Remember the "Merry"?

The December air has finally rolled-in...another year is about to wrap-up and so come the days of shopping, card writing, and family visits.  The other day I was remembering past Decembers and how I was running around like a chicken with no head.  My relfection led me to recognize that each year I need to be reminded of what the Christmas season truly is.  Christmas has a different meaning for everyone and it comes along with different preparations for everyone.  As a society we have set a standard that Christmas comes along with gifts and decorating and spending loads of cash.  Today I invite you to take a look at your own traditions, at your reason for the season and remind yourself of what this time truly means.

Personally, Christmas is a blessing in that my family & I celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.  It is important because all of my blessings are God-given and Christmas is a time to acknowledge and give thanks for my life.   Of course every stress from this season's running around supresses my joyous thanking, so this year I came up with a little "trick" to constantly remind myself that Christmas is about celebrating my relationship with God, my family, friends, and even the obstacles I faced this year.  I have my "constant" reminder which is a cross I carry in my wallet.  When I am feeling stressed, sad, frustrated, or just not-so-jolly, I take the cross out of my wallet and I allow it to remind me of all the good in my life.  Having a constant this season will help to constantly remind you of what Christmas is truly about and it will shift your thinking into positive thoughts, which will in turn help you overcome the difficulties of this season.  Give it a try!  How about you go shopping when the mall is super crowded and when you begin to feel frustration rising up, take a look at your constant and allow it to help you calm down.  Your constant can be a cross, a piece of Christmas jewlery, a small ornament, a picture of your family, etc.  Do not allow negativity to come in between the many blessings that God has set out for you.  Look for the blessings in everything you do. 

Wishing that each of you can always have the MERRY in Christmas and that your focus point may always be in God and the millions of blessings He has showered us with. 

Merry Christmas bloggers!  Xo

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:9-14

MY Skin Care 101

Beauty, beauty, beauty!  One of my favorite subjects.  The big key to beauty is not in what brand of makeup you use, but rather in how you treat the foundation that is your skin.  No one has perfect skin due to the fact that our skin is always exposed to elements, chemicals, and even bacteria!  Many people have asked me how I care for my skin & what products I use.  I've had a long love-affair with my skin & through time I've learned my Ph, allergies, and what works best for me.  In this blog I will talk about my daily skin regimen right now (winter skin) and how I avoid break-outs, how I treat breakouts, and other small tips.  

WINTER SKIN
As the seasons change, so does our skin and so should our skin care.  As chilly days pour in, the skin usually becomes dry, loses moisture, lips become chapped, and our normal moisturizer will not suffice.  If you live in a warmer place that does not experience that many chilly days, you must still pay close attention to moisturizing and cleansing.  

