5 Ways To Improve Your Skin

   Happy Friday y'all! I hope everyone's week has gone well, if not cheer up, Friday is here! For this week's Five on Friday I thought I'd share five ways you can improve your skin. So if you're worried about your skin being dull, constantly blemish ridden, or just anything besides radiant, read on!

1. Moisturize

    For years I thought I shouldn't moisturize my skin because it could aggravate acne. Your skin still needs moisture. I use the Anew Vitale Day Cream, which is specifically for women in their 20s to 30s. It's so important to not just moisturize but to use a moisturizer suited for your skin type. Moisturizing is your best bet against the first signs of aging, such as fine lines. It's always best to start before you see any aging, so if you don't have a daily moisturizer today is the day to find the right one for you.

2. Exfoliate
     In order for your skin to look good not only without makeup but also with, you need to be exfoliating. It is ideal to exfoliate once per week in the Winter, and every few days in the warm weather months. Your makeup won't blend right if you're stuck with dead skin cells on your face. I use the Anew Clean Refining Daily Scrub. If you want a more thorough scrub try out the Anew Clean Cleansing Brush. You can use your regular daily facial cleanser with it, and it's suitable for all skin types. It cleans 5 times better than your hands alone. Bonus tip: try exfoliating when you go to wash your makeup off. Not only will you be exfoliating away the dead skin, but you'll make sure not a trace is left of your makeup.

3. Ice, Ice, Baby
     This one isn't really a long term fix for your skin. It's more of  a "I have someone coming over in 10 minutes and I still need to pick up the living room" quick fix for your skin. Which we could all use every once in a while. Take an ice cube and just suck on it for a few minutes, until it melts basically. The ice chills the millions of cells in your cheeks and lips, which will cause increased circulation, and leaves you with the result of plumper, rosier skin.

4. Clean Your Phone
     You don't have to watch Inside Edition to know that your phone is a breeding ground for every germ imaginable. Germs are flawless skin's biggest foe. So if you really want to improve your skin start cleaning your phone as often as possible. Your skin will thank you.

5. Clean Your Makeup Brushes
     Makeup brushes trap in all those germs found on your face and in your makeup like that Swiffer duster you used to clean the ceiling fan. Think about that. Now go grab your makeup brushes, some baby shampoo, warm water, and get to cleaning. Once you've cleaned them, pat the bristles dry (reshaping them if necessary) and let them dry on a fresh hand towel. Voila.

   Well there you have it folks, five ways to improve your skin, and none of them are super expensive or involve heavy amounts of Botox and other unknown injectables. What are your favorite skincare tips?


Linking up with April

5 Cooking Skills Anyone Should Have Down

 

   Hey y'all! Today I thought I'd share just 5 cooking skills I think anyone should have mastered. So many people find themselves intimated by cooking, and they really shouldn't be. After most of cooking is just following directions. Once you have a few of the basic dishes or skills down you can modify here and there to suit your personal taste. And if like me you already have these skills down you could use this list as a starting point to teach your kids the basics of cooking. Well let's get started!

1. How To Cook Eggs
   Eggs are one of the most versatile things you could cook. You can have them scrambled, hard boiled, soft boiled, poached, fried, over easy, in a quiche, an omelet, a frittata, you get the picture. You should know how to make eggs at least 3 different ways. My favorite way is definitely quiche. Quiche is good for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

2. How To Cook Rice
   I know this sounds super easy, but I have had too many rice fails to count, and I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so. One time I accidently put in DOUBLE the amount of water to make minute rice. At first I'm all "oh no, not again! This is going to be horrible!!!". Then I let it cook a little longer and I realized something really cool, my little mistake had made sticky rice! So I guess you could say my epic fail became an epic win? But seriously cooking rice right should be on your list.

3. How To Make A Yummy Cookie
    We all love the Christmas tree cookies you can get in the refrigeration section of the grocery store. I know I do! But it's also good to know how to make one really yummy cookie recipe. It doesn't have to be fancy, or super time consuming. In fact my favorite cookie to make, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, is only 4 ingredients.

4. How To Make Mac 'n' Cheese
    Everyone should know how to make a really good mac 'n' cheese, and not the boxed kind. Mac 'n' cheese is one of those foods I could live off of, like literally. It's a crowd pleaser, a comfort food, and an excellent source of dairy! My favorite recipe for mac 'n' cheese is only 4 ingredients. There's tons of different ways to make mac 'n' cheese a little different. You could add bacon, more cheese, jalophenos, whatever you want.

5. How To Make A Casserole
     Casseroles are the easy staple of many households across America. You can make one with noodles, rice, chicken, beef, veggies, if you can think it, you can bake it. My favorite casserole I've made is BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole. It doesn't take much prep time or actual cooking time, and if you have any bbq ranch sauce left over you could use it to dip chicken tenders or fries in for the next night's dinner.
     What was the first meal you learned to cook? What would you add to this list?

Linking up with April

My Avon Weekly Deals

   Hey y'all! Most of y'all know I'm an Avon representative. So today I thought I would share a few of my favorite exclusive deals you can score this week in my Avon eStore. I wanted to put it all together in one convenient place so my customers don't miss them!

October 4th - 6th

You can get a FREE 5-piece Skin So Soft Soft & Sensual Set + Clear Pink Trim Cosmetic Bag when you place a order of $55 or more. Use coupon code: PAMPER.

October 7th

Then you can get FREE shipping on orders of $25 or more by using code: FORYOU.

October 10th

The last of my exclusive coupon deals for this week is in honor of National Handbag Day ( who knew that was a thing?!). You can get a FREE Grommet Saddle Crossbody Bag in Black with a order of $60 or more. Just use code: BAGLOVE. You can take a look at the bag here.

If you have any questions about any of these deals or just questions about Avon in general, please ask away! Happy shopping y'all!

Five Under $5: For Babies

   Hey y'all! I hope everyone has had a fantastic week. I know I've been looking forward to the weekend. For one thing my birthday is this Monday and my mom's birthday is on Sunday(I was a late birthday present you could say). But Miller will be 7 months old(officially!) on my birthday! So lots of happy things are on the forecast.
    A few weeks back I did a round-up for Five on Friday about five cool items I recently found for(you guessed it) $5 or under. Well I'm doing it again today, but for babies!



 1. Flash Cards- $1.00
   

     I'm sure your first thought is "uh isn't your son too young for those?", and the answer would be "no!". Nearly every article you read about early childhood development will talk about the importance of talking and interacting with your children. Showing them flash cards is simply taking the conversation a step further.
    When I opened these for the first time to show to Miller he got surprisingly excited. Because to him, everything is new, and therefore something to be explored or experienced.
     I found all of these flash cards pictured at none other than Dollar Tree. They have a bunch more about math, matching games, colors and shapes, etc.

2. Board Books- $1.00
  

   If you've ever spent more than five minutes in a Barnes & Noble you have probably glared at the outrageous prices they have for children's books. Oh that's just me? Never mind.
   Well if you can identify with that you would be happily surprised by the well priced choices you can find at Dollar Tree and Target's dollar spot. I've found a plethora of board books for Miller. He has regular paper page books as well, but the board books are a great choice since they're durable and you can easily disinfect them with cleaning wipes. Score!

3. Baby Wipes- $1.00

   When I'm out and about with Miller I find it's much easier to bring a small package of wipes rather than the 100 packs. I found this 32 pack for only a $1 at Dollar Tree, and can I just say how much I love the Mickey Mouse theme. I also saw the exact same pack of wipes at Target, but for $1.47. So if you do the math you would pay 47% more at Target for the exact same thing. You're welcome.

4. Baby Spoons- $1.00

   Miller just recently started on pureed foods(can you say 'exciting' and 'messier than I had bargained for'). So obviously his little mouth can't handle adult size spoons. I got these at Dollar Tree. They have them in 12 packs, with either 12 spoons or a combination of 12 spoons and forks. They come in fun colors, and they're BPA free.


