We’ve officially reached week 3 of the challenge, way to go, you should be so proud of yourself! We know that sometimes, it can feel like your momentum is slowing down but not to worry, we got you! Let’s dive into the importance of mindset and discover how it can level up your journey!

Reconnecting with Your “Why”

It’s time to go back to the beginning and remember why you chose to go on this incredible journey.

Take a moment to reflect on your initial goals and aspirations.

Are you looking to boost your confidence? Improve your overall well-being? Remind yourself of the incredible strength you possess and let your “why” refresh your motivation. You’ve come so far, and you have the power to go even further!

Consistency with a Dash of Freshness

Consistency is key, but we also know that routine can sometimes lead to a slump. Spice things up and keep your fitness routine fresh and exciting.

Try taking your workout outdoors! Feel the sun on your skin and breathe in the fresh air as you sweat it out. Don’t forget to check out my LSF workout playlist to refresh your workout groove and keep you energized.

A little change can make such a difference!

Embrace the Power of Affirmations

Positive self-talk is a game-changer when it comes to mindset.

Affirmations are like mini pep talks that boost your confidence and set the tone for success. Repeat empowering phrases like “I am strong,” “I am capable,” and “I am unstoppable” to yourself daily.

You have to be your own biggest hype girl first, then let #teamlsf do the rest!

Our Mindset Must-Haves

To support you on your mindset journey, I’ve got some incredible resources for you. My Self Love Workbook is designed to help you unlock confidence in just 7 days.

It’s packed with daily challenges to inspire growth and honest self reflection, tools to learn to love yourself unconditionally, learn when to say no and why to say YES, self love checklist, weekly self care tracker, and 3 DIY face mask recipes.

This workbook will fuel your inner fire and keep you pushing forward.

Read more

Sharing the best products for dry eye, blepharitis, MGD (I’ve tried it all!)

+ the Great Eye Saga

Hi friends! How are you? I hope you’re enjoying the morning so far. The girls are at a half-day camp and I’m here doing discovery coaching calls, podcast editing, and getting a quick workout before pickup.

For today’s post, I have the post no one asked for, and the post I DEFINITELY didn’t ask for:

my Great Eye Saga, finding out I have severe blepharatis, and mild MGD (meibomian gland dysfunction)… and all of the products, strategies, and treatments I’ve tried, along with my routine.

the best products for dry eye, blepharitis and MGD

OG readers of the blog (Hiiii and thank you so much for being so awesome and for your constant support) know that my eyes are delicate petunias. I’ve written about my woes with previous infections, eyelash extension nightmares, and finding out the hard way that certain eye makeup will ruin my life lol.

The latest eye misadventure has been the longest and most inconvenient experience yet, but in my determination to look at the bright side, now I know more about my eyes, WHY I struggled so much with certain things over the years, have a routine and care plan, and my eyes are the whitest and happiest they’ve been in years. 

So, buckle up, and I’ll tell ya a story.

The Great Eye Saga

In April, I got the worst pink eye that I’ve ever seen or experienced. I’d been out gardening the day before, and woke up with neon red eyes that were covered in mucus (I’m sorry, it’s true) and almost swollen shut. I rushed to urgent care, where they prescribed me antibiotic drops, and was sent home. It didn’t get better within a few days, so I went to a new eye doctor. (My previous eye doctor had retired.) He said the infection was viral and prescribed a steroid drop, which calmed down the inflammation. The following week, he said I could go back to my contacts, so I did. Within a few weeks, the redness and goo was back.

*It’s worth mentioning here that I washed my pillowcase and any towels I used every single day, threw away all of my expensive makeup and skincare (WAH), and washed my hands so often all of my knuckles were cracked and bleeding. I was so frustrated that somehow, I had pink eye again.*

I started the antibiotic drops again (the same ones, since it had only been about a month), they did nothing, and I went back to the eye doctor’s office.

I saw different eye doctor since my previous doctor was booked 

Sharing tips on how to reduce stress-related hair loss.

Hi friends! Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed the weekend and that your week is off to a good start. We’re emptying Liv’s room and cleaning out her closet today (pray for me) and looking forward to hopping in the pool later.

For today’s post, I wanted to talk about something that affects a lot of women (and men!): hair loss. Hormonal changes, stressors, toxins, nourishment, and hair care habits can all impact the quality and quantity of hair, so I thought I’d share some tips for keeping your hair luscious and healthy.

