November Goals

It's that time again where I share with you the goals I have set for the month. Last month was a whirlwind with our daughter being born 10 weeks early, so it's safe to say that most of the goals I had set went out the window. Lets see how I did anyway!

Goals from October

- Get more baby stuff set up: Ha! Yeah, didn't happen.

- Clean and declutter our home more: ...Nope!

- Take better care of myself: Nah, sadly. Olivia was born October 17th, so between being in the hospital for a week and going back and forth constantly to the NICU, I look like I'm homeless. 

- Post at least 3 times a week: Didn't happen, obviously. I had every intention of being a good blogger, but Miss Olivia surprised us!

Goals for November

- Take better care of myself. Now I know I had this for last month, but this month I really need to do it. I'm sleep deprived, eating a ton of junk food, and shower 2 or 3 times a week at most. I know that's probably gross, but I'm at the hospital pretty much every single day. I get there bright and early and I'm typically not home until late and crash into bed. As much as I hate leaving her there, I need to start really caring for myself. Taking a shower and cooking myself a meal needs to be a priority again. 

- Blog at least once a week. I'm starting to bring my laptop to the hospital with me now, so I can take pictures at home and then write up posts while I visit Olivia. 

- Clean our house. This needs to get done, like yesterday. Since Olivia's been born, our house looks like a tornado hit. I may have to bite the bullet one of these days and not visit so early in the morning just to clean. 

I think I'm going to leave it at these three goals for November. Life has been absolutely insane and I'm trying my best to get into a routine. If you all are interested, I can do an update post on Olivia when she's a month old. Just let me know!

What are some of your goals for this month?

When Plans Don't Go As Planned

Hey guys! I know it's been quite a while since my last post, which was my letter to my future daughter. Well, who would've thought that she'd be born just 5 days later, a whopping 10 weeks early!

This is Miss Olivia about a week after she was born. I wasn't able to hold her for a while because she had so many wires attached to her and she had a tube down her throat helping her breathe. 

This is a more recent picture of her when she didn't need the cpap machine anymore, and nasal canulas were the replacement. She still had a feeding tube down her throat too, which she was always tugging at trying to take it out (she was successful quite a few times).

This was taken just a couple days ago. She sleeps EXACTLY like me, so I had to take this picture. Her feeding tube is now through her nose and they keep lowering the amount of oxygen she needs, which is fantastic. She's doing so much better considering her traumatic birth.

I don't think I mentioned her full name yet, and it's Olivia Penelope Curran. She is seriously the sweetest baby ever, even though she had a pretty rough start in life. We knew before she was born that she would have a heart condition that will require surgery, as well as Down Syndrome. She was 3 pounds, 10 ounces at birth, which I was told is a great weight for only being 30 weeks and 2 days along. She is finally just past her birth weight and is slowly getting bigger and stronger everyday. 

She has a very long road ahead of her, and will be in the NICU for quite a while. Sometimes plans definitely don't go as planned, and we were so scared at her being born 10 weeks early. I wanted to mention in this post that I have also set up a GoFundMe page for her. We luckily have good insurance that will cover everything medically, but between all the trips to the hospital and my husband still having to work 50-60 hours a week, we've been spending so much money on gas and food just to be able to see her, and we still need a ton of baby things since I had to cancel my baby shower. She will eventually be transferred to a better hospital for her surgery, but that hospital is well over an hour away from us. We won't be able to see her as often when she is transferred, and we want to try our best, but are starting to not be able to afford much. If anyone would like to donate anything or even just share her page, it would mean the world to us. The money donated will be going towards the baby supplies we'll need when she comes home, gas and food. Again, here is the link to her page. Any prayers and positive thoughts are more than welcome as well :)

A Letter To my Future Daughter

My Dearest Olivia, I can't believe in just two and a half more months you will be here. It's been quite the journey having you in my tummy. We found out early on that you may have Down Syndrome, and then a couple months after that we were told you have a heart condition that will require surgery when you're no older than 4 months. To say that Mommy and Daddy aren't scared and nervous is a lie. I am scared that you might have developmental delays, and I am scared that you're going to need surgery so young. We just want you to be okay.

