Skincare 101

Hey friends!!

I'm on Spring Break and this week has been *just* what I needed. Full of the beach, two sweet pups, and friends...oh and so much food. I honestly didn't expect a staycation to be this good. My college bestie came down for the week and we just spent time in the sun and trying to places to grab a bite (and also Chick-Fil-A). Perks of a late Easter/Spring Break: 80 degree days in April!! Praise.

I'm hopping on to share a skincare routine that I've been loving lately and seems to be working for my angry forehead...ha! I've struggled with Comedonal acne since I was in my early teens and now that I'm almost in my mid-twenties (yikes), it's still lingering around. I go through spurts of completely clear skin and then they make an appearance like, "Hey girl, we're gonna hang a while!" I've been to the Dermatologist more times than I can count and I've used different retinoids for over ten years. My Derm prescribed me another retinoid to try this past January (Differin) and I tried both percentages not noticing a huge difference.

I did NOT want to go back again, mostly because my copay can feel like paying rent, but I felt like I could find something (or a mix of things) that may work as good or better. I'm here to tell you I think I nailed it! After tons and tons of research and reading reviews, I pulled the trigger on a few products that I've been using for a little over a month now and have improved the way my skin looks and feels.

These three goodies go on before any makeup in the morning. I still use the prescribed Adapalene (Differin) occasionally, definitely not everyday now. Good news, this percentage is a prescription, but they have one you can buy right off the shelf that I tried first! It goes hand-in-hand with the Differin moisturizer pictured above. This stuff is amazing for oil control and I always use a moisturizer with SPF in it, so it's perfect. Now the star of the show, the main reason I decided to switch up my routine. You see that little bottle with the green liquid inside? It is a game changer. It has decreased the size and amount of Comedones on my forehead tremendously, MORE than any prescription the Derm has given me in the last year. It's called Blume Meltdown and I highly recommend it if you are feeling stagnant with the condition of your skin. It has brought to the surface what I feel the Adapalene was just keeping at bay. It has a strong Rosemary, earthy smell but quickly goes away after it's applied.

First thing's first, I do not use all of the products pictured above every night! Each night I cleanse with the CeraVe equivalent face wash to get any makeup or dirt off of my skin and cleanse again with a Micellar water right out of the shower. Then I apply the Blume oil, Adapalene (if I'm feeling it), and Hydra Genius gel moisturizer to top it off. When I was in the middle of all of my skincare research, I read that a gel-based moisturizer is good for naturally oily skin. If I am having more breakouts than usual, I will do the Body Shop tea tree mask before I apply anything to my skin. This mask is great for oil control as well! I just hopped on board the Drying Lotion train during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale and I was able to scoop it up for half off. I will say, I haven't been totally impressed with it. I toss in my sleep a lot and it comes off very easily after it dries. It's definitely something I apply when I know I'll be at home all day and can be sure I don't rub it off accidentally. There are a lot of great reviews on it, I think it's just user error on my part.

Before I switched to this whole new routine over a month ago, I began at-home dermaplaning. If you're not sure what that is, click the link and read all about it. Simply put, it's removing the dead skin off of your face so your products can work better and your skin is smoother. You do this with an eyebrow razor (pictured above). Yes, I said razor. No, it's not like the razors you use to shave your legs. No, your little baby peach fuzz does not grow back thicker or darker or longer. Yes, I have noticed a huge difference in the brightness of my skin tone and my skin in general.

I've talked about Native on here before, but it deserves another mention because it is so good for you and your skin. It's aluminum free and there are so many scents to choose from. I have been using this deodorant for over a year and I would recommend it to anyone. Best part, it's available at Target and Walmart now too!

The Banana Boat self tanning lotion is awesome and smells delicious. Ya girl stays pasty, summer or winter. This has helped me keep a little color on my legs so I don't blind myself in the sunshine. I linked the new formula, but I haven't tried it yet. I'll pick it up after this bottle is empty!

Phew, there it is folks. I hope this was somewhat helpful if you're on the market for some new skin goodies to try out! I would recommend any of this without hesitation. Let me know if you have tried any!

Current Favorites: February

Posting a favorites post each month has always been a goal, but honestly it's not a realistic one. However, coming off of the holidays and hitting the sales, I've scooped up some goodies to take me into a Current Favorites post for February! We'll see what happens in March.

On the the good stuff.

