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At the beginning of the year, “Detoxing” is a huge topic of conversation, but usually the focus is on food and diet culture. While that’s normal to focus on (you do you), there are other areas that probably require more focus at this time. We are surrounded by junky drawers, closets, and even social media platforms, so why not take a little time out to detox those? If you have an extra hour to spare here and there, here are 5 areas to detox that don’t include your body.

clean home

Digital Detox
With so many people working from home now, it’s safe to say we’re using social media waaay more than what we usually do. With that being said, we may find ourselves becoming fatigued by the content that we’re intaking, so if you’re following people who’s content no longer serves you, makes you feel anxious, or just isn’t inspiring anymore, don’t feel bad about unfollowing or deleting them. Social Media should be fun, and before you feel like it’s toxic city and that you need to completely delete it or take a break, reassess who you’re following/what you’re consuming and make changes to that first.

digital detox

Clean Out Your Fridge
Seriously, when is the last time you gave your fridge a really good deep clean? It’s probably time, lol. Remove anything that is expired, old condiments that are messy, and any other items that you know you will never eat. Give it a good wipe down with a safe cleanser and hot water and then try to organize what’s left in a way that makes sense to you. If the cleaning bug has really hit you, start in your pantry next!

organized groceries

pantry

Declutter Your Car
MANY of us (self-included) treat our cars like a second home, and it’s time that we stop. There’s nothing worse than having to constantly move stuff around because people have nowhere to sit, so now’s the perfect time to get in there and clean it out! Remove anything that doesn’t belong, vacuum it out and then give it a wash (I prefer the drive-throughs, lol).

Donate Clothing You Longer Wear
Getting rid of clothing that we no longer wear or want is probably one of the hardest things for people to do, but it’s so necessary. For one, it will make getting dressed so much easier because you can actually see what’s in there. Secondly, getting rid of the pieces that don’t work makes room for the pieces that will! You have to treat it like ripping off a band-aid (if you think too long about a piece you’re less likely to get rid of it), but once it’s done you will feel so much better.

closet

Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
If you have a gym membership that you’ve never used but pay for monthly, raise your hand! Guys, we are wasting SO much money holding on to these subscriptions that we will never use, no matter what we tell ourselves every day. Take some time to go through your bank statements to review the subscriptions that you currently have, and cancel any that you don’t really use or aren’t necessarily helping you. Stop giving money away!

netflix

There are so many areas that we can work on and get in order, but these are just a start (and can be knocked out in a weekend)!

Happy New Year!! It’s hard to believe that 2021 is finally (and thankfully!) here, and I don’t know about you guys, but this means out with the old, in with the new! I usually spend the first few days of the new year purging, and one place I really try to do this with is with my beauty and skincare products. It’s time to make room for the products that work, get rid of those that don’t, and also put some practices back into place that I may have slacked on last year.

If you’re in the same mindset as me and looking to do the same, here are some beauty resolutions for 2021 that should be easy for anyone to keep.

beauty resolution

INVEST
In new sponges, wash clothes, makeup brushes, combs, and other tools that may be broken, worn out, etc. Bathrooms harbor germs, so go ahead and invest in those new, sterilized products that you’ve been needing to replace to really start the year off fresh.

BE CLEAR
With your skin. Don’t be afraid to try something new and invest in products that really WORK. That doesn’t meant that you have to break the bank-it just means taking the time out to develop a skincare routine that really works for YOUR skin. Having clear skin means you can minimize the amount of products that you have to use. so if you want to skip wearing makeup, you can without feeling self-conscious about your skin. Talk to a dermatologist, see an aesthetician, test a few products out (it normally takes 30 days to see a difference), whatever you need to do. Just be clear on what your skin needs and take care of it.

summer-fridays-jet-lag-maskSummer Fridays – Jet Lag Mask, $25

BE A CUT ABOVE
When’s the last time you got a haircut? If you’re not sure, it might be time for an update. Look at celebrities that have a similar face shape as you and consult with your hairstylist to see if you can pull it off. You’d be surprised at the difference a great cut can make. In the meantime of waiting to get a cut, also treat yourself to a hair mask.

ouai-treatment-mask-for-fine-and-medium-hairOUAI Treatment Mask for Fine and Medium Hair, $38

HAVE BROW POWER
Please, please please, get your brows in order. Pluck them, grow them out, fill them in, do whatever you need to do to make them look good, but get them in order. Perfect brows fame your face and equal less makeup, so take some time to get them right. If you’re having flashbacks to the self-plucked thin brows of the 90s, then make an appt with a brow tech. It can cost as little as $12, but just double check to make sure they know how to do what you need.

