Life with Helen

I am not a beauty blogger. Louder, for the people in the back, I - am - not - a - beauty - blogger.  If I wasn't sure of it before, writing this blog confirmed it.  Beauty blogging is much harder than regular blogging.  It requires a lot of thought and preparation because recommending things for women to use on their faces and heads comes with a lot of responsibility!  I only want to put the b est and the brightest out here for you guys, so I enlisted the help of some of my IG friends.  I posted a photo asking for some favorite hair and makeup products, and included some of their suggestions.  If you use great products, but didn't comment, SORRY SISTA! You missed the boat! No, I'm totally kidding - you are free to share them with me anytime! I actually tried to sign up for a few "influencer" programs so that I could just link everything in one spot, but apparently I'm not influential enough, so you just have to deal with individual links until someone dis...

I debated not sharing this because it almost feels too personal, but AS ALWAYS, there was a little voice telling me someone needs this, so here it is. [I wrote that sentence Tuesday afternoon, and read about the passing of a young boy from my hometown Tuesday night.  God's hands are on everything.] Yesterday marked 11 years since my friend, Samantha, passed away in a car accident. This is the first time I've ever written about it (publicly.)  I won't lie to you, it's terrifying.  I love being an open book and I think vulnerability helps us grow, but this topic is a hard one for me to be open about. When I think of Samantha there's always a yellow glow around the memory.  I think it's because everything about her was so bright and cheerful.  Her heart was so big, and people of all walks of life just gravitated to her.  My favorite memories with her aren't crazy stories.  It's E and I being made to listen to her Hannah Montana CD on our way to tum...

I am about to reveal just how extra I am.  Like, 2 scoops of guac extra.  But here it goes... If you know me at all, you know I have a bit of an obsession with bath bombs.  There is nothing better than a hot bath with candles and music to wrap up a long day, but when you add a bath bomb into the mix, it's next level!  They smell amazing, make the water into a work of art, and leave your skin feeling like a newborn baby seal - I admit, I don't know what that feels like, but I imagine it is super freaking soft.  My point is, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?  And before you start in on me with the "sitting in your own filth" nonsense - exactly what do you do all day that makes you THAT dirty?  Unless you're a pig wrestler, that's just silly.  Besides, baths are approximately 80% enjoyment and 20% cleanliness. I digress.  I love sharing my favorite bombs on my IG stories, and when I do my inbox fills up with the same question - "Hey! Where do ...

Dave and Rachel Hollis.  Chip and Joanna Gaines.  John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.  John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.  Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. *insert praise hands emoji*  All of these couples fall under the #couplesgoals category for me.  I read their tweets, watch them on livestreams, TV shows, interviews, and IG stories, and each time I turn into the human embodiment of the heart eye emoji.  I can't help but tap through their stories and think to myself "Wow, they have everything."  They have beautiful families, gorgeous homes, amazing wardrobes, the best jobs - they are happy, beautiful, rich, and all-in-all LIVING. THE. DREAM. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I’ve fantasized about what it would be like to live in that world.  Wouldn't it be incredible to run a multi-million dollar company from the comfort of my home with my husband by my side leading the charge?  Wouldn't it be fun to spend weeks in a gorgeous resort where m...