• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Join me on

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Love Always, Joann

Subscribe to Newsletter

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Disney
  • My Story
  • Special Needs Parenting
    • Autism
  • The Little Things
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy

on October 31, 2018 · 5 Comments

The Little Things… My Monthly Favorites!

Today is my first installment of a Monthly Favorites series I will be calling, “The Little Things.” This monthly post will consist of items that I am loving and want to share with you. I wanted to call it “The Little Things,” because sometimes in the hectic world we live in, it only takes little things to make us happy. Personally, I have a very hectic schedule that revolves around two young boys and as I mentioned, one with autism. Because of this, I must find things that work for me that fit in with my lifestyle. I also must work within my own family’s budget, so these are products or even things that money can’t buy that are important to me now.

The post may contain affiliate links.  Joann Salas is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Home &  Home Decor

Non-Stick Toaster Bags  I have been using these genius toaster bags now for months and they are a life saver for busy moms or anyone who wants to make a great grilled cheese sandwich in one toaster setting. My aunt and uncle gave me one to try and at first, I wasn’t sure it would work. It works great! Now instead of having to take out my frying pan, I pop the cheese between two slices of bread, put it in the bag and pop it in the toaster. Simple and easy to clean. The best part is they are reusable.

P&J Trading Spice Set of 6 Premium Grade Fragrance Oils A few months ago, my sister gave me a diffuser. I was curious if I could handle the scents as I am generally very sensitive to perfumes and colognes. My first thought was to see if I can use a lavender scented oil to help with my boys sleeping at night. I don’t know if it was this one, but it was awful before I even turned it on. I figured using a diffuser was probably not going to be in the cards for me until I came across this listing on Amazon. The scents sounded inviting and something that wouldn’t give me a headache. The set includes 6 oils, in Cinnamon, Harvest Spice, Apple Cider, Coffee Cake, Gingerbread, and Pumpkin Pie. I have to say, there isn’t one that I don’t like. They are not overpowering or too cloying. I highly recommend you give this set a try as it is perfect for this time of the year and will also make a great gift.

Bath & Beauty

Deep Steep Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub   I love body scrubs! And I love coconut scented anything even more. I found this brand last year in my local TJMaxx store during the holidays and have since been purchasing it on Amazon. They also sell hand soap and body lotion. I think this would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys bath and body products.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser  Whether it’s age, heredity, or maybe I need to drink more water, but I have very dry skin. Normally, I alternate cleansers depending on what my skin needs at the time. However, I’ve been using CeraVe for a few months now and I really love it. It makes my skin and lips feel soft and it almost has a lotion consistency feel to it. I’ve been using the facial cleanser along with the moisturizer, which is also one of my favorites this month, with great results.

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion This is by far one of the best moisturizers I have used in the drugstore category. It contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which is what I was searching for when looking for a new moisturizer a few months ago. There are many on the market now, from high end to drugstore, but this is the one for me. It is very light and doesn’t leave your face feeling greasy. I think my skin looks better since using it and I’m very happy with it. If you are looking for a good cleanser and moisturizer, I recommend giving the CeraVe Cleanser and Moisturizer a try!

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum If you read my post about “How I became Obsessed with Beauty Products,” you will remember that eyeliner was my first makeup product I could use. I love eyeliners and I am always trying new ones. I love this one from Physicians Formula. I am new to the whole “winged” eyeliner look so this one made it simple to do. I like that it’s easy to control how thin or thick you want your liner and it stayed put until I removed it at the end of the day. If you are looking for a new eyeliner or new to the “winged” liner look, give this one a try. As a bonus, it’s supposed to help grow lashes, but honestly, I don’t use it every day, so I couldn’t add anything to say that it does that.

Garnier SkinActive Clean+ Soothing Makeup Removing Cleansing Towelettes, Sensitive Skin I love the easy quick way to remove your makeup with these cleansing towelettes. I have sensitive eyes, and these are the only ones I have found that won’t burn my eyes while removing eye makeup. I use these sometimes as a pre-cleansing before using my cleanser to wash my face and they do a great job. They are moisturizing and don’t dry your skin out. If you are looking for a cleaning wipe that is safe for sensitive face and eyes, this is a great choice.

Entertainment, Books, Movies & TV

The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude – As you may have read in my “About Me” section of my blog, journaling and writing has been a huge part of my life.  A few years ago, I found this journal during a difficult time in my life.  My mom had just been diagnosed with cancer and writing during that time was difficult.  The concept of this journal is to give thanks for five gifts or blessings in your life every day.  It would hopefully leave you feeling better about your life and to help you realize that even though times are tough now, you can still appreciate five things that made your life feel fulfilling.  I’m not going to lie, it was difficult some days to find one, let alone five.  However, I do believe it helped keep me a little more focused and grounded on what mattered the most.  Sometimes I pick up that journal and randomly choose a day to see what was going on and if today I feel any different or better.  I think it helps remind me how quickly life goes by and how often we can forget to say thank you for what we have.

Although this is a post of October’s favorite little things, I can’t go without mentioning one of my favorites from this past September.  This doesn’t fit any category as this is something money can’t buy.  My husband and I celebrated 10 years of marriage on September 7th.  We had a small dinner party for family and friends and it was absolutely the highlight of my September.  I am so grateful for having 10 amazing years with my best friend and I look forward to the next 10+ years!

So, what have you been loving this month? Please share as I am always interested in learning about new products or anything that has made your October awesome in any way.

Tweet
Pin13
Share
13 Shares

Filed Under: The Little Things....Monthly Favorites

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Previous Post: « When Your Life Changes In A Moment’s Notice
Next Post: Our Autism Journey »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leslie says

    November 4, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    I was prowling around online last night shopping for a new facial moisturizer and I remembered your recommendation for CeraVe. I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • Joann says

      November 4, 2018 at 10:19 pm

      Hi Leslie,

      I hope you like it! Please let me know how you like it once you have given it a try.

      Thank you,
      Joann

      Reply
  2. Lauren says

    November 30, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    Love these little things. I’ve had the CeraVe cleanser on my list for awhile and you sold me

    Reply
    • Joann says

      December 2, 2018 at 1:05 am

      Hi Lauren,

      Thank you! Yes, please give it a try and let me know what you think. I’m about to pick up another one myself. 🙂

      Joann

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Revisiting Monthly Favorites - Love Always, Joann says:
    March 10, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    […] Let’s start with my very first ‘favorites’ post in October 2018. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our mailing list

Hi, I’m Joann

Hi, I’m Joann

Hi !

I'm Joann, a wife, a mom of twin boys (one of which is autistic and nonverbal), and welcome to my blog! Please make yourself comfortable, so I can share stories from my life, my mad addiction to beauty products and my love of all things Disney!

DisneyStore.com
WWYF 180x150

Recent Comments

  • Joann on Disney’s Magic Kingdom Mickey Sugar Cookies
  • Amanda on Disney’s Magic Kingdom Mickey Sugar Cookies
  • Christine Arnone on Disney’s Magic Kingdom Mickey Sugar Cookies
  • Joann on Disney’s Magic Kingdom Mickey Sugar Cookies
  • Marilyn on Disney’s Magic Kingdom Mickey Sugar Cookies

Recent Posts

  • Let’s Make Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tarts At Home!
  • Disney’s Magic Kingdom Mickey Sugar Cookies
  • My Self Care Journey As An Autism Mom
Kendra Scott

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018

Categories

  • Autism
  • Beauty
  • Disney
  • My Story
  • Special Needs Parenting
  • Sponsored Posts
  • The Little Things….Monthly Favorites
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

lovealwaysjoann

Lovealways,Joann
Missing the mouse! #disney #disneyhollywoodstudios Missing the mouse! #disney #disneyhollywoodstudios #mickeymouse #waltdisneyworld #disneymemories #disneyvacation
Good morning friends! Let's talk Disney! Today on Good morning friends! Let's talk Disney! Today on the blog and my YouTube channel, I am sharing the next Disney recipe for a year! I made Hollywood Studios, Toy Story Land Chocolate-hazelnut Lunch Box Tarts! I made these on Saturday, and by Sunday all 6 of them were gone! I hope you enjoy watching and remember the printable recipe can be found on my blog.  Direct link for Blog/YouTube in bio.  #disney #disneyfood #disneyfoodie #disneysnacks #disneyrecipes #toystoryland #chocolatehazelnutlunchboxtarts #lunchboxtarts .
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
You know that saying, ‘It’s just like riding a You know that saying, ‘It’s just like riding a bike?” Well, I’m not sure that would apply to me. When I was dating my husband, he would always ask me if I could ride a bike.  I always said, “Yes, of course.” Truth be told, it had been years since I was on a bike, but I was sure I could still ride. The thing is, I hated to bike ride, even as a child. I blame it on the ugly bright orange bike my parents bought me and the time I fell off and landed in the sewer drain on my street. I was about 9 or 10 years old and I was only allowed to ride my bike on the sidewalk. It was always a nightmare. 
A few years ago, we were shopping in Walmart and happened to be passing a row of bikes that were on sale. My husband comes up with the brilliant idea of buying me a bike! What?? I quickly said to him, “No, that’s okay. We don’t have time right now.” I knew that excuse wasn’t going to work. He takes out a bike and says, “Let’s try this one.” 😳 I told him, “I don’t like the color.” He says, “Well, just take a look and see, what color do you want?” I thought to myself, pick a color you know would be impossible to find. I blurted out “Mahogany!” And wouldn’t you know, “Damn you Walmart! You had a mahogany bike!!” I walk over to the bike still in the row. I figured how hard can this be? I swing my leg over and start to back it out. I attempt to ‘ride’ it down the aisle and I couldn’t do it! I kept falling over, losing my balance and telling Gabe there’s something wrong with this bike! After a few tries, almost taking out a small child on her bike and taking down an entire row of bike helmets, Gabe says, “You can’t ride a bike?” Now I’m completely embarrassed and yelling, “Yes, yes I can!!” Again he repeats with a smirk on his face, “You can’t ride a bike, can you?” I get off the bike, walk it back and, as I’m doing this, I realize I just can’t hide it anymore. “Okay,” I said to him. “I guess I’ll need some practice.” And that, my dear friends, is why that saying, ‘It’s just like riding a bike!’ doesn’t apply to me!🤪 Lol!
#justlikeridingabike #wannabestuntwoman .
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#au
Let’s talk Disney! The second Disney recipe is i Let’s talk Disney! The second Disney recipe is in the book!  The next recipe is from Hollywood Studios - Toy Story Land.  This week I am making the Chocolate Hazelnut Lunch Box Tarts! I never tried them during my last trip, so I had nothing to compare it with. However, I must admit they were delicious! YouTube video will be up this week.  Please make sure you subscribe so you won’t miss out on all the shenanigans! My son Michael couldn’t resist sticking his fingers in the Nutella and at one point he grabbed the tripod during filming.... good times! 🤣🤪😀#disney #disneyhollywoodstudios  #toystoryland #lunchboxtarts #nutellaexplosion #cameramangonewild #toystoryland #disneysnacks #disneyfoodie #disneyrecipes #outofmycomfortzone #disneysnack #woodyslunchbox 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
I was pretending to be here all day... I have the I was pretending to be here all day... I have the best tan! 😃🤣🤪🌴☀️#pretending #pretendingisgoodforthesoul #thebeachiscalling #122daystosummer #gohomeelsa 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
It was just like a movie It was just like a song M It was just like a movie
It was just like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young... my Valentine then, now, always ❤️ #love #amore #forever #whenwewereyoung 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Love is all you need.. Happy Valentine’s Day! #v Love is all you need.. Happy Valentine’s Day! #valentines #love #valentinesday #loveisallyouneed
It’s Friday, end of the week! Don’t forget yo It’s Friday, end of the week!  Don’t forget your self care 🧘‍♀️ ❤️ #selfcare #selfcarematters #itsnotjustatrend #takecareofyourself #youareworthit
Next Disney recipe has been chosen!! Any guesses? Next Disney recipe has been chosen!! Any guesses? #disney #Disneyrecipes #disneyfoodies #toystoryland  #disneyfoodie #Disney .
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Autism life is hard. It's so easy as an autism mo Autism life is hard.  It's so easy as an autism mom to spiral down the negativity hole once you're day takes a turn for the worse.  That was yesterday.  Today, it continued.  I am trying to ignore the nonsense of the last two days and focus on some of the positives.  The picture above is Michael watching TV, I mean really watching TV!! I spoke about this previously how such a small thing is such a big win to us.  We have been working on Michael enjoying leisure activities for a long time.  The progress in autism can be relatively slow.  I don't care how long or slow it is, it is still progress.  However, when I have days like these, if I'm being honest, these little wins go missing, I'm too wrapped up in the negative.  I'm learning to accept where we are and focus on the positive.  And this is why I'm here writing this now.  Reminding myself of all the wonderful accomplishments and progress Michael has made.  Also a reminder to myself that I am learning that it's okay, I don't have to feel like Ms. Positivity every waking moment.  After all, life isn't perfect and either am I.  #bloom #progressoverperfection #progess #smallwins #autismmom 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Hollywood is calling me... #disney #disneyhollywoo Hollywood is calling me... #disney #disneyhollywoodstudios #disneymemories
Yesterday was rough, here’s hoping today is a be Yesterday was rough, here’s hoping today is a better day. #sunshine #renew #renewyourmind #sunrise #positivevibes #newday #wednesday 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Always look for the light...❤️ #waltdisneyworl Always look for the light...❤️ #waltdisneyworld #disney #disneymemories #roughdaygoaway 
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
One is out in the snow, the other is swimming in t One is out in the snow, the other is swimming in the 🛀 😀🌨❤️ I hope you’re having a wonderful day! #sundayfunday #snow #family
This week I launched my first YouTube video featur This week I launched my first YouTube video featuring Disney recipes for the year! I’d love for you to take a look! Direct link in my bio.  #disney #disneyfood #disneysnacks #disneyrecipes#youtube #disneyfoodies
It's Friday and the end of the week! Have you spen It's Friday and the end of the week! Have you spent any time on yourself this week?  If not, hop to it 🙂 Self care is very trendy right now, but it should be part of your daily routine.  I know it's hard to find five minutes for yourself, believe me, I I know.  It is hard, but it's so important to relieve stress, clear your mind of negativity and focus on you!  I challenge you to try something today, anything! It can be a walk around your block, a nice soak with some wonderfully scented bath bombs or a quick stretching/yoga movements to loosen up.  Don't let self care be a trend only, let it just be another part of your day.  #selfcare #selflove #takecareofyourself #friday #fridaymood 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Some of my favorite memories from our Disney trip Some of my favorite memories from our Disney trip in 2019, is seeing my boys smiles and hearing their sweet little giggles.  I really didn’t know what to expect, especially from Michael.  Our first park day was at Animal Kingdom.  They both loved it! To be honest, because of all the wonderful 1st memories, this is my new favorite park.  Our first ride was TriceraTop Spin.  I sat with Alex and Gabe had Michael with him in front of us.  I took a short little video because I wanted to remember this moment forever. ❤️ It was magical! Disney was not only able to capture my boys heart and soul that day, but my husband’s as well.  Mission accomplished - Disney Forever. #disney #disneymemories #disneyanimalkingdom #iloveDisney #disneyaddict #waltdisneyworld #disneyvacation 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Good morning friends! Today is World Cancer Day. Good morning friends! Today is World Cancer Day.  As a cancer survivor I know first hand how important World Cancer Day is to me and my family.  Whether you are a survivor, currently going through treatment or a caretaker, cancer awareness and education is key in finding a cure. 
Today around the world, we come together to recognize that no matter who or where you come from, cancer touches the lives of many.  As someone who has had cancer, lost someone to cancer, and has been a caretaker, I understand and lived through every emotion possible.  However, I am here today to share my hopes, dreams and wishes for the world to one day be cancer free. 
I am extremely lucky because my doctor was extremely thorough.  Early detection is so important to increase your odds of survival.  Please take the time to have your yearly physical, your life depends on it. 

To learn more about World Cancer Day and cancer education, the direct link is in my bio.  #iamandiwill #worldcancerday2021 #lungcancersurvivor #cancerawareness #nonhodgkinlymphoma  #mommyblogger #cancerwarrior
Good morning friends! Let's talk Disney! Today on Good morning friends! Let's talk Disney!  Today on the blog and my YouTube channel ( yikes!) I am sharing the very first Disney Recipe for a year!  I'm going to be honest, I'm really nervous about this whole YouTube journey and as I shared over the weekend, this is completely out of my comfort zone.  Please be patient with me as I learn to navigate this new adventure.  Thank you as always for your support! Direct link in bio.  #disney #disneyfood #disneyfoodie #disneysnacks #disneyrecipes 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
What do special needs parents want you to know ab What do special needs  parents want you to know about their child with autism? Everything you are willing to learn! No lie! If you make an effort to learn about autism, then you’ll share with your family, your children and maybe within your business or employer.  What you learn now will not only impact my son’s life but future generations to come.  Before I had Michael I knew of autism but I never really understood it until living it first hand.  I was always nervous and unsure how to interact with children on the spectrum.  I had to work at trying to figure out what to say or do in their presence.  I get that it’s hard to understand if you’re not in the autism community.  Please know I would love to help you learn more. To be able to share and teach  everyone that kids on the spectrum want to have friends, build relationships and feel love. ❤️ Just ask, learn and accept. 
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismeducation #autismdad #autismfamily #autismawareness #autismlife #specialneedsjourney 
#autismacceptance #autismstars 
#specialneeds #ourautismjourney #specialneedsfamily #specialneedsmom #littlestoriesofmylife  #asd 
#sensoryprocessingdisorder 
#mommyblogger #bloom
#autismboy
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Studio Mommy Feminine WordPress Themes

© Joann Salas and LovealwaysJoann.com, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (including photos and videos) without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Joann Salas and LovealwaysJoann.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Love Always, Joann · Design by Studio Mommy