a progress report

i'm not rockin this june challenge, kiddos.

i'm killing it.

like, murdering. not-'killing it, brah' but seriously, doing terribly.

i have $80.34 left for the rest of the month. for everything. and, need i remind you, it's only june 19th.

um, losing.
xoxo ashleycolean

the regimen

okay, tara...you asked for it! :)
lately i've been talking about my new skin care regimen that cost me an arm and a leg and i'm still waiting for benefits...hopefully, waiting.

let me preface this with one thing i know for sure...origins products smell amazing!

from top left -the entire system

wash/modern friction exfoliater/exfoliating pads
(the exfoliater is made with rice so it isn't as harsh on your skin as say, the sand products i used to use/the pads can only be used twice/week)

balancing toner
(i put it in a spray bottle i got a target for $1 so i wouldn't waste any on a cotton ball)

brightening serum/everyday serum
(this brightening serum is supposed to solve my dark spots problem/the other is to keep environmental junk off your face)

moisturizer
(i love this product...a lot)

ginzing eye cream
(a day time eye cream with caffeine to take the night time puffiness out of your eyes)

bb cream/vitazing
(i'm not in love with their bbcream. i think garnier's product is better/vitazing is a tiny bit of tint plus spf for days you are running to the gym or errands. i also use it under my makeup sometimes just because i like the way it feels on my skin)

smashbox photo finish/origins foundation
(not an origins product but love it (sephora)/i went with their 'fawn' color and am pretty impressed with the coverage)

at night/apply after serums
zit cream/anti aging eye cream/night cream
(for spots/never too early to start/not in love with this night cream, the texture of it is a little weird for me so i will try a different approach on my next go around)

there you have it. the suddenly paranoid about age, 27 year old's face care system.

origins, i'll be lookin' for my kickback.
xoxo ashleycolean

what's it worth to ya?

it's funny what some people will spend their money on. generics won't hack it, they place more importance in certain areas over others, it's just what they've always done, brand loyalty, etc.

{cred}

lately, i've been spending a bit more than i'd love to on "quality" skin care products. i started the origins line about two months ago. i love the smell, the packaging, the philosophy, but not necessarily the price. i am still waiting to see if the results are worth the price...but the jury is still out.

do you have something you will spend more on? why? you just love it? you believe in it?

what's your spending soft spot, if you will?
xoxo ashleycolean

i bought something...

i bought myself some warby parker sunglasses.
they weren't too expensive, but they were more than i had to spend. $150.
i'm happy i can have sunglasses AND vision on my way to work. BIG upside.

and they are pretty cute.
xoxo ashleycolean

barbells and spandex

{cred}

i wish i were the kind of person who could (and would) workout without a gym. i always look at people sweating to the gills at the park with such envy. they look so active, so fit, so...eager.

but, i'm not, one of those people. i need a gym. i need a little luxury. i need, a reason to want to go to the gym. unfortunately, the places you want to go to are also the places that are generally more expensive. such is life, i suppose.

today i joined a new gym. colorado athletic club. it's gorgeous. it's clean. they have steam room, sauna and hot tub in the women's locker room. there is a pool (which is pretty huge in colorado...unlike kansas city where there is a pool on every block). for kids like me, aka. young professionals, its $86.00/month-or $76.00/month if you sign a year contract (which is what i did).

so $76.00/month-yes, it's steep...but think about all the benefits of it....
1. a place you actually want to go
2. ease of getting ready-or, nice locker room space
3. better health (cuts on medical visits, medications, etc)
4. a pool!
5. more productive-when you're fit...it's proven.
6. free shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, q-tips, deodorant, body wash, lotion...seriously, it's full service!
7. tv! -which i don't pay for at home so it's nice to catch up on good-bad tv on the treadmill
8. commuter cutter-for me, if i work out for 40 minutes after work and then drive home, it only takes 10 minutes longer than if i'd left at 5:30 because of traffic...sure, i'll take 30 minutes of my day back-thanks!
9. eye candy-they say people who allow themselves to ogle over others at the gym are happier-again, it's proven.
10. healthy social environment. i hang out with friends for a workout and the pool...its cheaper, and a hell of a lot healthier than hanging out with them at a bar!

so there you have it, my justifications for my slightly over priced gym membership. we've all got our things that make our lives better...and i think a nice gym, with happy, fit people, is one of 'my things!'

{cred}

that, and they serve beer, so...
xoxo ashleycolean