Where to Get Cheap Textbooks

Textbooks are ridiculously expensive. I'm talking in the thousands for one semester. No, really. My first semester, I paid $978 for five textbooks because I didn't know where to get them. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did, so I've compiled a list of the best websites to find your textbooks cheaper than you'll find them anywhere else.

1. Amazon- Amazon is the first place I look for my books. You can usually find used books on Amazon really cheap. You can even rent books from Amazon.
2. Chegg- On Chegg, you can save up to 90% on textbooks. You can also rent.
3. ThriftBooks- An online used bookstore. They have all genres of books, but they also have textbooks.
4. Directtextbook- Directtextbook is an online price comparison website that shows you where you can find the cheapest price for your book.
5. Half.com- An Ebay company where you can find textbooks for half price.
6. Ebay- Like Amazon, you can find used textbooks very cheap.
7. Abebooks- A website where you can find used and new books for low prices.

Although most of the time, your books will be more expensive at on-campus bookstores, make sure to check anyway. Sometimes you can rent a book there cheaper than buying one used or they can price-match. Also, if you're waiting for your book to be delivered to you after you need it, don't forget to check out your campus library.

Still stressing about how expensive college is? Check out how to save money for college students and how to make money on the side.

Dorm Room Ideas

Buying everything for your dorm can be nerve-wracking because it's so expensive, and there's so much to buy. I made my dorm bedding for cheaper than you can buy it, and you can too! Keep reading to find out how.

I saw lots of cute dorm bedding ideas on Pinterest, but they were all so expensive; at least $150 each just for bedding. I made my dorm bedding for half of that price. Let me just go ahead and say that I got a cheap reversible comforter at Walmart for $20. I also bought the sheets, but the rest of it I made, and that's what really brought it together.

The folded blanket on my bed is the main project for this post. I took a cotton fabric that I wanted to coordinate with my room and made it into a blanket. If you want to have this preppy style to your dorm, you should probably have 2-3 colors you can coordinate. I chose navy and coral/pink. Most twin size comforters are around 66"-68". That will be the length of your blanket. The width is whatever you want it to be. I cut out two pieces of the fabric. Lay one piece down, right side up. Lay the other one on top, right side down. Next, cut batting to the size of the fabric, and lay it on the top. Pin all the way around the blanket, and sew all except one side. It's hard to sew batting to fabric, but if you add tissue paper on top, it helps. Now turn the blanket inside out and sew the part you left open. There is your blanket to polish the look of your dorm!

I got navy sheets to match my comforter, but I also used them for something else; a bed skirt. In order to make a bed skirt, all you have to do is get a twin size flat sheet and either put it under your mattress, or where your sheet normally goes and just don't tuck it in. It really puts together your room because you can't see everything that's stuffed under your bed.

Keep an eye out for detailed posts coming about my décor and how I made my pillows.

What I wish I Would Have Known as a Freshman

1.) You probably won't stay friends with most of your high school besties.

2.) I know homework is important, but you need to take time for yourself. Going out and having fun keeps a healthy balance.

3.) Stop saying no. When my friends would ask if I wanted to do something, no was my go to answer. I always had homework I wanted to get done, when really it could have waited.

4.) Try to keep up a healthy lifestyle. It's hard when all you want to do is cry and eat chocolate and ramen noodles, but you'll feel better in the long run if you try to be healthy.

5.) Ask for help if you need it. I'm really bad for not asking for help because I don't want to seem stupid. However, most professors will understand. It's better to feel stupid than to get a bad grade because you was too stubborn or embarrassed to ask.

6.) Take advantage of student discounts. There's no explanation for that.

7.) Go out of your comfort zone. I went to some activities on campus that I normally wouldn't go to by myself, which is totally out of my comfort zone. By doing that, I made some great friends, so don't be afraid to try something new.

8.) Procrastination is the devil. Waiting until last minute will just make it harder on yourself.

9.) Take classes that will interest you. You might have your mind set on a major, but try out classes that sound interesting. They might even make you want to change your major.

10.) It's okay to change your major. Yeah, that might put you a little behind. What's getting a year or so behind compared with the rest of your life with a job you can enjoy?

11.) Go to at least one sporting event. It can be fun, and you may even get a free t-shirt.

12.) Keep common medicine. Getting a headache and having to go all the way out to Walmart for medicine isn't fun.

