Good morning, friends!  Over the past few (hundred) weeks of quarantine and our current halfway-out-of-quarantine situation, I’ve been trying out alllll of the beauty things that I’ve been meaning to get to for months.  While makeup has been admittedly minimal, I’m clearing out the beauty drawers and slathering on all the lotions and potions and trying out this and that.  I discovered that I’m actually REALLY into a daily body oil, found a new favorite holy grail fragrance, and tossed out all of my outdated nail colors to make room for new.  So today I’m sharing a couple of new additions to my morning routine.

Dermalogica phyto replenish body oil – I’ve never really been into body oils, but this one completely changed my mind.  I started using it after pool days in Palm Springs but quickly added it to my everyday morning routine.  It smells amazing, is so moisturizing, and absorbs quickly with no greasy residue.

Le Labo Santal 33 body oil – I recently found and tried a tiny little sample of Le Labo’s Santal 33 fragrance and was instantly hooked, but holy moly the perfume is pricey.  I decided to try out the body oil instead since, you know, I’m a body oil believer now.  It’s less than a third of the price of the perfume, and while the body oil is still a splurge, a little bit will last all day long.  (And most days, I use it in addition to the Dermalogica oil.)

Mented “Yes We Tan” polish – I’m always on the hunt for new nude polishes that I like, so when I discovered this brand last week, I had to give it a shot.  I ordered the pretty “Yes We Tan” shade, and lucky for me, it arrived just in time for my very first post-quarantine mani/pedi.  (YES – I found a salon here that is open for business right now, and it’s one of my local favorites.)  I’ve already done the at-home “paint one hand, only the left hand” test, and the color is so pretty.

Ankole Living accessories – Lastly, how pretty are these Ankole Living vanity accessories?  I’ve been a fan of the brand since snagging this woven clutch a couple of summers ago and love that everything they make is ethically-sourced and just so unique.  I’m loving these little accent pieces and currently have my eye on a stack of these lightweight bangles for summer.

xoxo

It’s been around three-ish weeks (I haven’t kept track) of hunkering at home to stop the spread of Coronavirus now, and it looks like we’ll be here for a bit longer.  I know I’m lucky and am not complaining as we’ve filled our time with work, cleaning, walking the pups, catching up on ALL the shows, and taking the occasional drive along the coast.  During the first couple of weeks, I was still running out to the store for our weekly groceries (well, what I could get), but under current local and national guidelines, we’ve decided to skip even the grocery store this week and next.

While that’s admittedly been a bit of a challenge at times, I’ve discovered a few companies delivering healthy, delicious food (and wine!) straight to your door.  (And while Instacart and Amazon Fresh delivery seem like obvious answers, it is just not possible to get available delivery times or even pick-up times at local stores right now in our area.)  So today, I’m sharing a couple of favorites below and sending a big, fat THANK YOU to all the delivery drivers out there helping to keep so many people at home.  We appreciate you!

Daily Harvest – I’ve been wanting to try out Daily Harvest for a while now, so it seemed like a no brainer timeframe to finally pull the trigger.  And I’m so glad that I did.  There are a few plans to choose from, and basically, the more items you choose, the lower the price per item.  You can then choose from a bunch of different smoothies, soups, harvest bowls, oat bowls, chia bowls, bites, lattes, and new flatbreads, and everything arrives frozen.  For the smoothies and lattes, you add a liquid and blend in a blender; for soups, add liquid and heat; harvest bowls, simply heat.  You get the idea.

It’s all super easy, and I’ve loved everything I’ve tried.  Friends have asked if it’s actually filling, and my answer is yes BECAUSE I’ve switched to eating four small meals throughout the day instead of three now.  Also, if I make one of the harvest bowls for lunch, I might add in a handful of lettuce, half an avocado, or some nuts for a little crunch.  Standout favorites so far include the Chai + Coconut Smoothie, Cold Brew + Almond Smoothie, Broccoli + Cheeze Bowl, and the Lentil + Tomato Bolognese Bowl.  Daily Harvest is warning about shipping delays right now, but I’ve gotten both of my shipments on Wednesdays as promised.  (You’ll get a shipment once a week on your designated day unless you skip or pause.)  Use code RE-BTH68YD to save $25 off your first box.

Thrive Market – Thrive Market is another one that I saw advertised ALL over the interwebs, but I never joined because you can’t browse the selection before you pay for a membership.  I still find this VERY annoying (especially right now when I didn’t know if everything would be out of stock), but I decided to join recently because, well, desperate times.  I also mainly joined because I saw that they had frozen meat and seafood to ship.  (Although at the time I didn’t know if it would be in stock – heads up, it is.)

I’m not sure how it usually works, but right now they are offering “Build Your Own” meat or seafood boxes with five different protein options.  Eric loves chicken thighs, so we maxed out on those and then added chicken breasts, shrimp, and a pork roast.  Everything is wild-caught or organically grown and high quality, but it is pricey ($119 for a box) for the portions.  That said, we were very happy to have meat in the freezer and already have big Friday night plans for that pork roast.

Besides the meat and seafood, I also ordered wine and groceries that I thought were all very reasonably priced.  I ordered this red bundle which includes 6 bottles I’ve never tried.  (Right now – why not, right?)  We’ve opened one and really enjoyed it, but you can browse through a pretty big selection.  You can’t buy produce, but I did order soups, pastas and pasta sauces, condiments (from brands like Primal Kitchen), Safe Catch tuna, hand sanitizer, and a few other nonperishable things we needed.

Overall (besides the meat and seafood prices I guess), I’m really pleased with Thrive Market.  As for shipping time, I placed my order on April 3rd and received the meat on the 7th, the wine on the 8th, and the rest of the groceries on the 9th.  (Pretty great in my opinion.)  They’re warning of 2+ week shipping time, but I think it really just depends on where you live.

Sitka Salmon Shares – I tried out Sitka Salmon Shares back in January, and I’m so excited to have another shipment on its way.  If you’re not familiar with Sitka Salmon, it’s really just the coolest buy-in partnership between Alaskan small-boat fishermen and people like you and me.  Buy a “share” to help support fishermen and receive high quality shipments of Alaskan seafood delivered straight to your door.  While I haven’t received my second box yet, I know that the quality will be just as good as the first.  If you’re interested in trying for yourself, use code “MSD” for $25 off any share (except for the Taste of Summer Share).

Total Wine – While we’re limiting alcohol to weekends (which obviously start on Thursday night, am I right?), nobody wanna run out of booze right now.  I ordered wine from Thrive Market (above), but Eric usually prefers a whiskey cocktail to a glass of wine.  Enter, Total Wine.  To me, the wine prices were around $2 to $5 higher than the grocery store, but the liquor prices were pretty comparable.  The whole process is easy peasy – order online, choose a delivery time (ours was next day), pay online, and you’re done.  The delivery fee for us was $10, and don’t forget a generous tip for your driver right now.

If you don’t have a Total Wine near you, I’d do a little research on local liquor stores doing delivery near you.  For wine, you can always order directly from individual wineries (we love Stag’s Leap, and they’re currently offering 40% off a case), or try one of these sites – Firstleaf Wine Club (to try something new) and Wine Access (for nicer wines).

xoxo

And for a full face, here are my thoughts on the rest.  (Note: If I want to include eye makeup as well, I’ll use this Tarte palette for both my eyeshadow and eyeliner.)

1.  The Treatment Glycolic Gel Pads – After cleansing in the morning, these are my favorite next step to remove the rest of the gunk.  Called a “10-minute at-home peel”, I usually swipe one of these pads all over my face and neck and then spend a few minutes taming my mane.  These feel tingly on my skin and have seriously helped with acne breakouts, enlarged pores, and dead skin cells.  I’ve almost made it through my first jar and will definitely be snagging these again.

2. Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum – If I’m being honest, serum is usually the first skincare step I skip when I’m feeling lazy, but this one with salicylic acid was super appealing when I was dealing with hormonal breakout after breakout recently.  I’m now using it twice a day and am about halfway through the bottle.  I swear my skin is smoother and brighter, and I feel like I’ve finally gotten a handle on the breakouts, knock on wood.

3. The Treatment On the Daily SPF 45 – I spend a lot of time outside in the summertime, whether I’m walking the dogs, getting in a workout, or heading to the beach on the weekend, so I don’t mess around with SPF.  I wear it every single day, and this one is super protective.  It’s also really lightweight, doesn’t leave me greasy, and won’t flake off under my makeup.

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer – I heard a couple of girls recommend this and figured I’d give it a try a few months ago, and now, it’s my everyday, go-to foundation.  Since it’s technically a BB cream, it’s lighter than most foundations, but it’s still plenty enough coverage for me in the summertime.  It feels lightweight in the heat and not cake-y like other foundations can be in the summer.  I also absolutely love this brush for applying it.

5. Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer – Hands-down, my favorite concealer I’ve ever tried or used, period.  There’s a reason it’s America’s number one concealer brand – one is sold every 12 seconds.  It’s a super blend-able formula that gives the best illuminating glow under my eyes that won’t crease, smudge, or run throughout the day.  It’s also great for covering blemishes.  I apply in an upside-down triangle shape under my eyes and use this brush to blend it in.

6. Urban Decay Pressed Powder – I always like to set my foundation with a little powder, and this one is simple, to-the-point, just makes sense.  I love the easy, lightweight coverage.

7. Glowy Palette from Pixi – When it comes to a glowy, bronze-y highlight, I can’t get enough of this palette from Pixi (that I sadly dropped on the bathroom floor immediately after taking the photo above).  Unfortunately, my exact palette is sold out, but I love this Summer Glow Palette and would totally use these allover face kits.

8. Ashley Sievert Mineral Guilded Bronzing Powder in Trophy Wife – I’ve been using this bronzer for about a year now.  It’s not shimmery or shiny but just a nice bronze-y peach for my skin tone, and since getting pretty tan this summer, I can go a bit heavier with it.  I use this brush and focus on my cheeks, nose, and forehead.

9. MAC Veluxe Brow Liner – Can we all take a minute for the over-plucked eyebrow situation of the 2000s?  Yikes!  I pretty much never leave home without filling in my brows these days,  and while I’m not typically a MAC girl, I needed a new liner in Palm Springs and was closest to a MAC store.  I find this one pretty idiot-proof, and it stays put throughout the day.

10. Mascara – Don’t be confused by the photo above – I’m not layering three mascaras everyday, but I am grabbing one of these three:

Too Faced Better Than Sex – While I hate the cheesy name of this one, I do love the formula.  One coat is great for a simple, running around town look, but for something a little more dramatic, it’s totally buildable without becoming clumpy.  There’s a reason why this one is so popular.

IT Cosmetics Superhero – This one is a tried and true favorite that I’ve had in my makeup bag for years.  It gives a pretty dramatic look with one or two coats, so I grab for this one when I want to look a bit more pulled-together.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes – This is also just a really great, everyday formula that gives me my best lashes without feeling heavy or clumpy – because I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.

xoxo

Happy Tuesday, friends!  Last week I rejoined the blogging world after a little hiatus, and today I’m sharing some current skincare favorites that I’ve been meaning to share for a few weeks now.  It’s been WAY too long since I rounded up a slew of skin goodies, but lately, I’m really loving what I’m using.  Somewhere around the start of the new year, my skin was in (what I’d consider) pretty bad shape.  I love the holiday treats, parties, and Go-Go-Go mentality as much as the next gal, but at the end of December, my skin was suffering.  Yikes!  Bumps, breakouts, and SO much dryness – I had to do something.

So in January I started a new routine and refocused on my skincare.  I’m lucky enough to receive so many beauty goodies from companies, so I might as well put them to good use, right?  My current routine includes a whole lot of Dermalogica with some other favorites mixed in, and so far, so food.  My skin has, for the most part, cleared up, minus a few random breakouts here and there, and I’ve started to once again see my skincare ritual as a sort of spa time instead of a nightly chore.  (That part really is so key.)  So here are a few of my tried and true current skincare gems.  Hope you guys enjoy!

Cleansing – The cleansing part is where things can get really lazy for me, and I’ll fully admit that some nights I still use the old makeup remover towelette standby.  (These from Neutrogena have always been my favorites.) . But for the days when I get my act together, I’m loving this 3-step cleansing routine from Dermalogica.

Precleanse Balm – This is, not maybe, but DEFINITELY the best product I’ve found for removing makeup and all the gunk at the end of the day.  It’s a super thick, oily balm – think Chap-Stick or Vaseline consistency – and I rub it all over my face, over makeup, when my skin is completely dry.  That may sound crazy, and trust me it FEELS crazy at first, but it immediately starts breaking up and melting off makeup.  I usually apply it before getting into the shower and then rinse it once I step in.

Special Cleansing Gel – I wouldn’t say this cleanser moves mountains, but I think it’s a pretty good everyday go-to.  And, I do love it as a second step after the Precleanse Balm.  It’s a pretty gentle cleanser and removes all the makeup and gunk that the Precleanse Balm breaks up.  I keep it in the shower and use it daily.

Daily Microfoliant – The third step is definitely my favorite, and this product is SO good.  When my face is still soaking wet from step two, I pour some of the Microfoliant into my hands.  It’s in powder form, so when it hits wet hands, it starts to form a sort of paste that’s super gentle, like a really soft, wet sand.  I scrub my face with it like a normal exfoliator, and I swear my skin is always instantly softer.

Tools – There are three tools that I swear by: my Clarisonic Mia Prima Facial Cleansing Brush, the PMD Clean Facial Cleansing Device, and the PMD Personal Microderm.  (You can also get the two PMD devices bundled here.)  I pretty much use the Clarisonic and PMD Clean interchangeably and really can’t pick a favorite.  The Clarisonic’s brush head leaves my face feeling squeaky clean while the PMD’s rubber bristled, vibrating head feels like more like a facial massage.  I use the PMD Personal Microderm Device a couple of times a week and love it for refreshing my face and getting rid of dead, dull skin.

Masks – There’s pretty much nothing I love more than relaxing with a mask on, so a couple of times a week, I’ll do the whole cleansing ritual, put on a mask, and hop in the tub for a bath.  I use a ton of different masks actually, but my favorite is hands-down the Exfoliating Treatment Mask from Tula.  I also go for masks by Georgette Klinger and Pixi and love a good sheet mask like the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mask before bed.

And Everything Else – After masking and using the PMD Personal Microderm, I love Pixi’s Rose Tonic and Dermalogica’s Phyto Replenish Oil.   Then it’s on to the last of the lotions and potions, and lately, (once again) I’m loving so many from Dermalogica.  I keep the Dermalogica Power Rich Firming Cream, Overnight Retinol Repair, Nightly Lip Treatment, and Sound Sleep Cocoon in my nightstand and rotate them throughout the week.  When I’ve got a breakout of any kind, there is NOTHING better to me than a COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch.  I’ll sleep with one on any blemish and see instant results the next morning – these things are seriously magical.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

 Pajama short set and knit robe;  Pantene Intense Rescue Shots

Great news, guys – spring is here!  OK so it’s actually not officially here, and according to the weather forecast that I’m refreshing hourly on my phone, it’s not coming in any certain hurry.  But I figure while we’re waiting, there’s no time like the present for a little spring prep, right?  Besides pulling the trigger on that first spring dress I’ve had my eye on (and promptly wearing it with a cute jacket and booties) and adding a few little spring refreshes around the house, I’m already looking forward to the warmer months ahead with a freshly chopped mane.  Out with the old, ratty ends and in with a healthier, new ‘do.

While I love the look of a fresh, new chop, I’m fully aware that my immediate return to ALL of the heat processes isn’t exactly the best way to keep those ends looking fresh.  So in lieu of ditching my blow-dryer and straightener and fully embracing the “Cousin It” look, I’ve been trying out the new Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots over the past couple of weeks.

Each single-use tube targets the most damaged hair areas for added flexibility and resilience, and unlike other treatments and masks, these rinse out super quickly to avoid weighing hair down – a win-win for those of us with thin hair.  New to the US market, the secret formula has been used in Brazil for years and is ideal for color-treated and heat-styled hair, or basically, all the things I’m guilty of doing to my mane.

I’ve been swapping out my everyday conditioner for one of these tubes once a week, and before blow-drying, I try to air-dry as long as possible.  The Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots are super easy to use. While in the shower, apply the single-dose tube from root-to-tip. Leave in for 30 seconds and rinse for 30 seconds.  And these days, when it comes to my ends, it’s so far so good.  So bring on spring or some sort of tropical vacay because I may still be wearing layers and layers of sweats, but at least my hair is ready for the warmer months ahead.

The Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots just hit shelves in the US in January and are available now at Target.com – see here!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

And just like that, January is almost done.  And what do you guys think – did it fly by or crawl along?  I’m pretty torn on that one to be honest, and as I type this, it feels like New Year’s Eve was 100 years ago.  As I’m sure lots of you did, I made a few health goals wayyyy back here at the beginning of the month, and how are those working out, you ask?

Well the “drink enough water” thing is still a work in progress (go figure), but in the exercise department, I’m happy to say that I’ve been moving this month.  I’ve been a fan of pilates for years (check out my favorite local studio here), so I took a few classes at the beginning of January.  But when my package ran out and I went to purchase more, I started to think about ways to get in a quick workout at home before taking Weeze on our daily 3-mile walks.

A quick scroll around Amazon and I had these weighted medicine balls and this exercise ball delivered to my door in two days.  Of all the millions and squillions of things I’ve purchased on Amazon recently, these have by far been my favorite.  It’s something easy I can do while the dogs run wild, with the tv or music on in the background for distraction, without ever leaving home.  I’ve loved the weighted balls for both arm and core workouts, and they’ve been so key on the (usually rare) rainy days we’ve had around here lately – with four more coming at us this week.

I’ve found different exercises to do online but also just kind of mimic things that we do with weights in pilates classes.  And so far, so good.  Will I be going back to pilates or Orangetheory classes?  Definitely.  But now I can buy a few less classes and get in a quick workout whenever I can at home.  I’d say that’s a definite Amazon win for the month.  Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Happy Sunday, babes!  Today I’m sharing a little Sunday post with my favorite Sunday activity: a bath!  It may be a Southern thing, but holy moly sometimes there’s nothing I love more than a long, hot bath and a little at-home spa time.  When we first bought our house, sweet Jesus was this bathroom gross.  The whole thing had to be gutted and reworked from scratch.  My one request was a good tub, and Eric so pulled through and created my favorite bathroom (or room maybe) in the house while I was out of town for a week.  I never take this space for granted and try to use it as much as possible, and with Eric out of town this weekend, I’ve been a bathing queen.

As every bath lover knows, good products are so key.  Besides a glass of wine and a good magazine, I’m absolutely loving the four products above, and if I had to pick a favorite, I’d probably go with the Seaweed Detox Bath.  The smell is probably not for everyone, but I love that it isn’t girly, floral or sweet.  It’s more natural and strong enough to open up my sinuses like my favorite essential oils.  (If you’re an oil lover, then this one is probably for you.) . The Coconut Milk Bath and Shampure Composition Oil make my skin feel SO soft, and the Cleansing Sponge with built-in cleansers is so great for exfoliating.  Also, I recently ordered the bamboo bath tray and had NO idea how much I would love this thing.  It is just so convenient for holding ALL the things.  (Perfect for keeping my hands free to shoo away the munchkin below who’s just dying to hop in the tub too.)

Here’s hoping everyone has a relaxing Sunday!

xoxo

Happy Friday, friends!  It’s been a few weeks since I’ve chatted about 5 things I’m loving (I blame Thanksgiving travels, a little bit of sickness, and life in general), but this week I’m feeling holly jolly, loving all the things.  It was actually hard to narrow it down to five, but here we go.  Five things I’m loving this week, and I’d love to know – what’s bringing you guys joy this week?

PMD Clean – I’ve been a fan of the brand’s personal microderm device for a while but recently discovered the PMD Clean, and whoa.  If you’re a Clarisonic girl like me, trust, it’s totally different, and for the record, I have and use both.  The PMD Clean has a rubberized head (instead of the bristles of the Clarisonic) and vibrates like a facial massage.  There are 4 speeds, and I’ve been using one side in the shower with favorite cleansers and the flip side out of the shower to help my favorite moisturizers sink in.  If you’re going to invest in good skincare, this is a good tool to help that skincare sink in.

Rainy days in Southern California – In the past two weeks, we’ve had three whole days of rain around here.  And not normal Southern California rain.  Hard, hard rain with wind and skies that look like nighttime in the middle of the day.  I grew up around SO. MUCH. RAIN in South Louisiana, and I’ve missed some of those days since moving here.  These past two weeks have given me the first couple of days of staying in, keeping the PJ’s on, and getting so much work done inside during the rain.  Besides a newfound roof leak that we never knew about since the remodel, it’s been so nice.  But for the record, Louise the Viz is NOT about it.  Good God, that puppy hates rain.  (And if you need a good laugh, check out these Vizslas wearing boots.  I die.)

Decking the halls – Oh holy moly, there’s nothing I love more than when our house is decked out for Christmas.  Nothing.  The trees, the stockings, the garland, the lights outside – it all makes me happy, happy, happy like Phil from Duck Dynasty.  And hey, while we’re at it, I’ll throw in little Weeze wearing a Christmas sweater because that photo will be hitting the ‘gram soon.  I’m working on a full post of our holiday decor because all these online orders and trips to HomeGoods need to be documented, right?

Packing up for Jackson Hole – You guys, I stand corrected.  Wanna know what makes me happier than our house decorated for Christmas?  It’s heading out to Jackson Hole.  We went last winter and made another trip this past summer, and I’m so excited that we are headed back next week.  This time around, it’s gonna be even COLDER than last year with a lot more snow, and I’m ready for it.  I’ll be taking all of the cold weather essentials from last year and adding in a couple of new goodies.  This bright red coat?  Count it in.  With this bright red sweater underneath?  Yep.  And this year, I’ll be adding in these cozy inserts into my favorite snow boots.  Any other recommendations?

Skinny Pasta – I shared this one on my Instagram stories this week, and you guys were HERE for it.  And I can’t blame you!  If you’re trying to live that semi-healthy life or go low carb during the week like us, pasta has been a big no-no for years.  Eric and I have been grubbing through so much spaghetti squash for a while, and honestly, we’re a little bit over it right now.  I found this Skinny Pasta at Sprouts recently, and we love it.  It’s the most pasta-like thing we’ve found, and unlike with spaghetti squash, it keeps us full long after dinner.  Did I mention that one serving serves up five carbs and under ten calories?  We loved it so much, I recently ordered the full variety of what they offer.  The “rice” version is a little bit noodle-y, but throw some red beans in there, and you’ll be A-OK.

xoxo

Photo thanks to Katie Stuart

A year or so ago when we first finished our home remodel and finally had a nice bathtub (that I 100% love), I had a little Sunday spa ritual that always helped round out the weekend in the best way.  I would do ALL of the skin treatments and take a hot bath with a mask on my face and a magazine in my hands.  Over the past few months I’ve gotten away from my Sunday spa nights a bit, and my skin has certainly missed the masks.

I’m sure we all know how much a good mask can leave skin feeling clean and refreshed, but they can also leave you with a big mess.  Until now.  Recently I’ve been trying out these new Olay Clay Stick Masks from WalMart, and I have to say, they’re as easy to use as they look.  Just rub the sticks over your entire face or targeted problem areas, let it sit for a few minutes, and remove with warm water or a wet washcloth.

There are three different formulas – Glow Boost White Charcoal, Pore Detox Black Charcoal, and Fresh Reset Pink Mineral Complex – and each stick costs just under $10.  I’d put these little magic wands up against any of my favorite face masks of the past, and I’ve been loving the results.  The masks dry with a slightly “tightening” feeling that I love, and after removing them, my skin feels firmer, my pores look smaller, and my face has an overall squeaky clean feeling…without the whole mask mess.

With the holidays fast-approaching, I’m thinking it’s time to get back to my Sunday night spa ritual, but I’ll be replacing my old masks with these Clay Stick Masks from Olay.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.

Happy Friday, friends.  October is here and I’m HERE for it.  And next week, there’s a particular day that I’m definitely here for.  My friends over at Suja reminded me that Wednesday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and I can’t support it more.

In this world, there is literally no cause or day I can get behind more, and I shared a little bit of my heart last year in this post.  I miss my brother a ton and always aim to celebrate his memory.  Today I also want to celebrate and spread a little love to those going through the rough time right now, or maybe, those who could just use a little self-love.

Life is crazy.  The work grind, the mortgage or rent cycle, balancing relationships, car issues, this problem and that.  Sometimes I think we all need to take a little time for ourselves.  You’ve probably seen people posting about “Self-Love Sundays” or something similar, and while it may seem a little cliche, it’s something we should all get behind.

Sometimes we all need to check out.  To do a little something just for ourselves.  For me?  It’s a long bath, doing ALL the treatments to my face, taking my pup for a walk around Balboa Island, and my favorite, taking a little time to unplug.  How much does Instagram mess with my head and make me a crazy person?  A ton.  (Thanks, algorithm.)  So on October 10th, I’ll be taking a little unplug day.  No blog post, no Instagram posts, and maybe a long bath.  (Go, me!)

I really can’t think of a better reason to unplug, take a second, and give myself a much-needed day off.  And I wish the same to you!  Let’s take a day to focus on ourselves, reach out to the family and friends who need us, and maybe give a stranger a smile.  You never know who needs it.  Can we all just try to be nicer to each other?  I think we can.  Happy weekend, friends.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart