This is going to be the first of (hopefully) many posts on some of my reflections of my favorite things of the month! I love reading posts from other bloggers about what finds they loved, so why not join in the fun?
Makeup:
Maybelline’s Colossal Mascara:
I totally second Amanda on this one! This has been my go-to mascara for about a year now, and I LOVE it. I need to curl my lashes because they are stick straight (my Asian side saying hello), and this mascara doesn’t weigh them down and makes them look ridiculously long. Even my “Better Than Sex” mascara from Sephora can’t hold a candle to it!
Smashbox’s Bronze Lights (in Sun-kissed Matte):
This is a more recent buy of mine that has become a staple in my makeup bag and that I’m absolutely in love with. I got it at Sephora when I was vacationing in Hawaii and love how it gives me a very natural and, well, sun-kissed look without making my face look cakey! I don’t like wearing foundation in the summer because of the heat, so my go-to look involves a quick brush of this powder, a dab of blush, and some mascara. Voila! I’m good to go.
Jergen’s Natural Glow Moisturizer:
Okay, I lied, my morning routine also involves moisturizing my face pre-makeup. This lotion evens out my skin tone and makes for a wonderful base for my Smashbox bronzer. Love it!
Brushing with Baking Soda:
I know, I know, this isn’t the best for your enamel if you do it too often, but my dentist instructed me that every so often wouldn’t do any damage. I don’t use whitening strips because I have sensitive teeth, but about once or twice a month I brush my teeth with a mixture of water and baking soda. Baking soda is mildly abrasive and can help remove surface stains on your teeth and is a heck of a lot cheaper than the $40-80 kits you find at the drugstore.
Fitness:
iPhone Apps:
I mentioned this before in a separate post, but I’ve been loving my iPhone apps as resources when I’m at the gym! My two favorites? Zombies, Run! and Nike Training Club.
DIY Non-Slip Workout Headbands:
I’m still so obsessed with these headbands. These are the first headbands I’ve ever worn that stay put without endless amounts of bobby pins (I always thought I had a weirdly shaped head!). I love not having to readjust them mid-workout or deal with pins poking stabbing me.
Recipes:
Lemon Shrimp Orzo:
I prefer lighter dishes in the summer, and this Lemon Shrimp Orzo recipe is one of mine and Kyle’s favorite (he actually had leftovers of it today for lunch)!
Kabocha:
I’ve been eating roasted kabocha like a madwoman lately. It also provides me with an alternative workout just trying to cut it open and slice it. I honestly break a sweat trying to crack those things open, but it’s so worth it! Some fun facts about kabocha:
- “Kabocha is like butternut squashe’s sadly underappreciated sister. A single cup of kabocha has forty calories compared to butternut squash’s 60, and has less than half of the carbs of butternut squash (7 grams vs. 16 grams). But, it tastes better… the perfect substitute.”
- It’s a great source of beta-carotene (which your body converts to vitamin A). A single serving has 70% of your daily recommended amount. This means your eyes, skin, hair, and white blood cells will thank you!
- Fiber. YAY POOP.
- You don’t have to peel em’. When they cook, the peel softens and is so, so, so delicious with the creamy fleshy part on top.
Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles:
I still can’t get over the Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles I made a few weeks back. They’re seriously unreal!
Blogging Related:
I made the switch about a month or so ago and haven’t looked back. It gives me SO much more freedom with my blog’s appearance and different plugins, as well as letting me monetize the site. While I certainly don’t blog for money, being able to advertise pays the cost charged by my self-hosting site several times over. (And I’m a poor college student, so it pays for my Starbucks haha!).
I was thinking about writing up a post about becoming self-hosted and what I’ve learned from it if anyone would be interested! Just let me know!
Picmonkey:
I’m sure most of you guys know about picmonkey already! I just recently used it to create my blog header and love playing around on it to make graphic images for my workouts and recipes.
That’s all I can think of for the moment!
Question: What are some of your favorite things that you tried/experienced/made in August?
xo Christine