Saturday, May 30, 2020

Saturday Shopping


Happy weekend, friends! We don't have too many plans this weekend (shocker). Last night we went over to my parent's house for my favorite Mineo's pizza which is always nice! This morning, I am super excited to do an outdoor socially distanced Orange Theory workout. I cannot tell you all how amazing our Orange Theory and the coaches have been throughout all of this. They have hosted live workouts twice a day every single day, they have posted health tips, easy recipes, etc. from the coaches on social media and more. So today they're doing two socially distanced outdoor workouts and it is truly going to be the highlight of my weekend. I'm sure it will be SO tough, but I am here for it! We were also announced into the green phase yesterday and we get to enter that phase next Friday. That means hair salons are finally allowed to open (appointment only and with masks) and I seriously cannot wait to get my hair cut and highlighted... I think I will feel like a new person when that happens. Things are starting to look up and I feel some excitement again! 






Friday, May 29, 2020

The Best Moisturizer With Sunscreen





Let's chat sunscreen, shall we? Today I'm partnering with Olay, a brand I have loved for years, to share details about their Regenerist Whip SPF 40. I totally get that it can be annoying or hard to work face sunscreen into your routine if you haven't found a product that you love. Plus, during the winter months, it's hard to remember because you're not necessarily out in the sun all day! 

But, as the days grow longer (yay!!) and we start seeing more and more of the sun, it's so important to remember to protect your skin from the sun! I have always been a fan of Olay products and love the Regenerist Whip SPF 40 is one of the best!

I know the term 'self-care' looks different for everyone. I've personally noticed as I get older, self-care for me looks less like bubble baths and more like long walks with Henry, a solid and regimented skincare routine, and taking my daily vitamins. I'm definitely more conscious of my health and part of that is keeping my skin protected from the sun's harmful rays. Within my regimented morning skincare routine, I use Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 40 as a way to keep my skin healthy. 

I was not always good with sun protection. I've shared this before, but when I was in high school, I would lay out in the sun, oftentimes with no sunscreen on! I was a lifeguard and on our country club's summer swim team so I was always out in the sun. I had cheerleading camp 2-a-days in August each year in high school and we were out in the sun from morning until night and I rarely ever reapplied my sunscreen. I cringe just thinking about all of that unprotected sun exposure!!! 

Because of that, I am extra cautious with taking care of my skin with a good skincare routine and always wearing sunscreen! I think one of the things that helps me to remember to apply sunscreen is that Olay's Regenerist Whip SPF 40 is a moisturizer and has SPF! It's a 2-in-1! You get the benefits of Olay's Regenerist moisturizer like a more even skin tone, moisturized skin, and so much more but you also get to protect your skin from the sun in one step. 

It's also extremely blendable and lightweight. So it applies just like a moisturizer and you can easily apply your makeup right afterward because it immediately absorbs into your skin. I also love it on no-makeup days because it doesn't make my face look shiny (it's matte) or leave any residue so you can't tell I have anything on at all. 
Henry, my fiancĂ©, and I have been going on tons of walks lately. I love getting outside and breathing in the fresh air and getting exercise. It truly makes a difference in my physical and mental health. Knowing that I'm protected from the sun while being outside, makes me feel even better! 

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Lately

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and have had a great week. We have had a crazy heatwave this week. Tuesday was SO hot. I normally go on a 4-mile walk and by mile 3 I was truly too hot to keep going... which is really saying something for late May in Pittsburgh!!! But I'm so thankful for the sun!

Not really much to report from this week. We have been spending a lot of time outside. I don't have a ton of good outfits for you all as I have been in workout clothes for most of this week. I find that if I put them on in the morning, at some point during the day, I'm much more likely to work out.

I have, however, been browsing a TON online to find a handful of flowy dresses to purchase for this summer. When it gets into the high 80s and 90s, I'm reminded how I really only ever want to wear loose, flowy dresses to stay cool so I add a few each year to my collection. This week definitely reminded me and that's why I've been heavily browsing. I'll pull all of my picks into a post coming soon.

