“You look tired.” That seems to be the running theme of comments I’ve received ever since moving into our new house and welcoming Mara into our family shortly after. Don’t get me wrong! Both of those things were amazing lifestyle changes, but ones that, at times, have been taxing on my sanity and my skin health. After living in this house for the last 16 months, I’ve really discovered what I love, what I like, and what I could part ways with. We’ve done mini-makeovers to the laundry room and guest bath, but there’s still so much that needs to be done. I didn’t want to hurry and tackle these projects before moving in. I wanted to live in the space and really get a feel for how I want our space to look and feel. Find out how comfortable I am here. And find out what parts of the space and how we live in the space could use a little brightening.  The master suite seems to be the place in a lot of homes that is made over last. That certainly seems to be the case in ours. While we plot and plan what needs to be changed, I still wanted the place to feel clean and bright in the meantime. And for me, the best way to do that is to add a few accessories and textiles to help add just a smidgen of personality to the spot. You’ve all heard that you can make a space that is yours feel RIGHT NOW. And that’s just what we did here. We’re still in the process of designing and planning for the new suite. But for right now, we can make some changes to brighten the space. After adding some rugs from Target’s Opalhouse line (is your jaw on the floor from their holiday goodness!), a few plants, and a marble slab for jewelry and a few other personal items, it feels just a little more polished here. It’s not perfect. But it’s not horrible.

That attitude towards my bathroom has kind of been the same attitude I’ve had about my skin. “It’s not perfect. But it’s not horrible.” In my twenties, I’d fall asleep in my makeup or use products that were at times nicer to my wallet than they were to my complexion. And in my thirties, it’s showing! I’ve got some mega dark circles happening. In fact, our most recent family Halloween costume was not an homage to vampires, but it was a good way to hide my dark circles! Am I alone in the fight against those???


This past year has been one where I’ve created goals for myself personally, professionally, and physically. And while some of those goals are quite lofty, one that doesn’t have to be is healthy and bright-looking skin. I’ve really come to recognize that I’m not a young 21 year old who can stay up at all hours of the night working and/or having fun. (Mama needs her sleep.) In addition to rest, I’ve tried to increase my water intake (still love you, Diet Coke), and use products for my skin that will help to slow the aging process and help me look like I’m awake, alert, and relatively pleasant. Olay’s Brightening Eye Cream has been a game-changer for my Awake Mom Look.  Olay’s new #HeyBrightEyes campaign couldn’t have come around at a better time! I’m workin’ hard to make their new Brightening Eye Cream a part of my nightly routine to help combat those dark circles and make me look like a more pleasant person! I’ve even been dabbing a small amount on during the day. When placed over my makeup, my skin has a little bit of a dewy look. And I don’t hate it! 😉 During the holidays, the amount of sleep I get plummets so this could be the answer to my skincare woes! Brightening my eyes and those dang dark circles under them is one of my goals day-in and day-out. Raise your hand if you’re fighting the dark circle fight. We gotta stick together.

We’re gearing up for the busy busy holiday season and I know that I can’t be alone when it comes to that Tired Mom Feeling. My friends and I call it #TiredMomDoingThings. Even if you don’t have human children, if you have pets, you understand! They have needs too! And those needs usually involve time and energy from Y-O-U. It’s important to take the time to brighten different aspects of your life. Whether you want to make changes to your home, your career, your family life, or something smaller like a healthier skincare routine, pull the trigger! Brighten your days. Brighten your eyes. Brighten your home. Brighten your life. I’m feeling like I could have a career as some kind of guru…

You can pick up a jar of Olay’s Brightening Eye Cream in the skincare aisle at your local CVS. It’d make a great stocking stuffer for your fave ladies who may or may not be fighting the dark circle fight as well. This holiday season, forget “Merry & Bright”. It’s more about looking healthy and bright.

photography \\ family halloween portrait by Kelly Murdock Photography, all other images by Lexy Ward

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the companies that help PROPER keep creating!