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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Recent Cruelty-Free Beauty Empties, Vol. 14

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these limks at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise.

It’s time for another round of my cruelty-free beauty empties! I am sharing makeup/beauty-related products I’ve used up entirely and my thoughts on them. I like to do these posts regularly to share my hits and misses when it comes to beauty, self-care and makeup. Spoiler: I liked most of the products this round.

Jojoba oil: I have been using this on my face, neck and stomach lately and I liked it more than using lotion or creams. It’s a lot more affordable, too. You can also add a couple drops to your moisturizer.

It Cosmetics Secret Sauce: I received a small size as part of a gift set for Christmas. I liked that this was not too heavy or greasy and it left my face feeling moisturized and soft. I am not sure I would purchase it again, though. Time will tell!

Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus Shower Steamer*: This was part of my birthday gift during a stop to get candles, and Graham suggested I try it out. I don’t think it’s worth the nearly $6. It is nice for the shower to smell like eucalyptus, but I expected more steam — or something. The fragrance wasn’t as intense as I thought it would be, and it didn’t last that long. I would not buy this again. *This is not cruelty-free.

Flower Beauty Light Illusion Liquid Foundation: I bought this on a whim because I was looking for the LA Girl foundation and couldn’t find it. The packaging drew me in. At first I didn’t enjoy the glowiness on my face but after a while I came to like it. This is a foundation with about medium, buildable coverage for me and I would buy again.


Not Your Mother’s Naturals Blue Sea Kale & Coconut Water Butter Masque: I confess that I thought I was trying a new face mask when I purchased this. I discovered it was a hair mask, though, which I was not mad about. It left my hair so smooth, shiny and healthy-feeling. I would buy this again to give my hair a pick-me-up every once in a while.

Thayers Natural Remedies Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner: This is the only toner I use and the rose petal scent is the best one! I have also liked the lavender toner. It’s gentle and cruelty-free.

Note: If your goal is to be cruelty-free it’s important to do your own research to figure out which brands don’t test on animals. I was under the impression that certain brands were cruelty-free in the past but that wasn’t the case.

What beauty products are you currently loving?

Shop my empties**:

Related posts:

Cruelty-free empties, Vol. 13.
RECENT EMPTIES, VOL. 12
RECENT EMPTIES, VOL. 11
RECENT EMPTIES, VOL. 10

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Recent Baby Favorites

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

I recently shared some of my favorite products of the moment, and that reminded me of the other, baby-specific items that how worked out well for us so far. I’ve already shared toddler favorites in the past, so this focuses more on buys for babies under 12 months. Let me know your recent favorites in the comments!

First 100 Words book: I like pointing at things in this book to teach her new words. The colors draw her in and she seems to like looking at it. I plan to get other versions of this board book.

Ocean animals bath mat: Addi outgrew her bathtub long ago and she would not sit still in it anyway, so I did away with it and just put her in the tub with this nonslip bath mat. It has ocean animals on it; it’s so cute! It’s not that big, though. V, who is 4 years old, uses this bath mat as well.

Silicone placemat: This EZPZ placemat and plate in one was a recommendation from a fellow blogger. I like the size of the Mini Mat version, which fits perfectly on Addi’s high chair. It has three compartments for food, suctions onto flat surfaces, and washes easily in the dishwasher. What makes this brand unique is that the mats are BPA, BPS, PVC and phthalate free. The placemats are also hypo-allergenic. (The products are available at multiple retailers and the brand’s own website as well.) We bought the coral placemat.

Floral jungle animal walker: I never planned to buy a walker because I had heard that they don’t really help children learn to walk, but we found that she wanted to follow us around faster than she could while crawling. She is much happier now that she can walk around the house with us and be part of the action. She is also taking a couple steps now and standing a lot on her own for several seconds, so I feel like she is on track for learning how to walk. We didn’t buy an expensive walker since she will only use it for a short time.

Sit to stand learning walker: We bought this months ago when I thought we wouldn’t get a regular walker. This serves a dual purpose because even before she could stand she would play with panel on the front, but now she can push it too. It comes in pink and multicolor options. She has always enjoyed the music and the little mechanical elements on the front panel. (By the way, the front section comes off so she can continue to play with this toy after she learns to walk, too.)

What are you (or your kiddos) loving right now?

