Max Out Happy

The Skin We’re In

guest post by Lindsey Williamson, Licensed Esthetician

Today’s post is so exciting for me because I get to have a friend do a guest spot at Max Out Happy! Lindsey and I met in college through Whitney (they went to high school together). Lindsey is one of the most caring and kind people you will ever meet. She’s full of sass, don’t get me wrong – but her heart is golden, and seeing her love Davis so much has been so fun for me. She spoils him and has even come to visit us on her day off from work to go to a baseball game with us. Life is busy, but whenever we get together with each other, it’s like no time ever passed. I remember being young and my mom telling me that about some of her friends, and it kind of went over my head, but now I totally get it! Those are the true blue friends that you will always have. Lindsey is engaged to get married to her guy Zach, and she’s a wonderful mama to all of their pets! She absolutely loves animals, and they have several babies, including three doggies, Luna, Linus, and Daisy, a cat named Butters, a bunny named BunBun, and even an African Grey Parrot, Simba! I always love getting Snapchat videos of Simba because he is SASSY. Anyway, I can’t say enough wonderful things about Lindsey and I trust her opinion so much. She is beautiful, radiant, kind, and takes care of everyone she loves. I take all of my skin questions to her, and I try to go in to see her at the spa anytime I can! I love having my eyebrows waxed and tinted so I don’t have to mess with them. This is the skin we are in. Might as well love it and care for it along the way! Everything else in this post is written by Lindsey!

lindsey & me at my wedding – i’m so serious about something and she’s clearly being supportive and mirroring my emotions, haha! love this picture and the subtle hand hold
having a facial with lindsey in southern pines!
donna lane day spa’s website

Hi!! My name is Lindsey Williamson and I’m a licensed esthetician in the state of NC. I LOVE what I do and am truly passionate about it. I work at Donna Lane Day Spa in Southern Pines. We are medically directed (meaning we have a doctor on staff) so we are able to offer more than just your “average” facial- through our physician and with thorough training, we are able to perform laser treatments, medium depth chemical peels, and more. There are three of us estheticians at DL and I’m so thankful to have ended up with two other like-minded ladies; we want to give our best to each client that walks through our door and give them treatments that will truly help and/or change their skin for the better. 

AM/PM routine

Here’s what I’d consider the basics! In the morning at least splash some water on your face if you can’t cleanse. This is also when you want to use an antioxidant serum! And of course apply sunscreen. At night, most definitely give yourself a good cleanse. Whatever works for your schedule – of course I suggest a cleanser and water but anything is better than nothing!! A makeup wipe, a good toner, whatever you can do. This is when I use the majority of my products- retinol, serums, moisturizers, etc. When it comes to applying products, a good rule of thumb is thinnest to thickest consistency to layer them. 

Favorite product recommendations

My current obsessions are Get Glowing pads from our private label line at DL, Game Changer Skin Care. The ingredients help with overall brightening of the skin and the pads have a little grit to them that I love. They give your skin the best glow! Also from that line that I’m loving are the Moisture Surge Toner pads. They give your skin such a great dose of hydration and feel so so good on your skin. Another favorite is All Night Elixir from Sorella Apothecary- it contains 1% retinol along with other great ingredients to still give your skin the great effects of using a retinol but not as powerful a punch (that can be too much for some people) as using straight retinol. 

