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Skin Care For Tweens and Teens

July 2, 2019

Our tween is starting to go through puberty! Oh dear, God helps us. His dad had your body-changing talk with him recently, and during the conversation, he brought up his face and the fact that he is starting to get minor acne. It’s not bad, but once I heard that he was concerned, I said, ok, its time we invest in products for him. My mom started having me take care of my skin at a very early age, and it’s something I’ve always done so this is right up my alley. Taking care of your skin from an early age is something I genuinely believe. Even though he is starting to break out, I don’t want to start him on a complete acne line because those products can cause more issues like over-drying, leading to more breakouts. Here are products we like:

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen

Tips:

Tell your child not to pick their face! Picking can lead to more breakouts and scars.

Tell your child not to touch their face! Their hands can be dirty and touching can lead to more bacteria and more breakouts.

The Aztec Indian Healing Clay can be drying and it might be too harsh if your teen uses it as a mask. I recommend at first, they use it as a spot treatment. Be sure to mix it with Apple Cider Vinegar for maximum effectiveness.

Exfoliating at least once a week is important your teen’s skin is changing and becoming thicker. Exfoliating will help unclog pores and prevent pores from clogging.

I recommend a light eye cream and moisturizer because the sun and environment can be damaging.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! You should start applying sunscreen to your child at 6 months before 6 months use other forms of sun protection. Educate yourself on the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens and remember its a layer, not an ingredient. In my home, we use physical sunscreen because I think its the best form of protection against the sun’s damaging rays.

Good luck!

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Beauty Tagged: skin care, teens, tween

Father’s Day Edit

June 10, 2019

With Father’s Day this Sunday, I know there are some of you still looking for gift ideas. I put together some of my husband’s favorite things, and they are all available on Amazon Prime so that they will get here just in time for Father’s Day.

  1. My husband loves a good super soft plain tee and these Next Level shirts are THE BEST if you don’t believe me just check out the reviews. What is all also good they are super inexpensive so you can buy the guy in your life a whole lot without breaking the bank.
  2. In the last few months, Kevin has been cooking more and more (or as he likes to say I’m now allowing him in the kitchen) and I have to admit he makes THE Best burgers with his own special seasoning blend. To make his burger making easier I got him this adjustable hamburger press its non-stick and makes the perfect size patties.
  3. Every cook needs a grill press and this one from Cuisinart does the job.
  4. My husband is a professional photographer and I’m always looking for cool gadgets to get him to use with his phone. The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Handheld Gimbal turns your smartphone into a handicam which means you can make some really cool videos with this. We were together when we saw this demo’d and we were blown away by its performance we got to use it and play with it before buying it which is always good and the kit linked is the best value.
  5. We are a Yeti family.  In our opinion, Yeti makes the best products on the market and since some of them are quite costly I’m linking one of Kevin’s most used items but really he uses all his Yeti stuff every day.

What ever you decide to buy or do for the special man in your life I’m sure he is going to love and appreciate it. Happy Father’s Day!

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Amazon Finds, Favorite Things Tagged: Amazon, Amazon Prime, Father's Day, Gifts

Bish Don’t Kill My Vibe

October 29, 2018

Do you carry over things like mistakes, fears, arguments, and regret from week to week like a to-do list? For the longest time, I have carried around in-law baggage that has weighed down not only my heart but my mind too. Recently I told my husband enough. I’m done, I’m letting it all go, and you know what? I felt so much better after! What do you need to let go of? What is weighing down your heart and mind? Did something happen last, and you are still carrying it around? Leave everything you are not happy with from last week where it belongs in the previous week! Here are five things I want to leave behind:

  1. Mistakes
  2. Regrets
  3. Fears
  4. Doubts
  5. Tears

If someone tries to bring up stuff from the past that you have let go of and not comfortable talking about, you have the power to say no! Don’t let anyone kill your vibe.

