enJOY it

a tale of two christmas quilts.

November 30, 2020

In 2016 and 2017 I sewed two 45×60 inch Christmas quilts! I love pulling them out each year and wanted to share more photos and details here in case they may inspire your own quilting this season.

My 2016 quilt is a standard equilateral triangle quilt. My triangles were 5 inches high. There are 11 rows and each row contains 14 triangles (plus two half triangles). I used ten types of cotton fabric. Picking fabric for patterned quilts remains my absolute dream job. I generally try to stick with 2-3 colors (here it's green, red, pink…with white and tan as a bonus) and look for small, simple patterns. (More detail on how I pick fabrics here!)

I backed this quilt with a dark green and bound it my favorite way –– with a contrasting tiny stripe.

For the 2017 quilt, I followed a pattern! You can find the full tutorial here. This time, I wanted the fabrics used to be solid colors so the trees really stood out as the pattern.

I again used three colors (green, red, pink with white and tan as neutrals) but 12 different fabrics. I have a few different shades of green, pink and red which (to me) give the quilt more interest. My finished quilt has eight rows of trees with ten trees per row.

This one was such a fun one to work on because it was so different from my normal quilts. I especially loved quilting it all together. Instead of using long lines of stitches, I went around every other tree with thread. I had metallic gold thread on top and white thread in my bobbin which made a pretty design on the front and back.

Again, of course, I stuck with my striped binding.

I don't have plans for a 2020 Christmas quilt (I am elbow deep in a cross-stitch project –– here's a link to the pattern; I am changing the colors as I go) but hopefully 2021? Something else pink, white, red, green and tan probably? Maybe something with small squares…

PS…this cutting tool set is what I use for all of my quilting projects.
A 2020 GIFT GUIDE.

November 27, 2020

I am excited to share some of my favorite products (from mostly small businesses) that would make great gifts this season. I have given (and received!) all of these over the past few years and I couldn't recommend them more. (please note: a few are affiliate links!)

Challenger Bread Pan –– this was my ten year anniversary gift for Paul this year and we love it. Since I know it's pricey, I also want to highlight two other sourdough tools we use and love: this oval proofing basket and this lame for scoring the tops of sourdough loafs.

AUrate New York stackable gold rings –– I got similar rings to these as Mother's Day gifts that I wear on my right had to represent both girls. I lost one and the other broke so I was thrilled to replace them this year with this one.

What Kind of Woman –– I love Kate's work. I read this in one sitting and cried more than once. It was amazing. Other great books for friends: Where to Begin by Cleo Wade and After The Rain by Alex Elle.

Maya's Cookies –– this is a local San Diego business but they ship everywhere. Absolutely perfect gift for co-workers or to send to your kiddos school if the teachers are still coming in to teach from zoom like they are here.

Pinhole Press personalized photo calendars –– the forever best grandparent gift eight years running. (20% off with code CYBER.)

Lo & Sons Pearl bag –– this was originally (maybe 5 years ago?) a gift I asked for for Christmas and since then I have given it to my sister-in-law AND mother-in-law and we all use them all the time. It's a beautiful cross-body purse that comes in a few colors.

Moccamaster –– this is the replacement if you want pour-over brewing quality without pour-over work. We have had this for three years now and it's going strong. Highly recommend for your favorite coffee lover.

colorful puzzles –– puzzles are our favorite thing to work on, especially in that week between Christmas and New Years. I love the idea of sending a puzzle to extended family who you may not get to celebrate the holidays with this year. Here are three more favorites: a whimsical village, plant ladies & joyspotting. (Bonus –– an alphabet puzzle from my childhood was one of the girls' favorite toys. I love this updated one.)

Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library –– this is Piper's forever favorite craft station. We are on our second box and while it's a mess, every single piece gets used for creative play.

Little People Big Dreams books –– my girls both adore these. Frida Kahlo is their current favorite but we have a bunch. (Santa will be bringing Greta Thunberg this year.)

