Those who follow me on Instagram may already know this but I mentioned in a recent post about how it’s honestly difficult for me to set aside time for treating myself, especially now that I have a baby. There will always be a million excuses in my head for all the tasks that need to be completed which is only compounded by the fact that I work full-time from home while also taking care of Aria full-time as well. Yes, I do plan on eventually getting childcare help but for now I’m just trying to embrace this relatively short time to have her closer and save a bit of money! Unfortunately, that also takes up large swaths of my free time which is usually spent scrubbing bottles or folding seemingly endless piles of laundry. That’s why I, and my ever-amazing partners Aveeno, have realized that it’s more important to put my “me time” as a priority in my schedule since otherwise it will inevitably just never happen. Any other ladies out there feel the same way? Can I get an amen over here?


Basically, my tactic is to either full-on leave the house for appointments like a spa treatment or massage once in a while (which you definitely deserve, let this not even be a question) OR do what is much more realistic for fitting into my hectic daily schedule which is to be 10x more efficient at things I do throughout the day so that I can spare a bit of time to myself each evening.

That’s why I wanted to share a few time-saving hacks that I’ve found makes a busy life run a little smoother by the end of the day.


You may have noticed a couple of my favorite pampering steps were taking advantage of the Aveeno Positively Radiant line like the 60 Second In-Shower Facial which works with the steam of your shower to kick your regular exfoliation up a notch. Ben (aka Mr. Toe as he has been affectionately dubbed by some followers) who typically loathes any complicated skincare routine even gives this one a thumbs up.


The Aveeno Positively Radiant Overnight Hydrating Facial is another one that, dare I say, harkens to sleep masks in the Korean skincare routines I was raised with. I apply this before bedtime and wake up with hydrated, radiant skin. It’s that hyaluronic acid, baby. It does wonders with very little extra effort by me.


The further along I’ve gotten in this whole parenting thing, the more strongly I’ve realized that women who take care of themselves set an important example for their children, which in the long run will mean so much more than if all the dishes didn’t get cleaned before bedtime for a night. Don’t forget to build yourself back up first so that you can take care of everyone else better!

Because I've found it so useful to keep a handful of favorite basics that can be mix-and-matched with just about anything, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of 10 workhorse wardrobe pieces that can be worn and re-worn to bits and help elevate any outfit.

Check out my video showing how to rocking these 10 basics here:

I'm starting off with the COVERGIRL + Olay Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation Primer which has a lovely creamy texture and applying it to a clean, bare face. This primer not only helps foundation to last longer and look better, but it also includes anti-aging ingredients that help condition skin over time which is always a blessing for my sleep-deprived self!


Next, I'm applying Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Foundation in Medium Beige all over my skin using clean fingertips. Seriously, I am in so love with the texture of this! It has almost a fluffy, soft feeling which blurs into the skin so smoothly, no brushes needed. The medium-to-full coverage gave me an even, flawless complexion with a very natural satin finish that also felt very hydrating.


To finish the look I applied a contoured rose-gold eye and matching rosy cheeks with a deep red lip to bring out the sophisticated glam feeling I was going for.

You all know I would never leave you hanging so if you want to check out my whole process for getting ready including makeup application and outfit, you can see it all step-by-step in video form below!

For the record, these pretty pretty photos are courtesy of the pretty BFF to my right, photographer extraordinaire Kassia. Girl, you are just too talented.

I know you only get snippets in the video, but the ladies and I had the best time sipping lattes, cracking up over silly selfies that will never see the light of day, and protecting ourselves from the local finches who were getting a little too brave about trying our food! All in all, a worthy event to get glammed out for, making memories with my best friends.

If you have any low-maintenance hair tricks, let me know in the comments and lets all commiserate on which parts of the beauty routine get the short end of the stick when we are short on time. ;)

You may or may not know that my background isn't strictly in the beauty realm but I actually have a degree in industrial design. One thing I learned from my shop days is how important it is to have the right drill bit, a sharp saw, and a good pair of safety goggles (I know, really sexy) to maximize efficiency and technique. Really, makeup application is no different. Simply getting the most expensive tools isn't necessary but having the proper tools can have a big impact on the finished result.

I've gone through so many years trying out all shapes and sizes of makeup brushes, from the biggest kabuki to the tiniest precise liner, that I've found a really nice rhythm of which brushes work best. That's why I thought it would be helpful to share a list of the standout must-haves from each category and what I use them for.





If you want to see how I use these brushes in action (plus a few extra brushes like what I use for mineral foundation) check out the video below:



I realized that my bronzer brush mentioned in the video isn't available for purchase anymore so anyone with bronzer brush recommendations will be my hero. If there are any other brushes that you can't live without let me know in the comments so I can check it out!

Hey everyone! I wanted to stop in and share my latest video with you showcasing how I achieve a radiant foundation look. With the popularity of K-beauty and a focus on skin looking healthy and luminescent versus the cakey, matte look of the past (Soooo over that. Anyone else?) I feel like there's been a resurgence of the glow.

I use a super simple trick plus a couple of easy-to-use products in this tutorial:

And of course found my way to the insane, clear-as-my-bath water. Hey ocean! How you do dat?

I bet you didn't know you were applying your lipstick wrong!

Well, okay, maybe there's no wrong way to apply lipstick but I didn't realize that there was a technique until I was recently helping my lipstick-novice friend try a dashing new shade of scarlet and she asked "How do I apply it?"

Woah. Lightbulb moment. Bright lips take some serious planning to make application look perfect. After years of experimenting with every lipstick shade under the sun, I took this fact for granted and completely glossed over the fact that there indeed are steps that make the process way easier!


Therefore, my Lipstick 101 tutorial was born. (If you haven't seen the rest of my 101 Basics series, you can check them out on youtube or on the blog here.) Some of you might be like me and usually apply it straight from the tube but then need to amp it up on date night so I shared two different ways to have the perfect (and easy) lipstick application. Check out the video & swatches below!

It is finally OFFICIALLY Fall! Bring on the beanies, scarves, faux fur and over-the-knee boots please. One of the things that I miss the most about living in the midwest is a nice crisp, cool autumn morning when you can admire the beautiful leaves changing colors while sipping on a hot cocoa. Honestly, it's still been blazing hot in LA but I tried my darndest to infuse some of that Kansas season into my fall lookbook this year. ;)