AUGUST FAVORITES

What a cool month it's been! I got to swim with Lindsey's blow up swans in the Adirondacks, galavant around Disney with some kickass magic makers, and above all, got to work on some awesome top-secret Lala projects (that we promise, are coming soon). I wanted to make this favorites about some of my favorite travel products I brought with me while I was away, so without further ado... you know the routine..

Beauty 

1) Too Faced Hangover Primer- Talk about magic in a baby bottle. I got this little sample from Sephora from their point perks (BLESS), and it was the perfect on-the-go face primer I needed this month. It's really delicate, smells nice, and feels extremely light on the skin. Will definitely be purchasing the full size during my next Sephora trip. 

2) Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand- Such a #TBT product, guys. This oldie but goodie is definitely one of my favorite face products of all time, but it was especially useful this month while walking around all the magical kingdoms of Disney (aka, lots of sweat and heat). I used this every day we were there and it's SPF protection was perfect to keep my skin burn-free and my shiney-ness at a minimum. 

3) Gold Dust by Dolce + Gabbana- Um, the most pigmented colored eyeshadow in all of the land! This stuff can withstand anything. I reached for this as an all over the lid shade and I simply cannot get over the fact that throughout the over-100 degree climate, this color did not budge an inch. So so good. 

4) Mac Prep + Prime Lip- I wore a lot of liquid matte lip colors this past month (definitely hoping to continue the trend this fall), and I found that using a lip primer like this one from Mac really makes a difference in all-day wear. It provides a really nice balmy base for a really stringent, matte color, and I really have been digging it. 

5) Maliboo by Kylie Cosmetics- With that being said, this was the most reached for liquid lipstick this month! I'm obsessed with this nudey pink (I discovered that I think I like Kylie's line so much because of her colors), and it was certainly a go-to for during the day at the parks and going out in Orlando at night. 

6) Mac 224 Brush- Looking back at all of my monthly favorites, I realized that I don't often include my favorite brushes, so I thought I'd start this month with the trend! First up would definitely by my Mac 224, I use this pretty much every day and it's such a great starter brush for anyone who's a makeup beginner. It's primarily for blending, but it could also be great to smoke out any colors in the crease. A must-have, fo sho. 

7) Cle De Peau Hydro Clarifying Lotion- Ah, what a gorgeous product! So if you've been reading for a while, you'll know that I am obsessed with Bioderma, a micellar cleansing water that you can only buy in-store overseas, so I've been looking for products available in the US that are similar in concept. This stuff comes pretty close! It's really great to dab on your face right before bed or to freshen up in the AM. 

8) The Righteous Butter by Soap and Glory- Part of my go-to plane regimen for sure! I just love this baby travel sized cream, not only does it smell freakin' glorious, it just keeps your skin smoother than ever when you're drying out from 30,000 feet travel. 

Misc

9) My NEW VANITY !!! - So if you've kept up with my Instagram.. Instagram story.. Snap story.. all those crazy things, you'll know that I just redid my room (much needed, as this is the first time I'm actually purchasing furniture for me ::  buh-bye Cinderella bed from when I was 7). All of the pieces I chose are separate (I didn't want a bedroom set), and will come with me to wherever I move next. The table I'm using as my vanity is the Micke desk from Ikea, and this gorgeous mirror was a steal from Homegoods for like 40 bucks. So OBSESSED. 

And finally, a little sum-up of Lindsey and my trips this month! Be sure to check out LMW's Youtube Channel for daily vlogs from our trip to Orlando. 

"Action is eloquence,

And the eyes of the ignorant."

[Coriolanus 2.3]

HERE'S TO SEPTEMBER- FASHION MONTH!!

Cheers, xoxoox 

HALLUCINATION

After spending the week in Disney with Queen Lindsey + her crew, I learned a couple of things. That one can't truly experience the place fully until they've taken photos in front of 'The Purple Wall' in Tomorrowland (certainly an offer I'd never pass up considering my literal job for this blog is to scout cool backgrounds), and that one should always expect random fireworks going off throughout the day (is this bad/good for the environment.. since they do them like 3 times every 12 hours!?) Ironically, I also learned not to let my skepticism get the best of me. 

So there we are, in Tomorrowland, having a little photoshoot against this purple wall, with onlookers staring and occasionally stopping, asking if Lindsey and I wanted photos together... and then, out of no where, popping sounds fly from the top of the castle, and they turn out to be fireworks— in mid-morning, at that—going off for a show. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised, but I also guess that I didn't expect this place to be so... unexpected— a quality that I've always held so valuable when it comes to certain places in the world that I love (my top reason for loving NYC so much, after all). But I was happy to find out that it is just as unexpected as I like.. and that was surprisingly, impressive.

For my last day, I sported a go-to summer outfit of mine, this adorable striped Brandy Melville shirt paired with these nude shorts I got ages ago that are unbranded (seriously, a mystery I've been trying to solve forever). Then, I popped on my clear backpack, decked out in some cute pins I purchased at Pacsun, and a Hipstapatch, nevertheless. I decided to finish off the look with my Adidas, a cute choker tie from Eterie, and a pink Walmart bandana... talk about unexpected... 

♡ Photos by Lindsey Marie ♡

"Our wills and fates do so contrary run 

That our devices still are overthrown; 

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own."

[Hamlet 3.2]

Cheers, xoxoxo

 ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ P O S T //  S C R I P T ::  Check out our day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4 in Disney and stay tuned for days 5 + 6 to come  ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

ANTHRACITE

When it comes to summer fashion, the easiest way to make a statement without having to pack on too many layers is to mix patterns and textures. If you've followed my blog for a while, you'll know that this is one of my favorite things to do with almost any outfit, but I thought this post was a perfect example of doing this in a manner that gets the job done in a subtle way.

 I started with this cute off the shoulder top from Pacsun, (I think it's actually from the Kendall + Kylie collection as well). Lately I've been LOVING off-the-shoulder tops—mostly because they add a ton of swag to every outfit, but also because they're that perfect kind of in-between piece for summer into fall. Next, I added this white bandana around my neck to add a new dimension and pattern, but also to bring out the white in the top and mix it a up a bit. Finally, these UO cut-offs added the perfect denim texture and of course, I finished off the look with my Superstar Originals white Adidas.  (Also, check that cool elephant henna from Epcot Morocco.. it means good luck, and you can even watch me get it here!!! (; )

♡ Photos by Lindsey Marie ♡

"Subtle as Sphinx; as sweet and musical 

As bright Apollo's lute, strung with his hair: 

And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods 

Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony."

[Love's Labour's Lost 4.3]

Cheers, xxoxo

 ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ P O S T //  S C R I P T :: Check out Miss Lindsey and my first and second day in Disney this past week. And be sure to stay tuned for more vlogs of the rest of her trip on her channel, trust me, you won't want to miss it  ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

DISMALAND

 If you guys don't know what Dismaland is, you need to stop, drop and Google search that stuff! Essentially, British graffiti artist Banksy (bless), created an art exhibition that is the complete opposite of Disney World, (get it? a dismal-world, basically). The entire park is chock full of sinister satire and is a dark twist on Walt Disney's dreamland... it looks sad, feels sad, and is considered a "family theme park unsuitable for children." I love what Banksy did here: such an interesting critique of a "magical" place and lifestyle... ultimately uncovering it's pristine facade. Yet, I actually greet you  now from the most magical place on earth.. and although it looks too good to be true.. I've actually been having a blast (thanks to Miss Lindsey +  Disney co). 

I thought it would be fun to reveal the most "sporty" and "park-going" outfit you'll ever catch me in.. my kind of theme-park outfit. I started with these kickass light blue-white shorts from Urban Outfitters and added this adorable top I purchased  from Zara back in Italy a couple of years ago. I completed the look with some white Adidas, a clear backpack and these sweet custom Mickey ears that Lindz made. Park hopping with style, I'd say.

"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended: 

That you have but slumbered here, 

While these visions did appear; 

And this weak and idle theme, 

No more yielding but a dream, 

Gentles, do not reprehend. 

If you pardon, we will mend."

[Midsummer Night's Dream 5.1]

Cheers, xxox

P.S Keep posted on our trips through Miss Lindsey's vlogs !!! 

ICE-SCREAM

If there's anything about the Adirondacks that I love, it's certainly its quirky locations like this. This is my fifteenth, (yes, you read that right, ONE FIVE) trip up here (haven't missed a year since 2002), and every time I come back I always find another reason to love it. Going to these towns are effectively like walking into a time warp... where the diner booths are red and leathery and the ice cream stops are not complete without pink walls and a pink roof. 

So to celebrate that time warp, I decided to take it back a little with this outfit in the most camp kind of way I could. First off, my pants and jacket in this look, are, you guessed it, thrifted. I have a love-hate relationship with thrift stores, but recently it's been on the former end as I found both of these really sweet pieces thrifting back at home. I mean, what an excellent denim jacket find!!! To balance out the look and give it a little shine, I went with this Brandy Melville silk pink chemise, and I added a fun bandana to be a little unexpected. Finally, I finished the look off with killer white Adidas and a pretty ice cream sign. 

"Be patient, for the world is broad and wide."

[Romeo + Juliet 3.3]

♡ Photos by Lindsey Marie ♡

Cheers, xooxoxo