Rethinking Empty Calendars

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Every morning I sit down at my dining room table which has become my desk with a fresh cup of coffee, my planner and a notebook. I’ll start up my laptop and review the previous day’s to-do list as I make the new one. Under categories, I break up tasks under home, work, fun, and self care tasks so it doesn’t seem that overwhelming and also find a few few things to place under the fun category – something to look forward to at the end of the day. The reality is that I have nothing pressing to do during the day. Nothing important that needs to get done because what feels like over night, the world has stopped rotating. We are all going through some type of big change – whether you are working through this pandemic at home or not. Our jobs at home have become more challenging. More laundry, more tidying up and where are all of these dishes coming from? My home has always been a refuge after work, a place to unwind and where doing nothing was actually encouraged as I recharged for another work week. But today, I don’t have a job so I don’t need a place to recharge before I head back out the door. Right now I am making my home a productive place and a place to be relaxing as we enter this time of unknown. Even if I was working from home, I would still have more free time than usual because of being quarantined at home. Spending a lot of time at home makes it hard to break up the day and even more difficult to go to bed after being in “lounge” clothes all day.

I’ve had a lot on my heart lately and definitely broke down last week because I let my mind think of the worst about this pandemic lasting throughout the summer. Jake was in the middle of a work call and had to step away to talk me down to remind me that financially we are okay. We are healthy and taking the quarantine seriously. Instead of thinking about the things that I can’t do, I need to be enjoying this time as much as I can because I don’t have any responsibilities. Jake is working weird hours so he is able to take his laptop and monitor emails next to me on the couch sometimes or use his lunch break to help me with home projects (which he is thrilled about!). I’m trying to see the positives right now and I’ve been enjoying making dinner at night and having the time/energy to clean the kitchen before going to bed. Enjoying the slow mornings enjoying a hot cup of coffee before I get my day started. And finally, coming up with a project or something to accomplish each day so I can feel good that I did something.

This morning when I sat down at my “desk”, I saw that my planner was very empty. This unknown of when we will go back to normal would usually cause me to panic and begin to overthink but I was able to change my mindset into looking on the bright side. For some reason, we begin to believe that we are our best selves when our planners and days are full of activities from morning until past our bedtime. For so long I went through the motions and didn’t get the opportunity to ask myself what I needed. So now I am taking the time to enjoy a blank planner. April was going to be a month of fun trips and things to do so while I am sad about cancelled plans, I am going to enjoy this time of unknown. Our lives were disrupted in every single way possible and I’m trying to think what I can learn from this disruption. It’s definitely made me grateful that I have money in my savings, I have talked to my parents more than ever because I’m just bored, taking advantage of this new free time to do some house projects and most importantly, sit down in the morning and have some alone time.

Here are a few things I have done during this time of our calendars being empty for the unforeseeable future. Instead of stressing about what we can’t do right now, I am finding things to do that benefit me.

  • Made a list of projects I’ve been putting off.
  • Making daily to-do lists.
  • Catching up on laundry and other chores around the house.
  • Reorganizing drawers to make them more functional.
  • Going through all of our stuff to organize it better and purge what I can.
  • Watching shows that I just never had a chance to watch.
  • Clean out your inbox and unsubscribe!
  • Ordering a lot of home organizers/storage items that I need now I am home all the time.

L’Oreal Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Published on by blonde rosie3 Comments

I’m sure you have seen the commercials on TV talking about Hyaluronic acid so I am excited to try some products and see what it is. I already knew how important it was to have moisturizers in your skincare routine but I have neglected the serum step. Are they really necessary? Well that is what I am told so let’s see what they do for your skin! Serums offer more benefits and skin specific nutrients more effectively because the good ingredients are put directly on your skin instead of mixed with a moisturizer. Most importantly serums help keep your skin moisturized because they give the skin the necessary ingredients to retain moisture below the surface.

There are a lot of serums out there so you can choose the product based on what your skin needs most. I’m excited about the Loreal Revitalift Derm Intensives because they will help keep my skin moisturized, even my skin tone and improve skin texture. I’m in my late twenties now so I want to have the best products in my skincare routine now to prevent any skin damage instead of using even more products to reverse skin damage and signs of aging.

The Loreal Revitalift Derm Intensives serum has the right amount of hyaluronic acid to use twice daily for 7 days. After one day, skin hydration is noticeably improved and revitalized. After 7 days, skin looks smoother and wrinkles are reduced. I also like to use the Loreal Revitalift Moisturizer after I apply the serum to add some retinol and vitamin C to my skin and also help lock in the moisture!

WHAT IS HYALURONIC ACID?

  • It is a molecule that is naturally found in your body.
  • Helps fight signs of aging.
  • Helps skin retain moisture.
  • The ability to produce more hyaluronic acid naturally decreases with age.

HYALURONIC ACID BENEFITS

  • Protect skin against DNA damage.
  • Hydrates and moisturizes skin.
  • Improves skin elasticity and collagen.
  • Reduce inflammation.
  • Soothe irritation.
  • Even skin tone.
  • Improves skin texture.
  • Helps prevent skin aging.

HOW TO USE IT

  1. Wash your face & exfoliate
  2. Use a toner
  3. Apply Revitalift Derm Intensives serum
  4. Finally, use Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer

For the new full-size bottle of the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid Serum, click here.

This post is possible because of a collaboration with Influenster and L’Oreal, however, all opinions are my own.

Slingback Pumps are a Trend to Try

Published on by blonde rosie1 Comment

I’m looking outside my window right now and the tree outside my house is screaming “hello, Spring!” and then I ask Alexa what the temperature is today and she tells me it’s 50 degrees…. Spring can be so misleading! It can go from really warm days to chilly weather overnight. It’s tricky to dress for Spring with floral dresses because of the constant weather changes so I like to invest my money in the Spring pieces that are a bit more practical.

It’s easy to style transitional outfits with clothes that you already own. We want to be able to wear spring colors while also staying warm! One way I like to transition my wardrobe is swapping out my shoes in spring. It’s all about the accessories! You can take a cozy warm sweater with jeans and wear it with slingback pumps. Just because the calendar says spring, we are not putting away our winter clothes just yet! I can stay warm with layers and wear those cute shoes sitting in our closet waiting to be worn!

I was really excited to find these Marc Fisher slingback pumps on sale at DSW because the style is cute, they are super comfortable and are a great price point! I can’t wait to wear these to work or for any occasion! It looks like a fancy shoe because of the pointed toe but the short heel makes them so comfortable so you can wear them for hours! They look professional and have a nice fun twist of a slingback which is really popular right now. It’s a great play on a work friendly version of the sandal that I can easily slide into. I plan on wearing them for Spring, Summer and Fall!

Preventing Hair Damage with L’Oreal

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My hair has gone through a lot the last 5 years or so. I had long blonde hair during my college years and a few months after graduation, I did a drastic chop cutting off more than a foot of hair. I had fun with short hair and whenever it would grow past my shoulders I would get it cut again to a short bob. After a few years, I missed my long hair so I have been growing it out and I’ve learned a few things about keeping it healthy. I like going back and forth using my higher end hair products to the more price friendly ones. Just because it has a well known name and costs more than $20, it doesn’t mean that product is what works best for your hair. Today I wanted to talk about some of my favorite products that I use before applying to any heat to my hair. They are a great price point and help keep your hair healthy!

I have frizzy hair so I like to style my hair with heat products every day so I can look more professional and more put together. Using heat products along with my fake blonde color, I really need to take care of my hair because it can be damaged very easily. Using a hair straightener often can lead to weak, brittle hair and split ends which can prevent long flowy hair.

Using my core hair products consistently help repairs hair damage and protect my hair from heat. I like to let my hair air dry for a bit before I use any heat tools. Right after the shower after I towel dry my hair, I will take a hair scrunchie and put my hair in a half up ponytail. I’ll use three pumps of the L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil and apply it to the lower section of my hair. I have really thick hair so I want to make sure that all of my hair gets the attention it needs. Then I’ll take my hair out of the scrunchie and start at the ends and work my way up to the roots applying the serum. With my leftover product, I emphasize any spots I notice brittle hair that needs some extra product.

If I am blow drying my hair, I will use the L’Oreal Blow Dry It quick dry primer spray. It cuts my drying time in half and protects my hair from any heat damage. I also noticed right away that my hair gets the blow out shine, bounce and look when I use it no matter what shampoo that I use. I like to generously spray my hair and then I will spray my round brush for my layers when I curl my layers.

Using a hair straightener can be so bad for your hair when you do it frequently so always use a heat protection spray! The spray on the L’Oreal Sleek It iron straight heatspray is amazing because it just takes a few sprays to get the right amount of product all over your hair to protect it.

The best thing about these products is they give you great hair that can last days inbetween washes! The most important thing to prevent hair damage is to try to go as any days as you can inbetween washes. I actually have a hair washing schedule and try to go through the whole weekend without washing my hair to keep free from any heat products. With the right products, you can keep your hair healthy and protect it from heat damage with often leads to hair breakage – the opposite of what you want while you are growing your hair out!

Improve Your Mood & Have A Good Day

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It’s easy to wake up groggy and in a funk these days. It’s even easier to go to bed in a discouraged mood feeling like you didn’t do enough. After a few days of this bad mood, I decided to start my day telling myself it was going to be a good day. Sometimes just telling yourself that you are in a good mood, helps you put yourself in a good mood. A lot of it is mental but also how you start your day and how you end it. I like to start my day with a to do list and a few times a week I’ll do a brain dump of things that are on my mind and keeping me overwhelmed. Once I see it on paper, I can make a plan to tackle these obstacles and find ways to address what is making me anxious.

Here are a few things that are on my daily to do list that help improve my mood. Your mental health is always important and deeply impacts on the type of day you will have.

Make your bed every morning! It takes two seconds and it’s an easy routine to do every morning. When I make my bed, I feel motivated to get the day started and a little energized knowing I already accomplished something on my to do list! It also feels great to get into bed at night into a made bed.

Staying at home all day makes me feel like there is no point in washing my face in the morning. To help me get ready for the day, I recently started showering in the morning. It’s refreshing it and it really helps me wake up. Now is also the time to use all of those products you have in your shower since you have time for daily self care.

You don’t need to do a full face of makeup everyday unless that is what brings you joy. For me, it’s starting the day nice and clean and putting on real clothes. When I get out of my pajamas, it helps me turn on “work mode” and makes me productive. I’ve been transitioning from my night time pajamas to my daytime pajamas, leggings and a loose fitting top, and then put on a fresh pair of pajamas at night so I can tell my body it’s time for bed.

For a while, I would wake up and turn on the TV while I ate breakfast. Then before I knew it, hours had passed and I got nothing done. Now I like to start my day listening to a podcast while I make my coffee and will listen to music while I work. The TV stays off during the day. I’ll watch TV at night while I eat dinner and it’s become more of a treat then being the sole focus of my day. Fridays are when I binge watch my shows as a nice treat.

If you feel bleh and like the days blur into one, I encourage you to start a project. It can be an art project or a house project you have been putting off. Every day, I spend time in our guest room which was a room filled with boxes and junk from our move. Slowly I’m unpacking and decorating the space to be functional as a guest room and office. At the end of this, I should be able to have a completed project to show off!

Finally, create a bedtime and stick to it. I’ve been going to bed earlier than I normally would instead of watching another episode or scrolling on my phone. Now is the time to get enough sleep at night so you can wake up in a good mood with energy. An hour before I’d like to be asleep, I’ll take a Melatonin and read or I’ll watch an episode of a show I’ve seen a thousand times.

Spring Cleaning with a Side of Quarantine

Published on by blonde rosie3 Comments

Spring cleaning is nothing new since most of us either do a big clean each spring or know about it, just may not get to it. Well now that we have some extra time on our hands and we are sanitizing our homes, I thought it would be helpful to talk about spring cleaning in a time of the Corona Virus. Here are some of the ways that I clean throughout the year and have stepped up my cleaning process today to be safe.

Sign up for a subscription services

In recent weeks we saw how unprepared people were when we needed cleaning supplies and basic cleaning supplies. I personally use Grove Collaborative, an online cleaning supply delivery service. This way I can add items to my cart and then have them shipped to my home. You can choose how frequently you receive items and can adjust your cart with what you need. Since I have the storage space, I also order toilet paper, paper towels and laundry detergent in bulk from Target’s online website because I get free shipping and never have to worry about running out. My mom called asking if we needed anything and because I have my cleaning supplies mailed to me, I never had to worry about buying anything.

Have cleaning kits ready to go

Whether you have a big house or a small apartment, I have found that having a cleaning basket for each bathroom and floor makes cleaning so easy and fast to do. I have a set of bathroom cleaning products in each bathroom so I can easily grab a cleaning spray and wipe everything down post shower at night or while I brush my teeth in the morning. Most of my cleaning supplies are in my kitchen so it’s easy to wipe down counters each night before bed and I have a cleaning kit in our linen closet off our bedroom. On Sundays, while I collect all of the dirty clothes and bedding to bring down to the basement, I will quickly spray and wipe things down to keep it up. Now with this paranoia, I’ve been cleaning almost daily so now I can grab a kit and quickly clean.

Keep counters clutter free

I love a good knick knack but I try and keep them to a minimum because it makes dusting and cleaning a pain. My kitchen counters are the most frequently cleaned space in my home since I do it daily so I like to keep the bare minimum on the counters. If I decorate a table, I like to decorate with books in my living room because I can move things around and clean with ease. With the being home more now than ever, my coffee table has been used as a desk, dinner table and a catch all for junk. While I love a good decorative centerpiece, I simplified things a bit to make the space more functional for my daily needs. Now more than ever, we need to sanitize and the kitchen is a space where outside items are most. Having clear countertops makes cleaning a breeze! If you have stuff on your countertops, try to find a cabinet or drawer for them. If there is no space, see if you can purge a few things.

Everything should have a home

If you are cleaning and ask yourself, where did all of this stuff come from? The answer is you probably didn’t home a place for it to begin with. I use one of my end tables in my living room as technology storage. It’s where all of the cords, chargers and unused tech goes so it’s in one place and out of site. It makes cleaning easy because I just throw stuff in there and know where to find it later. Drawers do not have to be labeled and super organized, just have a drawer or cabinet where similar things go so it makes cleaning easy and you always know where things are. Having cleaning kits allows me to keep things sanitized but I didn’t have to worry about not having enough cleaner when the stores ran out.

Decide if you need more than one

I’ve moved so much over the last few years that I have really simplified the items that I own. Sure, I would still need a moving truck if I moved again because I’m not that minimalist, but I’ve done a good job of making sure that I have only one of everything of items that I don’t need more than one of. Not only does it help you get dressed easier because you are not overwhelmed with options, but I also am able to find what I need because I know exactly where it is. I donated a lot of unused bags, sweatshirts, shoes and home items that quickly became clutter because I couldn’t find a place to put allll of my bags or alllll of my sweatshirts. This quarantine has definitely showed me what I use most and what I really don’t need. My closet has full of work tops that I truly love but lately I’ve been wearing a lot more pajamas. I’ve always debated if I really need that many pajamas and I’m happy it’s something I like to have a lot of because they have definitely been my go to the last few weeks! Before I buy another top for work, I am probably going to ask myself if I really need it because I know that I already own so many.

Have the right tools to make cleaning easy

Hands down the best thing I ever bought was our Dyson vacuum. I got it on Black Friday for a good price at Target because yes, it is pricey but I read the reviews and wanted it. HSN also runs good deals throughout the year! Because it is so lightweight, I can vacuum when I see a mess easily instead of telling myself that I will get to it when I vacuum next. I have hardwood floors throughout the house and a few area rugs so I love that I can vacuum both floors without dealing with a long cord behind me. Now that I am home all the time, I have been vacuuming every other day because it is so easy to do! I also have a Swiffer with wet Swiffer cloths on each floor so I can easily wipe down our floors when needed. Since I have cleaning tools easily accessible, I am more likely to clean once a week than when it gets really bad and I reallly need to clean. I also purchased a few items like dusting cloths, a duster and others on Grove Collaborative because they have a section on their site of cleaning tools.

Oh and I wanted to also talk about a new item I purchased on Amazon! We don’t have a hall closet on our first floor so I didn’t know what to do with our broom and Swiffer so I bought these holders to put on the wall next to the stairs going down to the basement. It was the perfect space where I could store items so they are easy to get but out of site.