Hey There, Chelsie

a blog of beauty, style & surviving

DIY Hair Mask & Permission to Spoil Yourself

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhatMattersToU #CollectiveBias

We’re going to get a little personal up here today and talk about that “time of the month.” I know, I know, it may be a little awkward reading about that on my blog, but let’s be honest: almost all of us deal with a monthly dot and it’s usually not a pleasant experience, so we should chat about it. It’s not a pretty part of life, but it IS a part of life and I’m all about honesty and authenticity here.

I have a love/hate relationship with my dot. I know that I usually feel like crawling into a hole when my dot comes and ignoring all my responsibilities in life. My energy and stamina get zapped, I get extremely sensitive and defensive to the smallest comments and I just feel yucky. At the same time, I love it when my dot comes because it allows me to take a brief pause from my life and to invest some time into myself.

So, when my dot comes and I don’t want to leave the house, I spoil myself in every other way possible because it matters to me that I make self-care a priority! That means chocolate, my favorite tv shows and one of my favorite DIY hair masks.

Strengthening DIY Hair Mask

Since I color my hair rather frequently, my ends are usually rather dry and brittle from the chemical damage. I love this DIY strengthing hair mask because it really helps restore strength and shine to my hair!

What you need: 2 tbs. Mayo, 1 tbs. Honey & 1 tbs. Olive Oil

Directions:

  1. Hop in the shower and rinse your hair out, then towel dry it so it’s damp.
  2. Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk until evenly combined.
  3. Apply evenly with a comb or brush to your damp hair
  4. Wrap hair up and secure at the top of your head with a claw clamp
  5. Let the mask sit for 30-40 minutes, then rinse.
  6. Follow through with shampoo and conditioner!

Remember to Love Yourself

It can be hard to take a few moments to pause and unwind during busy seasons in our lives, so that’s why I’m grateful for when my dot comes because it forces me to take a brief time out and indulge in some self-care.

It’s okay to say “later”: My stamina and energy are usually zapped during the first couple days, so I make sure I push back all unnecessary obligations until later in the week when I’m feeling better. Errands, like buying Dustin new socks or taking the car for an oil change, can wait a few more days, so I say “later” to those types of errands and focus on the essentials.

One essential trip: I usually can tell when my dot is coming, so I plan an essentials trip the day or two before so I can get all of the essential errands out of the way, like stocking up the fridge with food, grabbing Rosie Roo her puppy kibble, and filling up my chocolate supply. Oh, and grabbing all the necessary supplies for a dot! I always go to Walmart for my essential trip, because I can get everything I need in one place and because they sell my favorite brand of monthly essentials: U by Kotex®.

I’ve shared my love for this brand before, because it’s affordable and because the packaging on these products just make me feel a little bit better during that time of the month. I know, packaging may seem like a small and insignificant thing, but I’d much rather pull out something colorful and with fun designs than the awkward hospital-yellow color. Plus, U by Kotex® just came out with these super nifty Style N’ Store packs for their Cleanwear® Ultra Thin Pads and Barely There® Liners.

I use the U by Kotex® Barely There Liners for the beginning and end of my dot when it’s light because they prevent leaks and are super comfortable. I love these packs because all of the products come stored in a convenient little drawer for easy storage. These products are more than just stopping your dot from getting messy; U by Kotex® & Walmart truly try to keep your spirits up with these products during the roughest time of the month.

Permission to Spoil Yourself: It’s okay to spoil yourself a little extra during your dot; trust me, you deserve it! Find a few hours, put your hair mask in and binge watch your favorite show. Eat the dang chocolate! Snuggle your furry companion and order that eyeshadow palette online. I know that dots can be rough, but I truly appreciate mine because it gives me a reason to slow down for a day or two and to just love myself. So, if you’re struggling with finding a few minutes during your rough week of the month to take a breather, here’s me saying: SPOIL YOURSELF! I give you permission!

 

Make the choice for U by Kotex® at Walmart so you can save money, live better, feel confident and make every day matter! During my dot, taking care of myself and spending time investing in self-care is what matters to me. What matters to you? Make sure you let me know in the comments below or by sharing on social media using the #WhatMattersToU hashtag! Let’s chat!

 

Cruise Vacation 101: How to Prep & What to Pack

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyJergensGlow #CollectiveBias

One of the brightest thoughts that carried me through the year I spent in the hospital fighting pediatric Osteosarcoma was my Make-A-Wish. I knew that once I had finished my chemotherapy and was finally in remission, my wish for a tropical vacation would come true. Images of the Caribbean Ocean and tropical fish often carried me through some of the darkest times of my treatment. Finally, a year after I had been diagnosed and 3 months after finishing my last chemotherapy, my family and best friend finally embarked on a 7-day Caribbean cruise. It truly was the most magical vacation of my life.

After Dustin and I got married, I knew that I wanted to be able to share the same magical experience with him and go on a cruise! We talked about going on a cruise so often during the first couple years of our marriage, but we just were never financially secure enough to swing it. This last Christmas, though, Dustin surprised me with tickets for a 7-day Caribbean cruise and before I knew it, we were on a huge ship in the open sea, exploring tropical islands, swimming with sea turtles and feeding exotic birds. We knew the second we got our feet back to the United States shore, we would start saving and planning for our next cruise right away.

Cruising is probably one of the best (and most cost-effective ways) to experience a variety of different places and cultures. Almost everything is included in a cruise such as food, housekeeping and entertainment, so you only have to worry about what you are doing when at port. Since it had been so long since I had been on my last cruise (almost 10 years) Dustin and I were both a little lost when it came to getting ready for our cruise and figuring out what to pack, and how much. Since we’re getting ready for our next one this winter, I wanted to write this all down so that I can remember it and so others will have a general idea of what to do and not get overwhelmed by the cruise preparation process!

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HTC Happenings, Updates & Favorites // May

It’s been a while since I just sat down and shared what’s been going on in life and behind the scenes here at Hey There, Chelsie. Today I just wanted to chat about life lately, where my head’s been at in terms of my blog and share some of my favorite reads from the month! Thanks for being a pal and just catching up with me today!

Happenings:

// We’re finally getting used to Dustin’s job and the lifestyle that comes along with it. Although it’s been a huge adjustment to having a husband who is gone from 12-10:30 weekdays and 9-6 on Saturdays, the risks of leaving his other job and coming here is totally paying off. Dustin and I recently paid off ALL of our credit cards (they had crept up on us during our move,) paid off the rest of our car loan, invested almost 1K in the stock market, and built our savings account up to the most it’s ever been. In all three years of our marriage, we have never been this much in the positive and it’s been such a relief to finally feel like we are ahead of ourselves instead of working to make ends meet. I have never seen Dustin work so hard at something and I know that this job is one of the hardest jobs out there, but he’s been putting everything into this job and making our dreams come true. Future house and brand new car, here we come!

// Last Monday I woke up and decided that I was tired of feeling so crummy physically and emotionally in my body and decided to make a change. I had been waking up with headaches for almost two weeks straight and was just feeling so fatigued and wiped out. Chemotherapy did a toll on my immune system and I always struggle with stamina, but the last few weeks were a whole new level. So, I decided in an instant I was going to overhaul my eating habits and do a detox for the week. I wrote out a strict meal plan, went to the store and bought everything I needed and started my week. I mainly focused on cutting out sugary snacks, excess carbs, and sugary drinks and worked on eating more veggies throughout the day and staying more hydrated. By the end of the week, I was feeling AMAZING and had lost 6 pounds! And then….

// I got the cold from Hades and my immune system (which has the capacity of a teaspoon) failed me miserably and I crashed hard. I was so wiped out and miserable and ate a ton of soup, crackers and homemade rolls (thanks, Aubryanne!) We also ate out a ton because I just wasn’t up to cooking, like pizza and hamburgers. I’m still not feeling 100% but I once I am, I’ll be getting back on my healthy eating train!

// Any Bachelorette fans out there? I had some of the ADT wives over on Monday to watch the season premier with me and we ate chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, and chocolate covered mangos and couldn’t believe how many times Chad said “hey” like he was the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread. I already can’t stand him. I know that so many people are already smitten with Jordan, but Dustin actually went to high school with him and doesn’t have very fond memories so…we’ll see how it all plays out. But, JoJo is the perfect Bachelorette and I love having girlfriends to watch it with (and eat lots of fruit covered in sugar.) We can’t wait for the special two-nighter next week!

// Dustin and I officially had an authentic Louisiana experience this last weekend! We went to a Crawfish Boil with some of our good friends here and it was…an experience. Basically, it’s 2 pounds of crawfish, a 1/2 pound of shrimp, potatoes, corn, mushrooms all boiled with cajun spices and served in a big bowl. The tables have trashcans built into the middle of the table so you can just dump the crawfish into them when you’re done peeling and eating them. I’m not going to lie, it was a little creepy having a huge bowl of dead crawfish and then having to crack them open, but it was a definitely an experience.

