Friday Beauty - After Sun Products

As most of you know, I just came back from a week at the beach and I took full advantage of that time! I soaked up the sun as much as I could and I was rocking the best tan! One of my best since my life guarding days so that's saying a lot! I was safe about it too. I wore sunscreen with 30 SPF, sat under our canopy when I needed a breather, and reapplied sunscreen when needed. And for those who really know me, know this is very uncharacteristic of me! 

But with all of that, I did over-indulge one day. I still wore sunscreen, and sat under the canopy when needed, but on this particular day I wore a suit that was cut much differently than the ones I had been wearing. Fresh skin was exposed and it seemed no amount of sunscreen was going to help! By late afternoon, I was sporting a slight burn in those areas that hadn't seen sun in a very long time. What did I do post sun exposure? I applied my product to help soothe the burn. 

I love the Banana Boat after sun lotion. I've been using it for years. The lotion is thick, soothing, smells amazing, and really helps extend your tan. On the other hand, the aloe vera gel is something that I use when the burn really needs a cooling agent. This burn wasn't that bad, but had I known my mom had this with her, I would have definitely applied immediately.

  

So what do you do when you don't have these products at your finger tips or under your bathroom sink? Look no further than your kitchen. Have a bottle of white vinegar in your cabinet? Then you have a sunburn soothing product on your hands! Simply apply with cotton balls to the over-exposed area and it will sooth the burn. It stinks, but it works! What do you think about that? I would say that's a pretty good beauty and kitchen hack, no?

What do you do when you get a sunburn? Please share! Everyone needs a little summer sun product advice. Including this beauty blogger!

Happy Friday, Beauties!

Cocktail Confessions - Smores Cocktail

 When I think of summer, I think of pool time, sunshine, family vacations, backyard BBQ's, beer, and Smores around the fire pit. So far, we've had the pool time, sunshine, family vacay, my dad's BBQ, but no time around the fire pit to make those Smores. And I've been craving them! So if I can't have the actual outdoor dessert, I decided to make it a drink! Nothing like an adult version to cap off an evening. Again, it's dessert in a glass. I could get used to this!

Here's what you need:

Your favorite Vodka, a Chocolate Liqueur, and all the fixin's

Chocolate for Shaving, Crumbled up Graham Crackers, Marshmallows

 

Fill your glass full of ice. Add one shot of Vodka and don't spill it all over the place like I did!

Add one shot of the chocolate liqueur. I poured it into the glass before taking a pic. Since I spilled the vodka everywhere, I didn't want to do the same with this and stain the tablecloth! Stir to combine.

Add your toppings. I added a few pinches of the crushed Graham Crackers and shaved a little chocolate over that. Mix.

I added a few mini marshmallows for a finishing touch. You can use any size, but the minis are so cute! You could also layer mini Hershey bars between the marshmallows!

And there you have it! A Smores in a glass. My mom said it tasted like chocolate milk. Souped up chocolate milk! In my opinion, it was missing something. It was a little flat so I added a splash of Vanilla Vodka. That really made a difference. It just needed something on the sweet side. And, if you didn't want to go with Vanilla Vodka, make a simple syrup to add. Just as tasty!

It will definitely leave you wanting Smore..... Cheers!

Wednesday Wants - Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

It's hard to think about fall clothing when we are still in throws of summer. Trust me, it's hot here in Midwest and I can't fathom wearing wool. But it's the final week of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I had to share with you all of my favs! My focus seems all over the board for fall, but if you take a look at my fall looks of the past, I'm still staying true to my personal style.

All of these pieces work with existing items already in my closet; skinny jeans, leggings, and dresses. The wrap coat alone can be styled so many ways! And tall boots. I love them with everything! I've heard rumors that the handbag is sold out, but if you keep checking back, it eventually finds its way back into stock.

1/2/3/4/5/6

I have small confession to make. A very large box, along with a smaller one, arrived on my doorstep while we were on vacation. My husband was concerned about what I might have ordered. Turns out, my mom did a little shopping for my birthday and Christmas! I had ear marked pages in the catalog, the items above being some of them, so I'm not really sure what she ordered. I can't wait for November to roll around!

