The Routines I Use to Minimize My Anxiety

If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I have anxiety. I’ve had it ever since I was a kid, and share my story on IG and on here every so often. I think talking about mental health on my blog is really important for two main reasons. First, it is very therapeutic for me to process my anxiety and really reflect on it by writing and constructing thoughts that make sense. The second reason is that it shows my readers that if they are dealing with similar situations, they are not alone. I cannot tell you how much it means when I get messages from you telling me how much they understand what I’m going through and how grateful they are for me sharing my story because they can relate to it.

It has been no secret that I have been really struggling with my anxiety in the last two months. It’s probably the worst that it has ever been, but I feel like I’m finally turning the corner. While I know that anxiety is something that I will likely have to deal with for the rest of my life, there are definitely moments of highs and lows. My goal with this post is to share what has helped me in the last few weeks in hopes that it will help even one reader. Even if you already know everything I’m writing, I hope you just recognize that this is something I deal with. I don’t ever, for even one moment, want you to think my life is completely put together and stress-free. I want you to recognize me as a safe space and open person who’s willing to talk to you if you need it.

1. Find your person to vent to.

   I find that when I’m anxious, I need to word vomit everything out of me, as if to hear out loud what I’m thinking, recognize it as completely irrational and not true, and call it what it is; my anxiety talking. Whether you say it out loud to someone, or you write it out, I think finding someone that is a safe space to say things is important. Knowing that they won’t hold it against you, the thoughts you need to get out in the moment, is a great feeling. For me this person has been my boyfriend, but it can be anyone you feel like you can trust.

2. Eat a good breakfast.

   What I eat really affects my thoughts when I’m anxious, so I always make sure to not skip breakfast because it starts my day off on the right foot. When I have a good breakfast, I seem to make healthier choices throughout the rest of the day in regards to my diet, and it’s crazy how much what I eat can affect my mood.

3. Move your body everyday.

   When I hurt my tailbone and had to drop my entire workout regimen, my anxiety skyrocketed. I knew that I needed to rest and let my body heal, but it really messed with my head. You don’t have to have intense workouts every day, but focusing on moving my body every day is really important for me to lessen my anxiety. Now that my injury is healed, I am working out almost every day (some days it’s just a walk though so don’t be intimidated) and it’s the thing that I think is helping me the most to get back on track.

4. Get more sleep.

   I have been sleeping so well ironically through this time of anxiety and I think it’s because I’m emotionally exhausted at the end of the day. Allowing myself to say, “I’m tired…I need to go to bed early tonight” has been really important in this journey. However, my anxiety seems to strike midday from about 11 am to 5 pm, so I think this also might be why. I usually wake up less anxious and go to bed the same way, but this could be different for you. My point is to really push yourself to get the rest your body needs during this time.

5. Make a list of happy activities.

   This is something I find really useful for days when I am really struggling. I have a list of activities that make me really happy, that lives in my purse. These are things I can easily do so that if I feel anxiety growing, I can pull the list out, pick an activity and shift my focus somewhere else. My list has things like watch my favorite Netflix show, read a book, call a family member or friend, do yoga, or cook a meal. I typically carry a book with me always because I love escaping into a good story for a moment, but regardless of what your happy activities are, writing them out really helps you in the moment when you can read it.

6. Re-evaluate your goals.

   In the last few months, I’ve had to reevaluate my goals and decide what’s important in this time when I’m going through some tougher times. It’s ok to say, I don’t have the mental capacity for this right now, and make it a goal for later on. I know it can feel defeating to do this sometimes, but your mental health needs to be a priority and that goal can wait.

7. Work on setting boundaries.

   This one can be really hard and I am definitely working on it. I’m proud of excusing myself from conversations and just flat out saying no to things that I can’t entertain while I’m working on myself right now. You are allowed to say “I have too much on my plate right now”. You don’t have to explain yourself to people if you don’t want to. Those who love and support you will understand.

Overall, I hope this post helps you feel less alone if you are also dealing with anxiety or any mental health issue. Go follow my Instagram here if you are wanting to read more about my posts on my anxiety. This is a topic that I will continue to talk about and I hope you know how loved and beautiful you are.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

January Schmanuary

I’m sure you’ve all seen the memes joking about how January has felt like it’s lasted a year (I just posted one to my own stories…so I’m with you). I knew at the beginning of the month I wanted to reflect on January when it was over because first off, I’m big on self reflection, but secondly, I was curious to see how it compared to January 2018. So here we go. While these reasons might not apply to you specifically, the purpose of this post is to get you to think and self reflect about your own first month of the year. Self reflection is my greatest tool for making changes in my life and learning how to grow.

This month threw me for a freaking loop. I started it off feeling refreshed from extra time off around the holidays, spending much of it with family and generally feeling ready to tackle the new year. I’m not one to set new years resolutions, but I have always been excited to jump into new goals and get going again.

So I went on my merry way, creating timelines and ideas for Andrea Fontana Beauty, announcing my cookbook, and overall feeling really good about where I was heading. I was blessed enough to welcome a new niece into the world within the first week and things were really looking great! But then the next morning, I slipped on ice and bruised my tailbone terribly by falling down concrete stairs. At that moment the energy changed for the whole month. I thankfully had a mastermind weekend full of inspiration the following weekend, and while I thought this would prevent me from feeling low, it didn’t.

I spent the majority of it feeling frustrated, lazy, and mad at myself. But, if I could pick one way to describe how I felt at the end of January 2018: anxiety. If I could sum up how I felt at the end of January 2019: anxiety.

Anyone else sensing a pattern here besides me? Haha I’ve noticed on social media that this seems to be a common trend for others, so let’s dig in here a little bit. Why do I feel so anxious when I start the year off?

Goals are great, don’t get me wrong, but I struggle with the constant ‘DON’T EVER STOP WORKING’ mentality that you can find among the entrepreneurship community. Que the ‘Beyonce has the same number of hours in a day as you do’ memes. The ideal that there is always something you can be working on is great, but honestly poses a real threat for me because I’m a person who doesn’t know how to shut off sometimes. I can get going, full steam ahead, and forget about how to care for myself and to simply just sit and be.

Overall, I’m a person who enjoys schedules. I like to plan and know where I’m going to be one month, or even 3 months out. A lot of that is because the nature of the wedding industry involves planning so far out in advance, but I can be shaken by large changes to my schedule. Last January and this January both posed the same threats to my anxiety. Two situations, completely out of my control.

I’m hoping tomorrow when the calendar changes from January to February, I’m able to shake off the guilt of losing my entire workout regimen that I had cultivated for months and also not really working much this past week with the polar vortex. I was able to start fresh last February and look at it as a new month, so I’m hoping to see a similar trend this year.

So what have I learned?

My new theme of January is going to be GRACE. Give myself grace with the fact that January just is not, and maybe will never be my month, and THAT IS OK! I will probably not work as much as every other month and that is ok. It will likely include snow days and cancelled plans, and that is ok. I may fall on ice and not be able to visit my gym for a whole month, and that is ok. I might not put out as many blog posts as I wanted to, and that is ok.

Because here’s the thing. It’s going to be ok. Anxiety has this weird ability to trickle down into every category of your life and make you feel like you are a failure. But guess what, you are not. I am not.

I’m personally trying to view my life in a more seasonal way, as opposed to needing every month to look the same all year. I may run more in the summer than in the winter, but that’s just what life is. Seasons of success and seasons of rest. Both can exist at the same time. Sometimes resting is succeeding. Sometimes running too fast is failing you. Regardless, GIVE yourself grace when it comes to goals and do not let yourself think for a second that you are not doing a good enough job.

You are enough and I am here for you if you want to talk about this more.

I hope February is kind to you, regardless of what January looked like.

Andrea

How to Cook More (Part 2)

A little over a year ago, I wrote a post called “How to Cook More” and you guys really loved it. Click here to read that one first and learn the inspiration behind it.

I wanted to write a follow up post because as I’m writing my cookbook, I’m thinking a lot about the topic of how to inspire people to get into their kitchens more. So I’m back with more ways to share with you on how to cook more. As usual, I love when these posts can be the start of a bigger conversation, so be sure to comment below and let me know what really got you into cooking.

Reminder, if you want to get on my cookbook list and be the first to learn all about it, click here.

Start with one-pot recipes.

I often find that the kitchen can be very overwhelming for people and for most of us, the worst part about cooking is all the huge mess we can make. Also the thought of having to manage multiple burners or things in the oven can be stressful. To that I say, start with one-pot meals. Whether it’s an entire cookbook you purchase on one-pot meals, or you search it on Pinterest, getting your feet wet with simple recipes will help you see that you CAN do it. Then once you feel comfortable, you can dive into dishes with a little more complexity and learn new skills.

Clean as you go.

To go off of the last topic, the mess created from cooking a meal can deter you from starting in the first place. So often we create this huge mess and at the end think, '“well that wasn’t worth it'…” and never make the recipe again. Be strict with yourself and anytime you have 3 minutes or so, wash a dish or two that you are no longer using. This way, when the meal is done, all you have to clean is the dishware you ate on and maybe a pot or serving bowl. If you deal with anxiety you may also find cooking less challenging if the environment you are doing it in is tidy and calm.

Start small.

Sometimes when we make goals we are all or nothing. We go all out and eventually get burnt out, so I suggest instead of saying, “I’m going to cook dinner every night this week and no take out'“, challenge yourself to cooking just one or two nights during the week instead. Once you create that habit, you can increase the amount of cooking you do, little by little.

Start by learning how to make your favorite foods.

If learning how to make your favorite foods at home isn’t a source of inspiration, then I don’t know what is! I think we often think that we have to learn how to cook only healthy meals, but if you’re just getting started in the kitchen, learning how to make your favorite foods will help you become confident and really enjoy the experience. I often challenge myself to try tons of recipes for that one meal until I find my favorite.