Wearing: I wore this Eyelet Shift Dress over the weekend and it is about as classic as you can get. I love wearing white dresses in the summer and this shift-style is just so cute. If you look closely, you can see the eyelet pattern is in the shape of pineapples! This runs really big so size down. I am wearing a size 2 and probably could have gotten a size 0! 

Eating: I like the frozen chocolate covered banana slices at Trader Joe's but then I tried Diana's Banana's (found at Aldi) which are half banana's covered in chocolate on a stick and OMG they are truly incredible. They taste equally as good as ice cream. A tasty 'healthier' option for the summer months! 

Drinking: I don't drink White Claw too often but on a really hot summer night they are fun! I recently tried the Tangerine and you guys it is SO good. It tastes so similar to tangerine la croix! 

Reading: I have love a claw clip. I have so much hair and the giant ones are the only ones that work in my hair so this is a funny article! These are the big clips that I swear by! 

Watching: We watched the second Supersize Me documentary and it was so interesting... it's about fast-food chicken chains and just really eye-opening. 

Listening: I started a summer 2020 playlist and there isn't a ton just yet but it's all so good!! 

Loving: Oh my goodness I can't resist a blue and white plate but these are only $10/each and I love them. 

Wanting: This has Bordallo Pinheiro vibes but for way less!

Pittsburgh-ing: On 6/5 we are finally allowed to eat outdoor at restaurants. There are not a ton of outdoor spaces at many Pittsburgh restaurants so it's going to be tough to find many options but I'll take it!
Smelling: Just got this pretty citronella candle under $15. It's huge so hopefully, it keeps the bugs away! We only have space for a small setup and so we had a small sectional and tiny coffee table and have decided to get rid of that and go with an outdoor dining table and chairs as it just makes more sense for our lifestyle! I'm excited for the new to arrive so we can spend basically every second outside! 

Quoting: 'Humble as ever but aware of my value.' // See more of my favorites, here. 

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Let's Chat Water Bottles: Hydro Flask Review

I've always been a big reusable water bottle person. In high school, it was a Nalgene bottle, in college it was a Camelbak. Now, I actually don't find myself using a water bottle that often day-to-day as I always prefer to drink out of a real glass.

But, let's chat reusable water bottles, shall we? What you like to drink water out of is very personal. That's a really weird sentence, but seriously, there are so many different lifestyles that require different features! It's about as personal a preference as to how you like your steak cooked or whether you prefer the beach or the lake. There are different types and I know you can be a strong fan of one or another.

For activities, or in the car, I love my S'well bottle. It is the shape and size of a traditional 16 oz. plastic water bottle but it is insulated. It has a screw-off top and a regular-sized mouth. 

However, I found the 16oz. S'well bottle to be annoying as I would end up wasting my precious Orange Theory minutes (well at least when I was able to actually go to Orange Theory) constantly filling up my bottle. I end up drinking anywhere from 32-50oz. in each 60 minute class and to fill up my bottle more than twice would get on my nerves (talk about first world problems, I know).

I have been doing the at-home workouts that are live with our studio coaches (I love them) and I notice that even in those, I'm running over to my refrigerator to fill up!

So, back in November, I searched high and low for a 32 oz. bottle that was insulated. I landed on the Hydro Flask as that seems to be the craze right now. My aunt generously got me the Hydro Flask for Christmas with accessories like the silicone boot and the flip-top lid. The thing that bothers me is the nickel and diming - I mean, water bottles have accessories?! Not to mention, the bottle itself is relatively expensive. The 'boot' is supposed to protect it from denting (which it shouldn't dent if it costs $45, right?). So far, the boot has done its job and my water bottle hasn't dented. I also like that it keeps it from moving around on a hard surface. 

Anyway, I have been using the Hydro Flask for about 6 months (since Christmas) and I really only use it in my Orange Theory classes (or the live-at-home OTF classes). Otherwise, I prefer my S'well bottle. Here are my cons... 

-I find that the flip-top lid that I have is annoying to drink out of as I have to hold it up for quite a while to get a mouth full of water (the water flow isn't just terrible). I did get the straw top after a few of you recommended that to me via DM and it's definitely better but now I'm paranoid about bacteria and mold in the straw. I read some reviews and they all said this type of water bottle straw can get gross. So I'm insanely diligent about cleaning it. 

- It leaks occasionally. Not terrible enough to create a puddle in your bag or anything like that but enough to be annoying. 

- It does not fit in a cup holder. This is my #1 complaint!!! It doesn't fit in a treadmill cup holder or in a car cupholder. 

- The water bottle without water in it is SO heavy (compared to most other water bottles I have tried). It feels well-made, but at the same time, I don't want to carry it around empty let alone full with 32 oz. of water!! 

All-in-all I'm entirely underwhelmed and do not get the hype at all. I shared this frustration with you all on Instastories a while ago and many of you commiserated with me but a lot of you praised the Hydro Flask but said I needed to get the straw lid... another $10 spent on this darn water bottle, but I appreciated the tip so much!

I'm going to keep giving it a chance, but a lot of you had recommended some other brands and I thought I would share the top-recommended bottles here as a lot are much cheaper. I just don't think Hydro Flask is truly worth its price.

Simple Human// The reviews on Amazon alone are enough to sell me on it. SO many of you said this is your favorite water bottle of all-time and it's half the price of a Hydro Flask. I love all of the fun color options, too. The 32 oz. does not fit in a cup holder. Just as a general note to self, before I ever buy another water bottle or any type of thermos/to-go cup, I am making sure it can fit in a cup holder. 

Camelbak// This is a bit different from the silicone straw top that I had in college. Instead, this has a chute-style top but what is really neat is that the cap that comes off attaches magnetically to the side so it doesn't get in the way while you drink. 

Thermoflask// This is another highly recommended one that has a very similar look/functionality to Hydro Flask. Apparently, this is also sold at Costco in a 2-pack for a steal! 

S'well Sports Cap// A bunch of people recommended getting the sports cap for my beloved S'well but some people did say that these leak, so beware! 

Gatorade Bottle// This is only $6 but so many said it's the perfect workout water bottle since you can easily and quickly get as much water as you need! There are over 3000 good reviews.

Do you all have any other great water bottle recommendations? Let me know! 

Monday, May 25, 2020

Memorial Day Sales

Memorial Day Sales

Memorial Day Sales

Memorial Day Sales
Happy long weekend! I hope you are all doing something fun this weekend and making the best of it how you can. As always, I'm sharing a roundup of sales. Sales have been wild this entire stay-at-home period but as I was going through the sales this year and comparing them to last year, they're so much bigger.

Sale Items I Love:

Abercrombie// 40-60% Off Throughout the Store + Extra 15% Off Select Styles + Free Shipping on Orders Over $75.
Ann Taylor// 60% off code: SUMMER
Anthropologie// Extra 50% off sale. 
Barrington// 15% off with code AMERICA and they are also donating 5% to Feeding America
Bloomingdales// 30-50% off select items, extra 50% off clearance marked items. the cashmere travel wraps that are almost identical to the White and Warren ones that I love so much are on sale for just $100! The diamond necklace I wear all the time is custom but this almost identical necklace is currently $450 which is a really great price. Lots of Matouk on sale! 
Brooks Brothers// Online clearance, extra 30% off.  
Club Monaco// 25% off any purchase, code: LONGWEEKEND. Love this navy jacket and 
Dermstore// 20% off select products. Score some of my favorites like the wet brush,  daily peel padssilk pillowcase. These daily glyoclic pads in a high strength have become a favorite of mine. They are STRONG but boy do they work. Use code SUMMER. 
Gap// 50% off everything, use code WARM. This little cami bra is one of my all-time favorites to wear with lounge clothes! And you all know how I feel about this sweatshirt and these sweatpants! This navy and white striped boatneck shirt is such a classic and also a steal. 
Jack Rogers// Lots of styles on sale including some classic Jacks for just $59. 
J.Crew// 60% off your entire purchase, code: HISUMMER
Lisi Lerch// 30% off jewelry and select handbags! 
L.L. Bean// 15% off with code SUNNY15
LOFT// 50% off everything, code: FRIEND
Mark and Graham// Extra 30% off sale. This would make a really cute gift for bridesmaids!
Nordstrom// Clearance Sale, up to 60% off.
Pottery Barn// Up to 25% off with code SAVEMORE.
Ralph Lauren// Extra 30% off sale
Saks Fifth Avenue// Designer Sale up to 50% off.
Shopbop// Up to 40% off, new sale items added!
Talbots// Extra 40% off one item, Extra 50% off two or more items, no code needed
Tory Burch// up to 40% off!
Tuckernuck// Extra 25% off sale using code BERRY25
Williams-Sonoma// Up to 75% off clearance event (100s of items). 

