How I Use Palmer's Solid Formula Jar

Demoing a house is no easy task. We have already filled up not one, but two full size roll-offs, and our free time has been spent in the company of hammers and crowbars, this past month. It's honestly so crazy to get to put your own stamp on something, like we are. Brandon was at an economic forecast event a few weeks ago, and they shared that less than 2% of the Colorado Springs homes were sold as a distressed property last year. That means we were super fortunate to have found one! It's funny because we thought we had everything figured out to a tee, budget wise, but as we have got into the project, we realize there are so many little things we never even thought about. And, of course, like every couple you've ever seen on Property Brothers, we keep coming up with costly changes. ;) 

We've been working super hard to stay on track, helping out any way we can to keep costs down, and it's taken a toll on my body for sure. My feet and hands are so dry! Luckily, Palmers sent me their Palmer's Solid Jar Formula to try, and it's been so great to combat some of these concerns.

I've been lathering up with Palmer's Solid Jar Formula before I go to bed at night, applying it generously on my hands and feet. (Yes, I have officially reached my old lady stage, where lathering up my feet and hands before bed is a high concern. #stayawaywrinkles) The cocoa butter and Vitamin E formula provide maximum hydration and has so many uses.

There's actually over 101 ways to use this formula. Here's how I use Palmer's Solid Formula.

Cracked heels - Living in Colorado, my heels always seem to be cracked. (The girl that does my pedicure literally makes fun of me every time with how much she has to file it done. Just sayin!) Combine that with long hours of hard labor over at #FixerUpBehr and my feet crave moisture like no other! I've been rubbing Palmer's Solid Jar Formula into my heels before bed to give my feet a nourishing treat.

Lips - I seriously don't understand people that don't have to use lip balm. I am completely addicted to it and my lips are so dry without it. I'm super picky about what I put on my lips too, but I love using this formula. It does the trick and has a delightful taste/scent.

Cuticles - All the sawdust and hard labor have wreaked havoc on my hands! I've been rubbing this into my cuticles to show them some love. Bye bye hangnails.

Hands - Like I mentioned above, I have been so careful about moisturizing my hands before bed time, and I love this product for that. It's perfect for night use, because it's a little thicker than a product you'd use during the day.

Flyways - Believe it or not, you can even use this product to tackle your flyways! It's sort of like a pomade and is perfect to touch up split ends and frizz without getting a greasy look.

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Palmer's Solid Jar Formula can be used in more ways than you could even imagine. It's a handy little jar to have on hand, and is super affordable, too. Check out all the uses here, and you can pick up your own at your local drugstore.

By the way, if you're wanting to see an update on #FixerUpBehr, I did a home progress tour over on IGTV. You can watch that here.

Things To Do And Where To Stay In Seattle

If you follow along on Instagram, you know I spent a short weekend in Seattle. We were only there for 48 hours, but managed to do all the things and fill it with so much fun. We walked and ate, and walked and ate some more. Isn't it remarkable how many restaurants you can fit in while you're on vacay? We went to 14 in 48 hours! That feels crazy! (But I'm so here for it.)

Where To Stay In Seattle

If you are planning a quick trip to Seattle, I recommend staying downtown. You're close to all the action, and within a miles walk of some really great Seattle attractions. We seriously lucked out with our stay at Inn at the Market. It was literally RIGHT next to the famous Pike Place Market, and close to all the action. On top of that, the views were out of this world! It's definitely THE place to stay in Seattle, IMO.

I swear Seattle is home to some of the nicest people in the world, which makes sense because you're so far north at that point that you're basically in Canada. The hotel staff was no exception. We were always greeted with a friendly smile, and the bellhop/valet offered us some lovely suggestions on places to go. The rooms felt freshly updated and the overall accommodations were top notch. Don't worry if you forgot an umbrella or if yours is too big to pack. The hotel has plenty and they are easy to grab on your way out the door.

Things To Do In Seattle

Pikes Place Market- As I mentioned above, there is so much to do within walking distance of the Inn At The Market. We started at the Pike Place Market (obvi) and got to witness first hand the famous flying fish at the Pike Place fish market. We walked up and asked if the guys were going to do it soon, and they grabbed us and put us right under the action! The fish literally flew right over our heads. What a way to start our trip!

Space Needle - We walked over to the Space Needle to see it (about a mile walk from our hotel). It cost $27 to go to the top, so we skipped that and save the extra cash for drinks.

Bainbridge Island - If you're looking for a nice half day trip, definitely take the ferry to Bainbridge Island. The town is so cute and lovely, and the food did no disappoint (see below for where to eat lunch or dinner in Bainbridge Island)

Amazon Spheres - I had never heard of this amazing place before going to Seattle but it's an absolute must! It's basically a massive collection of bio-domes/life size terrariums, where Amazon workers get to work during the week. They open it up to the public on Saturday for viewing. We didn't have tickets, and it was a few weeks booked out. Next time I go to Seattle, I'm making sure I snag tickets for this. One of the coolest things I ever see for sure. It's like Central Park 2.0 in the middle of a concrete jungle - if you know what I mean.

Where To Eat Downtown Seattle

As I mentioned above, we pretty much ate the whole time in Seattle. Doing a quick google search of "beast lunch downtown Seattle" and "best dinner downtown Seattle" was helpful, but we also stumbled upon some gems while walking around, and were pointed in the right direction by some locals. Here are the deets on all the restaurants we ate at in Seattle. Definitely pin this now, so you can reference it if you head that way later.

The Hart and The Hunger - This is one of the cutest restaurants I've ever been to! It's super close to Inn at the Market, and the perfect place to pop over to for breakfast or lunch. They have everything from eggs and bacon, to avocado toast and sammies. Wash it all down with a mimosa and grab a coffee to go when you're done.

Linking with I Do deClaire / Away From The Blue / Straight A Style / The Blended Blog / Seeking Sunshine / Walking In Memphis In High Heels  / Style Splash / Turning Heads Link Up / Lizzie in Lace / Mom in Style / Shelbee on the edge

Zig Zag Cafe - Almost every friend I spoke to that's been to Seattle, recommended we go to Zig Zag Cafe. It's located in the Pike Market Hill Climb (stairway), opens at 5pm and has the coolest dimly lit atmosphere. The perfect place for drinks and pre-dinner tapas. (They do serve dinner here too.)

Pink Door - Again, this place came highly recommended. It's located in Post Alley and has no signage. Just look for (you guessed it) a pink door. They serve up yummy Italian fare here, and actually have a trapeze artist perform on Sundays. We didn't get to catch the trapeze artist, but enjoyed our meal just the same. We got a carafe of the house wine, which was pretty good for the price.

Storyville Coffee - We went to the location at the market, and started our Saturday morning off with coffee and a view. The coffee was delicious (get the cashew milk!) and this place had all the zen vibes. Definitely recommend starting your day here.

Biscuit Bitch - All the locals know and love this spot, but TBH I wasn't a huge fan. It's basically biscuits and gravy and that's it. You can order it a variety of combos, but it was heavy and not the kind of place I love when on vacation. If you're into that sort of thing though, definitely check it out. The food was great for sure, just not my cup of tea.

Bad Bishop - We stopped here for a drink before taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island. I couldn't make up my mind on what I wanted so I ordered a gin drink which proved to be too strong for 11:30am. (duh) I'd opt for the bloody mary next time instead.

Bruciato - We all agreed this was one of our favorite meals during our trip to Seattle. Bruciato is located on Bainbridge Island and is a fabulous place for lunch or dinner there. They serve pizzas (that looked amazing) but the girls and I shared roasted vegetables (that were out of this world!), burrata and beets, and flatbread with olives. The flatbread was lightly oiled and had a light touch of tomato on it. So delicious!

Hitchcock Deli - We picked up coffee from Hitchcock Deli, and it was delish. This looked like a great place to grab a sandwich on the island, too.

Mora - Because we didn't eat enough in the hour we were on the island, we stopped and got a double scoop of ice cream to share. The raspberry cheesecake paired with the XOXO (chocolate with cherries) was the way to go for sure.

Shaker and Spear - We popped in here to have a drink, but the restaurant was so full (a good sign) that we decided to have dinner here as well. I ordered the crusted rockfish, which I would order again and again. It was cooked to perfection!

Bath Tub Gin - Located in a dimly lit alleyway (where it's sketchy Af, TBH) this was a surprising treat of a place to have drinks. The wait was about 30 minutes to get in (even with a long line), and worth it. The drinks were yummy and the bartender knew his stuff.

Shugs - Apparently all sugar intake rules go out the window on vacay, so we stopped for our second dose of ice cream at Shugs. This place is located near the market, and the best place to grab a sundae (and even a drink). We ordered two ice creams to share, but the kitchen accidentally made 3 and we basically ate ice cream til our stomachs hurt. I can't recommend the S'more Sundae enough. It was worth the tummy ache after.

Top Pot Donuts - I feel like this is the Dunkin Donuts of the Northwest, except actually good. Everyone told us we had to go here and luckily there was one right across the street from our hotel. I grabbed the maple old fashioned and a black coffee to go.

Local 360 - We ended our trip with lunch at this restaurant, where everything is locally sourced from within a 360-mile radius. This is EXACTLY the type of place I want to go to when on vacation. I ordered the last piece of salmon in the house, for my salmon kale caesar. Order a biscuit on the side.

We had the best time in Seattle, in our quick 48 hours. Have you ever been? Any plans to? Be sure to pin this post so you can reference it for your next trip! Happy Friday!

How To Style a Spring Dress When It's Still Cold Outside

Colorado winters are long. Don't get me wrong, we get our fair share of warm days and I'm definitely not complaining considering what's going on in the midwest right now, BUT we barely even have a Spring, and when we do, it's usually mixed in with snow days all around it. Still, I crave cute Springy fashion this time of year. Who doesn't? I figured some of you all might be in the same boat, so today I wanted to share some inspo on how to style a spring dress when it's still cold outside.

I've been working my way toward a more neutral wardrobe and steering clear of pastels this Spring, but I am trying to incorporate softer spring fabrics like chiffon and lace. Still, the weather doesn't always cooperate and I find myself relying on layers to bundle up in. Turns out, my favorite Fall layering jacket is working double as my favorite Spring layering jacket, too.

Linking with I Do deClaire / Away From The Blue / Straight A Style / The Blended Blog / Seeking Sunshine / Walking In Memphis In High Heels  / Style Splash / Turning Heads Link Up / Lizzie in Lace / Mom in Style /

I recently picked up this chiffon dress, which I love for a chic work outfit. I layered it with this wool jacket, and my favorite OTK boots (currently 40% off!) to create a chic transitional look - with all the 70's vibes.

Guys, I'm off to Seattle this morning and I'm so excited! We are staying like right above the market and I can't wait to explore everything. Be sure to follow along on Instagram, and if you have any suggestions for places to eat or things to do, drop them in the comments below!

Making Life Easier With Gillette Venus Direct

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Gillette Venus. The opinions and text are all mine.

I'm always looking for ways to make my life easier. When you keep your schedule as full as I do, every little thing that takes some pressure off my calendar is welcomed with open arms. That's why when Gillette Venus reached out to me with their new deliver-to-your-door subscription service, I jumped on the opportunity to test drive it!

I always love working with brands that I have used forever, and Gillette Venus is one I have used since high school! When I think of it, there is literally no other brand that I have used so consistently. No matter what other razors I've tried, I seem to always come back to the Venus razor. It says a lot about the brand when you can trust them for that long!

Did you know Gillette was actually the first company to bring razors for women to the market back in 2001? (Also, how crazy is it to think the first women's razor was released in 2001?! Hi freshmen year...) They were pioneers in this space, and have been delivering a quality product for women ever since. 

 Linking with I Do deClaire / Away From The Blue / Straight A Style / The Blended Blog / Seeking Sunshine / Walking In Memphis In High Heels / Weekend Wear Link Up / Style Splash / Turning Heads Link Up / 

Now, with the Gillette Venus subscription service, I can get the same razors I've been loving for years, delivered to my door, making my life all that much easier. Yes please! With the option to choose whatever handle and razor options I want, with product that ships the same day and for FREE, I am here for it, people! You can even set up automatic delivery based on how often you need new razors, so that you never have to end up in a hairy situation again. ;) 

I test drove the Comfortguide plus Olay Coconut blades and I'm obsessed! There's a built-in moisture bar that releases Olay body butters, ensuring a smooth and luxurious shave - plus the smell is so yummy! 

Plans start at $10 a month, shipping is free, and you can cancel at anytime. Sign up for your very own shave club for women here.

Cute Sweaters For Valentine's Day

Earlier this week I shared 5 easy Valentine's Day dinner outfit ideas with items you might already have in your closet. (If you missed that post, I also linked to some dresses and tops for Valentine's Day that caught my eye and would be perfect for a dressier Valentine's Day.)

If you're planning a casual galentine's day with friends or at-home date night with your love, reach for cozy sweaters or tees for your Valentine's Day outfit. And speaking of at-home date nights, remember that time Fortitude and Finn and I created a super fun idea Valentine's Day date night idea? If you are on budget, or don't love going out for V-Day, I can't recommend this one enough! 

Whatever your plans are, if you are taking the casual approach, or if you are a cold weather babe like me, check out these cute sweaters for Valentine's Day below. The one I am wearing it only $19!

Cute Sweaters For Valentine's Day

5 Valentine's Day Dinner Outfit Ideas

I received so much great feedback from you all when I shared my NYE outfit ideas post, that I knew I wanted to share the same format for my Valentine's Day post. This time though, I'm sharing some Valentine's Day outfit ideas that you can work together with items in your closet, as well as some top picks for pieces you can wear for V-Day and well after.

If you don't really do much for Valentine's Day, don't worry, you aren't alone. The past few years we have played it low key and made dinner at home. Having just come off the coattails of the holidays and my birthday, I honestly typically don't ever want to spend the extra money. This year, with everything going on in our lives, I decided I wanted to do a little more for V-day to carve out some QT, so we made reservations for dinner at The Broadmoor. And of course, that has me wondering what to wear for Valentine's Day dinner.

Whether you are spending love day with your beau, or your gal pals, I have pulled together some inspo for your Valentine's day date night outfit below. I recommend sticking to reds, pinks and blacks and whites when it comes to Valentine's day looks. You really can't go wrong there. I'll be doing another blog post this week with some casual pieces you can pick up for Valentine's Day, as well.

5 Valentine's Day Dinner Outfit Ideas 

Red Sweater and Leopard Skirt - If you don't have a leopard skirt in your closet by now, I don't know what you are waiting for. It's such a versatile piece that you can wear to work and play. This would be such a fun day-to-night- Valentine's Day look, which is just what I'm wanting on V-Day.

Black Slip Dress - I made a case for this slip dress in my birthday post. It's such a chic and versatile piece that is a MUST add to your closet. It's also made out of recycled paper, which is just the coolest.

Pink Dress - You really can't go wrong with a pink dress for Valentine's Day. I love this one from Chicwish, because you can wear it now and then wear it again all Spring/Summer. If you live in a warmer climate, this is a great look for love day.

Two Piece Set - Similar to the pink dress above, this is definitely wear now, wear later look that will last you all summer.  I linked to a few adorable sets below.

Black on Black - This is a classic look you can't go wrong with.

If you are looking to pick up something for you Valentine's Day date night, I linked to a ton of great pieces below. Check in later this week to see my casual Valentine's Day picks.

Tops + Sweaters for Valentine's Day

Dresses

33 Random Facts About Me

It's my birthday! I mean...not that I had to have a reason to throw on a slip dress and a fur stole, but here we are. You guys asked me for a post on 33 things about me, to ring in my 33 birthday, and we'll get to that, but first...let's talk about this outfit.

I'll always be a trendy kind of girl that enjoys having variety in my closet, but lately I've been trying to invest in interchangeable basics that will stand the test of time. These 3 pieces fit that bill, and are a worthy investment if you ask me.

I've had my eye on a slip dress for a while now. It's the perfect piece to take from the holidays, to pretty much any event throughout the year. It's a versatile piece that can easily be dressed up or down, by slipping switching out footwear and accessories. I've heard a lot about the brand Reformation, and have been wanting to try them forever. (Many of my favorite bloggers have been repping it forever, but I've always shied away due to the sometimes steep price tag.) When I saw this slip dress by Reformation though, I had to make it mine - and the price isn't too bad either. I didn't realize how cool the brand was until I received my dress and read the tag. Reformation makes sustainable clothing, and their whole brand mission is super legit. (You can read more about that here.) My dress, for example, is completely biodegradable and that is seriously badass, if you ask me.

As for the fur stole, it has become one with my body. When I die, this is my formal request to bury me with this piece! It's such a chic accessory that can be worn with dresses, sweaters and coats, alike. (It's on sale for under $30, too!) I'm also super into this SPANX sheer bodysuit. It's perfect to layer under you tanks and dresses to give them an instant winter glam vibe.

Ok...now back to my birthday. By request I'm sharing 33 Random Facts About Me. Tune in Monday, and I'll be sharing another birthday post with some life lessons I've learned in my 33 years.

33 Random Facts About Me

1. I grew up in Bakersfield, CA. I spent 24 years of my life there, before making my way to Colorado Springs.

2. I met Brandon here in Colorado Springs, working at the same office we still work at today.

3. I come from a combined family and am the youngest of 5 children - all of which are much older than me, due to my parents' previous marriages.

4. I used to want to be a professional singer in some capacity. In fact, it was my big dream. When I lived in California, I would record songs and definitely had dreams of making it big. I also hardly sing at all anymore, and let me tell you...when you don't use it, you lose it.

5. I have naturally curly hair, and if you've been following me for a while you know that. I stopped wearing it curly when I chopped my hair off (it looks so bad short and curly!), and it basically forced me to learn how to properly style it. You can see my curly hair here, and you can read more about how I style my hair here.

6. I was captain of my cheerleading squad throughout high school.

7.  I was seriously the most accident prone child. I was in the hospital a number of times for really random freak accidents.

8. I was bit by a dog on my face with I was 7, and still have the scar to this day. I still love dogs though and it didn't make me afraid of them at all.

9. I don't get star struck by celebrities, but if I see a blogger I love in public, I will lose my mind with excitement.

10. I am a MAJOR foodie and will eat pretty much anything. Mexican > everything though.

11. I love to cook and bake, I just never have time for it anymore.

12. I've had more zits in the past 2 years, than I have my entire life. #adultacne

13. I only went to college for about 6 months, before stopping and starting my career.

14. I love a good glass of wine, and am a sucker for tequila.

15. I have never been to Europe, or anywhere outside of the western hemisphere, but I dream of going to Italy and Bali.

16. I'm an early riser. It's not always the easiest for me, and sometimes I wish I could sleep in, but I get so much done in the early hours of the morning and enjoy the time to myself with my coffee.

17. I started my career in mortgage home loans, with my mom, at 18. When I moved to Colorado, I switched gears and got into Real Estate.

18. My favorite quality about myself is my ability to look on the bright side of almost every situation.

19. I have big feet, but I swear they have shrunk! I used to be a solid 10, but I find myself buying 9.5 these days.

20. I had braces when I was younger, because of a snaggle tooth I had. When I got older, I discovered braces ruined my mouth and caused some serious "root resorption" and I had to have my lower molars pulled on both side. My have an implant on one side, but I still need to get them done on the other.

21. I've had tea with Julie Andrews.

22. I always thought I had some sort of Native American in me, but my 23 and Me says I'm 83% Irish. Also, I hate the fact that I did 23 and Me and offered up my DNA. Regret it ALL the time!

23. I spent all of last year thinking that I was an enneagram 7 and now I'm having an existential crisis thinking I might actually be a 3. #whoami

24. My love languages are gifts and acts of service. So, basically buy me things and do things for me and I'm happy. ;)

25. There are two items in my closet that I really don't know what I would do without. These jeans and these sunnies.

26. My favorite piece of jewelry is my David Yurman bracelet and a pair of black hills gold earrings my mom gave me.

27. I'm obsessed with the Real Housewives, and wish I were besties with pretty much all of them.

29. I could eat oatmeal for breakfast everyday.

30. I was about 25 pounds heavier when I met Brandon.

31. I love living in Colorado Springs, and couldn't see myself anywhere else now, but Brandon and I dream of retiring in California by the beach.

32. My favorite family tradition is "Christmas Eve Gift". Basically, on Christmas Eve, we say "Christmas Eve Gift" to each other and whoever says it first gets a gift from whoever they say it to.

33. I love Jesus, but I cuss a little. Or a lot.

That took way longer than I anticipated and was one of the hardest things ever! Seriously, try writing 33 things about yourself. It feels crazy.

I hope you guys enjoyed learning more about me, and if you have any questions, drop them below.