Electronics //

Echo Dot 3rd Generation

This was a gift from my brother and sister-in-law and it. is. awesome. Small, but might should be it's tagline. I was on the fence about an Alexa product just because I didn't know if I would use it or how much I would like it, but I have use it every day! I am one who constantly has to have noise in the background, so she is playing music continually. It's easy to set up and it is loud! The only negative I would say is that it is stationary and has to stay plugged up. It's not a problem in my little shoebox apartment, but if you have a bigger home and want some sound flowing, I would look into a more mobile Alexa product.

Apple Watch Leather Band

I can't say enough about this watch band! I have a silver faced Apple Watch Series 3 and I wanted it to have more of a "watch" look. I scooped this watch band up through Etsy and it is amazing! The only recommendation I have is to size down an inch. I measured my wrist and ordered a 7 inch, but I tighten the watch band to the last hole. Since it's adjustable, I could've easily gotten away with a 6 inch and had plenty of room.

Quip Electronic Toothbrush

The best. I could really leave it at that. I've had this toothbrush since the end of November of last year and I honestly don't know why I'm waiting until now to share it! I was skeptical because Instagram got me with this one. I saw an ad and it sucked me in. Ha! I'm glad it did because is really is the best. I scooped mine up at Target for $25 and then went online and registered it to get the refill packs. Every 3 months they send you a fresh brush head and a new battery for $5. You're in luck because I have a code for a free brush refill! Use: leianna897245366255 if you get one for yourself through the Quip website. The teal-y green color above is the one I have, but there are so many other colors to choose from. Let me know if you scoop one up too!

Pet //

Pug Life No-Pull Harness

Y'all know I have a rambunctious, loud, sassy, angel baby dog. I adopted Messi in December of 2016 and was able to successfully get a regular harness on her one time. After that one walk, she refused to let me put a harness on her. She is a major puller on walks. I don't like walking her with just a leash and her collar because she chokes herself and coughs the entire time. I knew there had to be a different type of harness out there for her! I found the one linked here for a while, but it wasn't sturdy or tight enough. It would loosen up when we walked and she got out of it a couple of times. BUT, I found the one in the picture above! Knock on wood, but so far it has been awesome! Very sturdy and tight enough, plus it has a handle on it for extra support. This one is amazing because it goes over the head and buckles under the tummy- NO going between the legs!! Praise.

Safety First Easy Install Gate

I know what you're thinking, a gate? Yes! About a year ago, I came home and Messi had completely ripped up a chunk of carpet in my bedroom in two places. I have no idea why, but she went for it. So, I started gating off my room and leaving her in the kitchen/living room for the day. Two weeks ago, I came home and she had done it in 3 places in my living room. I was furious at her and devastated that I was going to have to start leaving her in her crate for 8 hours of the day. I had a standard, wooden baby gate and it wasn't long or strong enough to keep her in the kitchen- I think she was an actual bulldozer in another life. I found this one and have been using it for a week and it is amazing! It was super easy to install and now she has my whole kitchen to stretch out in during the day while I'm gone. It's a pressure mount too, so no holes in the wall!

Ignore the lack of styling in this picture, but here she is!

Style //

Crush on You Lace Bralette *UPDATE*

I told y'all about this last month in January Favorites, but I hadn't ordered it yet. I ordered it at the beginning of this month and it is safe to say that I love it! It peaks out the top of sweaters so cutely. My only recommendation is to size down. I ordered the black one and I think I want the nude one (pictured above) next. It rides up and needs to be readjusted throughout the day, but I think a smaller size would help with that. It has adjustable straps and the cups can be taken out. Also there are TONS of codes out there to get 20% off this site! 

Beauty //

Hydra Genius Facial Lotion

This. stuff. is. crazy. awesome. I have super oily skin when there's the least bit of humidity in the air, but as soon as it gets cold- it is dry city. I was doing some research, as in Googling like crazy and read that a gel-based moisturizer is great for naturally oily skin. I found this one to test it out and I've been using it since December and it's time for a new one. It smells soooo good and a little goes a long way! This stuff is also packed with Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe as well. I pair it with Differin at night before bed. I found it super affordable on Amazon, too! It's linked above.

That's it for now, friends! Let me know if you try any of these goodies or have tried them! See y'all in the next round of Favorites.

3 things I'm happy to have as an "adult"

I wanted to do an updated "About Me" post, but one is already on the blog (that should probably be updated) and I wanted this one to be a little different. I think we can all agree entering into adulthood is weird. You're kind of lost, then you think you're on your feet, but then really "adult" things come up like signing up for your 401k or buying life insurance and it stops you right in your tracks. So, I wanted to think of things I love about being an "adult" and being out on my own. Honestly thinking of retirement or why I need life insurance kind of scares me right now, anyway. Let's keep it light.

1. Independence (and dependence) - When I graduated from college and got my job, I knew the next step was moving out. I graduated a semester early, so I lived with my parents from December - July while I was job hunting and submitting teaching applications like crazy. When I landed my job, I began apartment hunting. There was one thing I knew I wanted in an apartment: for it to be my own. I didn't want to share a space, except with my dog. I wanted to take on this next step in my life by myself and by myself I mean with the frequent occasional call to my mom to make sure I was doing it all right (cue the dependence). I wanted to call the shots with decorating, what the temperature was at, where the pots and pans go, how the fridge was organized (or completely unorganized), you get it. I wanted to take on this chapter full force and by walking around with no pants on in my own living room without judgement if needed. You can ask my daddy, he constantly tells me (in the most loving way) they "raised me too independent." I want to be in charge- but is that surprising if you know me? I'm thankful for the way I was raised to know how to take care of myself, but still call my parents when all else fails.
2. Thriftiness - I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me, "Did you get that from Goodwill?" Nine times out of ten, the answer is a hard yes. I've nicknamed myself a thrifting queen. I have decorated the majority of my little shoebox apartment with thrift store finds (a.k.a. the millions of baskets on the walls) and my closet probably seems like hand-me-down central to some people, but I love it and I love it about me. Don't get it twisted though- I still like my brands, I just buy them on sale. Most importantly, I'm aware of my spending and saving and I was taught you don't live above your means.
3. Humor - This! This is important. Probably the biggest trait I am so grateful for and proud of. For goodness sake, whether it means anything or not, I received the Cherish Cat Award in high school because I always had a smile on my face. I love laughing- it's probably my favorite thing ever. I can confidently say that I get my sense of humor from my dad (mom would confidently agree). I think it is so important to be able to laugh at yourself and if you dish it you need to be able to take it (I'm working on that last one). Biggest piece of advice I wish I could tell my younger self: laugh off the small stuff, there is a reason you can't change it.

Whether I want to think about the "bigger" stuff right now or not, thriftiness will help me build up that 401k, right?

Current Favorites: January

Hello all! 2019 is off to a great start in my shoebox apartment. If you missed the Instagram post today, check out the little bit of eye-pleasing purging I did today. I hope your 2019 is off to a running start too!

I'm here because I have a slew of January favorites and I'm dying to share with y'all! I've shared them with my mom enough, ya know? Now I need someone else to love them as much as me. Ha!

Okay, on to the good stuff! Everything is linked in its title.

Home //

Better Homes & Gardens 3 Piece Duvet Set 

I stinking LOVE this thing. As y'all know, I have a dog named Messi and she is in fact a hot mess. Previously, I had a white comforter that was ruched, but it wasn't textured enough to hide the dog hair (TMI?) in between washes. This one is amazing and the quality is very Anthro-like for a quarter of the price. I have a full bed and I purchased the King sized duvet. I like for my bedding to touch the floor. This one definitely pulls double-duty because I used it for a couple of days without the duvet insert and it was like a quilt- perfect for lighter bedding during the summer months!

Vase & Palm Leaves 

                             

                 

I scooped these up a couple of weekends ago at Hobby Lobby. These leaves come on a stem and I put 3 in this cute vase! Their new home is above my kitchen cabinets. I said goodbye to the cotton stems and welcomed a more tropical vibe in. This vase is on major sale right now, too!

Beauty //

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

As far as I'm concerned, I am late to the party with this stuff! It's awesome and it smells like a beachy oasis. I have it in shade 'Bronzer' and a little goes a loooooong way. Best part- it's on sale half price through Amazon right now and free shipping! Scoop it up and thank me later.

Maui Moisture Curl Quench Shampoo & Conditioner

Now I am by no means a hair guru, but over the last two years I have intentionally tried to take better care of my hair. I've tried tons of shampoos and conditioners for curly hair, but most have made my hair feel greasy (which is unusual for me), heavy, oily, or crunchy. My hair is thick and kinky and it curls in ringlets, waves, and crimps all at the same time. I use sulfate-free products by preference and wash my hair two times (ish) a week. I started using this shampoo and conditioner a couple of weeks ago and LOVE it! It smells amazing, makes my hair feel soft, and controls the frizz like crazy. It's buy one, get one 50% off right now at Walgreens too!

Style //

Timberland Women's Courmayeur Valley Chelsea Boots

Best Christmas present ever. These are pricey, but so worth it! I have worn them every day since I unwrapped them and now want them in every color they come in! Unfortunately, they are only available in black on the Timberland site, but I found them on Amazon and Zappos, too! If you were thinking about a pair of Timbs, I highly recommend these.

No Boundaries Backpack

I've had this mini backpack since the beginning of October and have carried it through Fall and into Winter. The size and color are great and it's very roomy for all of your on-the-go essentials! I bought one, then my mom was scooping hers up the next day too! It's on sale for $13 right now.

Crush on You Lace Bralette

The *ULTIMATE* dupe, y'all! I saved the best for last and I am too excited about it. I have been looking and looking and looking and looking (you get it) for a dupe for the Adella Free People bralette and I have finally found it. I am too cheap to pay $40 for bralette, so I have been on the hunt for something comparable for months! I follow quite a few bloggers on Instagram and they were sharing their favorite bralettes and this one came up! It is $22 and comes in quite a few colors. I cannot wait for it to arrive and I will tell you my review on it. Based on what others have to say, it is going to be a good one!

I would love to know if you've tried any of these! See you back here for another future favorites post.

Apt. Update: Living Room Shelf

Hey friends!! Just popping in with a little apartment update. Every so often I get the urge to do something big in my apartment. I like the change things up A LOT. I get it from my mom and nana- the women don't stop moving things around in their homes.

I have been tinkering with the idea of a large living room shelf for a few months now. The wall above my TV was so blank and bland. I didn't want another gallery wall, since there's already one in my living room. 

I decided to make a shelf on a whim, literally the whimsiest whim I've ever had. My friend Danner was with me and she was a real trooper. I think I took her into Hobby Lobby 4 times in one day? We were in Home Depot for a good bit too. She helped me hold the shelf up while I screwed it into the wall and made sure everything was level. Thanks, Danner!! Shout out to my bestie Sammy too, she was with me the next day when I took everything back to the stores I didn't use. Let me tell you, real friends go to Home Depot with you.

The shelf was really easy to make! I used one 1in. x 8in. x 6ft piece of common pine board and two iron brackets. Each bracket is 1 foot in from the outer edge. I dry-brushed white acrylic craft paint onto the board to make it coordinate with the other white decor I have throughout the apartment. Each bracket needed 3 screws.

All in all, the shelf took about 30 minutes to put on the wall. The brackets had to be put on the wall first, which was the trickiest part. The top part of the bracket was a tad bit shorter than the thickness of the board, so the brackets couldn't be screwed onto the board first. The most time consuming thing was decorating! Bless my friend Holdren for putting up with me while she sat on my couch and I decorated. It takes a village, ha!

My goal is to use the shelf like a makeshift mantle. I want to switch up the decorations around holidays and seasons. I'm still not done making it Fall-approved, yet.

10 Things My First Year of Teaching Taught Me

By now, we have established that I am not good at consistently blogging. I really do love it, but I am just not good at posting frequently. HOWEVER- I post almost daily on my Instagram, so follow along on Insta to keep in touch! Don't worry, the blog isn't going anywhere. :)

Now, back to the post:

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Hey y'all!!

I am 25 days away from my last day of school as a first year teacher. THIS. IS. BANANAS. *cue Gwen Stafani* This has truly been the fastest school year of my life without a doubt. I was scrolling through my phone the other day and I was looking at pictures from the first day of school- my kiddos have grown SO much!

I have been keeping little notes all year of things I have learned and now I'm excited to share!

1. Take all of the pictures! I have more than 2,000 pictures on my phone and almost half of them are of my kiddos. When they lose a tooth- take a picture. When it's Valentine's Day and they bring in treat bags for their classmates- take a picture. When they draw you a picture and ask you to send it to their mama- take a picture. When they want to show you a new dance they have learned- take a picture. You will thank yourself and their parents will thank you when they don't completely miss out on these moments! You have to think, you are with their kids 8-9 hours out of the day, 5 days a week. That's a lot of time!
2. Tell them you love them. It doesn't matter what age or grade you teach, tell them you love them. Even if they are driving you crazy or you have yelled and yelled, tell them you love them. Before you take them to the bus or send them to the car rider line, tell them. It breaks your heart to think about it, but you might be the only one that day or even week they hear it from. It's so important. 
3. Save ALL of the master copies. You will thank yourself next year when you're not searching the internet for activities to do or constantly asking other teachers what they are doing. Of course, each year you'll want to do something a little different and you want to be on the same page as your co-teachers, but having something to do to get your week started is so helpful. Save them!
4. If you don't know, ASK! There were so many things I had to learn how to do at the beginning of the year and there was absolutely no way I could've figured them out on my own efficiently. Attendance, mClass and Progress Monitoring, setting up my retirement and insurance, how to use the copier, how to clock-in, how to get a substitute, the fire drill and lock-down drill procedures, and where my class sits in the cafeteria are just some of the things I needed to ask about. The list goes on and there is NOTHING wrong with asking for help or guidance.
5. Make a substitute plan outline and save it. You keep the same schedule and times all year, so you never have to rewrite when your lunch or recess time is, when dismissal is, etc. Just plug in your new activities you have left for the sub and make sure your bus/car rider list is updated. It will save you so much time.
6. Don't believe that "don't smile until Christmas" junk. Think about it- would you feel comfortable at school or be excited to learn if someone was constantly showing you no emotion? I can't hide anything I'm feeling ever, it's a blessing and a curse. I smile with my kids, I laugh with them, we have dance party breaks all the time, I give them time to share about themselves, and they are comfortable in my class. That being said, they know when it's time to be serious and work hard and they absolutely know when I'm upset with them. It's unrealistic to expect 6 and 7 year olds to sit on their bottoms all day and work- take small breaks and have fun!
7. Appreciate the feedback. As a beginning teacher in NC, you are observed 4 times throughout the school year. Do your best and don't stumble over the small stuff. Your principal and assistant principal have been in your shoes before and they know there will be hiccups and things may not go as planned. Take it all in stride and focus on how to do better the next day. Just remember, your kiddos still learned something and it's never a total failure like you think it is. Take and appreciate all of the feedback you can get!
8. Keep in contact with your parents/guardians. I use an app called Remind, weekly behavior sheets, and our grade level sends home a newsletter each week, but there are many different ways to communicate with your parents/guardians. Most importantly, don't just talk with them when something has gone wrong. Share with them the good things their child is doing too! Send them a quick message about a little success or that photo you took of their child holding the tooth they just lost with the excitement on their little face!
9. Appreciate every staff member for what they do. The cafeteria staff, the custodians, and the office staff help keep the school running. It is so important to tell them thank you for what they do and make sure you tell your students the same thing. 
10. Plan fun things for your kids. We do a different Bingo for each holiday in class, I had a classroom reindeer before Christmas break (like an Elf on the Shelf) that did funny things around the room, we did a spring egg hunt before Spring break, a Valentine's exchange, and we are currently in the middle of a 23 Days of Celebrating You event! For the 23 Days event, each day (23 for the number of students I have) a student brings in something they love (similar to show-and-tell) to share with the class. This was something I found on Pinterest and tweaked it a little and a student shares for about 5 minutes before snack time. We are using it to close out the school year as a celebration of all our classmates!

These are just a few gems I have written down throughout the year. I can say that I have had the best first year. I have learned so much to take into my second year and I know what I need to improve on and change for next year as well. College prepared me for my teaching career, but your first class really teaches you how to be a teacher. 

A Look at the Bathroom

Hey y'all!

Back again with another apartment update. I am finally in a semi-satisfied state with my bathroom and I wanted to share! There's good news too...most of it was picked up today and is still available if you absolutely have-to-have it like I did! Also, I'm apologizing in advance because there is NO cute way to photograph a toilet.

(click to enlarge)

So, all of the round baskets on the wall are from Goodwill or Habitat. My monogram is from Etsy, I believe. It's about 5 or 6 years old. The precious white shower curtain is from Burkes! I went all over looking for an affordable, white shower curtain and I picked this one up about 2 months ago for $15. My parents made me the mason jar holder. It is beyond useful and it keeps everything off the counter! They had the wood laying around and the mason jars were mine from college. Love!

On to the newbies. The round navy, mandala-looking wall pieces are actually placemats!! Yes, placemats! They are woven with raised beading and absolutely gorgeous. Best of all, I picked them up TODAY from Steinmart! Best best of all...both for $7! YAAAAAS. 

Hobby Lobby came to the rescue today with the shelving. Y'all know I love some Hobby Lobby and some 50% off goodness. These were scooped up for $24! Run, don't walk to your nearest Lobbs if you're in the market for shelves! The little table top clock is from Walmart and it was a whole $8. Go, go, go!

There's still some blank spaces I'm looking to fill, but this is it for now! I'm sure I will grab the next baskets I see when I'm out thrift shopping. There's always room for baskets, y'all!!