// I recently discovered bullet journaling and finally feel like my organizational problems have been resolved. I’m still working on mine, but can’t wait to share it with you all soon!

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Top 10 Beauty Products Under 10 Dollars

Affiliate links: clicking on links may result in a small commission for me at no additional cost to you!

Not sponsored; I bought all of these products with my own money!

As much as I love splurging on high-end makeup products that just work, I also LOVE finding beauty products that deliver an amazing result for a fraction of the price. I’m all about reducing the overwhelm someone might feel when they walk down the makeup aisles, so the next time you’re looking to spoil yourself with something small (but awesome) here’s the top 10 beauty products under 10 dollars for you to consider!

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lippies ($6.00)

My girlfriends can vouch as to how much I rave about these lippies, to the point that several of them ordered them because I had absolutely nothing bad to say about them. I have 6 shades now (and plan on ordering more) and feel like they all wear consistently across the board. The reason why I love these is because they give you look of a matte liquid lip without drying your lips out. Granted, they aren’t completely budge-proof like a liquid lipstick is, but they still have incredible stay power and wear for a long time. Unless I’m eating or drinking, I can wear a satin lip for 5-6 hours without needing a single touchup. They are also very, very pigmented. Favorite shades so far? Magic Wand and Lyin’ King!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer ($8.99)

Probably my favorite concealer from the drugstore, I can’t say enough about how great the coverage and hydration this formula provides. I don’t have any issues with creasing with this concealer as well, which is saying something because almost every concealer creases on me. I’m not a huge fan of the spongey applicator, but overlook it because I like the formula of this so much!

Essence Lash Princess Mascara ($6.00)

I’ve been on the hunt for a drugstore mascara that will stand up to my holy grail (Too Faced BTS) and this has by far been the closest find so far! This mascara definitely builds the volume without being clumpy and really coats every lash. I do use 2-3 coats to get the desired effect that I like, but I am sure that people who aren’t as crazy about their lashes as I am would do fine with 1-2 coats. I feel like Essence is a brand that is way underrated and not talked about enough at all. They are super affordable and a lot of their products are really good! You can find them at Ulta (usually an end cap) and sometimes Target.

Essence Make Me Brow Gel ($2.99)

HOLY. COW. Where has this been my whole life? Forget all the expensive brow gels (like the Benefit Give Me Brow) and forget the more expensive ones from L’Oreal and Maybelline, this one is the bees knees! This gel has tiny fibers in it to help fill in your sparse areas and it’s tinted so it fills them in with color. On a day I want to go light and easy, I can just swipe the wand through my brows and be ready to go! It’s that good! And on a day when I want a bit more definition, I’ll fill in the tail ends of my brows with a pencil and then set it with the gel. Seriously. Skip the pricey stuff and try this.

Wet ‘n Wild Megaglo Contouring Palette ($4.99)

This little contouring duo has become one of my favorite face palettes and for under 5 bucks, you can’t go wrong. I find that the powders in this duo are very soft, buttery and pigmented! These are soft powders, so they can get a bit messy if you are a beast with your brushes, but the blend really easily on the face. I love the brightening powder for under the eyes and for carving out my cheek bones and the contour shade in the Dulce de Leche color is the perfect neutral (not too orange, not too ashy.) If you’re a beginner to contouring or just want a perfect traveling contour duo, this is a great option.

Wet Brush ($8.98)

Before this brush came into my life, I struggled so badly with snarls. I would literally take a paddle brush, douse my hair with detangler and wrench it through. This brush eliminates ALL the snarls without the need for a detangler and I don’t have to deal with pain at all when using it. It’s made with super-flexible bristles, so instead of snagging on the snarls, it bends around them, allowing you to work through the snarls a little at a time! it I even bought a smaller one to keep in my purse because I love it so much.

Milani Brow & Eye Highlighter Pencil ($6.99)

I very rarely have the time to carve out my eyebrows with concealer, so this brow and eye highlighter pencil from Milani is the perfect solution for me. It has a matte end and a luminous end, so it’s great for carving out the brows and for highlighting the inner corner of the eye or the brow bone. I love duo purpose products! The formula of these pencils is creamy and easy to blend out!

Not Your Mother’s Double Take Dry Finish Spray ($6.19)

Texture spray is all the rage right now and for good reason: it’s as if dry shampoo and hair spray came together and had a baby. Texture spray gives your hair a fair amount of grip and hold without being sticky or heavy and this spray from Not Your Mother’s is by far my favorite one I’ve tried. I love spraying it at the roots of my hair after I’ve done a loose curl and then feathering it through my ends. It gives me that perfect beachy, effortless wavy look without weighing my hair down. I just love it.

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm ($5.59)

Yes, this is a product for men and yes, it does smell kind of manly, but this is one of the best makeup primers out there. It’s made with glycerin, which is an ingredient that helps makeup stick to your face. I apply this to my face and rub it in until it becomes a little tacky and then apply my foundation right on top of it and it stays ALL DAY LONG! And the manly smell wears off after a few minutes, so it’s totally worth it. If you have sensitive skin, you can buy the sensitive skin version (I have it and it has never caused a breakout.)

Sephora Dry Clean Shampoo ($14.00)

Okay, so this one is just over $10.00. I bought this on a sale, so I thought it was under 10.00 when I photographed it. My bad! But, I love it enough to still mention it here. I hate hate hate cleaning my makeup brushes, mainly because it takes so long for them to dry. I love to use this dry shampoo on my brushes for a quick clean on my powder brushes and eyeshadow brushes, especially if there is a lot of build up or a bright color on one of them. I just spritz it through the brush, rub it off on a paper towel and I’m good to go!

 

If you’re looking for 10 more beauty products under 10 bucks, check out Amanda’s round up at Blissful Gal!

Have you tried any of these products? What ones are you going to pick up next?

P.S. I would love it if you would pin this!

Spring Favorites

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I know it’s almost summer time and it sure feels like it here in the deep South. But, since I spent most of the springtime moving and then falling into a blogging rut (and taking some much needed time off to recollect my thoughts) I wanted to make sure I briefly paid homage to the season before summer showed up!

By the time spring rolls around, I’m so ready to switch out my dark vampy lipsticks and smoky eyes for flushed cheeks and bright colors. Kelsey from a Balancing Peach recently shared her Spring Favorites and inspired me to do the same.

Favorite Perfume: I got a deluxe sample of Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb with a recent Sephora order and I am in LOVE! I haven’t loved a perfume as much as I love this one and will be buying a bigger size once I run out. It’s the perfect blend of floral scents and has freesia in it (which was one of my wedding flowers!)

Favorite Lip Color: Hands down, Scandy from ColourPop. I mentioned it last week as my Project Pan lippie for the summer. It’s a recent purchase and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it because it’s by far the brightest lipstick I’ve ever owned. However, the formula is amazing (pigmented, creamy and long-lasting) and the bright color is perfect for spring!

That being said, I am also loving Native from Urban Decay as a softer pink when I’m wearing a heavier smokey eye. Urban Decay is relaunching it’s lipstick line, so you can snag Native (and any other of their lipsticks) for 50% off. They are currently sold out online, but my Ulta still has a ton left when I went this last weekend.

Favorite Drink: I’ve been working hard on detoxing/changing my eating habits (more on this later) and the only thing I’ve been drinking is fruit-infused water. Currently, I love love love mint & blackberry.

Favorite Blush: For the first part of spring, I was obsessed with baby pink blush, specifically Dollface from Tarte. Tarte’s blushes are some of the best out there: incredibly pigmented and long lasting and give the perfect natural flush to the cheeks.

Now that it’s warming up a bit, I’ve been LOVING Wet n’ Wild’s blush in Apri-Cot in the Middle. It’s got a nice sheen to it that adds a healthy glow to the apples of the cheeks and it’s the perfect color to give a summer warmth to your face! Plus, it’s under 5 bucks, so you can’t go wrong.

Favorite Clothing Item: I don’t have a favorite clothing item, per say, but I just recently delved into mixing prints and am obsessed with it. Whoever said mixing prints was a fashion faux pau clearly never mixed stripes with florals.

Favorite Movie: Springtime makes me want to watch all my favorite Jane Austen movies, like Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility. Also, the Kiera Knightly version of Pride & Prejudice remains to this day, the most beautifully filmed movie I have ever seen.

Favorite TV Show: Dustin and I just started watching Parks and Rec for the first time this month and are well into the second season and LOVING it. Seriously, so funny. Also, Game of Thrones. And whoever saw last night’s show, HOLY CRAP! #holdthedoor

Favorite Food: Like I mentioned before, I’m doing a serious overhaul of my eating habits. It’s been a little rough going at first, but I finally am getting it down and seeing some amazing results in how I feel and how I look. I am loving apples and peanut butter as a snack, and Aussie Bite protein snacks I found at Costco!

Although the rain that comes with springtime has been insane here in the South, I’m really loving watching the seasons change. I’d love to know what your current spring favorites are! What lippie color are you living for and what tv show are you obsessing with?

Everywhere