L.A. Detwiler
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A grizzly new thriller from usa today bestseller L.A. Detwiler

3/26/2024

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Tell Me All Your Lies book cover

Some family secrets are just too bloody.

“We’re all made of stories, past and present. But the future relies on our choices. And my choice? Blood. Dizzying, bedazzling blood in all its sickening glory.”

Some lies are better left as truth.

Elliott Clairmont’s mother murdered a man when he was three. Ever since then, their lives in Paris have been filled with deceit, murder, lies…but also a strong mother-son bond. As Elliott gets older, Lucy Clairmont teaches her son two important skills: tarot reading and serial killing.

When his mother is murdered, though, twelve-year-old Elliott sets off on a quest to find his true history. His journey to the United States reveals truths and many lies about who he really is.

Feeling lost and alone in America, Elliott eventually sets on a path to secure his family’s sordid legacy and to follow what he deems is his sinister purpose. Will he finish his family’s stained quilt of stories, or will the law catch up with him before he can carry out his master plan?

From USA Today Bestseller L.A. Detwiler comes a harrowing story of loyalty, lies, and grisly murders. Stephen King meets East of Eden in this serial killer family saga.

Pre-order now using the links below and email me proof of purchase at [email protected] to claim your free digital pre-order gift! It includes a custom, commissioned piece of artwork you can print out!
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Other Stores
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8 Must-Try Products For Great Danes (And Giant Breeds)

3/24/2024

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Lindsay And Great Dane Edmund

5 Must-Have Products for Great Dane Lovers

I blame Cynthia Rylant and her Henry & Mudge series... because ever since I was five, I wanted a big, big dog. So, when I got my own house after getting married, I was glad my husband was on the same page. 

Two weeks after moving into our new house, Henry, our mastiff puppy (He wouldn't go with the name Mudge, so I tricked him into Henry) came into our lives and taught us a lot about having a giant breed dog. Like that when a vet says medicine goes by weight, your wallet is in trouble. And that what feels like an adequately sized vehicle soon won't. And also...that giant breeds have giant hearts that will bond with you in ways you could never expect.

When Henry passed a few years ago, I knew that another big dog was in store for us. Once you have a giant breed, I swear you won't go back. So Edmund, our Great Dane, entered our lives...and although we were older and somewhat wiser this time, we still faced a lot of challenges with the giant breed.

Over the years of owning giant dogs, I've learned that it's often hard to find things suited for their size--the market dictates most businesses focus on smaller dogs. However, through my dog mom obsession, I've found a lot of items that have helped make owning a big dog easier, and I wanted to share some of these finds.

1. Zymox Otic Ear Drops from Chewy

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When you have a giant dog with floppy ears, ear infections become par for the course. These drops are a godsend, though, because they truly work miracles. When Edmund's ears start to get a little red or funky, a few drops and he's not only leaving them be, but the redness is gone! Of course, check with your vet before using, but I keep these on hand at all times and have cut my vet trips down to almost never for ear infections. Click here for the link (I'm not getting anything from this product if you buy!)

2. Fur Haven Muddy Mat

This is another Chewy find, and OMG it's a lifesaver. Come spring, I found myself constantly dealing with mud in my house from giant breed dogs. This shammy material rug comes in numerous sizes, is washable, and really works! It's like magic. Just have your dog walk across it...and it sucks up the mud from their feet. No need to wipe their paws!

A dog trainer recommended this to me, and now I tell everyone about it. You can find it here (I don't get any money from your purchase on this one, either. Just love it!)

I will say for some reason, Edmund and our cats like to snuggle on it...which is kind of gross...but whatever works!

3. Great Dane Coat Club

Lindsay Detwiler and Edmund Picture
Great Danes, despite their size, are always cold. And finding Great Dane sized coats and sweaters? Impossible.

I found the Great Dane Coat Club on Facebook, though, and now have several of their coats and Snoods for Edmund...and the quality is amazing! The coats aren't cheap, but they hold up and are made to grow with your dog. They can be adjusted to fit your dog perfectly.

The sales happen sporadically, so you have to keep an eye on the page. You can find the group here.
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Great Dane Coat Group Fall Coat

4. FuzzYard Leashes

I find these leashes all the time at T.J. Maxx...and they are the best! They feature a padding on the leash as well as a handle near the hook...which makes them perfect for walking a Great Dane! When I need to get more control, I just grab the handle. I usually can snag these for $4.99 or so at T.J. Maxx, so keep an eye out!

5. BuckleDown Collars

These collars are made from seatbelts and come in the best designs! I have a 90s cartoons, buffalo plaid, and Scooby Doo collar in these. They are durable and thick, making them great for a big dog! I usually find them on Amazon by searching Buckle Down and get the thickest size. 

6. BarkBox

Edmund Great Dane and Plaid Platypus from Bark Box
I'm obsessed with Bark Box ...and so is Edmund! This fun monthly subscription lets you customize the amount of treats and toys you get. The treats are high quality, and you can let them know your dog's allergies so you get treats they can consume. They've also been adding XL add-on toy options perfect for giant breeds. Edmund LOVES getting mail once a month, and I love the quality of the toys!

The other great thing about Bark Box is their customer service. It's unmatched. When our box was late, they sent us a free one and extra gifts. When Henry passed, they took off the charge for his final box and sent us a sweet card. They're always going above and beyond for their customers and truly care about dogs.

You can use this link to get 2x the goodies in your first order for FREE. Edmund will get BarkBox credit if you use his link, so he thanks you in advance!

7. Pup Rug from Paw

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A few years ago, Edmund won a Pup Rug in a contest...and he's so obsessed, I bought a second one! These thinner "beds" offer support for your dog with the memory foam like feel, come with a washable cover, and often are on sale, making them a great option for your living room. I love the colors, too, and they really do look like a cute fur rug. They come in all different sizes, so they're great for your little dogs too.

I don't get any $$ for your purchase, but you can check them out at paw.com

8. Sniffspot

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Full disclosure: Edmund did not enjoy this...because he hates grass and the outdoors. BUT I think a lot of dogs will enjoy this feature. It's an app that lets you find private "dog parks" to rent out for an hour just for your dog. Ours was a local kennel who has a huge 2 acre fenced in yard. The sniff spots have all sorts of features depending on the location and let you get your dog some playtime without the risks of a dog park.

Just look up Sniff Spot and find some options in your area. Prissy Great Danes who hate the outdoors not guaranteed to have a fun time (He was ready to leave in ten minutes and get Starbucks). 
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Girl, you're doing just fine

3/19/2024

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LA Detwiler Canoe Creek Great Dane

Stop Feeling Like You Have To Do It All

Girl, even when it feels like the dishes are piled to the moon and you didn’t have time to make the breakfast smoothie and you ate iced coffee for lunch and you forgot to take the photo and the dog hasn’t been walked in days and the laundry is a mountain you’ll never be able to cross and you didn’t do your yoga and your hair is frizzy….Girl, you’re doing just fine.

When the baseboards are covered in mystery goo and the bathroom mirror is splattered and that work list is growing and there is limited food in the fridge because you didn’t get to shop and the tax folder is a mess and you need to get ear medicine for your dog but didn’t get to just yet…Girl, you’re doing just fine.

When you forgot to text back and you just want to cancel that party and sleep and when you didn’t fit in the meditation you swore you’d do and you forgot to drink all the water and dinner was a frozen meal in the microwave and you haven’t done a spa mask in weeks and you forgot about that appointment…Girl, you’re doing just fine.

Let’s be real here…life is impossible most of the time. Like how the hell does anyone keep up with bills, work, social life, family, the house, pets, their body, their makeup, their hair routine, yoga, vitamins, healthy eating, taxes, cleaning, decorating, events, appointments, kids, and still find time to keep their sanity? How? Like how?

