Beauty
July 16, 2021

2021 NSale Top Beauty Picks

IT’S TIME! I love the #NSALE. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sales comes once every year and I enjoy shopping to find great deals on products that I already use and love. I also like to find new items to try at a discounted price.

This year, I realized that there were so many products that I already own on sale! I am so excited about this because I can guide you on what the best deals are and where you can prioritize your $$ to maximize the sale!

Have it. Love it. #NSALE Beauty Picks

Okay, let’s dive in! You will love these products. How do I know? Because I have them and I love them too!

Must Have Hair Tools

There are two brands that I use and love on major sale, so I am sharing them both. T3 is my old faithful. I have nearly every item they have released and use my curling iron and flat irons daily.

$99 is such a good price for these tools. If you’ve been considering them, I would definitely recommend purchasing during the #NSALE!

GHD is a brand I started using earlier this year when I was introduced to their blow dryer. IT IS SOOOO GOOD! One of the best I’ve used on my hair. I was thrilled to see their flat iron on sale as well. I just got it and will report back once I get a chance to use it a few more times. This one is under $200 and a great buy.

Must Have Skincare

The older I get, the more and more I am into great skincare products. I love these. I was recently gifted the La Mer products and I cannot wait to dive in and tell you what I think. Some of these items are on the higher end, but hey, you only get one face! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Must Have Make-Up

If you’ve watched my stories, then you know that I keep a collection of mascara. Anytime it goes on sale, I buy some! Especially my favorite brands. I also linked some great deals on a few beauty faves I have. You can’t go wrong with anything from Charlotte Tilbury! And that Urban Decay setting spray is the bomb.

What are you shopping for during the sale? I will have a few more posts going up over the weekend to continue highlighting products you should check out and what I’m buying!

Thank you for reading! XO – Steph

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Here To Inspire
July 8, 2021

Don’t Forget to Rest on Your Way to the Top

Pause. I think that perfectly describes the last couple months for me. I took some time to catch my breath and rest after a busy Q1. When I returned to work from maternity leave, I started off strong, unstoppable and on a mission to make it my best year yet.

In fact, I have made it my best year yet but not without a little burn out along the way. I told myself at the start of the year, “I want to make at least 6 figures every quarter this year.” I did it pretty quickly in Q1 and somehow, by the grace of God, I continue to meet my goals; even while working the blog “part-time” right now. But at the end of April, I was beyond burnt out. The checks were flowing in, but I was exhausted. I was overwhelmed and the last thing I wanted to do was continue at the pace I was going.

So I stopped. I stopped blogging on my website. I stopped responding to emails. I stopped being available outside of posting occasionally on Instagram. I didn’t announce it. I just kind of stopped. Which of course started to drive everyone around me crazy from my management team to brands – but I desperately needed a break. My 9-5 was in the middle of a busy period and trying to balance both (plus my family) was more than I could handle.

I also needed to face a health thing that I wanted/needed complete closure on. When I was at the end of my pregnancy with Zoe, I was laying on the couch with Jason and randomly did a self-exam on my breast. I was pretty surprised to find a lump, especially since I go to the doctor regularly. I chalked it up to a clogged milk duct in preparation for my milk that would be coming in and tried not to think too much about it.

When I went to my next appointment, I brought it up to my doctor. He checked me, checked again and immediately told me to go see a specialist.

In that moment, I was pretty shocked because I was expecting him to say there was nothing to be concerned about … but I could see very quickly that this would not be the case. Next thing I knew, I was at Solis Mammography getting checked out. Because I was (very) pregnant, they could not do a mammogram on me, only an ultrasound. During my visit the doctor felt confident that I had a fibroadenoma – which is a benign breast tumor, but in order to be certain, I would need a biopsy. With Zoe expected to arrive any day, I decided to wait and focus on the healthy delivery of my baby girl and come back to do a biopsy after she was born.

Fast forward several months, I had my biopsy and I am happy to report that everything is benign. I do have to continue to see my doctor to monitor but this news was such a relief. This whole ordeal really put things into perspective for me and further validated that if I need to rest, I will rest. Life is too fragile to grind it out for the sake of appearances or money

My hope is that by taking a moment to rest, regroup and really put what I value the most into perspective, I’ll be able to come back to doing what I love with a full(er) cup and a greater appreciation for all of life’s blessings. Because quite frankly, I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing for awhile there. I was just going through the motions. Which is not how I want to live and it is not how I want you all to live either!

Looking ahead

I am in the process of giving my website a little facelift and I hope to begin to rollout some of the projects that I’ve had tabled for a while now due to feeling totally overwhelmed.

At the beginning of the year, I hired a management team and an assistant and both of these decisions have been instrumental in maintaining a better work/life balance.

I think the next role that I add will be a social media manager but I haven’t fully defined what that will look like just yet. The more I can outsource and get support with, the better it is for my mental health – especially while I still work full-time.

There are a lot of words in this post, but the main thing I hope you takeaway is to take those moments of pause when you need them. I have found myself really needing to be intentional about rest lately. In my past, I would pride myself on being able to go go go no matter what. But honestly the older I get, the more I realize how ridiculous that is. We’re all only human. The important thing is to re-fill and then get back to work.

I hope this explains why I’ve been a little MIA from the blog and I am looking forward to slowly easing back in.

Thank you so much for being here. I truly appreciate each of you.

XO Steph

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Motherhood
April 11, 2021

5 Fast Facts To Shop Zulily Like a Pro

You may recall me fangirling over Zulily during the holidays. I love a great deal and have been finding so many great items on here lately. And because I know you all love a great deal too, I wanted to take a minute to break down all the ways to really maximize your Zulily shopping experience, so that you too can join in on the fun.ย 

5 Fast Facts that will make you a Zulily fan just like me (and get you in on all the deals):ย 

  1. Every day at 6AM PST new items go on sale! Itโ€™s only for a short period of time so there is always something new to discover
  2. Unbeatable prices! Get ready to save up to 70% on your favorite brandsย 
  3. You only pay for shipping on your first order of the day! And shipping is FREE.99 on Friday and Saturday (my favorite days to shop)
  4. Need an item fast? Look for the rocket icon. That means that it is available in their limited warehouse and can ship out right away!ย 
  5. All of Zulilyโ€™s deals are back by their Best Price Promise. Meaning if you find a better price on Walmart or Amazon, Zulily will match it or beat it!ย 

Thereโ€™s a welcome baby event HAPPENING NOW that I had to share with you guys. If you are a first time mom, third time mom or fabulous aunty โ€ฆ There are so many great deals on all things BABY available on Zulily.com.

The site has events happening all the time, but anything that I can get for the kids on the low low is an instant must shop for me. I shared a little try-on haul of a few things I picked up for Zoe over on the gram – can you even deal with the cuteness btw?! But I also wanted to make sure I shared the event here as well.ย 

As a mom to an infant all over again, Iโ€™m constantly discovering new products and rediscovering items that I loved when the boys were little. While I do tend to always have my eye on a great outfit for Zoe, there are also lots of great deals on baby gear, maternity essentials, and even items for the nursery.

Enjoy shopping the event. I will share more of what I ordered for Zoe when it arrives! As always, thank you for reading!ย 

XO – Stephย 

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Style
March 4, 2021

11 Elevated Classics Your Closet Needs Right Now

Who runs the world?! GIRLS!

I am so excited to team up with my friends at Gibsonlook yet again for an exciting launch of elevated classics just in time for International Women’s Day. You may remember this same collaboration last year. Well, we are back with styles that you all love in some fresh new colors.

Before I jump in and tell you alllll about the collection … meet the girls!

… and of course … ME!

What I love about this collection is that it takes classic styles and adds a touch of CHIC! I love my wrap dress. The colors are bright and fun; perfect for the upcoming spring season. I know that you all will love it.

Here’s the run down of the rest of the collection:

There is so much to love with this launch! I cannot wait to dive a little deeper with you in upcoming posts!

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Beauty
February 25, 2021

The Secret To Great Hair (w/Pantene)

This post was written in partnership with Pantene!

