My Holy Grail Skincare Routine

Guys, I'm the worst blogger ever! I know it's been FOREVER since I posted anything, but my latest skincare routine just has to be talked about! I have suffered from horrible skin since I was eleven years old. After years of trying every product out there and seeing several dermatologists, I've finally found the answer to my prayers! My everyday routine is completely all natural, which is such a bonus. The only thing that isn't all natural is the pore mask I use. I've been using these products for five weeks now and my skin has cleared up SO much that I just knew I had to share it with you. Anyways, that's enough rambling, here it is!

• Cleanse: I start by washing my face with warm water and organic raw honey. Raw honey is basically the greatest thing you could ever put onto your face. It's antimicrobial, chock full antioxidants, regulates the pH of your skin, and takes care of any breakouts while preventing future ones from springing up. This is perfect for any skin type and any age. Just take a small spoonful and rub all over your face in circular motions for about a minute and rinse off. Side note: This was recommended to me by my gorgeous friend Salina. You guys should check out her YouTube channel for amazing makeup tutorials! https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSalinarae

 

•  Tone: I should mention here that I have extremely oily skin so toning is a MUST for me. Apple Cider Vinegar is the best toner I've ever used and it really prevents my skin from getting slick and oily. It's antiseptic so it helps prevent breakouts. Plus it further balances your skin's pH, minimizes pores, and fades acne scars and sunspots. However, you do not want to put just plain ACV on your skin. Always dilute with water! I typically do 2 parts water to 1 part ACV  and use a cotton ball to apply to my entire face, except my lips and around my eyes.

  

• Moisturize: For years I have searched far and wide for the perfect moisturizer. My oily skin has made it super difficult since most moisturizers make my face greasy and slick. I purchase the pure, unrefined, cold pressed, 100% organic, extra virgin coconut oil because I use it for oil pulling (which I should really dedicate an entire post to because it's amazing) and this version has worked wonders for my face. Not only does it moisturize without leaving you greasy, but it's also antimicrobial, antibacterial, and full of antioxidants so its good for your skin! Just get a little on your fingers once your toner has dried and rub it in until you can feel it sinking into your skin.

•  Mask: About once a week I do a mask to deep clean and tighten my pores. This Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene has been my holy grail face mask for about 5 years. I've tried a billion other masks, such as the hugely popular Mask of Magnaminty by Lush, and nothing else has ever compared to the Mint Julep Masque. Plus it's a steal for less than $5 at most drugstores.

•  Scrub: I make this scrub whenever I want a good exfoliating or my skin is looking dull, usually no more than once a week. It's a simple mixture: 1 TBS raw honey, 2-3 TBS organic brown sugar (just eyeball it, enough to make it "scrubby"), 1 drop doterra melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil, and 1 drop doterra lemon essential oil. I am obsessed with this scrub! The brown sugar sloughs off dead skin while the oils treat acne and tighten pores. After using this scrub my face is so soft, smooth, and bright. I typically make it thick so I can leave it on for about 20 minutes and then scrub it into my skin and rinse off with warm water. Side note: Quality is key when using essential oils! Doterra is the only brand of oils I trust completely as they are pure and put through strict protocol to become therapeutic grade. I've been using their oils for years and I can't say enough good stuff about them! If you already use a specific brand of oils then go ahead and use those, but if not, I highly recommend doterra.

 So there you have it, my entire skincare routine. This is a routine that is great for all skin types, but especially if you have oily, acne prone, or combination skin. I can't even tell you how much my skin has improved over the past month. There's no way I'll ever go back to expensive, chemical laden products that break me out and make me oily. This is it for me, the end of the skincare rainbow. I hope this routine works for you! Remember that it can take 3-6 weeks to see results when switching up your skincare routine so don't give up if you don't see results overnight. Honestly though, you will be able to see results overnight, it's just that good!

Xoxo,

Ashley

Nutella Crêpe Rollups from Scratch

     This past weekend, my husband and I took a roadtrip to the Oregon Coast for our 7 year anniversary. While we were in Cannon Beach, we stopped at the most amazing crêpe place called, "Crêpe Neptune." If you ever find yourself in Cannon Beach, you should definitely stop there! It's incredible! Well, once we got home I found myself jonesing for crepes and decided I just had to make them. Crepe Neptune has a bevvy of delicious and fun combinations, but I wasn't in the mood to go grocery shopping so I just used what I had on hand to whip up these Nutella Crepe Rollups. The nice thing about crepes is that you can pretty much put anything you want in them and they'll still taste amazing. I'll list a few fun combinations below that you can try with this same crepe recipe!

(This recipe makes about 14-15 crepes, depending on how thin you make them)


Ingredients

• 4 Cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 2/3 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Nutella
• Powdered Sugar
• Whipped Cream

1. Pour all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk until the lumps are completely gone. You can also use a Kitchenaid mixer using the whisk attachment on the low /medium setting for this step. If you have any handsome kitchen helpers, this is a good time to employ them!

2. Preheat your frying pan on medium heat. I used a pretty small frying pan in order to make medium sized crepes. You can use whatever size you like, but a smaller pan makes it MUCH easier to flip them and keep them from tearing. Plus they're not as messy to eat. Once the pan is hot, you can turn it down to medium low heat. While the pan is warming up, take your olive oil and pour a little in the lid. Then, take a basting brush and use it to coat the bottom of your frying pan.

        3. Next, use a soup ladle or large spoon to pour a small amount of batter into your frying pan. Once the batter is in the pan, roll it around the pan in a circular motion so the entire bottom is coated in a thin layer of batter. Also, make sure the batter goes up the sides of the pan just slightly because this makes it easier to flip them. Once the batter is completely bubbly and there is no more liquid, take a spatula and push the edge of the crepe down on all sides so it starts to separate from the pan. Once you've done this on all sides, push your spatula slowly and gently under the crepe, slowly separating it from the pan. Once you can feel that it's not stuck to the pan anywhere, flip it. Let it cook on the other side for about 30-40 seconds or until it looks golden.

     4. Repeat those steps with the rest of your batter. Once all your crepes are cooked, it's time for the fun part! Take a spoonful (or however much you want) of Nutella and spread it on your crepe. Personally, I like to leave the edges clean because it's not as messy to roll up. Once it's all spread out, roll them up! It's pretty easy peasy and self explanatory, but here's a few pictures just because.

 Now, technically you're done and you can eat them just like that, but I like to make mine pretty! For this step you just put about 2 tablespoons of Nutella in a small microwavable bowl and melt it for 10-15 seconds. Next, take a small Ziplock bag and spoon the melted Nutella into one of the bottom corners of the bag. Cut a tiny hole in that corner and, starting at the top of the crepes, squeeze the Nutella from side to side until you've made your way to the bottom. Just for fun, I do the same with a teaspoon of powdered sugar and add a dollop of whipped cream smack dab in the middle of the platter. TA-DA!

These are SO easy, SO fun, and SO delicious! I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe. If you decide to make them, post a picture to the Facebook page and let me know what you thought!
                                                                 
                                                               

Fun Combinations for Crepes:

• Strawberries & Nutella
• Nutella & marshmallows
• Peanut butter & bananas
• Melted Cheese & mushrooms (or any veggie)
• Melted Cheese & turkey (or any meat)
• Fresh fruit & sweet cream icing
• Butter & honey

Let me know in the comments or on my Facebook page if you have any favorite crepe combinations you think I should try!

Xoxo,
 Ashley

Easy & Healthy Chicken Stir Fry

So I've been trying really hard to eat healthy lately because summer is coming up and I ate really crummy on my trip to Florida. My Pinterest boards are currently full of healthy recipes, but you guys, I work 6 days a week and by the time I get home in the evening and finish my housework and laundry, the last thing I want to do is cook some elaborate meal. So one night I just opened the fridge and threw this together. I've been eating it atleast once or twice a week since then because it's SO good! Plus it only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish!

Ingredients

• 1-2 TBS Organic Coconut Oil
• Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Strips
• Bird's Eye Normandy Blend Frozen Vegetables
• Kikkoman Stir Fry Sauce
•  Snap Peas
•  Mushrooms
• Broccoli Slaw

 I start by putting 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a saute pan on medium high.

Once that melts I put the chicken in the pan. How much I use really depends on if I'm making it for lunch, dinner, just for myself, or for me and my husband. Just throw in however much chicken you want! Cook that for about 5-6 minutes or until it's thawed (the chicken is already fully cooked so you're just warming it up).

Once the chicken is thawed, add in the vegetables. Again, you can add as much or as little as you like. I like to add quite a bit of vegetables because I love my veggies! The Normandy blend doesn't have snap peas, broccoli slaw, or mushrooms so I add those in too (unless I'm making it for my husband because he hates snap peas lol). I saute those with the chicken on high heat until they're soft, but still a little crunchy, if that makes any sense. You don't want them as soft as veggies that are steamed, but you don't want them super crunchy either. Once they're thawed and warm you can taste test the veggies and decide how crunchy or soft you want them.

So once the veggies are to my liking, I add in a little stir fry sauce. I just eyeball it, it's probably about 3-4 tablespoons. I stir this into the pan and make sure all the chicken and veggies are coated. Stir this around for a few minutes on low heat until everything is warm.

That's all folks! I know there's alot of eyeballing in this recipe, but honestly just throw everything in the pan based on your taste. It's a hard recipe to mess up! Enjoy!

Xoxo,

Ashley

My Go-To Natural Summer Makeup

 I just wanted to do a quick post about this makeup look because this is my go-to look for summer! Today it was 91 degrees outside so I didn't want anything too heavy that would just melt right off and make me look like the joker from the Dark Knight, but I still wanted coverage and something to enhance my natural features. I was going to write a giant post about how I apply everything in grave detail, but I decided just to list the products and if you have any questions about how to apply a certain product leave a comment below or message me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/averageashleyz)! Details are below!

Base: Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Makeup Sealer

Second Base (for oily skin or hot weather): Milk of Magnesia (regular flavor, not mint)

[Side note: the combination of those two products will make sure your makeup doesn't budge, even in 91 degree weather!]

Foundation: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous (Nude Beige)

 Highlighting concealer: Wet N Wild Coverall Concealing Wand (Light)

Powder: Palladio Rice Powder (translucent) [side note: I use a giant powder puff to apply for a smoother finish]

Contour: Essence Matte Bronzing Powder (Sunny)

Blush: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush (True Love)

Brows: Elf Cosmetics Eyebrow Kit (Dark)

Eyeshadow (which I barely applied): the NYX Natural Shadow Palette (White, Nude, Light Brown)

Eyeliner (only on top lash line): Maybelline Master Precise (Black)

Mascara: Covergirl Lash Blast Volume (Very Black)

Lip Liner: Avon Ultra Luxury Lip Liner (neutral)

Lipstick: Essence Longlasting Lipstick (Oh So Matt!) [I'm in LOVE with this color! The picture doesn't do it justice!]

Finishing Spray: Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Makeup Sealer

I know that sounds like a ton of makeup, but I promise you it doesn't feel heavy or cakey at all and it was super simple to do. I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have ANY questions leave a comment below or message me! Make sure to like the Facebook page for Average Ashley (link above) and follow me on Instagram (username:averageashleyz).

Xoxo,
Ashley

How to Vacation on the Emerald Coast (Or Anywhere) For Cheap

 Most of you that know me in real life know that I just came back from an amazing trip to Destin, FL. Me, my best friend, and her 2 year old daughter spent 3 wonderful days relaxing on its white sand beaches and swimming in the emerald colored waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It was a trip I’ll never forget! Destin is located on the Emerald Coast and is by far the most beautiful place I’ve been thus far, plus there’s so much to do there! The only downside is that Destin can be VERY expensive. As a married college student, expensive just isn’t in my vocabulary. Here’s how I took an incredible trip to the Emerald Coast on the cheap and how you can do the same anywhere!

1.)    Do Your Research

Whenever I’m going on a trip anywhere I research it relentlessly. It’s kind of an annoying process, but it can save you so much money in the end. Make sure to check out what the weather will be like, read through blogs and travel reviews of the area to check for affordable places mentioned, and get a feel for what the area is like. Specifically for Destin I researched hotels, public beaches, where Walmart was, which gas station had the cheapest prices, fun things to do within walking distance of our hotel, etc. I just wanted to make sure I knew the cheapest option for anything we would be doing, that way we didn’t get stuck overpaying because we were uninformed. 

2.)    Check the Reviews

Before booking anything I always look it up and pore through all the reviews. This is the most important thing I do. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve saved more than $100 on a hotel by discovering that the reviews for a $50/night hotel were better than the reviews for a $200/night hotel. Of course this isn’t always the case, but going through the reviews, especially of hotels, ensures that you get the best one possible for the lowest price. I also like to preplan which restaurants I’ll want to eat at while on vacation and check reviews for those too. If the customer service is awful or the food is subpar I’d rather spend my money elsewhere for a better experience. 

