My Monthly Favorites (February 2017)

Hello, beautiful! One thing you might not know about me (though it's honestly not that surprising, given my niche) is that I LOVE being inspired by other beauty bloggers - especially on YouTube.

One of my favorite kinds of videos to watch is, you guessed it, monthly favorites. I love peeking into other people's lives and finding out what products they've been obsessed with in their everyday lives! That doesn't just go for beauty, but also for music, books, apps, tech and all the other little things we love using, but usually don't even think about.

Monthly favorites videos seem to be quite popular on YouTube, but I haven't seen the same explosion of bloggers writing posts on their monthly favorites. So, I thought I would try to bring this trend I love from the world of YouTube into my own little world as a college blogger!

Today, I'm going to be sharing ten of my favorite beauty products, books, apps and even life hacks that I've been loving this month. Granted, I realize the month of February isn't quite over yet, but I've just been SO obsessed with all of these things that I don't really see myself changing between now and February 28th!

Just a little disclaimer before I begin: I was NOT sponsored to write about any of these products! Anything I mention in this post is something that I've purchased myself and been genuinely loving lately, and I won't receive any money for any of these products if you decide to buy them.

Now that that's out of the way, here are ten of the products I've been loving in the month of February!

BEAUTY

Bath and Body Works Creamy Body Wash in Beautiful Day

I definitely mentioned this product when I talked about my weekly beauty routine, but since I've been using it religiously since January, that should come as little surprise to any of you! This body wash is a holy grail product. Its scent and texture are superior to anything else I've ever tried from CVS or Target. However, my hands-down favorite thing about this product is how nourishing it is for the skin. In the wintertime, soapy or scrubby body washes can easily dry out my sensitive skin, so I love the creamy, hydrating texture of this body wash. Granted, I'm not big into buying $15 body washes on a regular basis, since they just run out so quickly, but since I got this product on sale at Bath and Body Works' MASSIVE semi-annual sale, it was more than worth the $4 or so dollars I paid for it then! From my searches online, they don't seem to carry this product in this specific scent anymore, but you can still get it for $14.50 at Bath and Body Works in a bunch of their other signature scents!  

SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Sensitive Skin Mud Mask

Whew, this product has a long name - but don't let that intimidate you! For girls like me who struggle with redness, stinging or breakouts after using heavy mud masks, this product is the perfect invention. While you don't get the fiery skin reaction that you might experience with some mud-based products, you still get that cool, refreshing tingle that tells you this product is working! Plus, the scent of the mask - which smells overwhelmingly of fresh-cut roses - is better than any other mud mask I've tried. I loved that I could feel it working magic on my skin, and as soon as I took it off, my suspicions were confirmed: my skin was left soft and shine-free, but never flaky or dry. Personally, I consider this brand to be about halfway between a drugstore and a luxury product, but it's totally affordable and they carry it at Target, so you really can't beat it for convenience! Get it for $14.99 at Target. 

OGX Lavender Luminescent Platinum Shampoo and Conditioner

If you're following me on Instagram (@haleymarieblog), you probably saw that I recently colored my hair blonde! Well, more specifically, I got ash-blonde bayalage highlights - and since I love them so much, I wanted to make sure they wouldn't fade or become brassy over time. After all, coloring your hair is expensive, so I wanted to stretch out as much time between salon appointments as humanly possible! So, I decided to invest in a good color-treating shampoo and picked up this product from Target. First of all, all of OGX's products are amazing sheerly because of their natural ingredients! They're environmentally sustainable and don't include irritating chemicals or preservatives. Specific to the Lavender Luminescent Platinum Shampoo, though, this shampoo honestly does what it promises to do! It removes yellow tones from your hair while protecting your vulnerable colored strands from sun damage. The only turn-off about this product for me was the scent, which is a little bit strong for me - but given all the other pluses, like how well the product works, I could easily overlook that little thing! Get them for $7.99 each at Ulta. 

BOOKS

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski

Let's talk about sex, baby! Like many college-age women, I never got a real sex education in school. Basically, sex ed for me consisted of sitting down in 5th grade and watching "The Video" (aka an hour-long movie about puberty that required our parents' permission to view). Basically, The Video taught us nothing about sex, other than that when you get your first period, you're now magically ready to have a baby. Now that I'm many years older and sexually active, I found myself wanting to understand sex on a deeper level - and that's where this book came in clutch. As far as I'm concerned, this book is required reading for anyone who's had sex, wants to have sex someday or even just thinks about sex (so, basically everyone). I loved that Emily Nagoski, the author and a college sex educator herself, spent more time talking about the psychology behind sex than the physicality. For many women, sex and arousal are more mental processes than physical ones - there's even something called non-concordance, which happens when your genitals respond to stimuli even though you're not turned on (or vice-versa)... the problem is, if we haven't read this book, we might not know that, and we might not realize that we're completely normal, after all! Get it for $12.86 on Amazon (or your local library!). 

Pusheen Coloring Book

I might be a little biased since this was one of my Valentine's Day gifts from Ryan. However, coloring is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind at the end of a long day, and this book has quickly become my new go-to. While I'm not a diehard fan of Pusheen - by that I mean I wasn't really aware of his Internet popularity - I do think he's super cute and, as Ryan can attest, I freak out whenever I see an adorable t-shirt with his chubby kitty face on it. Combine those two loves together, and I can see why this coloring book made him think of me! But besides it being an adorable present, I particularly love this coloring book for several other reasons: firstly, it's not super detailed like some of the other popular coloring books around. I'm the kind of person who gets impatient when she colors, but I also don't like to leave a page unfinished, so I'll stick it through until the bitter end even when there are painstaking details! Secondly, I would much rather color kitties, planets, french fries and all of Pusheen's other kawaii accessories than spend hours filling in abstract, repetitive patterns. Since I'm not a huge fan of coloring in mandalas or tribal print, this coloring book wound up being the perfect fit! Get it for $9.38 on Amazon.

FOOD 

Wicked Good Cupcakes Dark Chocolate - White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake-in-a-Jar

If you're from Boston, chances are you already know that Wicked Good cupcakes are basically a national treasure. But, if you're not from around here, allow me to enlighten you! Wicked Good cupcakes are a local brand of cupcakes sold in jars that can be shipped anywhere in the United States. They became a BFD around here after they appeared on Shark Tank, but I think they should have made it big a long time ago because they're just so damn delicious! The Dark Chocolate - White Chocolate Raspberry cupcake is a special edition flavor my dad got me for Valentine's Day this year, and it's probably one of the best baked goods I've ever tasted. The cupcake consisted of layers of spongy dark chocolate cake, layered with a creamy dark chocolate ganache and topped off with pink raspberry frosting and shaved white chocolate curls. If that doesn't sound dreamily delicious to you, let me assure you, you're wrong. Order a 2-pack of Wicked Good cupcakes for $19.95. 

MUSIC

Walk the Moon, Talking is Hard

This album came out a long time ago, but I'm a huge WTM fan, so don't try to talk me out of listing this on my favorites anyways. I recently rediscovered this album sometime around finals week, but it's held strong as a favorite ever since. I love cranking up this album when I'm hitting the books in the library or pushing through cardio at the gym. Admittedly, I also have a special attachment to this album because Shut Up and Dance is me and Ryan's song. However, Avalanche, Work this Body and Aquaman are probably my other three favorites on this album! If you're late to the party and haven't already gotten your hands on Talking is Hard, you can still get it for $9.99 on iTunes. 

APPS

DuoLingo

I hate to ruin the surprise before my upcoming travel post, but Ryan and I are planning a trip to Europe this summer! I literally could not be more excited, since I haven't gotten to go to Europe since I was in middle school. Anyways, since I'll be making a post about our travel plans in a couple of days, I won't give away too much just yet; however, I will say that since Paris is one of our destinations, I've been really enthusiastic about starting to learn French again. I had used DuoLingo to try to learn French before, but fell out of the habit of practicing and never picked it back up. So, when we started planning this trip, it became one of my goals to restart practicing and speaking it again! DuoLingo is an amazing language-learning app to begin with, but the reason why I'm featuring it is that they recently added a new feature that I love, which is the ability to practice by having a real-time conversation with a chatbot in your language of choice. I love that they added this feature because in my opinion, you learn languages best through ordinary conversations. Especially since I'm just learning it for travel, it's been really helpful to improve my conversational French using this app! Get it for free in the App Store.

Trello

One of my favorite bloggers, Samantha from As Life Grows, turned me on to Trello back in January, and I've been using it to plan my blog calendar ever since! Before Trello, I never organized or planned my blog posts ahead of time. Now, I have a board called "Haley Marie Blog 2017" where I can add and schedule new ideas for blog posts all the way through December. If that's confusing to you, let me explain a little bit more how Trello works: you start by creating "boards" for whatever categories you want and filling in columns with individual "cards" under each category. (For example, you could create a board for meal planning with columns for each day of the week. Your "cards" would then be the individual meals you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.) You can even give each card a description - which, for me, is where I fill in the meaty details of what my blog posts are going to be about - and a due date, with a satisfying check box that turns green when you check off that you've completed your task. For a more thorough introduction to Trello, check out Samantha's easy tutorial here.  Meanwhile, to start using Trello for free, visit their website here and/or download their app in the App Store.

HABITS

Reading at the Gym

Sometime between this month and last, I developed a new habit that's helped me get into better shape  and has quickly become my new favorite way to work out. I don't know why I never thought of it before, but I recently started reading while I'm doing cardio at the gym. I hate cardio, but around the time I started doing this, I read an article that said that when you're really dreading something, a good way to motivate yourself is to pair an unpleasant task with something you always look forward to. So, I started bringing a book to the gym and reading while I'm on the elliptical! Though I was skeptical at first, it actually worked - I find myself paying less and less attention to counting the minutes and more attention to reading the words on the page. Plus, I actually convince myself to spend more time on the elliptical because I look forward to finding out what's next in my book! The key is designating a book specifically for going to the gym, and telling yourself you can ONLY read it while you're working out. The positive incentive of continuing a page-turner will convince you to make time for the gym, even on days when you ordinarily wouldn't feel like it.

And there you have it - those are the products (and books and apps and habits) I've been loving for February 2017. What have been your favorite things this month? Let me know in the comments what products, apps, hacks and more I should try next! 

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14 Ways to Treat Yourself

Hello, beautiful - and happy Valentine's Day! So often, I hear girls my age complain about being single on Valentine's Day - but as much as I love spending the holiday with Ryan, I think it's just as important to treat yourself on Valentine's Day as it is to acknowledge those you love!

To me, Valentine's Day is just as fun to celebrate by yourself or with your gal pals as it is to celebrate with a significant other. After all, Valentine's Day is all about love - who the hell dictated that it had to be about romantic love? Celebrate your love for your friends, your family, your dog, red wine and Netflix - whoever or whatever YOU love, embrace it!

I did a post about self-love not too long ago, which I really enjoyed writing for you guys, so I thought I would write a similar post in honor of Valentine's Day. Because as cheesy as it may sound, the most important person to show the love this Valentine's Day is yourself - especially if you're single, but even if you're not (since Ryan and I celebrated over the weekend, I'll be spending Valentine's alone this year, too!), Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion for self-care.

So, here's what I'm challenging you to do this Valentine's Day: in the wise words of Tom Haverford on Parks and Rec, "Treat yo' self!" Whatever your plans for the night, whether you're going out with your S.O., attending a Gal-entine's Day party, or just spending a night in front of the TV with pizza and wine, block out at least an hour of your time that you can spend giving yourself the TLC you deserve...

In the wise words of a beloved Parks and Rec episode:

... if you're stuck, here are 14 ways to do it! 

1. Take a Drop-in Fitness Class

I love yoga, but like many busy college girls, I don't often get the chance to go to class. If you relate to that, Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion to finally block out some time in your busy schedule to go to class! The best part is that it's flexible - if you've got a hot date tonight, go in the morning; if you're working all day, schedule it late at night. Whatever it is you love - whether it's yoga, Pilates, cycling, tae-kwon-do, literally whatever - schedule it in your planner and make it a priority this Valentine's Day, because you deserve it! 

2. Give Yourself a DIY Facial

Giving myself an at-home facial about once a week is one of the ways I treat myself on the reg. I love it because it forces me to slow down and actually pay attention to how my skin is doing. When we get so busy in our everyday lives, we might forget to do things like wash our face morning and night or take off our makeup before bed - or we might reach for quick, greasy foods in a rush that wreak havoc on our skin the next day. So, this Valentine's Day, spend some time nourishing and loving your skin. The skin you're in now is the skin you'll have for the rest of your life, so treat it right! 

3. Buy Yourself Flowers and Chocolates

If you don't have a Valentine, don't wait for your secret admirer to come swooping in - buy yourself the flowers and chocolates instead! Buying yourself the presents this Valentine's Day means that you won't have to count on some guy remembering what flavor truffles you like, or that you're allergic to roses. Instead, head to the store and get yourself exactly what you love - without breaking the bank. At the grocery store, flowers are only a couple dollars, and often on Valentine's Day, all that holiday candy starts ringing up half-price! 

4. Get a Blowout 

Personally, I think having my hair washed and dried is the best feeling in the entire world. It might make me sound crazy, but when the stylist starts massaging in that shampoo, time itself seems to slow down for me. After a blowout, I walk out of the salon feeling fresher and more zen than if I'd just meditated for an hour. Plus, there's nothing better than the next couple days after a blowout, when dry shampoo alone is enough to get you by looking fabulous! So, shell out the $20 or $30 this Valentine's Day and show your hair a little love - especially if it's not something you normally would do.

5. Go See a Cheesy Movie

Going to the movies by myself is high up there on my college bucket list - so maybe Valentine's Day is the day I'll finally make it happen! Sure, you'll have to pay for your ticket, but you also don't have to share the popcorn or the candy, either. As an added bonus, you can also watch whatever sappy chick flick (or gory action movie) you want, without having to defend your taste in movies to your S.O. ...It's pretty much the perfect night, if you ask me.

6. Paint Your Nails

When my nails look good, my life somehow feels so much more put together, as if by getting a manicure, I've somehow restored balance and order to the universe. You can easily find cheap manicures in your area using sites like Groupon. But, if you're not into paying for something you can do yourself, it's just as easy to give yourself a luxurious DIY home manicure. With a nail file, a bowl of warm water and some rich scented hand lotion, you can easily recreate the spa experience at home for less. 

7. Curl Up With a Good Book

One of my favorite ways to treat myself (assuming I have the time, which I never do) is to curl up with a good book and finish it in one sitting. If I have a mug of tea and a warm blanket to snuggle up with, I can sit in the same spot for hours just waiting to find out what happens to my favorite characters. With the right book, turning the pages can feel as enthralling as waiting for the next episode of Mad Men to unfold on Netflix - plus, it's much easier on the eyes than the harsh glare of the television screen. 

8. Bake a Treat (And Eat It, Of Course)

This one Valentine's Day when I was sixteen, I got stood-up by a then-boyfriend (now ex) of mine because he didn't want to drive in the snowstorm. Needless to say, I was disappointed and hurt - but how did I get through? I baked an entire batch of dark chocolate cupcakes and ate them as my dinner. Obviously. To this day, I still stand by baking (and eating) as one of the most foolproof ways to get yourself through Valentine's Day. Oh, and if you're curious, here's the chocolate cupcake recipe I swear by! 

9. Make Yourself a Valentine

Making handmade Valentines for my friends as a kid used to be one of my favorite ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. There's just something so therapeutic about sitting down with a plethora of lace doilies and heart-shaped stickers and crafting something new and beautiful. Usually, we think of Valentines as something we're supposed to give to someone else - but if you're worried about not having a special someone to give your Valentine to, then write yourself a Valentine reminding yourself of all the reasons why you love yourself. I'll start with number one: you're beautiful and amazing! 

