November Goals 2016

I didn't intentionally skip October's Goals, I just never got around to the post, but it's like the universe knew I wouldn't have time to do any as it was. It was a whirlwind of a month and I didn't even have time to blink, if I'm honest, but hopefully things (fingers crossed) are slowing down and I can actually do some planning. My November goals aren't unlike last years and they, of course, involve the upcoming holidays, but last year was pretty successful so maybe I can have a similar outcome this year.

- First goal is to start Christmas shopping. I was slightly farther along last year but I definitely feel like I have a better general idea this year of what I want to get people and with me and the hubs foregoing gifts for spending some time together this year I don't feel as much shopping strain.

- Second goal is to maintain a healthy schedule. I struggle with this all the time, but especially come holiday season. I find I have a hard time sticking to a routine this time of year as I'm constantly making excuses to blow my diet or stay up late and I'm going to make more of a conscious effort to avoid that. Not entirely, mind you, but more often then not.

- Third goal is, as the weather has turned quite cold lately, to spend my time indoors doing some major organizing. Since the move, all my stuff is kind of helter skelter and I'd like to take the time to go through everything and start deciding what to give to charities, throw away, etc. I hope to really pare down what I have by half before the end of the year.

What are your goals going into this holiday season? Is there anything you really want to accomplish this month? XO

Feel Grateful Friday #8

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Happy Friday guys! I am so grateful we are almost at the weekend. It's been a cold, long week, I don't know about you guys, but I always have a hard time adjusting right when the weather turns. 

-I'm grateful for husbands who let you cry, be crazy, be angry, but still love you anyway. I've been a rollercoaster of emotions lately and I'm grateful to have a husband who lets me do what I need to do, gives me a big hug, and tells me he loves me.

-I'm grateful for life running smooth this week. Everything seemed to go with the flow this week, from my train being on time, to meeting all my deadlines, and still being able to post 3 times this week. Woo hoo for the little things!

-I'm grateful for being able to chase my dreams, because that's what life is all about. I'm lucky I'm in a position right now to make changes, and changes are good, no matter how scary they seem!

I hope you all are having a great week and happy Friday! XO

October Favorites

 I don't even know what happened to October, but it's come and gone and I had a few favorites I thought I'd share with you here on the blog. To start, October was technically my first favorite, as it's my favorite month and I'm sad to see it go.

Another favorite is the Wet n' Wild gel eyeliner in the shade bronze. I shared a pencil version in a similar shade by the brand in my last post, so this is clearly a favorite. I use the e.l.f. Small Angled Brush to apply it and they work perfectly together.

This Model Launcher wax eye pencil in Taupe was a gift from a sweet friend and I am in love. I forget how easy brow pencils can be, especially because this one is in a triangle shape so it's still precise but covers a lot of ground. It's definitely made doing my brows super easy this month.

Just look how beautiful that bronzer is, even in pan! I love a great baked product and this bronzer by e.l.f. in the shade Bora Bora is so perfect for this time of year, when I'm not as tan. It's a gorgeous golden bronze and adds the perfect amount of color and warmth into my skin.

I've talked about this Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette in a previous post but I'm especially loving these bottom two shades this time of year. The one on the left is a neutral tan that adds life to the cheeks while still looking undone. The left shade, a beautiful berry pink, is perfect for a fall flush. The palette is in the shade Sugar and Spice.

That wraps up what I've been loving this month. It's been kind of crazy over here so I haven't had a lot of time to enjoy the little things (sad, I know) but I'm hoping things will calm down a little going into the new month. Let me know what you guys loved in October! Happy Wednesday! XO

Perfect Set for Skin Care Lovers from #SkinMedica

You guys know by now I love my AHA and Retinol products. For the last couple of years taking better care of my skin has been high on my list and anti-aging has definitely been a high priority in my skin care products. This little set from SkinMedica is designed for just that. Not only is it perfect for travel, but it would also make a great gift, and if you're anything like me, you've tried to start shopping for Christmas (Yikes!) and this would be a great set for those looking to get rid of those fine lines and wrinkles.

I love this Total Defense + Repair SPF 34 sunscreen. As someone who is an avid wearer of sunscreen I'm always looking for a good formula for wearing under my makeup and this one is so nice. It's not greasy and it sinks right into the skin, which makes it easy to wear. This is one from the range I will most certainly purchase once it's gone.

Another favorite from the set is this AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. I've used AHA products for years now and the difference to my skin is so noticeable. My skin is a lot brighter and smoother using products like this. This one is particularly nice in the morning for a little pick me up to the skin.

I'm a fairly new user of Retinol, but when I started seeing those lines between my eyebrows (my mad face lines, I call them) I knew I needed something to combat them. Since using Retinol there's a noticeable difference. This one is stronger then the ones I've used previously but it's a nice formula and really works.

Last, but certainly not least, is this Rejuvenating Hydrator. For the longest time I was scared of moisture because of my super oily skin, but now I'm grateful for all the moisture I can get as I realize it's what keeps my skin supple and smooth. This one is super nice and definitely hydrates, as the name suggests.

Whether you're purchasing this as a gift for a loved one or for yourself, there's no denying this set packs an anti-aging punch. These 4 products work together to dramatically change the look and feel of your skin and to me, that's worth every penny! You can find this gift set here or check out other SkinMedica products at www.skincareheaven.com. They have free US shipping with no minimum purchase and a TON of skin care products to choose from. Have you guys ever tried anything from SkinMedica before? Let me know what your favorite anti-aging skincare products are ... Help a girl out! XO

*This post contains products that were sent to me free of charge for my consideration. 

