June Reading List

I have been on a serious reading spree lately! I'm knocking books out left and right. This month I have a few to share that I'll be reading and sharing my thoughts on them as I go along. Most are pre-releases, but should be on sale within the next month or so, but I'll be sure to link everything that I can!

Bring Her Home

Let me just preface this by saying i cried just a few pages in. Yes, it’s that kind of book.

I don't quite know where to start with this one so I'll just jump right in and say WOW! Bring Her Home is a thrilling and heart wrenching puzzle with twists and turns that nobody would be able to predict. This is the kind of book that is perfect for people looking for a quick and easy mystery without compromising the integrity of a great story.

When Bill's daughter, Summer, goes missing and is brought to a hospital a few days later he has no idea that it is only the beginning of the roller coaster that has now become his life. With so many twists and turns this book is never short of surprises and left me unable to put it down. It's far from predictable and a very enjoyable read and I recommend it to anybody looking for a summer mystery with substance!

The Marriage Pact

This book by Michelle Richmond was very strange in a lot of ways. Think Scientology meets extreme marriage counselor. A couple receive a gift at their wedding from a client of the bride who is quite nearly a stranger. Within weeks they will find themselves wishing this "gift" had never come into their lives. The Gift? A spot in a super exclusive group called The Pact based on a simple question "are you willing to do anything to make your marriage succeed?" 

Far fetched, but highly entertaining this story definitely kept me interested. Maybe that's in part due to the fact that I recently watched a documentary on scientology and this cult-like group reminded me a lot of ideas that they follow. Telling your deepest darkest secrets and then being blackmailed to stay? Sounds familiar 

Destiny

As the title suggests, this book is about Destiny. How a girl and boy met at the tender young age and their lives became a series of fateful run-ins. Little do they know how much their run-ins will change their lives through love and tragedy

Carnegies Maid

Carnegies Maid is historical fiction about a woman named Clara who through a series of fortuitous events becomes a maid to the wealthy Carnegie family upon immigrating to the United States from Ireland. Andrew Carnegie, a self made multimillionaire and also an immigrant from Ireland, strikes up a friendship with Clara stemming from their similar background and thirst for knowledge. This is a beautiful story with wonderful imagery that takes you right into the home of the Carnegie's and gives one theory on what made Andrew Carnegie suddenly become the philanthropist that he is known as to this day. Marie Benedict's novel is very well researched and written. I highly recommend this one to anybody who enjoys history and knows a little bit about Andrew Carnegie

Shop these books here:

Do you use Goodreads? Add me! I just started using it and am hooked! my read shelf:

Check out my reading picks from May here

Instagram Outfit Roundup

It's feeling a lot like summer! The heat hasn't been as bad here as it is in past years (yet!) which is a godsend because this is migraine season for me. Any migraine tips are greatly appreciated! And by "not as bad as in past years" I mean mid 90's as opposed to 105 😂 So with the warm temps I've been living in these jean shorts. With shorts I always size up a size or two in order to get a longer oversized look and in order to get the trendy distressed look while still covering my bum! So anytime I link a pair of shorts keep in mind that to get them to look the way I wear them always size up! Here's a look at my super simple outfits I've been wearing to beat the heat!

May Book List

It's Always the Husband

This is your classic "who done it?" murder mystery. It's the story of 3 girls who are placed together as college roommates and their very complicated relationships through their first year. These 3 girls with very different backgrounds come together as best friends, but are their relationships as they seem?

My Love of Off the Shoulder Tops | Instagram Roundup

The past couple of weeks have been a little bit chaotic between family issues and shopping for a new vehicle hence the lack of outfit posts. So this is actually a roundup of about 3 weeks worth of outfits. And since I waited so long to post (for shame!) pretty much everything is sold out, but never fear I found some very similar products that you can still shop.
I've been loving off the shoulder tops lately so be prepared to see a lot in future posts. I feel like they give a trendy yet effortless look that can easily be dressed up or down. The only downside is that if you find yourself in an impromptu game of volleyball you'll find yourself to be pretty useless since you can only lift your hands up so high. The sacrifices of looking good!

