Colder Weather

Top:  JCrew (old, similar)  Sweater:  H&M  Pants:  JCrew (color sold out similar) Boots:  Just Fab

Coat:  Rue21 (unable to find online)  Shades:  Amazon

The weather in Tennessee has been crazy the past 2 weeks!  This was my favorite colder weather outfits to wear during the frigid temps.  I had been on the hunt for a cream oversized sweater for a while and I am so glad to have found this one at H&M.  Hope you are staying warm wherever you are and that you have a wonderful weekend!

Skincare Routine

Left to Right:  Skin Script Blemish Control Cleanser  Skin Script Green Tea Cleanser  Skin Script Light Aloe Moisturizer  Skin Script Blemish Control Toner Pads Loreal Youth Code Texture Perfector  Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream  Sephora Cleanse Off Oil  Equate Eye Makeup Remover

I take skincare very serious.  In recent years I have had issues with cystic hormonal acne, dull skin, and hyperpigmentation.  This started right after I graduated from college in 2010.  I was breaking out terribly, and couldn't figure out why.  I had never had issues with acne until then and it was frustrating to have it happen that late in life.  I went to a dermatologist, and they prescribed me an antibiotic which cleared my skin and all was well.

Then I moved back to Crossville for a new job, and my skin just really wasn't where I wanted it to be.  The large breakouts had subsided, but I was experiencing hyperpigmentation from previous breakouts, as well as scarring from previous breakouts.  So I started going to an aesthetician in the area to see what kind of services she could provide and see if she had any insight on how to clear my skin. 

And insight, she definitely had.  She explained how important it is to get on a regiment with your home care products, in conjuction with monthly peels/facials.  I think one of my main problems I had when I was caring for my skin in the past was I was just "treating" it.  I wasn't "maintaining" it.  Which was why I would have a breakout, it would clear, it would come back again.  It was a never ending cycle, and the reason was because I wasn't consistent in my care.  

I have been seeing my aesthetician, and using her recommended home care routine for about 9 months now.  My face is tremendously better!  So much so that I RARELY use concealer anymore when I put my makeup on in the morning.  Which was a must in years past.  

I have combo skin, oily in the t zone, dry on the cheeks and rest of the forehead.  Below I listed my routine for both morning and night.

Morning:  Blemish Control Cleanser

Texture Perfector Serum

Eye Cream 

Moisturizer

Evening:  Eye Makeup Remover

Sephora Cleanse Off Oil (this stuff is simply amazing.  It literally melts your makeup off and helps moisturize and not strip the skin)

Green Tea Cleanser

Blemish Control Toner Pads

Texture Perfector Serum

Eye Cream (I use this on my eyelid and under the eyes at night)

Moisturizer

I also own a Clarisonic Mia, that I use when I have a breakout to deep clean the pimple and stop bacteria from spreading and making it last longer.  When I first purchased this, I was using it every night.  I let my skin go through the "purging" stage, which was not that fun, but after I pushed through the purging stage, the end result was well worth it.  I tapered off the every day routine with that to every other day, and now I only use it about 2 times a week.  

Whew!  Now that, was a blog post.  I apologize for being so long winded, I hope everyone's week is fabulous!

Makeup Collection and Storage

Brushes in Mason Jars

This container is what I carry in the bathroom with me each day.  It has what I reach for on a daily basis , so that helps by making getting ready fast and easy.

My nail polish...

Primers and lashes..

Drugstore small eyeshadow pallettes

More eyeshadows, and random eye products

Lip products

Random drawer (mostly things I don't use anymore, but don't want to get rid of)

I have a makeup obsession.  Just like I have a fashion obsession.  I just really love the idea of being able to change your look with makeup and all of the different looks you can get with it.  This year for Christmas I asked for storage for my makeup so that I could display it.  The 5 drawer makeup container is from MUJI here is the link.  And the organizer came from Bed Bath and Beyond.  It's not available online, or I would have linked it for you.  Honestly having the makeup storage makes getting ready in the morning all the more fun.  I repurposed some mason jars to hold my brushes, and bath and body works candle holders to hold some of my nail polish.  I also have room to grow with these drawers too which is really nice.  Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!!

First Fashion Friday!!!

Coat:  (not sure) Dress:  Target  Turtleneck:  Target (old) Tights:  Express (old) similar

Booties:  Target

First Fashion Friday of 2014!!  I hope everyone is having a fantastic year so far!  I am so glad to be back blogging for this year.  This dress I got from Target this winter has been a real gem.  You can dress it up, dress it down, dress it warm and even dress it cool!  It's what a true shift dress should be.  Plus I kinda love winter white this time of year.  What are some of your favorites for winter????

DIY Rustic Pipe Desk

My parents have recently renovated their home.  They got a new kitchen, new hardwood floors, appliances, the works.  The house pretty much had a complete overhaul. And it looks awesome!  They asked Landon and I if we could make my dad a new desk out of repurposed wood and steel pipe.  So we took on the challenge!  Here are a few photos from how we did this little project.

We started with 3 pine boards, cut 5 feet long.  We planed them to even out the surface.  Because this was a desk we wanted the surface to be as smooth as possible.

Then, we got to distress the wood!  This was my favorite part because we could do whatever we wanted to it.. and it didn't have to be perfect.  It was a pretty good stress reliever too!  Below are some of the "tools" we used, and some upclose shots of the best distressed parts.

Then Gracie decided she was going to help too.... :)

Next, we had to attach the 3 boards together.  We did this with a combination of wood glue and screws.  Landon has a tool called a Kreg Jig, that makes pocket holes for projects like this one that involve wood.  It's very handy in making a project more secure, while not having to see nails and screws in the wood.  First we glued the pieces together and used a clamp of sorts to hold them all together so they would dry and not move around.  Then once the glue was dry we screwed all 3 pieces together. 

The day after attaching the boards, it was time to stain them.  We used a rust stain to do this because we wanted a "natural" stained effect.  We made the stain with vinegar and steel wool.  We let this combination sit in a plastic container for a few days until it made enough stain for us to work with.  This stain went on very light, and eventually darkened to a true rust color.  We then polyurethaned a semi gloss finish after the stain set in and darkened.

The next step was to add the pipe legs to the desk.  We used an assortment of steel pipe from Lowe's, and screwed them together.  This is very easy to do and looks very clean.  After measuring and making sure the pipe legs would work, we spray painted two coats of metallic oil rubbed bronze paint.  The next step was attaching the legs.  Then the desk was complete!  Here are the last few pictures of the finishing steps.

I'm hoping to be able to post more projects this year on the blog.  Landon is very talented when it comes to making things, so hopefully we will be able to post more!  I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!  More posts to come!!

**love**

Tessa

InstaChristmas

If you don't follow me on Instagram, you should. 😄 especially right now because I do not have internet! So to say that posting has been a challenge would be an understatement.  I have been uploading a lot of pictures of my Christmas decor and crafts on Instagram from my camera on my iPhone. I wish I could upload some from my Canon, but until I get "reconnected" again, that's not possible.  I hope you all enjoy these few pics of my Christmas decor this year, and if you don't follow me on Instagram, DO IT! @sweetsouthernandsophisticated

**love**

Tessa