 If you want any of these goodies, or ones not shown, get shopping now! The prices go back to regular price on August 3rd! This is truly the best time to stock up on fall pieces. I'm just curious what's in the box.....

Happy Wednesday! 

Victoria's Secret Body by Victoria - Perfect Fit Challenge

Hello Style My Way readers! Long time no posts, right? Well, I had planned to blog a few times while on vacay, but when a computer isn't at your disposal, you can't really post anything! But I am back and ready to talk. Today, I'm talking about bras. I don't know you about you, but I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect bra. I am a no frills girl when it comes to bras. I like to have beige and black and that's it. I don't go for a lot of color and designs. I like a simple bra with some pretty lace details. I also like a full coverage bra that supplies plenty of support and one that doesn't create a lot of back fat. A long list of wants but not a lot of results. 

And because I'm in search of the perfect bra, I decided to take the Victoria's Secret Perfect Fit Challenge. It turns out that I'm wearing the right size, which is great, but the bra styles that were recommended to me at the end was amazing! Their Body by Victoria (BBV) line is extensive, pretty, and spot on based on my answers from the quiz. As I mentioned before, I'm not a girl who wears a lot of color when it comes to my bra, but based on some of the new choices, I could see myself adding tons of color! 

Now I don't know about you, but the first thing I do at the end of the day is take my bra off! I'm tired of it! But, VS now has a new BBV Lounge Bra! This bra is a demi bra, lined for a natural lift. It has a flexible underwire you can’t feel and I love that! I would definitely wear this bra when lounging. Not sure I would wear it to work or on special occasions, but definitely on an errand day! And guess what? I now have a colorful bra in my collection! The Glazed Guava is the prettiest bold pink that truly makes me smile! 

Other BBV bras I have, based on the quiz results, are the Demi Bra and Perfect Shape Bra. They have to be some of the prettiest bras I've ever owned. The fabric is so soft and the lace detail is so feminine. I definitely want to purchase a few more and possibly in other colors. Yes, I only have them in beige and black, but the color and designs seem endless!

Are you ready to take the challenge? If so, click on the quiz link above to see if you're wearing the right size and what bras are the right fit for you! And if you find the right fit and perfect bra, you get free shipping and returns when you purchase a BBV bra based on the quiz results! And it gets better! Purchase a bra during the week of July 28th through August 2nd and enter to win a Jaguar!! Yes please! But if you don't win, that's okay! They are giving away gift cards as well. From August 11th to August 17th, receive a $15 gift card with the purchase of 2 VS Lounge bras or a $25 gift card with the purchase of 3 VS Lounge bras.    

What are you waiting for? Take the challenge, find the right fit, and the perfect bra based on your quiz results! BBV is only available to Victoria's Secret, so take advantage of the free shipping/returns, and the gift cards with purchase! Based on my bras, and my love for them, you won't be disappointed! Go, take the quiz!!

Happy Monday, Fashionista's!

Patchwork Denim + Stripes = Peace

My patchwork jeans from Zara are finally making their appearance on the blog. I have been hesitant to wear them only because they are a tad too big. I would like to take them and get them altered, but I just haven't gotten around to it. And because of that, I've missed out on styling them. I love them! They're perfectly distressed, the patches are complimentary to one another, and they are so comfy! Truly the perfect trend jean!

I am wearing a version of this on the road this week. Instead of this tee, I've paired the jeans with this one. Like they say, if ain't broke...

 

Hope you all are having a fashionable Monday! Posts might be a little hit or miss this week. Forgive me! I am trying to soak up some rays and enjoy some much needed family time! 

Peace out!

Friday Beauty - Travel Toiletries

When packing for a trip, I am not one to take a ton of toiletries. I like to try and pack as light as possible. And I don't pack a large cosmetics bag. It's the bare essentials. So when packing up my toiletries, I hit the travel aisle at my drugstore! It's a great place to get smaller versions of your everyday products and an awesome way to test new products. And sometimes you find surprise products like dry shampoo! I was so excited to find a travel can! And aren't those tiny loofahs the best! Here are some of the ones I'm taking along.

