2017 Spring Beauty Trend: Clay

Clay is one of the top ingredients in many beauty products loved by celebrities, and is now becoming more available for the mass market. Clay can help absorb impurities and heal skin. Clay products come in a multitude of colors due to the type of clay that is used. Different types of clay have their own specific benefits for skin.

// French Green Clay //

Best for exfoliation and pore-tightening

Oil absorbing

Boosts circulation

// Bentonite Clay //

Found in acne products

Great for oily skin

Good for psoriasis and eczema



// Rhassoul Clay //

Great for hair and skin

Helps eliminate sebum plugs and blackheads

Absorbs oil around hair follicles

Restores volume and shine to hair

// Kaolin Clay //

Gentle enough for dry or sensitive skin

Boosts circulation

Detoxifying and provides gentle exfoliation

Clay is not longer just available for celebrities or at expensive salons. I've teamed up with my local Meijer store and The 2017 #MeijerBeauty Spring Campaign to feature affordable and accessible products.

L'Oreal Paris recently came out with it's Extraordinary Clay line which features shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, and a clay mask for your hair!

The shampoo and conditioner for oily roots and dry ends has three refined clays. It purifies roots and hydrates dry ends without weighing down your hair.

These products left my hair feeling super soft. I can't get over the smell! The light, fresh scent is AMAZING!

The clay hair mask, which also features three refined clays, is actually a pre-shampoo mask. I sectioned off my hair, painted the mask onto my roots with my fingers, and let it set for 5 minutes before shampooing. It rinses out easy, and made me feel like I had a extra clean, oil free roots.

Refreshing your face for Spring with clay is also super simple. L'Oreal now offers 6 different clay masks, each with a different benefits for you skin.

The Detox and Brightening Pure-Clay mask addresses dull and tired skin. The mask detoxifies with deep pore cleansing pulling out dirt, dust, and pollution.

On the days I'm not using the Detox and Brightening clay mask, I got L'Oreal's Exfoliate and Refining Treatment Pure-Clay Mask. This mask addresses rough skin and deeply clogged pores with pure clays and volcanic rock. Exfoliation will help remove dead cells, dirt, and oil from your skin.

I even like to use them in combo!

All products are available in the health and beauty aisles at Meijer. Be sure to check out #MeijerBeauty on social media for other great products and tips!

What will you be doing to freshen up your beauty routine for Spring?

This is a sponsored post. 

The products featured were sent to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hump Day 2.22.17

Hey all! I've been totally off social media and blogging due to contracting the flu. It had me in bed for four days! I had to end up taking Friday and Monday off from work. As much as I love my job, the worst things about working in health care is that you are exposed to absolutely EVERYTHING out there. So when a parent brings their vomiting child in to the office instead of keeping them home because they're contagious... you're pretty much screwed.

On Saturday evening, after not having been able to keep anything down (including liquids) for about 40 hours, it was time to head in to urgent for some IV fluids. I was trying so hard to be positive, but I felt really, really awful. I spent Sunday and Monday recovering hard core and headed back to work on Tuesday. I missed on on so much stuff I had planned due to having the flu. I had to cancel the dance classes I teach on Saturdays and missed plans with my sister-in-law.

The weekend before was a lot of fun. Nick and I went to see Professional Bull Riding downtown, and we went to a program at Nick's church for Valentine's Day!

I'm looking forward to continued recovery this week. Nick and I our celebrating our wedding anniversary this weekend! Can't wait to see the Sound of Music live!

Hope you all have had a better weekend/week!

5 Beauty Tricks for Your Daily Routine

//1// Concealer helps lip color last longer. Dabbing concealer on your lips before adding color will giving your lip color staying power. Great trick for all seasons, but especially in hot weather!

//2// Sugar and honey will soften your lips. Make your own lip scrub with two packets of raw sugar and a dime-sized portion of honey. Gently scrub the mixture on your mouth in a circular motion for 30 seconds and then wash it off. The sugar will removed dead skin and the honey will nourish the skin. The smooth surface will help lip color stay on longer!

//3// Apply hair products to the back first. Everyone's hair is finer in the front. Applying an oil or cream on the back first will avoid weighting down the hair around your face.

//4// Cream foundation goes on better with a brush. Using circular motions allows the bristles to help color blend seamlessly into skin. Finish with a cream blush.

//5// Exfoliate before you cleanse. Take off makeup with a wife wipe first, then use a scrub or apply a peel. Following this order will remove the layer of dead skin and will help your cleanser work better.

Happy Friday!

Blogging The Bachelor 21.7

Here we are ... another week of The Bachelor and we're already down to six!

























Corinne, Rachel, Vanessa, Kristina, Danielle M, and Raven are headed to Bimini after Nick gets over whatever reservations he has about "the process" working or not working.

1 on 1 #1
Nick invites Vanessa on the first 1 on 1.  The date card says, 'Let's Go Deeper' which is clearly a sexual inuendo. Vanessa and Nick go for a boat ride where they discuss the train wreck that was last week.

At dinner Vanessa professes her love for Nick. Thankfully Nick seems really, really in to it because he tell Vanessa he "really, really likes" her. Vanessa seems very confused about his answer.

Group Date
Corinne, Raven, and Kristina are invited on the group date, and this date as a rose! This rose means Nick will be visit that girl's hometown!

