Weekend Wellness 10.08.17

So much focus is put on eliminating bad habits from our lives. However, I’ve found that starting new, healthy habits is just as challenging if not more challenging, than eliminating bad ones. For most of my adult life, I’ve been focused on trying to start one habit: become a morning person. I am a true night owl. I re-energize at night and it’s hard to turn my brain off. I’ve tried everything from limiting before bed screen time, to sleep inducing teas and lotions and evening meditations and journaling. While they definitely help get me to bed earlier when I put in the effort; no matter how much I sleep the night before I am not a morning person. I’m slow, I need my coffee, and will always need to set an alarm. However, I’d love to be that person that by 9 am has already worked out, showered, and is working hard at the office.  But the reality is, I’m just not there yet, but I’m not giving up either.

What is one habit you are trying to start (and do you have any new ideas for me to breakthrough on mine)?

My Nighttime Skincare Routine

If I had to describe my skin in three words it would be sensitive, hormonal, and combination. I need skincare products that will treat my hormonal acne while not drying out or aggravating the rest of my face. The quest to find products to meet my trifecta of needs has been a long one and turned me into a self-proclaimed product junkie. However, one product line that’s been a mainstay in my nighttime routine is Sunday Riley.

The U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil paired with Good Genes is a strong dynamic duo that doesn’t dry me out while still treating the annoying breakouts that can pop up on my chin and jawline. While I’m not at glass skin status yet, I at least *feel* like I am on my way.

What products are you loving for your nighttime routine?

P.S. If you haven’t yet read about my morning skincare routine, you can check it out here.

My Daytime Skincare Routine

It’s no secret that I love wine. Look back at some of my blog posts (examples here, here and here, just to name a few) or photos from my Instagram, and you’ll likely notice that quite a few of the images occur at a winery our around wine. So, when I learned that I could incorporate wine into my skincare routine it was a total game changer. 

I first learned about the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum on Violet Grey when oils and serums first became all the rage in skincare, and haven’t looked back since. Almost immediately, I started noticing a change in my skin tone and texture. 

Now, more than a year later, I’ve started to incorporate so many products from Caudalie. First, I swapped out my toner for the Beauty Elixir, then it was their new Vinoperfect Essence and now I’m currently working through samples of the Moisturizing Sorbet and the Eye Lifting Balm and I love it all. 

I have sensitive skin which can easily get red, irritated or break out with the wrong products, but my skin takes so well to Caudalie products. So, while my first experience with Caudalie was likely fueled by excellent wine marketing, I’ve become a true brand advocate.

What are some of your go-to skincare brands and products?

P.S. this post is in no way sponsored, I just really love this product line. And wine. I love all the wine. 

Thursday Inspo 09.21.17

Weekend Wellness: 08.20.17

Goal setting is a huge part of my life. It is something I do regularly and always in writing. Why? It gives me something to reflect on, refer back to, and track my progress accordingly. I find without writing my goals down on a regular basis, I feel like I lose direction. For me, it’s extremely important to do big picture goal setting 2x a year: around the New Year and around my birthday. I find those are the two times per year when I really reflect on the trajectory of my life and where I need to focus my efforts. However, each week I do some planning and goal setting to help ensure I have a successful week. Regular goal setting helps keep me centered and focused, especially when life feels hectic.

How often do you set goals and how does it help you? 

Why I Keep Failing at Blogging

I will always wine, but never whine about being busy.

A quick scroll through the recent posts of W&W will show a very sporadic posting schedule, with large gaps between updates. Each time my blog efforts lapsed, I'd try and bounce back with a personal post explaining why I’ve been MIA or how I planned to get back into the blogging groove.

Despite my most organized efforts and flawless content calendar, each time of getting back on the wagon it would only be a few months before I’d fall off again.

I’d beat myself up mentally, being frustrated with the fact that I couldn’t stick to a schedule. I’d read so many blogging resources, like the WWW e-book blogging guide (which is fabulous BTW), yet couldn’t master my own content schedule.

It wasn’t until recently reading this blog post from Zanita Studio that it hit me as to why I constantly failed:

I was trying to do too much.

I had an amazing content calendar with themes and ideas for posts for 6 days of the week. No wonder I couldn’t keep up! What was I thinking?

As the Zanita Studio post brilliantly points out:

“Now, if you’re just starting out, that’s a lot of content. I don’t even post 5 days a week and I’ve been blogging for 7 years now. You probably don’t want to start out with guns blazing until you have a solid, loyal following who actually care what you have to say, otherwise you’ll be creating all this content for no one.”

As someone who works a full-time job, recently took on a second job on the weekends, and trying to make a blog work (like so many bloggers!); trying to do too much is kind of the theme of my life.

With that said, I love this blog and have so much fun working on it and I’m not willing to give it up. What I am willing to do is less. I commit to posting regularly, but less frequently (i.e. starting out with just once a week instead of almost daily), and will not mentally beat myself up if/when I don’t get to them. My new focus is trying to take on less in life and only give energy to the things that really, truly make me happy.

My new mantra: get shit done by doing less.

I'll drink to that! Celebrating my new life mantra.

