Earlier this week I shared my morning skincare routine. It feels incomplete to share that without also sharing my evening skincare routine. As I stated in the previous post, everyone has different skin types, concerns, and goals. Below are products that work well for my skin, and what I want out of my evening skincare routine.

Naturium Cleansing Balm I use the method of double cleansing in my evening skincare routine. If you want to learn about the double cleansing method I recommend this article. Since I use sunscreen and sometimes makeup during the day, I like to use a cleansing balm as my first step to remove the makeup and/or sunscreen.

La Roche-Posay Hydrating Cleanser After I remove the makeup and/or sunscreen my skin is prepped to be cleaned. As you’ll see in the next step, I use a form of a retinoid in my evening routine so it’s important for me to be using a hydrating and gentle cleanser.

CeraVe Retinol I’m a strong believer in using any form of a retinoid because it’s the best ingredient for anti-aging. For this step I actually use a compound cream that I get prescribed by my dermatologist and it contains tretinoin (a prescription strength retinoid), niacinamide (to shrink pores and aid in anti-aging), and kojic (to help prevent dark spots). By using a compound cream I’m using one product for this step instead of three so it’s more realistic for me. This is something I get prescribed so you cannot buy it over the counter. If you are looking for an over the counter retinoid I highly recommend the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum. It’s gentle but effective.

Moisturizer This is the same moisturizer that I use in the morning. It’s very hydrating an comfortable to wear. It’s also soothing on my skin.

Balm Since I use a type of retinoid, my skin can get dry. I combat that by using this balm in the areas that are dry. This is a product I use more in the Fall and Winter when the air is also quite dry.

Over the last few yeas I have really simplified my skincare routine. I feel like I get better results with fewer steps. Everyone has different skin and goals with their skin; this is just what works for me. My morning skincare routine focuses on anti-aging and sun protection.

L’Oreal Revitalift Cleanser This cleanser has glycolic acid in it so it’s something I had to work my way up to using daily. I like using a cleanser with glycolic acid because I prefer a chemical exfoliant. I use this in my morning skincare routine because I cannot use it with some of the ingredients used in my evening skincare routine.

Timeless Vitamin C Vitamin C is a skincare ingredient I use for anti-aging benefits and it also helps limit sun damage. I use it in the morning because I cannot use it with some of the ingredients I use in my evening skincare routine. I’ve heard from professionals there is evidence that Vitamin C can sink deeper in the skin after using a glycolic cleanser. I like this specific one because it is supposedly a dupe for the SkinCeuticals Vitamin C, which in my opinion is over priced but it does have a lot of research backing it.

La Roche Posay Moisturizer This has been my favorite moisturizer for a while. It works well for my skin type and it wears well under makeup.

EltaMD Tinted Sunscreen I’m diligent about wearing sunscreen every day. This is my preferred one if I’m not wearing makeup. This was recommended to me by my dermatologist. There is evidence that suggests tinted sunscreens not only protect against UVA, UVB, and infrared, but also blue light.

DRMTLGY Tinted Sunscreen This sunscreen is very similar to the EltaMD sunscreen but I prefer to wear this one on days when I wear makeup. This feels more moisturizing so it feels more comfortable to wear under makeup. The EltaMD sunscreen pills on my skin so I don’t like to wear it under makeup while this one does not.

I’m the type of person that wants my home to feel cozy all year, but especially in the Fall and Winter months. Below are items I always have in my home (in almost every room) that pack a punch when it comes to a cozy atmosphere.

Candles I’m a candle loving girl. My home just doesn’t feel like home without them. They add soft light when burning and they make your home smell good.

Pillows The way you style and utilize pillows makes a huge difference. You know the saying that goes something like before you leave the house take one piece of jewelry off? I feel the opposite about pillows. Add enough pillows then add one or two more to make it extra cozy.

Florals Florals can be tricky sometimes because they are a recurring cost that can get pricey. While I love adding fresh florals occasionally, I think you can get the same effect with dried florals. I’m not great with plants so this is my way of adding some life to the space that makes it feel more welcoming and cozy.

Books I personally think books add to a cozy vibe. There’s something very cozy about curling up with a book and I love utilizing them to decorate because they not only add to the coziness, but they’re a great way to display things you love. Even if you are not an avid reader you can add coffee table books to your space.

Blankets Blankets are a necessity when it comes to creating a cozy home. I personally like to layer them on beds and have a few around the house and draped over the couch.

Baskets Since I like to keep blankets throughout my home, I like to use baskets to store them in. There’s just something really welcoming about walking into a room and there’s a basket full of warm blankets available.

Table Lamps Similar to candles, table lamps add soft lighting. I personally like to have overhead lights on dimmers and other softer, smaller, lighting options in each room. Having a dimmer room creates a cozier atmosphere.

One of my favorite things to do is try a new (to me) restaurant and it’s something I look forward to every vacation. Below are my favorite paces I ate at while in NYC last month. I’m not a local to New York so I cannot say the places below are the absolute best places to eat in the city, but they certainly were my favorite places we ate at while we explored the city over 11 days. If you are in the city and looking for a great place to eat, these should be on your radar.