The girls are told they will be swimming with sharks. Kristina and Corinne are a bit apprehensive, but Raven is ready for the shark to eat these other two bitches. No one gets eaten, but Corinne is feeling insecure and like today is all about Kristina. Toast to it not being The Corrine Show for once.

During the evening portion of the date, Nick pulls Kristina aside first which causes Corinne to start shoving cheese in her face. Stress eating at it's finest.

Each girl has meaningful time with Nick, and I could actually stand Corinne's time with him. Raven is given the rose which means we know 1 out of 4 of Nick's hometown dates. He's going to Hoxie Arkansas!

1 on 1 #2

Danielle M gets the second one on one date this week. They romp around the island of Bimini, but it's clearly awkward when they sit down for a chat. 

So I just realized this whole post I've been typing Michelle M, not Danielle M. I went back and edited, but really I don't even know her name! It's  not that I don't like her, she's a cool chick, but I thought her name was Michelle!

It's over for Danielle, and she says her good byes to Nick and the girls. 

Corinne decides its a great idea to go visit Nick.

She's going to turn their spark into a fire, " blow the room up," and "turn on the sex charm." Ok, I think? Nick is so turned on by this so it's a good that Corinne's vagine is platinum.

Corinne takes Nick into the bedroom and I'm pretty sure he touches breasts and she touches his... Anyway, Nick decides it best to wait. I'm not sure why because he's never waited in the past. But, whatever. It's got to be really embarrassing to come on to a guy and have him kick you out of his bed.

1 on 1 #2
Rachel gets the second 1 on 1, and I just realized I've been getting her name wrong all night too. I've been calling her Lindsay, which is really her last name not her first. Ugh. My thoughts on this date are at (1) Rachel is a cool chick and (2) I just want to date this end because they announced her as the next Bachelorette before this episode started.

After a discussion with Chris Harrison, Nick knows what he needs to do and that is to send Kristina home. Nick decides to send her off privately instead of at a rose ceremony.

That leaves the other girls wondering if they are officially the Final 4.

Can't wait for next week! Hometowns is my favorite episode of every season! 

Who do you think comes back? My money is on Danielle L!

Frozen Biscoff Pie for Valenine's Day

My husband Nick always loves when I make him sweets. Great for me! I love baking. Nick's family has always flown Delta which give out these amazing Biscoff cookies. We were both really excited when, a few years, ago I found that they make Biscoff spread! The spread can be used for many different delicious reasons, like this Frozen Biscoff Pie.

What' You'll Need:

for the crust:

1/4 cup of white chocolate

4 tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons of Biscoff spread

2 cups of graham cracker crumbs

for the filling:

1/2 cup of Biscoff spread

1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk

1 cup of whipped topping (such as cool whip), divided

for the swirl topping:

1 ounce of white chocolate

1 tablespoon of Biscoff spread

What You'll Need to Do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

to make the crust:

Melt white chocolate, butter, and Biscoff together in a microwave safe bowl for 45-60 seconds.

Stir until smooth.

Stir in graham cracker crumbs.

Press mixture into a 9 inch or 9.5 inch pie late (crust will be thick).

Bake for 8 minutes.

Allow to cool before filling.

to make the filling:

Microwave 1/2 cup of Biscoff spread for 20 seconds.

Stir in the sweetened condensed milk.

Set aside 1/2 cup of whipped topping for the swirl topping,

Fold the remaining (1/2 cup) of whipped topping into the Biscoff/sweetened condensed milk mixture.

Pour mixture into prepared, cooled crust.

Top with reserved shipped topping.

to make the swirl topping:

Melt 1 ounce of white chocolate and 1 tablespoon of Biscoff spread together in the microwave.

Place mixture into a piping bag or a sealable sandwich bag with the corned cut off.

Pipe as desired on to the top of the pie.

Freeze pie for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before serving.

ENJOY!

5 Things That Happened in Pop Culture This Week

//1// Another Duggar (Seewald) Arrives!

Jessa Duggar Seewald (Duggar child number 5) welcomed her second son with her husband Ben Seewald on Monday, Febraury 6. The baby was reported to weigh 8lbs 11oz and 21 3/4" long. Jessa and Ben have not settled on a name.

Jessa's sister, Jill (Duggar) Dillard is expecting her second boy in July.

//2// Christie Brinkley Is Back!

In Sports Illustrated that is. She first appeared in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1979. Christie appears in the special issue again this year at the age of SIXTY THREE! She joined by her daughters Alex Ray Joel (31) and Sailor Brinkley Cook (18).


//3// George Clooney To Be A Father!

George Clooney's wife Amal is pregnant. And she's reportedly pregnant with TWINS! George will be a first time father at the age of 55.


//4// Khloe Changes Her Name

Khloe Kardashian Odom has legally dropped the 'Odom' from her name and is now, legally, a full Kartrashian ... oops Kardashian again. She celebrated with friends and family with a California liscence plate cake. The cake listed Khloe's address as '13 Freedom Lane' and her weight as 'Skinny Bitch.'

//5// LC Partners With Chicago-Based Charity

Mogul  Lauren Conrad made trip to Chicago in January to work with Bright Endeavors, an organization that works with young mothers (who have experienced abuse and/or homelessness to help) to build career skills. She has partnered with the organization to help support a line of soaking salts and new sugar scrubs for her company The Little Market.In addition to providing women jobs, Bright Endeavors works closely with the women to develop their career skills and goal-setting techniques for the future.

HAPPY FRIDAY!