13.) Take advantage of free food. In the long run, it can save you quite a bit of money.

14.) I know it seems like it's dragging by now, but when you look back, it goes by in the blink of an eye. Don't take it for granted.

Ole Henriksen Voxbox Review

Note: I received these products free from Influenster. All opinions are my own. If you want to find out how to get free products from Influenster click here.

The Ole Henriksen Voxbox came with:

• Power bright system
• Facial crème
• Truth serum collagen booster
• 2 cleansing sponges

Keep reading for the individual reviews of each product.

1.) Power bright system (Full product- $55)

The Power bright is a professional 3-step brightening system. It comes with a truth sugar glow polishing mask, truth 25% vitamin C concentrate, and pure truth melting cleanser.

Steps in order from left to right

Here are the directions:

1. Step 1: Apply truth sugar glow polishing mask to clean, damp skin, and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Add warm water and gently massage in circular motion, then rinse and pat dry.
2. Step 2: Apply truth 25% vitamin C concentrate to dry skin. Leave on for 2-3 minutes. Treatment will begin to dry down slightly. Do not rinse off. Follow with step 3.
3. Step 3: Apply pure truth melting cleanser directly on top of step 2 evenly over face. Do not add water. Expect a tingling feeling as the treatment is activated. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. To remove, dampen complexion sponges or wash cloth with lukewarm water and wipe gently to remove all product.

My opinion:

The first thing I thought when I was reading the directions was that it seems weird that using the facial cleanser was the last thing you do. It is also not so convenient if you don't have a lot of it, but it is definitely worth it. The Power bright system smells amazing- like oranges. The first step exfoliated your face, and it does a good job. Step 2 makes your face feel so soft. I could see an immediate difference in my face. It made my face smoother and brighter. I can honestly say I've never seen a product that gives me a healthy glow without making me oily, and this did just that. It also seemed to minimize some of my larger pores. I probably won't be buying it because it's a lot of money for me, but if you have the money, it's definitely worth investing in.

2.) Facial creme (Full size-$38)
.5 oz. oil-free moisturizer that evens skin tone, moisturizes, and fades dark spots.

Directions:

1. Apply evenly to face and neck day and night.

My opinion:

At first it seemed like it was greasy, which is not ideal for an oily-skin gal like me. However, I waited it out to see how it would do. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but it seemed like my skin absorbed the product instead of just sitting on the surface. It wasn't greasy anymore, and my skin felt amazing. It doesn't really have a smell. My face never got oily, but retained just the right amount of moisture. AND it's vegan. I highly recommend the Ole Henriksen facial creme.

3.) Truth serum collagen booster (Full size-$48)

.5 oz. vitamin C serum that helps collagen and evens skin tone.

Directions:

1. In the morning, apply to face and neck.
2. Follow with moisturizer.

My opinion:

My original thought when I saw that it was a serum was, "Oh great. That's gonna make me oily." These products feel like they will make you oily, but they really don't. They absorb into your skin pretty fast. This seemed to tighten to my face up and make some of my pores smaller. It smells good, like the other products. However, it didn't seem to brighten my face as much as the
Power bright system. It says that it helps lighten dark spots, but I will have to update you on that because I've only used it 2 times. You can probably find something that tightens your skin like this for cheaper, so I would probably go that route. The full size is only 1 oz., so I definitely don't think it's worth the price, although it does work well.

4.) Ole Henriksen Complexion Sponges ($7)
2 complexion sponges used to exfoliate and can be used for 1-3 months.

Directions:

1. Run under water to expand sponge.

2. Use as needed with daily cleanser or special treatment.

My opinion:

To be honest, there is not really a lot to say about these sponges. They are just normal sponges. It is cool because they come completely compressed, but when you soak it in water, it expands. It claims that it is used to exfoliate, but I don't feel like it exfoliates. It's a good cleansing sponge; don't get me wrong, but it probably should be used on the days you don't need to exfoliate. I personally like using facial brushes better than sponges.

My opinion overall:

All of the Ole Henriksen products did just what they said: brighten, boost collagen, and even skin tone. Although they did improve my face tremendously, there are still probably cheaper options out there that are just as good. The Ole Henriksen products are a little more on the expensive side, but if you're willing to invest some money into products that actually work, I would go for it.

