Milk was a bad choice -- non-dairy favorites!

Hello everyone!

I posted something on Facebook last week, curious to see what everyone recommended for dairy-free alternatives and didn't get a lot of feedback. I was surprised, but excited because I knew I wanted to write a post on my recommendations, but didn't want to be redundant. I mean, if I see one more informational post about Keto on FB, I might scream. But, after seeing Kim, I learned I most likely have a sensitivity with dairy. Because my breakouts are systematic breakouts, that means something within my daily diet or routine is causing them.

She mentioned that dairy is a sensitivity for a lot of people and then, it dawned on me - when I went dairy-free for 2 months awhile back, my skin completely cleared up. I mainly did it for the weight loss benefits (let's be real), but I remember not having one breakout in that time.

Now, my fiance thinks I am crazy - maybe I am, but at this point I am almost 30 and still have breakouts, so I am willing to try anything at this point. I decided as of last week to make the change for good. Anytime I can, I am going to make a valiant effort to eliminate dairy from my diet. I'll be honest - when I first thought about doing this from here on out, I got scared. I mean what would possibly taste as good as ice cream in summer? Then, I remembered it's basically 2019 and science is super cool.

I am going to let you know of my favorite non-dairy items or alternatives. Here are a few products that will play serious tricks on your mind.

1. Halo Top - Non-Dairy Ice cream

I have been a fan of Halo Top since my Keto days. It's high in protein, low in sugar, carbs and actually tastes like ice cream. I'm sure everyone is aware of low-carb ice cream, but when I saw they have dairy-free options now, I did a little dance. My favorite is the peanut-butter cup, but they have a candy bar flavor I am dying to try. After looking up a few stores in my area, it looks as though almost every major grocery store carries it. Double win!

2. Go Veggie! "Cheese" 

I have tried Ciao, Go veggie! and Daiya brand vegan cheese -- Ciao and Daiya seemed very cardboard-like. The Daiya does melt well, but with it not tasting great cold, why bother? Sometimes I like to eat shredded cheese out of a bag, ya know? The Go Veggie! slices are amazing - I tried them on a grilled cheese and they taste/melt almost identical to Kraft Slices. The shreds are are awesome too. I also need to mention their cream cheese - it is so good. The strawberry tastes like the real thing. SO GOOD. Basically, just try it. You won't regret it. So far I have found the shreds at Kroger, but they don't stay in stock long. I try to get there on weekend mornings to pick up whatever I need to be sure I can snag some. On their website it says that Health Foods Unlimited (Centerville) carries most of the items!

3. The Perfect Bar 

So, when I started back on Weight Watchers, I was surprised how many points these bars are. I mean they taste like fudge, so I should have known better, but fat is a huge no-no on WW. With that said, my points will not stop me from eating these bad boys. To be honest only a couple of flavors are actually completely dairy-free, but I love these because they remind me of a soft peanut butter cookie, but are full of whole ingredients. The macros really aren't that bad, as long as you count one bar as a meal replacement. I love eating these when I leave work on the way to the gym - but I try not to keep them out of the fridge too long - they are so so good cold. Most health food stores carry these, but Trader Joe's and Kroger have them for cheap! I typically can buy a bar for around $2.00. So freaking good.

4. Pure Blends Avocado Oil Plant-based Butter

Say that 5 times fast - whew! No, but seriously I have been trying to find a substitute for butter that wasn't nasty-oil based for awhile. I saw this at Kroger and it was on sale and decided to give it a try. It's great! I use it for everything - cooking eggs, buttering up a pan, homemade hollandaise - honestly it smells just like butter too. I was surprised at how close this was to the real thing! Kroger has it on sale for $4 which is a steal (it's a wittle pricey).

5. Coffee-mate Almond Milk Creamer

Creamer is the ONE thing that will upset my stomach. At work, they have these huge "creamer" pumps. Ew. I decided to find something healthier way before I started my dairy-free journey, and you can't even tell a difference. I love it! So far I have tried Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel and Maple. Caramel is by far my favorite, but Maple is pretty awesome too. It's like your drinking pancakes for breakfast - I mean, not really, but it still tastes amazing!

6. Vegan cake from Purely Sweet Bakery 

I never in a million years would think that I would ever recommend someone to try a vegan cake. Never. I am here today to share with you the most decadent mind-trick in the world - Purely Sweet Bakery. A co-worker brought a cake in for another's last day and I was like "no way in hell." Boy, was I wrong. I am going as far to say that this almost tastes better than the real thing. I couldn't tell a different, besides I could have ate half of this cake on my own. It was a chocolate/white cake swirl with vanilla icing (I'm drooling as I type this). It was moist and the icing was creamy. Who would have known? No one. I looked up the owner of the bakery and she owns a bakery in Dayton off Dayton-Xenia Road, and if you are lucky you can grab some of her items at Dorothy Lane Market. I'm using my lunch break to stock up on her vegan cinnamon rolls for the holidays!


Honestly, I'm still new to this, so please share your dairy-free secrets with me! Comment your recommendations or questions below!

Local Loves: Great Skin by Kim!

For years I have been battling acne. Not just pimples every month when Aunt Flow comes to town. I mean, major breakouts taking weeks to heal. After the breakouts would calm themselves, I would be left with red and purple discoloration marks, or acne scars. It was this viscous cycle of breaking out, scarring, breaking out etc.

I knew I needed to do something eventually, but what? I tried Proactive, which worked for a year and then stopped. I tried Kate Somerville, thinking oh this will work. Nope. I tried my tried and true Neutrogena acne system - nope. The older I get the less things were/are working.

So, I started following a spa in Cincinnati that uses PCA products and after looking to the brand, I was intrigued. No markups because of fads, no crazy packaging - it just is what it is and from the looks of Instagram photos I saw, there was proof it works. Now, I'm going to be honest - committing to a skin regimen that includes spa visits every 3 weeks wasn't exactly in my plans, but I couldn't afford lasers or harsh chemical peels. To be honest, I am so happy I found this as an option, because I do not need lasers or harsh chemical peels. I mean, I am still in my 20's - let's not go overboard.

What finally had be hooked? The spa I had been following, Face It Spa, showed the results of the PCA Peel. I was stunned - women and men with years of scarring, acne and discoloration showed amazing results after about 4 peels and following a skincare system. SOLD. Only bad thing - we moved to Dayton and the drive to Cincy every 3 weeks just wasn't an option.

Finally, I commented on a post and asked Gio, owner of Face It Spa, for a recommendation of someone in the Dayton area. He recommended Kim, owner of Great Skin by Kim. I immediately messaged her and asked to set up an appointment. I looked over her services at her website  and knew I wanted a Signature Specialized Peel. The option below that, cost wise, includes treatment, but without the spa treatment. For the first time, I wanted to go big. Within a day or so, I was scheduled to meet with her.

Was I nervous? Yes. Did I know what to expect? Yes. Before my appointment I asked Kim some questions - When does the peeling take effect? Will I peel a lot? What do I do after I leave my appointment? How long is the appointment? Kim was sogreat with explaining everything. She said the appointment would last an hour and a half due to paperwork and her explaining everything in more detail. She said that visual peeling is hard to predict, because everyone's reaction to the peel is different and it depends on what treatment the person decides on. Some people don't peel, but it doesn't mean the peel didn't work. If you do peel, it's more like flaking, like if you had a sunburn, and the flaking usually starts in 2-3 days after the peel and will continue until the 5th-7th day. She also said the peeling shifts - one day it will be on my chin, the next maybe on my nose. For aftercare, she sends every person home with a skincare kit to keep the skin moisturized. Also, you can wear makeup over it.

So, I went to my appointment. The skincare studio is in a Pilates studio. So cute. She came over to me when I arrived and walked me through a few forms - nothing crazy or intimidating. Then she walked me back. I changed into a spa gown and hopped up on the spa table. She asked me a few questions once she came in based on my past experience with what I've used, what medications I am on. She then walked me through the appointment and what to expect in more detail. She was so calm and sweet and never once did I feel uncomfortable.

She started by cleansing and toning my face. She used a lactic acid toner and watched to see how my skin would react so she would know how much or how little my skin could handle. She then looked at my skin under a few lamps to get to know the deeper issues. She told me that my acne was most likely systematic, meaning something I was eating or using was causing most of my breakouts. She also mentioned one side of my face was more irritated than the other, so I needed to change my pillowcase more often or not sleep on my hair.

After she explained what my options for treatment were, we decided on the PCA Peel. She talked me through the entire thing. She did one layer of the peel and asked how if there was stinging or tingling. With each layer, she asked how I was doing. The peel being applied reminded me of what it feels like when you apply a really strong acetone that sometimes stings, but no more stinging than that. After 6 layers I was done.