Here’s the little secret…they don’t. That person who has it all together at work…their car is filled with straw papers. Or that girl who has perfect hair and makeup…she struggled to fall asleep last night because she was up with a sick kid. Or maybe that girl who has the gym mastered can’t find time for her spirituality like she wants to. Or that couple who has it all…maybe they’re feeling lost deep down. 

The thing is: We’re all doing the best we can. But there are a MILLION things to do, especially for a modern woman. And you can’t do them all. You just can’t. Even with help, you can’t. I think you have to learn to give yourself grace and remember that no one, no one, no one, is doing it all perfectly.

So what if your baseboards are dirty or the dishes are stacked or you forgot to make that appointment. So you didn’t walk three miles today or you ate popcorn for breakfast. So your daughter’s hair is in a frizzy ponytail instead of a cute braid. So the dog had to play with a laser pointer today because you didn’t fit in the walk. That’s okay. It’s more than okay, and you’re more than fine.

Because I think if we can all admit we’re not doing it all, if we can be honest and real and raise our hand to say, “My dishes are to the moon,” or “I am struggling to get in 5,000 steps let alone 10,000,” or “I can’t even think of focusing at that meeting today,” well, then I think we give ourselves permission to have grace for each other…and for ourselves.

You’re doing a good job. Period. So stop focusing on what you didn’t do or what isn’t perfect. Start focusing on what you DID do. You got out of bed. You shared a quick smile with your child or spouse. You had a sip of coffee. You took the stairs instead of the elevator. You pet your dog and provided a loving home. You picked up one piece of clutter. You read a few chapters. Or maybe you gave yourself permission to rest today, to worry about the dishes and laundry and whatever else is piling up tomorrow. 

Girl, it’s all fine. You’re fine. And I know it’s hard and tiring and exhausting. I know it’s hard to keep your chin up. But I think if we can start to acknowledge that it’s impossible to do it all…we give ourselves the ability to focus on what matters most.

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Stop Letting them make you feel small

3/12/2024

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Knowing your worth is not selfish. Say it Again. Woman in leather jacket.

Empower Yourself With These Tips

Stop letting them make you small.

It’s a lesson I’ve learned in this decade of my life…you have to stop letting them make you small.

You have to stand up tall in your truth and ability. You have to let your voice speak up when you have something to say, even if it wavers. You have to stop letting their incessant opinions of who you are and what you should be and what you should say and how you should act chip away at the truest version of yourself.

You have to stop letting them steal your credit or dismiss you. You have to stop letting them speak for you or speak at you or speak without you.

You have to stand boldly in who you are. You have to celebrate your skills, gifts, talents, and experiences. You have to shine even when they try to dull you. You have to speak up even when they steal the mic from you. 

You have to stand up at table when they won’t give you a chair.
You have to reach out and take what’s yours, even if people think it’s rude.
You have to push back when they tell you to sit down, that you aren’t worthy.
You have to be willing to clap for yourself when everyone else is booing you.
You have to be willing to be called selfish, a bitch, ungrateful in order to claim what’s yours.

It’s not easy. It isn’t. But I hope you find the courage to stand big, bold, and proud. I hope you give yourself the credit you deserve…and then recognize you are worthy of demanding it from others. I hope you never let them tell you you’re not worthy, not capable, not good enough, not whatever enough, to do that thing you know you can.

I hope you find your voice and use it, even when no one seems to be listening.
I hope you stop letting them make you small. 

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What they don't tell you about becoming someone new

3/8/2024

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One day, she looked in the mirror and realized she didn’t recognize herself. 

The hair, the lipstick, the eyes were different, yes. But it was deeper than that. For when she looked in the mirror, she saw the beyond, saw the girl she used to be simultaneously with who she was and who she wanted to be–and realized how far she’d come, how much she’d changed, and how far she had yet to go.

The unfurling of herself, the unraveling from their expectations and their predispositions and her own conformity had been long and winding. She hadn’t noticed the almost imperceptible changes–the rejected dogmas, the new beliefs, the ignited fire in her eyes. The desire for something more, and the willingness to step up in her high heels and grab it, even if it meant kicking in a few doors. 

Still, for all she knows she’s achieved, for all the better she’s found, it still scares her sometimes to look in the mirror and see that person she didn’t think she could be.

For that’s the thing they don’t talk about; how becoming someone new is terrifying. To step so far out of the comfort zone, to abandon old cages you were trapped in, to wander so freely you can become anyone is to become someone you don’t know sometimes. It’s terrifying to go so far outside the lines you have to make new ones.

She’s different now, true, and it’s cost her things along the way. She’s lost friends and connections. She’s lost some of the beliefs she used to hold in her heart. She’s lost perspective of who she thought she was once. She’s lost her reputation as the “always nice girl.” Sometimes, she doesn’t even feel like the same person. 

But in the unfurling process, she’s also gained things too, she realizes.

She’s gained confidence in the knowledge she can do things that terrify her, from getting tattoos to taking ballet classes to pursuing new jobs to listening to her gut when it says she needs yet another new beginning.

She’s gained a belief in herself, that she is worthy of respect, of grace, of opportunity.

And more than that, she’s gained her voice, not in an Ariel sort of way…but in a deep-rooted, ruffling feathers, I am here, hear me, sort of way.

She looks in the mirror and sees the red lips, the fire in her eyes, the long hair. She doesn’t quite recognize herself, but she smiles because she knows that’s more than okay. Because to really live, to really truly find fulfillment, you sometimes have to undo yourself completely. And you might not recognize yourself at first…but as she fixes that red lipstick, she smiles, knowing that’s sometimes what it takes to grab the reins of your life and become the person you were always meant to be.

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You aren't that girl anymore. Good.

8/6/2023

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I looked at a photo of a another girl today, and immediately, I thought, “I wish I was her.”
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Her cheek bones jutted out at the perfect angle. My cheeks are chubby. Her hips, her arms, her legs were slim. Mine are much rounder, larger, wider. Her stomach was flat. She didn’t tug on her shirt to cover any rolls or lumps or bumps. Her scale read a smaller number. Her eyes were brighter. Her smile was wide, her teeth whiter, her skin clearer. Wrinkles were non-existent, while mine get more prominent by the day. She didn’t need Spanx or long shirts or to think about the spacing on jeans pockets to make herself look slimmer.

Her outfit looked put together, her hair was shiny and smooth. The eyeliner, the lipstick, the curls–all perfect.

Still, after studying the photo of myself ten years ago, I take a breath and come to the realization I know deep in my heart but forget sometimes: I have things she doesn’t.
I have a confidence she hasn’t yet learned. I have a steadfast willingness to be myself. I don’t worry about what others think. I stand in the petting zoo line. I dance wildly at Taylor Swift and wear the fuzzy socks that people might say look crazy. I go out with my hair in a greasy top knot. I admit unabashedly that I love watching The Bachelor and have going to Disney on my bucket list. I don't apologize for taking up space or expressing my thoughts. I worry about being me and not pleasing others.

I have a tenacity she doesn’t have yet, too. I’ve been knocked down quite a few times. I’ve gotten back up all of those times. I’ve learned the “life is tough” mantra firsthand–and I’ve survived it in ways she can’t imagine. I have a decade of memories, of laughter, of learning, of growing, of knowledge, that she doesn’t have yet.

I have so many things she doesn’t. Still, if I’m not careful, I fall into the trap so many of us do–of wishing I could be her again. Of being afraid of my changing body and aging face. Of wanting to go back because I’ve convinced myself preserving society’s idea of beauty is what outweighs everything. And being rounder, plumper, heavier, or whatever verbiage you want to use is a thing to avoid, to fear, to loathe.

I look at that girl in the photo and wish I could tell her she’s beautiful. Still, I know she wouldn’t believe me anyway. She’s too busy worrying about the girl in the photo from a few years earlier or from the other girl she knows on social media. She’s too busy trying not to be too loud, too bossy, too much in a society that is always telling her she is too something or other. So I put the photo down. It will be okay, anyway. Because I know where her story leads to. I know that yes, she’ll get more wrinkles and frizzy hair and bigger hips. But she’ll also learn to love herself more than she does now. She’ll learn that society doesn’t get the final say on who you are or what your life looks like. She’ll settle in with her bigger arms and less glowy skin–and she’ll have a peace she can’t imagine right now.

