focused on getting by and surviving each day. The stress of online law school, coupled with the anxiety of being in a freaking pandemic, resulted in a tough year.

A few weeks ago, I was browsing Pinterest and decided that it was time to make a vision board because I would be starting my last year in law school soon. I wanted something to inspire and remind me of my goals and aspirations.

What is a Vision Board?

It is a visualization tool composed of a collage of images, pictures, and quotes that represent the person's goals, dreams, and aspirations.

Just like how affirmations bring us into a positive and motivated mindset, vision boards help us make that mindset greater. It allows us to visualize and feel what we want to achieve in our lives.

How to Make a Vision Board

The first step in creating a vision board is to envision your goals, your dream life, and the best version of yourself. Think of the physical objects that represent want you want in life. Here are a few ideas:

- If you want to travel in the future, add pictures of all the places you want to visit or of airplanes or beaches.

- If you want to find love, include pictures that show your ideal partner and the relationship you want to have.

- If you want to get your dream job, have pictures showing how your life would be if you had your dream job right now.

- If you want to get fit, include some quotes and images of healthy habits to include in your life.

There are no limits to what you can have on your vision board. It is your vision board, with all your dreams and goals, so put all the things that you want and wish for in life.

You can make a physical or digital vision board. To make a physical one, you will need these supplies:

-Old magazines

-Pinterest/the internet

-Scissors

-Glue

-Decorative Tape or stickers

-Board

Making your own vision board is a really fun activity. Gather a bunch of magazines and cut up the images and quotes that inspire and speak to you. Pick out pictures that show your goals and dreams. Find quotes that put you in a good mood and inspire you.

You can also go online and just search for all the images you want. The internet has almost everything. A really amazing place to find beautiful and aesthetically pleasing images is Pinterest. It is one of my favorite sites on the internet. Save the pictures you really like and print them out.

Now that you have all the images you want to have on your Vision Board, here comes the fun part. Grab your board and arrange all your cut-outs in a collage. When you are happy with the way it looks, it's time to glue everything down. You can also use some decorative tape and stickers that fit the theme of your goals if you want.

For a digital vision board, go on Pinterest or Google and search for all the images and quotes that you want to include on your vision board. Save these images on your computer or phone and using a collage maker or photo editing app (I used inCollage for my Board), arrange and edit them the way you want.

Ta-da! You have your own beautiful vision board.

The Purpose and Power of Vision Boards

Visualizing what we want is important. It is not enough if we write down and imagine our goals. We actually have to see them and visualize them and experience them or how they would make us feel as if they were in our lives. By seeing your vision board, your mind is guided to see your goals and dreams and to focus and move towards them.

The purpose of having a vision board is to increase and encourage the feelings we will have when we finally achieve all the things we included on our board. By reinforcing positive feelings, we remind ourselves that this is what we want and that we have to work for all the things that we desire in life.

In the Science of Visualization, guided imagery is used in therapy to teach the patient how to replace painful images, like distressing memories, negative thoughts, or worries about the future, with images that calm, comfort, encourage, and empower.

Tips

1. Keep it in sight. Is it crazy to think that we forget about our dreams and goals in life? We are surrounded by so much noise, drama, or stress on social media, at work, at school, at home, or from our own thoughts. It is easy to lose track of what we want to be because the world keeps telling us to move, move, move! Before we know it, years have passed and those hopes and dreams are still on the back burner.

When you create a vision board, do not hide it and do not be ashamed of it. This board represents your dreams. It represents you. Keep your vision board in your room or office in a spot where you can see it throughout the day. For a digital vision board, set it as your wallpaper on your digital devices; your phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop computer.

By seeing your vision board and what is on it, you are reminded daily of your dreams and goals. This will give you motivation and

2. Make it personal. The jobs, life, and ideals of someone that you admire (or envy) do not need to and should not be your own dreams and goals. You must take your own path to success and happiness. Choose dreams because you want them, not because you are trying to be better than or copy others.

