Beauty Rituals in Under Five Minutes

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You don’t have to spend hours grooming in order to take care of yourself. A few minutes here and there is all you need. Try out these tips—they can all be done in under five minutes!

Baby your skin: If you’re sitting on the couch watching television, grab a bottle of lotion and an eye cream. Gently pat the cream around your eye area and let it sink in. You could even put it in the fridge first to cool it off. Massage the lotion into your hands and feet. There’s never really a convenient time to put lotion on your feet—why not do it when you’re just sitting around?

Care for your nails: Have you ever noticed how unkempt your hands look when you haven’t done your nails? Keep a nail file and manicure stick in your purse and pull them out when you have a few minutes. You can push back your cuticles and shape your nails so that your hands don’t look so messy!

Trim your brows: Grab a brow comb and a small pair of scissors. Comb the hairs upward and trim the ones that reach above your brows. You can also brush them down and trim a little, but be careful not to trim too much and throw off your natural shape.

Dress yourself up: No need to buy a fancy outfit or spend hours on your hair or makeup. Pick out a few key accessories and put them on. This might not be a beauty ritual, but accessories will definitely help you look put together!

Try a messy updo: Use a paddle brush to gently backcomb your hair at the roots. Pin back your bangs and place your hair in a low ponytail or haphazardly pin your hair at the nape of your neck. Mist with hairspray. Super simple.

Got any quick beauty rituals to share?

Fashion: Tips for Organizing your Closet

If your like me you've got a lot of clothes and shoes with limited space. If things are not organized correctly, they take up more space than they should and you run the risk of not knowing what great items you already own. Here are some of my simple tips for organizing your closet: 

1. Buy better hangers: I used to have the cheap plastic hangers but they took up so much unnecessary space. My future mother-in-law gave Jay and I some thin felt hangers for Christmas last year and it's amazing how much more room we now have in our closets. Worth every penny. 

2. Organize your clothes by color and type: I can't say this enough. By organizing your closet by type -- tank tops, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve, sweaters, etc. -- you can easily see what you have available. I then organize each section by color so if I'm looking for a short sleeved black shirt I can find it right away. This also helped me see how many duplicates and similar items I had (oops) and lets you see what you're missing.

3. Go through your closet and drawers each season: This is a hard one for me that I need to get better at. By going through your closet and eliminating items you haven't worn in the past season you can get rid of a lot of unworn items to make room for new items you'll actually wear. Stop at each item and ask yourself "when did I last wear this?" if the answer is more than 6 months or you can't remember it's time to pitch it. 

4. Check items for stains, holes and other signs of wear: Fix items that you can to ensure continued use. If it's beyond repair it's time to toss it and replace it with a new item. It sometimes is hard to let go of your favorite sweater but think about how much better you'll look with a new one. 

5. Check items for fit: Try items you're unsure about on and ask yourself how you feel while wearing the item. Is it flattering? Does it make you feel good? If not don't let it take up unnecessary space in your closet. If you're waiting to lose some weight before you can wear the jeans that have been in the back of your closet for years it may be time to toss them and get a good pair that fit now. You want to invest in pieces that make you feel great. 

6. Make sure your clothes are facing the same way and are not inside out: This seems like a silly tip but it makes all of the difference. It can be a pain to set up your closet this way but when you're quickly searching for a shirt the last thing you want is to have it facing the wrong way or not have the right side out. It will make for quicker dressing, too! 

These are just a few tips I use to maximize the space in my closet to ensure I have a current wardrobe that I love. It not only eliminates clutter but makes picking out outfits much easier knowing everything in my closet fits great and is in good condition.

Do you have any tips for streamlining your closet? We'd love to hear them! 

Skincare: Nutra Sonic Face Brush System

My skin has gone through several phases of good, bad and really bad. I've tried so many different things to have clear, hydrated, bright skin and a lot of stuff fell way short. 

My mom knew I had been wanting to try a sonic face brush to clean my face at night and surprised me with one (it wasn't even my birthday! My mom is the best) and I couldn't wait to try it out. I've read so many reviews on face brushes and I wasn't sure if it was worth the money. 

The Nutra Sonic Face Brush System surpassed all of my expectations. It lightly exfoliates without being too harsh to get all of my dead skin and makeup off at the end of the day. It deep cleans my face and I've noticed even my pours appear smaller. 

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I was afraid that it would be too harsh on my skin to use every day but I've been using this for about a month now and so far it's been great. I've noticed an improvement in my skin -- it's clearer, brighter, cleaner and even the appearance of fine lines have reduced a little. I've always had an issue with dry skin in certain areas of my face (I have combination skin) but since using this brush I haven't noticed any dry skin.

It's the middle of the road as far as price goes for the ones I've seen on the market and it comes with two brush heads to get you started. There are three different settings to choose from and it stays charged for well over a week before I have to plug it in again. It came with a nice case that will be convenient for when I travel. 