How to Get a Voxbox

If you're reading this right now, you may have heard of Influenster or of a voxbox. Influenster is a product discovery and reviews website. Influenster gives FREE products out to so many people who qualify, which is known as a Voxbox. Yes, this is a legitimate website. I received two free products just two weeks after I signed up. Keep reading to find out how to qualify for a voxbox.

Whether you receive a Voxbox or not depends on your social impact score and your completion of badges. Hang on and I'll explain. Your social impact score is determined by how many followers you have on social media On Influenster.com, or the Influenster app, you can access your social impact score and connect all of your social media accounts to Influenster. You can also boost your social impact score by adding an Influenster widget to your blog or inviting a friend. Some campaigns, which are opportunities to get a Voxbox, will require you to complete badges. Badges are a varying number of tasks you must complete. An example of tasks would be to write a review, create a list, or answer a question.

Now lets get into exactly what you can do to increase your chance of getting a voxbox.

1. Connect all of your social media accounts. Remember, the more followers or friends, the merrier.
2. Fit the demographics. This is something you can't really help, but some campaigns require you to take a survey to see if you would be a good fit for the product.
3. Be active on Influenster. Some things you could do would be:

• Complete badges
• Write a review
• Complete snaps
• Create a list
• Ask questions
• Answer questions

That's all, folks. The best thing you can do that will boost your impact score is having a decent-sized social media following because that's what Influenster is about: getting products out there. Good luck!

How to be Happy

1. Take pleasure in all of the small things.
2. Realize how small you actually are in this big world.
3. Know whatever you're going through is just a  small segment of your life span.
4. Change your way of thinking. If you catch yourself thinking something negative, try to turn it into something positive.
5. Stop complaining. It's easy to find the bad in something. Take the road less traveled and find the good.
6. Don't worry about what other people think.
7. Don't worry about the past.
8. If you're not in a good mood, put yourself in one.
9. Get lost in a book.
10. Watch a happy movie.
11. Do something nice for someone.
12. Play with a pet.
13. Go with the flow. It's okay as it is. It doesn't always have to be how you think it should be.
14. Get more sleep.
15. Meditate.
16. Spend time with people you care about.
17. Find hobbies that make you feel good.
18. Learn to love yourself.
19. Find the time to relax.
20. Enjoy nature.
21. Don't be afraid of new experiences.
22. Be grateful. Know that someone will always have it worse than you. It's not as bad as it seems.
23. Have a good attitude.
24. Let go of things and people that are holding you down.
25. Always smile. Be the person who smiled and didn't get a response, not the one who didn't smile back.
26. Disconnect from social media. Seeing all of the negative can affect your way of thinking.
27. Dance to your favorite song.
28. Find something that inspires you.
29. Don't compare your life to others.
30. Be present in everything you do. 
31. Get up early.
32. Get things done.
33. Know that happiness doesn't necessarily come from material things.
34. Find a job you love.
35. Be healthy. Your physical health can have a factor in your emotional health.
36. Know that everything will be okay.

DIY Summer Wreath

Looking for a summer project that's easy and inexpensive? You're at the right place. This wreath is perfect for summer, and you could even keep it up through all of the other seasons too. Keep reading to find out how to make it.

Materials:

• Tree branch wreath (Not sure what it's officially called)
• Floral bush (I found some at a dollar store)
• Burlap bow (6 in.)
• 3/8 in. ribbon

Instructions:

1. Take your floral bush and cut it so that the flowers aren't all attached to one stem. Cut off all of the main stems so that they are separate. 
2. Take the larger flowers and push the floral wire in and around the twigs so that it is secure, but not sticking out in the upper left part of the wreath. Make about 3 big flowers side by side.
3. Take one stem of smaller flowers and put them on each side of the three larger flowers.
4. Tie a normal bow in the burlap without cutting it first to see how big you want the bow. After you know how long to make your burlap, cut it and tie into bow.
5. Place bow on lower right side of the wreath.
6. Cut ribbon into about three 2 in. segments.
7. Take the cut ribbon through the holes in the backside of the burlap bow and secure in a knot to the wreath. Secure the ribbon on both ears of the bow as well as the middle.

That's all! It's probably the easiest wreath you'll ever make, and it's perfect for summer!

