Category: love: self-care

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love: self-care

Hydration is Happiness

glass water bottle in hand of faceless man near wall
Photo by Vova Krasilnikov on Pexels.com

The title of this post sounds cheesy, I know.

But it’s true and I couldn’t be more serious!

Yeah yeah yeah, we all know it’s important to drink water.

But I think there’s a lot of you who don’t realize that drinking water is key to solving so many problems in our lives that we might think are completely unrelated to our hydration.

Let’s talk about some of things that are causing us to feel UNHAPPY – and how drinking more water can quite literally solve those issues; because I’ll say it again…

Hydration is Happiness!

Acne

Did you know that when you have dry skin, it actually triggers your skin to produce excess oil? The production of excess oil is one of the main causes of acne. Because drinking water promotes skin hydration, less excess oil is produced by your skin, resulting in a way to prevent acne.

Wrinkles

Since we’re already on the topic of skin… Just like the way that drinking water helps to prevent acne, it also helps to prevent wrinkles and premature aging. Think about it: the more water you drink, the more hydrated your skin will be. People who drink large amounts of water have shown to suffer from less wrinkles and scarring – because their skin is hydrated, moisturized, and plump.

Trouble focusing

Water cushions your brain and other important body tissues. The amount of water you drink takes a toll on the way that you brain functions. When you’re dehydrated, your brain has a harder time focusing, reasoning, and solving problems.

Stomach issues

Your body depends on water in order to digest properly. Being dehydrated can lead to all types of unfortunate issues such as constipation, heartburn, and stomach ulcers.

Weight

Drinking more water actually helps the process of weight loss. For those trying to eat lighter meals or snack less throughout the day, try “preloading” by drinking water before eating. Drinking more water helps to give you the feeling of being “full”. Plus, if you’re drinking more water all day, you’re likely drinking less sugary juices and sodas.

There are probably a million more examples of how hydration can bring you more happiness, but this is a good start!

Having trouble making a habit out of drinking more water?

Save or screenshot this image that I created and set it as the wallpaper on your phone or computer as motivation and a daily reminder to keep on drinking water throughout the day.

Keep chugging and you’ll be on your way to a happier and healthier self 😉

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love: self-care

How To Stay Healthy This Winter Season

photo of crying woman in red long sleeve shirt blowing her nose
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

It’s that time of year. The season of stuffy noses, sore throats, head colds, and the flu has arrived and it’s ready to hit us all full force.

It’s also that time of year when we are typically the busiest. Let’s be real – We have busy lives and have no time to be sick.

There are many little tricks to help keep us healthy and tackle gross colds and flus head on – but, let’s not overwhelm ourselves and go in total health-freak mode…

Here is a handful of the easiest and most effective tricks for you to put into practice starting right now.

Good Hygiene

This one should be a no-brainer, but it really is one of the most important. Washing your hands often throughout the day is critical. When you’re at work, when you get back from the grocery store, after pumping gas, handling cash, and basically after being anywhere out in public.

Keep a hand sanitizer in your vehicle to kill the germs and potential viruses when you’re out and about.

Drink More Water

Maybe you already think you drink enough water – challenge yourself and drink more. Not only does water help to flush out toxins and cleanse our body system, but it also carries essential nutrients to our body cells.

Check out my post Hydration IS Happiness for more info on why staying hydrated can literally change your life and make you happier and healthier than you’ve ever been. Plus, cheats on how to follow through and make drinking more water the simplest habit.

Vitamin D

If you’re luckier than I am, you live in a place where the sun still often shines in the winter. I however am from Wisconsin, where during the winter months, gray and white snowy skies are all I get on a daily basis.

If you can, get out and enjoy sunshine whenever you can. Vitamin D is essential for our immune system. Aside from being a physical savior for our bodies, Vitamin D can help keep our mental in check during what is usually the most stressful and depressing time of the year. Vitamin D is actually required to regulate our mood.

Not able to see the sunshine as often as you’d like? There are Vitamin D nutritional supplements that can be taken daily to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D that your body and mind need to help keep you healthy and happy.

Sleep

This is my favorite because I love any excuse for me to take a little power nap during the day or hit the hay early. Sleep is a non-negotiable for staying healthy; studies prove that those who do not get enough rest catch more illnesses and viruses. Bonus: Not only does sleep keep your immune system healthy, sleeping also burns calories and eliminates stress hormones.

Exercise

I’ve shared with you my most favorite trick, I might as well share my least favorite.

I’ll be honest, I definitely don’t love exercise. I wish I was a gym rat lol. But there are simpler ways to stay active that I actually do enjoy… exercises such as yoga on my living room floor, jumping jacks and squats while I binge my favorite TV show, and a walk around the block are all things that help to boost my immune system from winter sicknesses.

There you have it – a handful of simple tricks to help keep seasonal colds and flus away during these next few months.

If you haven’t already, I really recommend checking out Hydration IS Happiness to quite literally change your life with the easiest and healthiest habit you can form for yourself.

That’s all for now. Stay warm and healthy my friends!

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love: inspiration love: personal growth love: self-care

You Are Worthy of Your Dreams

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Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com



Everyone has a dream.

Not a dream like you have when you’re sound asleep – but a dream that you feel deep inside your bones that you long for.

The majority of us think of our dreams as something unattainable, something too good to come true.

FALSE

Your dreams are important and quite frankly, too good NOT to come true.

We live on this earth, dealing with chaos and stressors related to family, work, school, politics, health, friends, relationships… the list goes on.

We work our butts off in hopes to retire when we turn 65 or 70 years old.

But WHY are we doing this??

Why are we waiting until our life is more than half over to start doing what we love and start living our DREAMS??

Many self-limiting reasons come to mind when we think about the why.

Time, money, responsibilities… But one reason that might not come to you right away, the one reason that might actually be the most important, is self-worth.

The #1 reason why people aren’t out there pursuing their dreams is because they lack a sense of self-worth and self-confidence.

What is self-worth?

Self-worth is defined as an internal state of being that comes from self-understanding, self-love, and self-acceptance.

Self-worth is unshakeable and steady, because of that it holds the power to completely transform your life for the better.

When you have a high level of self-worth, you have faith in yourself. You believe that you are worthy of your dreams – whether that be happiness, wealth, freedom, success, or love.

Okay, you get it. Having self-worth is amazing and pretty much necessary to go after your dreams and everything you desire for yourself.

Soooo how do we gain a sense of self-worth?

It’s simple really. The key is that you need to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Understand who you are and how you see yourself.

To do this, ask yourself these 4 questions:

  1. What are your 3 favorite qualities about yourself?
    This can be anything about yourself that you like. It can be your personality, your drive for success, the way you look, the way you dance… Just think of 3 qualities you possess that you love. Now consider how each of these qualities can help lead you to personal or professional growth.

  2. What are 3 qualities that you wish you had?
    Okay, now on the other hand, think of 3 qualities that you don’t see in yourself but wish you did. Think about why these qualities are important to you. It is now a goal of yours to develop these qualities; come up with a plan to attain them.

  3. What is a fear that you overcame and how did you do it?
    Overcoming a fear of yours shows true growth. This fear of yours can be anything from going to the doctor, to speaking up to your boss about a concern, to interviewing for a job that feels above your pay grade. Regardless of the outcome, you did it. Remind yourself of what steps you took to help yourself be so courageous and confident.

  4. How do you define success for yourself?
    It can be helpful for you to define your own success and what you wish to attain for yourself. Once you spend some time to reflect on this, it will be easier for you to create an environment that encourages you to meet those goals.

Once you can fully understand and answer these questions, you will be able to carve a path for yourself to continue to work on your confidence and grow your sense of self-worth.

Need a little motivation to start really working towards your dreams?

Check out my pep-talk: Start Living Your Dream Life

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love: personal growth love: self-care

10 Signs You’re an Introvert

Do you enjoy spending time alone? Are you usually ‘the quiet one’ in a group of others? Do you find yourself making excuses to stay in your cozy robe at home rather than attending a party?

If that sounds like you, you might be an introvert just like me.

What really is an introvert?

I’m sure you’ve heard the word before – but many people have misconceptions of what it really means to be an introvert. Let’s clarify!

An introvert is someone who prefers calm, minimally stimulating environments. While some introverts might enjoy socializing with friends, after a while it leaves us feeling drained; this is when we need alone time to recharge ourselves.

Did you know that 30-50% of people in the U.S. are introverts?

It’s perfectly normal and you shouldn’t feel any shame.

One misconception that people have regarding introverts is that they wish they weren’t introverts…

This isn’t the case! The majority of introverts are happy with their chill lifestyle and wouldn’t trade their cozy, quiet alone time for anything.

Thinking you might be an introvert?

Here are 10 signs that you’re probably right.

1. You enjoy spending time by yourself.

This is likely the most obvious one. While many introverts enjoy a bit of social time, we still look forward to getting home, getting cozy, and soaking in the silence. Introverts require this alone time to recharge from socializing. This doesn’t mean we like to be alone all the time… Yes, we like to be alone – but we don’t like to be lonely.

2. You feel lonelier surrounded by others than when you’re actually alone.

When you’re surrounded by a group of others who are not introverts, you feel pressured to be chatty and make conversation. You begin to feel socially awkward, shy, fatigued, and disconnected from your true self. Feeling out of place or that you look like a wallflower in these types of situations, is a huge sign that you’re an introvert.

3. When it comes to expressing your thoughts or feelings, you’re better at writing them than speaking them.

Whether it’s a birthday card, a simple to-do list, or a note used to confront someone, introverts tend to express their thoughts and feelings very thoroughly when it’s with pen and paper than a face-to-face conversation.

Here’s a personal example of my own…

When I was younger and living with my parents, my step-dad and I didn’t see eye to eye very often. I remember having to have conversations at the dinner table with him and I could never get to fully express what I wanted to say because I would leave the table in tears and run to my room. Not because I was scared or in trouble, but because I was frustrated and couldn’t get my points across.

Since then, any time that I have something serious that I need to speak about with someone (even my husband), I tend to write it all down on paper first. I make sure I get each and every one of my points out there; because I know if I try to have the entire conversation face-to-face, my mind will not be able to handle it and many things will be left unsaid.

4. Being the center of attention is not something you wish for.

Everyone wants to feel important and wants to feel seen, but introverts like to feel this from afar. For example, when you have an idea at work, you’d rather speak with your boss one-on-one (or better yet, send an email) than to bring up your suggestion during the staff meeting in front of all your co-workers.

5. You don’t always know what to say.

You’ll end a conversation and then realize what you should have said after the fact… Struggling with word retrieval is very common for introverts. Once the conversation is over, you’ll likely be able to recharge and then the right words will come to you (unfortunately, a little later than hoped for).

6. You never stop talking to yourself inside your head.

Basically, you have an inner monologue that never stops. Your mind is constantly racing and the voice inside your head is always talking to you… About the past, what you need to do the next day, something awkward you said 2 years ago… You just can’t seem to shut off your inner thoughts.

7. You work better with less social stimulation.

You’re easily distracted when working with a group of others. Things might become feeling hectic and you feel overwhelmed and unfocused. However, in solitude, you can do some of your best thinking.

8. An introvert strength: You’re very self-aware.

Because introverts spend so much time alone, they have the opportunity to really get to know themselves inside and out. Introverts enjoy gaining a deeper knowledge of themselves and their motivations. More often than not, you’ll find that introverts choose to explore hobbies and books that are of great importance to them. They know what they like.

9. You lean towards jobs that are more independent.

Introverts don’t typically apply for jobs that consist of a lot of social interaction. Careers that offer a more independent setting like an accountant, writer, or computer programmer are much more appealing to introverts. Most of us are also very much all about that work from home lifestyle.

10. You try to avoid small talk at all costs.

If you’re like me and think small talk is one of the worst things on the planet, you’re probably an introvert. There have been many instances when I open the front door and step outside to take out the trash, just to quickly walk back inside because I notice one of my neighbors out in their yard. Or what about seeing someone you know from high school…

Introverts dread that “Hi! How have you been?” small talk, so we tend to quickly look the other way and walk in a direction that we weren’t even headed, just to avoid it altogether.

Are you an introvert?

Add yourself to my mailing list for more posts regarding our amazing introvert lifestyle.

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love: personal growth love: self-care

#1 Self-Care + Productivity Journal “Silk + Sonder”

Subscribe to the blog for a 15% off Silk + Sonder Journal discount code!

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I’m insanely passionate about all thing’s productivity, setting goals, self-care, and mental health.

I’ve tried countless tips and tricks in the attempt to boost all of the above, and finally I stumbled upon Silk + Sonder.

Though I was skeptical at first, I read tons of real reviews from and did some research on the Silk + Sonder company.

I learned that the journal is backed by evidence-based science, powered by a huge community of wonderful and empowered people, and based on the reviews… it made an incredible impact in the lives of those who gave it a shot.

S + S was created to help lovely people like yourself prep, plan, and organize your life while also staying focused on your emotional health and allowing you to treat yourself to some (much needed) self-care.

It quickly became obvious to me that this journal was something I needed to try.

I purchased one for myself and one for my beautiful sister-in-law.

Silk + Sonder will help you…

Increase IQ and memory

Heal trauma

Reduce anxiety and stress

Build positive habits

Unlock mental clarity and focus

There are multiple subscription options available so you can do what works best for you.

For less than $20, you get an adorable journal that has been perfectly curated by proven positive psychology.

Inside are bullet journal techniques, guided prompts and self-help layouts, wellness trackers, dated calendar spreads, and so much more for easy creativity, focus, and fun.

I recommend taking just 5 minutes each day to ground yourself and get unstuck – whether your goal is to build a healthy productive routine or to find some balance in the midst of chaos.

Once you receive your journal, you’ll also get access to the exclusive Sonder App which is filled with personalized self-care activities and accountability.

I’m obsessed with my S + S journal and the way that it has completely changed my day-to-day life for the better.

I have a special code for any new S+S members to receive 15% off their journal… Subscribe to the blog to receive your code via email!

SUBSCRIBE

View Silk + Sonder Journal Here

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love: personal growth love: self-care

7 Step Morning Routine for a Great Day

Hey lovely! Welcome back.

If you’re reading this and looking for a great, simple morning routine, you’re most likely just about to crawl into bed for the night or just woke up and are having a hard time crawling out of bed for the day.

Either way, I don’t want to take up too much of your time, so I’ll cut to the chase for this one!

Practicing a quality morning routine works wonders for your mind, body and spirit.

Turn these practices into habits, and soon enough you will be happy to wake up at 6:00 AM and start your day off on the right side of the bed.

Step 1

You’re probably not gonna like me for this one… Stop hitting snooze.

It’s so tempting but don’t do it.

Getting those extra few minutes of sleep won’t make a difference.

And did you know that hitting the snooze button actually does more harm than good??

Your body is very smart. You have a biological clock that knows your sleep cycle. The sleep cycle starts preparing you to wake up 1 hour before you actually do by releasing dopamine and cortisol.

If you hit snooze and fall back asleep, you fall back into a deeper sleep than before. Once your alarm goes off for the second time, it interrupts your sleep cycle, making you even more tired.

That’s when the vicious cycle of hitting snooze begins again.

One tip to combat that tempting snooze button is to set your original alarm a little bit later.

For example: You don’t have to wake up until 6:30, but you set an alarm at 6:00, hitting snooze every 10 minutes until finally getting out of bed at 6:30.

Can you see how this interrupts your sleep cycle and interferes with your body releasing hormones to wake you naturally?

Getting that extra 30 minutes of interrupted sleep between 6:00 and 6:30 allows you to get quality rest. Breaking that 30 minutes up into 10-minute intervals, messes with your sleep cycle, causing you to feel more tired and groggy throughout the day.

Step 2

Wash your face (with an invigorating cleanser).

As skincare obsessed as I am, I hope you already wash your face every morning.

But even if you’re not getting into the shower right away, or usually eat breakfast first, the first thing you should do after waking up is walk to the bathroom and washing your face with cool water.

Not only does it feel incredibly refreshing and help to wake you up a bit, but the cool water helps to close your pores, relieve puffiness and even prevents acne (hot water strips your skin of its natural oils that it needs to prevent breakouts and stay hydrated).

Since we’re on the topic of face washing… I have to share with you my all-time favorite facial cleanser: New Groove Hemp Wash.

It’s a gel that turns to a foam as you wash your face, minty and invigorating to help wake you up, and infused with full-spectrum hemp oil to limit breakouts, unnecessary oils, redness and even wrinkles.

Alsoooo, I’m an animal lover and every purchase you make on this website goes towards rescuing abused and neglected animals (I’m not crying, you are).

Check out the New Groove Hemp Wash here.

Step 3

Drink a large glass of water.

When you wake up in the morning, your body is naturally dehydrated.

Aside from that, drinking water when you first wake up has many benefits like…

  • promoting weight loss
  • keep skin radiant and clear
  • stops headaches
  • increases mental activity (I need all I can get in AM)
  • relieves sinus symptoms
  • helps with cell renewal

Step 4

Stretch your body.

Working out in the morning is amazing. Props to everyone that does that, but it is not for me. If you don’t exercise in the morning, just make sure you at least get some good stretches in.

Stretching your body has obvious benefits such as improving your posture and flexibility.

But stretching also jumpstarts your brain, relieves stress, and improves your mood… all things that make for a better morning.

Take 5 minutes, even 2 if that’s all you have time for, and stretch your arms, legs, back, neck… even your fingers and your toes.

Step 5

Stay off your phone first thing in the morning.

If you’re tired when you wake up, you’ll probably want to scroll social media on your phone because you’re sleepy and want to distract yourself from everything else you should be doing in the morning.

Scrolling on your phone in the morning is not only a distraction that can cause you to be late for work or whatever other activities that are on your calendar, but it also depletes your energy.

Checking your phone first thing can also cause information overload; something you don’t want to deal with in the morning. This can make it harder for your mind to stay on track and prioritize your tasks for the day.

Step 6

Make your bed.

It sounds so simple; how can this really help?

If you already make your bed every morning, good for you! If not, it’s time you start. Here’s why:

  • develops consistency and self-discipline
  • gives you momentum to start your day
  • gives you a sense of self accomplishment
  • can be a great mindful exercise – perfect time to gather your thoughts
  • it looks good!

Step 7

Set 3 goals for the day.

It’s always good to set goals for yourself. Setting goals every day can help to create healthy habits for yourself.

No matter how small or large the goal might be, setting goals helps you to focus and prioritize what you need to do to get to where you want to be.

Goals can be as simple as drinking 200 ounces of water today or putting the laundry away.

You can even set bigger goals such as gaining a new customer at work, making a big sale, or putting your phone away for 3 hours.

Whatever it is, setting 3 goals for yourself every morning is a great way to keep yourself motivated all day long.

Any must-have steps in your morning routine that you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments!

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love: personal growth love: self-care

How To Be Your Happiest Self

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Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Hey lovely!

Maybe you’re reading this because you’ve been feeling kinda low lately… maybe you feel pretty happy already but have that gut feeling that something in your life is missing.

Either way, keep on reading and you’ll learn how to be your happiest self and feel completely fulfilled within your life.

First things first… you need you think of everything in your life that is not bringing you joy or purpose and let it go.

I want you to grab a pen and paper and list everything in your life that is making you feel: down, angry, scared, jealous, tired, or any other negative emotion.

Got your list?

Now cross off everything on your list that you can erase out of existence.

Not everything on your list will be something you can cross off… for example, struggling with money to pay the bills isn’t something you can just toss away and ignore.

For these things, I want you to list an action that you can take to change that thing from a negative emotion to a positive emotion.

Basically, set a goal that will eventually make it so that you are able to cross that thing off of your list.

An example of this could be: If you’re struggling with money to pay the bills, an action to take would be saving money by not getting that $9 coffee on the way to work every morning… another action could be starting a money jar and putting aside any extra change you have to begin saving.

Work towards these goals.

It can be easy to fall off and lose motivation – look back at this list and remember the reason you started it in the first place.

Next, I want you to define your true happiness.

Write down what you want in your dream life. Write down what makes you happy, what makes you feel fulfilled.

  • Is it a sense of belonging that makes you feel happy?
  • Is it the feeling of having a purpose or making an impact that makes you feel happy?
  • Is it having absolute freedom in your daily life that makes you happy?

Whatever it is, write it down. How are you supposed to be your happiest self if you can’t define what it is that will make you truly happy?

Now just like we did before, we are going to list actions that you can take to help you get to the bottom of those things that would make you happy.

Don’t think too big here, think realistic. Think of the small steps that you can take that will eventually lead to larger steps. Don’t stress yourself out by setting extreme goals – you need to take it one step at a time.

Now that you have your actions or goals that you need to take to get those things that will make you happy, you need to turn these actions into habits. Make these actions a routine in your day to day life. Make them something that you look forward to GET to do each day rather than something you’re dreading that you HAVE to do.

Here are some key tips to help you turn these actions into habits:

1. Make an appointment with yourself.

Think about it like a doctor appointment – you might not want to go but you’re still going to. You’re not just going to skip your appointment.

Set a reminder on your phone or write your action on your calendar (if you’re still old school like me and have a wall calendar on your fridge) and don’t let yourself skip this appointment for yourself.

2. Make it fun, make it relaxing.

Create a happy place, or a safe place to take your actions. Maybe you have an office that you like to do work in, maybe you like to sit on the couch with a candle and a blanket, maybe you like to go to a nearby cafe and put your headphones in. Whatever works for you and makes you excited to work on your actions.

Along with a happy place, consider the best time to take your actions. Are you most motivated in the morning when everything is still and quiet? Are you most motivated after dinner time? Be consistent and make it a routine.

3. Reward yourself!

Remember when I said to take small steps instead of setting one huge action goal?

Each time you complete one small step, cross it off. It will feel so good to see that you’re getting closer to your end goal. Each time you cross off an action, treat yourself a little.

