Things that I'm Recently Loving

Hello again!

Today isn't about products. It's more about activities and ways I've been trying to turn negativity into positivity. I mentioned in my last post that 2018 got off to a bad start and last week was no different. Haha I'd love to say that my positive attitude really propelled me through my problems, but at times I wanted to curl up in a ball in my bed and not take on the day. 

However, I did learn some pretty great things last week about myself and I'd like to think that I've grown a little bit as a person. Hooray self reflection? How's that going for you so far? Great I hope.

When stressed, I like to take my frustrations and channel that energy into productivity. Maybe it's because it distracts me a little bit from other things going on, but I like to think of it as a positive thing to not allow myself to completely shut down and actually curl into that ball in my bed.

This productivity I speak of is where this post comes into play. I wanted to share some things that have kept me sane the last two weeks. I started some healthier habits and it's like the universe was telling me to take better care of myself because it knew I would need a little extra love to start this year off. So I want to share some things that have shifted my focus and brought attention to things that I love doing and have gotten out of the habit of enjoying. 

Yoga. I used to do so much yoga. Mostly at home practice, but frequently I would start my day with a little time on my mat devoted to myself. I love the YouTube channel by Adriene Mishler called Yoga With Adriene (YWA). She is easily my favorite for doing yoga at home. She does these 30 day challenges every so often, where she posts a video for 30 days straight and really guides you in many ways to grow your practice. I have done them before so when I saw that True (the current challenge) was starting January 2nd, I knew I had to sign up. I'm not going to lie. I have cried a few times while doing my daily yoga practice because she always seems to know what my body and mind need. I don't even know how much more stressed I would be if it wasn't for this challenge right now. I highly recommend checking her out. 

Reading. I have so many books on my bookshelves that haven't been devoured yet and this week I picked the biggest one up that I had and started reading. I haven't been able to put it down yet and it made me really thankful for the ability of books to take you to knew locations, cultures, and stories. I love how a good book can captivate you and distract you from things you need to be distracted from. You're probably curious what book it is now, and that's The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne and holy cow! Don't let the almost 600 pages scare you. It sucked me in from the first few pages and I haven't let it go yet. I can't speak for the whole book, so I will keep you updated once I have finished it. 

Reaching out to friends for help. I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to say things out loud to friends in order to get them out of my system so I can move forward. I just need the reassurance from the people who know me best that I am making the right decision. Again this is builds off what I said on Sunday but it's ok to ask for help. Invite a friend over for wine or tea and hash through some things that have been giving you anxiety. I did this multiple times last week with friends and my boyfriend and it's a huge lifesaver for me. 

Cooking. There's something comforting about creating a nice meal when I'm stressed that feels relaxing. While I didn't cook as much as normal last week because of how busy I was, I still find that when I pour myself into a creative outlet it brings me a sense of accomplishment to be able to create something, even if other areas of life aren't going as planned. Basically I'm giving myself confidence in areas that I can to help me feel like I can conquer the stressful things too.  So I guess this one is more so a recommendation to find a creative outlet for yourself so you can release that frustration and feel better.

Remind myself of my why. Sometimes I need a reminder as to what I'm working at in life when things don't go my way. Remembering your 'why' allows you to put things into perspective and refocus your attention so that you can move forward. I like to think about the things I'm passionate about and remind myself how worth it it'll be when I've accomplished my goals. 

What are your favorite ways to refocus and turn negativity into positivity? Please share in a comment below so we can continue this conversation and help each other!

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea Fontana

Recent Empties

I filmed another video talking to you all about recent products I have used up. Before I get to talking about whether or not I'd repurchase them I want to get a little personal with you tonight.

As I'm writing this I've had a frustrating night. Actually a frustrating first week of the new year. The reason I'm mentioning it is because I feel like there's a lot of pressure during the new year for some people to 'start strong' and 'be positive' and you may have had an equally terrible week. So know that it is ok if this week sucked. Mine did, but I am not going to let it affect my month or my year. I know my last post was all about self reflection and getting a good start to the new year, but nothing went as planned this week. And that's ok.

Do not let a tough start to a new year affect what will come after. Something that I often struggle with is asking others for help. It makes me so uncomfortable. So I want to tell you it's ok to ask for help when you need it. (I might have written that sentence as a way of convincing myself to believe it). It's ok to rely on your loved ones when you need them. I don't know what I would have done today without that 30 min phone call to my best friend who gave me the advice I needed to get back up. 

I hope this next week is kinder to both of us :) Now back to the beauty products!

