Skincare

Ladies and gentlemen, lets talk skincare.  How many of you think you properly care for your skin?  For so long I thought I took really good care of my skin...and then I went to school for esthetics and learned so much more about skincare.  Do you know you are born with your skin type, which is determined by your genetics and ethnicity.
There are 4 skin types:

• Dry- lacks oil
• Normal- has a good oil-water balance
• Combination- can be both oily and dry, or both oily and normal at the same time
• Oily- excess oil 

 Dry skin needs extra care.  It lacks normal protection and is more sensitive because the acid mantle and barrier function are not as healthy due to the lack of lipids.  Occlusive products are good for dry skin because they are thick and lay on top of the skin to reduce transepidermal water loss which helps to hold in moisture.
Normal skin can fluctuate and sometimes be a little drier or a little oilier.  Maintenance and preventive care are the goals for this skin type.  
Combination skin needs to be balanced and requires more care than normal skin.  Water based products work best for combination skin.  Proper maintenance including cleansing and regular exfoliation help to keep skin clear and blemishes minimal. 
Oily skin requires more cleansing and exfoliation.  Prone to blemishes because pores get clogged with oil and a build-up of dead skin cells.  Over cleansing can make it worse by stripping the skin's acid mantle and irritating it.  Proper treatment, exfoliation, and a water-based hydrator will help to keep oily skin clean and balanced.  Balancing the skin's oil production is important. 
 Sensitive skin is considered a skin condition, not a skin type.  It can be easily irritated by products and by exposure to heat or sun.  When it comes to sensitive skin the goal is to soothe, calm, and protect.
All skin types need proper cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating.
No matter what skin type you have, a proper skin care regiment is so important.  Read more about the steps and the importance from Lydia, the found of Repechage.  Skin Care Routine

I have oily skin and I always thought I didn't have to moisturize because I already produced so much oil and I thought it was going to make it more oily.  What I didn't know is that by not using a moisturizer my skin was producing more oil.  I would strip all the oil away with harsh products and then my skin would go crazy producing more oil.  The most important thing with any skin type is to keep it balanced.  Habits, diet, and stress all play a part in our health, which in turn is reflected in our skins appearance.  I use Repechage Hydra Medic products and I absolutely love them, the mattifying moisturizer helps to keep my oil controlled throughout the day and the cleanser gives me a nice clean feeling without causing my skin to feel dry and tight.  You can get your Repechage products at Bienvenue Salon and Spa. 

Some of the most important skin care tips I've learned:

• Sunscreen is your friend, use it!
• Always wash makeup off before bed
• Exfoliate 1-2 times a week
• Skin is your largest organ, take care of it
• Stop laying out in the sun or tanning bed, if you want to be tan get a spray tan or use self tanner.  (I love Loving Tan)
• Moisturize!

Pinterest

Lydia’s Advice for the Most Asked Skin Care Questions- Repechage

If you have any skin care questions just shoot me a message and I'd be happy to help!
Thanks for reading and don't forget to protect your skin :)

The Lake House

With spring and summer soon approaching I'm thinking of all the vacations I'd like to take...well maybe not this year but hopefully one day.  Dominic's dream is to one day go to Disney World and Legoland and I can't lie I would love to also since I've never been, I'm almost 30 and have never been on a plane!   Dominic also really loves animals so I want to take him to the National Aquarium in Baltimore and also a museum with dinosaur fossils.

This fall we rented a lake house at Treasure Lake and it was absolutely gorgeous, the weather was just perfect.  We were visiting my Great Aunt and we had lots of fun adventures, we went horseback riding, saw some elk at Elk Country, saw some really cool Halloween decorations at a house where my Grandma and Great Aunt Jeanne lived at when they were kids, and went to The Depot and ate at the Diner Car which is a 50s style diner.  I'm really hoping we can make it back again this summer, if you're looking for a place to rent around that area you definitely need to check out Overton Rentals!

  Diner Car

 

What fun things are you all doing this summer?

Lake House Rental

Thanks for reading and I hope you're all having a terrific day! <3

Spring & Summer 2017 Trends

Ladies, if you love online shopping and browsing online as much as I do I'm sure you noticed some of the spring and summer trends. Since my last few posts have been personal and a little depressing I'm going to spice it up a bit and talk about some of my favorite trends.  If you've done any shopping I'm sure you've noticed lots of floral patterns and off the shoulder tops and dresses.  I have loved off the shoulder tops ever since I can remember, I think they are so feminine and show off just the right amount of skin.  Unfortunately, I have manly broad shoulders but that doesn't stop me from wearing them.