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Health & Wellness

Weekly Update

October 26, 2018

Weekly Update

Jennifer and Kevin:

Kevin has been busy with the Dodgers and Rams shows. Can you believe the Rams are undefeated? As sports lovers, this is an excellent time for us here in Southern California. Kevin had to undergo mandatory active shooter training recently at work. It’s crazy to think that things like that are a requirement, but these are the times that we are living in. Kevin has a big birthday coming up in January, and for the past year, he has wanted to take a vacation, so I asked him to pick a city, and I would plan it. He chose New Orleans! Initially, we booked flights, but then we decided to drive ROAD TRIP! I have driven across the country several times and have visited the states we are going to, but this time it’s completely different because I’ll share this experience with The Hubs. I CAN’T WAIT! Is it too early to pack? LOL!

When we get back, we move and transfer some of our beautiful embryos 2019 is already shaping up to be exciting.

Speaking of shaping up, we have stepped up our workout game and started doing weight training classes, and we love it. It has made a world of difference, and we are already noticing changes. I’m training for the Drumstick Dash 5k on Thanksgiving, it’s on the CBS lot, and it benefits the less fortunate in The San Fernando Valley.

We also made a trip to Disneyland last Friday because who doesn’t love Disneyland during Halloween? I feel like I didn’t get enough of it this year, so I’m going to try to squeeze in one more trip before Wednesday. By the way, some Christmas decorations are already up! Do you like Disneyland? Do you have passes? If you ever want to do a meetup, let me know. While we were there, we met another couple who is very similar to us and then a man from Melbourne who happens to be one of the richest men in Australia. He and I talked for a long time (because, of course, I can speak to anyone). He was here with 17 family members (7 of which were kids) for his wife’s birthday, and last Friday, he still had seven days left on his trip. Bless him.

Oh, a Disneyland blog post is coming next week!

The Kid

M went to Astro Camp recently. It rained for the first day and a half, but the kids had fun. We are thinking about sending him back this summer, but if he doesn’t want to go, I will. Do any of you remember the movie Space Camp? That’s how I imagine it to be, lol. M is involved in student government, and he likes, maybe we have a future politician on our hands. I was going to get him a Halloween Gingerbread House, but dad said to hold off because he has so many projects he’s doing for school that he didn’t want to add anything else to his load. Dang, school is so different from when I attended.

Bible Verse:

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” Luke 6:27-28 NLT

What I’m thankful for-My Grandfather

Podcast: Dr. Death

Book: Dare To Lead by Brené Brown

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Family Tagged: Disney, Disney Family, Disneyland. AP Holder, Family, Kids, Life, Travel

How To Start Running

October 23, 2018

I have been running off and on for the last 15 years. Last week I started training for a 5k, and it got me thinking about a question I see posted a lot in my running group “How do I start running?” or “How do I get back into running?” I always see longtime runners reply; start running, and I cringe. Yes can begin running, but you really shouldn’t. From my experience on what works and what doesn’t, I have developed five tips on how to start running or get back into it.

1. Exercise

It helps to have some exercise base. If you are not already exercising, I recommend, for at least a month before you start running, do some form of cardio 3-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes. I recommend walking outdoors, but the treadmill or elliptical is also good. If you do spin, kickboxing or Zumba, you should still add walking.

2. Gear

Shoes are the most important thing. Not wearing correctly fitted shoes can cause severe injuries to your feet, knees, and back. Find a store like Road Runner Sports, which uses the Perfect Fit System. The Perfect Fit system will check for any imbalances you have in your feet and properly fit you for insoles and shoes, especially if you supinator or overpronate. Often running stores and sporting goods stores have flexible return policies allowing you to wear the shoes anywhere from 30-90 days; if for any reason you don’t like the shoes, you can return them and try a different pair until you find the ones you want.

After shoes, clothes are the next important thing you don’t want to be tugging and pulling on whatever you are wearing. Make sure whatever you wear is the right size, material, and feels comfortable.

