January Favorites

I'm back with some favorites from the month of January! As you know, I had a rocky start to the new year but I'm happy to say that things have turned around and the second half of the month was amazing! The thing I am most proud of this month is that some of my friendships have grown tremendously and I feel like I went through a lot of self growth. One of my favorite YouTubers mentioned that she often finds that the greatest things come out of challenges and I feel like my January was a great example of this. What was your biggest accomplishment this past month? Leave a comment below and let me know! I'd love to congratulate you on your journey!

Now for the favorites! I'm trying a new style this month as I've become an Amazon Associate recently. This means that if you buy products through these links I will earn a small commission. If that bothers you, feel free to find the products separately. If you choose to buy, THANK YOU for supporting Andrea Fontana Beauty! You are awesome! Let me know how you like this format!

I don't have a Trader Joe's by me but had heard quite the buzz about this seasoning all over. Luckily a store opened up recently in the city I'm from so when I went home for Christmas I made sure to pick up two bottles because I knew I would love it. I put it on everything; hard boiled eggs, avocado toast, homemade bagels, and more! I highly recommend trying it out ASAP!

If you follow me on Instagram, this first favorite probably comes as no surprise! I received a cookbook (Bobby Flay Fit) that I wanted SO badly, from my beautiful friend Sammy! I have made so many recipes already from it and have loved them all. I highly recommend if you are looking to eat a healthier way but don't want to sacrifice flavor. I use it so much that I even burnt an imprint of the coil from my stove burner into the cover by accident (haha!). Be sure to follow my Instagram (www.instagram.com/andreafontanabeauty) to laugh with me at my daily adventures!

I've already mentioned this next favorite a few posts back, but I finished it in only 2 weeks and I CANNOT recommend it enough. Don't let the almost 600 pages scare you away from this amazing story of the life of Cyril Avery growing up in Ireland. It's written well and I couldn't put it down; sometimes getting lost in the pages for hours at a time. 

I received a sample of this facial oil a little while back and when my coveted Rosehip oil ran out and I didn't have any on hand, I grabbed this one and have loved it all month! It's a dry oil made up of Vitamins E and B, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil, and wheat germ oil. I love how it sunk into my skin quickly and didn't leave me feeling greasy which is nice for day time. I love to put on oils with Anti-oxidants to help combat free radicals and pollution throughout the day! You only need a few drops to apply so this bottle would last a long time!

This is my favorite hair product of the moment. It was recommended by a friend Ashley, who is a cosmetologist (as you know I know nothing about hair and rely on friends for help in that area haha). I love this finishing spray because it smells awesome, gives my hair some shine and a slight hold. It's definitely not as strong as a hairspray, but I love it to tame my style when I actually do my hair. It doesn't leave any crazy residues, which I love. 

Love, love love this moisturizer. I've mentioned it before, but it's my go to in colder months or when I've been sick. I had a cold at the beginning of the month and blew my nose so many times that the skin around it was raw and red. This moisturizer saved me (due to the colloidal oatmeal). I highly recommend it for dry skin that can be sensitive. It's one I always keep on hand in case I'm feeling dry.

This one's a classic that I always go back to at least once a year and apparently January was that time. It's great for thick, voluminous lashes and always makes my lashes look amazing. I'm not sure why I ever get away from it haha. Why do we always have to try new mascaras as women? 

I contemplated writing an entire post devoted to these babies, but I couldn't hold off on telling you about them any longer. They are heaven sent if you get blemishes. Always keep them on hand. They are little nude/clear stickers that you put over a blemish at night when you go to sleep. I like to do it before I put my moisturizer on so that they stick well and then apply moisturizer around it afterwards. The trick with these is that you have to wait until there is a white head, then it pulls everything out as you're sleeping and you'll see the white color change in the morning on the sticker. The blemish will still be red in the morning, but it is always so much flatter if not completely flat from pulling everything out. I can't recommend them enough! 

Another favorite worth mentioning is the product that I did a First Impression on in my most recent YouTube video! Click here to watch it! It's the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan. I love this product for everyday makeup use! Also while you're at it subscribe to my YouTube channel 'Andrea Fontana Beauty' to stay notified when I post new videos for you!

As usual, leave a comment below sharing any new products you loved this month so we can all learn from each other!

I hope you have a wonderful February,

Andrea

So You're Getting Married? (Bridal Makeup Tips)

Hello! 

I'm really excited to bring you this post because I have so many tips to share when it comes to bridal makeup. I'm going to try to condense everything into as short of a post as possible but there is so much to consider when planning the getting ready portion of the day.

1. Give yourself PLENTY of extra time to get ready. This one has many reasons so read the whole thing! When it comes to the morning of your wedding day, you will not be able to sleep in. You're going to be so excited like a 5 year old on Christmas, so if your hair stylist or makeup artist suggest an earlier start time, do not worry. There's a few reasons why I always ask for extra time. The largest being that this is a really important day and it's the only time you will get to spend with just your bridesmaids. You picked them for a reason, so take extra time to enjoy their company. Also however you feel at the end of getting ready, is the energy you will feel when going into a first look or down the aisle. The last thing you want is to go into it feeling stressed or rushed. I also recommend that my brides take a moment to let the day sink in with peace and quiet, often when alone. Enjoy every second of the day because it will fly by. 

2. Trust your hair stylist and makeup artist when they give advice. You hired them for a reason and unless you have been married before, they do this a little more often than you. As a makeup artist I have seen TONS of things not go as planned, so when I give recommendations to my brides, it's usually because I have experience to go off of when something went wrong. Whomever you decide to go with for your glam team, wants you to have the best day ever so keep that in mind. 

3. Have a trial. I cannot stress this enough. The more that you can do to get rid of potential stress on the big day, the better. You will feel a sense of relief knowing that your hair stylist and makeup artist know exactly what you want for your wedding day. Also this allows you to make sure you don't have any sensitivities or allergies to the products being used ahead of time. 

4. Bring pictures! I find that sometimes brides feel weird about bringing pictures to their trial but they are so helpful for your glam team. It's much easier to understand what you want if we have a visual of it. We all describe things differently so pictures can help us connect the dots better. Also know why you love the pictures. I often ask brides why they love a certain look so that I can make sure I deliver the best possible makeup look for them.

5. Discuss allergies and sensitivities ahead of time.  If you are allergic to specific ingredients or sensitive PLEASE let your artist know ahead of time. While I keep a lot of extra products in my kit, I can't be prepared for every possible allergy since everyone is different. So make sure you discuss everything with your artist before the big day.

6. Create a schedule. This is the big one. Depending on large your wedding party is or how many people are getting hair and makeup done, you may want to create a loose schedule to keep things flowing properly. If your party is large, it will probably take a good amount of time (hours) for everyone to be glammed. If you create a schedule it allows your girls to at least know the approximate time that they will be needed by the hair and makeup team. I've had bridesmaids go MIA and slow down the process which can end up stressing the bride out. Sometimes they need to leave to help with setup and such, which is fine, but it's nice for them to know what time they should return to keep things running smoothly. It's helpful to have your hair and makeup team take a look at the schedule to make sure that you planned enough time for them to do what they need to do to help you look perfect! Please lean on your hair and makeup team for this! I cannot stress this enough. Have family members (mom, sisters, etc.) be done towards the beginning. I recommend making sure that none of your close family members go last. I like to plan for worst case scenario so that even the unpredictable doesn't ruin anything. Anyone who you would want in pictures to help you get dressed (i.e. sister buttoning your dress, mom putting on your veil) you do not want to go last. Just in case things are running behind you do not want your mom or sister to miss that special moment. You want to be as close to the end as possible without being last. You are the star of the show and your makeup and hair needs to look the best, so going as close to the end as possible (I recommend second or third to last) is best so that everything will look fresh at the end of getting ready!

Congrats on your big day! If you are still looking for a makeup artist for your big day, please send me an email. I'd love to be considered in helping you look your very best on your wedding day. If you are going to be a bridesmaid this year, make sure you check out this post I did on Bridesmaids Makeup Tips. 

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea

Things that I'm Recently Loving

Hello again!

Today isn't about products. It's more about activities and ways I've been trying to turn negativity into positivity. I mentioned in my last post that 2018 got off to a bad start and last week was no different. Haha I'd love to say that my positive attitude really propelled me through my problems, but at times I wanted to curl up in a ball in my bed and not take on the day. 

However, I did learn some pretty great things last week about myself and I'd like to think that I've grown a little bit as a person. Hooray self reflection? How's that going for you so far? Great I hope.

When stressed, I like to take my frustrations and channel that energy into productivity. Maybe it's because it distracts me a little bit from other things going on, but I like to think of it as a positive thing to not allow myself to completely shut down and actually curl into that ball in my bed.

This productivity I speak of is where this post comes into play. I wanted to share some things that have kept me sane the last two weeks. I started some healthier habits and it's like the universe was telling me to take better care of myself because it knew I would need a little extra love to start this year off. So I want to share some things that have shifted my focus and brought attention to things that I love doing and have gotten out of the habit of enjoying. 

Yoga. I used to do so much yoga. Mostly at home practice, but frequently I would start my day with a little time on my mat devoted to myself. I love the YouTube channel by Adriene Mishler called Yoga With Adriene (YWA). She is easily my favorite for doing yoga at home. She does these 30 day challenges every so often, where she posts a video for 30 days straight and really guides you in many ways to grow your practice. I have done them before so when I saw that True (the current challenge) was starting January 2nd, I knew I had to sign up. I'm not going to lie. I have cried a few times while doing my daily yoga practice because she always seems to know what my body and mind need. I don't even know how much more stressed I would be if it wasn't for this challenge right now. I highly recommend checking her out. 

Reading. I have so many books on my bookshelves that haven't been devoured yet and this week I picked the biggest one up that I had and started reading. I haven't been able to put it down yet and it made me really thankful for the ability of books to take you to knew locations, cultures, and stories. I love how a good book can captivate you and distract you from things you need to be distracted from. You're probably curious what book it is now, and that's The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne and holy cow! Don't let the almost 600 pages scare you. It sucked me in from the first few pages and I haven't let it go yet. I can't speak for the whole book, so I will keep you updated once I have finished it. 

Reaching out to friends for help. I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to say things out loud to friends in order to get them out of my system so I can move forward. I just need the reassurance from the people who know me best that I am making the right decision. Again this is builds off what I said on Sunday but it's ok to ask for help. Invite a friend over for wine or tea and hash through some things that have been giving you anxiety. I did this multiple times last week with friends and my boyfriend and it's a huge lifesaver for me. 

Cooking. There's something comforting about creating a nice meal when I'm stressed that feels relaxing. While I didn't cook as much as normal last week because of how busy I was, I still find that when I pour myself into a creative outlet it brings me a sense of accomplishment to be able to create something, even if other areas of life aren't going as planned. Basically I'm giving myself confidence in areas that I can to help me feel like I can conquer the stressful things too.  So I guess this one is more so a recommendation to find a creative outlet for yourself so you can release that frustration and feel better.

Remind myself of my why. Sometimes I need a reminder as to what I'm working at in life when things don't go my way. Remembering your 'why' allows you to put things into perspective and refocus your attention so that you can move forward. I like to think about the things I'm passionate about and remind myself how worth it it'll be when I've accomplished my goals. 

What are your favorite ways to refocus and turn negativity into positivity? Please share in a comment below so we can continue this conversation and help each other!

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea Fontana

New Year: Self Reflection

First off, Happy New Year!! I hope 2018 blesses you with love, happiness, and much success. I know it's a little cliche to write about motivating tips for the new year but I can't help it. Going into 2018 I'm in a completely different place than when 2017 started, so I wanted to bring you guys a quick post on staying inspired. 2018 will be the first full year of owning my own business, so to say that I'm feeling ready to take on the world would be an understatement. I cannot wait to bring you guys new content and have spent the past few weeks making so many goals and jotting down every idea that has popped into my head. 

