This blog post is part two of a series in partnership with Elamar Skin Science. All services and products were complementary but all opinions and experiences are my own.

I have had dark circles under my eyes for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried everything–expensive creams, thick concealer, you name it. I chug water to make sure I’m not dehydrated because that only makes the darkness worse. Even when I don’t wear makeup, I feel the need to swipe concealer under my eyes–it’s that bad.

My friends at Elamar Skin Science convinced me to try dermal filler under my eyes. Spoiler alert: I LOVE it. Hello, bright eyes!

Dermal filler is a gel-like substance that can be inserted under your skin to plump up areas of your face.  It is a natural substance and is temporary, because it will eventually be absorbed by the body.

My Dermal Filler Experience:

The day of my appointment, I was super nervous.  I was afraid of the pain, and of coming out looking crazy-eyed.  The doctors at Elamar quickly informed me that it wouldn’t mess up, but if it did, there was a serum that could dissolve the gel.  Yay!

The technician came in first and applied a numbing cream to the area under my eyes.  After sitting for 20 minutes, Dr. Gill came in to begin the procedure.  I’m going to be completely honest and tell you that the first prick of the needle hurt.  Not super painful, but pretty uncomfortable.  The gel itself has a numbing agent in it, so after that initial prick, I didn’t feel a thing.  The entire process, including the 20 minutes with numbing cream, took about 40 minutes.

Following the procedure, Dr. Gill recommends that you sleep in a recliner or other semi-sitting position for two nights.  He prepared me for a small amount of bruising and/or swelling.  I didn’t experience any swelling and only had tiny bruises where the needles entered my skin.  (In the first reveal photo below, you can see the small bruises in my after photo!)

I am amazed at my results.  My mom told me the other day, “You just look so refreshed!”  And that is exactly what I was going for.  =)

The cost for under-eye dermal filler at Elamar Skin ranges from $400-595 and lasts for one entire year.  There is a 2-year filler option for $795.

Any questions?  I’ll be glad to try and answer them–just leave them in the comments!

I’ve told you many times how much I hate to shop, right?  I was never really a fan of shopping, but now that I have three kids tagging along, I really despise it.  But I have to have clothes.  And my kids have to have clothes.  It’s just the circle of life, you know?  Enter Amazon.  Oh Amazon, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways with these Spring Fashion 2017 finds on the one and only Amazon.com.

Disclaimer:  Affiliate links are used in this post.  Shopping these links will result in a few extra pennies for me, at no extra cost to you.  As always, your support of OAL is greatly appreciated!

Asymmetrical long cardigan by Aunt Taylor.  Available in many different colors for $14.99.  Yes, please.

Sleeveless Asymmetrical Cardigan by ETCYY.  You guys, you won’t believe me until you look–this cardigan is less than $10, shipped.  You just can’t beat that.

BOBS from Sketchers shoes.  I have them in Kaleidoscope gray and love them!  The soles are Memory Foam and they feel so good–I never want to take them off!

Round next striped tunic top.  I don’t have this exact top, but I have a similar one that actually cost a good bit more than Amazon’s $15.99 version!

Peep-Toe Stacked Heel Bootie.  I am coveting these booties for spring– I think they are oh-so-cute.  And at $38, they aren’t too much of a splurge!

Color Block Top by Chvity.   Criss Cross Front Tee.   Cold Shoulder Dress.   Irregular Hem Shirt Dress.

I have the cold shoulder dress in a deep teal and the irregular hem shirt dress in yellow and love both.  They both fit true to size and where else can you find dresses for under $20?

Short Sleeve Flair Tunic.  This tunic top is the perfect length for leggings and available in tons of colors for the grand total of $15.  There is even a v-neck option, if that’s your thing.

VIV leggings.  These babies are just as soft as the ever-popular Lularoe, for a fraction of the cost.  They are available in over 40 different colors/patterns for $13.

OTBT Closed-Toe Sandals.  So cute.  And I’ve heard that OTBT shoes are super comfy– comfortable enough even to wear all day.

Dolman top with knot detail.  Knotted tee’s are super “in” right now, and I think this one is uber cute!

OK– Now you help me.  Do you have any spring fashion recommendations??

This blog post is part of a series in partnership with Elamar Skin Science. All services and products were complimentary but all opinions and experiences are my own.

I have struggled with acne for the past several years.  (Apparently, it is not just something you have to deal with during those hormonal teen years.  <-insert eye roll here!)  I have some cystic acne, but mostly it’s lots of whiteheads just under the skin.  When the sweet ladies at Elamar Skin Science recommended an acne facial, I jumped at the offer!

During an acne facial, the esthetician focuses on deep-pore and deep-tissue cleansing methods to rid the skin of dirt.  Acne facials also help stimulate circulation, which improves the overall appearance of the skin.

An acne facial is nothing like the relaxing facials I’ve had in the past.  (It was the opposite of the hot rock massage from a few weeks ago!)  The first thing my esthetician did was cleanse my face and apply a 10% salicylic acid solution.  Honest talk:  The salicylic acid burned like fire for about 15 seconds, but then it gradually went away.  Salicylic acid is used to break up acne but it is also an amazing exfoliator.

The esthetician then steamed my skin for a solid 10 minutes.  This helped open up the rest of my pores for the extractions.  During the extractions, the esthetician used a combination of gloved fingers and a medical needle to remove the debris from my pores.  I could feel the gunk popping out of the pores and every now and then, she would stop and show me what had been removed.  It was completely gross, but I was weirdly intrigued.  I loved knowing that my pores were clean!

As soon as all the extractions were completed, the esthetician placed a sulfur mask on my face to further cleanse and open up the pores.  She then applied a calming lotion to help reduce redness (and there was a lot of redness!)

After the facial, my face felt really tight and squeaky-clean.  Over the next few days, my skin peeled slightly, but remained blemish free.  It has now been a full week and my skin looks so much better.  The dead skin peeled off, leaving my skin fresh and smooth, and all those tiny bumps under the skin are completely gone!

I am now a huge fan of the acne facial.  I plan to go back as often as is necessary to keep my face looking clear like this.  (They recommend you go back for an acne facial once per month until your acne is completely under control.)  If you are someone like me who struggles with acne, I thoroughly recommend an acne facial.  And even more, I recommend the sweet ladies at Elamar Skin Science of Decatur. =)

Last week, I received my third fix from Stitch Fix.  {Quick recap:  my first fix was amazing and my second fix was a big let-down.}  I filled out the style profile again, just to make sure my sizes and preferences were correct.  At the bottom of my style profile, I included a note requesting “boho-style tops and tunics for Spring.”

You see,  I had an exact idea of what I wanted to be included in this fix.  I was hoping for five super cute tops (or tunics!) that I could wear from March to May here in the south.  Maybe that is where the problem lies–I am being to specific in my requests.  Stitch Fix #3 was returned  exactly the way it came–with all five items.

My Spring 2017 Stitch Fix

Adrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan by 41 Hawthorn.  $38.00

This was my favorite piece from this fix.  I would have (and maybe should have) kept it, but I was really hoping for some Spring pieces.  Spring in Alabama is warm, so I’m thinking quarter-length sleeves or short-sleeve, light weight sweaters.  While this cardigan would be perfect for Fall/Winter, it just wasn’t what I requested in my fix.

Sawyer Space Dye Dolman Sleeve Knit Top by Market & Spruce.  $58.00

This top was OK, it just wasn’t my favorite.  Again, I feel like I had a certain vibe I had asked for with this fix, and this top just didn’t fit that vibe.

Dinah Open Front Cardigan by Staccato.  $48.00

Hello….. Spring?  I loved this top and if I were needing new things for winter it would have definitely made the list, but that ‘s just not what I asked for this go-around.

Biscay Knit Tee by Amour Vert. $44.00

Of all the pieces in this fix, this top was the most “Spring-iest”.  It fit well and I loved the color, but I just wasn’t willing to pay this amount for a t-shirt.

Harvey Multi-Stripe Infinity Scarf by Octavia.  $28.00

So obviously, I am not sure what to even do with a scarf.  I never wear them because they suffocate me, which is why I specifically checked not to receive them in my fix.

Verdict:  Five items sent/ five items returned.  I am very thankful that the styling fee was waived for this fix.  If I had paid the $25, I think I would have been much more frustrated.  As it was, I am not “out” anything except my time!  And it’s always fun to try on new clothes!

