Above outfit Lululemon–read full review and shop here!
A littttlee late with the post today, but we’re back with another Ask Jess! Grab your second coffee (or maybe a glass of wine, depending on your time zone? 😂) I’m answering a few more recent reader questions below! Thanks to all who submitted on Instagram stories!
Do you ever get tired of dressing up and getting “made up” all the time?
Haha! This is such a funny question, because I definitely don’t get made up that often or really think of it that way. Even when I’m shooting a blog post, I’m really just wearing my normal hair and makeup–I’m pretty minimal in my routine anyway! (Exhibit A above when I shot this Lululemon post–I was barely wearing makeup and I didn’t even do my hair that day because who has done up hair when they’re working out!? So I don’t think this qualifies as getting made up, haha!) In my earlier days I would wear more eye makeup but I really just don’t care that much anymore. 😂Most people don’t wear a ton of makeup every day, so why should I during a photoshoot?
Most days (if you follow me on IG stories, you’ll know this too) I have dirty hair and in my pajamas until late afternoon because I’m so concentrated on my to-do list that I look up and discover its accidentally 2pm and I have yet to shower or eat anything. 😂
Also, I actually really enjoy shooting content. It’s fun, I get to be creative, and yes, of course, because it requires some planning ahead, there are days where I’m like UGHHH I don’t want to shoot todayyyyy but it’s never something I dread!
Do you have any tips on purging and getting rid of “stuff”? I’m so bad at purging!
YES. If EVER in doubt–GET RID IT IT. We have ZERO closet/storage space in our place, so I have to purge often. I am pretty ruthless about it because my hatred of “stuff” is greater than my FOMO of *maybe* needing that one random dress I bought two years ago and wore once. I think you just have to go with your gut and not hesitate. Be ruthless about it.
The mental well-being that comes along with reduced clutter is far more important than potentially missing something you threw in the “donate” pile on a purging binge. (But actually, you’ll never miss it–I promise.) Rip off the band-aid already!
Also, when you ONLY have a small collection of items you LOVE instead of a crap ton of items you’re meh about, that makes it super easy to get dressed and you feel so much better about your wardrobe, and yourself!
Would love to know more about that CBD oil you mentioned!
Ah–yes! I’m working on a WHOLE post on it as we speak (not sure when I’ll finish it–it’s getting long because I wanted to go into a lot of detail and answers to all your questions) but in short: I freaking LOVE. IT.
The CBD company I love is called Equilibria–I am OBSESSED. (FYI, they are not a sponsor but I do receive a small commission if you purchase through my link AND you get 20% off!!) and I love so many things about them and their products but here is a very concise version:
Their products WORK:
Neal and I have both tried several brands of CBD in the past and none of them hold a candle to Equilibria. They make three different CBD products and I love and use all three, but probably use their “daily drops” the MOST. All three (drops, capsules, CBD cream) help with different things individually but they work best together in tandem depending on what you are trying to target.
What I take:
One softgel capsule in the morning (one per day is recommended to start as a “base”) and then I use the drops (you put them under your tongue, so they absorb more quickly than the softgels, which take longer and are more “time release” because they go through your digestive system) as needed to help with sleep before bed, and I supplement with extra drops as needed to help manage stress during crazy days!
We use the cream on sore muscles as needed (I actually had a weird neck spasm thing happening yesterday and put the cream on it, and it helped immensely!) Neal uses this cream almost daily as well!
If you’re wondering what CBD can help–the answer is, ALOT. Most commonly though, most use CBD to manage/reduce anxiety, manage everyday stress, help fall/stay asleep, to help with pain management, and more!
For me personally, their products have helped immensely when it comes to managing stress and helping me fall asleep at night. (When I get too busy my mind races and I can never fall/stay asleep).
They have their own organic farm in Colorado:
So their process is controlled from start to finish, ensuring it’s organic and of the highest quality. They adhere to medical grown standards, even though they technically don’t *have* to. Most other CBD brands buy their hemp from different sources, so you never really know what you’re going to get (or how responsibly it’s being sourced!) so this is one of the biggest reasons I trust Equilibria so much!
They are for women, by women.
I love that they are a women-owned startup! I was introduced to them via my friend Meg from MegMade, and I have since become good friends with their founding team who are FREAKING BAD. ASS. I’m going to have them do a What I Wore to Work so you can learn more about them, what they’re about, and also get style inspo from them because they have the best style, too!
Tip for buying:
You can buy any of their products one-off but they work best when taken daily and consistently. (Like you would a medication or vitamin!) so I would recommend doing the “Balance Box” subscription on at least the drops and the gel capsules, because it gives you a discount and then you never risk running out of it! (Running out of it before a stressful period is the worst. 😳) You can cancel the subscription ANYTIME (they don’t lock you in or anything!) so it’s a no-brainer! Remember, you can get 20% off with my link or by entering code JESSKEYS at checkout!
Okay stepping off my CBD soapbox–more to come soon!!
Did you have any pre-wedding jitters?
Marrying Neal was never something I second-guessed being the right decision, so I didn’t have jitters in that regard. (Coming from someone who doesn’t even like to commit to plans two days in advance and even I didn’t blink about committing to a lifetime of marriage, consider that proof for the notion of, “when you know, you know.”)
That being said, I really hated wedding planning. Like, I would get horribly envious when someone would say, “OH! I’m just so jealous of you! I miss wedding planning–I loved every detail!” It was all I could do to not snap, “MUST BE NICE–WANT TO TRADE?” So while I didn’t have jitters over getting married, I was very stressed over the planning process. I would highly recommend a wedding planner–they are worth every penny! (We worked with Becky from Event Crush and she was an absolute godsend and worth her weight in gold! If you’re getting married anywhere near Eugene or Portland OR–you MUST hire her!!)
What do you like to do to relax after/during a stressful period?
This is a great question! I really feel like there is no middle-ground with work for me–it’s either full speed crazy deadline stress mania or it’s not stressful at all. 😂Seeing as I am just coming off of a period of crazy deadline stress mania (i.e. traveling during the Nordstrom sale launch while also having like 10 different coinciding deadlines 😳) here is what has worked best for me:
Make a list and stay organized:
Whenever I’m REALLY stressed, I make a list. Somehow having everything you need to get done on paper makes you feel better–and mapping it out makes you feel prepared and have an action plan to tackle it all!
Take frequent breaks:
You NEED to take breaks–it’s not just for your mental sanity, but you get a lot more done, too! Read a chapter of a book, clean the house, a quick workout, do ANYTHING that does not involve work. I mean, literally, SCHEDULE these breaks into your calendar. Have you heard of the Pomodoro method? This works wonders for productivity but also managing stress!
Get moving:
Speaking of breaks–getting out of the house to move REALLY, REALLY helps. Whether it’s going for a run outside, a walk to the park, or getting to Orangetheory, exercise (when I can squeeze it in–and sometimes there are periods where I can’t and I don’t beat myself up about that either) really helps me focus and take a deep breath.
CBD seriously helps I’m not kidding:
See above!! Really truly, I have people (readers and friends in real life) message me and tell me how much Equilibria has changed their lives. It truly does make you better equipped to handle stress and I’m so glad to have discovered it!
Make sure to do something for yourself every day, and schedule a vacation at the end of the crazy period:
I think this is such a big one. You ALWAYS need a light at the end of the tunnel. And if your life is always crazy and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, it’s your job to create one. When there is no end in sight to the madness, that’s when things get really dire.
My best friend’s mom, Jacki, has the best advice–a bit of wisdom she gave as she officiated my friend Kai’s wedding ceremony this past weekend: you are never going to look back and say, “I wish I would’ve taken less vacations, or had less fun.” The time to do these things is NOW–not later. There will never be a better time.
So listen to Jacki–schedule a vacation at the end of your busy period. Turn off your phone. Book a vacation cottage where there’s no wifi. Take a few days off to spend with family, or re-connect with your spouse or the people you love. Doing this frequently is so important!
Remember–no matter what is stressing you–whether it be work or family, you cannot show up and be your best self when your tank is depleted. You NEED time to recharge consistently–you owe it not just to yourself, but to your spouse/kids/friends/whoever, too!
