Nighttime Self Care Habits by Rachel Talbott

Nighttime Self Care Habits
Here are a few of my favorite self care habits and tips for a night time routine. As a mama of two, this definitely doesn't happen every night, not even once a week. I do like to remember these tips when I'm needing a little self-care moment, and I think it's important to remember to care for ourselves and invest that time every once in a while. Tea Infuser Mug https://bit.ly/2HW4l14 Pandora “Spa Radio” App Jade Roller: https://bit.ly/2HRXeGQ Calm The Viking Tea: https://bit.ly/2tceUIg Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover https://bit.ly/2MwvFXd Perricone Cleanser http://bit.ly/2HS9gQF Clarisonic Mia http://bit.ly/2t0VqXP My Current Dry Brush is from The Body Shop (I have a dry brush kit coming to my shop sometime in the next week or two. It will include a dry brush + repair oil; a blend of organic essential oils that promote circulation & cell regeneration. It’s available for pre-order now in my shop `387yb asd/;.ldhttps://bit.ly/2JNdkDr) Coconut Oil (I buy mine at WholeFoods or TraderJoes. Target even has it) Fresh Purifying Clay Mask http://bit.ly/2LRddaG Age Defying Elixir https://bit.ly/2JHVcz6 Jade Roller https://bit.ly/2yh5YXC Burts Bees Foot Cream (I ordered mine in my monthly Grove box) http://bit.ly/2JFO1r4 Sleep Essential Oil Roller https://bit.ly/2le8IvG Calm App ♥MY WEBSITE: http://www.racheltalbott.com ♥TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/racheltalbott ♥INSTAGRAM: http://followgram.me/racheltalbott ♥MY PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/racheltalbott/ ♥MUSIC CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/SingingProudAndLoud ♥VLOG CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/RachelTalbott ♥HUBBYS COOKING CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/ByronTalbott ♥FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.talbott ♥MAILING ADDRESS: 18653 Ventura Blvd., #655, Tarzana, CA 91356 * DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed are true &my own. I link affiliate links to make it easier for you to find the exact products I mention.....and... I LOVE YOU!!!! =) Thank you for supporting what I do!! ♥♥♥ THIS VIDEO is sponsored by Clinique

View on YouTube

Cleaning My Truck (Interior Cleaning Hacks) by Rachel Talbott

Cleaning My Truck (Interior Cleaning Hacks)
I've had a whole list of chores to do every day, every week, every month.. haha It never ends.. I needed to clean the interior of my truck BADLY.. I figured I'd make a video about how I cleaned mine, and hopefully it will give you a quick tips.. Keep in mind, I am a mom of two.. It's not 100% perfect, and thats ok. It's a family truck, it just needed to be a done ASAP.. Here were a few hacks that helped me get it done. What's a chore you desperately need to get done? ♥MY WEBSITE: http://www.racheltalbott.com ♥TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/racheltalbott ♥INSTAGRAM: http://followgram.me/racheltalbott ♥MY PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/racheltalbott/ ♥MUSIC CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/SingingProudAndLoud ♥VLOG CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/RachelTalbott ♥HUBBYS COOKING CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/ByronTalbott ♥FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.talbott ♥MAILING ADDRESS: 18653 Ventura Blvd., #655, Tarzana, CA 91356 * DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed are true &my own. I link affiliate links to make it easier for you to find the exact products I mention.....and... I LOVE YOU!!!! =) Thank you for supporting what I do!! ♥♥♥ THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED VIDEO

View on YouTube

Stepping into Summer in Comfort (and a budget!)

***This post is sponsored by Walmart & ShopStyle, but all opinions are my own.***

Have you ever paired two foods together that have the BEST, somewhat unexpected, flavor? Think: Bananas and peanut butter, or according to my 9 year old, a hot dog and sweet and sour sauce. (Not sure where he came up with that one, but he swears it’s the BEST thing ever!)

I was SO excited to hear that two of my favorite brands were teaming up to create an amazing collaboration. The Lord & Taylor premium brand shop, now featured at Walmart.com, takes things to a whole new level. It’s the perfection team up and together, it’s a wardrobe dream of flavor!

You’ll recognize a LOT of higher fashion premium brands, but with the familiarity and convenience of Walmart.com!  Walmart has relaunched a newer version of their website that is much more user friendly. Not to mention,  they offer free 2 day shipping on orders over $35! How awesome is that?

I had absolutely NO problem finding some new pieces for Summer. My style is, what I deem, “Stylish Comfort.” You know, clothes that are put together, but I can still easily wrangle a few kids in. The Lord & Taylor + Walmart.com team up had so much to choose from that fit the bill. Mama’s looking good!

I’m a sucker for ruffles, and this tiered sleeve white top, is SO versatile. I love it with these black ankle pants, but it would also go great tucked into a pencil skirt! Aren’t the double ruffles an awesome detail? They take a more basic white tee to a whole new level of femininity.

Can we also discuss these black ankle jeans? I feel like these are going to soon become my “go to” jeans. You could literally wear them with just about anything. The ankle length is perfect to show off a hot shoe – and wait till you see a close up of MY hot new shoes.

