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THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU ARE HOME: SELF CARE EDITION

The Coronavirus has clearly changed our concept of what is our normal, everyday life! Social distancing, working from home, and so much more. I know all that can be overwhelming and scary. Being a marketing professional by day and a blogger by night, I felt that this was the time, that I need to use my platform, and my skill set, to create 'value,' for my readers all around. So I thought of sharting a new series of "Things To Do While You Are Home."

The first installment of this series is - Self Care Edition.

As I have stated in the past, that self-care is an investment. No matter how busy you are juggling work and home, make sure you devote some time to yourself.  With all the social distancing, we are all isolated at home. But that doesn't mean we cannot use this time, to do things which are meaningful and fun. A pampering session or two, which all of you can do at home.

Here are some ideas for self-care when you are stuck at home:

Deep condition your hair :
Use coconut oil or a deep conditioner, you might already have in stock. Slather your hair with coconut oil and comb with a wide-toothed comb. Put on a shower cap and let it stay on for at least a couple of hours or overnight for best results. Shampoo normally with your sulfate, silicone-free shampoo and condition it normally. I have curly and colored hair and I can swear by this deep conditioning treatment.

 Give yourself an at-home mani-pedi:
I had been practicing a no-spend January and skipped my regular mani-pedi sessions and tried at-home nail care. I like to set up a station for myself, by getting all the supplies I might need. Then I tune into my favorite playlist and enjoy pampering myself.

Enjoy some tub time-shower time: 
Pour yourself a glass of wine, while you soak yourself in the tub, with some Epsom salt. Or break out the bath bomb. Or if a hot shower is your jam, do that. I call it water therapy and trust me, it works. bath times are pretty rushed. So with everything slowing down, it might be a good time to enjoy something as simple as uninterrupted bath time.

Keep up your fitness routine, by taking an online free fitness class:
For instance, the Peloton App is offering free classes, and no credit card information is required. Or do a dance exercise routine. Or how about a yoga routine with your little one. There are loads of free tutorials on Youtube, so take your pick.
Face Masks are a great idea: 
Most of us have some sort of face mask lying in our vanity. Be it a charcoal mask out of a tube, or clay mask out a tub or a sheet mask. Working from home, managing kids, and coming up with dinner and snack ideas can be quite a stress. So doing a mask night/evening every week could be a good idea. I am a big fan of cleansing masks.
Try an exfoliating scrub or make your own exfoliating scrub:
Ideally, I should have spoked about the scrub before I mentioned the face masks. But then again, this list is in no particular order. Many of us swear by our versions of a homemade exfoliating face or body scrubs. I have very dry and sensitive skin, so I have to be extra cautious about any exfoliating scrub. But I do love the idea of removing all the dead skin. If you wanted to try out, an example of a DIY exfoliating scrub includes 1 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1 cup of olive oil.

Meditation:
I know most of us are working from home, and are having a digital overload. If we can have a digital detox, for at least 15 minutes to a half-hour, and meditate, it can help us tremendously. If you cannot do it every day, then at least do it every alternate day.

 Playtime with your pets:
Any time spent with pets is therapeutic, at least in my books. Spend this time, in going for long walks with them, or playing with them in your back yard. The fresh air in our lungs does wonders. Avoid crowded spots though.

Practice your makeup skills:
If you are into makeup and beauty, then this a good time to try out some new trends. Yes, at home. My productivity for work is higher when I get dressed and ready in the morning, rather than stay in my PJs. So when you get ready for the day, you could practice that new beauty tends that you had heard of, and wanted to try it out. For instance, I often get asked about my eyeliner routine, and how it doesn't budge even when I am running through a sprinkler. So Click Here, if you wanted to improve your gel eyeliner skills.

Get your beauty sleep:
Stress levels are high beyond doubt and our schedules are all awry. Which makes it all the more important to get optimal sleep.

Hoping all of you take good care of yourself, and together we will emerge out this stronger! 
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THE PINK COAT : SPRING STYLE


If anything screams Spring to me, its definitely all things Pink! So when Kansas City finally was ready to welcome a super early Spring, I knew I had to write about my Pink Coat. It is feminine, its fun, it is super chic and it keeps me warm and snuggly. Since I do wear white after Labor Day, I did wear this coat throughout Winter. Why not, as it was a birthday gift from some of my best friends. Yes, I have very thoughtful friends, who get me the most amazing gifts. Who doesn't love a pink coat, right?
 
A pink coat had been n my wish list for some time. But I was on two minds, whether you get a light duster coat, or to opt for a wool coat. I know some people are all for puffer coats, and down jackets, but I am more a coat person, when it comes to dealing with the kind of cold weather, that we have here in the Midwest.

I love how beautifully the coat is tailored/structured. Mine is the Kenneth Cole Asymmetrical Boucle Walker Coat. A chic funnel neckline tops off this boucle walker coat finished with two side pockets. I am petite and wear minimal heels. So this coat can classify as being a longer coat. I am 5'1'' and I wear it in the size Small. The dusty rose color is just perfect. Its a wool coat, but it's not as if it is super heavy, or it is itchy. The coat does run a bit big, which means you have room to layer a sweater if you wanted. I wore this coat, over a thick pullover when we had gone out to look at Holiday lights, and I was warm all evening.

I am all excited to style my pink coat a few different ways this Spring. Would you opt for a colorful coat, or are you more of a neutrals person when it comes to your choice of coats/jackets? I have lined up some options below, including this exact same coat, if you were interested.

I do also have a sky-blue/powder blue trench, that I love! Maybe an upcoming outfit post.

SHOPPING FOR PINK COATS:
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JORD SUBERHIDE VEGAN LEATHER WALLET



I am always on the lookout for new accessories. Brownie points, if the new accessory is all about sustainable fashion and is cruelty-free. So when Jord reached out to me for a partnership, for their new accessory, I was excited. Suberhide Vegan Leather Wallet. Many of you might remember that I have partnered with Jord in the past, with their wood watches. Yes, they are the same company whose wood watches sparked a global trend and started an industry. This is what they do. They take materials that no one ever dreamed would be used on an accessory and find ways to make it work. Suberhide bags are the new wood watches.
Jord (pronounced Yode) is a family-owned based in St.Louis, which is striving hard to make conscious fashion the rule, and not the exception. Fashion does not have to choose between being luxurious or eco-friendly, it can be both, at the same time. At Jord, they seek to create wearable pieces of art, that are inspired by nature and made with natural materials.

 These unique purses are made of vegan leather. Yes, you heard that right. The Suberhide collection by Jord, are made of cork-infused vegan leather. Cork is only one of three trees in the world, which can be stripped of its bark, without drying out. Unlike most trees, cork has the ability to regenerate its outer bark.

Suberhide as a raw material is known for its notable qualities: 
Resists scratching and tearing
Hypoallergenic
Water-resistant
Flame retardant
Anti-static
Highly elastic and maintains shape after compression of creasing 
Resistant to staining
Easily cleaned with mild soap and water.



As many of you know, I have a weakness for the color Red. Yes, red lipsticks are my instant pick me up, any time of the year. And according to my BFFs, red outfits are meant for me. So when I saw a cruelty-free and sustainable wallet in red, you know I reached out for it. Eila is a medium suberhide wallet with 8 card slots and a change pouch. Its a fabulously chic option whether you choose it for light travel, or as a clutch for an evening out. I might have opted for the color red, but Eila wallets are available in a variety of muted and accent colors and finishes. Did I tell you that its just the right amount of space for your cards, your lipgloss, other basic goodies, and even your phone! Ain't that neat!



 I loved the play of textures in my unique purse - Elia by Jord. You can't miss the quintessential cork-like texture paired with a more patent leather-like texture. It is lightweight, trendy and yet very sturdy.  I am one of those people who stuff their wallets like anything, and I can tell you that this stood up to that challenge pretty good. The branding is on point and even the zipper pull is monogrammed with Jord insignia. Just like the Jord wood watches are a conversation starter, I can tell you that this will be the same.
If all of this wasn't enough, they added the most luxurious packaging. Honestly, when I got my wallet, I felt it was Christmas in Spring! Every wallet comes in its own plush drawstring dust bag and a premium quality gift box. So whether it is for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or even Mother's Day this packaging is just picture-perfect.
So what are you waiting for, go ahead and order one for yourself, or your bestie, or your mom! Jord offers free-shipping worldwide, hassle-free returns and a 100% secure checkout. I can tell you something, as a Jord-user, that when you pick up a product by Jord, whether its a wood watch, or a unique vegan leather bag, it will be an instantaneous love story. While I have many watches in my collection, but I can tell you that I reach out for my Jord wood watch the most. And I am sure it will be the same story with my Jord Eila wallet.


Wood Watch Review
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