Frugal Valentine's Gift Guide

I wanted to do something a little different than a typical gift guide for Valentine's Day, so today I've compiled a list of 10 ideas for frugal gifts. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a gift in order for it to be special. I personally don't make a huge deal out of Valentine's Day, so these gifts are more my style.

1. Cook a favorite meal or dessert. I almost didn't mention this one because it's so obvious, but cooking is how I show my loved ones how much I love them, so it wouldn't be my gift guide if I didn't include it. Even if you're not a big cook, make an easy dessert. Cooking for someone is a really inexpensive and kind way to show someone you care. 

2. Make a handmade Valentine/find an antique one. I love handmade cards but especially valentines. As I get older, I've started to really treasure the cards that I receive from loved ones, so I think this is probably the most frugal gift you can give while still telling someone how much you care. In my house I have a garland of valentines that I found all at an antique store and if they weren't decor I would probably gift them because they are so freaking cute. I love the vintage look of them and think they would make a special gift, especially if you're lucky enough to find ones with messages from the 1930's like I was! 

3. Pick out books for each other. This one doubles as a date. I wish I could take credit for this idea but my boyfriend is the one who took me to do this on our first anniversary. We had 30 min to pick out a book for each other and explain why we chose it and then we bought them and gave them to each other. We agreed to not get any other gifts for each other besides the books which I loved. This is a great way to give more meaning to a gift for one another. 

4. Self care items. If your loved one has a busy job, is really active, or just doesn't do a good job taking care of themselves, it's always a good idea to get items that encourage them to relax. Epsom salts are great for active and tired muscles, sheet masks are great for skincare junkies, and bath bombs are great for those who don't always want to spend the money on bath products.

5. Good smelling things. Candles are always appreciated and if someone is into essential oils, picking out a favorite or new oil is always a great gift that doesn't have to be crazy expensive.

6. An indoor plant. I love some fresh greens in my house especially during the cold winter months, so Valentine's day is a great holiday to get someone a new plant instead of flowers that will inevitably die. I love succulents for people born without green thumbs (i.e. me). I love my aloe plant because it's grown huge and is really low maintenance. 

7. Print off favorite Instagram photos. In a world of Instagram and Social Media, we rarely print out pictures anymore! Find a few of your favorites together and print them off and find a creative way to display them. I can't tell you how appreciative I'd be to receive these because I never think to print out the pictures I love anymore!

8. Find a photo or memento that is meaningful and frame it. If you know that your loved one has a memento, old family member's photo, etc. that they really treasure, secretly steal it and frame it (Obviously make sure you don't do anything to harm the item in case they want to remove it later on...). I think this would be a great way to surprise someone you love.

9. Expensive healthy snacks. Since everyone and their grandma will give candy for Valentine's Day, mix it up and get someone those really expensive snacks that are good for you. Things like kombucha,  dried mangos, etc. that are great treats, but just too dang expensive to eat all the time. Like go to Whole Foods and get the organic healthier gummy bears... Not only will they be thankful to have the snacks that we wish we could always fill up our carts with every week, but they won't feel guilty about enjoying them because they are the healthier alternative. 

10. Subscriptions. There are a million and a half subscriptions you can get someone these days, but I think one like the Book of the Month club for example, would be a great gift. Some of them aren't that expensive, and the value is usually higher than what you pay for them. Buy a month or whatever your budget is, and introduce your loved one to something new! 

This Valentine's Day I encourage you to go for meaning before price tag. Your valentine will appreciate it that much more, and if they don't, they don't deserve to be your Valentine! If you don't have a valentine, do one of these things for yourself! Self love is more important than any of this. 

I hope you feel loved,

Andrea

Dre Does a Skin Type Guide

The first step to getting your skin to look and feel the way you want it to is to know what your skin type is. Essentially, you can't fix the problem unless you know what the problem is. So I've made a description of each skin type. One of the biggest misconceptions about skin is dehydration. I have mentioned it before but in case you missed it, it's important to know that any skin type can be dehydrated. Hydration refers to the moisture or amount of water in your skin, and dryness refers to the amount of oil. So whether you are oily or dry or inbetween, you can be dehydrated. Your skin is the last organ of the body to receive water, so water consumption is important for all skin types.

Dry Skin feels rough, tight, itchy, flakey, and lacks oil.  The pores of dry skin tend to be very small and not very visible. It is the skin type that is most likely to be dehydrated and requires gentle cleansing and creamy moisturizers and cleansers.

Oily Skin feels waxy, greasy, looks shiny, has an over production of oil, and can be flakey around the nose. In the T-Zone area, true oily skin has larger and more visible pores (T-Zone refers to the forehead, nose, and chin area). People with oily skin generally want their skin to 'feel clean' because of these symptoms. Oily skin can also be dehydrated and requires light moisturizers and gel cleansers. 

Normal Skin has just the right amount of oil. Depending on the season, it can be dryer on the cheeks (winter) or be oilier in the T-Zone. If you find you get slightly oily throughout the day and only in your T-Zone you most likely have normal skin. Combination Skin is a more drastic difference in cheeks and T-Zone. 

Sensitive Skin is generally red, warm, inflamed, light sensitive, and affected by the wind and touch. You should make sure you use gentle, soothing, and calming products. Also make sure to stay away from heavy fragrances in skin care products.

I hope this helps you at least establish what type of skin you have. If you ever have questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre