Happy Holidays

Happy holidays 🎄🥂🎉 I wanted to showcase alllll of Beautycounter's Holiday collection in one place!! Check out my latest video to see all of the goodies! My favorites are the mini lip gloss vault and the highlighter palette!! 💕 Who wants some under their Christmas tree?! 🎄

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Prevention and Awareness month. To all the women who are fighting breast cancer this month and to all the survivors, especially to my Auntie Sue, know that we support you with this cause. Your courage and bravery to fight this is beyond compare. Cancer survivors and fighters are some of the strongest women I know!

In honor of everyone who has been affected by cancer - either ourselves or our family members and dear friends - I am partnering with our Beautycounter team to work together in gifting #1000PouchesWithPurpose to breast cancer patients going through chemotherapy and radiation throughout the US and Canada.

You can sign up to sponsor a pouch that will contain safe, gentle products (free of hormone-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens) to make cancer patients just a bit more comfortable and brighten their day. Several of the pouch products we have selected are particularly effective at soothing dry, irritated, inflamed skin from radiation treatments. I'll be personally donating the pouch and I'm asking for sponsors to help with the products.

In addition, I will donate my entire sales commission from each pouch, in your name, to: Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and Keep A Breast Foundation, two incredible non-profit organizations focused on prevention, early detection and educating young women about breast cancer. Your donation will therefore help to fund research for prevention, as well as gift a current patient with a pouch!!

You can sponsor any pouch shown here, sponsor specific products you'd like to add to a pouch (i.e. body lotion, shampoo/conditioner, baby balm, baby oil, lip conditioner, lip gloss, etc.) or simply make a donation in any amount (I will combine all donations to create as many pouches as possible) by commenting below or sending me a private message, text or email. Here in Northern CT, our pouches will be going to patients undergoing treatment at the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center (Hartford Healthcare) in Avon, CT.

Our team goal across the US and Canada is #1000PouchesWithPurpose.

Thank you for supporting such a wonderful cause that is near to my heart! Xoxo

Fall Decor

Hey hey happy day! Today I wanted to keep it short and sweet and share some pictures of my fall home decor. I’m just missing a good table centerpiece. I’m looking for a cornucopia but I can’t seem to find one that I love. Any suggestions are appreciated!. I don’t go too crazy with decorations because Christmas is my time to shine! The day after Thanksgiving all of the fall decorations come down and my house turns into a Christmas explosion. It is full out nutcrackers, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, reindeer, snowmen, and basically any other symbol of Christmas you can think of. Clearly I am already excited for that.

I love how the front came out but these steps are our next renovation. They are completely crumbling! I am so excited about what my husband has in mind to redo them!

This is my favorite part of our mudroom. Jay takes all the credit for this renovation because it was his dream since we got the house. I adore the way it came out, and I adore even more decorating it for the holidays!

The corners of our kitchen look like the epitome of fall. I got these jars from Hobby Lobby last year and I love how they are so versatile. I have them in the kitchen and in the bathroom! Our one salute to Halloween doesn’t even have a picture in it - we’re not in love with that holiday so we may need to put a stock picture in there LOL!

Most of our fall decor is from Michaels or Marshalls. I love mixing the white pumpkins with orange accents because it provides a nice pop color. Did you catch the little gnome? We have plenty more of them for winter, they are Jay's favorite so we had to get one for fall. Last year we did all white and blue but I was feeling more warm tones this year and I am loving it! How do you decorate for fall? Xoxo

Patience

If it feels like I have been a bit MIA it’s because I have been. Work has been taking a lot out of me so when I get home I just don’t have the right energy to write. Today I was able to let go of negative energy and sit down with a clear mind. I want to share about patience and why it can be difficult but why it is so important to have in day to day activities.

Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Sounds easy enough, right? One of my new year's resolutions was to be more patient with Jay, but I’m thinking I need to broaden this resolution to being more patient with adults. I realize that I lose my patience much more quickly with adults than I do with children. At work I have the patience of a saint. Young children need to experience things on their own to be able to learn. This got me thinking, why don’t I apply this philosophy when working with adults?

I’ll give you a perfect example, even thinking about what I am going to type already has me starting to lose my cool. Every week I go to the grocery store and bring my own reusable bags, one of which is just for cold things. You know the bag with the insulated lining? Most times when I check out the bagger knows to put all the cold things in that special bag, but not every time. This past weekend I went to the store and to my dismay not a single cold thing got put in that bag. Needless to say I was fuming when I walked out of the grocery store. I called my husband, I ranted about how they never bag my things right, and I angrily threw my groceries in my trunk and drove away. To some this may sound silly, to others you’re agreeing with my rage, and the select few are thinking about the poor bagger I am bashing.

What did that little incident teach me? It taught me that adults, like children, need to be taught and learn new things. My grocery store comparison can be translated into so many other interactions that happen in a day. Think about who it is that you lose your patience with and what they are exactly doing. I can tell you that 95% of the time when I lose my patience with Jay it’s because he’s doing something one way when I know there is a better or easier way to do it; of course he will disagree with me but ladies we know who’s right.

Adults, like children, need the opportunity to try things on their own and explore their own ideas. When you’re in a situation and you feel yourself starting to boil, think what if this were {insert someone you can be patient with}. Have empathy with that person and know that they aren’t trying to annoy you but they may process a situation different than you. No two minds are alike but that is how we learn things! Sometimes I lose my patience with Jay and then realize that he was in fact right or had a better way to solve something (babe, don’t get used to me saying that!). I always tell my students that if everyone were alike in our classroom it would be pretty boring, so apply this concept to the world. To grow as a person you have to be open to others and their ideas, so start today with more patience in mind.

Do you have any tips or tricks to being patient? Yoga breaths also come in handy!! Stay healthy! Xoxo

Hourglass Primer

Happy Wednesday, you made it halfway through the week! Mine is super busy and filled with exciting business meetings and parties! If you haven't read, I joined Beautycounter to spread the word for safer skincare. You can read all about it here.

One thing I am obsessed with and literally can’t live without in my makeup routine is a good primer. Beautycounter offers a mist that can be used as a makeup primer but I love a cream I can physically rub in. My tried and true has been my Becca Backlight primer. I’ve used this for probably going on two years and I recommend it to everyone. It gives an amazing glow, makes your makeup last all day, and minimizes those pores. I love this stuff so much that if someone were to tell me I couldn’t use it, I would have a full blown adult hissy fit. So why is this post called Hourglass primer then? Remember how I said I’m spreading the word about safer skincare - I bet you can guess where this is going.

So I did some research on my beloved primer. I dug deep into the ingredients and cross checked them with the Never List provided by Beautycounter and the EWG cosmetic database just to be accurate. Well ladies the results are in and I feel like I’ve been cheated on; you know that gut wrenching feeling of betrayal? And by my own makeup!! Five of the 13 ingredients are moderate to severe health hazards, some of which have been linked to cancer. I don't know about you but I’m just not willing to expose my skin to that now that I know the facts.

That brings me to today’s product the Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum. I stumbled upon this by accident while mindlessly browsing all the pretty packages at Sephora and I was immediately drawn to it based on the packaging alone. I am a sucker for anything with essential oils and this product is no exception. It’s formulated with 14 essential oils, 10 lipid-rich plant oils, and four vitamins. It is formulated WITHOUT: Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Phthalates, GMOs, Triclosan. Needless to say I was sold on the product and bought it.

Let’s get down to what you’re really wondering, does it work? The answer is yes!! I actually love it more than my Becca primer! I opted for the mini size because one it is expensive and two a little bit goes a long way with this product. I use about a pea size amount and it is plenty for my full face. I love that this primer is very hydrating and the skin really absorbs it. I let it sit on my face for a few minutes before applying my foundation because it does sit on the skin upon application. My makeup still stays all day and I have that glow from within look that I love. If you have oily skin this product probably isn't the best for you but the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer is made without those harmful ingredients and is oil free.

I love to top off my makeup with this setting spray. It helps to seal in the makeup and it smells amazing. I am obsessed with anything peony scented, candles, room sprays, flowers you name it, so this is right up my ally! This is also a great mist to use right after the gym or when you need a quick refresh.

I hope this helps on your journey to safer skincare. If you can switch just one thing from your everyday skincare or makeup routine you’re helping your skin! Need help? Ask away!! Stay beautiful and healthy! Xoxo

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