#barefaceddontcare

I'm not sure I've ever done this on the ol' blog here or not. I've finally come to terms with the fact that I have melasma on pretty much most of my face [blessing b/c less noticeable since it's EVERYWHERE. curse- b/c it sucks having spots on your face]. I've also come to terms with the fact that the wrinkles are coming, and the frown lines on my forehead have already made their appearance. 

[#bedheadbelle #justgotup #firstdayofschool]
But mostly, I think I'm okay with going bare faced due to the skin care line I've been using. To be honest, I've used all kinds of stuff: cosmedicine, oil of olay, boscia, murad, chanel, l'oreal, etc. The line I've used for awhile most recently was Boscia. I liked it, but I feel it wasn't anything super special. 
In one of the groups I'm in on facebook, a fellow Lilly lover asked for skin care recommendations. She had combo/oily skin like me. Of course, I recommended Boscia because it was the best thing I'd tried so far. A lot of the girls were posting and commenting suggesting Mario Badescu. I kept seeing that name over and over. Mario Badescu. 
I decided that since I kept seeing that name and it's pretty cheap that maybe I should give it a try. The products cost less than Boscia, and I hadn't actually tried MB's line yet...
I am SO glad for that post. My skin looks amazing. It's so smooth and soft, and I haven't had a problem with blemishes. btw, whoever told me that my acne would be gone by the time I was in my 30s LIED. To be completely honest, I guess I don't have "acne" anymore, but I do get breakouts and blemishes still. Mostly hormonal I think. MB doesn't cure the oiliness. I don't think anything will the cure the oiliness, but it helps me look younger than my age. No complaining there! I'm extremely happy and just wanted to pass along the love to my oily/combo face readers:)
This is what I purchased from Ulta. I was in the "I want it now" mode, and Ulta is the only local store in my city that carries the MB line. I'm pretty sure you can get from Nordstrom's and other stores of the like. I decided to try The Regimen Kit first to see if I liked it. I've already used up the Seaweed Night Cream sample [it's very small].  I purchased the full size version of the night cream just the other day because I like it so much! I would start with this kit to see if you like it. 

Black Friday Haul

I forgot to post my Black Friday haul. I kept it very minimal this year, and my mom bought half of it. I keep telling myself that IVF will be worth it...

Top Left: Sephora Olek Henriksen Vitamin C wipes and some kind of face wash.--- been wanting to try these forever. They smell soooooooooo good.  Living Proof travel samples to throw in my travel bag,  Stila eyeshadows--one of the colors is one I already use and am almost out of. was a "needed" purchase:) pack of brushes-came in a cute pink, glittery case Murad Vitamin C serum-technically, this isn't Black Friday---used my VIB points to try this.  Top Right: New York & Company brown---cowl neck sweater pink/black-cute lace print that can be worn under a cardigan or by itself. has a bow that ties at neck Bottom Left: Ulta Two years in a row I've been lucky. I've gotten there hours after it opened and was still able to find an Urban Decay doorbuster discarded in a random place. Love my eyeshadow primer potion!!!!!!!! And I get to try it in the nude and shimmer color it comes in now.  a gold glitter Kabuki brush for my setting powder a pack of brushes with a glittery case. sold on this b/c glitter is under plastic so it won't get everywhere:) Bottom Right: JC Penney and Kohl's  Green pashmina at JCP for 4 BUCKS! I think it will be perfect to wear on St. Patty's Day! sign from Kohl's says "A cluttered desk is a sign of genius" and well, my desk usually looks like a bomb went off on it, but it's clean when I leave school. So many papers, so many lesson plans, so little time... One thing not pictured is because I'd already worn it by the time I got around to taking pictures. I have wanted and wanted this vest at Macy's, but with saving for IVF, there are no more $80 vests-- just because. Well, luckily, this was a doorbuster for $21.99, and my mum bought it for me. She's the BEST!

5 on Friday... a little late but better than never?

Five on Friday is a day late... oops! I have been busy with being a "new" history teacher and life among other things.

1. Scentsy
I am so happy that I started selling Scentsy. I use the products and love them which is why I started selling them in the first place. And, it has also helped with the infertility costs of co-pays, blood work, etc. And, Scentsy is going to help now more than ever. We still haven't been able to get pregnant and were referred to a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). While he said we could *try* IUI, he said IVF is basically our best bet. I was upset, sad, frustrated, and mad. However, the next day I woke up with a new outlook. There's still hope, a chance, a miracle, something. And if at the end of the day, if it doesn't all work out, we can still be parents. It might not be parents as we intended and our children will not be our genetic own, but we can still be parents just the same. So, once again, Scentsy will be helping me along my journey of saving for a baby:) So if you know anyone who needs Scentsy, please pass my site and email along. Thank you!

credit

2. A sinus cocktail shot
Most people evidently outside the mid-south region of TN have never heard of this. When I googled trying to find out what's in this bad boy, I came up with several forums and posts about people who used to live in my city that have moved away. Their doctors have no idea what a "sinus cocktail shot" is. And lordy, I can't imagine not being able to get one of these. It never fails when school starts that I get a sinus infection. Normally, it's toward the end of September or October-ish, but this year it's back with a vengeance. Not only did I get it, but the drainage caused inflammation on my vocal chords which in return gave me a mild case of laryngitis. Imagine being able to talk but only at a whisper. NOT FUN! The kids at school have it, the principal had it, I got it, ugh...the list could go on. I hate going to the doctor. I'd rather just wait it out. Well, that was until a few years ago, when my parents told me to ask about a sinus cocktail shot. And, I tell you what, I hate shots, but this one is SO worth it. You will feel better in like an hour and like a new person the next day. Evidently, according to the interwebz, it's got a steroid and an antihistamine in it. I don't care what's in it. All I know is that I felt better the next day, my voice started coming back, and I am MUCH better on this holiday weekend than I would have been otherwise.

3. Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
A friend recommended this to me, and I have been using the generous sample Sephora gave me. I have noticed that it does help me in the mornings with puffy eyes and just looking refreshed in general. When my sample runs out, I will definitely purchase. It's relatively inexpensive when compared to a lot of eye creams I have been looking at. I just don't see how $60-100 creams that aren't prescription grade do any difference than a $30 cream? Maybe, I'm just not brushed up on my skin care...

4. N*Sync Mini-Split Second Reunion. Best thing EVERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was like being 17 all over again:))))))) Need I say more??!?!?!

5. Shopping my closet.
Well, let's face it, IUI nor IVF is cheap, so it will be shopping my closet from now on. I am going to a blog dinner tonight at a local Mexican restaurant, so this will be the perfect occasion to wear a top that's nwt in the closet. I lusted and lusted over the Tracy Reese for Neiman Marcus Target top for ever and ever. Then, finally, this summer, I was able to track it down on the cheap. I haven't worn it, and I'm not sure it's really the right attire for a casual dinner, but dang it, I'm wearing it. ha:)

Hope y'all have a safe and fun holiday weekend!

Fresh Face!

For the longest time, I slept in my makeup. I have had a bad habit of doing that. Now, that I'm older I'm becoming more concerned about my skin and decided to change that.

Awhile back I tried Philosophy due to many recommendations; however, I couldn't get over the metallic smell of the moisturizer. Not to mention, I felt like my skin was ridiculously oily later on in the day instead of combating it.

 Again, I trugged back to Sephora and did their little skin consultation on the computer. One of the lines was Boscia. And, it listed that it didn't contain a lot of chemicals like other products out there. It's one of the more natural lines. I figured, why not?

My skin started to look better after just a few days of use. It's soft, and while, I am still getting shiny (i don't think there's a cure for that) I feel like it's helping with all of that.

I forgot I had bought a door buster during Black Friday of Boscia, so I already had most of the Boscia products at home that the printout from Sephora listed. I asked for a sample of the day moisturizer and have liked it. The products are light and do not smell bad. I think I will actually purchase the full size regimen after using this trial size.

Just thought I'd let y'all know what's going on in my world other than being completely OVERWHELMED with being a "new" teacher. I've never taught history before so I feel like I'm a newbie. So, US History will consume my life this year...

Here's what I have been using:

along with the oil free daily hydration for the a.m.

If you call Boscia, they will also send you samples if you pay the $2.50 shipping fee. My skin has been a little flaky/dry in spots from the summer time, and I used the new self-defense vital oxidant, sample a couple of times and it helped with the dryness and didn't break me out or increase oil.