Saturday Shopping 6/23/2018

I can't believe I haven't done one of these in the past few weeks! I've been so busy! This week I came down with a cold and then yesterday it hit me way harder than expected. I thought I was on the mend (the cold started out as not bad at all). I spent most of the day yesterday working from the couch under blankets with soup and lots of water.

I'm using today as a good day to sleep in, recover and relax! Normally I'd be bummed to be a bit out of commission on a weekend, but it has been gross and rainy for the past few days so it just feels right! 

Since I had some extra computer time, I definitely browsed a lot, so I have a lot to share in the widget at the top of this post! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Hair FAQ

Since I started Summer Wind back in 2009, the subject of my hair has always been the top topic of discussion. It's always so flattering and I really appreciate all of the compliments! After I tried out Wella Professionals color and WELLAPLEX bond repair system and shared my experience, I received an influx of questions. So, I decided to gather all of the questions and create an FAQ post!

What color is your natural hair?

Dark brown! I grew up with dark blonde hair and it became increasingly darker as I got older. 

What is your natural hair texture?

Extremely thick, voluminous and frizzy. It's not pin-straight but has a very subtle wave to it. Growing up, it was always pin-straight and has gotten a bit wavier as I get older. 

Since your hair is naturally dark, how did you transition to blonde?

I started going blonde when my hair was naturally much lighter... around 6th grade. I used Sun-In (haha!!) and it started to turn blonde during the summers on its own. In 9th grade, I finally went to a salon and got highlights and I've been blonde ever since. My hair holds blonde color very well. 

How do you get so much volume? 

This is one of my most popular questions! Truly this is mostly natural. I wish I could tell you I have some great technique or magic product but for the most part, this is just my hair. The only thing I can recommend is that I blow-dry my hair upside down (just because that's quickest for me) which I think probably helps with the volume. I also think adding dry shampoo to your roots a few days after washing really helps. I think it particularly helps when you are styling your hair in a side-braid, top knot, or something that 'pulls' on your hair.

Top recommendations for salons in Pittsburgh?

I go to Studio Booth in East Liberty which does both Wella Professionals color and WELLAPLEX treatment. I go to Jay and couldn't recommend the salon or Jay more! You can find a Wella salon in your area, here. 

Does WELLAPLEX change the texture of your hair?

WELLAPLEX quite literally repairs your hair. I personally noticed that my hair seemed shinier, stronger, and my stylist said that it helps hair to hold the color better and longer! Couldn't recommend this more.

How do you keep your hair healthy in between salon visits?

I use the Wella Professionals FUSIONPLEX Intense Repair line. This consists of an Intense Repair shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask. These products work along with WELLAPLEX but you can also use them even if you haven't done WELLAPLEX. It helps repair your hair which is super important to me because when you color your hair, you are creating damage- especially for blondes. I truly think this is what has made my hair so strong, smooth, and shiny. Plus, it smells wonderful. 

How often do you get your hair highlighted?

Every 4-6 weeks. I really wish I could go longer in between appointments but my hair grows SO fast. 

Will you ever go back to your natural color?

Never say never! But I doubt it. Blonde is just me. Any stylist I have ever seen has told me to never cut it and never do anything dramatically different with the color because I have such good hair that holds blonde so well. Sometimes, during the winter months, I go darker, but never anything dark enough to be considered 'dark'.

What is your favorite shampoo to keep your blonde color looking bright?

This shampoo and conditioner from the Wella Professionals FUSIONPLEX line. It's not specifically for blondes, but I use it because it helps to repair the damage! I do not use a purple shampoo or anything to keep my color looking 'bright'. I personally prefer a golden blonde so that type of product is not right for me. I am extremely picky when it comes to shampoo and conditioner so for me to recommend a shampoo/conditioner, then you know it's good. 

What do you ask for when you get your haircut?

I get it cut straight across in the back and then subtle face-framing angles in the front.

What do you ask for when you go for highlights?

