CRUELTY FREE BEAUTY | 3 TIPS FOR ME TIME WITH YARDLEY SOAPS

I was sent a set of Yardley Soaps to feature in this post.  All opinions are mine alone, and I only ever feature brands that I use and love.  Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog!

As a working mom, I really have to make "me time" a priority.  Gone are the girly spa nights at home where I take a wander through my beauty cabinet and delicately take my time choosing the products to pamper myself.

At this point in my life, "me time" has to be scheduled, yet relaxed, luxurious, yet not break the bank.

It's a delicate balance, you see.

Luckily, I've come to perfect my ideal "me time" session that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and doesn't take all night.  It's relaxing, it smells amazing, and you'll definitely want to stock up on these amazing Yardley Soaps for your own spa night.

TIP #1 - FLOWERS, FLOWERS, FLOWERS!

Fresh, dried, or fake, I love flowers.  They don't have to be expensive.  In fat, this little mason jar of dried flowers is left over from a wedding shower last month.  The thing about flowers is that they brighten any room at all.  If ever there was an occasion to have flowers in the bathroom, a spa night at home is it.  And what a happy coincidence that these flowers match my Yardley Soaps box!

TIP #2 - YARDLEY SOAPS

I have long been a fan of Yardley Soaps, and now they have released a new scent.  If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that coconut is one of my all-time favorite scents (and flavors, but we're not talking about food today!).  The bars are so creamy and hydrating, they really are in line with my other favorites right now.  I am all about hydrating my skin to keep it fresh and pretty for spring and summer.  The scents are just amazing, and they fill the bathroom and completely eliminate the need for a candle.  This lavender bar is perfect for right before bedtime, it sends me off to sleep feeling so, so relaxed and ready to conquer the next day.

If you remember at the beginning, I do believe that "me time" should not break the bank.  With Yardley Soaps being available nationwide at a huge variety of retailers, they come in around $1 or a little more than $1 per bar.  This is an absolute steal, you can stock up on all the scents and stay prepared for whenever you need a little "me time."  Yardley Soaps can be found at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Shop Rite, HEB, Publix, Wegmans and many more.  The new creamy coconut scent is available at Walmart and Walgreens.

TIP #3 - DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE

You all know how much of a reader I am, it should come as no surprise that reading in the bathtub is incredibly relaxing to me.  You might be more of a magazine kind of gal, but whatever it is make sure you are utterly relaxed.  This book is one of my favorites from the past couple years, and I had to laugh at how appropriate the setting (England) is alongside the soap (English Lavender).

What do you do to relax?

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HIPS & CURVES

I was sent these items for review.  All opinions are mine alone.  Thank you for supporting the brands that support my blog!

Friends, can you feel the change in the air?  I think spring is actually here to stay.  I probably shouldn't be too optimistic, because a few weeks ago we had another cold spell.  But, it really feels like the warm weather is here to stay.

I am excited for the change in seasons.  You know I'm a winter person through and through, but I am determined to give my closet a refresh for spring and summer.  I am going to like my warm weather clothes this year.  At least, that is my goal.  I don't want to go another spring/summer disliking my clothes.

It's been a lot of fun choosing new items for my wardrobe, and that includes my pajamas.  You see, I am the queen of winter pajamas.  I have winter pajamas for days.  They are my fave, and I could honestly wear them all the time.  Being in a hot climate, that's not really practical.  But, honestly, my summer pajamas could use a real makeover.  Most of the pajamas I wear in the summer are some sort of combo of old yoga pants and tee shirts or ... new yoga pants and tee shirts.

There's a bit of a pattern here.

Enter, Hips and Curves!  I was recently introduced to this brand, and they have some really lovely items.  Now, if you're on more of the conservative side like me, don't fear, there really is something for everyone.  They have a gorgeous Edwardian collection that is equal parts practical and beautiful.  What could be better in the summer than sleeping in breezy lace and cotton?

I have the chemise and the camisole, and they feel heavenly.  The thing I love about Hips and Curves is that they have a lot of sizes.  Their sizes run from M to 3XL, which covers a wide range of people.  I have my items in size L, and they definitely run on the big size.  I would personally size down one size if you don't like a loose fit.

Another major plus is that they have tons of different styles. You can literally find anything you could possibly want, when it comes to underwear and pajamas.  And, honestly, I love that they offer the Edwardian collection that looks so romantic but also has some practical pieces as well.

How do you refresh your wardrobe for the new season?

LIFE STYLE | THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

2018 feels like it's going to be such a good year.  I hope you are feeling the same way!  January started out kind of weird with the snow storms, and it looks like February might be more of the same.  But!  This is going to be the year of intention and progress for me, and I can really feel it.

I wanted to share a few things I'm looking forward to, and I'd love if you'd share the same with me.

GOING OUT ON DATES

My hubby and I rarely go on dates, and we would really like to remedy that.  People always say it's important to make time for dates and stay connected as a couple, but it really is true.  When we take the time for a date, even if it's just grabbing dinner at a restaurant (or ordering in after the kids go to bed), we feel so much more connected.  So, I already have reservations set for his birthday at Chef and the Farmer, which is a restaurant we love.  I can't wait!

GETTING BACK ON THE HEALTHY BAND WAGON

To be fair, I never really fell off of it.  The holidays wrecked my healthy eating habits, and it's time to get back on track.  I was still eating mostly healthy, but there were a lot of extra treats around the house that were so tempting.  I shared three ways I stay on track with my health goals here.  Are you all interested in healthy go-to snacks?  I'll be sharing a few new faves this Friday on Instagram, and there will be a fun little giveaway! 

READING

Since I've reduced my yearly book goal, I find myself wanting to read so much more.  How does that happen, you think?  As I was listening to the What Should I Read Next podcast this morning, I realized I'm so picky about my reading time.  I want my 15 books (possibly more) to be really good this year.  And wouldn't you know it, I started this year with a re-read.  What are you reading right now? 

DECORATING ON OUR HOUSE

Last year, we made our first huge purchase for the house, and we'll make another one this year.  I'm currently working on the kitchen and dining room.  In fact, this weekend we hung curtains and (huge) mirrors.  It's starting to come together, and I'm so excited.  Keep your eyes peeled for a post on my progress in the dining room.  And in case you didn't see it, I did share the pantry and parts of the kitchen here. 

TRYING MORE PRODUCTS

This whole journey of switching my beauty routine to cruelty free products has been so much easier than I thought it would be.  I have come across so many products that I truly love, and some have been changed my beauty routine for the better!  This Takesumi Detox deodorant is just one of them, but I plan on sharing a lot more reviews this year.  Reviews don't always come to my mind when I'm planning posts.  I guess they seem a little boring, and they end up on the back burner.  But, I have quite a few penciled in this year, so I hope they're helpful!

What are you looking forward to this year?

Become a Fashionista on Your Own Terms and You'll Curate a Timeless Look

Fashion is a means to express oneself. By that definition alone, you should ignore the copy-and-pasted looks of the high street and fast fashion conglomerates, and instead focus on defining your own look. Your own sense of style is unique, and wearing what everyone else is wearing diminishes the quality of your wardrobe. If you become a fashionista who aims to curate their own sense of style, rather than follow what the big fashion houses are doing, you’ll be able to curate a timeless look that is unique to you. To achieve this, follow these steps:

1     Clear Out Your Closet

The first step to curating the timeless look is to clear out your closet. Be committed to this spring clean, however, because the more you clear out, the better your wardrobe will be. The fewer clothes you have, the more emphasis you need to put into styling. Styling is the true heart of fashion. Anyone can wear fashionable clothing, but to look good in it, you need to consider everything from the clothes to the accessories, to even your makeup.

Note: Donate clothes before you throw them out. Donations at least have the chance of a second life, whereas if you throw out your clothes, they will join the millions of tons of fabric waste clogging our landfills.

2     Educate Yourself on Fashion

Now, it might seem redundant to educate yourself in fashion, when the exact point of curating your own sense of style is to focus on your own preferences, instead of what everyone else is wearing. Educating yourself in fashion, however, can make you an informed buyer. Following fashion blogs like Beulah London’s blog is also a great way to find inspiration. Beulah London, unlike fast-fashion companies, creates quality pieces that are designed to last. Choose quality over quantity, and you’ll create the perfect wardrobe.

3     Find Unique Designers

Supporting local artists is always a good thing, which is why finding unique designers is the way to go. It is also how you’ll find pieces that speak to you, and ones that are likely not to be found on every fourth person you see walking down the street.

4     Opt for Quality Over Quantity

One of the things you learn when you begin to educate yourself on fashion is exactly how detrimental the fast fashion industry is to the environment, and to society. It has completely changed the way we shop, and the way companies do business. Instead of buying quality pieces that help society, you are instead buying pieces that exploit women in developing nations. That is why when you buy, it is always better to buy quality over quantity. Quality clothes last longer, they are more unique, and they can help you curate a timeless wardrobe.

Being unique is all the rage, but when you aim to be unique, you need to do it right. Don’t accidentally follow what everyone else is doing, focus on what you like. Be critical of the trends that are passing through and focus on key pieces you have loved over the years. Do this, and you’ll create a wardrobe that will last and be fashionable for years to come.

CRUELTY FREE BEAUTY | WINTER PAMPER

I love a good pamper any time of year.  Typically, I do a face mask and other skin treatments on Sunday night.  I love starting the week relaxed and hydrated!  Since it's winter, and a lot of us are experiencing dry skin right now, I wanted to share some of my winter pampering products.

Jason Age Renewal Vitamin E Cream

This is an amazing, hydrating product.  Bonus, it's completely affordable.  You really get value for your money.  If I remember correctly, I picked this up at Walgreen's.  I have used this on my face, but it's a little heavy for my skin.  You can use this anywhere on your face and body, so this has been my go-to moisturizer for my extra spots like my elbows, knees, and heels.  You will love this!

NIP + FAB Soften Kale Fix Clay Mask

I reviewed this last year, and my love for it is still going strong.  Lately, I've even been using this in the morning.  If finding time to pamper yourself is difficult, try multitasking!  If I am running short on time, I'll apply a mask and let it set on my skin while I'm doing something else.  If I apply this in the morning, it sets while I'm getting my clothes together, etc., and then it's ready to rinse off when I'm in the shower.

Herbivore Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask

Herbivore is one of my favorite brands.  They have such a gorgeous aesthetic, even their boxes are beautiful.  I've been using this mask for a while when I need a gentle exfoliation.  My skin feels smooth and hydrated when I use this, it's a real treat!

One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Body Serum

This has been such a skin saver this winter!  I know that hot baths are not great for your skin, because they dry out your skin.  But, I just can't help it since we have such a cozy tub now.  To combat the dryness, I spray this body serum onto my skin and it feels as good as new again.  Plus, it smells amazing.  If you don't love floral scents, I would say you still might like this.  The scent is not overpowering, and I don't smell it after it's soaked into my skin.

NAILS INC. Hand & Nail Mask

This has been so amazing for my dry, dry hands.  It doesn't have a great rating on Sephora, and I did address that here.  It makes my skin so smooth, and even my cuticles look hydrated.  If you have very dry skin, you will definitely see a difference with this.  The hydration lasts for about a week on my hands.  I don't know how normal that is, as I wash my hands a lot.  But, I'm very happy to keep this on hand for a pamper every now and again!

5 WAYS TO STAY ACCOUNTABLE WITH YOUR GOALS

January is the perfect time to talk about our goals.  Last year was my first year to use my Inkwell Press Flex Planner to track my goals, and I was so happy with it.  I achieved almost all of my goals, and I owe it all to these five tips below.

I know  this month has been goal overload, but I sincerely hope this will help someone along the way. It can be so discouraging to make goals year after year and accomplish (what feels like) nothing.  I have been there and done that, so if these tips help you please let me know!

WRITE IT DOWN

You do not need a fancy planner to make goals.  Just pick up a $1 notebook at the store and get started!  Although my goals are divided into categories, you can always start out with three simple goals that don't have categories.  The point is that writing your goals down helps you remember them.  I would also suggest keeping your notebook where you see it everyday.  I keep mine in my bag and carry it with me every single day.  Every once in a while, I look over my goals to remind myself of what I want to accomplish during the year.

SPLURGE ON JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING

This might sound counter intuitive, but splurge on just a little something.  For me, it's my planner and pens.  You already know my love for my planner, but I also love pens and stickers.  It's different for everyone.  If you bought a $1 notebook, maybe buy one really nice pen to go along with it.  Or, you could splurge on an app to keep yourself accountable on your phone.  Making the process of goal setting fun will make it enjoyable!

BE REALISTIC

Over the years, I've been known to make 10 goals in all the categories and then be completely surprised that I rarely accomplish them.  Overloading yourself on goals just sets yourself up for failure.  Plus, your fantasy self probably wants to accomplish that laundry list of goals, but you need to make goals for your real self.  For example, my fantasy self would love to read 100 books, knit all the things, learn how to spin yarn, and keep a spotless house.  All the same time.  It's taken me years to realize that focusing on just a few goals really makes me happier.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

I said before that I look over my goals from time to time.  Honestly, I do it every couple of weeks because I enjoy it.  It's a lot of fun to plan for the future and look back on what I wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the year.  But, it's also important to track my progress.  My Inkwell Press planner has a goal tracking page built in.  It's divided into quarters, which is a really helpful way to jot down how I'm doing.  If you're tracking your goals in a notebook, set aside one page to reevaluate your goals in whatever time increment you think it's appropriate.  I love doing quarterly check-ins, but you might want to do it monthly or even twice a year!

DON'T BREAK THE CHAIN

This is a new activity for me.  There are three things that I track every single day.  Two of them are not related to goals.  Instead, they are just lifestyle changes I want to make every day.  I track my water intake and my knitting progress.  I think the water intake is obvious.  If I don't hold myself accountable, I will drink coffee all day long.  :)

For anyone who doesn't know, I am a knitter and strive to knit something every single day.  I used to track my projects, but I got so hung up on the numbers that I was overwhelmed and rarely knit.  This year, I want to knit just a little bit every day, so I can finish projects this year.  So far, so good!  I've only missed a couple days, and I've already finished one project.

The third activity I track is reading.  Now, that is related to my goal of reading 15 books this year.  And just like the knitting, reading just a little bit every day gets me closer to my goal.  Just like the knitting, I was hung up on reading a certain number and became overwhelmed.

Every day, I color in a hexagon if I'm accomplished that day's habit.  So far, so good!

What are your tips for accomplishing goals?  I'd love to hear them!

MY PERFECT MORNING ROUTINE | Nature Made® Adult Gummies

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #NatureMadeGummies

I am such a morning person.  I love getting up early and starting my day before anyone else is up in the house (save the cats, ha!).  It actually seems counterproductive to get less sleep and be more energized, but it's true.  Getting up early is such an energizing way to start my day.  I'm going to share my best morning routine to get my day started on the right foot.

Granted, when I wake up, it is dark outside.  So, of course you wouldn't be able to see anything if I took pictures during that time.  If you're wondering why it's so sunny in these pictures ... no, my family does not sleep in until all hours of the morning!

First step first in my morning routine: coffee.  The night before, I set my coffee maker to brew automatically.  It's the first thing on my to-do list in the morning.  I grab my kindle and go outside to check our outdoor cat Tater.  He is so sweet, and he loves when I sit with him on the porch.  I fill up his food and water bowls and sit down to read for a bit.  Sometimes I knit first thing in the morning while I drink my coffee, but most of the time I read.  Right now, I'm reading Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.  It's a historical fiction murder/mystery.  It's pretty good so far!

After I head inside, more than likely no one else is up.  If the kids have started to wake up, one or more of them will be getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and heading downstairs.  My husband handles breakfast for the kids and us (I handle all the other meals), so I head into the bathroom to take a shower.  My 'getting ready' morning routine is super easy.  It takes me maybe 30 minutes from the very beginning to the end.

I am all about making my morning routine simple, and that means keeping important products at arm's reach.  I keep my vitamins where I will remember to take them.  That way, I remember to take them daily!  Nature's Made® Biotin Adult Gummies are one of my favorite supplements.  Nature Made® makes a gummy you can trust!  They are an easy way to consume biotin, which may help support healthy skin, hair, and nails in those who are biotin deficient.†  They include three different flavors, and they're all yummy!  These gummies provide 3000 mcg of biotin, and they are USP Verified for potency, purity, and quality.  I take it with my Nature Made® Multi for Her plus Omega-3s Adult Gummies.

After my hair and makeup are done, I get dressed.  I prefer to get dressed last, so that I don't have hair clinging to my shirt.  I'm also very klutzy when it comes to putting on my makeup, so this also prevents makeup stains from getting on my clothes.  Setting out my outfit the night before helps my morning routine run even smoother, too!  That way, I'm not wasting time finding an outfit.

Here is where I find my Nature Made® Biotin Adult Gummies at Walmart:

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† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.