The Fourth Wall

This past Sunday I had an overwhelming sense of guilt for… Get this… Not working more. As I complained on my new couch, my new roommate (yep, lots has happened on my end) huffed at me and told me all I do is work. That’s when it hit me.

Our interactions over the course of the last three weeks consisted of him, my work laptop, and me. Plugged in and working.

I racked my brain and asked myself when was the last time I went out carefree. Instead, I only remember abruptly leaving my friends so I could make a deadline. This happens quite a lot honestly.

Now I don’t have to ask myself am I doing more harm than good. I am. Will I look back on my 30s and hate myself for becoming so busy that I forget to live that I forget to make a life.

Most definitely.

So I closed my laptop, cracked open a delicious Grimm beer and asked my roommate to hang out with me.

We as a collective need to stop glamorizing the state of “busy” and I for sure need to stop neglecting myself before having another anxiety attack from overloading my body with stress. It’s time to wash away the guilt, realize that I’m only human and can’t do everything under the sun.

I can, however, make daily improvements (like meditating or saying yes to happy hour with friends) to make sure I’m putting in a little me time every single day.

Phew! Writing this down and putting it out in the open makes me feel loads better and more committed to bettering myself. And if you guys catch me slipping, send me a ping and remind me to live more, stress less.

Photos by John Gianniny.

Bliss List for the Busy Gal

Am I the only one that felt like this month flew past? It honestly feels like it’s been work, eat, sleep and repeat from Mondays through Fridays on this end. Thank goodness for the weekends and for the occasional and unexpected downtime otherwise I wouldn’t know how to (a) do my errands and (b) indulge in a little bit of me time.

For month’s that are as insanely busy as this one’s, every little bit of me time has to be precise and straight to the point.

Here are a few of my tried and true favorite ways to unwinds along with brands that always come to the rescue when I feel like I might be drowning:

1. Bloom Mineral – like a spa, but at home!
I love a good facial as much as the next girl but squeezing one in (and footing the bill) can be a little tough. But Bloom Mineral makes it easy for anyone with their 4 piece kit and easy steps. The kit includes their Softening Cleansing Milk (wash with this first), Mud Mask (apply generously and relax while it works), then rinse and moisturize your skin + eyes with their Moisture Shield and Eye Cream.

Head over to bloommineralbeauty.com and use skin25 for 25% off your first 2 purchases. Ends June 30, 2017.

2. Hot Water with Lemon – it never fails + detoxes your body
I first wrote about the benefits of drinking hot water with lemon here but as a refresher, this drink helps to flush out all the toxins and relieves indigestion. It’s also great for your skin.

3. Clear Eyes Pure Relief Multi-Symptom – keep those peepers clear!
Anyone else suffering from allergies or dry lenses? My eyes are so red and dry from the pollen it’s only fair that I give my eyes relief when unwinding. I’m a fan of these preservative free eye drops that come in a multi-dose bottle (at retail in the US); they relieve red eyes and seasonal irritants along with keeping my eyes moisturized all day long. As a contact lens wearer, this small bottle is in my pockets year round.

Get a $3 coupon here and learn more about the drops here.

4. HeadSpace – clear your mind wherever you are!
This is a relatively new app but saw its ads on the subway for a bit. One day I finally bit the bullet and gave it a try. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to meditate (do this while masking with Bloom Mineral!) and leads to a sense of calm in your head. Try it - it’s free!

5. Nad’s – fast & painless
As a busy gal with a budget on a time constraint, I do lots of my own hair removal at home. I tried all of the drugstore brands and found that Nads works the fastest (all you need is four minutes) without irritating my sensitive skin. As for the scent, it’s on the pleasant side.

Learn more about Nad’s here!

6. Coobie – like a bra but better!
As I’ve gotten older, I made a choice to stop being uncomfortable. I got rid of most of my wire bras and traded up for seamless, soft bralettes. Unfortunately, there are days when I need to support the girls a little more but when I’m done, I come straight home and change into a Coobie. The straps are adjustable and the stretchy lace guarantees you’ll feel secure but not strapped in.

Sizes range from Small to Large in a variety of colors. Check it out at shopcoobie.com.

Now that I’m almost done with this post, it’s time for me to follow steps one through six and unwind myself. Let me know if there’s anything you would add on too!

Today's post has been sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Treating the Gals to Galentine's Day

Oh, February! The shortest month but with the biggest bang around when it comes to birthdays (wink, wink) and festivities! Over the last year, I got to reconnect with my friends and really bond over our sisterhood. It may or may not have been frequently fueled by bad food choices.

I've been feeling particularly blessed over our friendship that I teamed up with Babbleboxx to give my Galentine-enthusiast readers the top gifts to give. Less time searching, so you can have more time bonding.

Below, you'll find the perfect gift that will be sure to bring a smile to that someone special.

For the Beauty Maven: Perfumania Has Got You Covered
Ever since I first stepped into a Perfumania, I've been obsessed with their vast array of delightful scents. Back then I used to pester my dad into getting me the latest scents but now I'm old enough to treat gal pals to a new signature scent. I tested out the Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana at Perfumania and fell in love with the floral feminine mix that blends Neroli and White Amaryllis. The end result is a flirty but sophisticated scent.

Have a gal pal that's more undecided (i.e. she's a chronic returner) then the next best gift is a Perfumania gift card. With the help of fragrance experts, she'll be able to find her very signature scent in store or online.

Save while you shop with my code too! Get 25% off and free shipping at Perfumania.com with code STYLEBRO25. Offer ends 2/14/17.

For the friend with a Sweet Tooth: Let her Know Edible Arrangements Are Meant for Sharin
Go above and beyond with Edible Arrangements Edible Signature Chocolate Box or their Valentine's Day Bouquet. The brand is synonymous with the holiday of love, and who can blame them? Their fresh fruit and gourmet chocolate are a crowd pleaser. My favorite part about getting any of their bouquets are chocolate covered strawberries - so good! In case you'd like more chocolates to share I recommend adding on the Signature Chocolate Box which features recipes by master chocolatier Jacques Torres. There's a hazelnut crunch flavor in it that's absolutely amazing.

I'll be placing an order for Galentine's Day so dessert is covered on my end :). I highly recommend getting in your order sooner than later, but hey life happens which is why they offer same day delivery too.

Check out their website here and let me know what you get :).
Right now they’re offering everyone $10 off when they spend $39+ through 2/11/17 with code SAVE3966!

The Adventurous Friend: A Casio Watch that Won't Quit
If you haven't noticed by now, Casio is making a comeback and in the best way possible. Their watches are equal parts tough yet equal parts trendy making this perfect watch for the friend that's done for anything. Right now, I'm showcasing their G-SHOCK S Series GMA-S110CM-2A watch which features advanced technology, is water resistant, shock resistant, and so much more.

You can learn more about this watch and others here.

For the Creative Subway Dweller: Faber-Castell Adds New Dimension to Every Commute
As an art-school dropout, I would absolutely love to get gifted anything from Faber-Castell. Everything I've used is such great quality. But since this post isn't about me, it this whole shebang would make a great gift for friends that dabble in the arts or spend their subway commutes doodling to pass the time. You know, the creative type :).

Here's a quick rundown of my all-time favorites:

• Castell 9000® Graphite Design set: a favorite among illustrators thanks to its 16 degrees in hardness (great for writing, drawing, and sketching)
• PITT® Artist Pen 8 count Wallet in Black: another favorite among illustrators and doodlers
• PITT® Artist Pen Studio Gift Box of 24: lightfast inks in vibrant colors wont bleed through most paper (great for coloring books)
• Gelatos® Dolce 2 Gift Set: these are super pigmented and are great for mixed media projects since they're so easy to blend

You've been warned, their site is like heaven for those that love to color outside the lines. Check it out here.

For the Office Gals: Sunsweet PlumSweets are Healthy + Yummy
Stand out with sweet and delicious decadent dark chocolate plums. These bite-size scrumptious pieces are always a hit at the office or a cute way to thank your work wife. I definitely love how chewy these are when you first bite in. If you're still following your resolution diets (go you by the way!) you'll appreciate the fact there's no high fructose corn syrup and eating prunes support bone health. There's a tons of facts out there on why prunes, especially these tasty ones, are great for you but it's better just to pick up a package of Sunsweet PlumSweets.

Don't forget to click here for a downloadable coupon for $1.00 off!

Would love to hear if there's anything you scooped up for your BFF in the comments down below :).

Today's post has been sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!