L'Oreal Age Perfect Face Oil

Winter is not a friend to my face.  The combo of the cold Mid-Atlantic winds and the blasting of the radiator heat in my condo really do a number on my skin, which typically results in red, chapped and peeling skin, especially around my lips, nose and forehead.  A few months ago, I started seeing more and more articles about the benefits of face oil as an additional moisturizer, so I decided to invest.  I have been using L'Oreal Age Perfect Face Oil now since Thanksgiving, and I must say, I am a believer!

I started out using this at night, but with this crazy weather, am now using it twice a day.  In the morning, I put it on after my medicine, eye cream, sunscreen and moisturizer.  It works to seal all of that in, and adds a nice glow to your skin under your makeup.  I was worried about this making my face greasy or prone to additional breakouts, but I've experienced none.  At night, I put on my medicine, then slather it on my face, neck, and decolletage.  The best part is, I haven't had to break out my humidifier yet this winter!  True believer in this product, so thought I would share my newest great beauty discovery!

Little Corn Island

 

 

 

These frigid temperatures here in Washington is making me long for my upcoming vacation even more, and last night I started researching lodging options (primarily to look at the gorgeous, sunny scenery).  We have pretty much nailed down our itinerary, and then I came across the Yemaya Island Hideaway & Spa on Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.

Um, if this isn't the picture of paradise, then I don't know what is.  Yes, no matter what else we do while there, I will be staying here in August.  I can just feel the good vibes radiating through me already, can't you?  It might be 7 degrees in Washington, but staring at this incredible place warms me up just right.

Whole 30 Challenge

Last March, I decided to take the plunge on this crazy food challenge, and it ended up changing my life.  Spelled out in the book, "It Starts with Food" by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig, the Whole 30 challenge is a 30-day commitment to strict paleo eating.  No sugar, no dairy, no grains, no beans, no alcohol...and no cheating.  I won't lie, the first few days were definitely tough...I had pretty bad symptoms of the "carb flu"...but luckily, it only lasted a few days.  What happened after was pretty incredible--not only did I lose a few pounds (which is not really what this is all about), but the ways my body carried excess fat had shifted.  I was leaner and after 30 days, felt amazing.  I had more energy than I had felt in at least a decade, my skin cleared up, I was sleeping better, and my whole outlook on life had changed.  I was hooked.

Since then, I have pretty much stuck with the 80/20 paleo eating guidelines that are recommended after the 30-day challenge.  And then came December.  My birthday, Christmas, ridiculous late nights at work, holiday parties...I think that there were days that all I put in my body were cookies, bread, cheese and alcohol.  Not my best, and honestly, all that cheating has caught up with me. 

I had been talking to my sister for months now about trying it out, and she decided that today was the day to start.  Perfecting timing for me too, right?  Time to get back to business.  I'm excited and ready to get back on board and detox my body of all the junk I have put in it toward the end of 2013.  I would encourage anyone who has been thinking about taking the plunge to dive right in!  The first week or so might have you thinking that all of us devotees have lost our damn mind, but trust me, stick with it!  You will be thanking me in the end when you come out feeling more incredible than you have in years. 

Happy 2014!

Love this. Couldn't resist the Golden Girls.

 

Happy New Year!  I am incredibly optimistic and hopeful about this new year...not that 2013 was a horrible year, but more one of realization and awakening.  Yes, there were some down moments and events, but instead on dwelling on that, I have been reflecting upon how much I have learned and grown through these experiences, and now look forward to 2014 being a year of putting that all into action.

 

I've been thinking a lot about my resolutions this year, because I really wanted to come up with goals and challenges for myself.  And since the best way to stick to goals and challenges is to make them accountable, here you go:

 

1.  I will no longer put my life on hold for an unworthy man.

No matter how handsome, charming and sexy his British accent is (ahem, you know who you are)--no more!  Time and time again, I get way too ahead of myself in relationships, and end up putting my needs aside in the hopes that the dreams in my head will come to fruition.  Silly girl--I've finally learned that a woman worth having isn't one who stands waiting, and the man I want won't keep me waiting anyway.  This year, I will live my life in the now, and if a gentleman shows up during all my living, then wonderful!  If not, at least I'm doing what makes me happy.

 

2.  I will treat myself and my body with the love and respect it deserves.

This means first and foremost, I will get healthy!  Focusing first on recovering from my injuries, and once I do, not overdoing it so I don't get sidelined again this year.  I will also focus not only on clean eating and drinking in moderation (my age has caught up with me in hangovers), but I also vow to stop letting my emotions take over.  No more emotional eating, spending, or shutting myself in on the couch!  I will get outside and move more, restart my yoga practice, and work on focusing on the positive and not the negatives.  When I am eating right, sleeping well and moving more, I feel incredible--so why wouldn't I want to feel incredible every day of the year?  Duh.

 

3.  I will travel more, read more, see more and do more.

Like I said, this is a year of action!  My trip to Nicaragua is my big ticket this year, but I also will visit a friend in Brooklyn, try to get back to Arkansas a few times, get to the beach at least once or twice, and hope to explore a city in the US in which I've never been.  I also need to take advantage of all this city has to offer--go to more art exhibits, festivals, new restaurants, and cultural events in town.  There is so much to see and do in DC, and I need to get off my butt and do them!  No more endless nights spaced out in front of the TV!

 

4.  I will spend time organizing, cleaning and preparing myself for each week ahead.

This one will probably be the biggest challenge for me, because it means taking on stuff I really don't like to do.  I need to really look into my finances, set a budget, and stick to it!  Organize my condo so that I purge myself of items I no longer need, and organize what I do have.  Really deep clean, and then keep up with my cleaning a bit every day so that it doesn't become a daunting chore.  And finally, I need to spend my Sundays getting ready for the week ahead--planning my meals, fixing my breakfasts/lunches, making my to-do list, scheduling my free time, etc.--so I am not wasting time and money needlessly.

 

So I realize this is a lot to take on, but I know I can do it!  I have some lofty ambitions for this year, and I feel like if I focus on these four items first, everything else (fingers crossed) will better fall into place.  Who's with me?!?!  What are your resolutions for this year?