How are you guys liking these videos? I'm having fun learning more about editing and creating them so I will probably continue to make them if you guys keep enjoying them! I love empties videos because they are more than a first impression. I've tried the product a whole bottle's worth and have a more accurate idea of how the product performs. The cool thing though is you'll see products that didn't work as well. So I feel like you gain more knowledge than a favorites video. 

As usual, I will list all of the products below so you have the accurate names! Comment below with any suggestions for my next YouTube video and if you want to subscribe to the channel so you're automatically updated, go for it! Thank you always for the love!

Have the best week ever,

Andrea Fontana

1. Enjoy Volumizing Dry Shampoo
2. Aura Cacia Organic Rosehip Oil with Vitamin E and Acure Organics Rosehip Oil
3. Farmacy Eye Dew It All Total Eye Cream
4. Farmacy Honey Potion Mask
5. The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
6. Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
7. Life NK Daily Fix Muscle Relief Bath Soak
8. NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
9. Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer
10. Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer
11. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
12. NYX Micro Brow Pencil
13. Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in Figgy
14. Lancome Cils Booster XL Vitamin Infused Mascara Primer
15. Benefit They're Real Mascara

New Year: Self Reflection

First off, Happy New Year!! I hope 2018 blesses you with love, happiness, and much success. I know it's a little cliche to write about motivating tips for the new year but I can't help it. Going into 2018 I'm in a completely different place than when 2017 started, so I wanted to bring you guys a quick post on staying inspired. 2018 will be the first full year of owning my own business, so to say that I'm feeling ready to take on the world would be an understatement. I cannot wait to bring you guys new content and have spent the past few weeks making so many goals and jotting down every idea that has popped into my head. 

Owning your own business takes much self discipline and it's forced me to create some great habits that I want to share with you. If I had to pick one phrase to describe what I think is most important when accomplishing your goals, it would be self reflection; and I'm talking honest self reflection. You can set goals all day long, but it you aren't taking the time to reflect on what you've done and where you're headed, you cannot make it to your goal. Sometimes you have to edit and reroute yourself throughout the year and that's ok! Below are some of my best tips on how to incorporate self reflection into your life so that you can smash whatever comes before you this year.

1. Answer these 50 questions about 2017/2018: I shared THIS LINK HERE on my Facebook page (Click here to follow, if you're not already) and I cannot stress how vital this was for me. It brought my attention to areas of 2017 that I loved and didn't love. The questions were very straightforward and really helped me reflect on 2017 and prep for 2018. I also recommend writing these down in a notebook so that you can revisit them at the end of 2018 and answer the same questions and see how your answers change. I plan on making this my new end of the year tradition to track growth and passion. 

2. Carry a mini notebook with you at all times: I have been doing this for years and I think it's so important to have a space for 'brain dumping'. I like the carry the Moleskine small notebooks with me, but anything will do. I often find I will come up with tasks to complete or ideas when I'm not able to work on them and I love being able to write it down and get it out of my brain. Sometimes we give ourselves too many things to remember and it can create unnecessary stress. If I write it down, I can get it out of my head and focus on the current task much more easily. I find that doing this also helps me be more present in the moment because I don't have to worry about forgetting something. 

3. Write your goals down and be specific with dates and numbers. This one might seem obvious but if you are not specific it will take you so much longer to reach your goal. I recommend revisiting your goals at least once a month, if not more often. If you have nothing written down, you won't have anything to reflect on. So be specific when you write them down, stare and them often and you will fill your mind with thoughts on accomplishing them. The more you think and surround yourself with your goals, the more likely you will make them feel like reality and that they are doable. 

4. Reflect on how you spend your time. How often to you plan on picking up a new hobby or spend less time doing something and then all of a sudden two months go by and you haven't changed. I recommend taking a look at your weekly schedule and writing every way that you spend your time. This includes the 2 hours of Netflix every night or 1 hour spent cooking dinner. Then for each item, make a pros and cons list on how much value each thing is bringing to your life. You may find that you're spending too much time doing things that are costing too much money or taking away from your overall happiness. Sometimes you need to see it written on paper to realize you need to make a change. You may not realize how much time you are giving something that is bringing no value to your life, until you see how often you do it in a week or month. Then you can swap that time for something better. 

5. Read. Read. Read. I cannot tell you how much reading motivates me. I love that I can literally pick up a book on any topic I desire and learn. Also read books of several different topics at the same time. This will help you stay attentive. It's like watching a movie; sometimes you're in the mood for one topic and sometimes you need another. Regardless, I find that reading helps me stay inspired and motivated by constantly learning new things. 

I hope you'll reflect on your progress throughout 2018 and succeed in whatever you put your mind to. You can do it!

