28 Things I Learned at 28

In three days I turn 29 and start my 30th trip around the sun. While it’s crazy to think about the fact that I’m entering the last year of my 20’s, I’m so grateful for the lessons I’ve started or continued to learn in the last year of my life. So today I wanted to share some of them with you. Some are serious, some are funny, but all helped me have the best year ever.

  1. One of the greatest gift you can give yourself, is learning how to create healthy boundaries. It is possible to say no kindly and put yourself first.

  2. Not all mashed potatoes are gross. When you whip them with a hand mixer they can actually be quite tasty.

  3. You can be the happiest you’ve ever been in life and still struggle with anxiety. For me this was the turning point in knowing that I needed to talk to my doctor about medications.

  4. Harry Potter is really as great as they said it was. Scratch that, it was better and it changed my life.

  5. Writing a cookbook is hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you have a goal that you’ve always wanted to go after, start.

  6. Speaking of starting, it’s never too early or too late to start something.

  7. Game of Thrones is also as great as they said it was. Thank you Mikey for this and Harry Potter.

  8. While I thought being an aunt to two nieces was the best feeling in the world, being an aunt to three is in fact EVEN BETTER!

  9. The proper anxiety medication for you will not change your personality. You will feel more you and it is great.

  10. Friendships are sometimes meant for a season of life and that’s ok.

  11. While you may think it’s impossible love your significant other any more than you already do, every day will continue to surprise you and you will find ways you didn’t even know existed (i.e. when he becomes an uncle, your heart will swell each and every time he looks at that baby).

  12. You can survive without caffeine…but you don’t have to. haha I did it for 6 months but am happy to have it back.

  13. You can weigh the most you’ve ever weighed in your life and feel the most beautiful you’ve ever felt. Caring for your body and being active is a privilege and we should treat every opportunity to move as a gift. Shifting my focus from how much I was working out to just being and moving, changed my life.

  14. Injuring your tailbone is really painful and you will cry a lot and feel defeated, but you are stronger than you realize.

  15. It’s ok to ask for help.

  16. It’s really fun to go to bed at 9 pm on a Friday and wake up refreshed for the weekend.

  17. Relaxing without feeling guilty is possible.

  18. Buying less and from smaller woman-owned businesses is a phenomenal way to add more joy to your life. Surrounding yourself with carefully crafted items from strong and smart women is amazing.

  19. Support your friends and never stop expressing the gratitude you have for those around you who support you. We all need each other.

  20. Oreos can fix pretty much any kitchen mishap. They make a great appetizer, main course, or side dish when life throws you for a loop.

  21. Social media doesn’t have to be a negative black hole of comparison. You are in control of who is in your feed, so CHOOSE WISELY.

  22. You don’t have to make a lot of money to pay off your student loan debt, save money, etc. It’s not about how much you make, but how you spend what you make. Budget and make great choices and you can become debt free. This WILL be my last birthday with student loan debt. I am almost FREE!

  23. Cancel the plans. If your mind and body are telling you to rest and say no, say no. Again boundaries. Those who matter won’t mind.

  24. Being vulnerable can be really scary, especially when you’re sharing on the internet and you don’t know who’s reading. However, by being vulnerable, you have the ability to connect with others and help them by seeing they aren’t alone. This is so worth it!

  25. Mikey is still the greatest human and I am the most grateful person ever to get to call him mine. Not a day goes by that I do not thank God for his patience, strength, support, & love.

  26. Your business will have seasons, just like life does. It’s ok to be extremely productive one week and unfocused & slower the next. You are human and as long as you are still moving in the right direction, you are moving. Rest is ok.

  27. You don’t need one hundred friends.  Just a couple of REALLY great ones who will always have your back, and tell you which bathroom is best to poop in....

  28. Aging is the real greatest gift.  I love myself more at 28 than I did at 27 and I am so happy to be living this beautiful life that was given to me. I can’t wait to see how I love myself at 29.

Thanks for being so great to me 28. See you on the other side at 29  friends.

I love ya,

Andrea

What Did You Think of That? #1

Welcome to my newest series here on Andrea Fontana Beauty; What did you think of that?

I often get asked this question regarding items I haul on my IG stories, so I figured instead of spotlighting each one in a separate post, it'd be fun to share a post like this every so often with my thoughts on what I’ve tried recently.

It’s not necessarily a favorites or empties post, but just catching you up on my thoughts on what my thoughts are. I try so much stuff some months and hardly anything others, so I figured this would be a great as needed post for those interested. If you want more in depth information of specific products, never hesitate to reach out and ask. Now let’s get to it (click the product titles for links)!

Drunk Elephant Products:

I recently tried a couple kits from Drunk Elephant because I hadn’t tried anything from them before and I thought this was a great way to get a good feel for the brand and try a few things out that I’d been wanting to try. So here are my thoughts.

  • B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum: If you’re looking for a clean hydration serum this is a good option. I personally didn’t find it that special compared to others I’ve tried, so I’d base your decision on budget.

  • C-Firma Day Serum: While I love a great Vitamin C serum for during the day to amplify my SPF effects and for the antioxidant protection, I can’t stand the smell of this one, so I doubt I’d ever buy it. Rosehip oil people. Way cheaper too!

  • T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum: You can probably guess that I loved this one because I pretty much love all Glycolic products. haha I am an addict and liked this one a lot. It’s probably my favorite thing that I tried from all of the products from Drunk Elephant.

  • Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil: Everyone raves about this oil so I was honestly a little surprised when I first tried it because I didn’t think it was anything special. However, if you’re looking for a hydrating but not super greasy facial oil, test this one out. I liked how quickly it absorbed. I have learned to love it more than I initially did.

  • Lippe Balm: This is my favorite item I tried from Drunk Elephant and would consider buying it over and over. It’s a clean, petroleum-free lip balm that can double as an eye balm! I love the texture and how well it hydrates my lips. I also love the size and shape of it for application.