Shop Items Below:

Books I read this April

I have briefly talked about reading on a couple of posts here before, but I don't think I went into detail about just how much I read. I have always been a fan of reading, but the older I got 

I found myself reading less and less. Up until last year that is. I set a goal for myself at the beginning of last year to read a book a week. There were weeks where that was easy and I found myself reading two and there were weeks where I would barely get through half, but in the end I accomplished my goal and decided that it would become a regular thing for me. So every month I pick out 4 books to read and I decided to share with you the ones that I read during the month of April.

April/Spring Beauty and Fashion Favorites

Happy May lovelies! I wanted to share my monthly beauty and fashion favorites with you. If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen all of these already whether in my posts or in my stories. I didn't make too many new discoveries this past month, but the ones that I did make are REALLY good.

April Showers bring May Allergies?

Are you a fellow sufferer of allergies? I wasn’t until last year. They suddenly crept up on me and I quickly realized how inconsiderate I had been towards others who had them all these years. It’s like a whole different world opens up once you start going through something yourself and you finally see how others were feeling all that time.

Allergies are awful! I felt awful. I looked awful. It is definitely no picnic. Actually avoid the picnic all together and stay inside! They cause such a wide range of symptoms that vary from person to person so it is important to find the perfect remedy for yourself. I didn’t find it last year. I struggled trying pill after pill, but none completely alleviated my symptoms or those that did had not so pleasant side effects. Some that claimed to be non drowsy made me very drowsy and some made me sick to my stomach. But after summer they finally subsided and I was free.

Till this year that is. This year though I tried something a little different. Honestly, it wasn’t even my idea. I would have gone back to trying other pills without thinking that there were other ways of relieving my allergies. I was sent Clarispray to try and initially I wasn’t the least bit interested in trying it. How could a nasal spray help the wide variety of issues I was having? Then I was sent an Olbas inhaler. I finally gave in and told myself that the world was trying to tell me something and I needed to get my nose (literally) in the game!

Hallelujah! That combination changed the game for me! One of the main symptoms I get from my allergies is severe congestion and migraines. Why I didn’t right away think that Clarispray would work perfectly for me, I’m not entirely sure. But it really did clear that right up. And on days that I know they are farming in the area and I know there’s extra dust and pollen I keep the Olbas inhaler in my bag and use it from time to time to ensure that my nasal passages stay clear. It’s simple and incredibly effective for me. The only additional symptom that they don’t take care of is itchy rashes that I get around my neck and chin area, but I just carry some Benedryl cream and I’m good to go. No nausea, no drowsiness and NO allergy symptoms. This season has been so much more tolerable than last year!

Shop them here:

Some of these products were sent to me for free, but opinions are as always all my own

The perfect spring glow

Dew Drops Gel Hightlighter

I have found the PERFECT highlight for you this spring! I like wearing liquid highlighter for a more natural glow and also because sometimes I like to mix it in with my foundation for an all over healthy look. I was previously using the Becca Liquid Highlighter in Opal which is the perfect shade for my skin to look natural and it doesn't have too much shimmer. I have been using it for over a year and hadn't found anything I liked better, until now. I was sent the new Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in the shade Dew You and I fell in love instantly!

Reading Goals of 2017

I may have already talked about how since the beginning of last year I started setting a book reading goal for myself. I love reading, but I wasn’t always setting aside the time for it so I decided that I would read 52 books a year. Basically a book a week with a little leeway for the unpredictabilities of life. Fast forward to today and reading before bed has become one of my favorite times of day. Sometimes I read for a good hour, sometimes no more than 5 minutes before my eyelids grow heavy, but every night without fail i pick up a book or my E reader and unwind in the pages of a story. 

Originally I was just keeping track of my books in my planner. On the opposite side of my January calendar where there is space for notes I started my list. It wasn’t at all an exciting way to keep my list, but I didn’t think anything of it. And then Goodreads walked into my life. Have I been living under a rock?! The app is not only a wonderful way to share your reviews on books and get recommendations for your next read, but it also has a goal tracker to keep track of the books you read. Holy game changer! I’m hooked! 

Add me on Goodreads! my read shelf:

Mid April Instagram Roundup

I just realized how much I have been using this Rebecca Minkoff bag. I can't help it. It is the perfect size to carry my necessities without being too big to comfortably carry. Plus the color is perfect and goes with any outfit. If you don't have a small nude bag then I highly recommend you get one. It is easy to throw on without much thought, but chic enough to look like you tried. I imagine you'll be seeing this bag a lot all spring so bear with me! 

T-Shirt | Rebecca Minkoff Bag | Bracelet

Warm Spring Instagram Roundup

One of my favorite things about this time of year is all the festivals and farmers markets that start to pop up. I LOVE FESTIVAL FOOD! This week I got to enjoy some crab garlic fries and a delicious   mangoneada from a huge 13 block festival in our area. If you're wondering what a mangoneada is, you are not alone. I discovered them last summer and am now hooked! It is basically a drink consisting of mango chunks, blended mango and chili powder. If you are a fan of sweet and spicy foods then you might really enjoy this- especially on a really hot day. Which let me tell you, we had a lot of this week. Here's a look back on what I wore and links on where to purchase them 

Off Shoulder Dress | Rebecca Minkoff Bag | Wedges

March Beauty and Lifestyle Favorites

For beauty products March was all about healthy looking skin and light makeup. Since It's finally warming up it was time to pull out my favorite self tanner of all time! The St. Tropez tanning mousse is fool proof and looks natural every time. 

          

For lips I mostly reached for pinky/mauve shades. I love Stila Liquid Lipstick in Patina over the Fresh Sugar lip balm in tulip. I find that the liquid lipstick isn't as drying as the formulas from other brands, but I still find it more comfortable once I layer it over the Sugar balm.

Shaving my legs has never been the same since I ditched the shaving cream and started using the Tree Hut shave oil. Unlike shaving cream the shave oil adds moisture which is perfect for people like me with dry skin. I get a nice close shave all while caring for my skin. Score!

The Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield is a game changer! While it is $65 for an ounce it is worth every penny. I find myself using such a small amount that the bottle also lasts me a very long time. Essentially the Perfecting Shield is an SPF 30 sunscreen with anti aging benefits that also serves as a blurring primer. It is so lightweight and perfect as a primer under your makeup, but also looks beautiful on its own for those makeup free days. 

My skin has been looking really good lately so I find myself using foundation less often and instead reaching for a lightweight BB or CC cream and pairing it with a good concealer. Lately I've been using the Dr. Jart Beauty Balm and have been loving it! It has SPF 45 and brightens your skin while evening out your skin tone. This BB cream is also beautiful under your foundation if you like a little more coverage, but during the warmer months I prefer a more simple makeup routine.

My last favorite I want to share is the Marc Jacobs Gel Eyeliner. I was sent two different colors to try from Influenster and ended up loving them! These glide on so smoothly and have so much pigmentation. They allow you a few seconds to smudge the liner before it dries and then won't budge. It looks so beautiful! The claims are that it is waterproof which I can say is not entirely true. While they are very long lasting, they don't always stand up to my watery eyes from allergies so I try to only use them when my allergies aren't acting up or only on my top lid if they are.

Spring Style Instagram Roundup

I've been a busy bee around here, but it's so hard to stay away from those outdoor walks with all this gorgeous weather we've been having out here in California! I've been taking full advantage and busting out all my cute off the shoulder dresses and tops. There are so many cute styles available this season and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been having a hard time holding back! We actually did get a bit a rain though, but those are my favorite so I don't mind throwing on a nice comfy sweater to cuddle on the couch with Kitty with. Shop these looks below!

