I should start this off by saying this is not an advertisement, these are just real products that I love and truly recommend. 2018 was the year of discovering products that work for me and plan to keep in my daily or weekly routine (depending on the product).
Let’s start off with the “where have you been all of my life?” product, the one I don’t think I can live without: Goop’s G. Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo. This has transformed my hair and turned my shower routine into a spa-like experience. I rub a small amount into my hair once a week and wash out all of the salt crystals. This stuff works out any build-up from the week generally brought on by other hair products I use. This makes my hair smell amazing and feel squeaky clean. It’s a game changer.
Next is my second “where have you been all of my life?” product, Differin gel. Earlier this year I had a handful of pretty awful breakouts and nothing seemed to keep them at bay until I learned about this gel. Now, if I see or feel a breakout coming, I blot a little of this gel on the spot, go to bed, and wake up blemish free. This stuff is the real deal and helps combat pimples but unfortunately doesn’t help with scars.
This is an oldie but a goody, a product I love so much I have already written a post about it here. Julep’s love your bare face is an oil based cleanser that really gets rid of your makeup (even waterproof mascara) and leaves your face feeling soft and clean. I have been using this for six years, in fact my breakouts happened when I switched to a different cleanser- I won’t be making that mistake again.
I got my very first facial at a spa in Edinburgh, Scotland this past Spring and the esthetician used a micro exfoliating balm that smelled so good I had to bring it home with me. It is luxurious in every way and leaves my skin feeling smooth and bright. I use it once or twice a month because I want it to last!
The next one isn’t exactly just one product but a line of very affordable products that I have had a lot of fun discovering. By now you have probably heard of a brand called The Ordinary. So far, my favorite product has been the hyaluronic acid which costs just $6.80 a bottle. It helps me any time my skin or lips are feeling dry and at that price point, it can’t be beat.
(image courtesy of Adore Beauty)
Lastly, another affordable line available at Target is by celebrity hairstylist Kristen Ess. Her products smell amazing and really do work well, I even use her straightener (it gives me the best curls). One of my favorite products is her dry shampoo, I spray it on at night and let it absorb any oils so that my hair looks fresh in the morning.
(image courtesy of Kristen Ess)
Have you discovered products that you truly love and think we should try? Let us know in the comments!
Summer nights in the Bay Area (San Francisco specifically) aren’t particularly warm, so it’s a great opportunity to have a bonfire or a small wood fire in your backyard. It’s a little hard to shoot pictures at night so you’ll have to pretend that I am around a fire here!
(I love Moscow Mules and we have a few of these copper cups that we use to keep our drinks super cold. Mules are my go-to cocktail (and shoe), even around a bonfire.)
(This chair is super easy to put together and is also a rocking chair- 
(Beanie- Forever 21, Blanket- Brittany’s personal throw)
When you find a dress with pockets, you wear it. This is such a great dress that Brittany got from a friend as a gift. The black side panelling is slimming and the length is perfect for Spring. It’s finally getting to the temperature where we can wear some skirts and dresses without our tights. We just need to start working on our tans…
(Dress- Nordstrom)
(Shoes- Free People)
Last October Nick and I went to Spain for a wedding and had a great time. We ate, we saw, and we (I) shopped. One of my favorite things that I picked up was this t-shirt from 
(Jacket- Forever 21, Purse- Zara, Jeggings- Paige Denim, and Booties- L.A.M.B.)
(Aside from the top I am crazy about my 
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(I just got this dress from 
When you are going to a wedding, it is important to look your best but also feel comfortable for a night of dancing and celebrating! I had been eyeing this dress for months and it finally went on sale at Anthropologie (unfortunately it is sold out now). I justified purchasing a dress I really didn’t need because I have so many weddings this year and it is just perfect to wear to a couple of them because it isn’t white! Surprisingly about 70% of my wedding appropriate dresses are white, so I really need to get my act together.
(High/Low front and back of this lace dress gives it a nice flow)
(It has a subtle snap in the front to keep it all together. This necklace was a gift from my grandparents on my 8th grade graduation- it’s still my favorite)
(While I was watching tutorials, I came across this 
You may have gathered that I am on a quest to invest in quality pieces that be paired in various ways to create new outfits. This shirt was one that I recently picked up and found versatile enough to wear with jeans and skirts in any season. The last few days have been fairly cool which is the perfect time to pull out a shirt like this and make the outfit pop with a burst of color from my purse! Have I told you how much I LOVE this purse? I hope so, because I love it.
(Shirt- sold out but similar 
(Purse- Kate Spade, sold out but similar 
Nick and I recently honeymooned in Europe and spent the majority of our vacation in Iceland. My favorite thing that we did was explore an 
(The entrance of the cave was this massive tunnel- it was a little scary at first but they had twinkle lights set up to guide us in)
(It was kind of like being in a gigantic igloo.)
(The light would illuminate one portion of the cave and keep the rest in the dark. It was so beautiful)
(The had their own chapel where couples could get married in if they wished. Say goodbye to the dress, you would freeze!)
(When I saw this, I got a little spooked. Part of the cave was melting and creating this gorgeous view, the ice looked like crystal. But it got me thinking…the glacier was melting. Unfortunately, this ice cave probably won’t be here in the next 5 years.)
Here is the view from the glacier. Something I loved about Iceland was that at one moment you were soaking up the sun and the next you were standing on snow. From waterfalls to geysers, Iceland is a pretty magnificent place!
The average woman has over 120 items in her closet and that doesn’t include shoes, purses, and undergarments. Getting ready in the morning can be a little overwhelming and that is why concepts like the Capsule Closet and the KonMari method have taken over the internet as of late. I’ve tried everything to pare down my closet to basics that can be mixed and matched to create many different outfits. Let’s be brutally honest, it is hard to get rid of clothing that you want to hold on to for rare occasions or holidays and even pieces that you hardly ever wear but still hold sentimental value. We recently came across a company called 
Shoes are the items in my closet that I can’t seem to get under control. I have boots upon boots but never wear them in the summer! With t-shirts and long sleeves this isn’t a huge problem because they don’t take up a ton of space but boots seem to get thrown on top of each other and clutter my entire closet. I would sort through all of my shoes first when filling up my first MakeSpace box, it would give me a better idea of any excess and help me focus on seasonality.
(Doesn’t this image inspire you? I really love sorting through my clothes- it makes me eager to update my wardrobe, reminds me of my clothes that get lost in the clutter, and organize the things that I love so that I can get to them more easily!)
And in honor of these summer sales happening around us, here is a outfit that would be perfect for any closet! It has staple and quality pieces that could be mixed and matched easily (from day to night) and remain classic enough to be worn for years to come. I recently purchased these 
iflunch.com 