  • D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops: These have been amazing this spring while wanting to add a little extra glow to my face coming out of the winter paleness. I love adding a few drops to my moisturizer to wake my color up a bit. I just love all of the good ingredients too that protect you from environmental damage throughout the day. This is a product that I would definitely purchase the full size for because it looks natural and healthy.

What’s your favorite Drunk Elephant product that you’ve tried? Let me know in a comment below.

L'Oreal Glotion:

I normally mix a liquid illuminator in with my foundation, so when I started hearing about this Glotion, I knew it had my name written all over it. It’s easily my favorite liquid highlighter I’ve ever tried and if you only try one thing from this post, let it be this one!

Herbivore Botanticals Natural PRISM Exfoliating Glow Potion:

I’m obsessed with this night serum because it’s so clean and all of the chemical exfoliants come from natural fruit sources! There’s Lactic Acid (from Bilberry), Glycolic (from sugar cane), Citric acic (from orange peel), Malic acid (from apples), and so many other great ingredients. I know this one is expensive, but a little really goes a long way and I love what it has been doing to my skin.

Herbivore Botanicals Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner:

Shocker, I tried another Herbivore product and fell in love with it. I just really love this brand, especially for those of you looking for clean skincare. I love this one because it is soothing (aloe), protective (antioxidants from green tea), fights my blemishes (willow bark), and more! It smells so good too so it’s calming and enjoyable to spray on your face. I think this will be one that I will keep on hand in my gym bag because it’s so nice in the mornings after a run!

Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser:

I am normally not a cream cleanser girl, but I was super curious about this one so I decided to pick it up from Whole Foods a little while ago. If you’re looking for a clean option and you have normal to dry skin, I would check this out. I prefer it on days when I’m washing and don’t have any makeup on, because it’s a pretty thick cleanser. I’m always amazed by it because it feels like it would leave an oily residue behind when your face is dried, but it’s always surprisingly clean and happy!

So there are some of the products I’ve tried recently. Have you tried any of them? What are your thoughts? Let me know in a comment below and have a great day!

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

So You're Getting Married (Part 2): 7 Tips for Future Brides

Now that it’s May, bridal season is upon us and I wanted to take the time to bring you a second part to my really popular post from a few years ago (So You’re Getting Married). Click here to check that one out if you haven’t! That post is centered mostly around makeup and getting ready, but today’s tips are just reminders that I think every bride should read before their big day.

Reminder that while I have never been married or planned my own wedding, I have witnessed great planning, poor planning, and everything in between. This advice comes from my experience working in the wedding industry for 5 years now, but ultimately you know what’s best for you and your future spouse.

  1. You’re the only one who knows exactly what’s supposed to happen.

    Guess what. No guest at your wedding will know what your exact thoughts for your cake table are. So if details don’t go exactly according to plan, don’t sweat it! Chances are everyone will still think your day was absolutely spectacular, so don’t get stressed.

  2. The people bring the joy.

    Last fall I had the pleasure of doing the makeup for one of my first friends of life, and at her reception, her mother gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard at a wedding. She mentioned that a friend gave her the advice to focus on the fact that while the details can be really special, the people truly bring the joy to the wedding. This may be the only time in your life that all of your favorite people from both sides of your lives will be in one room. That in and of itself is special, so don’t forget it.

  3. Choose bridal looks that make you feel like you.

    I can’t recommend enough choosing a bridal look that looks and feels like you. You want your groom to feel like it’s you walking down the aisle, after all he’s marrying you, not some fantasy bridal version of you. You will look at these photos forever, so stick with classic looks that represent the true you. If you don’t like how your hair looks up and never wear it up, don’t choose an updo for your bridal hairstyle. You obviously want to feel special on your wedding day, but in a moment that can feel very surreal, it’s important to love what you see when you look in the mirror. We’ve all had those days when we don’t like our outfit for example, and feel less confident. Don’t let this happen on your wedding day!

  4. Stay organized and do a little each week to prevent stress.

    The brides who seem to be the least stressed to me are those who stay organized and do a little bit of wedding planning each week. Obviously if you have a short engagement this might not work for you, but I find that most brides tell me that by making a couple decisions a little at a time, they don’t feel that overwhelmed. I think a lot of wedding planning comes down to what kind of decision maker you are, so lean on those you trust, who are good at it.

  5. Stop caring about what other people think or making decisions to please others.

    It’s YOUR wedding day. The day is about you and your partner joining lives together. If you don’t want to do some traditional aspect of a wedding, don’t do it. Your day gets to be as unique as the two of you, so who cares what the people think! If you don’t like the look of a veil, don’t wear one!

  6. People just want to have a good time and celebrate you.

    While the details may be really important to you, don’t forget that most people just want to have fun. I say this not to sound like no one cares about the cake topper you chose, but in 20 years, most people will remember whether or not they had a great time at your nuptials.

  7. Find a moment while you’re getting ready to just sit and think about the day.

    Most brides tell me that it doesn’t feel like their wedding day, in the mornings when we’re getting ready. I personally love when the bride can find even just 5 minutes to sit and close her eyes and just soak in the moment. It’s a big day and from what I’ve heard, it flies by in the blink of an eye. At the end of the day, you will be marrying the love of your life and I think it’s really important to find a few minutes and sit and reflect on what that feels like. Often times, brides are bombarded with a million questions as they are getting ready so I think this time is sacred and special.

Overall, the most important thing is that you have fun and marry your husband or wife. Try your best to take extra time for self care and remember not to sweat the small stuff. Fill your day with gratitude and I can almost guarantee that you will have the best wedding day EVER!

If you’re a past bride of mine reading this, I hope your marriage has been better than you ever could have imagined so far. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day!

If you’re a future bride of mine reading this, I am so excited to have the honor to do your makeup on your wedding day. You will occupy a special place in my heart forever.

Have fun planning,

Andrea

Photo above is by Ben Ramos Photography.

Pixi Skin Treats

I was lucky enough to be sent the most beautiful skincare package from Pixi Beauty. I am extremely grateful when companies send me products to try because it allows me to review and share my thoughts with you! However, always remember that I would never recommend something solely because someone sent it to me. While I technically didn’t pay for these products, the opinions below are completely my own.

This ‘Skin Treats’ package from Pixi was filled with amazing masks and treatments for the skin. Pixi products are available at Target if you want to check them out in person.

Depuff:

I love a good eye gel mask for under the eyes, in fact I carry them in my kit to give to most brides, especially those who haven’t slept well leading up to the wedding! My go to brand though is Peter Thomas Roth’s De-Toc Cucumber Hydra-Gel Eye Patches, because they work the best out of all the ones I’ve tried (Click here to see my previous post about how well they work). However, I have to say these Detoxif-EYE Facial Treatment Eye Patches gave the PTR one’s a run for their money. I have used them on a couple brides now and myself and I think they do just as great of a job! I used them this past weekend on a bride who was puffy from allergies and they did such a great job of smoothing out any puffiness and fine lines before applying her makeup.

Detox:

The product I was most excited to see in this goodie box was the Glow Mud Mask, because I had heard other bloggers/youtubers RAVE about it (cough*@whatkatefinds*cough). I have to say, I was really impressed with it! I love how when it’s try you can see it working in your trouble areas. This is great if you are congested or oily and new to the skincare world and don’t quite know what to look for on your skin. It paints a clear picture as to where your trouble spots are when it comes to impurities. I love it. I love that it’s pretty quick drying too so you only have to wear it for about 15 minutes.

Peel:

This Peel & Polish mask is a fun way to prep your skin and exfoliate it before a treatment mask. I love how quick and effective it is. Simply apply it for 2 minutes and it will chemically exfoliate your face, then if you want a little extra exfoliation you can scrub it with wet finger tips and gently buff the skin a little more. As you probably know, I am not the greatest fan of mechanical exfoliation, but I like how gentle the grit is of this product. As expected though, I use it more so for the chemical portion and barely move it around before removing with a gentle damp cloth (which they so kindly provided in the goodie box! You really thought of everything Pixi Beauty)!

Glow:

You know I was excited to see the GLOW Glycolic Boost Sheet Masks come in this box because I love a good Glycolic Acid product. It really helps give a glow to your skin when used regularly! I loved this sheet mask. I am excited that I received more than one and this is a product I will definitely buy in the future. I try to use a low level glycolic acid serum every night, but love a slightly more intense treatment every so often. I like that with sheet masks you don’t rinse the product off afterwards, which is important with glycolic acid because when it’s at a lower level, you want it to sit on the skin to do it’s magic. I love this mask for nights when I’m in a rush but my skin is breaking out and needs some help. Aka, last night on day 2 of my period. haha

Purify:

I should have read more carefully with the T-Zone Peel Off Mask, but for some reason I didn’t realize that it was basically going to mimic a Biore Pore Strip. So you might be able to guess, but I’m not a big fan of these types of products and I tell you to generally stay away from them. Here’s why; the stuff in your pores is called sebaceous filaments and it’s simply a sign of healthy oil production which is a good thing! I understand that sometimes it can be too much and you can feel self conscious about it, so my suggestion is to skip the pore strips or peel off masks and go straight for the mud or charcoal masks (like the GLOW MUD one above!) and dissolve the excess oil instead of ripping it out. This is too rough on your pores, leaves them wide open and susceptible to acne infections and such. Plus, if you remove this oil too often, your body will simply up your oil production and try to refill your pores with even more oil!

Overall, I’m really loving most of the products Pixi Beauty sent me. I highly recommend checking some of them out if they sound like they could work for some of your skin issues. As always, let me know if you have questions about any of them!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

Pixi Beauty did send me these products to try for free, but all opinions are my own and I was not asked to review them.

Tips for Creating a Solid Skincare Routine

I know that skincare routines can seem tedious and like a waste of time to some people, but the reality is that we only have one face. It’s important to take care of our skin, but your skincare routine should be specific to you. How do you find the motivation to actually develop a routine that works for you? Follow some of these tips and I think they will help you.

Do your routine when you get home for the night.

This is my number one tip. For some reason, we think we have to do it right before we get in bed. If you struggle with feeling too tired to do your skincare at the end of the day, do it when you get home from work and change into your comfy clothes. This will also give you extra time to do treatments; say a face mask while cooking dinner…Doesn’t that sound nice? As long as you won’t be sweating or going out into the sun again, you can do that skincare as soon as you are in for the night.

Create a soothing environment in your bathroom while doing a skincare routine.

If you look at your skincare as an opportunity for self care, your attitude can change about it. It will no longer feel like a chore, but a fun experience. Create an environment that is relaxing and inviting so that you look forward to taking care of your skin. Soothing music, aromatherapy, lighting a nice candle; all of these things can add to the ambiance and make your skincare routine the best 10 minutes of your night.

Organize a special area of your bathroom as your skincare corner.

If your products are organized and easy to access, you’ll be much more likely to use them. I like to keep mine on a special shelf that is only for skincare so that I see them every time I walk into my bathroom, but they still look clean and neat. This way I am always reminded that I need to spend time on my skin.

Do your research, learn to understand your skin, & meet with an esthetician.

I find that we are less likely to do something when we don’t know why we would be doing it. We know we should be cleansing our faces but do we know why and how to properly do it? Take some time to meet with a licensed esthetician who can help you understand what your skin needs. The reality is that our skin can change day to day and the best thing we can do is learn to understand what our skin needs so we can properly treat it at home. Your esthetician is a great resource for this. I offer beauty therapy appointments to help you discover your skin specifically, so email me if you would like more info on this.