Bad Branch Falls

On September 6, 2015, I took my first trip to Bad Branch Falls with my family. Although the water was pretty low so it wasn't much of a waterfall, it was still breathtakingly beautiful. The trip wasn't planned, so I wasn't dressed for the occasion. The hike was pretty difficult for me in several areas as it went uphill. Jeans and dress boots didn't help. I guess you could say I took the beauty of the hike for granted because all I could keep thinking was, "Are we there yet?" When we did reach the falls, we left just a few minutes after admiring it. I returned for my second trip on May 13, 2016 with my boyfriend and his friend. This time I was prepared. The hike is absolutely beautiful, but the best part was indeed the falls. We ended up staying an hour or so, just relaxing in hammocks. There had been a lot of rain lately, which meant Bad Branch Falls was more than just some water dripping off of a rock. The 1.2 mile hike was definitely worth the view. Here are some pictures.

Not Flexible enough for Yoga?

      When I first heard (and saw) about yoga on the internet, I just scrolled and moved on. Want to know why? All of the poses I saw led me to believe that I wasn't flexible enough. I didn't start yoga until a couple years later, but looking back, I wish I would have started sooner. I'm sure there are a lot of people in the same boat I was in. I don't want anyone else missing out on the amazing art of yoga just because of a common misconception. No, you do not have to be flexible to do yoga. Here is why:

      First of all, most of the pictures on the internet are of people who have been practicing for years or was already flexible from other sports or activities. Do not compare yourself to anyone else, in yoga or in life. Compare your old self to your new self. Yoga is your own personal journey, so don't be down if you can't get something the first time or even the thousandth time. Yoga takes practice, just like anything else.

    Yoga poses are only a small part of yoga. Most people do not do yoga just for flexibility. There are other things you can focus on as well such as breathing. Yoga is about whatever you want it to be about. You could be doing yoga to achieve peace, lower stress, or for any other benefits. Even if you do want to focus on poses, you don't  have to get into all of the pretzel-looking ones. It's okay if you can't do basic stretches. You can always modify to fit your personal needs. Like I said earlier, yoga is your own journey, so don't be too hard on yourself if you've yet to accomplish a goal such as touching your toes.

    When I started yoga, part of the reason was that I wanted to get flexible. And guess what? I did. Looking back, not doing yoga because I wasn't flexible seems silly because yoga itself will help you gain flexibility. If you aren't flexible, yoga is EXACTLY what you should be doing. No, you may never be able to touch your toes or do the splits. So what? Yoga is about much more than flexibility. Yoga is about personal growth.

So don't be scared to go to class or do yoga at home because you're afraid you're not flexible enough. There is no such thing as "not flexible enough" in yoga.

  
     

Sunburn Remedies

Hey everyone! I started a new blog over at Thriving Wonders. Please go check out my blog! I have this exact post (but much better) over there! :)

I'm sure almost everyone knows the dangers of getting a sunburn. Sometimes that just isn't enough to keep it from happening. Whether you're trying to tan, or just got exposed to the sun without thinking about it, here are some ways you can heal your sunburn fast.

1. One obvious way is to use sunscreen in the first place. Yes, this doesn't actually HEAL sunburn, but the less burnt you get, the easier it will heal. You may tend to skip the sunscreen in order to tan, but you don't need to. You can tan with sunscreen without getting burnt so bad.
2. Apple cider vinegar is a great remedy for sunburn. Take a washcloth or paper towel, put some apple cider vinegar on it, and gently dab it on your burn.
3. Coconut oil is another amazing remedy for sunburn. Dampen your skin with a cool washcloth and apply coconut oil to the burn.
4. Black tea also helps sunburn. Put 3-4 tea bags in a glass of lukewarm water, dip your washcloth in it, and apply it to your sunburn.
5. Aloe Vera provides instant relief for burns. I buy an aloe Vera gel in store, but you can also apply it directly from the plant.
6. If you don't have aloe vera, just remember to keep your skin moisturized. Your skin is damaged, which tends to dry it out.
7. Take cool showers. Never take a hot shower with a sunburn! The cool shower will help soothe the burn.
8. Don't use harsh soaps. Soaps with a lot of chemicals will dry out your skin even further. Try finding a soap with natural ingredients. I use Neutrogena naturals.

With all of these remedies, you should definitely be able to heal your sunburn. Some of these take a little more time than others, but some will heal your sunburn overnight. Good luck!

