Today, my husband and I hit the gym together and I had an awesome workout. I ended up doing only 15 minutes of cardio though, because some man got onto the one next to me 10 mins into my workout, and he reeked of cologne or perfume or something. It was like a vanilla musk. So so awful. It was so strong I started to cough. I am really sensitive to smells so I just had to leave and go upstairs to do the rest of my workout. I really don’t get why people feel the need to douse themselves in perfume or cologne or overly-scented anything at the gym. It is really distracting for a lot of people.
Anywho, I was able to remember a ton of moves from pilates class, and incorporate them into my workout. I used to be ALL ABOUT the machines [at the gym], but now that I’ve taken pilates and worked with a personal trainer, I understand that using tools like free weights, stability balls, bosu balls, resistance bands and just your own body weight are much more effective and give way better results. I was pretty happy that I was able to get just as a great of a workout on my own as I do in a class, because that has always been a challenge for me.
My husband and I got Buffalo Wild Wings for the SuperBowl today and we have friends bringing pizza and other pig-out foods! YUM! Today is a “calories don’t count” day for me. I don’t eat like this all of the time, so it’s OK once in awhile to have a fattening calorie fest (and all the more acceptable, I think, on SuperBowl Sunday.)
Before we arrived at home, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a prescription, and I remembered I wanted to try the Tressemme Dry Shampoo that just came out so I picked that up along with a few other items.
From L-R: Tresemme Dry Shampoo for normal/oily straight hair, Maybelline Lipstick in “Born with it,” L’oreal Extra-Volume Collagen WP mascara in “blackest black,” and L’Oreal Ever Strong sulphate-free hydrate conditioner.
I’ll let you know how the products are when I try them. I did use a quick spray of the dry shampoo. It has a citrus-ish smell, which is OK…a bit overpowering, but I’ll let you know how I like it when I use it “for real.”
I also picked up some zinc from the vitamin store after Stephie from Superficial Obsession wrote about its benefits on her blog. It is supposed to reduce inflammation and be great for your skin and hair.
Speaking of skin, I’d like to give a “first week” Clarisonic update. I’ve used it everyday since last Sunday at night only, before I go to bed. I use it for 1.5-2 minutes. I use it with my regular cleansers (not the one that came with it).
What I’ve noticed so far:
skin feels MUCH smoother
skin feels much cleaner and softer
skin does appear more even (less splotchy/redness)
pores appear smaller
I will continue to use it and report any updates. I did for the first few days experience a tiny outbreak of teeny tiny little pimples along my hairline, but that could have been from hair products and not the Clarisonic.
So far, so good.
Before I go, I wanted to show one of my Target home purchases from Saturday. I’m obsessed with have flowers in my home, but since I can’t afford real ones, I get artificial ones. I think they really add beauty and pop of color to any room. Here is my latest arrangement:
(From Target, $9.99 per stem, I have 2 stems in this one)
So pretty! I just really love how fresh it looks (well, to me it does.) I think I like florals in my home as much as I like them on my clothes.
This is one of the arrangements in our bedroom on our dresser: (the flowers are from Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie and Crate & Barrel)
We have another (smaller arrangement) on our dresser as well.
Then, there’s this one in our living room:
More living room florals:
(even my candle holders are floral!)
So yeah, I am pretty enamored with flowers. I just can’t help it, they make me happy!
Do you have flowers (real of fake) in your home? What do you do to brighten up your home? Please share your tips, tricks and advice in the comments below!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
xoxo,
Veronika.
haha don't you love how everytime you go to the drugstore it's so hard to resist buying a few things! i love the flower arrangements. very pretty!! 🙂 xx
I love how the bright pink flowers look in your living room…they really pop! I also have that white vase from C&B and have been meaning to get silk flowers to put in it for months now…so thanks for the inspiration!
Once in a while, I'll get fresh flowers from Wegman's, but lately I've been thinking about getting a few pretty plants for my kitchen. Not sure how long I can keep them alive though;)
Can't wait to hear how you like the Tresemme Dry Shampoo. Yum. Buffalo Wild Wings sounds soooo good right now! I love the florals everywhere too, they are a nice, cheerful accent for any room. How funny, I have the exact, same lotus flower candle holder from ZGallerie 🙂
I want to know where you got your awesome black cabinet/hutch pictured by the floor vase! LOVE IT!!!!
Tina- it's from crate and barrel 🙂
Where did you get that floor vase from? Love it. I currently keep getting fresh flowers, but I really need to find decent fakes b/c it is getting expensive;)
I love the contrast between your feminine florals and the great modern furniture. I'm not a huge fan of fake florals but you've done such a good job with them that I might be changing my mind!
I actually just started using the shampoo and conditioner from L'Oreal's Everpure line (for colored hair). I'm excited to see how it the strength line works for you.
I tend not to have flowers in the house unless they are fresh, mostly because I just don't think about it otherwise. Currently all of the silk flowers I have right now are for my craft projects, but after seeing some of your pictures I might have to pull them out for use around the house!
Veronika,
I love decorating my house with flowers too they are fake for the same reason yours are…the money factor and I think its just easier it always looks nice and you dont need to buy them all the time! Love love the pink ones in your living room! Also can you PLEASE tell me if you like the L'oreal collagen mascara I have tried so many that I havent yet tried this one and would love to know what you think of it! Thanks so much! I agree with you today was my "pig out" day too we had people over for a party sometimes you have to have a bit of fun and have a day to go crazy!
Leah
oooooh, where are the peonies from? I've been trying to find some artificial ones online and they all look terribly cheap and tacky, or are CRAZY expensive.
anon- the floor vase is from Marshalls Home Goods…from maybe 2.5 yrs ago, but they always have a great stock of cool vases.
Leah- I am going to try it out for the first time tomorrow (the mascara)
Michele- I got the peonies at Wal Mart almost 3 yrs ago…however, they don't seem to have nice florals there anymore. The last time I went they did not have a large selection or ones that were as nice as the hot pink ones I was able to get awhile ago. I have a store in my area that sells amazing fake flowers at wholesale cost, but you need to be in the events planning industry to shop there (I got to go because my wedding planner had an "IN" Micheal's sometimes has nice ones, but it can be a real hit or miss. Good peonies are hard to find. I would also check Target and ZGallerie as they tend to have really nice florals.
Your house is gorgeous.. however, I've always been iffy w/ fake flowers gorgeous or not. I treat myself to fresh flowers weekly.. but the ones you have that glass vase are gorgeous..how do you maintain them clean w/ dust and all..
iiris- I use a spray can of compressed air or I just clean them with a swiffer duster. I've even washed some before.
PS- there is no way I could afford fresh flowers for as many areas in my home as I love to have them!
I'd rather have strong cologne over waves of funk hitting my nose as the fans blow. Yeeeach. Either are bad, though. Your home is beautiful!
thanks gigi 🙂 I must be over sensitive to smells or something because I literally have a hard time breathing through it if someone is drenched in any sort of scent.
love flowers. puts me in a cheery mood.