My 5 Favorite Skin Care Items

Hello! How are you liking the new theme on the blog? I'm kind of in love. There are a few more changes coming but they should be seamless to you guys. I bought a domain (yeah!), I'm setting up hosting and I'm switching blogging platforms from Blogger to Wordpress. Wordpress is a more robust tool and more professional too. I hope it all goes smoothly - this is all a little intimidating (even for a tech-douche like me). Everything should be switched over by next week.

Now, back to the fun stuff. Today I'm sharing my 5 favorite skin care items. Picking 5 was hard because I've become kind of a product junkie lately. I blame Instagram. I'm obsessed with watching tutorials and learning about new products on there. O B S E S S E D. When I'm at my sink and survey all of the products I have, I tell myself "That's it! No more new stuff until I use some of this stuff up." Then I start to rationalize and it goes something like this:

Me: But I neeeeeed this cream for no makeup days and this other one for under makeup.
Other Me: How many creams do you need woman?

Me: And I neeeeeed this foundation for when I am not wearing sunscreen because this other foundation has sunscreen in it. Duh.
Other Me: And what about the mineral foundation you neglected to mention?

Me: I'm totally going to use up all this stuff!
Other Me: Before it expires?

Me: When I use some of this product up my vanity will be neat and tidy again.
Other Me: Eye roll.

OK, here we go. My 5 favorite skin care items (as of right now).

AM Routine: Let me start by saying that I have really sensitive skin. If I wash it with something too harsh my cheeks get all red, itchy and flaky. Not sexy. CeraVe Foaming Face Wash is the only thing that gets my face clean without setting it off. After I cleanse, I use the Mario Badescu Facial Spray. To be honest, I am not sure if this has any real benefit but I love the smell, it feels great and it must at least hydrate my skin right? Riiiight? OK, then I slather on the Fresh Rose Hydration Face Serum. This stuff feels really good on your skin and you're all dewy and glowy afterward. Then, if I feel I need it, I use the PM CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion. My Dermatologist told me that the PM formula is milder than the AM formula.

PM Routine: I wash again with CeraVe using my nifty $3 face scrubber and follow it up with the IS Clinical Active Serum. This serum helps skin cells regenerate and keeps my flaky skin in check.

Notables: There are two other things I use religiously that aren't pictured. The first is Elta MD SPF 40 Moisturizing Tinted Sunscreen. I use this every single day. Sun damage is no joke and do not plan on looking like an old shoe when I'm older. I've been so tempted to give Glossier's Invisible Shield a try but I love Elta MD so much that not even Glossier can tempt me away!

The other skin care product I love is Fresh Sugar Face Polish. I only use it a couple of times a week to exfoliate my face and man, my skin feels awesome afterward. The Fresh salesperson told me that I should leave it on as a mask while I finish the rest of my shower business to really reap the benefits of the product. Fresh is a little pricey but totally worth it in my book!

So those are the 5 7 skin care items in my current rotation. What products are you using? I mean, I know I said I need to pair down on products but a girl's gotta stay in the know right?

Changes...

I've got some exciting changes in the works. First of all, I am going to dial back the number of times I post so I focus on putting quality content out there that doesn't overwhelm. Next, I'm redesigning the blog so it looks more professional and it's easier to navigate. I'm really excited about both changes and I hope you'll like them too.

So stay tuned for a new look on the blog, a peek of the print I just acquired for the family room, some new flat lays and some other goodies!

Aritzia | Minimalist Dressing

Today I'm going to tell you about my favorite minimalist clothing retailer, Aritzia. Let's start off by hearing how to say Aritzia so you can pronounce it like a pro when you help others discover it. They have boutiques in the U.S. and Canada as well a beautiful website.

I'm lucky enough to work directly across the street from the San Francisco store and I go there often. I haven't visited any other locations, but the store in S.F. is exactly what you'd expect after checking out their website. Everything is opulent yet somehow understated.

