The Easiest Morning Skincare Routine

Hi Babes!

I have a no-nonsense approach to skincare. It's basic, easy, and affordable. My routine has changed several times based on where I am in my life. Stress. Climate. Food intake. Water intake. Wine intake (wink). And, of course...dun, dun, DUUUUUN...hormone changes. Hormones change all the things. We will chat more about this later, but it for sure changes your skin. I have had two babies. With each pregnancy my skin decided to do something different.

Because my skin has decided to act like it's 12 years old again, because it's been drier than a desert in Arizona, because it's been Oil City and everything in between, I have tried many many many products. The current state of my skin is a combination oily and dry with a dash of wrinkles #thisis30.

However, this is by far my most favorite AND most affordable (amen!) routine ever.

Step 1: Good morning! Chug that glass of water. I leave a mug of water next to my bed so that I'm able to chug it first thing. If you didn't know, water plays a gigantic role in the health of your skin. Chug, sister!

Step 2: One pump of face wash. I've been using this brand for years! Clean scent and a clean feeling-zero residue. It also doubles as a make up remover, so I will also use this to wash off a face full of makeup.

Step 3: Witch Hazel is my best friend. I soak a cotton ball and rub that bad boy all over my face. I get mine at Target here . I prefer the one with rose water; literally, only because I love the smell. This solution acts as a toner. Since using witch hazel, I've seen a tremendous improvement in my skin tone. It also helps with redness, irritation, and inflammation.


Step 4. Moisturize! Girl, wrinkles are inevitable.  Aveeno's Positively Radiant Moisturizer. It provides moisture, contains 30 SPF, and acts as a primer for make-up. Huzzah! Go get a cup of coffee and let all of that goodness soak into your face.

Step 5. For a dewy/glowy look and to get another burst of a rose smell, I've been using Rose Water Spray. I will spray this on my face before and after makeup; plus, anytime that I need a little face pick-me-up.

This entire routine takes less than 5 minutes because as a busy mama, I don't have the time (or really the $$ either!) to put a million products on my face. I have found that a less is more approach is more of my jam these days.

Drink your water. Eat your greens. Eliminate processed sugar. And, treat your skin-your biggest organ!

Five Holiday Drink Recipes

Friends! Hi! It's time to give thanks, be merry, eat until our pants burst, nap so hard from a turkey coma, and drink until we break out the family photo albums.

This year, I'm traveling a short distance to Gainesville, FL to celebrate Thanksgiving with my husband's family-who I sincerely consider my second family.

When my sister-in-law put me in charge of drinks for Thanksgiving, I pulled a Phoebe Buffay and took it to a whole new level (remember when Pheebs was in charge of ice and cups?!)! That is me. I am Phoebe...in charge of drinks. You're welcome.

These recipes have been tested, approved, and enjoyed by some dear friends. This is legit, y'all! We started with about 12 recipes and narrowed it down to these five. A little something for everyone-reds, creamy whites, and even non-alcoholic; I've got you, boo!

I'd love to see your pictures and posts if you try these out, so tag #thatmosesgirl on Instagram if you partake in these drink festivities.

The Tipsy Santa

The simplest of all the recipes. This would be great at a party as a punch. It's fancy, yet simple-hence, Simple Santa. Plus, it's quite delicious and bound to be a crowd-pleaser. Serve naked or with cranberries rolled in sugar. I was able to coat the cranberries in sugar by rolling the cranberries in simple syrup, then sugar. Mmmm. #sugar

1 part cranberry juice
1 part ginger ale
Fill the rest with champagne
3 rolled in sugar cranberries for garnish (optional)

Bobbing For Apples

You know that party or festival where there's a station of bobbing for apples? This is what it tastes like-but, of course, way better. You taste the apples, but with some bubbles, and an extra touch of Fall (and fun) with Fireball whisky.

1 part champagne
1 part fireball
Fill the rest with apple cider
Apple chunks (about 1/4)
Cinnamon sticks (optional)
Sugar for rim of glass (also optional, but way more fun)

Dirty Snowball

For all my creamy, white, and savory sweetness fans, this one is for you. I literally started singing "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" when I took my first sip. That creamy goodness, with a touch  of cinnamon. I thought of the idea to add the chocolate syrup to the glass because of the time in high school when I worked at an ice cream parlor and would drizzle chocolate like this on the inside of the cup for my frappuccino drinkers. This is delightful.

1 part Baileys Irish Cream
1 part RumChata
Chocolate syrup for inside of glass
Cinnamon sprinkled on top (optional)

Christmas In A Glass

This one's got a kick but, it's one of those that's a crowd-pleaser. It's light enough to serve at Christmas brunch, but also has enough oomph to serve at dinner.

1 part Tequila
1 part Triple Sec
A splash of cranberry juice
Fill the rest with champagne
Cranberries for garnish (optional)
Sprig of rosemary (optional)

A Partridge In a Pear Tree Mocktail

For the designated driver of the bunch or for the kiddos! This partridge in a pear tree will put you in the Christmas spirit...without the spirits. Yum!

2 parts apple cider
1 part cranberry juice
Fill rest with ginger ale
Pear slice or chunks

So, drink up. Celebrate. Happy Holidays. Happy Thanksgiving. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa. Cheers. Enjoy!

10 Christmas Gift Ideas For Anyone-Under $50!

Whether you're shopping for your neighbor, friend, a teacher, or anyone else for whom you'd love to share a gift, these options are some of my favorites! They're unique, yet simple and best of all...afforadable. Everything on this list is under $50!

1.Hand Candle
Peace sign, I-love-you sign, rock-on sign, OK sign, fingers-crossed, or for that person-a middle-finger. I think these candles and their meanings make for a fun twist on a classic candle.
candle hand

2. Metallic Rainbow Tumblers
A set of 4 hand blown tumblers for under $50 is a steal. In my opinion, you can't have enough drinkware; plus, these are beautiful.

3. Five Minute Journal
The perfect journal for even the busiest person. Spend 5 minutes a day with a guided template to feel happier and grateful every day. Comes in 3 different cover options too.

4. Avocado-shaped Heating/Cooling Pad
Obsessed! It's filled with buckwheat grains and lavender. Pop it in the freezer or nuke it for your achies. Or, use it as a pillow; still cute.

5.Tea Towels
Punny tea towels are my jam. "Don't go bacon my heart" is my personal favorite.

6. Art Print
A simple black and white word print never goes out of style. Lots of options here-sizes, framed, unframed, and all kinds of sayings. I picture this over a cute and styled bar cart.

7. Salad On The Go
The least expensive on this list-but uber practical. It stores 27 oz of greens, a cooling feature down the middle, plus an attached fork and little container for dressing.

8. Ornament
This glass-blown iridescent ornament is so beautiful, yet simple, you could display it all year round. When in doubt with a gift-an ornament is the way to go.

9. Chunky Knit Throw
So cozy! A custom handmade chunky throw. The 24x24 inch option is right at $50. Perfect to throw on the end of a bed or chair to cozy up to this winter.

10. Wine Glass Markers
For those who love to entertain-this is such a cute gift. Label glass or ceramics with a quick-drying marker. Fun and festive!

I'm all about gifting someone something that they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves. And I think these gifts do just that; and without breaking the bank. Let the holiday shopping begin! Cheers, y'all!

Anxiously Happy

When I was 5 years old and attending Kindergarten, my dad took me to school most mornings. We'd happily spend the morning singing along to old country songs in the minivan on our 10 minute drive. As if I didn't know this feeling would hit me every morning, as soon as we pulled into the school, a wave of panic spread throughout my body. My belly would ache, I would begin to cry, and I would full-on freak out. However, my panicked state diminished as soon as I walked through the front doors.

Let me explain...the actual school part (kids, learning, teachers) was not my biggest worry. My biggest worry was the ACTUAL FRONT DOORS. Being that I was always the tiniest person in my class, (and even now in my group of adult friends) I was terrified that I would not be able to open the heavy school doors and that I would be stuck outside by myself all day. Ok, little Allison...chill out! For those of you who are in car lines on a consistent basis, this is for you. I made my poor father WAIT in the carpool line  and watch me until I was able to run inside. This was not a once-in-awhile situation. This was EVERY DAY. Can you imagine the fingers and horn-honking he must've received? I'll have to ask him about this.

This was my very first memory of what I now know as generalized and situational anxiety.

These bogus scenarios (like the one when I feared I'd be left outside) I played in my mind continued into adulthood. I pushed past my thoughts to get help because I knew that I was still happy. I heard on the commercials for drugs about chemical-imbalances in which depression and anxiety were tied together. It was confusing to me that a person could be anxious and not depressed and vice versa. So, it was easier to assume I was fine. I was, what I like to call, "anxiously happy." This is fine. Everything is fine. Plus, the thought of walking into a doctor's office sent me into Anxious City overdrive.

As I became older and through more life experience, these made-up scenarios became bigger problems for me. My least favorite game, but the one that I was forced to play basically every day of my life, went a little something like this:

"What if I eat dinner now, but dinner is served at the party? Will they think I'm rude for not eating? Maybe I should have a snack. What if there is no food and my snack wasn't enough? What if I get so hungry that I pass out? What if the ambulance can't get to me? What if I ring the doorbell at the wrong house? What if I get lost and can't find my way back? What if my car breaks down? What happens if someone robs me while I'm getting out of my car? What if I break a shoe on the way to the door? What if the party if actually next week?"

"WHAT IF...WHAT IF...WHAT IF..."

The "What if..." game continued to torture me. These thoughts would go from semi-"normal" flashes to things that would likely never happen.

At one point, when I was in college, my anxiety was so revved up, that I completely shut out all of my friends. The scenarios were so grandiose that, in my mind, the best thing to do was to not do anything. I would go to class, and then go back to my dorm room. This did not bode well for a girl who was living in a dorm full of other women and in a sorority. My anxiety killed a lot of friendships that I once had. And that's a painful realization. Don't worry; spoiler: this blog post ends happily.

The final straw:

I was at the happiest place on Earth-Napa Valley. Sorry Disney fans, we can dispute this later. I digress...I'm in the middle of wine country with my husband with a plan of no real plans other than to hit some wineries. This set my anxiety into over-drive. We were stopping every 5 minutes so that I could be sick. Nope, wasn't pregnant (and hadn't had a drop of wine yet). Just anxious AF. The scenarios were out of control. The tightness in my chest was unbearable.

After that trip, I analyzed how I'd spent my life wiggling my way out of social situations, vacations, potentially cool jobs, and overall life experiences. I made an appointment with a doctor within a few weeks of my trip. You could imagine the scenarios that went through my head leading up to the day of my appointment. Oy!

I sat in this doctor's office for nearly two hours-crying, explaining my scenarios, how it's impacted my life, asking 8 million questions, and a plea for him to "fix" me. The "fix" was medication. As much as I dreaded having to take medication, (you know, because you totally get a medal for never taking prescribed medication) it was one of the BEST decisions I have made. That doctor's office visit was about 20 years overdue.

I love to look back on all of the things that I've been able to overcome since being medicated. I'm a group fitness instructor. Twenty women will stare at my butt while I coach them through a workout! I have given presentations in front of dozens of people for work. I don't have to force myself to go to parties. I WANT to go! ALL THE PARTIES!

The details of my anxiety are now out in the world, but I find it comforting knowing that so many others are sharing their own experiences with anxiety. And everyone's is different. Or you may not have anxiety. But, hopefully, you understand it a little better.

Get help if you need it. Take the medicine. Meditate. Read scripture. Do what works for you. For me, no more heavy doors. They're open. If they aren't open, I find a way to push through them.