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Books, Favorite Things, Friday Eve Favorites, Gifts, Makeup

FRIDAY EVE FAVORITES – January Edition

Bringing you a few favorite things on this glorious Thursday….

Why Thursday?  Because it is my favorite day of the week!  It’s the eve of the weekend, full of hope.  Although, if you are a parent, weekends basically mean nothing – you’re still on duty. Friday Eve Favorites will come monthly, or more. Stay tuned for some fun surprises coming up this year!

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

These little drops are added to your facial moisturizer. I add 2 drops to my morning (or evening..just not both, or you’ll be super dark.) moisturizer, combine the two products in my palm, rub on my face, and let the glow build. My skin is sensitive, so I was a tad nervous to try these – but haven’t had one issue with breakouts! These drops come in light, medium, and dark. Just pick your tan and enjoy!

Start Today Journal by Rachel Hollis

“A goal is a dream with a sports bra on.”

Who isn’t a Rachel Hollis fan? She has an amazing attitude and spirit….limitless energy. This journal, the Start Today Journal is super intentional and I am LOVING IT! It’s all in one place – daily gratitude, dreaming, and goal setting. You can find yours at Target stores now!

Rapid Egg Cooker

My family eats boiled eggs like they are candy. It’s a tad disturbing. I make them by the dozens to keep in the fridge. I’m going to admit something really lazy…I hate boiling eggs and peeling them. This little rapid egg cooker is so fun – not only does it make perfect boiled eggs (and other variations of styles), but they are super easy to peel! Praise be to the chickens.

Betabrand Dress Yoga Pants

A few months ago I was trying to find some regular dress pants. Not skinny, not cropped, just REGULAR pants for NORMAL women. I ran into my friend, Alicia, awkwardly grabbed her hips and said, “Where did you get these?” Betabrand are the most comfortable pants you’ll ever wear to work. Your bottom half isn’t going to know what to do with all that moveable, breathing room. Expect a thank you card. Betabrand has several makes and models, but my favorite are the classic boot cut. For us normal gals.

LV Dupe Insulated Cooler

This has been such a fun little cooler. It’s obviously a LV dupe, and I’m 100% okay with having a knockoff cooler to put ice in. During football season I needed a cooler to bring into games – not to cheat the system (trust me, we purchase plenty from the concession stands), but to bring water and cooling cloths. We arrive at away games 2 hours early to set up the run through tunnel for the players. (And by we set up, I mean Chad.) The concession stand isn’t normally open that early, so I hunted down a cooler that looked like a purse. It comes in a black version as well and makes for awesome girlfriend gifts filled with their favorite drink! (It comes with an odd red tag on the front that I cut off with a razor….)

One Word Book

This isn’t a new book. It’s just a really good one. I first read it years ago, but picked it up again this month while I was figuring out my word for 2020. One Word breaks down how to choose your own word for the year. It’s a quick read, takes 45 minutes, 44 if you listen to the audio version. Definitely worth it.

Classic Button Down Shirt

I love a classic button down blouse that holds shape. This one is around $22 and comes in almost every color! I wash mine, hang it out, and find that it barely needs to be steamed before wearing! I haven’t ironed one yet. I normally am a small/medium in tops however, in this one I wear a large so the buttons don’t pull.

Fillable Brass Scent Lamp with USB port.

I bought this lamp for a friend. We were decorating her desk and then discovered it has a USB port! Stop it. Her desk is basically like a hotel with a charging lamp! I quickly had to go back and get 2 more, because I love any hidden place to charge my phone. You can fill this lamp with seasonal decor to spruce up any area, but I love it simple.

Leopard Adidas Sneakers

I would marry these if I could. They are super comfy and adorable. Dicks Sporting Goods currently has them in stock, however before they did, I found mine on Amazon here. I sized down a whole size, apparently Adidas sneakers run big. Also, my teens tell me I’m old for calling these sneakers. Whatever.

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink

I don’t love usually lipstick. It doesn’t stay on and I’m too lazy to reapply all day, when I can swipe some gloss on without a mirror. This Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in Loyalist is amazing. It stays on most of my day with a dab of gloss on top of it. There are lots of great shades, Loyalist and Dreamer are my favorite. But what do I know? I spent the majority of my teen years wearing Dr. Pepper flavored chapstick.

And lastly…a favorite meme of the month.

Replace the tarot cards with Angel cards, and there is a slight chance this might be the future for Grandma Brookie.

Love & Light to all,

Brooke

January 29, 2020 by
Books, Courage, Friendship, Gratitude, Growth, Laughter, Makeup, Rest, Stillness

What is saving your life right now?

Barbara Brown Taylor has made a practice of asking others and herself that question often*.

Salvation is a word for the divine spaciousness that comes to human beings in all the tight places where their lives are at risk, regardless of how they got there or whether they know God’s name. Few of us can choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them.  To be saved is not only to recognize the alternative to the deadliness pressing down on us but also be able to act on it.”

This morning when I awoke, I started a list. Shallow and thoughtful.  Spiritual and materialistic.  Here is what is saving my life right now. Continue Reading

February 20, 2019 by
Christmas, Fashion, Favorite Things, Gifts, Makeup

A Few of My Favorite Things… 2018

One of my favorite things about weekends spent with my girlfriends is the sharing!  Curling up in pajamas and a glass of wine (or a Dr Pepper…don’t judge), sharing our hearts, beauty finds, and life hacks with each other.  Consider this post a Girlfriend Getaway, grab your movement clothes, snuggle up and get cozy.

For shopping and perusing purposes, click on the title of each item to be directed to the link of the item mentioned!  This is not a sponsored post, although all of the links to Amazon WILL give back to my favorite local animal charity, Fuzzy Friends.


The From Scratch Chick Products

My friend, Candice got me hooked on these products.  They are all natural and made with essential oils. Their Vapor Rub is a household must.  Made with just beeswax, olive oil, and coconut oil. They add peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils…and before you know it, you can breathe again.  The All Purpose Salve could possibly create World Peace.  Or at least soothe it.  It is silky, moisturizing, healing, and repairing. Made with beeswax, coconut oil, and olive oil, plus essential oils known for their anti-bacterial and healing properties.  The Lip Balm is in my car at all times, so if you want to try it…find me around town, just ask first.  Otherwise, it’ll just be awkward.  😉

From Scratch Farm Website

 

Flower Diffuser

As a boy mom, I love anything that makes my house smell good.  These flower diffusers are my FAVORITE!  If you are local, they have a FULL stock at Hinge!  They last forever, and make any room smell delightful.  I have the Linen one (pictured above) in my closet, The Bella Freesia in the powder room, and now they have gorgeous HOLIDAY scents!  Hinge has a full stock of the Holiday scents, candles, car scents, and room sprays.  In case you are not local, you can find my favorite here.  (Our family favorite is the Spruce, there is also a Cinnamon scent.)  Run by Hinge and sniff them all, they make great gifts as well!

Continue Reading

November 12, 2018 by
Fashion, Favorite Things, Makeup, Textured Threads, Uncategorized

Bronze Me.

 

Get your hands ready to clutch some pearls sister.  I am a 39 year old gal who spent her early years in a tanning bed. And loved it.  I even owned one.  The search to find something as relaxing as laying in that tanning bed has been unsuccessful.  There wasn’t a lot better than my skin warming while the fan blew on my burning skin, singing along with whatever song was playing. However, I did find a solution for a tan that doesn’t give you cancer and age you like the UV rays do.  But please, I don’t want to hear about all the toxins being absorbed through the skin. Go elsewhere Fun&Beauty Police, just let me have my tan.

I hope that when my time is up, someone makes sure my sunless tanner is perfect before my body is viewed.  Help a sister out…m’kay?

Here are a few of my favorites.  I alternate them because sometimes my skin catches on to my silly ways, and occasionally stops participating with one self tanner.  So, I’ll give it a break and use a different one for a bit.

My ol’ faithful…

The great thing about THIS one is you can see the bronze as it is applied. It comes with the mitt shown above and 2 latex gloves.  You’ll need to put the gloves on, then the mitt.  Spray the bronzer into the mitt, and then apply.  As with all self tanners, let it soak in and dry for about 8 hours before you shower.

I don’t use it on my face, just up to my neck.  For my face and neck, I use THIS ONE BELOW.  I only use this about 1-2 times a week.  On the days that I use this, it takes the place of my morning or night cream.  If it is in the morning, I let it dry and then apply my sun screen.  Apply with gloves.

My current self tanner is a tad more expensive, but it has lasted awhile and there is still plenty left!   It’s by St. Tropez, and is a mousse.  It is also bronze, so you can see where you have applied it and if there are any streaks to work out.  It is always good to apply in a circular motion.  Again, let it soak in and dry for about 8 hours before you shower.  You can purchase it at Ulta HERE or Amazon HERE.  You’ll want to purchase the St. Tropez mitt HERE for application. (If you are ordering from AMAZON , it is an add-on item.)  The St. Tropez glove is lined, so you’re able to use it without a latex glove. It’s worth every penny! 

I also like St. Tropez Gradual Tan to prolong my bronze color.  You can grab it at Ulta HERE or from Amazon HERE. I have really dry skin, so I mix some of this with my shea butter moisturizer when applying, otherwise I dry out too quickly. 

 

There you go friend, just in time for summer!   Go bronze up…it’ll be our healthy secret that we are truly slathered in sunblock.

 

 

 

May 3, 2018 by
Fashion, Favorite Things, Makeup

Brighten Up…

I love highlighter pens.  Not just the ones on the school supply list, but the highlighter pens found at Sephora, Ulta, or Nordstorm (free shipping!).

If you were to put me away on a stranded island with one cosmetic…my under eye highlighter/concealer would be put in the bag.  (A skin care item would be a good moisturizer with vitamins and sunblock, and chapstick with essential oils added into it.  Don’t ask me to choose a book.)  Under eye concealer just brightens your whole face, and freshens your whole look.

My love for under-eye brightening began when I worked at Glamour Shots.  Yes ma’am, you read that correctly, I was an eighteen year old photographer at Glamour Shots, apparently all you need for the job is to have worked on the yearbook committee in high school. I can slap some sequins on you, fit you with a leather jacket, position your hands to hold the lapels, drop that shoulder, look right here through the camera, and…..Bam!   One Saturday we were running behind in makeup, so I jumped behind a chair and started beautifying the customer.  Glamour Shot’s secret to brightening those peepers was to coat a cornstarch/baby powder mixture under the eyes.  I was hooked.

Here are my current favorites that I always circle back to…I use the first two daily.  I usually apply highlighter after foundation and before bronzer.  Which could be completely wrong, but…it works for me.  Go play at the makeup counter to find your right color.  Side note – if you are looking for a concealer for specifically under your eyes, go several shades lighter than your skin color.  (Also – if you are over the age of 25, stay away from powders, which seem to gather in the creases of the eye.)

bareMinerals Well Rested Eye & Face Brightener

This is my first step for brightening under my eyes, as it is so moisturizing.  It’s like “butta”.  As I creep closer to 40, gravitation pulls me towards all things that moisturize.  You’ll love this.  Swipe some under your peepers, and dab it in with your finger or a beauty blotter like this one here.  If you use the beauty blender, wet it first, then wring it out, so it doesn’t absorb your expensive product.

 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Step 2: For a little extra coverage, I add just a little of this concealer (in the shade Chantilly) on top of the bareMinerals Well Rested, under my eyes, in between my eyes, and a little down the middle of my nose.  On special occasions I’ll dive into the full contouring using this as well. I truly think the secret to blending is dabbing with your fingers.  I use to be such a brush snob, and still use them often, but never for this.

Clinique ‘Chubby Stick’ Sculpting Highlight

Step 3: I found this in a friend’s makeup bag on a trip to Fredericksburg, and loved it.  I’ll sometimes feel extra fancy and add a streak of this across the highest portion of my cheekbone.  This has a slight shimmer, which I usually stay away from, but it’s not bad.  The Cubby Stick is surprisingly moisturizing as well.

What’s your favorite highlighter/concealer?  I always love a good recommendation!

xoxo – Brooke

P.S. If you need a Glamour Shots photographer, I’m retired. 😉

 

February 14, 2018 by