Ess-A-Bagel

It’s true what they say…bagels in New York really are superior to all other bagels. I liked this place so much, we went twice. There is usually a line but it moves pretty fast, and it’s worth the wait. I got the pumpernickel bagel with banana nut cream cheese and it was to die for.

Pilot

Pilot is a restaurant on a vintage sailboat docked in the East River. This place has a pretty limited menu. We got the Mermaid Cove Oysters that are sourced from Prince Edward Island and the Scallops. Both items were good (the oysters were the star of the show) but you really go here for the views of the city. I don’t recommend this place if you get motion sickness, as the boat sways quite a bit.

Sogono Toscano

Left Photo from OpenTable

Sogono Toscano is an Italian coffee shop/cafe. This is the perfect place for an afternoon pick-me-up. The tea and espresso were good. I suggest skipping the croissants since there are better places in the city for croissants. You absolutely have to get the Stracciatella though. It’s the only place I’ve found in the US that does a really good and authentic version of it.

Katz’s Deli

Left photo from High Def watch

This deli was made famous from that scene in When Harry Met Sally. There was a small line outside but it moved faster than we expected. My husband and I split their pastrami sandwich on deli rye bread (I definitely suggest splitting it). It was hands down the best pastrami sandwich I’ve ever had.

Eleven Madison Park

Eleven Madison Park is the first 3 Star Michelin restaurant I’ve been to. If you are unfamiliar with the Michelin Star rating system, they only go up to 3 stars. This is one of the top rated restaurants in a city known for good food. This is a plant based restaurant and I had to keep reminding myself of that throughout the meal because it was hard to believe at times. I love going to restaurants that challenge my view of food and this place did that. We opted for the main dining room menu tasting which is nine to ten courses. My husband opted for the wine pairing with the meal and found the wines to be good, but thought it was a little lack luster. I personally skipped the wine pairing because I don’t drink much and there is no way I could handle a glass of wine with each course LOL.

Magnolia Bakery

Magnolia Bakery is a New York icon best known for their cupcakes and banana pudding. They were sold out of the traditional banana pudding when we went so we got the Gone Bananas Banana Pudding and I can see where all the hype comes from. I love banana flavored desserts and this was the best banana flavored dessert I’ve ever had.

Blue Box Cafe

The Blue Box Cafe is located in Tiffany’s flagship store. It’s where you can go to actually have breakfast at Tiffany’s. As an Audrey Hepburn fan, this was a highlight of our trip. Sometimes with novelty cafes, the food can be lacking but my husband and I ordered Breakfast at Tiffany’s option and loved it. You can try for a walk-in but it’s best to make a reservation and reservations are very difficult to get. Reservations open one month from the date you want and they open at midnight eastern time. I got online a couple minutes before reservations opened and refreshed the page until it opened reservations.

John’s of Bleecker St

Photo from Grub Street

My favorite kind of pizza is a thin crust, New York style pizza and this place embodied that. This pizza was so good it actually brought tears to my eyes. Luckily I did not actually cry because that would have been embarrassing.

JG Melon

Photos from jgmelon-nyc.com

One of the nights we were there I really wanted a good cheeseburger. We came across this place on Yelp and I’m so happy we went. The cheeseburgers were good but the real stars of the show were the chili bowl and apple sour cream walnut pie. The chili tasted exactly like my mom’s homemade chili so it was a real comfort food for me. The apple sour cream walnut pie was so good I had a dream about it.

Corner Spider Web Ghost Pillow Boo Pumpkin Stake Set Happy Halloween Banner Spider Set Jack O’ Lantern Candle Holder Rattan Bat

Each season I look forward to picking out books for my TBR that I feel embrace that season. Below is my TBR list for Fall 2023.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories by Kelly Barnhill

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Jeans Top Shoes Bracelet

Dress Boots Necklace

Cami Jeans Cardigan (keep in mind this is from the men’s department. I have this cardigan and I bought it in my normal size small for an oversized look) Shoes

Autumn is nearly here, which means I’m in the mood for comfort foods. I’m a strong believer that comfort food and healthy food can go hand in hand, and this recipe is a perfect representation of that. I’m a LADA Type 1 Diabetic and currently eating relatively low carb to manage it. This recipe is packed full of nutrients and low enough in carbs that I don’t have to take fast acting insulin for it, which is a total win on the days when I’m feeling really burnt out.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Milk or Milk Alternative

1/2 Cup Black Tea (that has been cooled to room temperature)

1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese

1/2 Cup Mascarpone

1/3 Cup Chia Seeds

1-2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Maple Syrup (or the real stuff)

2 Teaspoons Chai Seasoning (I make my own blend based on this recipe for it)

Instructions

Steep black tea according to package instructions and allow to cool to room temperature.

Use a blender to blend milk, tea, cottage cheese, mascarpone, maple syrup, and chai seasoning until smooth.

In a bowl, combine chia seeds with the smoothly blended mixture. Stir every couple of minutes as the chia seeds begin to swell. This will prevent the chia seeds from clumping together. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy!