Author

Shalice Noel

Why I Take Collagen

by Shalice Noel

Sandals // Skirt wearing a 4 // Square Neck top worn in xs // Faux Shearling Coat


Why I Take Collagen


If you follow along on Instagram, you see me adding collagen to my morning coffee every day. Because of this, collagen is something I get asked about a lot in my DMs, so I thought I’d put together a post on why I take collagen and what it’s benefits can be as a reference for when I get asked. I hope this answers any questions you have!

First things first, it’s important to understand that collagen powder and protein does not equate to collagen in your skin, or on your face. What it does do is line the gut and help to support your gut health. Almost every skin issue and inflammatory issue humans have is linked to our gut health. Crazy, right? So, a healthy gut equals less inflammation. And, it just so happens that inflammation is the number one factor when it comes to aging. Therefore, a healthy gut = healthy skin.

In addition, healthy skin is more hydrated and strong, and can even result in fewer instances of rosacea and acne breakouts. Then, of course, consistent hydration and less inflammation mean fewer wrinkles. 

For me personally, I’ve seen a dramatic change in my hair and nails since adding collagen to my daily routine. I’ve always struggled with thin hair, so taking 2 scoops a day for over a year has given me fuller, thicker hair. Even my makeup artist noticed and asked what I’m doing different! My nails have also gotten stronger.

So, this is what motivated me to start taking collagen. Like I said, it doesn’t directly put more collagen in your skin, but it can play a huge role in how your skin ages, along with other benefits like stronger/thicker nails and hair.

Have you used collagen before? Tell me about your experience with it – I’m kind of passionate about it at this point!

Forward me any questions. Click HERE for my smoothie recipe.


Did you know “retinol” is the number 1 searched skincare ingredient on Google? I haven’t always used retinol, but I left a facial appointment recently and the advice given to me was to continue with retinol 2-3 days a week. I know that in my 30s I need to take aging seriously and make use of the resources available to me. I spoke more about my routine here and how I’m sharing the importance of a skincare routine with my daughter Atalie. But after a little research, I found that finding affordable retinol is a challenge. I used another retinol product and it dried out my skin so I was hesitant to try again.

However, after just two weeks of use, I’ve noticed a brighter, smoother complexion. That’s why I got excited about this product from Olay! The best news is, Olay Retinol24 is only $28.99. That is less than 10 lattes! I’ll make note that out of all the products (there’s three in the Retinol24 collection), I liked the Olay Retinol24 night serum the best. Those who know me well know that I love serums! I found this one to be super moisturizing, smoothing and it had to be my favorite of the 3! I use 1 drop and that usually covers my whole face. And ladies, don’t forget an additional drop for your neck – you don’t want tech neck!

I thought I’d address some common questions about retinol and specifically what happened after I tried Olay Retinol24. Let’s dive into some questions, shall we?

1. What does Retinol do for your face?

After using the Olay Retinol24 night serum, I noticed smoother, brighter skin. Just after 24 hours, I noticed more hydration. Because I liked the results so much, I brought my Olay Retinol24 routine to Lake Arrowhead where it is notoriously dry and cold this time of year and it made a huge difference.

2. Which products have the highest amount of retinol?

Oddly enough, it doesn’t matter the amount of retinol in a product, rather it is the combination that should concern you. Retinol is a difficult ingredient because it degrades once exposed to the sun, air and heat. However, Olay’s formula stays stable from first to last use. Amazing! It’s an effective blend of Vitamin b3 and retinoid complex and more hydrating than the #1 best selling retinol on the market.

3. What are the side effects of retinol?

While 96% of women who tried Olay Retinol24 didn’t experience irritation, you can adjust how often you use. If you see any irritation, you can use 2-3 times a week instead of daily.

4. How do I personally use it? After I cleanse my face, I apply the Olay Retinol24 Night Serum before my moisturizer. It’s a milky consistency that leaves my skin feeling smooth and plump. One or two drops usually covers my face and neck and viola, younger-looking skin! What I do like is that it’s not a hard way to incorporate retinol into my skincare routine. I can accomplish this routine pretty fast and get back to putting the kids to bed, drinking chamomile tea, applying lavender oil and telling the kids no more water before bed. You know, the usual. But the best compliment was yesterday was when Reid looked at me in the car and said, you look younger. SCORE. I would definitely re-stock Olay Retinol24 Night Serum because A., it’s affordable and B. it WORKS.

Click HERE to try it for yourself

Thank you Olay for sponsoring this post. All opinions my own.

Under $50 can be hard! I scoured the web for gems under $50 and how cute are these headbands? I usually like to do a couple gift guides for you: one for teens, men, and in-laws so stay tuned! Meanwhile, Enjoy this gift guide of goodies under $50 and pick something up for yourself!

1.Pom pom beanie

2. Cute headbands I also like THESE under $20!

3. Pj pants!

4. $33 Sweater dress

5. Gray Joggers ($29.50 at press time!)

6. Candle that smells amazing for $30

7. Monogram necklace

8. Cool black initial mug

Bonus:

White fuzzy sweater

Fuzzy scarf in camel 

Cheese board on sale for $32

Friday Favorites

by Shalice Noel

boots tts // similar skirt in small //camel cardigan in XS // turtleneck small // similar ring // wrap bracelet (40% off!)

I love a good pattern skirt that can be styled numerous ways and sure to get many compliments. This one I got off the Real Real for $40! I love the bang for the buck. Also, shopping resale is very sustainable. Why not sell what we don’t use and buy what others no longer want?

I also linked some favorites below like this cleansing balm that melts off the makeup and like in my case, the smog and pollution from LA fires and beyond. Please keep the families suffering from the fires in your prayers. I cannot imagine being displaced at this time.

We headed up to Lake Arrowhead last night for a long weekend and I cannot wait to share some more fall looks and put together some gift guides. Girls, get ready, November 1, is full on holiday mode!

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Sweater Dress in small // Boots // Faith Bag

Hidden Crystal Necklace // 14k gold Circle Pendant in gold, 18″ in length // 14k gold “mama” necklace // 14k gold 5 letter necklace //

I get asked SO many times where my special necklaces are from, so I thought I’d line them up for you.

The round one with the hidden crystal is from Adornmonde, the round circle and “mama” sign is from Tiny Tags. and Finally the letters to my kids initials is from Maya Brenner.

I love having a part of my kids around my neck to always remember them. No matter if we are apart. And my kids love seeing their names on my necklaces. After I had Levi, I sent in my letter necklace to Maya Brenner and they added an “L,” how cool is that?

These make great baby shower, mother’s day or Christmas gifts. Speaking of, Christmas is 58 days away . . .

Chanel perfume // Givenchy Healthy Glow Powder in “Extreme” // Givenchy Brush Eyeliner in “vinyl black” // Cable Knit Sweater // Jeans // Fendi Bag // Levi’s onesie // Make-up brushes

If you’re a mom like me with a newly minted 1 year old, putting on makeup just isn’t what it used to be. I put mascara on one-handed, curling my lashes is also done one-handed, and my new bronzer has already been dropped and cracked. Sad face.

Alas, it is just not the same as it used to be. But might I add it has never been this fun? Levi brings a whole new level of joy to the mundane. And with that includes his wonder and excitement over my makeup brushes, chewing on my Givenchy eye pencil, allowing me to brush his cheeks as he hurls in giggles and belly laughs. Definitely not boring.

Now, the super mom skills come in when baby is on the hip, and you’re actually able to apply some makeup, and not look like Count Dracula. Didn’t I say skills? All that to say, my makeup and beauty routine has been abridged over the years. These items have been favorites as of late:

Givenchy Bronzer – Love this bronzer so much because it goes on very light. I try not to have too heavy of a hand when it comes to bronzer, so if you like it to be there but not like, REALLY there, this is a great option for you. The color is also really great and would go well with a lot of different skin tones in my opinion. Pro tip: Apply on your cheekbones, forehead and jawbone for that I-just got-back-from-St-Tropez look.

Givenchy Eyeliner – Levi loves to play with this, but so does mommy! I would definitely recommend this pencil if you’re needing some precision. It would be great for someone who likes to line the waterline or rock a super sleek cat eye.

Chanel perfume – This perfume smells amazing! It is more musky than flowery, which is my ideal perfume. I’m not a fan of anything with either a vanilla scent or too much of a floral scent. Pro tip: spray some in your hair before a night out. So glam!

Have you tried any of these? I’d love to hear.

Thank you Nordstrom Beauty for sponsoring this post!

Baby Outfit // Older Boys Outfit with Cap // Girls Stewardess Costume // Reid’s Ear Muffs // Reid’s Safety Vest // His dad’s old boots // Traffic Wand

My shirt // My pencil skirt // My pumps // Brook’s costume from Costco.

Every September we rack our brains over WHAT to be for Halloween. It’s a big deal around here and with a group of seven, the pressure is on to keep everyone happy. Getting it all together is much harder than it looks but the real complexity is keeping it simple.

This year, like most, we went back and forth—should we be a family of bees, a box of illegal plastic straws or just give up and go in our pajamas? As we brainstorm and talk ourselves out of any costumes that involve sewing we usually hit the enlightenment.

Then, Brooks—my 6-year-old—came back from a Costco run with daddy and announced he REALLY WANTED the pilot uniform at Costco. So much so that he would use his own money. Wow. So, the next day I brought the fam to Costco to see what the hype was. He was right on, it was a cool uniform with a semi-real looking leather aviator jacket. SOLD. I whipped out the Visa, threw some berries in the cart to snack on for the painfully long line and just like that, we started creating our Halloween family theme on the way home.

So thanks to Brooks’ find, we found ourselves an aviation theme. That my friends is how it’s done. No rhyme or reason or far-out planning… it was really just impulse. I went on to order stewardess uniforms for the girls, another fighter jet costume for the boys and Reid pulled together a baggage handler costume thanks to Amazon. Hilarious. My dad, a retired pilot, I think would be proud.

Which is your favorite look? 

faux leather bag (40% off!) Jeans similar (size 26) // Sweater in pink smoke (shown in small) // Trench coat // Earrings // Bra // Sunglasses ($12.99) // Strappy Sandals (fit is TTS)

My Top 5 Ways to Becoming More Sustainable

What does sustainable even mean? This is a question I found myself thinking about a lot recently, which is why I decided to look more into it and educate myself and my family. What I found out is sustainable actually means minimizing non-renewable energy consumption and using as many recycled products as possible. This is something I want to make sure we’re doing in our home and something I feel like we should be talking about more. So, this is how our family is being more sustainable. Hopefully these things can act as some ideas for your family too!


1. We eat local

Eating local means we are supporting small businesses and that we are using fewer fossil fuels for the food to get to us. It’s a small step, but when you think about how many times you eat out, it’s one of those little things that adds up.


2. Recyclable sandwich bags

When I started thinking about how many plastic bags a week we were going through for leftovers, lunches, snacks, etc. it kind of made me sick. Especially after learning that plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose. So, we started using reusable sandwich bags, which has cut down a lot of our waste on a weekly basis.


3. Buying used

When you love a good handbag or designer shoes as much as me, buying used can make a big difference. I’ve been buying used luxury items at places like eBay, Poshmark, and The Real Real for years!


4. Recycle

We recycle plastics and paper and I’m proud of seeing the kids follow suit on the recycling habit. It’s important to teach them to do this now so they can make the same smart choices as they get older.


5. Donate

Not only do I try to buy used when it comes to luxury items, but I want our old clothes and shoes to be reused as well. As a family, we donate via Crossroads and the Salvation Army. With 7 people, you can imagine that there are a lot of shoes and clothes that can go to well deserving new homes.
Now, it’s your turn! How are you practicing sustainability?

After all, I believe the mantra, FEWER, BETTER THINGS.

Friday FYI

by Shalice Noel

poncho 40% off with code TOPSTORY // sweater dress in small // boots in taupe // Fendi bag camel in large // earrings in gold

Can you take collagen while pregnant?

Yes, I did! My doctor didn’t have an issue with it, but always check with your dr if you’re unsure.

How old are you?

36!

What are the nursing pills you take for milk production?

Legendairy Milk, I get the trio. I noticed a HUGE change in my milk supply ever since taking them.

How many scoops of collagen do you take?

2 scoops in my morning smoothie. Click HERE for my smoothie recipe!

What’s your muffin recipe?

Click here! They’re made with almond flour and delicious.

Is the Mango leather jacket worth it?

It looks WAY more expensive than it is. And it 30% off with code FAMILY19. See more Mango faves in THIS POST.

Did you always want a big family?

YES! For as long as I could remember, I wanted 6 kids. Five is pretty close to perfect.

Don’t forget, my shop page is open 24/7, you can follow me on the free Liketoknow.it app “shalicenoel” for quick links, and you can always “shop my instagrams.” Now, go make those blueberry muffins and Let me know how they turned out!

CAPE of GOOD Style

by Shalice Noel

Cape in one size and one similar in a lower price point// Skirt in 27 // Boots (fit TTS and in color “Twilight Taupe” and HERE //

I’ve always loved capes from the earliest I could remember. They’re so chic and easy. Styled well, they can be stunning! I love the shape, color and structure of this cape. Do you wear capes?