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Affordable Athletic Pieces


Affordable Athletic Pieces
Shop the Pieces:

Today I'm partnering with Walmart to share with you all some really great and affordable athletic pieces! It all started with these Shorts. They're seriously only $10 and they're modest, lightweight, and perfect for working out.

I prefer to workout in shorts (rather than leggings) in the warmer months so I have quite the collection. However, it's hard to find anything modest that is not too short. These have a 5" inseam so they're perfect!! They come in a bunch of colors. I tried both the size small and medium and would recommend going with your true size. The smalls fit perfectly on me!

Check out the items below to see a few other pieces that I ordered. I've obviously been working out from home and not my usual Orange Theory classes so it was nice to treat myself to a few new pieces to keep my motivation going! 

Affordable Athletic Pieces
These are the shorts I was talking about and this tank is just a great basic lightweight racerback tank. It's breathable but doesn't look super 'athletic' so you could wear it under a sweater or something like that, too! 

Affordable Athletic Pieces
 Tank// Shorts
This tank looks and feels so nice for the price. It's super breathable and I like ombré green. It has a mesh panel on the back for a lot of breathability.
Affordable Athletic Pieces
This is the same tank as the black one above. The white is a little see-through but I don't' mind that in a workout top. It's super breathable!
Affordable Athletic Pieces
This sweatshirt is really cute. I sized up to a medium for an oversized fit. It's ribbed and just overall a great layer if you are on a chillier walk or post-run. 

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Lately

We are heading into Memorial Day weekend! Can you believe it? Summer is basically here. Here in Pittsburgh we are still very much shut down which is a real bummer but I am hopeful and excited to make the best of this holiday weekend!

My fiancé ordered us a tie-dye kit because he wanted to tie-dye shirts. I'm not so into the whole tie-dye trend, but it will be a fun activity for us. I also want to order rollerblades (LOL). We did have a picnic one weekend which was truly wonderful so I think that might make the agenda this weekend and maybe we will do a blind wine tasting- we'll see! It has been really nice that we are able to golf here. It's not really my thing, but it makes my fiancé so happy so I am glad!

We have also been having wonderful weather so I have been getting in a ton of 4-mile walks. That seems like my sweet spot with my walking distance. On the last mile, I will sometimes run, which is really saying something because unless I am at Orange Theory I am NOT a runner.
Eating: I mostly try to make my own dressings at home but I have never been quite able to recreate this dressing at home. It is SO good.  It's very similar to the dressing at one of my favorite sushi places here in Pittsburgh, Little Tokyo, and just tastes so fresh. I also use it as a marinade. It's soooo good on salmon. I typically find it at Target and Giant Eagle. 
Drinking: Heading into the weekend, here is a recipe for my low cal margarita recipe

Reading: I literally never read 'tabloids' but this Southern Charm drama is juicy!
Sale-ing: Sooo many sales going on right now because of the holiday weekend. I'll be back this weekend with a full list of sales. In the meantime, Lisi Lerch is doing a big sale where you can get 30% off everything! 

Watching:
 This is SO funny... it's a parody on how to load the dishwasher... and this is SO my fiancĂ©!!!
Loving: These are the inexpensive tinted lip balms that I love and right now you can get both for $26 total!

Wanting: Lots of sales going on because of Memorial Day Weekend, so keep an eye out! 

Smelling:

Quoting: 'Train your mind to see the good in everything. Positivity is a choice. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.' // See more of my favorites, here. 

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Home Items On Sale

We are creeping up on Memorial Day Weekend and the sales are rolling right in. There are tons, but I wanted to highlight a bunch of home items. I am constantly asked about what to add to a registry or even just what some of my go-to home basics are like glassware, etc. 

I linked to exactly what we registered for, here. I did a comprehensive post about items, here. So today's post is going to just highlight many home items that I personally love that are on sale and that are an integral part of our daily life at home. Everything I am including is ON SALE... I will add more as more sales pop up throughout the rest of this week and weekend so keep checking back!

Wusthof Knife Set// This is 16 pieces for Under $300 which is CRAZY. We have a larger set and use it every single day. If you don't have nice knives, I highly recommend taking the plunge. They are a game-changer in slicing and dicing. I was skeptical before spending on knives but I bought the Wusthof brand a few years ago and have never looked back. They make cutting even stupid simple things like bread or vegetables SO smooth and easy. You can see the knife set and dutch oven in the photo at the top of this post!

Staub Dutch Oven// I have never cooked in this but my fiancĂ© uses it at least once a week. It's great for sauces, soups, and really pretty much anything. I, however, did the research as these aren't cheap and the Staub one is apparently a little better than the Le Creuset brand because of the little nubs on the underneath part of the lid... it apparently draws up the condensation and the nubs drip it back into whatever you are cooking. Either way, this is a great kitchen item and I have been reaping the benefits of delicious meals made by my fiancĂ© in this! 

All-Clad Pots and Pans// This brand is high quality and will last you forever. There are tons of different ones on sale. They're pricey so any savings can be a big help. I use my pans from cooking everything from eggs to salmon! 

Waterford Crystal Stemless Wine Glasses// These are gorgeous and high-quality... they are heavy duty and hold wine beautifully. We have these in a different pattern and use them all the time not only for wine but they're perfect for cocktails, too. My fiancĂ© loves them so much he uses them as his daily water glass. I put them in the dishwasher and they've always held up perfectly. 

Linen Napkins// These are such nice quality. Thick and durable, they wash well, too. Some sets of 4 are under $30. 

Wine Cooler// We have this exact one. It was out of stock when I wrote this post and is now back! This one is on sale for $35. 

Initial Old Fashioned Glasses// One of my girlfriend's got us these glasses and we love them and use them all of the time. They're pretty large so they're nice for molded ice cubes (like spheres, etc.) to hold spirits like bourbon.

Printed Tablecloth// For under $50 this tablecloth is great. It has an India Amory vibe. Although the quality is less than IM (I have one of her's and it's very high quality), it still achieves that same look for almost a third of the price.


Rattan Placemats// We use these all the time. I love their casual look and that they are neutral. They are sturdy and just add a nice texture to a tablescape.

Scalloped Salad Plates// We have both the dinner plates and salad plates but we use the salad plates more as they are good for everyday portion control when it is just the two of us! They're beautiful, heavy, and don't chip easily and hold up well in the dishwasher. 

Bath Towels// We use these in the guest bathroom and they're SO nice. So soft and really thick and high quality. Use code ATHOME. We also have Weezie towels that we use in our master and we love those, too. Similar in quality to these but I've never seen them go on sale. Also, most of our bedding is also included in the sale!

Orrefors Bowl// I LOVE Orrefors. It's similar to Waterford in that it is cut crystal but the designs are a bit more contemporary. I have a vintage design but this is similar in size and everything. It's 50% off and honestly, I might buy one or two to give as Christmas gifts/housewarming gifts/etc.

