10 Beauty Products I Can't Live Without

I technically could live without these beauty products but I don't want to.  I use quite a few different products but these are my tried and true absolute favorites.  From a young age my mom encouraged me to take good care of my skin and it is something that is even more important to me now that I am getting older and aging.

. While I splurge on some products I try to save on others and find you don't need to spend as much on certain items. 

I would love to hear if you have any favorites you can't live without.  I always love trying new products out!  We women need to share our beauty secrets to help each other out:)

ONE || Cle De Peau Concealer

Hands down the best under eye concealer.  Yes it is expensive but it lasts forever.  I have been using my same one now for over a year.  It just provides such great coverage.  I inherited really bad under eye circles and this really covers them up.

The Neiman Marcus Beauty Event is going on right now too- spend $125 and you get a cute bag filled with new products to try. 

TWO || Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Last year I tried about every mascara on the market.  I loved Chanel but it just dried out too quickly and for the price ($30)  I didn't want to have keep replacing it every 3 weeks.  At $4 this works magic and I don't feel bad replacing it every few weeks.  My hair dresser who did make-up for years in NYC and knows his stuff told me to go to Sally Beauty Supply and buy some disposable mascara wands.  He said the wand was clogging my mascara making it clumpy and he was right.  He insisted buy the cheap mascara and just use new wands and it works.

THREE|| It's a 10 Miracle Spray

I have been using this for several months now and I am obsessed.  It conditions and detangles your hair and it smells amazing.   My hair is fine and gets tangled very easily, this plus the wet brush is a perfect combo. I also use this for the kids.

FOUR || Tata Harper Face Mask

If you only buy one face mask buy this one.  I love it.  I use it 1-2 times a week and I love that it feels like it is really tightening my skin.  It lasts forever too.  Tata Harper products are all natural and contain no chemicals or weird ingredients.

Right now Nordstrom has a great deal where if you purchase $175 of Tata Harper products you get $110 of products free. It is a great time to sample her products.

FIVE || Beauty Counter Enlightening Treatment Pads

I love these face pads.  I use these a few times a week after I wash my face.  It feels like they exfoliate as you wipe your face.  Your face tingles and just feels so fresh afterwards.  I also feel like they minimize my pores.  I love them so much I just ordered my mom some for her birthday.

SIX || Coconut Oil

I use this for so many different things but mainly as a make up remover.  It works magic getting my eye make-up off and moisturizes at the same time.  If you are pregnant this is great to rub on your belly to prevent stretch marks.  I used this with both my pregnancies.

SEVEN || Cetaphil Moisturizer

I have been using this probably since I was in high school.  My mom always used it so I started using it too.  I use it for body lotion and as my face lotion as well when my skin feels super dry.  It is so thick and moisturizes really well.  It feels luxurious but the price is not, it is usually around $15.  If you are a Costco member they carry it for a bit cheaper too.  It comes in a pump container as well but I prefer the cream in the jar.

EIGHT || Nars Bronzer

Mascara, Concealer and Bronzer are my 3 go to make-up items that I use daily.  This trio works wonders for me.  I have tried many bronzers and this is the best.  It is not too orange or shiny.  I use the Laguna color and it is the perfect sun kissed color.

Nars is also offering a gift with purchase if you spend $125 you receive Orgasm blush, illuminator, and lip gloss.

Nine || Lumene Vitamin C Dry Skin Cocktail Oil

I mentioned this on here a few months ago but it has quickly become my favorite thing.  I apply it first thing in the morning before I apply make-up or moisturizer.  I feel like my skin really absorbs it and it nourishes my dry skin. It feels amazing on your skin.  Vitamin C is so good for brightening your skin. I know Rite Aid carries this line but I actually found it cheaper on Amazon.

Ten || Clarisonic 

One of the best beauty investments.  I received mine 5 years for Christmas and I am still using it.  

It makes your skin feel so amazing afterwards.  I know many of you probably already have one but if you don't you should buy one!  I keep mine in the shower and use with an exfoliating face scrub a few times a week.

11 || Honorable Mention,  Naked Travel Size Eye shadow

I love the regular Naked palette but I like this one even better.  It is streamlined and not quite so many colors.  I like that it doesn't take up as much room too.  The colors are perfect for any skin tone and great for day or night.

