Bachelorette Style

I like the flirty, sophisticated style this season's bachelorette, Ashley Herbert, has been bouncing around in these last few weeks. I thought I'd pull together some items from JCrew and Banana Republic so we can emulate her "Throw Bentley to the Hong Kong Curb" outfit!

{Sheer button down}

{White Denim}

{Classic Black Heels}

{Faceted Drop Earings}

{Baguette Bracelette}

Something Lovely

{absolutely gorgeous dining room and table setting}

What to Wear ~ 4th of July!~

I'm so excited for the 4th of July....! Family, Friends, BBQ and Red, White and Blue!

I thought I'd scour the pretty pages of Anthropologie to put together a couple special outfits for the fun day!

Thunderous Skies Dress............. $138

Warp ad Weft Hobo Bag............ $258

Slick Strap Slingbacks................ $348

Geological Spectrum Necklace... $48

Beekeeper Blouse....................... $88

Compass Shorts.......................... $68

Antilles Bucket Bag................... $138
Dos Palmas T-Straps.................. $68

Summer Skin

Temperatures are on the rise (yay summer!) so if you haven't already, (I'm starting tmrw morning!) it's time to transition your skincare regimen into Summer Skin! 

The main change up for summer is EXFOLIATING and SPF 

~CLEANSE~
In the summer cleanse 2 or more times a day

Use your normal face wash. (Non-Alcoholic is usually best)

~EXFOLIATE~
When our body temps rise it causes our skin to produce excess amounts of pore clogging oil. Exfoliating is so great to clean out those pores and sluff off dead skin. Exfoliating also reveals fresh new skin and evens skin tone!

St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a no brainer- (use it for face and body!)

*love this product!

~TONE~
In the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. You always tone to balance PH levels and close pores!


So toning your skin is way more important than I thought. (I've probably only toned my face a handful of times in my life, eek!) After some research I'm thinking Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol Free Toner is the best choice toner. This is going on June's Wish List and 'm starting pronto!

~MOISTURIZE~
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, with SPF, SPF, SPF! This is of course an every season and every day part if your regimen. 


You may want to go even higher with the SPF too. Keihl's Ultra has been my go to. I may move up to an anti-aging version but It's always been good to me. Also been trying to pay attention to my neck and chest when I moisturize. The older versions of ourselves will be SO thankful!!
                        
                           

Jean Shorts ~ A Guide ~

I've always had this love/not so love relationship with Jean Shorts. I love the idea of wearing them because the look is so cute and relaxed but it's a little hard to wear them and feel cute and relaxed. So, after some trial and error and a little brainstorming. I came up a Jean Shorts Guide. Hopefully it'll help!

1. SHOES (the look can go from cute and relaxed to trashy and uncomfortable with the wrong shoe)

Flat sandals are your best bet. Very classic and easy!

Wedged strappy sandals in light brown or nude are perfect for dressing jean shorts up a bit and for some height. To me a wedge keeps the outfit low key and cute but with a traditional heel it seems to make the look harsh. Also, a light colored shoe is great to seamlessly elongate your legs!

The Heel is not the Jean Shorts best-friend

                                                                                                      cute

                    cute                                                                           could be cuter

2. FIT (shorts accentuate the thigh and booty)

You want room around the waste and thigh. A little big is going to be more flattering than a little small. 

If you have a pretty regular sized thigh then choosing shorts that hit at mid length or a little longer will be the most flattering. (ie. Lauren Conrad, Kourteny Kardashian)

If you have pretty skinny thighs (lucky!) mid length is still the flattering choice but shorter ones can work on you too. (ie. Nicole Richie, Stephanie Pratt)

                 good fit!                                                                                                      good fit!
 

3. COMFORT

Wear them how you feel comfortable and happy

As long as you're happy and comfortable, you're going to look adorable! 

On a side note: 

If you don't like wearing shorts but is so hot out that you feel like you have to. I'd go with a cute basic skirt and tank top or blouse. Skirts don't hug around the thighs like shorts do so they're a really easy option!

Here are some of my favorite Jean Short looks! 

A Tropical Vacation for your Skin!

I'm definitely serious when I say Tree Hut's Original Shea Body Butter has been the #1 used beauty product in my life for about 3 years now. I'm also serious when I say, this lotion would be taken with me on a deserted island. (After the motor boat, of course!) Speaking of islands... that's exactly where you imagine you are when your smoothing it on. It has this natural coconut and shea butter scent that is so light and fresh, it's exhilarating! It's done SO much for my skin in terms of elasticity, glowy smoothness and moisture! Tree Hut is the REAL DEAL and as much as I've liked having it as my little skin and scent secret... I wanted to share :)

It's a skin changer and an "ooh, someone smells like summer" compliment getter!