I don't typically ask for anything, I just say 'do with what you think is best but keep it golden blonde'. I get WELLAPLEX with Wella Professionals BLONDOR FREELIGHTS lightener, and a golden toner. I think the golden toner is KEY if you want to replicate my hair color. My hair often shows up platinum or very bright in photos, but in real life, it's truly more of a warm, golden blonde. I have never been into white blonde/ashy. Nothing against it, that is just my personal preference and what I think works best with my tones! 

Do you get your roots lifted?

No! 

How do you keep your hair from getting frizzy?

A weekly intense hair mask is really great for keeping hair shiny and healthy. I love the Wella Professionals FUSIONPLEX Intense Repair mask. I also swear by the Wella Professionals Oil Reflection Luminous Smoothing Oil. If it's humid or I'm traveling and in a humid climate, I carry around the travel size Light Luminous Reflective Oil and reapply when necessary. I use the 'light' version because I will have probably already used the oil several times so I don't want it to build up heavily in my hair! 

I'll also just 'own it' if it's super humid and I can't seem to tame my hair. I love doing a side-braid or top knot to keep it tamed and under control.

How do you preserve your hair when you sleep?

I don't really do anything special, but I don't roll around too much while I sleep, If you do- grab a scrunchie and twirl your hair up into a bun on the very top of year head. Tie the scrunchie very loose so your bun feels like it is going to fall out. This will keep your hair from getting messed up but also won't create any creases. I also think silk pillowcases make a big difference! 

What do you use to pull your hair back?

I swear by these claw clips and these coiled hair ties. I've tried the less pricey versions of the coiled hair tie and these are honestly worth the higher price. They don't break and they hold my hair so much better! 

Was your hair always long and if not, how did you grow it?

It was short once in 5th grade and never again. I've asked stylists over the years if I should cut it and they've all said absolutely no so I don't. While it's always been 'long' I have had varying lengths. Sometimes it's super long and sometimes it's a bit below my shoulders. When I get a cut (about 4 or more times a year), I just say 'take off as much as needed for it to look healthy again'. My hair grows back extremely fast so cutting off several inches never bothers me. 

I think if you are looking to grow your hair faster, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is something to try out. It makes my hair and nails grow SO fast. 

Do you ever use extensions?

Nope. Never. Nothing against them, they're just not for me!

Do you wash your hair every day? 

No! The only time I ever wash my hair daily is if I am on vacation and in and out of pools/lakes/oceans/ etc. and it absolutely needs to be washed. I wash my hair about once a week, sometimes twice. It varies a lot because it depends on workouts/sweating/traveling/etc. 

What is your favorite dry shampoo?

Wella's EIMI Dry Me Dry Shampoo.  I typically use dry shampoo the day before I wash my hair and it needs a little 'oomph'. 

Thank you to Wella for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.

Lately 6/21/2018

Sailboat Print Dress// Monogram Painted Tote

Sandals// Sunglasses 

This week was nuts but in a good way! After being in Nantucket all last week and all of the Father's Day festivities this weekend, Monday was the first day I really was able to start unpacking, sifting through e-mails, cleaning up the apartment, doing laundry, etc. It was also when I started getting a cold. Yesterday was the worst of the cold (hopefully) but it wasn't debilitating and I kept chugging right along.

I always feel a bit overwhelmed when I get back, but now that I am mostly caught up, it feels so good! I have a 3-week 'break' before my next trip so it will be nice to get back into a good routine.

Wearing: I love a good swimsuit coverup and this one is SO cute. I also love when they can double as a dress and this one can! I wore this to Cisco Brewers one day on Nantucket. It's super easy breezy to wear- perfect for super hot weather (which we did not have on Nantucket, ha!).

Eating: These low carb wraps taste SO good, are huge, and low in calories compared to most other wraps and tortillas. 

Drinking: I've shared this before, but I've been drinking it a lot so I thought I would share again. One of my all-time favorite tea is Tazo's Refresh green tea. It's mint so it's light and refreshing and since it is caffeine-free, I really enjoy drinking it before bedtime. 

Reading: 53 Amazon products with the highest ratings. I have been seeing this ice roller EVERYWHERE and finally caved and bought it because it also made that list. I'll report back! 

Watching: I follow the 'Who Remembers' page on Facebook and every once in a while a real gem pops up in my newsfeed. This week, this 90's 'I'm Back from School' video popped up and it brought my entire childhood back in a flash.

Watching II: Speaking of the 90's, my friend Aly made me aware that Disney (on demand) has SO many Disney Chanel Original Movies to watch! Think Halloweentown, Smart House, Rip Girls, Brink, Johnny Tsunami, and more. Totally brings me back... I hope Disney keeps adding more because Disney was my jam when I was little. My sister and I watched these movies over and over! 

Listening: My June playlist is chugging right along! There are some real gems on it. I'm especially into James Bay's new music! 

Loving: Just booked a trip to stay in a literal treehouse this fall! I saw these treehouses last summer and by the time I tried to book a house, they were all filled, so this year I got way ahead of the game and booked 4.5 months in advance! Can't wait!

Wanting: For a busy week, I managed to come across a bunch of great stuff! Can't get enough of these pajamas they will forever be my favorites. They're expensive but worth every penny. I have several pairs and wear them weekly. I just ordered a new pair and can't wait for them to arrive! They run true to size! 

Pittsburgh-ing: This sandwich is sooooo good and totally worth a trip to Primanti's! 

Quoting: 'Feel the fear and do it anyway.'// See more of my favorites, here. 

Father's Day 2018

 On My Dad:

Pullover// Polo Shirt

Patchwork Shorts// Belt

On Me:

Sleeveless Shirt (solid version)// Skirt

Shop the Look:

This past Saturday was so much fun! For Father's Day, my dad and I played in our club's Father/Daughter golf outing. They had it when we were younger, then stopped doing it and have started it back up again!

Typically, Callie plays with my dad in this tournament because she is the golfer. She was on the golf team in high school and captain of the varsity team. She keeps up with it and is really good! 

On the other hand, there is me. I was a cheerleader in high school and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, cheerleading does not help you win the Father/Daughter golf tournament, ha! 

Besides the fact that I won't be on the next PGA tour, we had such a fun time (we missed Callie, though!) and the tournament was so well done. When we arrived, all the daughters were given a gift bag and afterward, we had a dinner where prizes were awarded! It was fun being with friends and family after a fun day on the course. I feel so lucky to have such amazing parents and have them as my best friends. They're truly the best! 

When I was looking for an outfit for the tournament, I had to keep in mind the club's dress code. Your skort (or shorts) can't be too short and you have to be wearing a collared shirt. Surprisingly, finding cute golf clothes for women is like finding a needle in a haystack. I found most of the options to be boring or frumpy or made of a material that wasn't great for activity. 

Enter Vineyard Vines: I knew they had some great athletic gear like leggings, but I really didn't know how amazing their golf and tennis selection is for both men and women. The pieces are high-quality, very functional, and SO cute! Not only did I wear my outfit for the golf tournament, but it's an outfit I'd wear to run errands, to go on a long walk with Henry and to play tennis!

The women's pieces run true to size. I am wearing a size small in the top and a size medium in the skirt. I sized up in the skirt because I was concerned about length. However, you should definitely stick to your normal size or even size down. The medium skirt was really big on me and length would be no issue because it's pretty long (I'm 5'6"). I also think you can size down in the top, the small fit but was roomy and wasn't as tight as I like for athletic endeavors!

As for my dad's outfit, I am obsessed. He has never been one to shy away from color or print and I love that about him. He always puts together such a great outfit and he is such a fan of Vineyard Vines. I loved that he chose the patchwork shorts because they remind me of Vineyard Vines when I was in college! I still have patchwork pieces from years ago that I just love!

As much as my dad is a great dresser, I have to take credit for my entire family's love of Shep Shirts, though. I was the first to get one and ever since, my mom, dad, sister, and I all have several each because we love them so much. The relaxed Shep Shirt is my favorite of all time and I saw this one in Nantucket and absolutely fell in love.

This is not a sponsored post, however, Vineyard Vines generously gifted us the outfits!