Thursday Inspo 11.10.16

Thursday Inspo 10.27.16

Thursday Inspo 10.13.16

Thursday Inspo 9.29.16

Weekend Wellness 09.18.16

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a peaceful start to your morning. This week the focus is on finding joy. I personally get a lot of joy out of a quiet Sunday morning with my cup of coffee. This is usually the time where I do my weekly planning, which really helps me stay on track for the days head. Setting intentions, goals, and plans in the peace and quiet of my home (and in my PJs) really sets the tone for the week. What brings you joy?

Thursday Inspo 9.15.16

HIGH & LOW: Face Wash

fresh vs. simple

High: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser; Price: $38.00

Low: Simple Moisturizing Face Wash; Price: $4.69
Verdict: Both of these options are great for sensitive skin, a necessary element for any product in my skincare routine. They both also have similar textures, which is creamy and gel-like at the same time. I also love how well the Fresh face wash removes makeup; however, at $38 per bottle, it quickly adds up. So, my trade-off is to use Simple as my day-to-day wash and keep a travel/trial size version of Fresh. It's a nice little luxury when I am traveling and missing the convenience of having all of my products at my disposal.

Thursday Inspo 09.01.16

Time & Change

Change. It’s something that we are told to embrace, yet feared by many. Why do so many people dread change? Is it that our minds automatically assume the worse and that any change, will result in a lesser situation? Or is it that we are afraid of how hard the process of change will be? Or is it the discomfort that lies with the unknown? Whatever the reasoning, there is truth in the saying that "people are creatures of habit," and when pushed from our routine, things can get uncomfortable. 

So as time changes, seasons begin to change, and we all inevitably begin to change, I’ve put a lot of thinking lately into how to best deal. I definitely don't have the answers on this, but I just keep going back to a quote from a favorite #girlboss of mine, Jillian Michaels. In her epic Yoga Meltdown video she forcefully reminds us to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. With my marching orders from Jillian, I'm seeking to thrive in the discomfort.

Have an inspiring advice to share on coping with change? Let me know in the comments.

xx

HIGH & LOW: TINTED MOISTURIZER

laura mercier vs. neutrogena

High: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer; Price: $44.00

Low: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer; Price: $10.49

Verdict: Both options come with SPF 20, which is A+ in my book. The Laura Mercier is great, especially when paired with one of the brand's primers and comes in 12 different shades for a great match. Even though the Neutrogena tinted moisturizer only comes in 6 shades, it's much more affordable and pairs well with many other primers or BB cremes. If you are on a budget, Neutrogena is a great drug store option.

Thursday Inspo 8.18.16

HIGH & LOW: MASCARA

chanel vs. maybelline

Of all the beauty products I use on a regular basis, I am most particular about my mascara. Some people won't leave the house without lipstick or their hair done; I won't leave the house without mascara. If I do nothing else, I'll always do my mascara. In my opinion, the right mascara can transform your face and make you look more awake and alert. So, given my enthusiasm for the product, I've tried just about every brand out there and these two are without a doubt my absolute favorites. Before Chanel, I was an avid Dior Show user. While it was great, I knew immediately once I tried Chanel there was no going back. In terms of drug store brands, I've been a faithful Maybelline user for a long time, and loved the iterations of the Volum Express line. So, today's match up is dedicated to these two brands.

High: Le Volume De Chanel Noir Mascara; Price: $32.00

Low: Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Black Drama ; Price: $7.77

Verdict: If you can manage the price tag, there is no mascara like Chanel. However, I understand that isn't feasible for everyone and Maybelline is a great alternative. Pro tip: if you are a mascara enthusiast like I am and want an ultra-dramatic look, layer the two. Curl your lashes, start with a coat of Maybelline, followed by Chanel. 

Introducing Weekend Wellness

Baton Rouge, Istanbul, Orlando, Dallas, Munich. 

These are only just a FEW of the cities that have experienced tragedy and violence within the past few WEEKS. Every morning I almost dread reading the news. The constant acts of hate that fill the daily headlines have left me desensitized. For the first time ever, I felt uncomfortable in a crowded theater watching a Broadway show. It just felt like so many of the other news stories that I read; horrible acts of violence occurring at common gathering places. Sometimes the world can feel overwhelming and the ability to bring change feels impossible. While I don’t pretend to believe that a few positive messages can change the world, I do believe that on an individual level, changing your thinking can change your life. So, in my small attempt to put some happiness and thoughtfulness back into the world, I am introducing the Weekend Wellness series to W&W. On Sunday’s I’ll post a thought provoking question in effort to jumpstart the week with some positive vibes. I’ll answer my own question and encourage others to do the same. Whether you respond only internally to generate mindfulness or publicly comment on the post to uplift yourself and others, let’s just all take some time to bring a little more peace into our lives.

Highs & Lows

Introducing a new series on W&W

Welcome to a new series on W&W - High & Low. This series will spotlight two products: one from a drug store, the other from a high-end brand. I'm a product junkie who lives for beauty samples from Sephora and travel size products. While I love a good splurge, I could also raid the shelves of Target for hours. Each high & low will show two products that I think are relatively comparable in quality with a mini- review of each, letting you know when it's worth the splurge and when you shouldn't buy into the hype.  From tinted moisturizers and mascara to face and body wash, I look forward to sharing some of my favorite beauty buys and learning more about yours!