A friendly reminder that I’m not a doctor. If you’re noticing hair loss, particularly sudden hair loss, make an appointment with your doctor ASAP. This can be a sign that something else is going on, so it’s worth it to see your health care provider for a full assessment. 

I also wanted to say that I’ve been there. With postpartum, illness, and stressful events in life, my hair quality, texture, and quantity have all been affected. I feel like over the past five years, I’ve seen a huge improvement with my hair. Friendly reminder: this post is NOT medical advice and is for informational purposes only. 

How to reduce stress-related hair loss

In our fast-paced and demanding lives, stress has become an all-too-familiar companion. While it can affect various aspects of our health, one surprising consequence is stress-related hair loss. The toll of chronic stress can lead to hair thinning and shedding, leaving us concerned about the health of our precious locks. Today, I’m going to chat about the connection between stress and hair loss and equip you with practical strategies to alleviate its impact.

Understand the Stress-Hair Loss Connection:

Before tackling the issue head-on, it’s crucial to understand how stress affects our hair health. Stress triggers hormonal imbalances, particularly an increase in cortisol levels, which can disrupt the hair growth cycle and lead to hair loss. Recognizing this connection empowers us to take proactive steps towards reducing stress and its negative impact on our hair.

Embrace Stress Management Techniques:

Implementing effective stress management techniques is key. Explore relaxation practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga to promote a sense of calm and reduce stress hormones. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can work wonders in managing stress. Here is my blog post with lots of meditation tips. 

Prioritize Self-Care and Me-Time:

Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, remember to prioritize self-care. Dedicate time for activities that bring you joy and help you unwind. Whether it’s reading a book, taking a long bath, or engaging in a hobby, giving yourself regular me-time is vital for reducing stress and nurturing your hair’s health.

Be Kind to Your Hair 😉

I feel like particularly in the US, we’re obsessed with

Hi friends! Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? We have no real plans… and I’m kind of looking forward to it. The kids start school in a few weeks (WAH) so I think I need to get my life together and start ordering/planning. Word to the world if your girls wear uniforms: these skirts are the BEST. I ordered the girls new sets since they loved them so much last year, and also ordered some of these.

I’m also teaching a Zumba class, a spin class, and taking Liv to see the new Barbie movie. Can’t wait!! I’d love to hear what you have going on.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

Life:

We had some friends over for sushi night last weekend and it was so much fun.

The Pilot made an enormous pitcher of Mai Tais using this recipe,

I made some steamed edamame, house salad with ginger dressing, these truffle edamame dumplings,

and ordered a bunch of different sushi rolls to share from Sachiko. Our friends brought the dessert; the cutest rice crispies decorated like sushi rolls (like this!), along with homemade lemon bars and chocolate chip cookies.

We also celebrated Nani’s birthday this week! We had an amazing dinner at Gavi, including two different chef’s boards, the Sicilian salad, and for my entree, I chose the chicken marsala.

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Sharing a recap of our 7-night Mediterranean cruise (Italy and Greece) on the Disney Dream! This is not sponsored (I wish, lol), but I’m excited to share our experience. 

They have a handy little trick when you’re on board a Disney cruise: you have the option to book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight discount. This way, when you get off the ship, it’s slightly less depressing because you know you’ll be on another one soon. We got off the Disney Dream in Rome a few weeks ago, and already, we can’t wait for our next Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve done Alaska, Bahamas, and Mexico), and it was our favorite one. It was a combination of the destinations plus the larger ship, which was a literal Dream.

(We also got to enjoy Rome on either side of our cruise! You can read about our Rome adventures here.)

7-night Disney Dream European cruise

We arrived at the Civitavecchia port via a private car that the hotel booked fo us, and it was the quickest and most seamless boarding experience. By 1:30pm, we were at the pool, watching the kiddos swim and drinking cocktails with friends. (A pro tip from one of our good friends: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and check everything else. Your room won’t be ready yet, so you can head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it will be for the entire trip and after a couple of hours, your room will be ready with all of your luggage waiting for you outside the door.)

We had lunch from Cabanas (the buffet) and ate it by the pool, checked out our room, and then got changed for the Muster Drill, Sail-A-Wave party and dinner.

On Disney cruises, you’re on a dining rotation. You get the early (6pm) or late (8pm) seating, and alternate restaurants each evening. You can opt out of your more formal dining to have a quick bite or room service instead, but no matter what, your table will be