Beauty Must Haves for Teachers

How is the week almost over already? I feel like it was just Monday, but by no means am I complaining. Jay and I are going to stick around our town this weekend and enjoy a local fair and an air show. I always feel so blessed to live in a town full of beauty and community activities. Being a teacher in the town where I live has so many positives. It’s so fun to be able to talk with my students about local things happening in the community and to support sports, local family farms, and fundraisers. The families are incredibly sweet and I honestly feel like I am a celebrity whenever I see my students around town. I always laugh because the kids have two reactions: either they are so excited to see me they come up and give me a hug, or they are so shy they cling to their parents and wave from afar. Second grade is such a sweet and pure age. So when I say I’m blessed, I truly mean it.

Getting ready and dressing for my job is much different than if I were working in an office. In a perfect world my hair would be flawlessly curled and my makeup extra glamorous. Everyday I would wear dresses or pencil skirts, heels, big statement earrings, chunky jewelry, and have impeccably manicured nails. That being said, I am a teacher so that is not my everyday. Sure I wear heels sometimes but by the end of the day I am kicking myself for it. Of course I wear jewelry but more often than not big earrings and bracelets are such a distraction for 7 year olds. And yes I still do my makeup, but I am not rolling into second grade with a smokey eye! Which leads me to today’s topic: beauty items that I think every teacher should own.

All my friends know I use a million products a day but today I wanted to show you the absolute things you should be using, even if you don’t wear makeup or have much of a morning get ready routine.

Beautycounter Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion. Every morning I wash and lotion my face. I started using this face lotion recently and I am obsessed. This moisturizer actually adjusts hydration levels throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated and radiant. I know it sounds crazy but they have mimicked the life giving properties of plants to match the structure of skin to give it exactly what it needs, nothing more and nothing less. This is perfect for me because the temperature in my classroom can go from 95% humidity one day to 0% and dry the next.

Native Deodorant. I have been a long time user of Suave deodorant. I didn’t like any other brands and had no intention of switching to a natural deodorant until I learned how dangerous it could be for your body. Many deodorants are full of parabens and aluminum and you’re putting that right on your skin, right near your lymph nodes! Not good. I made the switch, but was skeptical, to Native and I haven’t looked back since. First of all it smells amazing, I have the vanilla coconut, and second it actually works. If you started school in August you know that we had some excruciating days. It was hot, there was no AC, and every single body was radiating heat. But guess whose body was not radiating smell? This gals! I highly recommend it!

Living Proof instant de-frizzer. This is great for second and third day old hair. I love to use it on the top of my head near my part because this is where I tend to get the most frizz. I’m usually running late in the morning (thanks to my snooze button) and I often throw my hair up in a quick messy bun. When I do my hair I like to use this on my ends because it instantly smoothes them right out. It smells so fresh and it does not weigh my hair down at all. I usually get my living proof hair products from Nordstrom because the shipping is free!

Bow Hair Ties. These are currently out of stock at Old Navy online but I found similar ones here. I bought them in the store so I am sure you can find them there. These are the perfect way to dress up a ponytail.

Buxom Lip Cream. I always have chapstick at my desk but I like a little gloss now and then. This gloss tingles like mint chapstick but adds a nice shine without the glitter. It really plumps up the lips and makes you feel glamorous without being too extra in the classroom.

What are you teacher favorites? Not a teacher? Tell me the beauty things you can’t live without on a daily basis! Stay beautiful! Xoxo

Why I Joined Beautycounter

If you haven't already figured it out, I have joined Beautycounter as a consultant! I am super excited for this opportunity for so many different reasons. I love teaching and I absolutely love what I do but I always wished I could be doing something in the makeup or skincare industry. I love to try new products, talk about products, and push anything I am loving on anyone that will listen - sorry (but not really sorry) to my BFFs that constantly hear me raving about any product that I’ve tried and loved. When I started to learn about Beautycounter I was really intrigued but nervous to start my own business not knowing what the outcome would be. Finally I took the plunge, thanks to the help of my mentor, and I am so glad I did. I haven't felt this excited or motivated to do work after a full day of teaching in a while!

Being a part of Beautycounter means more than just talking about skincare and makeup. They are a business that is changing the beauty industry by making safer products. Everyday I am learning more and more about this company that tests all their ingredients rigorously before putting it in a product with the Beautycounter label. Not many other companies in the US can say that they are putting in this much effort to produce high quality products with safer and cleaner ingredients.

