Summer Beauty Tips

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General. All opinions are 100% mine.

This summer has been the hottest one in a few years in Ohio.  I'm so glad for the heat because we set up the pool, and we've been using it almost every day.  One thing that I don't like about summer is that it wrecks havoc on my beauty routine.  The humidity makes my hair puffy, and the hot temperatures make it harder to keep my makeup looking good.  Today I'll share with you some of my summer beauty tips for keeping your makeup looking good all day.

Get the Look: Summer Beachy Waves on Short Hair with Sally Beauty

Although I don't live anywhere near the beach, I still rock the beachy hair look in the summer.  I've let my hair grow out a little for summer just so I can add the waves.  My hair is still above my shoulders, so I consider it short.  Since it's not long enough to braid and use a flat iron to heat it in the braid, I use my flat iron to create the waves.  It's really easy and just takes a few minutes to get a great look.

Sharing My Other Side

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Hershey Company. All opinions are 100% mine.

You probably don't know everything about me.  True, I share tid bits of my life here and on my social media, but if you just read my blog, you might not know all there is to know about me.  I have a beauty blog, so I must be all about makeup, fashion, and living the high life, right?  Beauty bloggers are supposed to be worldly women who live in a big city full of energy, right?  

Wrong.  I'm a farm girl living in the middle of Amish country, Ohio.  Where I live couldn't be further from New York City or Los Angeles.  Today, I'll share some of my other side with you, including some adorable pictures.

Pineapple and Cornmeal Face Mask for Oily Skin

My skin has changed as I've aged.  It used to be extremely oily to the point that I had to use oil blotting sheets a few times a day.  Yuck!  Now it's more combination, but my T-zone can get really oily, especially in the summer.  I love this face mask for oily skin because it cuts through the grease without being too harsh for my skin.

I love it when I can use ingredients from my kitchen to make beauty recipes because I don't have to wait to go to the store before I can make it.  This easy DIY face mask for oily skin has just a few ingredients, but they work wonderfully together to combat excess oil on your face.

This pineapple and cornmeal face mask is great for oily or combination skin, but don't use it on dry skin because it can dry out your skin too much and cause irritation.

Receutics Active Skin Care Review

This post was sponsored on behalf of Receutics. All opinions stated are my own.

My skin has changed so much in the few years.  It used to be oily and large pores were my only skin concern.  Now that I'm in my 30s, I have combination skin, large pores, fine lines, uneven skin tone, and sensitive skin.  I recently tried the Receutics Active Skin Repair line for a month.  They have a few different lines of products, but I tried Anti-Aging products and the therapeutic cleanser for my sensitive skin.

LBL Shouldn't Be Taboo Among Women

There is one thing that my husband will never understand about women.  It isn't that have to have to match our shoes to our outfits.  It isn't why we won't pair black and brown together.  It isn't even why it takes so long to apply makeup.  It's how we instantly bond with each other when talking about out children and our pregnancies.  

I'm normally shy and reserved when I meet new people.  The conversation can sometimes be a struggle until someone mentions their kids.  I love to talk about my kids, so this can really start to get me talking.  It almost always comes back to pregnancy and child birth.  I'll admit that I probably wouldn't share my daily plans, but I'll talk about my pregnancies with a total stranger.  

Not only do women talk about being pregnant, but they also talk about delivery and nursing.  In intimate details.  Have you noticed yourself talking to an almost stranger about things that wouldn't share with your family from those first few days in the hospital?  

Internet groups are another popular place that women like to exchange stories with each other.  Again, we will talk about the same things and even more because we have some anonymity behind our computer screens.  

We talk about every aspect of having our babies, and we talk about what happens after delivery. But there's one subject that's fairly taboo, even among good friends. 

Light bladder leakage.

According to Poise, stress incontinence affects almost 50 percent of women who have given birth by the time they are 40.  So chances are, your friends are experiencing the same thing that you are.

You might be tempted to use period pads or liners for LBL, but they aren't made for that.  Poise liners locks wetness and odor to keep you fresher.  

Luckily, Sam's Club has a great deal on Poise liners. You can save up to $4 off regular price by buying them there. 

Best Essential Oil Diffuser and How to Use It

Getting an essential oil diffuser was one of the best purchases I've made in the last year.  It's easy to use, and we see a lot of results, depending on the oils I diffuse.  I love how versatile it is; I can use it when we are sick, when we need to get a good night's sleep, and even to relax us.  The best essential oil diffuser isn't necessarily the most expensive one.  There are a wide range of prices, and each one has different benefits.

How to Make a Princess Briar Rose Head Band

When I say that my 9-year-old daughter is dramatic, I really mean it.  She's involved in community theater, so it's kind of important that she is dramatic.  Even though we live in a rural area, we are very fortunate to have a great theater here that has shows for adults, teens, and children.  She couldn't wait to be old enough to join, and now she's done two plays.  This summer, they were doing a production of Briar Rose: A Tale of Sleeping Beauty.  She auditioned and got the lead part!  There were older kids in the play, so we were very happily surprised that she was picked for Briar Rose.

The theater provides the costume, and they picked the traditional Disney Sleeping Beauty pink dress. We were going to have her wear a tiara, but her hair was an issue.  Since she lies down when she's struck by the curse, we wouldn't do any type of updo for the play.  Her hair is in long layers, so we decided to use a head band.  I made this easy princess Aurora head band for her to wear, and I think it was perfect for keeping her hair back.

Ice Cream Flavor Lip Scrub from Good Earth Beauty Giveaway

Every summer, my lips get insanely dry after I spend time in the sun.  I try to remember to use a lip balm with sunscreen, but I usually forget to use it.  My lips get dry, which makes my lipstick look awful.  I've found that the best way to take care of my lips is to use a lip scrub once or twice a week.  Good Earth Beauty recently sent me a set of 3 scrubs in yummy ice cream flavors, and I loved them so much that I want to giveaway a set for one of my lucky readers!

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaning Board

I'm sure you all know how important clean makeup brushes are, right?  Who wants to spread dirt, grime, product, and bacteria all over their face?  Yuck!  I was using a Dove Beauty bar or my DIY makeup brush cleaner to clean my brushes, but they didn't feel like they got clean enough.  I saw a makeup brush cleaning board, and I thought that I could recreate it for a fraction of the price.  And I did.  

My Morning Routine

I'm an autism mom.  You better believe I have routines for everything.  I have things I do each morning, each evening, and all day in between.  And because I'm a mom, I need my routines to be effective and efficient.  If my mornings go smoothly, my entire day goes smoothly, so my morning routine is vital for my day's success.  Here's a glimpse at my every day morning routine, which I have down to less than 10 minutes, excluding my coffee time.  For my friends with thinning hair, you won't believe how quick and easy it is to incorporate Women's ROGAINE® in to your morning routine.

How to Whiten Sensitive Teeth + Honey and Brown Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe

Life is full of important choices.  Should I go for a walk or bike ride after dinner?  Should I have a salad or a sandwich for lunch?  Should I use a toothpaste for my sensitive teeth or a whitening toothpaste?  I can't help you with all of your tough decisions, but I can help you with your toothpaste.  If you have sensitive teeth, you don't have to choose between treating the sensitivity and using a whitening toothpaste because Sensodyne® True White® helps with both when used twice a day!  Keep reading to hear about my results after using it and a honey and brown sugar lip scrub to keep your new whiter smile looking great.