Coffee With Summer - Page 3 of 92 - striving to lead a life of authenticity and grace, while encouraging others over coffee.

At Home With PMD Beauty

September 26, 2017

This post has been sponsored by the PRIMP Network and PMD. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep CWS running.

Hey there, beauties! Today, we’re talking all about skincare and the benefits that microdermabrasion can bring to your skin. As someone who struggles with acne prone skin, some scarring, and has some tiny fine lines that I want gone, I’m up for trying pretty much anything that is said to help me out.

This is why I’m so glad to be partnering with PMD to talk about their Personal Microderm Device! I’m not one to go out to get skin procedures done, because of two reasons: 1. They’re expensive. 2. I’m honestly nervous about how my skin would react. This is why I jumped on board to try out the in-house PMD Personal Microderm tool when I got the opportunity to.

Microdermabrasion is a process of exfoliation that helps to remove dead skin cells. The PMD Personal Microderm is a tool that combines patented spinning disc technology with perfectly calibrated vacuum suction to leave your skin looking fresh and radiant. The Personal Microderm should only be used once a week, as it removes the top layer of dead, dull skin, so your body needs one week to rejuvenate. Weekly treatments can reduce the appearance of blemishes, enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.

PMD’s patented spinning discs are embedded with aluminum oxide crystals that exfoliate the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. The suction helps to increase circulation and triggers the skin’s natural healing process which boosts collagen and elastin leaving skin firm and radiant.

What I really love about the PMD Personal Microderm is that it comes with everything you need to start out. It comes with one training disc, 2 grey discs (one for face, the larger one for body), 2 blue discs, and 2 green discs. It also comes with another cap that is for the larger discs that are made for exfoliating other parts of your body.

You start with the white training disc first, and then move up in color depending on how sensitive your skin is.

White discs – Ultra sensitive
Grey discs – Very sensitive
Blue discs – Sensitive
Green discs – Moderate

3 MINUTE TREATMENT

Cleanse skin and dry thoroughly
Start with white training disc (for your first time)
Pull skin tight to help device to smoothly glide over skin
Glide quickly along skin in an upward motion
Do not apply pressure
Do not stop or remain in one area
Only one pass per area

After the treatment, apply toner and moisturizer to your skin. Then wash the cap and filter after each use.

At the end of October, I’ll be sharing my before and after photos with you. This is going to be super vulnerable for me, but I’m really excited to share my skincare journey with you.

Until then, check out PMD’s FAQ and some of their before & after photos on their website. Seeing these before and after photos makes me eager to see how well the process is going to work for me.

Can’t wait to see my results to try it for yourself? Or do you want to join in on this journey with me? You’re in luck.

Use code: PRIMP20 for 20% OFF your order!!
(excludes subscriptions & sale items)

Have you ever used the PMD Microderm tool? If so, what were your results? If not, is it something you’ve been interested in? Let’s chat!

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2 Ways To Wear A Casual White Dress

September 25, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BleachBetter #CollectiveBias

I have never been the type of person to buy clothing items that I could only wear once or one way. I’m all about the fashion pieces that can be worn multiple ways and that can be dressed either up or down. Transitional and versatile pieces will always be what I shop for because I’m a huge advocate for intentionality, and that includes fashion and how I dress.

Today, I want to share with you a staple that every lady must have – a casual, white dress. If I had to describe my style in three words, they would be: simple, comfortable, and casual. This white dress fits my style perfectly!

Before I go any further, I need to let you know that I am a firm believer in breaking the “no whites after Labor Day” rule. White is a beautiful color that should be worn all year-round. Who cares about a silly fashion rule like that? Is anyone else with me on this? I hope you are. 😉

I’m going to be sharing how you can style this casual, white dress two ways for this fall. As a huge perk, I’m also going to be sharing with you how I keep this dress white and looking like it’s brand new.

2 WAYS TO STYLE A CASUAL, WHITE DRESS

One of my go-to ways to style a casual, white dress is to simply add a denim jacket, fun sneakers, and a baseball cap. This is a super fun and flirty outfit! It’s a great transitional outfit from summer to fall, especially if your denim jacket is thick.

If you’re not the type of girl to wear a dress often, this kind of outfit is for you! It’s simple, and it’s very easy to make your own. This makes a great tailgating look, and it’s also a cute look for many fall dates, like apple picking.

MY SECRET TO KEEPING MY WHITES, WHITE!

As a lover of neutrals, especially white, it’s important to me to keep them looking white all of the time. I don’t ever want my whites to yellow or for them to start to look dingy. This is why I use Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX!

Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX is the best bleach to use to keep your clothes whiter longer*. It has a patented whitening formula that helps you achieve better whitening* on all of your whites.

The top reason why I love using Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX (aside from its enhanced whitening power*) is that it’s easy to use. Whenever I have a load of whites to do, I add my favorite detergent into the machine, and then I add 1/2 cup of Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX into the machine, all before adding my clothes.

For tips on how to use Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX in your washer, see here.

I purchase my Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX at Target! It’s easy to find in the laundry aisle. They have some other great choices with scents, as well.

The second way that I love styling a casual, white dress is to add a blanket scarf to my outfit. Blanket scarves are definitely a must-have accessory in the fall and winter seasons, but they’re great for the end of summertime, as well. For right after Labor Day, I like to wear a blanket scarf as a shawl. It gives me the right amount of warmth without overwhelming me. I love how the colors in the scarf help to make the white pop even more than it already does, thanks to Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX.

Are you someone who likes to go against the grain when it comes to style? What’s your favorite way to wear white after Labor Day? Let’s chat!

Make sure you stop by your local Target to pick up some Clorox Bleach with CLOROMAX, so that your clothes can stay whiter longer*!

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*based on stain removal vs. detergent alone

How To (And Why You Should) Build Up Other Women

September 22, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, MARS Incorporated. All opinions are mine alone. #WhatMakesDove #CollectiveBias

Something this world needs to get better at is loving and building up one another, especially when it comes to women encouraging other women. I’m a huge believer in the term “community over competition”, and I feel that’s a term every woman should adopt when it comes to uplifting other women.

Women are powerful and we need to be there for one other. Instead of judging and tearing each other down, we need to be speaking life into each other. Women need other women! We need to stop being caddy and support one another. We need to be doing life together.

One of the main topics I love encouraging other women in is the importance of self-care. Self-care should not be an option for anyone. It needs to be mandatory. Without proper tending to self-care, you can get dragged down and exhausted emotionally and physically, as well as many other ways. I know what can come of neglecting self-care, which is why it’s my heart to encourage other women to take up a life full of self-care.

It always brings me joy when I see other ladies having self-care days with one another at the spa or even at home having a girl’s night. One of the beautiful things about self-care is that it looks different for everyone.

I have a heart for pouring into teenage and college-aged women. I have mentored a few young women and the strength that they have through everything is incredible. Those ages carry so much fun to them, but there are also many trials to them. From making genuine friends to not flunking that history class, there are many #thestruggleisreal moments for young women. These years are also years of getting more in-tune with who you are and what you were made to be doing. This is why it’s so KEY for those of us who’ve already gone through these years to reach out and pour into those women who are there now.

When I think back to when I was a college student, one thing I really wished I received more of were care packages. Care packages were so special to me when I got them, not because of what was necessarily in them, but because of the thought and love that they were sent with. It’s my goal to send at least one care package throughout the school year to each of the college ladies that I’m close with. They can be a huge pick-me-up! They can truly turn a bad day around.

Today, I’m sharing my go-to self-care essentials package for any college woman. If you know a lady in college, I’m telling you – you can’t go wrong with a self-care essentials package like this. 🙂

It can be pretty simple to make a great self-care essentials kit, but there are many ways that you can add some flare to the kit!

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A SELF-CARE ESSENTIALS KIT FOR THE COLLEGE WOMAN:

Journal // When you’re in college, you’re experiencing and learning so many new things, even outside of the classroom. A great way for ladies to reflect on what they learn and go through is to write it all down in a journal.
Face Masks // Skincare is really important for women to pay attention to, so why not make it fun? There are tons of different kinds of face masks out there. For the college lady, I recommend face masks that are for anti-stress and renewal.
Seasonal Candle Or Candle Melts // Depending on the type of housing, you can have a small candle. If not, you can always have a wax melt warmer. Most ladies love their candles, so you can’t go wrong there!

Bath Bombs // Bath bombs have been all the rave for the past few years and it’s certainly for good reason. Just like a bubble bath, they can be relaxing and soothing. If the college lady you know doesn’t have a tub in their dorm, I can assure you they’d love some sugar exfoliating cubes or scrub instead.
Nail Polish // College ladies love doing their nails together. Plus, it’s a great self-care activity to do alone. It’s soothing and creative, and the best part is that they can choose colors based on how they’re feeling. What young women doesn’t love nail polish, right?
Lotion // Skincare is more than just for your face, it’s for your entire body. Lotion and other moisturizers are a great self-care essential, because it’s practical and useful. It’s important for women to nourish the skin they’re in.
Small Bin // Small storage bins make the perfect gift basket for a college lady, because they are purposeful. The one I included in this tutorial can be used many different ways for storage: bathroom, makeup, desk items, and more.
DOVE Chocolate PROMISES // Women love chocolate! That’s no secret at all. DOVE Chocolate PROMISES – 3 Flavor Assortment 31oz. Canister that can be found at Sam’s Club is filled with all of the superior silky smooth chocolate that you could ever want. The 3 flavors in the canister are Dark Chocolate, White & Dark Chocolate Swirl, and Sea Salt Caramel & Dark Chocolate. I found them in candy aisle towards the front of the club.

DOVE Chocolate PROMISES provide more than just a sweet treat – they include inspirational messaging inside each wrapper.

Words or encouragement and humor can do a world of wonder after a bad day or a tiring week, especially for a lady in college. DOVE Chocolate PROMISES are the perfect pick-me-up chocolates.

DOVE Chocolate, produced by Mars Wrigley Confectionery, together with CARE, announced a partnership designed to empower women who grow cocoa in the communities of Ivory Coast.

CARE builds Village Savings and Loan Associations in communities where the cocoa is sourced, which helps female farmers obtain funds that can be invested in their farms, their communities and their future.

THEIR VISION IS TO:

Increase women’s access to economic and social opportunities
Provide resources to help women farmers improve their yields and incomes
Enable women to make decisions in cocoa farming communities and household

DOVE focuses on cocoa sustainability and empowering women cocoa farmers to better their business and lives. How neat is that?

3 SIMPLE WAYS TO BUILD EACH OTHER UP:

Cheer Each Other On // Whether you’re in the same lane or a different one, a great way to build other women up is to cheer them on. Let them know that they can achieve what they’re going after!
Compliment Each Other // Ruthie Lindsay said it best… “If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.”
Be Available // One of the greatest things we can do for one another is to simple be available. Be available when someone needs to talk or needs advice. Be available when someone needs a shoulder to cry on or a very long hug. Be available when someone has something to celebrate.

Sign up for a free Ibotta account and earn $1.50 with the purchase of a 31 oz canister of DOVE PROMISES Chocolate 3 Flavor Assortment.

Ladies, what are some ways that you enjoy encouraging other women? What are some of your self-care essentials? What were some of your self-care essentials during your teen and college years? Be sure to check out how other women are empowering women! Let’s chat!

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An Introvert’s Guide to FOMO

September 20, 2017

Being an introvert with FOMO comes with a set of unique challenges. As introverts, we naturally gravitate to spending quality time alone to recharge. Most days, that’s what we prefer. For me, there is very little that I enjoy more than cuddling up with a bowl of ice cream and enjoying some quality time with my husband and my pets. But the fear of missing out is real, and social media loves to remind introverts of everything we are missing out on.

Already, introverts will oftentimes struggle with wanting to be more extroverted. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an extrovert say something like “I wish I didn’t have the urge to be so social all the time.” But introverts seem to go to this line of thinking very easily. Society likes to make introverts think that true happiness comes from being in the constant company of others. The media exposes us to happy groups of people all the time. And then we hop on social media to see our Facebook feeds filled with people having a great time. Together.

Literally as I’m typing this, I got a Snapchat notification– a video of about 20 people at a party together. How I spent my night tonight? Making a batch of brownies and eating them by myself. No, seriously.

When introverts invite people into their world, they connect on a deep level. Click To Tweet

Because introverts prefer to spend time alone or in smaller groups of people, they tend to have fewer, but closer, relationships by choice. Introverts recharge in the quiet moments, and when they do invite people into their world, they connect on a deep level. When introverts choose “their people,” they are deep, intentional, and rooted relationships. Extroverts, on the other hand, feel recharged when they’re in big groups of people. Extroverts find energy by floating from person to person in their squad like a proverbial social butterfly. They thrive on the energy of other people like a hive, and feel most like themselves when they are enjoying the company of many people.

6 Ways To Be FOMO As An Introvert Click To Tweet

Although everyone is likely to be plagued by FOMO at some time during their lives, introverts struggle with another dimension of FOMO: the guilt associated with not actually wanting to spend time with a big group of people while still not wanting to miss out. We enjoy our time alone but we long to have the energy to be social 24/7. The thought of going out feels overwhelming, planning a group outing can be nauseating, and yet if we stay home, we sit and wonder what we’re missing. We may even start to question if being introverted means that something is fundamentally wrong with us.

6 WAYS TO BEAT FOMO AS AN INTROVERT:

FOMO causes introverts to question their personality type. With FOMO, introverts may believe that extroverts must have many close relationships. The fact that they have something to do at all times must mean they’re more popular, more liked, and more satisfied with their lives. But that simply may not be the case. It is unreasonable to draw conclusions about extroverts when coming from an introverted worldview. And in order to beat FOMO once and for all, introverts must meet themselves where they’re at rather than trying to rewire their brains.

1. Be Choosy On Social Media // Be choosy about who you expose yourself to on social media. If you’re like me and have some extroverted friends who are always showing up on your newsfeed and you notice yourself falling into FOMO, consider unfollowing them. If you’re not willing to unfollow completely, Facebook has given you another option. On Facebook, if you hide a post, you will be given an option to see less from that friend.

Remember: Social media is not an accurate portrayal of real life. Those parties, weddings, and vacations are special occasions and probably do not represent your friends’ lives as a whole.

Remember: Social media is not an accurate portrayal of real life. Click To Tweet

2. Stay In The Moment // When FOMO tries to convince you that you’re missing out, stay in the moment. Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.'” FOMO pulls you out of the present and into an anxiety spiral about the future. If you want to avoid FOMO, take notice of how nice the present moment is.

3. Enjoy The People You’re With // Similarly, enjoy spending time with the people you’ve chosen to surround yourself with. Introverts are not relationally challenged, even though FOMO can make us believe we are. Let your friends know how much you cherish them. Tell them out loud. Shout them out on social media. Remind yourself of how great they are when you’re feeling alone. Remember that just because you prefer to be around fewer people doesn’t mean that they are less important.

4. Reason With Yourself // If you’re feeling overstimulated and decide to leave an event, good for you. Trust yourself to do what you feel like you need to do. And when FOMO decides to rear its ugly head and convince you that something great is probably going to happen once you leave, pause and reflect. We introverts are good at that. What did you enjoy about your time? How is your body telling you that you’re sapped of energy? What are the consequences if you stay? What are the payoffs if you leave?

Trust yourself to do what you feel like you need to do. Click To Tweet

5. Challenge Your Beliefs // Who said that you have to be around a lot of people to have a great time anyway? When you feel like you’re missing out, remember that you aren’t wired the same way as extroverts are, so try not to put yourself in the same box. Work within your limits. What can you do alone that makes you feel good? Go do something nice for yourself that you enjoy.

6. Express Gratitude // Deep down, FOMO is rooted in being unsatisfied with what you have. So express gratitude for what you do have. What memories bring you joy? Who makes you feel loved? How are you important? Write down the things you are grateful for and keep them close. Make a note on your phone or keep them on your mirror. Better yet, make gratitude a regular practice. End each day by writing down three things you’re grateful for, no matter how small.

An Introvert's Guide To FOMO: 6 Ways To Beat It | @thelightowlblog Click To Tweet

Are you an introvert? How do you address FOMO when it strikes? What are some of your best tips to beating it? Let’s chat!

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