Beauty, God's love, Spiffy

Finding Your Confidence

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finding your confidence, confidence, confidence in God,

Finding your confidence in God.

There was once a good while where I made people call me “The Kite Master.”

Had I flown a lot of kites? No.

Had I flown a kite for a long time? Nope.

Had I flown anything up in the air for longer than 10 seconds within, let’s say, a month of this moment in time? Nah.

But I had the confidence for it and I succeeded. That day I flew a kite and later that year I became the owner of a kite shop.

Sorry, not an actual shop, one that goes in a Christmas village.

The point is, it’s important to find your confidence. Let’s talk about where that starts.

We have a lot of opportunities to fill our heads with other people’s lives. I just finished reading the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series and in it Laura writes how her and Mary have never seen two houses next to each other. Fast forward to today and we know intimate details about the inside of someone’s house…whom we’ve never met…across the country. Thanks to our phones and social media we have plenty of images to fill our minds. Images that are oftentimes just the highlight reel of someone’s life. But you know this, you’ve heard this along with a really quippy quote about “highlight reels” already.

You want to know where to start if your confidence has taken a hit. Or if you’re not happy with what you see in the mirror, or how to stop comparing your life/body/hair/skin/clothes to someone else’s. Or maybe you’re not comparing, you’re just wanting to love being you. The good news is, the first step is easy…

Change what you think about.

What are you meditating on? I know we use the word “meditating” a lot when it comes to Bible verses, but you can be meditating on something and it not be a scripture. I’ve caught myself meditating on negative situations with people: what happened, what I would have done differently, what I would have said to really DRIVE HOME A POINT. But it’s not doing me any good. In fact it’s doing me harm because it’s keeping me out of love.

So when it comes to yourself, what do you think about? If you’re only meditating on your flaws, what you look like in comparison to someone else, or where you have failed in life STOP! That’s not walking in love either! It’s just as much not walking in love as it is to sit around and think about how you’d like to tell off Sister Sandpaper! The Bible tells us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. How can we extend love to someone when we’ve not even worked on how we love ourselves?

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” -Matthew 22:37-40 (TPT)

It’s like the facemask in an airplane: you’ve got to first put the facemask on you before you can save others. So in order to fulfill the second greatest commandment, which Jesus points out is equally important as the first, we’ve got to love ourselves.

It’s unrealistic to think you’ll never look at social media again. So instead of swearing it off, take the baby step of paying attention to your thoughts when you’re on it or right after you get off it. Are they positive or negative about yourself? If they’re at all negative, put a stop to them immediately. Say, “that’s not my thought.” Then find a scripture about yourself and the area you need the biggest boost in and speak it out.

I’ll touch more on that next time. But for now, work on identifying what’s going on in your thought life and putting a stop to it.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” -Jeremiah 17:7

God has put it on my heart to write about this subject. Obviously it’s been a minute since I’ve posted and there is definitely some dust flying around this blog as I type. But I want to share about this because I believe it’s part of my calling. I have such a desire to see women be confident in who God made them to be. I hope you’ll check back in for more. :)

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Beauty

Spiffy Beauty Organization

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easy ways to organize beauty products, beauty product organization, walmart finds, beauty product hacks, amazon finds, travel makeup case, best travel makeup case

Time to get inspired to spring clean with these super affordable ways to organize your beauty products!

Everything is under $25 – picked it all up at either Walmart or Amazon.

On the go – this travel makeup case is everything.

The floral case is a travel makeup case from Amazon. It’s got customize-able compartments, great zippered pockets, wonderful brush storage (that’s wipe-able!) AND it’s only $22!

Use a silverware divider for all of your every day products.

I’ve used one for years and it helps me access everything quickly. I organize things by product so concealers go in one compartment, highlighters, mascara, foundation and so on and so forth. Wash it in the dishwasher to bring it back to life!

Use an ice cube tray to organize all your eye shadows.