Product images above via Amazon

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Tips for Road Trips With Kids
Review of Nested Bean Sleep Sack

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Postpartum Workouts: Week 1 Recap

Welcome to a new fitness series! I joined a gym last week so that I could restart my fitness journey. Yes, I have worked out since having a baby, but it hasn’t been consistent. I want to change that, so I’m sharing recaps of my workouts as I try to get back into my fitness routine. I’m recapping this both to inspire others to start, even if it’s slowly, and to hold myself accountable. If anyone reading this is also trying to meet a fitness goal, I’d love to be virtual workout buddies. Share your goals in the comments!

Week 1 Workout Recap:

Note: You will notice my workouts were not intense or long on my first week. That’s because I know my body and I am not in the best shape. I want to show how even just a short workout can help in the long run.

Monday-Tuesday: No workout. It was New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We signed up for the gym membership on NYE and then went to the gym to tour it and grab our passes on the first.

Wednesday: .5 mile run and 15 minutes on the stairmaster. I then did 15 minutes of light yoga and bicycle crunches. (I was sore for three days from this.)

Thursday-Friday: No workout.

Saturday: .25 mile walk on the treadmill to warm up, followed by a 1-mile run. We then did about 15 minutes of yoga and bicycle crunches.

Sunday: Yoga Sculpt class at a studio. This class combines yoga with using free weights and strength training exercises like squats and lunges. It also includes a section on working the core. I estimate we did about 150 lunges holding weights and at a fast tempo. I had to take several water breaks. The instructor was like a drill sergeant, but I appreciate the intense workout.

Reflections and tips:

  • Don’t worry about starting slow or taking it easy. Yes, you want to get a good workout in, but you also don’t want to hurt yourself. Stretching is important, as is drinking enough water and allowing your body time to recover.
  • Mix up the workout to keep yourself engaged. I have always enjoyed a mix of yoga, running, and strength training.
  • Don’t worry about what others think. There will always be people who are annoyed at the newbies. Focus on yourself and ask for help when you don’t know how to use machines. Many gyms offer a free training session when you first join, and the trainer can help with the machines.
  • You don’t need the fanciest shoes, workout clothes or gear, at least not to get started.

Note: I am not a fitness trainer. These are just tips that I follow and that work for me. For the best fitness advice consult a professional.

Shop for my yoga towel and yoga mat**:

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise.

Ways to Beat the Sunday Scaries

Raise your hand if you suffer from the Sunday Scaries. Are you waving your hand as you read this? Lately the Sunday Scaries have hit me hard, probably because all I want to do is hang out and relax with my family over the holiday season instead of working during one of the busiest times of the year at my editing job. I’ve been thinking about ways to beat those worries on the weekend and I’ve come up some ideas to help myself and others reset and recharge for the new week. Let’s go into Monday with motivation and excitement rather than dread, shall we?

Ways to beat the Sunday Scaries:

  • Change your perception. You are never really done with your to-do list, so why worry excessively about it? There will always be more work to do. But you can’t get back time you’ve spent worrying or ignoring your basic needs. Worry about tomorrow robs today of its joy.
  • Spend part of the day or the whole day with nothing planned. Give yourself a break, if you can. I try to limit myself to only one set of plans per weekend. Doing something each day of the weekend only makes me feel more exhausted come Sunday night vs. well rested.
  • Do something that brings you joy. Ideas: Painting, yoga, running, walking around a garden, watching a movie, etc.
  • Make fun plans for Monday. Examples: Set up dinner or happy hour plans with a friend or treat yourself to your favorite dessert. Make time to do something you love on Monday after work to give yourself something to look forward to.
  • Laugh. Watch a funny movie or TV show.
  • Use a journal or planner to jot down a “brain dump” of thoughts, goals and to-dos for the week. Do this on a weekend so that you go into the week with a plan and it doesn’t seem so intimidating. I create a to-do list, but I limit what I designate for each day. I never want to overwhelm myself. I try to stick to just one errand per day, if possible. For blogging, for example, I will schedule time to start a blog post, and then finish that post on another day. I try to take photos for posts all at once so I’m not trying to squeeze in shooting and editing in one day.
  • Perform a self-care task like getting a massage, repainting your nails, taking a long bath, etc. Also make sure you are drinking enough water and eating well.
  • Stay off social media. Stop comparing what you are doing with what you are seeing on your Instagram feed.
  • Spend time with people you love and who will uplift you.
  • Make time for church, meditation or self-reflection.
  • If it’s job dissatisfaction that is causing your Sunday Scaries, make a plan to change your situation. Research education, other jobs, mentors or other ways to improve your career satisfaction.

Do you ever feel the Sunday Scaries? What do you do about them?