This blog post is part one of a series in partnership with Elamar Skin Science. All services and products were complementary but all opinions are my own.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to visit Elamar Skin in Decatur, AL.  This invitation was extremely timely because I have been thinking about and researching skin care for my age.  I’m not getting any younger and I want to take care of the body/skin that I have now, so that I’m not trying to reverse tons of bad behaviors in a few years.  I jumped at the invitation and immediately scheduled a consultation with Mrs. Elaine Gill.

The consultation:

At my consultation, Mrs. Gill used the Vectra 3-D imaging system to analyze different components of my facial skin.  The Vectra system uses this 3-D imaging to determine skin’s volume and irregularities, as well as any sun damage or changes below the skin’s surface.  The whole process was amazing.  Mrs. Gill used the 3-D camera to take forward and side facing shots of my face.  She then connected the camera into the computer and immediately, my 3-D self was on the screen.  I have a bad habit of only applying sun screen in places where I tend to burn (typically my nose and upper cheeks) and this was evident from the 3-D image.  My chin and mouth area, where I rarely apply sunscreen, had much more sun damage than the rest of my face.

From this information, we were able to make a plan.  Dr. Gill came in and we talked about my concerns.  I had three:

1. Aging gracefully.  I want to take the best possible care of my skin now so that it looks its best as I get older.
2. I have one large wrinkle that runs across the middle of my forehead and two lines between my eyebrows (my “elevens”) that I have disliked for a while.  They have gotten deeper as I’ve gotten older and I would like to fix that.
3. Above my lips, I have a dark line that appeared during pregnancy.  It’s like a mustache, without the hair.  I’m always trying to cover this up with makeup, and it’s nearly impossible.  I want that baby gone.

Dr. Gill combined my concerns and my Vectra analyzation to create a plan for my skin.  The first part of this journey was two-fold:  Botox for my forehead and “elevens” and Retin-A cream for the dark spots above my lips.

Botox:

Botox has been used in the cosmetic world since early 2002.  It relaxes the nerves and muscles to not only remove wrinkles, but to ease migraine headaches, sweating, and eyelid twitching.  Botox temporarily paralyzes the muscles, which also prevents new wrinkles from forming.

Dr. Gill cleansed my face and then decided on an injection plan:  four injections in my forehead and three between the eyes.  Each injection felt like a small pinprick.  (Don’t worry about scheduling your appointment in the middle of the day.  I had no swelling or bleeding.  Before I left the office, the friendly staff had reapplied my makeup and had me looking as good as, if not better than, new.)

Retin-A:

The second part of my treatment plan is ridding myself of these dark spots above my lips.  Dr. Gill prescribed a version of Retin-A cream, called Tretinoin.  Versions of Retin-A cream are used to promote cell renewal and reduce wrinkles.  Dr. Gill suggested that I apply the cream every other day, in the evening.

The verdict:

It has now been two weeks since my Botox injections.    During the first week, I noticed that my eyebrows raised funny.  I felt like they shot up higher and ‘pointier’ than usual.  My forehead felt puffy, but didn’t appear any fuller.  Within two weeks, this had all returned to normal and my wrinkles are g-o-n-e.

I would definitely recommend Botox injections if you are concerned about wrinkles:  current or future.  I also fervently recommend Dr. Gill and his staff at Elamar Skin Science.  They are both knowledgeable and personable.

The Tretinoin cream took a while to adjust to.  Mrs. Gill had cautioned me that my skin may get worse before it got better.  The cream dried my skin out and made it extremely sensitive for the first several days.  I even felt like my acne increased for the first few weeks.  Two weeks in and I am slowly started to see a reduction in the sensitivity, acne, and the dark spots above my lip.  It is also reducing the acne scars I have from years’ past.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Elamar Skin Science and I can’t wait to try out some of their other services!  Questions?  Let me know in the comment section!

I was pretty impressed with my first Stitch Fix experience, so I thought I’d try it again to add some pieces to my spring/summer wardrobe.  This time, I added a note to my stylist requesting tops and/or dresses that could be worn to work, but would also make me feel cute during a night out.  (I have a very specific need in my closet right now.)

Walden V-Neck blouse in mint–$44.  This top was my favorite of the box.  It was a nice chiffon-y type fabric and I loved that it was a solid color.  I am not big on prints, at all.  I liked it, but honestly, $44 for a top is out of my budget range.

Casandra Maxi Dress in cobalt–$78.  I really like the way this dress looks in this picture, but it’s really not my style.  And again, at $78, it is a out of my price range.

Timbers Split Neck Tunic Dress in light blue–$64.  You guys, I’m not even sure.  Is it a tunic, is it a dress?  It was a bit short for me, so I would definitely needed leggings if I had kept it.  Plus a tan–excuse those white legs, please.

Keziah Shirt Dress in light pink–$64.  Ummm….. no.  Just no.

Estefan Lace Detail Split Neck Blouse in orange–$64.  Second favorite top of the box, but dang that price tag! I know people spend those amounts on clothes and I’m not judging, it’s just not my thing.  I guess I didn’t like it $64 worth.

Overall, I feel like StitchFix missed the mark on this one.  I’ll definitely sign up for another fix, because the whole process is just fun.  And in the future, I’ll cultivate and share my “What’s My Style” pinterest board so that my stylist can have a better feel for what I like.

I still feel that Stitch Fix is something everyone should try at least once.  Getting mail is super fun and– who knows– you could find lots of fun, affordable things to add to your closet.  I did the first time, even if this second fix was a bit of a let down.

Visit Stitch Fix and fill out your own style profile.  Then, let your personal stylist send you a little spring/summer happy for your closet.  (If you sign up using my link, I will receive a $25 credit when your first fix ships.  Then, you can refer friends and get your own $25 credit!)

Try it out, then come back and let me know how you like it!

This blog is a lot of things, but a “Fashion Blog” it is not. (And the modeling/photography in this post prove it!)  I don’t even claim to know about fashion. My daily attire is jeans and a nice-ish tshirt. But I do have a day job that requires me to be a little more presentable sometimes. And I really hate shopping. Enter Stitch Fix.

Stitch Fix is a personal stylist in a box. Sign up, fill out the questionnaire, and a personal stylist will choose 5 items to outfit you in. There is a $20 styling fee, but if you choose to keep any of the items from your fix, the $20 is deducted from that item.  Also, if you keep all 5 items you can take 25% off the total.

I was very surprised with my first fix. Everything I have read says that it sometimes takes a few fixes for your stylist to figure you out. I wasn’t expecting much, but I ended up liking almost every item in my box.  Give me grace on these photos, you guys.

This navy pullover sweater is my favorite. Which is funny, because when I first pulled it out of the box I thought is was a big thumbs-down.  It has the cutest cuff on the sleeve and the material is super soft.  Excuse the tag hanging out in the back there and the lovely photo lighting.  Again:  Not A Fashion Blogger. Because, obviously.  It is listed for $78.  Subtract my $20 styling fee and the 25% and I would pay 43.50.  Not too bad.

I really love this midi dress but I’m not quite sure I can pull it off. I’ll send it back.

I knew I was going to love this olive jacket before I even had it out of the box completely. I have wanted an olive colored cargo-like jacket for a while now and this is perfect.

I hated this sweater from the start. Still wasn’t a big fan of it after I tried it on. But then both my mom and Justin loved it. The jury is still out on whether or not I’ll keep it.

I wasn’t sure about this cardigan either, but when I tried it on, I loved it.  It’s the best shade of burgundy and it’s so comfy.  Perfect for a cold winter day.

I am a cheap shopper. 99% of my clothes come from Target or Old Navy and usually from the sales racks. However, I find myself needing to run in Target or Old Navy quite often because those cheap clothes wear out quickly. These clothes are definitely more expensive that my usual Target finds, but the quality is also much better.

I love the idea of scheduling a “fix” whenever I need a closet overhaul. You can choose to have a new box sent to you every month, every season, or just on request. I know I can’t afford the every month option, but a new fix with each new season might be nice.

PS: If you decide to schedule your own fix, which I HIGHLY recommend doing at least once, I would really appreciate if you use my referral link.

PPS:  Want to know something funny?  I took all those lovely pictures myself, with the self-timer feature on my camera.  I had big plans to con Justin into being my photographer but he’s been working until dark.  The girls got a BIG kick out of me running back and forth to press the camera button!