Reasons why you should take time for yourself

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Take a break. Take a Saturday morning off. Do something for yourself. For once, take a moment to enjoy life. I know easier said than done, but seriously think about it. Sounds crazy, maybe so but it’s a necessity. We all live very busy lives that often leave us a bit lack luster. As a workaholic I understand how life can spin out of control. Every once in a while we all need to let off some steam. Well my Saturday morning is how I do it.

However, even I will admit that we need to recharge the batteries every once in a while. As something that’s not married, has no children, but chooses to work as many hours as my body can take I find that by the weekend I am pretty much spent and still trudging on.

I am not a morning person by any means, but I have found a routine and compromise to help keep my sanity even in the most stressful times. It’s actually pretty simple. I take Saturday morning for myself. Before the madness of my workaholic kicks in, where I head into the office to work on a backload of work, I spend the morning doing whatever I want. Most of the time, this ends up with sipping hot coffee while watching whatever is playing on food network. I do work a bit on my planner for the next week and jump into a tad bit of work by going through emails as they come in.

Between my personal email accounts and work account I am not sure which email gets overloaded first, but I would say I receive about 200 emails a day so taking a moment to cull through them is crucial. I typically listen to a playlist of music when culling through emails, as this also seems to help get my brain working properly.

By the time I get through this it’s time that my inner thoughts are ready to kick me out the door. So I quickly get a shower and head into work. I normally spend anywhere from 6-20 hours of my weekend in the office.

I like to work but I also think that taking some time for you is very important. Regardless if it’s spending time in the pool or laying around watching TV. You need to take time for yourself as much as you can so that you can take moment to enjoy life and be yourself.Happy Monday, I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Update: Retail Therapy & More!

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Manic Monday…yeah run it’s really Monday. Insert exhausted sign. Seriously when you spend most of your life at the office working, when you come back in Monday morning it still feels like you just left. Can I get an Amen? So how was the weekend? Did you do anything fun? Mine weekend was kind of blah, but yet even in dull times shenanigans can happen.

1| Drama & Retail Therapy
So I am going to be vague to protect my friend but let’s just say she’s going through a very difficult time. Honestly what she is facing I have always feared. So just unspoken prayer for her. After a good cry session, I decided to partake in some retail therapy. Most weeks consist of placing an Etsy order so Saturday was no different. It would have been great if I stopped there, but Marc Jacobs Beauty was having their Friends and Family sale. What can I say I am a complete sucker for makeup and stickers.

2| Saturday Nights
I admit I am a bit addicted to Hallmark Movies. I love all of the new movies they are releasing. This past Saturday Royal Hearts premiered and it was rather good. So ever curious where I normally am at 9pm on Saturdays? Well know you know. Seriously spoiler alerts, but isn’t it ever girl’s dream to wake up as a Princess?

3| Frigid Pool & Summer Temps
Opening the pool up is a lot less fun than floating in it during the summer. However it’s a process we can’t really escape. The worst part of this part of the year is Mother Nature decided to skip spring in the South. The temperature is in the high 80s and the pool water is still frigidly cold. Seriously I can’t wait for the pool water to heat up so that I can enjoy summer time.

4|Sunday Funday: Laundry, Planning & More!
Sundays are always crazy. Is it like that for anyone else? I mean seriously it’s nonstop from the Sunrise to late in the night. I am always busy cooking Sunday dinner, which in the South you know is a big deal. While cooking I worked on Laundry, because lord knows I need clean clothes for the week. Since when did Tide Pods become adult proof…I mean really?

In addition, I spent time filling out my B6 planner for the week and catching up on Sunday night shows that I am quite obsessed with. If you haven’t seen the planning crazy I have been enveloped in then make sure you check out my Instagram. I post weekly spreads and planner hauls.


So back to TV, it’s crazy how many great shows come on Sunday night. My recent discovery is Breaking Homicide, which I am glued to the TV watching every Sunday night. I seriously can’t sleep until I find out what new evidence they have discovered. I think part of my intrigue is that we have a murder cold case in my hometown that is on the minds of everyone weekly. It would be a blessing to have some team come in and solve it for the family’s peace.


Anyways, What shenanigans did you guys get into over the weekend? Any new shows I need to watch? Lord knows I don’t have enough. Happy Monday! Hope you have a great week!

