5 on Friday - Skincare Edition!

Hello lovelies! I am coming to you later than usual today... I had a class moved to 8:30 this morning and after 2 snow days, I just didn't have a lot of energy to get out the door.

I am linking up with the lovely Natasha and friends for another 5 on Friday. Today I wanted to share some of my skin care favorites, especially now that we are almost to February.

I don't know about you, but I always start to feel drab at this time of year. Not enough sun and fresh air, too much indoor heating, all that winter wind. My skin needs ALL the help it can get!

1. Wash: Cetaphil Facial Cleanser 



After years of trying different face washed, ranging from $10-$40, I have fallen in love with this simple $5 cleanser. Yes, I had acne. Yes, I've had oily/dry/combination skin. Yes, I've have sensitive skim.

This cleanser is perfect for everyone (almost!) and once my skin got adjusted to it, I have been happy with the way my skin feels.

2. Exfoliate: Kate Somerville and St. Ives Apricot for sensitive skin

 

Both of these are awesome, but the prices are a bit different. In the winter, I am more likely to invest in the Kate Somerville one. In the summer I usually use the St. Ives one, which is a little harsher.

3. Treat: Philosophy's On a Clear Day Retinol clarifying lotion 


I use this 2-4 times a week before bed, under my moisturizer. This does a lot to even my skin tone and unclog pores. I really like the way this works on my sensitive skin.

Tip: This is only $7.99 at T.J.Maxx - deal!!!



4. Moisturizer: Lush Imperialist 


This stuff smells amazing and works like a charm. It is a little pricey ($25 I think!), but totally worth it.

Do you have a cheaper one? I'd love to hear about it.


5. Nourish:
Water, sleep, exercise, fresh air, and fruits and veggies are a must. We can't look lovely if we put yuck in us :)

Have a good weekend!

Hannah  

8 things to do on a Snow Day (Not including watching T.V. or reading a book)

The snow days continue. Day 2.5

Atlanta is still a hot mess.

I am not perfecting my snow day activities and thought I would pass along some ideas. Whether you have a real snow day or simply don't go places when it is cold (ahem.... AR), here you go!

1. Learn to Cook  

Try some new recipes or perfect some old ones! If you run out of room in your tummy, start stocking your freezer. 

Thus far, I've made cookies, greek yogurt macaroni & cheese, mashed cauliflower, veggie omelets, stir-fry veggies with sesame oil, sage-apple turkey meatloaf, and a million cups of hot chocolate. 

Today's projects include making bread dough to freeze and chicken enchiladas. 

2. Find all your tax information

This may take your whole day. I discovered I have every pay stub I have received since 2010. Lucky me. When I first started dating AR, I asked if he would do my taxes (he is a CPA). He said  no and suggested Turbo Tax. 

3. Workout

My gym was closed and walking outside wasn't happening, much less running (though I did try). Enter Pinterest workouts!

Check out Pinterest and you-tube for some awesome workouts. I did a mat pilates workout and some yoga yesterday and am sore this morning. 

4. Find ways to reuse things

In a state of desperation, I reused a COFFEE FILTER. I ran out and really needed coffee, so I washed one out in the sink and put it back in the coffee pot. I know, it is sad. I then walked a half mile to by more coffee & filters in the afternoon. 

You may find something new to reuse! Slash some weekly spending! 

5. Clean out your closet

Now is the time to try everything one and see how you really feel about it. 

Once you pick out the things you don't need, go load them in your car to take to the donation center ASAP. If you leave them in your home, you may change your mind (or is that just me?). 

Click here to find a Goodwill Donation Center near you!

My dream closet
Source

6. Clean your home

When is the last time you dusted those base boards and door frames? I am doing Apartment Therapy's January Cure and loved the time to catch up. I've mopped floors, vacuumed under beds, cleaned out cabinets. Mother Nature knew my apartment needed this snow day. 

7. Find everything within a mile of your home and walk there 

I've fully surveyed the area via Google Maps to discover where I would walk. Once I walked to Starbucks, I discovered it was closed. SO SAD Starbucks. Luckily, I now know every coffee shop in the area :)

8. Go sledding

I did this on a hill. With my car in park. And the emergency break on. 

I recommend you do it with a sled at a park.
No sleds? plastic trays and metal baking sheets work! College students, I recommend the cafeteria trays :)

What are you doing to stay busy?

Stay safe!

x0x0, 

Hannah 

{Healthy} Baked Potato Soup + Weekend

I was going to do a weekend recap, but my weekend was non-existent. I really just studied. For example, I woke up and studied for a few hours before brunch, then studied until 8pm last night. This is my life.

The only thing keeping me together right now is the fact that I have Friends with Benefits on t.v. right now, and I like that movie (I have horrible tastes, I know).

 

Rather than tell you about my great study sessions, I wanted to share a recipe that is PERFECT for this cold weather. If you are like most of the United States, you are experiencing some serious cold weather, and soup is the perfect meal to end your day with!

 

 

 

This baked potato soup is lightened up from the recipes my mom and grandmother use. It would also be awesome topped with turkey bacon or green onions (AR eats his that way). I like thinks simple!

 

 

Baked Potato Soup

Served 4-5

 

Ingredients

3 large potatoes

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

2 T olive oil

1/3 c. flour

3 cups milk (2% or skim cow milk, or unsweetened/unflavored almond milk works well)

1 c. broth (vegetable or chicken)

salt and pepper to taste

3/4 c. reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese

Optional: crumbled bacon, sliced green onions.

 

Directions

Cook potatoes: either bake at 400* for 1 hour or cook in microwave for 10-12 minutes. Let potatoes cool, then peal and mash slightly.

Heat olive oil and add onions. Cook until onions are soft and slightly brown, then add the flour. This will get lumpy, but don't worry! Slowly mix in the milk until blended. If you have lumps, do not worry. Mix with whisk and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.

Add the potatoes, broth, and salt and pepper. Cook until heated through and frothy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and blend slightly with an immersion blender. (No immersion blender? Add part of the soup to the blender and puree).

Mix in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Serve with remaining cheese and other toppings.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

Hannah

It's a struggle.

I am a little exhausted.

 

I barely recovered from last semester and I am already bogged down in a million other things: readings, class prep, job applications, and networking events. To top it off, I am sick as a dog and hosting a major even tonight with over 300 in attendance.

 

 

 

Last night, as I was showing AR a photo, I saw this quote of my camera and it was such an excellent reminder.

 

Most of us are at a rough place in life... we are still putting in the work that one needs to invest at the start of life. Our apartments aren't perfect, are paychecks aren't big enough, and we are still planning for the next thing.

 

But its okay. The work is worth it. AR and I are going to laugh about these nights later and remember how close we grew.

 

Whatever your rough patch is, I wish you the best. We are going to get through it.

 

Hannah

{Recap} Weekend, Meals, & Fitness

This weekend was so fun-filled, and it is continuing tomorrow (Yay for a holiday). I wanted to share a quick weekend recap, and let you in on some of my meal and fitness plans for the week. 

The weekend started on Friday was a dinner out at Antico Pizza. If you are in Atlanta, you know this place has amazing pizza. In fact, everyone knows it, which means the lines are long. AR and I met up with my friend Andrea and her husband for some yummy dinner. We spend half of the meal standing, and the other half sitting when we finally got a table. Luckily, the pizza makes up for the crowded feeling. After dinner, we walked next door for some gelato and chatted for another hour. I just love them :)

Scrappy & I are not impressed with the cold.

AR and I had planned to try a new running group on Saturday morning, but it didn't happen. It was just SO cold, so we decided to treadmill it. My poor Louisiana man cannot take anything below 30*. We had fun making a big breakfast with whole wheat biscuits (I use this recipe and replace half the flour with wh, and sub greek yogurt for the buttermilik), turkey bacon, and scrambled eggs. Yum - I just love breakfast. 

I spent the afternoon hitting up local businesses with my friend Luci for out upcoming silent auction. After 6 hours of walking in the cold, I was so worn out and ready to call it a day. So far, we have about $6000 in donated items, which is amazing!

We got ready and had dinner with our men at Bistro Nikos in Buckhead. Have you been there? The food was absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed bites of a Gruyere and mushroom tart, chicken piallard (thin pounded chicken with asparagus, arugula, and tomatoes), and a bite of caramelized banana. The restaurant was a bit pricey, so we will probably save it for special occasions in the future. Certainly a wonderful meal though!

This top? $7 at Target. Yes, I love Target.

Sunday morning was gym time, followed by lunch at the Whole Foods salad bar and some grocery shopping. I feel like it is always so crowded there on the weekends. We barely made it out alive. I put dinner in the crock pot (shredded buffalo chicken, served on wheat buns with roasted brussel sprouts) and spent the afternoon working on internship applications and studying. Oh, and blogging :)

Do you have a weather cutoff for outdoor workouts? At what point do you go inside? 

x0x0, 

Hannah

Meals for the week

(Going simple because AR won't be here)

M - Black bean tacos and salad

T - Stuffed baked potato with broccoli

W - Quiche with lots of veggies and feta

Th - Roasted turkey breast with rice and green beans

F - ??

Workouts for the week

M -strength and 20 min cardio

T - 3 mile run + abs

W - 5 mile run

Th - 3 mile run + legs

F - rest

S - Long run