Current Skin Care 2015

Since it is the new year, I decided my skin was going to be one of my resolutions. Getting great skin takes time, as well as trial and error with products! So here are the things I am currently trying out this new year for my skin! 

 So here are all of the products I use on my face, morning and night! I used to use different products in the morning, and at night, but found that was not working for my skin. So I decided to give my skin some consistency and get a routine! 

First of all I want to talk about my cleansers, and spot treatment from the drugstore. These are the only products I use that are NOT high end, and I'll tell you why!

So to start, you DON'T have to spend a fortune on your cleansers and makeup removers! A cleanser is on your face for a total of what, ten seconds? So why spend a bunch of money on something that has no lasting effect on your skin? You just want to make sure that the cleanser you are using is removing all of your makeup, or anything that is on your skin throughout the day. I am enjoying this particular cleanser because it is exfoliating! I have very dry skin in the winter time, and I find that if I use a cleanser that is just cream, it doesn't remove that little excess dry skin. Some of you may not want to use an exfoliating cleanser every day, but for my skin, it just works!!

Also, if you are finding that an exfoliating cleanser just isn't quite doing the job, use a sugar and coconut oil mixture once a week to really buff all that dry skin away! I love using this combo when I'm feeling EXTRA SCALY! LOL

Secondly, the Clean&Clear Spot Treatment is a favorite of many, because it simply WORKS! But if you have Cystic Acne like me, this WILL NOT HELP! I only apply this to small pimples that I get, that are not cystic. If you need to know more about why this does not work for cystic acne, you can research the causes and treatment of cystic acne. But this product works great for the average pimple!!

 

My Second cleanser I use is COCONUT OIL! Believe it or not, this is the best cleanser I have ever used, and it completely removes ALL OF MY MAKEUP! I just put a small amount in my hands, emulsify it, and start massaging it on to my DRY face. Using circular motions until all my makeup starts to break down, even my EYE MAKEUP! After you've massaged your skin for a while, lay a HOT cloth over your face to really pull the oil out of your skin, then simply wipe it all away!! This leaves your face clean, makeup-free, AND moisturized!! This is a great way to get all the jobs done in one, if you are a little lazy, or just don't have time for a full skincare routine! 

Now, we all know that just using good skin care is not going to magically make your skin amazing. It all starts with what you put INSIDE your body on the daily! So, always keeping a water bottle with you is such a great thing for your skin! Keeping hydrated will not only improve the look of your skin, but also helps with anti-aging! 

Also, taking a multivitamin, or Vitamin A! This is so important, and a great habit to get into!I take Vitamin A every morning with a glass of water!

 

 After cleansing your face comes the very important part. Now is the time to really replenish your skin with GOOD THINGS! This is where I like to spend a little more money, and get things that will really help my skin..

To start I have been using the Origins Balancing Tonic Toner! I just put a little bit onto a cotton round, and swipe all over my face. This toner helps balance the pH levels in your skin, fixes any pigmentation issues or acne spots, as well as helps moisturize the skin. This particular toner has NO ALCOHOL which is ideal for my skin, since I already have dry skin. Alcohol toners really strip the skin of all the natural oils, which is good for those who have very oily skin, but for me it just dries my skin out.

Second, is my Moisturizer. This is the Energy Boosting Moisturizer from Origins. I have just recently started using this product, but I am LOVING it so far. The smell is amazing, and it really locks in the moisture in my skin!

SIDE TIP: Another way to give your skin some moisture is a Humidifier while you're sleeping! This balances the moisture levels in the air, leaving your skin plump and refreshed when you wake up!! 

Now onto any Serums. I am currently using this Murad Pigment Lightening Serum Sample I received from Sephora. And I'm LOVING it so far! The full size is very expensive but if you have any pigmentation issues, or old acne scarring, this is for you! I've only been using it for 4 days and have already seen a difference! I will absolutely be purchasing the full size when I run out of the sample!

And lastly, about once every 2 weeks I like to use a facial mask. If I feel I need something very intense I use this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. This stuff is amazing at really pulling everything out of your skin, and refreshing it. But if I am feeling good about my skin, I love to use the individual masks you can get from the drugstore or ULTA. They give my skin a nice feel, and it's like a mini spa day! :)

What are your skin care secrets??

 

Christmas Decor in an Apartment!

It's the Holiday Season!! I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but it seems like everyone is getting a head start on the Holidays this year. Decorating your home for the Holidays is one of the most nostalgic and heart warming activities, but it can be difficult for those living in a small apartment to get the same back home feel. It's hard to decorate an apartment in general just because of all of the rules you may have to abide by, such as not drilling holes in the wall to hang things, or painting the walls. In our case our apartment was already painted when we moved in...honestly I would rather have all the walls white, but that was not my choice. So I'm stuck with a medium warm toned tan color..yuck. So decorating can be difficult, but luckily I found the perfect Holiday decor to match our wall color and our personal style! All at a decent cost! In this post I'm going to be listing all the items we bought, and (estimating if I don't remember) how much each item costs! Hopefully this gives you some inspiration and an idea of how much money you may have to spend! Keep in mind this was our FIRST Christmas/Holiday Season we had to decorate our own apartment, so we were starting from scratch! 

