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Retinol | How-To Incorporate Retinol Into Your Skincare Routine

October 5, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

If you’re like me, skincare while fun, can be daunting. Every single item in Sephora sounds like a must-have, but knowing what you need for your age and skin type, knowing what products to use with what and in what order, and let’s not forget how to find quality products that fit your budget…it is a lot. I recently started integrating retinol, and I want to share what I’ve been doing with you.

What Is Retinol?

Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A, which helps boost cell turnover. Retinol can help clear your pores and help with fine lines and wrinkles. For me, someone with oily/combo skin and in my early 30’s so starting to see fine lines, it is a win-win!

What Should I Buy?!

I struggled with this because while many products boast that they contain retinol, I wasn’t sure where to begin. I spoke to my dermatologist who suggested I begin with Differin Gel, which I hadn’t used since high school, so I was a bit skeptical. I used it but didn’t find that it was strong enough, so I ended up getting a prescription for Tretinoin, which I was able to find a GoodRx Coupon that made it about $25. You can buy Differin over-the-counter at drugstores and big box stores for about $20. If you do use retinol make sure that you are using a good SPF because it does make your skin more prone to burning. Since switching to Trentinoin I’ve noticed clearer pores, and my skin is drier (I will skip a night, here or there, if it feels overly dry or irritated). I am hoping to see it help combat fine lines, and just knowing that I’m doing my best using a skincare powerhouse helps me feel good, does that resonate? I can’t be alone in that feeling!

Are you using a retinol? Let us know in the comments what you are using!

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COPY MY STYLE | WEDDING GUEST DRESS, HAIR, AND MAKEUP

September 28, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending an engagement party that was aaaaactually a SURPRISE WEDDNG for one of my dearest friends, my Littleton, my sorority sister and “little”. I love an excuse to dress up and drink bubbly while hanging onto a hunk of candy (hubster), so today I wanted to share my details with you today.

THE DRESS

I am so thankful for my daughter (she is 9 but legit has better style than most adults and puts together things I would have never thought of) and one of my other best friends who I trust to tell me “Girl, no” or, for this one “HELL YES!” which I appreciate endlessly.

I rarely order from ASOS, but I need to more often. It is priced similarly to H&M, and I like this dress as much as ones I have paid (or swooned over) from Nordstrom for quadruple the cost.

Shop the ASOS DESIGN halter neck pleated maxi dress in rust here.

THE MAKEUP

FUN FACT: I am obsessed with Hilary Duff. I am not one who would stand in line forever to meet a celeb or flip out if I touched one (I mean, if I touched JT I’m sure I might. I’d try to keep the chill but COMEON) but I love her. During quarantine and the summer months I’ve really embraced only a few dabs of concealer, a tiny bronzer because I’m super fair, and mascara, but the handful of times I’ve worn a full-face it has been my copycat of this Hilary Duff Vanity Fair makeup tutorial. I don’t have all of the products, but my makeup collection is large enough that I have something similar and make it work.

My FAVORITE Lip Liner! Seriously, buy it. I have had it for years and it’s a stub now and still going strong. It works with any nude or pinky nude lipstick. THE BEST.

THE HAIR

I curled all of my hair with a Nume wand and let the curls set completely (hello Shirley Temple at the Rest Areas. oh well) and then add a little bit of my beloved Batiste Dry Styling Plumping Powder that gives me alllllllll the sexy volume! *Note: I didn’t like this when I had long hair but with my lob? LOVE! I also tip my head upside down and finger comb it so that the curls and volume look natural…I woke up like this, clearly.

Where is your go-to place for dresses for special events?

The gift because I love an excuse to curate a basket!

——-

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SUN BURNT ULTRA-HYDRATING FACE MASK | FACE SUNBURN RELIEF

September 14, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Back-to-School chaos comes every September, and this year while different because of COVID, is just as stressful. I’ve been reaching for sheet masks as a way to give myself 20 minutes of “me” time in the evenings before I read as a part of my evening routine. I bought a few of the Sun Burnt Ultra-Hydrating Face Mask.

SunBurnt Ultra-Hydrating Face Mask

SunBurnt Face Mask is specially designed to provide your skin with luxurious recovery from the sun, cooling, soothing and rehydrating hot, dry skin on your face.

Infused with natural hydrating and antioxidant ingredients, including aloe, cucumber, marine collagen and hyaluronic acid.

My Thoughts

I used this once at our family lake cottage after a day in the sun and found my skin was not terribly burnt, but had gotten more sun that I normally allow, and woke up to skin that had no tenderness, blotchiness, or that tight sunburnt feel. I also used it this week and while I wasn’t burnt, I have been using a retinoid so my skin has been dry, and I woke up to hydrated skin that looked and felt so much better.

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What do you do for sunburn relief? Let me know in the comments!

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NEW Freeman Hot Cold Mask Review | My new FAVORITE?

September 7, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you are enjoying a nice long weekend if you are here in the U.S! Here in the midwest we are experiencing quick temp drops as we head into fall, and I have a 2-in-1 mask by Freeman Beauty called Hot Cold Mask to share with you today.

This 2-in-1 mask from Freeman Beauty offers a HOT mask and a COLD mask
HOT: A heating cleansing mask to help unclog pores. Draw out impurities for a cleaner pores with this self-heating mask. This mask contains moroccan lava clay refreshes skin for a radiant glow.
COLD: A cooling hydration mask for tired skin. You can quench and soothe your skin with this cool, hydrating gel mask. This mask contains cucumber to balance the skin.

My Thoughts

I absolutely LOVE the self-heating HOT mask! It is hot upon application, but it doesn’t continue to get hot or get uncomfortable hot. It is just hot enough to feel like it’s working to help the pores open up. I liked that I was able to massage it into the skin and then only needed to leave it on for 3-5 minutes because that is sometimes all the time I can find for a mask when life gets hectic! The cooling side did give an initial cooling sensation that is especially appreciated in the warmer months, or if I’ve just worked out. I don’t set timers for my mask (do you? Comment below…) and just go by “feel” (risky, I know!) and I was able to feel after about 10 minutes when this mask lost it’s cooling feel. I washed both masks off with a warm washcloth and found them to come off easily. This mask is my new favorite! I love that it is 2-in-1 and it gives me an easy way to make sure I mask at least twice/week.

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WALMART FASHION FALL 2020 |TIME AND TRU THERMAL SHIRTS

August 24, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I have shared lots of Time and Tru on the blog, and it is a brand that I shop frequently at Walmart. I have blazers, camis, tanks, shirts, jean jackets, cardigans, and accessories from the brand, and it’s a favorite.

Time and Tru Women’s Long Sleeve Thermal T-Shirt

I was grabbing groceries and walked through the clothing last week and found these thermal shirts that are SO GOOD. They’re super soft, “semi-fitted” to they’re flattering but plenty long in the sleeves, and not restrictive at all, and they look great alone or as a layer under a cardigan or jacket. My only complaint is that I wish they came in more neutral colors.

I purchased Cinnamon Spice (more of a rust color than it looks in this picture) and Light Heather Gray in my normal size small.

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Do you like waffle/thermal shirts? How do you like to style them?

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Saplaya Anti-Aging Collagen Face Mask | K-Beauty Mask Review

August 17, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

If I would have told you a year ago you’d be rocking a face-mask every time you leave your house in a year would have you believed me? Probably not, but here we are. I have been masking (the beauty kind, I mean) more regularly because wearing the masks out and about, especially in the hot summer months, has caused my face to need a little extra TLC. My favorite masks to wear in the summer are sheet masks because there is no washing or scrubbing it off, no waiting for it to harden, and no mess! I also love how cooling they feel. *Tip: Pop a sheet mask in the fridge before you use it! It feels wonderful after a hot day.

Saplaya Anti-Aging Collagen Face Mask

I felt that my skin looked brighter immediately after using this and it made my skin calm down after a hot day wearing a mask. Do I think that this mask had anti-aging benefits? I’m not sure, because I haven’t used it regularly, but I do think that it is a nice face mask that felt great on my skin. This mask wasn’t a “must” but it was nice and also affordable!

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Packing Cubes | Why You NEED Them

August 10, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

As you read this I am sitting at my family lake cottage and hopefully offline. I wrote this amidst packing for a family of five. Mamas, you *know* what I’m talking about. WOOF. One of my pet peeves is living out of a suitcase [ I unpack and organize. ALWAYS.] and packing cubes have changed my packing game.

Why You NEED Packing Cubes

Packing cubes didn’t sound any better than large zip locks to me and I didn’t want to take the plunge. But they are so good and save so much space. No more wrinkled, not being able to see what’s clean vs. what’s dirty mess. They are worth the small investment and the entire trip run more smoothly.

My Routine

I pack an outfit for every person for every day of the trip (including underwear and socks) and a couple of extra outfits. I pack a “dinner” outfit for everyone if applicable. I pack everyone a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans for cool evenings and mornings. I pack each person two swimsuits so one can dry while the other is being worn. Everyone gets pajamas, a jacket, and typically sandals and sneakers. I pack outfits for each person in one cube. I pack socks and underwear in one cube. I pack pajamas for the kids in one cube and me in another (husband isn’t a PJs guy, but he gets joggers and basketball shorts). I have a cube for my bras. I also have toiletries in a bag. I take a giant mesh laundry bag (ala college) for the dirty laundry.

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Do you use packing cubes? Or do you just toss everything in and pray? Let me know in a comment!

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How-To Pick Family Picture Outfits |2020

July 27, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Last week we got family pictures taken (finally. legit the last time we did our youngest who is 5.5 was in the womb) and I was asked several times on my Instagram how I selected our outfits, so today I am going to share my process.

How-To Pick Family Picture Outfits

1-Pick your own outfit first

Now, stay with me here. I knew that I wanted to feel confident and comfortable, so I wanted something that I felt that I could take truly happy, candid, and beautiful pictures in that I wasn’t sucking in, worried about wrinkling, or feeling less than my best in. If it’s engagement pictures or couple pictures, you can focus on your heels or your posture, but with family pictures and young kids? I knew if I picked something that would cover all my bases, I could build the rest of the family’s outfits around that I picked a Blush dress from Lucy Avenue.

2-Figure out a color palette

Once you have your outfit, you can pick your color palette. Once I knew that I was wearing a blush dress I decided that the boys all had soft blues that would coordinate well with the dress and this left me to find something for our daughter.

3-Have a “pop” of pattern or color

It isn’t 1998 and we aren’t at a mall photo studio. (Fun fact? Stephan and I got our “engagement” pictures at the mall because we were young and broke. Some could argue that we are still young and broke…joking, ish!) Gone are the days of all white shirts and jeans. It can be scary, but having one person rock plaid, a statement piece like a hat, faux fur for textrue, or a floral print that coordinates with the colors of the other outfits looks great! Just don’t get too busy or too “matchy-matchy”. I was having a rough time finding Hailey something, and ended up finding a jumpsuit at Walmart for less than $10 that was a butterfly floral print, so yes I got lucky.

4-Plan shoes, accessories, and makeup

HURRAY! You’ve laid all the clothing pieces on the bed and you’re happy with the result. The hardest part is over! Now, accessories! Try to not let this be an afterthought. I planned all of my jewelry (I love rings in photos, ladies! They look so good) and picked shoes that I wouldn’t be sinking into the dirt or twisting my ankle in while holding my kids. I wore more makeup than I typically wear in the summer especially, and I do suggest wearing makeup a *bit* heavier than your normal look in photos.

5- Pack extra clothes. Trust me

Put the clothes on just before the pictures, and grab a back-up for anyone who spills or isn’t reliably potty trained. You’ll feel much more relaxed and less tense knowing you have this option.

6- Know your angles and have fun!

I know which “laugh” pose looks naturally and which one makes me look like a hyena. I know my favorite “side”. I know what makes my kids smile. I saved a few inspiration ideas on a Pinterest board and wasn’t afraid to speak up when there were a few pictures I wanted.

Our photographer, Celeste Lovely Photography, is INCREDIBLE! If you’re local, check her out!

Did you find this post helpful? If so, please share! How often do you get family pictures taken? Let me know in a comment!

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Target Universal Threads | Affordable Pieces Under $20

July 13, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Over the past week or so I’ve seen the pencils and markers popping up at the big box stores, and I’ve gotten the influx of emails with Back-To-School promotions and fall fashion previews, but it is still summer and I want to share an easy, comfortable, and affordable outfit that I have been wearing on repeat from Target. I have raved about the line A New Day from Target, and while it is still my favorite, I have found some great pieces from Universal Threads this year and these are two of my ultimate favorites.

Women’s V-Neck Sweater Tank Top – Universal Thread™

I typically don’t gravitate to crochet style summer pieces, but for whatever reason this top called to me. It is the perfect simple tank that can be worn dressed up, or very casually with denim shorts. I purchased it in beige (neutral girl forever and ever), but I also LOVE the lilac color, which looks like a rose to me. It is an open weave and is unlined, but I felt comfortable wearing mine with a nude bra. I also wore it with a nude colored cami tank, and that looked nice for a more dressed up feel. I love that this would look great under jackets, and even a blazer. A con is that it should be hand-washed or washed delicately and hung to dry.

Women’s Mid-Rise Tie Front Utility Shorts – Universal Thread™

These shorts are SO GOOD! They feel like pajamas, but they look a little dressy. I love the olive color, and they aren’t too short where I feel that they’re too short to wear out and about. I find that they wash very well, and I usually hang them to dry but then tumble on low to get the wrinkles out (or, I am a huge fan of Downy Wrinkle Release or a quick steam).

Have you purchased any great pieces lately? What is your favorite clothing item to get at Target?

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Instagram Made Me Buy It | Lucy Avenue

July 6, 2020 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

When I’m scrolling Instagram I love seeing sponsored posts and ads because as a social media marketer, I find it interesting to see what is being targeted to me. I typically don’t click or buy things, but sometimes? Well, my fellow advertising pros are doing a great job. I found the online boutique Lucy Avenue thanks to Instagram targeted ads, and I have to share it with you.

I am a fan of Dottie Couture, and this has a lot of similar prices and styles, with a bigger focus on dresses. I got a dress that I wore to Hailey’s first communion and confirmation, and a dress that I am loving for summer.

Lucy Avenue Review

Georgia Plaid Dress in Navy

This dress is a relaxed fit, and it swallowed me a bit, but I love it belted at the waist and styled with a hat. It is very good quality fabric and fully lined. It is effortless and classic.

Katelyn Textured Dress in Blush

This dress is delicate and dainty perfection. It has precious details and is fully lined.