I tuck the photo away and smile, knowing that I’m not that girl anymore, but I’m something different. Something more in many ways. And that will be more than enough today.
I hope it’s enough for you today, too. Put the photo down. Let that girl be who she is. Because you are you. Beautiful, wise, experienced you. And no wrinkle cream or diet or makeup product or hair gloss will take that away. You shouldn’t want it to, either.
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We need to change the body image narrative

7/28/2023

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Author LA Detwiler Body Image

​I wish they'd told us at 20 that our bodies would change as we got older, that we wouldn't stay that weight forever. I wish they told us we'd get curves and lumps and bumps and wrinkles and bulges and squishy arms that sometimes look bigger in pictures.

I wish they'd told us that angles manipulate pictures, that one photo doesn't capture your size or your worth or your beauty. I wish they'd told us to stop analyzing photos for places we could look better. I wish they'd told us to look at our smile, at the fire in our eyes, at the happiness that glowed within instead.

I wish they'd told us that there is no perfect body size--and that even if there is, it's okay if you aren't there. I wish they'd told us there are so many more important things than the circumference of our arms or our waist. I wish they'd told us that a woman is so much more than the size on her dress.

I wish they'd told us it isn't slutty to wear a short dress or expose your arms if you want to. I wish they'd told us to stop worrying about blending in or fitting in. I wish they'd let us wear whatever the hell we wanted.

I wish they'd told us, most of all, that we were beautiful so even today, we could still remember.
But they didn't always tell us. And you know what? It's going to be okay anyway. Because we'll tell us and the girls who come after us. We'll tell them and show them and remind them that beauty is in a moment, not in a size. That beauty is in happiness, not how slender your body looks. We'll tell them to be who they want and wear what they want and eat when they're hungry and rest when they're tired and to wear the dress that makes them feel bomb.
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We'll tell them. Because no one told us.

#bodypositive #womenempowerment #womenhepingwomen #redlips #selflove #selfworth #bodyimage #mondaymotivation #womenempoweringwomen #authorlife #swifties #taylorswiftfans #loveyourbody #loveyourself #behappy
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Bring Spontaneity Back to Your Life

7/24/2023

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Singing a song I wrote from scratch. Chasing the dog in the backyard. Swinging on the swingset and then exploring behind the huge pine tree. Pretending there were magical fairies in the flowers and trying to catch them while wearing a crown. Then it was time for Polly Pockets (Back when they were ridiculously small and a definite choking hazard). Finger Painting, coloring, bike riding. The number of activities were endless. I couldn’t wait to get out of bed and get the day started. There were more things to do than I had time for, and every day was different.

When you think back to childhood, think about the penchant for adventure. Every day offered a new chance to play, to make believe, to explore, even if you were at home. There were countless activities completed in a day at whim. Your heart’s desire led a lot of your choices (and also the parental figure in your life). But the sky seemed like the limit, magic was boundless, and you knew exactly what you loved to do.

Fast forward to adulthood, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel down. We chain ourselves to the 9-5 desk and pride ourselves on routine, day in and day out. We eat the same foods. We dress in the same styles, do our hair the same way, wear the same makeup. We schedule our bathroom breaks and our water breaks and take the same roads to work. We do what make sense and what saves time. We come home, carry on our routine. And we wonder why we end up feeling a bit lifeless.

Mixing It Up

One of the simplest mood (and life) boosters I’ve ascribed to in recent years is to mix it up. It really is that simple.

I know it would be great if mix it up meant we could all sell our house, buy an RV, and travel the world without a job. I know it would be great if we didn’t have to do chores, if we had an endless wardrobe budget, and if we didn’t have to worry about things like feeding our family. Still, I think there are practical ways you can add some spice to your life and some excitement.