Invite people over to eat.

Sometimes if we live alone or with our significant other, it can seem like a lot of work to cook for a small amount of people. Invite some friends over and give meaning to the meal you are preparing. Cooking for the people I love is my favorite thing to do and you might find that you really enjoy it too! Maybe vow to yourself that you want to start hosting small dinners for friend’s birthdays or even just because it’s Friday and you made it through another week! Whatever the occasion, sharing the fruits of your labor can be a great source of inspiration for getting in the kitchen to do the work.

If you’re curious what cookbooks I love, click this link and you can see all of my posts relating to cookbooks I have and why I love them (including my Cookbook Gift Guide from December)!

Remember, cooking is a fun way to express your creativity. If you mess up, you can always try again tomorrow!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Books I've Read Recently #3

I realized the other day while I was wrapped up in a cozy blanket and yet another book, that I haven’t shared what I’ve been reading recently. If you’re anything like me, you love to see what people are reading so I am back today with quite the long list of books I’ve recently read. As usual, I’ll share a few cookbooks at the end as well. I am pretty proud of how many I read this year.

In case you missed the big announcement over on Instagram and Facebook, I am writing and publishing a cookbook of my very own! I’m still in the writing process, but if you’d like to be the first to know any updates with the book, please CLICK HERE to be added to the list. I’m excited to share more of this adventure with you all in the coming months.

THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer: I really liked how this book highlighted the role of a mentor and how we can sometimes build things into such fantasies in our heads. This was one that kept me intrigued the whole time and I couldn’t put it down. I honestly picked it up because I was drawn to the cover, but was pleasantly surprised to see how much I enjoyed the story. It felt very relatable  for those fresh out of college figuring out what they want to do with their lives.

EDUCATED by Tara Westover: I was in awe of the author’s story in this book. It’s a memoir and tells the story of the childhood, growth and success of Tara Westover. It truly leaves you feeling like if she can accomplish whatever she put her mind to, so can you. I found her story so interesting and I think you will too.

ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman: This one has gotten a lot of buzz this year and I can definitely see why. Talk about a book with a plot twist! I was sucked into this one and read it in a few days. I really shows how in order to survive you have to open your heart. I heard it’s being made into a movie so if you are a ‘read before you watch’ kind of girl like me, get on this one!

SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn: After the HBO show came out, I knew I wanted to read this book before I watched the series. It was a quick and easy read for me and I really liked it. The ending was different than I had predicted and I always love being surprised by a book like that. I still need to watch the show because I LOVE Amy Adams.

THE SPY by Paulo Coelho: I hated this one. I really thought I would like it but it was just really boring and hard to get into. It tells the story of Mata Hari, and how she became this incredibly talented spy. While it’s fun to read about a woman who was able to snake her way in and out of relationships and places she didn’t belong, I would say skip this one.

THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED by John Boyne: If you read my previous book posts, you might notice that I read John Boyne’s newest book earlier this year. I loved that one and while I did like this one, it was a completely different style of book. It’s a haunted thriller (duh Andrea…look at the title), but it wasn’t as scary as I had been hoping.

HARRY POTTER AND THE (SORCERER’S STONE, CHAMBER OF SECRETS, PRISONER OF AZKABAN, GOBLET OF FIRE) by J.K. Rowling: I am 28 years old and had never read anything Harry Potter before this year. My boyfriend finally convinced me that with as much reading as I do, there was no excuse not to pick up the books. So I did it. I technically am on the 6th book but read #5 this year in 2019, so it’s not included here. You guessed it; I have become a complete Harry Potter nerd and I am obsessed with everything, especially all of the fine details. I can say it, I LOVE HARRY POTTER.

THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho: I finally read this one after hearing basically everyone I know talk about what a classic book it is. I really did like it, but I don’t know if it was because it was so hyped up for me that it wasn’t really what I expected. I’d say if you haven’t it’s a great story that you can get through really quickly.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee: My good friends and I started our own book club in December which I am very grateful for. First up was this classic and I’m happy we read it. I’m sure 99% of you reading this had to read it at some point in school. I remembered nothing about it except the name Boo Radley, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up loving this book. I highly recommend picking it up and visiting others that you may have read when you were at a different point of your life. I find it fascinating to see how different books can affect us just based on what stage of life we are going through.

SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT by Samin Nosrat: I practically worship the ground Samin walks on at this point haha. If you haven’t watched her Netflix series of the same title, do it now. Then go buy this cookbook. I think EVERY cook needs to have this in the kitchen. It’s full of knowledge and I really think it would help those who want to feel more comfortable in the kitchen.

THE SOPRANOS FAMILY COOKBOOK by Artie Bucco & Allen Rucker: I have found myself referring to this book a lot in the recent months for classic Italian recipes. Fun fact: Mikey bought me this book awhile ago because he always gets hungry when he watches the Sopranos. haha It’s a good one and if you like good Italian food, highly recommend. I’ve been thinking recently about cooking my way through an entire cookbook, and this one might be the one I do it with.

Share in the comments below what you’ve been reading and loving! Book recommendations are something I will NEVER stop wanting.

Happy reading,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

Refreshed for 2019

I wasn’t going to write anything about the new year because I’m sure by now you’re inundated with information on how to start the new year off on the right foot. However, I’ve taken a little time off this holiday season and it doesn’t seem quite right to jump into 2019 without a little post on what the new year looks like to me.

I only want to give one piece of advice this January as you set your goals and decide what you’d like 2019 to look like for you:

Goals are nothing and completely pointless if you do not know what works best for you.

So do yourself a favor before you start mapping things out. Make a list of the ways you learn best and work the hardest.

For me, I’m extremely visual. I need a hard copy of a planner and separate areas for work, personal goals, financial goals, etc. I need to create goals monthly and look at them every single day. I wholeheartedly believe that I have been successful in my debt journey because every week I update my current debt in my planner and look at it every. single. day.

We all do things differently and that’s ok! While all of these lists and ideas that people are writing for you are helpful, nothing will work if you do not know yourself. So I encourage you this January, to listen to yourself and be realistic. Ease yourself gently into the new year.

Developing the relationship you have with yourself and being honest is the best thing you can do!

I hope you have the best start to 2019. I’ll probably be back at the end of the month with personal updates on how I started the year off, so look for that and remember not to put too much pressure on yourself!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

An Afternoon in Chicago

I love Chicago and this past weekend I visited it for some fun with friends who live in the city. I wanted to share my Saturday afternoon activities with you in a post because I highly recommend recreating it yourself! It was the perfect amount of fun, food and relaxation.

I headed into the city from Lansing on the Amtrak. If you’ve never traveled by train and this is an option in your area, I highly recommend it. Mainly because I love having the entire 3.5 to 4 hours to read, watch Netflix, listen to music etc. I love it because you arrive right downtown. It would take me about the same amount of time to drive it but Michigan winters are too unpredictable for me to trust that the roads will be safe and clean to drive on. Plus I hate having to deal with a car in the city. While I arrive Friday, I want to highlight Saturday afternoon because my good friend Nick killed it when it came to planning a run day.

First off, we headed to Bar Pastoral in Lakeview for brunch. It was a cozy space decorated for Christmas and we got to sit in a little bench nook in one of the front windows which is my absolute favorite. When the grapefruit mimosas arrived, I knew we were off to a great start to our day.

We split this beautiful charcuterie board of meats, cheese, spreads, and bread and boy was it delicious! Next door to the restaurant is Pastoral, where you can buy wine, meats, cheeses, spreads and more which was fun to visit after our meal. For my meal I chose the Biscuit BLTA which was divine! It was a turkey, bacon, avocado crema, & tomato sandwich on a biscuit with amazing potatoes on the side. The sriracha mayo that the potatoes came in was unreal too. I was in heaven. (In case you’re wondering “Wait a minute Andrea. I thought you couldn’t eat Gluten…?”, you are not wrong! Haha! I have medicine I can take to be able to tolerate gluten and not get sick, but I only use it in situations like this when I’m not at home and want to enjoy a meal out). Highly suggest having brunch at Bar Pastoral, and I’d even gamble and say their dinners are amazing too! Everything that came to our table was so delicious!

After brunch, we walked down to the grocery store Mariano’s where I got an espresso shot to negate my after-brunch coma I was starting to sink into. The espresso was awesome and my friend Nick mentioned that he prefers their coffee to Starbucks. Once I was refueled we headed over to the wine bar for a glass of wine. They offer a wine of the month and you can get a glass of the special for $3! It was a really delicious Pinot Noir. I wish I had remembered to get the name of the wine, but I completely forgot. Blame the brunch.

Next, we hopped in an Uber and went to a location I had been DREAMING of. Nick just knows me so well and planned for us to head into the amazing Restoration Hardware location in the Gold Coast neighborhood. I cannot even tell you how long I have wanted to go here, so I basically screamed when I found out that’s what we were doing. Walking through the beautifully renovated old building with a glass of wine in hand is a complete experience. There are 5 floors of stunning rooms and it doesn’t feel like a store. I can’t wait to go back in the summer and go out on the rooftop too! I especially loved the atrium in the center that has extremely high ceilings, a beautiful fountain and so much greenery. Next, I think I’l definitely eat a meal at the cafe.

I left Restoration Hardware feeling an immense sense of motivation and inspiration. While I currently can’t afford anything from the showroom, you can’t but help to dream of what the future could look like with hard work and perseverance. I cannot wait to buy something from there some day. I highly recommend visiting a place of inspiration like this because I think it’s important to see goals right before your eyes. It makes anything feel possible and I’m so grateful we went.

Lastly, we walked over to The Goddess and the Grocer where I had a yummy little Italian Sandwich that was super tasty. If you need a quick bite, this is a great little stop on State St.

While this was only a slice of the fun I had in Chicago, I highly recommend checking these places out! The best part was that I honestly didn’t really spend that much money either. What are some of your favorite spots in Chicago? I am always adding to my list for future visits. Comment below and let me know!

Have a wonderful day,

Andrea

Alert the press! I'm actually talking about hair! (...plus a Formulate + Co. Giveaway)

You read that right. I, Andrea Fontana, am talking about hair today. Why is this weird? I don’t know much about hair. I know I work in the beauty industry, but I’m an esthetician which means I am NOT licensed in hair, and honestly don’t know much about hair because it really doesn’t interest me.

I’m excited to be collaborating with a haircare company that is changing the game and making shopping for shampoo and conditioner easy for even the hair incompetent like ME! I personally have very straight and easy to manage hair. I can take a shower, let it air dry, and not have to straighten, de-frizz, curl, or any of the other things so many women do. I know how lucky I am, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have areas I want my hair to improve. My hair can be dry in the winter, have dandruff issues, get staticky (is that a word? haha), get greasy at the roots, lie super flat, and more.

I was so excited when Formulate + Co, emailed me and wanted to do a collaboration, mainly because I never know what I’m looking for when I’m shopping for new shampoo and conditioner. I love how the process was completely custom yet super easy…there’s even an app for it!

Either download the app, or visit their website and you can begin the process. I told them where I live (genius if you ask me, since weather can be so determining in hair health), the current status of my hair, whether I colored it (I have never), and what improvements I’d like to see. I even got to pick my scent and decided how strong I wanted it to be (yes! it’s THAT custom).

So here’s what I chose for my hair goals:

• Prevent thinning (I mean doesn’t hurt right? haha)

• Lengthen

• Oil Control

• Volumize

• Hydration

Then, I chose to the scent Freshly Squeezed (a sweet orange delicious citrus scent) and chose to have it strongly scented because I looooove citrus smells!

Overall, I’m obsessed with my shampoo and conditioner. I try to only wash my hair every few days and ever since I started using these custom products I’ve been able to wash about every 3-4 days which is great! I do use dry shampoo sometimes if I’ve worked out and want to ‘clean’ my hair, but I really feel like I’ve noticed help with my oil control, yet my hair has felt hydrated. I honestly haven’t noticed much static in my hair which could be that it hasn’t been extremely cold yet this winter, but who knows!

Here are some other details that I love about this process:

• All shampoos/conditioners are always sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, & cruelty-free. They are technically not vegan because they source their keratin from wool, but if you want it formulated vegan you can get it that way!

• If you want to make changes to your next bottle, it’s really easy to control your settings in the app or on the website.

• If you want to omit certain ingredients because you’re vegan, allergic, etc, you can ask them to not add them! (Super cool)

• The packing is beautiful in your shower and I love that they have pumps! This made transferring to my travel bottles really easy for showers at my gym.

Now for the exciting part… Formulate + Co is giving away a free custom Shampoo & Conditioner set to one of my readers! All you have to do is click the link below to enter! (The giveaway closes on December 26th at midnight so hurry up and enter ASAP!) Even if you don’t win, you will receive a $5 off coupon for entering, so I highly encourage entering!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

I purposely wanted to end this giveaway around Christmas to be able to gift one of you an extra gift this year! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and supports Andrea Fontana Beauty all year long. You guys are the best and I am so grateful!

Have a beautiful day and GOOD LUCK!

Andrea

Stressed vs. Busy

This is a topic that I find myself thinking and talking about often. I’m sharing it today in hopes that you will digest it and see if you need to make any changes in your life. Your life can look very different from the outside than it actually is, so I think it will be helpful to read the whole post through and ask yourself if there are any changes you want to make. I find that this is especially important to discuss as the holidays draw closer and the new year will be upon us shortly.

I am personally a very busy person. If you go all the way back to when I was in high school, it is a part of my personality. I played a sport almost every season, was a good student and just overall did better being busy. I don’t enjoy having too much free time on my hands to sit around. I’ve never been much of a TV watcher so Netflix binge-watching has never been my thing either. I like to keep my schedule FULL of things to do, places to visit, work to do, books to read, etc.

Someone once asked me how I do it? They wondered about how stressed I must be because my plate is always full and I’m always doing things. My answer is simply this:

There is a big difference between being stressed and being busy.

Which do you fall under? You do not have to busy to be stressed, but you can be busy and not be stressed.

Are you stressed up to your ears? So much so that you are anxious, don’t sleep well, always feel like you cannot get enough done or finish your TO-DO list? Or are you just doing a lot, but enjoying it and simply are busy?

I LOVE what I do. I spend about 36ish hours nannying a week (BECAUSE I LOVE IT), and I spend about 15 to 20 hours on my business (seeing clients, emailing clients, creating content for my blog and instagram, etc), and during bridal season I’m gone most Saturdays doing bridal makeup. I love what I do and I highly encourage you to look at how you are spending your time. Is it bringing you a sense of accomplishment and are you feeling passionate about how you spend your time? Or are you stressed and hating every minute of it? Sometimes we have to deal with temporary stress on our journeys to being able to focus on our passions, but I want you to think about the next question.

If you find yourself stressed and on the way to burnout, are there any changes you can make to lessen your stress?

We all have stressful seasons of life, but what I’m talking about is the pattern of life you are creating. If there is no end in sight, if you aren’t loving your career, if you CAN make a change, dig deep and do some soul searching.

I didn’t write this post to give you answers. I simply want you to question the route you are headed and know that it is never too late to make a change for yourself. Think about how you truly spend your time and if it’s causing stress, love yourself enough to make the change to bring about happiness, if it is within your means…and guess what? It usually is!

I hope to always continue on the path of keeping myself busy with passion projects that exhilarate me and help others. After working so hard in a stressful environment in previous years, I promise myself that I will always evaluate where I’m headed to keep me busy but less stressed. Will you make that same promise for yourself? I hope so.

Comment below your thoughts on this post and weigh in on the conversation!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

The Makeup Lover's Gift Guide

Similarly to the previous Skincare Nerd’s Gift Guide, I wanted to share some makeup products that any makeup lover would be happy to receive. I can tell you that I would be happy to get anything on this list, so whether you have a sister, girlfriend, daughter, or maybe even you need ideas for what you want to ask for, READ ON!

1. Juvia’s Place Eyeshadow Palettes:

   I’m putting these palettes first on the list for a few reasons. First, the price is unreal. Most of their palettes are around $20 and the quality of the shadows I’ve tried is crazy! They made the list because they are newer to the scene, and I don’t think most makeup lovers will have collected them yet. The pigmentation is amazing and I think any makeup lover would be so excited to unwrap one this year and add it to their collection. My favorite is the Warrior Palette that I got at Ulta for $20.

2. Brush Cleaning Matte and Brush Cleanser:

   Cleaning your brushes is the least fun part of doing your makeup, but it simply has to be done for healthy skin. Getting a makeup lover a tool to make the process quicker and easier would be amazing! I love this one from Real Techniques because it has a strap that my fingers slide through so it fits right onto the palm of my hand and stays put. It’s really inexpensive and works well! To make it a complete gift, add on a brush cleaner and you’re good to go. My favorite deep cleaning brush cleaner is this bar soap from Dr. Bronner’s. It cleanses my brushes and conditions them to feel so soft!

3. Makeup Lesson:

   If you know someone who is new to makeup or recently has been getting into it, I highly recommend booking them a makeup lesson with a professional makeup artist. It’s a great way for them to learn new techniques and can be extremely individualized depending on the person! If you are local to the Central Michigan area and would like to gift a makeup lesson with me to someone you love, feel free to email me and we can talk details! I also sell gift cards at the bottom of every page of my website (so scroll down)! 1 hour makeup lessons are $65 with me and I would love to spend time teaching you or someone you love.

4. Makeup Mirror or Vanity:

   A new mirror to look into while doing their makeup is a great makeup lover gift idea! I personally have one really similar to this one from Conair that was given to me as a gift YEARS ago. I love it because I can take it around my house and do my makeup in any location near a plug, because you guessed it…it also has a light! It’s double sided, one side being more magnified than the other and has lights on both sides.

5. Beauty Blender:

   It’s no secret that beauty blenders are awesome, but they can be a little pricey. Getting one as a stocking stuffer or an add-on to a gift would make any makeup junkie happy. It’s kind of like getting them the really expensive nice socks that they don’t like buying themselves; but we all need socks right?

6. Generation G Lipstick:

   I’m obsessed with these. My newest favorite everyday lip product is one of these Glossier Generation G Lipsticks in the shade ‘Cake’. If you have a light to medium skin tone, you can wear it with no makeup and look instantly more put together, or it will compliment whatever makeup look you have on. They give you the perfect lip stain look that I talk about loving all the time! I guarantee that whoever you buy it for, it will live in their purse as a go to product. If you have never shopped with Glossier before, you can click this link to get 10% off your first order!

7. Makeup Brushes:

   Can a makeup lover ever really have too many brushes? The answer is no, but I think you already knew that. I personally love the Real Techniques brushes and I’ve given them as gifts many times. I especially love their sets for gift giving because you can give more while keeping it budget friendly. The Sculpting set, Enhanced Eyes set, and the Flawless Face set would all be great options. I also really love this Setting brush and have three just in my makeup kit because it can be used in so many ways!

8. Ulta/Sephora/Target GC:

   Similar to yesterday’s Skincare Nerd’s Gift Guide, I guarantee that if you are giving a gift card to a makeup lover, they have a list of products they are dying to try but don’t want to spend the money on yet. Your money will be very gratefully received so they can try something new! You can always give gift cards with the intention of purchasing a particular type of product (like a new palette or foundation) but allowing them the ability to go in and see products and decide for themselves. I find that this takes away a little of the impersonal-ness that some people fear when gifting someone a gift card. If you tell them the intentions, the thought will not go unnoticed.

I hope this gift guide brought you some ideas for this holiday season. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see my Cookbook Gift Guide and to see how I purchase my cookbooks used and on a budget!

As always, have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

The Skincare Nerd's Gift Guide

This week we are talking Gift Guides. That’s right, I’m bringing you four Gift Guides this week. Last year I did one big Gift Guide, but this year I’m breaking it up into four different ones and I hope come back each day and check them out!

Up first is going to be for the skincare loving guy or gal! Whether your budget is big or small, these items are great if you are looking for a gift for someone who truly enjoys taking care of their skin.

1. Expensive Mask:

   The holidays are the perfect time to get someone the expensive mask you know they will not buy for themselves. Here I’ve linked a few that I absolutely love that are worth the larger price tag.

   1. Herbivore Botanicals Blue Tansy (Great for oily/acne prone skin types)

   2. Farmacy Honey Potion Mask (Great for dry/aging skin)

   3. Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Sleeping Facial (Great for brightening)

2. Mask Brush/ Mask Bowl:

   Sometimes certain face masks require mixing in a small dish and a gift like this is really nice to receive. Make sure that the brush has synthetic fibers though because they won’t be porous and soak in moisture. This set is a great option!

3. Gift Certificate for a facial or other skincare treatment:

   Facials can be a treat that we don’t often buy for ourselves, so receiving one as a gift can be really nice! Make sure you do your research and ask around your area to get specific details and recommendations on who is the best in your area. The last thing you want to do is gift a bad experience!

4. Skincare Tools:

   If someone is into skincare products but hasn’t experimented with tools, try getting an ice or jade roller for their face. It’s a fun way to step up your skincare game and use something that you might not have bought yourself.

5. Satin Pillowcases:

   These are great for both your hair or your skin. The satin allows you to glide smoothly over the pillow when you’re sleeping, and reduce the tugging on your face.

6. Headbands for Doing Skincare Routine:

   This one would be a great add on or stocking stuffer. If the skincare junkie you’re shopping for loves to do a lot of face masks, a headband like this one would be perfect to keep their hair away from their face when doing treatments.

7. ‘Eat Beautiful’ Cookbook:

   I absolutely adore this cookbook because of all of the information on specific foods and how they benefit the skin. If your skincare nerd loves to cook, this would be a great gift to incorporate beauty into their diet.

8. Aveda Shammy:

   This cloth by Aveda is great for removing masks, products, etc from the face without scratching the surface of your skin. I used these in school and love them so much! I use mine at home all the time. Plus you can throw them in the washing machine to clean them!

9. Sheet Masks:

   I usually buy a big set of face masks every year and give a few to everyone I’m giving gifts to. No one can ever have enough sheet masks because they are one time use. They are a must have for stocking stuffers.

10. Gift Cards to Ulta/ Sephora/ Target/ Amazon/ Dermastore:

    When in doubt, buy your favorite skincare nerd a gift card to go buy more skincare. I know that gift cards can sometimes seem impersonal, but if you buy one and say ‘this is for you to pick out a new face mask or cleanser’ specifically, it can make the gift feel more personalized. I promise you that no skincare junkie will be sad about money they have to spend on more facial products.

As you can probably tell, I didn’t want to just focus on skincare product recommendations. I wanted to try to recommend more detailed gifts besides the obvious ones. Of course when in doubt shower everyone you love in Rosehip Oil. hahaha (Did you really think I could get through a skincare gift guide without mentioning it? haha)

Coming soon also, I’ll have a Makeup Lover’s G.G., my Top Cookbooks to Gift, and stocking stuffers!

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

9 Ways to Practice Gratitude

This post is going to be short but sweet. Gratitude is usually the word of the month when it comes to November and I’m all about practicing it. However, I wanted to give you some non-conventional ways to show others gratitude and encourage you to not forget about them after the holidays are over. Be sure to practice gratitude daily and I promise you will find more happiness in your life.

1. Random Act of Kindness: There are so many ways that you can do this. The classic pay for the person behind you in line’s drink and so much more. But the reason I’m listing it is to remind you that practicing gratitude can also mean helping people you don’t know.

2. Send Virtual Goodies through Venmo: This is one I do all the time to friends. I send money for drinks, coffees, donuts, etc. It’s my favorite way to surprise friends that don’t live close by. Tell them that you love them and that it’s specifically for a donut.

3. Write a special person a long hand written note: When was the last time you wrote a hand written letter to someone just because? We don’t do it enough, but it’s so special to get one of these randomly.

4. In difficult situations where somebody wrongs you, remain grateful that you know not to treat people that way: This is a tactic I use more than I wish I had to, but it’s my way of changing my perspective in situations when people treat me unfairly. You CANNOT control other people’s actions. But you can control your gratitude for yourself and being able to be the bigger person. You’d be surprised how quickly you feel better when you are grateful that you are the person being wronged and not doing the wronging.

5. Look in the mirror and spend 5 minutes thanking yourself: You have so many qualities that make you, YOU! All of your talents, quirks, skills, passions, beauty and more should be appreciated by you. Take the time to be grateful for the strength of your body or your ability to empathize with others, etc.

6. Cook someone dinner/drop a meal off at someone’s house: This one is really important for those people in your lives who have a lot on their plates. Whether they are sick, have a new baby, just moved, or simply have a lot going on and feel overwhelmed, you never know how a meal could change their attitude that day. Be sure to throw in a note about how grateful you are for them. If they live out of town, send the money through Venmo like I mentioned earlier. Seriously, Venmo is a great tool that is for more than just splitting the drink bill at brunch.

7. Leave a present on the doorstep of a family member/friend: Play some adult ding dong ditch and leave people presents! This is so easy and it doesn’t have to be a something huge. Just surprise friends at random times.

8. Gratitude Journal/5 Min Journal App: This one is really important to try if you’re trying to incorporate gratitude on a daily basis. The 5 Min Journal is great for spending a few moments each morning and night in self reflection. They also have an app if you prefer it on your phone. You don’t need a fancy notebook though if you don’t want to spend money. Simply find an old notebook and start jotting down what you’re grateful for every day and you’d be surprised how much it can change you.

9. Compliment random strangers more: This is one I try to do as much as I can. When I see something I like, I tell a stranger. It cost $0 to compliment someone you don’t know, but it could mean the world to them that someone noticed it and interacted with them. You never know what someone is going through and you could be just the smile they need to be propelled in a positive direction.

Spread kindness. Practice Gratitude. Be a decent human being. It costs no money, but can be the difference between someone having a great day or a bad one. The choice is yours!

Have a wonderful day and don’t forget…

I am grateful for you.

-Andrea

Five Ways to Make Social Media a Healthier Place For Yourself

It’s no secret that social media can play a toxic role in the comparison of our lives with others. In one click you can be transported into what looks like a much happier and fun life of someone you’ve never met. We are all guilty of it. While I believe that there are many negatives that can come from social media, I also think there are a lot of really positive things that can come of it as well. If you take social media with a grain of salt, focus on not comparing your life to the highlights of other people’s lives, it can be a really cool place.

Today I wanted to share five ways that you can make social media a healthier place for yourself. I want to encourage you to set boundaries and use it the way that works best for yourself. However, only you know what that means. So take these ideas and change them however you need to make social media a positive and constructive place for you to be inspired and connect with other people.

While none of this is ground breaking information, I just want it to serve you as a reminder to make sure you are using social media to respect and love yourself. So let’s get started!

1. Delete accounts that impact you negatively.

   If there is an account that always brings about ill feelings, sadness, jealously, or desires for things or a life you don’t actually want, DELETE it. You heard me. Choose to follow accounts that inspire & teach you, make you laugh, and more. You do not have to follow people just because they follow you, if it’s not going to constructively contribute to your life.

2. Set boundaries for when you use social media.

   If viewing social media brings anxiety or stress, definitely don’t use it before bed time. It’s important to feel calm and at peace when trying to sleep and we all know screen time isn’t the best choice for this. If you know that you can easily end up mindlessly scrolling for hours when you’re supposed to be accomplishing some other task, maybe give yourself a specific amount of time you are allowed to be on social media. Cutting back will also help you focus on what you’re doing in the moment. Be present.

3. Share a more authentic part of yourself.

   One of my favorite things about social media is the community that can be created by sharing certain things about your life. The more you share of the real you (if you’re comfortable with it), the more you can connect with others who may be going through the same thing. You may find support from people you never expected. I strive to share open and real moments with my followers because I want to break away from the ‘everything’s fun and perfect’ view that social media often present to people.

4. Use social media to uplift your friends and make people laugh.

   One of my favorite things about social media is the ability to tag friends in funny or inspiring posts. You never know what people are going through in that moment and it’s nice to be tagged in things that can randomly make you laugh or smile. I love social media’s ability to connect me with my friends that are far away, in an instant and send them some love. Fill your social media use with positivity.

5. Cut the comparisons.

   No one’s life is as dandy and fun looking as it is on social media. We all have bad days. We all have things happen to us out of our control. This one is just a reminder that only YOU know what’s best for you. Shift your focus on social media from one of wanting to be like others and using it to instill happiness and realness all around you instead. Check yourself when you find that you are thinking negative things and FIND A CUTE PUPPY PICTURE.

Remember: You are YOU and there is no amount of Instagram likes that can top that magic.

Have beautiful day,

Andrea