10. Meditate on Self-Love

If you want to show yourself some love this Valentine's Day, but are struggling with where to start, then I think it really helps to slow down and meditate on the subject for awhile. Set a timer, or follow along with one of your favorite guided meditations - and while you're meditating, really ask yourself, "Do I love myself? Why do I love myself? How can I love myself better today?" Self-knowledge is an amazing gift for Valentine's Day (or any day!), and the answers to those questions will show you so much more about yourself then you ever dreamed possible.  

11. Make Yourself Laugh

When you're having a bad day, nothing feels better than a big, belly laugh. On Valentine's Day, a great way to show yourself some self-love is to give yourself the gift of laughter. Go to a comedy show with your girlfriends, watch a funny movie or even just look up cat videos on YouTube. Whatever makes you laugh, find it! You'll start to feel your stress melt away almost instantly. 

12. Go Out to a Fancy Restaurant

For some reason, we have this idea that we're only supposed to go to fancy restaurants on special occasions, or when a guy makes the reservations for us. However, who's to say you shouldn't be able to treat yourself to a fancy dinner all by yourself? Besides, it will probably be easier to find a table for one than for two anyways. Just imagine the looks on all the disappointed couples' faces as you pass them in line looking fabulous! So, if you feel like you're missing out on the fancy date experience this Valentine's Day, don't be afraid to treat yourself to reservations for one at your favorite restaurant. There's no shame in going out to eat by yourself!

13. Take a Relaxing Bath

One of my favorite ways to relax when I'm at home is to take a long, hot bath. There's something about sitting in a warm tub that simply melts away all your stress! Plus, for Valentine's Day, you get the added bonus of all the fun holiday-themed goodies that go on sale around this time of year. So, light some candles, drop in your favorite bath goodies, sit back and relax. If you're looking for the best pampering products around, Lush's bath bombs are a perennial favorite no matter what season it is, but their Valentine's selection this year is simply to die for. (Zoella's bath bombs are another favorite of mine, as are the Bath and Body Works Luxury Bubble Baths.) 

14. Netflix and Chill

"Netflix & Chill" isn't just an innuendo for hooking up anymore! At the end of the day, there's no better way to sit down and relax than with an hour or two (or three or five or eight...) of your favorite TV show. So, this Valentine's Day, don't be afraid to pop some popcorn, put on your comfy pants and settle into your favorite seat for a binge-watching marathon. Bonus points for messy topknots and kernels between the cushions...

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Date Night Dresses (5 Under $50)

Hello, beautiful! Sorry for the awkward silence on the blog lately - as some of you who follow me on social media may have noticed, life has gotten in the way. Between personal problems, falling behind on schoolwork and getting sick this past week, I just haven't been able to scrape together the moxie to put together a quality blog post.

But, the most important thing is that I'm here now! I'm doing a lot better dealing with my personal life and academics now, though that cough of mine has still got me flying through tissues and cough drops like crazy. I'm currently bundled up in my dorm room expecting a crazy snowstorm, so I thought what better time to get back on a regular blogging schedule than now?!

This weekend, I'm looking forward to celebrating an early Valentine's Day with my one true love (if you didn't get the chance to meet Ryan a couple of weeks ago, you can check out that post here!). So, since I've got date night on the brain, I thought it would be a great topic for my latest 5 Under $50!

I know not everyone likes to get dressed up and go out on Valentine's Day, but a classic dinner date is always me and Ryan's tradition for special occasions. When we do go out, I love putting on a dress that makes me feel feminine and beautiful.

To me, going through the whole process of getting dressed up, putting on makeup, doing my hair and slipping into a brand-new dress makes me feel twenty times sexier and more confident. As someone with anxiety, I weirdly find that the ritual of getting ready helps me ease some of my nerves prior to an important occasion like Valentine's Day.

Some people might think that it's vain to care so much about your appearance. However, I'm a firm believer that there's an important connection between the way we look and the way we feel. When I feel good about the way I look, somehow that helps me feel better about myself as a person, too!

Anyways, that was a long introductory rant, but my point is simply while I'm not saying you need to get dressed up and have a fancy Valentine's dinner if you don't want to (some people like staying in and that's okay!), getting dressed up makes me feel good. And since it makes me feel good, I thought I'd spread some of the love and share five of my favorite date night dress picks under $50.

Let's get started!

 

Lady Love Song Velvet Dress in Merlot 

Even though it's been around for awhile, the velvet trend only really started to grow on me recently. I especially love a crushed red velvet when it comes to dresses. This dress from Modcloth stood out to me as particularly unique because of its structure. It's not often you see a velvet dress that can hug a figure like this one. The best part? The sizes on this dress run all the way up to a 4X, so you can enjoy its sexy shape no matter how bangin' your curves! Regardless of your size, I promise your Valentine won't be able to keep his eyes (or his hands) off you all night. Get it from Modcloth for $49.99 (50% off its original price!).

Kate Lace Maxi Dress

In contrast to the sexy wine-colored number I showed previously, this dress offers a much softer take on Valentine's Day. Personally, I love a good maxi dress, but they're always too long on me - I'm only 5'1" so I'm naturally jealous of people who can pull of this trend! The amazing thing about this dress is that it's long, flowy and feminine - yet without looking like the dress you wore to your senior prom way back in high school. The soft, breathable material and pastel shade keep it appropriate for the restaurant, while its length and subtle sophistication scream elegance and maturity (in a good way, of course!). Get it from ASOS for 20 pounds (on sale - about 25 U.S. dollars!).

Tip the Scallops Black Dress

As Audrey Hepburn might say, you can never go wrong with a little black dress! I chose this one for its clean lines and classic silhouette, which reminded me of something straight out of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The scallop-trimmed neckline adds a little pizzaz, while the quarter-length sleeves leave just enough to the imagination. This dress might seem a bit more casual than the rest of my Valentine's Day picks; however, it would be perfect for a fun and flirty ice cream date, or spending a night in cooking dinner at home. Get it from Lulu's for $46. 

Bib Neck Shift Dress

I. LOVE. THIS. DRESS. A bib neck has been my go-to favorite trend lately, and I just adore the flowy, boho silhouette - I feel like my style has definitely been gravitating more in that direction as I've gotten older! For Valentine's Day, this dress just screams "special occasion," without making you seem too fussy or constraining you like a Victorian-era corset. As a girl who likes to order the appetizer and the dessert at dinner, I can really appreciate the comfortable fit of a gorgeous shift dress like this one. Plus, as an added bonus, this dress is available in a bunch of colors - they aren't all listed on the same page, but try typing "bib neck shift dress" into the search bar - as well as plus sizes! Get it from Charlotte Russe for $39.99.

Defined to Refine Lace Dress in Black

Modcloth struck a hit again with this beautiful lace number - unsurprisingly, since it's one of my favorite stores. (On a side note, I just got a kind of big order from them with my dresses for rush - let me know in the comments if you're interested in a haul!) This gorgeous dress is lacy and feminine, without seeming too matrons. The adorable bow detail cinches your waist for a defined silhouette, while the sheer sleeves allow you to cover up and stay warm while still showing off your beautiful bod. With a bold lip, colorful shoes and some statement jewelry, this one-of-a-kind vintage pick can become trendy and brand-new for your special night. Get it from Modcloth for $38.99 (which, holy sh*t, is 70% off!).  

So, those were my five picks for date night dresses perfect for special occasions - like Valentine's Day! I hope you all enjoy your holiday and get to spend it with someone you love. Even if you're single right now, I encourage you all to appreciate your favorite gal pals as well as the significant others in your life - oh, and don't forget to show yourself some love and self-care, too! Whether it's treating yourself to some half-price chocolates at the store, buying yourself flowers or taking a luxurious bubble bath with some Valentine's-scented goodies, the single most important person you can take the time to appreciate this Valentine's Day is, you guessed, it: you! 

I hope you all loved this post and will let these trends to inspire you when your shopping for your latest date night ensemble! Since that's all for my latest 5 Under $50 post, don't forget to comment what you'd like to see in the next edition. Whether it's something to do with fashion, beauty, books or something completely different, I would absolutely LOVE to hear your ideas for what direction this series should go next! Until then, happy Valentine's Day, loves - no matter what, you will always be my special Gal-entines.

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How to Practice Self-Love

Hello, beautiful! Today, I want to talk to you about something that, like many of you, I struggle with every day: self-love.

Since I feel passionately that it is fundamentally important for all women to love themselves, inside and out, I want to share my tips for loving yourself a little bit more right now. However, before I get into those tips, I have a bit of a story to share with you about my journey toward a path of healing and self-love.

Warning: it's kind of a long one! However, I think it's important that I share this with you so you understand where I'm coming from when I share my struggles (and my tips!) for loving yourself today.

So, without further ado, let's get started: here's the story of how I went from an awkward, boy-crazy middle schooler to a self-love maven...well, more like work-in-progress ;)

My Self-Love Story...

This narrative, about self-love and the opposite sex, has been fermenting inside me for awhile now, but it's just now starting to bubble out. I'm sharing it with you not only to cleanse myself from the negative energy that's been brewing inside me along with this story, but also so that you can take something from it that might help you reclaim some of your own self-love.

As young women, I think we're trained to struggle with both our inner and outer beauty from a young age. When I was growing up, I was definitely never the most confident kid on the playground. Ever since I was in kindergarten, I was told I was the "smart girl." While this helped my intelligence shine through in the classroom, it negatively impacted how I perceived others viewing me and, more importantly, how I viewed myself - especially when I started to become interested in dating.

For awhile, I relied on the boys I liked to make me feel beautiful, confident and in love with myself. In middle school I developed a quick succession of crushes, who I fell hard for fast - even though many of them had never spoken to me in real life, and never really knew I existed. Basically, whenever these guys liked me back - which was almost never - I felt good about myself; whenever they didn't, I cried for a week before moving onto the next one.

This problem really came to a head in high school, when one of my best friends (who I've now realized has been quite a toxic person at certain points in my life) told me I was "intimidating" to boys. That was the first time I ever considered toning down my passions for a guy I was interested in.

That spring, me and that same friend "fought" over an older guy who was on tech crew for the school play I had a supporting role in. I found myself making unhealthy comparisons to that friend, who was generally considered the most conventionally "pretty" of our friend group. Those comparisons have been damaging to our friendship in the long term - even now, it's still a sore spot for me whenever she fishes for compliments or asks someone to give their advice on an outfit she's wearing. Looking back, no guy was worth that amount of trouble - especially not this particular guy - but I still attribute that moment in time to the moment I affixed my self-worth to the people I dated.

In the end, that guy became my first boyfriend and, in a way, my first "victory" over my pretty and popular friend. The good news was that in that moment, I realized I didn't have to be anything but myself to "convince" someone to like me. The bad news was that he solidified that my self-worth still depended on what guys thought of my appearance, not on who I was as a person.

When he called me beautiful, I felt valuable and fulfilled as a person in a way I really hadn't before. That relationship made me feel older and more mature somehow: after all, in middle school, guys said they liked you; in high school, guys said you were beautiful. What I hadn't really come to understand yet, however, was what you had to trade to move into these more "mature" relationships.

In middle school, relationships were just these elevated friendships with a different label on them (which, as an adult, I've found are the best kind of romantic attachments!), but in high school, they suddenly became much more complicated. Because on top of discovering our romantic feelings for the opposite sex (or whoever you might be attracted to), we also began to discover our bodies, our sexuality and all the complex, frustrating emotions that came along with those discoveries.

The thought of sex as leverage in a relationship never really entered my mind until I found out, from an acquaintance at a high school football game, that my then-boyfriend had been spreading rumors about our sexual relationship. We hadn't even "done" anything, but he was telling the entire soccer team that we were already having sex. Of course, to a teenage boy, this might not seem like such a big deal - maybe even more like an accomplishment or a popularity point than anything else - but to girls, who are disproportionately subject to social constructs like slut-shaming, this type of rumor can ruin a previously-untarnished reputation.

People already thought I was a slut for dating someone two years older than me (in adulthood, this may not seem like such a big deal - but in high school, those two years meant a lot, to my parents and my peers alike), but as a freshman in high school, the sex rumor sent that characterization through the roof.

I was angry. I was disappointed. I was hurt. My ex had so clearly betrayed my trust and belittled me - worst of all, without even knowing it.

And yet all I remember from the moment I found out about that rumor was crying. Not confronting him; not having the courage to break myself out of that destructive relationship. Just crying - and then, not too long after, forgiving him for what he had done, convincing myself that my sadness was somehow "my fault": the byproduct of a silly and complicated misunderstanding. He had damaged my trust of him beyond repair - and yet, because I attached my self-worth to him, I simply didn't have the strength to let go of what I saw as the source of my inner confidence and strength.

Just to be clear about how I feel now looking back, "misunderstandings" don't cause destructive rumors to fly, reputations to dissolve and slut shaming to run rampant. Whether or not the initial rumor was caused by a misunderstanding, it was certainly no misunderstanding that my then-boyfriend did nothing to correct the hurtful rumor.

Instead, the rumor ran its full course, dying out as most rumors do. By the time I graduated high school, I don't think anyone but me still remembered the "slutty" picture that had been painted of me that day - yet that negative characterization still lingers somewhere within me, continuing to wage war against my self-confidence even today.

I wish I could say I ended the relationship then and there, but it wasn't until two years later, in the spring of my junior year of high school - just before I started dating Ryan, actually - that I finally gathered up the strength to break it off. I blamed our long-distance relationship (he'd gone away to college by that point), but in reality, I think the relationship had just been draining my happiness, confidence and self-love for way too long. After all, when you believe that no one else could love you but the person standing in front of you, you're compelled to make desperate choices that don't necessarily reflect your true values.

Two years out of that relationship, I now realize the importance of loving yourself before loving anyone else. I was alone for a full month before I got together with Ryan - which may not seem like long for some, but to me, this was the longest I had ever been alone since middle school. During that month, I explored my passions, my interests, and my personality to an extent I'd never had the opportunity to do before.

For so long, I'd been so consumed by chasing after boys that I'd never even thought about what I could accomplish if I put my free time to good use. Yet, it was during that month that I took the first step in what has turned out to be a monumental life change for me, something that I still feel passionate about today: I started my first blog.

Ever since, blogging (not boys) has been my lifeline during difficult moments in my life. For example, my last blog, Love, Haley, was an important resource for me as I was just discovering my history of anxiety and depression. Instead of making me codependent on Ryan to improve my self-esteem, it actually forced me to channel my negative emotions into something positive and beautiful.

I'm not going to act like everything is perfect or wonderful 100% of the time now. In fact, I wouldn't say that a single day goes by without me having doubts or feelings of self-consciousness about the way I act or the way I look. My anxiety still gets to me; I still have moments of self-deprecation and self-loathing - but I try to battle through them with self-love as my ultimate weapon.

Because of this, my relationship with Ryan is healthier and stronger than any anxious attachment I ever had before I met him <3 And yes, while I still wake up every day thinking how lucky I am to have him, I also wake up every day, look at myself in the mirror and tell myself "I love you" out loud.

+ How You Can Strive For Self-Love, Too!

Hopefully, you all noticed that above, I used the phrase "strive for self-love" instead of "learn to love yourself" or "love yourself NOW." I just wanted to clear this up so that I don't get negative feedback on the title of this post, "Ways to Love Yourself Right Now." 