I am not obligated to like the product.

Makeup Favorites : Wet n' Wild Edition

I haven't shared what makeup I'm currently loving for fall yet and when I looked through my stash I realized a whole heck of a lot of it was Wet n' Wild stuff, so I grabbed what I've been using to show you guys what I'm loving right now.

This lipstick in the shade Dark Wine is just that, a beautiful sangria colored lipstick that costs a buck. The formula is creamy and beautiful, a steal for such a gorgeous autumn color.

This one in Cherry Bomb is one of my favorite colors for fall; a deep burgundy red that goes on smoothly and is comfortable to wear despite being a matte. At only $1.50 you really can't beat the pigmentation and quality. These two reds will seem me through the colder months.

One of my favorite color combinations is berry and gold, like above, and the bronzy eyeliner is perfect paired with top two lippies. It's in the shade Pros and Bronze and I love how creamy it applies. It's gorgeous in the waterline or even smoked out on the lid for a gorgeous bronze glow.

Since I always go bold with my lips and eyes in the fall, I love to keep my cheeks neutral so I love Champagne Rose for a healthy glowy look without being too in your face. Super gorgeous and super affordable.

This palette in Comfort Zone is so pretty for this time of year. There are so many deep, gorgeous colors and so many different ways to wear it, I'll definitely use this again and again for the next few months. I featured swatches on this palette here. 

What makeup have you guys transitioned with into fall? I hope you all had a wonderful chilly weekend! XO

#Instanatural Vitamin C Serum

I find myself all of the sudden obsessed with serums. I know, they've been a thing for a while, but I'm only now starting to really use them consistently and really seeing results. Maybe it's specifically the Vitamin C ones I'm so taken with as they truly do brighten the skin. Either way, I seem to be getting quite a collection going as far as these serums are concerned. My latest addition is the instanatural Vitamin C serum that contains hyaluronic acid (one of my personal favorite ingredients), ferulic acid, which is an antioxidant said to really help with anti-aging, sea buckthorn oil, and plant stem cells. You guys know I'm a major fan of instanatural products and this is no exception. Aside from the fact that it brightens and smooths my skin, it smells of oranges, kind of tangy and sweet, which is incredible. The consistency is thin and sinks in fairly quick and really seems to moisturize the skin.

Have you guys tried any serums? What're some of your favorites?

This serum goes for $17.97 for 1 oz which lasts quite a long time as you only need a small drop or two for your entire face. You can purchase it here if you're interested.

*This post contains products that were sent to me free of charge for my consideration. 

I am not obligated to like the product.

Feel Grateful Friday #7

I'm changing it up again this week for Feel Grateful Friday! Not only do little reminders of positivity help us feel grateful, but mediation is one of the most powerful tools to help us on our gratitude journey.

Merriam-Webster's simple definition of meditation is: to spend time in quiet thought for religious purposes or relaxation.

I'm seriously amused that there is a simple definition at all, even though the concept itself is just that. Seriously, though, have you ever tried meditating? In this mile-a-minute world we live in where everything is instant and our minds are constantly racing on to what's happening next today, tomorrow, in a week, or next year, it's hard to actually focus on what's happening right now. Literally, as I sit here typing these words I'm listening to the tv in the background, the guy mowing his lawn outside and thinking of what other items I need to check off my list today. It's a constant battle to focus on what's happening in each second as it's happening. As I've delved deeper into my meditation practice I find I can be more appreciative of things as they are happening and really live in the moment. Which is what life really should be all about. Today I'm giving you some tips that have helped me along the way.

Start small: Literally start really, really small. When I started meditation initially, I started playing positive meditations in the background as I did my makeup in the mornings. As the weeks went on, I noticed I'd stop more often to focus on specific things that were being said. Without forcing myself to concentrate I was inadvertently concentrating, so I knew I was ready to fully focus on the practice.

Taking the plunge: I then started setting aside 10 mins of quiet time and picked one phrase to focus on such as, "Today, I will be more present." I noticed at first the quiet wanted to be replaced by other thoughts, such as, "I need to get going, I need to get ready, I've got a lot to do." However, I pushed those thoughts aside and as I focused more and more on my breathing and the phrase at hand, "Today, I will be more present," I found over time I was able to really focus.

Increasing the time: I started doing the practice for longer amounts of time, slowly increasing until I was 100% concentrated for the time I was taking. I suggest also splitting times. Right now I'm up to 2 30 minute meditation sessions, one first thing in the morning and one right before bed. While that doesn't sound like much, imagine sitting for 30 minutes 2 times a day really focusing on the present moment. It blows my mind to think about it, yet here I am.

Stick with it: Meditation sounds easy enough, but it's one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. If you think you can't stick to a workout, try meditating. It's so easy just to count it as a loss and move on with your busy day, but I promise you, as you start to notice a positive change in your life you'll feel more committed, and unlike working out, those changes happen almost immediately. Even focusing for 5 minutes to start my day made me more aware of everything happening and I was able to have a more positive outlook and really enjoyed the small things every day. Stick with it, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Now I want to hear from you guys. Have you ever tried meditation? Do you believe in its healing properties? Let me know what you think in the comments below. Also, if you have any good tips, leave them there too, let's help each other out. I hope you all have a wonderful, amazing, happy weekend! XO