Evan Healy Skincare Testing: Part I

Thanks to the great people at Whole Foods Market in Wheaton I've been testing out a new holistic skincare line -- and I must say, so far I'm really liking it.

Evanhealy is an organic skincare line that strives to return your skin to its natural state, which is thought to be the most healthful, most at balance. The trial set I choose for my skin was the Rose Face Care Kit , which claims to be able to strike a balance between the oily and dry spots on my skin. Since I began using the products on Monday, I have noticed a difference in the overall "glow" of my skin and the oil usually found mid-day is more under control.

The regimen for these products is actually quite simple. In the morning I wash with the milk cleanser, then follow up with the oil and a couple sprays of the hydrosol (this is my favorite step - it makes the skin so smooth and gives it a natural, healthy glow.) Finally, I finish off with the day moisturizer. Yes, a few more steps than just wash and go, but it is definitely worth it. At night, I cleanse and add a few sprays of hydrosol and it's off to bed.

The only downside I've experienced so far are a few breakouts, but it's hard to say these are directly related to the product. Even so, I like to think of them as a way to get the bad out and keep the good in. The kit does come with a clay mask (meant to be used once a week) that clears pores -- and guess what? I'm off to go try it now!

I'll check in next week with an update on these products - hope for the best!

Holiday Recovery...

Just wanted to drop a short note to say I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday full of yummy food, gift-giving (& receiving) and time spent with friends and family.

Enjoy the last week of 2011 and look for some new posts this week. I've begun testing a new skincare line and can't wait to share info about the line and my thoughts. 

Until then, what was your favorite part of this holiday season?

Running Ambitions

Since signing up for a half marathon (to be ran in June!), becoming a more serious runner is on my list of things to do. My shoes are tied and my iPod is loaded with inspiring, upbeat songs. Let's do this.

Whether you love it or hate it, running is one of the best exercises you can do. For one, it can be done almost anywhere (no gym required), it's adaptable to any fitness level and if you choose, you can take in some fresh air or scenery while pounding the pavement. Oh and thanks to a plethora of brands that make cute, feminine running attire, you can look and feel cute (so to speak) while doing so.

While on a trip to the mall to get some Christmas shopping done (yes, I'm behind. Don't judge or you might not get put on the nice list), I stopped in Lululemon and saw the brightest, most cheerful running hoodie. Perfect for the dark, chilly days of winter to come... who wouldn't be inspired to go for a run in this beauty?

Pure balance jacket, $118

And in case Santa Claus is still listening... I'll take one of these tote bags too. Looks like a great bag to go from street to gym. Plus it's on sale!

Triumphant Tote, $79

Bon Voyage

In a few hours I'll be on my way overseas to Cologne, Germany which means while I'm enjoying delicious wines and festive Christmas markets, I won't be writing for the blog for the next week and a half. I can't wait to return and write about my experiences, but until then I thought I'd share this great image from Pinterest (follow me & I'll follow you!) showcasing a week's worth of outfits. Seems to me like the perfect combo to pack for a vacation. What do ya'll think? What are your fashionable packing tips?

Wedding Wednesday: Simply Stunning

Lately I can’t seem to tear myself away from Pinterest. I can spend hours perusing cute clothes, beautiful interiors and absolutely amazing looking cakes.

When it comes to wedding cakes, I’ve fallen in love with simple, yet stunning cakes. The ones that are just so beautiful they demand attention and it almost breaks my heart to think about cutting them. Good thing that happens behind the scenes. Here are some of my favorites. What are your favorite trends/styles of cakes?

This post orignially appeared on sassychicagobrides.com. 

Music Monday: Zac Brown Band

I'm a long time country music fan -- if you haven't given the genre a chance, I'd recommend it. Country music is full of toe-tapping, upbeat songs and lyrics that speak to living the best life you can... not just the sad, drinking songs most people associate with it.

The Zac Brown Band hit the country music scene with a song that always, always makes me long for a beach, Toes. Fast-forward a few years to their current album You Get What You Give and you have music that is always circulating my Spotify playlists.

Here are my favorite tracks:

Knee Deep featuring Jimmy Buffet (!)
Keep Me in Mind
Let It Go
Quiet Your Mind

So music lovers, have you given this album a listen? What do you think?

Life's Little Treasures

After ditching the winter coat and gloves (winter is sadly, officially settling in...) and placing my coffee cup in its usual spot on my desk this morning, I turned to my favorite pre-work ritual. Checking the latest page of my shoe-of-the-day calendar. Oh yes - it is as amazing as it sounds. I was happily rewarded with this little beauty:

Red hot Jimmy Choo

 It's going to be a great day y'all -- it really is the little things that make life special!

A Match Made in Confectioner's Heaven

History is littered with dynamic duos - Lucy & Ethel, Fred & Barney, Gumby & Pokey... you get the idea. With the upcoming holiday season, I wanted to talk about one of my favs, chocolate & peanut butter. That's right, I've never met a Reese's I didn't like (although I am partial to the Easter Egg variety.)

Anyways, about a week ago I made these peanut butter cookies with Hershey's Kisses in them. They were a big hit and simple to make so I thought I'd share the recipe in case anyone was looking for a little something to make during this holiday party season. Tip: roll the dough in colored sugar instead of plain sugar for a fun, festive look.

Yum!

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS 
Recipe from Hersheys.com 

Skill Level:

Beginner

Prep Time:

20 Minutes

Ingredients

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Granulated sugar

Directions

1. 1 Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
   
2. 2 Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
   
3. 3 Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
   
4. 4 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each
   cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
   About 4 dozen cookies.
   
   Nutritional Information per serving (1 cookie):
   Calories: 90, Total Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 75mg,
   Total Carbohydrate: 10g, Dietary Fiber: less than 1g, Sugars: 6g, Protein: 2g, Vitamin A: 0%DV*,
   Vitamin C: 0%DV*, Calcium: 0%DV*, Iron: 2%DV*
   *%DV= %Daily Values are calculated based on a 2000 calorie diet

Coveted Collection: White House Black Market

As I was catching up on my blog reading after a nice holiday weekend, I came across a post from Dilly Dallas highlighting her work with White House Black Market. With visions of sparkly, sequined pencil skirts in my head, I perused the store's website (it's Cyber Monday, after all) for this seasons must-have pieces. I was not disappointed. Here are a few of my standout picks:

p.s. - 30% off total purchases and free shipping on their website today only!

Love the lace detail

Hello holiday parties!

Bring some festivity to the office

Perfect sweater for Christmas dinner

The awesomeness of this necklace speaks for itself

Are You Skinny Fat?

One of the perks of travelling this past weekend was that I had time to catch up on some magazines on the plane. Flipping through the pages of the latest issue of Women's Health magazine, I made mental notes of new toning moves and recipes to try at a later date. Near the back of the issue though, I stumbled on a feature article that really caught my attention.

As many of you may know, Type 2 Diabetes is a rising health risk in America, largely due to the ever-expanding American waistline. However, even though this disease can be almost completely preventable, it's striking many people, including those who are "young, slim & fit."

The article discussed the condition TOFI (thin outside, fat inside):


'Molecular imaging expert Jimmy Bell, M.D., studies a condition he calls TOFI—thin outside, fat inside. Nearly undetectable from a person's appearance, TOFI happens when fat that would normally build up under your skin (hello, thunder thighs!) gloms onto your abdominal organs instead. This visceral fat is way worse than any muffin-top chub—it can cause inflammatory substances to affect your liver and pancreas, and lower your insulin sensitivity, putting you at risk for type 2. "With TOFI, you might look slim," says Bell, "but your insides are behaving as if you are obese." '


Read the whole article for yourself here and spread the word to your friends and loved ones. Health should always be the number one priority in your life.

Photo Courtesy of Women's Health Magazine

Wedding Wednesday: You Don't Alter Vera to Fit You...

...you alter yourself to fit Vera. -- Bride Wars

Vera Wang has been the reigning queen of bridal fashion for over two decades and there is no doubting her highness. Always at the forefront of bridal trends, brides-to-be and wedding enthusiasts alike turn to the designer for a glimpse into what is to come. And don't forget, no celebrity nuptials are quite complete without a Vera gown, a la Jessica Simpson, or three -- here's looking at you Kim Kardashian!

To the surprise of many, Vera Wang recently showed a *new* trend at her Fall 2012 runway show - black wedding gowns. Now, while it all seems a little more Halloween than bridal, the dresses are gorgeous -- like always. Would you try a black dress or are you a classic white/ivory kind of girl?

Photos courtesy of Brides.com

What I Wish I Wore Wednesday: Boyfriend Blazer

It's the middle of the week and you're closet is looking just a little bit bare... again. Call it what you will, but I like to refer to it as "I have nothing to wear syndrome." Some times what you already own just won't do, not necessarily because the item itself is bad, but you don't have the right shoes, top, etc. to go with it.

Therefore I've decided to dedicate Wednesdays' posts to What I Wish I Wore (or owned) that would make my wardrobe better... at least through the following week. Today let's talk about a jacket of all trades, the boyfriend blazer. A more relaxed fit than a traditional women's blazer, but a more tailored version of the men's staple. A boyfriend blazer can be worn with anything from a flowing dress to a pair of jeans - a definite style chameleon.  Here are a few of my favorite picks/looks. How do you style your look?

LC Lauren Conrad Ruched Open-Front Boyfriend Blazer, Kohls, $70.00

Absolutely perfect styling. I'd wear this for a day of weekend shopping or to brunch. Image courtesy of Pinterest

















BCBGMaxAzria Satin Trimmed Boyfriend Blazer via Polyvore

Make Your World. Make Yourself.

A blessing and curse of working in the marketing world: I find it fairly easy to read the "hidden" meanings behind advertising messages.  Hint: the advertiser ALWAYS wants to you to buy their product or service.  They don't really care that much if you have the shiniest hair this side of the Mississippi or can navigate your car through a glacier with your new tires.  Buy their product.

So recently when a (fairly) new Nike Women campaign launched, I expected to find the token attractive, athletic females modeling the latest yoga pants and gym shoes I'd want to immediately fill my closet with.  However, I found a slew of successful female athletes starring out through those glossy pages of my magazine with the message "Make Yourself."

The underlying meaning this time - take charge of yourself, your body and your life.  If you don't find that inspiring (as a woman or man), you should probably check and make sure you still can feel any sort of emotion.  This is powerful stuff people.

These women kick butt and aren't afraid to be strong and proud.  Something all of us woman should do every single day.  Be the best you you can be.  Always.

Need some help reaching your goals and looking smoking in those skinny jeans come the weekend?  No problem.  Enter Nike Training Club, an app that serves as a personal trainer complete with workouts and encouraging tips to get you through your workout.  The best part about these workouts is that they can be done just about anywhere.  No gym required (although some exercises do call for weights or a medicine ball).

Oh... and did I mention the app is FREE?!?!  Get on over to iTunes girlfriend... and make yourself.

Along Came Madison

Coach arguably makes some of the best and most classic handbags in the business.  Year after year they reinvent themselves and create bags that will last what seems to be a lifetime... but feel free to buy a new one as often as you like.  I won't judge the piles of handbags in your closet, in fact, we could compare collections.

Anyway, my new favorite line by Coach is definitely Madison and what they have in store for fall is to die for!  Here are my picks - wish I could have them all.  Do you have a favorite?

Madison Gathered Leather Large Shoulder Bag

Madison Gathered Leather Large Sophia Satchel

New Madison Woven Leather Sophia Satchel

New Madison Woven Leather Marielle Drawstring

Handbag Switch Artist

If you're like me, you discovered a long time ago that using one handbag at a time just won't do.

Now, I don't mean carrying multiple handbags at once - tempting as it may be (hey, sometimes it's just too hard to choose) - I mean utilizing more than one in a week, month, etc.  Often times this means dealing with the hassle of switching the contents of your bag frequently and inevitably something gets left behind in the switch. I don't know how many times I swore I put that lipgloss, gum or grocery list in my bag for the day, but alas, I had to live without it.

Enter this simple, but fun and stylish option.  Add a small clutch or makeup bag to the inside of your bag to hold the little odds and ends - which are all essential.  I found an AWESOME option this weekend while at ZARA in Chicago.  Oh and it was $9.99.  They were having a HUGE sale - I could have stayed for hours, but I had tickets to the theater.  (Side note: go see the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast if you can - it was marvelous.  I've seen a lot of other shows too if you ever need a suggestion.)

Now I don't worry about leaving anything behind when I change bags which is a good thing... mostly.  I can no longer use the excuse that I forget something in my other handbag and that's why I don't have it.  That's okay though - that excuse worked about as well as the dog ate my homework.

Sidewalk Sale Steal

After a (short) work week, I headed out to explore some new shops in Downtown Naperville (IL) on Friday evening.  I'm always looking for unique pieces so shopping local boutiques is usually sure to produce some fantastic finds.  Friday's shopping trip was no different - I came home with some great additions to my wardrobe.

I started by visiting a (chain) retail favorite of mine, Ann Taylor LOFT.  LOFT is full of pieces that can go from work to casual to evenings out on the town.  I picked up this blouse in an army green color.  I can't wait to wear it with shorts for a casual evening and with skinny jeans and heels to dress it up... it will probably even show up at work.

However, my real find was this necklace - it's chic, versatile and classic.  Not to mention, down right affordable!  On sale (15% off) I scored this beauty for just under $7!  I found it at Karisma Boutique, an accessories haven!  The shop is nestled above another storefront and bursting with handbags, rings, bracelets, etc. in every color you can imagine, in every style you can imagine.  The shopkeeper was absolutely wonderful - offering casual conversation, personal shopping services and even a glass of water (Friday = sticky, hot mess of a day)!  I will definitely visit this boutique again for its unique pieces, large selection and great prices.

I've worn the necklace for two days now and racked up quite a few compliments on it.  My proudest moment: exclaiming it was less than $7!  The bonus?  The quote written on the necklace's packaging:

"Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."
       ~Napoleon Hill