Emily Ley

Joy, Simplicity and What Matters Most

Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 59

photo via @whitv

Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week:

  1. Kendra Scott’s Nail Lacquer: We just love these gem inspired nail lacquers. The rose quartz is the perfect shade of light pink.
  2. J.Crew’s Denim: J. Crew is having a sale on denim today (and it ships for free!), including their toothpick jeans that we all know and love. Hurry and grab a pair before they go back to full price!
  3. Simplified Planner Launch Day: New Academic Simplified Planners launch May 17th at 10am EST! We couldn’t be more excited about how these have turned out. Don’t miss out! (You can still get your 2017 Simplified Planners here! But hurry, they’re going fast!)
  4. Sail to Sable Dress: The cutest spring dress, and it’s currently on sale! We love the simple + classic look of this dress.
  5. Skillet Creamy Lemon Rosemary Chicken: This recipe looks so simple and delicious. We can’t wait to try it!
  6. Sam Edelman ‘Penny’ Boot: Our favorite Penny boots are on sale this week. These boots are so well made and super comfy, too.
  7. Teak & Twine: Don’t have time to put a gift basket together for your friend who just had a baby, or your sister who just got a promotion? These are the cutest gift baskets to send to a friend when you’re in need of a special gift!
  8. Gold Dot Mini Notebook: Our mini notebooks feature a thick paper cover with gold foil details. Plus, they fit right inside the cover of our Simplified Planner!
  9. Gold Stud Earrings: Simple, classic, and versatile. Some of our very favorite earrings (and they’re on sale)!
  10. Our February Playlist: This month’s playlist is so good. Don’t forget to listen along with us!

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Coffee Break: Make a Skin Care Checklist

Do you have a drawer of skin-care stuff (creams, moisturizers, serums, tools, etc)? You know you do. I used to. Maybe you purchased each one (and I bet some were expensive) with high hopes of turning your fine lines, blemishes, or uneven skin tone around. And you’re probably not using any of them anymore, right? Do you look in that drawer and just see wasted dollar bills? Ugh. I know the feeling. For years I did the same thing. And then I realized that there was still a bunch of hope left in that drawer. I got rid of the products that didn’t feel or smell right (or fit my needs anymore) and kept the ones I still had a lot of hope in (most of mine are Rodan + Fields). And I decided to invest my time in them. Often we purchase beauty products hoping for quick fixes – only to find ourselves disappointed because they don’t work after one or two uses.

But the reality is, most beauty products (especially when it comes to skin care) require habitual use – over and over and over again for longterm success and results. So how did I find my absolute favorite skincare products? I committed to using them every day (sometimes twice a day) for three months. 90 days is a long time and typically long enough to see if something is really worth it. I’m not the best at remembering things (in fact, now that I have three small children, my brain just plain doesn’t remember anything). I have to write everything down. So, I wrote my beauty routine down and taped it to my bathroom mirror. And, as silly as that sounds, it works!

I know, I know it sounds like a lot. But I keep all this in one drawer and each routine takes maybe four minutes. And that’s only because the cleansing mask needs to sit a few minutes. I’ve also made it a goal to drink more water, as I know this’ll help my skin. I keep track of my water intake on an app that sends me reminders throughout the day (the MyWater app). Again, I can’t remember anything – including drinking water – so I love the reminder function. That’s it! Write down your beauty routine and invest your time in products to see if they actually work for you. Nothing in life is a quick fix. Literally. Toss all those extra / old / outdated / unwanted products out and keep only what you absolutely love or are trying. Hop over to IG and FB – I’d love to hear what ONE beauty product is your ABSOLUTE favorite – I may give it a try!

xo,

Emily

PS: This isn’t a sponsored post, I just really really love R+F and Beautycounter. They’ve both worked well for me. If you are interested in any of the R+F products above, my dear friend Leah sells them here and my friend Madison sells Beautycounter here.

Simplified Style: Go-To Beauty Products

With so many products out there on the market, it’s hard to narrow down which products you need (and will actually make a difference in your appearance!) and which ones will just add more time to your morning routine. Keeping it simple and not re-inventing the wheel every morning is key, especially when you’re pressed for time or have little ones running around. Find a couple of products that work for you, and stick with them! Today our team is answering the question, “What one beauty product can you not live without?” Here are our favorites:

“My go-to is MAC’s Pro Longwear Blush in Whole Lotta Love. It’s the perfect shade of bright pink :)” – Emily, Creative Director

“Mascara! My eyelashes are SO light (I joke that they’re clear!), it’s the one thing I am sure to put on every day!” – Brittany, Director of Sales and Operations

“Under eye concealer! I love Bobbi Brown’s corrector + concealer kit. It hides my naturally dark circles and tired mama eyes.” – Gina, Director of Marketing 

“The ENTIRE Herbivore Botanicals line has changed the game for my skin, and it’s totally natural! I think the one product I couldn’t go without would be their Bamboo Charcoal Bar Soap since I use it multiple times a day.” – Whitney, Senior Designer

“Mascara! I look tired, and usually get the, ‘are you feeling okay’ from people if I’m not wearing any.” – Dusty, Project Manager

“I recently discovered Pixi’s Glow Tonic, and it is incredible! It’s one of the only beauty products that I can’t go without (Morrocanoil Hair Treatment is a close second!).” – Hannah, Director of Content and Brand Partnerships 

 

 

Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 58

Happy Friday! Here are 10 things that brought us a little bit of joy this week:

  1. Luxe De Mer: Organic skincare products with no harsh chemicals or hidden ingredients. Feel good about what you’re putting on your skin!
  2. Reversible Tote: Simple style at an affordable price. This tote is incredibly versatile and can double as a diaper bag or carry on. At just under $32 with free shipping, you really can’t go wrong (it even comes with a cute wristlet!).
  3. Simplified Planner: Our 2017 Simplified Planners are going FAST and will not be restocked once they’re gone! Hurry and grab yours before it’s too late (Fancy Floral quantities are very limited!).
  4. Chambray Dress: We love the classic look of this dress. The perfect transition piece for heading into spring.
  5. Southwestern Breakfast Casserole: Cooking up a Sunday brunch this weekend? This recipe looks so yummy (and easy!).
  6. Sunday Sales: Our Sunday Sales on Instagram are back! Join us every Sunday at 9:00pm EST and shop our exclusive sale directly from Instagram. You’ll receive an invoice within 24 hours to purchase. No websites to navigate or extra checkout steps.
  7. Back Tie Booties: We recently purchased these after seeing a Facebook ad, and they are so. cute. And comfy! If you’re hesitant to try the bootie trend, you can’t go wrong with these.
  8. Coffee Break: Remember those coffee break emails from Emily that went out every Monday? Well, they’re back, and now they’re on the blog! Take a little break from your day, grab a hot cup of coffee, and hop on over here every Wednesday for a little note of encouragement to help get you through your week.
  9. This Article from an Overwhelmed Mom: Feeling a little overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain tired? This article is a great reminder that you’re not alone. You’ve got this, mama.
  10. Our Spotify Playlist: These songs have been on repeat all month long. Listen along with us!