February Favorites

I feel like February just began, but somehow it's the last day of the month. This past month has been quite eventful for me. Those quiet days, in January, that had me stir crazy are actually sounding appealing now. February was definitely a much busier month. I started substitute teaching more, working at my part time job again as the weather got nicer and business picked up, celebrated my birthday, continued my fitness journey, experienced some personal things, and began my first official interview process.  The month was filled with many ups and downs for me, but I did have a few favorites come out of it. 

Birthday Cake
My birthday falls in February. In case you missed it, I turned 23 this month. You can check out my post here. My mom has pretty much always made my birthday cakes. This year she tried out a new recipe to make an ice-cream cake.  Let me tell you, it was absolutely delicious. The bottom layer was a half baked chocolate chip cookie that was just heavenly.

Bobbi Brown Finish Illuminating Powder
This month I added a new step to my daily makeup routine. I felt like I was in need of a little more color and sparkle. My mom helped me find the perfect powder to accomplish this. Bobbi Brown's Nude finish illuminating powder was able to do this for me. On the weekends, I'll just put this on by itself and it does the trick for a simple face of makeup.

Cold Play + The Chainsmokers 
Anyone else obsessed with this combination? I have been playing their song on repeat since it has come out.  Without a doubt my favorite song from this month. If you haven't heard it, then you can check it out here.

This after school snack 
Almost two years ago, I shared this recipe with you guys.  Lately, it has been my go to snack when I get home from teaching.  It even makes for a great snack the next day when I can't finish it all at once.

Weekend Getaway

This past weekend, Todd and I were able to get away for the weekend. We spent two days and one night exploring Washington D.C. It was a much needed weekend away to forget about life's current stressors and just hit the reset button.  Having someone to go on adventures with definitely makes life more exciting.  More details to come on the trip in the upcoming weeks!

101 in 1001 Update:
This month I was able to cross four items off of my list. I mailed a care package filled with cookies to my brother and his girlfriend (what college student doesn't love a sweet treat and some snail mail?), went a month without purchasing anything outside of the necessities, visited a museum, and I published a collaboration blog post (check it out here).

What were your favorites from this month?
XOXO

Nude Nails

Last week I shared some tips to look more put together. One of the things I try to do consistently on that list is have my nails painted. This has become a new habit of mine in 2016. I have taken to painting my nails each Monday.  It all started thanks to Bachelor Mondays. When I lived at my apartment, we did  not have an upgraded cable package so I was forced to watch commercials during my weekly show.  I started painting my nails during commercial breaks to make the time go by faster.  Painting your nails while watching a two hour show is perfect because you're less likely to mess them up since you are just sitting there. 

As much as I love bright colors, I don't love bright nail polish on my fingers. I prefer a nude or pretty shade of pink.  I like the dainty feminine look that says yes I take care of my nails but I'm not here to make a statement. Plus the softer colors are easier to remove too. I usually paint on two coats followed by Essie's gel top coat. This will last me about 5-6 days, then I take the polish off, let my nails breath for a day and then paint them again.

My current nail color of the week is Essie's Fiji. I picked it up at the drugstore the other day and I absolutely adore it. It's a solid pink that adds just enough pop of color. 

XOXO

Daily Skin Care Routine

Everyone has their own routines, especially when it comes to skincare.  Since a young age, my mom continuously stressed to my brother and I the importance of taking care of your skin. It's taken me quite some time to find the products that work best for my skin type.  Over the course of the past year I have finally found a routine that seems to work for me. By no means do I have perfect skin, but it's pretty good if I say so myself. Naturally, I get the occasional stress zit but my breakouts have decreased significantly. In my perfect world I would wash my face twice a day... If I'm being honest this doesn't always happen.  Realistically, I wash my face at least once a day each morning.  If I have any makeup on I remove it with Burt's Bees peach or cucumber makeup remover wipes.

I begin by wetting a washcloth with luke-warm water. Next, I use clinique's face wash. It doesn't have a scent and is perfect for sensitive skin.  I scrub my face with my clean hands, and then use the washcloth to remove the soap.  I usually rinse the washcloth and wipe my face off a second time to ensure that all of the soap has been removed.  Next, I pat my face dry with a towel.  The next major step is to apply toner with a small cotton ball. This toner removes any dirt that may not have been washed off.  Finally, I apply Clinique's facial moisturizer.  This third product also has a minimal scent.  It has a light texture, so it can be used during every season.  It is especially helpful in the winter when my skin tends to be a bit more dry. 

If you are thinking about trying a new skin care product, I recommend purchasing it in a travel size first because if you end up not liking it then you won't be wasting money on a bigger amounts. 

XOXO