life lately.

As a result of not blogging for months, I have a few photos to share with you! In November, Jeffrey and I took a trip to the mountains of North Carolina and were forced to leave early because of a snowstorm. In December, my sister and I spent a weekend in Savannah, Georgia. In March, Jeffrey and I went to Asheville to celebrate one year of marriage. And to celebrate the arrival of spring, we had a picnic with my parents on a beautiful evening! What a treat to relive some of these beautiful moments! xo

{ Exploring Cataloochee, which is filled with unbelievable beauty. }



{ Each and every elk sighting feels like a bit of a discovery. }

{My heart swells at the sight of these North Carolina mountains. }

{ The only photos snapped from our Savannah trip. 1 // Our home during our stay; 2 // Giddy excitement upon arriving at Back in the Day Bakery. }

{ My husband of one year. It still feels like quite the privilege to call him that. }

{Casual anniversary dinner at Ben's Tune-Up, in Asheville. (Although if you're looking for our true Asheville food recommendations, White Duck Taco Shop for savory and French Broad Chocolates for sweet.) We stayed at each of these homes via Airbnb, and recommend both highly (1) (2). }

{ Picnicking in the park with my parents. }

{ Our feast, from Mazzaro's Italian Market. Pasta salad made by my dad. }

my favorite face mask.

Hello, friends! Today's post is all about my favorite face mask, which is a luxury I allow myself every Sunday evening. I discovered Enkido products completely by chance and have since fallen in love with them. Not only are they reasonably priced, but they're also devoid of any undesirable chemicals and unnecessary fillers.

This mask does wonders for troubled skin and leaves my face feeling so soft after I rinse it off! I begin my face mask process by exfoliating my skin with a bit of baking soda (yes, baking soda!). After I rinse the baking soda away, I pat my face semi-dry with a towel. I find that my damp skin takes the mask in a little better than dry skin does. I apply a thin layer of the mask all over my face and let it sit for 10 minutes, or until the paste dries and becomes a bit tight. Then, I just rinse it off with lukewarm water and apply my toner and moisturizer. My favorite thing about this mask is that it soothes my skin and makes it feel so clean!

Also, I've found that Enkido's daily moisturizer is quite pleasant, and last week I blogged about my favorite face wash!

P.S. Do you recommend any face masks? I'm always in the market to try something new!

make the most of your smoothie.

Smoothies are one of my favorite ways to start the morning, especially if I'm short on time! I've been really inspired by Arielle's blog, where she talks about nutrition in a way that seems approachable and manageable to me. I'm not sure about you, but I often feel as though I can get easily overwhelmed by clean-eating blogs. Whereas the writer has probably taken months or even years to get to a place of beautiful, clean eating, in blogland it can seem like it's only taken minutes! I'm incredibly grateful for the wealth of information that's available and I'm so thankful for the people who share their knowledge, but simple and step-by-step works best for me.

Today I thought I'd share five of our latest favorite smoothie add-ins. They're perfect for adding a boost of nutrition in a simple and quick way!

1. Oats. I love adding oats into my smoothie, especially if I'm looking to bulk it up a bit. Especially delicious when combined with nut butter, oats pack tons of health benefits (high levels of calcium, iron, and fiber) and taste deliciously nutty, too!

2. Amazing Grass. This is a new discovery for us and we love it. Not only is this product filled with probiotics, but it also packs a ton of greens and sea veggies! While the recommended dose is a tablespoon, it does have quite a strong flavor, so we are starting with a teaspoon. The smoothie masks the taste pretty well, but it does leave a flavor behind.

3. Bee Pollen. A sprinkle of bee pollen is very beneficial for those of us who experience seasonal allergies. I typically just garnish the top of my smoothie with a bit of this, but it can also be mixed right in with everything else. (Bee pollen is not safe to consume if you're allergic to bees.)

4. Chia Seeds. I'll never forget the first time I tried chia seeds. My sister and I ventured into our local health food store and split a bulk container. I've been a lover of these little gems ever since (I wrote about them here). To get the most of these little guys, soak them in water first and then just add a spoonful to your smoothie.

5. Honey. Packed with antioxidants and antibacterial properties, honey is a delicious addition to a smoothie, especially if your sweet tooth is looking for something to satisfy it. A little less than a spoonful will do the trick!

I'd love to hear about your favorite ways to boost a smoothie! xo

a stormy picnic.

During spring break, I set a few personal goals for myself. I realized that I was spending most of my energy on my job and wasn't leaving time for much else. The result was me becoming a skeleton of myself, which served absolutely no one — in my work or in my personal life. So upon returning from spring break, I told myself that I needed to do some more things just for enjoyment.

We're lucky to live in an extremely beautiful place and yet we're so quick to take it for granted. One night, Jeffrey prepared our dinner to-go and we ate it at the waterfront park at the end of our street. Perhaps our favorite part was that a storm was rolling in and we had (perfectly safe) front row seats. xo

my favorite face wash.

Hello, friends! Let's talk face wash today. I've always found myself a bit in love with beauty products and I can spend hours (truly!) researching this stuff. When I found EWG's Skin Deep database, it was like a holy grail for me. Believe it or not, many beauty products are full of cancer-causing agents and toxins that could hurt an unborn child. What's more, manufacturers aren't required to write all ingredients on their labels, which means some pretty scary stuff could be making its way into your products (I've spoken a little bit about that here). Something seems wrong with that picture. That's why it was such a dream when I found Skin Deep. It provides its users with a scale from not hazardous to hazardous, tells you what exactly is in your product, and rates it on a numerical scale (for your reference, it's best when a product gets a zero).

I dealt with moderate acne for the entirety of my college career and I spent countless hours wishing it away. I thought the only answer to better skin was slathering on doctor-prescribed creams, but it turns out that just taking care of my body is what truly changed my skin. It wasn't until I started healing my body from the inside out that I noticed a big difference (and I ditched those creams ASAP, by the way). That certainly doesn't mean I don't use a product or two on my face. I do, but I've simplified everything and my skin's never been happier.

I found Acure Sensitive Facial Cleanser on a whim and I love it! It's gentle and you only need a pea-sized amount to get a foamy lather. The brand Acure gets a great rating on Skin Deep (although I haven't found a rating for my actual face wash). I use an organic facial sponge about three times a week and just use my hands on the other nights. Plus, I use good old coconut oil to remove my makeup. Works like a charm!

I'd love nothing more than to chat beauty products with you! Let me know what products you use (and love!) on your face! xo

back in the saddle.

Hi, Friends!

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

My blogging hiatus and time away from this space was completely unexpected and unplanned. I've loved blogging from the moment I started nearly 6 years ago (back when I still blogged at this space).

I've been pretty open about the struggles I experienced when I entered the working world at the end of Augut 2013. I wrote about it here, too. I think the newness of all of that kind of made me resistant, but the truth is that writing soothes my soul, whether I'm rambling on about our wedding (and how to get married on a very small budget) or sharing the shocking truth about what's in our makeup. I've been constantly pulled back to this space, and yet I've been hesitant to write anything here. Why? It's my space and I make the rules here! :)

With that said, I've got some ideas for this blog and I hope you'll join me in this imperfect journey of fun and honesty. I'll continue to write about the things that matter to me most, which might be a trip to a local burger joint or an honest post about my simple (but difficult) new year's resolution. I hope you'll stick around! xo

dearest love of my life,

Today we have been married for one year. My heart is full. Each day I am surprised to become closer to you. I never knew I could know someone in all the ways I know you. And I never knew that someone could know me in all the ways you know me. You have taught me more in this one year of marriage than I could have ever hoped to learn.

It is still a wonder to me that you chose me. And that you choose me everyday. Thank you for loving me, even in my unlovable moments. Thank you for giving to me every single day. It appears that your well is endless.

Life with you is an adventure. You have taught me to take the leap and have confidence in my heart and gut, a lesson I must learn from you over and over again. You speak words of kindness that uplift my soul and fill me with sunshine. And your thoughts are of me, constantly.

Your light heart is so good for me, especially on days when I am thinking too much. When I look at you, I almost feel like I could burst. My memories with you are so fond and so sweet and it is a gift I cherish daily to know that I will be married to you for the rest of my life.

Sometimes things feel bleak. You are my constant reminder that it will pass, that a bright spot can always be found in the darkest of moments.

You are my bright spot.

To you, my love and to the best first year of marriage I could have ever dreamt up and more.

Yours always,
Rox