Tag: how to

Summertime Skincare Routine

I absolutely love talking about my skincare routine. Why? My skincare routine is my favorite part of the day. It is my favorite way to relax after a long day and just pamper myself. Now obviously, life happens and I cant do this LONG routine everyday but for the most part I try to get in at least two steps!

Lets talk about some of the products I use before we get into the steps.

My two absolutely necessary products are toner and moisturizer. Toner helps me feel that my skin is the absolute cleanest it can be and helps even out the redness on my face. My skin is so absolutely DRY that without moisturizer its a desert. I switch out my moisturizers all the time, but I can guarantee there will always be some sort of hydrating on my face. If I am being lazy or just got home really late I will take off my makeup and only use these two products until the next morning.

Here are my current favorites:

The first step begins in the shower. I feel like washing my face while I am in the shower neutrogena hydroboost facewashas  opposed to the sink just saves me the hassle of water getting everywhere. I try to switch my face wash every two to three weeks so my face doesn’t get used to the product and stop working. I am completely in LOVE with using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser.

Next, about twice times a week a I use a more intense exfoliate. Using a physical exfoliate keeps my skin smooth and removes all of the dead skin cells. I truly feel that this step has changed my skin texture completely. Recently my favorite has been the Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub.

Derma-E-Microdermabrasion-ScrubAnother exfoliate I love using is the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. I use this about once a week as a face mask and I swear itenzyme peel makes my face so soft. I am OBSSESED with it. A little bit goes a LONG way so this product last forever which is amazing.

 

As soon as I get out of the however I always pat my face dry. Then, if I am not using a face mask that get, I use my toner on a cotton pad all over my face. Let’s be honest, I use a face mask almost every night LOL. Explain which face masks I use would take forever, so if you want to see a whole post on that please let me know in the comments.

After my toner I use my Elf Hydrating Water Essence. This step is great because it has a lot of hydration but still feels very light on the skin. That’s why I use it morning and night. Especially in the summer, it’s important toelf water essence me to use lighter products.  Personally I use it on a cotton pad and just spread it all over my face. I know some people use it with their fingers but I feel extra clean for some reason with a cotton pad.

SERUMS SERUMS SERUMS. I love this part of my skincare routine. It’s so much fun, light, and adds “glowyness” to my skin. It’s that little extra boost that my skin loves. I am constantly testing out new serums and seeing what works

hey honey serum

well for me. In the summer I don’t really focus too much on makeup but that means skincare has to be spectacular. I am all about that healthy natural glow. I don’t have any set in stone favorites other than the Hey Honey Good Morning Serum. Not only does this look great alone but under makeup its beautiful.

Finally, we get to the moisturizer. Then, I get to bed and sleep. Sleep is so important in skincare. I try to get at least 7 hours a night so I can wake up completely rested and with hydrated skin.

Thanks so much for reading and see you next time!

 

 

 

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Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

Hi guys! I thought I’d share with you a new recipe I tried out this week. Now trust me I definitely don’t go home and spend hours in the kitchen every night but occasionally I like to make something quick and easy for dinner. This is the kind of recipe for a mom or someone who just wants to whip something up and put it on the table. It’s not a boring dinner and it’s packed full of flavor.

I also show you my cheat cheat for buttery mashed potatoes. Trust me 100% easy and quick.

Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken Breasts (I buy the Purdue Brand)f7be7977-722c-4ce2-a489-a2b19f58bcff
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  • Sea Salt
  • 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 2 Lemons
  • Coconut Oil

Yup that’s it! Just 6 ingredients for the chicken. I also use a little cheat and buy the mashed potatoes already made, you pop it in the microwave, and boom you’re done. I add half a spoon of butter on top, sprinkle a little parsley, and use an ice cream scoop to get the perfect “restaurant style” shape.

Steps

  1. Slice up two lemons into about 8 slices.
  2. In a bowl, mix the all purpose flour, lemon pepper seasoning, and sea salt. Begin37861d23-ff3e-4a66-986b-886c686ca40c rolling the chicken breasts in the mix and set them to the side.
  3. In a pan, put a scoop of coconut oil and turn the stove on to medium.
  4. Place your chicken breasts in the pan.
  5. Place lemon slices all over your chicken for added flavor.
  6. Cover the pan and let it cook for about 10 minutes.
  7. When done, sprinkle with parsley, serve and enjoy!

