It's not just about writing

Don't do it for the money or fame

Spending Valentine's day alone can be hard, but there are many ways to turn it into an amazing self-care day. If you don't already know what self-care is, here's a brief explanation:

According to PsychCentral, self-care is "any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health."

In today's world, everyone is busy. Between work, school, friends, hobbies and more, it can be difficult to take a time to for ourselves. Even though this year's festivities take place on Wednesday, that doesn't mean you can't take time to de-stress and work on becoming the best version yourself.

A few things you can do include:

Meditate

Personally, I don't meditate often but I know when I feel anxious and worried, I like to take 15 minutes to relax and streamline my thoughts. You can meditate for 5 minutes, 10, or more.

Not sure how to meditate? There are all kinds of apps and videos that can help with guided meditation. A quick search on the internet should help you get started.

Clean your space

This may not seem like something anyone would want to do on their "self-care" day, but if they are anything like me, I find some solace in cleaning up my space. It's hard to get anything done or just relax when my room is a hot mess.

One of my favorite quotes is "Clean space, clear mind."

Create a Not-To-Do List

This is a new one for me. For the past two years I've been using a passion planner and in the month view it always has a "Not-To-Do List." For the longest, I didn't see a purpose for this space so I would put washi tape over it, but now, I get it.

The whole purpose of this list is to remind yourself of some things you should not be doing for the month. Some of mine have included:

• Get behind on homework
• Let your desk get messy
• Stress out about the little things
• Doubt yourself or your abilities

I don't always stick with the list I make, but it does help with keeping your mental and emotional well being on track.

Exercise

I hope you've been keeping up with that new year's resolution to workout 3x a week. If not, this is the perfect opportunity to get back on track. A quick 30-minute workout can do wonders. Here are some options for your consideration:

• Do some yoga and relax
• Get that cardio in
• Try some light lifting to build strength
• Or, simply go for a 30-minute walk (maybe take your dog with you?)

Exercise is a natural mood booster so get out there and give your body some self-care.

Organize your planner 

There's nothing like sitting down and organizing your planner. For me, planners aren't just for remembering what needs to be done. It's about writing down the things I have done, in simple terms, I use it to write down my memorable moments.

Take some time to jot down things you're grateful for this week, month or year. Use your planner to reflect on how you've been working toward reaching your goals or find new ways to reach them.

At-home Spa Day

This is my favorite idea because personally, I could really use a spa day. Now that skin, hair and nail care is easily accessible, why not spend the day at home, or with your Galentine, taking care of your outer appearance.

Time to bust out those products that you've been waiting to use and put that hair mask in, a face mask on and paint your nails while you catch up on your favorite TV show or just listen to some relaxing lo-fi hip-hop. The choice is yours! All I know is, you should feel 110% better and more relaxed for the rest of your week.

Self-care is often overlooked as something people don't have time for, but in my personal opinion, I find that it is something that needs to be like routine. Taking time to clear your mind and focus on yourself for a few minutes or hours is so incredibly important. Use this holiday to take the free time you have and work on yourself so that you can become the person you've always wanted to be.

Want more ideas on how to spend Valentine's day? Check out this post on how to spend it with your friends while on a budget!

How are you spending your Valentine's day this year? Leave a comment below or connect with me on my social media.

Happy National Dog Day! To celebrate this amazing holiday, I'm going to detail all of the amazing ways Dallas, my dog, has made me a better person and improved my quality of life. Hopefully this inspires more people to adopt dogs.

Above is an infographic created by PuppySpot that shows the many ways dogs can have a great and wonderful effect on people's lives both mentally and physically.

I really love that PuppySpot is creating awareness of the many benefits that dogs give us. Especially because I can attest to many of these benefits.

Here are a few ways my dog, Dallas, has impacted my life.

Mind: Reduces Anxiety, Pain, and Depression

Heart: Lower Blood Pressure

Body: Get the Recommended Amount of Weekly Exercise

Speaking of exercise and happiness, I'm sure we all know that exercise has great benefits such as "improving mental health and mood, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and increase your chances of living longer." - Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

I currently don't work out very much or at all, but walking Dallas daily for 30 minutes to an hour is a great start.

But keep in mind that these are just a few ways, there are so many other things dogs can do to improve someone's life. One way you can learn more about it is to get a dog and find out for yourself.

If you know me personally, then you know that I love all things stationery! If I was ever really stressed out, I would drive to Target just to feel the notebooks and look at pens. Basically, I love stationery, so I figured, "Why not make a new category/topic/segment on the blog?" So here we are! I think that I a great way to start this not topic is to show the what pens I have been using in my planners currently and over the years. Let's get into it!