Spode Pasta Bowls// These are definitely our most-used dishes. We don't use them just for pasta but for literally everything. They work SO nicely for chopped salads or even things like chili. They're shallow so it's like a cross between a plate and a bowl.


Chaise Lounge Chair// We refer to these as our chairs and we each have one and we only sit on 'ours', ha! But seriously these are the MOST comfortable chairs you will ever find. Ever. The price is insanely low for a chair like this. It's solid, high quality, and wears well. These are big so keep that in mind, but you'll never find anything better. The price fluctuates quite a lot on these so keep your eye out as I'm thinking maybe they'll dip even lower in the next few days? No idea, but that's my guess. 

Alpaca Blanket// This is the blanket on the chaise in the photo above. I've featured it a lot but it really is a fantastic blanket. I feel SO spoiled when I curl up in it every morning with my coffee. It's pricey so getting it on sale is key. 

Crystal Ice Bucket// Besides an ice bucket, I use this as a vase or to display items or even use as a silverware roll holder if I'm hosting a larger gathering. It's just beautiful but also inexpensive! 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Summer Pastels

Summer Pastels

Pastels are very 'in' right now but at the same time, I'm not so sure they ever really left. I do, however, think the 1990's pastel floral Laura Ashley look is also very in which is more of a trend than here to stay. 

Since there is so much pastel goodness out right now, I thought I would round up some of my favorites. As you can see, the collage is very heavily blue-based but I just love a good pastel blue... shocker!! 

I think if you are looking for timeless pastel pieces, stick with solids rather than that tempting floral you see everywhere right now. When you stick with more solids than prints, they'll likely be 'in' forever. Although it is hard to resist this printed Swimsuit! I also think something like this Shift Dress is another timeless piece. Although printed, the cut of it is so timeless!

Monday, May 18, 2020

10 Recipes I Want To Try


Last night, my fiancĂ© made this delicious Honey Garlic Shrimp. He said it was really easy to make and we both think it will be added into our monthly rotation! 

I'm sure many of you can relate, but we have been cooking a ton at home for the last two months. My fiancĂ© is the true chef and he is always whipping up something delicious. I love to look for the recipes to share with him for ideas! He usually takes the recipe I give him and then puts his own spin on it. 

So, today I'm sharing with you all some of the recipes I have recently shared with him that I hope we will have in the coming weeks! Here in Pittsburgh, we are in the 'yellow' phase. The yellow phase is still very restrictive so we still only have takeout available to us so it looks like there will be lots more cooking at home in the weeks to come. 


You can see last month's 10 Recipes, here, for more inspiration! 

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Saturday Shopping



Happy weekend, friends! Last night we had dinner at my parent's house and had margaritas. It was fun and nice to be out of our house. Tonight we are doing a drive-by birthday celebration for my grammie's 94th birthday. I'm so excited to celebrate her! She lives on her own in her own home, drives herself everywhere (we have the same car!), is active and social (outside of covid times), and is the absolute best!!! Other than that, I'm excited to just relax, sleep in, and enjoy then nicer and warmer weather we have been having. 

Friday, May 15, 2020

If You Love Nancy Meyer's Movies, You'll Love...


In these uncertain times, I think people are looking for comfort in whatever form they can find and one of my comforts is Nancy Meyer's movies. Again, many of you agreed so I polled the audience to get your suggestions of movies that are like Nancy Meyer's movies...I'm not just talking about 90s movies or specific actors, but you know- the Nancy Meyer vibe!! Note: that means none of the below will be Nancy Meyer's actual movies... if you want to see a full list of her movies, just Google it! 

What better time than for me to share as we go into a weekend when we all have a little extra time on our hands. All of these suggestions are crowdsourced and came right from you all. I haven't seen many of these so I am ready to get to work! 

Here are my personal recommendations:
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Family Stone 
When Harry Met Sally (a lot of Nora Ephron movies have NM vibes)
Sabrina (1995)
Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (This is like if NM made teen movies)
Eloise At the Plaza 
Home Alone 
Risky Business
Age of Adaline 

Here are the crowdsourced:
You've Got Mail 
Runaway Bride
Life As We Know It
Because I Said So
Stepmom
My Best Friend's Wedding
Sleepless in Seattle 
Rumor Has It
The Big Wedding 
The Wedding Date
Notting Hill 
Bewitched
The Thing You Do
Hanging Up
First Wives Club
Cruel Intentions
Life As We Know It
Practical Magic

If you have any more suggestions, drop them in the comments! 

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Lately

Yesterday was the start of some 'warmer' weather and by the looks of the future forecast, it looks like it is here to stay. I'm thrilled considering it snowed last week. Yes, snowed. Since it has been cold, I'm not outside as often as I'd like and I think that makes for some less than appealing days. So now I'm really excited to hopefully be able to spend a lot of time outside!

I can't believe we are halfway through May. My brain is doing this weird thing where I continually think we are still in March since none of the usual April/May things happened and it's been mostly cold and icky outside. Is anyone else thinking like this, too? It will be so weird to emerge from our homes again and it all will all of the sudden be summer (and even that's wishful thinking).

To be quite frank, I'm bored. And I don't say that as a complaint, rather it's just more of a statement. I'm sure there are many who can relate. This was the first week where I just didn't feel motivated in any facet of life and that's really saying something as I'm a very self-motivated individual.

I will say that I have been making some Orange Theory live-at-home workouts a priority and I really love them. It's SO nice to see coaches that I have missed and be coached by someone familiar. They are tougher than I thought they would be and the soreness the following day brings me an odd sense of joy. Otherwise, I've been enjoying the quick strength workouts with the Peloton app and now that it's warmer again, I go for a few 3-4 mile walk/runs here and there. So I feel pretty good about my fitness throughout all of this. It took me a while to get in a groove, but I'm proud that I have worked out regularly throughout all of this. I worked so hard to get where I was from September to March in terms of my ability to lift heavy weights, run longer on the treadmill, etc. I didn't want to lose that stamina and progress and that has really been the root of my motivation.

Other than that, I don't really have much to chat about. I miss having fun things to update you all on!!!

Wearing: I feel like the outfit you see above is an accurate representation of my mood this week. Uninspired and unmotivated, ha! I am truly living in this sweatshirt (I now have all 3 colors) and I love that so many of you are doing the same. It's SO good and even better for the price. These are new joggers and they aren't the type that you'd wear outside of the house but OMG are they beyond soft. Perfect to wear even as pajamas. I sized up to a medium. They come in blue and white stripe and I think I need to order those, too. I will get it together next week. With temps in the 70s, I'm SO excited to break out flowy dresses.
Eating: I'm so into Trader Joe's Kringle. We discovered it this past holiday season and now we check to see if they have it every time we go. It's kind of like a donut and danish and croissant in one. We have only ever seen the pecan one, but this time they had raspberry. It was good but not my favorite. I have heard they have almond which I have never been able to find. I love almond things so I hope to find that soon!! 

Reading: This Nantucket home is so dreamy. Oh how I'd love to be there right now! 

Reading II: An interesting read about why some dogs live much longer than others.

Watching: This week I worked to catch up on Summer House. I didn't love this season so it's been hard to get through. For those of you who watch Before the 90 Days- all I have to say is OMG Lana?!? If you have any other great show recommendations, let me know! I feel like I'm fresh out of of anything to binge-watch! 

Loving: My nightly routine has been looking through the random catalogs I get in the mail and drinking some tea. The magazines are pretty to look at and mindless so it's the perfect type of thing right before bed! 


Wanting:
 So one of the things that is always the highlight of my summers is sunbathing (with lots of SPF) at our country club. I'm worried that won't be happening this summer... but I have been looking at lots of swimsuits. I would love to treat myself to a new swimsuit and be able to even just lounge in my backyard or my parents to soak up that Vitamin D! I'm going to do a big post on some of my favorite swimsuits soon- I wouldn't say I'm super modest when it comes to swimsuits, but I find it SO hard to find a bottom that covers enough of my bum!! Anyone else have this issue?!
Pittsburgh-ing: Hot Chikn is in Oakland and it might be the best chicken sandwich in all of Pittsburgh. The homemade pickles and fries and ranch and slaw and OMG everything!! We ate it for dinner on Saturday and I forgot just how amazing it is. They're doing take out! 

Quoting: 'The most important decision you will ever make is to be in a good mood.'- Voltaire // See more of my favorites, here. 

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Neutral Summer Shoes




So today I'm choosing to skip Wedding Wednesday because I truly couldn't think of a topic to write about. Here's to hoping I'm inspired for next week, but we'll see! So today we are chatting neutral summer shoes!

These shoes featured are all of my very favorites for summer and as I was putting this post together I noticed that every single one of them is neutral! I just really like a simple, nude-colored sandal or slightly dressier sandal in gold. 

I'm also super sensitive to uncomfortable shoes. Even if it's the most beautiful shoe ever, I still wouldn't wear it if it wasn't comfortable. All of these are comfortable and can be worn for extended periods of time. As similar as they all are in their 'colors', some are dressier and some are more casual!

I broke them down into flat sandals, heeled sandals, and closed-toe shoes. Do you have a favorite sandal that you wear all summer long? I'm partial to Jack Rogers and always have been! 

Shop the Shoes:

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

A Lash Serum That Works + My Favorite Mascara

A Lash Serum That Works + My Favorite Mascara

A Lash Serum That Works + My Favorite Mascara
I miss my lash extensions soooo much. But if you read the blog post I wrote about them, then you can see that they're really not 'necessary' in everyday life. My pros for lash extensions are:

- They pop wonderfully in photos. 
- They're great for those who want to 'open up' their eyes a bit more. My natural eyelashes are long and full but they do not curl upward at all. 
- They're great for special occasions like a wedding where you might cry or a vacation where you'll be doing a lot of swimming. 
- You never have to wash mascara off of your eyes which is so nice and because you can't touch your eyes like you do without lashes, I truly think that it has helped to keep the area around my eyes less wrinkled had I not had them... no proof in that statement, but I really do think it could help in the very long run. 
- You really don't need eye makeup. 
- You wake up and your eyes are already somewhat 'done'. 

With that said, even with all of the positives, lash extensions are pricey and take a lot of maintenance appointments. I typically went every 2-3 weeks to get mine touched up. While I fully plan on getting them done when I am able to again, I don't think they're necessarily worth it if you aren't always in photos or don't have frequent special occasions. One of the most often asked questions I get about eyelash extensions is if they ruin your natural lashes. A lot of people think that they do and after getting them done for 4 years straight (without a single break) and now having no extensions due to the stay-at-home order, I can confidently say that in my personal experience, my natural lashes were not affected at all. Truly not one bit.

I have still been craving that extension look while at home so during the Sephora sale I got a 6-week supply of this Lash Serum. I have used neubrow in the past for my eyebrows (it worked wonderfully), but since I had extensions, I had never had any interest in a lash serum. 

I started applying the serum every morning and night when I got it 10ish days ago. It was about a week after I started using it and I wasn't really even thinking to pay attention for results, but I went to put on mascara for the first time in a while and I was like WOW. My lashes were SO long- almost 'too long' if that is even possible. For the neubrow serum that I have used on my brows, it took several weeks to really notice anything at all, but I couldn't believe the immediate results from this serum. 

I only got the 6-week Lash Serum and it's just $35 but you can get the larger size which is more economical. 

Because I've always worn extensions, I literally didn't have any mascara but found this tube of Mascara from a press package. I LOVE it. At first, I wasn't sure because I haven't tried any other mascaras in quite some time, but this stuff is so easy to apply. The brush is easy to coat each lash and doesn't make them too clumpy or spidery looking. You can see it on my lashes in the photo above. 
 

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