The Sunday Edit is where I stop by to share with you a few raw and real stories from my week. Stories where I edited struggles into strengths and found Gem moments when shining seemed impossible. In a world where everyone filters what they share online, I want you to see you’re not alone and I want to inspire you to have more good days. You’ll also find what products have been making my life easier, what new Gem finds I’ve come across, and the best sales going on right now!
**This post may contain affiliate links (which means I make a small commission when you shop from them) and sponsored items (gifted items are indicated with a [c/o] and sponsored links with an [sp]) because we all have to pay our bills, and I’d rather keep creating awesome content for you than get a real job. All opinions are my own.**
New Posts on The Gem:
- The Winner of Game Day Snacks
- Vitamin C Serum Benefits for Your Skin + GIVEAWAY
- Everyday Outfit: Black Distressed Boyfriend Jeans
- How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions (and Reset Them)
- Setting Realistic Fitness & Wellness Goals for 2019
- 6 Travel Beauty Essentials I Never Leave Without
Life Update & Thoughts:
When I last left you with a Sunday edit, we were talking about how 2018 taught me how to go through life when being really uncomfortable and having almost no sense of security. Now that I’ve really starting to accept and settle into all of that, I feel like I’m finally starting to find myself again – piece by piece. I have ideas flowing out of my ears and I have been able to dig out some of the story sharing, heartfelt post that all of you really love. Over on Instagram this week, there was this post on how we’re not entitled to comfort, a post about something huge I learned from trying to run away from the pain of losing my dad, and this one about having to become my own support system after my break up in 2018.
I’m working on finding a balance between deep emotional posts, lifestyle content about fashion/beauty, sponsored content and, as always, raising awareness for mental health. The most amazing thing you could do for me is to like and comment on the posts that interest you, that way, I know what you love seeing and I can create more of that content!
Shines:
- On Tuesday, I woke up with alllll of the emotions and honestly felt like it was just going to be wasted day (other than the yoga classes I was teaching later in the evening). Unsure of how to get a handle on how I was feeling, I took out a notebook and just started writing. Every time I journal, I always wonder why I don’t do it more often. I think getting everything going on in my head out on paper made space for my clarity and creativity to come back in. I actually ended up getting a lot done!
- I had my last microneedling appointment at Sistine Plastic Surgery and I cannot wait to finally share all the ins and outs of this process with you!
- This didn’t happen this week, but it has happened since my last Sunday Edit and it’s a pretty big deal… I bought a car! Me, the queen of being indecisive, test drove ONE vehicle and decided it was THE ONE. Proud of myself for being a grown up and for allowing the process easier than I thought it was going to be (not so happy about having a car payment though).
- These are another set of photos that I really didn’t know how to pull off with my lack of equipment and challengingly lit house (some were taken on my mom’s dining room table), BUT I’m excited with how they turned out – go take a look!
- I subbed a few extra classes to teach this week and last at Yoga Innovations and it’s been nice to spend a little less time in front of my computer. If you’re in Pittsburgh, come sweat with me!
Struggles:
- This past Wednesday would have been my dad’s birthday, so he was on my mind even more so than usual. Miss him so so so much.
- It’s really starting to feel real that I’m moving in a few months (most likely back in with my mom for a bit) and I have SO many mixed emotions (and absolutely no desire to pack up all my stuff, so if you want to come over and help me, I’ll provide wine and snacks!)
- I’m having such a hard time producing fashion content right now, you guys. It’s driving me crazy that I don’t have any outfits posts in queue, but I just cannot handle the cold temps and the snow. Please forgive me! BUT, I do have a lot of beauty things on deck that we’re going to talk about!
- The New Jersey Devil’s play the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night in Pittsburgh (I’m a Devil’s fan) and I normally buy tickets to every game that they’re in town for. But in the name of saving money, I didn’t get them for tomorrow and that’s a bummer.
Currently Loving:
- This Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream [c/o] makes my skin feel so soft and nourished when I wake up – I feel ready to take on the day! Ohhh and it has this ever so light peachy scent that smells DREAMY!
- My Hēladerm’s Vitamin C Serum (win a bottle for yourself in this post!). Since noticing there’s a dullness to my skin during the depths of winter months, I added a new serum to my skincare routine to bring back radiance. After a few weeks of testing it out, I’m excited to share all of the vitamin C serum benefits for your skin!
- I cannot get enough of Brianna Wiest’s Instagram account. Somehow, she always knows what I need to hear and hits the nail right on the head! I think the next book I pick up needs to be her “101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think“.
- Tailwind. In case you didn’t know, I am obsessed with Pinterest! Aside from spending hours getting lost in DIY projects I’ll never do and recipes I’ll likely never make, I love using Pinterest to drive traffic to my blog (it’s actually where most of my website views come from!). Tailwind is how I automate that process!
- This read for my fellow bloggers: Do paid endorsements sell product?
Current Sales:
- Julep: End of Season Sale! Save up to 75% Off! Plus, get a FREE Color of the Year polish & matching cosmetic bag with any $40 purchase with code CORAL!
- SHOPBOP: 40% sitewide now through 1/31.
- Nicole Miller: Get 20% off with code REWARD20
- Hunter: Love love love what they have on sale right now like this pink puffer coat (it’s $100 off!), these sheepy fleece cuff boot socks (they look SO cozy), and some of their original rainboots are only $75 (the vivid blue, thistle, and thundercloud).
- LOFT: 50% off your purchase using code NEWFAVES through Tuesday, January 29th at 3:00 am EST.