Breezy Days: May 2016

Pages

May 31, 2016

Tassels & Top Knots


Summer is here! My vacations are just around the corner, and the sun is out to burn me to pieces haha Lately it has been crazy at work (let's be real, when is it not), but it's been a good kind of crazy. I'm currently working with developers to create software for my work and I'm over the moon excited! I finally get to flex my UX designer muscles by doing the Admin and User interfaces for a website, and overseeing another team with the creation of an app. Life is good :) 



This necklace from Standing Goose is the epitome of summer. This season it has been crazy popular on jewelry, shoes, blouses, pretty much everything! It's lightweight and I'm excited to pair it with more boho-inspired looks. 



What trends are you dying over this summer? And what vacations do you guys have planned?!



Dress: Shop Stevie
Tassel necklace c/o Standing Goose
Staci sandals c/o Shoedazzle
Lash Extensions & Eyebrow Microblading: Layers n' Lashes

How to Stay Healthy During a Crazy Work Day

This shop has been compensated by CollectiveBias, Inc. on behalf of its advertiser, ZonePerfect. #SnackandRally #CollectiveBias

My job pulls me in a lot of different directions throughout the day. One minute I'm handling a Coke machine mishap and the next I'm speaking with prospective students about our housing program. Sometimes I get so crazy with work that I forget to snack or take a quick walk around to clear my head, that's not good! I've got a few tips and tricks on how to stick to being healthy throughout the day.


1. Have healthy snack alternatives on hand
I love these ZonePerfect® Nutrition Bars because they taste amazing and serve as a great pick-me-up throughout the day! I can toss one in my purse and snack on it when I'm at my desk or out running errands; perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle. Right now you can buy 2 boxes of ZonePerfect® at Walmart and save up to $4! I picked mine up at my local Walmart in the nutrition bar aisle. 


2. Keep water near you at all times
Most the time when I feel like I'm hungry or snacky, I'm actually dehydrated! I aim to keep a cup of water or a full iced water bottle near me so I can stay as hydrated as possible. An added bonus is throwing in a lemon slice, it helps detox your system and keeps you energized.


3. When working at home, create a well-lit space to focus
Moving into our new place, Ryan and I are now able to have our own offices! I use mine mainly as a craft/blogging studio, but I definitely need to practice my piano skills as well :) 

Having a well-lit, clean, and quiet space dedicated to getting work done has helped in my productiveness and overall happiness! Working in a room that is bathed with natural sunlight makes me smile. 




4. Schedule out your day, then schedule in breaks
If I have an especially crazy day, I'll make sure to write out a quick schedule of my day. I schedule in breaks so my brain doesn't go insane! I need that boost of energy and I get that with a quick walk outside or a snack like a ZonePerfect® Nutrition bar. These bars have no less than 10g of protein and is a good source of fiber, which aids in giving me that 2nd or 3rd wind I need throughout the day. 



5. On your lunch break, go for a walk or jog
Now that the weather has warmed up, it's perfect for a walk and breath of fresh air! I'm not a morning person, so sometimes I do my work-outs at lunchtime to get that boost of energy and get the workout checked off my list for the day. Even taking a quick walk to your lunch meeting will make you feel tons better! 


What do you do to stay healthy throughout the day? What's your favorite ZonePerfect bar flavor?

May 23, 2016

Back At It Again


Am I allowed to quote viral videos? What age is the cut-off for finding that stuff hilarious? For now, I'll just keep quoting 'Damn Daniel'. 

Now that I'm finally recovering from my 2 surgeries, I'm getting back the strength to hit the gym! I started a workout plan with a co-worker to get more in shape for my trips this June. It's been a bit rough going back to the weightlifting. Especially when I'm lifting light weights to go easy on my injuries that are healing, and feeling like a dork at Vasa haha.



Who else is 'back at it again' and what workouts are you sticking with?



May 16, 2016

Third Love


Bras are a difficult thing to find and fall in love with. In the past I've just purchased what has worked and dealt with the wire poking, the uncomfortable straps, and other shenanigans because overall it did the job. Then I found the Third Love bra, and it's changed everything! 


It is flexible yet supportive, and I still feel slinky while being practical. I LOVE it! I recently purchased the 24/7 Classic T-Shirt bra and have not regretted it one bit. It is SO comfortable, I hardly feel like I'm wearing anything! I just got it in the mail and couldn't wait to toss out an old one :) 


If you're looking for specific sizing options, a more comfortable daily experience, and just a better support overall; then you got to take a look at Third Love


Bra & underwear c/o Third Love

May 13, 2016

Moving to the Little Blue Townhome


I don't think I've really brought this up here on the blog, mostly because there have been more important/exciting things to write about when I finally get the chance to hop on and write.

Back in November, Ryan & I were at our wits end with the yellow brick house management. They were threatening to kick us out over the dumbest things even though we paid our rent every month, took great care of the property, and even improved it at our own cost. The place didn't have proper A/C or heating, the utilities were split in (I'm sure) an illegal way, and the management company was dishonest and slimy.


We had been casually looking online for new places, but nothing ever felt right. Then if something was within our price range during our online searches; I'd think about all the time, effort, and money it would take to move. BARF. That would be enough to convince myself to be content for another month or so; or at least until another issue with management.

I started to get real fed up with the ridiculous high pricing of Provo family housing, especially since most of it hadn't been updated since the 80s.

"How can landlords get away with this here? It's practically stealing! I'm not paying $900 a month to live in a basement with rats."

That's a rant for another time ;)


Ryan took on the home search brigade and came to me the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with a listing for a 3bd 2.5 bathroom townhome on the west side of Provo. It looked beautiful. But isn't it too big? Do we need that much space? It might be a touch above our budget? But gosh, I'll finally have heating and A/C! I haven't had that in years!

We toured the place on Wednesday, then signed paperwork that night to move in on Friday (the day after Thanksgiving).

My family and friends love us a whole dang lot, because moving was a beast in the cold dreary weather. But we are all moved in and have been decorating up a storm!

You never know how much crap you have until you have to move and store all of it. We ended up selling, donating, and trashing a lot of our belongings and it feels like a good start to a new chapter.

We're happily on the other side of Provo, where I have a functioning thermostat and a washer/dryer all to myself. You could say we're pretty content over here :)

May 11, 2016

Pour Moi


You all know I am all about skincare here! I enjoy trying new products and taking steps to protect my skin. Another thing you all know is that Utah is dry, and it does not bode well with my skin (even after 5+ years of living here). 

I was sent Pour Moi's skincare system and was excited to try it because it's a simple 3 product system, less hassle! What was intriguing to me is that there are 4 different day creams to choose from. There is a day cream for each type of climate you are in: Polar, Desert, Tropical, and Temperate. 



Now I have options when I'm traveling between Utah and California! I tested out this skincare system for 3 days and have already seen an improvement in the clearness of my skin. Pour Moi features a new film-forming technology that will help in lightly sealing your skin from the harsher elements. The film doesn't make you break out, and you'll only feel it if you've used too much of the product. 


1. Clean your face
Gotta start with a clean palette! Use a gentle cleanser on your skin. 


2. Hydrating Balancer
Perfect for any skin type and climate. It's a cross between a toner and light moisturizer, meant to completely clear your skin of any residue yet leave it soft. 

Less is more when it comes to all of these products! Make sure to use a tiny bit for your face. 


3. Serum
The serum in the black bottle is meant for dry and mature skin, while the white bottle is for oily combination younger skin. 


4. Day Cream or Night Cream
Pick your day cream depending on which climate you are currently in. I chose the Polar climate because the dry and cold air outside has been wrecking my skin! When I head to California I'll chance to the Desert or Temperate day creams. The night cream works for any skin type and climate. 


The idea of switching your skincare to match your environment is brilliant! Why don't you become a Pour Moi beauty and try out these products :) 


Products c/o Pour Moi Beauty

May 6, 2016

Spring Glitz


Are we already nearing summer?! I can't even believe it! But I'm really excited for it :) We've got 2 trips planned for June, one for our 5 year anniversary and another for my best friend's wedding. I booked this awesome hotel in St. George and got tickets to Tuacahn's Tarzan for our anniversary, something I've always wanted to try out in Utah. I'll keep you posted on how it is ;) 


This necklace is the epitome of low-key glamour! I got it from Happiness Boutique and its been one of my favorites to throw on as I head out the door. It just adds that extra little glitz to an easy-going outfit. Check out the affordable pieces, treat yo self ;) 


Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique
Blouse: Nordstrom Rack

May 3, 2016

My Lush Cosmetics Favorites

 

I was drawn to the sweet floral scents floating in the air at the City Creek mall and wandered in. I found myself at Lush, and was drawn to the bright colors of the bubble bath goodies. I started off with bubble bars, and have slowly expanded to the skincare and haircare products and have loved every bit of it. Their products are made using the freshest ingredients, and are perfect for my sensitive skin. This is not a sponsored post, I just love Lush products so much and want to share the love! Here are a few of my current favorite products! 


A few months ago I took home a sample of this shampoo to try out on my dry scalp and limp hair. It does not have any of the heavy ingredients that weigh down my hair. I've been using this for the past 2 months and my scalp is no longer dry and itchy, and my hair is weightless and soft :) 


I picked up a sample of this conditioner and paired it with the Rehab shampoo. ERMERGERSH. The smell is amazzzinngggg. My hair is soft and smells like strawberry vanilla; can't get any better than that. 


I've talked about this a million times on my blog, but my skin is ridiculously dry being in Utah. This body conditioner has limited my slathering of lotion post-shower. I cover my skin in this right before I hop out of the shower, do a quick rinse then voila! My skin is soft and hydrated. Score. 


This scent is one of my favorites in the bubble bars, and has been for a long time. So when they came out with the shower cream option I hopped on it! It smells like chocolate and orange, SAY WHAT. I lather up and smell like a dessert ;)


This is actually Ryan's Lush shaving cream that I stole for this post. One of the many times he has reluctantly followed me into Lush, an associate lured him over to the men's products and sent him home with a shaving cream sample. Ryan got hooked so I treated him to a bigger tub of it, he swears by it! 


I LOVE bubble bars! They are what got me into Lush in the first place! Bubble bars you can break up multiple times to use a piece for each bath, where a bath bomb is meant for one bath. I enjoy the bubble bars because I get more bang for my buck. Every holiday they come out with limited seasonal bath products and they are sooo cute! If you're a bath fanatic, you absolutely have to treat yourself to a bubble bar stat! Below are my current favorites :) 

The Comforter (fruity blackcurrant)
Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon (citrus-chocolate)
Brightside (tangerine and bergamot)
A French Kiss (lavender, rosemary, and thyme)

Try out a Lush product and let me know what you think. And if you're a Lush fanatic, then send me suggestions!