We’ve made it to the end of Pantene’s 14 Day Challenge and I’m ready to share the results. Honestly though, they speak for themselves. But let’s rewind to two weeks ago…
I have been battling some hair problems that I’m sure quite a few of y’all can relate to. I have been coloring my hair every three months for years and with some scalp psoriasis, my mane had become dull, dry, and more breakage-prone. I was having to wash and condition more than ever because my Day 2 and 3 hair was so brittle and frizzy. To be completely honest, bad hair days can really wreak havoc on my confidence. And it turns out, I’m not alone! According to a recent Yale University study, only 1 in 10 women experience great hair days regularly.
Luckily, Pantene stepped in right in the nick of time! I decided to take the Pantene 14 Day Challenge, exclusively using Pantene’s Repair & Protect Shampoo and Conditioner over the past two weeks. I selected this particular duo because they’re safe for color-treated hair and are known for repairing damaged hair. Yes, please!
If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may have seen that after only one week, I was already noticing more shine and softer locks. Fast-forward to today and I am having a great hair day! Not only does my hair feel so much healthier, but when I was culling photos for this post, I was shocked by the lack of fly-aways and frizz. In the past, I burned precious time Photoshopping out split ends, but I didn’t have to at all in this post! An added bonus – the hubs isn’t getting on to me for all the blonde hair he finds around the house 😉
But the real outcome is how Pantene’s Repair & Protect Shampoo and Conditioner has boosted my self-esteem. There’s just something about a good hair day that gives you an extra pep in your step! And I’d love to encourage y’all to join me. Click HERE to learn more about Pantene’s 14 Day Challenge and how to achieve more consecutive great hair days.
Thank you to Pantene for sponsoring this post. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Hello, loves! I hope y’all had a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the chillier temperatures that have crept in at long last. I’ve been vicariously living through last weekends’ mountain trip while culling these photos and wanted to share all the details on where we stayed, what we did, and (of course) what I wore while up in Cashiers, North Carolina.
To break it down, Toyota rounded up a fun group of Southeastern influencers and gave us the privilege of staying at the gorgeous High Hampton Resort for the weekend. If they weren’t amazing enough, they also lent us each a 2018 Toyota Tacoma to take the road trip in. As a 5-year veteran Tacoma driver, I felt beyond spoiled to test out the latest and greatest. And if the weekend couldn’t get any better, my best friend Kathleen joined me for the trip!
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, High Hampton Resort is one of the most serene and unique places I have stayed. Located on 1,400 sprawling acres, this venue took me back to my days at sleep-away camp with its wood-paneled walls and rustic charm. While WiFi is available, there is no cell reception on the property and no televisions in the guestrooms, which really encouraged me to disconnect and tap into nature. Our room had a porch with Adirondack-red rocking chairs overlooking a waterfall, so we enjoyed our down time with the door open admiring the view or with coffee in hand rocking away. It was essentially impossible for my relaxation level to be at anything but 100% while staying at High Hampton Resort.
WHAT WE DID
High Hampton Resort offers a range of activities for the outdoor enthusiast on their property, but upon first arrival, we wanted to see what the city of Cashiers had to offer. Living in upstate South Carolina, we head to Cashiers’ neighboring cities quite often, especially this time of year. But while we’ve explored Cherokee, Sylva, Bryson City and more, we’ve never stopped by this particular town. Kathleen and I unloaded our luggage at the resort, then headed straight to Whiteside Brewing Company to sample their selection of craft beer. Priorities, amirite? We then strolled through the small downtown area before returning to High Hampton to freshen up for dinner.
We kicked Saturday off by indulging in the breakfast buffet before heading the property’s private lake and beach for some canoeing. While we opted for something more relaxing, half of our group hiked to Chimney Rock via a five-mile trail that begins on High Hampton’s grounds.
From there, we headed over to see the llamas. Every day at 11am and 1pm, a group of llamas are brought out for the guests to interact with. I was surprised by how friendly (and hypoallergenic) they were and it was an unexpected treat to get to love on these guys.
We popped back by the buffet for a quick lunch and a bit of relaxing by the large, dual-sided fireplace before venturing out to the heirloom dahlia garden to pick our own personal bouquets. There was apparently a cold snap looming and guests were encouraged to take all the gorgeous dahlias they could! We capped the day off with dinner, a toddy at the High Hampton bar and then roasting marshmallows for our s’mores by the fire.
Of course I can’t get through this post without chatting about the 2018 Toyota Tacoma I had the pleasure of test driving for the weekend. My particular model was the Tacoma XSP Series which is a (give-or-take) $3,500 package that includes 17″ black beadlock style wheels, 17″ Goodyear Wrangler Duratrack All-Terrain Tires, Predator running boards, chrome exhaust tip, black graphic overlays, and more. Can I please add this package to my current Tacoma?! Some other notable features that this Tacoma came equipped with were the Hill-Start Assist Control, back-up camera, lane assist, the list goes on and on.
As bloggers, one of the most amazing parts of our job is getting to work with automobile manufacturers, testing out new vehicles and sharing them with y’all. But what I never expected was having the opportunity to really get to know the employees of Toyota and grow personal friendships with them. Not only are Toyota vehicles reliable, sporty, and a great investment, but the people behind the company are seriously amazing, hard-working, creative, and passionate which makes me proud to be a Toyota owner 🙂
One of the most common questions I receive from y’all is regarding pre-owned luxury handbags, so I thought I would break down some of the details today. Purchasing a designer bag, for most of us, is a major investment and one that should be approached with time and research. I, personally, have never bought a bag on a whim and without the necessary consideration. Besides the obvious of simply loving the style and look of a purse, there are a few important things I contemplate.
Firstly, is this bag practical? I tote around an insane amount of stuff on a daily basis and while I may spring for a crossbody for a night out, a bag that will hold all my odds and ends is one that’s worth spending a bit more money on. Secondly, is the color and material something that will pair well with the majority of my wardrobe and hold up to the wear and tear of everyday life? While my heart beats for pink, a stick to neutrals and classic prints that I can wear with everything for years.
Finally, is this something I need brand new or can I save by purchasing it pre-loved? While forgoing the storefront option may take away from the experience of buying luxury products, I’m personally more concerned with the bag itself. My dustbags and designer boxes are (ironically) collecting dust deep in my closet. As such, lately I have gone the route of pre-owned bags. Sure, it takes a bit of extra effort, but that time has saved me a huge chunk of change.
In the past, it’s been tricky to determine which sites are legitimate. Luckily, eBay has a dedicated section of their site for Authenticated Luxury Handbags. These bags have been verified by experts and guaranteed by eBay. And many even have a return option! I found this Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM while browsing the hundreds of gently used Louis Vuitton bags and it came with sturdy, secure packaging and a tag proving that it was reviewed by the experts. Plus, did you know that 69% of items on eBay ship for free?! The ease of delivery is great for folks like me that live in small-town America.
After carrying this Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM for some time now, I recommend it wholeheartedly over any of my other bags. The size, shape, color, and material are so classic and practical and it’s one you will love for years to come. An added pleasant surprise of this tote is how well it wears over time. The straps not only deepen in color, but soften for a more comfortable wear on your shoulder. As such, this handbag is one you should consider purchasing pre-owned on eBay.