5. 'O' Ball Rattle- $4.00

   I had never actually heard of the 'O' ball until Miller was in the NICU. A lovely neonatologist developmental doctor suggested it, she said it was one of the only toys she strongly suggested for parents to get for their children. Now the traditional 'O' ball is a little over $5, but the rattle is about $4 at walmart. I got it before the actual ball for Miller back at Christmastime. They're really great toys, easy to grasp, flexible, colorful. My son loves trying to put it in his mouth, and I love watching him try. Cue all the heart eye emojis!

  Well that's all folks! I hope y'all found this helpful. What are some of your favorites for babies that are under $5? Have you used any of the above?

 

       Linking up with April, Christina & Natasha

Linking up with Andrea, Narci, & Erika 

 

How To Throw a Tea Party

   Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day weekend. As usual my weekend came and went way too fast. If you're having a case of the "weekdays"(that is a thing, right?) this post is for you.   Because nothing makes you feel fancier than sipping Earl Grey from your favorite teacup.
    My mom and I used to love hosting tea parties, especially during the summer. We would enjoy planning out every last detail for weeks. So if you wanna throw a tea party for a bridal shower, baby shower, or just to throw a tea party read on!
 

•  Invitations

This is the first place to start(after you decide the date of your party of course), because this isn't one of those "build it and they will come" times, it's one of those "send a invitation far enough in advance and they should RSVP by the date indicated" times. Now if you want to go the traditional route(which I would advise) you can find cute invitations at Dollar Tree, Target, Walmart, or Hallmark. You should create a Facebook event in addition to your mailed invitations. That way you have a designated place for your guests to RSVP, because lets face it, people don't take the time to RSVP by phone anymore. But you can bet they've checked their Facebook page 3 times already today. Of course leave your phone number on the RSVP line of your invitations for the traditionalists.

• Drinks & Food

 Obviously you'll be serving tea, and a couple choices at that! But don't forget to include a few options other than tea for your guests. Water and punch should be enough. You could also include coffee if you like. As for the food you should provide a mix of sweet and savory. Mini cupcakes are great, petit fours are adorable, filo cups with hummus are a real crowd pleaser. When planning on how much food you're having keep in mind how long your party should be. You wouldn't have the same amount of food for a 2 hour party as a 4 hour party. The common rule of thumb is 6 to 8 pieces per hour per guest.

• Décor

 For decorations your teacups and teapots are a obvious choice. If you don't already possess an array of teacups a great place to look for inexpensive options is Goodwill and thrift shops of the like. You'd be surprised by the hidden gems you'll find. Hanging paper lanterns are a favorite of mine for parties. They make a good impact without impacting your budget too much. I've found them at Target before at a good price.

•  Music

 No party is complete without a soundtrack, not even a tea party. Classical music is a nice choice, music from the 40s is great, even some of today's mellower music can be perfect for the setting of an afternoon tea. Jack Johnson, Frank Sintara, Norah Jones, anything by Gershwin, and Michael Feinstein are just a few options for your playlist.

• Attire

  Now this section reminds me of a funny story from a tea party we threw when I was 12 years old. I had dressed up, gloves, pearls, hair up, heels on; I was ready for a tea party. I open the door to our first guests, it was my friends who were sisters and they had sundresses and sandals on. They were dressed very cute, but not as dressed up as I was. I don't think the Queen was dressed like I was that day. Before I can think better of it I exclaim "Boy am I overdressed!". My mother was mortified, luckily we had been friends for years so this was nothing new to them and their mom. Just a typical Robyn moment. So I tell you all that to say, don't expect any particular dress code to be followed by your guests, and try to dress in the middle ground. Not too causal, and not too overdressed.

• Tips and Trivia
• If you wanna do things up right use milk instead of cream for your tea. That's how the British do it.
• There are 4 major types of tea, green, black, white, and oolong. They are all derived from the same plant, camellia sinensis. It's simply the treatment of the leaves that gives us the different types of tea.
• Teas absorb moisture, so make sure your tea is stored in a sealed container.
• For centuries tea was only used medicinally. It took almost 3,000 years for it become a everyday drink.
• When tea leaves uncurl as hot water is poured over them it is known as "the agony of the leaves".
• Earl Grey tea was named for a 19th century British diplomat to China. It is flavored with bergamot oil.
• Tea used to be a luxury and was kept in a locked tea chest in the parlor. The lady of the house was responsible for the tea, and was often the only person with a key.
• High tea was created during the Victorian era when a evening meal was eaten with tea. It took place at a high table.
• Low tea is also known as afternoon tea. Afternoon tea began in the late 1800s by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. She would invite guests for tea and sweets to fill the long period of time between breakfast and dinner.
• Tea was introduced to England in 1662 when Charles II married Portugal's Catherine of Braganze. Her dowry included chests of tea and the regions of Bombay and Tangier.
• Lemon and milk should never go in the same cup of tea. The lemon can cause the milk to curdle.
• English tea gardens were the first public place where men and women could mingle without scandal or criticism.
• Typically the hostess will serve everyone's tea. The milk and sugar cubes go in first, this was done to protect the china from the tea.

If you enjoyed this post 'like' After The Honeymoon on Facebook!

Quiche: It's What's For Brunch

  With Springtime in full motion, and Summer just around the corner( yay!) it's officially what I like to call brunch season. I know when I think of brunch one of the first things to come to mind is quiche. To my utter surprise most people admit to finding themselves daunted by the idea of making their own quiche, and they shouldn't be. When I want something different, fresh, impressive, and easy for dinner, quiche is usually the answer. It's a very versatile dish, and I don't think I have ever had a quiche that I didn't savor the combo of ingredients. So here's how I usually make my own quiche at home!

Ingredients:

*Please note: this recipe makes two quiches

• Egg beaters (32 oz. container)
• Spinach( you can use fresh, but I used frozen spinach, I used about 3/4 of the block)
• Diced tomatoes( I used a half of a can of Del Monte brand)
• 4 c. sharp cheddar cheese( 2 c. for each quiche)
• 2 ready made pie crusts( you can find them in the freezer section)
• A little milk

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. If you're using frozen spinach allow it to thaw in the microwave or under warm water, then let drain in a colander in the sink. Also take this time to drain your tomatoes and set to the side, and set the pie crusts on the counter to thaw.
3. Pour the eggs in a large bowl with cheese and a little milk, stir evenly.
4. Use a fork to evenly stab holes in the bottom of the crusts. This is called "docking" and is done to prevent the bottom of the crust from puffing. Precook both crusts for about 5 minutes.
5. Divide egg mixture into each pie crust.
6. Add in spinach and tomato into each quiche( I put spinach in one, and tomatoes in the other, but of course you could mix both in).
7. Bake for 50 minutes. Once done it should be lightly browned and a knife should come out of the center clean. Bonus tip: cover the crust edge with tin foil if burning of the crust is a concern! 

   See, not that hard! Some of you may be shaking your head at the dreaded word...egg beaters, but trust me once you try them you never go back. Sure real eggs are wonderful, but nothing beats not having to crack 16 eggs. I know I like when there's no chance of choking on a eggshell with my quiche!
   I would serve this with a nice arugula or fruit salad, depending on my mood, and crispy bacon. So yummy! I hope you try you hand at quiche, and this comes in handy for y'all.

Baby H #2 Update: Weeks 25 & 26

   Happy Tuesday y'all! Or 'A' day for Pretty Little Liars fans(I'm probably way too excited about it, but hey it's been 6 years!). It's not raining like it was yesterday, in case you haven't been outside yet. Which made it nice for going to and from my doctor's today. I don't know anyone who enjoys going out in the rain haha. If you're one of those people who enjoys being out in rain, let me know!
    So I had my weekly doctor's appointment today, yay! Seriously, I feel so blessed to have such a kind, genuinely concerned doctor as well as his staff! It makes this whole scary process so much better.
    Today's visit was also for my glucose test. Now with James I actually never got around to doing this test. I think I had it scheduled for the next appointment that I didn't make it to, but honestly I can't remember. Blame it on the pregnancy brain. So this was a whole new experience for me. I asked my girlfriend, who's due any day now, about what to expect and that really helped. Not only was it helpful to know that she fasted, but it also eased my fears about the ordeal test. Most people act like it's the most horrible thing you'll do during pregnancy, but I can now let y'all in on a little secret. It's not nearly as bad as they tell you haha.
   For starters, the drink doesn't taste that bad. I went with the fruit punch flavor(my friend's suggestion!) and it tasted pretty good at first, after a while though I was ready to be done with it. It's actually clear now, which surprised me. Good news for the pregnant ladies with dye allergies! One downside is it's more to drink than I thought. It's about the size of a small water bottle. I did have an upset tummy afterwards, but no nausea. Then about an hour later they tested my blood and I was done! They don't even have to test your blood beforehand. I should find out my results tomorrow, so please say a prayer for me!
 