My Favorites:

and most importantly:)

Sririacha Roasted Cauliflower + Peanut Butter Sauce | Kate Spade Surprise Sale

With football season starting back I have had fun appetizers and snacks on my mind.  This beauty comes from a new cookbook I am kind of obsessed with, Thug Kitchen.  If don't have their cookbook, you can check out their tumblir here where they share some recipes.  All their recipes are vegetarian and always look amazing.

 It has become my go to now that we are eating primarily meat free because their recipes are so creative and full of flavor.  This is kind of a spin on buffalo chicken but with cauliflower with an Asian Twist.  I absolutely loved the cauliflower, I could not stop eating it.  The flavors of the spicy cauliflower paired with the peanut butter sauce is amazing.

Frances Moon could not wait to dig in.    Surprisingly the kids loved this dish too- although please note they are spicy so beware if your kids don't like spicy foods. Both my kids seem to love spicy foods probably because Matt and I cook spicy things often.  If you want this dish more kid friendly I would only use the 1/3 hot sauce as opposed to 2/3.  The kids also loved dipping the cucumber in the peanut butter sauce.

|| S R I R I A C H A   R O A S T E D   C A U L I F L O W E R  +

P E A N U T  BU T T E R  S A U C E ||

Via Thug Life Cookbook

- 2 medium heads cauliflower ( I only used one)

- 1/2 cup flour

- 1/2 cup water

HOT SAUCE

- 2 teaspoons oil ( I used olive oil)

- 1/3 to 2/3 cups sriracha depending on how hot you want it ( I used 2/3)

- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

- 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE

- 1/4 cup warm water

- 1/4 peanut butter + 2 tablespoons

- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

- 2 tablespoons lime juice

- 2 teaspoons fresh minced ginger

- 1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon maple syrup

1 cucumber cut into sticks.

1) Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Grease a baking sheet or use parchment paper or foil to line.

Chop cauliflower into bite sized chunks

2) Whisk together the flour and water until there are no lumps.  Toss cauliflower with the flour water mixture and mix until all the pieces are coated.  Spread the cauliflower on baking sheet and roast 15 minutes.  Stir once about halfway through.

3) Make the hot sauce.  In a small pan mix oil, sririacha, vinegar and soy sauce.  Heat over low heat til warm.

4) Make peanut sauce. In a bowl whisk together peanut butter and water creamy and smooth.  Add in all other ingredients and stir til combined.  

5) After 15 minutes in the oven, dump the cauliflower back in a big bowl and toss with hot sauce mixture.  Make sure it all is coated.  Pour them back on the baking sheet and cook about 5 more minutes.

6) Serve hot or room temperature with sliced cucumber.

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The Kate Spade private sale started yesterday and it is filled with some great buys.  Most items are 75% off.  If you need a purse now is the time to buy one.  I am talking $600 purses for like $130.

Scroll through to see my favorites.  I have this one and this one sitting in my cart.

You can check out the whole sale HERE.

Workout Goals, Gear, and New Playlist

It has been almost 2 months since Sterling started school and I am finally starting to get back in a workout routine.  Not working puts me in a funk, so I am happy to be able to incorporate some exercise back in my life.  It took me awhile to figure out what time it was going to work for me to fit a run in.  I used to run in the mornings around 6:30-7 but now that is right when Sterling is getting up and ready for school and we leave the house by 7.  What has been working so far is I take Sterling to school get back home around 7:30 and run then.  Matt's work schedule is different everyday so some days he has to leave the house before then.  But when he can stay he does and watches Frances while I run because I hate running with a stroller.  I try to run every other day and do about 3 miles.

I next want to incorporate some yoga and or Barre.  I would ideally like to run 3 days and do a class 2 days.  I am trying to decide now if I want to join an actual gym or just pay for the classes when I feel like going at a studio.  I welcome any suggestions if you Charleston people have favorite yoga and barre classes.  The only allure of the gym is they would have childcare which would be helpful.

At night I do try and do some yoga stretches at home before bed.  Molly Sim's book has a section with like 10 poses that I really like. 

I mentioned before but we have finally have a Nordstrom Rack in Charleston and let me tell you it is my happy place.  Last week when I was there I decided to browse all the workout gear and found some amazing stuff.  They carry Zella which I love!

 Zella Jacket | Zella Leggings | Zella Tank | Running Shoes (Similar)

These pants are amazing.  If our store had the others colors I would have bought another color.  They run TTS.  I am wearing a size small. These are the Z By Zella brand and I honestly can't tell a difference between them and regular Zella.

The jacket is my favorite color blue.  Also runs TTS.  I am in a small.  I know I will be wearing this often this Fall.  I own two other Zella Jackets that are a favorite.  They fit really well.

No workout post is complete without a cheesy stretch photo:)

A few other fabulous Zella finds at Nordstrom Rack, most are 40% off and many are up to 65% off.

You can also shop the whole Zella Collection here.

I also wanted to share my new running playlist.  I always love finding new workout songs and I try and switch up my songs every few weeks to keep me inspired.

You can shop my look below.

Thanks to Nordstrom Rack for sponsoring this post

Scenes From Our Weekend + Major Mara Hoffman Sale

How is it possible that this is the last full week in September?  It will be the holidays before we know it!  I don't know why but this year has flown by super fast. 

Thursday night while we were on our nightly golf cart ride we witnessed the most incredible rainbow.  I had only seen half rainbows before, never a full one.  It was so spectacular the picture doesn't do it justice.  I couldn't fit the whole rainbow in my picture but man was it cool.  You can tell Sterling was super excited and he kept asking where the pot of gold was.

Friday Matt and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary.  Since it fell during the week and Matt had a trial that week it worked out perfectly to celebrate on Friday.  We decided to try The Drawing Room, the restaurant located in the Vendue Inn hotel.  We had not checked out the Vendue since it was renovated and it was just gorgeous. 

So much cool art work and most of it is for sale. I loved the atmosphere and vibe of the hotel and The Drawing Room.

 and the food, oh the food.  Matt and I were blown away by every course we had.  

We shared the peach, beet and speck salads.  I loved the slabs they used to serve the 2 salads on. Beautiful presentation.

We both ordered the grouper with local succotash,  fried okra, and cauliflower puree for our main dish.  It was perfection. We cleaned our plates.  They also had an excellent wine list and the dessert was delicious.

We had such a fabulous night out and will most defnitley go back to The Drawing Room.

Dress is old Clover Canyon similar here and here

Saturday the boys went fishing and I took Frances Moon and we hit up a few pop-up shops.  

This was outside Mac and Murphy at the ProgenyShoppe Pop-up in her new Boy + Girl Bubble Dress.

We then stopped by the Troubadour sample sale and I got some beautiful things.  My first Troubadour dress, I am so excited about it.

Saturday night we headed to the Yacht Club to meet the boys.  Matt caught a huge Flounder. We cooked it last night for dinner and it was so fresh and tasty.  Nothing better than fresh caught fish.

Stripe Top is Troubadour

Enjoyed our favorite "Blue Chips" from Pasianos.

Sunday we went to church and enjoyed some time outside.  I love this picture I snapped of my two loves.

I wanted to share a few of my Mara Hoffman Dresses are on major sale. 

This swing dress runs on the loose side, I am in XS.  

It is so soft and comfortable.  You can wear it as a dress or cover-up. 

Swing Dress also in Black Rainbow Print and Pastel Stripes Print on sale

Sunglasses are JCrew (only a few left in stock)

I mentioned this dress a few weeks ago but it is now reduced even more and only $80.  In this dress I am wearing a medium.

Shift Dress

 

Other Mara Hoffman on major sale (all under $100)

Have a great Monday.

Weekend Style + Sales

Yay for the weekend! 

I mentioned this blouse in my favorites list this week.  I just love the Fall colors and ruffle detail at the bottom. I am wearing size XS in the blouse.

The jeans have become on constant rotation.  They are so awesome for the price and they run TTS.

I finally got a pair of lace up flats. I bought mine at Steve Madden but looks like they are not online so check you stores.  I linked to an identical black pair.

Loft Blouse | Boho Beads Necklace | Blank Jeans (under $100) | Steve Madden Flats (similar)

Cheers to the weekend.

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JCREW is offering 25% off everything for their Fall Style Event.  I stopped in the store yesterday and found some really cute stuff.

This Turtleneck was my favorite buy.  I am wearing the size XS.  It is so soft and I love the loose fit.

Turtleneck 

Also loved this teired blouse.  It comes in black, flame or ivory. 

I am wearing size 2.

Tiered Blouse

This crossbody also came home with me.  Obsessed with the blush color and with the discount it comes to under $100. (However someone on instagram mentioned the purse was excluded online, I bought mine in store and got the discount).

Bennet Crossbody

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Banana Republic is running a sale too on a lot of their new Fall items. 

Use code BRSALE

 I loved this Camo Sweater.  I liked how the sides were open.

Happy Saturday and Happy Shopping.