Summer wasn't really the time for favorites this year. Moving, taking on a DIY project, and working consumed much of my time. I was preoccupied seeking out familiar comfort, rather than the next great thing. Fortunately, there were still a few items that slipped through and made everything feel a tiny bit better and here they are:
Wearing: Before the new stuff, I want to give some love to summer classics. My Levi shorts have gotten through another summer without any real sign of breaking down. So, if you're on the fence about the cost I can firmly say I've made it up through all the wears.
On the other hand, these little Forever21 "shorteralls" are on their last limb. I picked them up to use up a gift card I got for christmas and figured I would give the trend a shot. Over the seasons I've absolutely loved them and would like to get some better quality ones. I may have also gotten some paint on it from all the room redecorating (oops.)
Moving: If there was one thing I enjoyed about being unemployed it was all the time I had to workout. It may seem very preachy, Instagram girl, but exercise can do a lot for the mind as well as the body. The fact is I feel a lot better when I exercise regularly and these ladies right here kick my butt.
Adee (Flow with Adee on Youtube) is great if you want a serious stretch. She really gets into those hidden nooks and crannies of your body, which helped me gain movement in my back and stomach post-surgery.
Cassey (Blogilates on Youtube) is a long-time favorite. Her pilates videos are insane. I complain my way through nearly all of them, but the next day I feel so much stronger.
Adriene's (Yoga With Adriene on Youtube) videos were a great resource when I first dedicated myself to yoga a few years ago. She explains positions and motions in a way that makes sense to even the most clueless beginners. Even now that I'm more familiar, her videos still provide a pleasant challenge every time I get on the mat.
Applying: There is nothing really desirable about wearing a lot in the summer, so this trio was all I needed beyond my basics.
Pixi's H2O skintint is super light on the skin but makes my face look super smooth, as if I put on an intense primer underneath. The only gripe I have is there are only three shades which is super lame.
I enjoy referring to this mask as the 'anti-mud mud mask.' Despite the name, the Pacifica Pore Refine Deep Detox mud mask is not some goopy, thick mud texture. Instead, it's a clear gel. A totally game changer! It pulls a bunch of crap out of my skin without making a total mess in my bathroom sink or my glasses.
At the start of the season I got a spot of eczema on my shoulder. I tried a couple of lotions I use regularly, but nothing worked as well as the Yu-Be skin cream. It's a super thick cream that smells strongly of camphor, but it cleared up the patch in a matter of days. Probably not the best if you have large areas of dry skin, but great for the occasional issue.
Listening: I don't think it's much surprise I gravitated towards Paramore during this tough season. Every album has great sad songs that are just dancy enough to forget your problems for a couple minutes.
NAO is a new favorite I found in August. Her sound is 90s R&B mixed with today's electronic. It's one of those things I didn't know I needed. I'd recommend listening to her song Bad Blood first.
Watching: First and foremost summer was about the return of dance shows. It was a little old school, but fun getting excited to watch a new episode of So You Think You Can Dance and World of Dance each week. Sometimes it's the weather that signals fall has begun and sometimes it's the season finale of SYTYCD.
I also found the joy of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. I wanted to watch the series when it first aired, but the BBC player gave me so much trouble. Fortunately, it's now on Hulu. Of course, when I found this out I immediately binged watched it. I'm addicted and looking forward to its return in October. Check it out if you're into scifi or anything Douglass Adams.
What was your favorite part of summer?
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