3. Change it as you change. Everything around us is constantly changing. Even ourselves and our ideals, personalities, dreams, and aspirations, grow and change as we are exposed to different and new experiences, people, and lifestyles. It is okay if we choose to change or stop chasing one of our dreams. If we realize that the dream we once had no longer gives us joy or we have lost passion for it, there is no harm in removing it from our vision board. What would be the point in visualizing something we no longer want in our lives?

4. Include short and long-term goals. There is no shame or judgment in having goals and dreams on your board that take different periods to accomplish. It is also alright to have the same goal on your next vision board if you have not accomplished it within the time period you thought you would. Don't let dreams die.

5. Keep it private. Keep your dreams, goals, and plans private. Achieve and succeed in silence.

My own Vision Board

Like I said, a vision board is personal to the person. I won't be sharing each and every goal or dream on my vision board. I will only be listing the big ones that I am willing to share (Tip No. 5). My Goals/Dreams:

1. Pass and graduate law school.

2. Plan better and stay organized.

3. Celebrate the next amazing chapter in my life.

4. Drink aesthetically pleasing coffee. Duh!

Most of the images on my vision board have to do with law school and career because I am going into my last year, so I felt that it was important to put those on there to remind me to study and prepare for everything that is coming my way.

I hope you decide to make your own vision board and at the end of the year, you can look at it again and realize that you achieved so much. Remember, you will get to where you want to be with hard work and dedication.

Stay inspired!

x Bella

Photo Credits: Pexels.com

"You smell great."

"You smell nice. What are you wearing?"

These words will make you gush knowing that people sense and know you smell good. Smelling good is associated with good hygiene. Imagine getting into an elevator with several people. Wouldn't you love being the person that everyone is glad to be standing and waiting next to? Having a good and pleasant scent attracts people to you and they enjoy your company. It lets them know that you take care of yourself and is a sign of respect that you do not want to spoil someone's day with B.O.

What is a signature scent? A signature scent is a great representation of who you are. When you wear the scent daily and often, people know it's you.

Have you seen the movie Palm Springs? There is a part in the movie where Nyles (played by Andy Samberg) smells a distinct scent on a pillow and instantly realizes who has been laying there before because he knows that this person uses orchid-scented hair products. Boom! Signature scent!

How do you find your signature scent?

1. Know what you like and want.

Sweety, you can take all the "What is my Signature Scent?" quizzes you can find, but you can never know unless you actually try the scent.

I had a problem with this one. I always thought "vanilla, vanilla, vanilla..." I was so focused on finding the perfect vanilla perfume; something not too sweet, but not too rich, I completely ignored other scent profiles or brands because they had no vanilla in them.

Make sure you do your research; read reviews, watch Youtube videos, and read blogs and articles.

Do not stress out!

Not being able to find a signature scent is not the end of the world, but it sure feels good when you actually find the one you love.

2. Try samples before buying the full bottle.

It is a total waste of money if you buy a full bottle you have never smelled before and base your purchase on the scent description. If you head to physical stores, you could probably spend the whole day sniffing little samples. But I do not recommend this because hello...headache!

Another option if you cannot leave the house is to go online shopping and order a big old batch of perfume samples. Maybe not a ton, just enough for you to try.

When you do go out and try different bottles, take note of what the perfume is composed of to find the scents that you are most attracted to and enjoy. If there is a common component of all the ones you like, then you are one step closer to finding the one.

If you see that most of the ones you truly like have peaches in them, then peaches all the way. When you finally get used and are affirmative that you found the one for you, go ahead and buy the full bottle.

3. Wear and experience the scent all day.

Perfumes tend to evaporate and fade throughout the day, depending on the percentages of fragrance oil and carrier oil, and all other ingredients. Don't just spray it on your hand, take a whiff and call it a day. Spray it as if you found your signature scent and find out how it fairs for the day. Depending on your lifestyle and the activities you do, the lasting scent may not be the same from person to person.

4. Ditch the fragrance trends. Did someone say they will scream if they smell another person wearing Le Labo's Santal 33? P.S. Santal 33 is pricey but smells so good. Not from experience, but from everyone else lol.

Do not be pressured into buying Chanel No. 5 because it is...umm...well, Chanel. The concept of a signature scent is to be able to express yourself through the sense of smell. I mean, why would you wanna smell like Chanel No. 5 when you do not like the scent yourself, for example.

5. Spray where it lasts.

Wear your signature scent on the inside of your elbow, inside your wrist, behind your ear, the base of your throat, behind the knees, and maybe just a little spritz on your clothing. The goal is to make it last all day and get the bang for your buck. There would be no point in wearing perfume if you spray it on areas that will barely last an hour.

6. Search for the brands you want to support.

Gone are the days where we roam the aisles of a store, pick something and go with it (except toilet paper, just grab any roll!).

Nowadays, we are more meticulous about the ingredients, the packaging, the process, the company. We are more careful and aware about where we put our money and what we put on our bodies. Not all brands are created the same. Find a brand that speaks to you and caters to your needs.

Review on Simoy ng Haraya

Shop their products here.

Simoy ng Haraya is a Philippine-based brand that features locally crafted and creates soy candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, body scents, and soaps. They offer a variety of perfumes, Eau de Parfums and Eau de Toilettes in their body scent category. They provide a description for each scent, which is very helpful and exciting, but if you are unsure which one to get, you may buy a Perfume Sampler Set, a set of 5ml glass bottles of the scents you get to choose.

This is what I ordered from their website because I wanted to try all the scents that I was interested in before buying full bottles. They package the orders in recyclable brown paper packaging and fillers, which is a great plus for dear Mother Earth.

Now, for the scents, here are their scent descriptions (as written on the brand website) and my first impressions of them:

Unang Halik is vanilla, sugar, musk. It reminds me of the vanilla cookie-scented Christmas candles we would receive from packages abroad. It is sweet and smooth. At first sprits, you will smell like a Christmas candle, but the scent will fade into a luscious blend of earthy sweet vanilla after a while.

Muli is fresh-cut roses. When I got my first sniff of this, it reminded me of something. I couldn't remember exactly what. I had to return to the website and see what was in this bottle. Roses! That's why the scent was so familiar-- I used to make rose-scented candles at home. This scent is definitely a bouquet in a bottle.

Dalisay is white musk, pink roses, citrus, cinnamon stick. It has a fresh, spicy, and earthy smell which I particularly enjoy. It is not too strong or overwhelming.

Lambing is composed of citrus, red fruits, Lily of the valley, Bulrush, tea rose, cinnamon, wood, cedar, and musk. It is my fave among all the ones I picked in the set. This scent portfolio sounds fancy and it does smell divine. It is a softly sweet and fresh scent.

Sulyap is marjoram, thyme, musk. It reminds me of men's cologne but I'll still wear it. It has a strong scent (just like for men) that fades into a cool and fresh combination.

x Bella

Photo Credits: Pexels.com (Anastasiya Lobanovskaya)

Life becomes so much more amazing when you realize what you want out of it and where you want to go. You begin to plan what you have to do in order to reach all your goals in life. You start making vision boards, staying up late learning new skills or working your butt off on getting your business off the ground, making career changes, and putting so much focus and energy into achieving what you truly want and desire to be and have in this world.

We all have a dream life and there absolutely nothing wrong with doing everything we can to get it. Making dreams come true is never an easy road though. You will be met with so many challenges-- fear, financial problems, failures, doubt from others and of course, yourself. Along the way, you might even feel like you have no idea what direction your life is heading to and you ask yourself Is this worth it?, What am I doing? or Why did I think I could achieve this?

Never give up on your dreams. You will get tired, you will fail and you will feel so many negative emotions but do not give up or quit. Just take a break, rest and reflect on your progress. Then, it's time to get back out there and show how you make lemonade when life gives you lemons!

