Lifestyle | Columbus Commons + Jeni's Splendid Ice-Creams (The Perfect Cbus Combo!)

Hi, friends!

I have so many things that I want to share with you today! First off, I've loved going to the Columbus Commons this summer. I'm so grateful that I got to be one of their ambassadors and make so many #UnCommonSummer memories there! I know that even into fall, Fred and I will continue to go to their events and enjoy our date nights there. Until this summer, I had no idea that there was so much going on at the Commons. We went to a couple of concerts there this summer and had such a great time! There's something about chillin' on a lawn at an outdoor concert that is summer perfection. 

The Columbus Commons has concerts, family oriented activity days, fitness classes, garden tours, kickball, and a food truck court with Jeni's Splendid Ice-Creams, Tortilla, and more! I mean can anyone pass up Jeni's ice-cream?! It's the best! Fred got a Honey Vanilla Bean cone and I got a Salty Caramel cone. Yes, I borrowed Fred's ice-cream for these pictures. It was melting quickly so we had to hustle to get these haha! #bloggerlife 

& I didn't get my ice-cream until we were leaving #colitislife haha. I love ice-cream so much, but my stomach doesn't do well with dairy so it has to be the last stop in my plans, or I'll be too sick to go through with everything! 

Another thing that I'm excited to talk to you about are these booties! I'm so thankful that I get to own these Dylan Boots, they're seriously incredible. Thank you so much SAS Shoes! I've been wearing them nonstop since they arrived! You guys know that I like my shoes to be extra cute, but extra comfortable and these are the perfect fit. These boots are the kind of shoe that just feels so stable and well-made. Does that even make sense?! They just feel like they're going to have a long life. Also, in my opinion, they have the perfect heel size. They give ya a slight lift, but they're so easy to walk in! 

Aren't the colors in this floral chiffon babydoll dress just screaming fall?! Ahhh, I love this color combo so much. That brown & orange & red combination... I'm swooning over here! It makes it even better that the print is floral! It's from Zaful and just an FYI it is very sheer. I'm wearing a slip dress under it! It's also a little shorter of a length than I'm used to wearing, but I adore the babydoll silhouette. If you wanted to feel extra safe that everything stays covered, just throw a slip dress on underneath it! 

*My outfit items, and/or similar pieces are linked below!

If you're local, have you checked out Columbus Commons yet?! 

Also, what's your favorite Jeni's flavor? :)

Love,

Christina xx

{Wearing}
Floral Baby Doll Dress - Zaful
Tan "Dylan" Ankle Booties - SAS Shoes
Camel Hat - Rosegal
Similar Gold Round Sunglasses - Rosegal
Similar Braided Tassel Crossbody Bag - Forever 21

Find me on:

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Don't fret or worry... Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.

Philippians 4:6 

*I've received product from Columbus Commons, Zaful, and SAS Shoes. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that support BG by Christina! 

Beauty | My Experience Replacing 5 Beauty Products With Jojoba Oil + GIVEAWAY!

Hi, guys!

I've been curious about using Jojoba oil for a few years now and I don't know why I hadn't tried it sooner! It has so many benefits for our skin and hair and it's an incredible natural replacement for an array of beauty products. Jojoba oil comes from the seed of the Simmondsia chinensis plant, which was originally located in northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona and California. It used to be used as a folk medicine that treated wounds on the skin and even bruises.

Recently, I decided to challenge myself and set aside five products that I use daily and swap them with Jojoba oil. I thought some of you might be interested in my results!  I've been using the Desert Essence 100% Pure Jojoba Oil  and it's become my go-to multi-purpose oil.

So here are the 5 products that I set aside for Jojoba oil:

1. Moisturizer 

I have a combination skin type and the spots that are oily are very oily. I'm always apprehensive about using oils on my face, because I don't want to make my skin even greasier. You won't have to worry about that with Jojoba oil! I absolutely loved using this as a moisturizer. This was my favorite beauty use for it that I tried. It was lightweight and didn't clog my pores. It felt very moisturizing and that feeling would last all day. Jojoba oil helps to balance our oil levels so it's safe even for my oily skin babes.

2. Anti-Age Cream

I really enjoyed using this in place of the heavier anti-age creams that I usually wear. My skin has been glowing! As soon as I apply this to my face, I get an instant subtle glow-y look. I know that Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps reduce redness. I think I may have a bit of rosacea and my skin has been looking less red since using this. 

3. Hair Mist (For Luster + Shine)

My hair gets very greasy very fast, but it also can look dull and lack shininess. I like to use hair oils or mists to give my locks some shine, but I have to use very small amounts. You will only need a tiny amount of this oil and it will help add some shine! I put a few drops in my hands, rub them together, and then put them on the ends of my hair. 

4. Makeup Remover

I think I've mentioned this before, but I use organic coconut oil to remove my makeup and I love it! It doesn't clog my pores and it feels thick and moisturizing like it's really getting taking my makeup off. I think it feels like a makeup removing balm and it's an all natural option! Using Jojoba oil as a makeup remover did the trick! It took my makeup off and it felt moisturizing. However, I do like coconut oil better as a makeup remover so I won't be replacing it with Jojoba oil. 

