MONTHLY CHALLENGE REVIEW
This month was about fiftyleven years long. About 2 weeks in I started to regret my 'dry January' challenge- why would I choose the longest month of the year to not drink???
Suffice to say, I failed my challenge about halfway through January. In my defense, I found an absolutely killer Margarita recipe that I could NOT wait to try (spoiler: its fantastic and I'll share it below.)
I think there was some part of my brain that got triggered when I told myself 'no.' I'm not a huge drinker so I thought this would be an easy one, but then once I said I couldn't drink, my brain was NOT OK with this! All of a sudden I wanted a glass of wine every day. So, notes were taken and I'm getting more of a plan in place for my future challenges where certain activities are restricted.
Do I regret this challenge? No, I think it taught me some important information about how my brain works. Telling myself 'no' doesn't work for my brain. Will I keep it a part of my routine? Also no. Ya girl enjoys wine and tequila too much.
BUYS AND TRIES REVIEW
I bought and tried different products this month and decided to make it a monthly thing. However, that's too much. I am going to make it seasonal instead of monthly and give myself a longer amount of time to trial these products. Be on the lookout in March for my Spring Buys and Tries!
HAIR
Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic Strengthening & Thickening Rice Water Shampoo and Conditioner
While I LOVE the izumi tonic strengthening energizing water spray- the shampoo and conditioner didn't impress me much. I love the spray and still recommend it! I spoke with Ivy, my lovely hair stylist, and we discussed their shampoo and conditioner. She agreed that this particular shampoo/conditioner wasn't a favorite. She did tell me that their Purple line for blonde hair was fantastic and a lot of the other girls liked it and recommended it.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
SKIN
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
This one was a win! I am going to keep it a part of my morning skincare routine. I could tell a difference in my skin for sure. My face was brighter and smoother after about a week of consistent use. It felt nice on my skin and I enjoyed using it. Definitely recommend this Vitamin C Serum.
Rating: 5 out of 5
MAKEUP
Elf Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide
Honestly, I wasn't as impressed with this one as I thought I would be. I was hoping the Niacinamide would help with my pores but I couldn't tell any sort of difference in using this as opposed to my normal primer. My normal routine includes two different primers: Ulta Poreless Face Primer followed by the Elf power grip primer (the original blue one.)
Rating: 2 out of 5
HEALTH
Ginger Foot Pads
Yeah these did nothing. The only reason I'm going to keep using them is because I bought them and don't want to waste my money. Peeling them off my feet in the morning felt so odd and I didn't like it. I won't lie, seeing the black pad in the morning was super satisfying but I don't think it actually drew any toxins out of my body or anything (that's what my liver is for.)
Rating: 0 out of 5
This month has felt like it's lasted a year. However, I have enjoyed it and don't regret my challenge or my buys and tries. I got to see my friends, eat some delicious food, spend some time by the fire, and just unwind after the chaos of the holiday season. I am looking forward to February and all that I have planned!
Now drumroll please: THE MARGARITA RECIPE!
1/2 cup ~ fresh ~ squeezed lime juice (fresh was way better than bottled lime juice)
1 oz triple sec (or cointreau)
1.5-2 oz tequila (your preference on how much)
1 squeeze Agave Syrup (I never measured, I just squeezed until my heart told me to stop)
Combine all in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake like your life depends on it. Add to a glass with a rim of your choice (my favorite is a tajin rim, but I also love a good sugar rim!)
Enjoy! Can't wait for next month. If you also participated in the challenge or tried any of these products let me know your thoughts and opinions!
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