I also hang on to all of my samples from Clinique Bonus time! That's the best time to hoard all of your favorites in mini versions! And, you get cute little cosmetic bags to boot! That brings me to another packing point. Don't take all of your cosmetics. Bring along your daily essentials, and a few select tools, but stick to one eyeshadow pallete, one liner, and your mascara. No need to bring it all!

I pack all of my stuff in clear plastic bags. Mine came as part of a Mary Kay travel kit and I love them. If something spills, you simply wipe it out and move on. Definitely something to think about investing in, if you don't have something similar already. 

Happy Friday, Travel Beauties!!

Cocktail Confessions - Stormy Seas

 A week from today we will have officially been on the beach for four days and I'm hoping we will have loved every minute of it! So to pay homage to the beach, more specifically the ocean, I'm bringing you a new cocktail! We're calling this one Stormy Seas. Just look at the color! It starts out all calm and royal blue. Then it takes on the ominous look that comes with a stormy sea. 

It doesn't taste stormy though! It's quite the citrusy sip. Check out the recipe below!

Here's what you'll need:

Curacao, Vodka, Orange Juice

Fill a jigger with vodka. Pour one each into each glass. Again, I am loving the Mason jars!!

Pour a jigger full of the Curacao and then pour half into each glass.

 Add a splash of orange juice to each glass and stir. Watching the crystal blue waters change to stormy seas is pretty cool, no?

And here you have the Stormy Seas! It's gorgeous!

I will be drinking a lot of the drinks we've made over the next week or so, and hopefully, bring you something new while on vacay! In the meantime, cheers!

My Vacation Packing How-To

  I had the biggest challenge of my life! No, it was college finals before graduation or giving birth to my son. It was packing for an eleven day trip while sharing a suitcase with my son. Oh, and with very little space, in an already over-crowded car, that will be packed to the gill with my parents things as well. Wouldn't you consider that a challenge? The good thing about all of this is that the beach house will have a washer and dryer. That helped a little.

But I'm still looking at eleven days away from my closet which is so hard for me. I love going on vacation, like love going on vacation, but I always over-pack and I even then never have enough. In my opinion, of course. So I challenged myself with repeatable pieces, very few accessories, and just three pairs of shoes. That's right, three pairs of shoes! Here we go....

If you can't wear a palm themed top to the beach, when can you? I immediately thought of this cute Lilly Pulitzer for Target top when packing. And I thought it would look cute with my distressed white jeans or my pique white shorts. Dressy and casz covers all my bases. And I decided if I'm going white, I need to pack my blue and white striped top to the mix.

I mixed in some silver jewelry, a super neutral sandal, and a cross-body bag that replace a large handbag for the trip.

This LWD dress from Target is going to serve multiple purposes. First off, it's a dress and I can go with either black or natural accessories. But I also plan to use at a swimsuit cover-up. I perfect piece for taking morning walks on the beach!

I love it with all tough black and gold! It just takes the dress up a notch!

But I also love it with the tans and browns. Honestly, this dress is a chameleon!

So here's what I'm wearing on the road. I freeze in the car, mostly because my dad blares the air, so it's all about jeans and light weight tops. This gingham top is paper thin so it's perfect for trips in and out of the car. And, how cute will it be with either the white jeans or pique shorts? And I'm taking tennis shoes to help keep my feet warm! Seriously, he blasts the air!

For day two, it's repeat on the jeans and one of my favorite striped tees. I went with sandals, just in case, but will probably revert back to the Converse! I will definitely pack a pair of socks for the road.

I'm throwing in my mint green eyelet shorts. How cute will the on the road tops look?

Do you remember this little find from last summer? Coming in at under $10, this dress was worth the investment! Now, paired with my sandals of the summer and gold accessories, it's a great day option. But I'm also thinking of wearing it as a cover-up for morning walks.

I would never forget to pack my favorite denim cut-offs! And, because you never know it if it might cool on the beach, I've added a couple of my favorite summer sweatshirts.

Am I ready? Absolutely! Am I packed appropriately for the next 11 days, I haven't a clue. Here's hoping! Now to start packing McKinley....

My DIY - Bar Cart

  Does anyone remember this cart? I blogged about it a couple of weeks ago, but I hadn't really done anything with it. Between rain, windy days, and just no time, it sat all alone in my garage. I even packed it up and took it over to my parents house thinking I would get to it over there. Didn't happen. Then my son got this wild hair to spend the entire day on Sunday outside. That's right! It was 90+ and we spent the entire day outdoors. So what does one do after they've weeded the flower beds and hoed the garden? Work on a bar cart!

Here are the materials I'm planning to use on the cart.

I got to work on the legs. After consulting with my husband, we thought the best approach would be to take the legs off and work on each piece separately. Since I plan to spray paint the whole thing, it's best to do it in individual pieces than trying to cover up things and painting them by accident. The legs were attached by screws and nuts so I originally went at them with an adjustable wrench. Then my husband reminded me that he had a ratcheting screwdriver. Perfect! However, the nuts had rusted so it made it a little harder to remove. I was able to get four of the eight while Joel helped loosen the rest. Or should I say, I loosened them... Let's just say, I finally got it all removed.

  

The legs are now removed and looking rather rough around the edges. This little guy is full of rust, but in spots, not all over. I decided to see what a little fine grade steel wool would do. See for yourself. It made a world of difference. There are still specks of rust, but really hard to detect. And they would be fine, if I were going to leave them silver, but I'm not!

  

I painted them glossy black! Here's what I did. I took drop paint cloths and cardboard out in the yard and placed the legs a pretty decent width apart. I proceeded to spray lightly back and forth across each leg making sure it covered nicely without drips. Then I moved each leg so it wouldn't stick to the spot where I painted. I let it dry for several hours before I rotated each leg to spray on the other side. I will continue to do that until all sides are complete. 

I also sprayed the carts handle. I love, love, love the contrast against the yellow! Can you imagine what the red will look like? I'm thinking amazing! I plan to really cover the top to ensure no black paint gets on the yellow.

 

 Up next? Cleaning the shelves and prepping them for paint. And my dad and I have a game plan for the mirrored back. I honestly think this bar cart is going to be so chic! 

Stay tuned...

Summer Comfort

Denim Jacket: Vintage (similar);  Dress: Kohl's (similar), Sandals: Tory Burch (gift/similar); 

Shades: MbyMJ (similar)

How much do I love this little dress? So much that I've worn it at least five times and I got it the weekend of Father's Day. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but I think I might have worn it three times in one week! I also wore it the  Monday before the Fourth thinking I would blog about holiday weekend looks. The post never happened, but I still love the dress. It's the epitome of summer comfort!

My mom picked this up at Kohl's on an impromptu shopping trip. She went for one specific thing, and few other items made their way home to me. I'm one lucky girl! This dress was an instant favorite and I'm throwing it in the suitcase for the our vacation. A simple piece like this can work in so many ways and it's so light weight that it won't take up too much room in the suitcase. It's darling!!

Denim Jacket: Before and After

   

  

Cocktail Confessions - Spiked Vanilla Iced Coffee

 I love a vanilla iced coffee and now I love them even more when spiked! Sure, I don't drink them first thing in the morning, but a little afternoon pick me up doesn't hurt, right? Or go the decaf route and have one after dinner on a hot summer night. Either way, they're delish! Read on for your little afternoon kick!

Here's what you'll need:

Brewed Coffee, Creamer of choice, Vanilla Simple Syrup, Kahlua

 

Fill your glass full of ice! I love using these little mason jars. Darling! Pour your brewed coffee into each glass. Fill as full as desired. 

Add the vanilla simple syrup. I made my own. Dissolve 1 cup of sugar in one cup of water over low heat. Cool. Once cool, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. You can use a vanilla bean to make the syrup, but those are so expensive! And I love the maple color it created!

Add your creamer. I used half and half.

Stir. Isn't it pretty? If you want just the iced coffee, stop here! If you want it spiked, read on!

For the Kahlua, I poured a jigger full but only used half per glass. Of course you can use more or less. It gave it a nice warmth!

And there you have it! A spiked vanilla iced coffee!

It was a perfect end to an afternoon of running around! My mom and I discussed all the different ways to spike this little guy and the options are endless! I will be experimenting soon and will share them all here!

Cheers!