We have been back from vacation for awhile and have been slowly settling back into our Summer routine. It always takes me a few weeks to get used to having the kids home all the time and figuring out our routine. Last summer was a wash with moving and renovating, so this summer finally feels normal again(!!!) We have been heading to our neighborhood pool a lot and hanging with friends and honestly just winging it. Our niece is here visiting for a few weeks as well, which had been fun. She is 2 months a 1 day younger than my daughter and it is so fun to see all the cousins hanging out daily.
On another note, I definitely feel more scattered in the summertime, my personal routine is different than during the school year and I feel like my brain turns to mush, honestly. I find I have to set a small routine for myself, which I am working on. The days just slip by and then all of a sudden I am wondering the last time I sat down to write or do my usual work. Which is okay! Summer is always a slower time for me and I just need to remember that. I am working on setting aside a little time for me and re-charging my batteries when I can (pure introvert vibes…)
I have a bunch of random things for you this week! The last time I wrote I asked if you liked longer form writing and/or the links I have been sending out and a bunch of you love the shopping links so I have that for you. I ordered a bunch of things from Old Navy and Amazon in the past few weeks and I will share what I have enjoyed below.
Let’s chat laundry….
On Amazon prime day I picked up these unscented drops and this super fancy detergent, Here is how I use it: when I am washing towels, sheets, blankets, etc I add two Drops laundry packs to my front load washer and then I add two pumps of this to the detergent dispenser. (I decanted it into a clear soap dispenser that sits on my laundry counter and use the pump to add to the detergent area.) A little goes a loooong way. It is very potent! It’s basically a teaspoon of the scented expensive stuff mixed with the cheaper unscented laundry ponds. There result is lightly scented sheets and towels that smell DELICIOUS. It is hard to describe, but I get out of bed or out of the shower and just bury my face into my towels/sheets.
Currently I don’t wash clothes that way (I use some old Tide pods I am still using up or just the Unscented Drops,+ OxyClean) but just this little luxury for my sheets brings a smile to my face.
I bought this Old Navy dress in two colors, black and white, and I love it! The shared top, the cotton skirt, it is flowy and the perfect dress for hot Summer days. I bought a medium and it fits true to size in my opinion. I wear mine bra-less, but you can wear one of these under it for more support.
I also have this Old Navy jumpsuit (in a medium) that is so perfect, too! I like a ‘one and done’ outfit this time of year. Just add shoes and jewelry if you want to jazz it up.
My fave shoes this Summer (and last) are these plastic Birk’s. I have this in white and black and wear the black more. They are lightweight, look cute with dresses or at the beach, and sit right by my door to slip on when I go out. I admit, I have a lot of shoes, but I reach for these 99% of the time.
Wearing an oversize tee from this shop on Etsy. I own about 5 of their tees. I’m obsessed! They are perfectly huge and I love them over these Amazon bike shorts I buy in a pack of 3 (I bought a large but definitely could have gone with the medium.) They are buttery soft.
I love this drying lotion for acne. Just dip a q-tip into it (don’t shake!), until it touches the pink stuff on the bottom, and apply at night to pimples. It helps dry them up if they are erupting. I also use it after I gently squeeze them (I’m sorry, I know you aren’t supposed to but if it needs it I am squeezing!) I dip the q-tip in the liquid on top and rub it on to sterilize after. I also use this on my kids who get mask pimples or are just getting hormonal and little breakouts appear.
The best bike shorts for working out in the heat (they stay in place, I order a large), and I just got this top in from Amazon. I love the cropped fit and high neck. I ordered the large in these bc I hate tight workout tops and Amazon is often weird on sizing. The fabric feels a little weird, it is hard to describe (silky?), but I will wear it Monday and report back on how it does in my Instagram stories!)
Our neighborhood pool has a really rough bottom and it has been scraping my son’s feet, so I bought him these water shoes to wear in the pool. I wanted something really lightweight for him and these remind me of the Isotoner slippers my Grandma used to wear as a kid lol, except the cover more of the foot. He really likes them.
I have this bra and wear it almost every day. It is wireless and feels like I am wearing nothing, I love it. I recently just bought it for my daughter, who was in need of a few new bras. She really likes it, too!
This dress on Amazon has a TON of amazing reviews! I don’t have it, but I am thinking of buying it to have for a vacation we are taking it August. I am thinking of the red polka dot.
This also looks like a really pretty Summer dress that you could throw on after a beach day.
I just bought these Live In Hoop Earrings in 3 sizes, the 12, 16, and 20mm size, to wear in my 3 earring holes. I want something I can put in and forget about! I find I like to do that, find a few pieces of jewelry that I put on and forget. I used to change my accessories a lot (I still do that with bracelets and rings), but find myself wearing the same earrings and necklace.