Instagram Outfit Roundup

This was such an exciting week! Beauty and the Beast came out and it is MAGICAL! Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite Disney movie by far. It was only recently that I realized why. Belle taught me so much at an early age that really shaped me as the woman I am today. It was because of her fearlessness to want more even though it made her an outcast. She wasn't afraid to be herself regardless of the cost. I often talk to my hunny about how growing up I never fit in. I was teased for loving to learn and couldn't relate to all the people around me who were perfectly fine to just always settle. Yet through that I didn't care. Nothing stopped me from being myself or even spending a second contemplating it and I never understood why until now. It was because of Belle! She made me feel like that was ok. Being different was ok.

And that stayed with me into my young adult years. While everybody around me was getting married and having kids in their early 20s, all I wanted to do was go to college and have a great career. I've always been able to hold true to who I am and what I want out of life and I have Beauty and the Beast to thank for that. For so many years I didn't quite understand just how much that movie meant to my 6 year old, 13 year old, 23, and now 28 year old self, but now that I do I can't help but love it even more. It's the type of movie all little girls should learn from. Where the girl isn't rescued by the prince and is sure of who she is without the help of anyone.

If you haven't gone to the movies yet to watch the new Beauty and the Beast adaption then I really suggest that you do. I cannot recommend the movie enough. It is the perfect blend of the charming Beauty and the Beast we know and love and the beauty and elegance of Marie Antoinette. I'm ready to go watch it again!

What I wore this week:

From above:

              Off Shoulder Top, Rebecca Minkoff Bag, Steve Madden Wedges, Similar Jeans

Spring Gingham

Spring is already in full swing here in California! The almond blossoms have bloomed and started falling to the ground resulting in the perfect photo op, so I took advantage.

Read on for details

Powering through a major lifestyle change

It's been a long road and many, MANY years of struggles to get to this point, but I finally have some answers and I'm finally feeling GREAT!

For as long as I can remember I have struggled with a weak immune system and fatigue, but as I got older the list of symptoms I was experiencing was getting bigger and bigger. I dealt with joint issues, depression, colds, migraines, the list goes on and on. I've always been a healthy eater, exercised regularly and had no medical reasons that would explain away all my seemingly unrelated ailments. It wasn't until a couple of months ago, after a lot of research and an extensive elimination diet that I finally found out that my issues were related to gluten. Yep, I am now one of those people.

2017 Pantone Color of the Year Decor Ideas

Greenery! I couldn't be more excited about the 2017 Pantone color of the year and I kinda feel like I'm the only one. Oh dear, misunderstood green. It's always been my favorite color, but whenever I  reveal it to whoever asked I'm always sure to get a strange look in return. Green? Why green? Isn't pink prettier?

Fun Fall Mysteries for your book list!

I was introduced to the first book in the Java Jive Mystery series, Death by Decaf, by Caroline Fardig a few months ago.  I instantly became captivated and engrossed by not only the story which is full of twists and turns, but also with the main character.  The series begins with Juliet, a headstrong and fiery redhead who is forced to make coffee out of the lemons that life has thrown at her. She soon finds herself intertwined with a murder and has to fight tooth and nail to clear her name. Between he wit, temper and knack for danger, I found myself glued to the pages and rooting for Juliet as though she were my friend.

Transitional Fall Decor Inspiration

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

As autumn looms and the excitement of changing weather begins to set in (it's 100 degrees here in California so cooler weather is VERY welcome) I'm finding myself in need of changing up the decor in my home. Okay, I'm always changing up the decor in my home, but this time the changing weather is my excuse. I'm finding inspiration everywhere and I'm not ashamed to admit that I've been on the Anthropologie website nearly every day for the past week.

Behind Closed Doors Book Review

Jack and Grace are the epitome of the perfect couple. He is a handsome and successful lawyer for battered women and she is the  expert housewife who left her demanding job full of travel in order to dote on her loving husband. They are what marriage dreams are made of. Or are they? This book unravels and layer by layer leaves you with a chilling sense unease and shock. The twisted, more psychotic older sister to. Gone Girl, B.A Paris is making a bold mark on the literary world with this debut novel. Be prepared to sit glued to this book from beginning to end.

Buy this book here: