Danielle Janay

More often than not, I find myself reaching for my phone first thing in the morning. For one, it's usually by my bed, and two, I feel the need to check all my emails and messages to catch up on all the things I had missed while I was sleeping. But what was I really missing? I was missing the reason   why I was waking up every day. I was so caught up in routine and making things perfect, that I forgot to just live a little. It was during this realization that I remembered something I'd read a few years ago, about how picking up a book when you wake up, instead of an electronic, will positively affect both your mood and health. So, I   tried it. I picked up the book Treasure Yourself by Miranda Kerr.  It's full of positive thoughts and empowering words for all stages of life.  I bought this book a few years ago, and since then, I believe Kerr has released another book in this collection that I am sure is worth reading as well :)  Another book

When I decided to commit to being fully vegan, I went through all of my makeup products to see how many of them were actually cruelty-free. Surprisingly enough, I found that some of my favorite brands are not only cruelty-free, but vegan as well, making me feel a lot better about the makeup I am using! For those of you wondering, the reason why buying cruelty-free products is so important is because innocent animals such as bunnies, cats, and even dogs are forced to sit in cages and have products tested on their skin; eventually leading to infections and more often than not, death.  *Any company that sells its product in China is automatically not cruelty-free as it is required by law in China to test on animals.  On that note, I am going to share with you my top 10 favorite cruelty-free makeup companies :) Products are in order from most affordable to most splurge-worthy. e.l.f. Cosmetics NYX Cosmetics EcoTools (The BEST vegan makeup brushes!) Physician's Formula

A few weeks ago, I had the amazing opportunity to do a shoot with a friend of mine on a rooftop in San Francisco! A rooftop shoot has always been on my to-do list, so I definitely couldn't say no! ~To preface all of this, it was about 100 degrees in Walnut Creek that day, so we expected a high 70-80 degrees in SF, with a beautiful sunset. San Francisco was beautiful, but it was about 65 degrees when we got there! This really sweet family that my friend knew let us use their rooftop, and they had an incredible view of the water. We got inside the home and decided on outfits and lipstick colors, and then headed up the stairs to the rooftop. We definitely underestimated the wind power that exists in San Francisco, so we were instantly thrust into the wind! It was a little hard to stand, and even keep my eyes open, but it was so much fun! I have to say, my makeup somehow stayed on throughout the intense wind, so cruelty free makeup can totally hold up next to some of th