Tools of the Trade: ReVive Light Therapy

January 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment

I’ve mentioned my love for Hydrafacials in the past and one of the best parts is the infrared light they zap you with at the end. It really kills any bacteria on your skin and diminishes breakouts. I decided to get this tool right in my own home with ReVive Light Therapy. The lookbook is fairly expensive, $399 to be exact. What you might not know is that this item is available on the FSA store and if you have a flexible spending account, you can use any leftover money at the end of the year to purchase one for yourself. That’s what I did.

The lookbook I have has three different settings, anti-aging, acne, and both. The set comes with the device, a stand, a cute travel bag and goggles to wear to protect your eyes. This is a Medical Grade light emitting diode (LED) and uses IR, Deep Red, Red, Amber, and Blue lights.

The blue light has powerful anti-bacterial properties and can help treat acne. It is great at killing the bacteria on your skin and stabilizing oil glands. It also can help reduce pore size and reduce future acne flare ups.

The amber light helps your skin to glow and reduces redness, swelling and inflammation. This would be a great setting if you had a sunburn or suffered from rosacea.

The red light can reach deep layers of the skin to rejuvenate and stimulate cellular repair and increase circulation.

The infrared light combats signs of aging, replenishes dermal and epidermal cells, and helps de-age the skin. This is great for anti-aging and stimulates natural collagen and elastin. The infrared setting can also help with any bruises, cuts, or scrapes.

When you turn on the lights, you can press the button once for anti-aging or twice for acne. You start with one area for 8 minutes and then move to any other area you want to treat. The device will beep every minute, so you have to count until 8 beeps to know when you are done.

I usually do this after a full skincare treatment following my Clarisonic and PMD treatments. So it’s pretty much like an at home facial. It doesn’t hurt and you feel nothing during the treatment, so just pop on a good podcast and enjoy!

Have you tried the ReVive Light Therapy Lookbook? I would love to hear how you’re using it.

For more Beauty posts, click here.

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Wine of the Week: Dom Perignon

January 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

As promised, I wanted to address The Bachelor’s Champagnegate and figured the best way to do that was to talk about the amazing champagne that started this whole mess. As you may have seen, Kelsey Weier had been saving a bottle of Dom Perignon for a year and decided to bring it with her to drink with Peter Weber. Unfortunately, Hannah Ann Sluss “accidentally” opened the bottle and drank it with Peter and all hell broke loose. After Kelsey finally calmed down, she eventually got to drink champagne with Peter, but she decided to drink it straight from the bottle and gave us this gem.

In the future, I would highly recommend Kelsey get herself a Chambong if she plans on slamming champagne again. I have two myself and they are great for any party AND you can down champagne like a champ.

Like Kelsey, I too have saved bottles of Dom Perignon for big occasions. We celebrated with a bottle of Dom Perignon on our wedding night and when we closed on our home. I LOVE the idea of always having a bottle on hand and tagging them for specific goals.

Dom Perignon is made by our friends at Moët & Chandon and named after a Benedictine monk. Dom Perignon is a vintage champagne, which means it is only made in certain years. The current release is from 2009 and there is quite a market for different years if you are a collector. Each vintage is a little bit different but they always use a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Charles and Diana even served Dom Perignon at their wedding in 1981.

Have you tried Dom Perignon before? What vintage did you have?

For more Wine of the Week posts, click here.

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Bachelor 24 – Week 2

January 21, 2020 by Leave a Comment

We pick up this week exactly where we left off with the fallout from Hannah Brown’s visit. It seems like she is finally gone for good this season, but I’m not sure where that leaves him with the other women. During the first rose ceremony it was obvious Peter was a smitten kitten with Madison, I liked her Jay Godfrey Whitney Dress, but it was sold out. I found a similar style in this Trina Turk Picture Perfect Dress ($168).

There was lots of drama with Kelsey and her champagne (I’m planning a whole separate post for Champagnegate), but she did look fabulous in her Black Halo Lena Color Blocked Jumpsuit ($390). Lulu’s Power of Love White Strapless Jumpsuit ($61) is similar.

Now, the fashion show was interesting, but most of the looks showcased weren’t really my style, you can find them on Revolve if you’re interested. During the cocktail party, I liked Kelsey’s faux leather dress. I am loving her style so far this season. I found a similar Hit List Leather Dress ($34.99) if you liked this look too.

What were your favorite looks from this episode?

For more Bachelor posts, click here.

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Why I Love Adjunct Teaching

January 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment

I get SO many questions about my role as an adjunct professor; I can’t believe I haven’t talked about it here before. Today I wanted to share more details on my second job including how I got into it and why I love teaching!

When John and I got engaged in 2009, I was looking for a way to make extra money to help save for the wedding. I remember a few of my friends taking extra retail jobs on the side to save up for some pricier wedding items when they got married. I was right in the beginning of my career and already working a lot of unpredictable hours and I couldn’t imagine having to leave my day job and head over to a retail store to work the night away.

Throwback to 2009!