Big Dreams, Daily Joys Journal –– I cannot not include my own journal that came out last spring. I have been using it for almost a year and the weekly check-in has helped immensely this year.
DIY FELT LEAF GARLAND.

November 24, 2020
'Tis the season for Christmas projects! I am so excited to share a simple felted leaf garland tutorial with you today.

Supplies:
- wool felt in one or two (or more!) colors. I used this dark green and then a lighter green I found in store, not on the website. I made two 8 foot garlands from 2.5 yards of 36" wide felt. I had some leaves left over.
- sharp scissors
- hand quilting thread –– I would argue this type of thread is essential. It's very strong (no breaks while you're pulling!) and it's designed to go through quilted layers which makes it slick enough for running through felt. I used white because it's what I had already but this comes in a ton of colors if you want it to blend in more with your felt.
- a needle
- wooden beads (optional! as these can be hard to find in small quantities. I added six to the both ends of my garland but they wouldn't be necessary!)
First, cut your leaves! I found I could cut through 2 layers easily and 4 layers without too much trouble. You'll notice my leaves have one pointy end and one more squared off end. Shoot for that sort of shape and it will make the next step easier. But no need to make a template! Just freehand these –– I promise it will work out.

To string: fold the blunt end of your felt leaf and run the needle through the pinched fabric.

Pull the needle and the thread through and then go around and push the needle through the folded layers one more time in a similar but not exact spot.

Pull your leaf down the thread toward the end (give yourself about 12 inches of extra thread if you plan to add beads). This wrapped thread technique (going through your folded leaf twice) is key. You can see above how the extra wrap on the end gives the leaves texture and dimension. You should find that once you have wrapped the thread, it's still easy to move your leaves up and down the string if you move them one at a time. You can push them as loosely or as tightly together as you prefer.

And that's it! Just keep stringing. If you have more than one color of felt, vary it as you go. If you want to add beads, just add them to both ends when you are sure of the final size. If you end up needing more thread, just tie the new piece on and triple knot it. This thread is hardy and will handle it well. I ended up making two 8 foot garlands and both needed much longer string than 8 feet because of the wrapping.

I draped the garlands over our task lights and then attached them to the tile in two places with clear Command hooks.

They turned out so great! Perfectly festive without being too much which is exactly my decorating vibe.

If you're interested –– here is a felt wreath holiday project, here is another felt garland and here is the frame we display our Santa photos in! Nearly all the other Christmas decorations you see are from past years at Target, West Elm or Joann. If you're looking for other kitchen sources, you can find them all linked here.
PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS ART (a round-up!)

November 21, 2020

This is our second year in our house but the first year I have spent nine months mostly at home, staring at the same few walls. It's not even Thanksgiving but I was so excited to get out our decorations and change things up this month.

After everything was out of storage, I realized I still wanted more decor. So I began my hunt for printable Christmas art.

I ended up ordering three pieces and having prints made at Costco to swap out in our hallway frames. But found so many more than just those three great pieces. Below is a round up of 18 beautiful, affordable (most under $6!) printable art here for you! If you're not in the mood for Christmas, these shops are also filled with other great year round pieces.

L-R, top-bottom: 1. Articraft Creatives Block Christmas Tree 2. Kiki & Nim Pantone Christmas 3. Pale Pink Scriptures Pine Tree 4. Kiki & Nim Merry 5. Lindsay Letter's Sketchy Mistletoe 6. Visual Pixie Night Before Christmas 7. 88 Prints Christmas Trees 8. 88 Prints Fa La La 9. Instant Download Studio Pine Tree

L-R, top to bottom: 10. North Prints Vintage Red Berries 11. Jilly Prints Jolly at Heart 12. Salutye Christmas One Line Drawing 13. BT Design Co Peace Love & Joy 14. The Printable Concept Christmas Dove 15. Cult Form Graphic Santa in a Triangle 16. The Presses Gingerbread House 17. Studio Paradissi Modern Noel 18. Modea Prints Red Abstract

The best part about printable art is it's often offered in various sizes so you can customize to fit the frames you already have. After the season is over, store it right in the frame behind your everyday art. It's such an easy way to decorate without needing a ton of extra storage space.

