Dairy & Gluten Free Loves

Keeping up with a restrictive diet when you're busy or stressed can be extremely difficult. I find myself constantly craving indulgent foods to bring me comfort. (Hello tub of ice cream) And since I have very little time to prep meals these days I have been struggling daily to stay on track, but there are a few items that have made things a little bit easier. I'm sharing those with you today and how I enjoy them!

Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats

I love a good bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and pecans, but what I love even more are banana & oatmeal waffles. I make these at least once a week! They are super easy and fast to make. I recently picked up a mini waffle iron so I'm able to make them perfectly sized for me which strangely makes me super excited. Let me know if you've like that recipe. But I digress. When I went gluten free I knew I had to find a quality oatmeal that didn't sacrifice flavor or texture in my waffles. I found this one and have been using it ever since!

I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Puffs

This is one that is going to either be a hit or miss for you. To me they tasted like puff chips for a baby with very little flavor and a lot left to be desired. My boyfriend, however, who is more picky than I am especially with healthy foods, actually really enjoyed these. So don't immediately write these off just because I told you so 😜

Spearmint Tea
I  have been drinking fresh spearmint tea since I was a kid to help ease the stomach aches I've always been plagued with. I also just drink it because I love the minty flavor in the morning. For some reason though it is nearly impossible to find plain spearmint tea at the grocery stores. People are really missing out on a good thing. Spearmint is fantastic for easing upset stomachs and nausea. More stores really need to put this on their shelves! If I had a green thumb I would grow a spearmint plant so I could make it fresh like my mom used to, but alas I can't get a thing to grow. I finally managed to find it on Amazon so I order it in bulk now so I never run out. Spearmint tea is a MUST in my home. Maybe one day I'll learn to grow it, but lets not hold our breaths for now

Dandelion Tea 
I tried this one by chance. One of my Republic Of Tea catalogs had this as a bonus sample and I actually put off trying it for a little while. Nothing about dandelions sounds the least bit appetizing to me. Eventually I did try it though and my tastebuds had quite the surprise. It had an almost caramel like flavor that I LOVE. Definitely my kind of comforting tea

Balsamic Glaze
I love this in a caprese salad (without the cheese waaaah) or on sautéed mushrooms. It makes simple dishes super delicious

Eat Smart Cook Book
I realize this is a book and not actually food, but it was just released in the US and I've been very excited about it. Although this is a vegan cookbook and not gluten free, it is easy to switch out products for those free of gluten. Niomi Smart is a Youtuber I have been watching for close to a year  and I enjoy tuning in to her videos mainly because of the way she eats. Is that weird? She is Vegan and very health conscious, but she is able to make delicious and filling meals to fit her lifestyle. This is a great cookbook to create lots of recipes that are not only delicious (and obviously dairy free), but really easy to make as well. Score!

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Friday Lust List

So I've been a little abnsent from the online world for the past couple of weeks because of family issues. If you follow me on Instagram and watched my stories last week then you might have seen me  give a little explanation. If you didn't catch it then what are you doing with your life? I kid. My father has been ill for quite some time and he was just released a couple weeks ago for in home hospice care so I've been a busy little helper.

Because it's been such a weird and difficult time I've definitely fallen behind in life. Everything from work to just general self care has suffered, but I'm committed to changing that. It's easy to forget to also take care of yourself mentally, physically and emotionally in the face of a difficult situation, but it is a huge mistake. It's taken its toll on me and now I need to make a change. Baby steps, but I'll get there.

My first step is to give myself some "me" time. For me that includes self care, reading, and yummy treats (dairy free for me. waaaaah) So I've compiled a list of items that I'm currently lusting over to help me treat myself a little bit and get my mind right

Ugg Slipper

I love a comfy slipper! But I am so picky when it comes to the style. I'm not a huge fan of the regular slide style and prefer a boot style to keep my entire foot nice and toasty. I have been eyeing a pair of Ugg slippers for years and I say it's time to finally treat myself to them!

Nespresso Citiz Espresso Maker

Busy times call for some quality coffee. I've been using a Keurig for years, but i have desperately been wanting an espresso machine. Not only is this chrome Nespresso an absolute beauty, but the lattes you can make at home are better than any you could pick up at your local Starbucks

Pyrite Headphones

OH. MY. GOD. These are so beautiful I want to scream. My tired cheapie headphones need to take a hike to the bin. These pretty pyrite headphones have visually rocked my world and I can never go back to plain, boring versions.

Prosecco Rose Candle

Scents are so calming for me. No night of relaxation is complete without something burning in the background. They have the ability to take me from wound up to relaxed in record time. While I'm not always the biggest fan of floral scents, this combination with prosecco is heavenly.

Doterra Essential Oils

If you haven't tried essential oils yet then you are missing out. They have changed my life. When I get migraines I pop out my peppermint oil and I get a little bit of relief. They are awesome and worth every penny. I want every scent ever made.

Nike Sneaker

I've been living in sneakers. I need a lot of foot support when I'm going to be on my feet a lot or I start to have knee and back issues, so comfort is super important in these times. I'm currently loving the nude sneaker trend and have my eye on these beauties

Josie Maran Mud Mask

Stress makes my skin go CRAY-Z! My regular skin routine just doesn't cut it in these times so I like to add intense masks to calm my skin. This one seems so luxurious and effective.

Serene House Diffuser

I set up my diffuser next to my moms recliner so she can get some much needed relaxation time in as well so I'm in need of a new one for myself. How gorgeous is this one? *add to cart*

Star Stud Earrings

Gold Star Earrings

I haven't been able to spend as much time getting ready as usual so simple pieces that require little thought have become my go to. These earrings are gold so they won't irritate my sensitive ears and they have rounded screw on backs so they won't get lost and I can even sleep in them. Easy peasy style!

Summer Beach Stay in Cambria

Oh my gosh what a wonderful and relaxing time we had in Cambria! It was a spur of the moment decision to take a little trip to the coast after a very stressful month of work. I needed to peace and relaxation and immediately knew where I wanted stay. For years I would pass by a cute little town off Highway 1 on the way to Hearst Castle and I always told myself that one day we would plan a stay there, but time passed and there were always other places I wanted to go so it kept getting put off. Finally we decided to do it!

The town of Cambria is on the central coast of California where it is usually overcast, and exactly my kind of beach. It has the cutest look and the friendliest residents and I am so glad that that is where we decided to go. We escaped the world, work, and our phones and enjoyed time doing simple things we usually never make time for. We collected sea glass, rocks, and driftwood and just sat and enjoyed time from our hotel patio, it was magical!

           We stayed at the Pelican Inn & Suites which was wonderful! We booked the room with a patio view of the beach and it will now be the room we book every stay. The doors opened up to a small patio with two chairs and a table and the most beautiful succulent garden. We sat for hours on the patio just listening to the sound of the waves.

One of the highlights of the trip was an amazing little health food market called Soto's True Earth Market that had the most delicious offerings in the deli in the back. I feel like the word sandwich doesn't do justice for how good these little slices of heaven were. I got the chicken curry chicken salad sandwich and it was heavenly. I highly recommend it.

We stopped at Elephant Seal Beach down the road where hundreds of Elephant Seals waddle out of the water and lay out on the beach. It was wonderful to watch. If you're ever in the area you definitely need to make a quick stop here

Directly across from the hotel was the Moonstone Beach boardwalk with the most gorgeous views of the beach and littered with wildflowers and plant life all along the way. We even ran into several wild rabbits running in and out of bushes and shrubs. It's a relaxing way to enjoy the beach in the evening without having to step onto the cold sand

August Book Release Reading List

I always share what I'll be reading throughout the month so here's what's on my list for August! Read along with me and stay tuned for the rest of my reviews!

The Address

Two stories from two completely different times are interwoven into this novel. Sara Smythe is working in a highly regarded London hotel in 1884 and is working her way up the ranks when a nearly catastrophic situation leads to the offer of a lifetime. Theodore Camden, an architect of a newly finished New York apartment house, offers Sara passage to the United States and a position in the new building as head housekeeper.

Bailey Camden is living in 1985. Fresh out of rehab she tries to piece her life back together after being let go from the interior design firm she was working at after humiliating herself and the company in her last drunken stupor before entering the program. With no prospects, she is thrilled when her "cousin" Melinda Camden offers Bailey a job renovating The Dakota, the apartment building her great-grandfather built. Bailey's grandfather was a ward of Theodore Camden and therefore has no genetic link to claim the inheritance he left behind so she is at the mercy of her cousin when she decides she want to strip the building of all its history and character.

I was drawn to this book because of my love of historical fiction and it did not disappoint. This is the first one I have read by Fiona Davis and I will definitely be adding more to my list. She did a beautiful job describing intricate details that transport you straight back in time and leave you feeling like you witnessed exactly what she described. The story itself was somewhat predictable, but had enough little twists to keep it interesting. The two main characters were likable and added to the story in their own way without distracting from the other. The Address by Fiona Davis is a solid book for lovers of historical fiction and an even bigger treat for those that enjoy architecture and its preservation

Emma in the Night

Emma and her sister Cass go missing without a trace one night and for years everybody is left scratching their heads wondering what really happened until 3 years later when one returns. Cass comes home with a story that surprises everybody and leads them on the hunt of finding Emma with whatever clues she can remember. This story sends you, and the detectives, on a complete emotional rollercoaster. Who are the perpetrators? Who are the victims? What is the truth? Wendy Walker did a great job creating a psychological thriller that delves into the minds of narcissists and their effects on their families.

A Mother Like Mine

This is a story about healing and forgiveness between a mother and daughter who barely had any type of relationship in over 20 years. The two come together out of tragedy and necesity and learn to trust and love in this beautiful story by Kate Hewitt. While at times a little bit slow, Kate did a wonderful job creating a narrative that made the two women relatable in their insecurities and hurt feelings that can at times make two fully grown adults act immaturely. This book creates hope of fixing broken relationships and hurt from the past

House of Shadows

The House of Shadows is a story connecting 3 women from 3 completely different times through an antique mirror. The Winter Queen in 1662, Lavinia in the 19th century and Holly in the present day all have something in common and Holly seeks to find what it is in order to try to find her brother Ben who disappeared doing exactly that. She seeks to find the truth at Ashdown House in Oxfordshire that was passed down through her family and finds the diary of Lavinia that she hopes will help shed some light on what strange happenings have caused her brother to disappear. 

Nicola Cornick has written a compelling story and brought such realism and detail to every character and time period we visit throughout the book. The House of Shadows is a wonderfully written historical fiction novel weaving three very different women into one story in the most seamless and page turning way. No wonder this woman is an international best seller!

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Instagram Outfit Roundup Las Vegas Edition

As promised I've put together a roundup of all my looks from my recent trip to Las Vegas. I got some AMAZING deals on trendy tops and dresses from one of my favorite affordable online shops SheIn and they all came just in time for me to pack them up for our trip. Check them out below!

Eyelet Bow Top

This top with the cute bow detail is GORGEOUS! And is such great quality. Would you believe is was under $20?!

One Shoulder Dress
Get in on the one shoulder trend! I am so in love with the cut of this dress. It is effortless, yet makes quite the statement!

Peplum Top
I must say that this is one of my new favorite tops. It was so easy to wear and is so light and airy. Perfect for the crazy summer heat! AND under $10!

Palm Leaf Cami

How cute is this print? If You want to get in on the palm leaf tend then this is a great piece to start with!

High Neck Dress | Saddle Bag
This dress is so fun! From the trendy print to the easy to wear swing style. I felt so comfortable in this dress and got compliments on it all day!

Check out all the other great products and the great sales they are always having over at SheIn so you can get yourself some cute trendy looks too! and be sure to take advantage of the coupon codes for an even better deal! Score!

Back to School & Fall Shopping

Though I'm no longer in school, the start of all the Back to School season sales always excite me and get me started on putting my fall wardrobe together. I so love this time of year! 

This year I'm looking to save on my trendier pieces so I'm doing a lot of shopping online at SheIn, so I can get those styles I'm craving without ruining my budget. You previously saw all the gorgeous pieces I managed to find for summer, so check out what trendy Items I've picked out for autumn!

The Long Cardi

 Cream Cardigan | Patch Cardigan

Over Sized Sweaters

Oversized Sweater | Contrast Frill Sweater

Off Shoulder Sweaters

Off Shoulder Sweater | Purple Cable Sweater

Athleisure  Crop Sweater

Crop Hoodie | Sweater

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Get $5 off over $59          CODE: SCH5
Get $10 off over $89        CODE: SCH15
Get $30 off over $159      CODE: SCH40

Back to School Season is coming

Visit SheIn to choose your unique outfit

Beauty Products I've Been Loving All Summer

Summertime is all about healthy skin and hair for me. I tend to wear less makeup and go for a more natural look. So usually don't have very many makeup favorites, but I do discover some great basics! Lets jump right in!

Loreal Blender Sponge | OPI Cuticle Oil | Garnier Texture Tease  | Stila Liquid Lipstick Baci

I love trying foundation blending sponges and comparing them to everybody's favorite Beauty Blender. I feel like the quality of the Beauty Blender has gone way downhill so I'm glad to have other options that don't cost as much. For years I was loving the Real Techniques sponge which I found to be one of the best affordable sponges, but when the Loreal sponge came on the market and everybody was raving about it I knew I had to give it a try.
This sponge leaves my makeup looking so natural without picking up as much product as the Beauty Blender. It is a bit softer, but it's holding up better than my recent Beauty Blenders have been so I'm definitely impressed!

OPI Cuticle Oil
This stuff smells heavenly! And it leaves my cuticles soft and moisturized. Simple and effective!