Truthfully, while the title I chose for this post conveys what I hoped it would convey - which is that it's easy to start loving yourself - it doesn't do nearly enough justice to how slow and not-at-all-radical the process of converting to self-love truly is. 

So, here's the real truth behind learning to love yourself "right now": self-love is a process, and it doesn't happen instantaneously. Instead, it's a practice you slowly adopt, little by little, over time. 

Sadly, I also don't think that pure, unadulterated self-love can ever truly exist. Unfortunately, we all grew up in a society that values our looks, that attaches our value to the amount of fat on our hips and tells us we need beauty, popularity and a man at our side to truly achieve the American Dream. When we're consciously and unconsciously surrounded by these negative messages 24/7, it's impossible to expect that we will never have bad days. 

Put simply, there's always going to be a day that you log onto Instagram and see someone who seems more pretty/more happy/more skinny/more in love/more insert-adjective-here than you (that's why I've sworn off my personal Instagram for good - now, I 'Gram for blog business, and blog business only!), or a day that you look in the mirror and don't feel comfortable with what you see. 

That being said, I hope this post will teach you ways to transform not just the way you treat yourself, but also the way you view self-love in general. Instead of a promise never to deal with negative emotions or bad self-image ever again, I challenge you to look at self-love as a commitment to try. 

You don't have to look in the mirror and love every part of your body right away. You don't have to leave your otherwise-happy relationship because it's the "feminist" thing to do (*insert sarcasm font here* you know, just like loving yourself!) or go through a radical spiritual, physical or mental transformation, like starting therapy or getting a boob job or going to confession to profess all the ways you've done your body wrong. All you have to do is promise yourself that you're going to try to love yourself a little bit louder, a little bit more unconditionally, a little more deeply than you did the day before. 

Put that way, it doesn't seem so hard now, does it? :) So, now that you've decided to take the first plunge by committing yourself to self-love, you might be wondering, where do I start? 

The bad news is that the beginning of your self-love journey is always the hardest part - even though I've been working on it for some time now, I still consider myself new to the practice of self-love. On the other hand, the good news is that you're still at the beginning of your self-love journey: no one expects you to become an expert overnight, least of all me! 

However, if you know you're committed to self-love and want to try some easy ways to love yourself a little more deeply today, here are my 12 tips for spreading a little loving kindness to yourself right now:

1. Practice saying "I love you" to yourself in the mirror every morning.

I mentioned that this is something I started doing after I met Ryan. In reality, I only started adopting this practice very recently, after listening to a body-positive podcast by the fabulous Summer Innanen. Telling yourself "I love you" out loud is actually a very cunning way to sneak a little self-love into your day. Even if you don't believe yourself at first or feel a little silly saying "I love you" in the mirror out loud, you're actually working to "fake it 'til you make it" - in other words, convincing yourself that you love yourself, even when you might feel self-deprecation or doubt.

2. Set aside 15-20 minutes for self-care every night.

It might seem obvious, but sometimes, when we get so busy and caught up in our days at school, work and home - whether our night consists of checking blog e-mails on the couch or putting three young children to bed - we forget to practice the simple act of self-care. So, before you crawl into bed at night, no matter how tired you are, set aside a little bit of time to wind down whatever way you like to do. Whether it's enjoying a glass of rose and a hot bath or spending 15 minutes re-reading a favorite novel, customize your self-care routine to reflect all the ways that you like to relax and rejuvenate after a long day.

3. Establish a routine based on your priorities - and don't let anything stand in your way! 

Whew, that was a long one! But, the point I'm trying to make is this: once you identify what your priorities are, actually start prioritizing them. We all know that what we say we're going to do and what we actually do are two very different things - so, here's the first step toward making them one in the same: first, make a long list of everything you do in a day. Then, make a similar list - only, instead of writing everything you actually do in a day, jot down all the things you wish you did; the things you'd do on your perfect day. Finally, compare the lists and adjust your schedule accordingly. Obviously, be realistic - you still need to go to work even if it's not your favorite place in the world. However, if you realize you dread going to work THAT much, maybe it's a sign you need to make a lifestyle change for your own health and happiness!

4. Ask yourself what changes you'd make if you loved yourself more - and do one of them RIGHT NOW!

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Oh, I'll take a hot yoga class once I lose ten pounds" or "Oh, I'll flirt with that hot guy as soon as I get over my ex"? Well, how would you feel if you just did that thing NOW, instead of postponing it until you meet some abstract and ridiculous criteria? Though it might feel a little bit uncomfortable at first, shedding your inhibitions and taking a leap of faith will show you that you don't have to wait to become the best possible version of yourself - you're already there!

5. Practice gratitude every. Single. Day.

I could spend forever ranting about the research studies that have been done about the practice of gratitude and how it's linked to our health and happiness, yada yada yada...BUT that wouldn't be interesting for anyone, least of all me! We've all seen those studies, and we all know it's good for us - yet whether secretly or not-so-secretly, I think we're all kind of afraid to start because we're worried we won't have anything good to write about. Honestly, though - as soon as you start to think outside yourself and realize all the wonderful things the world has to offer, you'll start to focus more on experiencing the joys that life has to offer, rather than ruminating on your worst qualities or the thickness of your thighs. Much like a successful relationship or the opportunity of a lifetime, you'll attract the most self-love into your life when you forget about self-love altogether, and simply focus on enjoying life.

6. Start a 2017 Vision Board on Pinterest.

People love to say "You have the same number of hours in a day as Beyonce" - but the difference between me and Beyonce is that Beyonce doesn't waste two hours a day staring at her flab in the mirror! She gets sh*t done instead. So, if you don't like the way you look, speak, act, think, are, then one of the best things I think you can do is refocus your energy and drive elsewhere. One way to inspire yourself to hop into action is to start a 2017 Vision Board on Pinterest (and follow me @haleymarieblog so I can encourage you!). Literally just pin whatever sets your heart on fire - whatever you can't stop thinking about doing, seeing, dreaming, achieving. Don't worry about whether that trip to Barcelona is out of reach, or if you really are capable of starting your own YouTube channel; just pin it. Then, once you do, consider it already done - as if simply by pinning that picture, the Universe is already working its magic on your dreams! 

7. Stop putting things off just because they scare you.

Ending my first serious relationship. Committing to a college. Declaring a double-major. Signing up for sorority rush. That's a brief (and incomplete) list of all the things I've procrastinated on in my life, simply because I was afraid of the outcome. For the longest time, I was scared to make a binding decision on where I went to college, ending my relationship, or paying to go through rush because I was absolutely terrified that I would regret my decision. The problem was, I assumed I didn't know what was best for myself because I didn't believe in myself. However, as soon as I worked up the courage to do it, I realized that I was SO much more capable and decisive than I gave myself credit for! Simply making the decision (and sticking with it) made me feel a thousand times more confident - and I promise you will feel the same way, as soon as you make like Nike and JUST DO IT!

8. Dress the part.

Okay, so I know a large part of what I just said told you to focus on how you feel, rather than how you look - but forget all of that! (Not really, but still.) My point is that the way you look does matter for your self-confidence. If you're hiding behind baggy clothes all the time, neglecting your appearance (as in not showering or putting on makeup because "What's the point?"),  or dressing in a way that reflects how you want others to see you (rather than wearing what you really like), then the way you look is a sign of poor self-confidence. Whether consciously or subconsciously, when you look at yourself in the mirror wearing clothes that don't suit your body or personality, you notice, and it makes you feel bad about yourself. So, wear things that make you feel good in the body you're in right now. For example: love crop tops on Taylor Swift, but think your stomach is "too flabby" to pull it off? Go to Forever 21 and buy one anyways! Love bright colors, but constantly wear gray so you can "blend in" to the crowd? Go put on your pinkest lipstick and OWN IT! When you feel good in what you're wearing, others will notice, too - and, in turn, that will build your self-confidence without you even realizing.  

9. Take care of your physical body.

As cliche as it sounds, your body is a temple. When you eat right, treat yourself in moderation and exercise regularly, you're sending that temple a sign of respect. When you think about it that way, it comes as no surprise that people who starve, purge or binge often have underlying issues with confidence and self-esteem. If you don't like your body, you won't treat your body right - it's that simple. So, rather than worrying about loving the way your body looks, work backwards and focus on treating your body right first. 

10. Fake it 'til you make it. 

If you've seen Amy Cuddy's TED Talk "Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are," you know they importance of faking it 'til you make it, and how quickly striking a power pose can elevate your mood. When you don't feel confident in yourself, it can be difficult to push past difficult feelings about who you are, what you look like or your achievements. However, sometimes, putting on some lipgloss, putting your hands on your hips and faking a smile is all it takes to start feeling better now. Even if it doesn't help right away or you feel silly at first, you'll quickly find that the more you practice feeling confident, the more confident you'll actually start to feel.

11. Ask yourself what a (loving) friend, partner or family member would say.

As someone who suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I know how easy it can be to fall into negative thinking traps about your body, your personality, that random mistake you made last week - you name it; I've probably worried about it! Unfortunately, chronic worrying consumes a lot of energy, energy that could easy be conserved with a little self-confidence. One trick I've learned for boosting confidence and minimizing worry is to combat your worries by asking yourself what a loving friend, partner or family member would say about them. For example, if you told your best friend or significant other "I feel fat today," they might respond by saying "Stop it; you're not fat - you're beautiful!" Learning to reframe your worries really helps you shift your perspective, because after seeing how much your friends and family love and respect you, it starts to feel silly putting yourself down all the time!

12. Literally, make a list of reasons why you love yourself.

Want to really learn how to love yourself right now? Find a blank notebook, small enough to fit in your backpack, purse or desk. Then, start filling it with reasons why you love yourself (or, if you're having a hard time thinking of any, reasons why you could love yourself or reasons why others love you). Don't worry if the reasons are "good" enough - just write! Carry that notebook with you wherever you go, so you can add more reasons as you think of them and refer back to them whenever you feel insecure. Most importantly, never consider your list complete no matter how long it gets. There is always a new reason to love yourself every single day!

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How to Maintain a Long-Distance Relationship (Feat. My Boyfriend)

Hello, beautiful! Whether your spring semester just started or you've been back at school for a couple of weeks now, I hope you're adjusting to life on campus and enjoying your spring semester. Or, if there's parts of leaving home that are hard for you, hang in there, because I totally relate!

When I left to go back to BU after my monthlong break, the hardest part of leaving home was leaving Ryan behind. We just got so used to spending every minute together (besides when he was working or sleeping) that adjusting to life without him has made me miss him times a thousand.

Even so, I've always appreciated the beauty of our long-distance relationship. The longer I'm apart from him, the more I miss him - and the more we have to talk about, because we aren't always together.

Some days, I get caught up in doing something incredible - whether it's for the paper or in preparation for sorority recruitment - for so long that I feel fine on my own. Other times, I find myself missing him so much that I feel like I need to see him, hold his hand, or even just hear his voice just to get through the rest of my day. I guess the saying really is true: absence makes the heart grow fonder!

My point is that there's something beautiful and special about long-distance relationships that truly helps you to appreciate what a great love you have. However, that isn't to say that long-distance relationships are always easy, breezy, beautiful. They come with their own unique set of challenges, whether it's that you miss out on physical touch (which is a major struggle for us, since that's one of Ryan's most prominent love languages - more about that later!) or have to settle conflicts over text.

Today, I wanted to share some of the most valuable lessons I've learned as one-half of a long-distance relationship - and I also have a special surprise!

For the first time ever, Ryan has agreed to (finally) let me show him off on the blog. So, I asked him a bunch of fun Q&A questions as a fun way for you guys to get to know him! I couldn't be more excited that I'm finally getting to introduce y'all to the man of my dreams <3

Tip #1: Never Go To Bed Angry

Okay, so even I have to admit that this piece of wisdom is often overused - but I continue to quote it to death anyways, simply because it's just SO true. I really, truly, honestly try to live by this principle every day in my relationship with Ryan. Whether our relationship problem is a small one or a big one, I always strive to talk it out and have it fixed by the time my head hits the pillow at night.

Sometimes, I think it's tempting to go to bed angry just to get an escape from the uncomfortable emotions and rhetoric surrounding the problem. Especially as an anxious person, I often fall into the thinking trap of believing that I'll instantly feel better as soon as I can just get away from the conflict. However, as much as we'd like to believe that our problems will dissolve as soon as we fall asleep, we won't necessarily wake up feeling any less angry or resentful. Time heals all wounds eventually - NOT within 24 hours - so it's much healthier and more efficient to talk it out rather than just "sleep on it."

Tip #2: Talk Every Night

Something new that Ryan and I have just started doing is rather than text constantly all night, we try to have a quick five-to-ten minute conversation over the phone every day. This was a serious compromise for us, since I like to talk on the phone whereas he'd rather text if given the choice, so I'm happy that he agreed to try this idea out! 

So far, I love it because it means I get to hear his voice every day, which is something I really miss when I'm not at home. To me, talking on the phone with your partner is one of those little things that allows you to recapture a little bit of the magic of being with them in person. I find that having a good, old-fashioned conversation over the phone makes me feel closer to Ryan than just shooting him a text. Plus, I especially love that we can wind up having much longer, more intellectual conversations than we would be if we were just mindlessly texting while doing homework. 

So, if you're in a long-distance relationship, I would definitely advocate for trying to talk a little bit every night. Even if you can only manage five or ten minutes like we do, it really makes a difference in restoring some of that special intimacy between you and your partner!

Tip #3: Learn Your Love Language

If you haven't heard of the Five Love Languages already, definitely take the quiz and find out which love languages you and your partner "speak!" Basically, the Five Love Languages is a book

by Gary Chapman, and the idea behind the book is that everyone communicates love using a different "language." So, if your partner's love language is Physical Touch, they might communicate love through hugging or kissing. Or, if your partner's love language is Acts of Service, then they might show you love by doing the dishes or filling your car up with gas.

It's always helpful to know your partner's love language (not to mention your own!), but it's especially important when you're in a long-distance relationship. After all, if your partner speaks a different "love language" than you, you might not recognize that they're showing love even when they are. If you know what love language they speak, then you can look out for ways that they show you love in their own special way.

Tip #4: Focus on the Positive

When you're in a fight with a partner in any type of relationship, whether you're long-distance or married or living together or dating, it's easy to focus on all the other times they've screwed up before. Whenever I fight with Ryan, suddenly it's like my rosy glasses come off. I realize our relationship is NOT perfect, which - though it may be true -  soon leads me to catastrophize about all the other reasons why we shouldn't be together.

It's easy to get carried away by this kind of thinking when you're upset. The problem is that in hyper-focusing on all the things that are wrong with your relationship leads you to forget all of the wonderful things that make you so great together! So, when me and Ryan get into a fight, rather than fall into a downward spiral of remembering all our past fights and hanging on every last insecurity, I try to focus on the positive. I think about all the things I like about him, from his cute smile to his goofy sense of humor, and all the reasons we're a great couple, like our communication and our shared passions (for food and dogs, of course...).

Tip #5: Always Say I Love You and Always Text Goodnight

This could seem like a really obvious one, since it's so important to do this no matter what situation you and your partner are in - but when you're in a long-distance relationship, I think it's especially important to always do these two things! Saying "I love you" and "Good night" seem like such little things, but when your partner is far away from you, the little things are often what you miss the most. 

Whether the distance between you is 10,000 miles or just 20, I truly think that simply hearing "I love you" can make any amount of distance feel like none at all!  When you or your partner are having a rough day, it helps to know that you can always look forward to those three little words or that good night text to get you through it all. Just knowing that you still have your partner's love and support, and having that reminder be the last thing you see before you go to sleep at night, helps you feel more secure in your relationship, even when the distance makes it seem like you're on rocky ground.