I'm sold -- this thing has really helped improve the quality of my skin. If you're on the fence about trying one I would definitely recommend it! 

Have you tried a sonic face brush before? What one do you recommend?

15 Tips for Clear and Healthy Skin

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Whether you’re a skincare pro and know exactly what works for you or you have yet to figure it all out, the following tips are ones that everyone should follow in order to get clear and healthy skin. 

1. Try not to sleep with your facial skin touching your pillow. The hair products you use combined with the natural oils of your hair rub onto your pillow as you sleep and all that can wind up on your face and clog pores. Additionally, sleeping on your face causes creases on your face. Over time this can cause permanent wrinkles.
2. Regularly wipe down your cell phone. This seems like a no brainer, but not enough people do it. 
3. Trying out new skin care products and not seeing results? Your skin may need several weeks to respond. If a product doesn’t immediately work, give it at least six to eight weeks before you give up. The exception to this is if you immediately have a bad reaction to the product.
4. Use separate towels for your body and face. Though you’re clean when you come out of the shower, your hair may still have conditioner residue that can transfer from your towel to your face and clog your pores.
5. Every night before you go to sleep, moisturize your feet and put on a pair of socks. When you wake up in the morning, the soles of your feet will be incredibly soft. 
6. Wear SPF every day – even during the winter. If you can, try to reapply throughout the day. You’d be surprised how much sun exposure you get while doing things like driving in your car. Don’t forget your neck and very sensitive upper chest area.
7. Exfoliate, but not too much. Exfoliating every day can actually dry out your skin. Start with once per week and see how your skin responds. If you have oily skin, try twice per week.
8. Wash your makeup brushes as often as possible (at least once per week). And make sure you clean your makeup products as well.
9. Moisturize all of your skin every time your step out of the shower. 
10. Drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet. Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
11. Do everything you can not to touch your face throughout the day. If you touch your face without washing your hands first, you’re transferring any bacteria from your hands to your face.
12. Apply your facial moisturizer while your skin is still damp. 
13. When washing your face or taking a shower, avoid using water that is too hot. 
14. Remove your makeup before you go to sleep every night. Better yet, remove your makeup as soon as you get home if you know you’re staying in for the night.
15. Don’t forget to exfoliate your lips! Moisten a washcloth and gently run it across your lips. Be sure to add lots of lip balm afterward.

Do you have some great skincare tips to share? Leave them below in the comments!

Beauty: How to get stronger nails, longer hair and better skin

No the title of this post is not a joke. There are some simple things you can do to get stronger nails, longer hair and better skin. The best part? They are all natural and don’t involve any harsh chemicals.

I've been taking fish oil for years and have seen a dramatic improvement in my hair, skin and nails. My hair is a lot stronger, shinier and grows quicker. My skin seems clearer and brighter and my nails have gotten stronger from taking it. You can take it in liquid or pill form and I've done both but currently are using the pills. It's a little easier and you don't have to taste it. I store the pills in my fridge to help them keep longer and take at least two pills a day (three in the winter). It’s an easy addition to my vitamin and supplement routine and it’s made a big difference for me.

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Although it’s helped to improve my nails, they were still on the thinner side so I started adding flaxseed to my oatmeal and other dishes and wow - I've seen such a dramatic difference. They are strong, grow so quick and hardly ever break. I've never had the greatest nails and finally I'm so happy with them. I buy ground flaxseed at the grocery store and sneak it into several dishes of mine to make sure I get a little bit each day. You can’t taste it and it has so many benefits.


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Another beauty secret of mine for my skin is vitamin E oil. I buy it in liquid form and use it as my facial moisturizer. I have combination skin and it works great on my dry areas of my face but doesn’t make the normal part too oily. I use it both in the morning before putting on my makeup and at night before bed. I have suffered with dry skin for as long as I can remember and have tried more moisturizers than I can count. This is the only thing that I have found that works for me.

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Another crazy natural remedy is coconut oil. I know – I’m sure you think I’m nuts by now but I love this stuff. Not only is it good for you to eat, but it’s great for your skin and hair. I use this at night to take off my eye makeup and as an extra moisturizer if my skin is severely dry. I use this in my hair as a deep conditioning treatment and it has done wonders for my split ends. I could go on for hours about how good this stuff is for you to eat as well but that deserves its own post.

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Have you tried any of the above? Are there other natural beauty remedies that you’ve tried that work great?

15 Essentials for Your Closet

So, what is considered a clothing essential? I consider something essential when it matches with lots of other pieces in your wardrobe. It’s something that can totally be transformed depending on the accessories you wear or pieces that lay the foundation for a whole outfit. Also, essentials never go out of style.

Whether you want to overhaul your wardrobe, or are looking for pieces to help make your current wardrobe more versatile, here are 15 things every woman should have in her closet:

Basic camis

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Black dress

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Neutral pencil skirt

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Cardigan

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Black or neutral heels

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Lightweight trench coat

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Jeans that fit well

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Nude flats

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Basic tees

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Blazer

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Day-to-evening bag

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Simple blouse

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Light scarf

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Neutral dress pants

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Leather belt

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When choosing your staples, keep a few things in mind:

If you have the budget to get some of these items in multiple colors, I highly recommend it. It will help stretch your wardrobe even further. 

When choosing pieces, make sure you don’t select items with too many adornments. The more intricate the details on the piece, the less versatile it becomes.

If you live in an area like we do that experiences cool autumns and harsh winters, I’d definitely add a few things like a nice puffy coat and quality pair of boots to the list. If you’re in year-round warm temps (lucky you!), I’d add a pair of wedges and some sundresses to the list. 

What else do you consider a closet essential?

How To Beauty Tutorial: Top Knot

I'm sure you've seen plenty of people sporting the top knot look with this summer heat. It's easier than it looks to recreate and we've got a tutorial for you so you can wear this hot trend too. All you need is a brush, two hair ties and about 5 minutes.

1. Gather all of your hair in a high ponytail and smooth out all the bumps.

2&3. Bend forward and start twisting your hair counterclockwise from the base all the way to the tip

4&5. Take the twisted ponytail and wrap it counterclockwise into a bun

6. Secure with another hair tie and you’re set!

Would you rock this easy summer look?

Fitness: Training for a Race

I used to run track in middle school and high school but was never too serious about it. I could have trained a lot harder and would have been a much better runner ... but it came naturally to me and I didn't feel like putting in more effort.

Fast forward to now. I'm signing up for multiple races a year - for fun. Yes, it sounds like I went from one extreme to another and I guess you can say I did. What changed? Well after high school fitness was still a huge part of my life. I worked out about 4-5 days a week and did various forms of exercise and still ran about once or twice a week. Then, I met my fiancé and everything changed. Jay ran competitively in high school, college and still does. He signs up for several races in varying distances and even has completed a marathon and some triathlons. When we first started dating I was really impressed with the fact that he was so active and liked to do this kind of stuff. He encouraged me to sign up for a 5k and it went from there. I found my love for running again and have since competed in several 5ks, a 10k and almost a 10 mile (you can read the story about that race that wasn't on my personal blog - here)

I would ultimately like to run a half and full marathon someday and know that now Jay is in my life and is so supportive and encouraging I can definitely accomplish this.

I've suffered a foot injury while training for my 10k and 10 mile because I was wearing bad shoes, was increasing my mileage too quickly and was also doing jumps and high intensity/ high impact cardio. Not a good combination when training for a race. Luckily the future hubs happens to be a Physical Therapist and he got me back to running shape before I knew it. He also surprised me with some brand new Mizuno running shoes and that really helped me to recover.

When training START SLOW. Haven't run that distance before or it's been a really long time? You need to work your way up. Easy runs and short distances until your body adjusts and you're feeling good. I was running about 4 days a week while training and was doing 3 short days (about 3-4 miles each with some hills and intervals thrown in there) and one long day (increasing by about a mile a week until I reached my race distance). It was the best combination for me to build up slowly and it helped me get faster much quicker.

Stretching before and after your runs is almost just as important as what I stated above. YOU HAVE TO STRETCH. Chances are no matter what you'll be sore if you haven't run this much before, but stretching really helps decrease it. Foam rolling also helps (especially IT bands) and if you have access to one I suggest spending some quality time with it - especially after your longer runs.

Race day tips:

1. Eat something for breakfast a few hours before your race. You want to make sure it's fully digested before you start so you don't want to throw it up. I usually make oatmeal with a full banana and drink plenty of water about three hours before race time. 
2. Start out slow. You don't want to use all of your energy in the beginning and die at the end. Finishing strong (and even sprinting) to the finish line is how you want to end your race. If you're at about the halfway mark and feel like you've got a lot of gas in the tank - pick it up a bit. 
3. Relax your shoulders, look straight ahead and breathe! 
4. Try to find someone to run with. There are people that can set your pace for you and make it easier to get to the finish line.
5. Please, don't listen to music while racing. It's not safe (you can't hear other runners or race directors if emergency information is given out) and it could even hurt your performance. Trust me - you don't need it. 
6. Hydrate before the race (not just race day) it will make your run easier.
7. Have fun! Training for the race is the hardest part - relax and enjoy it! 

That's what I do to prepare for a race. It may not work for you but it's what I have found to work best for me. Also, having Jay there to cheer me on and help me power through my finish really has helped :) 

Do you have a race day routine that works for you? Have you signed up for any races this season?