Every month I stumble across things that I newly fall in love with or things that I fall in love with all over again. I find summer to be more tricky for me. I love the weather, but I hate most brightly colored things (hello neon). So I’m constantly on the search for things that I can use either in my home or fashion and beauty wise. These are so far the things that I’m loving this summer.

Flowers

Peonies, hydrangeas, light pink roses and lilacs. Ok now let me explain these floral selections. I love peonies because they are fucking perfect. Seriously. I find them to be one of the most perfect and beautiful flowers ever. I would rank them as my favorite of all time. I love the fullness of a hydrangea. To make a beautiful bouquet for your nightstand, three in a bowl is all it takes and it looks full and luxurious. Pink roses I love for the outside of the house in the summer. Slowly but surely my yard will be filled with them. I’m not even a rose person, but there is something about a bloomed pink rose bush in the summer that makes my heart beat faster. As for lilacs, I just love the smell of them. There is nothing better than going for a walk late at night and walking past a lilac bush. They have such a strong and beautiful scent.

Music

I have a weird music list. I listen to everything and anything. Of course there are staples in my life like Johnny Cash, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fleetwood Mac, ect. Then there are always new favorites that I play to death and then don’t listen to them again for three months. So far that list this summer goes as:

1- Reverse Of Shade By The Windupdeads
2- Sing By Travis
3- Video Games And Kinda Outta Luck By Lana Del Rey
4- Kids By MGMT
5- Fancy By Iggy Azalea
6- That’s Not My Name By The Ting Tings
7- Ho Hey By The Lumineers
8- Give A Little Love By Noah And The Whale
9- Got You Where I Want You By The Flys
10- #1 Crush By Garbage

Some of these are new, some are old. One things for sure and that is they are on constant rotation around here right now. Mixed in with a little Dolly Parton of course. I just find them to be nice to listen to while I’m laying out on the deck.

Makeup

Summertime hits and it really throws a monkey wrench into the old makeup routine. You wear less and your skin tone changes. So what you used to wear sometimes doesn’t work anymore. Before you run out and buy a bunch of crap you don’t need, just make a couple of switches. Some of my easy summer makeup picks are as follows:

1- Cha Cha Balm By Benefit. This is a super hydrating tinted balm that goes and super smooth and lasts. It doesn’t hold as much color as a lipstick but has a perfect tint of summer color.

2- Sun Beam By Benefit. This is a golden bronze complexion highlighter. You dab a little of this golden liquid onto your face wherever you want a little bit of sheen. It can turn summer skin into looking dewy and flawless.

3- L’Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense. This liquid eyeliner is the perfect accessory to your tan on a night out. It’s the blackest eyeliner you will ever find and it has a super manageable wand for application. Time to try out that cat eye ladies!

4- Smashbox Soft Box Palette. This palette has six shadows that range from shimmery taupe to chocolate brown. It’s perfect for pairing with golden skin and loose, natural hair.

5- Hoola Bronzing Powder by Benefit. As you can tell, I use a lot of Benefit products. I find that they work very well with my skin. I literally have the whole line. So trust me when I tell you that if you have a darker tan that this bronzer is for you. If you have lighter skin though, you might want to try something different. This might come off as muddy and very fake on you.

Face And Body

In the summer it’s all about keeping your skin hydrated. That’s why I’m always slathered in lotion, making me like a slippery noodle to everyone I come I to contact with. I don’t use fifty products or anything though. My everyday face and body routine for the summertime is pretty easy.

1- St.Ives Daily Microdermabrasion. I use this every time I shower. It’s super gentle and makes your face feel smooth
2- Nivea Visage Refreshing Toner For Normal To Combination Skin. I use this every morning after I wash my face. It’s super refreshing and it tones your skin and refines your pores.
3- L’Oreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Glow Renewal Face Cream. I put this on every morning and sometimes again before I put my makeup on. It’s very moisturizing and has pigments that make your skin glow.
4- Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer Night. I use this every night before bed. It’s also super smooth and very moisturizing. Being out in the sun means trying to slip a little lotion with retinol into your skin care ritual. I find this lotion to be one of the best I have ever used.
5- Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen. I find sunscreen to be a real bitch sometimes. It can be hard to rub in well, it can sting, lord help you if it runs into your eyes. Well this stuff almost melts right into your skin. It’s also waterproof and sweat proof so it stays on.
6- Nivea Smooth Replenishing Body Lotion For Dry Skin. This body lotion doesn’t go on sticky and lasts all day. So your legs don’t look like you should be living at an alligator farm.
7- Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Facial Peel. I use this once a week. It’s a gentle face mask that works to really clean your face. A perfect way to clean out all of that waterproof sunscreen.

Nails

When it comes to seasonal trends I usually try to do the unexpected. There are certain colors that work all year round. I tend to gravitate towards those. I’m not a person that usually buys things that will only be relevant for a month. Nothing wrong with sticking to some classics. So lately I have found myself gravitating to three of my faves.

1- Essie Blanc Nail Polish. This is just a plain white nail polish that looks great on the hands or the feet. Because its still bright, it shows off your tan without you having to worry about it clashing with anything you want to wear (I’m looking at you hot pink).
2- Nails Inc Leather Effect In Noho. This is a black nail polish that looks like leather when it dries. The different texture makes it interesting.
3- O.P.I Nail Lacquer In Pure 18k White Gold And Silver Top Coat. This top coat has little flecks of white gold and silver. The perfect addition to the black leather nail polish on an accent nail.

Books

During the summer I prefer a lighter read. That’s right Little Women, you’ve made me cry for the last time. So I either buy fluff or I re-read something that I already own. I have hundreds of books, so I enjoy going back and reading them again. Right now my deck reads are:

1- How To Be Adored By Caroline Cox. I find this very interesting. It’s kind of like a modern day guide of do’s and don’ts. With that being said, I probably won’t be taking anything away from it. It’s kind of like “oh! THAT’S how I’m supposed to act. Good to know”. When it comes to things like seduction, no matter what Caroline Cox thinks, if it takes more than beer then I’m probably out lol.
2- Mötley Crüe The Dirt By Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, And Nikki Sixx. Ok so I’ve read this gem once already and I’m trying to read it again. I have a hard time with this one because it is filthy. Super filthy. Like, blow jobs and whiskey filthy. So if you’re into blow jobs and whiskey, do I have the book for you lol.

Fashion

Choosing clothing in the summer makes me want to drink poison. I don’t like to show too much skin, but I also don’t want to sweat like a pig ( try to stop swooning boys, I’m taken). I have a couple things that I’m either searching for though or that I have as personal faves.

1- Floaty white dress. I am dying to get my sandwich clamps on an ethereal white dress for this summer. I want it to have more of a crisp and starched look with volume. So if anyone of you should ever run into something like this, I expect a comment to be made telling me the exact whereabouts of said dress lol.
2- Black structured jumpsuit. I really want to take this route to wear to a wedding this summer. The comfort of pants with the sex appeal of a dress. Yes please!
3- J Brand High Waisted Jeans. I remember when these jeans came out a couple of years ago. I got so excited I bought two of the exact same pair. I love them for the summer with a short eyelet tank and boho hat. How Stevie Nicks!
4- Michael Kors Wedges. Summer hits and I live in wedges. A wedge mixed with wide legged jeans can make your legs look six miles long.

And those, my friends, are what I’m rocking for the summer….so far. If you have any summer favorites let me know. I always enjoy trying out something new.

xo Stephanie