Tag Archives: POPSUGAR

Live Head First

May 4, 2015

No one day is the same. Sure, we have routines and structure to keep us grounded and functioning but what a thrill to be reminded that every day begins uncharted. I could stand to remember that more often. Think about it: how can this Monday be different than the last? Or the one before that? New opportunities to learn, laugh, get silly, connect—or better yet, disconnect (from that tech life, yo)—and strengthen your sense of self. You could say it’s about living life head first. I’m teaming up with Head & Shoulders this week to do just that. It’s a belief I fully embrace. I’m throwing myself into my days with no hesitation. And sass. The new haircut (chopped it again!) is license enough to bring it on. In fact, I think I’ve amended Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky line to have a third word…sassy. It’s implicit on the label. And evidenced by the new look of their limited edition bottle available at Target right now. Trust me. Just as no day is the same, neither is your hair on any given day.

The start of spring…like real spring not calendar spring…is prime time to get silly wit it. I whipped my hair around and reveled in feeling good on the inside and out without focusing on being perfectly coiffed. Where’s the fun in too much polish?

In between twirls and laughing with my girlfriends, I thought about what it really means to live head first. I don’t consider it to be charging ahead with reckless abandon or impulsivity but rather striking a balance between mind and body. It’s where the conscious and rational compromise with passion and intuition, which can be hard to do. We owe it to ourselves to indulge in what feels good so long as it benefits us as individuals. How will you know? Maybe we won’t and that’s OK. Don’t overthink a decision because experiences help us grow regardless of outcome or how we feel in those moments. I think it comes down to allowing your head to keep up with your heart. Feelings and emotion tend to wash over us intensely and quickly and the mind needs time to understand what it even means in the context of our lives.

Take comfort in the fact that no day is the same. It means we’ll always know more tomorrow!

P.S. If you find yourself at one of my fave beauty destinations, a.k.a. Target, my (sassy) Silky & Smooth shampoo is promo-ing through May 16. If you buy 3 Head & Shoulders products, you’ll get a $5 Target gift card (which I would put toward these…just sayin’).

Disclosure note: Thanks for supporting the brands that support 312 Beauty. This post was sponsored by Head & Shoulders at Target through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about Head & Shoulders at Target, all opinions are my own.

Photography by Lindsay Humes of White Oak Creative + Shaheen Khan

312 To Do: POPSUGAR + Simple at Millennium Park

June 6, 2014

Yesterday was so insanely perfect in Chicago, I just wanted to hug the city. I honestly appreciated every second of my day, even the parts that usually test my patience. Pretty sure I’ve never been so happy riding the bus and waiting for the train. I think I even smiled at strangers unprompted. Life is good! There’s more of this in store this weekend and I can’t think of a better way to soak it up than spending a few hours in Millennium Park. Bean selfie, anyone?

Simple® Skincare and POPSUGAR are coming to Chicago for the “Passport to Healthy Skin” event. Think detox station, fitness zone, relaxation room and a Simple Skin-filled beauty oasis set up with the city skyline as a backdrop. Simple will be giving away totes and samples and I hear POPSUGAR will be giving away 150 of their Must Have boxes, which would be the ultimate score. Fellow city-goers interested in some beat time can RSVP here. I’ll be there in my yoga duds!

Olay {Dew Over}

May 1, 2014

I’m traveling back from New York this afternoon after a quick trip in yesterday. I’ve got a similar 24 hours on tap for next week, too. The change of scenery is welcome but contributing to an already over the place schedule. I wouldn’t have it any other way! Does anyone else stay up way too late? If it isn’t late nights working it is late nights spent reading. I’m hosting book club soon so this month’s read for the group is my choice. I went with The Husband’s Secret which I devoured in just a few days. It was worth the fatigue the morning after I finished. That’s what concealer and a dewy moisturizer are for, right? The recipe for beauty sleep in an instant, I say.

At POPSUGAR’s recommendation, I gave the Olay Fresh Effects {Dew Over} Hydrating Gel Moisturizer a test drive. Always a fan of the ‘gel layer’ — as a first step before a thicker moisturizer — I was interested in seeing how this fared. The texture is light and instantly cooling on contact. A few layers on clean skin visibly plumped up my skin. The gel takes some time to really soak in but once it does, the finish is smooth and dry. For best results, give it about 10 minutes to absorb. I think of gels as a first layer, typically, because they can leave a semi-sticky finish but not in this case. The scent is mild and Olay used a few new ingredients with the Fresh Effects line: namely white tea and honeysuckle.

I took a closer look at Olay’s tips for a {Dew Over} and saw the tip to apply this whenever you need a refresh. Mid-day, I applied over my makeup, on my cheeks and sides of my nose which have been a little dry. The cool feeling gave an instant wake-up, which leads me to believe this may have a home in the fridge for use on a hot afternoon. It’s hard to imagine a day that hot this early in the season, but I know they’re on the way.

With the weekend approaching, I’m hoping to squeeze in some actual rest and head to the library to get another book. Any recommendations?

Disclosure note: This post was sponsored by Olay Fresh Effects through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Olay Fresh Effects, all opinions, as always, are my own.

ShopStyle Wants Your Two Cents

September 9, 2013

Care to share your opinion? My friends over at POPSUGAR are giving away a $1,000 Visa gift card to one luck lady (or gent) who uses the new product review feature at ShopStyle. This upgrade means you can now search, shop and share your feedback all in one place. It’s one of those internet black holes for me…I’m a fan of the curated shops from POPSUGAR’s team of editors. Like this list of all of the new (and colorful!) workout shoes and a look at LOFT’s Fall collection in one place. I put my hat in the ring by reviewing some of my favorite beauty products, which you can also see on my aptly-named Pinterest board “The Favorites.” For each review, you get one entry. If you want in on that shopping spree, sign in to ShopStyle by September 26. More details on the official rules and how-to here!

This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR.

Supergoop City & Sand Travel Tote

July 1, 2013

It’s only July 1 and I’ve already drained nearly two tubes of SPF, one face, one body. Note: if your sunscreen lasts all season, you’re not using enough! On a recent visit to the Ruby Room — one of my favorite Chicago boutiques — I snagged this Supergoop City & Sand Sunscreen Set to replenish my SPF stash. I’d really wanted to try the City Serum Sunscreen so when I saw in this kit with two other tubes of sunscreen plus a tube of SPF 30 Lip Balm for only $35, I was all over it. Bonus points for the terrycloth zip tote that is actually quite useful for stashing in a beach bag. The Everyday UV Lotion included is made for face and body, so I’ve been using it on my neck, chest and arms every morning before getting dressed. Now I know why people stock up in the super (mega) sized version of this – it’s that comfortable and easy to wear. Oh, and what do you think of my new scarf? The navy stripes and pop of coral make for the perfect summer color palette. It came in the POPSUGAR June Must-Have Box — along with a ton of other goodies like Juice Beauty CC Cream and Moisturizer, a copy of Revenge Wears Prada, a workout DVD and even more. I am majorly impressed. Anyone subscribe to this monthly? Would love to know what you think! Happy July, all!