Faith will move mountains

A lot has been going on in life lately. Things that I'm not ready to post publicly yet, but in due time, I will. Until then, let me just share this: the power of prayer has never been more visible in my life until recently. Some big stuff going on with my family, and all I can do from out here in AZ is pray. Pray a lot.

So I bought myself this little book at Barnes & Noble:

And have been writing down some of my favorite prayers in it. At night, I sit down, say some prayers, or reflect on some verses that give me what I need to keep the faith, and keep hope. And then I say the rosary.

Big obstacles in life. Obstacles that feel like we will never overcome them. But with some powerful prayers going on out there, hopefully our faith can move mountains.

"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  -Matthew 17:20


xoxo

Skin Deep

I made the big decision recently to cure my skin! I started Accutane about 2 weeks ago, and I already see my skin changing so much on a day-to-day basis. I'm looking forward to the days where I don't have to wear makeup to hide anything I don't like, and no longer see an expensive receipt at the store for all the facial products I invest in. NO MORE!

The process of Accutane takes about 5 months, and in those 5 months, your skin is extremely dry and sensitive. The aesthetician when I was getting a facial told me that it is important to put back into your skin what you're taking out - but with healthy things.

So...for anyone out there that is looking for some great products, here is what I've found to be amazing on my skin so far:

Neutrogena Naturals. LOVE this product line. It is so good for your skin and isn't heavy feeling at all. I have this one (fresh cleansing + make-up remover) in the shower to just wash it all off, and another one (just the fresh cleansing cleaner) by my sink. I use them religiously 2-3 times a day.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. I live for this. I moisturize after washing in the morning, add some on in the afternoon, and then load up on it at night after showering so it can just soak into my skin while I'm sleeping.

My lips are ALWAYS chapped. Or at least they feel chapped. I switch it up between these two products:

Neutrogena Naturals Moisturizing Chapstick (for during the day - light weight and just makes my lips look glossy)

Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Not as messy as vaseline, but is just as effective. I load up on it at night to let it sink in.

For make-up products, I don't want to clog up my pores, and I wanted something light weight while still giving me ultimate coverage while I'm still in the process of clearing up. So I went to Sephora and wouldn't you know it...the lady helping me actually just finished Accutane! So she recommended Laura Mercier, the product she used while on Accutane because it is the most natural makeup line (eliminating all those chemicals), and still gives great coverage. I use:

Tinted foundation primer and then the foundation. I apply it with a foundation brush that I wash nightly. I learned that when you apply makeup with your hands, you are just transferring the germs and oils from your hands into your face (unless you wash your hands right before application). So I have a foundation brush now, and a special organic brush cleanser that I picked up at Ulta.

Cheers to healthy skin!!!

xoxo

Home Improvements

Here are some pictures of the little crafty projects I did around my home recently:

1. Made these baskets out of cardboard boxes, burlap and ribbon. All with the help of my trusty hot glue gun!

2. Hung these frames in my bedroom:

3. Made a burlap runner for my dining room table. Used some white lace to tie the ends up.

4. I will probably NEVER use my fire place in AZ, but I didn't like the bare look. Bought some flame-less LED candles at BBB and this "love" mirror at Hobby Lobby! Doesn't it look so pretty...

5. Redid my desk. It was a hand-me-down from my Nanna, and although I loved the set-up, I didn't love the wood. Sanded it down, spray painted black, purchased new knobs, and wall-papered the background of the cubbies. :)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

There are a few more things I've done, but I'll save those for another post :)

xoxo