Only try one new product at a time.

This one may surprise you, but this is one of my big beliefs that I am always talking about. I firmly believe that we should only introduce one product at a time into our skincare routines. Here’s why…if you have an allergic reaction, you know exactly what caused it. If you don’t like the effects or oppositely, LOVE the effects, you know exactly what caused them. It also helps keep the cost of amping up your skincare routine spread out over a course of time, instead of having to drop a bunch of money at once. I am all about helping you create a great routine for yourself, but I also want it to be realistic and I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed.

Let me know what you do to make your skincare a part of your daily life! Comment your tips below.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

11 Things With Andrea #2

Let’s just jump right into it!

  1. I recently tried Fabletics for the first time and overall I loved my first purchase. I got two pairs of cropped leggings, one full length pair, and a sports bra that zipped up the front. I was really hoping to find a sport’s bra that was thick and good quality (the zipper ones usually are for higher impact sports), but unfortunately the fabric is just too thin to be super supportive. I LOVED the leggings though. The trinity high-waisted leggings are amazing. I highly recommend them. I asked you guys on IG your thoughts on Fabletics and most of you said that it’s not really great for sports bra, but the leggings and tops are awesome! While it is a monthly subscription I don’t think I’ll be purchasing every month (you can skip months), because I’m pretty set with leggings for now!

  2. I have been reading a lot recently (I’m on my 6th book for the month if that tells you anything). I did a book post recently (click here to check it out) and I’m excited to have some extra time next week to relax and read because the families I nanny for are on spring break! I picked up ‘The Shape of Water’, ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Devil in the White City’ from the library and you all voted for me to start with ‘Big Little Lies’! I’m excited to read all three of these so make sure to check back in a little while to see my review on them.

  3. I currently have a GIVEAWAY going for a $100 Gift Certificate to JORD watches! If you haven’t entered it yet, CLICK HERE to check out the watch I was gifted for Mikey (my sweet watch obsessed other half). You don’t want to miss out on this awesome chance to win! You also get a 10% off code for entering so what do you have to lose?

  4. Wedding season begins this Saturday. While I had one wedding in January, this weekend starts the doing something almost every weekend for weddings and I AM SO EXCITED! I love my brides! I only have 2 Saturdays left and many Fridays and Sundays available so if you’re a 2019 bride who still needs a makeup artist, please contact me ASAP! (Click the CONTACT tab in the menu on the left).

  5. I’m really excited to be on track to be under $10,000 in debt by my 29th birthday this May (my goal is to be debt free by 30, which I am also on track for)! I know I don’t talk about it a lot on here, but for all of you working your butts off to become debt free, I AM WITH YOU! It’s probably my biggest goal that I’m working towards every day and if you’re also going through it, I know the struggles and tough work it takes. WE CAN DO IT!

  6. Please send all Netflix/Hulu/Prime recommendations my way. Like I mentioned before I have spring break coming up and am going to attempt to watch something since I suck at it. Working on learning how to be comfortable being relaxed and lazy, but it’s a process.

  7. I’m happy to report my anxiety is much lower than it was in January and February. I know I talked about it a lot on my IG and a little here, but if you don’t see me talking about it as much as I was, just know it is always something I am dealing with and working with. You are not alone. Always message me if you want to talk to someone.

  8. I’ve been trying a lot of new to me products from Drunk Elephant, Herbivore Botanicals, Tarte, Mad Hippie, etc and I’m excited to put together a post devoted to what I liked/ didn’t like.

  9. Cookbook writing is still coming along well! Every week I feel like I see the vision of my final cookbook becoming a little stronger which is really exciting. To all of you who consistently ask me how it’s going and are as excited as I am…you will NEVER know how much I truly appreciate your support and love. I am writing this cookbook for you and I think you’re going to love it! If you haven’t already signed up for cookbook updates, please click here to be added to my email list!

  10. If you’re in the Midwest, you’ve been experiencing some lovely SUN the last few weeks and it’s been AMAZING! Am I the only one who’s always constantly amazed at how much it affects our mood. We are different people when the sun is out and I love it! Spring is my favorite season so I’m excited to return to running outdoors and stopping to check up on all the blooms.

  11. If you caught Samin Nosrat’s phenomenal Netflix series, ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’ you might have checked out her cookbook of the same name. If you checked out her cookbook you probably oo’ed and aaah’ed at the beautiful artwork in it. I preordered these TO DIE FOR prints from the cookbook and if you need some extra kitchen art (I’m planning a beautiful kitchen gallery wall) you NEED to order these prints. They are so inexpensive for what beauty they really are!

  12. BONUS: This last one isn’t about me. It’s about you. You’re great. And I hope you’ll keep coming around to read what I write. I still get such amazing messages from you all about how my content is inspiring you and lifting you up and all I can say is, YOU are the one inspiring and lifting me up when you say these things. You are great! Thank you

Have the best weekend you tootie cutie patootie people,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

Unique Wood Watches: A Distinguished Gift For Him

I love a good men’s gift guide to bring me ideas on what to get my boyfriend, friends, dad, etc for birthdays and holidays. Except, I find that the only time I see people sharing them is for the holidays. All of the great men in our lives have birthdays too, so I thought I’d bring you an off-holiday season gift guide to bring you some inspiration for those non-Christmas occasions.

1. Decorative Chess Set:

It can be hard to find decor for men to put in their homes because they don’t usually have the same obsession with boxes, vases, and organization that we do. Haha I love a beautiful chess set because it can be both decorative and functional. Men don’t always seem to want to buy things because they look pretty like we do. This glass chess set is neutral which I love and takes up a good amount of room on a shelf, which can be helpful when trying to fill some spaces in with decor in a new place.

