My Top Ten Summer Products

Here is a list of my top ten summer beauty products and cosmetics. I linked the names of the products to a place where they can be purchased.

1. Benefit's Moonbeam. Let's be honest here. I get about 5 hours of sleep, if I'm lucky. I pretty much look like a zombie everyday of my life. This little tube makes me look well rested and it really brightens up my face. The gold shimmer looks really good on my skin tone and in certain lights it looks purple. Gorgeous!

2. Tokidoki's Cartina Blotting Papers. I'm using these blotting papers right now because Tokidoki has such darn cute packaging. Blotting papers are all the same. They absorb any oil or sweat on your face. After walking outside or in the middle of an especially long shift at work, these do the trick to keep my skin looking it's best. (These exact papers apparently no longer exist...)

3. Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm. I imagine you know and love Burt's Bees lip balm. If not, girl, what are you waiting for? Seriously though just in case you've never tried it or read any girl's blog, this is the best lip balm, blah blah beeswax. This one tastes like pomegranate and gives your lips a tiny hint of red. Perfect for being on the go.

4. Make Up Forever's HD Microfinish Powder. I hate being shiny. This is established. I throw this on over foundation or instead of foundation (it's summer I can be lazy). It sets makeup and prevents the dreaded shine.

5. Lush's Ultra Bland. This is a cleanser like no other (that I know of...). It has the consistency of vaseline and you smear a tiny amount all over your face and wipe it off with a toner-moistened cotton ball until all the makeup and stuff comes off your face. I've used it for a few weeks and there's such a difference in my skin. It cleans it off really well and makes it so soft. I will probably stick with this as a cleanser for a while.

6. CVS RefreshingToner. I really like this toner. It's cheap and it makes my face feel clean. That's all I can ask of a toner.

7. CVS Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15. I really love this lotion. It absorbs into my face quickly without feeling greasy. Also it has sunscreen in it which is perfect for summer (and the rest of the year too!).

8. Almay Thickening Mascara in Black. Your basic black mascara. Nothing too special, perfect for a natural everyday look. When  I'm running late and have time to do little more than shower, I swipe on some mascara so it looks like I put effort into how I look.

9. tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface. I've been using blush a lot lately. It's right up there with mascara in terms of quick things I do to make myself look good. I used to never wear blush and now it seems like I can't go a day without it. This bright pink is one of my favorites this summer.

10. Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Spray. I straighten my hair like my life depended on it, but with the heat and humidity of summer, I really hate taking the time to straighten my hair. Plus with all of my early mornings between work and my internship, I usually don't have time to blow dry and straighten my hair after my shower. This spray makes my hair wavy and like I put real time and effort into getting ready.

What are your favorites for summer?

xo,
Kristen

WTF: Quixotte

This adorable font is available through dafont.com. Quixotte is a simple but fun font with an elegant feel.

Fajitas!

 
I love fajitas. Well, there is pretty much no Mexican food I have come across that I couldn't devour four times my weight of, if we're being honest.  My mom and I cannot get enough of south-of-the-border anything so she started making her version of fajitas. They're not authentic by any means but they sure taste delicious and are easy to make. I hope you try them out. Let me know if you do in the comments!

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces

1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bag frozen peppers + onions
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
salt + pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Marinate chicken in lime juice and 1 tablespoon of oil. Add salt and pepper and stir together.
2. Refridgerate for 5 minutes.
3. Saute thawed onions and peppers with garlic in olive oil until soft.
4. Add chicken.
5. When chicken is cooked, serve in tortillas. I like mine with cheese and tomatoes.

xo,
Kristen

Vacation: Days 4 and 5: Miami

My family decided to extend our vacation by a day and a half so we stayed in Miami, Florida. Once we got off the ship, we headed to our hotel (not as awesome as the boat) and then did a ton of shopping. I had such an awesome time on my trip and I didn't want it to end. I would love to go back to all of the amazing places I saw. I hope you've been enjoying the photos from my vacation as much as I liked sharing them.