She then moved on to the best part - the spa aspect of the appointment. She gave me a neck and arm massage, had me relax with essential oils. I felt in heaven - so chilled out. After she was done she had me change and then came back in to walk me through the kit she was going to send home with me. She gave me a step-by-step of how to use the products. You can mix any of the PCA products together and each one has Lactic acid, which is an acid our body already produces.

I left feeling so confident, knowing I'll need about 4-5 more peels to see clearer results and trusting Kim. This photo shows my skin immediately after leaving my appointment - GLOWING. The 2nd photo is with makeup on top of the peel. I wanted to leave the product on longer to allow it to work longer - STILL GLOWING.

It's been 3 days now and my skin is doing exactly what she mentioned. I've had flaking around my nose, but nothing serious. My skin is smoother, but there are things that were brought to my skin's surface (she said that would happen). So far, I love everything she sent home with me. The Rebalance Moisturizer feels heavy, but it's not at all. This photo shows flaking I have had so far, which isn't bad.

So, if you are excited to watch my journey follow me on Instagram - breeannalynn_ . If you would like to set up an appointment to see what Kim can do for you, send me a message on Facebook or Instagram or call her! Let her know I sent you her way. I promise you will not be disappointed! 

Favorite Amazon Finds

Hi everyone! It's been awhile with me being sick, I'm not sure what my immune system was doing, but I am back at it.I wanted to get do a blog post about this because I have had Amazon Prime for about 3 years now and I am never let down with the items I am able to find much cheaper on Amazon. I am all about saving a buck!

Let's get started -- 1. THIS. DRESS. How crazy is it that I almost spent $100 on this same dress from a boutique. I know I wanted this laser-cut dress for a couple of fall weddings we had coming up, but on a whim I searched Amazon for dress options and I found this. I was ecstatic. The straps are adjustable and the dress has some give. If you are in-between sizes, I recommend going down a size. The dress is the perfect tea length so it's work appropriate. I wore it as normal for one wedding and then threw a Free People sweater over the dress for another wedding. It's so versatile.

2. My favorite pre-workout: Evertrain Pre. I typically don't get around to working out until after work around 6pm, so I needed to find a pre-workout that would help me push through my workout without leaving me restless until 2 a.m. I love the flavor of this pre-workout too - it's not watered down and it's not too sweet. If you are looking for a non-stimulant pre-workout give this a try. The reviews are great too! 

3. Speaking of workout out - I love this Sweet Sweat band. I had heard a lot about it through different fitness Instagram's I follow, but wasn't all about the hype until my sister bought it and raved about it. She said she sweat so much and it helped with bloating. I love wearing it during my workout. I have worn it up to like 50 minutes during a workout and by the time I took it off I was pouring sweat. You have to try it! It's also less than $17 through this link, so if you are or have been on the fence, buy IT NOW. I rarely see it at this price! It makes a huge difference with my workouts!

4. You know the feeling when you find the perfect leggings? You could just live in them, right? Well that's how I feel about these Queenie Ke leggings. They fit perfect, actually stay up during my workout and are just tight enough to make me feel "tucked in." I wear these to work with a cute tunic top, or to the gym. They are under $23 which is such a great price. The reviews mention these are better than some Lululemon styles! 

5. So, I swear I was not meaning for this to be a workout product list, but I guess while we are on the topic, I'll mention the collagen peptides I love. Vital Proteins has the best Collagen Peptides. I love to add a scoop to my coffee in the morning and since it's unflavored it doesn't mess with the taste of anything I add it to. When I take my peptides regularly, I notice a huge different in my skin, hair and nails. My skin is more "glowy" and my nails and hair are stronger. It's $25 for a 10 oz. tub. 

6. I know I haven't mentioned home decor a whole lot YET, but I want to mention the BEST THING I found on Amazon when we moved into our house -- RUGS. I mean, I looked everywhere. No exaggeration. I could not for the life of me find "oriental" rugs without spending over $350 a rug--insane considering we have two crazy dogs. My favorite rug in our whole house is the one included below. I have a picture of it on my Instagram from when we first bought it - the colors are so vivid and pretty. Even know, almost a year after we bought them, the colors are still so pretty. I could not be more impressed with the quality for the price. 

7. I know I rave about my T3 iron when I want volume, but I love a good curl too. I love my Hot Tools curling iron and I've had it for over 2 years. I think the last Hot Tools iron I had lasted for like 12 years before I had an issue with it not heating. That's crazy! This size barrel gives you more wavy-like curls, but you can still use it as a wand (holding it upside down) to give you the beachy look. It's on $40 which is a steal compared to other more-expensive professional brands. 

Well, for now that's it folks! If you have any questions about the products mentioned please let me know. And remember, as an Amazon Associate, if you want to purchase the items listed, click the photo and buy from that link. 

Thank you for reading! 

Current Hair Care Routine!

Let's talk about hair! I know more about hair products than one should for not working in cosmetology. I have tried basically everything and have a stupid collection of products to show for it. As of right now, I love the products I am using so I wanted to share my routine. 

 Starting with shampoo/conditioner -- I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week. The remainder of the week I am soaking my roots in dry shampoo. I mentioned in my YouTube video, I love Dove Volumizing Dry Shampoo - i'ts my favorite because it smells amazing and doesn't leave build-up. I just spray it on my roots and work it in with my fingers. If I'm feeling frisky, I'll blow-dry my hair flipped upside down and then pin it up with my roots teased a little (Snooki style) to hold the volume. When I do wash my hair, I use the kit below. It's like $20 for the shampoo and conditioner and it's the best. It keeps my hair silky smooth and really cuts back on the frizz and static. I don't recommend the conditioner on your roots if you have fine hair -- i just condition the ponytail length of my hair.

Next - leave-in conditioner. For years my hair wouldn't grow. I am sure it had to do with years of over-processing and bleach, but after I went to college I started using It's a 10 -- it's been years since I used anything else. It's quite possible the best hair product of all time. I never have too many tangles and there are 10 benefits to using it. I have tried knock-offs or off-brands posing to do the same thing,but nothing works like It's a 10. 

 

Given my tangles issue, I use a tangle-free brush. I don't have to worry about my hairbrush getting stuck half way down my hair and I'm not left with a hairbrush full of hair. I love this one!

   

After I let my hair dry (typically while I am doing my makeup), I use this Kenra Blow Dry spray on my ends and at the nape of my neck. It's where my hair is the heaviest and takes the most amount of time to dry. I'm not sure what is in this spray, but it smells so good and cuts my blow dry time in half. This is amazing if you have a lot of hair and not a lot of time to dry it.
 

 Once my hair is dry, I will either straighten it or curl it. Sometimes I let it go if my hair is cooperating. I love spraying dry finishing spray on my hair to set it. My favorite is this Oribe Dry Texture spray. It's great for giving you hair a little grit so if you tease it, the tease will stay. A great "dupe" is the Rusk Dry Texture Spray I have pictured below. This is great too - smells amazing, and its a more controlled spray so you can put if moreso on the roots and work it in for some volume.

  

On the in-between days or before I style my hair I will put some Organix Moroccan Oil on the ends. I have tried high-end oil, but I always come back for this. You can pick this up really anywhere and it's less than $10. The bottle lasts FOREVER. 

 Comment below and share with me your favorite hair products!

Friday's Favorites

Hello everyone! I am so excited to share my first "Friday's Favorites" post. Every Friday I will be posting what I am loving for the week. Below I will share what I have on my Amazon List! ALL of these items are Prime (gotta love fast shipping). Click the photo to purchase! 

1. The T3 Bodywaver 1.75 curling iron! I am obsessed with this. I did a YouTube tutorial (barely) of me using this to show how much volume you can get with it. If there is one tool I would have, this would be it. I found it at Nordstrom for $126, but the next day the price was back up. I was able to find it on Amazon for $126 which is awesome! There are different heat settings and prongs on the bottom of the front of the iron so you don't have to worry about setting it on your counter.

2. The Invisibobble hair rings -- I got a few of these in my Allure Beauty Box this month and I didn't understand the hype at first. I used on and now I understand. They don't leave a crease in your hair AT ALL. I had my hair in a ponytail all day yesterday and when I got ready for bed, I took my hair down and BOOM no crease. Not to mention, the hold of the hair ring is great. I hardly have to adjust my pony throughout the day. I am so ready to get over this cold so I can see how these hold up during a work out. 

3. These backpacks are the cutest! I was trying to find a bag for my nieces and I came across these on Amazon. I found ones similar at Justice but they were asking around $50. This one is only $29 and BELOW -- a total steal. They also have different colors, so if your girl isn't a fan of pink, you can get these other two styles above. 

4. The Norvell Venetian sunless tan system! I have tried so many products for sunless tanning only to be left with orange hands and feet (ew), but I saw Jessie James Decker used this for a photoshoot she had with South Beach Diet and I decided to give it a try. I absolutely love the color -- I will be posting a whole separate blog on this product, because the before and after is a little crazy. It is the perfect brown color. I love this set too because it's only $32 and comes with everything you need. I usually apply the facial spray with a Kabuki brush on my face, neck and shoulders. You need this in your life. 

5. I am very picky when it comes to perfume. I got this as a sample with a Sephora purchase and decided to wear it one night and this is the best light, pretty scent. It's not too strong, but it is long-lasting which is awesome. I am putting this on my Christmas list (HINT HINT TOM). 

This wraps up my favorites! Again, to purchase just click the photo and it will direct you straight to the product on Amazon. Have a great weekend! <3 

Gift Guide for Her

You know what's worse than getting a gift that you know you will never use or dislike (sounds ungrateful, I know)? Gifting a gift that you bought last minute for the sake of just buying a gift. 

I LOVE purposefully gift giving. I love being creative with the buying process, wrapping the gifts and then the sight of seeing the person open a gift-- their eyes go wide and your heart feels warm -- now that is the beauty of giving.

 I try to do my best a couple months beforehand listening to what people around me want. Thomas, my fiance, will blatantly tell me, but for him I need him to tell me because if he wants something he will buy it himself -- he has no patience LOL! For the women around me I love giving a gift they will actually use or that I can see in their home when I visit, because I know they love it that much. 

So, I know most of the items I have posted were found during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, so please refrain from telling me so, procrastination got in the way, but I still think these gifts are still worthy of gifting. Here we go!

So this first item --- I have been drooling over this Bluetooth speaker for months now. It's originally around $300, but it is still on sale for $224!! but the style of it makes me wants to sit this on my kitchen counter and bake all day while listening to playlists. I included the black color because it was on sale, but the off-white option is just dreamy. I also love the leather strap so you can take it anywhere. I've read reviews and the sound quality has been ranked fairly high (right under Bose). 

This tote is no longer on sale, but I am a sucker for anything that is simple and leather. It's $158 right now at Nordstrom. I think true leather, forget the name-brand, withstands the test of time of wear and tear. I love this tote. It's large enough to fit your tablet and planner, but not bulky. It also has a long strap so you have the convenience of wearing it as a cross body. If you have daughter/niece in college or a friend starting a new job -- this would be the perfect gift. 

When I found this silk pillowcase on Amazon, I was ecstatic! I was looking at the pillowcase by Slip, but was not willing to spend nearly $100 on a pillowcase. I can find nearly anything on Amazon for a fraction of the price, so I found this within minutes of searching. I love the color options - I am a neutral queen so this taupe color goes great in our bed room. There is a zipper closure, which is awesome because your pillow isn't half out by the end of the night. The benefits of silk vs. cotton are pretty great -- keeps moisture in your hair, so you avoid the frizzy mess in the morning and it keeps your skin moisturized. My skin has been great since sleeping on this pillowcase. Thomas loves it too because the silk stays cooler longer! This would make a great stocking stuffer!

SPEAKING OF STOCKING STUFFERS -- these were on sale for $8.40 at Nordstrom during the sales, but originally they are only $12.00. I can't find them on the website now, but I did find the larger size and those run for $30. Everyone raves about these candles. The design of the jar is gorgeous and they smell heavenly. If you are looking for stocking stuffers, buy a few of these --maybe a few more in case you decide to keep a couple for yourself. 

Again, this was on sale during the crazy sales, and it is STILL $90. If you have a wife who works her hiney off, comes home and cleans the house, puts dinner on the table and puts the kids in bed, then do her a favor and RUN out to buy one of these! I am personally terrified of pressure cookers, but Thomas can cook a mean pork roast in our Instant pot. He has no fear when it comes to venting. You can cook frozen meat in a matter of minutes and Pinterest is full of easy recipes that make you realize why your grandmother/mother always used on of these guys. The best part of this specific Instant pot is it's wifi enabled. DOUBLE WIN!

Last, but certainly not least (this post could go on for hours, but I'm going to spare you some time), a planner. I know, I know, what a lame gift, but you would be surprised to know there are women taking over Instagram with their planning tools, designs, planner accessories -- it's nuts. Those women are far more capable of planning out their entire year, than I am planning a full day. I try though, which is why a planner for Christmas is a great reminder that a new year is coming up, and it's time to start with a clean slate. This one is gorgeous, but is no longer on sale. Right now it is $34 at Nordstrom.  

That concludes this gift guide post, but if you have have any recommendations or know of any great sales, please comment below!