Post Labor Day Blues?

I saw this amazing post on a friend and business partner's blog and just had to share.... it rings so true to me as I spent today with my littles, organizing a Mommy & Me Arts and Crafts Co-op at our church, still trying to master my Master bedroom, a quick trip to Target and the gym, and doing a little bit of 'work' in the 30 minutes that the kids actually napped today. And now as I sit here in the silence (it is 7:40 and the kids have been asleep for 30+ minutes and hubby is still at work) I realize just how lucky I am. I did not wake up today and dread another week of work - I can finally say that I am right where I need to be and loving every minute of it :)

xo - from this blog writin, craft lovin, fabric obsessin, young lookin, shopaholic, biz ownin, wifey and mommy of 2 :)

Christmas in July - FREEBIES!!!!

I know it's not Skincare Saturday but wanted to pass along this amazing deal!!! It's Christmas in July FREEBIE time! Click the link below and complete the quick survey (easy questions... like your name, address, etc!) Then wait for your mini facial kit to arrive in your mailbox! It's that easy! Mini facial kits include 1-2 uses of Microdermabrasion Paste, Night Renewing Serum, and Lip Renewing Serum. I'm also going to include a special treat for anyone who chooses to order after using the mini facial kit items. You have until midnight on Wednesday, July 24th to fill out the survey and get your FREE items! Ready, set, GO! 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X79MMJP

 

And if you are wondering if Rodan + Fields might be for you.... Here is some more info on the 4 regimens. As a Christmas in July special if you join as a Preferred Customer TODAY you will receive a week's worth of our miracle Night Renewing Serum FREE (and of course 10% off and free shipping!) It's totally risk free with our 60 day money back guarantee! 

Click here to enroll as a Preferred Customer and to get started on the best skin of your life! 

It's all about the Protection!

So last week I touched on how damaging the skin can be to our skin and how to remedy the damage you have inflicted. But I didn't get a chance to touch on the most important aspect of summer... Sun Protection! Its the best way to prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, acne, and more! Don't forget to see your dermatologist for regular skin cancer checks too!

I was shocked to read some of these skin friendly tips! Seriously a shot glass of sunscreen??? I should be going thru a bottle of sunscreen a month :)

So do your skin a favor this summer (and all year round) and wear a broad spectrum sunscreen whenever you are outside. Look for a sunscreen that exceeds the FDA's criteria and that has been awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation. And if you are looking for a great sunscreen for your whole family look no further than the R+F Essentials Body Sunscreen. It is non whitening, non sticky, water resistant and broad spectrum SPF 30.

Your Skin + the Sun - the good, bad, and UGLY!

It's summertime and the #1 thing that makes me think of the summer is the beach... the sun... the pool! But the last few summers something else for has been front of my mind when it comes to this season - sunscreen! I will admit I was a sun worshipper when I was younger. I frequented the tanning bed in high school and college. And I rarely wore sunscreen. I did not feel pretty (or skinny) without a tan. Its no wonder why when I just recently noticed this while reading my kids a bedtime story...

I am thankful that I have repented and that there is a way to not only protect my skin now but also reverse the years of pain I inflicted on my skin (and even look nice and golden safely!)

Did you know that the biggest culprit in aging is sun exposure???? Yikes! And is certainly doesn't help with acne, wrinkles, skin discoloration, and texture changes. And even if you can't see it yet - changes are that you have sun damage and it just hasn't reared it's ugly head yet. Look at this UV camera shot of the sun damage that is not visible. This underlying sun damage is often the cause for loss of clarity, increased dullness, and uneven skin tone even for people without the telltale age spots.

The Reverse regimen is a simple solution to remedy the damage of year's of sun damage. It exfoliates, lightens, improves skin tone, brightens, AND defends against future damage! In an 8 week clinical trial, 98% saw improved brightness, smoothness, and skin texture and 90% saw an improvement in spots and more even skin tone. This stuff is no joke!

Knocking out those sun spots...

And melasma discolorations too...

And it's working wonders for freckles... 

And it's not just for women.... 

or only for your face...

It's pretty crazy to see these incredible results across a variety of different types of sun damage (or hormonal spot damage too!) I actually JUST realized that I have quite a bit of discoloration on my skin in the last several weeks. So stay tuned for some before and afters! 

But in the meantime - enjoy the summer, keep protected, and if you need to be tan, faking it is the way to go! Love our Foaming Sunless Tanner - totally natural and no risk of skin cancer!

Next week in keeping with the summer trend - it's time to talk sunscreen!

Skincare Saturday: Exfoliation!!!

I haven't always had the best skin care routines... I never really washed my face or cared what type of face wash or moisturizer I used. Cetaphil was always a safe bet. But one thing that I have always love is a good exfoliating scrub.

I must admit that up until recently, this was my go to. It was super gritty and gave me the feeling of really removing some of that yucky dead skin. I have just recently realized what I had been missing out on!

On the day that my big blue box arrived I could not wait to rip it open and start trying the products! The very first thing that I wanted to get my hands on was the Macro E. I had heard urban legend style tales of results on the first use and I couldn't wait to see if the hype was true!

But before I talk about this nifty little gadget let me take a few steps back. Did you know that humans shed a million dead skin cells every 40 minutes? Pretty nasty right? And dead skin cells make up a majority of the dust in our houses!

So in a roundabout way if I use the Macro E I can dust less and glow more??? 

Anything for less dusting... and better looking skin!

Let me just say that the Macro E exceeded all of my expectations! It did take me a a few minutes to get the hang of it using it but then I was in LOVE!!! I used the Doc Smart setting and it directs you which area to use it on, the direction, intensity, etc. It's basically exfoliation for dummies! Check out this video if you don't believe me.

And as for the results... it's no joke. Noticeable results in just one use! I saw an immediate improvement in my skin's feel, texture, smoothness, and general appearance. I looked totally refreshed and glowing (even with a still not sleeping thru the night 14 month old!) The best way that I would describe the results are fresh, clear, and young looking skin!  And paired with a regimen - the results are even better. I am using the ReDefine and I literally look forward to washing my face in the am and pm. Its the one thing I know that I am doing for MYSELF every day :)

And want to know a crazy secret??? The Macro E also works for stretch marks! I have seen the pictures of a close friend and in just 4 weeks she saw diminishment of lines and skin tightening just with using the Macro E weekly and the Night Renewing Serum nightly. I will gladly share these images... but here is one that I found just from googling.

source

Um... hello???? Great skin, improved stretch marks, &

less dusting? The Macro E is a no brainer! Here is some more info on the Macro E and how to purchase it!

Pinspired Outfit: Sort of DIY Ikat Shorts and Chambray

Yesterday pretty much sums up my week... Morning playdate, Fia naps for 10 minutes in the car while we drive there. Awesome time at festival in the park with new friends and a jump house, petting farm, sno cones, popcorn, and balloon animals! Poop on the my shoe to leave us all with a super smelly ride home. Dinner prepared (just need to pop it in the over), heading out to the local Farmer's Market, Little Man has to pee... and apparently so does the tube of sunscreen he flushed down the toilet :( TGIF!!!

So I found this adorable outfit on Pinterest... that I could not wait to link up for Get Pinspired

Source

And why was I so excited about this outfit??? Because just this week, I FINALLY bought a chambray shirt!!! But back to this adorable outfit... I dug thru my closet trying to find some funky boho looking shorts to no avail. I was super bummed and was just about to give up when I remembered these.

I grabbed these for less than $20 at a Loft final sale last summer and have worn them once! Looking at the pic they look cute but in real life it was ALOT of pattern. So what did I do?

Yes... I cut these beautiful pants! Anyone that knew me in college knows that just about every day I was cutting or piecing stuff together :) Not much has changed!

I cuffed them and threw them on. And here is my outfit!

I really like it and I got this little bonus for my daring DIY...

I literally just stuffed a pillow filler inside one of the legs! So cute right? 

And some other news to report.... As you saw previously I recently became a consultant with Rodan & Fields here. I am so excited about all of these products that I have decided to add a special Skin Care Saturday post. Tune in if you want or just check me out during the week for my usual DIY and Design posts. 

And this week I just hit my first promotion with R+F and to celebrate I am running some crazy specials! Want to get a FREE Mini Facial, Multi Function Eye Cream, 10% off, and free shipping? These are real results from one of my friends!!! Check out my website or email me at nikkimorley.rf@gmail.com for more info!

A big announcement..... my new love!

Happy Friday :) It has been a super busy week so apologies for the lack of posts!  Do you want to know why I have been so busy???? 

I have a new love interest and cannot wipe this super cheesy smile off of my face! I recently reconnected with a friend from high school (and college) on Facebook and stumbled into this crazy love affair....

 Let me start with a little background. Rewind back to 4 years ago.... Joey and I had just gotten married and bought our first house together. I was a Director of Marketing and Research in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry working crazy hours, traveling, and loving every minute of it. But when my Lil Man was born in March 2010 it all changed. I dragged myself back to work after my 12 week maternity leave and only survived a month before I knew that working FT was no longer for me. I was very blessed to work with an amazing company who let me move to PT. I made it another 2 years working PT (30 hrs a week with no child care) before I finally had enough when I was 4 months pregnant with Fiona. I have been LOVING the last 18 months of being a stay at home mommy and wife! I adore being home with my kids but I do miss the adult interaction and feeling like I am contributing to my family's financial future. Add this to the negative effects on my face and body thanks to aging, sun damage, and pregnancy hormones and I was not the confident girl that I once was! But what could possibly help me get back that missing confidence???? Thanks to several FB posts, I took a giant step out of my comfort zone and reached out to my friend. Don't worry.... It's not nearly as scandalous as it sounds! Meet my new love:

I am using ReDefine regimen and literally counted the minutes until they arrived at my door. I am less than a week in and my skin looks AMAZING!!!! It is so smooth, silky, and clear that I find myself looking in the mirror and touching my face to make sure it's real! The spots and lines from years of sun worshipping are fading. I actually look forward to the 3 minutes it takes to complete my regimen in the morning and evening. And let's not forget the Macro E! This little machine (that was just recently highlighted by Oprah in her magazine!) is my new best friend!

What is Rodan & Fields you ask???? Dr Katie Rodan and Dr Kathy Fields (aka. the doctors who created ProActiv Solution) are among the most respected names in the skin care industry worldwide.  What the doctors did for acne they are now doing for aging skin.  Our products were previously selling #1 in Nordstrom,  Bloomingdales, Henry Bendel, Saks and in other high end retail.  Their extensive marketing analytics showed that it was actually word of mouth that was selling their products over their sales people. Rodan+Fields customers were sending their friends in, telling them they had to go buy it! They decided to pull them from under the counter and put them into direct sales, to reward the people who were truly responsible for the product sales: their customers. After getting into direct sales, R+F was making monthly in sales what they used to be making yearly! Anti-aging is a $2.5 billion industry (set to double in the next few years)! What a great time to check out Rodan & Fields and capitalize on this opportunity!

I took a leap of faith and decided to join R+F as a consultant (without even trying the products!) and I have been loving every minute of it! It's been a crazy week as I learn everything that I can about this amazing organization and incredible products! I have truly enjoyed catching up with old friends, trying out these life changing products and tools, and sharing my experience with others! Why did I jump in with both feet?

 - The doctors that created ProActiv! Need I say more?

 - These products are incredible & with a 60 day money back guarantee there is NO RISK to try them!!

 - In just 8-10 hours a week, I am able to bring in a paycheck without sacrificing time with my kids

 - Everyone has aging skin! Who doesn't want it to look and feel better??? That'a big market!

 - The Regimens are put together by doctors to make great skin as easy as 1...2...3!!!!

So, my reason for wanting to share all of this with you FABULOUS readers is that I would love to help you find the R+F products to give you the best skin of your life OR talk to you about starting your own part-time fabulous biz with me! Our team is growing crazy fast and I am looking for motivated, dynamic people to help me spread the word about Rodan & Fields! And if you could not tell by the million or so exclamation points in this post, I am pretty excited about my younger looking skin and the products that made it happen! Visit my site or comment me below if you want to learn more! Would also love to know if anyone else has tried R+F yet?

Don't take my word for it! Check out these before and afters for examples of what these products can do for you. These are real customers and all they gain by submitting the pictures is a free regimen if their images are used. That tells me that people love the products and the results!

Stay tuned for more before and after pics in the coming weeks!