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

Top 5 Spring Lip Picks

I love when the seasons change because it inspires changes in makeup looks. While I love lip products year round, I especially love to switch up the ones I keep in my purse when a new season comes along. I love lipstick because it can change your whole look in 30 seconds. Below are my Top 5 Lip products that you will find in my bag so that I am prepared for every lip situation this spring.

1. Drunk Elephant Lippie Balm:

   This is my current favorite lip balm. I bought it in this set, but you can buy it on it’s own too. I love the shape of the Lippie Balm and that it’s petroleum free. Since spring weather can be so bipolar (we woke up with snow on the ground earlier this week and it’s going to be 70 tomorrow…) it’s important to keep my lips moisturized. I especially love this Lippie Balm because it doubles as an eye balm. If you’re traveling or running late and need some extra moisture on your eyes, it’s awesome! You’d think it would feel oily and too heavy but it absorbs well and works nicely.

2. Maybelline Matte Lipstick in ‘Red For Me’:

   I was sent this lipstick to try from Influenster and I am obsessed with the formula. I’ve always loved Maybelline lipsticks, but this is the most comfortable matte I’ve ever tried from them. It goes on so smoothly but has great lasting power. This red is the perfect shade because it’s intense and has a blue undertone (my fave).

3. Maybelline Matte Lipstick in ‘Clay Crush’:

   After trying the red shade above, I ventured to my local drugstore to check out if there were other new shades to try in this formula and while I didn’t like any of the other new shades in this line (most weren’t matte but glossy), I did glance at the nudes and stumbled upon this one. It’s my favorite type of nude for my skin tone. It’s a very neutral nude pink which doesn’t lean to the blue or orange side.

4. Glossier Generation G Lipstick in ‘Cake’:

   This is probably my favorite lip product of all time, or at least top 3. This shade is so flattering and you might be sick of me talking about it right now but I couldn’t make a spring top 5 without it because I wear it most days and even without makeup on. It’s what I’m wearing in the photo above. It just makes your lips look awesome. I love pairing it with the Lippie Balm on top if I want a glossier look (no pun intended lololol).

5. Lancome Matte Shaker in ‘Beige Vintage’:

   This is a fun product that I picked up last year and I forgot how much I love it, but brought it back out this year for spring. I love how light these are on the lips. They are so hard to describe, so I recommend going into a Sephora to swatch it to see. This is a little bit of a bluer pinky nude that is fun for spring because it gives you just a little pop.

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.

What Do I Love From Glossier?

It’s no secret that I love Glossier. I have tried a lot of their products and many of them are staples in my routine. Since I get asked often what my thoughts are, what my favorites are, etc..I figured it was time that I shared my thoughts on each of the products that I’ve tried.

Lash Slick

This is one of my favorite mascaras of all time. I have never seen a mascara that is not waterproof, look the exact same at the end of the day, as it did when you applied it in the AM. If you are someone who is looking for a very dramatic and voluminous mascara, this one isn’t for you. I’d say it’s a great every day mascara that makes you look like you have naturally beautiful and full lashes. I love it for my bottom lash line because it doesn’t transfer. I also like the price tag. It’s not very expensive for being what I would consider a prestige mascara.

Haloscope

I love cream highlighters so it’s probably no surprise that I love this one in Moonstone. This is the only shade I’ve tried but it’s perfect for a wet and dewy skin look. I absolutely love the effect and healthy look it gives my skin. I have heard great things about the other shades as well, but I love this one so much.

Stretch Concealer

I was hesitant to order this concealer originally because I knew it would have as much coverage as the concealers I was used to, but I loved that it had a really dewy finish. Turns out I just had to figure out how to apply it best for my skin. I find that when I apply it with my fingers, let it sit for a few moments, and then blend it out with a Real Techniques Setting Brush (you need to own at least 2 of these if you don’t already), it is PERFECTION! I still set it with powder or hit it with a good layer of setting spray if I want it to stay dewy.

Generation G Lipsticks

This is one of my favorite lipstick formulas of all time. I am obsessed with the shade ‘Cake’. If you look at my IG, I am wearing it all the time in makeup photos. I just love how it gives the perfect amount of something, while being nude. I keep it in my purse and will forever purchase it until they stop making it. I love the colors too because they give the perfect pop of color without being too bold. They are more of a wash of color than an opaque, bright shade. I think they would be great for someone wanting to start wearing lipstick that is nervous to go too bold. The formula is matte but feels really nice on the lips.

Solution

This is the only skincare product I have tried from Glossier and I love it. If you’ve been following my blog for a little while, you’ll know that I love a gentle chemical exfoliation as a daily part of my routine. It’s great for preventing breakouts and aging at the same time. I enjoyed the entire bottle of this and felt like it did what it claimed. I haven’t gone back to it, simply because I like to continue trying other products. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up back on my shelf in the future. If you deal with breakouts, texture issues, dark spots, fine lines, etc. this would be a great addition to your routine.

Boy Brow

Boy brow is probably tied with the Cake lipstick as my favorite Glossier products of all time. It’s the best brow product I’ve ever used and here’s why. The black shade is the perfect cool tone for my dark brows. It’s brush is small enough to apply precisely, but still is quick. The formula is long wearing and doesn’t make my brows look too wet. I also love that you don’t need a lot of product because I find that I go through my brow products the quickest. If you want a easy brow product that will make your brows look fuller and keep them in place, I HIGHLY suggest you try this one out.

Cloud Paint

If you’re a girl who likes easy and minimal makeup, you would love cloud paint. I tend to go for liquid and cream face products for daily and easy makeup, so I love these cloud paints. They are pretty pigmented and the shade range is beautiful. I have the coral shade and I love how natural of a flush it gives my cheeks. You can also wear them on your eyes and lips which is fun! I like to blend them in with my fingers.

