my current skincare routine

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First, a confession.  I am a total skincare and makeup junkie. I love to try out new products and play with different looks. It’s kind of a problem.You don’t even want to know how many Sephora VIB points I have stocked up :)
Now that I’m about to become a mom, and I’ve hit the age of 3-0, I’m trying to simplify while using products that serve double duty to save time while still getting the results I want. 
I would describe my skin as definitely being combination/oily and very prone to breakouts. I have been searching since my mid-teens for products that will tame my breakouts. It’s taken a really long time, but I swear by the Acne control line by Paula’s Choice. Last summer my skin was really bad, nothing was working and I decided on a whim to try this skin care system, and my skin responded instantly. It’s been 10 months (?) and I never get breakouts anymore. About a month and a half ago, I dropped most of the system with the exception of the cleanser. The toner and exfoliator were just a little too harsh now that my skin had cleared up. 
So I walked into Sephora to buy a new foundation (more on that in my next post!) and I walked out with new products for my face. I love that these are natural products, they smell very clean and earthy and feel amazing on my skin. They were pricey (ouch!) but you use such a small amount that they should last me almost a year.
One // Two // Three

One // Two // Three

I know this looks like a lot of products …. but my morning and evening skincare routine is exactly the same and it takes me less than five minutes. 
1. Cleanse 2. Toner 3. Moisturize (I mix 2 drops of the Seaberry oil and a tiny bit of the Lotus face cream) 4. Eye cream (some mornings I skip this step, and use it only at night) 
The Clinique exfoliator is one of my favorite products, but I only use it twice a week. After cleansing my skin in the shower, I exfoliate and loveeeee how clean and tingly my face feels! 
You want to know what else is crazy? While I love, love, love makeup — I find that I need so much LESS of it now that my skin is in better shape. I have fun playing with different makeup looks if I’m going out, but on a day to day basis, it only takes me five minutes to do my makeup. So, in case you were keeping track — that’s ten minutes total in the morning :) I promise that later this week I will share my favorite and most used makeup products. 
What does your skincare routine look like? How do you simplify your morning routines? 


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ending to an era

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It’s 10:45am, and I am sitting at my dining room table. Drinking coffee I made at home, eating a bagel. Listening to the best Pandora station (dubbed “amazing country shit” by my husband) and cuddling with Gunner on my lap.
There is barely any room for him, but he tries :)
Yes it’s a Tuesday. Yes I’m still pregnant!

Hanging out my first day home!
Even though it wasn’t planned to happen this way, yesterday was my last day of work at TrashLand. Probably my last day there, ever.
The last month there has been so hard for me, in every way. Feeling my priorities shift away from being a “career” gal to an-ever-growing-desire to be home more with our baby. When I started at this company two years ago, I was promised alot of things that have yet to materialize, and according to my boss, are still very much in limbo. Then there is just the fact that my company offers absolutely zero flexibility, which is extremely difficult for anyone who works there that has a family. She asked me if I was going back, and I told her that I didn’t know. I’m grateful to have the next 12 weeks off to really think about what I want to do, but in my heart, I know I won’t be going back. I know that what we want for our family just doesn’t mesh with this job.
So, as I drove away from the office yesterday – I was bawling my eyes out. Something I totally did not expect! I thought I would feel relief and excitement, and instead I just felt guilt. And worry that I was making the wrong decision. This mommy guilt is rough, and she isn’t even here yet!
I can’t wait for her to get here so I can snuggle with her and love on her. I know that will be when it finally hits home for me what life is really all about, and all my doubts and questioning will completely disappear. 
Until then, expect to see more of me around here! :) 


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Mother’s Day Ideas

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It’s crazy that Mother’s Day is only a few weeks away! I love the idea of personalized gifts for our moms and grandmas, so I try to start thinking about these things in advance.
This year is a special one, because it will also (hopefully!!) be MY first Mother’s Day! This is also the first year our moms are grandmas!
We don’t usually spend a lot of extra money on these holidays, but I still want to show our love and gratitude for having these amazing women in our lives!
Here are a few favorites for them …. and a couple I wouldn’t mind getting either! hint, hint dear hubby!

PERSONALIZED grandmother necklace.Calla Lily.Grandma Gift.Personalized Necklace.Nana Granny Grandmother Jewelry ,BIRTHSTONE necklace,INITIAL
Necklace via Etsy
Best Grandma Ever Mug // Best Nana Ever Coffee Mug // Grandma's Mug // Gift for Grandma // Mothers Day Gift for Grandmother
Mug via Etsy

 

For me personally, I love my Alex & Ani bracelets and would love to add this one to my collection!


Bracelet from Alex & Ani

Of course, you can never go wrong with perfume, lotion sets or flowers!

Tory Burch - Tory Burch Gift Set
Tory Burch perfume set via Sephora
Philosophy - Amazing Grace Gift Set
Amazing Grace Gift Set via Sephora

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Floral Arrangement via Pinterest

Has anyone started thinking about Mother’s Day? What ideas do you have?


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