Week Two…On it, Killin’ it, Monday’s easy….

OK, maybe an exaggeration., but you fake it until you make it.   The long and short of it:

1. My kids just started school again after holiday break. Praise the Lord. Love having them home, totally happy having them go back to school. One of our marital points of contention (and by contention I mean, it drives me so crazy I want to run off to Hawaii with the gardener), is that John is fine with the kids going full native, no rules, no structure and no restrictions, during breaks. I like to retain some structure so we aren’t starting from ground zero when school starts back up. Anyway, in a nut shell, we’re starting from ground zero today.

2. I cleaned out my fridge AND cabinets this weekend…and, drumroll please….shopped for my nicely organized weekly menu plan per my cooksmarts.com shopping list. If I can stick this out, it will be a huge time saver and I’m pretty sure it will cut our monthly food bill in half.

3. I got my run in, AND finished my walking commitment (had 3.5 miles to complete my 10 mile goal. Super. Star.

4. I started gathering all my beauty products and am preparing to do a revamp of my routine. I already got on board with my 2017 hair goals (and I just got it done and it totally renewed my commitment to stay on top of my hair…because it looks 1000x better when it’s done. I knew that, but visual confirmation drove it home once again.) It was a dilemma what to concentrate on this week because I feel like there are so many areas to deal with—but skin won out because it pairs nicely with the physical health of the body and sets a good foundation for the year's skin health.

5. I was sugar free all weekend . It was hard, but only at night. I eat sweet snacks at night out of boredom and it seems like the natural “cap” on the day. I find myself wandering into the kitchen around 9 looking for “something”. A chocolate would do nicely. Not this month.

6. I started a new book: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Heavy in nature (a memoir of a  dying man), but so far, really moving. My thinking was yes, this was a heavy book to start with so early in the year, but there’s nothing like a little perspective to help you maintain a good path.

7. I made no-sugar granola….yum.   With Greek yogurt, perfectly healthy breakfast.  I mixed oats, almonds, tablespoon of coconut oil drizzled over the top, dried coconut, vanilla paste, maple syrup and dried cranberries.  Worked great, it was plenty sweet.

I recently read this old article where they grilled Martha Stewart on her beauty regime (think this article is probably 2 years old.) I liked it because she’s a total product whore, and uses a TON…and is unapologetic for her rigorous regime, her high end list (but there were lots of items that were actually not high end too), and overall her high maintenance self. She clearly has really nice skin, isn’t 20 (I hate when models in their 20’s tell us their regime is to do nothing but splash with ice water and do masks with mashed up avocadoes…talk to me in 20 years babe, let me know if that is still working for you), and she has a rigorous schedule of travel/heavy makeup for camera so you have to figure that her products have to be pretty heavy duty. SO…what did I do? I promptly ordered three of her suggested products to give it a test. I have to say Martha, so far I agree….I agree. Here’s what I ordered:

            -Mario Badescu’s rosewater tonic. I’ve seen this referred to repeatedly as the spray that people keep  in their handbags to “refresh” their skin. I was super skeptical because who actually does that? I do, that’s who. It’s awesome, smells amazing, and it really does just that—gives you a pep. If you hate the smell of roses, stay away.  It's a steal at $12.

            -Skin Ceuticals B5 Hydrating Masque. Used it once. Love. I didn’t think it would actually soak in, but it does….it’s sticky afterward but I rolled off the excess and woke up the next day with super hydrated skin.

I have’t used my third product yet….will let you know how that fairs.

Here’s my goal this week. To go thru my drawers in the bathroom of all my product crap and throw out what I didn’t like, or is old now (I have things that are WAY too old to have any good left in them), and then figure out what is working and what else I need.  I’m 46. There’s no time to spare, I need to be taking care of my skin with tender reverence or else it’s going to look real, real bad when I’m 100. I’m going to try and go thru my makeup too. I have a few favorites that need replenishing, but I think I need a refresh too. I’m a little obsessed with www.glossier.com right now, but I have yet to actually order anything so I can’t weigh in on how the product is.   Hitting the order button today though, will keep you posted. I’m hoping we can come away with a “favorites” product list after this week, so contribute your favorite here (share your secrets woman for the love of all things)!!! :-)

Signed, ME {lv}