Three on Thursday| ACM Awards, Makeup & More!

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It’s TGIT and I am super excited to be joining Stephanie at Not Entirely Perfect for Three on Thursday. I have followed her blog for years and super excited to join her today for 3 on Thursday. Today I am going to share my list of three things that I am loving this week!

One| ACM Awards
Carrie killed it. She literally killed it. Immediately after watching her performance of Cry Pretty I jumped on iTunes and bought this new single. She not only sounded amazing but she looked amazing. If you have been living under a rock you wouldn’t know that she was in an accident at her house a few months back and had a ton of stitches. Her new single Cry Pretty has played on my phone, ipad, and macbook at least 10 times a day since the beginning of the week. I seriously can’t get enough. Proof of how good this song is can be found on the iTunes charts. Seriously what a great song! Take a listen for yourself. It’s a total Female Anthem!


Two| Bobbi Brown Capri Nudes Eye Shadow Palette
Recently I went on a little bit of a Bobbi Brown shopping spree. Since I literally use all the products daily. One that quickly landed in my daily makeup section was the Capri Nudes Eye Shadow Palette. This palette is seriously gorgeous. You can achieve the most natural daytime look and then amp it up to a smoky nighttime look. I seriously am obsessed with it!


Three| All Things Planning
Over the past month I have really wanted to get into planning. I think with my current job diving into planning could really help. I did go into this a little in yesterday’s post so you can check that out for more. However, I have spent a ton of money buying B6 size planners, planner stickers and accessories. I am waiting for everything to come in, but I am so excited to get started planning. I have found some amazing items like this planner I shared on my instagram as well as some stickers from shops like My Newest Addiction, Simply Watercolor Co & Scribble Prints Co. Make sure you follow me on instagram as I will be posting pictures of my hauls as they come in.

Make sure you head over and check out Stephanie’s blog! Good news is that we have one more day till the weekend! Happy Thursday, hope you all enjoy TGIT(For all the Greys lovers out there).

Pinteresting Picks Wednesday| The Backwards Way & How to Triple Blog Traffic

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Welcome back to Pinteresting Picks Wednesday! How’s the week going thus far? I seriously attempted to write this post while watching the voice. However, I did get work done on commercial breaks. Well a week like mine has been challenging to say the least, but life is what we make of it right? I admit I am addicted to Pinterest and have been for years, which is what instigated this post series. Want to join me? Leave your post below. I would love to see the Pinteresting Picks you’ve discovered this week. Here are my favorites for the week. I will preface this by saying I have truly discovered a new favorite blogger (Erica from Coming Up Roses the Blog). I recommend checking all of these out!

I admit I was looking for ways to optimize my time to get more done. There’s such a big thrill associate with marking something off the “to-do” list. I’m the kind of person that is consistently overloaded and I always am looking for a way to knock off things on my to-do list quicker. This post is how I discovered the “eat the frog” vs. backwards technique. Erica totally blew my mind with, “My Totally Backwards Way to Get More Done.” I admit I wondered if she was totally crazy or a total genius when I started reading this post. I can’t believe I randomly came across this post from Pinterest. It’s truly eye opening.

 

As someone that is currently drowning in sticky notes, I am looking forward to doing the “Backwards Way” technique. Honestly just reading this post had my wheels slowing down and stress level decreasing. I really like her ideas on prioritizing and booking hours. In my line of business, I really think this will work for me. The overworked, frustrating life that I have been living is totally no bueno! Seriously most days I run around like a chicken with my head cutoff. I literally know the Backwards way is totally going to work for me. 

 

I’ve ordered a planner, planner stickers, accessories and once they come in I am hella determined to conquer my life using the tips and tricks in this post. Are you more of a “eat the frog” or “Backwards Way” kind of girl? 

 

 

The next post that intrigued me was, “How I Tripled my Blog Traffic in Two Weeks.” Seriously mind blown. Plus pinning images 50 times in one day. Considered double mind blown. Nope, seriously just nope. In comes Tailwind. Granted I’ve heard of tailwind before, but never explained to this magnitude. In this post, she listed out clearly what you need to do before you sign up for tailwind, as well as a guide to tailwind, and how it works. I think it’s important to research a program before signing up. 