Owning your own business takes much self discipline and it's forced me to create some great habits that I want to share with you. If I had to pick one phrase to describe what I think is most important when accomplishing your goals, it would be self reflection; and I'm talking honest self reflection. You can set goals all day long, but it you aren't taking the time to reflect on what you've done and where you're headed, you cannot make it to your goal. Sometimes you have to edit and reroute yourself throughout the year and that's ok! Below are some of my best tips on how to incorporate self reflection into your life so that you can smash whatever comes before you this year.

1. Answer these 50 questions about 2017/2018: I shared THIS LINK HERE on my Facebook page (Click here to follow, if you're not already) and I cannot stress how vital this was for me. It brought my attention to areas of 2017 that I loved and didn't love. The questions were very straightforward and really helped me reflect on 2017 and prep for 2018. I also recommend writing these down in a notebook so that you can revisit them at the end of 2018 and answer the same questions and see how your answers change. I plan on making this my new end of the year tradition to track growth and passion. 

2. Carry a mini notebook with you at all times: I have been doing this for years and I think it's so important to have a space for 'brain dumping'. I like the carry the Moleskine small notebooks with me, but anything will do. I often find I will come up with tasks to complete or ideas when I'm not able to work on them and I love being able to write it down and get it out of my brain. Sometimes we give ourselves too many things to remember and it can create unnecessary stress. If I write it down, I can get it out of my head and focus on the current task much more easily. I find that doing this also helps me be more present in the moment because I don't have to worry about forgetting something. 

3. Write your goals down and be specific with dates and numbers. This one might seem obvious but if you are not specific it will take you so much longer to reach your goal. I recommend revisiting your goals at least once a month, if not more often. If you have nothing written down, you won't have anything to reflect on. So be specific when you write them down, stare and them often and you will fill your mind with thoughts on accomplishing them. The more you think and surround yourself with your goals, the more likely you will make them feel like reality and that they are doable. 

4. Reflect on how you spend your time. How often to you plan on picking up a new hobby or spend less time doing something and then all of a sudden two months go by and you haven't changed. I recommend taking a look at your weekly schedule and writing every way that you spend your time. This includes the 2 hours of Netflix every night or 1 hour spent cooking dinner. Then for each item, make a pros and cons list on how much value each thing is bringing to your life. You may find that you're spending too much time doing things that are costing too much money or taking away from your overall happiness. Sometimes you need to see it written on paper to realize you need to make a change. You may not realize how much time you are giving something that is bringing no value to your life, until you see how often you do it in a week or month. Then you can swap that time for something better. 

5. Read. Read. Read. I cannot tell you how much reading motivates me. I love that I can literally pick up a book on any topic I desire and learn. Also read books of several different topics at the same time. This will help you stay attentive. It's like watching a movie; sometimes you're in the mood for one topic and sometimes you need another. Regardless, I find that reading helps me stay inspired and motivated by constantly learning new things. 

I hope you'll reflect on your progress throughout 2018 and succeed in whatever you put your mind to. You can do it!

Happy New Year,

Andrea Fontana

My 10 Go-To Week Night Meals

I know this is a beauty blog, but if you follow me on Instagram you probably saw that I asked a poll if you wanted to see these recipes and I got a 100% response of yes! So today I'm sharing my go-to recipes. I usually make something from this list once or twice a week because they are either easy, healthy, or a combination of the two. Some are links to recipes others have created and some are creations of my own!

Tuna Sushi Bowl- I make these sushi bowls all the time (as you can see on my instagram) and I could never get sick of them. They are a great way to get the flavors of sushi, without having to spend all of the time creating and rolling sushi. You can use whatever protein you want, I like to use Ahi Tuna that has been previously frozen (to kill any potential parasites) and cube it. Marinade it in 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to taste. I also like to marinade diced cucumbers and green onions with the tuna, and let it all sit in the fridge to chill for 15 min while your rice cooks. To make this extra healthy, use brown rice instead of white and use tons of veggies. I like to include pickled onions, avocado, carrots, radishes....the list goes on and on! Add whatever you like. You can also make this over salad instead of rice and it will really lighten the dish. 

Chicken Tikka Masala- (Click here for Recipe Link) If I ask my boyfriend what he wants for dinner this week, this will always be the first thing he says. I've made it for so many people and everyone loves it. The biggest thing about this recipe is that you have to let the chicken marinade for an hour or the chicken won't be as tender. The only changes I make are not to include jalapeno, I use a little less cream, and I serve it over brown rice. This is definitely a recipe that you can get away with brown rice easily it soaks up the sauce anyways and it's hard to tell the difference. 

Coconut Chicken Chili - (Click here for Recipe Link) This one is a newer recipe for me, but I love it. It's really delicious and light. 

Chicken Milanese- (Click here for Recipe Link)  I grew up eating Beef and Chicken Milanese so I absolutely love this recipe from Ree Drummond. My boyfriend calls this one "the really good chicken" haha.

Taco Salad- I eat these all the time and they are very low carb and high protein. I use the Quorn Meatless Crumbles to keep the meal vegetarian but you could also use lean ground turkey to keep it healthier. I saute onions and garlic for a few minutes to soften and then the 'meat' until it's no longer frozen. Once everything is hot, I add a little water, along with cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, a little cayenne and sometimes some red pepper flakes if I'm feeling some extra spice. Once the water cooks out a little and it thickens up, I add it to the top of some romaine. Then you can add whatever toppings you like! I love to add plain greek yogurt for extra protein and creaminess instead of sour cream. Then a sprinkle cheese, some black beans, tomatoes, etc and you've got a delicious taco salad!

Honey Glazed Chicken Skewers- I love these skewers and like to serve them over couscous or brown rice. I like to roast them in the oven and they always come out so moist. Make extra and you have great leftovers for another night!

Source: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, 2009.

Strip Steak and Chimichurri- This chimichurri is to die for and I love it served with these potato wedges too. 

Source: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, 2009.

Source: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, 2009.

Chickpea Gnocchi-  If you like gnocchi, these are so much easier and quicker to make! Not to mention they are full of protein and fiber, so they are much better for you then traditional gnocchi. The kneading is especially important. 

Source: The Ultimate Pasta and Noodle Cookbook by Serena Cosmo, 2017

Vodka Sauce with Zucchini Noodles- (Click here for Sauce recipe link) I have been making this sauce for years. It's quick, easy and super flavorful. I love it on gnocchi as well, but it's great with zucchini noodles for a light dinner that doesn't sacrifice flavor. I like to specialize my zucchini myself and then saute them in a pan for a few minutes to barely soften them. Then top with the vodka sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Roasted Tomato Soup- (Click here for recipe link) I think I've shared this recipe before but it's so delicious. It's one of my all time favorite soup recipes and such a great winter comfort food. It takes a little longer than the other recipes but I included it because it's a great one to make a big batch on a Sunday and then freeze it for easy dinner during the week. I always make a lot of this when I have fresh tomatoes from my dad's garden. 

How to Cook More

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am certainly thankful to each and every one of you who read this blog and I hope you enjoyed some time with loved ones this past weekend.

I have been mulling this topic over in my head for the past few weeks and wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to write about it. If you follow my instagram (@andreafontanabeauty) you probably see that I love to cook. Cooking is a way for me to express creativity and relax after a long day. I love to feed others and try new recipes but I realize this isn't the way that everyone feels. I can't tell you how many times people have commented on posts or told me in person that they wish they cooked more or even knew where to start. So I wanted to share some of my tips on how I really cultivated my love for cooking and where I look for inspiration. 

Let's be honest. I have weeks where pouring a bowl of cereal for dinner seems challenging, so don't think that I cook a 3 hour meal every night. However, I hope by reading this post you find some new inspiration for integrating cooking at home more into your lifestyle. Cooking at home can not only save you money but it can also help you create new memories and challenge yourself in new ways. 

First let's talk about how I find inspiration of what I'm going to cook.

Create a recipe book/binder. If I had to give one tip to someone trying to cook more, this would be it. There's a million ways to do this, but the main point is create a space that houses ONLY recipes that you love and enjoy making. I bought a notebook when I was 18 and created sections with tabs and immediately started writing family recipes into it. As I find recipes online or in cookbooks that I make and love, I always write it in. Now, almost 10 years later and it's filled with so many recipes. While I love my cookbooks (trust me I have quite the collection of at least 40), I love that if I'm ever drawing a blank on what to make, I can open this notebook and find tons of recipes that I know I love. I also cannot wait to pass it down to future generations. Some people like Pinterest for this, but personally I like a hard copy book to read while cooking. 

Read cookbooks. I know that you're thinking this is obvious but are you actually doing it? I personally hate reading recipes from my phone. Most of the time my fingers are messy and I end up having to unlock my phone 35 times, so it gets annoying. Having a hard copy book in front of me just makes things smoother for me when cooking so I find I enjoy it more. I also like to have cookbooks on hand because I will browse them for recipe inspiration at night before bed. If I know I have a lot of chicken in the freezer or I'm craving a soup, I'll search in the index and find new recipes to try. I know this seems old school in a world of Pinterest and Google, but sometimes I feel like those can be overwhelming and add to the stress of cooking. Try to simplify. 

Buy used cookbooks. This one is a must for me and  my secret to keeping my love for cooking within a sane budget. I could get lost in a used book store for hours. Many people don't think of looking for cookbooks at used book stores but there are so many goldmines waiting to be discovered! I love the fact that I never know what I'm going to find and I have found some MAJOR steals. There are often classic $40 cookbooks for $6 or $7 at my used book store, so start searching and I promise you it will be worth it. Plus sometimes you find notes from previous home chefs that add to the fun of trying new recipes!

Next, I want to share what I do in my kitchen to make cooking easier and less time consuming.

Stock your pantry. This one is huge for a few reasons. First, I know a lot of people who complain about cooking because if they don't keep much on hand, they are always having to buy almost all of the ingredients in the recipe every time they want to make something. Stocking a pantry is so important for this reason. If you always have your basic grains, spices, onions, garlic, broths, canned veg, and more on hand, you can cut your grocery list in half. This can make a new recipe seem less daunting because you don't have to buy as much. Usually when trying a new recipe out, I only have to buy 3-7 items, because I keep my pantry well stocked. Buying in bulk goes along with this, because you can save so much money. I like to store a lot of my things like oats, rices, lentils, flours, etc, in mason and decorative glass jars so they are always stocked. This allows me to buy them in bulk when I see a great sale and eliminates me purchasing products with extra packaging. Not only will you save money by doing this, but you'll also help save the planet! Sometimes if I'm too busy to grocery shop or simply don't want to spend money on groceries that week, I will challenge myself to create something delicious just by cleaning out my pantry. I usually do this one week a month.

Freeze leftovers. One of the best things I recently started doing was freezing my leftovers instead of saving them in my fridge. I used to put everything in the fridge and I'd find that I didn't want to eat it again so soon so the leftovers would often go to waste. If it freezes well, now I will pop it in a freezer bag to enjoy another day. I know some people don't enjoy cooking because the recipe makes too much and they don't want to eat it for 4 more meals. You can wait a few weeks until you're craving that meal again, defrost it, and you have a quick weeknight meal. 

Lastly, let's talk about planning my meals. How do I decide what to make and when?

Meal Plan. I know this probably comes as no surprise, but in order to save money and not waste food, you really have to meal plan. I like to start by reading my weekly ads for my local grocery stores to see what is on sale. Based on those sales, I will find recipes that use those ingredients. Because I'm usually reading so many cookbooks, I will have recipes in the back of my head that I want to try and will come to mind when I see something is on sale. If you don't want to read cookbooks, simply pop open that homemade recipe book and find all the chicken recipes when chicken is on sale, for example. If I find that a protein is on sale, I will often buy a lot, freeze half or base all of my recipes for that week on it. I usually meal plan every Sunday for one week and only grocery shop once a week. This allows me to not get too overwhelmed and get in and out of the store quickly. 

I hope this post helps you take the step to spend more time in the kitchen. There is so much that can be learned and treasured in my favorite room of the house. Please share your favorite tips for cooking below and share this post with someone you love.

AND GO COOK A MEAL FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

How to Decorate for Christmas on a Budget

Today we're talking about Christmas and home decor. I've never really mentioned much about my home on the blog but many of you wanted to see how I will be decorating for Christmas this year, when I recently asked in an Instagram poll. My overall style with home decor is pretty simple; cozy. I want people to feel hugged by my house when they walk through the front door. I like neutral colors, but I like different textures and fabrics. I love antiques, vintage furniture, and items with a story. To me, I like my home to evoke a feeling of happiness mixed with memories. Nothing has to match, but everything has to flow. Christmas decorations are no exception. This is the first year I've really decorated for Christmas in my home so I wanted to share with you some ways that I've decorated that are budget friendly and still go along with my design asthetic. 

Let's first talk about my tree because it honestly wasn't preplanned, it just kind of happened. I searched christmas trees on Amazon and this 5 ft white tree came up for $35. I have always loved the idea of a white tree and decided 5 ft was the perfect size for my little apartment, so I quickly bought it and the inspiration went from there. It's no secret that I love metallics and neutrals in everyday life, so after going to Target to browse ornaments, I found myself gravitating towards metallics, browns, and really rustic and natural colors. I didn't have many of my own ornaments so I purchased about $40 worth at Target and that is mostly what is on this tree. While most of my ornaments are within this color scheme, I purchased some red, green, and even pink ones, because I love the look of a mismatched, not perfectly coordinated tree. I even found a $4 gold sequined star that slips easily onto the top of your tree. Sugar Paper Designs did a collaboration with Target this year and the result is awesome! I highly recommend visiting Target to scope out the items if you need some stylish, yet inexpensive ornaments or decorations.

The other place I visited for ornaments was Cracker Barrel. The day I went all ornaments were buy 4 get one free. I grabbed some gold jingle bells, silver glass balls, and a cute white and brown glittery owl. My tree wasn't pre-lit, but I was able to cover the tree well with 200 white lights found at Target for $10. Overall I think this tree cost me about $100 to purchase and decorate and I love it. The white tree brightens the room up and still feels so cozy. 

I placed my tree next to my entertainment area/book shelves which I then wanted to transform a little for the holidays as well. In my home I don't have a fireplace so I decided to hang my stockings on either shelf to frame the TV. I also picked up a $3 garland from the Target dollar spot, and wove it around the shelving and above the TV to connect the two shelves. I feel like this makes my entertainment center (which is really a TV stand sandwiched between two ladder bookshelves) look like one cohesive piece. I just so happen to have this star lamp from IKEA year round on this shelf, but I think it adds to the Christmas feeling. 

Next up we have my coffee table. This table runner was gifted to me last year and I love how it adds a little bit of color to my table. In order to stay organized with remotes and such, I like to have a little tray or something centered. I found this wooden board again in the Target dollar spot and decided it would be perfect. They even had a $3 coffee mug in the dollar spot that I decided would be perfect for holding remotes, pens, and all the little things that end up on this coffee table. I love the look of using items in an unexpected way and this coffee mug is no exception.  

This next DIY is one of my favorites. As mentioned before, I love antiques and could spend hours going from booth to booth at antique markets. I love to find new uses for older items. One of my favorite things to find is old postcards. If you've been to my house, you may have seen my valentine garland in my hallway, which is a collection of old valentines sent in the 1910's-30's that have the cutest little sayings and love poems. Recently, I took this idea and made it more christmas inspired. I purchased holiday postcards at an antique shop and decided to clothespin them to this garland in my living room. There's something about the vintage artwork that is very comforting. 

The last item I want to discuss is Pomander balls. Yesterday I got together with some of my close friends to start a tradition. Every year we want to get together to make some sort of holiday decoration and this year we started off with Pomander balls. I used to make these as a child and was so excited to share these with friends. Not only are they so beautiful and customizable, but they smell amazing and can be treasured for a long time. I learned how to make them from Martha Stewart, so here is a link to her directions.  We used a nail to poke the oranges before inserting the cloves and it worked great. We sprinkled ours in arrowroot powder and cinnamon to preserve them and make them smell even better. It's amazing how just one of these in a room can really make it smell like Christmas. If you google citrus pomander balls, you'll see loads of inspiration on how to design and create your own. 

There you have it. So far this is how I have decorated for Christmas. So far everyone has told me I've nailed the cozy factor right on the head, so I'm happy it's coming along. Let me know what you think and please share your Christmas traditions with me! I love to hear about what unique things people do for holidays. 

Now I'm off to go make homemade bagels. Have a relaxing and wonderful Sunday friends!

-Andrea 

Planning Obsession

Something that most probably don't know about me is that I am a huge planner nerd. I absolutely love a handwritten, hard copy planner in front of me and I feel one thousand times more productive when I open the cover. Stupid I know but if you geek out about planners too, I KNOW you get it. I have tried so many times to like electronic to-do lists and calendars on my phone but I just cannot get used to them and do not accomplish as much when relying on them. 

Last week I bought a new planner for 2018 and I posted a poll on Instagram asking if you wanted me to talk about my various planners I've tried, what I loved, hated, etc. and I got 100% yes! So I've decided to share with you today a little bit about my love for planners.

Let's first go over some basics that I look for in my planners. I have to have a monthly spread and weekly spreads too. I've tried daily pages in the past, but I feel like it wastes paper and I don't end up using a whole sheet for the day so I've always reverted back to weekly spreads. I also like enough room for to-do lists and plenty of notes during the week. I like to take my planner with me, so I need it to be durable and last during a year's worth of adventures. While I like a little pop of color here and there, I usually like a mostly black and white planner, which allows me to use whatever color pens or even functional stickers, I want. 

And now for the planners...

