{all photos via pinterest}

June happens to be one of my favorite months. It's the beginning of summer & my birthday month (that I get to share with Pride!) plus it's the middle of the year- the perfect time to take inventory of where you're at & reflect. Go on new adventures, wear new outfits, etc. etc.

A JULY MOOD BOARD

{all images via pinterest}

THE PLAYLIST YOU'LL BE LISTENING TO ALL SUMMER

Does this even need an introduction?

TEN THINGS YOU MUST DO THIS SUMMER

1// Take a road trip

2// Have an old school girls night in 

Summer Sweetness.

It's always hard for me to choose between summer & autumn as a favorite season- they're both a bit magical in totally different ways. 
My birthday is in summer, so maybe I'm naturally biased towards it. Whatever the case, once June hits & the pavement gets hot, my heart swells.
It swells at the mention of ice cream, the smell of sunscreen, the sound of a baseball game. 
They say spring is the season of renewal, but I happen to think everything changes in the summertime. It's a time of innocence and nostalgia, long nights & cold lemonade. Everything tastes a little bit sweeter & feels a little more magical. 
What's your favorite part of summer?
xo, 

SUMMER BUDGET FINDS UNDER $30!

I love pretty things & I love a good deal even more. SO when the two are put together.... magic happens. 
There are so many fun trends going on for the summer: gingham, big sun hats, embroidered EVERYTHING, the list goes on. 
Which is why I've created my own little list of budget finds I'm a little in love with, including THIS ROMPER & all the gingham. Have a look!

SHOP MY FINDS:

xo,

Things To Do In June (Or All Summer Long)

Oh hi hey! Comin back at ya with another summer themed post today.... a little bucket list of things to do this month, or all summer long really!
// Make homemade ice cream. Because what's better?
// Take all the photographs. Life is a work of art, ain't it? (oh, I sound like a character in a John Green novel)
// Go exploring through town. The hidden gems can end up being the best kind.
// See a summer musical/ concert. There's something about the summer air that makes them better.
// NETFLIX, duh. Because some days it's just too HOT & you need your shows to get you through. It's okay. We're in this together.
// Stop & smell the candles. The sweet, sweet candles.
// Eat some cheesecake.  I don't really know how summer & cheesecake go together, they just do.
// LAUGH. Cheesy, but necessary. 

Tell me what's on your summer bucket list!
xo,

Summer Spark

For me, the entire month of May is like the opening scene in high school musical 2 (I know you know the one I mean) where the word summer is just repeated over & over until FINALLY. The bell rings & it's sweet freedom. Only in this case, the bell is metaphorical. I don't really hear a bell ringing in my head! (most times)
I love scrolling through Taylor's hashtag on instagram, #mysummerspark. It's full of photos that are so unapologetically SUMMER, and as the days get longer & the nights hotter, we can hear it coming from a mile away.
Everything feels a little bit freer in the summertime. It's the smell of freshly cut grass & barbeque on the grill. That perfect sip of lemonade by the pool. That glorious scent of chlorine & SPF mixed together. Road trips & making up for lost time. The fact that somehow iced coffee tastes even better. Laughter & sunshine & ice cream. 
It's all so perfectly innocent and magical. And it's here.
xo,

Summer Essentials

Now that summer is officially official, I've gathered my picks of must haves for the season. (There's a few) 

A good romper is my unofficial summer uniform and this one is one of my favorites. It's comfortable and pretty- a perfect combination.

Every summertime adventure needs an instant camera. I love my instax! I also recently got a cutie little case for it so I can carry it in style. Be sure to be stocked with film as well!

For me, warmer months mean lighter eyeshadows and I've been obsessed with this palette lately. (I mean I did do a whole post on it) If you wanna summer-ize your look even more, add some blue liner like this one.

The perfect pool or beach day setup: a rad swimsuit and aviators. And of course always use protection: SPF and water are your bffs.

My favorite way to get beach-worthy waves? With this sea salt spray.

Hot weather can make for an oily face, especially if you're already oil prone. Combat it with some oil sheets. These should be on hand at all times! 

A candle that smells like a tropical paradise or sweet spun sugar at a summer carnival can instantly improve your mood, as well as painting your nails fun colors.

The season just isn't right without an ultimate soundtrack that's driving-with-the-windows-down ready.

And some good summer reads should always be nearby! Sarah Dessen is on my forever list. I like checking out other blogs and tumblr for recommendations too.

Your turn! Spill all your next few months' essentials. Anything you'd add?

A summer playlist

Every summer should have a playlist that sets the season, am I right? 

For me, this playlist usually includes lotsa country, because there's something about a good country song in the midst of summertime. 

Fun pop and chill indie also usually make the list for me.

Basically anything that exudes happiness and the feeling of lazy summer days and nights that you never want to end. 

What is it for you? 

Also, tell me what's on your summer playlist! Anything I'm missing?

My summer nail color picks

A pretty manicure goes hand in hand with summertime and can make all the difference.

Warmer months have me gravitating towards fresh and bright colors, and I've picked five of my personal favorites that transform your mani into instant summer magic.

Maybelline Color Show Pretty In Peach: I looove a good peach color and this is it. It's light and perfect for a day beside the pool, armed with peach tea of course.

Essie Blossom Dandy: I've done a post featuring this one, as it is the peeeerfect summer color. Bright but soft, it's a tropical escape in a bottle.

Essie Pret-a-Surfer: An electric blue, Pret-a-Surfer looks really nice on and the formula is smooth and pretty.

Essie Peach Daiquiri: I think this was my first experience with Essie polish and I adore this color! It's not peach so much as a coral, and after two coats it's the perfect summer touch.

Essie Tuck It In My Tux: White is a classic color that looks fabulous in any season. I like white nails in the summertime because it gives the illusion of a bit of sun-kissed skin. I've tried a lot of whites in my day and Tuck It In My Tux has my vote. 

Obviously I'm a bit obsessed with Essie polishes. #oops

Spill all your summer color/ brand picks!

My favorite... summer trends

Summer is officially in full swing now, and I can't help but admire all the pretty styles and trends that are happening this season. Let's take a look at some of my favorites I've gathered from my pinterest, shall we?

1// Crop tops have been in for awhile and I adore the whole look of them, especially when paired with high waisted shorts or a skirt, as seen here. Points if the skirt matches.

2// I don't think floral dresses will ever go out of style. (I should know, I only have about a hundred of them) They are simple and chic and can be played up or dressed down. Also, a nice cotton or linen style keeps you cool.

3// A bright top is perfect for casual summer days. If you really want to make it stand out, keep the lower half and your accessories neutral. And a bow is always a plus.

4// Simple skirts and tank tops are a summer staple. They are easy, comfy, and cute. I like breaking out my printed skirts and pairing them with a solid tank. Slip on a pair of sandals and you're ready to go!

+Crop top// Via

+Floral dress// Nordstrom

+Pop of color shirt// H&M

+Tank/ skirt combo// Via

What are your favorite trends for the summer?

June goals

{via}

I cannot believe it's already three days into June. The year's nearly halfway over! Isn't that crazy?

Every year I try and plan things out for the summer so that I'm not super lazy. (Because let's face it, summer is the time for lazy) Aaaand then I still end up lying around doing nothing and before I know it it's fall again. So this year, I guess I'm making it a goal to actually do my June + summer goals. We'll see how that goes. {June is also my birthday month. Just throwin' that out there.}

1// Finish Divergent. I started that book over a month ago and I'm still not finished. See, with me, I either finish a book in two days or two months. I don't know why. But I really like Divergent and would love to finish it by the end of the month.

2// Write everyday. Sometimes I get a little lazy and don't feel like writing. There is inspiration everywhere and it's not hard to look for.

3// Do more crafting. I'm no Martha Stewart, but I really enjoy making things. (on my moderate level, that is) I have a crazy dream to open up an etsy shop, but I wouldn't know what to make. Maybe I'll find out.

4// Yoga. I absolutely love yoga and I want to get back into doing it at least three times a week. It's good for the soul.

What are your goals for the month?