What I’m Loving Now

Thank you all so much for your kind words & well wishes regarding my sweet puppy.  We had more imaging done and they started him on a new round of medication yesterday – but he still requires constant supervision, so I appreciate you bearing with me as I take a step back from the blog to focus on helping him heal and recover.  Pretty much everything has been put on hold this week to cater to his needs and I’ve never been more grateful to have a work-from-home job that allows me the flexibility to be available for emergencies like this.  I hope to be back with more regular content, including new outfit posts, next week!

Last month I published this post highlighting some random finds that I was loving & I received such great feedback from you all that I’ve decided to make it a regular recurring series.  This is such a fun way for me to tell you about things that aren’t exclusively fashion & beauty related, so I hope you continue to find it both interesting & helpful!

Even though I hate that I have to say this, I want to be clear that nothing in this post is sponsored & these are not products that I’ve been gifted.  Everything you see here are just items I’ve bought on my own & loved enough to share with you!

STASHER BAGS

I think we can all agree that there’s an overwhelming need to reduce our use of plastic products.  We switched to these glass water bottles & these stainless steel straws, but I still had a drawer full of Ziploc bags.  So when I came across these self-sealing silicone bags, I quickly bought a set to test out.  I love that they’re reusable and freezer & dishwasher safe (you can even cook in them!).  Though my main reason for ordering was to use them in my kids’ school lunches – now that we’ve tried them, I plan on getting more to use for meal-prepping, storing leftovers & to take along on camping trips.  They come in all different sizes, colors/patterns and they’re BPA-free (read more about the brand & their mission here).

NECK CREAM

I’ve been sticking to a strict skin care regimen since I was in my early twenties, but one area that I’ve neglected through the years is my neck.  While I moisturize my whole body well, I certainly wasn’t taking any preventative measures…until I turned 40 and started to notice that it needed some help!  I’ve been testing out a few products since the beginning of last fall, but didn’t notice any significant changes until I started using this firming cream.  I’ve seen such a difference in the texture & appearance of my skin that I will never go without this again – I only wish I had discovered it sooner!  As with any product, you have to use it religiously to see results – I recommend using it morning & night every single day.  One thing you need to be careful of: the cream has an orange tint to it & the color will transfer to clothing if you don’t let it soak in completely.  I typically apply mine and then move on to curling my hair – by the time I’m done, it’s fully absorbed & I can get dressed without worry (at bedtime, I put it on & then brush my teeth before changing into my pajamas).

NO-SHOW SOCKS

With spring right around the corner, we’ll be pulling out our sneakers & flats and happily baring our ankles soon.  So, I thought this would be a great time to share with you the best no-show socks on the market (in my opinion).  I get asked about this quite often and I personally prefer to wear socks with my all my sneakers and low-cut booties – it helps prevents odors, plus it provides an added layer of comfort.  I had previously been using this brand (which are a great affordable option), but found they were a little on the thin side.  My friend Alyson recommended these no-show socks so I ordered a pair on Black Friday & they’ve quickly become my new favorite.  They come in tons of different colors & patterns, they’re just the right thickness + they have a hidden silicone grip at the heel to prevent them from slipping down or shifting when you walk.  Right now, they’re B1G1 50% off, so it’s the perfect time to stock up for the coming season!

SILICONE LOOFAH

File this under things I should have bought a long time ago.  I have no idea why I’ve continued to use mesh loofahs for so long – it’s hard to get them completely dry, which means the inner layers can become a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus & mold.  So, you can either replace it every 3 weeks to eliminate the risk or swap out for a silicone version.  My dermatologist recommend this one & I am so happy I made the switch.  I bought a different color for everyone in the family & threw all our old ones out.  This takes a little getting used to if you’ve been loyal to shower puffs for a while – the bristles are very soft & flexible so I use that for washing and the other side gives you great exfoliation to help remove any dead skin.  And the best part is that it’s super durable and will last for years!

BRANDLESS UTENSILS

You know you’re getting old when you get excited about utensils – ha!  But seriously, with the amount of time I spend in the kitchen, I need high-quality tools that will last + it doesn’t hurt if they’re also aesthetically pleasing. I’ve talked before about my love for Brandless – they have amazing food, household & beauty products (they just added pet & baby items too).  Their wood utensils have taken over my drawers and it’s safe to say I don’t want to use anything else.  Everything I’ve tried from them has exceeded my expectations, but honestly the best part is the price – every single thing is just $3!  Use this referral link & get $6 off your first order of $39 or more + free shipping.

EVERYDAY & CO TOPS

My friend Kendi (who is one of the OG bloggers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting & getting to know in real life) recently launched her own online store, Everyday & Co.  It’s stocked full of those kind of wardrobe basics we all want to wear every day – comfortable & cute with affordable prices.  She has such a great eye for detail, so I know you’ll like her shop as much as I do.  I reached out to her yesterday & she graciously offered a special discount code for PPF readers – you’ll get 25% off your purchase when you use code PPFGIRL at checkout!  As soon as my shopping freeze is over, I’m ordering this neutral gingham tunic (so perfect for spring & summer!) and I’m also loving this colorblock pullover, this striped top, this ruffled blouse, this marled sweatshirt tee & this leopard print top.

MASCARA PRIMER

I’m one of those people who was really skeptical about all types of primers – I wasn’t convinced I even needed it under my foundation until I sampled one & saw the difference.  Through the years, I’ve tried several drugstore mascara primers and found that they only made my mascara more clumpy, so I resolved that this particular beauty product just wasn’t for me.  But then I was watching a beauty blogger’s makeup tutorial video & she spoke so highly of this primer that I thought it might be worth ordering (not to mention, her lashes look incredible!).  I was amazed by how this not only made my lashes appear thicker & fuller, but it magically seemed to define & separate them more than if I was just wearing mascara alone – with zero clumping!  I’ve found that the key is to let it sit for a little bit before applying your mascara.  You don’t want it too wet, but you don’t want it to be dry – it should be slightly tacky (getting the timing right is essential for the best results).  Thankfully, it’s sold in a mini version, which is the perfect way to test it out before buying the full size tube.  As a side note, this is my go-to mascara (travel size here) – I’ve been using for months and it’s truly the best!

DERMAPLANING

I was recently reading an article about how effective dermaplaning is for removing dead skin cells & allowing your skin care products to work to their full potential.  Although I exfoliate regularly, this was a process I’d never really considered before.  So, I took a deep dive into researching it thoroughly and decided to finally try it for myself at home.  I ordered these disposable razors and followed Cristin’s tutorial for my first attempt.  I was a little nervous because I’d heard from other women that they broke out afterwards – so I took extra precautions and went slowly & gently because my skin is naturally very sensitive.  I’m not someone who has a considerable amount of peach fuzz, but I couldn’t believe how much came off as I moved the blade over my face.  Not only did I not have any adverse reactions, my skin instantly felt softer than it ever had before.  And the next day, my makeup went on so smoothly – I am hooked!