 

What makes this post stand out is that even if you don’t want to use tailwind, the motivating tips you can take from this post would make a difference in your Pinterest game. 

Southern Beauty Guide

 

Well that’s what I have this week for you! I seriously found the best pins this week. You know they are great when you immediately book mark a post. What have you been loving on Pinterest this week? Leave your picks in the comments below! 

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Review!

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Makeup Monday! That’s what I am calling today for I am sharing a new favorite product I recently discovered that I love.  Call it my love for the spa experience, but I tell you this product is purely magical. Why it’s taken me so long to discover it, I am not quite sure. However, I can tell you the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base has quickly earned its rightful place in my staple makeup collection.

Why is it magical? Well this comes from the spa like “ah” sigh you have when applying this product to your face. It’s part skincare and part primer, combining the best of the best in ingredients into one product. It contains luxurious shea butter and Vitamins B, E &C. Unicorn product? It just may be.

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base is not just a moisturizer it’s also a primer! It’s perfect from full coverage days to “no-makeup” days. It’s not a thick heavy consistency; rather it has a light creamy texture that simply melts into your skin. It I personally use this product as my face primer. I let it soak in while I do my eye makeup, but before foundation. I do want to mention I have very oily skin, but I have heard many people with other skin types also enjoy using this product.

This product evens out my skin while providing luminous hydration with not too much glow to the skin. This product feels wonderful on my skin, but also smells amazing! Literally the smell is so amazing it is the highlight to my makeup routine.

Next time you have a chance to stop by a Bobbi Brown counter or visit Sephora you need to try this! Check it all out here!

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Why is it important to organize your makeup collection?

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Why is it important to organize your makeup collection? As a Beauty blogger and Makeup Artist I spend a lot of my time organizing my collection. I consistently am adding to my collection through PR and purchases of my own. After some time your makeup collection will overflow, if you don’t have things organized and some items removed. I have some tips and tricks for you to utilize your collection. You see it’s not just about organization, it’s about making the most out of what you have.

Why it is important to organize your Makeup Collection

Organization|

There are tons of options for organization. From Ikea desks and Alex drawers to acrylic storage and odds and ends from the container store. I am a huge fan of organizing my makeup in a way where I can see it, which normally translates to acrylic. I utilize Muji drawers and the Original Beauty Box for this. I love how I can organize my collection to group all the blushes and actually am able to see what each drawer contains. I also have one of the Ikea desks that I use as my makeup vanity, which contains one large drawer for additional storage. It’s important to have organization so that you know what you have and use it well.

Clean it|

Yes your makeup collection also needs to be added to the cleaning schedule. I love to pull everything out, sanitize it inside and out, and put it back. Typically I do this while I am organizing my collection. I always keep Windex, Lysol wipes and Makeup sanitation spray on hand.

Move it around|

Often we get caught up in makeup trends that we buy things we don’t need or sometimes already have in our collection. The easiest way to fully use all of the makeup in your collection is to move it around. Bring things in the back to the front. I often do this and find products I loved and totally forgot about.

Trash & Donate|

Once every few months I go through my collection and trash expired products. Liquid products, especially Mascara is the first to go. My rule of thumb is if the smell and/or texture of a product changes then it’s time to toss it. On the flip side, products that I don’t use or don’t work for me I help them find a new home. I am telling you 100% you know someone that could use these products and love them. I typically donate makeup to women’s shelters and give some to family and friends. If it’s a product you aren’t using then it’s really of no use to you. This is the philosophy I use to keep my collection under control.

As you can see there are so many reasons all of us should organize our makeup collections. Regardless if it’s to donate or simply to clean there’s always a reason to do this. You never know your next makeup collection organization day may prove to hold a great discovery of one of your favorite makeup products.

What to Watch on Netflix?

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Starting 2018 never did I think I would have a new Netflix obsession.  I’ve have a Netflix account for over 5 years now, still I often find new shows I’ve never seen due to how large of a library that is now on Netflix. In 2017 when Netflix enabled downloading and watching offline, I kicked up my Netflix watching to another level. Granted only certain ones are available for download, but I find I can always find something great to watch.  Typically I find this super handy to do using my iPad, so that I have something to watch for trips and car rides.

Having something entertaining to watch while traveling is a must. I seriously get anxiety driving down busy interstates and even on simple long car rides. Mostly I bring my Nintendo Switch, which is simply amazing, and watch my iPad to pass the time.

I feel like Netflix is adding more and more great movies and shows that you can download. A few days ago I asked a few friends what they suggested I start watching. I do love watching Grey’s, but even I need some variety in my life. 2 of my friends demanded I started watching Riverdale. I remember seeing tons of promotions about this show and even saw it while browsing through channel guide for something to watch.

Bringing you back to this past weekend. I like having shows playing while working overtime. I often rely on Netflix to provide this chatter. While one of the recommended shows was Riverdale, I thought why not give it a shot? Have you ever watched Riverdale? Love the original comics that these characters are based on? Then you may just love this show!

Several hours later, I found Riverdale was quite interesting. Seriously within a day and a half I went through the first season. I went back to the friends that suggested it for a good, “I told you so” and to thank them for suggesting it. The only issue with finding interest in this show is that the second season is currently airing so I will have to figure out how to catch up on most of this season.

What are your Netflix obsessions? There’s such an endless library that I need help choosing what to watch! What have you been watching on Netflix lately?

Let’s Be Friends Blog Hop #249 is Live!

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A blog hop is a set time frame for current or aspiring bloggers to find new blogs and quality content. It is a great way to make new friends and find inspiration! It is also a fabulous way to promote your own blog and posts.
Dear Friends,
What a day to celebrate! This is the 249th week of the Let’s Be Friends blog hop! Thanks for joining us on this special day. Chelsee and Tiffany are extremely delighted to see the way this hop has grown and love to see your faces each week!
Join us every Tuesday at 7am (MST). This blog hop focuses on content. LINK UP YOUR FAVORITE POST from last week in this fun content-sharing blog hop! I love the idea of blog hopping, but I love the idea of reading posts and quality content on new blogs I’ve never been to even more. Instead of simply linking up your blog button, you are now able to link up your favorite post you recently wrote. Have a delicious recipe to share, DIY tutorial, or heartfelt post? Share it with us! All hosts and co-hosts put up some unique and fun content from the past week. Make sure to check them out. P.S.- you may still link up your blog button and blog name, but it is encouraged to link up your favorite post instead. You will get more page views and interest if you do so! Some of the most successful blog hops I have participate in focus on content rather than just exchanging follows. You never know who will become a loyal follower or pin that delicious new recipe you posted!
The BEST part of this blog hop? Each week there will be a WINNER! That’s right, each week we will choose one lucky blog to feature from the previous week’s hop. This hop receives thousands of page views every week, so your blog will have the chance to be center stage for free. You must follow all the hosts in order to win. Only those who link up a specific post are eligible to be featured! *You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win.
Let’s Be Friend’s Blog Hop Guidelines
1. Link up your favorite post from your week.
2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.
3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.
4. Visit 3 other blogs, comment, and follow them along!
5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends
6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news!
Let's Be Friends
***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop.
Meet your hosts:

The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin’

Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin’
Thank you all once again for continually linking up at our blog hop. It is such a fun time and I am so impressed each week with all the amazing posts. Please continue to link up an actual post instead of your blog. We want to keep reading your content and it makes it more fun to pick a winner!

Is there anything we can do differently or better? Please share in the comments!

…on to the Winner!
***This weeks featured post from last week’s hop:
Praying-for-Success

Image Source: Jennifer A Lambert

Praying for Success

Hi Friends! This is Tiffany! Wow- this post is so perfect and exactly my thoughts for how I desire to raise my children. This is so beautifully written. I love the blog Jennifer A Lambert as she has so much good info for parents and believers. I highly recommend you go check her out and follow! 🙂


Let’s Be Friends Blog hop #248 is live!

by 2 Comments

A blog hop is a set time frame for current or aspiring bloggers to find new blogs and quality content. It is a great way to make new friends and find inspiration! It is also a fabulous way to promote your own blog and posts.
Dear Friends,
What a day to celebrate! This is the 248th week of the Let’s Be Friends blog hop! Thanks for joining us on this special day. Chelsee and Tiffany are extremely delighted to see the way this hop has grown and love to see your faces each week!
Join us every Tuesday at 7am (MST). This blog hop focuses on content. LINK UP YOUR FAVORITE POST from last week in this fun content-sharing blog hop! I love the idea of blog hopping, but I love the idea of reading posts and quality content on new blogs I’ve never been to even more. Instead of simply linking up your blog button, you are now able to link up your favorite post you recently wrote. Have a delicious recipe to share, DIY tutorial, or heartfelt post? Share it with us! All hosts and co-hosts put up some unique and fun content from the past week. Make sure to check them out. P.S.- you may still link up your blog button and blog name, but it is encouraged to link up your favorite post instead. You will get more page views and interest if you do so! Some of the most successful blog hops I have participate in focus on content rather than just exchanging follows. You never know who will become a loyal follower or pin that delicious new recipe you posted!
The BEST part of this blog hop? Each week there will be a WINNER! That’s right, each week we will choose one lucky blog to feature from the previous week’s hop. This hop receives thousands of page views every week, so your blog will have the chance to be center stage for free. You must follow all the hosts in order to win. Only those who link up a specific post are eligible to be featured! *You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win.
Let’s Be Friend’s Blog Hop Guidelines
1. Link up your favorite post from your week.
2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.
3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.
4. Visit 3 other blogs, comment, and follow them along!
5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends
6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news!
Let's Be Friends
***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop.
Meet your hosts:

The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin’

Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin’
Thank you all once again for continually linking up at our blog hop. It is such a fun time and I am so impressed each week with all the amazing posts. Please continue to link up an actual post instead of your blog. We want to keep reading your content and it makes it more fun to pick a winner!

Is there anything we can do differently or better? Please share in the comments!

…on to the Winner!
***This weeks featured post from last week’s hop:

Image Source: From Play dates to Parties

MAKE WEEKNIGHTS EASIER WITH THESE 17 SLOW COOKER DINNER RECIPES

Hi Friends! This is Chelsee this week. I consistently notice my life gets super crazy where having a meal cooking in a slow cooker is super handy. It’s the way to get great food on a day you don’t have time to make a complete meal. Time I saw these I knew I had to share them! Leslie posted some amazing slow cooker recipes that I can’t wait to try. I know all of us having extremely busy lives and need easy delicious recipes like these to try. Make sure you head over and check out these recipes and more on Leslie’s blog!

Thanks so much to all of you for linking up such wonderful posts!

https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js

New Fall Decor from Heart & Hand that I’m Loving!

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I admit I have a bit of an obsession when it comes to all things farmhouse. Magnolia takes on Target with Hearth & Hand. Yes those who know my Magnolia obsession must have known this was coming. I can say that I was super excited when I heard the news that Magnolia was teaming up with Target. I currently own few pieces of home décor from Mangnolia’s online store, but found the launching of new products with a variety of prices was well worth looking into. Since the launch of their hit show Fixer Upper, many have launched into the Farmhouse style of mind.

I have been on that bandwagon from episode 1 of Fixer Upper. It seems with the rise of fame, farmhouse style acceptance has skyrocketed. I personally lean French Country meets Farmhouse. Which in my mind is on the elegant, sophisticated side of Farmhouse. Magnolia has a great mix of products that always seems to intrigue me.


After online hints going viral, the time has finally come and Mangolia’s Hearth & hand collection is live on Target’s website. Honestly I just googled Target + Joanna and Hearth & hand popped up.

Hearth & Hand is complete with a variety of products with a wide price range. There is literally something for everyone. A few pieces I was interested in already sold out, but I do think they will most likely restock them. Also some pieces that are breakable are not available for shipping. My stores don’t currently have a few pieces, but hopefully they will trickle down this far south soon. What I truly love is their page on target has items already styled that you can click and add quickly to your cart. I love that they have intergraded their products into images showing you how they will look. Plus this gives you ideas on how to style them in your own home.

There are so many beautiful pieces of home décor that I have on my list to buy. Some of them are available online and some I will have to search a few different Targets to find. Here are a few of my favorites!

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Aren’t these beautiful? With Hearth & Hand it’s Easy to turn your home into an HGTV dream! What do you have on your list to buy? Though we are waiting on the last season of Fixer Upper to premier, I am excited to see what’s next for Magnolia. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow at 9am est for the Let’s Be Friends blog hop!

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