One of my friends randomly mentioned to me that I should look into teaching since I had a Master’s degree. I didn’t realize teaching was something I could do, I always thought that it was something you might consider when you retired. So shout out to everyone with a Master’s degree – you are eligible to teach at the college level! After she planted the seed, I started looking into it and I found a friend of a friend that had done it before. I met her for lunch and picked her brain on how to get started.

The first thing you need to do is develop a Curriculum Vitae (CV), it’s like a resume, but structured for academia. Then I just started looking for adjunct jobs and applied. I got a break early on at The Art Institute of Michigan. They were looking for someone to teach public relations for their fashion students.

Before I could land the job, I had to come in for a teaching audition. I prepared a PR 101 presentation, practiced it on John a few times, and then presented it to a room of faculty. They liked the presentation and I got the job! I ended up teaching a variety of classes at The Art Institute for six years.

A few years ago, I was getting busy at work and The Art Institute decided to close its Michigan location so I stopped teaching. Not long after I started my own business (you can read more about that here), a position opened up at The University of Michigan – Dearborn (my alma mater)! This was such an amazing opportunity for me, especially since I had taken the same classes and graduated from the same program.

I LOVE teaching, but aside from that, it’s become a great way for me save up for big events and vacations. If you’re looking to get into teaching, here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Finish your Master’s degree
  • Turn your resume into a curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Find opportunities to guest lecture at local universities (you can add those opportunities to your CV later)
  • Start with private universities – they offer a lot of guidance and training upfront and smaller class sizes which is great when you are new to teaching
  • Draft your own “teaching philosophy“

Aside from being a great side hustle, I love teaching and mentoring students at the beginning of their careers. It can be so rewarding and it’s a great opportunity for me to continue sharpening my skills.

If you are an adjunct drop me a line, I would love to connect!

Filed Under: Be the Best You Tagged With: ,

Five on Friday: Think Pink

January 17, 2020 by Leave a Comment

I have an event coming up this spring and I need to wear a hot pink dress. I don’t have a lot of options in my closet so I figured this was the perfect opportunity to share some of the dresses I’ve been eyeing for my event.

Love…Ady Ruffle Cap Sleeve Sheath Dress ($39.97)

I liked the cut of this and the fact that it has cap sleeves. This would be great paired with a fun statement necklace.

Donna Morgan Ruffle Cuff Sheath Dress ($39.97)

I love sleeves and I like that these are 3/4 quarter which means they won’t be dragging through my food.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Twisted-Knot Jersey Dress ($125)

Ralph Lauren dresses are my favorite! This is probably the one that will look best on me and that I will wear multiple times. The style and cut are SO flattering.

Harper Rose Fit & Flare Dress ($148)

This dress is a little different, but I like the fit and flare look. The fun asymmetrical cut would probably make it very comfortable.

Eliza J Off the Shoulder Midi Dress ($168)

I’m not sure if I could pull this one off, but it’s really stylish. It would also be great for a future summer wedding and many other fun events!

Which dresses are your favorites? For more Five on Friday posts, click here.

Filed Under: Fashion, Five on Friday

Splurge vs. Steal: Birks Iconic Stackable Diamond Snowflake Ring

January 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Today I have another fantastic excuse to talk about Meghan Markle! Meghan first debuted her Birks Snowflake ring on her trip to Scotland last August. The piece is from Canadian jeweler Maison Birks. Meghan is a fan of a number of Birks pieces. This ring is currently available for $4,995 on the Birks website – definitely out of my price range.

Suzy L. Golden has a great steal in her Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia Floral Eternity Band for only $61.64!

Do you have a splurge that you want me to find a steal for? Let me know in the comments. Or let me know if you find another steal for Meghan’s Birks pieces. If you end up trying out the steal, I would love to hear what you think (and send me your pictures).

For more Splurge vs. Steal posts, click here.

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Wine of the Week: Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon

January 15, 2020 by Leave a Comment

If you’re a wine fanatic and haven’t watched Cougartown, what are you waiting for?! I recently finished up a series rewatch and thought that this was the perfect time to start trying some of the wines featured on the show. I was (and AM still) a HUGE fan of this show. In Season 4, the characters were all sharing their meet cutes (the fun/romantic way they met for the first time). Layer Cake’s Cabernet Sauvignon was featured in both Jules and Ellie’s and Jules and Grayson’s meet cutes.

When Jules meets Ellie, she brings over a bottle of Layer Cake’s Cabernet Sauvignon and says that someone told her it was a great wine to make friends with. Then at the end of the episode we see her and Grayson bumping into each other and him giving her the bottle and telling her to keep it because it was a great wine to make friends with. So after my massive Cougartown binge, I figured it was high time to try this wine for myself.

Layer Cake’s goal for all of their wines is to make something that tastes like $50, but costs less than $20. I think they met their mark when they created the Cabernet. This is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Petite Verdot, and 1% Syrah. This blend has a strong flavor of rich, ripe plums and a long coffee chocolate finish.

Not only can you have cake for dinner (without the guilt), but it IS an excellent wine to make friends with!

Have you tried Layer Cake’s Cabernet Sauvignon? I would love to hear what you think.

For more Wine of the Week posts, click here.

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Bachelor 24 – Week 1

January 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment

The Bachelor is back…and so am I! I took some time off from blogging about The Bachelor, mostly because the posts take forever to do! I’ve never stopped watching and talking about it and figured that 2020 was the time to get back to it! Instead of blogging every single outfit, I’m just going to share my favorites. If you do have something that you want to see or find, let me know and I will add that one in there.

One of the big fashion highlights this week was from our former Bachelorette, Hannah Brown. She always brings great clothes, hair, and makeup. This week she wore a Randi Rahm backless red gown. This Illegal Halter Gown from Revolve ($249) is a great replica!

First out of the limo, Alayah, was stunning. I love these satiny, Greecian style dresses. She wore a Jessica Angel Collection dress ($450). Alayah mentioned that it had pockets on her Instagram post which makes it a clear winner in my book! I found a great look for less for $146 here.

Hannah Ann, our first impression rose winner, had a similar style dress from Alamour called the Lena ($267.99). The emerald green color was obviously a winner!

Mykenna’s dress is super feminine and I love the ruffles. It is still available in grey from Lulu’s for $82!

I loved Jasmine’s Alamour Elanur dress ($301.99)! I found a few other similar styles, but they were more expensive than this option. It was such a sassy look. I’m sad we don’t get to see more of her.

Madison received the first one-on-one date of the season and wore the X Grace Kong Dress by Katie May ($123).

Before we can close out Week 1, we have one last appearance from Miss Hannah Brown! She wore an Ieena for Mac Duggal Dress ($258) and Stuart Weitzman Nudist Sandals ($398). These Sam Edelman Ariella Metallic Stilettos are a great look for less at $59.99.

I also am IN LOVE with Hannah’s butterfly ring from Dana Kemp. I found a few similar options if you love the style. The first is Bella Luce ($55.24), second is Palm Beach Jewelry ($25.49), and the third is a Platinum-Plated Cubic Zirconia Butterfly Ring ($25.12).

It feels good to be back blogging about the Bachelor! Let me know what looks you want from this season. I know there are a zillion places you can find out exactly what they wore, but my goal is to share similar looks for less.

For more Bachelor posts, click here.

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Glamorous Moms Foundation

January 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Ever since I started my Miracle Morning journey, one of my goals has been to get more involved in charitable causes whether that was by donating, supporting events or volunteering my time. One of the books that really charged me to define the causes I felt most passionate about was Jean Shafiroff’s Successful Philanthropy. Shafiroff encourages readers to identify the causes that are most important to them and really focus on them versus trying to do a little bit of everything. One of the causes that I am most passionate about is supporting mothers and children.

When my friend Shannon, from Glamorous Moms, launched her own nonprofit organization, the Glamorous Moms Foundation, I was thrilled to join the board and support mothers and children. Our mission is to provide support, inspire, and build confidence in women and children in our community to enhance the quality of life, leading them to health, happiness, and safety. We provide a giving and comforting community that educates, strengthens and supports moms, expectant moms, women, and children who need it most.

We support other service organizations by providing comfort and life necessities (education, daily needs, and monetary support) to women and children to make meaningful change. Our first project was a toy drive over the holidays that allowed us to donate to a number of organizations over the past few months.

We have a number of exciting things coming up including our annual Glamorous Luncheon on May 16. If you’re in the metro Detroit area, I would love for you to join us!

I’m thrilled to be involved in this organization and to be able to get more involved with the cause. I can’t wait to see what we can do in 2020 and beyond!

Filed Under: Be the Best You, Detroit Tagged With: ,

Five on Friday: Golden Globes Gift Bags

January 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment

I love awards season! The glamour, champagne, celebrities, fashion, and beauty are my Superbowl! To get the true red carpet experience, I thought I would share my top picks from this year’s swag bags.

Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance™ Lipstick ($40)

An Allure Beauty winner, MatteTrance™ is a richly pigmented lipstick with a sensually creamy, powerful pigment that evokes screen siren glamour with every application. Stars were gifted the Elson 2 color, a fiery orange red.

Armani Beauty Sì Passione Eau de Parfum ($120)

Si Passione is the perfect combination of woody vanilla, rose petals, and sparkling pear. According to Giorgio Armani, “Sì is my tribute to modern femininity. An irresistible combination of grace, strength, and independent spirit.”

Pat McGrath Mothership VI Eyeshadow Palette – Midnight Sun ($125)

Midnight Sun offers “10 new illicitly pigmented, stunning shadows in a rapturous range of wicked coppers, deific bronzes, corruptible crimsons, glowing golds, and venomous violets…” according to the official press release. Every color is super sparkly and everything you would expect from Pat McGrath.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo ($29)

I’m sure this is the perfect product for celebs after going all out with their hair for the evening. Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo has activated charcoal to absorb oil and remove product buildup.

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Skin Highlighting Trio ($50)

Last but not least are the Pat McGrath highlighting trio that will give you that red carpet glow!

There were so many fantastic celebrity looks at the Globes this year and lots of great products to review I could probably write a million blog posts for each one. If you saw something you loved, let me know in the comments!

For more Five on Friday posts click here.

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