The Products I Use on My Short Hair

The Products I Use on My Short Hair

The Products I Use on My Short Hair
It’s taken me up until this point to finally figure out what my hair likes. For years I looked like Hermione Granger from the first movie and hadn’t a clue how to become Hermione Granger the later years. Thanks to this lineup of products I’ve finally gotten my hair the way I like it.
For shampoo I use the OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo on a daily basis. I love how thick the gel is and it gives my hair a nice volume and lift without getting super greasy and oily throughout the day. My hair tends to get quite lifeless as time goes along so anything to put that at bay for a little while longer. It smells great and is affordable too. Win, win.
On Sundays after a week of putting product into my hair I like to use the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo to clarify. You can definitely tell your hair is getting squeaky clean with this stuff, but it doesn’t feel harmful or too over the top. It lathers up nicely and rinses away to a fresh, clean feeling. 
Most days I use a combination of the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment and the Redken One United All in One Treatment to give my hair some texture and grit. Whether I’m doing anything to my hair or not I always put in a few sprays of the Redken to keep my hair feeling happy and healthy. Plus it helps reduce static which seems to be obsessed with my head lately. I’ve ranted on in quite a few posts about the Living Proof cream so I won’t rattle on yet again, but it’s the best hair product I’ve tried that just works in my hair. It feels better and looks better after I use this stuff. I just can’t explain it.
The real hero of my hair styling routine is my hairspray. I started using the Garnier Fructis Extreme Control Hairspray when I was a lot younger and haven’t jumped ship since. It’s a fantastic strong hold hairspray that has never left my hair feeling stiff or chunky. It holds a hairstyle all day long while still keeping my hair looking full of life and bouncy. I’ve tried quite a few other hairsprays but I always come back to this.
Whether I’m adding a few quick curls or keeping a straighter look, these products help get the job done without letting my hair get out of control.
What are you favorite hair products?
Do This One Thing to Make Taking Blog Photos Easier

Do This One Thing to Make Taking Blog Photos Easier

Do This One Thing to Make Taking Blog Photos Easier

Do This One Thing to Make Taking Blog Photos Easier

Do This One Thing to Make Taking Blog Photos Easier

Do This One Thing to Make Taking Blog Photos Easier
If I’ve learned anything from seven years of blogging, it’s how to make the tedious task of blog photos easier. Photos are vital to getting people to check out your blog, so anything to make that momentously important task a bit easier, I’m all for.
The one thing I’ve learned above all other blog photo hacks is to have a bin of props. A place to stick cute plates, paperclips, and anything that could help make a product photo a little more interesting.
It’s just that simple. I tote this bin around with me from surface to surface in my house and grab this or that depending on what photo I’m taking. Beauty products get fellow beauty bits, planner related posts get paperclips and pens. Having these things with me makes the process a million times faster. I’m not running around my house looking for a cute pen or plate for each photo.
It’s important to have options in the bin. A few plates, a few notebooks, etc. so that the photos don’t get boring quick. You don’t want it to look like the same photo over and over again because you don’t have a wide variety of props to choose from.
I also haven’t spent much on these supplies. Unless you’re a big time blogger with a lot of brand sponsorships, it’s likely you don’t have a dime to spend on the hobby. I picked up a lot of the plates from the Target Dollar Spot. Most of the other things I already had on hand. A lot of the makeup in here is expired or empty, but the packaging is still cute. The journals and pencils were gifts. Just collect cute items around the house or go to Goodwill for some simple plates. 
This prop bin has done wonders for the variety and consistency in my blog photos. I’m able to take a lot more photos in one sitting while still being able to keep each one unique and interesting. So poke around your house looking for cute decor items not in use to pop into a bin. It’ll make a world of difference.

The Best Way to Organize Your Planner Stickers

The Best Way to Organize Your Planner Stickers

The Best Way to Organize Your Planner Stickers

I’ve tried quite a few sticker organizational methods over the years of planner decorating. From using clear protective sheets to a boatload of washi tape to hold down all my individual sheets, I’ve tried most of the methods out there. Using an accordion file is by far the best way I’ve found to store planner stickers.
I received my accordion file as a gift from a subscriber, but you can find them on Amazon (like this similar one) or the Container Store if you’re blessed/cursed to have one close to you.
In today’s video I show my sticker categories, but ultimately you’ll want to divide up your collection into whatever sections that make sense to you. Have a lot more stickers than I do? Have a separate accordion for kits functional stickers, and decorative so it doesn’t get overwhelming. Plus you can always have an “on the go” case for the stickers you use most often.
How do you store your stationery supplies?
IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Line

IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Line

IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Line
IT Cosmetics has quickly become my favorite brand these days. I’m downright obsessed with their Your Skin But Better CC Cream and now their Je Ne Sais Quoi line has stolen my heart. Everything in it revolves around the same gorgeous color that you just have to check out. Here are my favorites.
Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Lip Treatment is definitely my favorite of the Je Ne Sais Quoi line. It’s the best lip balm I’ve ever tried and worth the price. I’ve always been so skeptical of higher end lip treatments, but after using almost a whole stick of this stuff, I’m convinced. I’m on to my second one and not looking back. It provides a nice, thick coat on dry lips without being sticky or overwhelming. The packaging is seriously luxe and includes a magnetic closure. If you’re looking to spoil yourself this is the product to snag next.
The Bye Bye Pores Blush is in a fancy matte black compact with an even more impressive product inside. It’s buttery in application and gives the best flush to the cheeks with no effort. Build it up for even more of a rosy glow. It lasts all day long too without budging. 
The Blurred Lines Smooth Fill Gel-Crème Lipstick is unlike anything I’ve tried before. It’s so slippery on the lips, but in a good way that provides hydrating and a gloss-like shine. If lip glosses were anything like this I’d use a whole lot more of them. Of course the color is gorgeous and a great everyday option.
I added the Heavenly Skin Complexion Brush #704 into the mix because I couldn’t help but talk about this new gem in my collection. The brush is so soft and incredibly dense. The perfect brush to blend in foundation and it leaves a really great, smooth finish. A lot of the complexion brushes leave some streaks or brush marks I need to blend out with my fingers afterward, but this brush makes it exceptionally easy.
IT Cosmetics really hit it out of the part with Je Ne Sais Quoi. The shade is gorgeous and all the products in the range are seriously impressive. It feels like a special treat every time I use one of them, and that’s what I really want in a makeup routine.
Have you tried anything from IT Cosmetics? What’s your favorite?

5 Reasons to Add More Plants into Your Living Space

5 Reasons to Add More Plants into Your Living Space

5 Reasons to Add More Plants into Your Living Space
I’m not the greatest when it comes to keeping plants alive. I blame it on the fact that I give too much love. Most of my plants die from over-watering in my attempt to keep them happy. Yet I’ve been doing surprisingly well with the newest plant additions to our home and I can already tell they’ve really lifted the mood. So if you’re nervous about having plants and trying to keep them alive, here are five reasons you should add more plants to your living space.
Plants naturally have a way of brightening up a living space. Winters in Michigan are brutal and soul sucking, but having a few plants here and there has made a huge difference in our mood. 
Plants make for excellent decor. I’ve been working on putting together our living room for a couple of months now and a big plant has done an amazing job adding a new element to the space. Living things are an excellent way to add more organic vibes to a room.
Not all plants are high maintenance. There are tons of easy to take care of options if you don’t have a green thumb. Terrible at remembering to water plants? Get succulents that barely need to be watered. Don’t have a lot of natural light? There are plants for that. There’s a plant for everyone.
Oddly enough, plants give off the vibe that you’re put together. When I lived in those run-down apartments in college there wasn’t a plant to be seen. Established people have plants. Seriously. The next time you stop by a friend’s house who is still in college or still trying to get their life together, it’s likely they don’t have a plant. Or if they do, it’s probably dead.
Above all, taking care of something feels good. No one ever looks at a plant and gets angry. Taking care of a living thing feels good and gives purpose. I’m already thinking about what plants I want to put outside our house when spring hits. I can’t wait to get a little dirt on my hands and bring life to the outside of our house. Because it feels good.
So go out and buy that little plant. Read the instructions on the tag and if you’re terrible at remembering, put a reminder on your phone to water it. You’ll be happy to have that little guy in your life.