Happy New Year,

Andrea Fontana

My 10 Go-To Week Night Meals

I know this is a beauty blog, but if you follow me on Instagram you probably saw that I asked a poll if you wanted to see these recipes and I got a 100% response of yes! So today I'm sharing my go-to recipes. I usually make something from this list once or twice a week because they are either easy, healthy, or a combination of the two. Some are links to recipes others have created and some are creations of my own!

Tuna Sushi Bowl- I make these sushi bowls all the time (as you can see on my instagram) and I could never get sick of them. They are a great way to get the flavors of sushi, without having to spend all of the time creating and rolling sushi. You can use whatever protein you want, I like to use Ahi Tuna that has been previously frozen (to kill any potential parasites) and cube it. Marinade it in 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to taste. I also like to marinade diced cucumbers and green onions with the tuna, and let it all sit in the fridge to chill for 15 min while your rice cooks. To make this extra healthy, use brown rice instead of white and use tons of veggies. I like to include pickled onions, avocado, carrots, radishes....the list goes on and on! Add whatever you like. You can also make this over salad instead of rice and it will really lighten the dish. 

Chicken Tikka Masala- (Click here for Recipe Link) If I ask my boyfriend what he wants for dinner this week, this will always be the first thing he says. I've made it for so many people and everyone loves it. The biggest thing about this recipe is that you have to let the chicken marinade for an hour or the chicken won't be as tender. The only changes I make are not to include jalapeno, I use a little less cream, and I serve it over brown rice. This is definitely a recipe that you can get away with brown rice easily it soaks up the sauce anyways and it's hard to tell the difference. 

Coconut Chicken Chili - (Click here for Recipe Link) This one is a newer recipe for me, but I love it. It's really delicious and light. 

Chicken Milanese- (Click here for Recipe Link)  I grew up eating Beef and Chicken Milanese so I absolutely love this recipe from Ree Drummond. My boyfriend calls this one "the really good chicken" haha.

Taco Salad- I eat these all the time and they are very low carb and high protein. I use the Quorn Meatless Crumbles to keep the meal vegetarian but you could also use lean ground turkey to keep it healthier. I saute onions and garlic for a few minutes to soften and then the 'meat' until it's no longer frozen. Once everything is hot, I add a little water, along with cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, a little cayenne and sometimes some red pepper flakes if I'm feeling some extra spice. Once the water cooks out a little and it thickens up, I add it to the top of some romaine. Then you can add whatever toppings you like! I love to add plain greek yogurt for extra protein and creaminess instead of sour cream. Then a sprinkle cheese, some black beans, tomatoes, etc and you've got a delicious taco salad!

Honey Glazed Chicken Skewers- I love these skewers and like to serve them over couscous or brown rice. I like to roast them in the oven and they always come out so moist. Make extra and you have great leftovers for another night!

Source: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, 2009.

Strip Steak and Chimichurri- This chimichurri is to die for and I love it served with these potato wedges too. 

Source: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, 2009.

Source: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, 2009.

Chickpea Gnocchi-  If you like gnocchi, these are so much easier and quicker to make! Not to mention they are full of protein and fiber, so they are much better for you then traditional gnocchi. The kneading is especially important. 

Source: The Ultimate Pasta and Noodle Cookbook by Serena Cosmo, 2017

Vodka Sauce with Zucchini Noodles- (Click here for Sauce recipe link) I have been making this sauce for years. It's quick, easy and super flavorful. I love it on gnocchi as well, but it's great with zucchini noodles for a light dinner that doesn't sacrifice flavor. I like to specialize my zucchini myself and then saute them in a pan for a few minutes to barely soften them. Then top with the vodka sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Roasted Tomato Soup- (Click here for recipe link) I think I've shared this recipe before but it's so delicious. It's one of my all time favorite soup recipes and such a great winter comfort food. It takes a little longer than the other recipes but I included it because it's a great one to make a big batch on a Sunday and then freeze it for easy dinner during the week. I always make a lot of this when I have fresh tomatoes from my dad's garden. 

Gigi Hadid Jetsetter Palette First Impression and Test

Let me start off by wishing you a Happy Holiday! I've created another video on YouTube for you guys sharing the Gigi Hadid for Maybelline Jetsetter Palette. I'm super excited to bring you another video because I'm loving the format of making them. What are you guys thinking of it? I feel like there's certain things I can show you in a video that I just can't get across in a blog post. I of course will always give extra feedback in these corresponding posts but watch the video first below to see my thoughts on the application and wear of this palette. Good news, as of this moment when I'm writing this post, the palette is on sale for $17.99 at Ulta! Watch below to see if I think you should pick it up...or skip to the bottom and read what grade I give it!

