5 things you should try in the new year

The year is winding down, are you thinking about your new years resolutions? Budgeting for the things you want to do or accomplish next year?

From relaxing and pampering yourself to investing in creative skills for your business, here are a few recommendation. Make room in your budget and on your calendar in 2016!

1 / Enroll in a monthly spa membership

I was invited to check out the new Fuchsia Spa (one location in Mesa, and a new location in Phoenix at High Street – City North), and Amy was an amazing massage therapist! At Fuchsia, you can sign up for a $59  monthly membership, annual or for  6-months.

An additional service are $45 for annual members and $59 for six-month members.

Want more massages of facials? You can do that too for $45 each. This is a great way to budget taking care of you and holding yourself accountable to let yourself be refreshed – we all need breaks in life, so give yourself one!

2 / Take care of your skin

I get monthly facials – I have a monthly subscription that makes sure I give my skin the right attention. I remember taking a selfie many years go and my skin looked like it was cracking, because it was. I was far too young to have skin so rough and dry, and since I’ve been using better products, moisturizing and getting facials, I know it’s a good investment.

I’m a huge fan of PCA SKIN care line, and in October they came out with a brightening treatment for night time skincare. When I had mentioned my new skincare regime to my facialist, she told me she loves and uses it as well to add it to my serum at night. This innovative formula reduces signs of discoloration, brightens and smoothes. Visible results have been seen in as little as four weeks. I’m loving the results.

PCA SKIN Intensive Brightening Treatment: 0.5% pure retinol night, $106 (c/0)

3 / Attend a networking dinner

Social dinners are a huge trend now – with photographers, bloggers, and business owners in general. Your seat will cost you $50 – $100 (or if you’re just lucky to be invited for free and someone else picks up the tab). By putting yourself out there, being friendly and networking while also walking away with a swag bag and an amazing meal, well trust me, it is worth the price. Plus, it’s a write off.

Check out Femme Beat’s social dinner I was invited to attend in November – and excuse my facial expressions, apparently I like to talk about ridiculous things!

Thanks Jayde for creating such a lovely event and getting some great sponsors on board, loved my swag bag so much, looking forward to the next!

4 / Sign up for a creative workshop

Learn something new – even if you’re not a business owner or blogger, you can sign up for an art class. I tried a watercolor class. I’ve attended a knitting, sewing and calligraphy class too. You can say I’m a dabbler of the arts *wink*

Shy? Grab a girlfriend, I’m sure there’s one who would love to learn a new craft with you!

Here are a few classes to check out if you’re in Phoenix:

• Watercolor: Pink Puddle Studio
• Knitting or Crochet: Tempe Yarn and Fiber
• Variety of classes held at Urbana
• Sewing: Go to Jo-Ann Fabric and ask for their schedule of classes
• Calligraphy: I Still Love Calligraphy

5 / Sign up for a subscription box

I’m subscribed to these three, which means, I can really vouch for them – of course I’m only going to recommend things I try and am obsessed with – you will be too!

TRY: Ipsy (Makeup samples in a makeup bag) – $10 flat, free ship

I love that every month my Ipsy bag has great personalized makeup samples in a new makeup bag. You fill out a little survey on what you like and a cute little package comes to your door every month. I use it for travel and I enjoy discovering new brands and often head to the website and buy it!

Sign up for Ipsy for $10 a month here.

TRY: Freely (Christian and lifestyle products) – $35 flat, free ship

I’m going to have to insist that $35 a month for a large box of full-sized lifestyle products paired with spiritual content every month, is an investment for the Christian woman. You and your best friends can sign up and get the same book and start a monthly book club! And yes, I did take these photos and I’m the creative director of this amazing company I’m plugging!

Sign yourself up or a friend for Freely, gift option available. Free shipping and $5 of your subscription goes toward the A21 campaign, a global organization fighting against human trafficking. One month all Freely subscribers gave water to a small village for a year!

Sign up and cancel anytime – www.freely.com

TRY: POPSUGAR Must Have Box (lifestyle and beauty) – $39.95 plus tax

I love POPSUGAR, I’ve done a few video reviews for their Must Have Box and have also bought the QVC box and special edition holiday and summer boxes – what a steal! Those tend to be $100 boxes but so worth it! For the monthly box, it’s $39.95 a month and so fun to receive some products. Also tip – if you are a huge gift giver you can buy this and you have some amazing gifts to give away! It’s like having a personal shopper.

POPSUGAR Must Have box discount promo code: Use code REFER5 at checkout for $5 off.