Daily skin care routine: *Wash face (morning & night).  For winter, use a wash that is gentle on your skin, yet removes impurities & make-up residue. One of my favorites is the rose wash from Fresh as it is gentle enough for my skin & it cleanses really well.  Ladies, if you have a Clarisonic (awesome facial cleanser), use it once a week only during the winter & if you don't have one, look into it!  *Toning: I tend to stay away from toners, as they dry my skin, but if you enjoy this step, make sure the toner is not alcohol based. Alcohol tends to dry your skin & then you will have to moisturize more & more. *Moisturize (day & night): Use a heavy moisturizer that is cream based. Now if you have really dry skin, then consider using a moisturizer that is more of a balm, such as Vaseline like products.  Moisturize your face, under eyes, lips, and the rest of your body.  Pay attention to what needs a little more moisturizing.  Remember to use an eye treatment for under your eyes, as your skin is thin in this area.  Pure argan oil is an excellent moisturizer, as well as nourishment for your skin.  *If I wear makeup: Before applying foundation, I always wash my face & moisturize.  I moisturize my skin, under my eyes, and my lips.  During the winter, I stay away from foundations that dry up my skin and I make sure I use a super hydrating primer.  Remember that as the seasons change, your skin tone either gets darker or lighter & so you should change your foundation accordingly.  TIP: Make sure you do not apply old, expired foundation to your skin! This helps to prevent drying, breakouts & so many unwanted skin issues.  
When removing my make-up, I first use hydrating make-up remover wipes, then I wash my face & finally I use small round cotton pads to remove any excess eye make-up.  *Masks: During the winter I like to do "oat-based" (the Aveeno ones are great) masks, as they are gentle on my skin.  I only do masks once a month during the winter.  *Sun-protection: Just because it is chillier outside does not mean the sun is not there.  Sun-screen is so important during every season.  Usually my foundation contains SPF, but your moisturizer should also have it.  If you find that your moisturizer is lacking SPF, mix a little bit of sunscreen with your cream based moisturizer & that will work great.  *Tools: If you use brushes (as I do), make sure to constantly wash them, especially your foundation, concealer, and eye brushes.  There is definitely bacteria on your brushes & you do not want to
re-deposit it on your face.  Now, if you use your fingers to blend your make-up in, then make sure you wash your hands before you do so.  *Break-outs: A simple rule is that if you treat your skin well, then you are helping to prevent breakouts.  I tend to breakout on my forehead due to the foods I eat, if I don't cleanse my skin, etc.  The one thing I never ever do is cover-up my blemishes.  During the winter I treat breakouts using warm tea bags.  I skip make-up when I break out & if I must wear makeup then I use a BB (or CC) cream that is light but has coverage.  

This is what works best for me.  I recommend that you pay close attention to your skin & listen for what it needs. Also, before buying any skin care products, read their reviews & inform yourself before wasting money. There are many great drug-store products, but if they do not work for you, then go for what works best.  A little research goes a long way. 



Healthy skin is beautiful skin....take care of the foundation first! Xo

Written Motivation

Hey bloggers!  Happy November~the month to be extra thankful!  I love November because that is when I start to get into the Christmas spirit and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  Who doesn't love the smell of pumpkin pie, the Fall air, and family time.  It is easy to get lost in the spirit of all the festivities and forget to spend a little time with yourself.  One of the things that I do when I spend time with myself, is to plan, plan, plan. Sometimes I over do it and then I become overwhelmed.  So to avoid that from happening I am going to use a system that not only helps me feel motivated, but that encourages me to move forward in all that I plan. 

My hubby has always had an interesting habit of writing down his goals & dreams in a notebook, then he prays about them, and when God grants him the achievement of his goal, he then writes down the date of when it came to fruition next to the goal.  I wanted to take this idea and make it my own.  Seeing as we are in the month of giving thanks (which in reality should be every month) I decided to start a new journal & write in the things I am thankful for & then next to them write one thing I can do to show my thankfulness.   This is a way to remind myself of how blessed I am, while also achieving so many things that I would like to do.  For example, "I am thankful for my home." -Because I am thankful, I will make time to clean my home a little more.  This is not about over doing anything, rather it is to help increase the value of the things or people you were blessed with.  

Many of you probably keep journals already, if you do, then re-visit what you've written & see what you can improve.  If you don't, then I invite you to start one alongside with me.  I am using this beautiful journal that was a gift, but often times I journal on my phone.  Whenever I think of new ideas, goals, or anything that I want to remember, I use the notepad on my phone.  If writing is not your strong point, you could journal using a recorder or video yourself.  Sometimes it is helpful to say things out loud for them to be believable to you.  Let your imagination & dreams go wild and aim for the moon!  

"SING like no one is listening, DANCE like no one is watching, LOVE like you can't get hurt, LIVE *like all your prayers will be answered.*"

The "C" Word

October is well known to be breast cancer awareness month and it is amazing how so many people come together to help raise awareness, funds, and hope for people you have been affected by this disease.  It is so important to have the knowledge and the courage to get yourself checked.  It is also vital to know your family history and express that to your doctor.  There are so many resources to learn about what you need to be doing to help detect this ugly disease on time.  Everyone has been affected in some way or level by breast cancer and so it is so important, especially for women, to not be scared to learn about it.  I have encountered women in their 20's who have been diagnosed; we know all too well that this disease does not discriminate. This blog is dedicated not only to those affected by breast cancer, but also for those who have encountered the hardships of cancer.  The "c" word is hard to swallow, especially when it hits close to home.  

Personally, October is a special month for me, because it is my mom's birth month.  My mom has gone through her journey with dealing with the "c" word and it was something that we never expected.  She was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) in 2011 and it was so unexpected and way out of left field.  My mom was not quite aware of this type of cancer being in the family history and it had obviously skipped many generations.  When she was diagnosed, I remember going into "what to do" mode and deep down inside I was very worried.  I always tell the story of me being so angry with God & just crying out to Him asking why did this happen.  God revealed Himself to me and granted peace throughout my mom & myself.  In July 2011 my mom was fortunate enough to have a successful surgery & the tumor was removed. I thank God everyday for giving my mom another day & I also pray that I never take for granted the blessings in my own life. Tomorrow is my mom's birthday.  I want to wish my mom the happiest birthday & that she knows how strong she is & how lucky we are to have her be in our lives.  My mom's actions have always taught me to be strong and not to be afraid.  

"YOUR BRIGHTEST DAYS ARE AHEAD"

It is no secret that my favorite make-up brand is Mally Beauty & this month Mally has a new kit that is dedicated to breast cancer awareness.  Mally spoke of this kit and it hit close to home, so close she had me crying like a baby.  The kit is a tribute to Mally's mother who was called to her heavenly home due to breast cancer.  Mally tells the story of her mother always saying to her "your brightest days are ahead."  In support of this I wanted to get this kit & I am so happy I did.  It has amazing products & it reminds me that my brightest days are also ahead!  

Through this blog I urge everyone to continuously be informed about your own health, family history, and don't let this horrible disease or any disease intimidate you.  Fight for what is important to you, pray for strength, and live everyday to its fullest! 

Above you see the cute tote that came with the kit! This kit includes an illuminating refiner (powder foundation), a beautiful pink lipstick (Pilar, this is Mally's mother's name), a shadow stick in "empowering lilac", a volumizing mascara (my favorite mascara ever), an eye liner in "fearless brown", and under eye brightener.  I will do a look with this kit in a future blog. I can't wait to try all of these goodies.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Xo!

It Is Not In the Quantity, But Rather In the Quality!

MARRIAGE MONDAY

Seeing as my relationship with my hubby is one of the most important things in my life, I decided I would post a Marriage Monday blog post & give some advice on my own personal experience.  I promise not to make it boring and it will be advice anyone can use in the future, whether you are married or not. 

I have been married for 2 years now; yes it is not a long time, however my philosophy is that it is not about the quantity, but rather about the quality.  So today’s post will be about taking that huge step of getting married or taking the step of getting more serious with someone.  My #1 recommendation is that pre-marital counseling be the first thing on your mind.  Before getting married, my hubby & I sat down with our Pastor and we had a long session that included taking an assessment.  As a couple we enjoyed doing this because it opened our minds to things we had not thought about before.  For example, you get to discuss merging finances, having children, the ways in which you handle arguments, etc.  Most couples do not invest in thinking about those things and the return is not so great. 

Pre-marital counseling is not therapy by any means, but it is a huge aid in getting to know your relationship.  Usually we know the roles we play in our relationships, but have you looked at the relationship as a whole?  Another recommendation is that you use the counseling to your advantage.  This type of counseling can be done every 3-5 years to assess what has improved, what has fallen through the cracks, and what can be improved.  There is no relationship in the world that is perfect, but a good, healthy relationship requires work from both parties.  Part of that work is to learn not to blame your spouse or partner, but rather look at the mechanism as a whole & assess what can be improved. 

Change is inevitable throughout the years, thus relationships need to grow along with that change.  There are many tools out there to help relationships & many people willing to help.  Be smart about where you seek your counseling.  A good counselor will listen, encourage steps that can be taken to improve certain areas, and will always start with prayer!  Your friends or family members may not always be the best source of counseling because their nature is to defend instead of listening. 

It is to my knowledge that many couples go to pre-marital counseling because it is required of their Church before getting married & that is great; however, use these resources not only once, but throughout your relationship.  I cannot stress enough how much this has helped in my marriage and it was the driving source to propel us to work on things even before we got married.

A wise relationship seeks knowledge, help, and encouragement whenever and however possible.  It is easy not to seek for what we know we are in need of, but I try my best to seek for those things as it helps later on.  I hope this helps at least one relationship out there.  Please leave me comments if you have any questions. 

~It is not in the quantity, but rather in the quality~Xo

Beauty Favorites: Fall 2013

Those closest to me know that I love to give beauty advice...whether it is solicited or not!  This blog post is dedicated to my favorite Fall beauty & hair products.  My skin and hair are my top priorities especially as the weather changes.  Throughout the years, I've learned what the best products are for my skin type and I am constantly educating myself on the current products.  These are *my* personal favorite products that I've been currently using and loving. Hope you enjoy it & become motivating to beautify & care for your best features! 








(Mally Beauty's Perfect Prep Primer on the right)

SKIN: For the fall my skin is a little more dryer than it is during the summer.  During winter my skin gets extremely dry and that is when I go for a heavier moisturizer.  But for the fall, I am sticking with my rose hydrating gel from Fresh. This gel feels super light, yet gives my skin the necessary amount of moisture and it smells like rose water.  Moisturizing is a girl's best friend (next to diamonds) and I tend to it both in the morning and at night. When I forget to moisturize, my skin feels "thirsty" and rough.  Ladies, another very important thing is to moisturize your under eye area. My rule of thumb has always been that starting in my 20's, I would begin to moisturize under my eye; this helps with wrinkles later on in life.  My fall under eye treatment is by Elizabeth Arden & it is "good morning eye treatment."  It is an extremely moisturizing eye treatment, so due to its richness I only use it in the morning.  Finally, if you are applying any type of foundation, please remember to use a primer!  My fall & winter favorite is from Mally Beauty; it is Mally's "perfect prep primer."  Primer is so important to not only help your make-up look flawless, but it also helps with allowing your foundation to stay "intact" all day long.  Mally's primer is also a moisturizer and it is like having a "cloud in a jar."  The primer I use when I am going out and am wearing a heavier foundation is from Smashbox & it's their "photo finish foundation primer."  Both of these primers are oil-free, so if you have oily skin they both work great.

For foundation I am using Mally's BB cream Face Defender because it light, easy to apply, and it is moisturizing. It feels like you are putting a light lotion on your face. I use my imitation "beauty blender" in purple to help me apply the foundation evenly.  My favorite concealer is from Nars and my shade is in "ginger."  I use concealer under my eyes, especially in the morning when I want to look awake!

To finish up my skin, I use blush & highlighter to bring out my features a little more.  My favorite blush right now is from MAC "pinch o' peach" and it is a bright pink.  As a highlighter, I am loving Benefit's "soft focus highlighter," because it has a golden undertone & it gives such a natural looking glow. (see picture on the right)


LIPS: My lips start to chap when fall begins, so I moisturize throughout the day. My all-time favorite lip treatment is from Fresh and it is the "sugar lip treatment." It smells like candy and glides on so smoothly. I apply this treatment when I start my make-up routine & it leaves my lips ready for lipstick or gloss.











Fall lipsticks are a must! My two favorite ones are: "taupe" from MAC and the "maroone" lipstick you see in the picture. I have no idea what the brand of the maroone one is, but it is a beautiful color for fall & it has a small amount of shimmer.

FALL NAIL COLOR: My current favorites (as seen in the picture) are: "beauty junkie" from Sephora by O.P.I and that beautiful blue/green polish from Avon.  I love darker colors in the fall and these two are so pretty. I am letting my nails grow this fall, so I am not wearing my usual colors.


Nail tip: use oil, water & salt to help your nails grow. 







HAIR: In the fall I tend to change up my routine by washing my hair every 2-3 days, instead of every other day; this helps to conserve some of your natural oils which are great for your hair. I also try my best to brush my hair three times a day and I moisturize my hair like a crazy person.  I switch up my shampoo every 2 weeks, as it helps my hair not to get use to one thing & my hair feels cleaner.  Also, I use an extremely moisturizing conditioner AND (very important) once every 4-5 months, I apply a hair treatment.  Normally I purchase the olive-oil based hair treatments & use half the packet to moisturize.  Leave the treatment in for 20-30 mins & then rinse with "cold" water.  My hair reacts very differently when I use warm/hot water to rinse.  After washing my hair I dry first with a towel & then apply my Milania "argan oil infusion serum."  This serum is amazing & I use it every time I wash my hair!  (the serum is also great to apply to dry skin)  I have tried an imitation "argan oil" and it just does not work.  Moroccan oil is also a great alternative.  If you have oily hair, make sure to moisturize your hair often & try not to apply hair sprays or serums that are too oily. My rule of thumb is that if it works great on my skin, then my hair will love it. My favorite hair spray is "elnett satin" by Loreal; it is light weight and does not clump your hair. In fact, I've curled my hair & used this hair spray and the next day my hair is super smooth. Also, remember to use a heat protector, especially during the "cooler" weather season when we tend to straighten our hair more. My favorite heat protector is from Herbal Essences.  Finally, just as we trim our nails, we must trim our hair. I trim mine every 3-4 months & this helps my hair grow, and it keeps my layers looking fab.

I hope this is helpful to someone & feel free to leave me comments on this blog or my IG (gdean0409)! XO!

KNOCK, KNOCK!

Knock knock, who's there? OPEN UP! Open up who? YOU. 

Sound confusing? To some it may and to others it might make you laugh. Today I was reading an email from someone very dear to me and it occurred to me that sometimes I am so closed-minded, especially when it comes to something I want nothing to do with. Yet whatever I shut the door on, keeps knocking and saying "let me in!" It can be a thought, something you know you need to do,  something or someone you've been putting on the back burner, something you said or did or did not do, something someone else said or did! It is a constant door bell ringing that wants to be invited into your life. 

Most times it is not worth having those thoughts be a guest, but other times you need to fling the door wide open & say come in! You see, the things that we run from the most, are the things that will propel us unto a higher level of understanding and peace. Until we stop running we will be tied to things, thoughts or people that keep knocking and knocking. 

There is a reason things happen the way they do in your life. There is a reason people say certain things to you and there is a reason you read a book, devotional & scripture. Nothing throughout your day is pure coincidence. Open your eyes and ears wide and pay attention to what is going on. What is knocking at your door? What has been knocking at your door? 

Many people live day to day with that uninvited guest at their door, because they are afraid of what will happen when they say "come in." Quite frankly, I am afraid of what will not happen if I never let my "guests" in! I am so certain that when you face your fears and allow yourself to do what you never thought you would, God can then fully work! And when we LET God work, amazing things happen. 

Today I invite you to take 2 baby steps: 1-Identify what has been knocking at your door? Healing, peace, forgiveness, love... 2-Allow yourself to do one small thing to be able to let that "guest" into your life. Maybe read a devotional about that subject, talk to a friend about it, write a letter to yourself, etc. 

KNOCK, KNOCK! Are you willing to ask, WHO'S THERE?