Summer Reads

My favorite thing to do on a rainy and dreary day is put on my coziest outfit, hop in the car and head over to Barnes & Noble. To me there is nothing better than a room full of books, a good cup of coffee and the rain falling outside. It's just perfect! So a few weeks ago I ventured to B&N and left with two very good reads that I can't wait to share with you! 

 1. Girls In White Dresses 

By Jennifer Close

I picked up this little gem originally because I was drawn to the cover. I know everyone says you can't judge a book by its cover but who are we kidding, I am a sucker for anything cutesy! After reading the back cover I knew I had to give Girls In White Dresses a try and so I did. This is the perfect summer read for any girl in her twenties that is living a life she may not have originally planned for herself. It says everything we want to say to the girls we graduated with, the girls who date our exes, your current boyfriends exes, and the girls who are already married or planning their "I Do", while you feel like you just graduated college and don't know where to start. It's witty and funny and I think everyone can relate to at least one of the characters. I definitely recommend it! 

2. A Letter To My Dog: Notes to our best friends 

Okay, okay I know what you're thinking.....a silly book about dogs and how great they are filled with cutesy pictures of noses and paws...wrong! I first came across this book at my store, Fiore Boutique, and could not wait to sit down and dive in. If there is one thing you should know about me it's that I love my dog more than most people and couldn't imagine my life without him. This book is the best book for a dog person I have ever read. It's full of letters from regular people, children, celebrities and war veterans about how much their dogs have impacted their lives and what they have taught them about love, understanding and compassion. I suggest you grab a box of Kleenex and make sure your dog is near so you can love on them after every letter, because trust me you will want too. 

Have you read anything good lately!? 

I am now waiting on a rainy day so I can find my next read! 

xoxo

Summer is fast approaching and if you're anything like me you haven't really gotten a jump start on tanning or you just don't really get tan. I have always been very fair skinned with freckles and being tan is just not something that ever happens for me. 

{The one time I actually looked tan was when I lived at the beach 

for a solid two months and spent every day outside babysitting. } 

Since I don't have any luck with real tanning, I am always searching for the best self-tanners or spray tans. I decided to put together a little review of some of the best and worst products I've tried and hopefully they can help you have a safer and better tanning experience. 

1. L'OREAL Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Lotion 

I first used this product last year and it was great! My best friend started using it and eventually convinced me to try it, I was skeptical about using the Deep/Dark lotion since I am so fair but gave it a shot. The drawbacks of this self-tanner were that it worked best when applied by someone else, it had a very strong odor and you had to wait at least 8 hours before you could shower. I started using it right before graduation and everyone was asking if I was going to the tanning bed! 

I would give it a 6 out of 10! 

2. L'OREAL Sunless Tanning Wipes 

These sunless tanning wipes recently started popping up all over my Instagram feed and my favorite blogs. After watching and reading reviews and how-to-videos I decided to go ahead and try them. One towel is enough for your whole body and I started with my legs trying to overlap each time I applied. The results I got weren't so good....I woke up with streaky legs and I couldn't even sleep with the awful smell all over me. I wouldn't recommend these unless you have a lot of time to really perfect applying it and have a weak sense of smell. 

3. Organic Airbrush Tanning 

I absolutely love airbrush tanning! I started looking up places to get a good airbrush tan in Greenville so I wouldn't look so pale at Carolina Cup. I found a salon that did organic airbrush tanning for $35 dollars and made an appointment for two days before Cup. It took about 15 minutes for Brandi to apply the solution and as soon as she was done I felt like an tan goddess! I have never been so dark in my life and it looked so natural. There was no smell, it lasted about 7 days and you could shower within 6 hours. I've since been back twice but don't always like shelling out $35 dollars for 7 days of tan. 

I highly recommend getting an airbrush if you have an event coming up like a wedding or beach trip! 

4. Fake Bake Flawless Self Tanner

Behold the best self tanner that I have ever used! I cannot say enough good things about this product. I first heard about it when a friend of mine showed up to work looking like she just stepped off a boat in the Bahamas. She told me about FakeBake and I immediately started you-tubing videos of reviews and how-tos. FakeBake Flawless is a dark spray that you apply to your skin and then evenly apply with a tanning mitt. You can see where you are applying it so you never have streaks or miss a spot. The tan lasts about a week depending on how much you shower and it smells like coconuts! I plan on using this for the rest of the summer and highly recommend it for everyday use! You can purchase FakeBake at Ulta and they have a lot of other products for different skin types! 

