Aveeno

My skin has been my enemy since puberty hit. We could have been enemies long before then, but I never worried about my appearance until I started noticing boys (and wanted them to notice me). 

I've spent a fortune trying to find good products that work with my skin type. The problem was that I didn't know my skin type at all. 

Thank goodness that my esthetician did. It turns out that I was wasting my money on "blemish reducing" products when my skin isn't even acne-prone! It's merely dehydrated.

When she told me the type of products I should be looking for, I raced to my local CVS and finally found a product line that works really well.

My skin ritual is as follows:

Skin Brightening Daily Scrub
"This unique formula combines moisture-rich natural soy extract with smooth, round microbeads to gently exfoliate while you cleanse, leaving skin soft, smooth, and even-looking. Gentle enough for everyday use and sensitive skin."

Although the bottle says that the scrub is gentle enough for daily use, I only use it 2 or 3 times a week max. My esthetician told me that the microbeads actually irritate the outer layer of my skin and hardly cleans the skin at all. In fact, she said that I really don't need to use it at all... But I love how radiant my skin looks when I get out of the shower.

Brightening Cleanser
"This cleanser lifts away dirt, oil and makeup without over-drying for naturally radiant skin."

I use this product every night before bed and every morning before I apply my makeup. It's become somewhat of a ritual ever since I purchased my first bottle.

Daily Moisturizer
""Works to naturally even skin tone and texture. It immediately reflects light to visibly smooth imperfections and leave your skin looking fresh, awake, and luminous."

As I mentioned before, my skin is incredibly dehydrated. Thankfully, I found the best moisturizer to bring it back to life. I wish I could say I've tried a number of other brands that all paled in comparison, but I can't. This is the first  moisturizer I tried and I never felt the need to look any further. I am seriously in love...


But don't tell TJ.

San Diego Shenanigan's

Saturday was amazing. Better than amazing.

A large group of us headed down to San Diego's Gaslamp district to celebrate two of our friend's birthdays.
I almost didn't go, but rallied at the last minute and I couldn't be happier that I did.

Since there were so many of us going and staying the night we decided that we should live it up and stay in a penthouse for the night at The Keating.

 Our view was almost as amazing as the trip itself...

We enjoyed ourselves for a bit in the room, but when the sun disappeared we did the same.

And I cannot even begin to explain what happened once we returned back to the room at the end of the night. Oh, wait. I can explain it in one word: SHENANIGAN'S.

Inspirational Quotes- Whinnie the Pooh Edition

It's amazing how inspiring, thought-provoking, and heart-warming Disney movies can be.
Growing up, it was something to watch, enjoy, and love. I never realized they were simultaneously teaching me how to love myself for who I am and not who anyone else wants me to be.

So today I decided to pull quotes from my favorite Disney movie: Whinnie the Pooh

Throwback Thursday, Part 6

Graduation Day.

For many, it's an accomplishment.

For others, it's a stepping stone.

For me and my friends, it's a reason to party.

So when high school finally ended that's exactly what we did.

 We hugged...

We contemplated our futures...

We jumped for joy...

 And we lit the fireplace in the backyard...

To burn all of our schoolwork in a true we're-done-with-high-school fashion.

Sadly, many of us parted ways after that summer...

But at least we'll always have the memories.