* * * 

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for: it's time to meet my boyfriend!

Before I hand the mic over to Ryan and let him take it away from here, he asked me to write him a quick introduction, since he's shy and doesn't like to write much himself. So, here's what you all need to know about my boyfriend:

Me and Ry (yes, I call him Ry) have been together for almost two years. We grew up a little less than a mile apart from each other, but never really crossed paths until high school. We met each other in art class when I was a junior and he was a senior. I like to tease him about how he was seriously friend-zoned for the first half of that year (I was coming to the end of a really bad relationship at the time), but in reality, I couldn't be more happy that we got together - and I hope he'd say the same about me :)

Ryan is a criminal justice major who juggles online and night classes with a loaded work week. He currently works at a bank in our hometown, and might be getting promoted to full-time employee soon! (Fingers crossed...) He's also hoping to get an apartment, which we both couldn't be more excited about, since it would mean I'd get to stay with him and we could have fun slumber parties where we eat Cheetos on the couch (mmm, fake cheese flavor) and cuddle with the pet lizard he hopes to get once he moves out. 

I could blabber all day about Ryan, how much I love him, and how proud I am of his career aspirations..but to keep that from happening, I turned to Ryan and asked him to answer a bunch of questions for me (some serious, some silly) so you guys could hear straight from the source himself. TBH, I've been trying to get him to let me feature him on the blog for what feels like forever now - and somehow, this time, I finally succeeded! 

Rather than following the boyfriend tag, I chose to ask him my own set of questions, so it might seem a little bit random at times. However, I hope you guys enjoy this special peek into him and our relationship, and that our special love for one another truly comes across! 

Ryan's Answers

QUICK Q&A 

What's your astrological sign and do you feel like it describes you?

My astrological sign is that of Gemini. I would say it has a pretty close description of me. I'm easily distracted and easily fascinated, and also curious, adaptable and always ready to have a fun time.

Since you love movies, what must-see movies would you recommend to my readers?

Gran Torino, 28 Days Later, Reservoir Dogs, and Spotlight.

What are your three favorite things about me?

Your nose, your persistence (though that can go both ways), and your intellect.

[Say it with me now: AWWWW!]

What's the best memory you have of us?

Our first Valentine's Day :)

What is your LEAST favorite food?

My least favorite food would have to be an avocado. They're texturally disgusting, and the hype people make over them makes them worse than they actually are.

If you had a boat, what would you name it?

Row vs. Wade...literally I just Googled boat names.

THIS OR THAT

Cats or dogs?

You can answer this one, Haley.

[It's dogs, y'all.]

Pancakes or waffles?

None of the above - I prefer hotcakes. They're just better...

Hugs or kisses?

Kisses!

Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day?

Valentine's Day, even though I'm a large percent Irish.

Money, fame, or power?

Power - with power comes money and fame. (Might be infamy, but it's still fame!)

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My Winter Beauty Routine

Hello, beautiful! For those of you who haven't heard, I'm back at BU after my month-long break. Though it's been difficult getting back into the daily grind of things, I'm really starting to appreciate having a daily routine again after weeks of never knowing how to structure my day.

Without school, I didn't have much of a structure to my day. So, while I was at home, I started creating morning and nighttime routines to help make my days a little more predictable.

One thing I got really good about while I was at home was finally starting to fall into a weekly beauty routine! When I moved away to college, I stopped taking such great care of my hair, skin and body. When I would get home after a long night of work, classes, reading, and the paper, I would barely have the energy to slather soap on my face, let alone follow any of my other typical beauty rituals.

However, now that I'm back at BU, I'm loving how great my hair and skin look and feel after weeks of taking care of myself! In fact, I look and feel so amazing that this semester, I've vowed to stick to the same beauty routine I used at home as much as possible. No matter how tired I am, I want to take the time to pamper myself day and night so I can view myself with confidence again!

By now, you're probably curious about what my beauty routine actually is - so, are you ready to see what's got me looking and feeling so incredible? Let me show you all the squeaky-clean details!

Morning

In the morning at school, I vary between waking up ten minutes before class and thirty-to-sixty minutes before class. So, depending on how late I am, I might just wash and moisturize my face before throwing my hair in a topknot - or, I might go all out with my hair, skin, and beauty routine.

First, to wash my face, I'm currently using the Too Cool for School Egg Cream Soap. This product is really cool because it's somewhere between a foam and a mousse, kind of like the texture of shaving cream. I like the way it feels when I slather it onto my skin, and I think it does a great job of extracting all of the dirt and grime from my face with just a few simple ingredients!

After I wash my face, I might throw a little acne spot treatment on any blemishes I'm fighting, or preventatively on any places where it looks like I might break out. I use the 12% benzoyl peroxide treatment from Target; however, I try to use it sparingly, because it's prescription strength and tends to make my combination skin a little flaky when used in excess!

Finally, I finish off with a simple moisturizer. As I mentioned, I have combination oily-dry skin, so while a lot of my skincare routine is focused on fighting acne, it's also about replenishing all the moisture that acne treatments strip from your skin. So, especially because the winter is harsh on my skin, I like to use a rich cream rather than a light or acne-treating moisturizer to replenish all that lost moisture from my skin. 

Currently, I'm in love with the Pond's Dry Skin Cream Facial Moisturizer. It's a hydrating product, but never leaves my skin feeling greasy. I love that I can feel it feeding my skin as soon as I put it on!

Usually when I'm going to class, I don't do much as far as hair and makeup go. However, one product that's always a staple in my life is the Garnier Fructis Curl Renew Reactivating Milk Spray. I have naturally wavy hair, but when I sleep on wet hair at night, it tends to make the texture more frizzy than defined. So, I like to replenish my waves with this curl renew spray every morning before I leave for school! I almost always wear my hair down, but when I don't, then usually it means I've thrown my hair up in a lazy topknot or ponytail because I'm not feeling too great.

Finally, if it's a weekend and I'm going to see Ryan, I'll put a little more effort into my routine by curling my hair with my Vidal Sassoon 1/2 in. curling iron. I heat up the curling iron on high because my hair is thick and wrap small 1-in sections around it away from my face. Then, I finish off with the Curl Renew Spray and comb through the curls with my fingers, for a more natural look rather than a "styled" one.

For makeup, I like to start with e.l.f.'s Complete Coverage Concealer palette on my under-eye area and any blemishes I might have. Usually, this involves me mixing the shades together for a custom color and then dabbing it on with my fingers. Under my eye area, I also try to apply concealer in more of an inverted triangle than a curve, since this gives it a more natural, blended appearance.

Then, I move onto stippling the Maybelline Fit Me! Matte Poreless Foundation in Natural Ivory (probably the palest shade, since I'm white as a ghost...and that's on a good day) onto my face with a foundation brush. 

For blush and bronzer, I'm using the e.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia, which I've heard is a perfect dupe for NARS Orgasm! I don't like a heavy contour, so usually I apply blush upwards from my cheekbones toward my temples, then apply bronzer right underneath that inside the hollow of my cheeks. Like I said, I like a more natural look! 

Brows typically come next. Right now I'm using the Touch in Sol Browza Super Proof Gel Brow Pencil in Choc it Up. I fill in my eyebrows with this pencil using tiny little strokes so they look like hairs, then blot with a tissue. (Sometimes, I use the Anastasia Clear Brow Gel on top just to finish it off, but most of the time I skip this step.)

Most of the time I'd skip straight to mascara. Lately, however, I've been obsessed with my Too Faced Natural Eyes eyeshadow palette. I always look forward to using it when I put on makeup! To start, I apply the shade Silk Teddy (a shimmery champagne shadow) all over my eyelid, from lash line to eyebrow. Then, I contour in my crease with Push-Up and add a touch of Erotica at the corners. Finally, I use the shade Heaven in the exact center of my eyelid and just below my brows to highlight and brighten. 

Then, lastly, I blend with my Sephora eyeshadow brush and apply a liquid liner in a subtle cat eye shape. I used to use (and love) the Milani eyeliner, but I recently left the cap off mine and it dried out - don't you just hate when that happens? So, since I've been loving e.l.f.'s affordable products lately, I picked up their liquid liner. I haven't tried it yet, but can't wait to see how well it works!

To finish off my eyes, I curl my eyelashes using my Sephora eyelash curler. I love my eyelash curler for it's unique shape...you can read all about it in my Day in My Life Post from back in December! Then, after I curl my lashes, I apply several thick coats of BareMinerals' Lash Domination mascara.

My final step in my makeup process is lips. I start off with a simple chapstick - usually whatever's lying in my purse, or some Vaseline - and then top it off with Bite Beauty's Lush Fruit Lipgloss in Raisin (which I guess has been renamed Rambutan, at least from what I can tell online? Someone please update me on this!). I've had this lip gloss for almost a year and a half, but it's only started to become a holy grail product for me quite recently! Now, I don't know what I'd do without it.

So, whether I've thrown my hair in a topknot and run out to class or gone full out with my curling iron and Lush Fruit Lipgloss, this is where my morning beauty routine ends: with a quick spritz of perfume! Currently, I'm using the Bath and Body Works Ultra Fine Fragrance Mist in Magic in the Air. This smell was SO attractive to me that I just had to buy it during their semi-annual sale! I had literally NEVER smelled anything I loved so much before in my life.

So, now, onto my night routine...

Night

The very first thing I've started doing at night happens about thirty minutes to an hour before I decide to hop in the shower, and that's take off my makeup. (Though if I go to the gym, this step may happen earlier or later in the day - it's SO important to wash off your makeup before working out so you don't trap all those sweat and toxins beneath your foundation!)

I love wearing makeup during the day, but hate letting it sit on my face at night, so I typically wipe it off with a grapefruit-scented cleansing wipe from Target. Wipes are great because they feed my inner laziness, so they encourage me to make sure all my makeup comes off before bedtime, yet only require minimal effort!

Also, I recently rediscovered my love of coconut oil, so I simply take my jar of refined coconut oil (I think I just got this at the Christmas Tree Shops, but honestly I've had it so long I don't even remember), melt it down in the microwave, and run a healthy amount through my ends. This treatment is simple, natural, and great for hydrating your hair before you hop in the shower!

When I'm ready to take my shower, I throw on my little flip flops (shower shoes are so important! Protect your feet from communicable diseases!) and take my shower caddy into the bathroom for a little TLC. 

Usually, I take care of my skin first. I've only very recently started using my Clarisonic again, which was a gift from last Christmas, but I remembered how much I loved it and decided to charge it up! I usually only use this at night because twice a day is a little harsh (and, honestly, labor-intensive) for my routine; however, I love the way it leaves my skin feeling so silky, soft and exfoliated after!

With my Clarisonic Mia 2, I use a little bit of the Target Apricot Scrub (which is basically a perfect dupe of the St. Ives one...St. Ives is my favorite, but I'm unfortunately living that cheap college life, if ya know what I mean). I go for the brightening one rather than the acne-fighting one, since all that benzoyl peroxide isn't too good for combination dry skin - however, if your skin is super oily, I would 10 out of 10 recommend the acne scrub, too! So, anyways, I squeeze that onto the brush and turn it on, then allow the Clarisonic to work its magic! 

After, I rinse my face and pat it dry. (Early in life I learned that you're never supposed to rub your face with a towel, as it's very harsh and can redden and damage your skin, especially if it's dry and flaky already!) Then, I'll use the 12% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment if I haven't already - I try only to use this once a day so it doesn't dry out my skin - and follow up with a moisturizer. Again, Pond's Dry Skin Cream is my go-to at all times of day! 

That pretty much finishes up my face routine, so now onto the shower. In the shower, I start by washing the coconut oil out of my hair with a little shampoo and a LOT of conditioner. I currently use the Garnier Fructis Grow Strong shampoo and conditioner, not only because it strengthens and lengthens my hair (which I am really trying to grow out long again), but also because I love, love, love the scent! 

Usually, I only wash my hair once with shampoo, but I often apply conditioner two to three times to really work out all the tangles in my hair....especially when I wear it in a topknot, because the ends get SUPER frazzled!

After that, I'll shave all the areas that need shavin' with my Venus razor and a little Target shaving cream. I only really use shaving cream on my legs; for my underarms and other delicate areas, the hydrating strip on the razor does the trick. (Plus, as a side note, my gynecologist actually advised me not to use shaving cream "down there," since my skin is so sensitive! It went against all the advice I'd ever heard EVER, but stopping using irritating products like shaving cream really helped me with the chronic yeast infection-like symptoms I'd been having for months.)

Ahem. That being said, now that I'm done shaving, I finish up by washing my body with the St. Ives Even and Bright Pink Lemon and Mandarin Orange Body Wash. This body wash has little particles that gently exfoliate your skin - plus the scent is so bright and so fresh! On the occasions that I shower in the morning, I find that the sheer smell really just does the trick to get me waking up and out of bed in the morning.

Since I'm in a dorm, when my shower is over, I have to bundle up in a towel and walk on over to a bathroom stall to get dressed. While I'm in there, I take a little body lotion and Vaseline with me for the road. 

Before I put my clothes on, I like to start by applying Vaseline anywhere that needs extra-special attention. For example, I like to put Vaseline on things like razor burn and ingrown hairs to keep my clothing from rubbing against them and irritating them. This time of year, too, because I am often sick, I also tend to put Vaseline on my nose to keep tissues from irritating it. Finally, I use the last of the Vaseline on my fingers on my lips as a quick and easy lip moisturizer! Honestly, is there anything Vaseline isn't good for?

Finally, I slather on a healthy dose of body lotion - Bath and Body Works Ultra Shea Body Cream in Warm Vanilla Sugar is the best - get dressed, and head back to my room to finish out my night. 

Once in my room, I brush out my hair and spritz a little bit of the OGX Coconut Oil Weightless Hydrating Oil Mist on my ends from afar, just to give it a little bit of extra moisture and shine. Then, I take out my contacts, put on my glasses, and finish out my night feeling pampered and amazing! 

Pampering

Speaking of pampering, once or twice a week, I like to get REALLY fancy with it and give my skin a little bit of extra TLC. 

One way I easily do this is by throwing on a CVS charcoal pore strip (a dupe for Biore) to remove any blackheads from my nose. If your nose is super dry and irritated from the wintertime, I seriously would NOT recommend this treatment - ouch! But, if you tend to get oil trapped in the little nooks and crannies around your nose (like I do), this treatment will really help you to clean out all the muck that's hiding inside your pores. The best part is that it's SO quick and easy: you just put on a pore strip while you study, wait for it to dry, and take it off when you're done! 

Another thing I like to do is use a sheet mask. For Christmas, I got a sheet mask set by Too Cool For School. All of their masks are super hydrating and always leave my skin feeling moist and soft. Plus, if you suffer from sensitive skin or skin irritation, the masks are always cool and soothing when I put them on, so I imagine they would be great for chilling red or irritated skin! 

Finally, if I'm not in the mood for a sheet mask, I go for my Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mud Mask. This mask is one of my absolute holy grail skin care products! For a mud mask, it's not super dark colored or messy, it has a light citrusy scent, and even gives you that tingly feeling in your pores so you know it's doing its job right! Whenever I take this mask off, I just always feel so happy, glowing, and refreshed. I feel like people can really see the difference in my skin...or, maybe it's just me. Who cares? I still look and feel incredible when I'm done!

So, those are the ways that, as a busy college student, I take care of my skin, hair, and body throughout my week. What's your beauty and pampering routine look like compared to mine? Are there any holy grail products I need to get my hands on? Let me know in the comments below! 

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