Do you know that you have a big brother? His name is Aiden and we found out about him in the Summer of 2015. We unfortunately never got to meet him, as Heaven needed another angel much too soon. He would've been born the month before we found out about you! You have a very special angel watching over you, making sure you're going to arrive safely. I miss Aiden terribly and you will grow up knowing he is always with you. 

Despite everything Daddy and I have been through, we both love you so much already and can't wait to see your beautiful face when you arrive. We already know from pictures that you look like Daddy, and I can't wait to see the bond you two will have. He's always saying how excited he is to finally meet you and can't wait to hold you. I hope you can hear him when he's talking to you. 

No matter what happens, we are always going to love and support you through everything in life. I'm excited to see if you'll like beauty products like I do, or be a gamer like Daddy and play Minecraft and watch Game Grumps with him. You are our little miracle and we wouldn't change that for the world. We love you so much Miss Olivia, or Oli as your Dad likes to call you, and we can't wait to see the person you become. 

Love, Your Mommy and Daddy

Derma E Launches New Packaging!

*Disclosure* This post is sponsored by Derma E. All opinions are 100% honest and my own like always!

Hey guys! I have some exciting news from Derma E for you today. They are going to be launching new packaging starting Sepetember 2016 through March 2017, and I have to say, I really feel this is a wonderful change the brand is doing. 

The packaging on the left is the older packaging. To me, it's nice but very medical looking. When I'm in-store looking at products, it's not really something that stands out to me. 

The packaging on the right is the newer, fresher look. I have to say, I absolutely love it! It's calming, relaxing, and definitely something I would pick up in the store. 

You might be wondering if formulas are changing as well, and they are most definitely not! All products will still be the same great formula we all know and love, just in a newer, updated packaging. 

You may have already seen a few products in the newer packaging, like the Hydrating, Anti-Wrinkle line, Firming, and their best selling Microdermabrasion Scrub and Overnight Peel. I'm a big fan of the Microdermabrasion Scrub, and their Hydrating line is amazing for my oily skin in the colder months. 

I love both of the products pictured above. The Day Creme is great for day or night (for my skin at least), and I feel the Night Cream has a bit of extra hydration for the super dry skin types. 

As I stated above, the new packaging is rolling out slowly with the first products being the ones I already mentioned in September, and slowly introducing the others through March 2017. Derma E is available in Ulta, Whole Food's, Sprouts and Target.

I, for one, am very excited for this relaunch. I've gotten the chance to try a few different products of theirs in the past, and now with the new packaging, I feel like it's more spa-like and calming, which is definitely something I love. With a new baby on the way, I'll have to be sure and take some pampering time, and Derma E will definitely be included in that!

What do you think of the new packaging design?

September 2016 Empties

Hey everyone! I know I normally do my monthly favorites before my empties, but honestly, I don't really have any favorites to share! I was lazy again and didn't wear makeup at all. I have been better with my skin, though I haven't been using many new products, and it was a pretty crazy month overall. So, I'm instead just continuing with my empty products!

Starting off with the few skincare products, I used up two different sheet masks. The first one is from When, and it's their The Last Choice mask. I've gotten a little more into sheet masks lately now that I know how to use them better, and the When brand is pretty great. I also used up a Pur~Lisse Blue Lotus + White Tea mask. I had gotten two or three in a previous Ipsy bag, and this was my last one. I really liked this one too, but I don't think I'd go out and purchase myself. 

I used up a deluxe sample of the Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser as well, and this cleanser is freaking amazing! It gives me that squeaky clean feeling, which I know not many people like, but in the Summer when my skin is super oily, this comes in handy. This tiny tube lasted ages too because you only need the tiniest amount to get the job done. 

I have a few bath and shower products as well. My husband and I both used the St. Ives Rich & Creamy Vanilla Body Wash, and we both enjoyed it! It lathers up really well, smells amazing, and is pretty inexpensive.

I've been working through my Bath & Body Works handsoaps, and this Sugared Vanilla Wish scent is to die for! I wish I had 50 backups of this stuff honestly, but B&BW handsoaps are too expensive in my book, even during a sale, so once I use up what I have, I'll be moving on. 

The Garnier Olia After Color Conditioner came in a boxed hair color from ages ago, and I just never used it up until last month. I love Garnier hair products but I don't care much with coloring my hair anymore. The Olia line of haircolor is fantastic, though!

Lastly is a few random products. I had gotten the Secret Clinical Strength as a sample, and I really do like this. It dries down and doesn't leave a white residue on your clothing, and it smells nice too!

I pretty much exclusively used the Bausch+Lomb Renu Fresh Contact Solution, as it's the only kind that doesn't make my eyes burn. It's rare I wear my contacts anymore, unless I'm going out. I tend to stick with my glasses. 

Technically I didn't use up the two vitamins pictured, but I had to get rid of them. They both contain Folic Acid, and I found out I can't take folic acid, I need folate. Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate, and my body can't break it down like others can, and being pregnant, I need the folate to help keep my baby healthy. The Super B-Complex is by Nature Made, and the Prenatal Vitamin is by The Wellbeing Centre. 

Number of products used up: 10
Total for the year: 113

What have you used up recently?

October Goals

October and cooler weather is finally here, and I couldn't be more excited! Fall is my favorite season, and I'm also nearly 29 weeks pregnant so the heat we were having was not good to me. I always start the month off going over my goals from the last month, and then telling you all what my goals are for the new month. 

Goals from September

- Finish the one book I started back in August: Big fat fail over here! I'm just about halfway through it at this point. 

- Go out on a date with my husband: YES! Our 3 year wedding anniversary was September 21st, so we went out for a lunch date to Olive Garden. I can never get enough of their unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks!

- Donate more to Purple Heart: Sort of! I've been getting more things together to donate and so far I have three big trash bags worth, and I have a pickup scheduled for later this month. 

- Use up 10 beauty products: I just looked in my empties bag, and there are exactly 10 products! Woohoo! They're not all entirely beauty/makeup, but I have a few healthcare things as well, which counts in my book!

Goals for October

- Get more baby stuff set up. My husband and I have very recently started getting baby stuff together for when Olivia arrives. We had some amazing things that were very kindly given to us, and more kind people are giving us stuff soon, plus my baby shower is in a couple weeks! We're gonna be loaded but I need to get my booty into gear and have it all set up and organized. At least the crib is put together!

- Clean and declutter our home more. You all know I've been on a decluttering kick in all aspects of my life. I've gotten rid of countless things, and thrown away junk I hadn't used or cared about in years. This week and last week alone, I went through about 10 trash bags worth of stuff to throw away, and it's like a breath of fresh air. 

- Take better care of myself. This is kind of broad, but since I'm now in the third trimester, I need to take the time to really take care of myself. Sometimes I feel like a chicken with its head cut off when I'm cleaning, throwing junk away, putting donation bags together, etc., and I know alot of my aches and pains are due to that. I also have been very bad again with not taking care of my skin, and I didn't wear makeup at all in September. I need to have more nights where I take a nice shower, pamper myself with a face mask, and REST!

- Post at least 3 times a week. I had an original goal of posting Monday's, Wednesday's, and Fridays. I was good the first full week in September, then it was very sporadic. I think with everything going on and me in hardcore nesting mode, this little blog has gotten neglected. So, even if I don't do the Monday, Wednesday, Friday thing, if I can aim to post 3 days a week, I'll be proud of myself. 

Well that's everything! What are some of your goals for this month? 

Beauty Wishlist: Fall 2016

 *Post contains affiliate links*

Hey everyone! I know I've been slacking again on the blogging recently. So much is going on in life and quite honestly, I'm just stressed out so the last thing I've wanted to do lately is sit down and write. Today though, I wanted to share with you all a few things that I've been seriously lusting over in the beauty world. As you might know, I've put myself on a spending ban and haven't purchased anything beauty related since April. There are so many new releases, and products that have been out for a little while that I just want to get my hands on. 

 

Lorac Mega Pro Palette 3 - Lorac never ceases to amaze me with their shadow formula, and it has definitely become my favorite formula to work with. Just look at how beautiful these shades are! This palette officially releases on October 2nd at Ulta Beauty for $59, and I think this is the one product I will allow myself to splurge on. I have the other two Mega Pro palettes, and the first two smaller ones, so naturally this is a must.


 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Palette Color Wheel - Now I really don't need anymore blushes in my life, but this palette gives me some major feels. I hear angels singing looking at this beauty. I'm a pretty big fan of the Tarte Amazonian clay blushes since they last on my oily skin, so this is incredibly tempting to get. This is a Sephora exclusive that sells for just $44.

 

Clarisonic Mia 2 Sea Breeze First Aid Beauty Set - I adore the Clarisonic. I've had my current one since my 21st birthday (almost 7 years now), and I can tell that it's starting to crap out on me. It works fine still, but it doesn't hold a charge very long. I don't use it very often, maybe twice a week at most, but I find that I have to charge it up constantly because it dies fast. I've been looking into getting a new one and this set comes with a few First Aid Beauty products, which is a brand I'm fond of, along with a Luxe Facial Brush Head and a Sensitive Brush Head. This set costs $169 and I'm pretty sure it's a Sephora exclusive. 

 

itCosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream - it Cosmetics has recently launched at Sephora, and they have a few skincare items that are Sephora exclusives, this eye cream being one of them. What caught my eye with this is the claims that it smooths, brightens and depuffs. If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know I'm expecting a baby girl who is due on Christmas Eve. After she's born, I know I'll have many sleepless nights (and days) taking care of her needs and mama will look like a Walking Dead zombie. Anything that can help to brighten and depuff tired mommy eyes, I'm all for. This costs $48. 

  

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette - This bad boy has been out for a while and has so much hype surrounding it. Every video I watch on this and every blog post I read has nothing but amazing things to say. The colors are gorgeous, and swatches I've seen have been incredible. I'm now convinced that this needs to be in my collection, but it's sold out online everywhere at the moment. This costs $42 which is a great price for a palette.  

We would be here for hours if I kept adding products to this list, so I'll leave it at five. There are so many awesome products I'm dying to get my hands on, but with my priorities being on baby girl lately, I haven't treated myself to anything. If there is anything else you all think I should check out, let me know in a comment! I'd love to hear what you are lusting over!

Also, let me know what kind of posting schedule you would like to see from me. I don't have the time to post every single day, or even 5 days a week. I was thinking maybe Monday, Wednesday, Friday but would love some input!

The Best Health, Beauty & Wellness Deals

*Disclosure* This post is sponsored by Groupon. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hey guys! You're all probably beauty lovers like I am, and you probably also love to find deals on anything health and beauty related. With Health, Beauty & Wellness Groupons, you're bound to find an amazing deal on something you want.  

Being pregnant is an amazing thing, but it can be hard to take care of yourself if you work all the time, if you already have kids, or just have an overall busy life in general. Even if you're not pregnant like I am, you may just have alot on your plate, and it's important to take time for yourself. 

With Health, Beauty & Wellness Groupons, I can find spas that offer facials, or even massages that help out my aching back. I can go get my hair done, or get a mani/pedi if I want to feel pretty. Some days, I'm just so exhausted that I don't want to wash my hair or wash my face, so being pampered for a day can make such a world of difference!

When looking up what you want to do to help you feel good about yourself, you can input your location at the top to find the best deals in your area, wherever you are! 

I think Groupon really comes in handy, and my wedding anniversary is coming up very soon, so I'm tempted to have my husband treat me before baby arrives!

Be sure to check out Groupon on Facebook and Twitter! 

What do you think of the health, beauty and wellness deals that Groupon has to offer?

Saving Money With Groupon

*Disclosure* This post is sponsored by Groupon. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always

Hey guys! If you're like me and like to save money wherever you can, Groupon coupons has the deals for you. As a soon-to-be new mom, I've been trying to save money in every aspect of my life, and using coupons has been a great way of saving. 

With Groupon coupons, all you have to do it type in your location at the top right side, and it'll pop up with all the different coupons you can use in your area. They also have general coupons too, though!

Some of my favorite stores to save money at are: 

Barnes & Noble - I love to wander around those aisles just browsing usually, but there's nothing like a brand new book to add to your collection!

Macy's - I used to work there for 5 years, and I sure miss the discount I would get! Using Groupon coupons makes me feel a little better about spending money there.

