New In Beauty

Usually for my birthday every year, I treat myself to a (solo) shopping trip. Some years I've been more extravagant than others, but this time I really just wanted to try some new beauty products I've had my eyes on for awhile.

I've only used these a handful of times so I can't give full reviews just yet, but I will say wholeheartedly that the Becca lip glow in Camellia is the perfect cool-toned pink. I bought it a couple months ago but figured I should mention it here. I wore it the entire time I was in Mexico, and I still can't put it down! It's smooth, non-sticky, and smells like peppermint for an added bonus. I'm thinking of getting another darker shade for Fall/Winter since I love switching up my routine a bit each season.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, Becca Lip Glow

I have fairly oily skin after coming off the pill, so I've been going back and forth on the Charlotte Tilbury flawless filter. Everytime a beauty blogger raved about it, I wanted to give it a shot too regardless of it being very "glowy." I've used it on my cheekbones to highlight and I absolutely love the incandescent effect. I'm going to try mixing some in with my Make Up For Ever foundation and see how it wears, or whether or not it's too glowy for me. I'll report back!

Facial Jade Roller

I thought these trendy facial rollers were just a gimmick, and maybe they are to a certain extent. However, I absolutely love using this at night after I've cleansed my face and in conjunction with my favorite serum. It feels so soothing after a long day! Facial rollers promote circulation and help products absorb deeply into the skin. So yes, it does sound gimmicky and yes, I would buy it again.

Tip: Stick it in your fridge for a relaxing cooling effect. It feels amazing!

Sol de Janeiro Hand Cream

I've seen great reviews for Sol de Janeiro products. Now that the weather is getting really dry here, I need all the hand cream I can get! This one smells like a tropical island getaway and isn't greasy. So far, so good. 

The glam glow products are part of the Sephora VIB birthday gift. I haven't tried them yet but they also get great reviews. 

I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend! Happy October :)

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Playa Del Carmen & Tulum: Thoughts, Tips, Photos

Last Christmas, my best friend surprised me with a note that listed a few destinations for our annual girls trip. "Pick a spot" she said. Um, okay! New Orleans, Chicago, and Seattle were all potential locations, but after going back and forth, we decided to leave the states. She had Tulum on her wish list, and undoubtedly it's become really popular over the last few years. I didn't know anything about it, but after some quick research I knew that it would be the perfect area to explore. Katie has a close friend that recently moved to Mexico City, and he insisted that we also include Playa Del Carmen in our plans since it's nestled between Cancun (the airport we had to fly into) and Tulum. We thought Playa Del Carmen would be a fun stop for a night...then it turned into two nights...and we went back again the day before we left Mexico. It was completely unexpected! Tulum was supposed to be our crowning jewel, and don't get me wrong, it really is stunning! But Playa Del Carmen stole my heart.  

Playa Del Carmen: 

It's forty-five minutes south of Cancun. You can take a shuttle, ADO bus, collectivo, or taxi from the airport depending on how much money you want to spend. It cost us about 50 USD for a taxi but we didn't have to make any stops along the way so it was definitely worth it. I will note that cash is king at least in that part of Mexico and exchanging dollars for pesos is the way to go for both parties. I barely used my debit card at all. Reception was spotty so having a good amount of pesos on hand made everything much easier (and cheaper in the long-run). 

Playa Del Carmen is a vibrant, colorful town. Street art and painted murals are everywhere. I found it to be so inspiring. 

The nightlife is amazing, and I'm not even talking about bars or clubs. Simply sitting at a restaurant or on a street bench makes for fun people watching, and live music was consistently in the background. We walked everywhere we went so getting around was easy. 

We stayed at The Thompson Hotel in Playa Del Carmen. 

Contemporary, friendly staff, and in the heart of Playa's tourist area. We loved it.

The rooftop was our favorite part of the hotel, and we had dinner and drinks there twice. The view was spectacular!

Zenzi is a beach bar and restaurant that we spent way too much time in! It just felt comfortable, the bartenders were helpful and extremely friendly, and what's better than dining on the beach? I highly recommend visiting if you're in or near Playa Del Carmen.

Tulum: 

After two days in Playa, we took a taxi to Tulum which is about an hour drive. We stayed in the actual town of Tulum at an airbnb for the first night, and then stayed at the beach for another night. The airbnb was adorable! Our hosts were also very accommodating. However, we wanted to see the difference between staying in the town versus the beach so we again changed plans last minute so that we could do that! One thing about traveling with Katie is that she is super spontaneous. It was cool to just go with flow rather than stick to definitive plans. Of course, I think it also caused some anxiety for me...but I dealt with it!

Overall, Tulum really is as gorgeous as it looks in photos. The white sand beaches, signature bohemian style, eco-friendly hotels, unique shops, world class cuisine, endless areas with swings and hammocks, plenty of outdoor activities...there's something for everyone! Our only gripe the entire time we were in both Playa AND Tulum was the seaweed epidemic. Normally the water is clear and turquoise; but since late 2014, seaweed has plagued the shoreline. We avoided going in the ocean because we really didn't see anyone going in either and there definitely was a smell present. I'm sure this time of year, with all the storms that pass through, added to that. I think most of the locals have gotten used to it and swim past the murky waters, but we weren't as brave. The cenotes however, are beautiful and clear for swimming! 

Again, we walked but bicycles are the preferred method of transportation in Tulum

Shopping in Tulum was such a cool experience! Sadly, nothing came home with me (I found a lot of things I loved but they were quite expensive). Of all the times to have sales resistance!

RosaNegra

GO HERE, JUST TRUST ME! 

Other Notes: 

Pack lightly, especially if you're staying less than one week.

If you aren't accustomed to humidity like myself, be prepared to sweat. A lot. My hair has never been frizzier, hence the lack of pictures of myself - that I will willingly share. 

Remember insect repellent! Katie and I both came home with some major mosquito bites. We forgot to wear some the night we went to Papaya Playa Project. Big mistake.

Pesos are king, and many places in Tulum do not take cards. 

Have some understanding of the language. We encountered many people who did not speak anything other than Spanish, so knowing basic words and phrases saves a lot of time and effort. Plus, it's a beautiful language :)

If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me or Katie a message! Her Instagram is @mrsktclark. She mostly posts travel related content that's really fun! 

 So my one question now is...where to next year? We shall see, but this will be tough to beat.

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Transitional Outfit & Shopping For Fall

I'm still working on gathering photos and collecting my thoughts regarding my recent vacation. I'm sorry it's taking so long! I could just throw a bunch of pictures at you but I'd like it to be more thorough. In the meantime, I thought I'd share how I'm slowly transitioning to a Fall wardrobe. It's been really hot here this entire month, but that hasn't stopped me from pulling out the jeans I bought during the Nordstrom anniversary sale. I'd been dying to finally wear them! They fit like a glove, especially in the waist. The hidden band inside them is the key; they lay perfectly flat against your midsection creating the appearance of a totally flat tummy. Plus, they are incredibly soft and comfortable. If anyone is in need of a new denim brand to try that's still affordable, go for Wit & Wisdom. I have two pairs now and am looking into more as the weather begins to cool down.

The perfect transitional outfit for me will always consist of a great pair of dark denim, a pretty top, and metallic accessories.

Wearing // Wit & Wisdom jeans, Nectar striped top, Ettika coin necklace, Zara slides (similar here), Clare V bag, Kendra Scott bracelet

Tops that tie in the front are still going strong in the trend department, and when I saw this striped version at a local boutique, I knew it would become a staple. During the Summer, my style is more flowy and slightly bohemian, but come Fall, I go for a more classic tailored look. 

I'm actually pretty happy with my Fall additions from last year. I'll continue to carry my Sezane shoulder bag, longline cardigans, and ballerina flats. 

However, there are definitely a few trends that I'm interested in for Fall 2018: 

1. Marigold everything: It's such an uplifting shade! I love it with a matte red lip.

2. Cap toe slingbacks: Chanel-inspired (or maybe the real thing) but they are so polished.

3. Hunter green bags: I've been dying for a rich jewel toned bag, and I've settled on green. 

4. Check blazers: Versatile and chic, a check or plaid blazer is the perfect topper. 

5. And yes, even sock boots have my attention this season! A little late to this but that's okay. 

Shop my picks below! See anything you like? What's on your radar this Fall? 

