If you’ve been following me on instagram (I have two! Home in High Heels here & my All Things Beautiful XO account here!) then you might be noticing my transition to a healthier life. Along with making healthier food & exercise choices, I’m also trying to fulfill my personal requirements. This means taking time out for myself & getting back to hobbies I truly enjoy. Thus the coloring book reviews lately! Keep reading to see Paris Street Style Coloring Book is kismet for me….
How I Rock White in the Summertime
I thought it would be fun to talk about rocking a white outfit for summer today on the blog because summer is the time for events. It seems like everyone has a calendar full of parties, BBQs, & just about any other reason to have some fun in the sun! Keep reading to check out three options!…
How I Put Together a Confident Outfit
Do you have days where you just wake up feeling more confident? I definitely have days where for some reason I just wake up feeling better! Whether I had a week of eating healthy or woke up to glowing skin- these are the days I like to amp up my wardrobe a bit! Keep reading to check out my ideas!…
How to Style White Clothing for Spring!
Thanks to Kotex for making this post possible!
Have you ever seen a model wearing all white & thought you couldn’t pull it off? For me, white has always been kind of a scary color. What if it looks dirty or worse…gets stained? After a very long winter that I’m still feeling (brrrr) I’m finally ready to check out some white pieces to add them to my wardrobe…& I wanted to share how I’ll be pairing them with some of the hottest trends this spring! Plus…a free sample! Keep reading to check it out!…
Cutout Fashion is Still Seriously FUN!
Thank you to Cottonelle for giving me the confident clean to #GoCommando!
Have you noticed a lot of holes in fashion lately? Okay not holes- cutouts! Holes is much more 90’s & while I’m dealing with the lip trend being back…I am so not grunge. Cutouts are basically the opposite! A great cut out can add some visual interest to an otherwise basic piece or up the fun in general. They can be risky or completely basic. Check out some of my favorite ways to rock cutouts & even some that will have you wanting to #GoCommando!
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Checking Off my Holiday List with Gluten-Free LUNA Bars!
Today’s post is sponsored by LUNA Bar, but my love for their gluten free bar options is all my own!
The holiday season is super crazy & it is definitely the season! Out running errands & checking off my holiday list I’ve been grabbing a clutch that goes with anything. I always try to keep my bag stocked with essentials like hand sanitizer, concealer, a brow pencil so I don’t look crazy, & a tasty snack I can toss in my bag like the LUNA gluten-free bar options.
Need to go to a work event? Check! Grab milk because we ran out….again…? Check? Head out the door to dinner with my husband? Checkitty check! Know what keeps me going? Making sure I have energy by always having a snack on hand! I have been loving the new gluten-free LUNA bars because I have a bad habit of getting really grumpy when my tummy starts to rumble.
All LUNA bars are now gluten-free & they are still under 200 calories for a suitable snack. They come in an awesome variety of flavors, are made with 70% organic ingredients, have no artificial flavors or synthetic preservatives, & are a great source of both protein & fiber! They tweaked things only slightly to make them gluten-free while still tasting great. I have 4 bars here that Ryan & I sat down & tried together & we loved each one for different reasons. We both agreed we’d reach for any of the flavors again…& that they tasted a bit like a granola & candy bar hybrid! Win!
Want to try your very own bar of your choice? Visit the LUNA PAGE HERE & then come back to let me know which flavor you’d most like to try! Just comment with it below along with your email address & I’ll contact one winner randomly!
Relaxing & Beautifying this Summer!
Today’s post is sponsored by Tommy Bahama, but my love for National Relaxation Day is all my own!
Affiliate links.
I get poked at a lot because I rarely take some “me” time. Honestly I just don’t think about it! Half of the stuff I do that is considered relaxing is normally for blogging so I don’t really turn my brain off much. Tommy Bahama asked me what my idea of relaxing is but because I’m far from home relaxing tends to mean improvising! We’re talking no beach, no family, & not many places to get out of the house to! Want to see how I relax at home on my own? Just keep reading!
Okay I actually meant just keep reading because that’s what I tend to do- READ! I like to combine my very substantial nerdy self with my obsessive beauty self & therein lies the me time. I have a ton of books on my Kindle (my favorite reader which can be purchased from Amazon) everything from pretty much any supernatural series to tons of cookbooks to numerous magazine subscriptions. I maximize my time with beauty treatments that make me sit still- like a face mask, hair mask, or some wet toes! Check out some of my favorite relaxing items below!
Marc Jacobs Dot ≡ LaVanilla Coconut ≡ Boscia Sleep Mask ≡ Josie Maran Oil ≡ Tocca Tahiti Candle
Kindle ≡ Bumble Surf Kit ≡ Zoya Bubby ≡ Zoya Tickled ≡ L’Occitane Body Cream ≡ Flip Flops
Tommy Bahama asked me to share my own thoughts on relaxation because they have an awesome sweepstakes going on right now! It’s the “Summer of Go” sweepstakes & has weekly prizes until August 18th. The Grand Prize that will be awarded on National Relaxation Day weekend (August 15th-18th). So what are you waiting for? You can enter at the Tommy Bahama Campaign Landing Page.
Weekly Prizes:
1 | Air transportation for 2 anywhere Alaska Airlines flies
2 | 3 night stay at select Fairmont Hotels and Resorts locations
3 | $500 Tommy Bahama Gift Card
4 | “Summer of Go” Travel Pack
5 | $50 Uber Credit
Grand Prize:
1 | Air Transportation for 4 anywhere Alaska Airlines flies
2 | 7 night stay for 4 at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii
3 | $1000 Tommy Bahama Gift Card
4 | Dinner at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant on Mauna Lani
5 | $200 Uber Credit
6 | “Summer of Go” Travel Pack
So what do you need a break from? How do you chillax? How do you make “me” time more relaxing?
On the Run Essentials for Getting Tasks Done- SPF to Chewing Gum!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. & its advertiser. All opinions are my own. #JuicyFruitFunSide #CollectiveBias
PR Sample. Affiliate links.
Working from home can sometimes be draining. The lack of fresh air & sunshine can weigh on me. & no- the back yard doesn’t count. Neither does getting the mail. When I am cooped up inside the house when the outdoors are sparkling I like to remind myself of the long (too long) winter & that sunshine is a gift. Then 2-3 days a week are the golden days- the me time. The time where I bust out of the house to do fun things mixed with chores. Glory. Today I wanted to talk a bit about my routine outside of the home & the items I grab for first when I get to head out the door- from chewing gum to perfume to my preference for hoop earrings.
Usually when I’m out I am accompanied by my husband. We tend to do a lot of the house stuff together like groceries then grab lunch or have a dinner date. It has always been like this because I usually use my alone time to get things done for work inside. Often I’ll wake up Saturday stir-crazy & SO ready to be NOT inside that I don’t even bother to throw on makeup.
If you follow my beauty blog (filled with everything from basics to the very elaborate cosmetic adventures) then you might be giving me a little gasp right now. True story. I know. My own mother does when she hears I go out in public without a stitch of face makeup on. But I do have some essentials that I work in!
One of my favorite kinds of places to go to get out of my dulldrums is a museum. Probably half of you aren’t remotely interested but the act of walking around & viewing random bits & bobs is fun for me. My husband…not so much so this tends to be more of a mom & me trip. This is the Getty Villa in California & this is a shot of the garden from above. Isn’t it lovely? The perfect place to stroll.
No matter where I go I always bring SPF, sanitizer, & something to apply to my lips. Right now I’m loving Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery for the SPF of 50 & how healthy it makes my skin look. I go crazy without something on my lips so when I want something colorless that feels & looks nice I grab the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk since it seems to fill in all my lines. I’m a constant hand sanitizer person & this one from bath & Body Works in Market Peach is one I stock up on yearly. The scent is so fresh!
Another spot to hit when the weather is hot is our local zoo. The zoo here in Omaha is absolutely fantastic- this photo is over by the butterfly exhibit where you actually walk through & they land on you! My parents came our for a visit last summer & the 4 of us went nearly every day. It can get really hot but you’re always around the corner from something with air-conditioning so it is definitely not bad. I throw on big shades, comfy shoes, & usually a huge hat which my mom ended up using for the day.
I usually keep a pair of hoops in the car in case I forget to put on earring in either silver or gold. I also make time for a dab of perfume, this one is L’Occitane Roses et Reines which smells terribly romantic. I absolutely love it alone & layered with other scents. Earrings & a quick spritz instantly make me feel more put together without having to glance in a mirror or even stop walking.
I do a lot of shopping this time of year as well…okay I shop a lot in general. But really- even more so in the summer because it is so nice to be outside without being miserably cold. I’m always hunting down some new makeup collection- remember this Oz the Great & Powerful one from Urban Decay awhile back? I loved this one so much that I snapped a picture & I’ve kept it all this time. I still love those palettes which I reviewed here & here! We hit store after store just to burn some energy, grab some frozen treats, & chatter.
Because someone (my husband usually) always tempts me with lots of treats all summer or I’m trying to burn off some energy I tend to be chewing gum. I picked up one Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum pack for my purse & the Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews for my car from Walmart. Did you know Walmart is having fun Juicy Fruit demos across the country? You can check out these demos July 25th-27th from 11am-4pm & August 1st-3rd 11am-4pm & 1pm-6pm on Sunday. Besides the original flavor seen here Juicy Fruit also has a Juicy Fruit Strawberry flavor that I’d love to get my hands on! One of these cool flip top bottles called Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews are available nationwide & cost only $3.49. The bottle contains Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews sugarfree gum which is what I reach for most but the Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum is great when I want to blow some bubbles for only $0.79 a pack.
So what are you doing to get things done this summer while still trying to work in the fun? What are your must-haves? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
My Health, Home, & Style Favorites for Summer!
Thanks to U by Kotex® Pads for sponsoring today’s discussion! All opinions are my own!
Can you believe it is already almost Summer? It will officially start at the end of June- but I’m prepared! I have some of my very favorite products here to share- from home to health to style! Everything you need to prep for summer! Keep reading to see what makes them all absolute favorites & to find out more about the U by Kotex Save the Undies Campaign!
When I think of summer I automatically think of SPF! I used to be a tan, California goddess- then things got real. I am now an avid SPF user year-round but naturally in the summer I’m showing more skin than normal. I’ve been loving the spray-on options & this Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen is an obsession! This is a small bottle which is perfect to toss in my purse plus it is water resistant. With SPF 50 & a super easy to spray nozzle this is a must have!
Next up is a drink I picked up on a total whim & now can’t get enough of! While browsing I picked up the Trader Joe’s brand Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix & now it is my favorite treat drink! If you’ve ever had green tea mochi at an Asian restaurant than you likely have tried the green tea variety. Now imagine it- in liquid form. I don’t really go out to buy my drinks like a lot of people so this is the perfect at-home treat. I really like the flavor with almond milk for a creamier finish & especially iced to beat the heat.
Getting ready for summer has a lot to do with my house since I work from home- candles & wax melts are the perfect way to get it moving! I have some beach scents but my favorite tend to be more fruit based- like the strawberry & pink dragon fruit scents above. I also pick up some that smell grassy, like fruity drinks, or coconut-esque as well. Anything that makes me think of sunshine or days by the pool!
I’ve been chewing a lot of gum lately- & isn’t this just the perfect summer flavor? I really like these Extra Dessert Delight flavors & I think I’d tried them all! Key Lime Pie is more tangy than sweet & has that nice brightness to it. Like summertime! Gum has been helping me control cravings but these taste so good that I forget they aren’t a treat!
During summer you won’t catch me without a waterproof mascara- & the It Cosmetics Waterproof Full Lash Tightline Primer & Mascara is my top pick this year. the brush is itty bitty & meant to full in between the lashes but it is also a great primer under other mascaras. When I want a more natural look I’ll wear this by itself & it coats every last root to tip. I’ve found using it as a primer is great too & helps adhere my mascara better to help prevent flaking. The hot, humid summer easily bumped up this mascara to holy grail status.
Last up is a product absolutely necessary for switch over to non-black pants: U by Kotex® offers a full line of feminine care products for periods including pads, liners and tampons. Outstanding protection that keeps you one step ahead. These are specifically the U by Kotex® Clean Wear Ultra Thin Regular pads which come with super cute packaging. Seriously though- they didn’t make them this cool when I was a kid! Introducing new U by Kotex® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core*, a one-of-a-kind center that locks away wetness to help stop leaks. Kotex is SO confident you’ll love them that they’re giving away free sample too! Visit the U by Kotex Landing page and find the samples that best fit your mission to save the undies. Click on the “Get Sample” button and enter your mailing information. Then, sit back and wait, your samples will be on their way!
What are your summer must-haves? Do they change a lot year to year or do you have favorites that repeat over & over? I’d love to hear about them! Don’t forget to pick up your samples above as well!
