I love wedding registry shopping...

someone needs to buy this off our Macys registry while it's like $380 cheaper than the original price!!!

Wedding Envy

When I originally got engaged (well, even before that!) I had an idea of my dream wedding:

• Amazing catering - preferably Heirloom LA or a fun food truck
• Amazing dessert bar by Sweet and Saucy OR catering by Coolhaus
• Outdoor ceremony
• Under a big tree
• Very rustic seating (hay with cloth over it)
• Outdoor reception
• Twinkling lights
• Mason jars
• Long rectangular tables
• Preferably at a winery in Malibu
• Tons of peonies
• My bouquet - PEONIES!
• My dress - Vera or Monique
• Bridesmaids - mismatched, chic dresses in different tones of gray
• Groom + Groomsmen - in gray suits

Well, obviously things don't always turn out the way you hope for them to be, as guests of my wedding will learn in 5 months. But, I've learned that it doesn't mean you have to be sad!!

I don't think anyone's wedding is their DREAM wedding unless they have boatloads of money, and even then, I'm sure something isn't exactly right.  Flowers aren't in season, their fiance is an asshole, their bridal party is too big and their bridesmaids aren't getting along, they have a mother-in-law from hell, it RAINS!, it's too hot... you get the picture.

I got pretty jealous this past weekend when one of my Facebook friends posted a picture of them eating Coolhaus at their uncle's wedding.  SO, so, so JEALOUS!  BUT, I had to be realistic.  I had to remember that I am still having a beautiful wedding.  I get to marry the man of my dreams and eat yummy cake from Porto's.  Still super awesome :)

Update #2: Oil cleansing method

OCM is a complete FAILURE!!

It worked for like 5 days... and then all these pimples just popped up!

I've never had acne before.... and now I do.... ugh.

My suggestion: If your skin was fine using store-brought, chemical-filled products (sulfates and whatnot), just keep doing it!!! The natural route is not always the best route.

Update: Oil cleansing method

Sigh, I'm getting new pimples on my cheeks :(

I'm tempted to stop the oil cleansing method, but I'm not sure whether it's the increased workouts (I've been working out daily vs. 2 weeks ago where I wasn't working out at all), OR the oil cleansing method.

AND, I've been using an old powder blush the past 3 days. I usually use Benefit's Posie tint, but it was a little too pink on my winter pale cheeks.  The old blush is probably from 4 years ago.....

As an "experiment" I'm going to stop using the new blush (old powder blush cannot be good for the pores), but continue working out and using the oil cleansing method.

Let's hope it works!!!!.... ugh.

New beauty regimen..

After seeing multiple people "pin" about the oil cleansing method I decided to try it out since my skin has been acting up lately. I don't have problems with acne, but I had weird dry patches and nothing was working!  Not even my eczema medicine!  I figured that unnatural chemicals CAN'T be good for my skin.

I used this website as my guide, but used a substitute of grapeseed oil mentioned by this blog.  I also purchased my oils from Amazon. I have fairly normal skin with some oily patches and dry patches, so I used the 80% grapeseed to 20% castor oil mix.
 
Here's the routine:
1. Put a quarter-sized drop of your oil mix into your palms. Rub in palms to warm the oil up.
2. Massage your face for ~3 minutes with the oil.  You can even use it to remove eye makeup!
3. Next is the steaming portion: I run a washcloth under hot water, wring it out, and keep it on my face until the washcloth feels "cool."
4. Wipe face gently with washcloth and then rinse it out.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you feel that the oil is pretty much gone.

It's the third day since I started, and I'm amazed that I don't need ANY moisturizer or have any new breakouts *knock on wood*, PLUS my dry patches are gone!  I have problems with blackheads and large pores on my nose, and they appear to be shrinking and clearing out more and more each day.

Although I've read some mixed reviews about the method, I hope I can be one of the positive reviews. Thankfully I haven't had the "oil slicks" that other women experience as the pores "empty out." We'll see how my skin is in 2 more weeks!

OH, and since it is recommended that you don't do this EVERY day... I used honey+baking soda as an exfoliant today.  It felt good!