The Self Care-antine Series: Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream

We're in a scary, uncertain time. None of us knows what the next day holds. There are new numbers released daily, new shelter-in-place orders, new ways of life. Many people have lost their jobs and have no idea how to pay their rents and mortgages. Many people don't know if they will have jobs to go back to when this is all over. Many of us are now confined to our homes, not knowing when these orders will be lifted or what the world will look like when things return to "normal." I've been thinking a lot about how to continue to care for myself during this time, especially when so many stores are shut down or no longer shipping products. How do I maintain some semblance of "normal" during all of this?

And, so, I conceived The Self Care-antine Series. (Thank you to my friend Jenny for helping me concept the name! I was talking to her last week about starting this series, and said I wanted to do a series on self care during quarantine, and this came out of us.) This is not meant to make light of anything happening with COVID-19. I know people who have contracted the disease. I have friends working on the front lines of ERs in Michigan and New York City. I have friends trapped on the Zaandam. However, at the same time, my life must go on in some small way during this time, as all of our lives must. So, while I shelter in place in Los Angeles, I'm looking at small ways to keep myself going. I'll be featuring different products that are available during this time and can, hopefully, bring you a small amount of joy as they are bringing to me. Up first: Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream.

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Brighten Up: Dermalogica BioLumin-C Serum

I'm going to admit something to you. I haven't always been the best at including Vitamin C in my daily regimen -- either through eating/drinking it, taking vitamins, or applying it to my skin. But, now that I'm 40, I'm definitely doing everything I can to make sure my skin stays bright, firm and youthful as long as humanly possible! When I discovered Dermalogica BioLumin-C Serum, I figured that was a pretty good place to start.

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New Manicure! My "Sprinter" Multicolored Mani

My friend Claire and I were doing our nails recently, and I couldn't commit to one color. And since I'm still on the multicolored manicure trend, and I don't see that ending anytime soon, I chose five different colors instead of one! I created what I've termed the "Sprinter" Multicolored Mani -- a spring-inspired manicure, even though it's still winter. Hence ... SPRINTER!

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Rated. Reviewed. LOVED! The Nuuly Clothing Rental Subscription (AND a $20 Referral Bonus for You!)

I've known about clothing rental subscription services for a long time. I actually even worked on one for awhile, back when I was at JustFab (we had our own version of this service called PS by JustFab). And it's not that I didn't think they were a good idea -- I just never really saw the point. Until I discovered Nuuly, that is. Well, how times have changed!

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Year in Review: Looking Back on 2019

2020 is upon us. A new decade full of new chances, new choices and new adventures. As is customary on my blog, I'm looking back at 2019 -- the year that's passed, the year that brought more happiness into my life once again.

I look at every moment as a chance to embrace the best life has to offer. Yes, I have lows -- for instance, I was fired from my job this year -- but I never let them get me down. I use them as learning experiences to grow and change for the better, and to continue to make my life what I want it to be. Despite them, I turned 2019 into my best year yet -- a year filled with family, with friends, with new opportunities, with the first time I've gone fully freelance and actually not just survived, but THRIVED.

My wish for the coming year, and the coming decade, is to continue to embrace every moment. Let's all find happiness, peace and strength in the year ahead.

My most special moments this year had some definite themes that emerged. Keep reading for a look at what happened this year!

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