My Facial Products

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As I continue to read my book called “The French Beauty Solution” I am becoming more conscience about my skin.

I am in my early 30’s so skin care is becoming more important to me. While I was a teenager I was a big Noxema fan! I would clean my face twice a day with it so cleansing my skin was never a problem.

While in my 20’s I noticed that I had these dark spots on my face and they itched! I then realized it was dry skin. So I started moisturizing.

I now visit the Estee Lauder and Clinique booth at my local mall. I ask question about products and what would be good for my skin.

I am a huge fan of Philosophy’s Purity facial wash. I started using it about 2 years ago and it has done an amazing job on my face. For my day moisturizing I use Estee Lauder DayWear with SPF 15. It smells wonderful and I love the creamy texture of the cream. Plus, I am getting the protection I need from the sun.

For my night wear I use Estee Lauder’s Nightwear Detox Cream. Author Mathilde Thomas mentioned in her book that you should wear a night cream that is a detox. It will help with pulling out all the impurities in your skin.

Another product I have grown to love is Estee Lauder’s Enlighten Dark Spot Correcting Serum. After I wash my face I put a little dab of this on my dark spots to help “lighten” them up. It is a slow process but it works.

The last two products that I use are Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair and Fresh Rose Floral Toner. The advanced night repair promotes a natural nighttime purification process and the toner imparts a healthy looking glow and soothes irritations along with given you a wonderful rose aroma.

I love my new skin care regime. I would encourage anyone to start their own. One thing I have learned about products is ask for samples! Most beauty consultants will give you samples. Happy Hunting!!!

My products at home

photos via AHFE

House Slippers

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There is nothing like coming home from a long workday and taking off your heels. One thing that I have grown to love are my house slippers.





I try to get them in dark colors so they can hide dirt. I really like these slippers. I found them at Walmart. Shocker!!! 
They are called the Dearfoams Ballerina Slippers.
Another great option are these great Isotoner Ballerina Slippers.
I found these great slippers on T.J. Maxx.com
They are called the Velour Ballerina Slipper.


Whatever you find just know that there are great options out there for being comfortable and looking chic at home.

photos via Mrs. Shockley

The Barefoot Contessa on Netflix

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I was reading one of my favorite blogs last weekend and I thought I saw a misprint. She said that episodes of the Barefoot Contessa was on Netflix!! I thought, “huh”. Repeat that. So I re-read it and sure enough she said that Ina Garten was on Netflix. I was so excited!!

I love her show. I love the easy recipes, the table settings, her home just everything about it. I have already been “binge” watching it. It is season 1 of Back to Basics. So if you have Netflix grab a seat and enjoy a few episodes of Ina. I know I have already been inspired.

My table at home, inspired. 



photos via AHFE

Elegance…..

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My home
“Elegance is a glowing inner peace. Grace is an ability to give as well as to receive and be thankful. Mystery is a hidden laugh always ready to surface! Glamour only radiates if there is a sublime courage & bravery within: glamour is like the moon; it only shines because the sun is there.” 

― C. JoyBell C.

photo credit: AHFE

Slow Cooker Chicken

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There is nothing like coming home and having your dinner already simmering in your slow cooker. I love creating slow cooker meals. It is so easy and the meals are always wonderful.

I have been trying to get into the habit of doing this more. With my daughter’s busy schedule and homework after school cooking a meal can turn into another job if you are not prepared.

So I have been buying chicken and putting it in the slow cooker. Then when I come home all I have to do is make the side dishes and voila dinner is ready in 30 minutes.

The dish that I have been making a lot lately is chicken breast with Campbell’s cream of chicken soup. I just put a few chicken breasts in the crock pot with salt, pepper and 2 cans of Campbell’s cream of chicken soup. I turn on my slow cooker to low and let it cook for 10 hours.

The chicken falls apart on the fork. Pair it with some mashed potatoes, vegetables and french bread and you have a healthy warm meal that the family will love. Well, at least mine do!!! Enjoy!!!

My slow cooker chicken




photo via AHFE

My Autumn Porch

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Well it is official autumn here in Indiana. It is already starting to cool down a bit but no worries, I LOVE the fall!! I can’t believe Halloween will be here soon then it will be time to start putting up Christmas decorations.

But let me slow down and focus on autumn. My husband and I went and picked up some giant pink mums from Costco. They were only $17! It was a steal! I love them on my porch. I really haven’t decorated a whole lot this year but that is okay. Just do what you can and make the most of your home.

I love my little pumpkin sticks. 
They are so easy and are great 
autumn decor items.

I love white and green pumpkins. It’s something different and they keep the decor looking fresh.

I love this giant cast iron pumpkins that I picked up at T.J. Maxx some years ago.
I just put a candle in them at night and they just glimmer.

I love my pink mums! 
photos via AHFE

The Scent of Home

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Last month I shared that I was reading a book called, “The French Beauty Solution“. I have shared a few ideas and solutions from the book (see here and here if you missed it). I have really enjoyed this book.

I am learning a lot about my skin and how to take care of it. The book discusses different creams that you should use at different stages in your life. She gives recipes on how to make your own facial scrubs and home scents.

Now I loved the paragraph about creating a relaxing spa atmosphere at home.  I wrote about some of my favorite home scents, see here if you missed it. The section about “scents” was wonderful. Here is what Mathilde discussed about scents……

“The easiest way to create a relaxing spa atmosphere at home is by stimulating the most potent of your senses. It’s all about scent. Burning a delectably fragranced candle is the quickest way to transport you out of the everyday. This has been proven by more than thirty years of studies undertaken by International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF), one of the largest suppliers of raw fragrances to perfumers in the world.

Find a scent or scents that evoke strong memories of something pleasurable or wonderful in your life. It would be a vanilla that reminds you of your grandmother’s sugar cookies. Or lavender-for that trip you took to the south of France where you wandered through acres of ripening plants waving gently in the wind. Or sandalwood- for the time you went to Chinatown in San Francisco and got caught in the rain only to discover that the little sandalwood fan you’d just bought smelled even more delicious when it was wet. I love lighting candles that smell like the vine flower- yes, it grows on grapevines!- because the scent reminds me of our vineyard in Bordeaux at the end of spring, when you can feel that summer is soon to arrive.”

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash


text Mathilde Thomas