Changing it up a Bit!

When I started this blog four years ago, it was meant as a way to chronicle my time at Campbellsville University (hence the name, "Life in Campbellsville"). But now, that title is no longer fitting since I graduated from Campbellsville in May, then immediately moved back home to Louisville, Kentucky. However, I still wanted to keep blogging, but I didn't know what I would write about.

Since then, I decided that I actually have a lot I could write about. My college student phase is over, but I've recently started a new phase of life: adulthood. While I've technically been an adult for a few years, I never really felt like one until now. Now, I've traded sleeping in for waking up before 7 every morning. I've traded wearing yoga pants to class to wearing professional clothing to work. I've traded endless amounts of free time for 40 hours spent in an office every week. And, I've traded a life of no expenses to a life of having student loan payments. My life has changed a bit in the past few months, but I'm excited that I get to share what I've been learning with you all.

I decided to name this blog "Making it as a Millennial" because it perfectly describes what this blog will be about. A large part of my generation, the millennials, has recently graduated college and are just now entering the "real world". I know I'm learning a lot about becoming a real adult with a real job, and can't wait to share everything. Expect to see a lot of posts about money and budgets, Pinterest recipes I've tried (including the failed ones!), DIY projects, reviews on products I love, and more. Feel free to leave a comment on topics you'd like me to write about!

-Mariana

My Years at Campbellsville

It's so hard to believe that I'm graduating from Campbellsville University in less than a month! I will soon be able to call myself a college graduate. I feel the same way that I did when I was graduating High School; it didn't feel real. But in less than four weeks, I will walk across that stage and become a college graduate.

I remember when I was first starting college; many people told me "college flies by". However, I had no idea how fast it would actually fly. It feels like just yesterday that I was a freshman! I still have trouble remembering I'm a senior. Now, instead of thinking about next semester, I'm focusing on finding a job.

When I first visited Campbellsville, I was a junior in high school. I had visited other schools, but I hadn't found a school that I was in love with yet. I visited Campbellsville in January 2009 with my mom. I don't remember all the specifics of my tour, but I do remember one thing. I distinctly remember the peace I had while visiting Campbellsville. It was the first college I visited that I could actually see myself attending. I knew that this is the place that God wanted me to spend the next four years. I didn't know why, I just knew that Campbellsville was the best place for me.

Fast forward to now, and I'm so glad that I chose to attend Campbellsville University. I look back on four years' worth of wonderful memories that I will always carry with me and cherish for the rest of my life. I have met so many amazing people, and I know that some of them will be lifelong friends. We've made so many memories together. Because Campbellsville is so much smaller than Louisville, my friends and I had to make our own fun on the weekends. While some college kids spent their weekends partying, my friends and I spent our weekends watching movies, making Sonic runs, playing frisbee and volleyball, going to the lake, and many other things. I could never have asked for a better college experience.

Looking back on all the memories and friends I made, I'm reminded of how I felt when I first visited Campbellsville. At the time, I didn't know why God wanted me here, but now I know why. All I had to do was reflect on the past four years. He put me exactly where I needed to be, with the people I needed to be with. I'm so thankful that He wanted me here.

If I could do it all over again, I would still choose Campbellsville University.

-Mariana

Frosty VoxBox

The latest box I received from Influenster was the Frosty VoxBox, which was full of great products! The box was full of these products:

Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($7.49)

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner ($4.49)

NYC New York Color Expert Last Lip Color ($1.99)

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea 

Boots No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED ($29.99)

McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme ($4.79)

Fruit Vines Bites Strawberry ($1.28)

EcoTools Sleek + Shine ($10.99)

This was my favorite box to date because of all the great products that were included! The Rimmel eye makeup remover took off all my mascara, eyeshadow, and liner without leaving a greasy residue. The Rimmel eyeliner is one of the best pencil liners that I have ever used. Applying it was so easy to use because it went on smoothly. The NYC lip color was a pretty shade of plum that looks good on anyone. I never drink tea, but really enjoyed the Celestial Seasonings Green Tea. The No7 eye cream was extremely moisturizing, especially around the eyes. McCormick's Gourmet Thyme is a perfect seasoning for many dishes! The Fruit Vines candy reminded me a lot of gummies, and were tasty! By far, my favorite product in the Frosty VoxBox is the EcoTools hairbrush. I received the Sleek + Shine brush, and it is the BEST hairbrush that I have ever used. The brush is lightweight, which makes it super comfortable to use. The bristles are gentle on my hair, and help make it soft and shiny. It is a bit more expensive than regular hairbrushes, but is definitely worth the price. I highly recommend all of these products!

Influenster GoVoxBox

My latest box that I received from Influenster is called the "GoVoxBox". This box included health and wellness items, which I absolutely loved! The items included:

• PROFOOT Triad Orthotic Shoe Liners
• This product is great! I work on my feet all day, and putting these in my work shoes made them so much more comfortable! I would definitely recommend these, even though they are a bit pricey at $10.49 per pack.
• PROFOOT Pedi-Rock
• This item is probably my favorite one from the GoVoxBox. This pedi-rock is easy to use, and removes the dead skin from my feet. I recommend this to EVERYONE, because everyone needs to be using this during the summer when all you wear are flip flops! This retails for $8.99, but it is SO worth it!
• Playtex Sport Fresh Balance
• I actually received an entire box of these in my VarsityVoxBox. I do like these tampons, and a girl can never have enough. These are relatively cheap, at $3.99 a box.
• Blue Diamond Fruit Flavored Almonds
• This was my least favorite product out of the box. Its not that they were disgusting; they just weren't for me. I normally don't like almonds, and I don't really like anything blueberry flavored. So they were kind of weird for me personally. I'm sure other people like them though! They are $3.19 for a 4oz bag!
• Müller Green Corner Yogurt
• Obviously they can't ship yogurt, so there was a coupon for my choice of a free yogurt cup! I love yogurt, so I was really excited about this! I chose vanilla yogurt that came with a chocolatey cereal topping, which was delicious! They are pretty affordable, at $1.29 each.
• Aqua Spa Relax Body Creme
• In this box, you either received the body creme or the bath salts. I received the body creme, and I was really happy I got this one because I never take baths. This lotion smells AMAZING. It really does smell like a spa. It has lavender and chamomile, and it feels so good on your skin! It is pricey for a store like Walmart, at $9.99 each, but pretty cheap compared to stores like Bath and Body Works! 
• Vitamin Shoppe Fit N Full Shakes + Jaxx Shaker Bottle
• I have tried protein shakes before, and I love them! In this box there were three different flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and berries. The chocolate shake was by far my favorite, and it kept me full all day! I also loved that it came with a shaker bottle to mix it up with! These are expensive, but all weight loss/protein shakes are. This retails for $18.74 (on sale at vitaminshoppe.com) for 14 individual shakes.

Overall, I really enjoyed the products in the GoVoxBox. I love trying out any health and wellness items, and I definitely found some new favorites! I hope you enjoyed this review, and try a few of these products!

I'm a Senior Already?!

It feels so surreal. When I started my freshman year in the fall of 2011, the thought of being a senior felt so far away. I didn't even think about it. Now, my junior year is over, and senior year starts in August. My final year of college. It still hasn't hit me yet. And it probably won't even hit me until I walk across the stage at graduation.

As a freshman, I remember being told to cherish every moment of college, because it all goes by so fast. I am just now realizing how true that is. In one short year, my college career will be behind me, and I will join the "real world". While I am excited for that chapter of my life to begin, I also want to stay focused on the present, and to truly cherish every single moment of my senior year of college.

It's also hard to believe that a little more than four years ago, I was touring Campbellsville University for the first time. I will never forget my first time on this campus. Before Campbellsville, I had toured several other colleges. I liked some of them alright, but I hadn't fallen in love with just one college yet. One was too far away, and the others just didn't feel like home to me. However, this wasn't the case at all with Campbellsville University. The moment I began my tour, I realized that I felt comfortable here. This was somewhere that I could definitely see myself staying for four years. I felt at peace whenever I thought about being a student here, and that's when I knew that this is where God wanted me to be. Looking back at these past three years of college, I have never been more sure of this.

Because of Campbellsville University, I have received a great education, and am quickly on my way to receiving a degree in marketing. I have made the most amazing friendships that I know will last for the rest of my life. I have made countless memories and have so many funny stories that I will always cherish. I have been given some awesome opportunities, such as being a resident assistant, serving on the women's ministry lead team, and joining the honor society Omicron Delta Kappa. Most importantly, because of Campbellsville University, I put myself in an environment in which I could grow closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And because of all of this, I wouldn't change a thing.

I am so thankful that God allowed me to come to Campbellsville University, and for all the memories I have made so far. I am also thankful that I have one more year left, so I don't have to say goodbye just yet! Here's to my senior year at Campbellsville!

-Mariana

NYC Expert Last Lip Color

I love any chance to try new makeup, so I was really excited to receive NYC's new Expert Last Lip Color for testing purposes from Influenster. The color I received was called Forever Fuschia, and it is a super bright pink/purple-y color! I never wear colors this bright, so I wasn't sure how it would look! However, I was really happy with the way it looked on me! It was super bright, but it's such a fun color to wear every once in a while! I was extremely happy with this product. Also, the color lasted for hours! The best part is, it's only $1.99! I definitely recommend this product to everyone!

University VoxBox

Influenster has done it again! This is my fourth VoxBox from them, and it is my favorite! The name of this box is the Uni VoxBox, which is full of products that a college student like me can find very useful! The products that were included are:

• Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-On Manicure- I've tried this brand before, and they work really well! I was apprehensive at first because I didn't think press-on nails would last more than a day, but they actually stayed on my nails for about 5 days! And each pack comes with 24 nails, so you can replace a nail if one falls off. They come in many different colors, and are a great option for when you don't want to pay to get a manicure! They range from $5.99-$7.99.

• NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Forever Fuchsia- My first reaction when I saw this bright fuchsia color was WOW. It is so bright, and I wasn't sure if it would look good on me at all. However, I am pleasantly surprised! While it is still bright, it actually looks great on my skin tone! Next time, I might try to tone it down a little by using some nude gloss with it. These are a great deal, at only $1.99 each!

• Pilot Acroball PureWhite- So, I know it is crazy to get excited over a pen, but I only write with pens, so I was really excited to get this! I always enjoyed getting new school supplies, and even at 20 years old, I am still that way! This pen writes so smooth, and the grip is very comfortable to write with. They come in a 3-pack, 4-pack, or 5-pack, with prices ranging from $4.59-$7.49. 

• Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation- This is the product that I was most looking forward to receiving! I love trying out different brands of makeup; especially foundation! This foundation really evened out my skin tone, and looked natural! I hardly ever use liquid foundation, but I really liked this brand and shade. The only problem I had with it was that it wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be when I applied it. But other than that, it is a great drugstore foundation, and costs only $4.99-$5.49.

• Playtex Sport Fresh Balance- I'm really excited to use these! I love this brand, and I know this is an awesome product! They come in a pack of 16, and retail for $3.99-$4.99.

• Red Rose REAL TEA Premium Water Enhancer- I had actually never heard of this brand before receiving it in this box! I have used similar products, but I have never tried one that is specifically for tea! The flavor I got is called "Blackcurrant Raspberry". I wasn't sure if I would like this flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised! It tasted very fresh, like I had just brewed it myself! I will definitely be drinking this when working on homework! Each bottle has 24 servings, and retails for $4.49. 

I highly recommend each of these products, and I'm not just saying this because I got all of this for free ;)

My University VoxBox- full of great products that everyone should try!