So your tree is not decorated.

Your house is in a state of constant disarray.

You just dried your husband's "DO NOT DRY" shirt.

Fed the kids moldy toast.

Served the baby old milk.

Can't decipher the "clean" pile of laundry from the "dirty" pile.

Accidentally Sent your Mother In Law the "Nothing is for dinner, feed yourself." text.

Your tank is on empty.  In your car and your life.

Do I need to go on...

Guess what...

It's OK.

And it's all gonna be alright.

Learn to laugh.

Learn to forgive yourself.

Learn to check the dates before you fill the bottle...Haha..kidding, but seriously.

We hold ourselves to this ideal we see online and you know, I'm damn tired of it.

Life is messy.

It ain't perfect.

But you know what.

It's ok.  And we are gonna be alright!  Except the baby. Somebody please check the baby, and the milk.

That is all.  Happy Holidays.  We will get through this!

Since you all see my face on a daily basis and have asked multiple times about the products I use on my face, I thought a post dedicated to this specific topic would provide better information than a 15 second insta-story.

Firstly, I will tell you, I don't have perfect skin.  It's very sensitive and finicky.  Just last week it was like lizard skin, peeling off my face, wrinkly, dry, and super sensitive.  So it's always a work in progress regardless of how it appears on social media. While I do not filter my stories, lighting and makeup can cover a lot.

Secondly, I honestly believe what you put in your mouth has a tremendous reflection on the look and feel of your skin.  Good products are important but so is good nutrition!

So with that said, let's just dive into the details.  I will list everything with links in the order I use them starting with my AM routine.

https://www.vitalproteins.com/products/collagen-peptides?variant=43393712134&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwscDpBRBnEiwAnQ0HQO-HZmX-k-XrYHSRVg-bfZ4bzWvuLsJtlkkMjLg1gFg-zbVp--oxXhoC4msQAvD_BwE

I have this on auto-ship and use it religiously in my coffee EVERY MORNING.  One scoop per cup.  You don't even taste it and it's 20g of collagen in every serving.  Collagen helps promote glowing, vibrant skin while increasing elasticity. 

https://jordanpetersenskincare.com/collections/cleansers/products/daily-wash

I use this morning and night as my facial cleanser.  It's mild but leaves my face squeaky clean without striping my face.  I have also used their Super Wash which is also great.  It's a little stronger than the Daily Wash but is still a great face wash.

  Tip: Always wash your face twice.  This removes all of "the day" off of your face        and gives a really clean slate for your products to do their work.

https://jordanpetersenskincare.com/products/clarity-toner

I use this morning and night after my facial cleanser.  I spray it directly on my face, neck, and chest and let it air dry for several seconds.  It's mild, extremely refreshing, and contains healing and anti-bacterial benefits. 

Since I am not loyal to nor sold on a specific eye cream product there is no tag for this; however, I use an eye cream every day just because.  I would love to know if you have one you love.

https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-100pct-l-ascorbic-acid-powder-20g?redir=1

https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-resveratrol-3pct-ferulic-acid-3pct-30ml?redir=1

Ok, NO, that is not a typo!  These products are really that inexpensive.  I recently learned about this company/product line from my friend @kathfit (sneak over and give her a follow.  She's a life coach, fitness coach, and all around cool chic) and I LOVE these two products.  I wholeheartedly believe these two products have been a game changer for my skin.

I use this combo morning and night.  Put a tiny scoop (scooper included in the jar) of the Vitamin C and a few drops of the Acid in the palm of your hand and mix with your finger until it's smooth.  Apply to your face.  It will tingle a little bit.  That's magic happening!

 Tip: Let this sit on your face for a minute.  Brush your teeth or something to give    it time to soak in.

Here is where my routine changes a bit from day to night.  

In the am:

https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml?redir=1

This is a hydration mega booster.  I only use this in the am before I apply my moisturizer.  Just a few drops will do your whole face, neck, and chest.

Another great option is Active Hydration Serum by Rodan and Fields.

I don't have a link for this moisturizer; however, I would be happy to put you in contact with my friend and rep Elizabeth if you don't have a rep.  Again, this is only in the AM and applied to my whole face.

https://imageskincare.com/catalog/product/view/id/909/s/stem-cell-neck-lift-

I use this morning and night on my chest and neck.  Always apply in an upward motion.  Helps brighten and tighten your skin. 

https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-mineral-uv-filters-spf-30-with-antioxidants-50ml?redir=1

Last AM step is sunscreen.  EVERY DAY.  If you are wondering what the sun does to your skin, go look at your patio furniture you left out all year.  I know, it's brutal. I have used several and love Skin Ceuticals Sport UV Defense, SkinMedica Environmental Defense, but honestly this is a great one at a fraction of the cost.  Apply to your face, neck, and chest.

This begins after you cleanse, tone, and use the Vitamin C/Ferulic Acid mix.

https://jordanpetersenskincare.com/collections/facial-oils/products/intensive-repair-oil

Radiant Glow Oil by Jordan and Petersen Skincare $85.00 1oz

https://jordanpetersenskincare.com/collections/facial-oils/products/radiant-glow-oil

100% Organice Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil $9.80 30ml(1oz)

https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-100pct-organic-cold-pressed-rose-hip-seed-oil-30ml?redir=1

I use ONE of the three oils above every night.  In no particular order and sometimes I will use the same for several days and then switch to one of the others.  I apply to my whole face, neck, and chest.

https://jordanpetersenskincare.com/collections/moisturizers/products/repairing-cream

Final step of my PM routine and I LOVE this product.  I apply to my whole face, neck, and chest.  Just a reminder, to follow this with the MAX product on your neck and chest in the PM as well.

Additionally, I use a "scrub" about three times a week.  Although this product is labeled as a Daily Cleansing Mask, it has the characteristics of a scrub.  I put it on in the shower and wash off at the end of my shower.  So I leave it on for 7-10 minutes depending.

Daily Cleansing Mask by Rodan and Fields $39.00 4.2oz

I have three go-to masks that I use, well, honestly not as often as I should.  I use one or two of them maybe every other week or so.  I am trying to get better and be more consistent with my masks.  But the three I love are:

Apparently this has been renamed to You-ology Perfecting Mask

You will need to order this through a rep and I can put you in contact with my friend and rep Jolene if you do not have one. This is a bubbly charcoal mask I use directly after wash and then apply the J&P Radiant Mask for a double dose.  It really leaves my skin soft and silky and I love the bubbly characteristic of this charcoal mask as opposed to a drying, crackle mask.

https://jordanpetersenskincare.com/products/radiant-mask

An awesome Papaya Enzyme mask.  I love this one after the Detoxifying Mask above.  You can also put this on at night and leave it on if you feel like you need an extra shot of hydration.

Elizabeth just introduced me to this one and I LOVE it.  It's a great mask that also leaves your skin silky smooth.  It smells good.  It's golden, and you get to look like an Oscar award!!

PHEW!!  I know that was a lot.  It doesn't feel like a lot once you get into the routine.  You should also know, I didn't buy all of this at one time.  It's been a long process of finding what I love and what works for my skin and then an occasional new item when I get bored. 

I hope this was helpful. Please watch for our IGTV video as I walk through the steps above coming in a day or so.

I get asked ALL of the time to carry swimwear.  Those who know me well (even not so well) know, I love swimwear.  While I would consider offering swimwear for children, swimwear for ladies is not a beast I am willing to tackle.

However, I am willing to invest and do some research to help you source the best places to buy swimwear.  My go-to has always been Target.  They are inexpensive, nice quality, a fairly large selection, and cute.  The downside, you find yourself sitting on the beach next to a lady who also bought the same suit at Target. 

Victoria's Secret has a pretty decent selection but their pricing has dramatically increased $50-$80/piece, not per suit if you buy two piece suits.  I have found some great suits at Dillard's under $50.  And, honestly, even strolling through WalMart I have seen some pretty cute, very inexpensive suits.

All that being said, I took a gamble and ordered off of the website Cupshe.  Now, not totally blind because Mike has actually ordered a few suits for me from here before and the quality was quite nice.

You can't beat the prices.  Suits range from $20-$30 ish. Their selection is also very good and always changing with tons of options for both one and two piece suits.  There is always a discount code and free shipping.  They do accept returns within 21 days and even though they ship directly from China, shipping is pretty fast.

The downside, you have to buy as a set within the same size.  So no S top and M bottom.  They do have a Mix-N-Match section with some limited options, but worth checking out.  If you wish to return, you have to pay for return shipping and that may be costly.

Below is a recap of what I ordered and how the sizing fit for each suit. 

For reference, I am usually a size 6 bottoms and M sometimes S, sometimes L in tops in street clothes.  In swimwear, I usually opt for a L top and M or L bottom depending on fit.  I ordered L in all of the suits below.

1. Court & Spark Fresh Leaves Set $25.50

Fit both Top and Bottom is perfect. The top is a tie top which makes sizing flexible and adjustable.  The bottoms fit perfectly but I would say runs small for a size L.

2.  Moonlight Shadow Triangle $27.99

This was the one miss for me.  The triangle top is really small triangles and the bottoms also run pretty small for a L.  Not ideal for large busts.

3.  Deep Love Solid $26.99

This one was a mix for me although I can make it work.  The top sits higher than I would like across my back.  Almost like there is not enough fabric on the shoulder straps.  However, it covers everything and is manageable, but not my favorite fit.  The bottoms are great and fit nicely.

4.  Lotus Pond $27.99

A great fit on this one.  The bottoms are a little big but with the string tie sides it is easily adjustable to a comfortable fit.  The top is also a tie top and fits great.

5.  Orange Flamingo Reversible $27.99

I love the pattern on this one.  So fun and unique.  The fit is pretty good.  The bottoms run big, although it's manageable.  So long as you don't participate in any intense water sports.  The top is a nice fit.  The one odd thing on the top, at least on the one I received, the pleats on the cups come to a weird point almost giving you a Madonna pointy boob look.  I stretched it and maneuvered it around and was able to smooth it out but have yet to wear it for any length to see if that continues to be a problem.  Lastly, the description is a bit deceiving, the bottoms are reversible the top is not.

6.  Navy & White Stripe Strappy $28.99

Overall good fit on this one.  The bottoms have the side ties which add some flexibility on fit and the top is a good fit. The bottoms on this one are also reversible. 

7.  Pink Banana Leaf $29.99

Really cute fit on this one.  The bottoms run slightly big but not unmanageable.  The top is the wrap tie top and easy to adjust fit.  The cup coverage is very good.

8.  Miss U Poppy Print One Piece $29.99

A super cute fit on this one with lots of coverage.  The bottom portion fits great and great full coverage up top.  I have a long torso and a good fit on one piece suits is hard for me to find.  This one works well for me.

Overall my Cupshe purchases were a success and I am very pleased with the items I received.  In fact, I have my eyes on a few more! Don't tell The Boss! :)

A few points, finding the right fit for you is key in swimwear.  I spent a good portion of my life buying the more conservative, high to mid waist, full back coverage only to learn that was not the most flattering fit on me.  With my build, the lower rise suits actually look better.

My recommendation, put your brave girl pants on and go into a store with lots of swimwear and choose several different styles.  Even styles you would not normally wear and go try them on.  You might just surprise yourself like I did and find the ideal cut for you.  Because that really is more than half the battle.

Secondly, color is really important.  What color looks good on you and what color makes you look naked.  Yes, naked.  Peach, blush, nude...not great colors for swimwear, in my opinion.  We see this every year at the lake and from a distance, you look naked.  Just FYI!  

Lastly, buy the size that fits you best.  Not the size you normally wear.  Not the size you want to wear.  The size that fits you the best in that particular suit.  Also taking into account what it will look like when it is wet.  The perfect suit can be a total miss if you don't buy the proper size.

I hope you all found this helpful.  Now bring on the sunshine!!

-Amy