TULA Probiotic Skincare
Posted on November 2, 2018
Perfect Complexion? As if.
If you’ve been blessed with perfect skin, please know how fortunate you are and appreciate it! I’ve struggled with uneven skin tone for as long as I can remember!
I’ve been working with Tula Probiotic Skincare for about 2 years now. I’ve seen such a transformation in my once hyper pigmented and acne prone skin! I can finally say that I am content with my complexion at age 29! Ha, I think I’ve met the right people to cost-efficiently take care of my skin and keep it hydrated and healthy!
In my twenties, I had to constantly switch my dermatologist to find one that could get to the bottom of my breakouts, but also having a topical gel that wouldn’t be so harsh on my skin! I took a huge hit when I was exposed to the sun one week in Florida. Because my skin was extra sensitive due to my harsh dermatologist prescribed facial cleansers and topical gels, I had a severe sunburn that would forever affect the way my skin reacted to direct sunlight!
I won’t lie, it’s been quite a burden. Especially because I spend a lot of time working and visiting Miami, FL. I have to always have a high SPF on my face, covered with a hat. In addition, I deal with the aftermath of sunspots after only a few minutes in the sun without my face covered. IT SUCKS. Then I am so self-conscious about the uneven skintone that I spent $$$ trying to find products to cover it up. All of these efforts are so draining!
I’ve been up in the Midwest this fall for about two months straight and I think staying out of the sun has truly been SO helpful for the recovery of my hyper pigmentation. I also attribute my skincare regimen, which took me FOREVER to finally find the products that HELP my skin and not just break it out, or have any results.
TULA has been spectacular. I now have a gentle probiotic cleanser that is so easy on the skin, it doesn’t redden it, it doesn’t make it extra sensitive. It’s perfect, it keeps it balanced and smooth. It fights break outs too which is UH-MAZING. They even gave me a 20% discount to my friends! It is HANNA20. Feel free to use this anytime at checkout!
My top 3 Tula products:
PURIFYING GENTLE CLEANSER
ACNE CLEARING + TONE CORRECTING GEL
CLEAR COMPLEXION KIT ( COMES WITH MY FAVORITE AQUA-INFUSION OIL-FREE GEL CREAM)
BRIGHT & BALANCED KIT (saves you 40%) + HANNA20 discount for 20% off
Any questions? Let me know! Again the discount is HANNA20, and I promise you won’t be disappointed. 100% of people who tried it said they’d recommend it to someone else! 100% of customers saw noticeable differences in 2 weeks.
When in Rome
Posted on August 16, 2018
Spanish Steps – Rome, Italy
February is a wise month to fly to Europe! Tickets are lower since it is the off-season to travel there. You won’t find the crowds that you may during summer. But it can get pretty chilly, so pack accordingly! HA. (Well- to be honest, just for people like me who have poor circulation to begin with, so gloves, boots, scarves and coats are totally necessary!)
This was my second time in Italy, and I love it more each time! We spent our week right in ROME! Flights were nearly $470 RT which was a good deal- we flew directly via AirFrance from JFK to FCO, and just like that woke up in Rome.
Rome is so charming because the local bakeries and coffee shops and neighborhood restaurants are so sweet. If you’re anything like me, you NEED an American breakfast to start your day— which consists of some kind of substantial protein like eggs or yogurt to go with my amazingly flakey, Italian croissants and cute little cappuccinos!
I love that Italians take time to have their little pastries and espresso while standing or sitting in these cafes throughout the day. They sit inside and enjoy them. They’re not like us Americans who get it to go- always on the run- never time to enjoy life! They sit and appreciate the taste, the smell, and the people alongside them who they may just have met that day!
Navigating through Rome, I only have one thing to say, and that is thank goodness we had an international wifi package on our phones, because I’m not sure how we could’ve managed to adventure through the little, winding streets without it! We used Google Maps for everything! Rome is huge. We walked approx. 8 miles daily!! I had my apple watch on and it calculated every single step haha! That means you’ll need to stop plenty for Nutella treats and cappuccinos to not only fuel your journey, but to warm you up when temps were low!
Our Airbnb was situated in a quaint, and seemingly affluent neighborhood north of most of the walking we did. We mostly wandered the cool, Roman streets, smelling of pastas and breads. Our first night we actually stumbled upon the top of the Spanish Steps. Where we made our way down and through the shop-lined streets towards the Trevi Fountain! Lizzie McGuire moment! I loved it at night! The fountain all lit up was amazing, and we even stopped for some gelato right next door, and walked into a few open churches to take in the breathtaking sculptures and painted ceilings.
Because this was our first night in Rome, we realized our appetites were a little off so decided to go to a friend’s recommendation on a cozy little spot that had the GREATEST meat and cheese platters!!! We were so thrilled with our selection, and even went back a second time. The meat and cheese platters are amazing in Italy and I highly recommend ordering a few! My favorite two were: La Prosciutteria Roma + Antica Salumeria
Just to give you an idea- below is a photo that will leave you feeling hungrier than before.
While we are on the subject of food.. I would have to say that the wine was also exceptional.. our go-to seemed to be the Chianti – which is a red wine (served at about 60 degrees) from the Tuscan region. And, boy was it a good choice. We even found bottles to stock up our Airbnb at the local grocery store for only $2.99!!! That is $2.99/ bottle. For high quality. That’s Italy for you! We brought some bottles home for each of our families.
Pictured below is our favorite that we found our our local market for no more than $3.
I truly loved the architecture. I just found so much beauty walking down the Roman streets. I would constantly stop and say “OH I MUST TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS!” Haha, but really, the buildings are colorful and interestingly textured. It’s amazing how they’ve held up all these years. I especially appreciated how beautiful the churches were and the doors! I loved the floral arrangements as well. So picture-perfect.
Below you can see a little bit of what I mean.
I lived for finding rooftops!! Because it was a colder month for Rome, unfortunately, many of the famous rooftop bars and lounges were closed for that season. We still found some great vantage points. The first photo below is taken from Campo Marzio. The second was a secret rooftop cafe on top of the Capitoline Museum. This location was sure tough to track down! If you do make it to Capitoline Museums make sure you follow the correct signage leading you to the Cafe/Restaurant Rooftop Level! There you will find such a magnificent view of the city. 
FACT: There are more than 900 churches in Rome!! Not kidding. Just about one adorning every corner, all with their own story, holding some of the most beautiful frescoes, paintings, and sculptures that this world’s ever seen! Love this history and that is preserved in this ancient city! I could spot quite a few from this museums’s balcony!
As far as tours go, we only really booked a few. One was at the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. I highly recommend doing so, and my art history course knowledge from college was brought to life! These tours were inside the Vatican so I would suggest maybe ubering over to it because the entrance is on the complete other side of the Basilica entrance (where you can walk in from the street) Upon exiting your tours, you leave via St. Peter’s Square, and from there you can pass the Castel Sant’Angelo, and cross the bridge back into the usual areas of Rome!
The artwork around the Vatican Gardens and inside was exquisite! Spectacular tour guide we had from Italy, she had such a good sense of humor but so much knowledge and well spoken. She took us to the most significant pieces and told their stories. We would’ve been otherwise lost in there by ourselves. I wouldn’t have wanted to experience it any other way. The tour was worth booking. We booked ours the same day.
Mission to see the Pope: Wednesday morning (7am) we cabbed over to the Vatican in hopes to attend the Papal Audience! We requested tickets after our Vatican tour from the Swedish Guards who stand guard outside of St. Peter’s Basilica a few days prior. Having a ticket though, doesn’t ensure you have entry to the audience, for there may be great numbers who want to attend and in this case, it was raining so an even smaller amount of people could attend inside.
YES, we did make it in!! It was the most amazing experience witnessing the love that all people had for our Pope as he processed down the aisle of the room holding thousands. He was blessing people, stopping to pray with them, to comfort, to kiss the head’s of children. It was absolutely incredible. It was would I would imagine it was like seeing the people flock to Jesus, a feeling of pure love. It was my absolute favorite part of my trip. The Pope finally made his way to the alter where he prayed for all the countries in attendance. There were also representative bishops who translated the homily in several languages for everyone to understand.
We exited through St. Peter’s Square. I made a [horse] friend. 🙂 Oh yeah, wear comfortable walking shoes throughout your trip. Comfort is key!
We also booked a tour at the Colosseum!! So much Roman Empire history over there, I guess you can’t leave Rome without at least exploring the Forums and Colosseum!
I don’t even think we planned to match this day! I just had to prepare for the colder weather, so layering up was key!! I thought these tours were interesting and enjoyed our tour guide from London. It was cool- we were the only Americans within our group!
We spent my bf’s birthday dinner at a Michelin-Star restaurant called AROMA, which sat on the rooftop level of a boutique hotel. The service, the food, the ambiance, the views: UH-MAZING. We could not have said enough wonderful things about the incredibly kind staff (who sung and brought out an entire sampler platter) for his birthday, but also were extremely attentive, and served us a wonderful 5 course meal! ALL with a lovely and casual view of a very beautiful and lit Colosseum at night.
Port Au Prince, Haiti
Posted on August 9, 2018
I had the opportunity to spend some time in Haiti in November and it was absolutely amazing. The amount of joy these people have with so little is inexplicable. They don’t compare their lives to their neighbors’, they don’t sit not their smartphones wishing they had someone else’s looks, house, possessions. They are constantly joyful. They have faith in the Lord and that He will provide for them. These people are grateful. They are resilient. They work all day. Their government is corrupt. Their homes are tiny. There is an orphan cycle that occurs because mothers of babies can’t afford to have children. A lot live in villages and the children may not see food for a week. Yet, when we visited one of those villages, the kids were so excited to see us. They just wanted to feel our love, our attention. They pulled us by the hand to join them in playing soccer, braiding hair, painting nails! I loved being able to SERVE these kids. We helped bathe the children, clean their wounds, and bandage up any cuts. A lot of the kids didn’t even have parents. It was A LOT to take in. And as difficult as this day in particular was (which is actually the photo at the top) I was surrounded with such JOY and LOVE and HAPPINESS. Joy is absolutely eternal.
Reflecting on that day though, I don’t think the take-away was suppose to be guilt. Guilt that we were born Americans and don’t live this life. I don’t think we were meant to feel like we are horrible human beings because of the shallowness of our minds sometimes. Of our worries, our comparisons, our conversations… when kids live so impoverished in another country such as this. I think God’s plan and objective is to use us as vessels of us HIS love wherever we may go. To tell the Haitians’ stories when we come back home. To help out how we can, and get others involved in the cause as well. But most of all, I think these type of “mission” trips is truly a change in “vision” trip. A change in our perspective is almost always a direct result of spending even a few days with these children. It’s so easy to lead us to A change of heart. A change in direction. A change in perspective.
Meet Banner. He has CP. It was believed that he would never walk on his own. But after working with the organization located in Haiti made up of volunteers and PTs, Banner has been working on his walking and pushes a walker while playing with other children. Pure JOY is found with one glance at Banner’s smile.
Are we doing all that we can to the best of our potential? Are we truly LIVING our best life, as in taking every opportunity that we can to SERVE others, to INSPIRE, to LOVE, to LEAD, to ENCOURAGE, to REACH out to someone in need, someone struggling, someone feeling alone. We don’t need to travel to the other side of the world, or a third world country to make a difference in this world and someone else’s.
We never know someone’s story. We can’t judge, we don’t know what they’re going through. What if tomorrow we started treating others like we saw the face of Jesus in their face? What if we chose to go out of our way to help make someone’s day a little more special, a little more bright? What if we chose to get OUT of our OWN feelings, our own mind’s, our own issues, and just think of how much someone else could be needing us, our story, our lessons we’ve learned, in their life this very moment?
Sometimes we just need to remove ourselves from the current mindset and situation. Gain a new perspective of the bigger picture. We are surrounded by people who are lost, lonely, and unhappy. By a few kind words, a smile, a “Good Morning” might make all the difference in their day. You could be in a long line at Starbucks drive-thru and decide to take care of the car behind yours’s order. They may be caught so off guard and pleasantly surprised by this that they pay it forward and do the very same thing to the car behind them, and so forth. You could brighten someone’s day with such little effort, and they’ll be left smiling the rest of the afternoon, holding onto that small gesture, that small, random act of kindness that YOU displayed.
When you are being you, YOU look your best. Chose to be you regardless of what you dislike about yourself. Flaws make you unique and quirks make you shine ✨ you are great, so let your greatness be known 🖤 #beyou
I think we all can get out of our own head and try to serve someone today. Try a little random act of kindness. Be a vessel of His love. Choose joy. Choose to be happy, grateful, hopeful, and see how many people you can bring joy to. BE A LIGHT.
Tried & True Skincare Products
Posted on August 3, 2018
Is it so hard to be comfortable in our own skin? YES! From acne, to uneven skintone, to hyper pigmentation, oil, dryness, etc. we all have things we’d love to change about our face! I always say, if only I had even skin tone, I would never want to wear foundation or make up! I love letting my skin breathe. Since high school I had break outs that I was self-conscious about. I’ve done a lot of product-searching from dermatologists’ offices to over the counter high-end stuff! It’s a frustrating process when it comes to trying to get our skin in better condition! It takes time, and research to find out what products are helping and what are hurting our skin! We all are different, and what works for some, may not work for ourselves!
My journey is still going though, and I’m in my late twenties! (Whoa, weird to say!) Even though I don’t have as many break outs (unless I don’t clean my make up brushes/pillow cases, or just use something that doesn’t agree with my skin) I have had a major sun problem the last 4 years! It’s hyper pigmentation. These are dark spots that randomly form on my face from sun exposure. I have to constantly wear a super strong sunscreen (zinc oxide is preferable) and cover my face with a hat for needed protection!
I get discouraged when I see these dark spots repeatedly return because I work hard (& spend some $) on products that reverse this! It’s hormonal, so I continue what I am doing if I want to avoid this to continue happening– 5-10 minutes of sun exposure.
But tried and true, the products I’m going to name are ones that I have faithfully stayed using for over the past year and have seen truly awesome results.
Tula Skincare: Every bottle pictured above, I use (to which I have a discount for anyone who wants to order- HANNA20 will save you 20% on your order) daily!!
If you are unsure of which products you may want to try, just get the starter kit! It’s perfect. I can tell you I use every one of those items that come in it. I definitely recommend the gentle cleanser and the hydrating cream! I use a cool eye renewal stick that is cold during the application so it wakes me up!
Sunday Riley (Good Genes, CEO Rapid Brightening Serum, Luna Sleeping Night Oil)
Which skin type is it good for? Normal Oily Combination Dry Sensitive A go-to day and night regimen combining the power of vitamin C and retinol to brighten and visibly transform your complexion. Solutions for:- Fine lines and wrinkles- Dark spots- Uneven skin toneIf you want to know more… C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum is infused with 15 percent ultra-stable, advanced vitamin C to brighten the appearance of the skin rapidly for immediate radiance while fighting the look of dark spots and discolorations at the source. Skin looks firmer and plumper as the appearance of youthful bounce and an even tone are restored. The gold standard form of vitamin C, THD ascorbate is both highly stable and oil-soluble, helping it to rapidly absorb into the skin for enhanced tone, clarity, and visible brightening. This hydrating antioxidant formula instantly polishes, protects, and illuminates the skin, while phytosterols help to reduce the look of redness and skin sensitivity.
Click link for the always spectacular (pictured above)
Sunday Riley CEO Rapid Flash Brightening
CLICK this link Sunday Riley MultiVitamins to try a smaller size of both Luna Sleeping Oil with The CEO Rapid Flash Brightening Serum! (Must-Have)
(MY OTHER FAVE) Sunday Riley Power Couple Duo is the total transformation kit and also a smaller and affordable size of the Luna Sleeping oil and the Good Genes. (Must-Have)
A transformational power product duo that combines lactic acid and trans-retinol ester to exfoliate and brighten the skin. In use together, this power product duo uncovers more radiant, moisturized skin while promoting evenness of skin tone. Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment exfoliates and moisturizes the skin while smoothing the appearance of fine lines. Luna Sleeping Night Oil contains a powerful, yet gentle trans-retinol ester and moisturizing botanical oils to reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines, and sun damage while preventing flakiness and irritation. I absolutely love theses transformative products. Wear them at night – or wear LUNA at night and Good Genes during the day– you’ll see results of Good Genes in 3 minutes- no joke. 🙂
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare (Exfoliating Chemical Peel pads, Collagen mist, Retinol serum for under eye, Vitamin C Serum)
Linking a few of my daily eye and face favorites from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare below:
Hyaluronic Marine Dew It Right Eye Gel
C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Eye Cream
These little peels are UH-MAZING, and I’ve seen such improvements over the course of using – in as little time as 5 minutes after completing this 2 step process- my face feels polished and smooth, and minimized wrinkle/creases!!
I hope this helped!! These brands have been so good to me. If you have any products that you use and recommend for similar conditions, I’d love to hear!
But First, Coffee
Posted on August 3, 2018
*Orders 4 gallons of coffee.*
Ever feel like even that crazy amount won’t suffice? We all have those days! I struggle some days with too much coffee or too little. I have my favorite spots depending upon which city I am in, where I order my speciality drinks.
My morning coffee routine is something I always look forward to! One thing I absolutely cannot go without, is my FAVORITE Collagen Coffee Creamer
I love it because it’s sustainable energy! I use to be on that bullet proof-coffee kick, where I would add MCT oil and ghee to my coffee each morning. It is full of healthy fats so it kept me alert and sustained longer. Then I found Vital Proteins Creamer!! health & wellnessThis creamer is made from a company I trust: Vital Proteins!
Vital Proteins Coconut Collagen Creamer features healthy ingredients served alongside 10 grams of collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine. Rich in healthy fats from organic coconut milk, our Whole30-approved Coconut Creamer is completely free of dairy, soy, carrageenan, gluten, artificial sweeteners, and added sugars.
- Healthy Fat: Our Coconut Collagen Creamer boasts 9 grams of healthy fat from organic coconut milk powder, an excellent source of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) and lauric acid
- Beneficial Collagen: Collagen’s amino acid spectrum provides the building blocks for hair, skin, nails, bones, joints, and other connective tissues
- Bioavailable: Easily digested and absorbed by the body
- 100% Dairy-Free: Because it is made with organic coconut milk powder, our creamer is completely free of dairy
Let’s talk about collagen. Whether it’s in the vitamin aisle of the grocery store, on the menu of your fave café, or swarming your Instagram feed, this supplement is taking the world by storm. Regardless of where you’re finding it, collagen is easily one of the biggest trends in wellness right now. So why is that the case?
The 411 on Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It’s found in our tendons, bones, muscles, skin, blood vessels, and digestive system, and is basically the glue that holds the body together. Furthermore, collagen sends out important signals to our cells telling them when to fight off inflammation or repair cellular damage. Essentially, it keeps you looking youthful, holds everything together, and fights for your long term health.
Here’s the thing: As collagen production tends to slow down with aging, especially if one consumes too much sugar, smokes, or spends too much time in the sun. But supplementing your diet with collagen is a great and easy way to counteract unhealthy habits and better your overall health.
Improved Sleep
Glycine, an immunonutrient that supports healthy inflammation and promotes deeper sleep, is the number one acid in collagen. Studies have illustrated glycine affects our neurotransmitters to quell chaotic thoughts and promote better sleep. Animal studies went so far as to illustrate glycine’s power in increasing the release of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex.
That being said, collagen doesn’t make you sleepy and you don’t need to take it at the end of the day to harvest those sleep-boosting benefits. Adding collagen to your morning or afternoon routine will still allow you the opportunity to snag some more of those well-deserved Zs. One of our personal favorites? Collagen creamer. Vital Proteins makes an organic and Whole30-approved (!!!) collagen-based creamer that tastes great when added to your tea, coffee, or smoothies. (@vitalproteins)
My favorite coffee orders on the go, would have to be iced almond milk/coconut milk/macadamia milk lattes with just a little bit of white mocha or hazelnut! Not too sweet, but creamy- and so good. I also love Iced Maca Lattes… these include almond milk, espresso, maple syrup, cinnamon, and maca. Maca helps to balance out your mood and your hormones! I try to add it to my smoothies or oatmeal when I remember!
Let me know your favorite coffee orders and how you make yours in the morning!
Hanna G 