You don’t have to have a travel budget to explore and to adventure. Some of the things I’ve done in recent years to mix it up and bring back excitement:

  1. Go to a new coffee shop.
  2. Try new restaurants, or order something new at your favorite restaurant.
  3. Pick out a shirt, a dress, or an accessory that’s something you normally wouldn’t.
  4. Try a new hairstyle, even if it’s temporary.
  5. Pick a local spot to explore you’ve never been to.
  6. Go to a festival you’ve never made time to go to.
  7. Go on a picnic at a local state park on a weekday.
  8. Try a new recipe from Pinterest for dinner, something you’ve never made before.
  9. Mix up your walking route or your route to work for a change.
  10. Schedule coffee with a friend for a weekday when you normally wouldn’t.
  11. Take a class you’ve never tried before.
  12. Pick one thing from your bucket list and schedule it, even if it has to be a year out so you can save funds. 
  13. Learn something new! I joined MasterClass for a while to listen to some classes by the experts.
  14. Volunteer somewhere! Helping others really can help you get out of your rut.

But what if you need a big change?

Sometimes, the little, tiny changes can make a difference and help us find our spark again. But sometimes, if we’re being honest, we need something more drastic. 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to mix up our routine, we still feel blah. Sometimes, we dig deeper and realize our dream, our house, our town is making us miserable. And those big changes can be TERRIFYING. Tune back in next Monday when I’ll chat about tips for making a BIG change and how to make it less scary (I left my teaching career after TEN years, something I never thought I’d do). 

Be sure to revisit Blog #1 about why rediscovering the magic in your life matters and blog post#2 about how incorporating positive media into your life can make a huge difference. And if you're looking for more inspiration, come join me on Instagram for more advice, inspiration, and motivation!

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Cruelty-free beauty products with rejuva minerals

7/18/2023

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Rejuva Minerals Cruelty Free Makeup
I received my products from Rejuva Cosmetics for free, but my review is solely my own, honest opinion.*

The older I get, the more conscientious I’m becoming about what I’m putting on my skin. As a makeup lover and avid tryer of all the products, I’ve started to think more about what chemicals are in some of the products I love and what long-term damage they could be doing.

My search for clean beauty products brought me to Rejuva Minerals, a makeup brand committed to clean ingredients and makeup products that aren’t going to wreak havoc on your health. Many of their products are EWG certified, and they are committed to cruelty-free products (something I’m massively passionate about. If you want to find out why, visit Beagle Freedom and their mission. Ever since watching the Beagle Freedom videos, I’ve been a staunch supporter of cruelty-free products). 

I love that their products use safe, clean, and vegan ingredients so you don’t have to worry about what you’re slathering on your skin. Many of their products even have the EWG certification, which requires rigorous standards. 

But at the end of the day, the makeup also has to do its job, right? It has to make you feel your best and give you the look you want.  I’ve tried numerous clean products in the past only to be sad about the results. I’m happy to report that after trying a full-face of products, Rejuva Minerals is the real deal!

Lightweight, blendable, and glowy, all of the products I tried gave me a gorgeous, natural look from products I feel good about using. You can see my full-face look below, and I really feel like I have a natural glow to me without the use of a highlighter! The lightweight products really let your own beauty shine through, but the beautiful, natural colors also help enhance your face. I also was happy that everything wore well, from the eyeliner (which I’m notorious for smudging throughout the day) to the foundation. I felt like when I clocked out at the end of the day, my face still looked good!

I’m a huge fan of all the products I tried, from the foundation to the SPF16 to the eye products. Here are some of my recommendations to check out:
  • The liquid foundation (super glowy and blends right in! It also lasted all day. I set it with some translucent powder)
  • The mascara: I have sensitive eyes and wear contacts. It didn’t flake, and my eyes didn’t itch at all.
  • The eyeliner: I love that it auto sharpens and glides right on for the perfect winged look.
  • The eyeshadows: They look super natural! I used three colors for my eye look: White Diamond, Mocha, and Tropical Sunset.
  • Papaya Pressed Powder: You can use this for eyes, too, but I used it as a blush and love the natural flush it gave me.
  • The SPF16: It’s so hard to find sunscreen that doesn’t have nasty chemicals, so I was so excited about this one. It’s super lightweight, not greasy, and a really good size for the money.
  • The lipsticks are buttery soft and the shades are great! I loved the Red, Red Wine.

