Clean, Green Bathroom Routine

30 days ago, I joined Groundswell Community Project in a #NoPlasticNovember live-a-thon. The goal of the challenge was to get rid of one type of single-use plastic (or all plastic!) for the month of November and I decided to eliminate plastic-packaged bathroom toiletries.

It was a good place to start too, because I happened to have 80 of them lying around. 

The thing is, single-use plastics are killing our oceans. And the $432 billion dollar beauty and personal care products industry could really care less. Probably because every product we buy that's packaged in a single-use plastic is us voting for them to make more!

I used to not think that way. I used to pick up a plastic-packaged product and think, "Well. It's already made, so I might as well buy it, right? Also, what difference is one purchase by one person going to make?"

In fact, honestly? At one point, I used to not care at all. But now, after doing more research and watching documentaries like "A Plastic Ocean"on Netflix, I am heartbroken and ashamed. 

So I have officially started my plastic-free journey with a strong disclaimer: I don't claim to have the whole plastic-free thing totally figured out yet. I am simply committed to figuring out my personal approach and sharing that here in a way that's as personal and educational as possible. The last thing I want to do is come off as self-righteous or preachy... I have no right to be. And I'll share this all with the sincere hope that others will share their journeys with me in return or be inspired to try to reduce their own use of plastic. 

But, back to my bathroom. 

Giving up single-use plastic toiletries was a start, but it was only one step I took over the past month to make my bathroom a little more green and a little more zen in the process. And I did it all in four easy steps. 

Motivation Monday: Shape Magazine Meet & Tweet

Trust me: I am not one to start talking about Christmas the week after Halloween. I firmly believe in taking it one holiday at a time. Christmas, real Christmas celebrations should not start until the day after Thanksgiving.

But Blogger Christmas? Well, that happened last Wednesday.

Last week I was stoked beyond all stoke to attend Shape Magazine's West Coast Blogger Meet & Tweet event in Santa Monica. Fitness Magazine had hosted what was essentially the same event back in 2013 and it was AMAZING. Panels with celebrity speakers and bloggers covered everything from exercise to diet to beauty to branding. And then.... there was the swag.

It was definitely the best blog-related event I've had the honor of attending. So when Shape took it over this year and invited me back, I couldn't RSVP fast enough.

Besides... what kind of celebrity-obsessed psycho fitness blogger turns down an opportunity to meet Karena and Katrina? Not this one, that's for sure.

California Naturel

Lately I have been paying a lot more attention to the ingredients in the beauty and hair products that I use everyday. I know that's been the cool kid thing to do for a while now, but I guess I just thought that being that conscious seemed time-consuming, inconvenient, and a little too hip.

Which is a shame because there's no better way to spend time than on taking care of yourself. Inconvenient truths are sometimes the most important kind. And if there's anything I don't have to worry about any time soon, it's being too hip.

This year I've definitely started making an effort into leading a healthier lifestyle in every way possible. From the foods I eat to exercise to the people I surround myself with and the chemicals that I'm exposed to in my household and beauty products. I've been educating myself, reading labels, and trying to find natural replacements for the things I use every day.

One of my first searches has been for new face wash and moisturizer. That's when I stumbled across California Naturel, headquartered right here in California, all the way up the coast in Sausalito.

The Second You Start to Take Something Seriously...

...it loses all of its magic. 

It's been a while since Californication was worth quoting, but as I sat there loyally suffering through the last few episodes of its final season this past weekend, this line stood out. Hank asks his boss why he doesn't pursue his music outside of a hobby and this is Rath's rationale: "The second you start to take something seriously, it loses all of its magic."

I've battled with my creative energy my entire life. It can be all-consuming at times and during those times I begin to resent it because my need and desire to engage in creative endeavors feels like unproductive activity. And I'm a stress-addicted Millennial with 1.5 Master's Degrees and a guilt complex around wasting my time doing anything that doesn't produce "success" in some way for me.

I know, I know, first world problems, right?

Anyway, eventually, without fail, I try to monetize my hobbies. I enjoyed sewing so I started an Etsy store for tote bags that I made. I enjoyed writing so I went to Hunter to try and meet the right people and get noticed by an agent and make connections for a literary career. I enjoyed going to concerts and reading, so I started doing freelance music and book reviews.

Unfortunately, each time that I try to monetize something or "take it seriously," I become very overwhelmed by it. I get intimidated by all of the people who have been doing it better or longer than me. I take rejections harder, the hobby starts to become a chore. It usually ends with me giving up the hobby altogether because it stresses me out too much.

Over the past couple of months, I started to do this with this blog. A few opportunities came my way and I was able to make some money. And then more started piling up and I started getting very serious and equally stressed out about it. And then my best friend texted me and made a casual comment about how there had been so many sponsored posts and it hit me.

This blog had turned into a part-time job.

I didn't just write when or what I wanted to anymore... I had an editorial schedule with a purpose. Instead of using Motivation Monday posts as a vehicle for accountability for me and inspiration for my readers, I had to schedule them around fitness sponsors. Then I even stopped working out altogether and just posed in the clothes they sent me. I didn't have time to work out... I had to go to this networking event or that grand opening party. I had drafts of fun posts, like cheesy DIY projects I'd done, that I kept pushing out because I had paid posts to get up. I felt fake and stressed out and guilty.

Boo hoo. I'm making a small profit, partying and I get free stuff. It's dumb to complain about. But then something worse happened.

What to Pack for Coachella: Hair and Beauty Essentials

If you're one of the lucky beauties heading to Coachella for Weekend 2, I'm jealous of you.

I mean, I've barely recovered from Weekend 1, but still...

I want to go back!

In the meantime, I've been working on editing pictures to put together a few Coachella recaps and reliving the festival through my photos. It was a fantastic weekend and thanks to a well-packed makeup bag, I felt fantastic too.

Whether you're car camping or poshing it up at a hotel, these were my beauty and hair essentials for a weekend of music, sun and various dehydrating chemicals. ;)

Makeup

• Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer: I just discovered this primer before I left for Coachella and all I can say is, where has this stuff been all my life? It was especially lifesaving in the desert: the air dried out my skin each night and this was a much-needed layer of moisture before BB Cream and makeup. 
• Tarte BB Tinted 12-Hour Treatment: I've tried almost every BB Cream out there and I can't stress enough how perfect this one is. It's light and breathable, completely gets rid of shine and most importantly for Coachella? It's SPF 30. 
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Matte Bronzer: The desert is hot. And you will sweat. Luckily this bronzer was able to withstand both the humidity and moisture all day, every day throughout the festival. 
• Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: For the most part, I like a nude, tanned look for face makeup, but with the bright sun, this blush is just the thing to add a touch of color. 
• Urban Decay Naked 3 Eye Shadow Palette: This is the only eye shadow I use regularly but in Indio it was especially helpful in transitioning from the bright sunny mornings to dark desert nights. 

Hair

• SACHAJUAN Volume Powder: This stuff is a miracle worker. Whether you're camping or just too hot to even attempt to straighten your hair each morning, this dry shampoo will keep a style fresh for at least a couple of days. And it smells great too!

Beauty

• Bliss FatGirl SixPack: "Coachella" is practically interchangeable with "crop tops" and "bikinis." Even if you're modest and don't like showing off your stomach, it's almost a necessity in the desert heat. Luckily, Bliss has made an award-winning product that helps to tighten skin on your stomach and give you all the beautiful confidence you need to rock that midriff-baring outfit. I put some on in the mornings after I showered to keep my tummy looking toned throughout the day. And thanks to Bliss for sponsoring this post as well! 
• Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes: These wipes were not the best at removing my eye makeup at the festival, but as far as taking a pseudo-shower with them in the campgrounds, they kept me smelling and feeling fresh. 
• Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash: Coconut water, papaya extract and sea algae extract makes this one of the most refreshing face washes out there and helped me feel closer to ocean the day after a gnarly sandstorm. 
• Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport Sunscreen: There is nothing worse than turning into a lobster at Coachella, because you can't hide your burns for the sun for the next however many days after that you're still there. Dermalogica's sunscreen felt and smelled amazing and kept me sunburn-free. 
• Dermalogica After Sun Repair: Luckily I didn't need to use this during Coachella, but several of my friends did. It was much more soothing and cleaner-feeling than aloe gel and offered relief from their sunburns.

The Skinny Confidential Book Launch Party + A Giveaway!

One or two of you may have heard of the fabulous Lauryn Evarts, the San Diego babe behind The Skinny Confidential. An entrepreneur, blogger and overall ray of sunshine, I'm inspired by her trademark honesty, her ability to tell as she sees it, and how much she freakin' hustles. And while I have to admit that we differ a bit in our approaches to healthy living, I follow and support her ultimate message: to promote a sexy, sassy lifestyle for women.

This past weekend BeSocial PR threw a party for Lauryn at the Rancho Valencia resort to support the launch of her new fitness, beauty and lifestyle guide book, The Skinny Confidential. I stopped by with a couple of friends before the UConn game (Go Huskies!) Saturday night and wow. This party was bonkers. After leaving our car with the complimentary valet (!), we walked into what felt like an outdoor wedding reception on their Croquet Lawn.

Lauryn was at the main table, looking like a princess in her whimsical white dress and flower crown, signing books and thanking everyone for coming. The sun was slowly setting, lighting up the whole party with the most magical glow. And Ottopilot, a band that counts one of Lauryn's cousins as a member, was playing slow jams that I momentarily confused with the radio because they sounded EXACTLY like John Mayer. In fact, I was so impressed with them, that I donated to their Kickstarter so I could get my hands on an album ASAP.

FYI: this was definitely the party to be at if you were a single guy: almost every flawless-looking fashion blogger and PR Rep in San Diego was in attendance, enjoying the tunes and the atmosphere. Not to mention the beverages: Suja and my new obsession, Bon Affair, were hosting a DIY Mimosa bar that I somehow managed to avoid (less than a week left of this diet!).

I'm lucky that I get to live in San Diego and am able to attend events like this, but I hate bragging about these beautiful days when so many of you got snow last weekend! So to cheer you up and get you through the last of your winter blues / motivate you into a new spring fitness routine, I bought a signed copy of The Skinny Confidential to giveaway!

But wait... there's more! ;) I'm also including a tool that I was introduced to back when we did biometrics testing: a brand new Omrom Fat Loss Monitor. I like using this instead of a scale when I'm trying to lose weight because it puts things in perspective (since muscle weighs more than fat). Plus, I'm throwing in a $25 Amex Gift Card (for you to use on a yoga class or some new gear) and few other fitness goodies (like some brand new Clif MoJo bars) for a total value of $100!

The giveaway ends Saturday, April 5th at 10am PST and I'll announce the winner that day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coconut Oil Hair Treatment Attempt #1

I have a love/hate relationship with coconut. The love part is obvious: it smells like summer and beaches and tropical drinks and my favorite after sun lotion. The hate part is 11 years in the making: when I was 16 I had an unfortunate experience with Malibu Coconut Rum. To this day, I have never forgiven rum. Coconut and I, well, we are on frenemy terms.

Which is why I was hesitant when I kept seeing coconut oil hair treatments popping up everywhere. But the ladies of my various social media networks raved on and so on my last trip to Trader Joe's I grabbed a jar. Now, I have never cooked with coconut oil, but I frequently find myself mumbling "DAMMIT!" when trolling Pinterest recipes for dinner only to find that Coconut Oil is the only ingredient that we don't already have in the house. So I'm sure it will come in handy for other things, which is how I justified dropping the $5 bucks on some natural beauty remedy I wasn't sure I'd ever end up trying.

Flash forward only a few days (!) to Superbowl Sunday morning when I had tons of homework due and therefore an endless amount of free time to take care of "all the things I have to do before I can concentrate on school." (Life tip: if you really want to make it through your Pinterest To Do list, go to grad school).

If you have never opened a jar of coconut oil before, it may surprise you to find that it is a hard, seemingly dry substance that you have to warm up with your hands in order to get the oil. This took a little bit of fumbling and lot of coconut crumbs on the floor, so first make sure to protect the floor beneath you in case you're a spaz like me. I caught on quickly and started to use smaller pieces (much small than the chunk pictured above and more like the one below) to warm up in my hands, then rubbed the oil through my hair. All in all, I probably used 2-3 tablespoons of the stuff.

I spent a lot time focusing on my ends and made sure those were a bit more saturated than the rest of my hair. When I finished applying the oil, it appeared wet like in the picture above but actually felt kind of dry. I threw my hair in a top bun and then attempted homework for a couple of hours before taking a shower to wash it out and see the results.

I had to shampoo three times before it felt like it wasn't greasy and then my hair just felt really dry. Getting out of the shower and brushing my hair was even worse: the ends were all tangled and knotty. I put in leave-in conditioner just so I could brush it. As I combed it out, whether or not it was my imagination, it looked like I had all new split ends.

It's safe to say that my first coconut oil hair treatment was a complete failure... but I'm not giving up just yet. What did I do wrong? Have you ever tried putting coconut oil in your hair?

Gifts for the Boho Beach Babe

Luxury Beach Towels // $149 from Fresco Towels - If there's one thing your surfer girl could use it's a new beach towel. The luxuriously huge Fresco Towels are made here in the U.S.A. with 100% Turkish Cotton and they really are the softest, fluffiest towels around. With over 50 designs to choose from, there's a dreamy pattern for everyone.

Billabong Secret Moon Boho Top // $54 from Swell - Minimalist boho at it's best. Loose and lovely, you can't go wrong with sizing on this one.

Mermaid Towel Hooks Trio // $36 from Boldhouse - Between bikinis, towels and wetsuits, your beach bum could use one or two of these adorable mermaid hooks.. so why not get her three?

Foam Magazine Subscription // $9.99 from Foam Magazine - FOAM ("Fashion Ocean Art Music") has been my favorite magazine since I came across my first issue in 2004. It's a great beach read and an endless source of inspiration for all things foamy.

Pura Vida Feather Charm Bracelet // $20 from Swell - I drive past Pura Vida's offices in La Jolla every night on my way to Bikram Yoga and I wish more people knew about the great mission behind this local company. Give with a purpose: every bracelet purchased helps to provide jobs for full-time artisans in Costa Rica.

Island Girl Sunglasses // $18 from Free People - Free People has surprisingly durable and affordable sunglasses, like these cute sunnies with a pop of island blue.

Mermaid Mala // $108 from Tiny Devotions - Made from Amazonite and Ocean Jasper, the Mermaid Mala is described as an "extremely calming stone that strives to align one’s center through love." I own this one and I wear all the time so the ocean never feels far away.

RVCA Khan Woven Cover Up // $49.50 from Swell - It may be cold outside now, but this sunny cover-up will give her something to look forward to or inspire a getaway to warmer weather.

Lifeproof iPhone Case // $79.99 from LifeProof - Let her Instagram, Tweet and Facebook her heart out at the beach without worrying about getting sand or water in her phone. The LifeProof case is dirt, shock and waterproof, making it beach-proof too.

Seashell Wine Glass Charms // $14 from Zealand Boutique - For your Sunday brunch hostess, these adorable seashell glass charms are made for her bubbly-popping household!

2-Person Cotton Hammock // $61 from hamanica - For some, the beach may be farther away than they'd like. Bring a little aloha to their backyard with a gorgeous boho hammock. I love, love, love our hamanica hammock but even if you order now, be warned that it may not get there in time for the holidays. Print out an image of the hammock and gift it with a couple of outdoor throw pillows to let them know it's on it's way.

Sun Bum Moisturizing SPF // $15.99 from SunBum - If she's a sun worshipper, there's one thing she'll never have enough of: sunscreen. Get her the best!

Surfrider Foundation Membership // $49 from Surfrider - The Surfrider Foundation works hard to protect the beaches, waves and oceans she loves the most. This year, with a $49 membership, she'll also get a $50 giftcard to Swell.com!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a SkinAgain Giveaway!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has taken on a whole new meaning for me this year now that I'm participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day 60 Mile Walk for the Cure here in San Diego in November. Now that I'm in involved with fundraising for Breast Cancer Research, I've been humbled by the number of stories that I have heard from friends, family, readers and co-workers about how breast cancer has affected their lives. And with each story, I am that much more aware of the desperate need for a cure.

When SkinAgain contacted me and asked me if I'd like to partner with them in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I immediately said yes for three reasons: 1. I love supporting local businesses and SkinAgain is located just up the coast from me in Carlsbad, 2. It's a female-founded, all natural, paraben- and cruelty-free company and 3. They're not only supporting breast cancer awareness this month by donating 5% of all proceeds to The Breast Cancer Society, Inc., they're also making products that can actually help women who are battling breast cancer.

The founder, Sherrie Berry, started the company after suffering from a chemical burn in her backyard. She was given a cream to help with the healing by a Swiss entrepreneur and soon realized that the product held exceptional potential for helping other women who suffered from burns. SkinAgain was born and its first product, the Rescue cream, does just that. Today, Rescue is the #1 leading product for post-cosmetic, post-hair removal and post-radiation procedures, as well as burns.

I'm excited to be giving away two full-size bottles of their Relief and Rescue products. Relief is the go-to for getting through these dry winters, when your skin gets itchy and red in the cold air. It can also help to control rosacea, something you might know a thing or two about if you've got Irish skin like me. Rescue is a a cure-all for everything from sunburns to post-wax or laser treatment to burning yourself on the oven while you frantically cook your Thanksgiving dinner. Together, these two creams work to protect your skin and are a must-have for your medicine cabinet! Oh and did I mention.... this is a $100 value?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Even if you don't win the giveaway, I encourage you to check out SkinAgain's other products like Youth, which diminishes darks spots and wrinkles, and Vanish, which works to reduce cellulite. And, throughout the month of October, you can use Promo Code: ILOVETATAS and receive 20% off your order! Plus, the first 30 customers who use this code will receive a pink jute tote bag as a thank you for helping SkinAgain to boost their donations efforts during Breast Cancer Awareness month. Save your skin, save the tatas and enjoy a discount while you do it!