I am back again with a new Pantene product that I am loving. If youโ€™ve followed my blog over the years, then you know my love for Pantene runs deep!ย 

On my last Target run, I picked up the Pantene Nutrients Blends Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment collection. You may have seen in my last Instagram post that I switched up my hair (hello, long locks!), so I of course want to make sure Iโ€™ve got the best products in my arsenal to keep it looking hydrated and healthy.ย 

One thing I noticed after reading up on the Nutrients Blends collection is that it is filled with all the good stuff my hair needs and nothing that it doesnโ€™t. No sulfate, fragrance, silicone, paraben, or dye sounds good to me!ย 

Shop this collection via LTK or the shoppable image below!ย 

Thanks for reading! XO – Steph

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Style
February 23, 2021

New Free Assembly Collection

Today I rounded up a few must shop items from the new Free Assembly collection at Walmart! I love how easy going and approachable this line is. Think elevated essentials that are super affordable.

I work in operations for work and sometimes I need to dress comfortable enough to get a lot of work done but also keep it really chic. Iโ€™ve found myself gravitating towards Free Assembly more and more.

Shop my picks below!

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Motherhood
February 5, 2021

Zoe + Mommy 3 Month Update

And just like that … 3 months flies by and I have a 3 month old baby. Wow! Even though we’ve been down this road before, the speed with which time flies will never not blow my mind.

It has been such a wild, yet fun journey watching Zoe grow these last several weeks. I still vividly remember our days on the couch when she was just a few days old; we’d fall asleep there every night out of pure exhaustion. 3 months later, she is getting acclimated to her new bed, in her own room, and doing so well.

Today on the blog I’m sharing a quick Zoe + mama update, plus linking all the baby products that we have used and loved over the last several weeks.

3 Months Postpartum

I’ll be honest, I had almost forgotten about that adjustment period after baby. The one when you almost feel like you are having an out of body experience because change is happening so fast and you can barely wrap your mind around it all because you are so, so tired. But 3 months later, here I am, feeling more like myself than I have in a long time. You can read my 3 Week Postpartum update here. A lot has changed since then.

Physically I feel great (when I get enough sleep). I have started exercising, but I’m doing it very slowly. I don’t completely feel up to it just yet to be back at it full force. But I do love my workouts that I do online! Beachbody On Demand is the program I decided to go with because I love several of the workouts on there, and I can do them at home if I don’t make it to the gym.

I got on birth control after 6 weeks and went with the Mirena IUD. My doctor recommended it and I have had this same IUD in the past. So far there haven’t been any complications!

Once I got past those first few weeks of “survival mode” with a newborn, I found that I was able to get into more of a daily routine. I linked my most used items at 3 months postpartum below!

Zoe’s 3 Month Update

Without a doubt, Zoe is the one that has had the biggest transformation these last 3 months. I am so proud of the little human she is becoming.

Feeding

You might remember from my previous updates that we were exclusively bottle feeding – I would pump and she would drink from the bottle. Around 2 months, she went through a growth spurt and we switched to exclusively breastfeeding. She was eating significantly more (we jumped from 3-4 oz per feeding to 6 oz), so I had to adjust to her needs. She now prefers this over anything and no longer has any interest in a pacifier. She acts so appalled when I try to offer it to her … real nipples only mom LOL!

We typically supplement with formula (Enfamil NeuroPro) if we are out and about and I haven’t had a chance to pump or if she’s still acting hungry after we nurse at nighttime. She hasn’t had any issues switching back and forth between the two. I have noticed that if she wants to nurse, she will NOT take a bottle. Even if it is expressed breastmilk. So that can be challenging at times if I need a break. Sometimes I’m the only person she wants to get milk from. I love our little bond though and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ll keep you posted on the transition into school for her, this is probably my biggest worry for her. Sis is stubborn but my friend made a good point … she won’t starve herself (we hope).

Sleeping

Figuring out her sleep schedule and preferences has been our greatest challenge. We used and loved the 4Moms Bassinet for awhile.

Quick 4Moms Bassinet Review:

It is spacious, has several modes, fairly quiet (though some of the transitions between settings are not as smooth as I would like), and it has an add on basket underneath that was a lifesaver for us in the early days. The mattress in the bassinet is not as comfortable as I would have hoped. Firm/hard is what is safe for babies, so I always felt Zoe was safe, but I did feel like Zoe struggled to get comfortable once she got older and had slept on our bed or other surfaces for nap time.