Now we need to talk a little bit about your well-being: health and self-care

Exercising sucks (I think so at least) but let’s be honest, exercising can really help improve your mood and overall thought on life, not just your body.

Yes – exercising obviously has its physical advantages. But it also increases your mood and your energy. If you’re someone who is never active, you’re going to feel lazy and tired more often. And I have to say it… Lazy and tired people are generally not the happiest of people.

Eating right – I am a sucker for chips and salsa, popcorn, noodles, and all things unhealthy. But you need to find balance.

Eating superfoods will help your body to feel better, to look better, and be more energized. Also, the benefits that eating healthy foods has on your skin is huge. Clear skin. That right there is enough to make me happy (almost, lol).

My favorite part of this entire post… take care of yourself. Practice self-care.

Practicing self-care is no joke. It makes all the difference in your mind, body, and soul. Do things for you, things that you like, things that make you happy, things that expand your mind.

Check out this list of self-care activities you can do alone.

Okay girl. Do you have the recipe for your happiest self?

Let’s review real quick…

  • Let go of all things not bringing you joy
  • Define your true happiness
  • Set small actions to get to your big end goal
  • Turn actions into habits
  • Stay healthy
  • Practice self-care
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love: self-care

Finally Say BYEEE To Your Acne

Hey lovely!

I don’t normally write about one specific product like this, but I just had to share a quick post to showcase how freakin’ amazing these acne pads are.

They’re called C of Change Clinical Peel Pads.

If you struggle with acne, you know it can be different for everyone… and what might work for one person might not work for another.

BUT you have got to give these a chance! RUN don’t walk.

I’ve dealt with acne my entire life, middle school and high school were the worst. I’m now 28 years old and of course I still have good ole’ adult acne.

I wish I could travel back in time to my high school years and get myself these acne pads… because holy moly, they actually work for me.

It’s important to know that it takes time for skin products to start working effectively – but after just one month of using these pads, my pimples are either completely gone or dried up and fading away :’)

I’ve also noticed my skin is MUCH smoother, pores look smaller, overall texture of my skin is better, and my complexion is bright and even.

The combination of Vitamin C and Salicylic Acid in these pads have made such a difference for me.

Instructions say to use them 1-2 times daily. I’ve been using them once a day and I feel that’s been a good amount for me.

A couple more amazing things I just have to throw out there:

  • This product (I think the entire FHF skincare brand, actually) is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free and cruelty-free.
  • ALSO – Every purchase that you make goes towards saving the lives of abused and neglected animals. There’s even a batch number on the bottom of each product that allows you to search which animal you helped by making that purchase. So cool.

So anyways, if you’re up for giving these C of Change Clinical Pads a shot at clearing your acne, smoothing your skin, and brightening your complexion… or if you just want some more information,

click the picture below and it’ll bring you directly to the page!

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love: self-care

Get FLAWLESS Skin

Check out Farmhouse Fresh for my #1 recommended skincare products to give you the best skin of your life.

Are you a bride trying to prep and prime your skin for your big day?

Maybe you’re not a bride… But are you someone who is sick and tired of using expensive skincare products that lack real results?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, this post is exactly where you need to be.

Did you know it typically takes 6-8 weeks to see real results with a new skincare routine? That being said, now is the time to begin a fabulous skincare routine to prep yourself for your big day.

Skincare routines aren’t one size fits all… Everyone has a different skin type: combination, oily, dry, or normal.

Not only are there different skin types, but each person has their own skin concerns as well: acne-prone, aging, wrinkles, dark spots, etc.

I am a skincare fanatic – honestly, skincare psychopath is probably a better term. I am PASSIONATE about my skincare, and I have been since I was a freshman in high school 15 years ago.

The amount of medicated creams, gels, home remedies, and expensive skincare products that I have tried in the past is, quite frankly, ridiculous.

But in that same breath, I have been able to find out what works and what most definitely does not. (Insert sad face emoji… you live and you learn.)

There is one skincare brand that I can honestly say I have loved every product that I’ve tried…

Farmhouse Fresh.

real results

for real people

with real skin concerns.

Aside from that, their products are all natural and organic. You’ve heard the term “farm to table” when eating at a restaurant? What about “farm to face”? If you care what you’re putting in your body, you should also care what you’re putting on your face and absorbing into your skin.

The feel, scent, packaging, and price point of this skincare and bodycare line is incredible. You’ll feel like you’re using the most expensive, luxury products, getting real results, but with spending only a fraction of the price as you would with other “popular” skincare lines.

WAIT, there’s more 🙂

(Yikes, I sound like an infomercial… but seriously I’m just obsessed with these products.)

Each purchase you make from Farmhouse Fresh literally saves abused and neglected animals. :*)

There’s even a way that you can track the product that you purchased to see which animals you helped… Whether it’s a horse that was left starving to death at a sale barn, or abandoned dogs waiting at a euthanasia shelter.

Okay, I could go on and on about the goodness of this company forever, so I’ll try to stop here and instead I’ll rant about the amazing products I’ve incorporated into my skincare routine, the results, and hopefully you’ll give them a chance in your own skincare routine, because I promise you… you’ll be obsessed with them all.

New Groove Hemp – Gel Cleanser

I’ve used all sorts of facial cleansers – but this one takes the cake.

Benefits:

  • Deeply purifies skin
  • Easily removes makeup, dirt, and oil
  • Fights signs of aging and delivers firmer skin
  • Naturally brightens and smooths skin instantly
  • Cannabinoid full spectrum hemp oil
  • 60mg of CBD helps achieve a perfect complexion
  • Leaves you with firm, bright, calm, matte skin

Best for:

All skin types. Especially oily skin, acne-prone skin, or aging skin.

Timescape – 2 Minute Renewing Face Polish Exfoliator

Fans of this product literally call it the 2 Minute Age Eraser.

Benefits:

  • Tiny plant-based fibers create a microdermabrasion effect with spending $300 on a microdermabrasion service
  • Wipes away imperfections and shows real results in only 12 days
  • Super preventative care! The sunflower oil protects skin prevents moisture loss, keeping skin hydrated (but not oily) all day
  • Infused with vitamins and antioxidants that improve the look, feel, and texture of your skin – Giving you an amaaaazing complexion
  • Leaves you with instantly glowing, smooth, healthy, younger-looking skin

Best for:

All skin types. Especially aging skin.

Guac Star – Avocado Mask

I truly recommend alllll of the Farmhouse Fresh face masks… but because I’m such a huge avocado fan, I decided to first recommend the Guac Star mask.

Benefits:

  • Avocado provides key fatty acids and vitamins that are vital to your skins health
  • Protects skin from oxidative stresses like UV lights and pollution
  • Delivers instant COOL hydration (this is a god send if you’re sunburnt)
  • Reduces redness, inflammation, and dryness

Best for:

Dry or dehydrated skin. Sunburned or sensitive skin. Acne-prone skin.

Wine Down – Overnight Recovery Serum

This serum is the best of the best! I haven’t met a person who didn’t absolutely LOVE Wine Down.

Benefits:

  • Works while you sleep – Shows results after just 2 HOURS!
  • Clinically tested peptides that totally reduce dark circles under your eyes and dark spots throughout your face
  • Makes pores VISABILY smaller – it’s amazing
  • Intensely hydrates and fills in any fine lines
  • Best seller for complete skin repair
  • Fans say they wear way less makeup now all because of this product
  • Wake up with silky, smooth, bright, happy skin

Best for:

Literally every skin type – Everyone should have this product in their skincare routine.

Vitamin Berry – Facial Tonic Mist

Instantly flawless complexion in a bottle.

Benefits:

  • Alcohol-free. How many other toners can say that?
  • Natural filter effect makes pores disappear
  • With pristine rose water for a light, long-term exfoliation
  • Boosts moisture with vital nourishment from aronia berries – a miracle fruit with one of the highest antioxidant contents every recorded
  • Visibly reduces the look of fine lines
  • Spritz in the morning or throughout the day for instant refreshment and ultra-minimized pores

Best for:

All skin types

Watermelonaid – Silky Gelee Serum

Delivers the most transformative results yet with watermelon extract, full spectrum hemp oil, and top performing all natural active ingredients.

Benefits:

  • Contains hyaluronic acid to visually fill fine lines and wrinkles after the FIRST use
  • Incredible smoothing effect
  • 170mg of calming, complexion perfecting CBD
  • Fixes skins uneven texture and uneven tone

Best for:

All skin types. Especially aging skin or for someone looking to prevent aging skin.

Each of these products can be used together! I hope you trust my reviews and try these out for yourself!

Once you get your order, check the bottom of your product bottle for a batch number. Type the number into the Farmhouse Fresh website, and it’ll let you know which animals you helped save with your purchase.

Stay glowing, lovely!

Categories
love: personal growth love: self-care

Why You Should Join The 6:00 AM Club

Just looking at that gif makes me tired!

I know how wonderful it feels to stay in your warm bed as long as possible… especially if it’s still dark outside.

But waking up at 6:00 AM or earlier has so many benefits.

I wasn’t always a morning person. I used to enjoy staying up past midnight and sleeping until 11:00 AM. But let me tell you, I’m so glad I changed that habit!

WHY should you start waking up at 6:00 AM you ask? Let me give you some of the best benefits that waking up earlier has for your mind, body and soul.

Go to sleep earlier

Okay, to some this might not seem like a benefit. However, going to bed at a decent time (yes, definitely before midnight) will allow you to wake up earlier while still getting the amount of sleep your body and mind needs to function properly.

Having a regular and healthy sleep cycle really is crucial to how each day will be.

Healthy breakfast

It’s not a myth, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast kickstarts your metabolism, which helps you burn your calories during the day. Eating a healthy breakfast also gives you the energy that you need to do and feel your best all day long.

Before I started waking up earlier, I would skip breakfast because I wouldn’t allow myself the time to eat before going to work. On the weekends, I would skip breakfast all together because I would sleep end up sleeping through it and waking for lunch.

Increased energy + productivity

Many of the most successful people report that they wake up before 6:00 AM. Have you ever heard the line “the early bird gets the worm?” It’s true!

Not only is your brain most alert in the morning – but there are way less distractions in the morning when the rest of the world is sound asleep.

This might sound odd, but my favorite time to get work done or household chores finished is on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I actually enjoy waking up bright and early on the weekends to watch the sunset and get things done before everyone else wakes up.

It just feels like a great start to my day.

You’ll be more organized

Seriously! Picture yourself when your last alarm goes off… you can’t hit snooze anymore or else you’ll literally be late for work.

You rush in and out of the shower, rush getting dressed and ready (I hate this, nothing worse than having no time to get ready and feeling like you look sluggish all day) and rush out of the house to get to work on time. Without eating breakfast, I might add – remember that’s the most important meal of the day you’re missing out on!

Waking up earlier gives you the time to be organized in the morning and rid yourself of that yucky rushed feeling.

You’re less likely to forget anything and more likely to feel ready and dressed for success because you actually had the time to prepare for your day.

Quiet time is sooo good for the soul

Like I mentioned before, I love waking up early when the rest of the world is sound asleep.

There’s a real appreciation that you can gain for the peacefulness of a quiet morning to yourself.

For example, when I was younger and lived with my parents, I remember thinking my mom was crazy for waking up at 5:00 AM only to sit in her recliner, sip her coffee, and read the newspaper.

But now I understand why she did that… that quiet time is like no other. It’s a great time to be alone with your thoughts and maybe sneak in some meditation for a great day.

Maybe the least exciting but one of the most important… Exercise

Most of us are not fond of exercising. I’m sure not, but I’m working on it.

Waking up early gives you the opportunity to get in a quick 20-minute workout before showering and starting your day.

If you try to go for a run or hit the gym after a long day… chances are the little devil on your shoulder will win the fight and you’ll go home to your couch instead – because let’s face it, that sounds great.

Exercising in the morning is a great habit to have because it really kickstarts your day and gets you up, motivated, and energized.

Have I convinced you yet?? Waking up early can actually be amazing and might be just the change you need in your life.

This can be a difficult change to make, but it’s possible and so worth it! Here are a few quick tips to help you join that 6:00 AM Club:

  1. Start slowly – If you normally wake up at 9:00 AM, don’t switch to 6:00 AM right away. Start getting up a half hour early each day and ease into it.


  2. Go to sleep earlier! Sounds obvious but I just had to throw it out there. If you’re waking up earlier, you neeeeed to go to sleep earlier to keep a healthy sleep cycle.


  3. Put your phone down and try reading a book in bed. Studies show that being on your phone before bed can actually make it harder to fall asleep once you put it down. Find a book that sounds interesting to you. Once you get through a few pages, you’ll likely feel sleepy.


  4. Make sure you want it… If you don’t believe waking up earlier will actually improve your day to day life, you won’t have the willpower to make the change. Remind yourself of all the benefits of getting up earlier and remember the things you’ll have time to do and enjoy before starting your day.


  5. Step out of bed! If you alarm is right next to your bed, it can be so easy to just hit snooze and fall back asleep. Don’t do that! Set your alarm or phone (if you use your phone alarm) on the other side of the room so that you are forced to get out of bed to shut it off. Why not stay up and start your day since you’re already out of bed anyways?

Feeling motivated yet??
Join that 6:00 AM Club, girl!