So I have had a little obsession with Fixer Upper on HGTV lately and have fallen in love with JoJo’s design taste. Everything is very French Country. There are lots of feminine pieces mixed with rustic wood finishes giving a very polished, yet relaxed vibe. Believe it or not, all of these items below are from Target. I have been so impressed with their decor lately and basically want it all for our new house. I put together some of my top pics that fall into the French Country theme. Let me know what your design style is below!
I mean…I’m in love. Who knew how much you could feel like Snow White when you put on a tulle skirt and some red lipstick? I wanted to put together a look that would be a wow statement for Valentine’s Day. I kept the colors simplistic so the skirt could be the wow factor. This may be one of my favorite looks to post for you guys. It was such a feminine and girly outfit to wear. And definitely out of my comfort zone, but completely worth it! These past few days have been jammed packed shooting Valentine’s Day projects. I hope you all enjoy a fun new video I have coming soon! Make sure to check out my YouTube channel tonight so you don’t miss it! Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great Thursday!
If you are into using natural products like myself, making things is your best bet! This scrub is as pure as it gets, and super easy. You only need three ingredients and most are probably already in your pantry. I started off intending this to be a face scrub, but now I think I like it more on my body. I have been using this in the shower all over my body and then apply what’s remaining to my face. You can use a variety of ingredients for scrubs, but I’ll tell you why I specifically chose these three.
MANUKA HONEY: This bottle of honey is pure gold. Honey has anti-bacterial properties, which makes it great at cleansing your skin and getting rid of all the gunk that has accumulated in your pores throughout the day. It is also very hydrating and soothing to the skin. After using honey on your face you will notice the texture of your skin will even out over time, and your breakouts will decrease.
OLIVE OIL: I love using olive oil on my face because it is incredibly hydrating and gentle. No matter what your skin type is, olive oil will work for you. I love the feeling my skin has after using this scrub. I rarely need to use a lotion afterward because of how moisturized my skin is.
SUGAR: Raw cane sugar is a great base for any scrub. It does a great job at exfoliating your skin, but is still gentle enough to use on your face.
I fill my jar pretty full with sugar, a few dashes of olive oil and a spoonful of honey. You can vary the amounts depending on how thick your want yours. Watch my video below to see me mix and apply the scrub!
Oil Cleansing is great at removing all your makeup and deep cleaning your skin. I usually do this once a week, but you can definitely do this more often if you want. If you wear a lot of makeup everyday, this will really help to get everything off at night. What I love about oil cleansing, is that most of these products are already in your pantry. When I first started using oils to cleanse, I would mix them in a little tupperware bowl. Now I use a glass dropper bottle, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Now let me try to convince you to use this method yourself, because it’s freaking amazing and your skin will thank me. You can watch my video down below to learn more about this super easy and awesome way to clean your skin!
1. This is way safer than drugstore or high end makeup removers/cleansers. This is as pure as you can get.
2. When you use this on a regular basis, you will see your amount of breakouts significantly drop or completely disappear.
3. This will serve as your makeup remover, cleanser, and moisturizer so you’ll save yourself some time at night.
4. The oils will extract any dirt, build-up, and makeup that accumulated over the day way more effectively than a typical cleanser.
Castor oil is a great oil to begin with. Use more if you have oily skin, and less if you have dry skin. Then find an oil below to mix with it. I like using 2 parts olive oil and 1 part castor oil. You can also add a little vitamin E to your mixture.
Happy Monday! Today I wanted to give you all some great quotes that I have recently pinned and found a lot of inspiration from. With a new year ahead of us, we have so much opportunity for change. There is no better time than right now to put all of your future goals into action. I just got back from a little weekend getaway with a few of my friends. It made me realize how important it is to dedicate time to strengthen your friendships. This year I want to cherish my time with others and put more energy into enjoying the present and creating lasting memories. Most of the time I am thinking about the future and planning out my next weekend before the current weekend is even over. I need to make it a point to be in the now. Let me know what you are trying to change in the new year. I loved reading all of your goals for 2015 in my last video. It was so encouraging to see all that you want to accomplish and focus on. I hope you all have a great week!
Marsala is the color of the year for 2015. I have always been a huge fan of shades like this. A warm neutral with a twist is how I see this pinky/red tone. My favorite way to incorporate this color is through makeup. I think this shade compliments so many skin tones. It looks beautiful on the lids, cheeks and lips. I would definitely suggest playing with colors like this on your face one day and see if you like it. Accessories in this shade are also an easy way to switch up your look. It has a little more interest than a tan or brown bag, but still works with so many other colors. Let me know what you would be most likely to pick up in the new marsala shade below!
Today I put together an outfit that is super warm, but also fashionable at the same time. I love layering different fabrics and textures to give a lived-in look. I usually stick to neutrals and add in accents of deeper tones like hunter green and navy blue. Starting off with basics like distressed pants and a chunky knit gives you the freedom to accessorize. Then you can throw on a textured coat, scarf and beanie to bundle up! Gold jewelry and a structured bag are always classic and will pull your entire outfit together. It has been pretty cold here lately, but still super sunny so I couldn’t forget a great pair of sunnies!
Happy New Year everyone! This has felt like such a long holiday season, I am actually totally ready to get back into a normal routine. So on this first Monday of the new year, I felt like recapping 2014 to see all that had happened during those 365 days.
A lot happened for me in 2014. This year started off with a lot of blogging and YouTube events. I attended IMATS which was a ton of fun. I got to catch up with other YouTubers and get some highly discounted makeup! I also attended an event by Glamour and filmed a hair tutorial for Sephora TV. The first few months of 2014 involved a lot of driving to LA for meet ups and what not. Looking back, it feels like such a long time ago, but it was a really exciting time for me and my channel. I had recently started working on my blog and YouTube full time and that meant a lot of changes. My hours were completely different, now I was free on the weekends and could spend more time with Andrew which was great.
I also started seeing a shift in the content of my videos. I started focusing more on natural products and healthy living. This included what I ate to what I put on my hair. The previous year I had started switching most of my products over, but by this time it was in full swing! Even now, I am loving how my channel has evolved so much since when I first started. There is nothing more encouraging then when one of you lets me know how much better you feel from eating less gluten or how much clearer your skin is from using natural skincare.
But the biggest change of 2014, was moving to Seattle for four months. I look back on that summer with so many fond memories. Andrew and I went on some breathtaking hikes and saw some spectacular sights. We also ate some of the best meals we have ever tried. I loved how everything was fresh and local. We lived right next to Pike Place Market so everything was walking distance from our apartment. Let’s not forget all the yummy sweets I consumed along with some of the best coffee on earth. Seriously it was the real deal. I still dream of moving back. I loved the rain, culture, people and everything else Seattle had to offer.
A few other highlights were spending the weekend in New York for fashion week, and obviously a few trips to Disneyland! But besides all the fun little trips I had, I am most of all grateful for the people around me this year. I was able to spend some time with my three nieces and nephew, who always provide me with endless smiles and laughs. I also strengthened a lot of friendships and made some amazing new friends this year. Andrew is almost done with Physical Therapy school and I am so excited for all that’s in store for him in these next couple months. We also moved in with my parents until we find a new place so we are getting lots of family time in! I hope you all had a great 2014. I also hope that you look back on the great memories you created rather than fixating on what you didn’t do. This year my only resolution is to enjoy each moment and not stress about the future. Here’s to a near year, new beginnings and new opportunities!
Merry almost Christmas! I feel like I have so much to do before Christmas, and it is practically here! I am so looking forward to seeing all my family. My niece and nephew will be here tonight and I am sooo happy. Do you have some big plans? I am trying to think of a great dessert for Christmas Eve but have zero ideas. If you have any great dessert recipe’s let me know in the comments! I hope you all enjoy today’s post and also your time with your friends and family this week!
Ahh. I love a great serene bathroom. I like mixing prints and materials to give the room some character and a vintage feel. Black and copper accents, white marble, and big open windows are a few things I am drawn to. I also love simplicity in the general design. A separate tub and shower, large mirrors, and touches of detail. I see bathrooms as a place of relaxation and I feel the design should mimic that entirely. Head over to my Pinterest board to see what else I love!