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Travel Anxiety

I'm still in the process of figuring out how I want to document my Tulum and Playa Del Carmen trip. It was such an incredible experience, and of course I want to do it justice. But for today, I wanted to write something meaningful to celebrate my 34th birthday.

Everyone always tells you about the fun things that happen on vacation but I want to talk about travel anxiety. I didn't realize the extent of mine. Every day I envy all of the women I see on social media,  jet-setting the globe while looking absolutely perfect in the process. They make it appear so easy!  Fortunately, I now know that travel (naturally) upends my entire routine and if I'm too stuck in my own head to recognize that, panic will ensue.  The fear will be there in the back of my mind, waiting to rear its ugly head; my determination to travel past the fear will be there too.

 Let me explain...

View from our room, Kore Tulum Retreat and Spa

Katie and I had the best two days in Playa Del Carmen. I actually prefer it to Tulum, but more on that later. We stayed at the Thompson for two nights, and then headed to Tulum Saturday morning. All day Saturday I had an awful feeling in my stomach. Of course I couldn't tell if it was something I had eaten, too many margaritas from the night before, or nerves but I just went with it and we ended up having a great time. We went out that night to a big beach party at the Papaya Playa Project, Tulum's famous night spot.

The next day, I was a complete and total wreck and it wasn't a hangover. All I can say is, I had a full-blown panic attack and it did not subside for 24 hours. I stayed in our hotel room, pacing, shaking like a leaf, crying, and trying to slow my heart rate. I thought I was dying, I remember asking Katie if I should call a doctor. I felt terrible for her, who I don't think has ever seen me quite so bad before. She tried so hard to ease my mind, but anyone who suffers from anxiety/panic disorder knows, there isn't a single damn thing that anyone can do or say. I appreciated her comfort though. I thought she was going to get angry or frustrated by the situation, but instead she stayed with me even though I kept telling her to go do some sightseeing on her own. So there we were, in one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen, staring out the window of our hotel room.

I keep wondering, "why can't I fix this one thing in my life?" It's exhausting being this way, although I don't know anything different. It makes me angry, powerless in my quest to control my own mind and subsequently my own body. I didn't sleep a wink that night, but there was an upside to that - I watched the sunrise the next morning from our balcony. This warm feeling washed over me, and I started crying. This time not out of fear or worry, but out of gratitude.

Tulum Sunrise, 9/3/2018

I listened to way too many people who discouraged me from going to Mexico. I let their experiences shape mine, and I think all of that negative talk got the best of me. I was definitely out of my comfort zone, and of course that triggers anxiety. Although I spoke Spanish as a child, I sadly let the language slip by in my teens and it's been hard to pick it back up. That's one of my biggest regrets in life. But since practicing while in Mexico where many of our interactions were only in Spanish, it's coming back a bit. My mom is only speaking with me in Spanish now. I want to get in touch with my roots. I want to be stronger, more capable. I'm proud of my Mom for getting out of her comfort zone and coming to this country with nothing but the clothes on her back, working her way through Los Angeles, and obtaining her citizenship. I can only imagine how terrifying that must have been, a tiny 4 foot 11 woman who barely spoke English. I thought of all of these things watching that Tulum sunrise, and the anxiety and all of my physical symptoms went away.

I was also so so grateful for my friend Katie.

We ended up having a gorgeous day in Tulum, and the travel anxiety vanished as quickly as it came.

I've decided that I can focus on the one day out of our trip that was a disaster, but instead I'm choosing to focus on the four days that were magical.

I had to write this. I apologize for its length! I just wanted to keep it real. Not every travel moment is Instagram-worthy. Actually, the moments in which we truly live and grow aren't. Let's all keep that in mind as we follow social media stars around the world, okay? I certainly will.

The magical days in Mexico will be up next week, and I hope you'll stop by again.

Linking up with Gina and Amy Ann. 

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