beauty resolution

NAIL IT
A fresh manicure and pedicure is a must! Your hands can tell the story of your life, and you don’t want them to look dry and crusty, lol. If it’s not in your budget to go and get them done (or you don’t feel comfortable due to Covid), invest in a kit ($15-$20 should get you everything you need to do the basics) so that you can do them at home. It doesn’t take a lot to make them look better, and you will feel amazing afterwards.

sephora-collection-tough-as-nails-deluxe-manicure-pedicure-kitSEPHORA COLLECTION – Tough As Nails Deluxe Manicure & Pedicure Kit, $20

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE
When it comes to makeup, there are levels. There is makeup for day, night, photo, video, events, work, etc. and for most people, you want to know the difference. Unless you’re a reality star and a camera crew is following you, you honestly don’t have to have all of that on, and even then, you want to make sure that the products you’re using are right for your skin. There are tons of tutorials on YouTube to view, and you can talk to the MUAs on staff at Sephora if you’re unsure of where to start.

 

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez - Lip Souffle Matte Cream LipstickRare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick, $20

EXPERIMENT
Let this be the year that you try something new. A bold lip, sparkly shadow, a new perfume, whatever piques your interest. Experimenting every few months may help you discover a new essential for your beauty bag and keep you out of a rut.

HAVE FUN & ENJOY
You are fabulous, so own it every day!

 

All products shown are available at Sephora Saddle Creek.

Happy New Year!

It’s hard to believe that 2020 is already here, but the new year is a great way to refresh, recharge and refocus on our goals. While it doesn’t have to mean “New Year, New Me!”, the start of the new year is a fun time to get back on track in areas we may find ourselves lacking. Traditional resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, especially when they’re really extreme (how many people do we know that decide they want to hit the gym at 5am every day beginning January 1st only to give up within a week or 2?). Thankfully, they don’t have to be so absolute anymore. We have to be more realistic with our goals and give ourselves some grace, so I wanted to share a few “resolutions” that you can actually keep if you’re ready to make some changes.

Eat a little bit healthier every day.
Instead of saying you’re going to cut out all sugar and carbs (and send your body into withdrawal so bad you wind up bingeing in the middle of the night on junk), how about taking things day by day and making small changes to your meals instead? Instead of having 3 donuts for breakfast, how about having a more balanced meal with scrambled eggs, veggies and fruit? Or, swap out that candy bar for some Greek yogurt, honey and fruit for a sweet snack that’s more nutritious and filling but still healthy. Eating healthier DOES take some planning (everybody’s body is different and we all like different foods), but  adopting healthier eating habits vs. going on a diet is a LOT easier in the long run.

Find a way to get active.
Whether you go for a walk on your lunch break or do 20 minutes of yoga in the morning, try to find a way to get some type of physical activity into your schedule every day. Our bodies get used to our routine, so even a minor change in our activity levels will give us some results. If you hate the gym, look for individual workout classes in your area (Athleta is always partnering with studios + fitness instructors for fun classes), or pick up a workout video and light weights to do something at home . The goal is just to get to moving for your overall health.

New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Keepimages via

Slow down and spend more time with your loved ones.
Being busy is really big in our culture right now, but it’s OK to slow down and just enjoy time with your friends and family. Being around people that make you happy and laugh will do wonders for your mental health, so remember to schedule in those lunch and shopping dates and hang out when you can.

Make time for self-care (whatever that means for you).
You can’t pour from an empty cup, so make sure you have time for self-care in your schedule. For some, self-care is going to get a mani/pedi every week (hello Nail Bar & Co!) and for others, it’s taking a hike in the woods or going running. Whatever it is that helps you reset and feel good about yourself, make time to do it.

Streamline your closet and (only wear things you love).
Now is the perfect time to get your wardrobe organized. You don’t have to purge everything and buy a whole new wardrobe, but you SHOULD take a day out to go through and only keep things that fit you beautifully and that you will actually wear. It’s all about having a versatile wardrobe that you can wear for all the moments in your life, so instead of trying to adapt a capsule wardrobe because it’s a popular thing right now (and getting frustrated because you feel like you need all new clothes), just get it more organized and add in the pieces that you actually need. Your wallet (and personal style) will thank you!

Be sure to check our calendar to learn about store events in The Shops of Saddle Creek!