Top Beauty Products - Currently Loving

I posted something on Snapchat the other day asking if you guys would like to see my top beauty products. I received an overwhelming amount of yes responses, so I thought I'd take it one step further and break it up into two posts - 1 with beauty products, and 1 with makeup products - all of which I swear by. Here are my top beauty products that I've recently been loving and/or I can't live without (in no particular order)!

1. HiSmile Teeth Whitening Kit - Coco Bundle

I was sent this kit to try, and after some time with it, I have to say I'm sold. I didn't add to this list just because it was gifted, but because I actually really like it. You fill the tray with gel, pop the tray in, put the light on and sit for about 10 min! It's so easy. Also part of the kit, is little tubes of their whitening mouthwash which has coconut oil. We all now that coconut oil has a bazillion benefits, especially for your mouth if you swish it for I think 20 minutes. But with this wash only 5 minutes will do. I'll do a final post with before and after photos, but so far I love this. I'm obsessed with keeping my teeth white and always doing something to keep them so. Love this kit as a new solution. 

2. Kenra Platinum Hot Spray

I've been using this stuff for a while. My hair is naturally straight and It's always been trouble and taken a handful of products to get it to curl. This is one that works. It doubles as a heat protectant, but also helps enhance and hold curls. It's worked on me for years. One trick I just learned - spray your heat protectant on and let it soak into your hair for a few minutes before styling. I swear by this one. 

3. Loving Tan 2-Hr Express Tanning Mouse

I am a spray tan junkie. I've been spray tanning for about 9 years now. It started during my professional cheerleading days. I've been trying to find an at-home solution for tanning when I can't get into the salon, so I gave this a try. So far I really like it! The color is perfect - not too orange at all. I'm still working on perfecting the application part, but the tanning mitt they have makes a huge difference. I highly suggest buying the tanner and mitt together. Buy mitt here.

4. Batiste Dry Shampoo

Girl. If you aren't using dry shampoo yet, get on board! I absolutely swear by it. I used to be one of those girls that had to wash my hair EVRY DAY, it was greasy by the end of the day, never believed anyone who said they changed their hair, etc. Well it's possible to change and train your hair. I promise. Wash your hair and immediately put this on after your hair is dry. The second you feel your hair is getting greasy, spray some dry shampoo on your roots and brush it out. Go as many days as you can without washing. Maybe it starts with one day, then two, next thing you know you'll be washing your hair once a week like me! Batiste is my favorite brand I've tried. It's inexpensive, and comes in a variety of scents or tints (like blonde or brunette) if you don't like the white residue some dry shampoos leave. 

5. Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1

This is a newer product to me, but I absolutely love it. It's a volumizer, texturizer and dry shampoo all in one. If my hair needs a little more 'grit' before I start curling, I spray this on after my heat protectant and then curl as usual. It's also great for getting messy beachy waves. I'll spray it on after curling and kind of mess my curls up a little for that tousled look and it's perfect. Definitely one of my new go-to styling products (and did I mention it smells amazing?!) Good news - they make a smaller travel-size version if you want to try before you commit. 

 6. Elnett Satin Extra Hold Hairspray

I have used this since high school maybe? Oh it's just the best. Super lightweight and never leaves that icky crunchy feeling. It has excellent hold but your hair still has movement. You're not left looking like Sponge Bob Square Head, ya know? Plus, I think a lot of celeb hairstylists use this.

7. Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil

Ah this is one of my holy grails! I LOVE this stuff. It's a great dupe for some high-end makeup removing oils. I love this one because two pumps rubbed all over the face takes off all your makeup, Even though it's an oil, it still rinses right off with water. I'll get all my makeup off with this and then cleanse as usual.

8. Rodan + Fields Lash Boost Enhancement Serum

You guys. This stuff is amazing. If you've been following for a while a saw my old last post, you know I used to swear by Latisse. Yes, Latisse worked, but the R+F serum works better. And way quicker. And is MUCH more user friendly. You start noticing a difference in just a few days and your lashes grow SO fast. I used to get asked about my lashes a lot before, but I get asked 10x's more now. And if you end up hating it and it's not for you, they have a great return policy. Again, this is no plug, just raving about something I now swear by :)

9. Rodan + Fields Eye Cream

I've been using this eye cream for a while and it's yet another R+F product I love. I've tried others here and there, but this one always feels the most moisturizing and good for my sensitive skin,

10. It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Treatment

Here's another that's been on the list for a while! This little product has so many benefits. Detangles, restores, protects - the list goes on. My hair is pretty damaged so I like to do whatever I can to protect it, and I love that this product provides so many benefits in one. 

11. Nivea Cocoa Butter Body Lotion

The women in my family have sworn by Nivea for years, so I have fond memories of the Nivea smell. I tend to mix it up and try new things every once in a while (like something from Bath & Body Works or something else at the store). But I always come back to this one. It's reliable, ya know? Super moisturizing, smells good, and great for sensitive skin.

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Ok that's all I can think of for now! If you have some holy grail products or products you think I should try, let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear what you all swear by. Part 2, with my makeup holy grail products, will be up next!

Long Black Tunic

What's happening everyone? Hope life has ben treating you well lately! I've slowly been getting back on my feet after being sick. Turns out I had pneumonia forming - go figure. But I'm on the mend and back in business. 

What do you think of this top? It's under $20! I love a head to toe black moment. I live in these leggings lately - not only are they comfortable, but the fabric has a cool shiny look, and they're high-waisted so they're slimming (and hide Gertrude). The perfect pair for dressing up or down - a must have in my opinion. I love how this top just flows over these leggings. Such an easy look that's still chic. You could easily put this look together with things in your closet - nice leggings and a longer tunic. If I have any ostomy friends reading, it's perfect for hiding everything - these leggings are my favorite for that very reason. 

How are your New Year's Resolutions going so far? I'll be honest I give myself a B- on mine. This year I wanted to become more organized in all aspects of life, and be healthier. I'm proud to admit the organization is off to a better start than I expected! I cleaned out my closet (oh my gosh I hope you saw the video on my InstaStory sharing the after), I've been better at organizing my calendar and events, and for health, I've not only stuck to all my routine appointments, but I've made appointments to see holistic doctors, acupuncture, etc. - anything to help make myself as healthy as possible. 

Speaking of the new year, is there anything you want to see more or less of on Sweet & Sauer? I have some ideas of more things I want to include, but I also want to hear from you! Nothing is off limits, I'd love to hear what you'd like to see more of on the blog. 

P.S. Did you check out the awesome feature Ostomy Connection did on Sweet & Sauer? So cool to be featured! Check it out here.

Have a great week!

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SHOP THE LOOK

Top (c/o) / Leggings (Must have!) / Hat / Shoes (c/o) / Bag (LOVE this one, similar here & here)

When Life Gives You Lemons: Infusion Center Diaries

The Infusion Center Diaries - is this a series I'll continue? Who knows. But for now, here is your long post alert and my latest thoughts on life. 

This is a post I've been thinking about for a LONG time. I've gone back and forth so many times on writing it and posting it. I never want to come off bitter, rude or insensitive through wordy posts. Well, today I finally was tipped off and decided it's time to finally share this post. So here we go. 

I'm going to preface, as always, I'm not sharing these details for pity, sympathy, or anything of that nature. I share my experiences and thoughts to help other people. With my very first post I said, "If this helps one person, then it's worth putting all this out there." I've accomplished that and it only motivates me to keep going. If my hardships can help inspire you, then this fight is worth it. Anyway.

In the last 14 months of my life, here is a general list of things that have happened:

• Stage 4 [incurable] cancer diagnosis
• Loss of the ability to ever carry children and harvest my eggs
• MAJOR Crohn's flare
• Ileostomy surgery (and adjusting to a very new lifestyle to accompany it)
• Loss of my grandmother, to whom I was extremely close, and couldn't attend the funeral because of said cancer diagnosis
• Laid off from a job that I LOVED
• Lost my dog, love of my life (I know the dog people out there feel me on this one)
• Heartbreak due to the end a wonderful four and a half year romantic relationship
• Countless hospital stays
• All the issues and defeats associated with my cancer and Crohn's flare (most of which have been documented in previous health posts)

I'm sorry, but at 27 that's a lot to deal with in a short period of time. And I hate to say this, but I feel like I'm forgetting something. Again, l'm not sharing this so you feel bad for me. Quite the opposite actually, which is why I call this post The Infusion Center Diaries. 

None of this is fair, I think we all can agree on that. But the lesson I've learned is that it's all in how you handle things. Today I had my routine infusion at the cancer center (2x a week for fluids, among other infusion treatments), and the woman next to me would NOT. STOP. COMPLAINING. I've seen her before and this is pretty routine for her. Everything was wrong in her life, and she will tell anyone who will listen (whether you want to or not). I'm not kidding. In a 10 minute span she said so many 'glass half empty' comments I was about to lose my mind. And we're talking really trivial things - down to how far away she had to park (btw, there's free valet). Everything out of her mouth was so negative and "woe is me" and it was just exhausting to listen to. To help paint a picture, she has breast cancer and smokes like a chimney, so there's that. I get it, sometimes the smallest things can change your mood and ruin your day. Or you're just having one of those days where everything seems to go wrong. Really, I get it. I complained about some really dumb things before all of this. And at the time, those dumb things were a big deal, just like the things you might complain about are. I'm not saying any of this to diminish things going wrong in your life, or hers. Not at all. Not everyone is going to have to take on such big battles like me. The whole point is how you handle your troubles, no matter how big or small. 

It's frustrating to have a bad day, or have bad things happen. But it's how you handle them that counts. You don't think I get mad when I see my friends going out and having fun, and I'm stuck at home or in the hospital, again, because I don't feel well? It frustrates me beyond belief that I'm held back so much because of my health issues. But you better believe that I use every ounce of good energy I have whenever I can. There are even times when I force myself to get out and do things, when all I want to do is lay in bed. I refuse to let my life pass me by like that. One thing my mom has said through all of this is that it's up to me to take my life back as much as I can. I've been robbed of so much that I'll never get back. It's up to me how much more I allow to be taken from me that's in my control. 

That's my message to you with this post. It's ok to have a bad day and complain about everything, but don't let it become a habit. Your problems are just that, your problems. It's completely up to you how you handle them. My friends constantly say, "I feel so bad complaining about this to you" and I get so mad at that statement. I was complaining about similar things before all this. The size of the problem isn't the point. The point is that it's all in how you deal. You had a rough day at work? Fought with your significant other? Well cry it out, eat some ice cream and move on. Put your problem in a balloon and let it go. You decide whether a problem affects you for 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 days. Make the call and commit.

I'm not going to sit here and act like I have a shiny attitude every single day. Are you kidding? I'm SO guilty of crying and complaining and getting mad. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to physically explode from frustration. But I allow myself to feel those feelings, recognize them, and then move forward. I take my life back.

It's up to you what you take away from this post, but I hope it at least inspires you to look at your troubles a little differently and make the most of every moment of your life.

As always, thank you for the unwavering support to all my health posts. Thank you for the love and positivity. Thank you for all of it, from the bottom of my heart.