Summer Essentials 2014

Happy Monday, all! As I’ve hinted at in other posts, these last few months especially, I have been very emotional and not really prone to blogging as much as I’d like. With the move to a new house (yes, we finally found one… more on that later) and all of the issues that have arisen with this pregnancy (it’s seriously been one issue after another– nothing like my first!), it’s been impossible to get my mind organized enough to share with you guys my monthly favorites. Plus, I’ve been trying to save money and be a frugal wife since our monthly payments have gone up a bit and medical bills look both behind and in front of us. Nevertheless, I promise that I will update you all on my progress on powering through my pregnancy and my ever-growing baby bump as soon as I can. For now, though, I wanted to share with you some amazing summer essentials that I wouldn’t have been able to live without this summer. Some of these items are now unavailable due to autumn stock starting to arrive at some stores; I apologize for not posting this sooner! It’s so hard to believe that the season, as we know it, is almost half way over! And with all of the rainy, gloomy days we’ve been subject too on the NC coast (like today) it’s been a bit hard to get the kids out and about to really enjoy the lessened responsiblity summer usually brings. Lot’s of movie days, canvas painting, and book reading happening around our house. For me, mostly, everything in the past few HOT months, everything has been about ease, convenience, fragrance, and taking care of how I look- even though I haven’t been feeling my best. So, let’s dive right in! First, I want to mention this Burt’s Bees line that I’ve been using EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Their brightening line was something that I got turned onto when I noticed a subtle change in my skin, which I can only assume us a result of the extra hormones roaming through my body. I just felt like my skin was slightly more oily and lacking a little bit of the luster that I had with my previous pregnancy. It also helped that my other fave toner and moisturizer just so happen to be discontinued… Like every good product I seem to find. Anyway, I took a chance on the toner first and noticed a dramatic difference, not only in the way that the skin on my face looked but, also felt; like it was breathing again. This stuff seriously sucked all of the excess makeup and dirt out of my pores and prevented breakouts brilliantly. As soon as I could, I went back for the coordinating moisturizer. The smell is very ‘natural’ (for lack of a better word) and may take time for some of you to get used to. I, personally, really like it. It’s also very lightweight and doesn’t make my skin feel greasy- even after hours of wear. I plan to continue using the line and hopefully incorporate the facial wash into my skincare routine soon. Check it out! All that being said, I will go ahead and admit that I haven’t been in much of a beautifying habit when it comes to my everyday makeup. Having, not only our 16 month old but, my step-son home every day (during the weeks he is staying with us) leaves little time for me to get ready in the mornings before the day is in full-swing. If you have kids, you know that the day is already 100% when they open their eyes! ;) So, I’ll just mention a few things that have been complete lifesavers. One of them is this Smashbox Liquid Halo foundation. For as long as I can remember, in the summer, I would just use a cheap foundation that was more day-to-day instead of something pricer. But, when I realized that (because of the hormone changes) my True Match was pretty much sliding off of my face by the end of the day, I decided to invest in something more high end. The Liquid Halo is amazing! Incredibly lightweight, easy to blend, looks natural, and is long wearing. It is build-able, although, I don’t think I will use it for a winter foundation since I like more full coverage during the colder months due to my lack of tan to hide imperfections. However, it was definitely worth every bit of the $42 I spent on it and I will be purchasing again when I run out, this summer or next. Further, you may or may not know that Maybelline The Falsies is my absolute favorite mascara. But, when I think of sweating in the heat, I think if flaking mascara and black formula running under my eyes. Que Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes Waterproof Mascara… I just have to mention how much I LOVE the bottom lash brush. The formula is only slightly stiffer than the original Falsies but, overall, I really like the confidence boost I get from knowing that I’m not going to look like a racoon by bedtime. Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in “Nude Delight” has been my fave for months now. It is the perfect peachy, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, nude that I have found so far. Sometimes I mix it over another lipstick(a neon orange or pink) to tone down the brightness but still get a nice wash of color. It’s very creamy and long-lasting. This will be in my makeup bag on the regular for quite a while, I’ll wager. It’s a Ten Miracle Leave-In Conditioner is a product I’ve been using for about a year but, has really come to my aid during my hiatus from a desperately needed trim. I keep threatening that I’m going to cut my hair short this weekend anyway but, in any event, it does work miracles. This stuff really works hard to detangle, add silkiness, and protect hair. Click HERE to read the ten things it claims to do. In my opinion, it hits every mark! Fragrance has been a very big deal for me, especially since becoming pregnant. I have been extremely drawn to fresh, fruity scents; pretty much the opposite of what I liked pre-pregnancy. Before I was very into wood tones, and musky details but, my sensitive stomach doesn’t seem to tolerate those with a little munchkin dwelling inside. Fortunately, I have been able to find some lovely alternatives. I am really diggin’ the (not pictured) Bodycology scents. I picked up two of them at Target (look HERE and HERE to see the ones I bought). They are very reasonably priced and have some wonderful ingredients like Aloe, Shea Butter, and Vitamin E. Also, Victoria’s Secret pulled out all the stops this summer when it came to their body care line and I stopped in early this season to discover their body butter in “Endless Sunset”. I know that this is unavailable online but, if you happen to live near a store that overstocked this product be sure to check and see if they have any left. The smell always has me fantasizing that I came straight off of a Hawaiian beach! VS body mist in “Such A Flirt” is floral and vivid; I love it for an everyday spritz. Lastly, I don’t think I could bath in anything other than Caress right now. Every body wash they make is so indulgent! I currently obsessed with one of their newest, “Juicy Escape”, that combines lilies and pink grapefruit to produce a sensual, tropical concoction that makes my sense explode every time I step into the shower! This product is proof that you can pamper at home. :) Odors at home have had to be directed toward my liking too. Moving into a new construction home it has seemed a bit sterile as we try to get everything in the right spot and put our mark on the neighborhood. I despised the way the house smelled when we first moved in so I bought candles and febreeze asap! I know that I have previously mentioned candle companies that I like a lot such as Candelles, Rootz, and Everyday Eclectic. But, my favorite candle recently has been one I picked up by chance at Target (and is similar to the one shown above from Bath & Body Works) that smells like Lemon Drops. When I light it my entire house smells like a warm lemon loaf from Starbucks! Unfortunately, these are unavailable online at Target so, unless you chance upon it at your local store, it’s probably out of stock for good. Bath & Body Works isn’t carrying their version right now either but they do have some LOVELY fall candles just in. More on that when I do an autumn post… Only a couple of fashion bits I through in here because yoga pants have been a staple for me just now. However, I am THRILLED that my pre-pregnancy Gap Sexy Boyfriend Jeans still fit me! I have been wearing them OUT! They are the perfect wash, fit, and comfort level for any season. They can be dressed up or down and never go out of style. I will repurchase these no matter how many pair I destroy (which so far hasn’t been any). As featured in my Long Weekend post about 9 weeks ago, cognac colored, leather sandals are a ‘do’ for summer. In my humble opinion, you can NEVER go wrong with a cognac shoe; and no one does it better than Steve Madden. The DONDI sandal I picked up is probably one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned and I’ve been wearing them daily. They go with EVERYTHING and I never have to worry about looking like I tried too hard. I think when you’re dressing for two, it’s easy to look like you don’t care enough or that you care entirely too much. I love anything that makes dressing a bump easier! Also, the fact that I sprained my ankle during my last pregnancy on a pair of wedges made my mind up to find cute flats this time around. My particular sandals (as shown) are only available in limited sizes online but, make sure you check out the other awesome styles too because there are plenty left and all of them equally as adorable and functional. Okay, that’s enough rambling about what I’ve spent my summer using, abusing, and indulging in for now. If you guys have suggestions of products that are still available that I should try before the season is over, let me know in the comments. Thanks so much for stopping by, as always for your support, and for your patience with this mama!!