Walmart - I made a baby registry (one of) at Walmart, and I've been shopping there for years. It's nice when I can find a good coupon or deal on something on top of their already great prices

Ulta Beauty - I can't not put something beauty related here. I definitely love shopping at Ulta, so it's nice that Groupon coupons tells you about all the deals going on and what you can save on as well. It comes in handy when you're cutting back on the beauty shopping like I am!

Having a baby soon has made me realize how much money I used to spend, and Groupon coupons has made shopping so much easier for me. I never shop without coupons anymore, and I always buy on sale. I'm even getting my husband into shopping all the deals! 

Be sure to check out the Groupon Facebook page, and their Twitter!

What do you think of Groupon? 

My First Time Tag

Hi everyone! I was tagged by Mary over at Neon Chipmunk to do the My First Time Tag! I had seen this on YouTube a while ago, and thought it was pretty cool, so when she tagged me, I was even more excited. Keep on reading to see all the questions and my answers!

1. Do you still talk to your first love?
I married mine, so I have no choice lol 

2. What was your first job? 
I was a sales associate at The Body Shop from October 2009 to April 2010

3. What was your first car?
So, I actually don't even have my license yet, but my very first car to learn how to drive was an Infiniti I30. I saved up so much money to get a car, and then it was sadly totaled, but I wasn't the one who totaled it

4. Who was the first person to text you today?
My hubby when he got to work :)

5. Who's the first person you thought of this morning?
Probably my husband and why the hell is he waking me up so early

6. Who was your first grade teacher?
Mrs. Winters. She was probably my favorite teacher I ever had. I remembered I saw her a couple years ago at my old job a few times, then one day she stopped in and told me she had breast cancer. I cried my eyes out and haven't seen or heard from her since, so I have no idea if she's ok or not :(

7. Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
Orlando, Florida

8. Who was your first best friend, and you still talk to him/her? 
If my memory is serving me right, it was Corinne. We used to live like 3 houses away, so we'd always be playing together. Once middle school arrived, I became the weirdo outcast, and she got popular and had tons of friends, so we lost touch. We're friends on Facebook, though

9. Where was your first sleepover?
I have no clue honestly

10. Who was the first person you talked to today?
David, because I was mad at him for waking me up so early lol

11. Who's wedding were you in for the first time?
I've never been in a wedding before

12. What was the first thing you did this morning?
Check my phone to see what time it was

13. What was the first concert you ever went to?
Hanson. I was in 3rd grade, ok? The boyband thing was huge for me then

14. First broken bone?
I've never broken any bone! :D

15. First piercing?
Earlobes, but they closed up years ago

16. First foreign country?
I've never been outside the States, unfortunately

17. First movie you remember seeing in the theaters?
Probably James & the Giant Peach

18. When was your first detention?
I never got detention

19. Who was your first roommate? 
David. We moved in after being together for 2 years and engaged for 1

20. What was the first lesson you ever took? 
I think swim lessons, but they didn't last

21. Who was the first beauty related person you watched on YouTube?
Oh man, it's been so long since I've been watching beauty videos, but I think it was either Michelle Phan or Makeup by TiffanyD

I'm not going to tag anyone, because I'm not cool enough lol, but to anyone reading this, feel free to post your own answers!

Review: Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer

*Disclosure* Product mentioned was provided for review thanks to BrandBacker. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always

Hey everyone! I had the chance to try out Valentia's new moisturizer, the Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer. I've done many reviews of their products in the past, and the line is truly amazing! I was so excited to try this out, since my skin needs the help. 

Here is some info on the product, as well as key ingredients:

Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer - A lightweight fast absorbing cream that illuminates skin while providing all-day hydration.

This Brightening Moisturizer Will:
- Lighten dark spots
- Restore skin radiance
- Even skin tone
- Diminish fine lines
- Provide all-day hydration

KEY INGREDIENTS:

- Botanical Hyaluronic Acid: Floods skin with moisture, supports skin elasticity, and plumps skin from within.

- Kojic Acid: Controls melanin production and prevents dark spots.

- Ginseng: Boosts skin firming collagen, fights wrinkles, and gives the skin a brighter and more energized look.

- Safflower Oil: Repairs skin's natural moisture barrier and provide superior skin protection.

- Shea Butter: Infuses skin with a myriad of vitamins and nutrients for superior skin hydration and nourishment.  

They always say that pregnancy makes you have a certain "glow." Well, I think that glow missed me, because I don't have it, despite people saying I do. This moisturizer sounded like it might help me in that area! I love the bottle it comes in, it's a nice and sturdy bottle, that I'm pretty sure is glass, and it's got a pump. You get a whopping 4 ounces of product, which I think will last a very long time, especially since I only use it once a day. The lotion is truly lightweight when applied to the skin, but sinks in well and provides nice hydration for my oily skin. I have noticed a brightened affect to my skin, so it could be a combination of using this in the mornings, as well as making more of an effort in taking care of my skin more. 

You can find this for $25 here on Amazon! Also be sure to check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram

What are some of your favorite moisturizers?

August 2016 Empties

*Post contains affiliate links*

Hey guys! It's time to share another month's empty products, and August wasn't that good. The past few months haven't really been that good with finishing up products, but I managed to use up a few things this time!

I had gotten the Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash in an old Walmart box. I always have liked Dove deodorant, but wasn't a huge fan of their body washes. This one was no exception, sadly. I did like how thick and creamy it was, but it made my skin feel more dry. 

The Curel Itch Defense, on the other hand, was great! I had gotten this in an Influenster voxbox, and I really liked how soft this made my skin feel. I have been having much itchier skin lately, and this worked like a charm. 

I've always been a fan of anything Aveeno, so their Daily Moisturizing Lotion Sheer Hydration was nothing super new to me. I've been trying to go through a bunch of deluxe samples lately, so it feels good to have these three finished!

I finally finished up the last of the Citron Cedarwood candle from Bath & Body Works. My husband was a fan of this scent, but it was a bit much for me. I did like using it when I was cleaning to help make our house smell fresher. 

This little baby size of the Tarte Smooth Operator Finishing Powder took me forever to go through! I used this to set my face and for baking underneath my eyes, and it just seemed like the never ending powder. If I purchased this in the full size, it would probably take me years and years of daily use to go through. I highly recommend this though! It makes my skin look and feel so soft and smooth. 

The MyChelle Love Your Lips lip balm in the scent Black Currant Pomegranate is another product that took ages to use up. It's just such a massive tube, so I started using it on my cuticles and rough spots I had just to use it up faster! It was nice though, especially under very drying lip products. 

The very last product used up is the Colgate Sparkling White Toothpaste. I used this at night, but my husband was the one using it the most. I thought this toothpaste was kinda weird. It was more of a gel formula, and it foamed up a ton so it made my mouth feel super dry. My husband likes the Colgate brand, so we bought a different kind of toothpaste for him. 

Number of products used up: 7
Total for the year: 103

I finally used up 100 products! I'm a bit disappointed in myself honestly. I've mentioned before that my goal was to use up 250 products this year, but I don't see myself doing that unless I go ham with how much I use of everything, and that's just a waste to me. I definitely see September being better, as I already have 3 products used up and it's only the 5th! This pregnancy has seriously made me feel so exhausted all the time, even though I'm almost to the third trimester, so I've been slacking on doing my makeup and taking care of my skin most days. I need to get my butt into gear before baby Olivia makes her grand entrance, because I know I'll be slacking again once she's here!

What are some products you used up in August?

August 2016 Favorites

*Post contains affiliate links*

Hi guys! August was much better on the favorites front, as the last few months have been kinda blah due to pregnancy and life, and not caring much about makeup, skincare, or anything beauty related. I have a few favorites to share with you today, so lets get to it!

I've been making it a point to use a hair mask or deep conditioner about every other hair washing. I'm way overdue for a haircut, so I'm trying to keep it looking as soft and manageable as possible until I can get it cut. I've been really into the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep Conditioner. Why are there so many E's in deep? I have no idea, but this stuff makes my hair feel fantastic! It works by just squeezing the tube and product comes right out. No need to take caps off or have the bottle fall onto the floor (that happens quite a bit now, and having a pregnant belly in my way makes it difficult to pick things up). It smells nice too, and is fairly inexpensive. 

Next up is a travel size of the Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub in the Coconut Lime scent. Taking care of the skin on my body has become more important as well due to my growing belly, and just having drier skin in general. I already have old stretch marks from weight gain and loss over the years, but I have no new ones (yet), and I attribute that to using this scrub and moisturizing regularly now. I absolutely love how this smells, and I pretend I'm on the beach with a pina colada in my hand every time I use this, even though I'd need a virgin one instead!

The Dr. Brandt Oxygen Facial Flash Recovery Mask has got to be my new favorite mask. I did a full review on it here, and have just been amazed with how awesome my skin looks after using this. It's ridiculously expensive, but when I have the money to splurge, I'm so buying this again. I love how it foams up on the skin, and it gives me such an amazing glow that pregnancy hasn't necessarily given me. 

I did a post back in February on three Serious Lip Balms. Since I'm a lip balm hoarder and only use pretty much one at a time, These kinda fell to the wayside. I pulled out the Snickerdoodle scent after using up a balm that I had been trying to use up for many months, and remembered how much I love these! They're so hydrating, they have amazing scents but no taste, and the women behind the brand are incredible people. Definitely be sure to check out my review of these balms!

I know I've mentioned the Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in the shade Pin Up Pink before in a favorites, but I can't get enough of this gloss! I'm finally about half way through this deluxe sized tube and will be sad when it's gone. I just love how soft and not sticky these feel on the lips, and they make my lips look so full and luscious. If I didn't have a million different lip glosses to use up, I'd go out and buy this in a heartbeat.  

What were some of your favorites in August?

September Goals

Hey guys! It sure has been a while! Life got a bit crazy here, and these pregnancy hormones are no joke. Since we're in yet another new month, I wanted to go over the goals I had for August, and the ones I want to set for this month. 

Lets see first what I wanted to accomplish in August:

- Straighten up the bedroom: YES! It's looking so much better now, but it still has a ways to go. With just the 2 of us living here the last 4 years, it's amazing how much junk accumulates. 

- Read 1 book: Sort of... I started one book and am about a quarter of the way through. I really need to just read, even if it's for just 10 minutes before bed, or during a face mask.

- Show my husband I appreciate him more: Absolutely! I've been showing him alot more how much I love and appreciate all he does for me and baby girl. My hormones have seriously been no joke and I can be a b*tch and take it out on him, which he doesn't deserve. The man works his butt off 50-60 hours a week, in the medical field mind you, just so we can make ends meet, so the least I can do is give him a big hug and kiss, and let him know how much I care. 

- Pick out a baby name: YES! So we have picked out baby girl's first and middle name, but I'm only going to be sharing her first name here, as we're keeping her middle name a secret from everyone in our lives until she is born. Her name will be Olivia :)

- Use up at least 10 beauty products: Eh, nope! I only used up a total of 7 products this month, which that empties post should be up next week sometime!

- Donate clothing/household items to Purple Heart: YES! We actually had them come out on the 26th and haul away 5 trash bags of things from clothing I couldn't sell, to DVD's and household items. It feels so good getting rid of stuff we no longer need or use!

So I think I did pretty well with my August goals! Here is what I want to do this month:

- Finish the 1 book I started. I know, that's stretching it for me, but I genuinely want to make an effort with this. 

- Go out on a date with my husband. He and I rarely go out and do things anymore. Mainly because of finances, but there also isn't much to do around my area unless you want to go to a bar or head down into Philly, both of which we're not fans of (plus being pregnant, I might get some stares at a bar!). So, since our wedding anniversary is this month, we decided to celebrate and at least go out for either breakfast or dinner. It'll probably be a breakfast date, since we both could eat breakfast foods, all day everyday!

- Donate more to Purple Heart. I am so hoping I can go through more stuff to get rid of, even if it's just a couple bags worth. I always feel amazing being able to give what I don't use anymore to a good cause. 

- Use up 10 beauty products. I failed August with this goal, but I'm so close to finishing a bunch of products, so I'm pretty confident I can do it this month! I had an original goal of using up a combined total of 250 products, but I'm nowhere near it and want to get as close as possible to it before baby Olivia arrives. 

That's all I'll be focusing on this month! I do still plan on working on getting the bedroom sorted out more, but it's getting harder as my belly more so I need to take my time on that one. What are some of your goals for this month?