💙 Monthly Favorites~Summertime Blues

My favorites from this month come with a theme...the color blue! Just like Picasso I’m going through a blue period, haha. Here’s everything I’ve been loving lately:

Shark Week

Give me all the shark documentaries on TV, I love them. I find sharks fascinating yet terrifying, and I can’t think of a better way to beat the scorching summer heat than to sit in my air conditioned condo watching the cool blue ocean.

New iPhone case

Gorgeous shades of blue and lavender flowers, this case offers really good phone protection, and a really good price.

Tiffany's Yin & Yang pendant

The newest addition to my jewelry collection, I am in love with this piece and have been wearing it non stop.

Essie nail polish in “Bikini So Teeny”

David picked this color out for me when we were at a Walgreens in Miami picking up supplies, and I haven’t taken this color off for weeks. It’s the perfect bright blue, and it’s a lovely opaque formula.

Bath & Body Works Gingham lotion

My mom treated me to this lotion when we were shopping at our local mall the other day and the scent is absolutely divine! It’s a blend of white peach, clementine, freesia, and violet. It’s very moisturizing too.

Anything you’ve been loving lately that you’d care to share? Let me know down below, I love hearing from you.

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous rest of your summer. :)

Winter Skincare Faves

Here’s a quick rundown of some perennial favorites for the cold, dry climate this time of year in my neck of the woods:


Clinique Comfort hand and cuticle cream-$24
The best hand cream I’ve found to date. It’s unscented, super thick without being greasy. It’s also convenient that it’s 2 products in 1. You can never go wrong with Clinique in my book. 

                               


Lancôme Hydrogel sheet mask-$15
This item is a bit of a splurge for being a one time use mask, but I love using these before an important night out, or the morning after a late night. Just one of these masks contains 30ml, equivalent to one whole bottle of Lancôme’s signature serum! I feel like it also locks in more moisture than the paper masks. Plumps and hydrated your skin in just 10 minutes. Very good on sensitive skin too.

                         

Laura Mercier Crème Brûlée Sugar Scrub-$50
This is such a luxurious treat in the shower. It smells heavenly and the sugar truly scrubs away any dead winter skin while improving skin tone. It comes with the cutest little scoop so you don’t have to stick your fingers in the jar. Also, I know it’s pricey but my last jar lasted me almost 6 months. 
                 
Sarah Happ Lip Slip Balm-$24
If a super thick balm is your jam, then this one is for you. It is the faintest color pink, has a nice light scent, and is one of the thickest lip balms I’ve ever used. I enjoy using this in the morning under lipstick and at night as a mask for my lips before bed. I also have a coconut lip scrub from this brand, very good as well. 
                                         
Bath & Body Works Pocket Bac 5 Pack-$6 for 5
A winter skincare list wouldn’t be complete for me without some sort of antibacterial hand product. With flu season in full force I don’t leave the house without it. (This little guy is cuteness overload and I think I need him.)
                                           

What are some of your winter skincare essentials? Let me know down below, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading, I hope you have a fabulous week. :)

Stocking Stuffers

My hubby David and I don’t buy each other big Christmas gifts. Instead, we exchange stockings on Christmas Eve and it has become such a fun tradition! I also make a stocking for our dogs to share and have so much fun watching them open it. 

For anyone still looking for ideas, here are some things I own and love as well as some gifts I’ve given over the years that have been well received. Don’t forget today is the cutoff for USPS guaranteed Christmas delivery for Retail Ground shipping!

For Her-
L’Occitane Holiday Almond Ornament-$14
An adorable little bauble full of L’Occitane’s signature almond scent. The set includes 3 trial size products- their award winning almond shower oil, milk concentrate, and a hand cream. This would be so perfect for travel, and would also look really cute on the tree. 

Swarovski Bella Crystal Drop Earrings-$79
Jewelry is a hard thing to buy for someone else. Everyone’s taste is so different, but you can’t go wrong with classics. These are so super sparkly and are wonderful for sensitive ears (like mine).

                                                  

Bath and Body Works Body Snowy Morning Ultra Shea body cream-$13.50
I’m a big fan of their body creams for winter. They’re jam packed with shea, cocoa butter, aloe and coconut oil and have a thick rich feel to them. But this scent is probably the best one yet from B&BW. It’s bergamot, mistletoe berry, juniper and lavender. It smells much more luxe, like a scent Jo Malone would put out. I also like that it’s more winter themed than Christmas since it’ll last them for a few months. 
                                     

For Him-
J Crew Factory boxers-$16.50 (there's usually a sale though)
Ok I know, underwear. Not the most exciting gift in the world. But hey, every man can use a fresh pair and J Crew factory has some fun designs! They are also excellent quality and hold up very well in the wash. Some fun prints I’ve purchased before are glow in the dark solar system and sushi designs.                                                      

                              
Hermès Orange Vert bar soap-$35
A bit on the pricey side for a bar of soap but it lasts a surprisingly long time and has the cleanest citrus scent. Plus, who can resist a little Vitamin C wrapped package?                                                      
                            
Cocktail Kits 2 Go-$14.99
Liven up their next flight! These adorable kits come in a variety of flavors so you can pick the recipient’s favorite. All they have to do is purchase a mini bottle on the plane and they have everything to mix it into a glamorous cocktail. It's also super tiny, the size of an Altoids tin, so it doesn't take up any space in a carry-on.
                      

                                                  

For the Pups-
We have three dogs, Zero a 10 year old Maltese/toy poodle mix (right), Dolly a 6 year old Yorkie/Maltese mix (center), and our firecracker Coco, our 4 year old Shih-Tzu/Maltese mix (left). My dogs are all under 15 lbs so they have small mouths and are pretty finicky when it comes to toys and treats. These are things that my dogs have loved over the years:                                       
                                         
Zippy Paws Interactive Toy-$14.95
All 3 of my dogs enjoy pulling the little blueberries out of the pancakes. The blueberries squeak and roll too.
                                                          
Cesar Jerky Bites-$8.98
My dogs are so picky when it comes to food and treats. Cesar just came out with these soft bites and so far they are a hit! They are small enough for their tiny mouths and they are also grain, wheat, and soy free with real meat and no artificial colors or flavors. 

                           

Nylabone Flavor Frenzies Triple Pack-$6.19
These are so good for dogs teeth to keep them clean and satisfy their desire to chew. The flavors unique spice it up a little for them too. This particular pack is pancakes with sausage, roast beef club, and lasagna.
                           

For Anyone-
Banana saver-$7.45
Ok this might be the strangest thing you’ll ever find on a gift guide but it’s oh so practical. If someone you know takes their breakfast or lunch to work this hard plastic case safely transports their banana without any bruising. When I was a flight attendant I took this on almost every trip with me and my banana always survived a day inside my suitcase bouncing from flight to flight. What a genius little invention.
                                   
Wireless Charger-$12.99
Since my husband and I bought these for our nightstands it has been so nice not having to fumble for cords. You just lay your phone on this and voila! Very Jetsons. 
                                 
Tea Forte Warming Joy Petite Tea Tree-$10.95
I got this in my stocking last year and how delicious! A sampling of 4 of Tea Forte’s winter flavors and each one is better than the next. The Rum Raisin Biscotti is my very favorite, followed by Winter Chai. Since they’re caffeine free they make a nice guilt free treat for the end of the day. 
                            

Honorable Mention-
I was going to add the Oreo Music Box but I see it has sold out! We ordered one just for fun on Amazon and it is the cutest thing. Based on the bites you take out of the cookie the music changes! If it comes back it stock it would make such a cute gift for a kiddo or something quirky for someone who’s hard to buy for.
                            
Do you have any unique stocking stuffer ideas? Are you finished with your holiday shopping or do you have some last minute purchases to make? Comment down below, I’d love to hear from you

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous weekend.