Nothing feels sexier than glowing, golden skin and bare shoulders catching the light in all the right places. Achieving that effortless, lit-from-within look comes down to head-to-toe luminosity combining rich, high-gloss body oils, second-skin tinted SPFs, and a signature scent that feels like liquid sunshine.

My summer has been completely packed: I signed up for unlimited salsa lessons, taking back-to-back classes three nights a week before hitting the clubs on the weekends with my classmates. When you’re constantly on the move, you need an easy routine that delivers maximum radiance with minimal effort. If you're ready for hydrated, sun-drenched, bronze summer skin, these are the exact products keeping me glowing right now.

 

 In the summer time I love a scent that transports me to a tropical paradise. Imagine the scent of the ocean breeze, while you sit on the sand lathered in Hawaiian Tropic SPF 8. When I think of a beachy scent I think of the fragrance notes: frangipani, tiare, ylang-ylang, & coconut. The perfumes on this list capture that feeling of the tropics and make you feel like you're on vacation in Hawaii, the Maldives, Bora Bora, Fiji or the Seychelles. Even if you're not traveling this summer, you can still wear these fantastic fragrances that transport you to a beautiful beach.

These looks embodies my vibe for the summer! I call it Cool Girl Relaxed Vibes. If you want to feel stylish and current for this season I will share the top ten trends in summer fashion this year. Nothing here is really new, they just continue to be in the spotlight. So not much of a surprise from last year, they always come back again. The good news is that you probably already own most of summer’s key elements.

If you're wondering what all the fashion girlies are wearing this summer, I'd say think French summer style. I've got your list of key items which include lots of flowy linen pants (both the pull on with drawstrings and the new tailored version), the satin skirt, silk pants, tailored shorts, the naked sandal, chunky earrings, straw hat,  open button ups, larger and wider silhouettes, monochrome white looks, two piece sets, and so much crochet. We are ditching the mirror lens sunglasses and focusing on more rectangular shaped ones. 

I'm going to post some outfit inspiration for the type of vibe for the linen pants and button up situation that is light and airy and looks very Saint-Tropez or Positano vacation dream. I need to be frocking in the south of France right now! I think you'll find all of these to be really easy and effortless but still feels put together.

I wanted to share my favorite summer perfumes that I have on rotation right now.  I wear about 5-8 core fragrances per season. I like to switch up my scents with the seasons because hot temperatures call for lighter fragrances. This list of fragrances is inspired by the summer season with beachy scents, light florals, zesty citrus, tropical, and herbal notes. Each of these scents offer you an excursion. It instantly boosts my energy and mood and transports me on a vacation.

Smelling my perfumes uplifts my spirts so I even wear them to work from home. I don't feel the need to save my fragrances for special occasions. Fragrance is more than an accessory to my outfits, wearing fragrances daily is part of my self-care routine.  You automatically look good when you smell good.

In the summertime I apply perfume on my wrists, neck, inside of elbows, and behind my knees for when you walk past people who are sitting. You should never rub your wrists together after applying perfume, you will rub off the top notes. You can also spray your hair if you like. Scent is our most powerful sense when it comes to memory.

Have you been in a beauty rut the last couple years? Maybe you haven't been keeping up with the latest trends since you're wearing less makeup these days.  Here are some new products to try to be excited about as these are my most loved products. When you change your clothes for the summer, you should also edit your skincare products. You're going to wear less makeup in the summer, because the look now is bare bronzed sunkissed glowy skin. I bet these products will become part of your summer beauty routine and create an effortless look.

Last year I posted my summer skincare essentials, I wanted to share that I'm still using the same cleanser but a new bottle and still making my way through the same bottle of toner pictured even though I use it every single morning. This post has my favorite sunscreen and I'm super excited that Glowscreen now comes in a tan color! I've also been wearing my lighter perfumes for summer. 

 

I'm excited that summer is finally here! To start this new season I created a list of fun things I want to do in the next 3 months.

For your chic and classy summer outfits, the most important thing for your summer wardrobe is fabric choice.  Where I live the average temperature in the summer is 90F + humidity, so I have to dress strategically. Thus, fabric choice is key because I only want to wear natural breathable fabrics like linen, cotton and tencel/lyocell. The picture above is the vibe I'm going for; effortlessly stylish in linen. I feel linen looks upscale, polished and is a luxurious fabric. You do always have to steam it before you wear, but I also think people expect to see some wrinkles in linen. 

I do not wear polyester in the summertime because your body actually gets hotter in polyester and it shows all sweat stains and holds odors. I also don't wear any denim in the summer, it's just too hot. I want to wear breathable, wide leg pants or shorts. White linen pants have been a summer staple in my wardrobe for years. If you don't want to wear white pants, get beige linen pants. The list below is full of a natural fiber summer aesthetic. I also just did a post on what white t-shirts I will be wearing.

Never underestimate the important of great staple pieces, that's why I invest in elevated basics. When you spend money on premium quality pieces and pay attention to the fabric composition before you buy, those pieces will last a long time. Clothes have to fit you well, so if you've gained a little weight, you should pick up some new pieces that flatter your current shape. 

This list is full of high quality, versatile, essential pieces that are perfect for summer. They will create a sophisticated summer wardrobe of timeless outfits which will look more expensive. Investing in neutral colors  means you can wear the pieces many ways. Monochrome outfits give off that rich classy vibe. Styling is all about visual balance so when you can't wear layers in the summertime, accessorizing is the thing that makes a basic outfit look put together and polished. Thus, I included some links to straw hats and bags you can accessorize with to evoke vacation vibes.

I want to share my current beauty routine for the summer.  In the summer we need to change our skincare routine because being outside in the hot temperatures can lead to unwelcome problems. Since I'm working from home, and am outside a lot less, I've noticed my skin feels normal and unproblematic. If you're outside sweating a lot, your body is going to crave water; and without replenishing it the skin's moisture will be dry. The solution is to drink a lot of water and using products with oils and glycerin that will lock in the moisture into your skin.

I see skincare as a major investment, as your face is the first thing people see.  I've gotten compliments on my skin lately from a few people so I thought I'd share what I have been using.  You'll see that I don't use a cream moisturizer so I think the essences and oils are what is keeping my skin soft. I drink 8 glasses of water everyday, I know because I have a half gallon water bottle.  I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I go to the farmers market every Saturday and make a batch of salads from that. I take a B vitamin which helps your body produce new skin cells, retain moisture, have softer skin and reduce the skins of aging. B vitamins are also good for your hair and nails. 

I’m a Sephora junkie, but I only shop during their 15% off sale a couple times a year. My goal has always been to create empty bottles, so everything you see listed on my previous beauty posts were used  until the bottle was empty. I don't need to purchase skin care products that often. I think quality skincare products are an investment in your skin's health. Good skin means you don't need as much makeup for your daily life.

In the summer, I wear scents that are light and fresh in the following olfactory categories: zesty citrus, breezy beachy, or green scents which are all going to be lightweight.  In the summer you should avoid heavy and gourmand scents.  Just like you swap out your dark nail polish for lighter shades in the summer, swap out your perfume for something brighter and sunnier. You want to pick scents that make you feel clean on a really hot day.  A summer scent  is often overlooked, but very important as it can literally make any outfit and a first impression. I can't stress this enough on my blog. Here's why it's so important, after people see your outfit they then smell you as you get closer, so it hits another one of their senses.  

I came up with 6 key pieces for summer that are a mix of new items and older pieces that will form the basis of my summer capsule wardrobe. Now that I'm tiptoeing into post lockdown life, and will be going out more, these are the items I'm most excited to wear. If you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear and struggle to get dressed day to day, then it's time to edit your closet down to essentials. If you pinpoint the articles of clothing you wear the most and the pieces that make you feel your best, then you can remix them regularly. You don't have to have a minimal wardrobe but think of a seasonal capsule wardrobe as paring down what's in your closet. Nothing is more uncomfortable than being out and about and not feeling your best in clothes. We forget about what's in our closet and what we used to love. I think it's important to declutter your closet then create a seasonal capsule of items to wear. 

With 70 degree weather it's really starting to feel like spring! Seems crazy to not have to wear a coat in Feb. I've started getting excited for my trip to Miami and Jamaica in a few months. I haven't been to Miami in 7 years! I've been working on my swimsuit body for 2 months now. I was really inspired by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition taking a turn this year showing two plus size women in the edition - Ashley Graham and Hunter McGrady. Two size 12 women: Robyn Lawley and Myla Dalbesio. As well as strong athletes like Simone Biles and  Serena Williams, and the age defining Christie Brinkley! This diversity shows a positive body image message for women of all sizes. The woman who has been the swimsuit director for the magazine for 19 years decided to be brave and post her swimsuit pic with her baby on her hip on Instagram. She created a hashtag for women to do the same at #WhatIModel and #LoveYourSwimsuit.

I rounded up 10 swimsuits that I thought would look great on my curvy figure. Swimsuitsforall has gorgeous swimsuits for every style and their website show pics of customers wearing their suits so you can see how it looks on real bodies. They have such pretty and stylish suits with a one shoulder ruffle, or fringe, or a palm print.  Use my link and you'll get 40% off!

I watched Shark Tank last Friday which featured Sand Cloud's boho beach towels and blankets. Ten percent of each sale goes to nonprofits dedicated to the preservation of marine life. They are made of 100% super soft Turkish cotton that is very lightweight. The seaform blue color is so bright and vibrant!

Also check out Zoya nail polish's new spring collection, these pastel colors will be super pretty at the pool or beach. I'm selling some of my swimsuits on Tradesy.

I recently did a sunset boat cruise from Georgetown along the Potomac River. I booked with the Pirate Cruise Boat because they had a groupon for $16. I’d say there were about 60 people on the 54 foot boat. After all the humidity was gone, it was a gorgeous day to be out on the water! I don’t know about you, but sunset is my favorite time of day and we had a gorgeous one that night. The boat sailed with nice cool breezes with a backdrop of the monuments. We passed by the Watergate, Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial – the most spectacular views of Washington. I didn’t get any rum punch from the bar because the boat ride wasn’t the smoothest. But I did dance to the music while enjoying the incredible scenery.






 See the people at the top of the bridge waving at us?

I visited a lavender farm for the first time! While it didn't look like those pictures you see of lavender fields in Provence, France, it was still beautiful. There was row upon row of purple lavender with a faint smell, but also tons of bees. The gift shop had every imaginable lavender product! I bought some culinary lavender to make lavender lemonade.

Last winter I read the cookbook The Forest Feast  and saw this yellow salad recipe which I couldn't wait to try but had to wait until summer to find yellow beets. Beets are high in folate and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as lutein for eye health. Yellow beets need to be eaten immediately after cutting because they oxidize and turn black within hours. To prevent this discoloration you can try squeezing some lemon juice on it.

I think it's a great recipe to bring to a potluck brunch (which my friend had last weekend). You don't have to follow recipe exactly and I added some chopped gruyere cheese to it.  I couldn't find yellow cucumbers so I just used a regular one, but next to everything else in the salad it looked very green so I hid them at the bottom. I omitted the raisins to cut down on calories. For the dressing, I just added some white balsamic vinegar and pepper.

  Ingredients:

1 yellow bell pepper

1 can chickpeas

1 cup yellow tomatoes

1 yellow beet

1 lemon cucumber

½ cup corn

1 ts lemon zest

½ cup golden raisins (optional)

2 oz Gruyere cheese  (optional)

Directions: 
Rinse the beets and cut off the stalks then cook the beets in boiling water for 30 minutes. Next rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Once the beets have cooled, peel the skin off. Then chop the beets and mix with all the other ingredients and add dressing of your choice. 


Recipe source: The Forest Feast by Erin Gleeson

I love making lists from to-do lists, seasonal bucket lists, vacation bucket lists, blogging goals, style goals and grocery lists.  You can see my previous summer bucket lists here and here. At the beginning of the year, I posted my list of goals which included some fitness goals. This summer I decided to do something a bit different and create a fitness bucket list to help keep me motivated and to create a sense of accomplishment when I’ve achieved them. I’ve set up a few new challenges this season to mix things up for my body. The first half of this year I pretty much had the same routine rotating between Orangetheory with at-home fitness dvds, but at least no two classes at Orangetheory are the same.

This summer I signed up for Dancetrance 3x a week which is so much fun! See I used to do Zumba, but didn’t always like or know many of the songs. Dancetrance is a cardio dance class set to popular pop and rap songs. As an avid Dancing with the Stars watcher, I think it’s fun to learn all these dance moves and feel like a backup dancer in a Beyonce video!  I’m adding some barre classes to the mix as well. My company offers on-site yoga classes so I'm doing that once a week as well. On the weekends, I have some hikes and bike rides planned. I bought an exercise ball and have set a goal to do crunches on it daily.  Just getting it out the box and pumping it full of air was the hardest part. lol

I also want to exercise my feet since I’m always having off and on foot pain. I heard that just walking barefoot on the beach is one of the best exercises you can do for your feet to strengthen them. I also made an appointment for a foot massage/reflexology and acupressure. I've been getting facials every other month but neglecting my feet.

Since I know weight loss is 80% diet I’ve made a commitment to drinking the Glowing Green Smoothie every day this summer as a snack. I’ve got a few recipe variations so it won’t always be the same. I really like the GGS because I make it in batches of 3 and it stays fresh in my fridge over those days. I’m making an effort to eat salad for dinner and this week I’m doing one of my favorite arugula salad recipes. I plan on making my own salad dressing soon using this Cilantro Lime Dressing. I bought a water infusion bottle and have started brewing fruit infused water. I started making popsicles again, here's a list of my favorite recipes. This week I'm eating my Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats.

I’m also exercising my brain as I signed up for Toastmasters.  It's an organization that has been around 90 years and in 135 countries around the world that helps you develop public speaking and leadership skills through bi-weekly practice at their meetings.  I thought it would be a great way to boost my communication skills, meet new people and gain more confidence.

Do you have a fitness bucket list? Have you done Toastmasters?

Related Posts:
The Science of Skinny
How hard are you willing to work for your goals?
No Excuses! The Power of Self-Discipline
The Brain Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off
Brain Controlled Weight Loss

This weekend was the official summer kickoff for me. I went to an annual Caribbean Wine Festival, my 9th year going! I had a blast dancing and drinking all the delicious sweet wines in every flavor.  Spent the rest of the weekend at my pool.



I love pastel pink nail polish because I think it looks so pretty on my tan skin. The colors you'll see me wearing a lot of are from left to right:

CND Vinylux weekly polish Cakepop which is the non-gel version of my favorite gel color

Essie Mint Apple Candy - mint is my new favorite color (see this post)

Essie Fiji - an opaque, creamy pastel pink

Essie Tart Deco - a bright coral color which is out of the norm for me but I got it on a pedicure during my trip to Los Angeles 

Zoya Dot - an opaque, pink petal cream

What are you favorite shades to wear in the summer time? You can see the rest of my nail polish posts here and how I store my nail polish here. I'm working on my bucket list for this summer, here are my previous ones: