Back to Blogging!

I. AM. BACK. Finally decided to get back to blogging on the reg! Since I wanted to start fresh with a new name, new blog and new site, you can now find me over at kelleyblake.com. 

Come visit me, say hello, send me presents, give me compliments, etc. 

Is this thing on?

Hello, friends. Is anyone still there? Thinking of starting this blogging thing up again. Encouraging words welcome :)

Come see Z+M on Facebook!

Have you started following my new blog with my friend Maeci yet?  If not, hop on over to Zelda + Madeline and follow our adventures!

Also, you'll want to like our Facebook page - once we reach 300 Facebook likes we'll be having an awesome giveaway!  We're so close, so if you haven't liked us yet, please do!

Thanks to everyone for the love and support on the new blog.  It's going great and we're really loving it!

New Adventure!

Y'all can now find me over at the new blog my friend Maeci and I started called Zelda + Madeline!

Aptly named after our pups, of course.

I'll still occasionally post over here, but majority of the posting will be happening over there.  We'll be doing a lot of the same kind of stuff I've posted about in the past: DIYs, decor ideas and tips, fashion, recipes, etc. We've already got an AWESOME DIY that Maeci made, so be sure to check it out!

You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook!

Favorites: Skincare + Haircare

The weather in Montgomery has been such a tease lately.  It was warm and beautiful this past weekend and now it's a little chilly - but at least the sun is shining!  I feel like this winter has lasted far too long and dare I say, I'm ready for warmer temperatures!  (Please remind me I said that when it's 110°F outside.)

Anyway, with all this talk about spring being around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to let y'all in on a few skincare and haircare products I've been using as part of my daily routine.

1.  Rodan + Fields Redefine Daily Cleansing Mask - I have never used a product that I could visibly see results within the first few days of using it - and I could certainly see results with this one!  It's a bit on the pricier side, but I will say it is hands down worth the splurge.  I've been lucky in the skin department and rarely get a blemish, but as I've gotten older I've noticed my pores getting a tiny bit more visible.  After only using this cleanser a little over a week, my skin is touchably softer and I can see that my pores are smaller.  Don't go back and forth about buying it - JUST DO IT.

2.  eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm - Several friends of mine had been raving over this lip balm and I finally gave in and bought some.  Ladies, this lip balm is perfection.  It's not super heavy, leaves my lips silky smooth and lasts forever.  My favorite so far is the Strawberry Sorbet flavor!

3.  Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother - Praise God for this hair product!  I honestly don't know what I did before I found this stuff.  My hair is naturally curly, thick and coarse.  It makes my hair ridiculously manageable, tames fly-aways and has seemed to keep my hair a bit healthier.  I use two pumps of product, apply when my hair is still wet and brush through.  The bottle lasts me months (the last bottle I purchased lasted more than nine months, but I don't wash my hair every day).

4.  Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - This winter has been especially rough on my hands and since I can't afford a manicure every week (uh, wouldn't that be great?), I've been using this cuticle cream to soften my cuticles a bit.  It's worked wonders!

5.  Oil of Olay Complete Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin - I have been using this moisturizer since I was 14 years old (so, nearly 14 years!).  I cannot stress enough how important it is to use SPF in your daily moisturizer even if you won't be in direct sunlight.  The health of my skin and become even more important to me as I get older.  I notice women every day who I would peg for being much older than they actually are and am stunned when I hear their actual age - and most of that has to do with the health of their skin!  This stuff has been my go-to and I love it dearly.  It goes on smooth, lasts forever and dries quickly without leaving me feeling sticky.

6.  Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid - Another hair product I can't live without.  Like I said above, I have think, coarse, curly hair and this product helps me tame it.  I use one pump of the serum, rub my hands together with it and apply to my blowdried and straightened hair.  It gives my hair shine and helps it lay better.

7.  Lancome Creme Radiance Cleanser - This has been my every day cleanser for years!  I love this stuff and even though I've been using the Rodan + Fields cleanser, I still use this as my every day cleanser.  I use it to remove my eye makeup especially.  You only need to use a pea-size amount and it foams up great and removes every bit of makeup from my face.

What are your go to skincare and haircare products? I'd love to know some new ones to try out!

Mastering It

Remember when I talked about getting a new bed for our master bedroom?  It was a toss up between a wooden four-poster style bed and an upholstered bed.  But when I thought about usage and how I wanted it to be a cozy place, I ultimately knew an upholstered bed was the way to go.  Insert the Ballard Designs' Camden Untufted Bed:

 

Dreamy, right?  Well, a few months ago when I was drooling over this sucker Ballard's had this great sale - 25% off!  Hello - yes, I want you in my shopping cart.

I knew I wanted a color in the greige (beige-grey) spectrum and the linen flax color was perfect!  So, into my shopping cart it went and Ballard got to work making our new bed.  They estimated it would be early January when it was delivered, but to my surprise it was delivered three weeks early!  Yay!  Here's a photo of it the day we (um, I) set it up:

{Excuse the crumpled sheets in the corner I was getting ready to put on the bed and the awful color on the walls...we're in a rental house and although it's a great place, the owner didn't have that great of color choice as far as paint goes...) 


And here's a close-up of the fabric the bed is upholstered in:

I am so unbelievably happy with the bed.  Great piece!  Bonus: it was super easy to set up :)

Happy Monday!  Do y'all shop at Ballard's?  If you follow me on Instagram (@kelleyblake), you saw where I hit up the Atlanta Ballard Outlet a few weeks ago.  If you have a chance to go it's worth the time!

friday funny

My friend Katie sent me a link to this hilarious post.  I knew I had to share :)