What I Wore: Tropical (& Affordable) Swimsuits in Jamaica

In June, we took a trip to Jamaica with two of our friends and stayed all-inclusive at Sandals Negril and can I just tell you... I'm STILL not over it. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and we had the best time. But instead of going on and on about how awesome it was, I just wanted to pop up a quick post about some of my favorite swimsuits (all from Target, because their swim options are fabulous this year) that you can get for a great price. I'll show you a few of the bikinis and one-pieces I wore, which were both cute and durable for everything from lounging by the pool to snorkeling in the ocean, and I'll post some similar options as well. Enjoy!

Easy DIY Mixed Planters

Say hello to our new home, sweet home! Yep, that's right... our new house is finally finished and we're all moved in! Well, almost. Does unpacking ever really end? And decorating? Now that's a whole separate animal. I'm slowly working my way room by room and trying to remind myself that every inch of our house doesn't need to be (and quite frankly CAN'T be) decorated immediately. It's so hard to resist. To help with this process I've been focusing on the areas in the house that we use the most (kitchen, living room, etc), but I couldn't neglect the one spot that I knew everyone would see first when they came to visit - our front door! While our yard has been fully landscaped and looks great, our entryway was looking a little bare in comparison. It's not a large space, but by simply adding a doormat and throwing together some mixed planters, it looks much more cozy and inviting. Making our own planters was super easy and I love how they turned out. If you're considering making your own, here are a few tips:

Apartment Living: Bringing Farmhouse Style to Small Spaces

Since we moved into our apartment, it's been my goal to make it feel as warm and cozy as possible. Although we only plan to spend a few years here before (hopefully) purchasing our first home, I've always felt it should still look and feel like a "home" in the meantime. Just because we aren't living in our awesome spacious farmhouse yet (let me dream my dreams, ok), doesn't mean our little apartment can't feel like one! Today I'm giving you a peek into our living room and showing you how I made the most of this little space. You'll see that I love neural colors (white & wood are the BEST together) and botanical accents. Other than our chair and entertainment center, nothing was over $100! Decorating does not have to be expensive!

5 Face Masks I Love

When spending a night in, there is no better way to relax than by pouring yourself a glass of wine, lathering on a good face mask, and kicking back in a giant bubble bath. Your heart is happy, your skin is happy, and you basically feel like a goddess. What's not to love? If you're in need of a mini-spa night like this, but are lacking a decent face mask, here are some of my favorites:

Life Lately

To be honest, I kind of have a love/hate relationship with blogging. I love having a place of my own to share decor ideas, beauty products, and generally just all of my favorite things. I also love the blogging community. I love meeting fellow bloggers and I'm always inspired when scrolling through all of your lovely posts. However, blogging takes A LOT of time and energy. I can't tell you how often I feel like I have great content for the blog (whether it's a fun outfit I threw together before a night out, or a simple recipe that turned out amazing, or even just a great experience we've had while trying a new place in town), but I didn't take any pictures. I never think to grab my camera in the middle of cooking dinner or to pause for an outfit shoot before going out. It's just never on my mind. On one hand, I'm happy I don't think to stop and document these things, because it means that I'm mentally present in the moment. Living in and enjoying the moment has been very important to me since Day 1 of creating this blog. I didn't want to become that person who can't go anywhere or do anything without making a big fuss over getting pictures for a blog post. It interferes with simply enjoying the experience and the company of loved ones. But on the other hand, isn't it kind of your job to document these moments for your blog? If you want to blog about it, you have to take pictures of it. It is what it is. So while I might be living in the moment and feeling good about the cute outfit I wore out or the delicious dinner we ate, it's frustrating to also feel like I'm constantly missing the opportunity to share it with you all.

Skin Saviors

I've said it before and I'll say it again: looking fabulous truly does start with healthy, happy skin. But while we all dream of waking up with poreless, blemish-free glowing skin, I know it's not actually that easy. #IWISHIwokeuplikethis! In a previous post (7 Skincare Favorites), I mentioned my own struggles with my skin and shared some of the best products I've discovered over the years. Although I still love all seven items, the search for the best skincare products never ends and I have since found two new products that are absolute game changers. I've seen the biggest transformation in my skin since using each of these and I couldn't wait to share them with you!

7 Skincare Favorites

As much as I love all the latest and greatest makeup products, I'm a firm believer that looking fabulous should start with a great skincare routine. However, I know this is often easier said than done. We all have unique skin types and trying to decide between thousands of products can be exhausting. Where do we start? What will work best for us? Personally, I've struggled with my skin since I was 15 years old. With large pores, an oily t-zone, and skin that's prone to scarring, it's taken me years of trial and error to find products that work best for me. So even though I'm always on the hunt for new items, I thought I would take a minute to share some of my favorites I've discovered (and stuck with) over the years.