Are you kidding me right now?
Gingham and platform espadrille?
Could there be anything better?
Tell me these aren’t the best thing ever!

Confession time: I have a thing for ruffles (If you don’t gather that by the next outfit I put together from Lord & Taylor).

I paired this ruffled top with a stylish pair of destroyed skinnies and came up with the perfect effortlessly cool combination that will basically take you through all seasons.

Aren’t the details on the sleeve playful?

I felt like these jeans were the right amount of “destruction” as well. Sometimes I feel like TOO much destruction is a little too teenie bopper for me. These make me feel trendy, but still age appropriate. Not to mention, the price was right! (I would suggest sizing up one size.)

Speaking of details – an outfit is MADE by the little things we like to call accessories. And Lord & Taylor did not disappoint in that department!

After I spent way too much time drooling over my favorite things to collect – aka SHOES – I made a quick and easy decision to go with these comfy, three strap white sandals. I mean, those pearls? Can you even? I feel like the white will really show off my summer tan too!
Have you fallen in love yet?

Another favorite touch were these turquoise beaded earrings. A good pop of color really screams SUMMER don’t you think? And you won’t believe the price! Totally in the budget!

As you can see, the choices are endless when it comes to the new Lord & Taylor premium brand collection on Walmart.com. It’s easy to shop, and obviously easy to create amazing, comfortable Summer (and Winter/Spring/Fall) outfits.
The only issue? It’s impossible to pick just ONE thing!
So excited about this delightful team up! Be sure to check it out!

The post Stepping into Summer in Comfort (and a budget!) appeared first on How Does She.

by Andrea via Home And Garden

Fun Summer Hairstyle in Minutes.

A fun summer hairstyle is just what I needed this week. I just love this time of year- summer is just around the corner! Naturally, as the weather changes so does my hairstyle. However, I am feeling like I need something new. My usual summer top knot, braids, or loose ponytail is just getting a bit…well, boring.

So, this week while I was in the shower (the place where I have most of my revelations) I came up with a fast and easy fun summer hairstyle that can be dressed up for a weekend date night or dressed down for a day at the beach.

I also chose to wear a vintage inspired blue shirt with red tiny polka-dots that I thought would look great with this hairstyle. It’s from a cute online clothing shop called Asuyeta where the clothing is custom made to fit your individual body! How cool is that?

Fun Summer Hairstyle Tutorial

Did you catch that? Now, if you are like me- I need even more visuals to figure out what is really going on.

So how about a short little video tutorial on how to achieve this look.

Go here to watch it.

 Tips that make this hair style even better?

-Day-old hair is best (not washed)

– Add more bobby pins at the end to make sure it is secure

-Hairspray helps it stay in place

-Add braids, flowers, or ribbons to the final product to change the look

You can find more photos of this hair style that I did on my friend Camilla right here.

What’s Your Favorite Summer Hairstyle?

If you have a favorite way to wear your hair during the summer, let us know.  So, what do you think about Cristi’s fun summer updo? Would you wear your hair this way?

xo

Follow me on Instagram @weedstowishes!

The post Fun Summer Hairstyle in Minutes. appeared first on How Does She.

by Cristi via Home And Garden

Adventure in a Box: The Perfect Gift for Fathers

Somewhere along the way we grow up.

Fort building and tree climbing are replaced with jobs and responsibilities.  We loose interest in play and using our imagination. We find it difficult to live in the present moment as we let the worry and planning consume our mind. But what if I were to tell you that inside each of us is an inner-child just waiting to come out and play.

Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

 Kids get that.

They live in the moment, create, explore, and pretend. They see their world with wonderment and excitement. Why is it that we don’t take the time to do the same?

This year instead of socks, ties, or tools, I have decided to tap into my inner child and give something a bit different.

I call it, “An Adventure in a Box.”

I grabbed this bin that looks like a treasure box and filled it with these items which  most of them I picked up either at the dollar store or the dollar section at Target. Get creative… those ropes you see are actually jump ropes that I cut the handles off of. And that treasure map is a scrap piece of wrapping paper with burned edges. And those marshmallow launchers are made out of a PVC pipe and cost under $2.00 to make. Nothing too fancy here folks. Anything goes.

Looking through my counselor goggles, I can’t help but think about all the benefits that a child and parent can receive by adventure playing.

Allowing the child to take part of the journey and the story helps them feel like they have a voice and their ideas matter. I encourage parents to let kids take the lead during play as much as possible.

Not having a plan fosters imagination and being able to be in the moment. As adults we could use practice in setting aside the to-do lists and taking it moment by moment.

That’s what an adventure is all about right?

Exploring and discovering new things fuels the imagination and encourages children to ask and answer their own questions.

This fosters a love for learning.

Working together builds unity and bonding.

Using their environment in their story promotes creativity. Can you tell this is a bucket full of treasure?

 Exploring their surroundings through binoculars helps them understand perspective.

 Sitting on shoulders makes them feel big and in charge.