Lindsey’s current favorites

Q&A

  1. What’s the most common mistake you see? A: this would definitely be “picking”! We all get breakouts, and the urge is there for us to “pop” whatever has come up (myself included). But if done improperly or with too much force, you’re actually doing more harm than good and can end up leaving a scar. 
  2. What expensive product is worth the splurge? A: RETINOL. It’s not always crazy expensive and your insurance may cover it if you get it though a dermatologist or other MD! It is such a skincare powerhouse that increases cellular turnover (think of this as constantly pushing your healthy “new” skin to the top instead of letting dead, dry skin stay on the surface) and helps to stimulate things that slow down as we age, like collagen. It’s great for anti-aging benefits and also helps with acne!
  3. What are the must-have skin products if I can’t have them all? A: I consider the basics to be a good cleanser and toner, an active product (something with a retinol or a more specific ingredient like something to help with dark spots), a moisturizer, eye cream and of course sunscreen! It can be hard to get all of these at once because some of them can be pricey, so I tell clients to just start with one or two, and gradually add as you go! That way it isn’t such a punch to the ol’ wallet. 
  4. Why must I have acne as a GROWN WOMAN? A: I wish I had an answer for this!! But I can tell you that you are NOT alone! Our skin is so, so sensitive and so many things take a toll- hormones, stress, lack of sleep. The best we can do is use products to help prevent it, and ones that help kill the bacteria when those little bastards do appear. 
  5. What’s the most important thing about skincare for those of us who skimp? A: For those that are minimalists with their skin, one of the best things you can do in my opinion  is cleanse. If it’s a morning or night choice I always advise to do it at night to wash the day away. Our skin is always changing so along with cleansing, if it’s dry, use a moisturizer. If it’s giving you a hard time with a breakout, use something with a salicylic acid to help fight it. And ALWAYS wear sunscreen- your older self will thank you! 
  6. Best drugstore face wash? A: I can’t speak from experience on this but I have always heard that out of the options CeraVe and Cetaphil are great! 
  7. How often should I be exfoliating? Doing masks? A: I recommend exfoliating once to three times a week, depending on skin type. Same with masks! Skin differs so much person to person that it’s hard to give a straight answer, but for the most part everyone could benefit from exfoliating at least once a week and same with masks if it’s a basic enzyme or hydrating base. 
  8. What are the benefits of having a facial? A: Along with being just great “you” time (treat yo’ self!) it’s great to have proper extractions and if you go somewhere capable of doing more in-depth treatments, getting things like chemical peels or laser treatments give a variety of benefits like anti-aging, helping with discoloration, compacted pores, thorough exfoliation and sooooo much more. 
  9. What are the most common services you do? A: My most common one is what we call an “anti-aging facial” which consists of a thorough cleanse, exfoliation, extractions, facial massage, and a chemical component suited to what the client’s skin needs. 
  10. What are your thoughts on extractions, popping pimples, etc.? A: I’m a weirdo that loves extractions, and as someone that picks at my own skin it’s not fair for me to preach to others not to do it 🥴🥴 the best thing I can tell you is to look up proper extraction methods (like the one I’ll link below) to make sure when you do start going to it, you aren’t doing more damage than good. Here’s the site about extraction!
  11. What are the best products for my now “AGING” skin? A: Retinol, retinol, retinol. If you were to get any one anti-aging product, that one is tried and true. 
  12. Facial sunscreen recommendations? A: I’m a fan of physical sunscreens (meaning it stays on the top of your skin to reflect the sun’s rays as opposed to being absorbed into the skin) and definitely at least an spf 30. And if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time – reapply, reapply, reapply.

That’s all from Lindsey for this post – happy skin care-ing! Go check out Donna Lane Day Spa for a great relaxation getaway or a pampering day with your girlfriends and check out downtown Southern Pines while you’re there! The space is so cute and inviting. Lindsey will take great care of you!

Father’s Day Gift Guide // 2021

by whitney (davis’ six month photos!)

I’ve said it before, but traditional gift guides for men just don’t work for the guys in my life. Andrew, my dad, my brother, and Andrew’s brothers are all unique with their own interests of course, but none of them really fit the mold that I constantly see in gift guides for men – so I’m trying to do a gift guide that will fit those men in your life, too! For instance, Andrew doesn’t drink whiskey or wear socks, he doesn’t own a watch, anything golf related would be better for him to pick out himself, THE LIST GOES ON. Andrew and I don’t even do gifts for holidays like this, but I know a lot of people do; this gift guide is for the no muss, no fuss dads and father figures out there. I hope it helps! If you don’t exchange gifts for Father’s Day, either, save these ideas for a birthday, Christmas, or whatever other occasions might come up! Many of these would be great for either your husband/partner, or your own dad/father-in-law, etc. so I didn’t distinguish between the two. Leave any other ideas in the comments to help someone else out! Links to items are in bold in the list below the image!

