Five on Friday: Summer Edition

Hey everyone, Happy Friday! Today I'm sharing some current faves with you guys. As you can tell from my last few posts I have been on a shopping spree lately :) I blame Mark because when he's gone I like to shop hah! Kidding, kidding!

San Dog

I was in San Diego this past weekend and had the best time! I promise I will post more about that next week in a full recap of my trip. I miss my girlfriends so much but I'm so thankful for the time we had together.

Fave Book

Amazon

What would a Five on Friday be without a book recommendation?? I loved the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. My friend Kayla recommended it and I flew through the book. It's an easy read but keeps you wanting more until the very end. 

New Sneaks

DSW

I picked up these sneakers while I was in San Diego and I really like them. I'm super weird about wearing tennis shoes with jeans but I will make an exception when they look cute (and not like work out shoes) and I'm not actually wearing them to work out lol. This lilac color is perfect because it's more of a blush and very neutral. I see myself wearing these a ton to school this year, especially this fall. 

Amazon Steal

Amazon

Buying bathing suits is one of my least favorite things to do. :( NOT FUN! But when I see a good deal, I jump at it! This was not apart of Prime Day but one of my fave bloggers posted about it and I decided to give it a try. I purchased a large in this off the shoulder tropical version and it fits perfectly.   It sucks you in without feeling tight and uncomfortable and the off the shoulder and ruffle detail draws the eye up, which I'm a huge fan of :) 

The white with the palm fronds is my fave but I was skeptical about how this inexpensive white suit would hold up when you get it wet. So that's why I opted for the darker color. I paid $13 for this suit and now it's currently $14.99, still crazy reasonable and worth the try! 

 Mini Travel Regimens

You guys know how much I love my R+F products so I have to share this amazing deal going on right now. One of my most frequently asked questions (when it comes to R+F) is do they have a travel sized version? Sadly, we don't sell them but every now and then they will release the mini travel sizes in some kind of promotion. I have had several of the Redefine travel regimens and they last me forever which is crazy because they are small (and TSA approved!). Well right now you can get any of the four regimens in travel size when you purchase a full sized regimen. Such a steal! If you have thought about trying out some new skincare, let's chat about what could work for you.

Here is the link to the solution tool. It takes less than a minute to complete and can help narrow down some skincare options that are specific to your needs. I'm giving away a few free Microdermabrasion paste packets (one of my fave products!) for anyone who completes the solution tool today. Just comment below with your results, or comment on FB or Instagram and I'll enter you to win! 

Five on Friday

Happy Friday!! I hope you all had a great week and have something awesome planned for this weekend. I have book club tonight, which I love, so I am excited! Lets jump in!

Spring is in the Air

Finally, it's starting to feel more like spring around here. Last weekend, we cleaned up our front planters and added some spring blooms. Can't wait to see what it looks like when the perennials come back! 

Fringe Life

Koa Sandals

I have a major thing for fringe. I just think it's adorable :) I recently bought these Sole Society sandals and I can't wait to bust them out. The color is a perfect neural and they are pretty comfy (as far as I can tell). I also love the Vista Blue color but I figured I would get more wear out of the caramel. 

The Coziest Sweatshirt

Check it out here- the pic isn't doing it justice! So cute!

I purchased this swing sweatshirt from Old Navy a few weeks ago and I've worn it so many times already. I LOVE how comfy it is and it's so easy to throw on for a casual day. I actually found it in the athletic section but I think it's cute with jeans too. I actually have the more purpley-gray color but I couldn't find it online. 

New Obsession

Mark has been raving about the Red Rising series for months now but I really thought it wasn't something I would be into. Science Fiction isn't my jam but I finally gave in and WHOA I'm so obsessed with these books. We listened to the first book while on our road trip and then I read the 2nd book. It was actually really nice listening to the first book because I could hear how everything is pronounced lol. There are so many weird words in that book that I would have NO idea how to pronounce otherwise. 

I would say the book is a cross between Hunger Games, Delirium, and the Divergent series. It's pretty violent but doesn't make me cringe like some of the thrillers I usually read :)

Spring Bundle

As most of you know, I have a side gig with Rodan+ Fields. I LOVE sharing about the products and business but don't always share in this space. This is too good of a deal not to tell you about it though. Right now they have released a spring bundle that includes the Intensive Renewing serum, the Lip Renewing Serum, and Multi-function Eye Cream. All three can be added on to any regimen or used on their own. They are in my weekly (some even daily) rotation. Plus they are 25% off when bundled together :) Let me know if you have any questions or want more details!

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Weekend Recap {R+F Convention 2017}

Good morning everyone! I meant to get my weekend recap up and ready to go yesterday but I was exhausted from my weekend spent in Vegas. I was there with Rodan+ Fields for their annual convention.  It was soooo much fun but I'm on the struggle bus with the lack of sleep lol. I will survive but it's going to be a hectic week.

I landed in Vegas super late on Wednesday night and went right to bed after chatting with the girls for a bit at the hotel. I knew it was going to be an early morning with our first event starting at 8. I was able to see my mom that morning because she joined me in business a few months ago. So fun to do business with the people you love!

Military spouses

 I was so excited to just hug my mom, especially after everything that happened in Vegas last weekend. I knew my family and friends were okay but being there and getting the chance to see them in person made me feel better.  I'm still trying to process what happened and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. It was very sobering to see the festival area and the 58 crosses for the people who died. It is truly amazing how the city has rallied around each other to provide support for the victims and their families. Just beautiful and proof that there is so much good in this world! I was also super impressed with all the support from R+F as well. They had signs put up all around the convention and even opened up the event with a moment of silence for the city. The consultants and company also raised money to support the victims and their families as well. LOVE this!

I love meeting these ladies face to face!

I don't even know how to accuratley put into words the experience I had this past weekend. I spent time with some dear friends, most of which I never would have met if it wasn't for this business. I was able to learn all about the incredible innovations that the company is developing and let me tell ya, you're going to be blown away. I LOVE the new products so far and I seriously don't know how they develop more and more phenomenal products. I felt poured into by the company leaders and home office staff. They truly believe in us and want each of us to succeed in whatever we want out of this business. Such an incredible feeling!

The weekend was a total blast and I was able to see most of my fam (minus Dylan) and my brother in law and mother in law too. We went out for Brittany's birthday and had a great time listening to some live country music. Nothing better!

the Gala

Convention is in New Orleans next year! Can't wait!!

Now that I am home it's time to buckle down for this crazy week. I am ready to dive deep into my business though and I am so grateful for this experience. I miss my R+F girls already!

Weekend Recap {R+F Convention}

I spent this past weekend in Vegas for the Rodan+ Fields Convention. It was a whirlwind of sessions, parties, LOTS of information, and time with my business partners. This weekend truly made me realize how incredibly lucky I am to be apart of this company and to work with such amazing people. Not only does this company create an opportunity to work on your own terms and to build a life you could have never imagined but they also give back to the community in such a BIG way. During the time we were at convention, the consultants together donated over $523,000 for buildOn.  BuildOn is an organization that helps to empower urban youth through community service and mentoring programs. We actually got to hear from some of the students and holy moly, so touching! Rodan+ Fields then matched our donation and we donated over 1 million dollars. Seriously amazing!

They also announced our new product that will launch to customers on November 2nd. I am THRILLED about this product and used it for the first time tonight. I can't wait to see my results!

I have a ton of pictures from the four days at convention. Picture dump in 3, 2, 1...

the doctors :)

Sorority sister turned business partner :) 

One of our hosts... Andy Cohen!

the Gala

Meghan Trainor is so beautiful! 

Team party

My Current Skincare Routine

I am a self-proclaimed skincare and makeup lover. I love to experiment with new products, always trying to find the perfect skincare routine. I was introduced to Rodan+Fields by a friend in December and I was pretty blown away by the products. I knew I wanted to order the Reverse line to take care of my sun damage and dull looking skin. I liked the products I was currently using, but when I really thought about it I realized that they were only maintaining my current skin issues and not actually changing my skin. I can happily say that my new routine is changing my skin for the better!




I use the Reverse regimen because I have sun damage and some hyperpigmentation, which is basically uneven skin tone. I rarely leave the house without makeup. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE makeup but sometimes you just want to be able to wakeup and go, without foundation. I'm not to the point where I don't wear makeup everyday but I have ventured out lately with only mascara and a little blush. :) This is big for me lol!

Deep Exfoliating Wash

The first step in my routine is the cleanser. I used the Purity cleanser for years and I always loved how it made my skin feel. I also used an exfoliating wash an alternate days to help shed some dead skin, so I knew the importance of this kind of product. I LOVE the way my face feels after I use the R+F exfoliating wash because my skin feels so soft. Plus it smells amazing, which is always a bonus. When I used my Purity wash a few weeks ago because I left my R+F cleanser on the counter I was amazed with how greasy my face felt. I never realized that it left me so oily. It just solidified my satisfaction with my current routine!

Intensive Brightening Toner

I never really used a toner in the past because they always seemed to strip my skin, which made me over-produce oil. So when I started using the Reverse regimen I wasn't sure if I would like this step. Now that I fully understand the importance of a toner it's become a regular part of my routine. The toner sets up your face for the treatment/ serum you will be applying. This particular toner has kojic acid, antioxidants, and natural ingredients like licorice to help brighten your skin. Who knew that I would love these things so much??

Dual Brightening Treatment

My third step is to use a pea-size amount of the dual brightening treatment, this is the vitamin C complex and retinol. They are in two separate bottles so you get the most benefits from each without them losing their potency. These two ingredients have worked some serious magic on my uneven skin tone and those pesky sun spots. One day I will show my before pictures on here and you'll see what I mean :)

Unblemish- Oil Control Lotion

I have VERY oily skin, especially in this San Diego humidity. The Reverse regimen has an SPF but I found that it was too moisturizing for m,e so I switched to the Unblemish Oil-Control Lotion. I love it! My skin feels very comfortable but I don't feel as oily as I normally do. Don't get me wrong, I still have oil but it's not crazy like it normally is in the spring/ summer. Let's hope it stays this way when July rolls around! Also, this lotion has SPF in it... this is a must for the day time!

Eye Cream

Everyone needs a good eye cream with anti-aging properties. It helps to de-puff my tired eyes, lessen the appearance of dark under-eye circles, and works to diminish my crow's feet, while also preventing new lines. It's very moisturizing, which is good because even though I have oily skin, I have very dry under eyes. I use it under my makeup in the morning and then as my last step in my routine at night.

Amp MD roller

Have you heard of micro-needling?? If not, you need to get on this bandwagon! It's pretty awesome and only takes one minute. So basically this little tool is a micro-exfoliator that contains tiny acupuncture needles. The needles roll over the surface of your skin, helping to improve skin texture, minimize pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can barely feel it while you're using the tool but it does make a big difference. I've seen it work wonders on acne scars too. I have some on my cheeks from my teenage years, so I can't wait to see my continued results.


If you've read my blog in the last couple months you know that I joined the Rodan+ Fields company in January, as an independent consultant. This doesn't change my honest opinion of the products because I couldn't get behind something that I didn't believe in or that didn't work. So for any of the nay-sayers, just know that I am truly a product of the products and I'm loving what the regimen is doing for me. Plus, I get to work with the sweetest, most encouraging team. I'm so fortunate that I found R+F. If you have any questions email me at: jmbradford0211@yahoo.com and I would love to chat with you.

My Word of the Year: GROW

I posted my 2016 goals last week, so click here if you want to check them out. As I was thinking about my goals for this year I seemed to come across a common theme, to grow. I want to grow this year in all ways possible, with the exception of my weight... I would rather that shrink lol.

I want to grow intellectually... reading as much as I can. 50 books, who is with me??
I want to grow spiritually, connecting with Him and spending my time in the word more than ever.
I want to grow from our tiny little apartment to a house lol, but seriously though, we need to move :)
I want to grow as a person and stop fixating on what others think of me. This has always been a struggle.
I want to stop focusing on the things that make me scared and actually do something new that will challenge me and stretch me... aka GROW :)

Starting my blog last year was a HUGE leap for me because it meant putting so much of myself out there to the world. When I say world, I mean the 5 people that I thought would read this blog. I'm now at over 10,000 views and I can't believe it! This was such a dream of mine and I'm so excited that it is actually a reality. It wouldn't have happened if I didn't just take the leap and create the blog or my husband didn't make me click publish lol. Then I had to make it public, because for the first 4 months it was private. Let me tell ya, that was painfully hard for me to do. I've gotten such a wonderful response and I'm blown away but the kindness from people I've never even met. Also, the constant support of my family and friends cannot be ignored. Thank you for believing in me and being my first and continued readers :)

Now, I am taking a new leap and giving myself the opportunity to grow in different ways. I decided to join the Rodan + Field's business and I am so EXCITED. R+F is a dermatologic skincare line brought to you by the same doctors who created Proactiv. I have always been super into skincare and beauty so these products are right up my alley. I love hearing the stories from other consultants about how positive this business has been for them and seeing the amazing results after people have used the products.

I'm committed to making this a year of growth in all areas of my life and I continue to add to my plan to make it happen. What is your word of the year? I would love to hear what you are doing to grow in 2016!