Thoughts on the Jetsetter Palette: 
I really did enjoy using this palette and think it will be one that I reach for a lot. For me, this will be something I throw in my gym bag and use on days when I want an easy and quick makeup look. Will I reach for it when I want full glam? Probably not, but that's ok! 

As far as the individual products in the palette, my favorite by far is that highlighter. I think it's beautiful and if Maybelline sold it on it's own, I would for sure buy it. Other favorites were the blush and bronzer, and the eyeshadows. I definitely don't like the lip colors as you saw above, and the concealers were good enough for a quick makeup day. If I needed my makeup to last for a long amount of time I would probably bring another one with me to use instead. The mini mascara was one I already know and love so that's a good thing, but as mentioned in the video, I wish they had included one of the ones in the Gigi Hadid line because I had heard good things about them.

Overall, I give this palette an 8 out of 10. I think the price is nice, I like majority of the products and definitely think I will get good use out of the palette over time! 

Have you tried anything from this collaboration line with Gigi? Leave a comment below letting me know how you like this style of review? 

Have a Happy Holiday season with your families and loved ones!!!

Andrea Fontana

10 Things You Should Be Doing For Your Skin

...if you want to take good care of it. (That should be the real title, but it was too long. These are the 10 things every woman and man should be doing if you want to prevent aging and maintain healthy skin. Remember, you only get one face so I think you should take care of it as best as you can. 

1. Wear SPF. I know this might be of no surprise but it's so important I'm mentioning it first. Wear your SPF every day that the sun rises in the morning, even in the winter. It is the single best way to prevent damage. Make sure it's a physical Broad Spectrum SPF as well, which doesn't get absorbed into the bloodstream, but sits on top of the skin and blocks both UVA and UVB rays. If you take ANYTHING away from this post, let it be this. So. Freaking. Important. 

2. Graduate to Big Girl Skincare. If you're still using that Clean and Clear Cleanser from the drugstore, it's time you upgraded your products. Now I'm not saying you need to spend $200 on a new cleanser, but I will say that if you invest in your skin, you will not regret it. I wear significantly less makeup because I'm happy with my skin 99% of the time. Cheap products are cheap because of the way in which the ingredients are made and it's important to use good ingredients on your face. Good skincare doesn't have to be crazy expensive, but you should at least learn which products are best suited for your skin type.

3. Use a toner. Toning is extremely vital because it balances your skin and brings it to a healthy pH after cleansing. It also allows for better product absorption with everything applied after. There are loads of different types of toners. If you have questions on which one is best for you, ask me! I like helping you :)

4. Use a face mask at least once a week. This is key because our skin will not be the same day to day and sometimes needs an extra treatment outside of your daily skincare routine. Using a mask once a week also forces you to look at your skin and see what it needs. 

5. Exfoliate once a week. Exfoliation is huge to preventing premature aging and maintaining healthy skin. As we age, the rate at which our cells turnover slows down significantly. Exfoliating on a regular basis can help get rid of old, dead cells and encourage the production of new ones. If you have questions on which type of exfoliation is best for you, let me know!

6. Use an eye cream. It is NEVER too early to start taking care of your eyes. They are often the first area to show signs of aging and the skin is much more delicate than the rest of your face, so take the time to start using an eye cream. It's always great to start good habits young. 

7. Remove your makeup before cleansing. If you wear makeup, you need to be removing it before you cleanse your skin. If you don't, you are simply pushing makeup around instead of cleaning. If you take the makeup off, you will get a much more efficient cleanse and actually work towards cleaning your skin. 

8. Product variety. I understand not everyone is a skincare junkie like me with 20 masks on hand at home, but if you want to do what's best for you skin, keep a variety on hand. I believe the best skincare is that which changes with you as your skin changes. Some days I need different levels of moisturizing, so it's vital for me to have light to heavy moisturizers on hand depending on how dry my skin is that day. The more you can learn to read your skin and figure out what it needs, the more your skin will find balance. 

9. Get your advice from a professional. Now I'm not just saying this because I'm a licensed esthetician, but we are trained in this! I cannot tell you how much bad advice I have seen on the internet from people who are uneducated in the skin. Please before trying anything, consult someone you trust, like an esthetician. You can always email me your questions! I love helping others learn about the skin. 

10. Pay attention to your skin. I know this may seem obvious, but do you really pay attention and think about how your skin is changing? It will rarely be the same week after week, so if you're having problems, keep a journal of changes to compare. Keeping track of your diet can also be helpful to see if that's affecting your skin. It's important to just be aware of what's going on, otherwise it's hard to figure out a solution. 

So how many of these things are you currently doing to take care of your skin and prevent aging? Don't be embarrassed if you don't do them all. It's never too late to get started! Let me know if you need help doing so.

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea Fontana

Current Fave Beauty Products

Last Thursday I did my first Instagram Live video per your request! It was so much fun. Thank you to everyone who watched and participated live, and also those who watched it afterwards. I'm always thankful for your support. In case you missed the live video or wanted more info on the products I talked about below is a list of links to everything I mentioned.

1. Belif Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream
2. Exuviance Moisture Balance Toner
3. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
4. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
5. NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
6. CoverFx Custom Cover Drops
7. It Cosmetics CC+ Cream
8. Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer
9. Makeup Geek Contour Powders
10. Makeup Geek Highlighters
11. Color Pop Super Shock Eyeshadows
12. NYX Microbrow Pencil
13. Makeup Geek Foiled Pigments

Thank you again for all of your support and love! I cannot wait to do my next Instagram Live. If you have a topic that you would like to see, please leave a comment below!

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea Fontana

Holiday Beauty Gift Guide

Happy December! I asked in an Instagram story poll if you'd rather see a holiday gift guide or current favorite beauty products post first, and here is what you chose! I had so many things to share, so I thought I'd mix things up and try a different format by filming a video for you guys! I didn't realize how many times I could say um until I had to edit them out! haha!

Below I've listed all of the products with links. If you like this format let me know and I'd be happy to start doing more of these for you. If you have any gift recommendations that you want to share with everyone be sure to leave a comment below. Have fun shopping for your loved ones!

(In order of appearance)
1. Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask (Orig. $14.99, On Sale $11.99!)
--> Post related to this mask

2. Bentonite Clay Powder ($7.99)
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3. Origins Clear Improvements Charcoal Mask (Travel Size $17)

4. Laneige Water Sleeping Mask ($25)
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5. Farmacy Honey Potion Mask ($56) or in a Honey Gift Set ($45)

6. Peter Thomas Roth Mask Sampler Kit ($25)

7. Organic Rosehip Oil ($12.99)
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8. Too Faced Natural Matte Palette ($36)

9. Carli Bybel for BH Cosmetics Palette (Only sell Deluxe Version now but On Sale $16.87)

10. Lorac Pro Matte Lip Color ($19)

11. Sephora Cream Lip Stain ($14)

12. Cotton Rounds ($2.99)

13. Sheet Masks (Various Kinds; this 5 pack $8) 

14. Real Techniques: 

15. Huda Beauty Eye Shadow Palette ($27)

16. Hand Cream ($9): 

Happy Holiday Shopping!!

Andrea

How to Cook More

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am certainly thankful to each and every one of you who read this blog and I hope you enjoyed some time with loved ones this past weekend.

I have been mulling this topic over in my head for the past few weeks and wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to write about it. If you follow my instagram (@andreafontanabeauty) you probably see that I love to cook. Cooking is a way for me to express creativity and relax after a long day. I love to feed others and try new recipes but I realize this isn't the way that everyone feels. I can't tell you how many times people have commented on posts or told me in person that they wish they cooked more or even knew where to start. So I wanted to share some of my tips on how I really cultivated my love for cooking and where I look for inspiration. 

Let's be honest. I have weeks where pouring a bowl of cereal for dinner seems challenging, so don't think that I cook a 3 hour meal every night. However, I hope by reading this post you find some new inspiration for integrating cooking at home more into your lifestyle. Cooking at home can not only save you money but it can also help you create new memories and challenge yourself in new ways. 

First let's talk about how I find inspiration of what I'm going to cook.

Create a recipe book/binder. If I had to give one tip to someone trying to cook more, this would be it. There's a million ways to do this, but the main point is create a space that houses ONLY recipes that you love and enjoy making. I bought a notebook when I was 18 and created sections with tabs and immediately started writing family recipes into it. As I find recipes online or in cookbooks that I make and love, I always write it in. Now, almost 10 years later and it's filled with so many recipes. While I love my cookbooks (trust me I have quite the collection of at least 40), I love that if I'm ever drawing a blank on what to make, I can open this notebook and find tons of recipes that I know I love. I also cannot wait to pass it down to future generations. Some people like Pinterest for this, but personally I like a hard copy book to read while cooking. 

Read cookbooks. I know that you're thinking this is obvious but are you actually doing it? I personally hate reading recipes from my phone. Most of the time my fingers are messy and I end up having to unlock my phone 35 times, so it gets annoying. Having a hard copy book in front of me just makes things smoother for me when cooking so I find I enjoy it more. I also like to have cookbooks on hand because I will browse them for recipe inspiration at night before bed. If I know I have a lot of chicken in the freezer or I'm craving a soup, I'll search in the index and find new recipes to try. I know this seems old school in a world of Pinterest and Google, but sometimes I feel like those can be overwhelming and add to the stress of cooking. Try to simplify. 

Buy used cookbooks. This one is a must for me and  my secret to keeping my love for cooking within a sane budget. I could get lost in a used book store for hours. Many people don't think of looking for cookbooks at used book stores but there are so many goldmines waiting to be discovered! I love the fact that I never know what I'm going to find and I have found some MAJOR steals. There are often classic $40 cookbooks for $6 or $7 at my used book store, so start searching and I promise you it will be worth it. Plus sometimes you find notes from previous home chefs that add to the fun of trying new recipes!

Next, I want to share what I do in my kitchen to make cooking easier and less time consuming.

Stock your pantry. This one is huge for a few reasons. First, I know a lot of people who complain about cooking because if they don't keep much on hand, they are always having to buy almost all of the ingredients in the recipe every time they want to make something. Stocking a pantry is so important for this reason. If you always have your basic grains, spices, onions, garlic, broths, canned veg, and more on hand, you can cut your grocery list in half. This can make a new recipe seem less daunting because you don't have to buy as much. Usually when trying a new recipe out, I only have to buy 3-7 items, because I keep my pantry well stocked. Buying in bulk goes along with this, because you can save so much money. I like to store a lot of my things like oats, rices, lentils, flours, etc, in mason and decorative glass jars so they are always stocked. This allows me to buy them in bulk when I see a great sale and eliminates me purchasing products with extra packaging. Not only will you save money by doing this, but you'll also help save the planet! Sometimes if I'm too busy to grocery shop or simply don't want to spend money on groceries that week, I will challenge myself to create something delicious just by cleaning out my pantry. I usually do this one week a month.

Freeze leftovers. One of the best things I recently started doing was freezing my leftovers instead of saving them in my fridge. I used to put everything in the fridge and I'd find that I didn't want to eat it again so soon so the leftovers would often go to waste. If it freezes well, now I will pop it in a freezer bag to enjoy another day. I know some people don't enjoy cooking because the recipe makes too much and they don't want to eat it for 4 more meals. You can wait a few weeks until you're craving that meal again, defrost it, and you have a quick weeknight meal. 

Lastly, let's talk about planning my meals. How do I decide what to make and when?

Meal Plan. I know this probably comes as no surprise, but in order to save money and not waste food, you really have to meal plan. I like to start by reading my weekly ads for my local grocery stores to see what is on sale. Based on those sales, I will find recipes that use those ingredients. Because I'm usually reading so many cookbooks, I will have recipes in the back of my head that I want to try and will come to mind when I see something is on sale. If you don't want to read cookbooks, simply pop open that homemade recipe book and find all the chicken recipes when chicken is on sale, for example. If I find that a protein is on sale, I will often buy a lot, freeze half or base all of my recipes for that week on it. I usually meal plan every Sunday for one week and only grocery shop once a week. This allows me to not get too overwhelmed and get in and out of the store quickly. 

I hope this post helps you take the step to spend more time in the kitchen. There is so much that can be learned and treasured in my favorite room of the house. Please share your favorite tips for cooking below and share this post with someone you love.

AND GO COOK A MEAL FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

How to Decorate for Christmas on a Budget

Today we're talking about Christmas and home decor. I've never really mentioned much about my home on the blog but many of you wanted to see how I will be decorating for Christmas this year, when I recently asked in an Instagram poll. My overall style with home decor is pretty simple; cozy. I want people to feel hugged by my house when they walk through the front door. I like neutral colors, but I like different textures and fabrics. I love antiques, vintage furniture, and items with a story. To me, I like my home to evoke a feeling of happiness mixed with memories. Nothing has to match, but everything has to flow. Christmas decorations are no exception. This is the first year I've really decorated for Christmas in my home so I wanted to share with you some ways that I've decorated that are budget friendly and still go along with my design asthetic. 

Let's first talk about my tree because it honestly wasn't preplanned, it just kind of happened. I searched christmas trees on Amazon and this 5 ft white tree came up for $35. I have always loved the idea of a white tree and decided 5 ft was the perfect size for my little apartment, so I quickly bought it and the inspiration went from there. It's no secret that I love metallics and neutrals in everyday life, so after going to Target to browse ornaments, I found myself gravitating towards metallics, browns, and really rustic and natural colors. I didn't have many of my own ornaments so I purchased about $40 worth at Target and that is mostly what is on this tree. While most of my ornaments are within this color scheme, I purchased some red, green, and even pink ones, because I love the look of a mismatched, not perfectly coordinated tree. I even found a $4 gold sequined star that slips easily onto the top of your tree. Sugar Paper Designs did a collaboration with Target this year and the result is awesome! I highly recommend visiting Target to scope out the items if you need some stylish, yet inexpensive ornaments or decorations.

The other place I visited for ornaments was Cracker Barrel. The day I went all ornaments were buy 4 get one free. I grabbed some gold jingle bells, silver glass balls, and a cute white and brown glittery owl. My tree wasn't pre-lit, but I was able to cover the tree well with 200 white lights found at Target for $10. Overall I think this tree cost me about $100 to purchase and decorate and I love it. The white tree brightens the room up and still feels so cozy. 

I placed my tree next to my entertainment area/book shelves which I then wanted to transform a little for the holidays as well. In my home I don't have a fireplace so I decided to hang my stockings on either shelf to frame the TV. I also picked up a $3 garland from the Target dollar spot, and wove it around the shelving and above the TV to connect the two shelves. I feel like this makes my entertainment center (which is really a TV stand sandwiched between two ladder bookshelves) look like one cohesive piece. I just so happen to have this star lamp from IKEA year round on this shelf, but I think it adds to the Christmas feeling. 

Next up we have my coffee table. This table runner was gifted to me last year and I love how it adds a little bit of color to my table. In order to stay organized with remotes and such, I like to have a little tray or something centered. I found this wooden board again in the Target dollar spot and decided it would be perfect. They even had a $3 coffee mug in the dollar spot that I decided would be perfect for holding remotes, pens, and all the little things that end up on this coffee table. I love the look of using items in an unexpected way and this coffee mug is no exception.  

This next DIY is one of my favorites. As mentioned before, I love antiques and could spend hours going from booth to booth at antique markets. I love to find new uses for older items. One of my favorite things to find is old postcards. If you've been to my house, you may have seen my valentine garland in my hallway, which is a collection of old valentines sent in the 1910's-30's that have the cutest little sayings and love poems. Recently, I took this idea and made it more christmas inspired. I purchased holiday postcards at an antique shop and decided to clothespin them to this garland in my living room. There's something about the vintage artwork that is very comforting. 

The last item I want to discuss is Pomander balls. Yesterday I got together with some of my close friends to start a tradition. Every year we want to get together to make some sort of holiday decoration and this year we started off with Pomander balls. I used to make these as a child and was so excited to share these with friends. Not only are they so beautiful and customizable, but they smell amazing and can be treasured for a long time. I learned how to make them from Martha Stewart, so here is a link to her directions.  We used a nail to poke the oranges before inserting the cloves and it worked great. We sprinkled ours in arrowroot powder and cinnamon to preserve them and make them smell even better. It's amazing how just one of these in a room can really make it smell like Christmas. If you google citrus pomander balls, you'll see loads of inspiration on how to design and create your own. 

There you have it. So far this is how I have decorated for Christmas. So far everyone has told me I've nailed the cozy factor right on the head, so I'm happy it's coming along. Let me know what you think and please share your Christmas traditions with me! I love to hear about what unique things people do for holidays. 

Now I'm off to go make homemade bagels. Have a relaxing and wonderful Sunday friends!

-Andrea 

Science of Skincare (S.O.S. #2): Dry vs. Dehydrated

For this month's S.O.S. post I wanted to tackle a subject that can be very confusing for people when trying to understand their skin and pick the correct products for their specific skin type. As the title explains above, today I'm going to be explaining the science behind the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. While many people are considered dry skin, any skin type can be dehydrated. 

What is dry skin? Dry skin is a skin type that is lacking oil, or sebum. Oil acts as a lubricant for our skin, helping it retain water and prevent premature aging. When your skin has  a hard time retaining water it can lead to your skin cells not being able to function properly. Some people experience dry skin during certain seasons or all the time. It is extremely common to become drier as our skin ages and becomes thinner. Remember! Your skin type can change later in life. 

So what can you do? The first thing you need to make sure you are doing regularly is exfoliating. If you have dry, dead skin cells on the surface, you cannot moisturize those to make your skin feel nourished again. Next, you need to look for products with lipid based ingredients (oils are great) that focus on moisturization, NOT hydration. Your goal is add lipids to the surface to make up for your sebaceous glands not producing enough sebum.  

