So my 26th birthday is in a few days and I wanted to do a fun segment! I wanted to do a post about 26 interesting facts about me so you guys can get to know me a little better! I share so much of my makeup, clothes and skincare reviews but I wanted to share more! If you keep reading you’ll learn some of my biggest fears, fun facts, and deep feelings. I hope this helps you all understand me a bit more.

1. So first and foremost my name is Melissa Rivera, my birthday is February 5th! One interesting fact is my brother’s birthday is February 4th and he’s 5 years older than me. We are literally 5 years and 1 day apart, how weird is that?
2. I grew up in Millburn NJ, I lived there until my freshman year of high school, then during freshman summer year, we moved to Kenilworth NJ. I really hated that school so much, but looking back I realized I made at least one best friend and had some good times in that school, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
3. Turbo is my dog. You guys probably hear him barking or have seen him in a video, or have seen him in a photo. So a little funny story on how I got him is that my brother wanted a turbo for his car, or he wanted a dog. It would have been my first dog and his first dog since he was little, our other family dog passed before I was born. So he was super torn, and I was not! I wanted a dog and I wanted a dog right away. This was the first time our apartment (which we just moved into) which allowed pets, so it was a super easy decision for me. My brother actually got us the dog, and he named the dog Turbo, so he, in the end, did get a Turbo. Now that my brother has moved out, Turbo still stays with us, only because my grandma is so attached to Turbo, he couldn’t take Turbo with him and leave grandma without him.
4. I still live with my mom, and my grandma lives with us too! My brother lives about 5 minutes from us. For those of you wondering my father is not in the picture, and hasn’t been since I was a little girl.
5. Which takes me into my next interesting fact, my mom is literally my best friend. Growing up she was my mom and dad, but most importantly a best friend. I’m 25, almost 26 years old and I realize she is my best friend. I don’t know what I would do without her. She is my other half, my best friend, biggest supporter and cheerleader. She is my shoulder to cry on, biggest advocate and everything else you can think of. So seriously mom if you’re reading this, I love you and thank you. I wouldn’t be here, especially this far in life if it weren’t for you.
6. So this brings me to the next thing I want to address, I’ve actually been struggling with this for a long time. I still am, to be honest. My full name is Melissa Rivera. Rivera is my father’s last name and to be honest, I hate that I have it. I wish I changed my name to Chaves (my mom’s maiden name) a long time ago. But in my profession, here and my previous writing (101.5, & Montclair) and even Bed Bath & Beyond, I am known as Melissa Rivera. To be honest, I’d rather just go by Melissa on my YouTube and here now. I just can’t wait to get rid of my last name, yes when I get married there is no question I am changing my name. The reason for this is because I don’t feel like a Rivera at all. I never have. I had no association with anyone on my father’s side, he made sure of that, and to be honest, I grew up with Chaves and I feel deep in my bones and in my heart, I am more of a Chaves. I have so many attributes of a Chaves, and to be honest, I don’t even know of any attributes as a Rivera. I am not proud to be a Rivera, but it is my birth name. I feel like I am sort of stuck with that name because of my writing portfolio. I know of so many women that still keep their maiden name professionally when they get married, check out Casey Holmes, Kim Kardashian- West, or a few personal people I met, so I feel like it will be with me forever. Although I wish it wasn’t. I know I am growing from this, and showcasing this last name, is a new generation of Rivera’s- between my brother and I. But the last name Rivera still does haunt and taunt me from the person who I do not know, and left us. I didn’t mean for this question to be so deep, but it has been something on my mind, and I think it is fair for you all to know how I feel. To be honest, I hope one day I get so big I just have to go as Melissa, that is a dream. Until then, I will keep on growing.
7. A lot of people are curious about Ivan! Ha, he hasn’t made a feature on my blog, or on YouTube yet, but he is on my Instagram! We’ve been going out for almost 7 years! Time really does fly. We actually met at my first job, Hollywood Tans. Without Hollywood Tans there would be no us, so thanks to them! He is another huge supporter of mine, he really does push me to my limits and calms me down when need be. To be honest, I hope he does come on my YouTube channel soon (things are in the works) I was thinking of him doing my makeup, and another Q & A series. If you guys want other videos, let me know in the comments down below!
8. So I have a core group of best girlfriends I’d love to tell you all about. These are the girls who would drop anything to help me, and I would for them. These girls are basically my family. My best friend Renikah, I have known since Freshmen year of high school and 10 years later we are still just as close. My other best friend is Michelle, we’ve been friends since we were little, our moms were actually best friends. Michelle is the older sister I always had. Then there is Nancy, I met her through my Kenwilworth highschool, and she is the one good thing to come out of that school! We became friends Junior year and haven’t looked back. Then there is Maria, I met Maria at Hollywood Tans. We do see each other once every few months, but with this girl, it feels like we picked up right where we left off. I know if I ever needed anything she’d be there in a heartbeat. Then there is my cousin Christine, I don’t know where I’d be without her these past few months. We go through phases of seeing each other and not seeing each other, but to be honest, after this past year I don’t think I can go without seeing her for too long. She is my other half. Then there is Amanda and Nathalia, we met at Hollywood Tans too! They were already friends (since high school) and they welcomed me with open arms. We are all so opposite too, Amanda is the mom between us 3, Nathalia is a little bit both mom, and wild child, and I am the forever wild child. We make such a great group. Now, these group of girls always come together for one occasion, my birthday! LOL, I usually do an all girls birthday because I never get to have all of my girlfriends together in one time, and every year these girls make it.
9. So, now that I feel you know all about me I wanted to tell you all my biggest fear: failing. To be honest I feel like that is most people’s biggest fear. Who wants to put all of their energy, time and everything into something and have it fail? I don’t know anyone that would. But something that I have learned this year? Nothing is ever a failure. Turn that failure into a lesson. I once saw a tattoo on Pinterest, “Never a failure, always a lesson.” and to be honest I don’t think I have ever had something speak to me like that did. Everything you do can be taken as a lesson. Failed that test? Don’t worry, you learned what you needed to focus on for the next time. A relationship failed? Don’t worry you learned why it did, and you will learn more about yourself. Failed cooking? Don’t worry next time look at what steps you missed. Within every “failure,” there is a lesson, making it, not a failure! So although I still struggle with that mentality, sometimes I realize you never truly do fail, you learn. If you feel like you’ve failed, don’t worry you’re not alone. If this is one of your biggest fears too, don’t worry I know many people who have this fear.
