Morning Makeover: My Everyday Beauty Routine and Tips

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Fave products for your morning beauty routine

I’ve already shared my work uniform and my go-to quick hair styles. Today I want to walk you through the products I use in my morning and evening beauty routine—the items I truly reach for every day.

Before we begin: these are products I actually use. I purchased most of them myself (one was a gift from a friend), and they’re genuine favorites I keep repurchasing or carrying with me.

Below are the products that make up my everyday skin, body, and hair care routine, used mornings and/or nights.

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6 Weekend DIY Projects You Can Complete in a Day

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I’m heading to Chicago at the end of this weekend for a few days — feel free to share any recommendations. I’ll be collaborating with Ki Furniture to teach a DIY tutorial at their booth during NeoCon. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hello; registration is free.

Before I leave, I’m wrapping up a few work tasks, so I likely won’t start any new projects in the next couple of days. That said, I love hearing about your DIY adventures. If you have some time for a small project this weekend, here are a few ideas to inspire you.

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Small Bathroom Makeovers on a Budget: Before and After Ideas

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Challenging myself with a $350 (or less) budget bathroom makeover! When we moved into this house, our guest bathroom desperately needed attention. We kept it as-is for a long time while prioritizing larger renovations—new flooring, skylights, and other updates that were more urgent. Recently, with those major projects finished for now, it became obvious we … Read more

Cadbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe — Chewy, Chocolatey Treats

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Try these Cadbury choc chip cookies with leftover Easter candy—or pick up a bag of Cadbury mini eggs before the holiday because these cookies are that good. Easter candy is one of my favorite holiday treats—especially Cadbury Mini Eggs and Robin’s Eggs. With a bag of mini eggs on hand, I decided to fold them … Read more

DIY Patterned Coin Bank Tutorial: Build a Stylish Piggy Bank

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A while back, during the summer, I picked up a set of three plastic house-shaped terrariums from Ikea for about $10. The little slots at the tops looked like coin slots, and I immediately envisioned turning one into a house-shaped coin bank. I like to call it a piggy bank even though it isn’t pig-shaped. … Read more

Vase Guide: 16 Modern Vases for Every Budget

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I’m completely obsessed with finding the perfect modern vases (and planters too).

Images of different modern vases, in neutral colors and different sizes.

How else am I going to enjoy flowers and plants without attractive vessels to display them in? Lately I’m focused on vases because I’ve hit my limit on planters and plants both inside and outside the house.

Below is a curated selection of stylish modern vases for every budget. I genuinely want nearly every one of them—someone stop me! The collection includes pieces starting around $15, and many are under $50.

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Quick Half-Halo Braid Tutorial: Style It in 10 Minutes

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You’ve probably seen a full halo braid, but here’s a fresh variation: the half halo braid. This quick hair tutorial shows how to create the look in under ten minutes. The half-up, half-down hairstyle has made a strong comeback recently—think everything from the classic half pony to the popular “hun” (half-up, half-down bun). It’s a … Read more

6 Creative Bandana Styles for Summer You Can Try Now

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How to tie a bandana — six simple styles. Inspiration for styling a square bandana. While deep-cleaning the studio yesterday, I found several square bandanas tucked into the couch, folded up in the upstairs built-ins, and tossed in the supply closet. That’s just at the studio — I have no idea how many more are … Read more

12 Mini-Trips in a Year: Exploring NYC’s Lower East Side

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Nearly two weeks ago, as New York braced for an anticipated blizzard, I managed to catch the last plane that wasn’t canceled and flew into the city for an event. The storm turned out to be less severe than predicted—enough snow to make the sidewalks pretty, but not the chaos everyone feared—so the trip worked … Read more

Build a Minimal Modern Desk with Storage for Under $100

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A minimalist desk you can build yourself!

This is a DIY desk project. For do-it-yourself work, wood is one of my favorite materials to use. It’s versatile, relatively forgiving, and gives a clean, warm result.

I’m not a master woodworker, but I’m comfortable with a handful of straightforward power tools and small projects. I’ve built desks before—anyone remember my DIY standing desk?—so I wanted to share this minimal modern desk with built-in storage that you can make from scratch for under $100, using only a few tools and supplies.

You can definitely do this. The build is renter-friendly, budget-friendly, and can be completed in an afternoon. Follow this tutorial to make a streamlined desk with practical storage that blends into modern interiors.

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