Holiday Gift Guide for Her

 

 

1. Sephora Prestige Luxe Brush Set - $125 - I'm always in need of new brushes and this set has all of the necessities.

2. Minnetonka Cally Slipper from Urban Outfitters - $38 - It's freezing on our tile floors -- these slippers would be perfect for walking around the house.

3. Staring at Stars Foil Boucle Eternity Scarf from Urban Outfitters - $34 - How cute is this scarf? I own so many that I've lost count but this one is very different from all the ones in my collection.

4. Mark Jacobs Pouch in Rose Gold from Target - $69.99 - This bag would be perfect for a night out.

5. Pink Champagne Glass Drop Earrings from Etsy - $27.50 - I love glass drop earrings and this color is perfection.

6. True Love Ring from Etsy - $27.50 - This ring is so adorable.

7. Wool-Angora Gittens from J. Crew - $22.50 - Texting with gloves are always a challenge. The solution? These Glittens!

8. LC Lauren Conrad Lurex Heart Sweater - on sale! $19.99 - I've been eyeing this sweater forever and it's finally on sale! I love the hearts :)

9. In Bloom by Jonquil 'Flirty' Pleated Camisole $ Shorts Set - $60 - Cute pajama sets are always a great gift.

10. Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS Watch - 129.99 - For the active woman in your life, this running watch is perfect!

Do you have any gift ideas for her that you'd like to share? Leave them in the comments!

 

 

The Right Way to Apply Undereye Concealer

If you suffer from dark circles under your eyes like I do, there are a few things you can try. You can drink a lot of water, elevate your head when you sleep, get more rest, eat healthier, put tea bags or a cold compress over your eyes or try to reduce stress. Just Google this topic and you’re sure to find dozens of natural remedies.

The list goes on. Sometimes though, dark undereye circles are a result of genetics or another condition. It might be something you just can’t control. If you’ve tried everything and you can’t get rid of the darkness under your eyes, it’s time to invest in a great concealer and learn the right way to apply it.

You’ll need a good creamy liquid concealer in a shade just lighter than your skin tone. After you’ve applied your foundation, start at the inner corner of your eye and draw a line straight down with your concealer stopping at the bottom of your nose. From the bottom of the line you just drew, extend the line out toward the outer corner of your eye. Connect the two lines you drew to form a triangle, then fill in the triangle with concealer. You should have something that looks like this:

Yes, it looks ridiculous, but you’ll thank me when you’re done! The reason for drawing on a triangle is to make sure your concealer and foundation blend together. Most women don’t usually use a foundation and concealer that match exactly and the dark circles under your eyes make the skin appear a different color than the rest of your face. You want to make sure that you’re blending all your makeup together so your face is one color!

From here, you have a couple of options to blend out the concealer. My favorite way is using a damp makeup wedge. Wet the sponge, squeeze out the water and gently bounce it off your skin to smooth in the concealer. Gently blend the edges down and out and up toward your eye. Once you’re finished, use a fluffy brush to apply powder to set everything. Make sure you don’t apply the powder using strokes or a buffing motion; just press the powder on top so you don’t move any of the concealer.

Got any tips for covering up dark circles? Share in the comments!

Health: How to Battle Stress

 



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I had a very stressful day both personally and professionally yesterday and it got me thinking about ways I manage my stress and other ways I could handle it better. I thought this would be a great reminder to me and give all of our readers out there who deal with stress some tips. 

 

1. Take a deep breath and do some stretching. Fellow yogis out there -- a few sun salutations go a long way. For all of you who do not speak yoga I'll give you a shorter version -- close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, lift your arms above your head and reach for the sky. Try to clear your mind and not think about what is stressing you out. Do a few neck rolls to the right and now to the left and slowly open your eyes. Feel better? Sometimes just taking a mini mental break gets me back on track.

2. If it's going to take more than a little breathing exercises, try sneaking in a 30-60 minute workout. I know, sometimes when you're stressed the last thing you want to do is workout. But trust me on this, once you get out some of that nervous energy you'll feel a million times better. I find that working up a little sweat makes whatever I was stressed out about seem much easier to tackle and I have a better handle on my problem. 