  1. Bald Head Blues polo shirts: Nothing screams “Dad” quite like a nice polo shirt. These are upscale, boujee polo shirts he may not buy for himself. Andrew got a few of these in a mystery box for a sale, and he loves them. They are really nice quality and so soft. They apparently only do the mystery boxes every so often (of course not right now, haha), but if you want to splurge on a nice polo for your mans, I recommend this brand or B. Draddy (sale section too!). Andrew has a lot of basic polos from Amazon Essentials brand that he loves, but these are the ones you want, and just have a hard time justifying.
  2. “History of” books: Andrew isn’t a huge fan of reading like I am, but he is a HUGE fan of history and baseball. He recently bought himself this Baseball in North Carolina’s Piedmont book and has had so much fun reading it – he even found an old picture of his Papaw from his baseball team back where he is from! If your guy is into something like that, a nice book of the history about his passion or his hometown, etc. might be a really cool and unexpected surprise.
  3. A historic map or record: Now this is really cool, I think! This link is for North Carolina, but I’m sure there are similar sites for other states. For Christmas I found an old hand drawn historic map of Davie County where Andrew was born and had it framed. I really felt like it was a big win! Andrew is so hard to shop for, but that man loves maps and history. You can get old newspapers, oral histories, military and government records, etc. so if the father figure you’re shopping for has any type of sentimental connection, this could be a great idea. The best part is that you can download the maps for free and have them printed for very little money. The frame is the biggest part of the purchase!
  4. Noise canceling bluetooth headphones: Perfect for mowing the lawn or tinkering around in the garage. Can’t beat those reviews (over 75,000!).
  5. FlipFork Boss 5-in-1 Grill Spatula: I usually think grilling gift ideas can be kind of gimmicky, but this one is really cool and seems useful! Less dishes to wash 🙂 always a win! Plus, it even has a bottle opener. Come on now.
  6. A Loopy phone case: Andrew and I have both been on the loopy train for a long time (that makes it sound like we are crazy, but you know what I mean). We really love these cases and both have one. Andrew’s is in the teak wood.
  7. DadsFanny: This is a really cool diaper bag for dudes. I saw this from The Car Mom’s gift guide and thought it was so cool. If your guy wouldn’t want this for Father’s Day or if you feel like it’s a weird gift to give, I think it’s a great thing just to have for your family in general! Simple, practical, holds all the basics, and you can just grab and go for a quick outing. I love it for myself, too! And they’re doing a Father’s Day sale – 25% off!
  8. A nice bluetooth speaker: I feel like everyone has a bluetooth speaker by now, but we had a bunch of cheap ones until Andrew decided to splurge and get a Bose one. We have used it everywhere – in the house, in the backyard, at outdoor events with friends, at the beach, etc. The sound quality is of course great (it’s Bose!). The one I linked is the one we have, but they also make this smaller model which is a little less expensive.
  9. A nice pair of swim trunks: One of my friends’ husband loves the Vissla brand (made from recycled materials!). Another one of my friends gets these cheap Walmart trunks that her husband loves, and then has her husband’s initials monogrammed on them. They look so nice! Andrew is not a monogram kind of guy, but if the guy you’re buying for is, these look great!
  10. Flip flops for summer! Andrew loves his Rainbows, but my friend Tori and her husband Patrick both swear by the Olukais. My friend Emily said she got some for her husband Jared, and he switched from his Rainbows and now swears by the Olukais! Awesome reviews and lots of color choices!
  11. Cleaning gel for car: What a genius little item. Everyone should have this! Not just for detailing the car, but you can clean in the hard-to-reach corners of things, your keyboard, remotes, anything with nooks and crannies. Really inexpensive, and just makes good sense.
  12. Handheld cordless vacuum: This was another find from The Car Mom’s guide, and here is another option that I feel like everyone has raved about! Andrew just got a new truck (!!!) and we can use one of these to keep both of our cars clean from Davis crumbs and dog hair – along with our cleaning gel linked above! Feeling old and nerdy.
  13. Wireless phone charging pad: Perfect for a side table next to the couch, the kitchen counter, bedside table, etc. Here is a 2 pack option that can stand your phone up on its side or vertically, which would be great for the office or bedside table . Apparently you also need a power adapter for the wall to make it charge faster? I don’t know anything about this stuff, but I DO read the reviews and do my research!
  14. Vuori shorts: Andrew LOVES his Vuoris. Our friend Meghan’s husband Cory introduced him to them and he scooped them up and wears them all the time. These are great for lounging, hanging out, exercise, and even swimming! The ultimate comfy shorts for guys. They also have a specific boardshorts section.
  15. A high end pair of sunnies: If you don’t think they’ll get lost! We love these Ray-Bans for men (Andrew got a pair on our honeymoon!). Maui Jims are so nice, too – more expensive than the Ray-Bans. Both are really nice options in my book!
  16. A hand-carved figurine: My sister-in-law’s friend does these hand carved wood figures and they are so detailed and intricate! You can also ask for a custom carving, like if your dad or husband/partner has a favorite dog breed, team, or something like that. Worth contacting to ask! Here is the link to their facebook page as well.
  17. A nice docking station! Tons of nice and customizable options, with holders for apple watch, iPhone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, regular watch, airpods or other earbuds, etc. Option two, option three.
  18. Wood serving tray/grill tray: For grilling, of course! As a former foods and nutrition teacher, I love that the proper temperatures are on there, but obviously that’s a smart way to check your meats before you put them on the tray! Could be used for decor or cocktails, as well. Anything you want!
  19. Custom photo print on wood! Can do smooth or panel effect. I love this! This would also be great for a dog dad or a grandfather gift for Father’s Day.
  20. Custom photo leather keychain: This is really classic looking and you could do initials or last name on the outside if you didn’t want to go with dad, daddy, or a grandpa name. I love that the photo is hidden inside!

Of course, you can always do something like a craft with your kids (I saw a lot on Etsy with a “best dad, hands down” theme with hand prints that were cute). Other ideas include having a silhouette done of your baby/children/fur babies, a gift card to a local brewery, an old-fashioned handmade coupon book, or the gift of time alone or with the guys. Even if you don’t do gifts, a nice card, breakfast in bed, or lunch/dinner out together as a family is a great way to do something to celebrate!

Thanks to my creative sister and friends for helping me fill in the gaps of this gift guide! It takes a village, y’all.

Any Amazon links are affiliate links through their associates program. I may earn a small commission if you purchase directly from my links. These suggestions are all honest and truly ideas I hope any dad or father figure would enjoy receiving!

Momdrobe + Favorite Activewear

photo by whitney: lululemon leggings, zenana v-neck top, similar old navy cardigan (mine is super old)

You can almost always find me in an outfit similar to the one above. I like to joke with Andrew when we get ready that I’ll be choosing a “new outfit he’s never seen before,” because my wardrobe has gotten pretty predictable over the last couple of years. When you find something that works, you stick with it. Who’s with me?! I’ve tried sooo many different brands and cuts of clothes, shoes, bras, socks, etc. for fitness, and in the last couple of years as comfort has become more important and athleisure has become more trendy, I have truly started to live in leggings and a swingy top pretty much year-round. Add in having a baby followed by a global pandemic, and you’ve got yourself a full-on soft clothes mama. Since it’s what I live in, I’m hitting you with my very top favorites. You know how you have your not good clothes that you don’t even like to wear in a pinch, and then your okay, good-not-great clothes that are your medium favorites, and then your top-tier cream of the crop favorites? These are my top tier. From me to you – I hope you love them as much as I do. I’m serious about soft clothes and athleisure. I went back several months in my photos and other than my fancy photo shoot with Whitney, all I have are pictures of me in my momdrobe. See the collage below for proof in exhibits A, B, C, and D. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

i didn’t choose the momdrobe lifestyle, the momdrobe lifestyle chose me

So, you see, as a true connoisseur of soft clothes and comfort fit, I am hitting you with my all time, top of the top, tried and true, 10/10 items. Everything in the image below is linked in the sections afterward in bold.

Leggings: Hands down, my favorite leggings of all time that just cannot be fully mimicked or beat are the Lululemon Align leggings – I’m sorry; I don’t want to say it, but it’s true. They are $98 so I know they are a HUGE cost investment, but they are literally the best I have ever worn. I truly can’t speak of them highly enough and I need you to understand that when I say they are the best there is, I’m just not exaggerating. Now, they may not be for everyone, but I don’t see how. They’re like a second skin, buttery soft, and also great for fluctuating through pregnancy and postpartum. I like the shorter length that hits above the ankle. I have 5 pairs that I’ve received as gifts over the years, and one pair has holes in the thighs because I have run them into the ground, and I still can’t bear to part with them. They’re now my ‘around the house holey leggings.’ If you can’t get them for a gift and don’t want to spend that type of money on stretchy pants, I get it, but they really are something else. If I had the money, I would have like 5 black pairs and then a pair of every other color they make. My second favorite are the AE OFFLINE Real Me High Waisted Leggings (also in the 7/8 length). They are super stretchy and comfortable, feel silky smooth, and are a CLOSE second for me in terms of how much I reach for them to wear. They are different fabric so they are not a dupe – just another really close favorite! These come in at half the price as the Aligns and they run sales a lot (there’s one right now for $33 a pair!). I have 3 pairs of these and keep them and my Aligns washed in rotation so I can always have favorites available. I’ve tried some of the “best leggings ever” from influencers and these are the two that I do truly love. The rest have been hit or miss. I also love the Felina 2 pack sueded athleisure leggings because the price can’t be beat and they are so soft, BUT I feel like I get hotter more easily in these (but keep in mind I get abnormally hot very easily), and I wish they were just a titch more high waisted for my personal preference.

Now, all this being said, none of these leggings are amazing for a high intensity workout or a run. In my experience, they all roll or fall down and I find myself tugging at them constantly until I get sweaty enough for them to stick to my skin. I also have absolutely zero butt so that doesn’t help, either. SO, for actual workouts, I like to go with a tighter legging that will hold me in and stay in place better. Old Navy has great workout leggings. I have several pairs, and my sister really loves them, too! These are extra high-waisted and currently on sale…say no more. The high-waisted elevate built-in sculpt leggings are great for any workout you’ve got!

Shorts: I’ve mentioned these Under Armour Play Up shorts before, but I am still really loving them after several washes. I also found 2 pairs of these RBX Active running shorts at Marshall’s and came home to find them online because I REALLY like them, too! The fit is great – I know everyone loves the Nike “norts,” but they just don’t do me right. These two pairs have gracefully carried me through baseball season (well, as gracefully as possible when you sweat like I do). They are both long enough for comfort but not so long that they feel matronly. The side slits are flattering, and the waistbands are lovely. Slick on some body glide and you’re good to go. I also have a pair from Target that I love from a really long time ago, and they don’t sell them anymore, which I think is pretty rude. So I’ll be stocking up on the ones listed here because when I find something that works, I am fiercely loyal.

Tops: This is the hardest category for me besides sports bras, which you can see I’m not mentioning here. I have 3 of these Canvas brand plain t-shirts that Whitney swears by, and I absolutely love them and would like one in every color. I got mine on Jane.com as a deal that expired BUT I am 99% sure these are them on Amazon! They are relaxed fit but not boxy like some regular tshirts, and they are a nice length, super soft, and perfect for throwing a jean jacket on to look pulled together! Also perfect for rage cleaning your house, sleeping in, or any type of workout. I also live in these long swingy tops with side slits – a little longer in the back and absolutely made for leggings. I have written about this top before and have it in 3 colors…and I’ll probably get more! I have 3 of these tops, as well. They are more form fitting, but I love them. Nice and a little bit stretchy, comfortable material, and look nicer than a basic t-shirt. I got them from Kendi Everyday’s online shop when she was selling clothes, but this seems to be the same top! They make a crew neck, too, if v-neck isn’t your thing. I don’t think it’s too low cut, and I’m a little conservative about that! Finally, when Davis was born, I needed some loose, easy, cozy tops to get me through postpartum and beyond. I still reach for these whenever I need that vibe! Super cozy.

Shoes: I actually wrote a post about my On Running shoes years ago. Andrew bought me another pair this year, the Cloud X, and I still love them more than anything else I’ve ever put on my feet. I know tennis shoes are a really personal choice, but these just work wonderfully for me. I love the thick, sturdy sole, the comfort, the support, and of course, the way they look! They also have different pairs for different types of workouts and runs, which I like! I have the mixed workout pair. For be-boppin’ around town and running errands, I love my Adidas Cloudfoam sneakers. I wore literal holes in my last pair and I’m working on a hole in my current ones…what can I say, I walk with a heavy step! But I will keep buying these because I really love them and wear them a ton. Of course, in the warmer months, I like to let my feet breathe, and you already know you can catch me rocking my Amazon “birkencrocs” almost every day. When I want to feel a little bit cute and trendy in my soft clothes, I love wearing my white Toms canvas sneakers. I love these no-show socks and wear them for lounge + exercise. They’re thin, they stay put, and they don’t show; not a whole lot else to say about that!

There you have it, ladies! What are your soft clothes/momdrobe/activewear favorites? If you get any of mine, I hope they serve you well in your athleisure adventures!

The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links and I might make a small commission if you purchase directly from them. Any links in this post are items I have and absolutely love; my top tier favorites!

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