Sparkler Photography Tutorial

I'm so excited for the 4th of July! There will be cookouts, fireworks, family, and sparkler photography. That's right. Sparkler photography. This is honestly one of my favorite shots. I wait year round to get pictures of sparklers and fireworks! One of the shots with sparklers that I like to do is a slow exposure photograph so that you can draw something out with the sparkler and it will show up like in my picture.

Here is how to take a slow exposure shot of a sparklers:

1. First of all, you'll need to put your camera in manual mode so you can control the settings.  Try out your camera  to see what works best. It's best to put your camera on a tripod for slow exposure shots so you can't see the blur.
2. Your shutter speed should be as least 5 seconds, or long enough to capture whatever you want to draw with the sparkler.
3. It is best to shoot these photos in kind of a twilight light so the person holding the sparkler is a silhouette in the background.
4. The ISO should be 100-200 so the picture is not grainy and to make the sparkler stand out.
5. Now have someone try drawing something with the sparkler! Adjust setting to personal preferences if needed.

Fourth of July Nails

If you're like me, it's a struggle to paint your nails. I can barely get a coat of plain nail polish on, let alone paint a design. However; I found that I could do super cute 4th of July nails without all of the difficult designs. With these nails, all it takes it two coats of paint, but it still incorporates red, white, and blue.

First, I chose to paint all of my nails except my ring finger this red color. This nail polish is by Sinful Colors and the name is Ruby Ruby (#369).

Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby (#369)

Next, I painted my ring fingers with this gorgeous blue color by Pure Ice. The color is French Kiss (#538).

Pure Ice French Kiss (#538)

Lastly, I covered all of my nails in this gorgeous glitter clear coat by Revlon that has different sizes and shapes of red and white glitter. The name of this nail polish is Daring Graffiti (#678).

Revlon Daring Graffiti (#678)

That is all I did to get these 4th of July nails. Most of the holiday designs are complicated, but it doesn't have to be. This nail idea is perfect even if you don't have a lot of time.

Lasagna Rolls Recipe

Lasagna sounds difficult to make, which is why I don't have it often. When I'm craving lasagna, I typically just opt for a microwave dinner. This is the easiest lasagna recipe I've found, and it is just as delicious. You can even make it a skinny dish by using fat-free or low-fat cheese. Continue reading to find out how to make these delicious lasagna rolls.

Serves: 9

Ingredients:

• 9 lasagna noodles (cooked and dried)
• 24 oz. spaghetti sauce
• 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
• 1/2 cup preferred shredded cheese (I used 4 cheese blend)
• 15 oz. ricotta cheese
• 9 tbs. preferred shredded (I used Mexican cheese blend)
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Let spinach thaw according to instructions. Make sure to drain.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions and let dry. Noodles will still feel a little sticky when dry.
4. Combine spinach, egg, 1/2 cup of shredded cheese, and ricotta in medium bowl.
5. Spoon just enough spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish so the lasagna will not stick.
6. Lay out lasagna noodles on wax or parchment paper and spread spinach ricotta mixture evenly over each noodle.
7. Roll up the lasagna noodles and place seam down in baking dish.
8. Spoon the spaghetti sauce over each lasagna roll.
9. Top each lasagna roll with 1 tbs. of preferred shredded cheese mixture.
10. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes or until cheese melts.

                        That's all, folks! There is your easy and delicious lasagna roll recipe.

Best Drugstore Lipsticks

      Decent drugstore lipstick can be hard to find. Most of it wears off within the first hour and just doesn't have a good formula. I have created a list of my favorite drugstore lipsticks that are almost or just as good as the high-end lipsticks in my favorites shades. These lipsticks/ lip glosses do not dry out my lips and stay on for a long time considering the price. Keep reading to see what they are.

The swatches and lipsticks are in the same order as the list from left to right

1.) "Elf Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick" in the color Movie Star ($2.00)

2.) "Wet n' Wild Silk Finish Lipstick" in the color Dark Wine ($4.99)

3.) "Elf Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick" in the color Pink Umbrellas ($2.00)  

(Note: I realize that I already mentioned this exact product in a different color, but I think this is another perfect color for summer, so I just wanted to throw it out there.)

4.) Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes Lip Color in the color Touch of Spice ($5.22)

5.) Elf Matte Lip Color in the color Praline ($3.15)

Fruit Pizza Recipe

This delicious dessert is perfect for a hot summer day. It's super easy to make and perfect for any holiday!

Prep time: 30-45 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Total time: 45- 60 minutes

What You'll Need:

• One package of sugar cookie dough and the ingredients needed according to the package (usually one egg and a stick of butter)
• 8 oz. package of cream cheese
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 container whipped cream
• Assorted fruits (I used strawberry and kiwi)

Instructions:

1. Prepare and bake sugar cookie dough according to instructions on the package. Instead of making cookies, press the dough onto the entire baking sheet. Remember to add aluminum foil and cooking spray!
2. To make your topping, blend cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in medium bowl.
3. Fold whipped cream into mixture.
4. When the sugar cookie dough you baked is completely cool, you can spread the topping throughout the sugar cookie crust.
5. Dice assorted fruits and add evenly to fruit pizza.

It's as simple as that! Enjoy your delicious dessert!

Benefits of Yoga

           Yoga comes with many benefits, as you have probably already heard. I can honestly say that yoga has changed my life for the better, and I'm not exaggerating. It has become less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle. Before I get into the benefits of yoga, first we must look at what yoga is.

          It is hard to discuss an exact definition of yoga because yoga is your own personal journey. Yoga is said to unite the body, spirit, and mind. It can be physical yoga poses (Asana), meditation, or both. For me, yoga is also a way to harmonize with my inner self and nature; I usually do yoga outside. You can do yoga at home or in a class.

         With that being said, there are many types of yoga, which come with different benefits. I will do a breakdown of the different types of yoga in a later post, but for now, lets discuss why you should do yoga in general.

1. It builds strength.
2. It improves your flexibility.
3. It increases blood flow.
4. It improves your posture.
5. It drops your blood pressure.
6. It helps depression.
7. It helps you relax.
8. It boosts your immune system.
9. It increases your awareness of your body and environment.
10. It helps you sleep better.
11. It helps with migraines.
12. It improves balance.
13. It helps with stress.
14. It helps anxiety.
15. It boosts your mood.
16. It helps arthritis and back pain.
17. It improves lung capacity.
18. It helps with weight loss.
19. It helps you focus.
20. It helps with PTSD.
21. It gives you inner peace.
22. It improves brain function.
23. It helps balance blood sugar levels.

With all of the benefits,  you definitely should try yoga. Remember, you do not have to be flexible or strong to start doing yoga, so give it a try. Here is another great article that talks about the benefits of yoga.

Killer Ab Workout

This ab workout consists of  10 exercises that will get you that awesome 6-pack. Do this 2-3 times a week, and you will start to see the results in just a couple of weeks. This not only strengthens your abs, but your whole core as well. Good luck!

InboxDollars Review

Can you really make money with InboxDollars? The answer depends.

First, let me explain how this website works. You can join this website for free. I decided to join because I was looking for a way to just earn a few extra bucks online. I came across this website from a blog post, 32 Legitimate Ways to Make Money at Home, which came from The Penny Hoarder. All you need to sign up is an email and a password. You get $5 just for signing up. Here's the catch: you have to make $30 before you can receive the money you made. It says you can make money through surveys, videos, playing games, searching the web, and checking emails. I have listed the pros and cons below.

Pro #1:
It is simple and free to sign up, so you may as well try it.

Pro #2:
I kind of/sort of made money. More on that later. But you CAN make money if you put lots and lots of time into it.


Con #1:
Although it says you can earn through videos, there has not being a single video available for me to watch, and I started over a month ago.

Con #2:
Earlier I said that I kind of/sort of made money. I have only made $9.53 throughout the past month. I spent hours doing surveys, and that is all I have made; although I will probably never see that money because I have to earn $30 first.

Con #3:
It also says you get paid to read emails. By that, it really means that you get paid 25 cents to sign up for some form of insurance or other ridiculous offer.

Con #4:
You don't make a lot from surveys, even if you get to take a survey. Surveys pay more for the longer it takes to complete it. A typical 5 minute survey probably pays about 25 cents. Although that doesn't sound too shabby, I haven't qualified for many surveys. I spend about 10 minutes on a survey, just to get through it and say that I was disqualified.

Overall, I definitely would not recommend InboxDollars. However; it is free to sign up, so give it a try if you want to see for yourself. If you don't feel like wasting your time, I highly recommend to not even sign up.

100 Things to do this Summer

1. Star gaze
2. Swim with dolphins
3. Build a sand castle
4. Get in shape
5. Catch fireflies
6. Do photography shoots
7. Camp
8. Go to Creeper trails
9. Hike as many places as possible
10. Ride bikes
11. Make homemade lemonade
12. Paint a canvas
13. Go on a road trip
14. Make S'mores
15. Have a picnic
16. Play frisbee
17. Play tennis
18. Learn to skateboard
19. Walk on a glass bridge
20. Go to a concert
21. Have a water balloon fight
22. Use a slip n' slide
23. Go to a drive in movie
24. Go fishing
25. Ride a horse
26. Watch the sun come up from the top of a mountain
27. Play in sprinklers
28. Play on a trampoline
29. Make a tire swing
30. Go exploring
31. Fly kites
32. Go to the zoo
33. Go to a museum
34. Go roller skating
35. Plant flowers
36. Read lots of books
37. Play golf
38. Get a snow cone
39. Draw with sidewalk chalk
40. Have family game night
41. Have a dance party
42. Explore new recipes
43. Have a movie day
44. Play hide and seek
45. Go to an amusement park
46. Go to a water park
47. Practice yoga daily
48. Make popsicles
49. Have a bonfire
50. Sell old clothes
51. Have a barbecue
52. Make jewelry
53. Wade in river
54. Run a 5k
55. Go to the Poke Sallet Festival
56. Make my own shirt
57. Change my hair
58. Watch for bears
59. Do some wood work
60. Make an outdoor fort
61. Buy from a local farmer's market
62. Do something nice for a stranger
63. Vlog
64. Learn to play an instrument
65. Do crafts
66. Skip rocks
67. Go kayaking
68. Make a scrapbook
69. Ride a Ferris wheel
70. Go swimming
71. Collect sea shells
72. Start a journal
73. Go to the lake
74. Use fireworks
75. Make homemade pizza
76. Drive go karts
77. Walk around an outlet shopping center
78. Watch Disney movies
79. Go to the movies
80. Blow bubbles
81. Full out date night
82. Go out for dessert
83. Make homemade ice cream
84. Eat sushi
85. Pull an all nighter
86. Eat a funnel cake
87. Go to the library
88. Have a sleepover
89. Have a spa day
90. Play video games
91. Finger paint
92. Go to a flea market
93. Go bowling
94. Go to a historic site
95. Lay in a hammock
96. Watch a meteor shower
97. Go bird watching
98. Play paintball
99. Complete a puzzle
100. Play board games

How I lost Weight

I haven't always been the healthiest. I love Little Debbie cakes. I have always loved anything packed with sugar. I always drank pop. My story started about 3 years ago. In high school, where I was a cheerleader, I weighed my heaviest at about 145 pounds. I'm 5'6. I didn't cheer my senior year of high school, which was when I started trying to lose weight. I started drinking more water. I started doing little workouts for that "summer body." I started going walking. I restricted my calories and counted every single thing I ate. I think I usually allowed myself about 1600 calories a day. The weight came off pretty quickly. I ended up weighing around 127, but that didn't last long. After a week, I started gaining the weight right back. I got sick of counting calories. I got sick of trying to prepare healthy food. The only thing I kept doing was drink water, so I did keep a few pounds off, but overall, I wasn't healthy. I did take some spells where I'd eat healthy and workout for a few weeks at a time, but then I'd go back to being unhealthy for months.

A couple of months ago, I finally figured it out. Want to know my secret?

I didn't want to lose weight for the summer body, although that was definitely a bonus. I wanted to lose weight because I wanted to be healthy. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to stray away from somewhat preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease. I wanted to be the best me I could be.

Since then I've been going strong with my longest healthy streak ever. Yes, there are times I don't eat healthy. I don't quit eating healthy food just because I eat bad for a few days. If you think about it, that doesn't even make sense. It's like slashing three other tires because you got one flat. Research what you're putting in your body. See if it's good or bad. Don't just cut out food that will make you lose weight; cut out food that is unhealthy in general like a lot of processed food. I eat GMO free food. I try to eat natural food such as fruit and vegetables. That doesn't mean I don't eat birthday cake, brownies, or anything else that's unhealthy. If you don't allow yourself to eat what you crave every now and again, you'll burn yourself out.