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My boyfriend is obsessed with watches. As you’ll see in a minute, he has quite the collection and really does wear different ones depending on the day and outfit. When the watch company JORD (pronounced Yode) reached out to me to send me a watch, I knew that I wanted to receive one to gift to him. I wear my Apple Watch everyday, so I don’t swap out watches (while they do have really beautiful Apple Watch bands as well, I knew I wanted to center this post around him).

JORD sent us this stunning Frankie Ebony & Gold watch. JORD watches are made with natural wood from around the world. While it is pretty neutral, it is unlike any of the other watches Mikey has. I love the simplistic nature of the design because many of the other watches Mikey has are very detailed. I think this watch will be a classic watch that he reaches for time and time again and can honestly go with almost any outfit.

Some fun facts about JORD watches:

  • Most of the watch backplates can be engraved, which is really special if you want to give a unique and meaningful gift (Hello to all of my brides still needing a wedding day gift for their fiance)!

  • The watches are sized to each recipient.

  • Each watch comes with a one year warranty.

  • You can work with JORD to further customize the watch you are buying!

  • Free worldwide shipping

Read until the end to Enter the AMAZING giveaway I will be offering with JORD watches!!

3. Watch Storage Box:

A watch storage box is a must for any man in your life who loves and collects watches. Not only do they keep things organized, but they protect the watches. Once again they provide great style while sitting on a dresser or in a closet. I like the one Mikey has because it has a glass window that allows you to view your watches while they are being stored.  

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4. Crystal Liquor Decanter:

Mikey has two whiskey decanters of a similar style that again make great decorative pieces, but are still functional (are you sensing a theme here? haha). I love the look of these decanters on a bar car with some beautiful whiskey glasses.

5. Knife Set:

If your guy likes to cook, maybe it’s time you upgraded his knife set. Mikey received this Cuisinart Knife Set for Christmas this past year and I’m amazed by the quality. Each knife is heavy and sharpens so well, that I love cooking at his house!

6. Ice Mold for Cocktails:

If you need a small gift to add on to another present, this is a great gift for any guy, even if they don’t drink alcohol. Ice cube molds are fun regardless of what you’re drinking them with!

7. Codenames:

In case you haven’t heard about Codenames, now you have. This game has been the center of so many friend gatherings in the last year. I highly recommend keeping it on hand because you can play with only 4 people or a huge group. Warning: it can get pretty heated and competitive, but get it ASAP!

8. Dutch Oven:

A dutch oven is a great gift for any man who likes to cook, but especially for those who don’t want 100 gadgets and instruments laying around their kitchen. A dutch oven is great for sauteing, roasting, making soups, searing meat and then finishing it in the oven, etc. You can even bake bread in them. The options are endless. I really like the brand Lodge for my cast iron products, so this one is a great size and option.

9. Book Shelf:

If your guy is a reader, a beautiful bookshelf is a great gift because it allows him to store his important collection. Mikey and I picked out this shelf from IKEA and so far I love how it has really transformed his office into a library.

10. Industrial Style Lamp:

I personally love anything for my house that can be a conversation starter and this lamp is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Mikey has it in his living room and it is so unique. I think a new lamp is a great gift for any guy who loves reading!


Do you have any great gift ideas for the men in your life? Comment below and add them to this list!

Now for the fun part…..the JORD Giveaway!

One of my lovely readers is going to win a $100 giftcard to JORD off any watch!! Everyone who enters will receive 10% off just for trying!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Entering will still get you something special, even if you don’t win so what do you have to lose?

Good luck to everyone who enters! I will announce the winner when the giveaway is finished.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea


DISCLAIMER: JORD sent over the Frankie Ebony & Gold watch as a gift to review and give to my boyfriend. However, all opinions are my own.


Books I've Recently Read #4

I’m back again with my last 10 reads! I love how much you guys love these posts. Reading a lot is one of the many gains I have added to my life since quitting my job and owning my own business. As always, be sure to leave me good recommendations in the comments!

CLICK EACH BOOK TITLE TO BUY ON AMAZON***

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (by J.K. Rowling): I started my year off with finishing the Harry Potter series for the first time. In case you missed me talking about it on my Instagram, it truly changed my life. I totally understand why people are so obsessed with it. I cannot recommend enough for you to read the series if you haven’t. I also watched the movies which I obviously loved but not as much as the books. At first I was upset with myself for waiting until 28 to read them, but I really think I was meant to read them at this age. I am excited read them every few years and relive the magic again.

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE (by Anthony Doerr): I have a fascination for the WWII time period (Shout out to everyone else who had Molly the American Girl Doll. I think this is where my fascination started)! When it came time for me to pick the monthly book club book I picked this one because it was rated really well and I love this era. I absolutely adored this book, but everyone else in the group while still liking it, wasn’t quite as obsessed as I was. I will say it does take a good 150 or more pages to get really into it. I was just in awe of how well Doerr was able to write from the perspective of a blind girl in France during WWII. I’m super excited that it is being turned into a Netflix Miniseries, but you know I’m going to tell you to read it first if you want to watch that! The book is ALWAYS better….haha

BREAD AND WINE: A LOVE LETTER TO LIFE AROUND THE TABLE (by Shauna Niequist): One of my best friends put this in my hands and said READ THIS, so I did! I absolutely loved the stories and the format of this book. Every chapter is a story and a recipe that relates to it. I think this book is a must for anyone who treasures a meal around the table with the ones they love, but also any woman from late 20’s to 30’s. It has a lot of great quotes and meaningful stories that hit home. I also picked up Cold Tangerines, by the same author, so read soon.

