Bliss and Blair

Merry Christmas!

We went to my parents house in Granbury on Saturday to have Christmas with the cousin. The kids have so much fun playing with each other and the girls were not happy to leave!

We did the candlelight service at our church on Sunday evening and then drove around to see Christmas lights. We got home and put out cookies for Santa and reindeer food in the front yard. Then Christmas morning came with a bang!

My sister and her girls came over to have Christmas dinner with us and that’s when I went down. I started getting super nauseous when I smelled the food and retreated upstairs where it became apparent I had a stomach bug. No fun!  Thank God for my sister and mother in law for stepping in and taking over for me. I don’t know what we would have done if it wasn’t for them. 

Hope everyone had a great holidays too!

We loaded up on the train after pics with Santa and sang Christmas carols and waited for Mrs Clause to stop by. The girls kept asking why she was taking so long and Avery told us it was because she was so old. 

A very dear friend recently asked about my skin care routine. And since I’m trying to become a serious blogger now (haha) I figured I should turn this into a post. 

First a disclaimer. I’m not a medical professional and these are just some things that I do that I really feel work for me:

Face Wash-

I’m pretty simple here. I have used Purpose face wash for years!  

It’s gentle, does a great job of removing makeup and is just a classic in my life. 

If my face is feeling a bit dry, I’ll use the Simple Micellar Gel face wash. I feel like it leaves my face with a bit more moisture than my normal wash but is still a good cleanser and gentle as well. 

Topical Treatments-

I was lucky to have a mom who started me out with a good dermatologist early in life. I can remember her dragging me along on appointments my older sister had. Our dermatologist was in another city at that time so I’m sure she felt if she was making the trip that she might as well get the most out of it that she could.  In 6th grade I was put on the lowest dose of Retin-A and I use it to this day.  If you ask any good dermatologist they will all tell you there is nothing better and I completely agree!

My current dermatologist (who I love) also started compounding a cream for me a few years ago that has a lightening agent in it. You can’t use it all the time (she limits it to every 6 months) or else you build up a tolerance to it. It has Retin-A, hydroquinone, kojic acid, hydrocortisone, and vitamin E. You store it in the fridge and I promise this stuff is awesome!!!  

Then under my eyes I use the CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, followed by the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion. I top it off with a pure Vitamin E stick to certain areas (under my eyes, laugh lines and around my lips) and then straight Aquaphor to any area that still seems dry or dull. 

Supplements- 

Every evening I consistently take the same combination of supplements. And I mean every evening!  I’m very diligent with this. 

2000 mg Marine Collagen

2 Probiotic pills (with added Vitamin C, Echinacea & Zinc)

1300 mg Evening Primrose 

70 mg Ceramoside (AKA the glow vitamin from Naturemade)

50 mg Spironolactone- no good picture as this is a Rx. Mainly to help with “hormonal acne”. Like the weird chin kind. 

Extras-

That’s pretty much my day in day out routine. I do have some “extras” that I do when I have extra time. 

From top to bottom:

1) dermaplaning- I've had this done professionally a few times but honestly think I get almost as good results by just doing it myself.  I use a new (has to be sharp!) eyebrow shaving tool and basically just shave my face with it.  I feel like my skin looks smoother and my products go on better when I do this every few weeks.

2) micro-needling- I do have this done professionally and I think it works much better when my doctor does it.  But in between those times I use my own.  I feel like your products penetrate deeper into your skin if you do this before putting on topical treatments.

3) microdermabrasion- I bought this a while back (PMD) and it's an at home tool.  You have to be very careful not to scratch yourself with this (because this sucker works!).  But I try and do this or the micro-needling (professionally, not my home version) quarterly.

4) Botox- just for full disclosure I am a Botox user!  I have been since I was 30 (except for when I was pregnant or nursing) and I'm sorry think what you will but Botox works.

Masks-

Then when I really have some down time I try to throw on a mask.  I'm really partial to collagen paper masks.  I feel like they help plump your skin, give a boost of moisture and just over all make you look better.  I tend to just buy whatever kind on Amazon (I'm not super loyal to any particular brand on these) but this was the last kind I bought.


If I don't do the full mask, I also like the kind that are for just under the eyes.


That's basically it!  I'm sorry if that was way too much information, but I LOVE products.  Always have!  But I really feel like the key, is to find whatever regimen you like and to stick with it!  There's always going to be new products coming out and stores trying to sell you whatever is hot.  Find a good dermatologist that you trust (I like women who are close in age to me because I feel like they get it.) and stick with what they tell you.  And my final tip is sunscreen.  Always, always, always..........

After that I had my annual “Christmas Dinner” with two sweet friends. We met 10 years ago in Junior League and my have things changed since then. We were all newlyweds when we first met. Now we all have kids and it’s hard to get together super often so this is a must to get on the calendar every year and we always have a great time. 

On Sunday Hayden had her Pre-K Christmas performance at North Park. It’s always a beating to get there because of parking and it’s so packed!  But they did a great job and Hayden had a special part rocking out on a fake guitar and it was precious!!!

My name is Ashley Bradley and I live in Dallas with my husband, Brett and our 2 daughters. I grew up in West Texas (yay Midland!) but Dallas has really become my home after 16 years here. 

I met Brett when we were students at Texas Tech but we were just friends for years before we started dating.  We are truly “When Harry met Sally”. But we finally figured out we were right for each other and got married in 2007.

We have 2 girls, Avery- age 7 and Hayden- age 4.  They definitely keep us on our toes!  They are as different as can be. Avery is my compliant and rule following child, while Hayden is the reason we have rules!  But they are both perfect fits for our family and I can’t imagine life without them.

I work for UTSW Medical Center here in Dallas with the heart and lung transplant program. I seriously love my job and really feel like I’ve found my job for life!

So that’s us in a nutshell.  Welcome aboard life on my crazy train... 😉