I really struggle with eating because I'm bored. One way that I have lost weight is through the following quote: "If you aren't hungry enough to eat an apple or something healthy, you aren't hungry." This hits home because I will crave chocolate so much that it makes me hungry, but if I just give it about 20 minutes and think of that quote, the hunger will go away.

Another way I have lost weight is running. I used to hate running. I'd always walk the whole time because I couldn't run for more than 30 seconds. One day I pushed myself, and I didn't stop when my legs and lungs started burning. I didn't stop when I got out of breath. I kept pushing for a couple more minutes, and after that it got easier. I ran for a whole mile for the first time in forever! It may have been a slow run, but that's okay because it was an accomplishment. Since then, I've ran the whole time and my time keeps getting faster and faster.

I have kept 20 pounds off since I started actually being healthy. In my opinion, being healthy is not only about food. I stopped tanning. I stopped doing anything that was harmful to my body. 

In order to lose weight, you have to WANT to be healthy overall, not just for that summer body.

Excerising While on Your Period

If you're like me, you probably struggle with exercising while on your period. You cramp really bad. You're bloated. You just feel terrible in general. All you want to do is lay there wrapped up in a blanket and watch Netflix while eating chocolate. While this might be okay for a lot of you, it's not for me. I don't like looking back at my day and seeing how unproductive I was. I end up getting in a worse mood than I was in to begin with if I just lay around all day.

Should you even exercise while on your period?

The answer is yes, although you should probably keep it light to moderate. Exercising while menstruating can help relieve some of the PMS symptoms. It helps with my cramps and bloating. It also just keeps me from feeling sluggish, like I typically do when I'm menstruating. It boosts my mood. Keep in mind, if you're periods are too painful to exercise properly, do not stress about not working out. It will be okay. Studies show that you are more susceptible to injury during this time, so listen to your body.

What exercises can you do while on your period?

1. Yoga- breathing techniques help with period pain and have a calming effect. It can also be very light exercise, which is good for cramps.
2. Walking- also light-moderate exercise. You can do a slow walk, or to make it a little harder, power walk.
3. Swimming- can be as light or hard as you want it to be. Good for light cardio.
4. Lifting weights- remember to keep it light-moderate! Try lifting some light-weight dumbbells

Tips for working out while menstruating

1. Remember to stay hydrated!
2. Opt for a tampon instead of a pad. Many women do not want to or physically cannot use tampons, but I like to opt for a tampon because it is more comfortable.
3. Remember to stretch before you workout.
4. I prefer to wear dark clothes to the gym or wherever, just in case something happens.
5. I also like to bring extra pads or tampons with me just in case.
6. Don't forget to individualize your exercises. Some people cannot workout while on their period, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Signs it's the End of the Semester

1.) You're trying to figure out how many meal plans you have left and see that you have a ton left, so you'll be making a lot of trips to the cafeteria OR...

2.) You have to buy actual groceries at the end of the semester because you used all of your meal plans.

3.) Remember when you ate semi-healthy? And went to the gym? Good times. Hello stress eating.

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4.) You went from dressing up nice at the beginning of the semester to looking like you're sporting Kanye West's clothing line.

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5.) Unless you have presentations, which is another sign it's the end of the semester. Fun.

6.) You stopped doing your assigned readings, although you may have never started.

7.) Everything is due at the same time.

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8.) You really want to skip class, but they might go over what's on the final that day.

9.) You don't even want to hear the word "final" after all of the homework you just finished.

10.) Maybe you didn't finish your homework. Now's the perfect time to procrastinate, right?

11.) You think about all of the things you have to do. You watch a marathon of your favorite TV show on Netflix, while continuing to think about all that you have to do.

12.) Because of waiting until the last minute, you have to stay up all night every night to do homework and study for finals.

13.) And that means lots and lots of coffee.

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14.) You try to calculate exactly what you need to make on your upcoming papers and finals to get the letter grade you want.            

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15.) You should have known when you said you'd start studying earlier at the beginning of the semester that you wouldn't.

16.) You'll have several breakdowns. You may shed a few tears.

                              


17.) Everyone starts asking for bonus points.

18.) The only thing helping you make it through the last of the semester is your countdown until the last day.