Archive for category: Must Haves

We’ve all heard “new year, new me” before and though it’s nice to make new year resolutions, I’ve found it’s not the best way for me to enact positive change in my life. Resolutions can feel constricting and rarely last past January.

Intentions, on the other hand, have been a driving force for my happiness, fulfillment, and overall sense of well being. I came into 2018 armed with some new intentions that have provided me with focus and motivation for who I want to be and what I want to accomplish this year.

What’s the difference?

Resolutions attach us to a specific outcome so instead of being at peace with a new goal, we’re in fear of not completing it and the shame that may bring. Intentions free us from this pressure! You can put aside the challenge of a resolution. A new beginning shouldn’t be a challenge anyway!

Instead, intentions can help you invite these new positive things into your life. Intentions only ask us to be mindful, present, and aware of what we want. Setting intentions helps realign your energy and capacity.

How are intentions set?

Setting intentions for me involves starting my morning with a quiet moment of awareness where I consciously state to myself and the universe what I am inviting into my life. I try to remind myself of my intentions every chance I get so every possible action and moment is in the right direction.

Gratitude is also an important part of setting intentions. I conclude my day with a quiet moment to reflect on the ways my intentions helped manifest small positive change in my daily life.

This cycle of inviting and thanking has led to BIG positive changes over time and has never failed in uplifting me. It only takes quiet moments, awareness, and gratitude!

SO, what are my 2018 intentions?

1. Good health
2. Quality time with family

As you all may know by now, I’m pregnant with twins. Since twin pregnancies can be considered high risk and are more challenging to carry to due dates, I want to do everything in my power to help them stay put until April! Setting this intention of good health has helped me make healthier choices with excitement and happiness and not out of restriction. I’m also making my intention to soak up every moment we get as a family of three and preparing to do the same when we become a family of five!

What are your 2018 intentions? 

Can you believe it’s already December?! I can’t, especially with the weather still being so warm in LA! Even though it’s not as cool as other parts of the country I still try to adjust my wardrobe to fit the winter season as much as I can. I love the winter trends that come out every year and I try to incorporate them as much as possible.

Here are some of my favorite winter fashion trends to try yourself:

Statement Jacket

The easiest transitional piece going into winter is a jacket. When it’s cool enough at night I throw on a leather jacket over a tank top and instantly feel chic. Leather jackets will never go out of style to me so I love wearing them as much as I can!

Seasonal Patterns and Colors

Another trend for me I try to incorporate in the winter is the patterns and colors that I tend to see a lot of during the holidays, like deep reds and gingham. I love the combination together! If you feel intimidated by patterns try wearing them in small doses, whether it be a scarf or in an accessory.

Boots

If I’m not wearing sandals in California I’m definitely grabbing some boots! Winter makes it acceptable to wear boots of any length. I love thigh high boots for a night out or dressing up a cute daytime look.

Chunky Textures

I can’t leave the winter season without wearing some chunky sweaters or anything that has a cool texture to it. I love knitted sweaters or anything with wool. There are a couple of days in LA where I can get away with wearing something warmer so when I can I love mixing it up with these.

What winter trends are you loving right now or think I should try?

I’ve been embracing this bump so much more than my last pregnancy. With Willow I was so self conscious with my changing body, but with the twins I have been trying to rock it more. With that being said I’m still human and get self conscious about my growing hips, legs and belly. So I use some tips and tricks from my wardrobe to appear a little leaner, and a little longer (rather than a little wider).  Here are some tips I have picked up over the year to help elongate my frame.

1. 1. Layer a long vest over tailored jeans and fitted shirt. The long vertical lines of the vest make you appear taller.

Photo Credit: Kate Hauschka

2. Nude Shoes, especially pumps with pointed toes and thin heels. Find a pair that matches your skin tone, and it will give the illusion of legs for days.

3. Wear all black, the oldest trick in the book. Wearing all one color helps create one long vertical line. Ensure each piece in your ensemble is well fitting.

Photo Credit: Kate Hauschka

This time of year is fun for so many reasons! Pumpkin flavored everything, sweater weather (not so much in Los Angeles yet), and gearing up for the holidays BUT cooler temps tend to wreak havoc on our skin. I’m here to bring you some skincare tips that I’ve learned throughout my years as a dermatology nurse that will save your skin from dry cool weather and indoor heaters without having to completely change your usual routine.

Tips

Tip #1: Apply moisturizer, retinols, and benzoyl peroxides to a moist face. This helps the products lock in extra moisture to your skin. The key during these cool months is keeping skin hydrated so try and keep all the hydration you can! This may want you to slather on extra creams but also be mindful that too much can cause breakouts or make existing breakouts worse.

Tip #2: Decrease frequency of retinol creams and other drying products. If these are usually part of your daily routine, maybe start applying every other day to give your skin some extra time to recover and retain moisture.

Avène Eau Thermale & Avène XeraCalm

Tip #3: Don’t forget to apply moisturizer to your body! We’re all guilty of rushing out of the shower into our work clothes because hit the snooze button one too many times but we cannot skimp on taking care of our bodies! This will prevent itchy dry patches and dermatitis. (Pro tip: I really like Avene’s thermal spring water spray to stay hydrated and XeraCalm on dry skin)

Tip #4: Keep wearing sunscreen! Just because we don’t get the sunshine does not mean we are protected from skin damaging rays. Cloudy weather can even intensify the worst rays for our skin so it’s even more important to not leave out SPF from our morning skin rituals.

Tip #5: We’ve all heard it before… stay hydrated! It’s easy during colder months to forget our 8 glasses of water (and maybe replace them with an extra cup of coffee) but keeping our water bottle count is just as important now than it was during the summer. (Pro tip: herbal teas are a great way to stay warm & hydrated!) When it’s warm, we may sweat more but that also causes our bodies to produce more oil which keeps skin hydrated. Since we produce less oil during the winter, we should be extra mindful of water intake.

Tip #6: During the winter skin peels produce faster results. Since the air and our skin is drier, skin reacts faster to peels. One whole day could be knocked off the peeling time frame so it’s good to keep this mind when scheduling these appointments. 

Tip #7: Eat pumpkin. Seriously! Our October porch decor is actually super rich in antioxidants that are incredible for our skin. Carotenoids are abundant in those jack-o-lanterns and this antioxidant is a powerhouse in protecting our skin from UV damage and other skin related disorders. Pumpkin is also filled with Vitamin C, B, Magnesium, and Beta-Carotenes.