June 2015 Favorites!

Hey guys!  It's that time again....monthly favorites!  Another blessed month has come and gone and it's so hard to believe this year is half way to being finished.  It was a wonderful month full of travel, family, and good food, so of course my first favorites of the month are my trips and travels I went on. If you missed any of my blog posts or videos and would like to check them out you can do so here:

Orlando video:

To see my Orlando blog click here!

To see my Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod blog click here!

To see my Maine blog click here!

To see my New Hampshire/Strawberry Banke Museum blog click here!

To see my a short video on my New England Vacay click here!

BEAUTY FAVORITES

I basically lived out of a suitcase half the month, and a lot of the things I had packed in my travel makeup bag ended up on my favorites list.  (I actually did a What's In My Travel Makeup Bag blog post, you can see that here).  Everything just ended up working so well, I had everything I needed.  (NOT an easy feat).

It's no secret that I ADORE Nars Cosmetics, and I have been a fan of their Laguna bronzer for yearsssss.  A few months ago I picked up the limited edition Tahiti Laguna bronzer from Sephora and it has been nothing short of amazing.  The bronzer in the palette is just a slightly larger sized pan of the classic Laguna bronzer, but also housed in the palette is a baby Ita brush.  I use the full-size Ita brush every time I do my makeup, and the sole purpose of buying this was to use when I travel.  Fantastic!!!

Whenever I travel I LOVE taking my It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with me.  I have mentioned this a dozen times or more on my blog, this product is amazing.  It's your skincare, makeup, and sunscreen all in one.  So quick and easy, I love this!

One of my favorite powders ever, the Rimmel Stay Matte powder is great for setting my makeup and costs under 5 bucks.  Love.  (I use the translucent shade so that it doesn't affect the color of my makeup, it only mattifies and sets my foundation).

I received this sample of Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in a Sephora VIB Rouge sample bag (see the blog post about all the items in the bag here).  This goes on like velvet, and it is perfect if you want more of a dramatic lip.  I especially enjoyed this while in Florida this month, so pretty!!!

I got this sample of the Replica Beach Walk perfume from Sephora earlier this month and I swear, I have grown to LOVE this.  Omgsh....I want a big bottle!  PERRRRRFECT for Summer, I absolutely adore this scent.  While traveling I had several people compliment me on it and ask me what I was wearing.  <333

Ya'll know I love my Stila Eyes are the Window eyeshadow palette.  This particular palette is the one named Soul.  This month in particular I have really loved the silvery eyeshadow shade in the palette on my lids, smoked out with the darkest matte brown shade in the palette.  Something about the silvery shadow blended out with the brown, omgsh...so beautiful!  Where the silver is kind of dark, you can totally skip any eyeliner on the lid and just wear this and mascara and have a pretty smokey look.  Super quick to get you out the door but it totally looks like something that took some time.

I have also been loving using a colorful eyeliner on my waterline.  My definite favorite of the month is this beautiful purpley-blue one by Marcelle.  This stuff stays on like nobody's business!  As far as colorful eyeliners go, my favorite shades to use are purple or green, but I also like blue!

I am alwayssss using different shampoos and conditioners, and this month I have really enjoyed using my OGX ones.  (OGX was formerly Organix).  My only complaint with these products are their size, I have a ton of hair and it seems I go through these super quickly.  My favorite one of all is probably the Kukui Oil ones (black bottle with gold lid).  Super moisturizing and makes my naturally frizzy hair so soft!

I had had my last Lemon Drop EOS lip balm for at least 3 years or so, so I went ahead and picked me up a new one.  I did a whole blog post on my favorite beauty products that contain sunscreen this month, (you can see that here) and this is one of my very favorite lip balms.  It has an SPF of 15 and it smells soooooo yummy.

FASHION FAVORITES

These lobster print chinos were perfect to wear to Martha's Vineyard and to Maine this month.  I had so many people asking me where they came from!  I had picked these up earlier this month on eBay, they were originally from Old Navy.  They are super soft and generously sized, they don't really touch you anywhere.  I paired them with a white linen tunic one day and then a peach colored 3/4 sleeve t-shirt another day.  So versatile and easy!

Favorite pj's of the month have to go to this satin set by Victoria's Secret.  These are ancient....at least 10 years old.  I have worn them to death but they still look pretty decent and they feel amazing.  VS satin pajamas are a definite favorite of mine.
OTHER FAVORITES

Favorite candle of the month is my BBW Watermelon Lemonade.  It's not a super strong candle, but you can definitely smell it and it does smell amazing.  Light and fresh and fruity I love these types of scents in the hotter months!

I also wanted to mention my favorite book this month, Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison.  Memoirs are my favorite type of book, and hers was so fun to read!!!  (I finished it in 2 days if that tells you anything).

Thanks for stopping by today, guys!  Let me know what you've been loving!

xo-

New Hampshire: Strawberry Banke Museum!

Hey guys!  While on our recent vacation to the New England area of the States, we spent an afternoon in the beautiful New Hampshire!

I actually fell in love with the Memorial Bridge.  Built between 1920-1923, it is a World War I memorial with a plaque stating:

"Memorial to the Sailors and Soldiers of New Hampshire who participated in the World War 1917-1919."

While visiting Portsmouth, New Hampshire we stopped and toured the Strawberry Banke Museum.   The museum is a small community of buildings that have been preserved and rescued from demolition.  These homes are super old, some being built back in the late 1600's.  32 of the buildings at Strawberry Banke are on their original sites, and 4 were moved here to save them from being demolished.  It's a not-for-profit educational organization where you are able to walk through and look at all of the buildings and see firsthand what life was like during the Civil War era.