Erin Condren Life Planner: The one I had for the end of 2015 and all of 2016 was the original Life Planner with the vertical layout. This planner is one that really re-established hardbound planners again and most of you have probably seen it or maybe even owned one. I coughed up the terrifying $50+ for my Life Planner and I really did like it for the first few months. I liked that there was 3 vertical boxes a day that I could customize how ever I wanted and there was plenty of notes space. This may come as a surprise to you because most people love it, but I doubt I will ever buy a Life Planner again. For me there is really 3 reasons; the cover, the thickness, and the price. First off I HATED the cover. Erin Condren is known for the interchangeable covers that you can customize and get in a million different patterns. I really thought I would love this until I started using my planner. Within a few weeks, I was losing tons of the plastic tips that connected the planner to the coil, and I had to contact the company and they sent me a code to reorder a new cover. Luckily I snagged a deal and got BOGO free so I figured this breaking cover wasn't normal and was glad I'd have two now to last the rest of the year. Except the same thing happened AND my covers started peeling at the corners. I'd say they had great customer service, but the product just wasn't working. Mind you I am not that hard on things and take great care of my stuff. The other two issues I have are how thick the Life Planner is. I had the 18 month, so that didn't help, but I still feel like this planner is just so much thicker than most and a pain to carry around with you. Lastly, the price is just difficult to swallow for me. I think there are just as great or even better planners for less, so I doubt I'll ever go back to Erin Condren. 

One thing I do like is Erin Condren is always coming up with new things and improving previous designs, so I've noticed they have coil-less and hard bound planners now which do solve the problems that I had. I do believe they are a little more inexpensive than the Life Planner too, so that is nice. If you're someone who would leave their planner only in one location, like home or at work, you may really like the Life Planner, but for me it just doesn't work.

Sugar Paper for Target: If you click here you can see this specific planner I have been using for 2017.  I bought it at Target for $20 (I mean can you really beat that?!) Target has been stepping their game up in the planner world and collaborating with some pretty cool design companies like Sugar Paper, Day Designer, Britt & Co.,  May Designs (hint hint hint)...I really liked the hard bound black cover and this one satisfied all of my needs. It was simplistic in color and design, had weekly and monthly spreads, and was thin and easier to travel with than my Life Planner. I have to say that I really did love this planner for most of the year until about 2 weeks ago when it broke. The front cover unattached from the binding. It's usable but a pain to work with because it keeps moving around weird when I try to write. Up until it broke I really thought I would repurchase a planner for 2018 that was similar in size and design. I don't have much more to say about this one besides keep your eye out at Target for planner launches because they kill it!

May Designs for Target: Now we have reached the good stuff. I am absolutely obsessed with my new planner from May Designs. I have a lot to say so let's just dive right in. I bought this one here for $19.99 and it's beautiful, simple, functional, but most importantly CUSTOMIZABLE! It's esstentially May Designs' version of a traveler's notebook, a leather-type cover with elastics that allow for you to connect your own mini notebooks together. If you've never heard of this but love planning please do yourself a favor and google it (but only when you have extra time to blow because you will get sucked in)! I spent a good few months last year (when I was just over the Life Planner) dabbling with the world of Bullet Journaling (again google at your own risk, but PLEASE do it). Bullet journaling is essentially a brain dumb method that involves you creating a planning space out of an empty notebook. It involves you creating your own spreads which allows for complete customization. I really enjoyed it but was too busy at the time to really continue so I went back to a pre-designed planner for 2017. 

So fast forward to now and why I love this May Designs Traveler's Notebook. It came with two notebooks, half the year in each, and I purchased two blank, lined notebooks to insert as well. I also love that it fits the thin Moleskine's that I always keep on me for doodling, lists, and such. 

So where am I at now? I currently have dove right back into bullet journaling in a moleskine for the last two months of the year in the Traveler's Notebook and ditched the Sugar Paper planner because it's broken. I love that this has allowed me to carry the rest of 2017 and the first half of 2018 with me so there's no awkward time of carrying two planners at the end of a year. The thing I love most about the Traveler's Notebook is that at the end of the year if I still love this cover and it's in good shape, I can just buy some new May Designs custom notebooks and use it again! If you've never browsed their site YOU NEED TO. They make the most beautiful customizable notebooks for whatever you need them for. 

I hope this was helpful for all of you who requested this post over on Instagram. If you aren't following me please do it ASAP so you can vote on my polls that help decide what content I bring to you next! Scroll down to the bottom of this page to FOLLOW ME!

Leave a comment below with your favorite planner or any planning tips! Also, let me know if you want to see more planner related content on Andrea Fontana Beauty. I know it's not beauty related, but we all need to be organized to be productive so I love sharing this type of stuff with you!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Andrea 

Fall Favorites

This is one of my favorite posts to write every year. I think it's because I love all things cozy and comforting and that's what this post is all about. I'm going to be sharing everything from products I'm loving to recipes and cookbooks I've been obsessed with. So grab your favorite warm fall drink, grab that soft blanket, cozy up and read on! Oh and be sure to share with me your favorites for this time of year. 

PRODUCTS:
I know this probably doesn't come as a surprise but I love a good pumpkin mask in the fall. So let's talk about how I have been incorporating them into my 'At Home Fall Facial'! My skin type is extremely oily in the summer, but as the cooler months approach, I start to normalize and even feel dry from time to time. I have two favorite pumpkin masks that I use to prep my skin for super hydrating masks (This also helps to brighten my skin and even my skin tone). If you read my last post on my BFF Glycolic Acid (click here if you missed it!), I shared the Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask ($14.99) , but I also like the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme ($58)  if I'm feeling a little flakier and dry on the surface. It has little beads that you scrub your face with for 1-2 min before letting the mask sit and the pumpkin enzymes go to work. Once I remove which ever one of those I've chosen that night, I like to add my serums, eye creams (yes I'm using two right now), and then which ever sleeping mask I'm loving at the moment for some super hydration while I sleep. Spoiler alert: I'll be sharing my favorite sleeping masks soon!

As far as my makeup goes in the fall, I start to gravitate towards warmer and darker tones. Think deep browns, bronzes and even oranges and burgundies to warm things up. Last year I bought the Makeup Geek Autumn Glow Eyeshadow Bundle ($49) and I'm still obsessed with it. It included 9 shadows of various warm shades that make the best fall looks. (Please note that this is an affiliate link where I can earn money if you make purchases. If this bothers you, feel free to visit Makeup Geek separately). While the Autumn Glow bundle is no longer available, the Autumn Glow Bundle II is or you can purchase shadows from the bundle individually. MAKEUP GEEK EYE SHADOWS are LIFE! Go get you some now. 

My lip colors for fall start to get bolder and darker as the days get cooler. I love the wine and burgundy shades in the fall, one of my favorites being the Lorac PRO Matte Lip Color in Merlot ($19). Another favorite is the MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Diva ($17.50).
Now I can't skip over the fact that I love browner lip shades as well in the fall. Think of that 90's lip color that has been super popular the past few years. A few of my favorites include MAC Lip Pencil in Spice ($17.50), Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in FIGGY ($21), Glo Minerals Suede Matte Crayon in Trademark ($18). 

BOOKS:
I have an amazing cookbook to share and also two non-cookbooks. The cookbook is the amazing Eat Beautiful by Wendy Rowe, a well known makeup artist who has written a beautiful book full of recipes for healthy skin. I love that this book combines my two passions, food and skincare. I also love how this book is structured. There are four sections for each of the seasons. Each section includes ingredients and what benefits they have for your skin and body, and then recipes that correlate with those seasonal ingredients. I highly recommend this one (it also looks beautiful on your bookshelf)! (Huge shout out to my best friend Emily who knows me better than I know myself sometimes and gave me this one for my birthday...talk about hitting the nail on the head!)

Next we have two books recommended by my dad. If you've met him, this comes as no shock but these two books are AMAZING! The Referral of a Lifetime by Tim Templeton, and The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann are two of the best books I've ever read. I've always believed in treasuring every relationship that I've created with my clients and these books validate this belief for me. If you are in a service or referral based industry, you NEED to read these now. 

RECIPES: 
For those of you who follow my Facebook Page Andrea Fontana Beauty, I shared a picture of the pumpkin bread I've made my whole life. The recipe comes from the good old fashioned Fanny Farmer Cookbook and luckily many people have shared it online, so here you go! It's the bomb and more often than not, I make them into muffins instead of loaves, so I can take my pumpkin bread with me easier. Enjoy and don't come back here and yell at me when you want to eat 5 muffins in a row (totally not speaking from experience....)

For some reason, sweet potato fries always make me think of fall. I'm realizing now as I'm typing this that it's probably because sweet potatoes are orange, but whatever! Here's how I make my super easy sweet potato fries. I preheat my oven to 450 degrees F. Then I peel my potatoes and cut them into long wedges. Next, cover a sheet pan with aluminum foil, toss them with olive oil and whatever seasonings you want. I like garlic powder, S&P,and basil or oregano. The most important thing I've found with these is that you don't over crowd your pan. Make sure the fries aren't touching and bake them in the center rack of the oven for 10 minutes at a time, checking and flipping when they are browned on top. It usually takes mine 20 on the first side and 10-15 on the second but every oven is different so check often! I LOVE dipping mine in mustard but ketchup is great too! Enjoy!

RANDOMS: 
I have two random favorites that I have to mention. I seem to drink way more tea when fall comes around and I'm currently obsessed with the Tazo Wild Sweet Orange tea. It has hints of orange, lemongrass, and licorice root and I drink it a few nights a week before bed (Yay caffeine free!) 

The other random is wearing olive green clothing. My absolute favorite fall coat for the last 4 years has been this one from Gap.  They usually do a similar one each year, but I can never get enough of it. I love the fit, the color, how broken in it feels. I highly recommend a jacket like this because I think the olive green can often act as a neutral, depending on what you're wearing. I love to pair it with a gray t shirt and denim jeans or black leggings. 

So that wraps up my fall favorites. Be sure to share with me the products and things you love for this time of year. I love when you guys share new things with me!

Have a beautiful and cozy fall,

Andrea

Huge Announcement

Dear family, friends, clients, readers, and all,

I'm here to share my very exciting announcement I mentioned in my last post. After much consideration I have decided to step down as Spa Director and Lead Esthetician at Remedi Spa & Wellness and pursue this; Andrea Fontana Beauty! While I will miss seeing all of my people on a regular basis I am so excited for what is to come. So let me explain what brought me here to this decision and what I will be doing. 

Let me start off by saying Thank you to everyone reading this who might have been a guest of mine. It truly is an honor to make you feel beautiful. Don't worry though, our fun doesn't have to stop!

While I have always treasured the creativity that the world of cosmetics and esthetics has given to me, I have found myself struggling with the superficiality that can come along with it. I have two little nieces looking up to me and I have to be careful with the example I am setting for them. The only way for me to grow as a service provider is to sell more services and products which is not where my heart is. I've realized that I needed to focus more on making women feel amazing on the inside and out and eliminate the pressure of selling things to women. I needed to own my own business so that I could create whatever I wanted. No brand to represent but my own. Unfortunately as a spa director my plate had become too full and I found myself not being able to give 100% to my guests and it ultimately started to make me feel uncomfortable. I realized how many women came to me for advice, recommendations and even just to open up to about whatever was going on in their world, and that I needed to put them first and spend more time educating and helping them. 

To be honest this idea was born out of conversations with so many of you. So many times I'd hear "I wish you could come to my house and teach me this..." Or "I love the blog post where you shared this..." And so much more! The truth was that I just didn't have enough time in my day to continue at the pace I was, while still taking care of my people. I was brain storming how I could shift my focus to helping more women, when it dawned on me. If I owned my own beauty business I could help women in whatever capacity I wanted, while having complete creative control to create whatever I wanted! If there's anything I treasure most about my career it is the relationships I form with women on a daily basis. Helping you feel beautiful and confident, educating you about your skin, and helping you learn new techniques is truly what drives me. 

Now for the fun part! What will I be doing? The possibilities are honestly endless! Here is a list of some exciting things to come, but know that this business is for you! If you have ideas of what you'd like to see me do, do not hesitate to send me them!

1. Freelance makeup for weddings, special events, and more: this one is a no brainer because I've been doing weddings for 4 years now! One of my absolute favorite things about being a makeup artist is making a woman feel beautiful on her wedding day. It is truly an honor. I am booking for 2018 now, so please let me know if you or someone you know wants more info on wedding or special event pricing!

2. This blog: I will finally be putting so much energy into this creative space. I love trying new products, teaching new techniques and educating you on skincare topics and I will finally be able to commit to being consistent here and growing my blog. 

3. Parties: I love teaching the everyday woman techniques on how to feel confident in doing her own makeup on a daily basis. So gather your friends, open some bottles of wine, and let's get to playing with makeup! I want to create a fun environment for you to ask questions and learn techniques!

4. Consulting with skincare and makeup: have no idea where to start when it comes to developing a makeup or skincare routine? No fear! I will come to your house and help you figure it out! Need helping finding a new shade of lipstick but feel overwhelmed the second you step into Ulta? No fear! I'll meet you there and we'll figure it out together! 

Incase you haven't noticed a theme, I want you to feel like you are paying for my honest opinion and time, rather than the brand name I work under. I want to create a space for you to say "Hey, can I have an hour of your time to help me do this.." I love so many brands that I don't want to be confined to recommending only certain ones. 

There's so many more ideas I have in store so please stay tuned! I will always introduce things first on this website so follow along for more updates! If you haven't already liked my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/andreafontanabeauty) please do or follow me on Instagram (@andreafontanabeauty)!!! 

Thank you for taking the time for reading this and supporting me along the way! I'm so excited for what the future holds and I hope you will join me! 

Love,  

Andrea Fontana Beauty!  

Bridesmaids Makeup Tips

Recently, a common conversation topic that I've been encountering is getting your makeup done as a bridesmaid. I'm at the age where every weekend someone is getting married, so it's not a surprise that so many clients and friends are asking me questions about being a bridesmaid. Some of you have never had your makeup done, so I decided to compile a list of tips for you to have on hand for the next time you are in a wedding!

1. Make sure you have a consultation before the makeup artist begins. Since bridesmaids rarely have a trial before the big day, it's important that the makeup artist chats with you for a few moments to discuss things like your skin type, how much makeup you feel comfortable in, anything you love or hate, your favorite features, etc...If they aren't asking you these questions, speak up! If you know you get super oily throughout the day, that's something the MUA will need to know. 9 times out of 10 the bridesmaids pay for their own makeup which means you are their client. It's your face! Don't be afraid.

2. If you wear dramatic makeup on a regular basis or want a dramatic look for the wedding, okay it with the bride first! After all, it is her day and she may have an idea of the look she wants for the bridesmaids. On multiple occasions I've had a bride let me know ahead of time that she doesn't like the look certain bridesmaids might ask for so please don't do it! It's always better to double check with her first to make sure she's comfortable with what you want.

3.  Be on time! Getting ready for the big day will take some serious time. If the bride gives you a specific itinerary with a time slot for you to get your hair or makeup done, make sure you're there 10 min early. I can't tell you the amount of times I've seen girls not show up on time and this could cause a cramp in the schedule! The last thing you want to do is stress the bride out hours before she walks down the aisle! 

4. Bring pictures! Sometimes the most difficult part of a MUA job is understanding what you mean when you're describing what you want. Everyone is different and depending on your makeup knowledge, you might describe a natural eye as a dark smokey eye. Pictures allow the MUA to instantly see what you're talking about and help them understand you better.

5. If you've never gotten your makeup done before I'd recommend going with a natural look that's a little more glam than what you wear every day. You can't go wrong with that! 

I hope these tips help you the next time you are in a wedding. Remember, it's the bride's day and you may have to sacrifice your signature red lip which will be ok. Just remember that the most important thing is you standing up with her on the biggest day of her life!  

 -Andrea

Water. Water. Water.

If you've ever had a facial with me, you've probably heard me talk about drinking water. It's one crucial way to keep your body and skin especially, healthy. I know I'm not the first to tell you this, so I'm going to instead share some tips on drinking water and how it relates to your skin.

Your body is mostly made of water, therefore you need to make sure you are staying hydrated every day not only for your skin, but for your general health. Your skin is your largest organ but it's also the last to get water. So if you don't drink enough, your organs internally will need to absorb and use that water first. This is why it's so important to stay up on drinking water. You have to make sure your skin is getting it as well, in order for it to stay healthy. 

How much should you be drinking? While everyone is different, I generally recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces. So if you weight 140 pounds, try to get in at least 70 fl. ounces of water a day.

When should you drink more? If you are pretty active you need to be drinking more than that because you are losing water and electrolytes when sweating. I usually try to follow the rule for drinking 1 ounce for every minute that I'm sweating in addition to my normal water intake for the day. You should also be drinking more water when you're stressed or sick, because your body is focused on healing or keeping you healthy, and your skin gets even less water. If you know your are sick or dealing with a lot of stress, give your body a head start and drink more water. 

How quickly should you drink water? It's better for your body and skin to slowly sip water throughout your day than to chug it a few times. If you drink too much at once (more than a cup), it'll go straight through you to your bladder. Some people complain that they don't like to drink a lot of water because then they have to use the bathroom constantly, but I'd bet they are probably chugging their water or drinking it too fast and their body is just excreting it, not actually absorbing it. If your body can't absorb it, it won't get to utilize it! Drinking your water slowly allows your body to absorb it, which means all of your organs will get to utilize it, especially your skin that gets it last! If you're guilty of chugging your water, try switching to a water bottle with a straw to drink it slower.

What temperature should you drink it at? In general it is better to drink warm or hot water because your body doesn't have to expend energy to heat it up to your internal body temperature. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Drinking cold water when you're extremely hot in the summer or you just got done working out, is ok because it can help cool off the body. 

Other tips and tricks regarding water consumption:

1. Check your lips! If they are constantly dry, this might be a sign that you are dehydrated.
2. Drink your hot or room temp water with lemon juice! This is my favorite way to flavor my water and the lemon juice aids with digestion.
3. Use apps to help you count. There are so many that will help you keep track of your daily consumption. If you are competitive you might like this because it feels like a game.
4. Drink a glass of lemon water before you have your coffee in the morning so start the day off right!

I personally notice a huge difference in my body when I'm drinking a lot of water. Stay hydrated friends! If you have more questions about drinking water, feel free to leave me a comment or message!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea