My Favorite Spring & Summer Fragrances

Both Spring and Summer are my favorite in terms of fragrance. With warmer weather comes softer scents because I don't like to wear anything heavy on my skin. Who does when it's hot and humid? My perfumes are always in heavy rotation, according to mood and if there is a special event I'm attending. It's true what people say about the power of your senses, and when I need a boost, I choose certain perfumes to wear over others. However, they all fall into two categories. 

Floral

Ocean Inspired

First, let's talk about my Spring category. There's nothing more feminine than smelling like a flower, right? My ultimate is rose. It reminds me of my great grandmother who would crush actual rose petals and rub them on my wrists as a child. A bit eccentric I guess but I think she predisposed me to my love of flowers. I also like a hint of vanilla musk thrown in to round out the scent.

Philosophy Summer Grace - Bright floral notes with the carefree ease of Summer. Interestingly enough, I wear this year-round though it's definitely meant for warmer seasons.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb "La Vie En Rose" - Strong citrus and musk scent but with delicate floral. It's the lighter version of the original flowerbomb. This has sentimental value for me as I wore it on my wedding day and is Nate's favorite scent.

Chloe Roses De Chloe - This smells of roses, no big surprise there. It's subtle, light, and perfect for Spring. I think out of this category, it's the easiest to wear and has mass appeal.


Summer/ocean inspired scents are probably the category I wear most often because I love the beach and anything that reminds me of a day by the coast. I can't express this enough! Since I can't always be near it, I wear fragrances that make me feel as though I am.

Bobbi Brown Beach - The beach in a bottle! It's rather strong, consisting of a suntan lotion smell that apparently is not Bobbi's intended purpose if you read about it. The real notes are sea spray, jasmine, and mandarin. This isn't for everyone. I think only a true beach person will appreciate it, and that's not to sound condescending! Just the truth.

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt (1.0 oz) - Bergamot, sea salt, driftwood, sage, musk. Read more about it here. 

Kai - Gardenia with "white exotics." Not sure what that means exactly, but this scent reminds me of plumeria and Hawaii. The oil melts onto the skin and layers well with other oils. It fades nicely, so much so that I can smell it on my skin even after a night's sleep. Read more here.



Which would I universally recommend? Kai and Jo Malone, the loveliest of the bunch.

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Old Navy Distressed Jeans

You need these Old Navy jeans, and I don't ever tell you guys that unless I'm serious.

I've shopped on and off at Old Navy ever since I began my blog. I like their budget friendly prices, but I have refrained from stopping there before because their quality can be hit or miss. I suppose that's true of all clothing chains, but I'd rather spend a bit more on things that are going to last than continue buying pieces that fall apart within a few washes.

Distressed denim is so trendy at the moment, and as much as I like a little "personality" on my jeans, I'm not going to fill my closet with them. Dark washed denim will always be classic and the most universally flattering. I also never get weird looks from my mom when I have on a nice pair! But when it comes to being a little trendy, I think I have finally found the best pair for the right price. So much so that I'm done buying jeans (for now).

I thought I'd throw an outtake into the mix. What am I doing ^ exactly? Trying desperately for a thigh gap 😁 I remember telling Nate that I was over it and wanted to grab a glass of wine at the restaurant next door! I think I was ready to run!

Wearing //

Old Navy jeans

Hinge top

Forever 21 tank (underneath)

Chelsea 28 bag

Love Street Apparel flats

Kendra Scott ring

Beauty //

Lancome lipstick in Corail in Love

(looks washed out here. It's much brighter in person)

Back to the Old Navy jeans: 

For reference, these are a size 8 regular. They are the rockstar mid-rise style and although I'm unsure of the name of the wash, I linked to them here and above. They are a bit long, but I folded them under and are honestly perfect that way. With heels, I'm sure I could wear them as they are. They are soft, perfectly ripped in all the right areas, and I love that they aren't too light. 

I'm linking up with Amy Ann and Gina today for their new style series, so please feel free to check out their posts as well.

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LOFT Lace Midi Dress

I haven't been this excited about a dress in quite some time. The vibrant green color, the quality of the lace, the halter style, and the midi length all had my attention and I knew when it was 40 percent off that it had to be mine. You never know when you'll need a versatile dress such as this one.

Wearing //

LOFT dress (wait for a sale)

Hinge heels, love these on sale!

Express bag

Silver bracelets, similar here

Beauty //

Lips in M.A.C. "Shy Girl"

Face palette by Charlotte Tilbury (so worth it)

This is EXACTLY what I wore in Hollywood a couple weekends ago when my best friend and I went out to SUR and Pump. And I mean exactly! I wanted to recreate this look for you ladies because the dress is still available, and I really enjoyed pairing it with these trendy lace-up heels and a darling little baby blue bag. I tend to stick to nudes when it comes to more vivid outfits but I think an unexpected color combination makes things much more interesting. 

Before I let you get on with your day, I just want to say that I didn't blog last week because I didn't have any content and I don't like feeling pressured to put out something in haste. I hope you understand! I still plan on sticking with Mondays and Wednesdays so I will be back tomorrow with another outfit, albeit much more casual than this one. Also, I know some people who are going through a tough time right now so let's all please keep things in perspective. 

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My Beauty Hacks

We all have little tricks and shortcuts when it comes to our beauty routines. Am I right? I'm not sure any of the below "hacks" are groundbreaking (I probably picked up most by reading magazines), but I have been using them for years. In case any of you are in need of some budget and time saving tips, here are the ones I love.

1. Mix eye cream with concealer to give a smooth, creamy finish. Sometimes I'll even pat a bit of eye cream after I've finished my makeup just for that extra bit of freshness around the eyes. Just don't rub! Lightly use your ring finger and tap the product on to apply and blend in.

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2. Use your favorite body lotion or hand cream to smooth frizzy hair in a pinch. I keep a travel size tube in my bag just in case!

3. Afraid of bright or dark lip colors? Use your fingers to tap the product onto lips instead of swiping from the tube or using a lip brush (just make sure your hands are clean). I also put lip balm on top to soften the color.

4. This may sound completely shallow, but one of the first things I notice on other women are their nails. However you prefer yours, please just make sure they aren't chipped! I know that's easier said than done but I really believe that having nice looking nails helps you look more polished. Pun intended.

5. Use coconut oil to shave. I get mine from the grocery store in a big tub. It's cheap, soothing, and great for all skin types.

6. Mix in liquid highlighter or loose shimmer powder into your lotion for glowing legs. Heck, put it everywhere!

7. Use dry shampoo as volumizer. I haven't bought a volumizer in months because I find that dry shampoo does a better job at lifting roots. Plus, I hate using multiple hair products when it's not even necessary.

8. Apply bronzer in a "3" shape, not all over the face like I once used to. It looks the most natural.

9. I wash my brushes with my face cleanser. I'm a big fan of double duty.

10. Use eczema cream on your chest and neck, even if you don't suffer from eczema. It really smooths lines and wrinkles much better than regular lotion.


Do you have any beauty hacks I need to know about? Let's grow this list!

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