3. Find your favorite song or playlist and crank it! If you're at the office invest in some good headphones so you can blast your uplifting tunes. If you're alone, singing out loud on the top of your lungs does wonders. You wouldn't believe how much better I feel once I belt out some tunes. 

4. Remember to eat and eat well. One of my major downfalls of being stressed is I lose my appetite and don't feel like eating. When I do force myself to eat it usually comes in the form of calorie ridden comfort foods. Not good for my energy levels or waste line. Not eating for long periods of time not only kills my metabolism but it also drains all of my energy to deal with whatever is stressing me out. I schedule meals for myself and plan ahead to make sure they are nutrient-dense foods. I feel so much better when I take care of my body. 

5. Vent to a friend or family member (preferably not a coworker if it's a work related issue). Sometimes I feel SO much better if I can just talk to someone about what I'm going through. They may not be able to offer any advice, but you'd be surprise how much stress and pressure you can release by just letting it out. This helps prevent any major meltdowns from built up stress and anxiety. 

6. Dance! I know, sounds like a lame idea but honestly sometimes just being silly and dancing really helps me get out of my bad mood. It really helps me forget what was stressing me out and life doesn't seem so bad when you're carefree and having fun. Try it -- it works wonders.

7. Take a bubble bath. Pour yourself a hot bath, add some bath salts, bubbles, oils or whatever else will put you in a relaxed mood. I LOVE the Bath & Body Works aromatherapy eucalyptus spearmint relaxing nourishing body lotion after a long bath or shower. The scent instantly relaxes me and puts me in a calm mood. 

8. Get a massage. Nothing beats a professional massage when you're stressed out. On a budget? Have a friend or family member rub your tense shoulders and neck. It makes a world of difference to get those toxins out of your body and all the kinks worked out. 

9. Do something else on your to-do list to distract you. Sometimes after a stressful day at the office it  feels so good to clean the house (crazy I know), cook a good meal, write a blog post ;), do the laundry or something else on my to-do list that I know I can tackle. Sometimes my stress comes from things outside of my control so doing something routine helps me get out of my stressed out phase. I know it sounds odd but it really works! 

10. Read a good book. I can lose myself in a good book and I forget what is going on around me. Don't like to read? Pick up your favorite magazine or watch a TV show or movie you've been wanting to see. Escaping into another reality for a bit really helps.

If all of the above don't seem to do the trick have a glass of red wine. It always helps calm me down and relax me. Don't overdo it though, feeling hungover and dehydrated the next day never helps. After one glass my problems seem a little less intense. 

Do you do any of the things we listed above to de-sress? Are there any other tips you have for battling stress? 

Review: Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner

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I try to take care of my hair by maintaining a good diet, drinking a lot of water and using the right products. One product I’ve been using as part of my hair care routine for the past few years is Healthy Sexy Hair’s Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner. It’s a spray that you use on your hair post-shampoo and conditioning. It’s made with soy and proteins to help strengthen, moisturize, smooth and give shine and body to the hair. 

I usually use it after I’ve towel dried my hair. I lift sections of my hair and spray about five to eight times near the roots of my hair then a few sprays through the length of my hair, then I work it through with my fingers. Afterward, I use a wide-tooth comb and work from the ends of my hair to work out the tangles. Once I started using the product, I was hooked. It has a really clean and fresh scent and is extremely lightweight. My hair is very straight and has no natural volume, but I notice that it has a little more body when I use the spray. It also acts as an excellent detangler. Another great thing about the product is that it’s especially helpful for colored or damaged hair since it’s so moisturizing.

If you’re looking for a great daily hair treatment, definitely check out Healthy Sexy Hair’s leave-in conditioner. Have you tried this product? Let us know in the comments!

Wedding: Bridesmaids Dresses

 

I have 5 amazing ladies that have agreed to stand up with me on my big day. I can't thank them enough for all that they have done for me! My sister Jess is the maid of honor and my future sister-in-law Jill, and friends Lauren, Adrianne (yes, Adrianne from this blog!) and Cassandra have all agreed to be my bridesmaids.

 

I wanted them all to be comfortable with what they are wearing on my wedding day. That's not always easy when you have 5 very different personalities. After trying on some dresses at a few places we all decided that J. Crew was the best option for everyone. I left it up to them to pick out the style and fabric they wanted in the coral color. It was a lot of fun watching them all try on the dresses. I know every bride always says this, but I really hope they can wear these dresses again.

 

It ended up that they all have different dresses (how fun!) and they look so good together. Jess and Jill went with the silk chiffon fabric and Lauren, Adrianne and Cassandra chose the cotton. Each dress looks fantastic on all of them and I know we're going to be one hot bridal party ;)

 

 

 

I can't wait to see how they continue to make each look unique with different shoes, accessories, hair and makeup.

What do you think of the mismatched bridesmaid look? Would you like that if you were a bridesmaid?

 

 

Review: Eos Lip Balm Sphere

I must have a dozen different lip balms laying around my house and in my purse. Especially during colder months, I'm constantly reaching for lip balm to help prevent dry, chapped lips. One of my favorites is eos lip balm in sweet mint.

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According to the eos website, the product is 100% natural and 95% organic. It contains ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil to help keep your lips smooth and moisturized. It’s also free of gluten, parabens and petrolatum and it isn’t tested on animals.

The balm comes in a cute little egg-shaped package that’s easily recognizable and easy to find if you throw it in your purse. The top twists off and you apply the product directly from the base. A pet peeve of mine is having to apply a lip balm using your fingers. Another convenient part of the packaging with this product is that the surface of the balm is large enough for you to apply it to your top and bottom lips at the same time. The product will also last you a long time. 

The sweet mint balm has a really cooling effect on the lips and smells wonderful. (There are also six other kinds available, including summer fruit, lemon drop, strawberry sorbet, honeysuckle honeydew, medicated tangerine and pomegranate raspberry.) The product goes on clear and isn’t greasy or thick. It provides excellent moisture. The balm doesn’t feel caked on after you apply it. No matter how many times you run it across your lips, it feels like there’s a very thin layer of product. It’s great for everyday use and even better to help soothe chapped lips during winter. I keep one of these in my nightstand and apply it before going to bed.

Though eos lip balms are typically higher priced than other balms, I think it’s definitely worth it for the pay off you get with this product. It’s one lip balm you will make sure doesn’t disappear on you!

Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato, Cranberry Apple Oatmeal Casserole

 

 

I don't know about you, but something about this cooler weather has been making me crave heartier warm dishes -- even for breakfast. I kept thinking about how good baked oatmeal with sweet potatoes, cranberries and apples would be and bam! I knew I had to make it that minute (on a Sunday afternoon). It reheats very well in the microwave with a little milk. It's even good cold eaten straight out of the dish in the fridge (no, not speaking from experience ...)

 

Baked Sweet Potato, Cranberry Apple Oatmeal Casserole

 

Oatmeal Filling Ingredients:

1 cup regular oats
2 1/4 cups almond milk (or milk of choice)
1 small sweet potato, peeled, chopped
1 large granny smith apple
1/4 cup fresh or dry cranberries
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp sea salt or to taste
 

Almond Topping Ingredients:

1/3 cup chopped almonds (pecans or walnuts would work great too!)
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour (I used coconut flour)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Bring several cups of water to a boil in a medium sized pot. Add the chopped sweet potato and cook over medium heat, for about 5 minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside.

2. In a medium pot add the oats, milk, and chia seeds. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low-medium and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Mash the cooked sweet potato into the pot (I left some chunks for texture). Add the apples and cranberries. Stir in the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt. Cook on low for a few minutes.

4. Make the almond topping by mixing together the ingredients with a fork until clumpy.

5. Pour the oatmeal into a casserole dish and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the almond mixture on top.

6. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, at 350F. After 20 minutes, broil on low until browned (about two minutes). Remove from oven and serve. makes 3-4 servings.

You'll notice this recipe doesn't call for any added sugar. I omitted it based on my dietary needs but a little brown sugar or maple syrup would be good if you wanted it a little sweeter. Honestly though, I didn't miss it at all and thought the sweet potato, apple and cranberries made it perfect!

Let us know if you try this! Do you have any hearty winter recipes you want to share?