Coconut Grove

Have you ever experienced becoming aware of something randomly; then have it ironically appear in certain aspects of your life or just come up in conversation all of a sudden? Well, I've had it happen every once in awhile and it's happening now with Coconut Grove! It's little city in Florida that's been described as a charming walking village with tree lined streets and absolutely gorgeous homes. It's just the epitome of tropical loveliness and how much more could I LOVE the name. The serendipitous-ness of all the ways it's been fluttering around me lately inspired this post of some dream homes. I hope you enjoy and here's hoping we can visit one day!

http://www.uniquehomesofmiami.com/listings/featuredsearch.aspx?fsid=799

http://www.homes.com/Real_Estate/FL/City/COCONUT%20GROVE/

Can we BBQ now....? Please!

After being out and about all weekend, Monday we either want to stretch out the weekend another day or be completely lazy and not do much at all.  With the days and nights staying lighter and longer though the "stretch out the weekend feeling" seems to trump lazy! So.... LET'S  BBQ :) (an easy way...)

Step 1: When your friends text to see if you wanna get Happy Hour after work. Ask them to bring something to drink and/or a bagged salad over to your house for a little BBQ instead!

Bets on they'll be presently surprised!

Step 2: Get your Ingredients

8 piece package of thighs and drumsticks  or chicken breasts

2 1/2 Cups BBQ Sauce (split in 2 small bowls)

2 Limes wedged

Salt and Pepper

Little sauce brush

(see easy!)

Step 3: Prepare the grill (briquettes or propane) on medium high

Step 4: Season the Chicken with salt and pepper and pop on your grill for about 10mins turning  over just once

Step 5: Use a little brush and coat each piece of chicken with the BBQ sauce from 1 of the small bowls and grill for about 5mins

Step 6: Transfer to serving platter with the other small bowl of BBQ sauce and place lime wedges on edges of platter (it the little things make simple cuteness!)

Lay other food items out, eat and drink up.... but most of all enjoy the relaxing late spring sunshine on a lazy Monday!! 

photo credit:

restaurant-casa-voastra.ro/copanele-la-gratar

Charmed!

I've been wanting one of these cute wrap bracelets for awhile now. A girl came into my work wearing one and when I complemented her on it she told me her sister made it! The brands called Charmed by Ingrid Anne. I went home to look online and there were lots of different styles and they were even more cute then I remembered! It's been about a year now... so I think it's time to put it on the June Wish List, bite the bullet and make one mine :) YAY!

Happy Father's Day!

I'm heading up to have a BBQ with my family and BBQ guest of honor, my Dad, a little later today. Sadly though I'm going to be arriving empty handed. The gift I spied for him a couple weeks ago will have to wait until tomorrow since it takes a bit of effort to get there. But...! I have a few ideas for other Father's Day presents too, so if you're pressed for time and or ideas.... Here're some great ones that have worked for me in the passed. 

Have a great Day and I hope there's sunshine where you are! 

{Jack Spade Wallet Navy}

 {Marmot Spring Gloves}

 {Diesel Gents' Oversized Black Dial Watch}

JUNE ~ Wish List ~ Additions

The month's half over.... I better get on making this wish list come true!

{Trouve' 'Skyline Sandal'}

I tried these on a couple weeks ago and FELL IN LOVE! To wear with skirts, or Jeans...CUTE!

{VANELI Wedge Sandal}

Such an easy sandal to wear this summer~ and who doesn't love a little wedge :)

Lauren Conrad ~ Hills to Crowns

I've alway been a "behind the scenes" viewer when I watch TV and Movies. For instance, taking in certain details of where people are, what people are wearing, if the glass of water they took a drink out of is at the same level in the glass as it was in the scene before... haha! (seriously tho!)

That said, I did always have a keener eye when watching The Hills. In the early years, I feel like I'm right when I say they didn't have stylist's on hand for the girls and making themselves "put together" and "camera ready" was entirely their own responsibility. I mean we watched them put their make-up on and get ready to go out in the episodes! 

So it makes me happy to appreciate Lauren Conrad's choice of outfits. She's always been on trend, yet classic and romantic. A style close to my own. That's why it makes me happy to see that her clothing line Paper Crown is debuting this Fall and is true to form Lauren. 

You can see the entire Lookbook for Paper Crown here. Below are my favorites!

{Clementine Gown in Pink}

{Camilla Sweater in Dark Gray/ Katherine Pants in Blue}

{Camilla Sweater in Dark Gray/ Katherine Pants in Blue}

{Reese knit Tee in black/ Sophie Skirt in Vine}

{Brooklyn Jacket in Black / Abigal Skirt in Grey}

{Piper Top in Nude / Sophie Skirt in Nude}

{Piper Top in Mauve Rose Print / Sadie Skirt in Black}

TOMS Style your Soles Event at Horseshoe Boutique's 5th Birthday!

On Wednesday June 15th we celebrated Horseshoe Boutique's 5th birthday by hosting a TOMS Style your Soles Event. At the event, customers got a discount on their TOMS shoe purchase and were able to have a local TOMS artist paint and draw a special something they chose on their shoes. It was such a special day working with 2 very special companies. We drank champagne, enjoyed yummy birthday cake from Baked in West Seattle and gave out discounts and prizes all day long!

As for making quite the difference in the world TOMS recently announced their next philanthropic venture by launching eye wear! They'll now help people around the world to see!! ONE FOR ONE!