Ready to check out their products? Click here to do some shopping, and be sure to let me know in the comments what you think (I’m not getting any affiliate pay or kickbacks… just sharing the link because I really think you’re going to love these products!)

I love that they have kits you can custom build. For example, you can do a custom built eye kit where you pick your eyeshadow colors! The prices are affordable considering the quality you get. Head over to their website and check them out.

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LA Detwiler Rejuva Minerals
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Rediscovering the Magic in Your Life: Tip #1: Surround Yourself With Positive Media

7/17/2023

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The media you surround yourself with matters.

Hippie-Trippie. Fluffy. Too Happy. Unrealistic. 

In my early twenties, this is how I would have described self-help as a genre. Self-help seemed like a fluffy genre of ideas that were too good to be true and unrealistic. But as my thirties approach and I started to really struggle with positivity, I turned to the genre out of desperation, to be honest.

I’d heard a lot about a book called “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis and decided to give it a go. And you know what? It had an impact. A huge one. For one, I realized I wasn’t alone in my thoughts. This thing called being human, turns out, isn’t easy. And her book resonated with me on a deep level. As a high-achiever, I connected with her perfectionist tendencies, her desire to always chase more, and her worries about life passing her by.

From there, I continued pulling self-help into my sphere. I made simple changes.

  1. Instead of watching the news in the morning, I started listening to podcasts (A few of my favorites are listed below). And five years later, I can tell you that I look forward to getting up now to listen to my favorite, inspiring podcasts. I find that if I’m in a slump, sometimes the right words just pull me out.
        Favorite podcasts:
        Rachel Hollis
        The Skinny Confidential
        Ed Mylett
        Tony Robbins

2.    I made a positive playlist of songs that boosted my mood no matter what. Songs that I 
couldn’t help but smile or feel energized by. When I was feeling blah, I’d pop in my 
earbuds and find an instant mood boost.

3.    I started following positive social media accounts that gave me a boost. Instead of 
mindlessly scrolling through people who made me jump into comparison syndrome, I 
chose to follow people who boosted me.
Some of my favorites:
Rachel Hollis
Ed Mylett
Tony Robbins
Soniachoquette
Lauryn Bosstick
Olivia Marie Plath

4.     I kept reading positive books, especially when I was really struggling. 
    Some of my favorites:
    The Gap vs. The Gain by Dr. Ben Hardy
    Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
    You are a Badass by Jen Sincero

5.    I started putting positive quotes on sticky notes for me to see every day. There is one on 
my desk. There is one in my closet. There are several on my mirror. These quotes are 
my life mottos, my goals, and words that inspire me to kick-ass. 

Small Changes Add Up
When you’re in the middle of feeling blah or like life has lost its shine, it’s hard to imagine that a few changes like adding a positive podcast or an upbeat playlist will make a difference. But I’m here to tell you that most days, we have to fight for positivity. We have to fight to feel energized, especially in a world that tries its hardest to bring you down. 

Adding in some positivity, some words that inspire you really does make a difference. The work part of it is that you have to find who and what speaks to YOU, specifically. You have to search for the quotes that light you up, the podcasts that energize you, and the books that resonate. Sometimes, these will be out of your comfort zone at first. Sometimes, they will be about topics you don’t want to admit you need help with. But I encourage you to let that go, to fight for who you want to be. 

Join me next Monday as we visit another tip for rediscovering the magic in your life, and be sure to click here to read week one’s post about why it matters in the first place.

Author L.A. Detwiler

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    L.A. Detwiler

    USA TODAY Bestselling Thriller author with Avon Books (HarperCollins), The Widow Next Door, The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter, and other creepy thriller books

    L.A. Detwiler

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