Lidstar

This is probably the only Glossier product I’ve tried that I would say you could skip on. It’s a ok product, I just don’t think it’s anything special. I wish they were slightly more pigmented. I do feel like they wear pretty well, so if you’re looking for an all over color to provide a sheer wash of color for your lids, this might be for you. I think I just have too much discoloration and veining on my eyelids to use this alone.

Perfume

If you’re looking for a scent unlike anything you’ve ever smelled, TRY IT! It smells so good, and I’m not a big perfume person! It’s one of those scents that you can’t stop sniffing because it’s so good.

There you have it! If you’re new to Glossier be sure to CLICK HERE for 10% off your first purchase. I have yet to try their new PLAY line of makeup products, but I’ll probably give in and try it soon and let you know my thoughts!

What have you tried from Glossier? It really is a great brand and I love their whole skincare first, makeup second approach to beauty.

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.

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.

2. JORD Watch:

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.  

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.

Wooden Wrist Watch

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.

Should You Buy a Juvia's Place Eyeshadow Palette?

Do you want me to give you the answer right now? Ok. Yes, you should. You should buy them all. haha Except maybe you don’t need them all. So let me share which palettes I’ve tried and why I love them so much.

I had been hearing great things about Juvia’s Place Eyeshadow palettes, so I purchased the Warrior Palette last November and after using it for one wedding, I immediately purchased three more online at Ulta.com.

The quality of these shadows is amazing.; some of the best eyeshadows I’ve ever used. The mattes blend so easily and evenly, the metallics give a beautiful even sheen. The pigment is unreal! On top of all of this, I still can’t believe the price of these shadows. You get so much product for such an affordable price.

So which palette is right for you?

The Warrior ($20):

This palette is perfect for someone who likes neutrals. If you’re a makeup artist, this one is a must have. It’s perfect for bridal looks. It has your necessary three matte shades, gold, bronze, champagne, rose gold, and copper. If you use a lot of these shades and wear makeup often, it’s a great option.

The Nubian ($20):

This palette is perfect for a beginner or someone who is looking for a first or second makeup palette. It has your warmer every day basic shadows; some matte and some shimmer. If you’re someone who does a lot of one or two eyeshadow looks and likes to keep it simple, I think this one would be the best choice for you. It’s also the smallest and easiest to travel with!

The Nubian 2 ($20):

This palette is where things get a little more fun. If you already have eyeshadow palettes which your basic shades, this would be a great addition. There’s a great rust shade, warm gold, olive green, royal blue, deep purple and more! If you’re looking for some colors to add to your collection that are a little deeper and jewel toned, this would be a great purchase!

The Saharan ($20):

Where are all of my warm eyeshadow color lovers? This palette is necessary for someone who loves the rusty red, burnt orange, pinks, etc. I personally love this color palette and have had so much fun creating looks that are a little more unique.

Have you tried any Juvia’s Place palettes before? They have many more and I’m excited to expand my collection!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Andrea

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

Five Ways To Use a Facial Roller

Tools are a great way to give your skincare routine a boost. If you have any interest in skincare you most likely have seen the recent trend of facial rollers. They are usually green (jade) or pink (rose quartz) and can be a really great way to jazz up your skincare routine for multiple reasons. (The rollers I am talking about are not to be confused with the larger ice rollers, that are not quite as multi-use as facial rollers). If you’re curious which facial roller I have, click here to shop it on Amazon.

Facial rollers can be a great addition for a few reasons. They can:
-increase circulation
-de-puff and soothe
-help with lymph drainage
-increase product penetration
-create a relaxing ritual into your routine

If you haven’t hopped on the band wagon yet, hopefully this post will help you decide if it is worth it for you to get one for yourself.

Regardless of how you are specifically using the facial roller, ALWAYS remember to move in upward and outward motions only. I know it can be tempting to roll it back and forth but you never want to move down and inward on your face, especially when applying the pressure of a tool.

I give you five ways to incorporate a facial roller into your life:

1. With a hydrating mask:

   When doing an at home facial, I recommend doing a exfoliating mask first (called a refinement mask in spa world) and following up with a treatment mask to target your specific skin needs that day. If you are using a hydration mask for your treatment mask that follows the pretty standard, apply and let sit for a bit and then wash off (i.e. not a peel off mask) then I would recommend using a facial roller to help your mask penetrate deeper into your skin.

2. Over a sheet mask:

   This one can be a great way to help the serums of the sheet mask, really penetrate into the skin. I know it’s pretty self explanatory, but I added it to the list because I don’t know how many of us would actually think to use it in this situation.

3. While I’m watching a movie to relax and unwind:

   My FAVORITE thing about a facial roller is how it adds such a relaxing element to my skincare. I love to use it during a movie because first off, it helps me stay awake…haha. Secondly, it gives me a larger chunk of time to actually focus on my skin.

4. To depuff my eyes from allergies:

   I recommend getting one the facial rollers that is double ended because the smaller end is perfect for around the eyes. I love putting my roller in the freezer or fridge to get super cold. Then if you wake up with allergy eyes one morning, you can use the little sit to roll and depuff that eye area.

5. To help my moisturizer penetrate better:

   This is probably the most obvious one, but it’s always a good idea to use your facial roller at night at the end of your skincare routine, once you’ve applied your night moisturizer or facial oil. It will help boost circulation and increase product penetration.

Do you use a facial roller in your skincare routine? What is your favorite way to use it? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Are there any other beauty tools you want me to test out?

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.

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