INTO THE DARKEST CORNER (by Elizabeth Haynes): This was my February Book Club read. This is not a typical genre of book for me to read, but I was really excited to read something that I normally wouldn’t. It’s a thriller and if you like intense page-turners, this book is great. It’s intense until the last page. If you like thrillers this is a must. If you don’t normally read this type, I think it’s a good one to switch it up with.

THE LIBRARY BOOK (by Susan Orlean): If you are a book and library lover, you HAVE to read this one. I was excited to receive it as a gift for Christmas, and was in love with how Orlean formatted and wrote the book. It’s a great mix of history of the LA Public Library, information of the mystery of the LA Public Library Fire of 1986, and look at how the library operates today. My only complaint is that some of the chapters on the history of establishing the library were a little too detailed and long. I preferred the chapters on the fire mystery and what libraries do for us today, more! If you love libraries and want to learn more about the magical buildings they are, pick this one up!

COMMONWEALTH (by Ann Patchett): I stumbled upon this one at my library and since it seemed like I was the only one who hadn’t read it yet, I checked it out. I was really excited to read it, since I’d heard so many people rave about it, but I honestly wasn’t a fan. I felt like many of the chapters went in circles and nothing really happened. I normally love when books cross into different decades, but this one just felt too spaced out and like I wanted to know more. If you’ve read this one, I’m curious to know what you thought of it.

THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD (D. E. Night): I was sent this book by the Publisher for free to review on Goodreads (Let’s be friends on it if we’re not already), but sadly I didn’t love it. I think if I hadn’t just recently finished Harry Potter with details fresh in my head, I would have enjoyed it more. I couldn’t help but compare every character/location/detail, to a Harry Potter equivalent. It felt like the exact same story as Sorcerer’s Stone and that made me sad. I will say the author did a great job describing some magical details that helped them come alive, but I just couldn’t get past the Harry Potter similarities unfortunately.

AM I THERE YET? THE LOOP-DE-LOOP, ZIGZAGGING JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD (by Mari Andrew): Stop righ there, click the link and go buy this book. It is A MUST. It’s a super quick read (I read it in a day). I think every woman should own a copy and re-read it once a year. The watercolors are beautiful and the content is just so freaking relatable. I think it would be the perfect gift for someone in college or just after graduating, because it talks about the topics of moving to a new city, finding your home, finding yourself, dating, loss, and so much more. It will definitely be a book I leave out on my coffee table for friends to peruse when they are over. Thank you to my best friend Emily for giving this to me for my birthday last year. She just knows me so well.

GO SET A WATCHMAN (by Harper Lee): I reread ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ in my book club in December and loved it so much more than I ever remembered. I was really excited to read this sequel because my good friend Sammy said I needed to read it. I am so grateful that she told me to because so many people HATED it. haha Don’t read the reviews on Goodreads. On it’s own, I don’t think the book is that great, but as a sequel it is awesome. I think it does such a great job of following up with Jean Louis ‘Scout’ Finch after all of those years. I learned that this title is what Harper Lee wanted to originally name ‘TKAM’ so I found that really interesting. If you haven’t read TKAM since high school days, please do yourself a favor and reread it & then read this one just to see how it ends.

Have you read any good books recently that I should add to my Want To Read section of Goodreads? Comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

Five Minute Miracle Shower

Friends. I’m about to change your life. This is a routine I started doing a while ago because I don’t always feel like dealing with a bath and sometimes don’t have the time. I find that as I age, I am trying to create small routines that can center, ground, and relax me in a short amount of time. Enter the five minute miracle shower. This is perfect if you don’t have a bathtub, don’t like baths, or simply don’t have the time! I personally like to do these miracle showers on days when I’m not washing my hair because my showers are really short and this doesn’t add in a lot of time. This is extra amazing if you are a night shower-er and can use it to calm down before bed!

Follow these steps and I guarantee you will get out feeling calmer and more centered:

  1. Turn off the lights.

    No candles. No lights. If you have a window this may be a little difficult if you don’t have curtains but try to make the room as dark as possible. I like to crack my bathroom door so I have the smallest amount of hallway light coming through. If you want to turn on some spa music, white noise, waves, etc…feel free!

  2. Get in and sit on the shower floor.

    However is comfortable works, just make sure you are facing away from the water. I like to adjust the shower head and position myself so that the water is hitting my neck and trickling onto my back.

  3. Take 3-5 deep breaths.

    I’m talking the best deep breaths you’ve ever taken. Work on focusing your breathing and breathe a little deeper with each one.

  4. Facial Massage (30 secs to 1 min)

    Make sure your face is a little damp and using your ring and middle fingers, move in slow circles starting at the center of your chin and moving upward and outward across your jawline. Once you reach your ears, move back to the center of your face just above where you started the previous line of circles. Move outward and upward again slowly, repeating this process until you reach your forehead.

  5. Pressure Points (30 secs to 1 min)

    Using your same ring and middle fingers, make even smaller circles, applying pressure to your temples, starting of your brows (orbital bone), and under your cheek bones right where you would contour. Don’t actually lift your fingers off your face while making the circular motion.

  6. Back (1 min)

    Lean forward slowly letting the water massage hit your entire back. Once you reach the lower back slowly lean back into your initial sitting position.

  7. Neck circles (1 min)

    Slowly circle your neck a few times in a circle, letting the water pressure hit your head and massage your scalp. Do the same amount in the opposite direction.

  8. Take 3-5 deep breaths.

    Try to take even slower deep breaths than the beginning and repeat this whole process if you have more time and need more calming.

Remember, this was a practice I invented myself that was born out of what feels good. If you find that something feels good add it to your routine. Leave me a comment below if you try this and let me know what you think!

Have a calm and centered night,

Andrea

Andrea's Pantry Staples

I have wanted to share this list for along time because I believe a well stocked pantry is VERY important to minimize the overwhelm of cooking meals at home. When I say well stocked I don’t mean that you need to have everything under the sun in there either. I simply mean that you have the basic building blocks to create a really great meal at any time. These are the items that can usually be found in my cupboards. What does your pantry look like? Comment below and let me know!

  1. Jasmine or Basmati Rice: These are my favorite two and I always have them on hand because they are a great staple gluten-free item.

  2. Brown Rice: I am not a huge fan of brown rice, but I do like it Chicken Tikka Masala because it’s texture holds up nicely to the sauce, so I keep a little of this on hand.

  3. Almond Flour: I make my own almond flour from the process of making my own almond milk. If you want to see how I do that, CLICK HERE!

  4. Oat Flour: This is another common gluten-free flour that you find in a lot of recipes, so I like to keep it on hand.

  5. Oats: I always have either GF regular oats or quick cooking steel cut oats on hand because I eat oatmeal so often for breakfast. It will always be my go-to breakfast because I love it so much.

  6. Diced Tomatoes: These can be used in so many different styles of cuisines so I always keep them on hand. They are perfect for a super quick tomato sauce too.

  7. Tomato Paste: I love keeping tubes of tomato paste on hand (usually from Trader Joe’s) because they can add an extra dimension of flavor to so many meals. I also need it for homemade tomato sauce, so….duh!

  8. Tubes of Ginger Paste: I love the Trader Joe’s tubes of minced ginger because then you don’t have a knob of ginger going bad in your fridge when you only need a tiny piece for a recipe. I love to season soups, bowls, chicken, etc, with a ginger/garlic combo.

  9. Broths (Veg and Chicken): I loooove to make soups, so these are an obvious must have. I only use chicken and veggie broth in my home so that’s all I stock. I always buy low sodium broths so I can control the salt level.

  10. Great Northern Beans: These are one of my favorite soup beans.

  11. Black Beans: A necessary for any Chipotle inspired burrito bowl or mexican inspired dish.

  12. Kidney Beans: I love how big kidney beans are so they really bulk up a meal.

  13. Nori Sheets: Great for sushi bowls and for making homemade miso soup.

  14. Almond Butter/Peanut Butter: I like to freshly grind mine at my grocery store and choose whatever I’m in the mood for.

  15. Coconut Sugar: I use coconut sugar in place of regular granulated or brown sugar whenever I can. I use it as my sweetener for my oatmeal too.

  16. Chia Seeds: I put chia seeds in my smoothies and in my oatmeal.

  17. Flax Seeds: I put flax in every smoothie I make (technically I store these in the fridge).

  18. Hemp Seeds: These also go in my oatmeal.

  19. Chocolate Chips: I keep them for obvious reasons, but I love to snack on 5-10 when I have a sweet tooth at night.

  20. Arrowroot Powder: I use this in place of cornstarch as a thickening agent, but it’s also found in a lot of GF recipes.

  21. Almonds: I make my own almond milk so I always have a big Costco bag of these on hand.

  22. Salsa Verde (specifically from Trader Joe’s): I love to keep salsa on hand for an easy snack, but I also love pouring a jar over chicken breasts in the crockpot for an easy dinner.

  23. Tomato Sauce (canned): I only keep the little cans of this on hand for when I make Chicken Tikka Masala.

  24. Dry Red Wine: This is my preference when it comes to drinking wine, but I also like to have it on hand to add to the base of my tomato sauces. It adds such a richness to your tomato sauce.

  25. Rice Paper Sheets: These are a quick easy dinner or lunch if you have lots of veggies on hand to use up. You can simply wet them and make spring rolls in no time at all.

  26. Konjac Noodles: These are a new favorite of mine. They are almost calorie-less, gluten-free and I really like the texture. They are not as sticky as a rice noodle and have a little bit more of a bite, so I prefer them to rice noodles.

  27. Red Lentil/ Other Gluten Free Pastas: Pasta will always be my go-to easiest meal to make for dinner, so I like to keep some good GF options on hand. I love red lentil pasta the most, but chickpea is also tasty!

  28. Lentils: These are an easy way to bulk up a soup, so I love having a big jar of them to throw in vegetarian soup.

  29. Polenta: Another GF alternative to eating a wheat product with your meal. The Italian in me wishes I could easy cheesy polenta every night.

If you made it to the end of this, GREAT JOB! I hope you enjoyed getting a peak into my pantry. What are your staples? If it’s not on my list, tell me what it is!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

The Routines I Use to Minimize My Anxiety

If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I have anxiety. I’ve had it ever since I was a kid, and share my story on IG and on here every so often. I think talking about mental health on my blog is really important for two main reasons. First, it is very therapeutic for me to process my anxiety and really reflect on it by writing and constructing thoughts that make sense. The second reason is that it shows my readers that if they are dealing with similar situations, they are not alone. I cannot tell you how much it means when I get messages from you telling me how much they understand what I’m going through and how grateful they are for me sharing my story because they can relate to it.

It has been no secret that I have been really struggling with my anxiety in the last two months. It’s probably the worst that it has ever been, but I feel like I’m finally turning the corner. While I know that anxiety is something that I will likely have to deal with for the rest of my life, there are definitely moments of highs and lows. My goal with this post is to share what has helped me in the last few weeks in hopes that it will help even one reader. Even if you already know everything I’m writing, I hope you just recognize that this is something I deal with. I don’t ever, for even one moment, want you to think my life is completely put together and stress-free. I want you to recognize me as a safe space and open person who’s willing to talk to you if you need it.

  1. Find your person to vent to.

    I find that when I’m anxious, I need to word vomit everything out of me, as if to hear out loud what I’m thinking, recognize it as completely irrational and not true, and call it what it is; my anxiety talking. Whether you say it out loud to someone, or you write it out, I think finding someone that is a safe space to say things is important. Knowing that they won’t hold it against you, the thoughts you need to get out in the moment, is a great feeling. For me this person has been my boyfriend, but it can be anyone you feel like you can trust.

  2. Eat a good breakfast.

    What I eat really affects my thoughts when I’m anxious, so I always make sure to not skip breakfast because it starts my day off on the right foot. When I have a good breakfast, I seem to make healthier choices throughout the rest of the day in regards to my diet, and it’s crazy how much what I eat can affect my mood.

  3. Move your body everyday.

    When I hurt my tailbone and had to drop my entire workout regimen, my anxiety skyrocketed. I knew that I needed to rest and let my body heal, but it really messed with my head. You don’t have to have intense workouts every day, but focusing on moving my body every day is really important for me to lessen my anxiety. Now that my injury is healed, I am working out almost every day (some days it’s just a walk though so don’t be intimidated) and it’s the thing that I think is helping me the most to get back on track.

  4. Get more sleep.

    I have been sleeping so well ironically through this time of anxiety and I think it’s because I’m emotionally exhausted at the end of the day. Allowing myself to say, “I’m tired…I need to go to bed early tonight” has been really important in this journey. However, my anxiety seems to strike midday from about 11 am to 5 pm, so I think this also might be why. I usually wake up less anxious and go to bed the same way, but this could be different for you. My point is to really push yourself to get the rest your body needs during this time.

  5. Make a list of happy activities.

    This is something I find really useful for days when I am really struggling. I have a list of activities that make me really happy, that lives in my purse. These are things I can easily do so that if I feel anxiety growing, I can pull the list out, pick an activity and shift my focus somewhere else. My list has things like watch my favorite Netflix show, read a book, call a family member or friend, do yoga, or cook a meal. I typically carry a book with me always because I love escaping into a good story for a moment, but regardless of what your happy activities are, writing them out really helps you in the moment when you can read it.

  6. Re-evaluate your goals.

    In the last few months, I’ve had to reevaluate my goals and decide what’s important in this time when I’m going through some tougher times. It’s ok to say, I don’t have the mental capacity for this right now, and make it a goal for later on. I know it can feel defeating to do this sometimes, but your mental health needs to be a priority and that goal can wait.

  7. Work on setting boundaries.

    This one can be really hard and I am definitely working on it. I’m proud of excusing myself from conversations and just flat out saying no to things that I can’t entertain while I’m working on myself right now. You are allowed to say “I have too much on my plate right now”. You don’t have to explain yourself to people if you don’t want to. Those who love and support you will understand.

Overall, I hope this post helps you feel less alone if you are also dealing with anxiety or any mental health issue. Go follow my Instagram here if you are wanting to read more about my posts on my anxiety. This is a topic that I will continue to talk about and I hope you know how loved and beautiful you are.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Amazon Favorites

Am I the only one who is curious what other people buy on Amazon? Haha I’m so curious because you can find absolutely everything on there these days! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite products that I have found on Amazon that are not beauty related. If you’re curious about those, you can always click on the ‘My Favorite Things’ tab and most of the items there can be found on Amazon.

Uni-Ball Vision Needle Rollerball Pens:

These are my favorite pens and I love this pack because of the variety of colors. I love to organize things in my planner based on color and these are great for that!

Neewer 18-inch Dimmable Ring Light with Stand and Carrying Bag:

I get asked all the time which ring light I use and this is it! It’s pretty adorable for what it is, and has already been to a lot of places with me in one year! I would recommend it if you’re looking for a good light that isn’t going to break the bank.

OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker:

I got my boyfriend this speaker for Christmas just as an extra to have and I was pleasantly surprised with how good of quality the sound is for the price! If you need an inexpensive speaker, check this one out.

Gift Republic Bucket List Movie Poster:

This was another gift that I highly recommend for any movie, music, etc. buffs. I really love how you can frame it and use it as art when you’re done because the graphics are beautiful for each item after you scratch them off!

Stainless Steal Loop Apple Watch Band:

I wanted to have an apple watch band that looked a little nicer for when I have special events and dress up. I like this watch band for that purpose but prefer the one below for every day and working out use!

Nylon Sport Loop Apple Watch Band:

I can’t wear the silicone apple watch bands that most people use for working out because I developed a bad allergic reaction to them. However, I don’t like wearing the stainless steel one above when running because I don’t like feeling the watch move around. I prefer to not be able to notice my watch. Therefore I tested out this nylon one and I love it. It has a Velcro closure that is really solid and secure and this one is my favorite apple watch band.

Organic Miso Paste:

This is my favorite white Miso Paste to have on hand for when I want to make a quick miso soup!

ALINK Clear Straight Glass Drinking Straws:

These are my favorite reusable straws because you can see through them to make sure they are clean. Also they come with a little brush to clean them which is really important and useful!

Youdgee Meat Digital Thermometer:

If you want to make sure your meat turns out perfectly, this is a really important tool to have in your kitchen! I use this thing every time I make meat to make sure I am not over or undercooking anything.

Lodge Cast Iron Pan:

I love the Lodge cast iron pans (I also have the cast iron grill pan) and they are amazing for the price. Such good quality and are so great for searing something on the stove and finishing it in the oven.

Sea Team 6 Pc Multicolored Portable Travel Toiletry Bags:

I bought this 6 pack for my makeup kit, to organize products, but I’ve found great uses for these besides in my kit. It’s just really useful to have many bags like this for traveling, purse organization and so much more! I love the mesh because then if I add any brushes or sponges that are still a bit damp, they can air out and dry.

Moulin Ladies Pastel Color Jelly Digital Watch:

Before I got my apple watch, I needed something to get me through bridal season that was inexpensive. I have never gotten so many compliments on a watch before! Haha I still can’t believe how great this watch was for how little it cost me. It did not look cheap and worked really well! Highly recommend, even if you just want a pop of color on your wrist in the spring.

What are some of your favorites from Amazon? Comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.