If you want to track your progress on anything other than your phone, Apple, Samsung, Garmin, Polar, Fitbit, Nokia, Fossil, and even Kate Spade all make various watches and fitness trackers.

Arm Bands and Belts can hold your phone, ID, money, and keys.

Hydration bottles come in various styles, from ones you can wear one a belt or hand strap.

Earbuds are a personal preference and come in various makes and models, from wired to wireless. There are many runners against wearing earbuds for multiple reasons; one concern is a runner might not be able to hear someone approaching them from behind. Wear them with caution.

3. Set a Goal

Is your goal just to incorporate exercise into your life? Do you want to run a 5k? Is a half or full marathon your dream? If a race is your goal, make sure you have enough time to train 6-10 weeks for 5k or 10k and 16-22 weeks for a half or full marathon. But remember, baby steps, I do not recommend going from couch to marathon training; you can burn out quick start off training for a 5k or 10k and work your way up. If running a race is your goal pick one, sign up and pay for it. Once a financial commitment has been made, you have a more challenging time backing out, plus races usually have a no refund policy.

4. Training Plan

Training plans are beneficial for runners at any level. Find a training plan that works for you; all plans start with a 5-minute warm-up. Beginning plans are typically a run-walk program; you run for 1 minute and walk for 1.5 minutes, and it gradually builds until you are running more and walking less at the end, you’ll be running without walking. You can find many of them in the app store; they sync with your phone, watch or fitness bands and prompt you to start your warm-up, run and walk and when to end. I like C25K and 5K Runner, but you can also find lots of plans online.

5. Run

To make time go by, try listening to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. I have an Apple Music playlist that I keep adding to and play on shuffle and a Spotify playlist I change weekly or monthly depending on my mood. Now you are all set to start, so lace up and start running! But don’t forget to stretch before and after.

Notes:

Like most things in life, exercise is self-motivated sure, I can recommend books, articles, motivational podcasts, but you still must make the commitment and put in the work. I don’t want to run many days, but I get ready, start moving, and remember how good I feel.

Safety is essential if you are doing any form of outdoor exercise. Always obey the rules of the road. You can run on any side of the street. I run against traffic to see oncoming cars and avoid any hazards like a car jumping the curb (which has happened to me recently as Sunday night). Suppose visibility is terrible to wear light-reflective clothes. If you are not running in a group or with a partner, you might consider carrying pepper spray; there are also apps like Road ID App that let those you pick track you in real-time on a map; it has a stationary alert, lock screen case of emergency information. If you are coming up behind people walking or running and want to pass, let them know what side by yelling out right or left.

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Fitness, Running Tagged: Runner, Running

Five Favorite Things

October 22, 2018

 

 

Five Things Friday  Monday!

  1. Loafers

I was reading that loafers are in but were they ever out??? I have had a lifelong love affair with loafers between an uncle who wore them and popped collars to me attending Catholic school. I have always liked them.

These loafers are from ASOS; they have the best selection I have seen thus far, and they are all reasonably priced.

2. Bodum Mini French Press

Even though we have not one but two Starbucks close by to us and I have a Chemex, sometimes I want an iced coffee in the afternoon, and this Mini French Press makes just the right amount and gets the job done.

3. L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo

After lots of research, I decided to try L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Shampoo as a clarifier. I use this because the product, dry shampoo, and sweat build up on your scalp, and if your scalp has buildup, your pores will clog, and your hair will not grow, plus your hair will look dull or even greasy. Even though this is non-drying, I pair it with a deep conditioner, and I’m all set.

4. Yeti Rambler 26 oz

We love all things Yeti! In all honesty, they do make the best products. I love my Yeti Rambler with the straw cap. I take mine everywhere with me, including when I walk the dogs and the ice stays solid for over 24 hours.

