Hope all is well and happy hump day!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Back from Vacation
Hey ya'll!! Well, we're home from our cruise :( I have had a terrible time adjusting to regular day to day life. It's hard when life goes from this:
To this:
I have literally been doing laundry for DAYS! Le sigh... Anyway, we had so much fun and I can't wait to share our pictures with ya'll! Hopefully I can get a few posts done soon.
Hope all is well and happy hump day!
Hope all is well and happy hump day!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Product Review- Ole Henriksen Pure Perfection
Hello darlings! I'm hanging out in Jamaica today, but I had to tell ya'll about this night cream I've been dying to review.
This is a super rich night cream that's packed with:
-Lemon and orange extract: A cell proliferating, astringent.
-Glycolic and lactic acid: Exfoliates, diminishes lines and wrinkles.
-Vitamin C: Heals, stimulates collagen production.
-Beta carotene: Protects skin from damage caused by sunlight.(source: sephora.com)
I started using this a few weeks ago. With this wedding coming up, I've been obsessed with making sure my skin looks better than ever on the big day. This cream feels a little greasy and a little goes a long way. I only use this a few time a week. (on the other nights I still use Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Cream)
When I do use this, I also dab some under my eyes. (as recommended) I really like this product, but it's pretty powerful. I used it 3 nights in a row and on the third morning woke up to red skin. It calmed down after a few hours and I just learned to never use it more than 2 nights in a row.
I have noticed a smoother appearance in my skin. Also a lightening in my sun spots. I know that there is no such thing as a miracle in a jar, but I like to think that my preventative measures will pay off in the long run. I recommend this product IF you are looking for something a little more powerful than your usual night cream. Always wear sunscreen when using a product with glycolic acid and remember that glycolic acid products should not be used at the same time as products containing retinol. Cost: $48 at Sephora
Ole Henrikson Pure Perfection
-Lemon and orange extract: A cell proliferating, astringent.
-Glycolic and lactic acid: Exfoliates, diminishes lines and wrinkles.
-Vitamin C: Heals, stimulates collagen production.
-Beta carotene: Protects skin from damage caused by sunlight.(source: sephora.com)
I started using this a few weeks ago. With this wedding coming up, I've been obsessed with making sure my skin looks better than ever on the big day. This cream feels a little greasy and a little goes a long way. I only use this a few time a week. (on the other nights I still use Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Cream)
When I do use this, I also dab some under my eyes. (as recommended) I really like this product, but it's pretty powerful. I used it 3 nights in a row and on the third morning woke up to red skin. It calmed down after a few hours and I just learned to never use it more than 2 nights in a row.
I have noticed a smoother appearance in my skin. Also a lightening in my sun spots. I know that there is no such thing as a miracle in a jar, but I like to think that my preventative measures will pay off in the long run. I recommend this product IF you are looking for something a little more powerful than your usual night cream. Always wear sunscreen when using a product with glycolic acid and remember that glycolic acid products should not be used at the same time as products containing retinol. Cost: $48 at Sephora
Monday, March 21, 2011
Product Review- Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
Hey dolls! I'm currently on a ship in the middle of the ocean, but I have some product reviews for you all this week. Today it's Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
This tinted moisturizer is oil-free and has an SPF of 30. It also contains Aveeno's Total Soy Complex to help brighten and even skin tone. I really like this tinted moisturizer. It has great coverage and isn't to sticky. I love that it has SPF 30 and seems to actually have some good for your skin ingredients. I prefer tinted moisturizer when I'm at the beach or just out in the sun all day. Nothing feels worse than a face full of make-up when it's 90 degrees out. My beach beauty routine cosists of tinted moisturizer, water proof mascara, and a tinted lip balm with SPF. I give this one a 4 out of 5. The only thing that bothers me is the smell of this product. Not the best. But it seems to disappear after a few minutes of being on. I used the medium shade and it cost around $14.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Vacation Preparations
Hey ya'll! It's finally Friday! I'm spending my day crossing things off my to-do list to get ready for our trip.
-Yesterday, I made it to the nail salon for a mani/pedi. (a must twice a month for me). For my toes I tried out a color from OPI's Texas collection. I opted for Too Hot Pink To Hold'Em
-Yesterday, I made it to the nail salon for a mani/pedi. (a must twice a month for me). For my toes I tried out a color from OPI's Texas collection. I opted for Too Hot Pink To Hold'Em
Image via Google Images
It's a gorgeous shade of hot pink that definitely put me in the Caribbean spirit!
-I've done so many loads of laundry that I lost count. A pet peeve of mine is when you wash something the day you need to pack,only to remember that it needs to be hung up to dry. So then you have to wait and wait for it to dry as much as possible before you can finally pack it. Ugh! Currently waiting on a pair of jorts to dry...
- Today I still need to tan (don't judge me!), run to Wal-Mart for a few last minute items, Check in online for our cruise, pick up the dry cleaning, download a book or two on my ipad, get one last workout in before I indulge for a week, and try to cram as much as possible in my suitcase.
- I'm a horrible over packer. I end up with WAY to much any time I travel. But I think it's better to be safe than sorry. I would hate to be stuck somewhere without the proper outfit!
- Have ya'll watched the show Perfect Couples on NBC? OMG it's so funny. Gabe and I can't get enough of it. I purposely missed last nights episode so I could download it on my ipad to watch on the long drive to Galveston. I'm also loading up on episodes of How I Met Your Mother and Glee.
- Did I mention my 11 year old brother will be in the car with us on this 9 hour ride? Oh joy. I plan on knocking myself out with Dramamine and sleeping most of the way.
Have a great weekend ya'll!! Hopefully I will get some scheduled posts up, but if not, don't hate me!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
A Little Update on Life
Happy St. Patty's Day! Did you remember to wear green? I hope everyone's week has went well. I always love Thursdays. I view them as the start of the weekend. Anyway, I feel like I haven't really done a what's going on post in a while!
Her plastic surgery face is OOC! Now I am all for having a little botox here and there when you need it, but this just looks painful! Other than being creeped out by Elsa, this show isn't really doing much for me. I mean it's hard for anything to live up to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I'm not even that impressed this season with the OC housewives. They used to be my favorite, but their storylines are just getting so old. Plus I hate the Gretchen/Slade thing. Ew.
They taste like no bake cookies to me! I usually put one in my bag to snack on at work. I could literally live off of them. But that wouldn't be healthy, so I must practice self control. :)
- We're leaving this weekend for our cruise! I'm so excited! Our port is in Galveston, TX and then we make stops in Jamaica, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman. I have been busy getting all of my summer clothes out of storage, doing laundry, and crossing all sorts of things off my to do list this week.
- I always get a little anxious before a trip. I have a hard time of letting daily life go for a week and just relaxing. I'm making it a point on this trip to unwind 100% and not think about wedding planning, job searches, and all of the other super fun stuff that has consumed my day to day life.
- A special thanks to whatever 6th grader gave me the stomach virus yesterday. I got sick at work. Super. They had to get a sub for the sub.
- So what do you all think about Real Housewives of Miami? This woman scares me!
- Enough Real Housewives talk. I need some suggestions for some books to read on our trip! I'm ready to load my ipad with some good chick lit, so let me know what you're reading!
- I have a new obsession: LaraBar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
- I have a few product reviews coming soon for ya'll. I will probably schedule those posts for next week while we're gone.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Pretty in Pink
I think I have a February hangover. I have been obsessed with pink lately. Something about the first signs of Spring make me want to dress like an Easter egg. Nobody does pink better than Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer. Have a great Monday!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara and Chubby Sticks- A Review
Happy Thursday! One day closer to the weekend! And 9 days closer to a vacation for me!
Today I have two products to review:
First up: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
I actually kind of thought this was a dumb idea at first. I mean why do I need a separate mascara for my bottom lashes? Well, it turns out this is a genius concept. I know Clinique is not the first to do this, but it's the first one I've bought so it's all new to me. I really like this. The wand in teeny tiny so you can really get your bottom lashes coated. The formula is pretty good. It stays on all day. I did notice when I applied a little to much one day I ended up with a few flakes by mid afternoon. But overall I like it. I give it a 4 out of 5. It costs $10.00.
Next up: Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Balm
This is a lip balm stick that's loaded with mango and Shea butter to moisturize and give a sheer wash of color. I bought the Whole Lotta Honey which is more of a nude color. I'm still on the fence about this product. I like the idea and the ease of it, but to be honest it kind of dries my lips out a little which defeats the purpose. I have found that I'm applying another clear balm over it to keep my lips from looking like a lizard. I'm wondering if I got a bad one and if I need to try one more before I totally knock it. I do like that you don't need a sharpener for it though. I don't want to rate this one just yet until I try another one. But bottom line, love the color and concept of it, just wish it was a little more moisturizing.
Anywho, that's all I have for today folks. Not much else going on in my life right now besides wedding planning and job searching. (boo to the latter!) Have a good day ya'll!
Today I have two products to review:
First up: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
Next up: Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Balm
Anywho, that's all I have for today folks. Not much else going on in my life right now besides wedding planning and job searching. (boo to the latter!) Have a good day ya'll!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Quick Thank You
Thank you to those who emailed me and commented on my Grrr! post last week. You have no idea how much your words of encouragement help me out and I love ya'll for that. I'm hoping my life will calm down soon and I can be a better blogger and be better about responding to your comments. But just know that they do mean a lot to me and once again thank you!!
My Top Ten Health and Fitness Tips
With swimsuit season looming ahead, I've noticed a lot of my friends talking about their "diets" on facebook. This has gotten me thinking about the common nutrition mistakes people often make when trying to lose weight. My area of emphasis for my degree is nutrition so I spent a large portion of college doing case studies on people ranging from morbidly obese to those trying to lose the last of the baby weight. Here are my top ten tips for a healthy lifestyle:
1. Decide that this will be a lifestyle change. It's not just about losing weight, it's about having a healthy heart, feeling strong and energetic, reducing your risk for Type II diabetes, and being in tune with your body.
2. "Diet" food is not always good for you. Check the nutrition label. Most likely it will be loaded with sodium and/or sugar. Eat "real" food. When you're in the grocery store, shop the outer walls. These are the walls that have the produce and un-processed food. Most things in the middle aisles of the store are junk.
3. With this in mind, not all organic food is low calorie or low sodium either. Just because it has the word organic stamped on the box does not necessarily mean it's a smart choice. Do your research and always read the nutrition and ingredient labels.
4. Eat at home as often as you can. When you make your meals at home, you have more control over what goes in to your food. Restaurants load their food with butter and salt.
5. Make smart substitutions. I have heard a few of my friends talking about coke cakes. Basically it's where you take cake mix, stir in diet coke, and bake. This is an example of a bad substitution. Instead try this: When baking brownies, use all of the regular ingredients and just switch out the oil for applesauce. I promise you won't taste the applesauce and it cuts down on calories and fat. But to be honest, just have the real thing every now and then. If you control your portions and don't eat a pan of brownies every night you will be fine!
6. Sodas are poison. No really. If you are only going to make one change to your diet, cutting cokes out is it. And yes, diet sodas are also equally as bad. I mainly drink unsweet tea and water. I keep things like sliced lemons, mint leaves, and sliced cucumbers handy to add to my water or tea when I need a flavor kick.
7. When it comes to working out, there is such a thing as working out to much. I have a facebook friend who always posts about being on her second or third workout for the day. A) I don't know who has that much extra time on their hands, but B) Your body needs time to recover from workouts. You need to let your muscles heal and let your body rest. Also don't forget to stretch after your workouts. Flexibility is a big part of fitness. You want your body to still be agile as you age. Always end your workout with stretching or some yoga poses.
8. A multi-vitamin is not going to cut it. Aim to get your vitamins from food sources. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies throughout your day. If you are going to take a supplement, take an omega 3 like fish oil or flax seed oil. This will help keep your heart healthy and your skin looking beautiful. I prefer flax seed oil because fish oil left a weird aftertaste for me and I always worry about mercury content.
9. Get enough sleep. Studies show, we need 7-9 hours a night. I know that is really hard for most women especially if you have children. I am so guilty of not getting enough sleep sometimes and it shows not just under my eyes, but how my brain works throughout the day. I personally have a hard time turning my brain off at night and can't quit thinking about work, the wedding, or my growing to do list. I sometimes take a melatonin supplement to help me fall asleep faster and actually stay asleep. It's natural and non habit forming. It's definitely worth researching if you have sleep issues.
10. And last but not least, love your body. God only gave you one so take care of it. Don't abuse it by eating junk, smoking, or yo yo dieting. Simply eat a healthy diet of "real" foods, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and for crying out loud quit drinking cokes! And always remember that no two bodies are the same.
I hope someone finds something helpful from this! I am by no means saying that I have all the answers here but I just think it's important to start focusing on healthy lifestyles and not fad diets.
Happy Wednesday night lovelies!
1. Decide that this will be a lifestyle change. It's not just about losing weight, it's about having a healthy heart, feeling strong and energetic, reducing your risk for Type II diabetes, and being in tune with your body.
2. "Diet" food is not always good for you. Check the nutrition label. Most likely it will be loaded with sodium and/or sugar. Eat "real" food. When you're in the grocery store, shop the outer walls. These are the walls that have the produce and un-processed food. Most things in the middle aisles of the store are junk.
3. With this in mind, not all organic food is low calorie or low sodium either. Just because it has the word organic stamped on the box does not necessarily mean it's a smart choice. Do your research and always read the nutrition and ingredient labels.
4. Eat at home as often as you can. When you make your meals at home, you have more control over what goes in to your food. Restaurants load their food with butter and salt.
5. Make smart substitutions. I have heard a few of my friends talking about coke cakes. Basically it's where you take cake mix, stir in diet coke, and bake. This is an example of a bad substitution. Instead try this: When baking brownies, use all of the regular ingredients and just switch out the oil for applesauce. I promise you won't taste the applesauce and it cuts down on calories and fat. But to be honest, just have the real thing every now and then. If you control your portions and don't eat a pan of brownies every night you will be fine!
6. Sodas are poison. No really. If you are only going to make one change to your diet, cutting cokes out is it. And yes, diet sodas are also equally as bad. I mainly drink unsweet tea and water. I keep things like sliced lemons, mint leaves, and sliced cucumbers handy to add to my water or tea when I need a flavor kick.
7. When it comes to working out, there is such a thing as working out to much. I have a facebook friend who always posts about being on her second or third workout for the day. A) I don't know who has that much extra time on their hands, but B) Your body needs time to recover from workouts. You need to let your muscles heal and let your body rest. Also don't forget to stretch after your workouts. Flexibility is a big part of fitness. You want your body to still be agile as you age. Always end your workout with stretching or some yoga poses.
8. A multi-vitamin is not going to cut it. Aim to get your vitamins from food sources. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies throughout your day. If you are going to take a supplement, take an omega 3 like fish oil or flax seed oil. This will help keep your heart healthy and your skin looking beautiful. I prefer flax seed oil because fish oil left a weird aftertaste for me and I always worry about mercury content.
9. Get enough sleep. Studies show, we need 7-9 hours a night. I know that is really hard for most women especially if you have children. I am so guilty of not getting enough sleep sometimes and it shows not just under my eyes, but how my brain works throughout the day. I personally have a hard time turning my brain off at night and can't quit thinking about work, the wedding, or my growing to do list. I sometimes take a melatonin supplement to help me fall asleep faster and actually stay asleep. It's natural and non habit forming. It's definitely worth researching if you have sleep issues.
10. And last but not least, love your body. God only gave you one so take care of it. Don't abuse it by eating junk, smoking, or yo yo dieting. Simply eat a healthy diet of "real" foods, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and for crying out loud quit drinking cokes! And always remember that no two bodies are the same.
I hope someone finds something helpful from this! I am by no means saying that I have all the answers here but I just think it's important to start focusing on healthy lifestyles and not fad diets.
Happy Wednesday night lovelies!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Grrrr!!
I always try to be really positive on this blog, but after the week i've had, i just need to vent. I hate how certain people can just put you In a rotten mood with their negativity. Especially when you've done nothing but try to be nice to them and help them out. My gripe is really with certain people who have done nothing but bitch about The wedding Gabe, me, and my mom and step-mom are working so hard to plan. I'm to the point where I just want to say if you don't like how we're doing things, then please don't come! We don't need your terrible attitudes bringing us down on our special day. Ugh! But in the end I know I could never say that because I'm a bigger person than that. Or at least I try to be... Weeks like this week make me so thankful for my wonderful, supportive family and my amazing fiancé. And I just have to pray for patience with these rude people who try to bring me down. So please say a little prayer for me if you think about it. I just need to remain strong and stay on the positive side. This day is for Gabe and me. We're happy and we want our friends and family to be just as happy as we are. Is that so much to ask?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wedding Wednesday-The Location
As you know by now, we're having our wedding in Gulf Shores, AL. I have always dreamed of having a beach wedding and the Gulf coast has always held a special place in my heart. We decided to have the wedding at the Gulf Shores Beach Club.
The ceremony itself will be on the beach a little before sunset. Then we will walk up to the beach club and have our reception on the veranda overlooking the beach and gorgeous pool area. I have no doubt that it will be amazing. I absolutely cannot wait! Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!
The ceremony itself will be on the beach a little before sunset. Then we will walk up to the beach club and have our reception on the veranda overlooking the beach and gorgeous pool area. I have no doubt that it will be amazing. I absolutely cannot wait! Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!
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