Keeps everything visable and reachable.

Use a over-the-door shoe rack for hair prodcuts and tools!

I think this is the coolest one of all – it’s genius for making things neat, organized, visible and within easy reach.

For organization that’s on display…

Take a wire storage basket – flip it! Use it to store masks/lipsticks/mascara.

Use a spice rack to put what you often reach for on display (this one’s cool because it’s expandable). If you’re a crafty person, I think this would look pretty with a gold stripe down the side

It’s also a great way to organize your foundation – do light medium and heavy coverage on different levels. Or use it to display all of your beautiful perfumes.

I love a good container for your dresser or bathroom vanity – this is a cute little way to display cotton balls

Think outside the box without having to spend a lot will keep you nice and organized this spring!
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What a Foundation Wardrobe is and Why You Need One

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While shopping for a new foundation the other day, the girl (Sarah) at Bare Minerals used a phrase that caught my attention. She said it’s good to have a, “foundation wardrobe.” I caught it in the moment and didn’t unpack it until later on…

A “Foundation Wardrobe” is when you have more than one option when it comes to foundations. Gone are the days of the same-old swipe of the same-old formula day after day after day. Now there are so many foundation options out there, that you can build a collection – wardrobe – of textures, coverage and formulas from which to choose.

And much like your clothing wardrobe, you can stand in front of it your head full of your needs for the day, and pick whichever option will most perfectly suit them. It’s exactly what I do with my foundations, I just never thought of it like that.

If you’re still skeptical, let me unpack it further…Let’s say it’s Saturday, you’re going to run errands then work around the house. You don’t want to look like a slob – you’ll inevitably run into your high school ex boyfriend if you do – but you don’t want to spend valuable time and valuable full-coverage foundation on your face. What do you do? You go to your wardrobe and swipe a stick over your face, or apply some tinted moisturizer.

Okay, now it’s Sunday morning and you are going to church then lunch with friends, then out to dinner with family – you need full, long lasting coverage. Your tinted moisturizer will slide off your face by noon and the stick coverage just isn’t enough. You need liquid foundation.

I could go on, but those are just two examples in a pool of what could be 7 (since every day is different). And if you think it’s an expensive endeavor, think again. Since you’re not heavily using one foundation over the other, they’re all going to last that much longer, which means you don’t have to refill for probably another 6-9 months if not longer.

Okay, now let’s talk about options…

Light Coverage…

Complexion Rescue by Bare Minerals (clean products free of all the chemicals that are bad for your skin and full of ingredients that are good for you).

Hydrating Foundation Stick – new product! Gives a nice finish, swipe it in a few spots on your face then blend – it blends in really nicely and is especially good for dry skin. Has SPF25 and you can use it as a concealer.

Hydrating Gel Cream – a tinted moisturizer that has a nice gel-like texture. Lightweight coverage with a nice natural sheen. Also has SPF and antioxidants that are good for your skin. Both the gel cream and the stick are in the $30 price range. It’s great for moisturizing your skin, but doesn’t have staying power.

Laura Mercier has a very popular version of the tinted moisturizer – also has SPF and vitamins that are good for your skin. This one promises 24 hour coverage and is in the $50 price range.

IT Cosmetics CC Cream – this one has the heaviest coverage of all the moisturizer options. It is a CC cream which is color correcting so if you have more you want to cover, this is a great option. Also has the SPF and is hydrating. Of all the options this won’t deposit as many vitamins and minerals on your face, but will give you good coverage.

Medium Coverage…

Sephora Compact – matte, build-able coverage. I like to have this on hand to layer over a tinted moisturizer for a quick touch up.

Bare Minerals has a version as well – theirs is vitamin and mineral infused. If your skin is on the dry side you wouldn’t want one of these to be your main foundation, but it’s so nice to have on hand to add to moisturizer. Or to use as a finishing powder to lock everything in with a little extra coverage.

Sephora Airbush – this is a great, inexpensive way to try out an airbrush look. Gives you a soft, satiny finish that blurs imperfections. Apply by sweeping back and forth across your face. For under $30 it’s a great option to have on hand.

Heavy Coverage…

Makeup Forever Water Blend – perfect option for the pool or beach. It’s going to last hang on in the water and can go on both your face and body. Has a gel-like texture and gives you a satin finish. Rings in at $43.

Bare Minerals Bare Pro Liquid Foundation – this is performance wear, meant to last 24 hours. It does hold up well on your face. I like the build-able coverage. Gives you a matte finish and is transfer resistant – which I have found to be true! Has SPF and is $34.

Right now Bare Minerals is running a sale – get this box with samples in it, a brush of your choice and then 3 other products of your choosing for $99. That’s a great way to get your foundation wardrobe started!

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Beauty

Best Buys of 2019

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hydrating products, fresh kale bath company, night cream product review, knoxville shop local, west town mall, knoxville beauty blogger

2019 was a great year!

The fact that I had a baby at the beginning of it was good motivation to dive deep into the products that would help me feel like a regular person again and fast.

Which is good for you! Because I’ve accumulated those products here to showcase my favorite buys of 2019…

1. Revlon Volumizer Hair Brush

It’s like you grew a third hand and that hand can hold both a round brush and the hair dryer for you to give you the best, fastest blowout.

Sometimes I use it instead of straightening my hair. Other times I get detailed with it and will dry a section then hold it with a regular round brush to let the hair set while it cools. Regardless, it’s awesome, fast and gives you a blowout that will last for days.

Don’t start with sopping wet hair, dry it half way with a regular dryer then just wait for the fabulousness to come forth.

2. Tula Glow and Get it Brightening Eye Balm

Bought this in my car after I had pulled up to the house. My toddler was asleep in the back seat and it was one of those moment when I was not willing to get me and my baby belly out of the car just yet. So I sat and scrolled Instagram and came across this.

I bought it on the spot because I would be having a baby soon and I knew that after my last kid my under eyes needed HELP.

Boy was this the best purchase. It’s cooling, brightening and good for your skin. I’ve seen noticeable improvement in my under eye area since I’ve started using it – it’s brighter, just better. I will use this for a long, long time (and not just because the tube will last me forever).

There is the Rose glow and the Blue one – go with whatever would work with your skin type. If you have red undertones go with the Rose Glow. I’ve used both and they’re just both awesome.

3. Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

I’ve heard a lot about this stuff. I would often ignore it. Then I bought it and I get it – this is the greatest concealer of all time. Why? It’s long lasting, gives you great coverage, mattefying, brightening and blends in really well. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted in a concealer.

Don’t be like me and read those statements and ignore them – click that link and buy some. You won’t regret it.

4. Marc Jacobs Eyelash Primer

This isn’t going to give you long luscious lashes – let’s get that out of the way. But it is going to get you fuller lashes than if you would just use mascara.

I’ve tried it and it really gives you a fuller look. Now it’s not HOLY COW WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOUR EYES THESE DAYS GINA?! – kind of full, but it is the confidence boost you need to walk out and wink at the security cameras in the grocery store.

5. Rocksbox

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about this and it won’t be the last.

Okay, $21 per month gets you a round of jewelry with three pieces in it. That box you can keep as long as you want or return it as many times as you want. I generally use two boxes a month to give you an idea and it usually takes about 4 days for turn around.

The great thing is that $21 goes towards anything you decide to keep.

What I’ve used it for is to systematically update my jewelry collection with quality pieces that I don’t have to pay full price for. Each piece is discounted then with the $21 you’re putting toward on top of it you can get a lot of good stuff without paying a ton.

And you get to live with the piece before deciding to give it a forever home.

I’m going to write a full post on it, but if you’re tired of your jewelry and want to refresh for the new year – this is the way to do it.

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