Restorsea Pro Review

For the past few months, I’ve been trying to be conscious not only about the food I’m putting in my body, but also what I’ve been using on my face, skin, nails, and hair. I have sensitive skin, so it’s often hard to find products that work well on my skin.  I’ve been using an amazing skincare line called Restorsea Pro and I can honestly say my skin has never looked better.  Travel is a wonderful adventure, but it can wreak havoc on your skin.  I will definitely be bringing these products with me when I finally go on my next trip.  Let me tell you all about them.

         WHAT PRODUCTS HAVE I BEEN USING?

REVIVING CLEANSER ($65)

The one I use is made for normal/dry skin.  I love that it removes my makeup without stripping my skin of its essential oils.  It leaves my skin soft and is the perfect product to end my day with.  I use a dime-size amount every night before bed to remove my makeup.

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Review of mintMONGOOSE Jewelry Subscription Box

You all know how much I love jewelry, and I also love surprises, so a subscription box that sends you jewelry sounds like the perfect solution! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with mintMONGOOSE, and try out their amazing pieces of jewelry.  I was so excited when I saw the package!

 

And I couldn’t wait to see what pieces we got!

What do I love about this box?

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Product Roundup: July

Over the last few weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to try out so many great products while in self-isolation.  I’d love to share with you some of our favorite things that we think travelers will love! Take a peek…

Enjoy!

3Doodler Pen

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THESE PENS

Creativity is something I try to encourage in my kids.  In fact, this summer they have written “Do something creative” on their daily To Do lists. This kit is compact enough that kids can bring with them as they travel.  It is great for any ability and age level. We were given two pens.  The first was the 3Doodler Start “Learn from Home” pen set.  I love that it doesn’t have any external hot spots so it’s perfect for ages 6-13.

It also came with 200 additional strands of 3Doodler Start plastic refills.

The second pen we got was the 3Doodler Create “Learn from Home” pen set.

This set is perfect for ages 14+

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review of byKikarose Jewelry

As a traveler, I love to find jewelry that can be worn during the day and then transitioned into something for evening. I was sent these beautiful earrings from byKikarose and I have not stopped wearing them. This beautiful Etsy shop has wire jewelry hand-crafted in a wide range of classic and original designs. Take a look at the beautiful earrings I got!

The earrings came in adorable cotton drawstring bags that are wonderful if you are gifting them.

DANDELION FLUFF HAND STAMPED EARRINGS

Turquoise beads with round bronze hand stamped pendant ($28)

Photo credit: byKikarose

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Yoga Nidra

In the last year, I have become more and more interested in finding methods for relaxation (meditation, deep breathing, etc) and have been wanting to devote more time into doing it.  It seems like such a simple task, but in yoga, I can’t seem to ever turn my mind off during savasana.  So, I figured since I have nothing but time on my hand, along with a ton of anxiety, I would expand my search.  First stop…YOGA NIDRA.

WHAT IS YOGA NIDRA?

Through the use of body sensing, breath awareness, guided imagery and other practices, you are systematically guided on a meditation journey. You remain in a state of relaxed awareness, but not sleep.

HAVE I DONE IT BEFORE?

Yes.  I actually love doing it at home when my friend Becky leads them in a salon that has a salt cave.  (Local friends…if you haven’t done this you NEED to check it out!  Email me for more info.)  It is so relaxing! A few weeks ago, Becky offered a virtual class so I was able to do it from my own living room.

WHAT PROPS DO YOU NEED FOR IT?

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FaceTory Face Mask Review

I may not be thrilled to be in social isolation, but my face is so happy right now! No makeup, face masks several times a week, and more than enough time for keeping a good nighttime skincare routine. (Keep your eye out for our DIY home facial coming soon.) My skin has never looked better! I was so happy when I got this fantastic set of face masks from FaceTory and my girls and I couldn’t wait to test them out.

Enjoy!

FaceTory Face Masks

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM:

Travel can wreak havoc on your skin.  From changes in temperature, sun irritation, and that mysterious craziness an airplane creates on your face. (I always break out after a flight!)  A face mask is the perfect skincare tool to carry in your suitcase.  It takes up almost no room, is easy to apply, and it is a nice way to relax and unwind after a long day of exploring.

We LOVED using these masks.  Trust me when I say we are experts on face masks because we have tried a ton! All of these masks left our skin moisturized, but not greasy like many masks do.  They also don’t have too much face cream on them so they were not gooey like some can be.

They come in such a cheerful package…which is a fun thing to see when you’re home in seclusion.

WHAT ELSE I LOVE ABOUT THEM:

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Ways to Stay Positive During Social Isolation

Life is pretty crazy right now and certainly not anything we ever expected to happen in our lives.  Remote learning, social isolation, and fear have overtaken our lives.  I’m an anxious person and I can get pretty frantic if I work myself up by thinking about it all day, so after a week of freaking out, I decided to add some normalcy to our lives and realized positive thinking and creativity would make our days memorable.  We are using this time together to bond as a family and do things we complain about not having time to do when we’re in our “real lives.”

I plan on using this time on my blog to share strategies that have been working for us and encourage people to make the most out of this situation.  We have been calling it our Corona-cation in our house.    I’ll be touching on each of these more thoroughly as the weeks go on.  We’re all in this together! I’m loving all the feedback from everyone telling me what they’ve been doing and sending links and suggestions.  Please keep it up!

Hope your family is staying healthy and happy!

STAY POSITIVE AND ENJOY THIS TIME TOGETHER

No one knows how long this will last and it’s very easy to become overwhelmed.  I know I can be pretty bitchy when I’m anxious and I tend to take it out on the people I love.  Now is the time to stay positive and encourage your family to do the same.  I try to stop my kids from fighting, and suggest we all do something fun together.  I have only 4 more years with my oldest and 6 with my youngest and I’m loving every day I get to have them all to myself.

GET OUTSIDE

Make sure you get outside EVERY day, even if you don’t want to.  I find the hardest part is just getting your sneakers on and walking out the door.  Go for walks, play some basketball in your driveway, do some sidewalk chalk, or just have a picnic if the weather is nice. (Obviously..avoid other people.)

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20 Books to Read While You’re Home

Since we are all spending so much time indoors, we can often feel trapped.  What’s the perfect escape? A good book!  Books are a great way to travel the world without leaving your back porch.  The first place I turn when I need a good book (besides to Oprah) are my friends and family.

Here are 20 books they’ve recommended for you.

Happy reading! Stay home and stay healthy!

Everything I never Told You

By: Celeste Ng

Recommended by:  yours truly!

 Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.

The Great Alone

By: Kristin Hannah

Recommended by:  Laura

In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own.

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20 Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel

Time to start shopping for those sweet men in your life that love to travel.  Guys can be hard to buy for because the gift needs to be fun, yet still practical.  Here are some Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel.

Happy shopping!

DUFFEL BAG:

This beautiful leather duffel bag is perfect for packing for a weekend away.  It is well-made and sturdy, with a reinforced zipper and a thick cloth lining.  It looks like a vintage leather bag and has lots of room.  It can be used with or without the shoulder strap and can be used as a carry-on.

YETI COLSTER:

Take their koozie up a notch with this double-wall vacuum insulated holder.  It will keep their beverage cold for longer and can be used with cans and bottles. It comes in over a dozen colors.  It’s great for a BBQ, the beach, or a day out on the boat.

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Ultimate Gifts for Women that Love Travel

Christmas is the time for giving, so let me help you cross some items off your list!  The holiday season can be hectic, so I’ve come to love the ease of online shopping! I can put on my favorite PJ’s, pour a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and avoid the mobs of people at the mall. So, what do you get for that woman on your list that loves travel? Here are Ultimate Gifts for Women that Love Travel:

Jewelry Organizer

JEWELRY ORGANIZER: There’s nothing more aggravating than getting to your destination and having your jewelry all tangled up.  This case is a stylish way to organize your jewelry.  It has 7 ring rolls, 4 compartments, and 3 necklace hooks with pockets.  I love the classic combination of cream and tan, but they also have it in black.

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