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? 

I hope this helps you get started on a safe and healthy tan! 

xoxo

Life as of late.

I can't believe I haven't posted in soooo long. I swear my life just feels like one big whirlwind and when I finally get a chance to stop and smell the roses I get so lazy and off track! Here are a few of my recent OOTD's and some things I can't stop swooning over. (Sorry for the picture overload!) 

I am so in love with this top from Wish in downtown Greenville. 

I want to go back and buy one in every color. 

Arm Stack: Fiore Boutique!

Skull Top: Traveling Chic Boutique 

in love in love in love. 

my friend Ashley and I couldn't pass up a little bundle we found on Poshmark! 

We can't get enough of these Tory Burch wallets. 

finally scooped up this Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf in You Gotta Regatta

(It was on sale for $59, how could I say no!)

Polka Dot Denim Tunic from my favorite store Fiore Boutique! 

just a few Target goodies! 

So glad I finally got my hands on these glitter sandals, 

I wear them almost everyday! 

Estee Lauder knew just how to win me over by offering a Lilly Pulitzer goody bag with a $30 dollar purchase! I picked out my favorite eye liner and lipstick and then got all these extra gems. 

Hands down my favorite dress I have ever worn, ever. 

I bought this dress a few months ago and had been saving it for the perfect occasion, the Avett Brothers show! Too bad you can't even see the best part which is the open back that makes it extra sexy ;) 

Peplum top: Target 

Necklace: Fiore Boutique

La Mer for Target watch! 

a little gift from boyfriend. 

Top: Forever 21. Jeans, shoes and bracelets: Old Navy. 

Finally got the pave bracelet to add to my jewelry collection.

 I love itttt! 

Okay so I found these little gems at TJmaxx and just thought they were so cute and very Kate Spade. I am now kicking myself for not buying them when I had the chance. What do you think? Should I go back and get them tomorrow? 

I hope you all have a great week and I promise I will be posting on the regular now! 

xoxoxo

Wednesday Inspiration

I haven't been able to sit down and blog in so long, and there is so much I want to share and talk about! I am always looking for inspiration for my outfits, my apartment, the way I style my hair and even what I eat! Lately I have been itching to change up the decor in my humble abode. I get really bored with the same set up or colors so I've found a lot of inspiration through Pinterest and coffee table books and even found some fabulous items to bring home with me after thrifting.

I keep seeing these blue and white pattern plates everywhere. I picked up four at my new favorite antique shop and can't wait to build my collection. I would love to display them in my kitchen or have sweet dinner parties with a setting like the one above. 

 Last weekend I picked up some of the Shabby Chic Bedding at Target and I am so in love!

 I love the different shades of white and simplicity and feminine touches of all these pictures! 

 This image and the one below are from one of my favorite websites and blogs, Ruche! 

It is such a cute boutique with adorable clothing and really cute little trinkets and stationary. These images are from their latest Spring look book and it is GORGEOUS! 

Like I said last weekend I ventured out with my mom to an antique shop I have been eyeing and hadn't had the time to really go exploring. Its right near downtown Greenville and is called Shinola. It is full to the ceiling and backyard with antiques of every style and era. I was in heaven. I was looking for an antique stool to use as a bedside table and thankfully Shinola had the perfect one and then some. 

Shinola 

How cute is their store front? 

This is one of my favorite buys! It was only $28 dollars and it actually works! It looks adorable in my room on my new green stool! I also picked up three of the blue and white plates and a little cat figurine! 

I can't wait to show you once I get it all together! 

xoxo! 

OOTDs

Some recent OOTDs and new treats I'm loving! 

Dress: Fiore Boutique 

Booties: Forever 21 

my new favorite earrings! 

I wish I could wear them everyday. 

ring stack: Fiore Boutique

Tory Burch.

Sweater: Old Navy 

Chambray: Old Navy 

Necklace: Charming Charlie

Polka Dot Button Up: J.Crew 

Shawl: New York and Company 

Sweater: Old Navy 

(I really love this sweater, its my favorite staple piece!) 

Necklace: Charming Charlie 

xoxo