Taking the time to sit down and have conversations on their level increases trust and encourages them to feel heard and loved.

 I loved standing back and watching these two sit back and enjoy their time with one another.

 He couldn’t put the binoculars down!

After a great adventure, a child is left feeling loved, heard, and connected .

Give the gift that not only brings out that inner-child but creates memories that will be written on their hearts for years to come.

What else would you put in your “Adventure Box?”

xo.

You can find more of me at: weedstowishes.com

The post Adventure in a Box: The Perfect Gift for Fathers appeared first on How Does She.

by Cristi via Home And Garden

A Modern Farmhouse For Sale in Franklin, Tennessee

I just got to spend a week in Franklin, Tennessee, and I fell in with the area. What a charming town! Let me tell you, Franklin has than its fair share of beautiful houses. I nearly drove off the road a few times because I was rubbernecking. Back in my hotel in the […]

The post A Modern Farmhouse For Sale in Franklin, Tennessee appeared first on Hooked on Houses.

by hookedonhouses via Home And Garden

Summer Swimsuit Challenge – For Real Women

You probably think it’s too late for a swimsuit challenge.

Summer is ALREADY HERE! But this isn’t that kind of challenge. If you’re looking for a post about instant abs or how to magic away half of your person in the next two weeks, this is not the place for you.

This summer I challenge you to love yourself in your swimsuit. I challenge you to shut up about it if you don’t and fake it until you make it.

Seven years ago, I was at my heaviest weight.

I was a year post-baby and gaining daily, all the while calculating how many weeks until our family reunion at the beach.

“So, we have 8 weeks left. If I lose two pounds per week, I can be down 16 pounds. I’ll round that up to 20.”

“Okay. I only have 6 weeks left. And I’m up a pound. I’ll get serious this week and lose three pounds per week until the trip. That will get me down 20 pounds before 4th of July.”

This escalated and each week I’d start a diet and each week I’d fall short of my goal. Eventually, I owned the fact that I would never get to my ideal weight before we traveled to the Jersey Shore to spend a week with my cousins.

My cousins work hard to look good. Perfect bodies, perfectly tanned, perfectly preserved. And comparing is super fun so all I could think about was the contrast. Me = puffy and squishy. Them = underemployed swimsuit models.

I pictured how it would go down.

Them – “Hey Katie! Good to see you.”

Me – “I’m fat. Really fat right now. And I feel badly about my body. I’m sorry about that.”

Now I wouldn’t use those words, exactly. But I’d make little digs about my body. I’d call attention to it, all the while trying to hide it behind baggy clothes and big swimsuit cover-ups.

All my life I’ve had this way of calling attention to the things I’m most insecure about. It’s like if I make it clear that I’m aware of the problem, it lessens the embarrassment. At least I’m not fat AND oblivious.

There are a few problems with this:

1. It makes people uncomfortable. What are they supposed to say when I make fat jokes about myself? Should they agree? Probably not. Should they spend their life telling me I’m not fat and I look great or, worse yet, putting themselves down to make me feel better? There’s no win here.

2. It reinforces my own self-perception of being “less-than” because of my weight.

3. My children are listening. What does it tell my sweet kids about physical beauty if I place so much emphasis on the ideal we see in the media and all the ways I don’t measure up?

4. It is absolutely no fun. How much can I really be enjoying life if I’m marinating in a place of self-doubt and shame? No kid ever says, “Remember how much fun we had with mom at the beach when she hid under a towel and refused to join us in the water? She really felt fat. It was great.”

What happened that summer?

So, that summer seven years ago I made a public promise on my blog to keep my mouth shut about my swimsuit insecurities. And I issued the challenge I’d like to re-issue today. And I stuck to it. It was painful at first. I was mortified by how much my body had changed over the years and I felt sure everyone was staring at me.

And then I played in the waves. I buried my daughter in the sand. We collected shells along the beach and I kept my mouth shut about my thighs. By the end of the week, I was comfortable in my skin and I was happy. I connected with people in a way I don’t normally let myself connect when I’m so insecure and exposed. It was a beautiful thing.

This past year my weight’s been creeping back up. And summer is here. I’ve been dreading it. But it doesn’t have to be dreadful. Will you do me a favor and join me once again?

The Swimsuit Challenge

Please commit with me this summer to not flinch, cringe, make faces, or put down your body verbally when wearing a swimsuit. Wear it with pride. Have fun in the water with your kids. Remember that the people who you have the most fun with are not the ones who constantly rip on themselves.

People who constantly tug at their clothes and cover up and talk about their body insecurities become the ones whose body imperfections everyone notices. Because they constantly advertise them. Don’t be that person. Get your confidence on.

Being a confident woman is within our reach! Check out these other inspirational posts  that will encourage us to embrace who we are and be our very best selves:

5 Things Confident Mamas Do Differently

Why Are We Still Stuck in Middle School?

7 Journal Prompts to Make You a Better Mom

 

The post Summer Swimsuit Challenge – For Real Women appeared first on How Does She.

by Kathryn Thompson via Home And Garden