If you are feeling like you have lost all your passion and motivation on your goals and dreams in life, maybe it's time to look at the little [bad] habits you have that are not good and healthy for you.

1. Screen time before bed. We are always on our gadgets and despite the amazing way the internet connects us with friends and loved ones located across the globe, the negative effects of modern day technology are prevalent. Have you ever been in bed and getting comfy for a night's rest when you decide to just do one last scroll on Instagram? Check your Facebook posts? Check your emails? Watch just one Youtube video?

Before you know it, the five minutes turns into one hour then two hours and you are engulfed in your recommended videos and related posts and it's already 2 in the freaking morning! You go to sleep finally, tired from all the scrolling and social media adventure.

I have done this more times than I can remember and I wake up hating myself and wishing I had a few extra hours to stay in bed. Then I spend my day like a zombie drinking too much coffee. Using your phone in bed and making it the last thing you do before calling it a night will give you lousy sleep. A good night's sleep is essential to a productive day and good health.

Do yourself a favor and reduce your use of gadgets before bed. Do not bring your gadgets into bed and go to sleep with them. According to the Sleep Foundation, electronic back-lit devices like cellphones, tablets, readers and computers emit short-wavelength enriched light, also known as blue light, which has been shown to reduce or delay the natural production of melatonin in the evening and decrease feelings of sleepiness. Blue light can also reduce the amount of time you spend in slow-wave and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep.

In a study published in February 2020, it was found that restricting mobile phone use during bedtime reduced sleep latency, pre-sleep arousal, and negative affect, and increased sleep duration, positive affect, and working memory. It was effective in improving sleep quality.

In conclusion, if you are on your phone reading my blog posts at 2:00AM, I appreciate and thank you! But also, cut out the phone-before-bed tradition.

2. Not getting enough sleep. We need to rest and recharge our bodies. We are not robots, we are human beings with dreams and goals that we need to work hard for. Sleep is important and essential to a healthy and happy life.

When you don't get enough sleep, your day will be filled with headaches, inability to concentrate, mood swings, low energy and regret.

Get at least 7-9 hours of sleep. If you can't do this, make sure you give yourself time to relax and even nap during the day so you won't get burnt out and become ineffective or unproductive.

3. Comparing yourself. Look at you! You are beautiful and incredible in your own way. That's why I wonder: Why do you think you are not enough?

Is it because of what society tells you? What you see on social media? What the movies and TV shows show you? How people treat you? How you think you should be treated? Stop. Stop. And stop comparing yourself.

If you keep comparing yourself to other people, you will get stuck in life. You will start to work on dreams and goals that are not your own, all because you see others doing it. You will waste your time watching other people and wishing their success is yours, instead of working towards your own success in life. You will lose focus on where you want to go in life, all because you want to be living someone else's.

Comparison is the little devil that wants you to feel small and sad. But you are not. No one is. We each hold a power to create and manifest all our dreams and happiness and we all have a role to make the world great. Appreciate yourself and your efforts, work on becoming the person you want to be, which is the best version of you. Grow your positive energy and remove, say goodbye and walk away from all the negativity in your life.

I need you to take all the energy and time you use scrolling on social media and comparing yourself to photoshopped influencers, and use it to work on yourself and learn to love all that you are.

I know it is not easy to stop comparing yourself to other people. I compared myself to others almost every day of my life. Even as a child, I felt like I was the epitome of all that is "unattractive". Someone was always prettier, taller, smarter and better than me. I would pick out all my flaws and focus on all that was "wrong" with me. I had very low confidence and wished I was someone else. I'm glad I changed that mentality and have learned to accept and love myself. But I am human, and I have moments of regret, fear or insecurity. Those are my bad days, the days when I remind myself that self-love is a continuous journey and each day, I choose to stay on that journey.

4. Idolizing others. I've written a post about why we need to stop idolizing celebrities and this might be your cup of tea. Just like comparing yourself to others, idolizing someone can get to a great point of creating insecurity and distraction. We make it a habit to check their social media, watch all their stories, search every corner of the internet for pictures, videos and news about them and become a keyboard warrior against haters in their honor. We make them a big or even central part of our lives.

Instead of idolizing someone, let us take inspiration from them and their hard work. Do not lose focus on you and your goals. Stay on the path of your own greatness.

5. Setting unrealistic goals/standards. Dream big and reach for the stars! But don't expect to reach the stars on the first try.

If we set a goal, we need to remember and accept that there may be a few hiccups and failures on the way there. But isn't that the best thing about reaching goals? We fail but we learn. We gain experience and wisdom from every up and down in life. We fall but we do not quit or lose hope. We get up and keep going.

Remember, to get to a big goal, you have to reach a few small goals first. Have a plan and write down your mini goals. This will help you have a clear picture of where you are headed and see your progress along the way. It is also great because you avoid being overwhelmed or discouraged with a big task.

Have patience and take time to research, study and learn the things you need to get to your goal. Maybe...

You have to learn a new skill- train and practice whenever you can.

You have to go back to school for your dream job- be a good student and study well.

You are not financially there yet- save up or get a loan.

6. Negative Talk. Are you the one who is putting yourself down?

This is a funny story. Everyone else believes in you, is cheering you on and is giving you the support and opportunities that you need. The problem is you, the one person you have control over, talking crap about your own dreams, your own work, and your own life. Your negativity is the one keeping you away from what you want.

If you are afraid of change or failure, that is okay because maybe we all are. We love what is easy and familiar so we decide that we don't wanna get out of our comfort zones and put ourselves out there. But we must do it anyway because our goals and dreams are worth it. We are all worth it.

Turn your negative talk into a pep talk and be your own cheerleader. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you can do it. Believe in yourself! That funny story I told you? It's probably not true. There will always be someone who will say that you can never make it or think you are not enough. Do not let that reality discourage you.

When I decided I wanted to go to law school, I was so scared and doubtful in the beginning, but I told myself that if I would never know if I never tried. So, I applied to law school and took the entrance exams, and I got in. Three years later, in the middle of a pandemic and countless hours of studying and memorizing the law, I'm still in law school and on the path to getting that ATTY.

7. Not setting the right intentions. In any journey of change, growth and life, the most beautiful and important thing that you can put out there is intent. What are your true intentions to reaching this goal?

Your goal is powered by your intention. What motivates you to do the things that you do? Be honest with this because putting your time and effort into something that you do not really want will be a big waste of your time.

Doing things just to impress others or because it is a trend and others are doing it is not the way to go. Be original and honest with what you truly desire out of your life. Remember, your intention affects your actions which lead to your reality. Choose a reality worth living for.

x Bella

Photo Credits: Pexels.com

What are your biggest skincare regrets? Was it a terrible product or bad skincare advice? We all made mistakes with thinking that everything we read and hear on the internet is the real deal but the skin is so complex and unique to each individual that we cannot say a product or routine is one-size-fits-all.

We wish it was that easy. We could all just lather coconut oil on our faces and be okay for the rest of the day. But in the real world, coconut oil is not our savior.

Coconut oil might actually be the devil that’s the cause of all your skincare problems—clogged pores, pimples, or greasiness.

Here, I will share the skincare routines, products, advice, and beliefs that I fell for. These my top skincare regrets. I deeply regret following everything I read on the internet without doing more research, especially No. 4.

Like, what the heck was I thinking?!

Coconut Oil cures all skincare problems

You probably think I have it out for coconut oil but it will come as a surprise that I used to love coconut oil because it seemed like such a powerful product. I mean just go online and you’ll find how coconut everyone says it is good for everything…cooking, daily supplement, hair, skin. It was like a wonder oil.

