JoaS

I am not a traditional resolution maker or goal setter. For the past few years I have felt an overwhelming tug on my heart and mind to really be intentional in one area of my life and make it my goal to pursue that one concept throughout the year, or as long as it takes.  Last year, God really laid on my heart that I needed to “simplify.” Just that one word. I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant at the outset, but we ended up purging our house of furniture we didn’t need, clothing, old belongings we’d been dragging around each move without real purpose. I ended up leaving a job that had me sick and drained of energy all the time and took a huge leap of faith opening my own shop—a long time dream that had failed once before when I wasn’t ready yet. I ended up really simplifying my diet and routines, just ridding my life of excess. We eliminated some debt, lots of bad spending habits, and released ourselves from many unrealistic expectations. It was truly a year of simpli...

First of all, I'd like to open by saying that I have never enjoyed wearing makeup so much. These new, clean products have made such a difference in the health and look of my skin. Even though I'm wearing less makeup than I have in years past, I feel more confident and think my skin looks better than ever. I'm so excited to share these products I've absolutely fallen in love with! Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular CC Cream : This has become a favorite foundation product. I love the consistency for my dry, sensitive skin, and I feel moisturized without feeling sticky or greasy. That could just be me. I would definitely consult an Ulta employee--or salesperson wherever you are shopping--but for dry or mature skin I think this is a winner. It's a very sheer coverage, buildable, but sheer. I am searching for a fuller coverage foundation for Winter and special occasions, so I will update when I find a great one. NYX Dark Circle Concealer : I was so surprised to lea...

As a Type 2 woman--learn about energy profiling here --I am soft and subtle by nature, so I choose not to wear black, stark white, or other pure hues. They don't suit my blended coloring, so blush or taupe and grey have been my standard go-to neutrals these past few years. These are my absolute favorite shoes that I have found for those occasions that require a bit more than a comfy sandal. They are reasonably priced and have withstood the test of time and wear for me (which is admittedly less than some people as I am a much more casual person and have not proven very hard on my clothing or other belongings--very unlike my husband, which is another subject, entirely). First up,  DREAM PAIRS Women's Moda Low Heel D'Orsay Pointed Toe Pump Shoes  from Amazon I've owned more than one pair of dress heels from this brand, but these Nude Nubuck ones (pictured above, left) are my favorite. They are neutral, but still pretty bright and light. I love them for ...