Muji Gel-Ink 0.5mm Ballpoint Pens

These pens are a new addition to my collection. I bought them at the Muji in San Jose late last year. I had seen these pens all over the studyblr community of Tumblr and was eager to try them out. So far, I use them more than any of the other pens in my collection. I love how smooth they are and that the ink dries quickly. I also like that there are a lot of colors to chose from. I recommend these pens to everyone.

Stabilo Point 88 Fine 0.4 Pens

Also, a newer addition to my collection. These pens are not my favorite pens to write with. Depending on the quality of paper you are using, they tend to bleed through a little. I love to use them to draw. I don't bullet journal, but I do like to draw some doodles here and there in my planner. I think these pens are great for that purpose, but not much else.

Pilot G-2 0.7 Gel Ballpoint Pens

If you have ever taken an AP classes in high school, then you are very familiar with these pens. Pilot G-2 are super high quality and are great to write with for everyday use. The gel also dries quickly and doesn't smudge as much as some other pens. Although, these pens tend to mess up or have troubles staying fluid while writing.

Uni-ball Signo 207 Ball Point Pen

I have used these pens since my freshman year of high school and always keep these on hands. I love how these pens feel when writing and I love to use them to take notes. I have noticed that writing from this pen is very, even though it's only 0.7. I have used these pens the longest, they are forever my favorite pens!

Expo Dry Erase Low Odor Marker (Fine and Ultra Fine

I thought I would add these because I use these weekly for my white board calendar. I personally prefer the Ultra Fine markers for calendars that are small and I have noticed that they last longer than the Fine markers. I also recommend these for small whiteboard doodles.

Those are all the pen sets that I have in my collection. I have a special place in my heart for each set and I do use them all; some more than others. What pen(s) do you use? Do you use any of the ones mentioned? I'm always looking for more recommendations, so feel free to leave some in the comments.

After spending more than a year hearing people rave about how much they love ColourPop, I decided to go ahead and try some of their products. I've only used their lip products thus far, so I can only attest to that, but let me tell you, I'm in love! I love how pigmented their lip products are, especially the Ultra Satin Lip and Lippie Stix. I will say that the Ultra Matte Lips are great as well, but I find them very drying, but that could be because of my priming methods. Either way, let's talk about my favorite lip colors from Colour Pop!

I would say that G.P.A is not the most important part of high school or college, but it does hold a good amount of weight in regards to each person's future. For example, it can dictate if and what school a person can get into. Whether you are trying to get into college or are already in college, here are some tips that have helped me get and keep a high G.P.A.

Go To Class

This is the simplest tip I can give. You need to go to class. Even if the teacher doesn't actually teach or the class is too far away or attendance is not required. Just go! Attending class can give you hints and tips on how to complete assignments or tests with a high grade. Because who knows how to pass a class better than the teacher?

Take School Seriously

This is especially geared towards those that are in college. I understand that the first few years of legal adulthood is spent living it up going to parties or on random late night trips. (All of which I have done...). But you need to remember why you are in school. I'm pretty sure having fun isn't the only reason.

Also, for many students, this education costs a pretty penny. The worst thing you can do is fail your classes or end up on academic probation when someone else's, or your own money is on the line.

Now for high school, middle school, or so on, if you want to attend a university or college, you need to do well in high school first. How you do in high school can dictate what school you get into, how much financial aid you can receive (scholarships included), and what classes you can take. Therefore, my biggest suggestion to you is to take it seriously, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it as well.

Stay Organized

An important part of keeping a high G.P.A is staying organized. By this I mean, don't just get organized, work hard toward staying organized. Keep your homework in folders, save previous work, use a planner, make daily, weekly, or monthly to-do list, and so on. Doing this is a great way to prepare for assignments later on in the semester and can help you prepare for a final test or paper.

If you are looking for some ways to get organized check out my Tumblr. and Pinterest for more tips from myself and others.

Create Good Relationships with Professors

Approaching professors can be extremely nerve-wracking for many students. Which is understandable, but it doesn't hurt to try. We all have one professor or teacher that we absolutely love, which is great! Spend some time during the semester working on that relationship. Keep them updated on how your educational journey is going and feel free to stop by their class or office to say hi.

If you get nervous from the idea of talking to a professor or teacher outside of class, try to email them or work toward gaining the courage and strength to spark up a conversation with them.

And remember, they are there to help support you in your future endeavors, not bring you down. But if you do encounter a professor or teacher that you don't work well with, no worries. You don't have to be friends or even get along with all of your professors or teachers.

Try Different Things and Find What Works For You

Although I'd like to think that I've given some great tips today, they may not work for everyone. Therefore, I really advocate trying new and different things as much as possible in order to find a way that works for each person. Also, these are just a few different things that I have done in order to get and keep my G.P.A high.

Do Your Best

What I want everyone to take away from this is to just do the best you can. Getting and maintaining a high G.P.A comes at a cost. High stress and little time for one's self. It's a sacrifice, but it doesn't have to make you miserable. So, again, do the best you can and I'll leave you with my favorite quote:

"The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed." - Chinese Proverb

Moving back home is no easy task, especially as a college student. Nevertheless, I did it. In this post, I tell all about what made me finally take the leap of faith and leave college to move back home.

I Never Really Adjusted

This is one of the biggest reasons for my decision to leave. To make a long story short, I spent 2 and a half years at my university. I knew after the first semester that I really didn't want to be there. I knew so well that I had prepared to transfer and continue my education at a Community College. However, my dad convinced me to go back and try again.

I would spend another year and a half trying to adjust and enjoy my time at my university. Now, don't get me wrong. Even though I love my school I just don't belong there, and that's okay.

I Wanted to Save Money

This a common reason for students to leave college. Personally, I went to college about 5-6 hours away from my hometown. This doesn't seem too far to some, but for me, I was a long way from home. As a result of living so far away, I had to live on campus. Living on campus is very costly. It can be anywhere between $4,000-6,000 per semester. This cost meant that I had to take out loans. Over time, I found that it was easier and better on my wallet, both short- and long-term, to move back home and live pretty much rent free.

The Programs Weren't Good

While at university, I kept changing my major. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with changing majors. I wrote a post about it last year. Anyway, I changed my major several times and when I finally felt like I knew what I wanted, my school didn't have the greatest program and that made me feel like I wouldn't be able to gain the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. That was a good enough reason to move back home.

More Opportunities Back Home

As my "About Me" page states, I'm from Los Angeles, California. The big city, full of opportunities. I went to college in the middle of nowhere, so finding jobs or internships within the area would be virtually impossible. If I found anything, I would have to travel between 1 to 3 hours to get there. That didn't really work for me or my schedule.

I Missed Home...

The last and most important part of all this was my mental health. I was away from my support system and when you combine all of the other things that I've talked about thus far, I really needed to come home. I needed to be able to work on myself without worrying about money, working, and adjusting.

In Conclusion,

Being in college taught and reminded me about the importance of mental health and self-care. I know that many of you might feel the same way I have and do, and that's okay. You don't need to pressure yourself to attend a college that makes you unhappy. It is better to take a chance on a path that might lead to happiness than to do nothing at all.

I hope this helps some of you. If you, or anyone you know, has experienced some of the same things, feel free to comment. I would love to read about it and have a conversation. Until the next post!

I love planners and I love planning. I've tried many different types of planners, including the Bullet Journal. The aesthetics of bullet journaling is so wonderful. It allows for such creativity and freedom. Check out my Tumblr. for some Bujo inspiration. Unfortunately, this system doesn't work for me.

Now, some major Bujo (the shorter and combined version of Bullet Journal) fans and users might say, "Maybe you just haven't found a routine or layout that works for you?" This is very true, I haven't. On a negative note, I probably never will mostly because I'm officially done trying to make Bullet Journaling work for me. Here a few good reasons why I don't Bullet Journal.

There is no REAL Structure

Bullet Journaling is great because it allows the user to find a system within it that works for them. It also allows for major customization. These are all great, but this doesn't work for someone like me.
I'm a perfectionist by nature, therefore, having the freedom to mess up and not tear up the page when I do drives me bonkers! If the line isn't right, or the ink bleeds through the page, or I come up with some better layout, I'm stuck with what I already made. I just don't like that.
Also, I'm just used to regular, structured, already made planners.

Too Much Memorization

In a Bujo, you can have a page dedicated to how many cups of water you drink in a day. That can be really helpful for some, but that is just too much to keep track of. I already struggle to remember what homework is due, so I highly doubt I can remember what I ate, spent my money on, or how much I drank in a day.

I Can't Plan Ahead

As much as the saying, "Live in the moment" is true and great, it's not realistic. Personally, and like many others, I have a lot to juggle and stay on top of. Examples are 2 jobs, 4-5 classes, a blog, family life, friends, eating, sleeping, staying hydrated, etc. I need to plan a lot of things ahead of time. I can't do this with a bujo because I don't know how many pages I will need for other important things. It's too difficult to keep up with for someone as busy as I am.

Final Thoughts

I feel like this post was quite negative, so I want to clarify some things before I end this post.

- I understand that I might have to change my lifestyle in order to use a Bujo.

Believe me, I get it. But it's just not something I can do right now. I am more than willing to try again in the future.

- Just because it doesn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you.

In all honesty, I really love the idea of bullet journaling. It can provide so much freedom and flexibility for others, and it can allow someone to be creative in their own way. So, if you've been thinking about trying it, please do! And let me know how it goes, I would love to hear about it.

Happy New Year lovelies! Now that 2017 is finally here, it's time to create goals for my blog. I'm not very big on goals usually, but this year is different. I have 3 goals that I want to achieve by the end of the year. These are goals that I believe are achievable, not only for myself but other bloggers as well.

