Decorate for Valentine's Day with Target

Valentine's Day. You're either into the hallmark holiday or your not. For some reason, Target's endless options of cute pink & red, heart shaped things makes me want to buy out their dollar section and decorate. Last week, I was once again walking around target buying things I probably didn't need when I came across all of their festive Valentine's Day decor and I knew I needed to share some items beyond my group chat with my friends.

So wether you're throwing a "Galentine's Day" party, decorating your space to be festive or you just really like to buy cute things at Target, keep reading because I've rounded up my favorite items for you to shop below! Good luck trying not to buy everything, because i'm having a really hard time!

Podcasts for Commuters, Road Trips & Travel

Life lately has consisted of lots of long car rides. Between driving to work, long road trips moving Ryan to his next destination or just visiting my college friends who all live about an hour away, I had a lot of time to pass. As I was constantly getting in the car and embarking on these long rides, my brother suggested podcasts to me. To be honest, a podcast sounded like work where I had to really pay attention instead of decompressing from the day or just relaxing. But I couldn't have been more wrong! 

My first podcast ever was "Serial". Ryan had downloaded it for our fist ten hour car ride together when we first moved him to Notre Dame in 2017 and it made the drive fly by, I couldn't wait to get back in the car and continue where we left off! Ever since then I was hooked and looking for my next listen. 

Fast forward to now, and I can't drive without listening to a podcast. It makes my commute to work productive, interesting and relaxing depending on the show I choose to listen to that day. If you're a fellow commuter or have got miles of open roads ahead of you, i've listed all of my favorite podcast below so that you too can get through those long drives easily! 

If you like true crime: 

• Serial Season 1 - A popular high school senior disappears after school one day and with a few weeks of investigation they arrest her high school boyfriend. The bf claims his innocent yet can't remember what he was doing that day. Witnesses point their fingers at him, but she can't be found. Who's side are you on? 

• Up and Vanished Season 1 - Payne Lindsey, a filmmaker, sets out to film a true-crime documentary when he comes across the unsolved missing persons case of Tara Grinstead. The teacher went missing one night in a very small town and everyone claims they "may or may not have seen something", in fear they may vanish too. The case unravels as each episode plays taking you deeper and deeper into the mystery. 

• Broken Hearts - The parents of six adopted children packed their family into their SUV and left home just hours after an unanswered visit from Child Protective Services who was following up on a welfare call. Just days later the family was found dead off the side of a cliff. As the story is told, interesting details emerged about how the parents treated the children leaving people to wonder if this accident was on purpose. 

• Gladiator - Listen to how football star, Aaron Hernandez went from NFL football star to a convicted murderer within a few short years. I wasn't expecting to like this podcast but it is so interesting and truly takes you behind the scenes of Hernandez's life. 

• Happy Face - A daughter tells the painful story about how she found out her dad was a serial killer. She takes us through her childhood and lets us experience exclusive interviews with her father himself and why he did what he did. 

• Dr. Death - If you're scared easily, I highly suggest you skip this one. This podcast is about a charming Texas surgeon who was convicted of malpractice, leaving 31 of his patients seriously injured, in critical condition, or dead after he performed surgery. I couldn't stop listening to this one, and to say it kept me awake during a long drive is an understatement as my jaw just continued to drop! 

You can find all of these podcasts in the apple podcast app for free. Post and tag me in your story if you listened to any of my suggestions, I want to know what you think! 

How to Combat Dry, Itchy, Skin This Winter: SUGAR SCRUB

Just like your wardrobe, your skincare routine needs to change to combat the elements of each season. While we can’t change the dry and chilly winter weather, we can adjust the way we combat that itchy winter skin that comes along with it! It’s hard to navigate skincare, so i’ve done some research and found my favorite products to keep my skin moisturized, healthy and happy this winter. I am no expert in skin care but I wanted to share a few products below that are helping me the most!

Body Skin Care: 

Sugar Scrub: Raw Coconut + Mango by RAW SUGAR

I stumbled upon this scrub a few weeks ago in Target and I am SO glad I decided to give it a try. The blend of raw sugar & cold pressed enzyme-rich fruit oils gently exfoliates your skin, leaving you with a sweet scent, a glow and a soft layer of moisture. Your body is immediately hydrated as soon as you step out of the shower!  My skin is noticeable more radiant, soft and scented after use, and needless to say, i’m already on my second bottle! If there are any girls out there that use self tanner during the winter so you don’t blend in with the walls, like me :) this is perfect to apply beforehand!  I use this scrub before I apply my tanner at night. It removes any excess dead skin and leftover tanner from previously and the layer of moisture it leaves behind helps the tan stick around a little longer. 

Products for the Face:

Step 1: The skin on your face is the most delicate and is constantly exposed to harsh winter weather, which is why I start with a gentle face wash that won’t completely strip my skin of moisture but will do its job to get my makeup off from the day. I use Cetaphil Face Wash  and Garnier Micellar Water to remove the makeup. 

Tip: Avoid foam cleansers, as they tend to dry out your skin. 

Step 2: Dr. Jart - Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum

Once winter hits I am constantly battling with irritated, red, sensitive skin, anyone else? I’ve struggled with it for years until I came across Dr. Jart’s Cicapair line. The Tiger Grass serum has become a staple in my skincare routine, it soothes redness and literally took sensitivity away. The serum doesn’t leave you feeling greasy and is perfect to layer under your moisturizer before bed. 

Step 3: First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration

This creamy, thick moisturizer is safe to use on your entire body but I usually apply a generous layer to my face and neck before bed. It sinks into my skin without leaving me  greasy or feeling like there’s a thick layer of products on my face, and I wake up with smooth hydrated skin every morning. I buy the travel size for just $12 and it will last me a month, a little goes a long way!

BONUS: Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask

I use this mask every Sunday before I start the week or when I feel like my skin needs immediate moisture. This overnight mask is filled with antioxidants, is paraben free, drenches your skin with hydration and leaves you with a spa-like glow. I’ve never had a product bring immediate moisture or make flaky dry skin disappear overnight, yet this product does both! This is my go-to face mask to combat dry & itchy skin or when my skin looks like it needs a little lift! 

I hope my tips help! If you decide to use any of the products i’ve mentioned above, tag me and let me know! 

Tori :) 

At Home Teeth Whitening: Does it Work?

Growing up i’ve always been so self-conscious about my teeth, between having a gap comparable to Michael Strahan, wearing braces for 6 years and then Invisalign’s for a year as an adult I finally had straight teeth. Then, my next focus was whitening them. After years of staining from coffee, wine and even braces, I wanted a fresh start and a bright white smile. I’ve tried Crest Whitening strips multiple times, the at home concoction of baking soda and peroxide, and finally a gel from glo science. For the most part, I saw a very small difference with each of these things, I’d get a slightly whiter smile, but my stains were still there and my teeth seemed to go right back to the way they were before.

I even considered getting my teeth professionally whitened to finally achieve the glowing smile I wanted but cost and tooth sensitivity kept holding me back. Somehow, at perfect timing Smile Brilliant read my mind and reached out to collaborate and needless to say, I was so excited!

Here’s a little background info on Smile Brilliant:

Smile Brilliant is an at home teeth whitening method that uses custom trays to ensure every angle of the tooth receives and even and consistent amount of whitening coverage from their professional whitening gel.

First Step: Impressions

My whitening kit came so quickly, and I couldn’t wait to get started. The package includes 2 impression trays along with 3 sets of base and catalyst material just in case you need to re-do one of your impressions. I brushed my teeth, mixed the catalyst and base material together, then placed the material on the impression trays and slowly pressed the material and trays over my top teeth to make my first mold. I repeated the same steps for my bottom molds as well. After having a bad experience with making at home impressions I was nervous as to how these would come out but Smile Brilliant’s impression process was so easy and they thoroughly explained step by step to ensure you receive the results you need to move forward with the process. I mailed my impressions back to the lab and within a week I received my trays that perfectly wrapped around my teeth! I was truly impressed with how easy this was!

Second Step: Whiten

The impression trays came with a whitening gel and a desensitizing gel to put on your teeth after you’re done whitening for the night. The desensitizing gel helps to combat tooth sensitivity during this process which I was so thankful for! Each night for about 7 days I whitened my teeth for 20-30 mins by placing the whitening gel in the trays and then once the time passed I brushed my teeth, desensitized for another 20 mins and went to bed.

The Results:

After about 3-4 days I started noticing my stains were slowly disappearing and my teeth were literally glowing white. Because my teeth are sensitive I took a day break in between sessions and used the desensitizing gel a little longer which in turn helped so much! I was never in any sort of pain and hot and cold foods did not bother me. I’ve never experienced such great results from an at home whitening process. Better yet, I barely used one syringe out of the 3 provided. I have plenty of leftover gel needed for when my teeth need whitening again and I can always purchase more on their site! Overall, I am so happy with the outcome Smile Brilliant has provided and friends and family are now starting to comment on how bright my teeth are!

GIVEAWAY

Not only do I get to experience this awesome at home whitening kit, one of you will too! I've teamed up with smile brilliant to give one lucky winner their very own kit (valued at $149). To enter this giveaway head to this link: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/victoriaarost

I need a-least 25 people to enter, so if you're on the fence enter anyway! It could be you winning the kit! If you'd like to just place your order now, I have a 15% off discount code for you to use as well :) 

Use: victoriaarost15 to get your discount!

Professional Teeth Whitening

Holiday Outfits for Every Occasion

By now, i’m sure you have festive events filling up your calendar. Between the office party, family gatherings and the holidays you need to start planning your outfits asap! Today, I created your go-to list of outfit ideas for every party you might attend this season.

First up: Office Holiday Party

Every year i’m caught somewhere in between formal and festive when trying to throw an outfit together for my upcoming holiday office party. You don’t want to dress how you would every other day, and on the other hand you want to be festive and look polished which can be hard to navigate. I rounded up my favorite festive yet appropriate looks for the office below in hopes to give you some direction on what to wear!

Wrap Dress - $41 | Festive Black Jumpsuit - $50 | Tie Waist Pants -$41 & Top - $30

As soon as I saw this golden velvet wrap dress on Dynamite’s site, I knew I had to have it for the upcoming holidays. This ribbed fabric is so comfortable and features a moderate v neck, sash-tie waist, and an appropriate length perfect for both work or play! Bonus: The golden velvet fabric gives off a slight festive glow that’s not too over the top and won’t make you feel like you overdressed for the occasion.

Casual Holiday Outfits:

If you’re looking for something a little more casual but still want to look nice, my go to outfit would be jeans, booties and a festive top. I found an emerald green bodysuit at Forever 21 over the weekend that I styled with a blazer for an appropriate festive family party look.

Holiday Outfits for at Home:

Another holiday where I dress up just to sit on the couch with my family, anyone else? This year I’m going for something a little more practical like a cozy sweater dress and over-the-knee boots. You’ll still look nice for the holidays while feeling like you put on your favorite sweatshirt! Plus, tons of room for when you overeat :)

I hope this post took a little bit of that “what do I wear” stress away and if you have any questions or want me to hunt down a certain look for you, just send me a message!

Thanks for reading!

-Tori :)

Victoria's Secret Christmas Pjs

I don’t know what it is with us girls and Christmas pjs but we love them and most of us will get a new pair every year. Maybe it’s because matching pjs make a great photo opp? (sorry to all the bfs out there). Or because it feels like Christmas day every time you wake up in them? Whatever your reasoning might be, I’ve rounded up my favorite sets from Victoria's Secret below!

My 3 Best Amazon Purchases

Ordering from Amazon is way too easy and so fast, it's almost scary! The seconds it takes to order a few things off Amazon is so convenient yet so dangerous for the credit card LOL. I've ordered numerous things over the years from bachelorette party decor to snow gear and beauty products to phone chargers. But today I wanted to share the 3 items I use the most out of all of my great Amazon finds. Keep reading to find out what they are! 

Blue light Glasses 

I honestly can't remember why or how I thought to type "blue light glasses" into my Amazon search bar, but I did and I've used them everyday since. These $20 glasses protect your eyes from the blue light projected by your laptop or phone which can cause headaches, blurry vision and can strain your eyes. If you're like me and work on a computer all day, I would seriously consider spending the $20. These glasses have saved me from so many headaches and looking at my laptop all day has become much more tolerable. You can feel the ease on your eyes as soon as you slip these on! 

Heated Gloves

If it's below 70 degrees i'm most likely freezing (and lose all feeling in my fingers, thanks to raynaud's) but thankfully I'm well prepared this winter with my new heated gloves from Savior. These battery powered gloves have 3 settings; high, medium and low heat, which I was able to test out a few weeks ago at the 27 degree Notre Dame football game. For about 3 hours I left the gloves on medium heat which kept my hands perfectly warm during the game, then I turned them up to high heat around half time and they lasted about an hour after that. They should last about 6 hours on low heat. I highly recommended purchasing these gloves if you’re sensitive to the cold. They saved my hands and made 27 degree weather tolerable!

Neck Roller Ball

Long story short, I recently discovered I have 3 tension knots in my neck (caused by looking down at a phone or computer) and the only way to ease the stiffness and constant headaches was to rub them and try to work them out daily. With no one around to take on this task I immediately started searching for “neck rollers” on Amazon. Which lead me to discover the one item I now take with me everywhere I go; the Massage Roller Ball by Body Back Company. This roller ball goes on trips with me, in the car, sits next to me while I work and is on my nightstand so I can use it before bed. It works SO WELL, I immediately felt better after one use and now my entire family is using it! You just glide the ball across your tension spots and massage until you feel relief.

You can get 2 for $12 or one for $6.