Summer Favorites

You guyssssss. I have been really terrible at my monthly favorites posts. Somehow I feel like both May and June were complete washes with the wedding and honeymoon. Now it’s almost the end of July and I still haven’t shared a favorites post. Where did summer go? Yikes.

Here’s a list of some of the things I’m currently loving! These posts are always so fun to write….a little something different for your Friday. I hope y’all enjoy!

Temple Spa. This summer I switched over completely from using all Philosophy facial products to Temple Spa. This probably deserves a post in and of itself, but in short I will just tell you that I am obsessed with this line. Totally obsessed. I know there’s tons of debates about all this, but it was important to me to quit using facial products with parabens and retinol in them…which just happened to be in every product I own. Right. I was a little worried at first because the products I had been using on my face worked SO well and I was nervous switching to something totally unknown and “all natural” to boot. However, I have been using all Temple Spa products for the past two months and my skin has never looked better. Seriously.

How did I find out about the company? Well, I’ll be totally honest here and tell you I just happened to be googling “what face wash does Nigella Lawson use?” late one night, which seemed a totally normal thing to google and Temple Spa popped up. I guess she mentioned one time in a magazine interview that she, too, was obsessed with the products, especially the “breakfast smoothie” scrub and the “in the beginning” deep cleansing melt. Well, I researched the heck out of the line for the next week then took the plunge. So thanks, Nigella, I owe ya. I really think I found my face products for life and I couldn’t be happier.

Barre3. I know I’ve told you guys before of my love for this workout that fuses together ballet, pilates and yoga and if you haven’t tried it yet, now is the TIME! I’ve been absolutely loving these workouts this summer. There’s no studio near me so I do them at home in the comfort of my own living room and they never fail to kick my butt. Recently, Barre3 launched their online workouts, which is what I do, where you pay $15/month and get access to tons and tons of streaming online workout videos ranging from 10 minutes to 60 minutes.

I’ve been loosely following along with their “28 To Great” program, where you do a Barre3 workout 6x a week for four weeks. I was having a hard time getting back in the swing of things post-honeymoon and needed something to motivate and challenge me so I made this a goal for myself and so far it’s been great! I say I’ve been following it “loosely” because I’ve been try to do a Barre3 workout 5x a week and a yoga class once a week for my challenge. I am absolutely loving it so far!

This ipad sleeve from Better Life Bags. The hubby surprised me last weekend with an ipad {sort of a late birthday present! I have been wanting one forever} and I immediately ordered this gorgeous bag from Rebecca’s shop to keep it safe and sound….and, you know, look cute in my purse. All Better Life Bags are made by local immigrant women who otherwise wouldn’t have a job. Rebecca trains the women and teaches them to sew, thus helping them become a primary or secondary provider in their families. And y’all? The bags are just gorgeous. I can attest — I own three of them now and get compliments wherever I go when I have one on me. You can read more about the BLB mission here.

Egyptian Licorice Tea. I’ve been sipping on this slightly-sweet-slightly-spicy tea all day long lately! Remember the tea at Aveda salons? It tastes just like that.

Minnetonka Moccasins. You guys, Adam’s mom bought me these last Christmas and I have worn them into.the.ground. They are my favorite shoe/slipper EVER. I wear them all day, every day, while I’m at home cooking and writing. I think it’s time for a new pair. They are unbelievably comfy!

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray {found online and in drugstores}. Okay I get that this is just water in a can but I like it, okay? I never thought I would be someone that buys fancy water in a can but….it happened. I picked some up in Paris and ever since then, have been absolutely addicted to it. I have two cans — one in my purse and one in my bathroom and I spray that thing with reckless abandon all over my face whenever I get a chance.

I hear you laughing at me. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

She Reads Truth: Women in the Bible.  I am doing this study right now and just loving it. I’ve always been fascinated with the women in the bible so it’s perfect for me! You can download the free YouVersion app on your smartphone and then just search for “She Reads Truth” to find it. It’s free and easy. My morning routine lately has included a double espresso + this plan early before Adam gets up. The fog has been so thick in the mornings lately that all I see out our window is white abyss. I gather Dexter, my bible {or phone if I’m feeling extra lazy} and a blanket. It’s great. I love having the early mornings to pray, write and just sit in silence with the Lord. It really shapes my entire day.

Lucy leggings. I’ve been a wunder under girl for years but recently bought my first pair of Lucy leggings {I have the hatha leggings} and…I think I’m a convert. In my opinion, they totally beat Lululemon in terms of comfort and style. Just sayin’. Not to mention, they absolutely are NOT see through, which has been a littttttle bit of an issue lately with some Lulu pants. After I got these, I put them through the ringer of a very sweaty and intense yoga class. No awkward bunching of fabric, no stretching out…nothing. They are insanely comfortable and come in a variety of grey and black shades. I also like that they are shorter than my wunder unders. There’s not a ton of extra fabric bunching around the ankle, which was also a problem for me in the past with my Lulus. I don’t have a ton of other Lucy products so I can’t speak to quality or style in other areas, but for leggings I am sold.