5. J.Crew 9″ High-Rise Toothpick Jean in Solano Wash

These are my new favorite jeans. They are comfy, and they are the perfect rise, shade and look good on you if you have curves.

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Amazon Finds, Beauty, Fashion, Favorite Things Tagged: Beauty, Coffee, Fashion, Hair

What’s In My Amazon Cart

October 15, 2018

Click Pictures To Purchase

I have several friends that have this jumpsuit and they all have said don’t let the reviews fool you get it.

As a runner with more on top I am always looking for a good high impact bra and out of all the ones I’ve tried these might be my new favorite. Since I do some form of exercise every day I like having extra sports bras to rotate them.

Can we talk about brows for a second? Ladies and guys TAKE CARE OF YOUR BROWS! Good brows make all the difference in framing your face and bad brows are well bad. Now I have dark hair and light eyebrows so I tint them to darken them and this kit is the best and will last you forever. It comes in many different colors I use medium brown.

I have been looking for overalls like this ever since a blogger posted a picture of herself wearing them over the summer, but sadly the ones she purchased were sold out. I finally found them on Amazon the sizes are crazy you have to size up quite a bit but they look comfy. I can’t wait to try them!

I have a different version of this makeup case and I love it, but I needed one for traveling. I like it because it has a shoulder strap and the compartments are changeable. This case can also work for storing chargers or medications.

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Amazon Finds Tagged: Amazon, Beauty, Shopping

What’s Been Going

October 12, 2018

Weekly Update

Jennifer and Kevin:
We are moving! We have been vagabonds moving all over the valley for the past four years to see where we would like our forever home to be and we finally decided on it. Ideally, we would love to move closer to my family for many reasons the foremost being close to family. Still, it’s far from the station, and Kevin’s drive time would increase exponentially. We are praying for direction and keeping our hearts open to where we are led. Wherever we land we want to be a part of the community and form bonds with it.
Kevin is busy working between regular programming, football, and awards, but he loves it and wouldn’t change a thing. We were in a car accident on June 22nd; after four months, we finally got our car back last Friday. Now I know more than I want to about total loss and coverage. One thing for sure make sure you have enough coverage and uninsured motorist. We were lucky the person that hit us was insured, but that is not always the case.
Someone said to me recently “oh, you’re still doing fertility treatment?” when I mentioned something about it. Uh YES! Just because I don’t talk endlessly about our struggle with infertility doesn’t mean we’re giving up. We had planned to do a frozen embryo transfer-FET this past September, but we decided to push it back since we were still dealing with the car accident and injuries from it. In the meantime, I’m following the doctor’s recommendations of eating healthy and exercising.

The Kid:
My stepson is in junior high and he is loving school. I don’t think I have ever met a kid who loves school and learns as much as he does. He loves the more challenging classes and all the new friends he’s met. We gave him a cell phone at the start of the school year. I know everyone has opinions on this, but every parent has to do what they feel is suitable for their child. We thought it was time. We put the strictest parental controls on the phone, and it’s subject to random checks plus, we must OK everything downloaded. We are impressed that he uses the phone wisely but we also know he is still a kid and will make mistakes. This weekend the kid is at astro camp, and I’m jealous. I can’t wait to hear all about it.
What I’ve been mediating on: Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. Portion from Isaiah 43:19-21 MSG

What I’m thankful for-Grace
What podcasts I’m listing to:
Bitch Sesh because who doesn’t love all things Bravo?
Armchair Expert Dax Shepard is hilarious and he has the best guests.
Dr. Death because true crime stories are my jam
What I’m reading: Grit The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Family, Infertility Tagged: Family, Infertility

Five Things Friday

October 12, 2018

Here are five things I’m loving this week:

  1. Cheetah Print Cardigan-This cardi is from Old Navy, and they are the softest I have found that are not cashmere. Plus, it’s cheetah print!
  2. OlaplexNo 3- If You are getting chemical hair services like highlights, balayage, bleaching, or coloring, your salon will not use the Olaplex system. You are going to the wrong salon. Olaplex No 3 is the take-home treatment that repairs damaged hair and broken bonds with chemical processing. This is not a conditioner; it is a repairer.
  3. Trader Joe’s Leaf Wreath-I don’t know where you live, but here in So Cal, we don’t get fall foliage like other states, so if you are looking to bring fall colors to your life, then this is the wreath for you. Plus, if you have the Ring doorbell/camera, it fits around it and hides it perfectly.
  4. Whole Foods Market– Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies-The best grocery store-made cookies I have ever had are made with brown butter makes them just that better. Yes, I could easily make these cookies (and I have), but then I would eat them all! Instead, I pick up a single cookie and have just one.
  5. Leaves Candle from Bath and Body Works-I know it’s all about Pumpkin Spice, but I’m just not ready to go all out Pumpkin Spice, but I am ready for a bit of fall scent in my home and this, to me, is the perfect scent. I light my candles an hour before my husband comes and give a quick spray of the room spray.

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Favorite Things Tagged: Beauty, Decore, Fall, Family Favorites, Food, Hair, Style

Better Than Mrs. Knott’s Biscuits

October 11, 2018

Have you ever been to Knott’s Berry Farm? Chances are, if you have, then you have been to Mrs. Knott’s Fried Chicken and had their biscuits. They are the best! Served warm with butter, they melt in your mouth. Growing up, I would always ask my mom to buy the mix to make them at home. To us, the mix was never the same as the ones served in the restaurant. For years I wanted to duplicate the recipe, and now I have.

The actual test was my mom one day; she was over, so I made them, and she about fell over. She kept saying how good they were and how they were better than the ones served at Knotts Berry Farm. Now, whenever my mom comes over, this is what she wants for breakfast. The best thing only uses six staple ingredients!

Here’s the recipe for my version of biscuits; make them today.


Print Recipe


Buttermilk Biscuits

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner
Cuisine Southern

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10-15 minutes

Servings
people


Ingredients
  • 1 stick + 2 tbsp butter very cold I prefer frozen
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner
Cuisine Southern

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10-15 minutes

Servings
people


Ingredients
  • 1 stick + 2 tbsp butter very cold I prefer frozen
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk


Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. First, grease whatever you plan on baking the biscuits in. I use either a cast iron skillet or pie plate with two tablespoons of butter. Then in a large bowl mix flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Working quickly, grate one stick of butter into a small bowl. Should the butter starts to soften re-chill in either the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes. Add cold butter to flour mixture using either a pastry cutter or fork cut butter into flour mixture. Pour in cold buttermilk and mix with wooden spoon until the mixture comes together. You may need a little more buttermilk, or you made need a bit more flour.

  2. Transfer dough to clean floured surface and gently pat dough into a rectangle or round shape. With a knife, cut dough and place on top of other half and gently press into dough repeat 3-4 times. Gently roll or shape dough into a rectangle about 1-2 inches thick. Using either a biscuit cutter, knife, or mason jar, cut dough into rounds or squares. Place on a baking sheet or pan and place in freezer for 10-15 minutes. Then bake until golden brown for 10-15 minutes. Every oven is different; you can set the timer to 10 minutes and go from there. Serve hot out of the range.

  3. Optional melt 2 tablespoons of butter and brush the tops of the biscuits.


Recipe Notes

This recipe works best with all-purpose flour and is not interchangeable with self-rising flour. This recipe also works well 1 for 1 gluten free ratio flour. If you use salted butter then omit the salt. Use buttermilk do not sour milk with vinegar and attempt to use it.

Posted by Jennifer Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Food

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About Me

Hi, I am Jenn. Welcome friend! I love to share my life through this blog. You will find my thoughts on life, faith, marriage, infertility, health, and loss. I will share recipes, some of our favorite things, our journey to buying our first home, and projects. This is my story.

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