5. Facial Cleanser

I was possibly the most curious about this one! I was unsure before I tried it if an oil like this could be a good cleanser. After a few uses, I decided that I liked it as a facial cleanser. It helped to keep my skin from over drying and it also helped prevent breakouts!

I've also been using a few other Desert Essence products and I wanted to share them with you too.

You can shop all of the products right here if you want to try any of them for yourself! 

Fred and I have been diffusing the Dream Weaver Organic Essential Oil Blend at bedtime. It has a very comforting and relaxing scent. The blend is made up of Frankincense, Sweet Marjoram, Lavender, Bergamot, and Petitgrain. I really smell the Frankincense and the lavender in it. I also like to rub a little bit of this on my feet and on my pillow before bed.

I've also been using the Moringa, Jojoba, & Rose Hip Oil. I'm going to keep using this in my skincare routine as an anti-aging serum. You can definitely replace an anti-aging cream with this! It feels moisturizing on the skin, but it doesn't leave me feeling greasy.

Fred and I were both excited about trying the Tea Tree Oil Whitening Plus Toothpaste! I like the cool mint flavor and I love that this one has essential oils in it.

***GIVEAWAY!!!***

I've teamed up with Desert Essence to give one of you the same tote bag full of goodies that I got to try out!

1 winner will receive will 1 Desert Essence tote bag, 1 Tea Tree Oil Whitening Plus Toothpaste, 1 bottle of 100% Pure Jojoba Oil, 1 bottle of Moringa, Jojoba, & Rose Hip Oil, and 1 bottle of Dream Weaver Organic Essential Oil Blend!

To enter:

1) Be sure you're following me on Instagram, 
you can find me here!

2) Go follow Desert Essence on Instagram, here!

3) Comment + like my giveaway picture on Instagram by tagging at least 1 friend! 

*Bonus entry if you tag more than 2 friends!

I will randomly select and announce a winner on Wednesday, September 5th! Good luck!

Also, can we just take a moment to admire these sandals?! Perforated finishes are really trending right now and I've had my eye on these for quite some time! These guys are ON SALE right now for only $41.99 and they're the Roxie style from Bearpaw. They also come in a slate blue color and black. I want the black ones too! 

You can use my discount code:

BPAMCL

for 20% off! 

Have you tried jojoba oil?! There's a ton of other ways to use it. Let me know what you use it for!

Love,

Christina xx

Find me on:

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Our hope is in his unfailing love.
Psalm 147:11

*I've received product from Desert Essence and Bearpaw. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that support BG by Christina! 

Home | Parade Of Homes 2018 {Plain City, OH} + TICKETS GIVEAWAY!

Hi, friends!

A few weeks ago, Fred and I got to go on the Muddy Boots Preview Tour of the 2018 BIA Parade of Homes houses. I find it so inspiring to see the designs of these beautiful homes and we always have a great time capturing them!

We went on the Muddy Boots Preview Tour last year and you can find my post here if you're interested in seeing those homes too!

I love to get inspiration from the parade and I wanted to share the trends in design and decor that I noticed!

Trending this year:

- Farmhouse Inspired Design
- Floor-To-Ceiling Cabinets
- Massive Islands 
- Major Curb Appeal
-Vaulted Ceilings
- Emphasis On Storage Space 
-Natural Light
- Open Concept Floor Plans
- Natural Wood Flooring
- Jack & Jill Bathrooms
- Reclaimed Wood Features & Furnishings
- Wide Hallways & Staircases
- Large Windows
- Cathedral Ceilings
- Detailed Mudrooms
- Cottage Vibes
- Mixed Metal Details
- Farmhouse Sinks
- Floating Cabinets
- Wallpaper

The homes in the 2018 BIA Parade of Homes range in price from $1-2 million. There are seven luxury homes in the parade and they're located in the new Eversole Run neighborhood in Jerome Village in the Dublin City Schools district. The parade features homes crafted by the region's premier builders, including: 3 Pillar Homes, Arthur Rutenburg Homes, Bob Webb Homes, Coppertree Homes, Memmer Homes, Manor Homes, and Romanelli & Hughes. 

 The parade takes place September 1st through the 16th and the hours are Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tickets are $15 at the door and $13 if you buy them online beforehand. Children 12 and under are free and parking is $5. If you want more information and/or a complete event schedule, you can find one here!

***GIVEAWAY!!!***
I've partnered with BIA Parade to give 3 Instagram winners free tickets to the event! If you want to attend the parade of homes this year, be sure to enter the giveaway so you can get your tickets for free! The houses are going to look incredible finished. You will definitely leave inspired!

There will be 3 winners and each winner will win 2 tickets!

To enter:

1) Make sure you're following me on Instagram @bgbychristina

2) Go follow @biaparade on Instagram

3) Like + comment my BIA Parade of Homes giveaway picture by tagging a friend or two!

*Bonus entry if you tag more than 2 friends! 

I will randomly select and announce the winners on Instagram on Sunday, September 2nd! 
Good luck, friends!!! :)

Since we attended the Muddy Boots Preview there were a handful of houses that were still being worked on. It's cool the see a little bit of what goes into the creation of these houses. I can't wait to see all of them completely finished! 

Isn't this print so lovely?!

For more home inspo you can check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest 

& search the hashtags #BeInspired and #BIAParade2018 

Have you entered the giveaway?! Enter here!

Love,

Christina xx

Find me on:

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12