Back to Sleeping …

After about a month of life, Zoe decided that she didn’t love the bassinet anymore and she was sleeping with us in our bed. This of course is a big no-no – I know! I talked with my pediatrician for advice, because for awhile it seemed she would not sleep without being held. It finally dawned on me that I had the bassinet from her Nuna stroller that could be used for safe sleeping. We tried that and it worked for a few weeks! She slept in there and did so well!

Zoe is very long and she also loves to move around A LOT when she is sleeping, so our Nuna bassinet soon became too crowded for her. We made the decision a couple weeks ago to make the transition upstairs to her room. It was a big adjustment, but she has slowly started to sleep longer and more frequently in her bed. We napped in there first to get her used to the room. And then we did a short stretch at night in the bed until she woke up for a feeding and by the time it was time for her to stay upstairs all night, she did really well. I’m proud of her because I was very nervous! We ordered this baby monitor and it gives me peace of mind since I can check in on her whenever I need to without having to run upstairs.

Milestones

If you follow us on Instagram, then you know Zoe has the biggest, cutest gummy smile that melts my heart! I can’t get enough! Seeing her smile when she sees her family is the best thing ever. She also has started to scoot and can roll over from tummy to back. The scooting is a bit premature for my taste, but do what you do girlfriend! She can inch her way across pretty much any surface to get to what she needs. I stopped letting her sleep on her tummy in her crib because she would scoot from one end of the bed to the other and then get to the end and be irritated that she couldn’t go any further! Swaddled on her back is not what she likes, but there’s a lot less commotion upstairs when she sleeps that way LOL.

Carseat/Stroller Gear

We have 2 carseats and 1 stroller for Zoe. My husband and I both have one in our cars. I have the Doona and love it! My husband has the Clek Liingo Baseless Carseat and he loves it! We use the Nuna Mixx Next Stroller for walks around the neighborhood or if we’re going on an outing. A few notes about each of these products:

Clek Liingo

This is my husband’s car seat! We chose this brand for the awesome safety features and the fact that it is a baseless seat. Straight from the source:

Liingo is engineered with the LATCH connectors directly onto the car seat carrier, eliminating the need for the car seat base. 

It is extremely lightweight (only 9lbs) and has several features that allow for seamless transitions throughout our busy life – from car to stroller to dinner … etc. We really like it.

Doona Car seat + Stroller

This is the car seat that I keep in my car and the ingenuity of this product truly blows my mind. One of the things I hated when my boys were younger was carrying around a car seat. Honestly, it’s the luxury of being able to quickly convert the Doona into a stroller for me. Love it!

Life has gotten so much sweeter with Zoe joining our family. We are extremely sleepy, but our hearts are full! Here’s a few links to all of the things that Zoe is using and loving on a daily/weekly basis:

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Wealth
February 3, 2021

5 Tips To Get Out Of Debt Fast

5 Quick Tips To Get Out Of Debt

We’ve talked a bit about debt in my previous Wednesday Wealth Chats and in a nutshell, it is the thing that is holding you back from financial freedom and true wealth. There is something extremely liberating about not owing anyone any money. No monthly payments. No interest fees. No late fees. Just pure living and thriving. Today on the blog I am sharing 5 things that I did to help me get out of debt in hopes that it will help you also.

Create A Budget And Stick To It

You can read about how to create a budget in this post. Your budget is a roadmap of your finances. It tells you how much money you make and how much you can afford to spend. I’ve realized over the years that debt occurs when I try to overextend myself or buy something that I cannot afford. Create a budget and stick to it. It definitely isn’t easy, but it is rewarding.

Commit To Saving Money Monthly

Even if it’s just $100 to get you started, save money every month. When those unexpected expenses come about, or when emergencies happen, it’s important to have a rainy day fund. This was a huge adjustment for me in the beginning. If I had money left over after bills, I was always tempted to go buy something, but I’ve shifted my mindset to saving and it has saved me from falling into the debt trap when emergencies pop up.

If You Don’t Need It, Sell It

You’d be amazed at how much money you can make by selling things around the house that you either don’t need, shouldn’t have bought in the first place or that no longer serves you. I still find myself putting things on Facebook Marketplace to sell things that I don’t need. I made $700 one weekend just cleaning out my office. This one is a bit uncomfortable and if you are in a tough spot, it can also be very humbling. But think about what your financial goals are, set your pride aside and start bringing in some cash to pay off debt.

Pay More Than The Minimum Payment

The key with this point is to remember that interest is not your friend, especially when it comes to monthly payments. It takes away from the amount of money that you are putting on your monthly principal. Anytime I have paid off a debt fast, I paid significantly more than the monthly payment. Think bonuses at work, cash gifts, etc. – rather than treating yourself to something new, put that extra money on debt. Yes, I know, it is not how you want to spend the money, but the sooner you get out of debt, the sooner you’ll be free to spend your money on whatever you want – Interest free. Debt free. The eye opening moment for me was when I reviewed my amortization schedule for one of our previous homes. I had never really paid attention to it before, but when I finally took a look, I realized that our monthly payments were mainly going to interest. Which sparked a fire in me to get out of that debt cycle because our society is built for you to stay in it if you don’t take actionable steps to free yourself.

Create A Plan To Repay All Debts

Write it down. Post it everywhere. Set reminders. Plan a big celebration once you achieve your targets. Having a clear plan, with your timelines laid out, will help you stay on course and remain focused when paying off debt. We have an Excel spreadsheet that has all of our goals, the ideal timeframe of when we would pay off the debt and what our net worth + monthly cash flow will look like once we do pay it off. It is extremely motivating to have that spelled out for us. We know what we want to accomplish so every time we marked off a debt, it inspired us to keep grinding for the next goal. I have Q1 targets that I am trying to reach through the blog to help pay off one of our rental properties and in doing so, it will open up the door for larger investments that we have our eye on.

Looking Ahead

What’s your payoff plan? What will your monthly cash flow look like once you accomplish that goal? Write all these things out! It will help you stay on track and motivate you to keep going.

I love chatting about wealth and sharing a bit about what we are doing as a family to build our finances in a way that will allow us to live however we want in the coming years. Our approach is slow and steady. We live very modestly on purpose. But the pay off is great. I hope you guys are loving these posts!

Until next week …

XO – Steph

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Beauty
February 1, 2021

4 Must Try Beauty Products – January Roundup

It’s hard to believe the first month of 2021 has come and gone! This year I have committed to trying new beauty products every month. At the beginning of each new month, I’ll share what I loved, what I could live without and a review of each product! This month was a mix of skincare, makeup and fragrance. I am admittedly a creature of habit, so working new products into my routine was not easy, but I’m glad that I went for it. Let’s get in to it!

Must Try Beauty Products: Skincare

URBANSKIN RX Cleansing Bar

I received a beauty box from the URBANSKIN RX team and have been using the cleansing bar. The product is very gentle, but I love the tingling feeling that it has on my skin when I leave it on for a few minutes in the shower. I can definitely feel how clean and fresh my skin feels after using it. I personally have the Even Tone bar, however, I noticed while grabbing links that there is also Clear Skin bar. I will keep you posted on what results I see from the Even Tone bar – I didn’t feel any noticeable changes after using for 20+ days. The product is designed for melanin skin tones, which I loved because I am of course a woman with dark skin. This is a brand that I would be excited to try more products from to see how well it works on my skin. Adding that to my list for next month!

Must Try Beauty Products: Makeup

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Primer & Highlighter

This was a swipe up purchase while watching Instagram Stories one night. I saw Sarah Knuth share it, and I instantly became curious about how well it would work on my skin. All I can say is WOW. I love the glowy, dewy finish it gives my skin. There is a broad range of shades to choose from; I purchased shade 6.5 Dark Tan. I love to wear it with concealer and a little bronzer plus highlight for additional contouring.

Benefit Cosmetics Pore Minimizer

I am a firm believer in setting spray! So when I saw Benefit Cosmetics had a deal going at HSN for their POREfessional Super Setter Spray + Pore Minimizing Primer, I went for it. Anything that can help minimize the appearance of my pores is a must have for me! I’ve used Benefit products in the past, so I know how well they work and felt confident that I’d really like both products. The setting spray does a nice job of keeping my makeup in place and is extremely comparable to some of my favorite setting sprays by other brands. The only call out would be that I didn’t feel it was necessarily mattifying, which is not a deal breaker for me. The primer has a very smooth, buttery feel to it. If you’ve used and loved Peter Thomas Roth’s Skin To Die For primer, then you will LOVE this one too. The primer does an excellent job of mattifying my face without drying me out and covers my pores so well. Definitely recommend!

This duo is at a great price point right now on HSN – $32 for both products, a $45 value.

Must Try Beauty Products: Fragrance

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris L’eau ร€ย la Rose

If you love floral scents, you will love this fragrance. The beauty of it is that it is not over powering or too strong – very light and airy. According to the description online, one spray reflects a bouquet of 400 newly bloomed roses. I do not wear fragrance often, but I’ve found myself reaching for this one more and more. I will definitely try more from the brand. I have my eye on Baccarat Rouge 540 next!

Let me know if you have a chance to try any of my January favorites! I’ll be giving away some of these products to my newsletter subscribers, so make sure you are subscribed to never miss a post! You can find additional beauty posts here!

XO – Steph

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Style
January 25, 2021

10 Best Jeans For Every Body Type

I used to have a love/hate relationship with jeans. They were kind of like swimsuits … if things aren’t looking and feeling right, I dread trying them on. But over the years, I have found the best jeans (for every body type) that are now my go-tos. Here’s a quick round-up of my personal favorites! The best part? They are all under $100 and many are currently on sale. Let’s get to it!

10 Best Jeans for Every Body Type (Under $100)

1. Abercrombie Curve Love Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight
2. Abercrombie Curve Love Ultra High Rise Skinny
3. Levi Wedgie High Waist Straight Leg
4. Levi’s Mile High Super Skinny
5. Good American Good Waist Crop Raw Edge Skinny
best jeans for women, best jeans for body type
6. Express Super High Waisted Slim Jeans
7. Express Super High Waisted Ripped Slim Jeans
8. Amazon Super Wide Leg Flare Jeans
9. Old Navy High Waisted O.G. Ankle Straight
10. Old Navy High Waisted O.G. Ripped

Many of the brands I included are size inclusive! Have you tried any of them? I recently ordered the Good American jeans because everyone I talk to says they are a “must buy.” The Abercrombie jeans are probably my most worn jeans (wearing them in this post).

I hope you enjoyed this roundup! I love a great pair of jeans, especially when they fit well. You can shop any of my picks by clicking on the images above, heading to my shop page or via the liketoknow.it app!

Thanks for reading!

XO – Steph

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Wealth
January 21, 2021

How To Normalize Luxury Without Going Broke

Every where I turn lately there seems to be a discussion about normalizing luxury in our lives, especially among women and even greater among women of color. While I fully support this, I did want to dive into how to normalize luxury without going completely broke in the process.

Enjoying luxuries in life is the reward for the hard work that goes into our day to day hustle. It can feel not only necessary, but at times also well deserved. Normalizing luxury means different things for different people – buying an expensive car, building a dream home, purchasing a designer handbag, going on an extravagant vacation, splurging on skincare or spa treatments, enjoying an incredible meal … it comes in many forms. But how do you “treat yo self” without breaking yourself in the process? Let’s discuss.

normalize luxury
How To Normalize Luxury … Without Going Broke
  • Plan your spending/splurge in advance
    • Unless you have an unlimited supply of money, you are likely working within a set budget for yourself and/or family. And while there are definitely times when a spur of the moment splurge can happen, planning in advance allows you to properly plan your spending and evaluate what you can afford vs. what you really want so you try to justify that you can afford it. (Can you tell I’ve been down this road a few times?)
  • Ask yourself, honestly, can I afford this?
    • Meaning, do I need to buy this on a credit card and make payments or can I afford this now? Relying on credit/debt to afford your lifestyle is not luxurious. It is irresponsible and extremely costly. I totally understand credit card points and rewards, and if you can pay off your card monthly or after each purchase, that’s a different ball game. I’m talking about the “I really really want this but I don’t have the money in my checking account so I’m just going to use my credit card and pay it off.” I’ll tell you what happens, every time … you need to make a payment, something else comes up (because … LIFE) and then you either get behind on payments or you make the payment but are short on cash for the month. Then you probably end up using the credit card again to get by. (Can you tell I’ve been there before?!) Ah! It’s such a vicious cycle! And during all of this, you’re likely accruing interest!
  • Ask yourself, why do I want this?
    • If it’s because you’re a badass, you work hard, saved your money and you not only deserve it but you really want it … fine. If it’s because you’re trying to keep up appearances and look like you have more money than you actually do … pause. Keeping up appearances is dangerous. It looks amazing on the outside, but is financially crippling on the inside. I’ve had to stop myself from buying a number of things over the years. It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment. Especially when you can watch someone’s Instagram stories and literally swipe up right then and there.
  • Check your investments
    • Investing in yourself, treating yourself and celebrating success is so important. But what is even more important is setting up your financial future. So check your investments. If all of your investments are meals, handbags, etc., maybe start thinking long term and see how you can invest your money better to start creating more passive income for yourself. Your money will go a lot further if it generates income for you. A couple things we invest in:
      • Real estate – every time a tenant pays their rent, we get paid.
      • Stock Market
normalize luxury

Moral of the story: Normalize luxury in your life … YES! Go broke trying to do so … NO ma’am! These are 4 easy action items that can really help shift your mindset when it comes to spending money. I am all for enjoying little luxuries in life, but something I’ve learned over the years is that it is far more enjoyable when I can actually afford it. What are your thoughts on the normalize luxury movement?

Thank you so much for reading today’s post. I look forward to continuing these wealth conversations each week. Love you guys!

P.S. my top is from a fabulous black-owned boutique! It is linked here.

XO – Steph

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Beauty
January 15, 2021

3 Beauty Sleep Essentials

Let’s talk beauty sleep. Is it really a thing and are you getting any? First things first… YES! Beauty sleep is absolutely a thing. Today on the blog, I am sharing 3 essentials that you need to have the best sleep of your life and the best skin.

3 Beauty Sleep Essentials
1. Get a Good Nights Rest

Sounds pretty basic right? But did you know that when you do not get the proper amount of sleep it’s more than your body that feels and looks tired. It seeps into your skin, under your eyes and into your pores. Sleeping 7 to 9 hours a night allows your skin the opportunity to produce new collagen and repair itself. I did some research on this topic prior to diving in and also found that sleep deprivation causes a decrease in blood flow to this skin surrounding your face, as our bodies boost blood flow to the skin while we sleep. Goodbye gorgeous glow, and hello dull skin. We don’t want now do we? Go to sleep!

2. Sleep On Your Back

When you think about the friction your face encounters while sleeping on your stomach, it is no wonder that sleeping on your back is essential for beauty sleep. It helps reduce wrinkles and maintains the youthful appearance of your skin. It also keeps those creams and serums we spend so much money on, more on your face and less on the pillowcase. While sleeping on your back certainly isn’t for everyone, here are a few pillows that might make it a bit more comfortable for you.

Beauty Sleep Pillows Under $100

3. Wash Your Face + Stay Hydrated

Great beauty sleep starts with great skincare. Every night before bed, wash your face and keep yourself hydrated. Washing your face thoroughly cleanses your pores and removes dirt + dead skin to allow your skin to rejuvenate itself while you sleep. While I do occasionally end the day with a makeup wipe if I am really tired, nothing can replace a good face wash. I have linked some great face washes to consider when building your skincare regimen.

Great Cleansers Under $100

These 3 basic steps are the start to impeccable skin. I can’t wait to dig a little deeper into my current skincare routine in an upcoming post, however, here’s a glimpse into my foundational steps to ensuring that I’m setting my skin up for success each day.

Thank you so much for reading! Be sure to subscribe and you’ll never miss a post. You can also swing by the BEAUTY page for more beauty posts! I am so excited for the start of a new year. Let me know if there is anything more you’d like to see on the blog.

XO – Steph

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I'm Stephanie

Welcome to stephtaylorjackson.com, your ultimate lifestyle destination for fashion, beauty, travel and #momlife. I am a Dallas girl, now living in Florida and every week on the blog I share content that inspires and educates women across the world. My mission is to give all readers a weekly guide on how to live your best life, IN STYLE. Take a look around, we're so glad you are here!

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