Wordless Wednesday

Life this Summer

I'm trying to enjoy my summer. Really, I am. I wanted to be in Boston but I'm not and still attempting to make the best out of it. Between two jobs a biweekly internship and a science class I am stressed and always busy. As, I've mentioned before, my dog has the early stages of kidney failure so I'm doing the best I can with keep a solid medication schedule and going to her doctors appointments. On top of it all I'm trying to still spend time with friends and family while I'm in Rhode Island. In the midst of my crazy life, I snapped a few calming pictures I thought I'd share.

What are you doing this summer?
xo,
Kristen

Ten Reasons I Love Moonrise Kingdom

 I saw Moonrise Kingdom last weekend with my friend Kayla. We had a great time and thought the movie was exceptionally good; I think it's a perfect summer movie. If you haven't seen it yet here are my top ten reasons, no particular order, why you need to drop everything and get to the nearest theatre in which it's playing.

1. Sam and Suzy. The main characters of this movie are 12 years old and madly in love. They are pen pals and decide to run away together. Seriously though, I'm 19 and no one has never offered to run away with me via letter. Where's my Sam? 
2. The costumes. Sam is always in his Khaki Scout uniform and a raccoon fur hat. It's the cutest thing ever. Suzy is in an adorable, pink A-line collared dress, knee highs and "Sunday School" shoes. Whoever designed the costumes for this movie is probably going to start a 60's mod revival.
3. The narrator. The movie opens with this guy setting the stage so to speak about the setting and the approaching storm. It's awkward, but hilariously fitting for the film. He's so random. Also he's a cartography instructor.
4. Lightening. Sam and Suzy should probably have died based upon this force of nature. But they don't and it makes the story so funny and heart warming.
5. The Wedding Scene. Sam and Suzy are wedded but it's not legally binding anywhere. That whole scene is adorable and hilarious,
6. Tilda Swinton. She makes a small appearance in this film. She's just the best. Her name in the film is "Social Services" and that's her job. She is only referred to as that and refers to herself as that. And she sits in a tiny chair and uses a tiny phone.
7. Cinematography. This film is shot beautifully. Everything in it is perfect. Everything is so warm and then the storm scenes are so dark. It's just perfect. 
8. Awkward romance. There is a scene on the beach where Sam and Suzy dance in their underwear. It's so cute and innocent. There is an awkward kiss and feeling up scene and it is how everyone's first kiss should be.
9. The ending. I don't want to be a spoiler but the last two minutes of the film is so freaking adorable. That painting!
10.  The "feel" of the movie. The whole movie has a vintage 60's feel. It was just so fun and campy. It's easy to see why everyone loves the film.

Have you seen Moonrise Kingdom? What did you love about it? Comments make my day!
xo, Kristen
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image from imdb

Today in 1946: The Bikini

 On July, 5, 1946, Micheline Bernardini wore the first bikini style bathing suit in a public pool. The bikini was invented by Louis Reard and Jacques Heim. It was first named the Atome, after the smallest particle of matter, as it was considered the smallest article of clothing. Later the name changed to Bikini after the island used for testing of the atomic bomb.

I couldn't help but share after I saw this photo. They may seem somewhat classy by today's standards but Bernardini, a nude dancer was hired by the men to debut their scandalous invention. Many women thought the new bathing attire was crude. It was banned in several countries and declared sinful by the Vatican. Certainly an interesting history of today's most popular swimsuit style.

xo,
Kristen
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photo and information 

Wordless Wednesday

July Goals

Blog at least five days a week.
Receive an "A" in my summer science class.
Be the best puppy care taker for Penny as possible.
Keeping the freak outs over my tuition bill to a minimum.
Enjoy time with friends that I don't see often.
Design a website for my internship that I'm proud of.
Read as much as I can of the books assigned for my classes in the fall.



Do you have any goals for the upcoming month?
Happy July!

xo, Kristen