What is dehydrated skin? Dehydrated skin is that which is lacking water. This means that EVERY skin type can be dehydrated, even oily ones. Water is key in happy functioning cells as well. When your skin is hydrated it will appear more plump, smooth, and glowy. Hydrated skin also hide fine lines and wrinkles better. If you live in an extremely dry environment it's common to be dehydrated. 

So what can you do? If you find that you have dehydrated skin up your water intake first. I know I probably sound like a broken record when saying this, but water consumption is huge for your skin, especially when you are stressed, sick, or busy (hello all of us). Next, look for products that contain humectants because these ingredients attract water to hydrate NOT moisturize the skin. Humectants, like Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate, are great for helping your skin bind water (up to 1000% their weight). Using a night cream with a small percentage of Glycolic Acid can also be beneficial, as Glycolic Acid also binds to water and has a small molecular size so it penetrates well. Another Fall/Winter tip is to sleep with a humidifier in your bedroom at night. It's so helpful for dehydrated skin to be in more humid air while sleeping. 

If you have questions as to whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, please comment below or send me a message! I'd be happy to help you determine if these apply to you. If you have suggestions for my next S.O.S. post, please let me know.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Lipsense Review

I'm here with a review on a lip product that I was so excited to try. If you like makeup there's no way you could have missed the new sensation that is Lipsense. I'm sure you know at least one person, if not more who sells it and have probably been wondering...but does it really work? It claims to be incredibly long-wearing lip color that WILL NOT SMUDGE. A wonderful friend of mine Jessica offered to gift me some Lipsense to try out and give her my thoughts on it which was so kind. Not only is she an amazing and hardworking distributor, but she manages a gym, is a fitness trainer, and does it all while being pregnant with a super lucky little girl. We all know my obsession with lipstick so I am extremely thankful she offered to do this! All of her links will be at the end of this post if you want to try some Lipsense too! 

I chose a color called Napa because it looked like it would be a 'Your lips but better' shade that many skin types could pull off. It has a little bit of shimmer to it when you look at it in the tube but I don't feel like it looks glittery by any means on my lips. The first time you buy Lipsense you have to buy the kit because you need all three products; the color, the gloss, and the Oops remover. After you have your first kit, you can buy new colors or glosses as needed. The gloss is important because it seals in the color to last all day. 

The application process is very detailed, but Jessica provides a wonderful little instruction card in her cute little packaging that explains the whole process to you and even has tips and tricks on the back for you. You have to apply three thin layers and let each dry, while holding your lips taut and open the whole time. It felt a little crazy at first, but I got used to it quickly. I felt much more comfortable applying it the second time. After the three layers, you apply the gloss, which honestly was one of my favorite parts, and I AM NOT A GLOSS PERSON. I live for matte lipsticks and rarely use gloss so I was a little worried about having to seal it with a gloss. I hate the feeling of sticky lips and I loved how smooth the "Glossy" gloss felt on my lips. It never felt sticky but still managed to stay on for hours. Jessica says that the other glosses are even better in her opinion! 

Top Left: My natural lips with nothing on them; Top Right: one coat of Napa; Bottom Left: three coast of Napa; Bottom Right: three coats Napa and one coat Glossy gloss. 

So how did it go? I've worn it probably 4 times now all day, and I've honestly fallen in love with it. I did have some issues in the beginning but Jessica checked up on me and helped me find solutions. When you start off using Lipsense some people go through what they call 'the exfoliation' phase where your lips get super chapped as they're getting rid of all the wax buildup. It definitely started to happen to me, as my lips got pretty dry the first time I tried it. Due to the exfoliation process, I only got about 6 hours of wear out of it at a time. I did notice however that it got better with each use and the last time I wore it, it lasted at least 8 hours, which is AWESOME. Jessica mentioned that wearing even just the gloss helps this process so I did that a few days as well. 

For me the best part about Lipsense is the no smudging. You can kiss, wear a white shirt, etc. and not worry about getting color anywhere! I don't mind if it doesn't last the whole day, since I'm used to having to reapply lipsticks anyways. But to not worry about my lip color getting anywhere is HUGE. I will probably being buying some for my makeup kit because these scream wedding day to me. I am excited to test out other colors, especially the matte shades because I love me some matte lip products. Have you tried any Lipsense products before? If you have, let me know which colors you like and what your thoughts are on the product! If you're wanting to try some here is all of Jessica's information!

Jessica Stemen 'Sweat Proof Face'
SeneGence Independent Distributor #313524
sweatproofface@gmail.com
FB: sweat proof face
IG: @sweatproofface

Many thanks to Jessica again for letting me review this product for Andrea Fontana Beauty! I will be sure to keep you guys updated if I try any new colors in the future and what I think!

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea Fontana Beauty