Here's Baby H #2 at 25 weeks and a day!

And again! I think his nose will be a cross between Dillon's and my mom's!

   When I went to my doctor's last week (25 weeks) I also saw the specialists. Baby H #2 weighted 1 lb. 10 oz., and according to my pregnancy app he should weight more than 2 lbs. this week and be 14 inches long. His eyes are starting to open around this time, and he can even sense light in there. Which seems crazy to me that he can now tell that. At this point most of his development is all about putting on weight and height. If you need a visual of where he's at you could equate him to....

I don't think I've ever heard of this, but the Parisian bakery theme is my favorite. Probably because I'm always hungry...

So cute!

    I am curious as to how I'm going to expand any more to accommodate Baby H #2. At this rate at 9 months my stomach will be entering a room 5 minutes before I do. People still wanna know if this is just one. Even if they have asked before haha. One lady I know thinks it could be 2 or 3. She's serious.

The bump at 25 weeks and a day last Tuesday!

The bump today at 26 weeks and a day! Man, I wear a lot of dark blue!

   Symptoms are just the same, no decrease and no increase. I go back this Friday for an ultrasound. I had a little concern over his lack of movement during the glucose test, which if you didn't know sugar usually makes babies move a lot. My nurse and doctor did a non-stress test, and everything looked great for a 26 week baby. But my doctor still wanted to see me Friday as a precaution. Oddly enough he started moving quite a bit towards the end of the appointment and after. Go figure! I'll keep y'all posted on the glucose test! Thanks for reading y'all!

P.s. Don't forget to 'like' my Facebook page for the latest updates!
  
June Is Busting Out All Over!

Baby H #2 Update: Weeks 4 To 22

Things I'm Using In My 2nd Pregnancy

Baby H #2 Update: Weeks 23 & 24

Things I'm Using In My 2nd Pregnancy

    This pregnancy has definitely been a different experience than my last pregnancy, at least so far. More doctor visits, more ultrasounds, more things I never even worried about with James. But that's for another day and another post. Today I thought I'd share with y'all some of the things I'm using with this pregnancy that I didn't use with my first one.

• Body Pillow

    I never had any issue getting comfortable enough to sleep until about 26 weeks with my first pregnancy, so I never got a body pillow. With this pregnancy I was uncomfortable at about 8 weeks haha. We got this one at Walmart for $10, which is way better than paying $60 for one of those pregnancy pillows. The body pillow also comes in handy as a barrier between me and hubby since he like to roll over on me in his sleep. Not fun.

• Fetal Heart Doppler

    This has been such a comfort to have. I use it every morning. I ordered it off of Amazon for about $45. It requires batteries but you don't have to change them that often. I just bought some lubricating jelly to use with it, although it did come with a small tube of jelly. If you're planning to buy one you can bring it to your doctor or midwife and they can show you how to use it. But there's also a ton of videos on YouTube where they show you how to use it, which is what I did. I was able to hear Baby H #2's heartbeat with this at about 9 weeks. If I could only recommend one thing to someone newly pregnant, this would definitely be it!

• Water Bottle

 

   Now I drank plenty of water with my first, but as most of you know I'm sure, they just had a huge recall on bottled water. Yay(not). But I still need to drink plenty of water. So I got this^! I found it at Target in the dollar section for $3. It holds about 28 fl. oz., which equates to a little over 3 servings of water. I also love my Brita filter pitcher. I would have included it on this list but I was using it before both pregnancies. It was a wedding present from one of Dillon's aunts. We didn't even register for it, but it has become something we use everyday!

• Up & Up Prenatal Gummy Multivitamins

    I was looking through the aisle of vitamins at Target, specifically prenatal vitamins, and was at a loss. There's just soooo many options. With my first I had such horrible indigestion, partly from the vitamins I was taking. So I switched to Flintstones gummy vitamins. They definitely helped with some of the indigestion I was having, but I wasn't sure I wanted to continue them with this pregnancy. So back to the vitamin aisle. I was still looking when a mom with 2 kids, one of them under a year picked up these^ vitamins. I asked her how she liked them, and she said she loves them! She used them with both of her kids and they never made her feel any different. Score! I picked some up and I have to say, she was right, they're great! They're basically the same as Vitafusion's prenatal gummy vitamins. Only these are $7 instead of $10. There's 90 in here, and you take 2 a day.

    I hope you enjoyed reading about what I'm using with this pregnancy. Happy hump day y'all!

7 Beauty Tips For Pregnancy And Beyond

   If you're like me pregnancy makes you super aware of everything you do. You have to think before you eat anything, and also before you use a lot of beauty products you're used to using. Here are just a few tips to keep looking and feeling your best! By the way, these tips are great for everyone, especially if this (see picture below) isn't your morning routine.

1.Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Fine Lines

The retinoids found in most anti-aging moisturizers and products are something you should be avoiding while pregnant. That doesn't mean you can't still be preventing wrinkles. EVOO is going to keep your skin hydrated leaving it supple and smooth. Simply dab it on any problems areas on your face at night and let it work while you sleep. If you'd prefer not to use it over night just leave it on for 20 minutes and wash it off with warm water. Keep in mind it is sticky! Also if you find it causes you to break out more only use it under your eyes.

2. Toothpaste For Acne

If you have acne odds are you use a face wash or some kind of treatment that has salicylic acid in it, which is yet another thing pregnant women should avoid.(Side-note: you're probably wondering why you need to avoid all of these products since you won't be using them orally. Anything you put on your face has the potential to seep into your body through your pores. So keep that in mind anytime you use something on your skin). Toothpaste is good for dealing with acne since it is very drying when you put it on skin. Just dab a little anywhere you see a blemish(or cluster of blemishes) and it should help them to downsize.

3. Shaving With Baby Oil

Now don't go running to throw out your shaving cream. It's perfectly fine. But if you're just looking to prolong the life of your razor, or you ran out of shaving cream and you happen to have baby oil on hand, it's an awesome substitute. It gives you a nice close shave, and you don't need to use a lot! Just slather it all over your leg and get shaving!

4. Drink Lots Of Water

I'm sure you've heard this a million times. I know I have! But it can't be said enough. Not only do you and baby need water to live but your skin needs it to look it's best. Plus if you've had any cramping water is a way to make yourself feel better.

5. Walking 

Now that you're carrying around an extra 20 or 30 pounds exercising is the last thing on your mind I bet. Walking is one of the best low impact ways to keep moving through those 9 months. It's good to keep the bloat away, enhances mental well being,and helps maintain blood sugar levels. Please consult your doctor first before starting any exercise routines.

6. Using Vanilla Extract As Perfume

Perfume is fine during pregnancy, but it might make you feel queasy to smell it. Vanilla extract is something you can swap your usual perfume out for.  Just dab a a little on your pressure points(behind the ears, your wrists, etc.) before you leave the house. Bonus: men love anything that smells like baking, so your significant other should love the scent as well!

7. Facial Exercise Or Massage

Say what??!! I know this one might sound silly, but if you think about it we exercise our bodies to look firmer and younger, why not our faces?  Some people claim these are alternatives to botox and surgeries. Here is just one of many facial exercise routines, but you can find more on YouTube just like any other exercise videos. As for facial massage, that can be great if you've been experiencing headaches and sinus pressure. An easy massage you can do would be to gently rub your temples in a circular motion for a few minutes. You'd be surprised at the amount of tension released!

Please let me know if any of these tips helped you, I'd love to hear your feedback!