Enjoy:)  

Starting off, here is a little bit of an overview of what most of our Holiday Decor looks like! I'll be going through each item! 

 ALL ABOUT OUR TREE!

Artificial 7' Tree - Target $53

We desperately wanted a real tree for our first Christmas but in an apartment an artificial tree is much more practical, and you can have it displayed for SO MUCH LONGER than a real one! And keep it forever! Woohoo!

String Lights(300) - Walmart $7

This was the PERFECT amount of lights for this tree. We barley had enough which was great because then we didn't have to figure out what to do with the extra!  

Ornaments(50) - Walmart $16.98

I originally bought 2 of these but ended up returning one because I only needed 50.

Star Tree Topper - Walmart $8

We really loved this topper because we thought it really pulled everything together.

Individual Personal Ornaments(4) - Walmart $1.97 each

Mantle Decor!

 Garland - Target $10

This garland ended up being SOO long when we took it out of the package, but it ended up being perfect! We folded it 3 times then laid it across the mantle, cutting the loops in the end making 3 separate strands.  

Burlap - Walmart $7

We ended up cutting this burlap piece in half long ways so we had 2 skinny pieces, then wrapped it around the garland!

String Lights(50) - Walmart $4

This was the PERFECT amount of lights. We ended up just laying the lights on top of the garland instead of wrapping it.  

Stockings - Walmart $8 each

 We couldn't find decently priced stockings we both really loved so we decided to stick with something that would match the colors of our decor the best out of the ones we did find!

Stocking Holders - Target $8

We picked up the Brass colored stocking holders to blend in with the garland and burlap. They work great so far! We will see how they hold up once the stockings are full with treats!

White Lantern - Target $12

I knew from the start that I wanted to get a lantern. I absolutely love this lantern and I will probably leave it up most of the year! It is battery operated and the candle inside flickers!

Chalk Board - Walmart $7

From the beginning I also knew I wanted to get a chalk board. I think they are so versatile and can be used all year round! Definitely an essential to Christmas photos also! 

Light-up JOY - Target $20

I was so over JOYED ;) when I saw this. I knew I had to have it, and I know I will be using it for years. It is battery operated.

Black Pedestal Candles - Target $10 

I previously owned these and have had them on my mantle for about a year. I absolutely love them and love the little accent it gives!

Gold Kerr Stacking Jars - Previously owned

I love reusing old jars for decor. I had these jars and painted them gold a few months ago, and I discovered they were the perfect finishing touch to my mantle decor!

  

Wrapping Paper!

Don't spend all your money on wrapping paper, go to the Dollar Store! I found this paper along with another that corresponds with it at the Dollar Store! So cute, festive, and classic!

So our grand total for our Holiday Decor was around $190! 

Hope you enjoyed today's post!

Happy Holidays!

 

Spooner Farms Harvest Festival Puyallup, Wa

 "Spooner Farms Harvest Festival" located in Puyallup, WA was the absolute BEST Pumpkin Patch/Harvest Festival I've ever been to. The atmosphere was perfect for all ages! We had such an amazing time and I wanted to share our experience with you! If you live in Western Washington I HIGHLY recommend visiting this destination, especially if you have children! I've included the "2014 Fall Harvest Festival Flyer" so you can see just how much stuff Spooner Farms has to offer! Not only is this a great place during Fall time but all year round!This was our first visit to the Farm, but definitely not our last! Here are some photos of our adventure! Also I added the photos of our pumpkins we got there and how we decorated them. As well as a Yummy Baked Pumpkin Seeds Recipe! All photos were taken with my new iPhone6!

Enjoy!

 

"Carmel Apple Reflection"

 

 "Corn Maze Selfies"

 

"Silly Toothed Pumpkin"

 "Free Hand Monogrammed Decorative Pumpkins"

 

"Yummy Baked Pumpkin Seeds"

After carving your pumpkin and separating out the seeds from the meat, rinse the seeds; removing all pumpkin meat from the seeds. Pat the seeds dry with paper towels and put into a mixing bowl. Preheat oven to 325. Into your mixing bowl add 2 Tablespoons of Butter(or olive oil) Salt, Garlic Salt(optional) Spicy Seasoning(optional) Give it a good stir, making sure to coat all the seeds, then spread onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 40 minutes stirring half way through!

Hope you enjoyed today's post!