3.)    Try to Eat Most of Your Meals at the Hotel (or Beach)

I know this seems super boring and restrictive, but I swear it’s really not that bad! Eating out for every meal on vacation can quickly add up and eat away at your spending money. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather use that money towards something fun versus an overpriced lunch. Most hotels already offer a complimentary breakfast so there’s absolutely no reason to grab a $6 breakfast from the McDonald’s drive-thru while on vacation. Most hotels also usually have a mini-fridge and microwave in the room so once you get to your destination I would take a trip to the local Walmart or other budget friendly grocery store. Depending on how long you’ll be there you should stock up on snacks you typically eat at home like granola bars, chips, crackers, cheese sticks, etc. and lunch/dinner stuff. We tried to stick to freezer meals and sandwich stuff, but you’d be surprised how many easy meals you can make with just a mini-fridge and a microwave! You don’t have to eat every single meal in your hotel, but if you did the research in step one than you should know which restaurants you don’t want to leave without eating at. We had 3 restaurants that we really wanted to go to on our trip and the rest of the meals we either ate at the hotel or packed them in a cooler and ate at the beach.  I can’t overstate how much money this saved us!! And I really don’t feel like we missed out on anything because we still went to the restaurants we wanted to. My last tip in this section is to eat lunch rather than dinner at the restaurant. This will save you atleast a few bucks since the dinner prices are always more expensive.

4.)    Shop for Souvenirs at Walmart or Discount Souvenir Stores

I know what you’re thinking, Walmart?! But yes, I’m dead serious. Every time I visit somewhere new I check Walmart for souvenirs before I check any overpriced souvenir stores. Most touristy vacation towns have an entire section of souvenirs at the local Walmart and they’re often just as good (if not the exact same) as ones in pricey stores. For example, I bought my sister a Destin t-shirt at Walmart for $7.99 and later saw the EXACT same t-shirt at a boutique souvenir shop for $23.99. That’s so crazy to me, it’s literally the same t-shirt! Also check online for souvenir stores that often have clearance or BoGo sales. Along the Emerald Coast there’s a chain of stores called Alvin’s Island which are AMAZING! I wish we had them on the West Coast because their normal prices are SO cheap and then on top of that they have insane clearance sales. I got a $20 shirt there on sale for $1.99! You will never regret checking Walmart and discount stores for your souvenirs.

5.)    Check sites like Groupon and RetailMeNot

Before we went to Destin I had researched my little heart out on fun stuff to do there and I was not disappointed! There’s dolphin tours, swimming with dolphins, a water park, Crab Island, pontoon rentals, Jet Ski rentals, paddle board rentals, scuba diving, snorkeling, etc. Honestly there’s an endless supply of fun activities! We were traveling with a 2 year old and no babysitter so we decided to skip those activities in favor of kid friendly ones, but if you’re planning a trip to Destin with no kiddos or you’re taking your babysitter than I highly suggest checking Groupon! There were so many deals on every activity I listed above for ½ price, BoGo, $50 off, etc. Also, make sure you check RetailMeNot for restaurant savings at the places you preplanned for your vacation meals. They often have deals for “Receive a $50 giftcard at (insert restaurant here) for $25” or similar. That’s a great deal, especially if you’re already planning to go there! 

Hopefully this post will help you while you're planning your next vacation! I am a firm believer in traveling and seeing as many places as possible, but I'm also a college student with a car payment so I try to make everything as budget friendly as possible. Plus, why spend more money when you can get the same experience for less with a little planning! 

Xoxo,

Ashley

(Bonus: My favorite places in Destin were Joe's Crab Shack (delicious and affordable), Fudpuckers (feed alligators or hold a baby one!),  The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin (expensive area, but very fun atmosphere to walk around and take pictures), Alvin's Island stores (very budget friendly), Harborwalk Village, the pier (costs $2, but you can sometimes see dolphins or sharks), and obviously the BEACH! Destin honestly has the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen!

 

3 New Uses for an Old Rake

I found this old rake head at a yard sale for $4 last weekend and I'm so excited about it! If you have a Pinterest account you've probably seen similar rakes being used as all sorts of fun things. I just wanted to throw together a super quick post to share a few ways I plan to use mine!

1.) Wine Glass Holder

I love the combo of the rustic rake with the delicate wine glasses. So pretty! If you go this route, make sure to add screws under the handle so the rake is secure and your wine glasses don't end up on the floor.

2.) Utensil Holder

This is so fun for a farmhouse or rustic kitchen. It's also very convenient since it keeps your utensils off the counter and out of a drawer. Plus most utensils already have a hole in the handle so they're perfect to hang on an old rake!

3.) Necklace Holder

Another rustic/delicate combo that I find so pretty. The rake is perfect for storing necklaces because it keeps them from getting tangled, which always happens with mine!

Hopefully you enjoyed this post! Let me know if you have any fun ideas for the rake that I didn't mention!

Xoxo,
Ashley

What's In My Beach Bag

Even though summer doesn't officially start until June 21st, Memorial Day Weekend always marks the beginning of pool days and beach vacations for me! Since I spent most of yesterday lounging by the pool, I thought it would be the perfect time to share what I always carry in my beach bag!

1.) Beach Bag

You'll need something fairly large to carry all of your essentials in. I bought this canvas tote from a small boutique when I was visiting Tennessee and I already know it will be my favorite bag this summer! What makes it so perfect for the beach/pool is the canvas exterior (doesn't matter if it gets wet), inside lining (easy to clean out sand, sunscreen, or wet swimsuits), and zipper (to keep out the sand!).




2.) Swimsuit
 

 Obviously if you're going to the beach or pool you're going to need a swimsuit! While I love the figure-flattering style of this suit from Torrid, the most important aspect of choosing a suit is how YOU feel in it. The right swimsuit should make you feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. Nothing is worse than feeling self-conscious while trying to relax by the pool.




3.) Accessories

I pinned an almost identical pair of sandals on Pinterest MONTHS ago, but couldn't convince myself to spend $60 on sandals that I knew would be worn in the sand, ocean, and dirt. So imagine my surprise when I found this pair at Walmart for $12! Not only are they adorable, but they're comfortable and versatile enough for almost any summer occasion. The heart shaped sunglasses were an impulse buy from Hot Topic when they were on clearance for $2 and they are so fun for the beach!



4.) Makeup for Touch-Ups
 

 I try not to worry too much about my makeup when I'm at the pool or beach, but occasionally I like to touch it up just a tad. For touch-ups I bring mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss, an eos lip balm, my favorite storm trooper mirror, a perfume roll-on, and a few brushes (powder brush, beauty blender sponge, and flat top buffer brush). I definitely don't use every one of these products while I'm at the beach, but these are all the things I like to have handy just in case.



5.) Hair Detanglers
 

I don't know about you, but I have super thick, curly hair that gets tangled the moment it touches salt water or pool water. Therefore, a detangling spray is absolutely vital for a successful beach day in my book. The one above is the "ion Anti-Frizz Solutions lightweight moisture and detangling leave-in conditioner." I bought it at Sally's Beauty Supply for around $4. I just spritz a little on my hair once I'm out of the water and use a "wet" brush to comb through it. This brush is a lifesaver for me! Ever since I started using it I can't imagine ever going back to a regular paddle brush. It takes out every single knot without pulling or ripping your hair out. I got this one from Walmart for around $3.




6.) Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a necessity for any pool or beach day. Sunburns are not fun! I use this Equate Sport sunscreen with SPF 50 to make sure I don't burn.

7.) Reading Material

 There's nothing more relaxing for me than to lose myself in a good book while listening to the ocean or dipping my toes in the pool. Right now I'm reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and so far it's amazing! I usually take a few magazines too in case I'm in the mood to veg out on celebrity gossip.



8.) Lightweight sweater

 I don't know about you guys, but on the drive home after swimming I always freeze! Every time, without fail. So I always pack a lightweight, knit sweater to wear when I get out of the water and on the drive home. This one is from Tilly's and is perfect for those summer nights when you're just a bit chilly.



I'm so excited that the weather is finally starting to warm up so I can spend more weekends by the pool and take more roadtrips to the beach! Hopefully you enjoyed this list! Let me know if you have any beach bag essentials I didn't mention.
 


Xoxo,
Ashley