A couple years ago, I started a new series called “Empty’s” where I revisit an item after it’s been used long term, and decide whether I want to repurchase it.
Farmhouse Fresh Three Milk Ageless Moisturizer (here’s the link)
I first tried this moisturizer in a sample that was sent with my order back in the spring. I liked it, so I decided to give it a longer try with one of their Pick Your Own sampler sets which are a fantastic way to determine if you actually love something before buying the full sized product. Well, my .5 fl oz sample is empty and this has quickly become my FAVORITE daytime face lotion. I waited until my birthday, just in case they sent me a birthday special or promo code… and they did! So, I reordered this moisturizer and I also get to try their body mousse for free as a birthday gift. YAY for Farmhouse Fresh!
Trader Joes Daily Facial Sunscreen (In store at Trader Joes, no link available)
I shared back in January 2024 that I had found a dupe for the Supergoop sunscreen at a much more reasonable price. The only downside is that you have to go to a Trader Joe’s to buy it, because it’s sold in the store for $8.99. This stuff is AWESOME and it goes on light with great coverage, so I actually will use it every single day. By the end of the summer, my bottle was getting low so this is an absolute YES for a re-buy for me!
NYX Professional Makeup Epic Wear Liner Stick (link on Amazon)
Look, I’m not a makeup guru. I basically just swipe on a little eye makeup, some powder on any shiny spots and my trusty chapstick. So, if you’re looking for fancy makeup tips… I’m probably not your girl. However, if you’re a lazy makeup person and like an eyeliner that goes on like a gel pen… I’ve got you!
I have this liner stick in a few colors, but All Time Olive is my current favorite shade. It’s goes on SO SMOOTH and has a bit of a metallic to it. Most importantly, once it’s on it doesn’t budge all day until you wash it off. As someone who wears hard contacts and has random watery eye issues, this is so, so, so important. So yes. This is my favorite eyeliner, it’s only about $8 per stick, and YES, it is a re-buy for me!
Disclosure: Not sponsored.This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.
It’s that time of year again – we just received our class assignments and school supplies lists for the upcoming year. We don’t go back to class until after Labor Day, but according to my social media timelines some kids are already starting to head back!
Here are a few of my tips to help make the back-to-school craziness go a little bit smoother:
I’ve been using them for years on school supplies, lunch boxes, water bottles, plastic containers, ice packs, etc. They are dishwasher safe and hold up really well after dozens and dozens of washes. I even have a water bottle from 2 years ago that STILL has the label on it with Jack’s name. These things are invaluable, so keep a pack on hand!
Tip #2: Throw in a Load of Laundry
Hunt down the backpack and lunchboxes your kiddo(s) used last year, throw them in the washing machine and wash them on cold (add a few towels so you don’t waste any space). Then, let them hang dry so that they’re all ready for the coming year. Even if you bought a brand-new lunchbox and backpack, DO THIS ANYWAYS with the old ones. That way when a container of peaches opens up inside their lunch bag and makes everything sticky, you’re prepared with a backup until the new one is clean again. If you have a hard lunchbox (rather than the squishy kind), stick it in the dishwasher for a nice back-to-school bath.
Tip #3: Reintroduce Shoes
If your kid is like mine, they’ve been wearing sandals, flip flops, or crocs all summer long. However, at our school it is required to wear sneakers on PE days. Well, Jack hasn’t put on socks and sneakers in months, so each August I have him try on his sneakers to make sure he hasn’t grown out of them.
Flow Chart 1: If they’re too small, you now have a couple weeks to find a new pair. Find them, buy them, start wearing them to break them in so they are ready to be worn for a full school day.
Flow Chart 2: If they still fit, reintroduce shoes and socks to your kid. According to Jack, socks are evil and so hard to put on after three months. So, we start wearing them sparingly before school starts to get the whining out of the way early.
Tip #4: Do a Clothing Fashion Show
Yes, I know it’s still 90 degrees in Maryland. However, when you realize your kid grew out of all their pants and long sleeves it will be cold outside and you’ll be stuck sending your kid to school in capris. Do a quick try-on of pants, long sleeves and jackets so that you have a couple months to hunt out sales and gather what you need.
Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.
I had been considering buying a walking pad for my home office set up for years and I finally ordered one in May. Now that it’s been comfortably living in my house for a couple months, I wanted to show you all my set up and what I’ve found works for me (so far).
The walking pad I purchased fluctuates in price – the list price is $299, but I’ve seen it for $125 – $160 over the past couple months. As of today, it is $159.99 with free shipping + a $20 off promotional coupon. The desk was $69 when I bought it, but is now marked as unavailable. Which is fine because I wouldn’t recommend buying it.
For those new to the idea of walking pads, they are basically a flat treadmill that doesn’t have any sides/handles to hold onto. You put them underneath a standing desk, so that you can work while you are walking. On my work-from-home days I’m basically glued to my chair all day, so I thought it would be a nice way to give me a break. I also wanted the heart benefits of getting in more activity throughout my day.
Here is what that side of my home office looked like before I made the purchase:
I use it as my sewing corner, with my machine set up on a collapsible table. However, it was pretty easy to move some things around to streamline it a little.
I collapsed the sewing table and added the walking pad and standing desk. Now, when I need to sew something, I roll the walking pad and desk out of the way, lock the table in place and work away. It’s not as convenient as having it set up and ready to go all the time, but this is the space I have to work with.
As you can see, I still needed to prop my laptop up on a couple boxes in order to get the screen to the right height for me. A more ideal situation would be to have a docking station (like I have on my regular desk) where I can plug my laptop into a larger monitor. However, like I said… working with what I have.
After having this setup for the last 2+ months, here is how it works best for me:
Option 1: I start my workday with a 30-45 minute walk while doing those morning work tasks like checking emails and laying out my day. I am bouncing around a bit when I walk, so it’s a good time for reading and researching, but not great for finicky things like web updates where I need to click the mouse on a little tiny box. After I do my morning stuff, I then move the laptop back over to my main desk, make myself some coffee, and get on with my workday.
When I start the day with a walk, it helps me feel more productive right off the bat. I also set my watch with an alarm that goes off regularly to encourage me to get up and take a 5-minute walking break. I can’t always stop what I’m doing for a 5-minute break, but I’m usually able to get in about 10-15 more minutes of walking throughout the day.
Option 2: If I don’t start my workday with a walk, I try to take a morning break for a 5-10 minute walk with hand weights. I grab a couple 2 pound weights and just do nonstop arm exercises during the duration of the walk (most moves from Tunde arm workouts on the Peloton app). Just 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there is enough for a little burn by the end of the day. I also try to start my lunch break with a 10-minute walk, just to get some extra steps into my day.
Option 3: If I finish a big brain task, I get up and do 5 minutes on the walking pad. This is especially great if I’ve been doing a lot of design work, where I basically hunch over the keyboard for too long and get all stiff. It doesn’t add up to a ton, but 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there helps me feel better at the end of the day. Both mentally and physically.
Once school starts back up for Jack, I’m looking forward to using my walking pad more consistently in the mornings. His bus usually comes about 45 minutes before my workday starts, so that’s a great amount of time to set up my kindle for a book or Netflix show and start my day with a little activity.
As I mentioned above, I would NOT recommend the standing desk that I purchased. While it is the size and height that I wanted for my little corner, it is not super sturdy. When I’m walking and leaning on my desk, it moves a bit which is super annoying. I actually have a little piece of padding between the desk and the wall to help with the swaying. If I were re-purchasing, I would pick something with more sturdy legs.
However, I WOULD recommend the walking pad I purchased. It’s super easy to set up, relatively lightweight for moving it around the room when needed, a great size for walking, and feels secure with a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds.
I’ve been averaging 2 days a week with some extra steps on my walking pad and I anticipate using it a lot more in the near future. It’s really nice to have a convenient option for getting steps in as a little ‘brain break’ throughout the day. And I’m sure it will be extra nice once winter hits too!
Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.