Work on Average Session Duration

As much as clicks on a post or a blog are important. I think that the average session duration is important too. The average session duration (ASD, as I call it), is the amount of time readers stay on your blog. The longer, the better, because it means that readers are staying on your blog and reading your post.
For my blog, according to Google Analytics, the average session on my blog is 3 minutes and 29 seconds. That's not too terrible considering that I barely posted in 2016, but it could be better. So, in 2017, I am going to work toward getting my ASD up.

Overall Goal: Get Average Session Duration to 10 minutes by January 2018.

Be More Consistent

In February 2016, I posted once per week the whole month. I had set this goal because I knew that I wanted take blogging seriously. Unfortunately, I fell off after the next month. Being a college student is hard work... It's been a struggle to get back into being consistent with posting. Although there are several other reasons for this, I want to focus on why or what increased my reason for not being consistent.

Overall Goal: Post a minimum of 2 times per week for 2 months.

Stay Motivated, Stay Inspired

This was another reason for the lack of posting over the last few years. I kept feeling unmotivated and uninspired. I know that I want to help other students and young people, but I had a hard time staying motivated. That lack of motivation was making me struggle to create content that I not only enjoy, but feel confident about publishing.

Overall Goal: Find inspiration in all things.

Those are my 3 big blogging goals for 2017. I'm really excited about doing whatever it takes to accomplish these goals. Comment and let me know what your blogging or personal goals are for 2017!

Hello fellow blog readers!

This is just a quick update on a small, yet big, change happening here on my blog. You might have already noticed the change, but in case you missed it, I changed my blog name!

As much as I loved "Mocha and Milk" I felt that it didn't fit the purpose and mission of my blog. So after a few weeks of contemplation, I changed the name of this blog to "Becoming Bria". I really like this name and it also includes me, the writer, in it. The fact that I am the creator of this blog and all its content, it was very important to me to have my name be apart of this blog.

So that's it! I hope you all have a great day! See you on Wednesday with another post.

-Bria

Moving away from home is no easy task. To describe my experience in one sentence I would say:
"It had its ups and downs".
In August of 2014 I moved away from home to go to a college or university as some call it. As much as I loved being away from home, in a new environment and chapter of my life, I was going through a lot of changes and dealing with an unknown. And that was really hard to deal with especially because I'm the kind of person that likes to have a plan and know what's going on. Some things changed and some just stayed the same. With that said, I gained a lot of experiences that I would like to share with you all.

I Gained My Independence

After coming back from Winter break I knew that I had to get a job because I spent all my money on Christmas gifts. I applied to as many places as I could and my friend I went driving around dropping off applications and meeting managers. A few days later I got a call back for an interview. I had 2 interviews, 1 group and 1 individual. I eventually got the job and started working. Because I was making my own hard-earned money I was able to do and buy the things I wanted. I also stopped having to worry about money and what-not. It was great!

Relationships Changed

Once I left my hometown, it became harder to keep up with the people that were still there and the people who left too. Some of the people I called best friends were no longer my best friends, but more like close friends or friends from home. I hung out with them less. Even during the breaks. At first, we were all trying to stay in touch through text messages and FaceTime calls, but it still wasn't enough. Other friends became strangers. Its apart of the process of leaving. When you leave your hometown, you're not just leaving your home but everyone there as well. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I Overcame my Fears

When I went away for school, I was the only one from my high school to go to that school and I still am ironically. But that just meant that I got a clean slate. I could be anyone or anything I wanted. I was able to do the things I wasn't able to do in high school. Whether that be dancing in a huge crowd, doing an open mic night, or joining an anime club. It was great to be able to experience freedom from judgement. I mean, I'm sure some people did judge but they didn't know me and that gave them and myself an opportunity to try new things and meet new people.

I Became Better at the Game of Life

I'm not talking about the actual game "Life" but more like real life; the day to day things. You could say that as you get older you become better at life. And I would agree. You definitely don't have to move away from home to get better at living life. This is just something that helped me and made a change in my life. I've learned a lot from the last year and it definitely made me value the little things that I had at home such as free home-cooked meals, hanging out with family, and being able to laze around the house and no one expects anything of you. Now when I say better I mean things like: I learned how to make appointments by myself and do my own grocery shopping. I would consider these to be the hardest thing about being an adult. I just overall learned how to be an adult and play the game of life. (Again, not the actual game of Life *haha).

There are plenty of other things but I don't want to bore you with a long list of other things I would consider minor. But one thing I hope you take from this post is that everyone's journey in life is going to be different. I might have enjoyed my time away from home, but that doesn't mean that you or someone else will. It comes with experience and adventure.

Also, I would love to hear how moving away from home changed your life. Whether negative or positive, all stories are appreciated!