I was obsessed with coconut oil and would use it in my DIYs: hair mask, deodorant (disaster!), lip balm, face serum, lotion, body butter, cleanser, toothpaste, face scrub, makeup remover, and even micellar water. I DIY’ed the crap out of coconut oil.

But I was wrong on so many levels. Coconut oil is not meant for everything.

I watched all these minimalists and environmentalist influencers on Youtube talk about how ALL skincare products are unnatural and bad for the skin, bad for the soul, bad for the planet. One of them even went on to say that to achieve great skin, only coconut oil is necessary.

I fell for it because I loved the idea of not having to care too much about my skin and not having to stress over picking cleansers, serums, and moisturizers. Instead, I heard the sweet words of just use coconut oil and all your worries will go away…

Syke!

So for a week, I would put coconut oil on my face every day and just let it sit there. I never washed it off because I thought it was good for the skin a.k.a I was a dumb ass.

I eventually got tired of and hated the sticky, heavy, oily feeling on my face and finally stepped away from the oil. My face felt so clogged and greasy, I knew my skin was suffering. Especially when I started to break out everywhere.

Harsh scrubs work better

I’m sure I’m not the only person who thought that scrubbing harsh scrubs on the face harder would get rid of dead skin cells better to achieve clear skin. Thanks a lot, St. Ives!

Nope! We all just got red and irritated skin. More harm is done.

Please, if you are still using a physical exfoliator, just stop. Chemical exfoliators such as AHA and BHA are better and more effective for your skin.

Coffee grounds are a great exfoliator

Oh wow, here’s another one. Just when I thought I couldn’t get any worse, I used coffee grounds with coconut oil to exfoliate my skin.

Why is it so bad?

It’s bad because it damages the skin through micro-tearing. There are small tears on the skin which weaken the skin’s barrier and make skin dry, red, and sensitive.

Because coffee grounds are not uniform in size (never shall they be) and may have sharp edges, they are too harsh on the skin and do not work as a face scrub. I’m also a 100% sure that this was one of the reasons my skin got so bad.

Melanin is natural sun protection

Now, this is just embarrassing.

I should just face palm-punch me in the face.

I got this information from the same girl that preached how coconut oil was the ultimate skincare product.

After realizing all the harmful effects of UV rays from the sun, I made sunscreen a daily step in my basic skincare routine. It is important to wear sunscreen every single day to avoid sunburn, dark spots, and the risk of getting skin cancer.

Derma rolling is the best thing ever

This became super popular and people were obsessed and just raved about it. People were acting like it was more life-changing than botox.

I would watch all the derma rolling Youtube videos I could find, read all about it on blogs and Instagram and even spend countless hours online looking for an affordable brand of derma roller.

Thank the Heavens I am cheap and never went out and bought one. So I never got to try it. They are very expensive (in my frugal opinion) and not worth the risk.

Just like botox, there are dangers. Derma rollers can cause irritation or infection if the tool is not cleaned properly. It creates wounds on the face so that there is constant healing and new, younger skin surfaces after the repair. However, as we age, the collagen naturally present in our skin also disintegrates. When you are deliberately creating wounds on your skin, you are causing degradation and speeding up the usage of collagen.

You only need sunscreen when you are at the beach

This is a skincare commandment: Wear sunscreen every day. Even if you are just indoors or if it’s a cloudy day, the sun’s rays can still penetrate through the clouds and the windows. Protect your skin from burning, early signs of aging, and dark spots by wearing and reapplying sunscreen religiously.

Makeup wipes are the best

Hahahahaha!

Not enough HAs in the world to make me not regret this one. These seem so convenient and effective to remove all the makeup and gunk on your face but here are the problems:

Easy to use? You are tugging at your skin just to remove all the dirt and makeup, this can cause wrinkles to appear earlier.
Wiping gently to avoid tugging skin? Sure, but then your face is left not completely clean—makeup and other products may still be there.
Follow up with a cleanser? Well, that was a waste. Should’ve just started with the cleanser in the first place.

Trust me, you can’t win with makeup wipes.

Soap as a cleanser

We have all tried this. It’s not just me.

Soap is great at cleaning and it also has less packaging and waste but bad news: Soap is alkaline.

Umm…okay. What’s wrong with that? Why is soap bad for the face?

Well, my dear friend, the skin is naturally acidic (less than a pH level of 7) and it is protected by the acid mantle. When you use alkaline products too many times, it disturbs the pH level of the skin and damages the acid mantle. This can cause the face to be more susceptible to bacteria, causing acne and build-up. Horrorshow!

I regret following or believing these skincare products and routines but I’m glad I can share them with you and hopefully, you’ve added something new to your skincare knowledge.

x Bella

Photo credits: Pexels.com

When you enter the hall ways of any law school, you must come prepared. But with today’s new normal going on, the common highlighters and fancy planners won’t really cut it. This is the Law School Supplies List 2.0. This is new normal edition y’all.

Law school will be the adventure of a lifetime. You will not only need the drive, strength and determination but you will also need to prepare the best weapons when you go into battle. Scared yet?

Don’t worry, there’s no blood shed in law school. Though, I will not guarantee there will be no tears and sweat, sleepless nights, caffeine fueled study sessions and mountains of law books and cases involved.

Just like all law students, I am excited and nervous for the upcoming semester. Now that we are in the new normal, everything is definitely changing. For one, my university has come up with a learning continuity plan and created schedules for classes which will solely be online.

Here are the top necessities I will be needing to survive online law school from the obvious to the “just good to have”.

Good and stable internet connection. It’s the best time to invest in a really fast and reliable internet provider since everything being online is becoming pretty prevalent and common. Here in the Philippines, the internet reliability is a big problem factor with the integration of classes and work online and hopefully, the internet companies will help the Filipino people in making internet more accessible through affordable subscriptions and great service.

Laptop/Computer. Any device which can connect to the internet and has a good quality camera is a must with online classes.

Earphones. Buy a pair of good quality earphones so that during online classes, you can really focus and hear what your professor is discussing. It’s also best to wear them in order to avoid disturbance with what other people are doing in the same room or house as you. Your house mates do not need to know that you are discussing Chapter 3 of Banking Laws.

Planner (Digital and Physical). Oh, the good old planner. I think, when it comes to online classes, just have both. Majority of school work will now be online, so it is good to have all your to-do lists, reminders and notes on your computer or device.

As a precaution, also write down everything in your physical planner. Some stuff you must take note of:

Email addresses and passwords
Log-in details to online classrooms
Zoom Meeting ID and Passcodes
Deadlines for school stuff

Email address. It comes as a shock that some students do not have an email address dedicated to professional communication or school related emails. When you use your personal email address for school work, there is the tendency that your inbox will be filled up with spam mail, useless social media updates or notifications and subscriptions emails you never open.

Create an email address you will use solely for school work and communication with professors and classmates. If your university provides you with your own student email address, it’s also great to use that one.

Online Storage. Some of the best online storage services I can recommend are Google Drive and Drop Box. They are very easy to use and navigate to organize all your important files.

So, are you ready for your first online class?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Stay safe, always.

Photo Credits: Ylanite Koppens via Pexels.com

Hi there! It's Bella, your broke full-time law student with some tips and tricks on how to save and earn money on the side.

I quit my job a few weeks after starting law school. All I had were some savings in my bank account and a dream lol. And also, the support of my ever-loving parents.

There was tuition to be paid and also expenses for books, meals and travel. Aside from selling my stuff (clothes, bags and accessories) online, I try my best to look for ways to save and earn money while working my butt off in law school. Oh, sleepless nights and wounded feelings...

Now that we are in new normal, most of my classes are done online for the time being. I don't need to spend so much on travel expenses to and from school or buy lunch at the cafeteria.

These tips and apps can prove helpful for anyone, not just students.

