Monday, December 28, 2020

My Top 5 Favorite Products Recommended by Amanda Jo of Organic Bunny

2020 is finally coming to a close and I could not be happier about it! It's been quite the year and I know it was rough on all of us. My Treat Yourself Tuesday series definitely took a hit as most of us were much more concerned with paying our bills than frivolities!


What I did have a lot of in 2020 was time so I made good use of it! I decided that it was about time that I gave a few things recommended by Amanda Jo of Organic Bunny a try and I am so glad I did. I am often reminding everyone to practice self care, yet I found I wasn't following my own advice. So, I got a little splurgy and decided I was going to focus on me for once and not feel an ounce of guilt about it. I came across some great products and wanted to share them with you as an end of the year-that-wasn't Treat Yourself TODAY post!



Now that I have reached my forties, I have retired foundation. It doesn't matter what brand it is or if it has anti-aging properties...it will end up caked up in weird places. I fell in love with BB cream, however, the first time I used it. I have tried many different kinds since it became available and I think I have finally found my favorite in Suntegrity's Impeccable BB Cream. It's very light and I love that it has SPF30 and blue light protection. It leaves my skin so soft and the coverage is exactly the kind I am looking for. You can even buy samples here



As I am sure I have mentioned, I am obsessed with my hair. I am constantly looking for new hair products that will nourish, revive, and renew these old, tired strands. This Earth Harbor Sunstone Hair Revive Elixir is my favorite find. It smells like heaven and it is actually taming my fly-aways and damaged ends. My hair is softer than it has ever been! 


Another hair product, of course! I am always a little skeptical of hair masks as I have tried many that leave my hair heavy and a little more oily than I would like. This rosewater, vitamin B, coconut, silk proteins and jojoba infused mask leaves my hair essentially moisturized and revitalized without that "Did I wash this all of the way out?" feeling. I finally believe in hair masks again!

My mother was always of the opinion that a nice, long, hot bath could fix anything. Mom was definitely right about this! All of my troubles seem to float away with the steam of a hot bath and I come out of the bath feeling refreshed and ready. The Shiva Rose Moon Sea Salts soothe with rose crystal salts from the peaks of the Andes, mineral rich salts from the Dead Sea and the Himalayan peaks, rose oil, frankincense, and grounding cedar. Absolutely lovely. Your body will thank you!


I know, I said I was going to focus on SELF care but I can not stop myself from spoiling my very first granddaughter, even if I try. This calming baby lotion leaves baby super soft but not greasy. It absorbs so rapidly and smells divine. Made with French Lavender, Chamomile, and Meadowsweet oil, it is the perfect calming lotion for baby (or you)! I admit, I have used it as well and absolutely love it. 


Did you treat yourself today? 

Saturday, December 5, 2020

3 Things To Know Before You Rent

 Finding and deciding on a place to rent can be a daunting task. There are so many "what if?" questions that can arise that it can be difficult to know where to begin. After twenty years of renting, I think I have encountered every single one of the possibilities that can come up! Luckily I am here to give you answers to those what if questions and see if I can help you avoid a few catastrophes.



Compare Prices In A Larger Rental Area

I love that there is an app for everything these days. Every time we would have to move, I immediately began searching all of the apps for the area we were going to next. I am originally from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which is coastal Virginia chopped up into seven cities. The seven cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News. If you are in any one of those cities, you can live in any other of those cities and only be 45 minutes away at the most (unless the bridge is jammed, but that's a story for another day). So, if I were moving to Norfolk, I could search for Norfolk, VA rent prices as well as any of the seven cities of the Hampton Roads area to find the best price and area. Apps like Zumper make it easy to see what schools are like in your area, what the median rent is, and you can even see satellite photos of the area. Always remember to look at the surrounding areas of where you're moving, you might be surprised with what you find!

Invest In Renter's Insurance 

Someone once told me with a straight face that buying renter's insurance was asking for something bad to happen. Here's some breaking news: bad things happen regardless. No one thinks they need insurance until they do and they don't have it. No one likes to learn this lesson by losing everything they own in a fire that wasn't even their fault, and you shouldn't either. Buy the insurance, if anything, for peace of mind.

You Have Options For How Long You Rent

I thought that all rental leases were for a year for far too long. You actually do have options to rent by the month, 6 months, or even longer than a year. In some places, it is actually cheaper by the month if you sign the lease for longer than a year. Everyone likes to save on rent so don't forget to explore those options when looking for your next rental!



Want more advice on renting and moving? Check out my blog: 5 Things To Keep In Mind When Moving 

Do you have any tips to add?