The frames in our hallway are 18×24 –– these are very similar to what I have. "The Best Is Yet To Come" art is not a printable but is available right here.
PRIVACY POLICY.

November 13, 2020

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MID-YEAR BOOK REPORT.

July 1, 2020

I set a goal to read 100 books in 2020. 100. LOL. At first it seemed realistic. And then shelter-in-place began and I became glued to my phone. I didn't finish a single book in April. I doubt I am going to get through 68 more books in the next six months, but I have read some great ones so far and I wanted to share six of my favorites here today. Three non-fiction and three fiction. All so great. I have used affiliate links below to the book listings on bookshop.org where your purchase supports local bookstores.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | I listened to this on audio over two days. It was great. Such a fun, feel-good read and I smiled while listening often. It felt current and hopeful and romantic and special.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle | this was a memoir I was excited about reading before it came out. What happens when you live a public life, have written books about that public life, and then you realize it's not the life you want and need? I loved reading it and took so much from it. I would also highly recommend Glennon's interview with Brené Brown about the book.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller | I didn't know what this was about when I checked it out from the library! A few pages in though, when I read Chanel's description of a sunset being like an egg yolk spilling out of the shell (wow), I was so in. This was hard and brave and wonderful. I read so many passages out loud to Paul. I think everyone should have to read it in high school and if you're already out of high school it should be required reading anyway.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett | this is the novel of the summer and for excellent reason. I read and enjoyed Brit's first book, The Mothers, and this was even better. I loved the different relationships. I loved how some were so complicated and some were so easy. I loved the time it spanned. I absolutely gasped at the reveal. Another book that should be required reading.

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali | I also listened to this one and wish I had read it on paper because I think I would have been able to take it in more. But it was so beautifully done. I love a decades long story. And I (clearly) love a love story.

Where to Begin by Cleo Wade | this is a short book that is mostly a poem and I read in one sitting but I know I will pick up again and again. Cleo is an artist and this book is art.

(ps… how good is cover art these days?)
ME MADE MAY 2020

June 22, 2020
For the month of May, I participated in "Me Made May" a DIY clothing challenge hosted by Zoe. (You can read more about this challenge and FAQs here.) This was my third time through the challenge. (You can read about my experience doing this in 2018 right here and in 2019 here.) Just like last year, my goal was to wear only things I had knitted or sewn myself. Because of shelter-in-place, I didn't pretend to put on shoes each day (though I did get out for walks or shopping trips so I did wear shoes a few times).

For a few reasons, this was my favorite experience with the challenge yet.

First, it was fun to get dressed. These days at home are long and all feel the same. I was glad to have a reason to pull on some favorite garments.

Second, I had a tighter wardrobe to pull from this time around. At the beginning of 2020 (remember the beginning? Remember how exciting this new year felt?!) I tried on every garment I owned and made some cuts to my wardrobe. Store bought items that didn't make me feel great were either donated or resold. Homemade items that didn't make me feel great were either pulled aside to be reworked (I turned a knit cardigan into a pullover and a jumpsuit into a pair of pants!) or boxed up. I love that I made so many garments! I don't regret a dollar spent on materials or a minute spent on making but just because they were a labor of love doesn't mean I love to wear them. I felt NO GUILT putting my homemade garments into a box.

And so third, because of the tighter wardrobe and the haircut I got last August, I really just felt like I have found my style. This is who I am and what I like to wear. It works for my causal lifestyle, quarantine or no. It works around the house. It would work on vacation. It's me! That's so satisfying.

What did I learn this year?

It's interesting, I learned conflicting things in 2020 versus 2019.

Last year I wrote: "I don't need any more dresses. I never wake up and want to wear a dress. I can forever stop making dresses and/or change my personality and I think it's easier to stop with the dresses." AND THIS YEAR? This year, I LOVED wearing dresses. Turns out, I didn't need to change my personality…I needed to change my hair! With my shorter haircut, I feel more put together and that makes dresses work for me. I am happy about this unexpected shift.

Last year I wrote: "If I can figure out a way to make a decent pair of jeans I think I could be done with RTW forever." I did believe this at the time! But last summer I tried to make a pair of jeans and I just hated them! And I really LOVE my store-bought jeans. I think my most comfortable, feels-most-like-me style is a mix of homemade and ready-to-wear.

And finally, I learned that I love, love, love my tight color palette. It's my favorite thing to shop for my house and my closet with limited colors.

Let's talk stats:

Not pictured I wore four pairs of shoes (rainbow sandals in the backyard, a pair of tennis shoes to walk to the grocery store and two pairs of sandals on the few times I went "out").

I also wore 31 homemade garments. Eight bottoms (four shorts, one skirt, three pants). 14 tops (five tanks, two sweaters, seven shirts). Nine one pieces (one overalls, one jumpsuit, seven dresses)

These items came from 21 patterns and two pieces were self-drafted (no pattern).

In total, my May 2020 wardrobe had 35 pieces + workout clothes, PJs and undergarments. (This is the same number as last year.) There were five homemade garments I thought I would wear but I didn't (mostly due to weather, they are all long sleeves).

When I compare 2020 photos to 2019 photos I wore 13 of the same garments.

BOTTOM LINE:

Now that we are into June, it's nice to pull on RTW garments (like my jeans! and a few tops) but mostly, I am inspired to keep making. I love sewing so much. I love pulling on clothing that I MADE AND LOVE and I am excited to find new-to-me pattern designers and attempt more garments. (I am currently cutting out the Jessica Dress pattern from Mimi G Style.)

PATTERN LINKS:

Here are links to all the patterns I am wearing above.
- Wiksten Tank
- True Bias Ogden Cami (easily altered in to a dress)
- True Bias Lander Shorts
- Hey June Handmade Union St. Tee (also easily altered to a dress)
- I AM patterns Cassiope Dress
- French Navy Forsythe dress
- Closet Case Patterns Jenny Shorts
- Petite Knit Ankers Summer Shirt
- Marilla Walker Roberts Collection (jumpsuit and navy pants)
- Julie Hoover Cline sweater
- Sew Liberated Arenite Pants
- Purl Soho Lightweight Raglan
- Wiksten Shift
- Sew Liberated Hinterland Dress
- Sew Liberated Estuary Skirt
- Helen's Closet Ashton Top
- True Bias Yari Jumpsuit (hacked into pants)
- Sew House Seven Burnside Bibs
- Natalie Ebaugh Solee top
- Papercut Patterns Palisade Shorts
- Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt
EDIT — MAY 2023: I am retiring my garment sewing eCourse, Sewing Isn't Scary, this month! Use code "goodbye" to save 50%.
34 favorite things.

February 26, 2020

Another year! Another round up. Here are 34 new-to-me-this-year things I discovered last year that made my life better. (Please note, I use affiliate links on a few of these)

Pirate Ship : right in the middle of shipping out the 2020 planners my shipping system that I use to import addresses and print labels stopped working. The customer service team, that is usually quick to help, stopped responding. As you can imagine, I started panicking. But great news, it forced me to find a new shipping provider. I am loving Pirate Ship. It's super easy to import labels, save presets and batch ship orders. PLUS they offer cubic mail rates within the US.

a skincare routine : as mentioned in my post last month, I don't think it's the products I am loving but the ritual.

Flodesk : usually I resist switching something unless it fails me but after my success switching my shipping vendor I decided to move email newsletter providers as well. Flodesk is beautiful and improving every week (it's still in beta!). It's also $19 a month (with an affiliate link) instead of the $150 I was paying each month to another service. Best of all, you don't pay more when your subscriber count goes up so it's encouraged me to work on growing my list.

Fleabag : this was one of those shows I heard about for weeks and then finally dove into. The hype was worth it. It was perfect. Especially season 2. Pheobe Waller-Bridge is one of our generation's greatest.

hanging bench swing : when we looked at this house in late 2018, I don't even think the little balcony deck was a selling point. But then, once the house was painted white, it became beautiful out there! We added a bench swing and it gets used every single day.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston : I absolutely loved this book about the First Son and the Prince of England falling in love. I listened to it in about two days and had a smile on my face or tears in my eyes the whole time.

basket weave tile : we had simple 3×6 white subway installed in the girls' bathroom on the walls and around the shower and I love it so much we are duplicating the look in our master bathroom this month. To change things up a bit we are going with 2×8 white subway. I think it will be perfect.

iPhone downtime : one of my 2020 goals is to cut back on scrolling my phone. I turned on the downtime setting so every day at 5pm most of my apps gray out. Of course I can (and I do sometimes) google "how old is Pheobe Waller-Bridge" after 5pm but I don't mindlessly (or mindfully) scroll in the evenings and it's been a game changer. No headaches between my eyes. No low-grade anxiety before bed. And so (so) much more time for reading. (BTW, she's 3.5 months younger than me.)

"We can. We will. We must." : I watched the Netflix Cheer docuseries over a long weekend and just loved it. Especially their chant before taking the mat.

pattern free blue sweater : I had had this chunky yarn for awhile and after trying another sweater and failing, I decided to try and just wing it with a DIY pattern. I knit it in the round from the bottom up and then joined the body and sleeves to create a raglan neckline. My stitch pattern was R1: knit, R2: kkp, R3: knit, R4: kpk, R5: knit, R6: pkk. Repeat. Such a simple pattern but it made a really great textured sweater.

haircut : after 34.5 years I cut my hair short. And then shorter. I have always had thin hair but after two babies and turning 30 it was thin, thin. I hated it. Now it's still thin, but short! So it works. And I love it.

Avery leggings : this past year I tried some new sewing projects and this was one of the hits. Loved this pattern and made two pairs that are ankle length and exactly between the high and low rise versions.

Dinner by Melissa Clark : I don't like to cook dinner. In an attempt to turn it into more of a challenge and something more fun, we decided to work our way through the Dinner cookbook by Melissa Clark. There are 225 recipes and we made 66 of them before Paul deployed. I am stamping the date we made the recipe right in the book as well as jotting notes. We are going to finish when he comes home.

Lizzo's Cuz I Love You album : I was so late to this, but I am glad I finally arrived.

our dining room frame wall : I struggled to figure out a way to fill this space and this was easy, pretty inexpensive and I still love it.

Schitt's Creek : I totally thought this show lived up to the hype too. The whole family is just perfect but Moira is everything.

A Five Year Journal : before we were even married I kept a 5 year journal for a few months. (I so wish that I had kept it up, I don't even know where it is!) I decided in August to start a new one and it's been fun jotting something that happened or something one of the girls said each night.

backyard tomato sauce : we grew hundreds of tomatoes this summer and at the time, I didn't have many recipes for them so we made spaghetti sauce on repeat. Here was our recipe (just increase based on how many pounds of fresh tomatoes you have): 1lb chopped fresh tomatoes, 1T olive oil, minced garlic clove, chopped 1/2 small onion, 1/2t salt, fresh basil chopped, splash of red wine and then pepper and maybe more salt to taste. Simmer on the stove (with no cover; let that extra juice evaporate) for a few hours or in the oven for 1.5 hours.

Representative Ayanna Pressley's video talking about her hair loss : "I'm not here just to occupy space; I am here to create it." Love her.

a white house : we had the whole exterior painted the exact same as the inside, Cloud White by Benjamin Moore and I just love it.

Crime Junkie podcast : I stumbled on this and binged the entire series over a week. I like that they just get into it. No housekeeping. No "how was your weekend?" JUST GIVE ME THE EPISODE.

Scanpan nonstick pans : we got these as a housewarming gift and I just LOVE them for pancakes, eggs, grilled cheese…everything.

coffee table that opens up : I bought this used on a whim before we had any furniture in our living room and it turns out that a table that opens to hold all the girls art supplies is EXACTLY what I needed.

Scribd : I heard about Scribd when they offered me a chance to try the service as part of a sponsored post. I can say that me mentioning it here is not sponsored at all. I love SCRIBD so much and have listened to a dozen audiobooks in the past three months I have been using it.

Ellerie's drawing of the Statue of Liberty : truly my favorite thing she has ever brought home from school. "It was a gift from France and it represents friendship and says 'you are welcome here'."

Piper's abstract drawings : my girl has the most unique drawing style these days that involves tiny connected splotches of all the colors. I could watch her all day.

Paul's sourdough : around our anniversary, Paul and I took a sourdough bread class. The class itself was super boring but we got a sample of sourdough starter and Paul has turned it into loaves, croissants, English muffins and buns. We are both obsessed and the girls love "sour bread." Paul has gotten all of his recipes in the Tartine Bread book.

Binge Mode: Harry Potter : I devoured this podcast over the summer. I just loved it. Couldn't stop listening.

fake ferns : I have had about 10 ferns and all have died. I was thrilled to finally find fake ones. (This is two pack and each is HUGE! I would recommend ordering with a friend and then you each have a beautiful fake.)

having a color story for the house : if it's blue, green, white, cream, tan or wood it can enter. I love it because everything fits together and I can make decisions quickly. It works or it doesn't. The end.

leather scrap pouf : I ordered two leather poufs to hold my leftover fabric scraps. It's amazing how much they hold and this is such a better price than if you were to buy these pre-stuffed. They come from Morocco and definitely have a strong scent when they arrive. I kept mine outside in the shade for about a week and the smell is gone.

a big work desk : when we moved into this house I got two big Ikea kitchen islands (this is similar but mine is open in the middle) and put them in the center of the room. It's been absolutely amazing to have so much space to spread out work and sewing projects.

Big Dreams, Daily Joys : yep. I can't have a "things" round-up and not include my own book. It was a dream to write and it's been a joy to see and hear about people reading it. Books are my best friends and it's overwhelming to have my own out there in stores and on shelves.

"I want to be around people that do things. I don't want to be around people anymore that judge or talk about what people do. I want to be around people that dream and support and do things." : rounding it out with another Amy Poehler quote because who even am I if I do not?

ps: see last year's list here.
WANT TO DO LIST.

February 20, 2020
I’m turning 35 on February 22. Here are 35 things I would LOVE TO DO by my 36th birthday.
1. take a workshop
2. launch an ecourse
3. go thrifting in Palm Springs
4. swim in the ocean
5. landscape the front yard
6. print a family photo album
7. sew an envelope clutch
8. knit a blanket
9. take the girls on an adventure
10. shoot a roll of film
11. get chickens
12. build a reading corner
13. complete Whole30
14. go to a beach with sea glass
15. make some big art
16. relaunch the Get To Work Book website
17. make shoes
18. see a show
19. go somewhere tropical
20. sew a quilt
21. read a great memoir
22. vote, obviously
23. go to a national park
24. photograph something meaningful
25. write my next book proposal
26. go rock climbing
27. build the girls toy storage
28. buy original art
29. have family photos taken
30. weave something cool
31. take a solo trip
32. make the bedroom a better space
33. climb a mountain
34. sew a rug into a floor pillow
35. decorate the guest bedroom
the ten skin care products I use.

January 29, 2020

For the past year I have been paying more attention to my skin care routine. I have always had very dry, fairly sensitive skin on my face. I wanted to see what would happen if I spent a few extra minutes taking care of it each day.

It’s worked! My skin is now more even, more elastic and after twenty years, the little white dry pores around my nose are no longer visible. I have tried a few different products and after some trial and error, settled on “just” ten items. I use eight of them daily. These work for me but I think a big part of the success has been from keeping up a consistent routine. Spending the time to clean and then moisturize probably matters more than what I am using.

I wanted to write this post though because I love seeing what other people use. I never copy a routine exactly, but I have discovered so many products from round-ups like this.

EVERY NIGHT:

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser – I have been using this for nearly four years. I have taken breaks to try other (more expensive!) options, but I always end up back with this. It’s not super foamy or drying but it cleans well. (If you are new to Glossier, you can use this affiliate link to save 10% off your first order.)

Foreo Luna facial cleanser – after reading a rave review on Chris Loves Julia (and finding a sale price), I decided to try a silicone scrubber. It is rechargeable and encourages you to wash your face for 1 minute (it subtly beeps every 15 seconds to remind you to move to another quadrant of your face). AGAIN, I am not sure if it’s the product, or if it’s the fact that I am spending a full 60 seconds cleansing but I have noticed a huge difference. I have always had small bumps on my forehead and they were gone after four weeks of using this tool. I also feel like my skin is more susceptible to the next few steps of my routine because of it.

Rosewater toner – I added this to my routine just a few months ago when I wondered if there was value in a toner between the face wash and the face moisturizing. I honestly don’t know if it matters, but I love the scent and my skin is super happy so I keep doing it. I apply it with a cotton round and I made some reusable ones out of extra fabric scraps (cut two layers of 100% cotton or cotton flannel into circles, serge or sew the edges). They create less waste, of course, (I throw used ones in a lingerie bag and then wash with my laundry) and they don’t leave any stray cotton fibers on my face. If you don’t want to make some on your own, check etsy!

Rosehip oil – I actually started using this (inconsistently) a few years ago after seeing it mentioned all over the internet. It doesn’t smell like roses (I think this is important to note because the scent is different for sure). Just like with the rosewater, I get a larger bottle (less waste! less cost!) and keep it in my fridge and then pour about an ounce into a dark glass bottle with a dropper that I keep in my bathroom. I put this right on my hands and then pat into my skin for about 30 seconds.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich – another product I purchased for the first time almost four years ago that I keep returning to. I have tried a bunch of face creams and this one (after the other three steps each night) is my absolute favorite. And yes, my skin is totally coated after the oil AND the moisturizer but when I wake up it feels so light, fresh and smooth.

ONCE A WEEK:

Epicuren Apricot Facial Scrub – I got a facial early in 2019 and the gal recommended this. I keep it in the shower and gently rub on my face in small circles (paying close attention to my nose and avoiding my eyes) once a week at the end of an evening shower. Ideally this is used right after face wash and right before rosewater toner.

Dead Sea mask – about once a week I try to use a face mask (usually while the girls take a bath). Again, I have used a bunch but this is the one I keep coming back to. It’s NOT a peel mask (I wash it off after 15 minutes with a wash cloth and warm water) but makes my skin feel clear and soft. I use this after cleansing and before the toner. There is also SO MUCH in this jar. I would totally recommend splitting it with a friend. (Same with the rose water and rose hip oil BTW, if you want to try some new stuff together!)

MORNING:

Image Skincare face oil – the only thing I don’t like about this is that ageless is in the name. (I fully plan on aging for a very long time). But I love it on my skin. It smells like oranges and it goes on thick but after a few minutes is weightless. I always let it dry while I get dressed and then add my sunscreen a few minutes later.

Image Skincare sunscreen – I am constantly changing up sunscreens when I run out but currently on this which is a good one. It was recommended at a facial and I like the matte texture so much. The price for how frequently I go through sunscreen though. This is the one item that I am sure I can improve on when I run out of it.

Glossier Stretch Concealer – despite getting pretty good sleep I still have dark circles under my eyes. It could be genetics, or it could be diet (I am curious to try Whole30 again this spring and see if cutting out some different foods makes a difference). In the meantime though, I love this product because it masks them just enough without being heavy makeup on my face.

That’s it! I have come to love my nightly routine and even take all of these products (including the scrubber!) with me when I travel. Consistency is key.