This absolutely gorgeous day here in West Michigan has me gearing up for the sweet summertime that is upon us. I know we’re a good 6 weeks out from the official start of summer but I.am.READY! Who’s with me? Today I give you my own personal top 5 essentials for the season that typically needs a speeding ticket here in the Mitten State.
Whether you’re tone is beige, bronze or lily white like mine EVERYONE needs to protect the beautiful skin God has given them. Don’t even get me started on sun damage. As my Auntie Pam always told me…sunburns are NOT pretty! Be sure to get your daily dose of vitamin D from the best source God created but then get yourself protected from the sun’s harmful rays. My absolute favorite sunblock is Neutrogena Fresh Body Cooling Mist. On the hotest of humid days applying this product is so refreshing and with an SPF of 70 you are sure to be safe from sunburn. It is available at your local drugstore and of course my favorite one-stop shop hot spot, Meijer!
Last year the summer staple for me that will be sure to make a strong come-back is the straw bag my parents got me in Florida. I LOVE that bag. It’s great for trips to the pool, the beach…and as J.Crew puts it, the Farmer’s Market! This tote is a great find and very affordable. And I can attest to the quality of J.Crew bags as I have have many. A great value that will stand the tests of many seasons to come!
Alright, you know me…there HAS to be a must-have shoe on any fashionable list I create and if I am not buying shoes you may as well be! So…what is my must-have summer shoe? That is actually a really tough question. It, of course, depends…the weather, the occasion, my mood. But I will say that the shoe I have reached most for the past 2 summers is a previous version of this Vera Wang Jeweled Thong Sandal. It has a slight wedge for a little height (honestly, who can’t use that!) and they are elegant enough to put with a sundress and casual enough to wear with a pair of shorts (not that I do so very often). Available at Kohl’s they are SO comfortable that even if you only wear flats you will love them! Do me proud and use those coupons!
Everyone needs a go-to jacket for those cool summer nights…or anywhere you have to go where the air conditioning is running full blast. My most favorite jacket in the Spring and Summer months is my white cropped denim jacket from Old Navy. It goes great over dresses, with jeans…you name it! They are not carrying it this season but this one caught my eye…also at Kohl’s…this past week. Made by Elle it is a little bit longer than the one I have and it comes a medium wash as well if white scares you. The nice thing about white I learned a few days ago however is that when your darling husband leaves an ink pen in his shirt pocket, your most favorite, gotta-have white jacket can be bleached! 😉
Last but not least my must-have cosmetic item for summer is from none other than Mary Kay! No matter what product I try I always end up back to the one that never fails! Since I always put on my age-fighting Day Solution with SPF before putting on my Mineral Foundation I usually don’t get much color on my face. For a nice shimmering glow with just a little bit of color I dust on Mary Kay’s Mineral Bronzing Powder. And if you’re anything like me, you don’t like to pay full-price for anything. SO…for my very special readers…while I don’t actively sell…I am offering a Stock-up for Summer Sale with 30% off all Mary Kay orders from now until May 25. Click here for the latest eCatalog. If you would like a new look and aren’t quite sure where to start…let me know! I’d love to get together and have some fun trying different looks to get you summer-ready. I’m not much of a “salesperson”…but I am always up for girl time and having fun playing with makeup!
While the common phrase in Michigan is that summer should get a speeding ticket I am simply enjoying every second of this anticipation of the long, warm, lazy days that await with a more relaxed schedule and my awesome kiddos home with me all the time…though they spend much of their summer outside with their best neighborhood pals. This of course means that I will have less time to post and keep in touch with all of you while I attempt to intentionally engage with and teach my children…which I am already finding with school-year programs winding down. While I enjoy being the woman God created me to be and I enjoy trying to be beautiful on the outside and take care of this body that He gave me, I desire for so much more. I am praying that the Lord will show me more this summer about being beautiful from the inside out. I want His beauty to shine through…without me getting in the way. I have a feeling there is much more upon me than the sweetness of summertime…and I can’t wait!
Wonders of HIS Love 