Friday Crush: Summertime

I heart every single thing about summertime...yes, even the heat.  Scratch that...I loathe shaving my legs...so I guess there is one thing I dislike about summertime...  

Today is the first day of summer and so here are some of my favorite summertime things...

Patterned Shorts * Chambray Shirt * Floppy Hat * Fedora * Swimsuit * Cover-up 

                                    

Birthday Wrap-up

This past weekend was my 28th (AAAHHHHHHH!!!) birthday.  I was fortunate enough to celebrate for two whole days...one with Hubs and one with the girls...so much fun!  

I won't go into a play-by-play of events, but here are two of my favorite things from my birthday.

1.  On Friday (my actual birthday), after a fun afternoon of doing all my favorite things, Hubs took me out to dinner.  We decided to eat somewhere new (to us) and our decision was DiGiulio Brothers.  Y'ALL...OH MY STARS.  I have no idea why it took us this long to eat at such a phenomenal restaurant.  Seriously, GO.  NOW.


2.  This.

My new beach bag/summer tote...Isn't it pretty?!  I pointed to this from across the store once on a grocery shopping trip to Target when Hubs was with me.  And then he went online and ordered it.  And surprised me with it when I woke up on my birthday.  MAJOR points for Hubs...I love it when he is secretly paying attention!!

So far, 28 isn't so bad...I just HATE the fact that it's SO close to 30.  (Dying a little...)


ANNNND I'm just a little sad that no one made me this......

http://www.theendlessmeal.com/birthday-cake-popcorn/

Guess there's always next year.  Hint, Hint.

Friday Crush : Gatsby

I am beyond crushing on Carrie Mulligan ( & Leo) in The "new" Great Gatsby.  I want it all to be real-life and I want to be IN it.  I want all of my future parties to be 20s themed and I am now on a mission to buy copious amounts of scarves and headbands to wear in my hair at all times.  

I can't possibly pick a favorite moment or outfit from this movie, but this is definitely one of them.  I adore the wardrobe in the scene below.  I know I would look just darling in her outfit and Hubs would kill in that sweater.  I just KNOW it.  So perfectly summer.

My new BFFs.  I DIE for these two.

I fully intend to own this in the near future.  Because in my next life, it's going to be true.

Summer Reading

Need a good book to read this summer?  This is one of my all-time favorites.  I have read it at least 5 times and recommend it to EVERYONE I come in contact with.  I read this book in one sitting (every time!), staying up until the very wee hours of the morning because I can't put it down.  Oh, and you'll cry like a baby...at least I did.  

If you like to read and need a new book, do yourself a favor and buy this one. It's really THAT good.

The Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares

Photo: tumblemepinkk

Sunless Tanner Recipe

I have fair skin.  And I've always hated it.  HATED IT.  As a child we would go swimming all the time.  My mom would grease us down with SPF 1,000 50+, you know the kind that is so thick that no amount of "rubbing it in" does anything and you spend the whole day with white streaks up and down your body.  But that wasn't enough, I still had to sit and wait for the sunscreen plaster to "soak in" (like that's gonna happen) while I watched my sister and everyone else jump right in.  It was obviously soul crushing since I still remember it.  But, I guess I should be grateful there was no "t-shirt swimming" in my life, right?!  Maybe everything does have a silver lining.

Photo: Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images

In high school, I was forbidden from going to the tanning bed.  So, I turned to the lovely orange-hued spray tan and I LOVED it.  I seriously thought I should be on the cover of Bronzed Beauties or something.  I'm pretty sure I walked around the house in the shortest shorts I was allowed to own and a sports bra for DAYS after each spray tan.  I only got two...you're welcome, family.

I became more sophisticated defiant in college and decided I was going to the tanning bed whether my parents liked it or not.  Obviously, I didn't tell them.  

Since then, I have tried many ways to get (and stay) tan all summer and use as little sunscreen as possible.  Talk about being blonde dumb.  I did not listen to one single lecture from my parents about skin cancer (even though both of them have had numerous skin cancer spots removed) or let one single excruciating sunburn stop me.  But I'm old now and don't have time to deal with the ramifications of sunshine on my skin.

The sunburn I got a few months ago was one of the most painful experiences in my life thus far.  I had not been that sunburned in 5 years or so and it was AWFUL.  So, since I'm spending more money on sunscreen and big hats, I don't have any left over for professional spray tans.  Plus, I just don't have the time.  (I'm one of those people who can't do anything else on the day an appointment is scheduled because I'm so obsessed with being on time.)

Solution: 

http://www.thecreativityexchange.com/2011/05/recipe-for-the-best-self-tanning-lotion-2.html

I bought the exact lotions in the picture and I think they work great!  It took me forever to find the Banana Boat lotion in the light/medium color (Walmart was the only place I could find it).  

I have now used this "recipe" twice and I love it.  There is a slight smell, but I kind of like it and Hubs doesn't even notice it.  NO STREAKING either.  I put it on at night (every 3 days or so) after I shower and shave, let it dry for a few hours before going to bed and I'm golden, literally.  I mix enough for one leg at a time...equal parts of each lotion in my palm mixed together with my finger and then applied to skin.  WASH HANDS after!!  

So happy I found something CHEAP that works!  Everyone feels better when they are "tan", am I right?!

Summer Loves

It is feeling more and more like summer every day...HALLELUJAH!!  And summer = shopping...at least to me!  But I hate spending tons of money on single items, so I always try to find quality that is less expensive.  So, my favorite go-to places are J. Crew Factory and Target.  Here are 3 items that I have recently purchased that are inexpensive, but I guarantee (with proper care) will last you all summer and most likely through next summer too.  

T-shirt:  I discovered these lightweight v-neck shirts from J. Crew Factory last summer (and they still look great!) and seriously can't get enough of them!  I bought 3 more a couple weeks ago and they are even better than the ones I purchased last year (tagless, more vibrant colors).  They are so lightweight, comfortable, and cute.  I love me a v-neck.  OBSESSED. 

P.s...The J. Crew Factory store FINALLY opened at the Tanger Outlet mall in Gonzales TODAY.  GO!

Sandals:  I bought these from Target a few weeks ago and they are the best!  They are crazy comfortable because they are padded on the bottom.  Which means you can't feel every little rock you step on, like so many other flat sandals.  SCORE.  Plus, they are black AND brown...with a gold toe.  What's not to love there?!

Swimsuit:  I typically only buy one new swimsuit a year.  And I'm not a huge fan of buying super expensive swimsuits, because places like Target have really great ones that last for years...as long as you take care of them!