LUXE LIFE // SMALL BUDGET -

BEAUTY REVIEW: My Journey of Finding a Daily Face Sunscreen

January 23, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I’m a bit ashamed to say it because I know how important all the skincare and anti-aging experts say it is… but I haven’t been using a daily face sunscreen. Yes, I will absolutely wear sunscreen when I’m going to the beach or pool, but I’ve been skipping out on the daily wear.

But for 2023 and beyond, I want to change that.

To get started on this mission, I consulted my personal skincare guide, my mom, (Thanks Mom!) and started trying out daily face sunscreens.

YEAR IN REVIEW: A Breakdown of My 2022 Reads

January 9, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I’ve been looking forward to putting this post together, because I always take it one book (or sometimes two or three books) at a time. But diving into the numbers and reflecting on my favorites really helps put my year of reading into perspective. In 2022, I read 68 books! This is more than in 2020 (65 books), but less than 2021 (72 books). I don’t actively count during the year, so it’s interesting to see that I’m ending up…

What I Read: December 2022

January 2, 2023 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I feel like I’ve released a big breath of air. The holidays are behind us and it’s time to turn over a fresh leaf with 2023. I’m definitely the person who likes the start of a new year and imagining all the possibilities it can hold.

I hope the new year inspires me to pick up my reading again. I fell a bit off the tracks in December, only finishing 4 books:
– Unmasked by Paul Holes
– Gutter Child by Jael Richardson
– Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
– Glute Lab by Bret Contreras and Glen Cordoza

I know reading isn’t a competition or about the numbers, but I feel like my brain gets stagnant when I’m not reading enough. I love having a near constant input of new ideas and stories.

So, let’s get into the December reviews!

What I’m Into: December 2022

December 21, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

Happy winter!

Unfortunately, It seems like the new season is really going to make its arrival known over the coming days with what the news keeps calling a ‘bomb cyclone’ storm. So please stay safe and stay warm!

I’ll admit I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately when it comes to posting. I don’t know if it’s a lack of ideas, the busyness surrounding this time of year, or what. But either way, I hope I come out of it soon.

Today, I wanted to return with a classic post I haven’t done in a while- a listing of my recent obsessions.

What I Read: November 2022

December 5, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

Better late than never seems to be my theme these days. This time of year always feels so hectic and I’m torn between wanting to mark everything off my to-do list and wanting to just quit, lay back, and relax until the new year. For the moment, I’m working through my checklist, which includes today’s blog post.

This month’s reads included:
-Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
-The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
-Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton
-In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
-The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb

Let’s get into the reviews!

My 4 Favorite MasterClass Courses (So Far!)

November 15, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I think learning is my hobby. Books, podcasts, documentaries… you name it, I’m interested. So as someone that spent a long time researching MasterClass and trying to decide if it was worth the cost, I wanted to share a quick list of some of my favorite courses I’ve taken after making the plunge. (You may notice there’s a bit of a theme surrounding writing though I am currently trying to expand out to other topics and have some exciting ones on my to watch list!)

What I Read: October 2022

November 3, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

With Halloween now behind us, am I the only one feeling the urge to suddenly flip the switch for all things Christmas? I usually love the fall season, but this year, I feel ready to move on to the next thing. I haven’t actually pulled out my Christmas decorations just yet, but I get closer everyday. Now, if it could cool off just a little bit…

Back to the reason you’re all here- in October I read five books and despite my plans to read more horror this fall, that didn’t happen:
-Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
-Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
-Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
-Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
-The Cage by Bonnie Kistler

Let’s get into the reviews!

BEAUTY REVIEW: Aldi’s Lacura Face Care H2O Advance Aqua Gel

October 16, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 29 comments

It seems like Aldi has been shaking things up lately.

One of my favorite cleansers, the Lacura Face Care Hydrating Facial Cleanser, has disappeared from the shelves (at least at the store near me) and new products are popping. That includes the Lacura Face Care H2O Advance Aqua Gel with Hyaluronic Acid, which I couldn’t resist giving a try.

What I Read: September 2022

October 4, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I’m not really sure what happened, but this was one of my slowest months of reading in a long time. For some reason, it truly felt like the month of September flew by. I remember being excited about fall almost being here and, now suddenly, I’ve flipped the calendar over to October. Time is weird.

This month’s reads included a 50-50 split of fiction and non-fiction with the list featuring:

-Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
-The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
-The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
-The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Nuun Sport Hydration Tablet Flavor Reviews

September 27, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

Running in the summer is tough.

Running in Florida is tough.

Running in the summer in Florida is nearly impossible.

But I’m determined to gain some running ground, so I decided to get serious about hydration and electrolytes post-runs. After trying out samples of a few different products on the market, I decided to take the leap and ordered a variety pack of Nuun Sport from Amazon featuring six flavors: Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical, Fruit Punch, Strawberry Lemonade, and Lemon Lime.

While I find all to be drinkable, I wanted to share my rankings of the flavors (with hopes of trying out more in the future).