Garnier Texture Tease
I have a love/ hate relationship with this product, but I keep going back to it so I figured it was worth it to include it. This stuff gives my hair SO much volume. Because my hair is so healthy and slick, it doesn't hold curls or keep volume very well unless I load a ton of product in it. However, I can spray a small amount of this texturizer and have big gorgeous hair for hours. So why do I hate it? Well for starters it is so hard to find. Around me I can only find it at Walgreens. So if you are interested go to the store locator on their site to see where you can find it near you.
This product does horribly if sprayed near my roots. I don't know if it's because my scalp is so oily (I have to shampoo daily) or if this happens to everyone, but if I spray it near my roots it turns into a gunky mess within a few hours. So I have limited this product to my ends only.
This texturizer is also not as fine as other similar products. If you spray it too close to your hair you will be able to see the little particles, so be sure to spray several inches away.

Stila Liquid Lip in Baci
I've mentioned many times how much I love the Stila Liquid Lipsticks because of their rich colors and staying power, but this summer I've been in love with the shade Baci. It is a mauve tinted nude that I have been reaching for all summer during the daytime and can already see myself using it all autumn long as well.

Sally Hansen Gel Top Coat | Laneige Sleeping Mask | Finesse Conditioner | Mally Volumizing Mascara


Sally Hansen Gel Top Coat
This topcoat is tricky. I found the consistency to be quite thick and gloopy. Plus the brush tip is very large which made applying a thin layer quite difficult. Once I did finally get the hang of it, I found that the paint was opaque in 2-3 coats and was a very pretty color. I used a super pretty nude color from their range called Birthday Suit. The drying time was average, but this nail color stayed on my nails for a whole week before they started to chip. This is AMAZING for me. I wash dishes by hands, type everyday and love to pick at stickers so my nails typically chip in 2-3 days with the average polish. If you can get the hang of the strange consistency and large brush then you would really enjoy it!

Laneige Sleeping Mask
This is a completely clear mask that you apply to your face before bed and wash off in the morning. It  is light and not noticeable on your face at all. It doesn't leave a mess on your pillow like other overnight masks, but leaves your skin feeling so moisturized and soft when you wash it off. I love this stuff for bringing my skin back to life and leaving it nice and supple.

Finesse Conditioner
I'd had a bottle of this stuff sitting in my bathroom unused for about a year. It was sent to me, but didn't call my attention so I kept trying other things. It wasn't until I was out of my favorite conditioner that I pulled it out and gave it a shot. Finesse isn't a brand I hear too much about and now I'm wondering why because it was AMAZING. My hair has never been so soft after just a few uses of any product. It does leave my hair straighter than usual, which is a shame since I quite like my natural wave, but it looks so healthy that I don't mind in the least. I'm definitely repurchasing the conditioner.

Mally Mascara
This is a beautiful natural looking volumizing mascara that doesn't clump or give you spider lashes. My lashes normally stick straight out, but this mascara helps keep a curl.

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Las Vegas. The Hotel & More!

I'm finally getting around to my post all about our trip to Las Vegas. We went for my sister's birthday and had been planning it for months, but all that planning was no match for my migraines. Every summer I go through a couple of weeks where I get a migraine every single day and lucky me they cut into my time in Vegas.

The one redeeming factor was the fact that I LOVE spending time in hotels. So while most people would have been bummed to be stuck in their room while everybody else was in the pool, I actually really enjoyed it and got to make the most of all the amenities. I took a long luxurious bath while I watched a movie, curled up in their amazing robes, sat in front of the window and enjoyed the view. I enjoyed the heck out of the room.

We got a suite at the Palazzo which is the sister hotel to The Venetian. It is beautiful! Especially the bathroom that had a giant tub, tv, and a nice little makeup table that I definitely think more hotel rooms need. The room had an adjoining living room area complete with a dining table for 4, desk and a gorgeous view of the Linq High Roller. And like I said before, I really got to enjoy the room since I wasn't feeling well so the bed and comfy robe were my best friends during our stay.

Over the years I've had the chance to stay at a lot of the different hotels on the Las Vegas strip and I definitely have to rate the Palazzo as top 3.

One of the things we did during our stay was The Basement Escape Room. I was skeptical about the whole escape room trend going on right now, especially since we had such a large group of about 10 people. You guys, this was SO much fun! If you've never heard of an escape room let me give you a quick run down. Basically you are placed in a room with your group and given a scenario in which you have to find clues around that room that will help you escape in your 1 hour time frame. Clues can be anything from words on the wall to numbers in a book. It is a bit creepy and there are some pretty scary actors so be warned! I do feel that 10 people is way too many for it to really work smoothly, but I think it would be a great experience with 5-6. Needless to say, we weren't able to escape in time, but we had a lot of fun and got so darn close.