5 of the most asked questions
#letsbereal
Your beauty & lifestyle questions answered!
I love getting questions from you guys. A lot of them I answer directly through DM on Instagram or through email, but I wanted to take a minute to answer some of the most asked questions as part of my #letsbereal series that I started a while ago.
I also get a lot of business questions regarding day to day routine, how to work from home, and tips for small business owners. I will most definitely do a separate post on all of that for you guys! This is the first segment of questions that is beauty and lifestyle related, I hope you enjoy!
What are your favorite skin care, hair, and make up products?
SKINCARE
Your beauty & lifestyle questions answered!
I love getting questions from you guys. A lot of them I answer directly through DM on Instagram or through email, but I wanted to take a minute to answer some of the most asked questions as part of my #letsbereal series that I started a while ago.
I also get a lot of business questions regarding day to day routine, how to work from home, and tips for small business owners. I will most definitely do a separate post on all of that for you guys! This is the first segment of questions that is beauty and lifestyle related, I hope you enjoy!
What are your favorite skin care, hair, and make up products?
SKINCARE
I have combination skin that is also really sensitive, I feel like a lot of skin care doesn't agree with me & I have tested a lot (a lot) of product. I had terrible skin throughout college, probably due to ‘stress’ and lack of nutritional diet…*this is me laughing at my college self thinking I was stressed.* I will be the first to say that skin care works differently for everybody. What works for me, might not work for you, but I wanted to share what currently works for me.
I have been using Bobbi Brown products for about 2 years now and they are my absolute favorite. I use this day cream, this night cream, and this eye cream (both day & night). In the winter I am vveerrryyyy dry, so I use this skin supplement every night in the winter, and about once a week during the summer. You can purchase the eye cream, supplement, and day cream in a smaller size for a discounted price here (this a great package if you're trying it out for the first time or traveling!)
I also am VERY MUCH in love with these alpha beta peel pads. My mom originally got me interested in them. She uses the extra strength ones (which may be good for your skin if you're a bit more oily!). I use the gentle peel version because the extra strength was too much for my skin. These pads definitely have a hefty price tag but, I have had the same package for about a year. I only use them about every 7-10 days (in the morning) and feel that they give me that extra uumph that you just need sometimes.
When I am feeling extra sleepy, I love using these eye pads. I keep them in the refrigerator because the cool temp of them really helps to de-puff my eyes.
*SKINCARE HACK*
A Sephora employee just gave me and my mom an A-HA moment in skin care. Most of us exfoliate, use face masks, and use peels at night before bed. But, we want our best skin during the day, so why are we doing these things before we go to sleep?! She's so right....both my mom and I have started to do these things in the morning, before our make up and have seen a really big improvement in our skin throughout the day.
A Sephora employee just gave me and my mom an A-HA moment in skin care. Most of us exfoliate, use face masks, and use peels at night before bed. But, we want our best skin during the day, so why are we doing these things before we go to sleep?! She's so right....both my mom and I have started to do these things in the morning, before our make up and have seen a really big improvement in our skin throughout the day.
HAIR PRODUCT
Right now, I am so in love with OUAI products for hair. I have been using their REPAIR shampoo & conditioner for about 6 months now and I just adore how it smells & how it makes my hair feel. I also love their dry shampoo. Since I have really dark hair, not all dry shampoos work for me because they leave white residue. I have tried a few 'brunette' dry shampoos and have hated the way that they make my hair feel. This one just really takes the cake for me. For extra volume throughout the day, I use this texturizing spray with this comb. I usually keep a travel size texturizing spray & one of these combs in all of my totes/purses to spruce up my hair mid day. I love these combs (much more than a mini hair brush) because it doesn't attach to the hair & there aren't little hairs floating around in my bag (TMI, but TRUE!)
When I get out of the shower, I use this CC cream on my damp hair. I usually leave this in my hair while I do my make up. Then, right before I blow dry, I use this hair oil. This tiny little bottle lasts almost 18 months, it is unbelievable. I have been using it for roughly three years and only bought a refill once.
TOOLS THAT I USE
This blow dryer
This curling iron
This mini straightener (for all of the curly baby hairs close to my head)
This round brush
This hair brush
When I get out of the shower, I use this CC cream on my damp hair. I usually leave this in my hair while I do my make up. Then, right before I blow dry, I use this hair oil. This tiny little bottle lasts almost 18 months, it is unbelievable. I have been using it for roughly three years and only bought a refill once.
TOOLS THAT I USE
This blow dryer
This curling iron
This mini straightener (for all of the curly baby hairs close to my head)
This round brush
This hair brush
MAKE UP
Concealer - I wear A LOT of mascara (more about that here), and my eye lashes are on the longer side. I have always had issues with black mascara residue under my eyes. This stuff is liquid gold and my absolute favorite.
Foundation: This Tom Ford foundation stick is amazing when looking for more coverage. I use color FAWN. It is a bit pricier, but I have never once had a bad skin reaction from it. I also only refill about once a year because it lasts for a long long time. When I have a spray tan & am a bit darker, I use this Bobbi Brown foundation stick (color 4.5). It is a bit less expensive and I don’t have a spray tan all the time, so I don’t want to splurge on a darker foundation.
About 2 days a week, I have a ‘desk day’ where I sit my behind at my desk all dang day and get caught up on business emails, write my blog posts (!) and do ordering for No. 14. I never want Eric to come home from work wondering what the heck happened to the girl he married, but I also don’t want to get dolled up just to sit in my office. On those days, when I am looking for less coverage, I use this Bobbi Brown BB Cream. When I am tan, I use color ‘natural’ when I don’t have a spray, I use color ‘fair.' I also use these whenever I'm at the lake because they have SPF 35 in them & I am all about protecting my face from the sun.
What breeder did you use for Roo? How did you get her? How did you come up with her name?
I’m not proud to say that I actually do not know the name of Roo’s breeder. I found her through ‘cook’s weiners.’ At the time I had inquired, they did not have any puppies, so they referred me to their friend who had two pups left. I got in touch with them, they sent me a picture of her, and I got in the car. No questions asked. It was that little stripe down her head & those green eyes! I couldn’t resist.
How did I get her?
I actually surprised Eric with Roo for his birthday. He had been itching to get a pup and we agreed a weeny would be the perfect fit for us. When I received that picture of Roo from the breeder, I sent it to my mom. She texted me back “so when do we leave to get her?”
Eric had a late night at work, when he got home, my mom & I were eating cheerios (nutritious dinner) at our kitchen island and Roo walked around the corner. He was completely shocked and tells me every day that I will never top Roo as a gift. Obviously we treat this dog like she is our child, so we are definitely happy with her!
Where does her name come from?
Where does her name come from?
Roo’s name is really special to us. Eric played football in college at Virginia Military Institute. E’s freshman year, his parents, along with another teammate’s parents rented a house a few miles from campus so the football guys could retreat there on the weekends after football games (military school isn't for wimps & campus was no fun). This house turned into a ‘football house’ where everyone would gather and it eventually received the name “the Roo House.” SO many of our memories lie in that home. It will forever be part of me, part of E, and part of our relationship. The friends that we made at VMI are not friends, they're family. They're some of the best people we know and E and I just wanted the legacy to continue in our little pup.
What are your favorite places to eat in Pittsburgh?
THIS IS THE HARDEST QUESTION IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
If you are familiar with Pittsburgh, you know that right now, it is a mecca for new restaurants. I swear that every week there is somewhere new and trendy to go. I was recently interviewed by The Urbanist about this exact topic- you can read that article here.
If you are familiar with Pittsburgh, you know that right now, it is a mecca for new restaurants. I swear that every week there is somewhere new and trendy to go. I was recently interviewed by The Urbanist about this exact topic- you can read that article here.
Here is a little compiled list:
Penn Ave Fish Company- Eric and I actually eat here 2/3 times per week, anytime we don't feel like cooking at home, we drop everything and high tail it to Penn Ave. This place has THE BEST fish in the city, by a long shot. We usually order their sushi (literally eating takeout sushi from here while I type this). We also love going for brunch (we order the tuna steak & eggs). Also it is BYOB, which is amazing because we love to bring wine from one of our wine clubs that we signed up for on our honeymoon. We also purchase our fresh fish to grill at home from here. We especially love their salmon & their scallops.
Muddy Waters: This is an Oyster bar with all of the fixings. We were here last week and I actually had ALLIGATOR as my entree?!? Its delicious and I really love the atmosphere.
TAKO: Probably my favorite restaurant in the city. I have never had a bad meal here, everything on the menu is amazing & the atmosphere is so fun. Beware- there is ALWAYS a wait- so be prepared to grab a drink in the interim.
Altius- If you’re visiting the city, I definitely recommend treating yourself to a nice dinner on Mt. Washington. You will see the best views of the city! & this restaurant gives you popcorn when you sit down, so its A OK in my book.
Espresso A Mano- This is the coffee shop that I post about ALL the time. Me & E love to walk Roo here & grab our favorite coffee.
Millie’s- Only the best ice cream you’ll EVER have- I recommend going to Muddy Waters (above) then Millie’s for a treat- they're right up the street from each other!
This is a really short list, because I feel like this post is already so so long. If you'd like me to do a Pittsburgh Guide, let me know!
This is a really short list, because I feel like this post is already so so long. If you'd like me to do a Pittsburgh Guide, let me know!
What is that banana bread you’re always making?!
HAHA I get this question at least once a day since I originally posted about making it. This is a recipe for gluten free chocolate chip banana bread and its GOOD guys.
I try to find a lot of gluten free recipes through Pinterest. My dad is gluten free & he’s also the only person that will eat dessert with me (I totally inherited my sweet tooth from him). I also highly recommend snagging a slice once its cooled for about 15 min, the chocolate chips are still warm…..you'll thank me later.
I try to find a lot of gluten free recipes through Pinterest. My dad is gluten free & he’s also the only person that will eat dessert with me (I totally inherited my sweet tooth from him). I also highly recommend snagging a slice once its cooled for about 15 min, the chocolate chips are still warm…..you'll thank me later.
Who designed/decorated your house? Did you hire someone?
We used Michael Wright who owns Steel Town Properties in Pittsburgh. He actually purchased our house sight unseen with intention to renovate and sell. I wanted to get in on a house at GROUND LEVEL because I wanted to be able to pick out all of the little details. I had contacted him a few days before he closed on our house & he took me through and showed me all of this plans for the layout etc, the rest is history! Michael is amazing, you can find his Business’s Facebook here, and if you’re local & looking to renovate around the city, he is your dude. I'd be happy to give you his contact if you are interested, just drop me a line here.
In terms of decorating, we did not hire someone. I chose to do it on my own (with a ton of help from my mom, because she's the decorating guru). There is a lot I’m still eager to do, I have yet to put a single hole in these walls! We are having a ton of fun living in our house and I feel like we'll be updating the decor all the time. You can see a mini house tour here!
Brianne Conley