They have many brands under the Aritzia name. Some are sophisticated and pricey like Babaton, and others are more casual and affordable like TNA. I like a brand called Wilfred Free which is smack in the middle. I shop this brand the most because they use fabrics with a lot of stretch (read: really comfy) without compromising on style.

Today I received two pieces I bought during a crazy sale. I'm going to show you how gorgeous the packaging is, how stylish the items are and how I plan on wearing my new pretties.

Check out this packaging. Each piece was individually wrapped with this stunning paper and bagged within the box. I just love pretty packaging - it makes the whole experience.

This is the Wilfred Normandie Jacket. It's got some stretch to it, has a super nice drape and it's made of a crepe-like material. They also have something that gets me every time, POCKETS! They are so subtle and yet so necessary.

This is the Wilfred Free Azeveda Skirt. Just like the jacket, it's got some stretch to it. It's mid-weight and structured which is just right for a pencil skirt in my book. Both of these pieces can be worn so many different ways and versatile is the name of the game if you're trying to pair down your wardrobe. Here are a few looks I put together with these two items. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Caseology Phone Case for Fall

I know, I know, I'm pre-gaming for Fall again but a girl's got to be prepared right? I took my clear phone case off the other day and not only was it discolored from my jeans but it was so gross in there. I cleaned my phone off and decided a new case was in order. For stuff like this, I almost always go to Amazon. We are Amazon Prime members so things come fast and they have a HUGE variety and a great return policy. Plus, I really look forward to packages coming. Am I right? A day w/o a package is kind of sad now.

OK, so I decided to go with a burgundy Caseology Wavelength Series for the iPhone 7 (this model is available for a lot of phone sizes). It has a slim profile, dual protection and it's really stylish without costing an arm and a leg! Plus 1,300 customers combined reviews gave it 4.5 stars so, I mean, done deal. Also, because I am such a klutz, I bought the Belkin ScreenForce InvisiGlass Ultra Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 7 (also available in a lot of phone sizes). This screen protector is more pricey than others but there are a few reasons I decided to go this more expensive route; I wanted glass not plastic, this is the one they sell at the Apple Store and, well, I'm clumsy - remember?

If you don't have a screen protector on your phone and you're clumsy like me, listen up. I'll tweak a motorcycle rider adage my husband shared with me recently. There are only two kinds of phones, those that have been down and those that are going down. You heard it here. Here are pics of my phone with the beautiful case and invisible glass shield.

Arugula, Mozzarella, Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Salad

I realize whining about the heat when you live in California is frowned upon but it's not supposed to get this hot here! I feel lethargic, I'm sticky and man oh man am I cranky. When I'm overheated, there is just no way I am turning on an oven or standing over a hot pan or BBQ (not that I know how to BBQ, just sayin'). I find that heat curbs my appetite (which is basically impossible) so something light is a must. Like a summer salad!

I'm a BIG fan of arugula but if you aren't, you can easily replace it with any lettuce you are a big fan of. I just think the peppery flavor of the arugula compliments this salad particularly well. There are no hard and fast rules with this recipe. Use as much or as little as you like of any of the ingredients (listed blow). You know, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc would be a nice touch. Don't mind if I do!

Ingredients

Arugula

Mini mozzarella cheese balls (bocconcini)

Thinly sliced prosciutto (torn)

Cantaloupe (chunks)

Balsamic vinegar (drizzle)

Olive oil (drizzle)

Pepper

Fall Bootie Roundup

I'm not trying to rush things here but for real, Summer is almost over. What the? How did that even happen? So I have started pulling out some of my fall staples in anticipation of wearing my favorite combo, booties and jeans, ALL. FALL. LONG.

As I eluded to in a previous post, I have a weakness for Nordstrom. I don't know how it happened. In fact, I remember when Nordstrom was thought of as a store for "older gals". So I am either an "older gal" now, or they have seriously upped their game because I can't stop putting cute things in my shopping cart. Like these babies:

These are the "Tripp" Booties from BP. and I bought them last year in Chestnut. Let me tell you what - I wore them constantly. If I wore those all the time, imagine the possibilities with these black ones. I walk all over San Francisco in these and never have they given me a blister or fallen apart. Normally I'd say they are a little pricey for BP. but since I bough them last year I know they are worth it. The website says they run a little small but that hasn't been my experience. I am a true 8.5M and that's what I buy these in. Here are a few more booties that I heart:

'Petty' Chelsea Boot, SAM EDELMAN

'Sutton' Bootie, DOLCE VITA

Giovanna Cutout Bootie, LUCKY BRAND

Taggart Ankle Boot, JEFFREY CAMPBELL

So Blue Cutout Bootie, SEYCHELLES

How to Stop Comparing and Start Living!

Photo by: Carol Dibert

I'm aiming for one "real life feels" post a week because I want to keep posts fun and light on the blog but also authentic. Life isn't always super and we shouldn't feel like we have to pretend they are.

What's on my mind these days is comparing. When we compare ourselves to others and make judgements based on those comparisons, we are just generating a whole lot of negativity we don't need. It's actually damaging to our self worth, to our confidence and to our hearts.

I'm not claiming that I don't do it - I struggle with this very topic every single day. I've spent hours in the closet crying because my outfits don't look like I thought they would. I've turned down invitations to fun events because I felt like I wasn't stylish enough or cool enough to go. Not wanting to go to the beach because of what I might look like to someone else in my bathing suit. I've even avoided posting pictures of myself wearing outfit ideas on my very own blog because I don't look like the other bloggers out there and I am afraid. What a colossal waste of time!

I was in Nordstrom the other day and I really wanted this mustardy gold pleated velvet midi skirt. When I got to the checkout, I decided to not buy the skirt. Here's what was going through my mind:

• I'd probably have to tuck a shirt into this and would that show a roll?
• I'd look so thick around the middle in an elastic waistband, pleats and a tucked shirt
• I would look like a try-hard styling this skirt
• My side profile would be super unflattering

I told the very young salesperson I didn't think I could pull it off. You know what she said? "Life is too short to not wear what you want to wear whenever you want to wear it". She was right and I thought about her words all day long. The skirt is now in my online Nordstrom shopping bag and I'm going to buy it. Not only am I going to buy it, I'm also going to issue myself a personal challenge to post a picture of me wearing it proudly on this blog in an upcoming post.

There is a movement afoot people - a body positive movement and I like it a lot. We need to strip away all these notions of what we should look like, feel like, act like and refocus our energy into being kind and true to ourselves and building each other up.

You may have seen this already but there are two very talented San Francisco bloggers I follow who are getting a lot of body positivity notoriety right now. Robbie Tripp wrote this Instagram post about his beautiful wife Sarah Tripp (aka sassyredlipstick) and it's gone viral for all the right reasons. Check the post out if you have a chance and I encourage you to follow this power couple because they are going to change the world!

Sexy Bob Hairstyles

I have a bob haircut. Thankfully my hair grows fast but I have pretty fine hair. I have a lot of it, but it's fine which means when I grow it out past my shoulders, it tends to stick to the sides of my head and look, well, not cute.

I've had a variation of the bob haircut for years so I am always on the lookout for new ones. Most of the looks I gravitate to are achieved by styling. The "undone bob" is a thing thanks to stylists like Anh Co Tran at Ramirez Tran Salon and Dominick Serna at Chris McMillan, The Salon - both in Beverley Hills, CA.  Achieving this look means product, advanced techniques with flat irons, curling irons, etc. - and although I long for the look, I just don't have time to do it on the daily. Sigh.

None of this stops me from endlessly trolling hair on Instagram and Pinterest though. Here are some looks I like. Maybe one of you will get one of these styles for your next cut. If you do, please share. Enjoy!

ANH CO TRAN (@anhcotran) on Instagram

ANH CO TRAN (@anhcotran) on Instagram

ANH CO TRAN (@anhcotran) on Instagram

ANH CO TRAN (@anhcotran) on Instagram

DOMINICK SERNA (@domdomhair) on Instagram

DOMINICK SERNA (@domdomhair) on Instagram

DOMINICK SERNA (@domdomhair) on Instagram

DOMINICK SERNA (@domdomhair) on Instagram

Beachbody On-Demand Review

Ok, so you already know I am not super psyched about exercising from my Orange Theory review last week. I just don't get what everyone talks about - that "high" after working out. After I workout, I am red faced, usually have a headache and sometimes want to throw up. I can't seem to find something I like doing. Meanwhile, I keep on trying because as much as I admire sloths, I don't want to look like one!

A couple of my girlfriends are trying out Beach Body On Demand (BBOD). Basically, you subscribe and you have unlimited access to stream workouts on your computer or even on the TV (via Apple TV). Beach Body has tons of programs they are famous for like P90x, T25 and Country Heat. You also get access to their meal programs, tools and online community.

It's pretty user friendly actually and when you sign-up they give you a free 2-week trial, which is what I am using. It's also considerably less than a gym or circuit training BUT... you have to have discipline. I work from home primarily so I didn't think this would be an issue for me but it kind of is. I'm still experimenting with it but I think blocking out dedicated time on my calendar is totally necessary. Fueling up on something nourishing is also necessary so try making this smoothie beforehand.

Here's what the dashboard looks like once you join:

Overall, it doesn't have the wow factor of Orange Theory but it is considerably less per month and also not as intimidating. I like that I can do it in my pajamas if the mood strikes and not worry about other people.

I hope you found this helpful. I sure would appreciate hearing about your exercise routines. I'm running out of options!

Note to Readers: I am part of the Beach Body Affiliate Program

My 5 Workhorse Closet Items

There are 5 items in my closet that I just can't live without. Well of course I can, but these are the items I immediately grab for whenever I am packing. They don't all go together but together they are the glue for a lot of my outfits.

1. A dark rinse jean jacket. Mine is from The GAP and it only gets better with every wear. Versatile enough to wear over a dress or the double denim look as seen here. It pretty much goes with everything and I love it.

2. The black and white Breton striped shirt. Mine is from Boden and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. This one is lightweight which is great for me because I am always running hot. I wear mine with slacks and a blazer, with jeans, with cutoff shorts. Another versatile piece but the best part... stripes, duh.

3. Black flowy shorts. Mine are from Old Navy and aren't available anymore but here's a link to some that are similar.

4. The Wilfred Free TYRA SKIRT from Aritzia. It is no longer in stock but there is a longer version here that has piqued my interest (and it's on sale for $20!). The fabric is unbelievably forgiving, it's easy to pack, it can be dressed up or down. I wear it a ton!

5. My Goyard St. Louis PM tote. This was a real splurge but worth every penny. I am crazy about the design, I love black and brown together and I can tote around A LOT of stuff. I throw my computer in there when I go to the office, I've used it as a weekender and I certainly use it as my carry-on when I fly.

How to Make Money Selling Your Old Clothing

Being a fashion lover means that you often have a surplus of clothing. If you're like me and have limited closet space, you might have a rule like for every new thing that comes in, an old thing has to come out. Or maybe you purge by season. Whatever the way, there are clothes to get rid of and many options to do so. Charity probably comes to mind - and I do donate - but first I sell. I need to support my habit you see, and to do that I'd like to offset some of the new clothing costs by selling my old clothing online. Enter Poshmark.

This little app lets you post your unwanted items in under 2 minutes and then allows you to list them to over a million people who are looking for clothes to buy! Talk about a target audience. Selling items is a snap too. The buyer pays shipping so when something of yours is purchased you will receive a printable shipping label via email. Just print it out, box up your item, slap the label on and shove it in your mailbox for pickup.

As you sell you accumulate a balance stored on Poshmark. You can choose to transfer it to your bank or you can use it to buy on Poshmark. I've found a lot of great closet gems for WAY less than retail. I've been using Poshmark for a few years now and have made thousands of dollars back. Here is how it works and here is my closet if you want to see one in action! As you can see from my stats, it's worth your time.

There is some care and keeping that you need to do to ensure you cultivate a following and that your closet stays in front of potential buyers. I can go into more detail if you'd like to hear more. Just let me know in the comments and I'll queue up a part II for a future post. If you want to sign-up, use my personal code HTUIR to get $5 off your first order.

A Simple Breakfast Smoothie

I'm obsessed with this breakfast smoothie. It's easy to make, easy to transport and on workday mornings, easy is my thang. I got the recipe out of the recipe book that came with my Nutribullet Pro which I dutifully ignored for the last year. Big mistake, that book has some good recipes in it!

When I'm working from home, I just blend this stuff up, throw it in a mason jar and top it off with an IKEA SOTVATTEN Drinking Straw. I know, random that I prescribe a specific straw but these straws are wide (where are my McDonald's fans at?) and they are perfect for sipping on thick, yummy smoothies. When I head to the office, I just throw the dry ingredients and the blueberries in a small container and blend it up when I get there. I work in tech and we are fortunate enough to have a blender, fruit and all types of milk at our disposal.

Here's my set-up. I get all my goods at Trader Joe's. Throw in 1/2 cup oats, 1 TBS chopped walnuts, 1 TBS chia seeds, 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, 1 banana (break it up) and then pour unsweetened original flavored almond milk until it covers the ingredients or until the max line on your Nutribullet. Blend for 30 seconds. I hope you like it. I have another breakfast obsession that tastes like cookie dough but is actually healthy. That will be coming up soon.

How to Find More Peace

Lately I've been struggling with holding on to my happiness. Maybe I'm just a weirdo and everybody else wakes up happy and rearing to go. For me, happiness comes and goes but never seems to stick around long. I realized that the amount of happiness I feel is directly related to how much peace and positivity I am experiencing and that the amount of peace and positivity I am experiencing is completely within my control. Mind blown! I always thought of peace and positivity as spontaneous gifts that came out of nowhere. They were like mail - sometimes there were bills but once in a while you score and get a card or a check! I'm still trying to wrap my head around cultivating and maintaining my own peace and happiness but here's what I'm changing to make it easier:

1. Like the quote says "If it costs you your peace, it's too expensive". When I start to dwell on things beyond my control I will change my mindset. For me, dwelling often leads me down a deep, dark, negative rabbit hole and who needs that?

2. Each evening before I go to sleep, I want to identify one thing from the day that I am grateful for.

3. Each morning when I wake up, I plan to set my intention for the day. Maybe that means I want to feel a certain way like loved or accomplished or maybe it means I want to take a certain approach to the day like taking time to enjoy the little things or see fun in everything.

Now I must admit, 2 & 3 have been a challenge. Not because I don't want to do them but because I keep forgetting! If any of you do this kind of stuff I'd love to hear more about it - especially how you get yourself in the habit.

Spring/Summer Flat Lays

In San Francisco, we don't experience the 4 seasons. There's nothing too extreme going on here weather-wise and that suits me just fine. In fact, if you're into capsule wardrobes and you live here, you only need 2!

I've thrown together some cute San Francisco Summer flat lays. Maybe they will spark an outfit idea for you or maybe there are similar items in your closet and you can recreate these looks. Sometimes I struggle putting together outfits and I look to blogs and Pinterest for inspiration. I hope you like these and they are helpful. This is my first attempt at flat lays so if you'd like to see something more or different let me know in the comments!

P.S. If you're curious about the concept of capsule wardrobes, I highly recommend you checkout Unfancy. Caroline is so inspiring and genuine. I'm glad I happened on her blog and you will be too!