We are all guilty of excessive stuff.   I definitely was until I KonMari'd my entire life and home.  Most of us don't even realize how much we have until we sit down and gather all the things in a certain category.  So whether you just don't have time to KonMari yet or you don't know where to start - I'm going to help you out today.  

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[Our Weekend] Date Night, Fall Decorating, + LipSense

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This weekend was pretty low key but still pretty eventful. I always share everything going on in my life on social media and not so much on here. I guess I just got lazy. But from now on I'll post weekly with everything that's happening. But if you aren't following me on social media yet make sure you do, especially SnapChat (EllenR886) because I try to keep it super funny!

 So it was time for our monthly date night and this time we had a gift card so we went to Greystone Public House.  This place is so beautiful and classy, both inside and out.  They also have a nice selection for Gluten Free and Vegan folks. 

 We started off with the veggie board which includes gluten free pita and squash hummus.  There were also roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, and beets!

 I got a glass of white zin as well!

 For dinner I chose the Veal Porterhouse which was mouth wateringly amazing and I have to say it's the best meal I've had in a very long time.

 James got the slow smoked prime rib. It was fantastic. It literally melts in your mouth!

 Told you it was the best meal ever!

 For dessert we had the Chocolate Turtle Mousse! It was not only gluten free but very rich and filling.

This was out last date night as an engaged couple because our next one will be at the end of October after we get married.  Our date nights are planned out well in advance since we have crazy schedules with James' work having him on call every couple of weekends. 

When we got home we decided we'd have a fire and invite the neighbors over.  Of course I had already taken my makeup off but I figured a little lip color wouldn't hurt. So I decided to try out LipSense!

 Boring dull lips before....

 With LipSense you clean and dry your lips then shake the bottle of color.   Then you put three layers on with a 10 second break between each layer.  You swipe in one direction as you apply.  You keep your mouth open, you don't touch your lips, and you can use an oil-based makeup remover to fix any mistakes.

 Then after the color is on in 3 layers you can add the gloss.  It seals the color and moisturizes your lips. And if you want your color to last even longer you can re-apply the gloss before meals.  The colors I used were: Mauve Ice and the gloss was Gold Glitter.

 Even though I was dressed super casual I felt super glammed up.  So what is LipSense? It's a long lasting liquid lip color that is guaranteed for 4-18 hours.  It's waterproof, smudgeproof, kiss proof, and doesn't dry your lips up. It's also lead-free, wax free, gluten free, vegan, kosher, and is NOT tested on animals. 

 So I thought it was really unique that this makes my lips tingle when I put on the color.  It's because of a cosmetic grade Denatured Alcohol which is in the tube to create a bacteria free environment. Once the gloss is on the feeling goes away though.  It's normal for the first two weeks of use.

 You can even mix colors with each layer.  And to remove you just use an oil-based makeup remover. 

 The weather has been nice and cool lately (hello Fall!) so we had a fire again. 

So the porch is ready for Fall as well. I got rid of the potted herbs and wiped everything down real well and it's perfect for hanging out on cool nights. 

 

And of course it's time to decorate for Fall!

 I even made little potted flower arrangements out back.

 Here's our front door!

How was YOUR weekend? Do anything fun?

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How I Deal with A Dry Scalp

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Remember when having a dry, itchy scalp meant you were gross? I'm talking high school time where dandruff was your biggest fear.  Well, the truth is - MANY people have a dry scalp and it doesn't mean your dirty and gross.  It just means you need to take different card of your hair and scalp and today I'm giving you some tips and advice.  I myself have always suffered from a sensitive, dry, and itchy scalp.  It's a pain and there's a million and one suggestions for what to do but I've finally found stuff that works for me.  I hope it works for you too!

Water Temperature
I used to love steaming hot showers but I realized it was taking a toll on my skin.  My entire body had much drier skin that normal and my scalp was no exception.  I started gradually lowering the temperature and it's to the point now where I still have a nice warm shower.  At the end of my shower I actually blast cold water on my scalp and hair to help seal the cuticle.  It is actually very invigorating. 

 Tea Tree Shampoo
Lately, I've begun using Tea Tree Special Formula Shampoo from Maple Holistics.  Tea tree is a root shrub that's grown in Australia.  People are always raving about tea tree oil for dry skin or dry scalp and that's for good reason.  Tea tree works to clear dead skin cells from the hair follicles and helps fight dandruff.  It's even a natural solution for head lice! This shampoo also contains rosemary which works to stimulate the cell renewal of hair follicles as the tea tree gets to work.  Rosemary leaves hair smooth and refreshed. And of course lavender is anothe ringredient which helps clear away blemishes on the scalp and ease the pain of burns.  It has antiseptic and algesic properties and promotes rapid health. 
THIS is the second paragraph of text post. I just lather up with this shampoo and let it sit for maybe 3 minutes then give it a nice rinse with warm water.  It feels so good when I massage this in so it's a nice little pamper session for me.

My skin isn't so raw feeling after my showers now and actually I don't get an itchy scalp the second day either.  I used to use anti-dandruff brand products but seriously, I've gotten rid of those and I'm going the all natural way from here on out since I know it works for me!
Psst make sure you check out the Maple Holistics Free Sample Program which lets you try out their products at NO cost at all!

A Gentle Dry
Even though most of us are in a rush to get done with our hair after a shower, it's important to take your time even if that means a few extra minutes of drying time because you are losing less heat.  I actually use warm heat for the first few minutes then I switch to cool.  Especially when I'm working around the roots, it makes a huge difference in how my scalp feels afterwards. 

Washing Every Other Day
I try to go every other day without washing my hair. This doesn't always work for everyone but it's what works for me.  The first day I can wear my hair down but by the second day, it's starting to get a bit greasy so I usually wear it half up.  And if I go a third day, I have to wear my hair totally up.  People think that not washing your hair makes it oily, but the opposite is true for most hair types.  Washing your hair with shampoo can strip the natural oils.  So within a day your scalp starts over producing more oils.  Then you're extra greasy.  It does take some time to get used to washing less often and in the beginning your hair will be greasy, but your scalp will adjust and be very grateful eventually so be patient.  Also, dry shampoo works wonders!

Using Less Products
Hair products can actually cause a lot of buildup on the scalp. The only products I use are a sleep smooth serum that I put in ONLY the ends of my hair before I blowdry it, and a few spritzes of a heat protectant.  My hair gets gunky and greasy if I use too many products so I try to keep it at a minimum.  


What tips do you have for dealing with a dry scalp? Leave them below!

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How I Care for My Wood Floors

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 One of the most appealing things we noticed when we toured our potential new home (that we've now been in for over 2 years!) was the beautiful hardwood floors.  The owners had torn up the carpet only to discover the beautiful treasure underneath.  


Hardwood floors are great because as a pet owner, accidents do happen and it's much easier to clean them up right away from hardwood flooring than it is from carpet.   I also love that it's easy to vacuum them and fur and dust can't get embedded into carpet fibers.  And since we still like some carpeting, we just add simple area rugs, which can easily be replaced over the years.

Just look at how shiny and beautiful the floor was in our listing photos when we found the home!

But just because your house has hardwood floors doesn't mean you can just take it easy and never worry about them.  Hardwood floors need properly cared for so that they last a long time.  Spills need cleaned up right away and you can't use certain harsh chemicals on them.  Today I put together a few ways I take care of my hardwood floors so that you can do the same and enjoy a lifetime of luxury!

1. Be Mindful of Abrasive Items
Yes girl! Those stilettos are adorable but calm down because I've seen people dig and gouge their hardwood floors because they stomp around in party shoes.  Seriously though, if you have a pair of heels that's scratchy on the bottom because they are really worn in, it's not a good idea to wear those around the house.  Unless you want to replace or refinish the floors many times more than necessary, just wear gentle soft footwear or go barefoot.

2. Use Gentle Products
One of the downsides to using cleaning formulas on hardwood floors is the potential harm the chemicals can do to your pets.  So I always like choosing a plant based cleaner.  Better Life Floor Cleaner is amazing and has plant based ingredients so it's safer for kids and pets.  It uses grapefruit, peppermint, and bergamot extracts to clean and restore the natural shine of your floors without any harsh fumes.  It works on hardwood, tile, marble, bamboo, vinyl, laminate, and other sealed floors.  No streaks, no haze, and no rinsing necessary!  I love the smell it leaves behind too, much better than harsh chemical cleaner smells that I'm used to.

3. Vacuum Regularly
You want to keep dirt and grit from rubbing into the hardwood flooring over time so make sure you vacuum on a regular basis. And when you do, don't use the roller brush function!  I think the only pain with hardwood floors is that it's easier to see dog fur and hair, which is technically a good thing, because it means it's not getting embedded into your floor like it would if you had carpet.  But the only thing with that is that you see what I like to call tumbleweeds of dog fur. Stella has tumbleweeds that roll around the house.  They like to hide under furniture so make sure when you vacuum, you use the wand attachment to get into all of those hard to reach places.

4. Mind the Humidity
If you live in a climate where it gets very humid in summer, make sure you have a dehumidifier or that you are regularly running your AC.  Humidity can shrink flooring.  Most of us don't need to worry about this unless maybe you have hardwood flooring in the basement where it can get damp, or where water can get in from time to time when it rains really hard.   A dry floor is a happy floor!

5. Use Furniture Pads
If you keep furniture directly on the hardwood floors and the furniture has legs that come to a point and apply pressue, use funriture pads. They are great because they also prevent your furniture from slipping around.  And when moving furniture, use sliders underneath instead of dragging it along the hardwood.


If you take care of your wood floors, you will be especially glad in the longrun when they look beautiful year after year!


How do you take extra special care of your hardwood floors?

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Outfit of the Day: Side Slits

This maxi dress is just so comfortable but best of all it has side slits on it so even on the hottest of days, a nice breeze let's me keep cool when I'm in the sun.

I paired this with a navy blue top from The Mogan and honestly, I love the colors together.  It's a nice classy look.

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Sensible Styling with Cleo Madison

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I have a new brand of clothing I'm in love with. Today's post is about sensible styling because let's be honest - most of us have jobs where we can't dress the way the floor models in the malls are dressed. Crop tops and open backs? Uhhh, no. 

So Cleo Madison is a line of modest clothing like dresses, shirts, skirts, and even swimwear that is both work appropriate AND stylish.  Bonus - you get 10% off your first order for joining their newsletter AND every order in the US gets free shipping!   

The thing I love most about Cleo Madison is that their styles can be worn at work, but also casually at home or running errands.

This dress is the Molly Striped Pocket Dress. That's right it has pockets!   And it is SO comfortable and lightweight!   It's also made in the USA which made me super excited.

The waistband is very flattering especially on someone like me that has a thick midsection.

The pockets honestly make this dress that much more enjoyable! The most important part though is the price! Everything at Cleo Madison is SO reasonably priced! This dress is just $32! And when their items are on sale it's even better!

I know there are a lot of brands out there today that have casual and conservative clothing but you honestly can't beat the prices with Cleo Madison. 

Make sure you check them out and consider adding a few pieces to your wardrobe!

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