Melificent

DERMA E: Vitamin C Skincare

I can list the few things that quarantine has given me the past few months. There are really only three: therapy, exercise and a skincare regime. I am one of those people that just never really had or cared for skincare products aside from a basic moisturizer and face wash. Approaching 40 definitely made me start thinking differently, especially during a time where I spent most of my days staring at my reflection on zoom calls without a lick of makeup on.

Aside from trying to drink more water (I live off of caffeinated beverages most days), I’ve infused Vitamin C skincare products into my daily regime, and I’ve seen a huge difference in my skin. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful nutrients in the world, and its antioxidant properties are essential for our well being and overall health. It can have the same transformative effects on the appearance of our skin, often making it look brighter, smoother and younger with the signs of good health. All things that I felt like my skin was lacking.

I was recently gifted with the Vitamin C Skincare collection from DERMA E, and have been LOVING its effects on my skin. I thought I would share what my daily skincare routine looks like and the products I’ve been using for those of you that may be in the market for something similar. I, by no means, am a skincare expert, but I do know that these products have improved the look and feel of my skin drastically.

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Gluten Free Galentines

Having food allergies can be super tough on a daily basis, much less when traveling. Although I do my research beforehand and ask a lot of questions, I can still end up feeling crappy (for lack of a better word), which can be quite the buzzkill. I love a good weekend trip, especially when it’s a good weekend girls trip…to Disney. I thought it would be so fun to document the best places and spaces around Walt Disney World to get gluten free (and soy + vanilla free) treats for those of you that suffer from food allergies as well.

Oh, and I’d be going on this journey with Lizzie from @thewonderfulthingaboutlizzie while disneybounding as the ultimate Disney BFF’s: Minnie and Daisy! The mystery mousekatool was definitely FUN!

MAGIC KINGDOM

POPCORN

It’s hard to turn away a good Mickey bar (my favorite childhood treat), but I’ve learned to turn a blind eye and grab a tub of popcorn instead! If you buy one of their buckets, you will have $2 refills each time you bring it with you, which is amazing.

PETER PAN FLOAT

Storybook Treats always has really fun ice cream offerings and the Peter Pan float is one that has stood the test of time. Usually these specialty treats don’t last too long, but I think being a Dole Whip variant has helped this one! Although it is adorable, as most of you know, I am not a Dole Whip fan, but I thought maybe pairing it with lime ice cream and Sprite would be a good combo. It wasn’t for me, but it is really Instagrammable.

Honorable Mentions;

  • Dole Whip
  • Fomosa
  • Mickey Bar

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Zimpli Kids Review

Being a behavior analyst, I am all about the sensory play! Ever since Luna was little I would have sensory days at least 3 times a week where we played with different textures and consistencies, so I was very excited to give Zimpli Kids‘ line of Slime Baffs and Gelli Baffs a try. I wanted to see how they worked in multiple settings, so I gave the Slime Baff a go in the bathtub and the Unicorn Slime Play in a plastic container for her to play with at a table. Both were a total hit with her! In the bath, she loved pretending the slime was Elsa’s ice powers, and in the container, the slime came with two unicorns that she loved to trap within the slime.

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Chicago with Kid{s}

Travel. Something we as a duo have always loved. It almost defined us for awhile, always looking for an adventure whether near or far. It personally gives me life to go to new places and have new experiences. To see how other people live. To breathe in a new culture. It was always a romantic notion that I would be able to do this with my little one in tow, and the time had finally come. We had decided to put on the training wheels and take her somewhere that wasn’t too far, that we had traveled to a few times already and that was kid friendly. We ultimately decided on Chicago.

Luna shocked us with her stellar behavior on the plane. I packed her a small backpack with some new toys and activity books (all from the Dollar Store), along with her tablet loaded with her favorite movies and some headphones. I also brought some lollipops to help with the change in pressure during take off and landing. Even with connecting flights, turbulence and no service or bathroom access, she didn’t complain once. We had prepared her a couple of weeks before with these awesome books that I found on Amazon. She knew what to expect, and I think that eased her anxiety.

We stayed at StayPineapple at The Alise, which was SUCH a lovely hotel. It was super central, in The Loop, which is very important when you have a little one in tow. They also have an amazing restaurant and bar (The Atwood), which was great after long days where we were too tired (or the weather was too bad) to look for one to visit. I think Luna loved the hotel more than the city, and would ask to go back to it all the time! She especially loved opening the huge windows and watching the busy city in the morning.

One important lesson we learned was that we cannot travel the same way we used to. It may seem obvious, but our kid is pretty good (as far as 3 year olds go anyways), and is used to our lifestyle, so we thought we could carry on in a new city. Not the case. She found some things to be the actual worst (like Navy Pier, especially when she saw all the fun amusement park rides were shut down or shopping down the Magnificent Mile), would get overtired or overstimulated, and it would result in the most psychotic of tantrums. She doesn’t tend to make these scenes in public so it led to some frustrating and embarrassing moments. Sometimes we had to walk a very long way, only to walk a very long way right back because she was not having it. We had a very loose daily itinerary and didn’t stress when we couldn’t do something or had to leave early. This is so important.

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Captain Marvel

I was just as excited as everyone else for this movie but I never thought that it would have the impact that it did on me when I watched it opening weekend. I don’t know if I’m just extra sensitive now that I am a mother to a toddler girl or if it is just really that impactful, but I can’t say that I walked out of that theater the same.

After reading and listening to others’ experiences, I realized that I wasn’t alone. This movie made the ladies feel strong and empowered in a way that other female led films (like Wonder Woman) didn’t (and I loved Wonder Woman). That montage of her falling down her entire life and then getting back up? Something I didn’t even know existed inside me bubbled up emotionally and made its way out violently. I had to really control myself not to outright sob in public.

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