FIVE WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR ROUTINE

This post is sponsored in part by Blend & Boost. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

There's something about the beginning of a new year that makes me want to change things up. Not too much, because I don't want to disrupt my flow, but enough that there are tangible improvements in little ways across all areas of my life. Here are five ways I'm refreshing my routine as 2019 starts:

1) Make your morning coffee work for you

I'm terrible about taking vitamins. They always seem to hurt my stomach, so I always end up "forgetting" them. Thankfully, I discovered Vital Proteins Collagen. I mix one scoop into my morning coffee, and it gives me an extra energy boost pre-workout, along with helping my hair, skin, and nails to be healthier.

2) Revamp your beauty routine

I always hesitate to change mine up too much since I have and love an arsenal of products that work really well for me, but with the move from Houston to California (read: drastic decrease in humidity) I needed to change things up a bit. I added a custom Blend & Boost moisturizer to my nightly routine at the beginning of January, and I'm loving it. They created a custom blend based on a skincare survey I filled out! My blend is anti-aging, with some hyaluronic acid, matrixyl 3000 (their anti-wrinkle peptide) and a CoQ10 system, which contains CoQ10, and vitamins C & E for antioxidant support. My skin is brighter, more moisturized, and has a healthy, fresh glow that I'm loving (see my Instagram for more pictures!)

3) Build in daily me-time

If you're like me, you get up and go from eyes open to eyes shut, not even really taking time to eat. I need to stop that, so I've committed to giving myself 15-30 minutes (depending on the day) when Evie naps to just sit and do something I want to do. Eat & watch tv. Read a book. Something that gives me a space of rest. I need it (and so do you).

4) Refresh a space with new decor

I'm getting to do this in so many ways right now (yay new house!) but one thing that stands out clearly to me is our living room book shelves. They were decorated completely differently in Houston, and I'm loving the chance to find small pieces that tell our family's story and refresh our space.

5) Take regular social media breaks

This one is hard, since it's part of my job, but it's so necessary. I get caught up in the mindless scroll just like everyone else, and find that taking a break from Social Media on Sundays gives me the space to feel bored. Which changes into being comfortable with the stillness. And that stillness gives way to rest, quality time with the people I love, and a mental break from creating that leaves me refreshed and ready to re-engage on Monday. It's so good for my mental and emotional health, not to mention the health of my relationships.

That's it! Are you guys changing anything up for 2019? I'd love to hear!

#Refresh #Beauty #Lifestyle

GIFT GUIDE FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER

Over the past year, I've really allowed myself to delve into the beauty world. Before then, Target was my go-to for all things beauty. Now, I effortlessly make Rouge at Sephora (much to my husband's chagrin!). Since several of my holy grail products carry hefty price tags, the holiday season is the perfect time to try them out for yourself (or gift them to a friend!) since they typically come in smaller sample sets! I've rounded up a few of my favs at different price points for you today! Enjoy!

1. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray ($15): My favorite part of putting makeup on is spritzing everything with this at the end. It's cooling. It's refreshing. And, no matter how much or how little I put on, it keeps it all perfectly in place all day, or all night.

2. Replica Memory Box ($35): One of my favorite perfume lines is Replica by Maison Magnolia. They smell like your favorite spaces and times. I wear Beach Walk most days during the summer, and right now I can't get enough of By The Fireplace on G. This memory box is a great way to sample them and find your favorite!

3. Benefit Snow Doll Mini Kit ($32): This little box of goodies contains several of my daily staples, including the Goof Proof brow pencil and the Bad Gal BANG mascara.

4. Living Proof Transformation Trio ($25): Living Proof is all I use to style my hair, and this trio is three of the best they have to offer.

5. Urban Decay Petite Heat Palette ($29): These toasty warm colors are richly pigmented and perfect for cozy days and warm nights alike (read: year round). It's also the perfect size to take on all your travels, and houses enough colors for you to mix up your eye makeup every day.

6. Fresh Roundtrip Ritual ($65): When I spent my BIG $$, it's on skincare. I want to have skin that doesn't need makeup. Fresh is a key player in my skincare regime, and this set houses small sizes of several favs, including the Rose Mask and Black Tea eye cream.

7. LUNA mini 2 by Foreo ($140): Such a fantastic tool for getting your skin fresh & clean.

8. Urban Decay Born To Run Vault ($98): If you're looking to splurge, this is it. My favorite UD palette hands down (and that's saying something), the setting spray, primer, lipstick, and eye pencil are things I use whenever I put on a full face. This gift will be one of the best they receive.

#Beauty #GiftGuide #GiftGuideforHer

BEST OF OCTOBER

Um, where exactly did October go? It flew by so quickly! I can't believe we're already in November with the Holiday Season upon us! Don't get me wrong - I LOVE this time of year. It's my favorite. The focus is on family, friends, food, coziness, love, and enjoying all the good things in your life. Yes please. But I can't believe we're this close to Evie's second Thanksgiving. Her second Christmas. And Her second birthday! Mama's not ready for that one!

Anyway, on to my favorites from October! I didn't do a whole lot of shopping/purchasing this month, because we're saving $$ for our home (we have an offer in as I write this... we'll see what happens!), but we did get a few things I'm excited for:

1) The sweetest Ballerina Elephant

Honestly, my favorite stuffies for Evie come from Anthropologie. They are so cute, and so simple, and so stylish. Since Evie's moving to a big girl bed (doing the transformation on Friday! Wish us luck!), she got to pick out a new friend to sleep in it with her. I was so pleased when she chose this sweet, neutral little elephant. She's under $30, and if elephants aren't your favorite, I've linked a few others from the store, like this little mermaid and the fancy fox we also own & love.

2) Fage 0% single serve cups

I'm terrible about eating. I have so much I want to get done when Evie's asleep that I never stop to eat. Then I discovered the single serve Fage cups, and now I'm much better about it! I love to top them with fruit, nuts, and a drizzle of honey. My fav combos include apples and walnuts, or pomegranite seeds and pistachios. It packs a quick punch of protein (18g!), some fiber, and fills me up until dinner.

3) Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon

Dermalogica sent the Sound Sleep Cocoon my way in early October, and I've been loving it! It has a gel-consistency like the Calm Water Gel (LOVE THIS), and smells like lavender and bergamot. It's hydrating, soothing, and the scent relaxes me immediately. It's one of my favorite things to put on after a mask before going to sleep at night.

4) Toddler Panel for Evie's Bed

I chatted about this uber-affordable and very chic 4-1 crib by Child Craft in Evie's nursery reveal post, and now that we're going to the toddler bed, was pleasantly surprised to find out there's an affordable panel I can put on the front that acts like a bumper as she learns to sleep in something other than a crib. I'll share the transformation and how Evie sleeps in it on Instagram tomorrow, so hit follow and stay tuned!

SHOP THE POST

#Bestof #Beauty #Lifestyle #SCLifestyle