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How to Improve Your Confidence

Third Trimester Update and Favorites

Third Trimester Pregnancy Update and Favorites

It’s getting real, folks. I am currently 34 weeks pregnant with a fast-approaching due date. Today I wanted to share my third trimester pregancy update and favorite products, which are items I am loving because they are making me more comfortable as our baby girl’s birth nears.

My most persistent symptom this trimester has been heartburn. I cut back on cheese and citrusy and spicy foods to try to alleviate it as much as possible. I’ve had mixed success with that. I use heartburn chews and my sister-in-law sent me some heartburn tea, which helps for the most part!

The hormones have made me even more emotional than I already am, which hasn’t been easy to deal with. I am extremely sensitive to the things people say and my reactions can sometimes be heightened. I think everything’s going to be OK, though!

I’ve also had some physical pain. I feel a pulling in my hip area that has not gone away. I thought yoga would help, but I am also afraid of overstretching so I tend to be super careful in many poses. I stopped running completely because I believe it makes the pulling sensation worse, but I have been able to use the elliptical and do such exercises as squats. I also was able to hike in Phoenix, Hawaii and San Francisco while I was there, so I’m grateful for that. As probably every pregnant woman will say, I also have back pain. My belly has expanded exponentially in just the last two or three weeks. I have a small, short frame, so really it makes sense that the baby has nowhere to grow but outward!

I feel our baby girl moving constantly, and I love every second of it. It’s just so special! I’ve definitely felt the nesting instinct lately, too: I have been nonstop decluttering and cleaning since February. I just could not wait any longer. As far as baby prep, we have everything we will need when she arrives. Because we don’t know when we will be moving, we are holding off on such items as a crib.  Luckily our friends and family have been generous enough to gift us pretty much all of the essentials and a ton of baby clothes and items. (I will be sharing the remaining items on my baby wish list soon in a post!) I’m super eager to pack my hospital bag because I like to be prepared AHEAD of time, but I’ll wait a week or two longer.

My third trimester favorites are those items that help me make more comfortable and happy in general. While every pregnancy is different, I’m convinced these items would be appreciated by any pregnant woman.

Third Trimester Pregnancy Favorites:

  • Bio Oil: I read about this in January in a blogger’s pregnancy update and immediately purchased it. It smells amazing! The bottle says it must be used for at least three months, so I won’t know how well it works until later on, but I feel like it keeps my skin soft and I haven’t developed any new marks.
  • Baths: I love my daily baths, whether using bath bombs or just foaming bath. It helps me relax and soothes my sore muscles. Baths have become a part of my nighttime routine after V’s bedtime story. I take the time to listen to an Audible book or music or watch a YouTube video (usually on hospital bags! haha).
  • Slippers: I wear them all the time. Who wants to wear real shoes?
  • Prenatal massage: Why did I wait so long to get one? Oh yeah, I don’t like to spend money! Graham booked one for me and it was much needed and appreciated. I would love to book another before baby as well. I’m also still loving our neck and shoulder massager.
  • Boppy/Pillows in general: I use them on my back, to support my belly, between my legs, you name it. I would love to spend all day cozied up in pillows. As I write this I have about five pillows behind my back.
  • Belly bands: They make a huge difference at the end of the day. On days I don’t wear them I can hardly move by the end of the day. When I wear them I feel 1,000 times better! I have tried two kinds. One that is just an elastic band (They say to buy one size larger than pre-pregnancy.) and one that adjusts. I like both!

What are you excited about in this new season? Do you have any current favorite items?

Related post:

Current Nighttime Essentials and Bedtime Routine

Family-Friendly Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park

When we decided to visit the Big Island again, I wondered if the beaches would be suitable for a toddler. Many of the beaches we had visited during our Hawaii honeymoon in 2014 were rocky and the waves were sometimes rough. We were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling beach in Hawaii, turned out to be.

The park doesn’t have a huge chunk of sand, but it has food trucks, picnic tables, a snack shop and restrooms. We spent our last full day on the Big Island at this beach. I relaxed and snacked on nachos (about $6) while G and V swam with the fish and turtles. Tip: Bring water shoes! (You can also rent snorkel gear and get reef-safe sunscreen, though on the day we visited rentals were halted due to the water conditions.) V had a wonderful time in the water and then making sand castles with me. Tip: We purchased a sand castle toy set for about $9 at an ABC Store in Kailua-Kona and we brought it back home with us. A life jacket was also super helpful for us. You can save money by bringing your own beverages and snacks vs. buying from a food truck.

One part of the beach is for surfing and the other is for snorkeling, so be aware of where you are swimming. (Lifeguards were on duty when we were there.)

The Kahaluu Beach Park parking lot filled up quickly, but we found that if you drove around someone was always leaving.

Have you visited Kahaluu Beach Park or the Big Island? What was your favorite snorkeling spot?

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Benefits of Taking a Birth Class

We crossed off a major item on my pre-baby to-do list over the weekend: the birth class! When I signed up for the Preparation for Childbirth workshop a couple of months ago, I wasn’t sure if it was necessary or worth the money. But now that we’ve completed the class I can safely say it was a worthy investment. I wanted to share some reasons I found it to be helpful to take advantage of the education classes offered at your hospital or in your area.

Reasons to take a birth class:

  • Receive clarification on your hospital’s philosophy and policies: It was nice to know that our hospital already plans to do skin-to-skin contact and delayed cord clamping, which I was already planning to request. You can also find out the hospital’s rates for such things as C-sections. We also learned about how the hospital’s security.
  • Go on a hospital tour: Getting to labor and delivery can be a source of stress if you don’t know where to park, where to check-in, what your room will look like, etc. Now that we know where to go, what to expect from our stay and the services that are offered we feel more comfortable and relieved.
  • Know your pain management options: We learned exactly what medication options are available and the hospital’s philosophy and policies surrounding them. If you’re considering an epidural you watch a video and hear about how they are given so you know what you expect. If you’re considering an unmedicated birth you can learn techniques for coping with pain as well. In fact, the entire first day of the workshop focused on unmedicated birth coping mechanisms.
  • Practice massage techniques and breathing exercises: Part of learning about your pain management options is learning specific massage and support techniques your partner can do to help you during labor. The hip squeeze I found especially helpful! You also do breathing exercises that help not only in labor and delivery but in everyday life.
  • Get support from other couples: You meet couples from diverse backgrounds and of different ages, but you all share many of the same fears. Talking about those concerns helps alleviate some of the stress and helps you find solutions. You are not alone! Many of the men, for example, shared the feeling of helplessness and fear of not knowing how to help their partners, but they walked away with specific ways to be an active part of the labor process.
  • Ask questions and get suggestions on outside resources: You are getting information from an expert rather than friends and family who may not be as informed or who may exaggerate their stories. The class debunked popular myths people can sometimes fill your head with. The class was a safe space to ask all the questions you had about giving birth. The instructor also had handouts with contact information for lactation consultants, support groups for postpartum depression, and other classes that may be helpful. (There’s even a class on how to get your dog to adjust to a new baby!)
  • Taste the hospital food: You will likely be staying int he hospital for two or three days, so it’s not a bad idea to try out the food. Of course, you don’t have to, but we enjoyed checking out the cafeteria options and seeing what we would have available.
  • Gain reassurance: Overall I felt more confident in myself. The biggest takeaway: I learned to keep an open mind and not set my heart on a given plan. I now have tools I can use, but I don’t need to commit to anything. If I adjust my expectations I can avoid feeling disappointed. At the end of the day the best outcome if a healthy and happy baby, not matter how that happens.

If you plan to have children in the future, will you take one? If you already have kiddos, what did you learn about giving birth?

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Recent Cruelty-Free Beauty Empties

** This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

It’s time for another empties update! I wish I had photos of the used-up products, but I was traveling when I finished many of these cruelty-free beauty goodies. Let me know if you’ve tried any of them and what you thought about them! Bonus: These makeup and skin-care items are all affordable!

My recent cruelty-free beauty empties:

  • Mario Badescu Skin Care Hit Refresh Set: I mentioned this in a haul I shared in November. I liked the Facial Spray and the Botanical Exfoliating Scrub, but I didn’t like the Cleansing Gel enough to buy the full size. I already repurchased the facial spray, but this time I got the lavender, which I love more than the cucumber. I don’t always feel the need to use an exfoliating scrub, so I am unsure if I’d repurchase for that reason. I would prefer an exfoliating mask instead. Note: I don’t think this set is available anymore, but you can find the individual products or similar Mario Badescu sets.

  • Milani Make It Last Setting Spray: This is my favorite setting spray, but I haven’t repurchased it yet. I have been using my Mario Badescu facial spray to set my makeup instead to minimize my products. Once I use that up I plan to repurchase the Milani setting spray, which smells really nice! I have my eye on the Make It Dewy spray, too.
  • Wet ‘n Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder: I used this for a year, and I liked it! People tend to say in reviews that the various shades have slightly different formulas. I used up Crown of my Canopy, and I loved the way it looked on my skin. It’s also super affordable.
  • IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream (travel size): I purchase this cream a few times a year. I like to get the travel size for vacations because it’s easier than taking the larger size in my suitcase.
  • Essence False Lash Effect Mascara: I love this mascara! I plan to repurchase this once I am done with another mascara I own. (I am currently on a makeup no-buy.)

What products have you been loving lately? Was there anything you didn’t enjoy?

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Pre-Baby Spending Ban

I have been in decluttering, organization and cleaning mode for a couple of weeks now. There’s something about the approaching change of seasons that inspired this, but mostly it’s preparation for the baby’s arrival! As part of my simplifying, I decided after analyzing my February expenses that I also want to implement a mini pre-baby spending ban in March (and possibly April, too!). The main idea is that I don’t want to spend money outside of baby items, groceries and replacing necessities.

Pre-baby spending ban categories:

Gifts: I don’t have any occasions I need to buy gifts for in March, so this should be easy. I do have a wedding gift to purchase in April.

Makeup/hair products/skin care: I already replaced my mascara after I ran out, so I should not need anything else. It’s possible I will run out of foundation in March and I’ll replace that if needed, but I won’t buy more makeup. I’ll admit it’s hard for me to not want to try new cruelty-free products after watching YouTube videos or reading blog posts, though.

Nail polish: I will use the polish shades I have.

Audible books: I have three books to finish, which might be enough reading material until after maternity leave. I put my membership on hold, so I am not buying more monthly credits.

Clothing: I won’t be buying any clothing until after the baby is born. I am instead selling and donating items I don’t wear. (I’m not counting nursing bras/tops because those are considered items for the baby.)

Planner stickers: I stretched out a mini kit for two months and I still have $3 sticker set from Target that I use. I used a birthday gift card to order another mini kit, but other than that I don’t plan to buy any stickers until after our baby is born. If I run out I can always decorate with markers.

Home decor items: We don’t have a need for it, nor do we have space! I just replaced an old rug under my desk chair, but I plan to not buy anything else unless it’s something we need for the baby.

Plants: We typically buy plants/seedlings in the spring or summer, but I’m not sure if we will this year. It’s probably not a great idea to add to our plant collection or start our summer garden before moving, which we want to do this year. (Note: We want a bigger place; we’re not leaving Chicago. Another note: I can’t control the actions of my husband, who loves to buy plants. haha)

Starbucks: I am not completely cutting it out, though I have already cut back. I want to keep it to once a week. (I haven’t been drinking much coffee but I do enjoy a refreshing drink or a breakfast while I’m on the go.)

Dining out/takeout/food delivery: I want to limit this to once per week in March. This will be the hardest category to even cut back on for us and I am the least optimistic about how we’ll do. Just being honest! But we are going to try. I am going to allow myself a couple of friend dates that will involve going out to eat.

Not included in the ban: Blog expenses, transportation, groceries and other essentials.

I’ll be posting an update at the end of March listing any times I break the spending ban. I hope it’s not too long! Have you ever done a spending ban? What are expenses that are worth it to you? Let me know in the comments!

Related posts:

Decluttering and Items I Wish I Didn’t Buy
End-of-Summer Cleaning and Decluttering List

Toddler-Friendly Visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

 

There’s plenty for families to do at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. You can still take in the sites and explore with a toddler. We recently spent a day visiting the park for our second time. (Our first trip to the island of Hawaii was in 2014 on our honeymoon.) You could spend days here, or you can squeeze in quite a bit of adventure in just part of one day.

What we did at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a toddler:

  • Thurston Lava Tube. Though the walk is somewhat dark, it was easy for V to walk through it. It isn’t long at all. (You can find other lava tubes to visit, but they might not be suitable for toddlers.) Hold your toddler’s hand in any wet areas. Rain boots wouldn’t be a bad idea.
  • Admire the craters/views from the viewpoints. Bring snacks and water!
  • Drive to sea arch and grab ice pops from the stand next to the ranger station. Along the drive you can stop and see the craters and lava rocks. At the end of the drive you park and walk toward the sea arch. It isn’t a long walk. You have to keep an eye on your children here because the barrier wall does not extend all the way. Then grab some popsicles for $6 each (It’s worth it on a hot day.) for the drive back. There are restrooms here as well.
  • Lunch at Volcano House. We admired a view of the volcano from our table. Our toddler loved looking out the window at the smoke.

Have you been to the Big Island or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

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