As a visitor you get a map of the grounds and there is a brief description on each of the buildings.

It's so beautiful here!

It was amazing how modern and pretty some of these homes were.  A lot of the homes were owned by successful people at the time, and I absolutely fell in love with them!  So simple and classic, I love these old houses!

Chamber pot, anyone?

(A chamber pot, in case you didn't know, refers to a "potty" or pee-pot that folks would use as a toilet at night.  Normally kept at the foot of the bed, all of the bedrooms had these in them in all of the houses).

At the Strawberry Banke Museum you will occasionally see a "role-player", where characters are in full-dress and teach you about what was going on at the time, the family that lived there, that sort of thing.  The kids here in this particular photo loved it.  The lady at the table is the character of Mrs. Shapiro - a Ukranian Jewish immigrant in 1919.

Some buildings/homes/features on the property have not been restored, and those were some of my favorite places to see.

The Pitt Tavern was my favorite of all the buildings.  It's a Revolutionary War-era tavern that so many dignitaries visited.  It was so hard to believe that I was standing in the same spot where George Washington and John Hancock both had stood before me.  So cool!

This particular house, the Sherburne House, was built in 1695 and then later remodeled in 1703.  The darker colored wood is what has been restored, the older/lighter wood is original.

The community as a whole is very patriotic, and in one of the buildings I fell in love with this billboard.  People are encouraged to write on a card if anyone they are related to served in any war and what happened to them.  It meant so much to me to read these cards left by visitors, telling about how their grandfathers or great-grandfathers served this country and what they went through.

#PROUDtobeanAmerican

If you are into this sort of thing, then I highly recommend going to the Strawberry Banke Museum.  So historical and fun to see!  Here is a closeup of the explanations of each of the buildings, in case you are interested in learning more.

Thanks for stopping by today guys and have a blessed week!

Sunkissed Summer Tag 2015!

1.  What is your go-to product for a Sunkissed summer glow?
Bronzer!  I am back on a Nars Laguna kick, and I LOVE the limited edition Tahiti Laguna one they have out.  It's just a slightly larger pan of their classic Laguna bronzer housed in a compact with a baby Ita brush.  So great to travel with!

2.  What book would you recommend for a summer read?
The last book I just finished reading (I read it in two days), Holly Madison's Down the Rabbit Hole.  Memoirs and autobiographies are my favorite types of books and this one did not disappoint!

I met Holly a few years ago in Vegas, so I was so excited to read this!

3.  What's your signature summer scent this year?
I have 2:  Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet and Replica Beach Walk.  They smell SOOOOOO good!

4.  The sun is shining and it's time to get outside!  What's your favorite thing to do?
Travel/Vacation - I'm always up for a trip!  That or go to my mom's to swim and hang out with family ❤️
5.  What's your go-to summer and/or beach food?
A fresh, ripe, juicy Summer peach!
6.  Sunscreen is always important, but it's a MUST in summer!  What's your favorite?
For the body I love the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist with Broad Spectrum SPF 100+.  For the face I love to wear a Coola one on days I'm not wearing makeup, and on days I need some coverage I love my It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+.

7.  After a day in the summer sun and heat, how do you cool off?
A shower or a bath and light/airy pajamas.  I have been loving my satin short pajama set from Victoria's Secret!
8.  How do you wear your hair in the summer? 
Either up and out of my face in a top knot or my usual wavy/loose curls.

9.  Must-have nail polish for summer 2015?
I have 3:  Nails Inc Floral Street, Nails Inc Swan Street, and Essie Chillato!

10.  Sometimes it just feels good to chill out and watch Netflix. What shows do you recommend for Summer?
As far as Netflix shows go, hands down I would say Orange Is The New Black.  I love that and I always watch each season within two days of it's release.  (The 3rd season was just released this month!!)  But, my favorite part of Summer is always BIG BROTHER on CBS!  The 17th season just started this past week and it is absolutely heavenly having it back on!  Yay!!!
11.  Do you wear liquid foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer in the summer? 
All of the above!  In my current rotation I have been using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Coola Natural BB Cream, It Cosmetics CC+ Cream, Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation, and the Dior Airflash Foundation.

12.  It's super bright outside!  Do you reach for sunglasses or a hat?
Both!  But, normally it's just a great pair of sunnies.  This Summer I have totally been loving my Quay Australia shades!

13.  What is your summer jam this year?
If I had to choose just one song I would say "Smoke" by A Thousand Horses.

14.  Do you have a summer bucket list? If so, share some of the things on the list.  
No bucket list really, every Summer I just aim to take a few trips, see something new.  This year we have already been to (Cancun) Mexico, Nashville, Florida, and I just got home from a New England getaway as well (Boston, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Maine, and New Hampshire).  I love to travel!
15.  Bikini, tankini, or one piece?  Show us your fave bathing suit this year!
One piece. My two favorites this year are actually both black and white (I didn't mean to do that!!!)  Striped one is from Forever 21, black and white polka dot one is from Walmart. 

16.  Summer means heat...and sweat!  What's your favorite sweat proof product this year?
Deodorant!
17.  Summer wouldn't be complete without a scoop (or 2) of ice cream!  If you could create your own ice cream flavor, what would it be?
DOUGHNUT! That was SO much fun, guys!  Let me know your favorites and what you're loving!