I love shopping online and pinning everything I want to buy but can't, am I the only one that does that? (haha).  Here are some of my favorites!

off-the-shoulder floral top

 floral print blouse

floral cardigan

open shoulder blouse

Check out my pinterest for more ideas!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow me <3

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Weight struggle

 My struggle with weight loss

 Hey guys, hope you're all having a wonderful Monday!  Over the weekend I filmed a video of Dominic playing outside and I caught a glimpse of myself in the video and I cringed; never have I felt so defeated but also so motivated.  I have been struggling with my weight for a few years now, especially since I had to have one of my ovaries removed.  After I had the surgery I quickly gained around 20-30 lbs and it's been so hard to lose.  Obviously as we get older our metabolism slows down and yea basically getting older sucks, haha!

 After my surgery I felt so insecure and it really affected my life.  Nothing seemed to fit anymore and the clothes that did fit were uncomfortable and showed everything that I wanted to hide.  So I hid; behind closed doors, big t-shirts, and sweatpants.  I felt more depressed since I was so unhappy with myself and then I would eat to make myself feel better which only made me feel worse, I was stuck in an endless cycle.  I just kept getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger and it's hard to enjoy life when you aren't happy with yourself.

It wasn't the weight that made me sad it was the fact that I wasn't comfortable and felt trapped in my own body.  I would never bash anyone's weight, I think that all sizes are beautiful as long as you're happy.  I'm really trying to make better choices for both me and my son.  I want him to be healthy and I want to be the best possible mom I can be for him.

I never struggled with my weight back in High School or even in my early 20s and then when I got pregnant with my son I gained around 50 lbs.  My job was in customer service so I just sat around for 9 hours and then when I got home sat around some more because most of the day I got yelled at by customers and I was just mentally drained.  Being a single mom I don't have much extra money to buy a gym membership so I'm really trying to do workouts at home but I'm terrible at staying consistent and motivated.  I'm also guilty of stress eating and I'm terribly picky but I'm trying to make healthier choices and eat smaller portions.  Let's be real life is too short to give up eating pizza and ice cream but my goal is to find a balance.

2003 (High School)

2013-- pale me after realizing how important skincare and SPF is!

2014 (around 2 months after my surgery)

 2015

2016

I need to stop hating myself and learn to start loving myself again and to do that I need to do things that make me happy.  I am so used to being mom 24/7 that I don't even know how to wind down and relax anymore.  I don't take any time for myself and I realize that's part of my problem.  I can't be a great mom to Dominic if I'm not happy and healthy; not just physically but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Those who suffer from depression and anxiety, like me, know that sometimes you just need to be alone to recharge and I think I'm running on empty because I feel drained, in every sense of the word.  My goal is to eat healthier, find ways to workout, and take time for myself!

Thanks for reading and please don't forget to follow me!

p.s. Do something nice for yourself today 😍

Finally feels like Spring!

Happy weekend!  It's been so cold here in PA and we are finally having some warmer weather (60s) and I'm not sure how long it will last so we are taking full advantage!  I took my son and dog out to my Pap Pap's farm to burn off some energy and boy did that tire them out.  Of course Bronx found a way to get himself dirty by playing in the mud and pond so after we got home it was bath time for him and not long after both boys had fallen asleep on the couch!  It was so windy at the farm and I wish I had brought along a kite--oh well, next time.  I hope you all had a chance to enjoy this beautiful weather too. <3

I love that Bronx follows Dom wherever he goes!

 

 

If anyone has any blog suggestions or makeup requests please let me know.

Thanks for reading and I hope you all had a wonderful day! <3

An open letter to my Mom in Heaven...

Dear Mom,

I know you'll never get the chance to read this but I often think about the things I wish I could say to you or all the things I want to tell you.  So instead, I'll write you a letter for others to read, to help them remember that we are only on this Earth for a short period of time and we need to appreciate the ones we have in our lives.

I'm so sorry that I didn't help you more and that I caused you so much extra stress. I'm so sorry that I thought you were being dramatic or overreacting about the seriousness of your cancer, I just never thought I'd lose you.  I was a selfish teenager that only thought of herself and in my young mind I didn't think that anything bad could happen in my life.  I'm sorry I didn't tell you I love you more often and when I actually did I wish I would have said it more meaningfully.  Most of all, I'm so sorry for being angry at you for leaving me and at God for taking you away from me.

It's been years since you've been gone and I worry that I'm forgetting little things about you and that's one of my worst fears, but then I remember you will always be a part of me and all I have to do is look within myself to find you.  You were the rock of our family and although many times we fell, we always got back up and you would be so proud of how close we all are now and how far we've come.

I miss you everyday but I'm so grateful to have the friends and family I do that help me get through each day and keep me staying positive.  

We all miss and love you dearly, thanks for watching over us. 💓

 

"I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss."

—Rita Mae Brown

Get ready with me: Everyday Makeup

 Quick Everyday Makeup Routine

So as most of you already know, I'm a huge makeup lover and I enjoy doing colorful, fun makeup looks but most times I just do a natural easy look.  I don't have full glam makeup on everyday because let's face it, most days I'm doing laundry, dishes, or cleaning up some sort of mess.  Here is what I normally do throughout the week when I don't feel like getting all "glammed up" and some days I just do a simple moisturizer, SPF, and mascara it just all depends on my mood and what I have planned for the day.

Face:
After I wash my face in the morning I prep my skin with Repechage Mattifying Mousiturizer which I got at Bienvenue Salon and Spa in Manheim, Pa.  Next I use Make Up For Ever skin equalizer smoothing primer before applying my BH Cosmetics concealer to conceal any blemishes and cover my dark under eye circles.  I used a new foundation I got at Walmart the other day and so far I really like it (I'll link it below) and I applied it with my favorite brush from Morphe. I always set my makeup with some type of powder because my skin is really oily, today I used RCMA no color powder.  I used one of my FAVORITE bronzers by Tarte, Park Ave Princess.  To add a little more color I used some products I've received in my Ipsy bags; Pacifica blush in shade Wildrose and IBY Beauty highlighter in Bubbly on my cheekbones and I also used this as my eyelid color. 
Eyes:
As a transition color I used Makeup Geek beaches and cream and in my crease for a little more definition I used peach smoothie and like I said on my lid I used IBY Beauty highlighter in Bubbly.  I then used some mascara that I've also received from previous Ipsy bags; theBalm Mad Lash mascara and Smashbox Full Exposure mascara.  On my brows I used Ardell brow powder which really isn't my favorite but I need to get some new brow products!
Lips:
To finish the look I kept it simple with Revlon lipstick in shade Primrose topped with NYX Pump it up Lip Plumper shade Kim.  

If anyone wants any makeup Youtube videos on any kind of look let me know! :)

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day <3

 

Products mentioned:

Repechage Hydra Medic mattifying moisturizer found at Bienvenue Salon and Spa

Make Up For Ever smoothing primer http://www.sephora.com/step-1-skin-equalizer-primer-P393965?skuId=1669167&icid2=products%20grid%3Ap393965

Bh Cosmetics conceal and correct  http://www.bhcosmetics.com/face/concealer/6-color-concealer-corrector-palette

Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous foundation in shade 105 https://www.walmart.com/ip/COVERGIRL-Ready-Set-Gorgeous-Liquid-Makeup-Foundation-1-fl-oz/37238446

RCMA no color powder https://camerareadycosmetics.com/collections/rcma/products/rcma-makeup-no-color-powder-3-oz

Tarte Bronzer  http://www.sephora.com/mineral-powder-bronzer-P99809?skuId=828772&icid2=products%20grid:p99809

Makeup Geek shadows   https://www.makeupgeek.com/makeup-geek-eyeshadow-pan-beaches-and-cream.html
https://www.makeupgeek.com/makeup-geek-eyeshadow-pan-peach-smoothie.html

Ardell brow palette in Light http://www.sallybeauty.com/brow-pallet/ARDELL03,default,pd.html#q=ardell&start=1

 Revlon lipstick Primrose   https://www.walmart.com/ip/Revlon-Super-Lustrous-Creme-Lipstick-668-Primrose-0.15-oz/22156290

NYX lip plumper lipgloss http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/pump-it-up-lip-plumper/NYX_044.html?cgid=lipgloss#sz=999&viewall=1&start=15&cgid=lipgloss



 Brushes:

Morphe foundation brush https://www.morphebrushes.com/products/m439-deluxe-buffer 

Elf powder brush http://www.elfcosmetics.com/p/studio-powder-brush?dept=tools-single-brushes

Sedona Lace contour brush http://www.sedonalace.com/Cosmetic-Brushes/64/Dome-Contour-FB-05.aspx

Sedona Lace fan brush http://www.sedonalace.com/Cosmetic-Brushes/61/Jumbo-Fan-FB-01.aspx

Luxie blush brush (Ipsy Bag) https://www.luxiebeauty.com/luxie-rose-gold-blush-face-brush-514/

Sedona Lace blender brush http://www.sedonalace.com/Cosmetic-Brushes/68/Synthetic-Blender-EB-13.aspx

Sedona Lace flat synthetic brush http://www.sedonalace.com/Cosmetic-Brushes/67/Flat-Synthetic-EB-11.aspx

Anastasia brow brush http://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/brush-12/ABH01-28033.html#q=12&lang=default&start=1