As I’ve gotten older I have become less naive about food, products, and my body. At the grocery store I am seeing more and more produce and meats with organic stickers and even processed foods in organic packaging. It is scary to know that all the produce without those organic stickers are grown in fertilizer with chemicals, sprayed with insecticides, and use growth hormones. You might be thinking okay great but how does that affect me? While the organic food does not necessarily taste better why spend more money for something that tastes pretty much the same? But let me ask you, do you want all of the residual chemicals entering your body while you’re eating the produce? The answer is probably no. If you already take care of what is going into your body, do you also think about what you’re putting on your skin? Our skin absorbs more than 60% of anything that we put on it. Let me share with you a few very scary statistics:

• There are more than 85,000 chemicals registered for use, with thousands more hitting the market every year
• In the United States, more than 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment each year, including 72 million pounds of recognized carcinogens. Of the top 20 chemicals discharged to the environment, nearly 75% are known or suspected to be toxic to the developing human brain
• More than 200 synthetic chemicals—many of them known to be toxic—were found in the bodies of nearly all Americans, including newborn infants, who are exposed to these chemicals in utero
• Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 40% more women in 2002 than in 1982. From 1982 to 1995, the incidence of reported difficulty almost doubled in younger women ages 18-25.
• One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime; 40 years ago, it was one in 10.37. Only half of these cases can be tied to traditional risk factors like genetic inheritance, diet, and reproductive history. That’s hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed with no known risk factors

Often times I say ignorance is bliss but this should not be ignored. YOU can control what goes into your body and on your body so why aren't you doing it? Please don’t think I am pushing Beautycounter on you, I’m really not. I am just one girlfriend sharing to another girlfriend about the hazards that we are facing in pretty packaging and glittery lip gloss. Believe me, it was so hard to give up some of my favorite skincare products but the Beautycounter products are now becoming my favorites. They are such high quality and work even better than most of my tried and true products. Honestly, I haven't given up everything but you have to start somewhere, even if you swap out your face or body wash it is a step.

If I am no longer in the bliss of ignorance with skincare and beauty products, you better believe I am going to spread the word. If you feel impassioned by this post, please reach out to me and we can take this journey together! Stay healthy! Xoxo

*All statistics from fda.gov

*Quote in picture: Tony Robbins

Fall Favorites

Happy Monday! I had a fantastic weekend celebrating the launch of my Beautycounter business and gathering with friends. It went by much too fast but I am looking forward to a busy week ahead. The weather has been gorgeous here in CT! The crisp air reminded me that Fall is soon approaching. I thought I would share some fall favorites with you as we enter this glorious season!

Bath and Body Candle: Vanilla Birch - This is my favorite fall scent! They stopped selling it in the store about halfway through the winter season last year but this year it is back! I was so excited to see it in Bath and Body Works. I had to stop myself from buying 10!

Starbucks: Iced Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea - This. Is. Everything. OMG! I have been craving this everyday since the first time I tried it. I’m sure it is delicious hot, but since it is still slightly warm outside here in CT the iced version is perfect.

Old Navy: Camel Sweater , Activewear Jacket - This camel sweater has been on my mind since last fall. I bought it this summer and have been dying to wear it! The activewear jacket is so cozy and will be a staple piece in my workout wardrobe. There’s nothing worse than wearing a bulky jacket to the gym and then having to put it back on after a sweaty workout.

Aerie: Move Leggings - My friend suggested these to me this summer and I think I wore them for a week straight after I purchased them. I love that they are high rise and they stretch like no other leggings I’ve ever worn. These are THE comfiest! I want them in every color.

Beautycounter: Color Intense Lip in Shade 9 to 5 - This color is such a versatile shade because it can be worn on many skin tones. It has a peppermint tingle which I love and it is very long wear.

The Styled Collection: Bracelets Lexi, Beckham, Ansley Cuff - I just ordered these bracelets and they should be arriving this week! I love the look of stacked bracelets and I’ve been wanting something a little more chunky than what I already have.

What are you crushing on this fall? Stay beautiful. Xoxo

Splurge vs. Steal Moisturizer Edition

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I did a little too much shopping at The Loft and Sephora, but I can’t resist a good sale! I went through my winter clothes the other day and realized that I absolutely hate all of my sweaters from last year. A bit dramatic? Yes. True? YES! But I digress. With the cool weather approaching I’ve got moisturizer on my mind. During the winter my skin gets so dry and I need to amp up my night cream game. Today I’ve rounded up my favorite creams in both steal and splurge price points.  

Tula Hydrating Day and Night Cream $52 There hasn’t been a Tula product that I’ve tried I haven't liked. I like this cream because it can be used for both day and night. It is an expensive cream; however, it doesn’t clog pores, it doesn’t feel thick or greasy, and the product lasts a while. A little goes a long way with this product, I actually used the product that was left on the lid about 4 times before I actually dug into the jar.

Beautycounter Nourishing Night Cream $49 If you are looking for a product that works and is made with safer ingredients, this is the one for you. This night cream is thick, but again without feeling greasy like the Tula cream. Packed with amazing ingredients like aloe, coconut oil, and geranium and green tea this product is sure to hydrate your skin while you sleep!

Clinique Moisture Surge $19-$52 I put this product in the middle because the smaller jar is more of a steal but the bigger jars can get quite pricey! I initially liked this product because it is a gel cream so it feels much thinner than a traditional hydrating cream. I liked how my skin really soaked this product up, but on the flip side I went through the container very quickly. I did like the results that this gel provided just be aware that it won’t last as long if you tend to use a heavy hand with your night cream.

Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturizer $5 This was my go to moisturizer for years! When I was a teen I started using this and I would say I stopped when I was about 21. I love that this product is very inexpensive, made with salicylic acid, and helps to prevent pimples. I was so oily and acne prone in my late teens to early twenties and this stuff really helped stop my acne without really drying out my skin.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion $10 Prior to marrying me, my husband was a chronic lack of lotion user. His face was always dry after a shower but he showed no initiative of getting a face lotion and taking the time to put it on. Once we got married, I said enough! I got him this lotion and his world was changed forever! I kid - but seriously having a hydrated face is actually life changing! I’ve used this a few times in a pinch and I love it as well. It doesn’t really have a scent, which is nice for men or people who are sensitive to perfumes. I also like how much product comes in a bottle and that it lasts a long while.

I hope this helps as we begin to enter the cold and dry months of the year. What are your favorite moisturizers? Leave a comment below! Stay beautiful! Xoxo

Friendship + Loss

For as long as I can remember I’ve had amazing friends. Through each stage of life we gain and often lose friendships as we begin to establish ourselves on our own path. My friend Leah has been my best friend since fourth grade and is most definitely my truest and best friend to date. Above is a picture from my wedding day, we had SO much fun getting ready together. I’m constantly reflecting on the choices I have made throughout my life, blame it on the teacher in me, and I am always drawn to friendships. Why did the friendship fizzle? Was it me? Them? Both?? I could think of a hundred different situations and scenarios about what went wrong but none seem to be a finite breaking point. I was doing some research on the subject, as I was planning to write this post, and found some interesting articles written by practicing psychologists. I really dug deep for this one guys - get ready!!

As I’ve gotten older, I have inevitably had to take on more and more responsibilities, as does any contributing human being in our society. I remember in high school the only real responsibility I had was working at a coffee shop 2 or 3 times a week and doing well in school. My biggest worries at 16 were wearing the right thing to school, impressing my crush to whom I was nonexistent, and covering up the amazing gift of teenage acne. Like I said, not much was going on in the responsibility department. Who could have time for that when you have a senior boy (and I say boy because there are no men in high school, am I right ladies?) that will not quit taking up every single second of your imaginative mind? All that to say, most 16 year old girls were in the same boat as me, therefore we could easily relate to each other and form connections. I had a large group of friends during that time and we spent every weekend together; however, this honeymoon started to end about two years later.

As I started college my priorities started to shift, I didn’t have as much time for friends, I really matured, and I began dating Jay. I didn’t know it then, but I learned a lot about friendships from this period of my life.

Here’s what I learned:

People change over time. Not only was I changing who I was but my friends were changing, or not changing, around me. I started to have different views than some of my closest friends and that was really scary. It was a time in my life where I felt so alone while still being surrounded by so many. That is a really difficult and sometimes painful time to look back on because I lost some amazing friends. Friends that I shared years of my teenage life and made wonderful memories. It does make me sad to think about that loss, but I am a firm believer that everything in your life happens for a reason. I have to believe that without that loss I would not have gained the good that I have in my life now. Growing out of friendships is normal, and although immensely difficult, we have to accept it and move on. Like any relationship that ends time will help it heal.

Expectations are not always clear. In one article I read the author Julie Beck said, “Friendships are unique relationships because unlike family relationships, we choose to enter them. And unlike voluntary bonds, like marriage and romantic relationships, they lack a form of structure.” When you’re married you talk with your spouse everyday, you ask questions about their well being, you make time for them, and your relationship evolves together. When you enter a marriage you take vows to do these things, but there are no vows in a friendship. When I was 18 I expected my friends to come with me to parties, go shopping with me at the drop of a hat, or catch a 10:30 movie on a Thursday night. My expectations quickly changed as I got older. I wanted friends who supported my relationship with Jay, consoled me when I couldn’t find a job, or to have a glass of wine and talk about our love life. When my friends couldn’t fulfill those expectations I started to grow closer to other amazing women who were more like minded. I’m sure for my friends that I lost, I was no longer fulfilling their expectations of what our friendship meant to them. There are grey areas in friendship and sometimes you can come out the other side still holding on but other times you come out empty handed.  

I wrote all of this to say that friendship is a balance of holding on when things are good and letting go even when you don’t want to. I have the most amazing friends from all walks of life. I have friends who I’ve known for years, new friends who feel like old friends, and friends that I haven't met yet but I know are out there. Friendships are special bonds and I cherish every past, current, and future friendship I have. I hope this helps you let go of any past relationships that have been causing you heartache. Xoxo  

Best Work Pants

For us teachers, it's back to reality - school is officially in full swing! It’s always a big adjustment getting back to work but I always look forward to playing dress up :) This summer I caught a lot of good sales and was able to stock up on some great work pants! Since I work in a more casual environment, a lot of the pants I’m featuring are more business casual but can most definitely be dressed up. I tend to over dress, but I live by the motto dress for the job you want, not the job you have! Since I am a teacher I am constantly sitting on the floor, walking or even running around, so you know these pants have passed the comfort test!

 

My favorite of all are these pants from The Loft. I have them in three colors and each of them are a different fabric. The green was my first pair I purchased last fall. It is similar to a cotton pant and perfect for the transition into cooler months. The pink pair I purchased this past spring and it is perfect to wear right now. It is a cotton material as well but the fabric is so light. I recently purchased the black pair during a Loft flash sale on all pants (I went a little crazy - sorry wallet!). These are definitely for the cooler months because this fabric is much more thick than the other two. I love how flattering this style is and how versatile it can be. Each season they’ve come out with a new color or style of this pant, so I am hopeful to purchase more for the Fall! The length is perfect to wear with flats or heels. I’m 5’4 and it hits just at my ankle.

Another pair from The Loft that I am loving are these skinny ankle pants. These black pants are super flattering and suck everything in. They are quite fitted, so if you don’t like that look these pants are not for you. I love that these hit right above my ankle so they look phenomenal with flats which are basically all I wear to work during the fall. These pants also come in blue!

Last, but certainly not least, are these pants from The Gap. Mine are over a year old so they don’t have this exact style, but the pants at the link are very similar. I love that these are chinos because they are light and have a bit of a looser fit. These are perfect for days when I know I will be on the go or warm days when I don’t want clothing sticking to me. I also love The Gap for colored denim, which I often wear to work. I got rid of a lot of my denim this past summer because I had worn right through them; so I will be on the hunt for a good sale to stock back up!

What are your favorite work pants? I’d love some new recommendations!! Stay beautiful. Xoxo

Happiness vs. Suffering

After a much needed vacation, I am back! Jay and I had a wonderful time eating our way through Peru; the food was to die for, I am missing it daily. I’m planning on doing a travel guide to Macchu Picchu, hopefully this week! We had long flights so I was able to listen to lots of podcasts and catch up on some good books. One podcast that particularly stuck with me was the Armchair Expert featuring Kristen Bell. If you follow her on instagram you know that she is an advocate for women and a supporter for many amazing causes. She’s an overall positive person and explained how and why during her interview on the podcast. Kristen says that everyday we have a choice between happiness and suffering, we choose how to respond to a situation which inevitably decides our mood thereafter.

I thought about this concept for a long time and it’s still resonating with me more than a week later. Everyday we make choices, whether we are aware of them or not. Orange juice or coffee for breakfast? Blue or black pants for work? Send the text or not? All day we make choices, so of course it makes sense that in any given scenario we can choose happiness or suffering. With any negative situation there has got to be some kind of positive light. If not, you will suffer and you will be miserable.

I’ll be the first one to admit that I compare myself, my things, my life to everyone. I can’t help it and it does cause me suffering. After listening to Kristen, I’m trying to think of something positive in each situation where I start to compare myself to someone. Just this morning as I was sitting in my 95 degree classroom with no air conditioning, I started to think about all the people in air conditioned rooms and I got jealous. I was miserable and I was suffering. I started to shift my mindset and think of all the reasons I was fortunate to be sitting in that hot, sweaty, humid classroom. One I have a job, two I have a job that I love, and three I have a job that I am extremely good at. All those people I am envious of in air conditioned spaces might not be able to say the same things. For those reasons I was choosing to be happy.

We only get one life to live. We can choose to be miserable, compare ourselves to others, be envious of the things we don’t have, but where does that get us? I am choosing to be happy. Surround yourself with people that have like minds and help others when you can. This past weekend I volunteered at an event sponsored by Dollar Giving, a nonprofit organization that supports local communities. The event was in downtown Hartford and I was quite anxious driving through traffic and finding my way through the city. At that moment when I started to feel uncomfortable, I thought about the people I would be helping that night and how much joy they would be feeling. Their happiness in turn caused mine. I had a wonderful time and was so glad I did it, and will definitely be on the lookout to do some more volunteer work. Being kind and bringing joy to others is the best way to choose happiness. It’s funny that I teach this to 7 and 8 year olds but it is still relevant to adults each and everyday.

So what will you do to choose to be happy today? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Xoxo