Boxy Charm June 2018

Hi guys! My makeup addiction just continues to grow. I finally caved and began a boxy charm subscription. Now, I have been debating this for months. I didn’t know if it was really worth it. A while back I subscribed to Ipsy which definitely wasn’t worth it. That was a waste of money, and most of the products I never even used. I have heard literally every blogger, youtuber, instagrammer talk about this subscription. Everyone comes to the same conclusion about how great this is. I mean how am I paying $21 a month and receiving over $100 worth of make up?! I don’t know how they do it but its AMAZING.

This months box was Caribbean themed which is perfect for summer! Most of the products are well known and there is only two that I am not familiar with but I love that about boxy charm. It gives you the opportunity to try new brands and products. Also, I know that there is an Ofra lipstick in the box but it really just isn’t my color so I ended up giving it away to a friend. I wont be featuring it, but Ofra is an amazing brand and I do have other lipsticks from them that I love.

DSC_1073(This is everything in my box.)

“Reina del Caribe” Alamar Palette $28

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These colors are AMAZING. They’re extremely pigmented and each color is unique. If you head on over to my Instagram I swatched the whole palette.

 

 

Luxie Brush Set $42

These bDSC_1086rushes are extremely soft and I am so excited to try these out! Each brush has purpose so there is the Precison Foundation Face Brush, Tapered Highlighting Brush, and the Duo Fiber Powder Brush. 

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Brazilian Bum Bum Creme by Sol de Janerio $10

I have heard everybody talk about this and I am so excited to finally try it out. The smell alone is absolutely amazing. It makes me feel like I’m on a tropical beach somewhere.

Battington Silk Lashes $28

7461900a-9f69-4f29-9e4c-7d3a3b0c6d0eI personally don’t wear lashes too often but when I do I like a thick band like this one. Typically if you’re not that great with applying lashes, like myself, a thick band will help you out. Over all these lashes are pretty and hopefully work very well!

 

 

 

 

Jonteblu Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil $5

I prefer a retractable eyeliner but this one is amazing. Instead of a usual black eyeliner,bc2acc10-85cd-49ec-94e6-f5ae5b2d24cf its dark brown which to me honestly means I can use it as a brow pencil if I need to. I need makeup to be very versatile because usually I am on the go or in a rush. Or sometimes I just don’t feel like packing a lot of makeup if I am going somewhere lol. All in all this eyeliner is great and definitely affordable which is good.

 

How To: No Bake Energy Bites

Yes, you read that correctly. These recipes require absolutely NO BAKING. They harden in the fridge and boom ready to eat! As a society we’re always looking for ways to be just a little bit healthier. These protein bites are perfect for an afternoon snack, after the gym, or in the morning. They’re packed with fiber and lots of protein. I am going to show you guys two recipes for these Energy Bites. DISCLAIMER: I am by no means a dietitian I just enjoy finding relatively healthy snacks and sharing my recipes.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

I absolutely love Reese’s Peanut Butter cups but those are definitely not healthy. As an alternative chocolate craving these are definitely a go to. These don’t break me out like chocolate but satisfy that craving. This one is so easy to make and you only need 5 ingredients!

This recipe makes about 21-23 Bites.img_8918

2/3 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

2 tablespoons honey

 

Blueberry Almond Bites

This one is my favorite bites for morning/ breakfast time. They have so many good and whole some ingredients and taste amazing. These might make you use the bathroom, because they’re packed with so much fiber. I don’t think of that as a bad thing and usually I’ll double up and drink some lemon water with them as an extra detox. Definitely must-try these easy to make snacks!

img_8921Makes about 25 bites.

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup dried bluberries

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1/2 cup sliced almonds

4 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2/3 cups almond butter

1/2 cup honey

 

 

 

Instructions:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until they are even spread out.
  2. Use an ice cream scoop tool to make ball shape and then continue to roll with your hands.
  3. Lay out on a cookie sheet or any flat pan and place in the fridge.
  4. Enjoy!

NOTE: 

If you want them to stay fresh longer you may put in the freezer and move over to fridge a few hours before eating.

Sunday Routine

Some times Sundays are boring and anxiety ridden as you prepare for the week ahead of you. I want to share with all of you my “Sunday routine”. Sundays are my self-care days, along with getting my shit together honestly.  This post is basically what my Sunday consists of when I am not going to a mimosa filled brunch or having a beach day. I think we can all agree that Sundays are one of the best days of the week; even when that Monday anxiety starts creeping up on us. These are the days I give my skin and hair extra pampering.  Occasionally I like to take it easy on Sundays, watch Netflix and hangout. I feel this is the day of the weekend where I plan to get the most done and I do pretty much nothing. Yet, I feel the happiest on these days. This post contains affiliate links. 

My Sunday mornings usually start by rolling out of bed, making coffee, and then jumping back in and cuddling with my boyfriend. Lately I have been trying to do the Herbalife thing, so I just switch out coffee for my tea. Usually we lounge around for a while, unless we have something planned.

100% I will always use a mask on Sundays. My top 3 that I currently recommend are:

1. Black Charcoal Mask

img_6092I always have some kid of charcoal mask on hand and this one is currently my favorite (Berry Moon Black Charcoal Mask). Korean skincare seems to be a new and upcoming favorite for a lot of people and I am definitely into it! They have a lot of amazing ingredients, and most of all usually do not dry out my skin. This particular mask I have been using for about a year and I am still in love with it. When my skin is feeling overworked, tired, and dehydrated I use this mask to suck out all of the impurities in my face. WARNING: This product does make underlying pimples come out, but I love that because completely cleans and removes anything lying under my skin. (Photo; feat. My Boyfriend)

2. Hydrating Sheet Mask

These are my favorite kinds of masks, especially in the morning. When I use these, I know I will be having a great skin day. My recent favorite has been the Neutrogena Hydrogel Facemask. It is not like typical masks that get dry in about 10 minutes, this mask takes about 20 minutes. When I remove the mask my skin feels amazing and hydrated. As if my skin drank a whole glass of water.

3. Bubble Masks

Believe me, I didn’t believe that these would actually work. I was always skeptical about what the bubbles would do, and if it would actually bubble. I can honestly say this is the best one I have found to actually work KBeauty Naturals Bubble Clay Mask. This is another Korean product and its amazing!

As for hair care, I have a few trusted products. My hair is blonde currently & has a lot of damage due to years of bleaching. Usually I do the “normal” steps, but I stopped conditioner and started replacing that with a hair mask every time I wash my hair. I feel like hydration is so important for me and when I do this my hair just feels healthier.

1. Shampoo

My current favorites all include coconut. That is because coconut is ESSENTIAL in img_5953hydration. The one I am using right now is OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo. Also, for my blonde hair, I have been using the Marc Daniels Purple Shampoo. Purple shampoo cancels out all of the brassiness that can happen in blonde hair. I absolutely LOVE it. The picture on the right shows you exactly what color my hair is right now.

2. Conditioner

I have a few favorite hair masks, which I use in place of conditioner, but the two that stand out the most are L’Oreal Paris Restoring Hair Balm and Schwarzkopf Professional Blondme Keratin Hair Mask. Both of these make my hair go from dry and brittle to soft and smooth. Usually I try not to use too much heat, and I found that when my hair dries natural after I use one of these it makes a significant difference. My hair looks like I blow dried it straight.

Ah binge watching, that is most definitely one of our Sunday hobbies. Currently I am re-watching one of my all time favorites “Grey’s Anatomy”. I am sure you have heard at least one person talk about this show. It is heart-wrenching, emotional, and beautiful all in one. Trust me, if you haven’t seen it please go get a Netflix account and watch ALL of it. Right now. Go. Seriously though, I convinced my boyfriend to start watching and now he’s obsessed. Not to mention, Sundays are the only days we have off together, so we pretty much cuddle and watch grey’s all day.

Another one of our favorites is “Bones”. Luckily, it’s already over so it makes a perfect show to binge watch ALL the seasons. This show is packed with action, murder mysteries, and romance. Definitely in my top ten.

Finally, I try to work on emails and such at least a little bit, just to be ready for Monday. Trust me, I don’t spend more than 15 minutes on this. Some times we all need those self-care kind of days. It is important to focus on yourself some times.