Stop going to coffee shops

Do you really need to sit and study at a coffee shop and drink overpriced lattes?

No, not really.

I used to go to coffee shops and milk tea shops all the time to study. I would spend hours there reading and researching while getting odd glances from baristas and employees. I did get work done but I eventually realized that the cost of a drink adds up to a ton of money wasted on so much sugar and ice.

Instead of going to a coffee shop, find a good spot in your home to study or go to the university library. You are already paying library fees so might as well use the library and also, think about all the unlimited books you can borrow and read. Ooh la la.

Borrow books or buy them second hand

Law books are very expensive probably because they weigh so much. Just kidding.

The best way to save some money for books is to borrow or buy them from a friend (lucky you) or borrow from your university library.

Also, go online and search for students who are willing to sell or rent out their books. They may be old and already filled with highlights and notes but you are still able to read and learn from them and the big plus is you save some big money as well.

Thrift shopping

Are you cringing yet?

Well, sucks for you because thrifting is an incredible and fun way to save money while staying stylish and helping the planet and small businesses.

I would say I am a passionate thrift shopper because there are so many beautiful and unique clothes you can find at thrift stores. Majority of the clothes I bought and are still in great condition come from thrift stores. There are even some designer brands you can find if you are lucky and willing to rifle through all the clothes racks in the store.

Sell Your Notes

Whaaaattttt?

Yes, it’s possible to earn money by selling copies of your notes. Whoever did this in the first place is a genius!

I personally have not tried doing this because for the love of God my handwriting is not the best and I don’t think anyone would be that interested and willing to buy my notes.

But check on Etsy stores and Instagram and you will find a bunch of student bloggers selling their notes, study cards and reviewers. For a good price too.

So if you are someone with well-organized notes and great penmanship or willing to format type written notes well, give it a go.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. When you decide to use my links, I will receive a commission but this will not cost you anything.

Use Shopback app

An avid online shopper?

Yay, this is the app for you.

If you are interested to join the app, click here to register and get Php100 Cashback Bonus.

Shopback is a cashback rewards platform and it also has coupons, promo codes and discount vouchers and deals for your online shopping needs.

Depending on the online store you choose to purchase from, you receive a percentage of the purchase you made for each transaction.

Let’s say you bought makeup from Shopee. The current cashback for purchases on Shopee is 2%. If you purchased lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes worth Php2,500 from a store in Shopee, you will receive Php50 for the transaction.

We interrupt this broadcast for some savings...

I have a referral code for Php100 off your first order on Shopee. Use Code RISCH224

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Shopback is a really great and handy app to have on your phone to help you save a bit of money each time you go online shopping. You don’t have to pay extra fees at all.

Remember, if you want to join Shopback and get Php100 Cashback Bonus, click here.

Read and Earn with Buzzbreak

Whenever I have a few extra minutes I get on my phone and use Buzzbreak to read news and current events and get points. Once these points add up, I am able to cash out real money into Paypal or Gcash. It’s very easy but note, you won’t be a freaking billionaire from this app. It’s still good to have a bit of extra cash though.

To join the app and earn 1000 points, enter the referral code B08411215

When you’re waiting in line, sitting in your car or the bus, waiting for your next class or just chilling at home, you can go on the app and earn.

You earn points by:

Reading news articles
Watching videos
Answering surveys
Doing tasks (installing/using apps, reaching levels on games)
Daily log-in
Hourly Rewards
Spin the Wheel
Free Points (every 30 seconds)

If you want to give Buzzbreak a try (and you should) and earn free 1000 points, click here to download the app and enter this code B08411215 upon registration.

I hope you got some inspiration and ideas on how to save and earn some extra cash. Times are tough nowadays because of the pandemic and new normal but I hope you keep safe and stay positive.

Photo Credits: Ksenia Chernaya via Pexels.com

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. When you decide to use my links, I will receive a commission but this will not cost you anything.

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