10. I went to two colleges. That was a huge struggle for me too. I always dreamed of going to a 4-year university, but then after seeing how expensive they were, I just couldn’t afford it. So my mom gave me the idea of going to a county college first, then going to a 4-year school after. So after thinking about it for a bit that is what I decided to do. I went to Middlesex County College for 2.5 years and I got my Associates in Communications. Then after I went to Montclair State University for 2 years and graduated with a Bachelors in Journalism. During college years I was working part-time, going to school full time, and then at some points, I was freelancing, or even going to internships, so I was one busy gal. But, I did it. I am so proud to say I have 2 degrees, and I worked the entire time doing it. And I did everything I could! Looking back I don’t regret that at all. I see how much debt all of my friends are in, and yes while I do have some loans it is nowhere near 50k, or 100k. That made it a lot easier for me to buy my first car.
11. I have a Subaru Impreza Sport. I bought my baby brand new! I’ve had her for about a year and a half now and I love her just as much. My car’s name is Miss. Diamond and she is perfect. She is everything and more than I wanted in a car. The best part she is SO safe, and the best in the snow which is great for New Jersey.
12. So if you guys didn’t know by now I am gluten-free. It is an allergy, but not Celiac disease. Whenever I eat gluten I get extremely bloated, and I have such bad stomach pain, the doctors say it basically inflames my stomach. I have been gluten-free since 2016. So if you know any good gluten-free brands let me know!
13. I work for Bed Bath & Beyond Corporate, and I am a copywriter there. So basically I write for the website, I write product titles, descriptions and bullet points. So everything you see on the site when you’re shopping? I may have written that! How cool! I’ve been here for about 2.5 years and got this job about a month after graduation. I was applying to 30 jobs a day and went on a few interviews, but once I interviewed here I knew this was it. I knew I wanted to work here. Best part? It’s about 10 minutes from my house! So I often go home for lunch!
14. This brings me onto what I want to do job wise. So my ultimate dream would be to be a full-time blogger and YouTuber and make money that way. But, in the meantime I would love to continue to write, I think my next journey would be writing in the marketing field, or even pursuing a social media job for a company. Social media is such a huge hit right now, and I think I am at an advantage because of my age, and my growth, personally! I use social media and marketing every day for my personal blog and YouTube and I am learning so much about SEO, writing, and marketing every day. Social media and Marketing is changing literally every day, and I love the fast pace of it all. Truth be told, I love social media and marketing. So I feel like this would be a great fit for me right now.
15. So every year since I started my full-time career, I try and save up and buy myself something nice. This year, I think my gift to myself is going to be a Louis Vuitton Handbag. Why? I have been wanting a handbag from LV so for long. I have a Christian Louboutin red bottom shoes- that I got 2 years ago, and last year I got myself my car, which is more of a necessity but hey it’s something LOL. I wanted my shoes forever, so I decided a needed a nice bag to go with it! I have wanted both the Loubs shoes and the LV bag since I was little, and I think now its the perfect time to buy. Why? Because this year is my year! I feel it in my bones, and I have done so much already for myself and my blog and YouTube. So the best way to celebrate? A nice new bag 😀 I’m not sure which one I want, I love the Neverfulls, but, I want to check out other options as well!
16. I wanted to share my favorite childhood memories with my mom, grandma, and grandpa. My favorite memory with my mom is when she would take me to carvel during the week and she should get us both ice cream, I would get a thick chocolate milkshake- which is still a favorite of mine, and she would get a small sundae. We did that weekly when I was little and we had our mother-daughter time. To be honest I just loved having my mom to myself for a whole hour just to chat. My favorite memory with my grandma is on Sundays I would wake up extra early and we would make pancakes together. After that, we would go to ShopRite and go shopping. She would let me order at the deli, and she always let me grab whatever I wanted to throw in the cart. My favorite memory with my grandpa is when we were at his house in Newark. We were in the living room and he had music playing. He got up and asked me to dance. I didn’t know how at the time, and he let me stand on his feet while he just guided me around.
17. I feel like I am both an introvert and an extrovert if that makes sense. I am super shy and love just being by myself most of the time, and I get nervous meeting new people. But on the other hand, once I meet people and get to know them I love talking to them and I am so outgoing. I am nice meeting someone, but I just get nervous! I am trying to work on that, but it’s so hard because I get so shy! Any tips for becoming un-shy?
18. One of my better traits is that I am so organized. Some may say a little too organized LOL. I have a planner for both work and home. I have a calendar at my desk at work for my appointments and then I have a notebook filled with YouTube ideas in details that I am working on, then I have another notebook for monthly collabs, things I am waiting on, or just random ideas or challenges I want to do that I haven’t already. But when I am organized it makes me feel so much better and I can actually see what I am working on, what I need to and what is coming up.
19. So with everything going on, I do tend to get stressed. Some things that I do to decompress are: watch a movie with a glass of wine and chips. Read a book with some wine. Or lastly blog. I know it sounds crazy but writing actually keeps my mind busy and it really does help me calm down, I think it is because I love it so much.
20. If you guys don’t know, which most of you may not, I have really bad anxiety. It got so bad last year that I had to start seeing someone, now I am trying to cope on my own. But I wanted to share this one thing that has helped me with anxiety and that I hope it helps you guys. So when I have an attack, let’s say at work, for example, I close my eyes and I start to breathe slowly. During this process I think of the 5 senses: hear, smell, taste, touch, see. So I will name all of the senses with something else. So I will think, I feel the chair I am sitting on, I taste the gum I am chewing, I hear the phone ringing, I smell popcorn. I always do the seeing one last, I see the computer screen. That helps clear out my mind and it also helps calm me down. If I am not calm by that time (because it takes a while to do) I do it again. If I am with someone I tell them about my attack too just in case.
    
21. I wanted to share an interesting story with you guys. It’s about ghosts, whether you believe in them or not, I wanted to tell you all about my experience. It was when I was little, my mom and I were driving through Shorthills and I was in the passenger seat. I saw this little girl she was super pale and had brown hair up to her shoulders. She was in a white dress with red patches on it and didn’t have any shoes on. When we passed her I said, “mom why did we pass that girl she didn’t have shoes on” and my mom was like, there was no little girl walking? And when I turned around I didn’t see her either! I made my mom drive around the block to double check and I did not see her! To this day I still think it was a ghost! It is so crazy how to this day I still remember that little girl and that moment so clearly, and it still creeps me out.
22. I wanted to share some things I am good and bad at! So I am good at writing, I love it so much, always have. I am good at makeup. I am good at decorating. I’m good at shopping and saving money while doing so! I am bad at math ( I always have been) I am bad at history (bad I know) and I am so bad at sports! It’s like my hand-eye coordination does not work! LOL
23. My favorite food is empanadas. I have loved them since I was little. It’s a little harder now that I am gluten-free. It’s hard to make the dough gluten-free with the corn mix- so if you have any tips send them my way! But, still to this day, empanadas are my favorite. My favorite drink is wine. I have a little wine obsession! LOL But after that Long Island Ice Teas are a favorite of mine.
24. A huge obsession I have is mermaids. I love anything and everything mermaid inspired. To be honest with my long hair sometimes I just feel like a mermaid! LOL. I would love to go to those restaurants where you eat and get a mermaid show.
25. So every year I try and travel to a different state or place. This year I have a few trips I want to go to! Here are some of my options. I want to go to New Providence Rhode Island, Texas (Ivans best friend and fiance live here so we owe them a visit!) New Orleans and I want to go to Salem Massachusetts again for Halloween because it is so cool there! Now onto things outside the US: My ultimate dream is Greece or Europe, but I know that is not in the cards right now. So this year I would love to go to Cancun or Puerto Rico. I would love to do something tropical, or even a cruise and do a lot of little islands!
26. Now onto my life bucket list. I want to travel to all 50 states and go to all continents before I die. There is so much to explore in this world and I want to explore it all. I really want to go to Europe and Greece like I said before. I also want to jump off a cliff into the water- near a waterfall. I want to go on a cruise. I want this blog to be up and going, I want to make it on YouTube. I want to be featured in a magazine. I also want to have my name and photo printed with a makeup company, like a collaboration. Honestly, it was hard thinking of all that! LOL I know this list will continue to grow every year but for now, that is all I could think of.

• 

• 

• 

I’m sorry this post was super long, I just wanted you all to get to know the real me. If you made it this far thank you so much for reading. I hope you all learned something interesting, or something you can take away from this post. I, like you, have fears doubts, issues, and wanted you all to know that. Let me know a random fact about you in the comments down below!

xo,

Melissa

Say hello on my other forms of social media:
My Instagram: xoMelissa205
Twitter: _xxMelissa205
Pinterest: Melissarivera205

Let me know what video you want to see next in the comment section below! Discounts codes:On https://gerardcosmetics.com please use code: xoMelissa for 30% off your order or my own link: https://gerardcosmetics.com?rfsn=1887573.3ca22c for 30% off
Save money while you shop with Ebates. Use this link for Ebates: https://www.ebates.com/r/MELISS74611?eeid=28187
Allure Beauty Box Referral Link: http://fbuy.me/lupYf 
BoxyCharm Referal Link: https://www.boxycharm.com/refer/Melissa-LBAFNEIY
FabFitFun Code Get $10 off: http://xo.fff.me/lup73
Use my link: https://www.romadesignerjewelry.com/?rfsn=2092591.19158f&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=2092591.19158f   and my code “GIFT135”  to get 20% off your purchase at Roma Designer Jewelry.
*Disclaimer: codes do provide me with money, rewards,  or reward points.