I LOVE a summer BBQ and the 4th of July is the perfect day to have a BBQ party.  One of the reasons I love a BBQ is because most BBQ staples can be prepared in advance which makes the whole party planning process easy.  Below is a menu and the cutest decor pieces to make your summer BBQ perfect!

Blackberry & Cucumber Skewer Recipe

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnut Recipe

Grilled Watermelon with Goat Cheese Bites

In-N-Out Cheeseburger Recipe

Chicken Kebob Recipe

Macaroni Salad Recipe

Baked Beans Recipe

Grilled Mexican Street Corn Recipe

Berry Tart Recipe

Grill Cupcakes (probably the cutest cupcakes I’v ever seen)

Banana Split Dessert

Decor

1. Watermelon Cups 2. Drink Stand 3. Paper Plates 4. BBQ Balloons 5. Corn on the Cob Holders 6. Watermelon Napkins

 

 

Since quarantine I have started painting my own nails again, and I fell in love with ombré nails all over again.  There are several methods to get ombré nails.  I have tried all of them, and I personally prefer the one below.

The Products You Will Need 

Zoya Base Coat or the base coat of your choice

Essie Sugar Daddy

Essie Around the Bend

butter LONDON Top Coat or the top coat of your choice

Essie Sugar Daddy is a very sheer nail polish, while Essie Around the Bend it a more opaque nail polish with a similar color.  It’s important to use a sheer nail polish and more opaque nail polish with a similar color.

Instructions 

Step 1

Apply base coat.

Step 2 

Using Essie Sugar Daddy, apply a layer of nail polish across the entire nail.

Step 3

Following the example below, apply another coat of Essie Sugar Daddy across the nail but start slightly further down the nail. Repeat this step moving further down the nail with each coat until you reach the tip of the nail.

Step 4

Apply Essie Around the Bend at the very tip of the nail.

 

Step 5

For a more even blend, apply Essie Sugar Daddy over the tip of the nail where you applied Essie Around the Bend. I suggest applying Essie Sugar Daddy immediately after you apply Essie Around the Bend.

Step 6

Apply your top coat.

Dress H&M Shoes Beach by Matisse Handbag Handbags

I make an effort to have a salad for dinner at least once a week.  I find that having a hearty salad makes committing to eating more salads a lot easier! I have a rotation of salads that I regularly make including the recipe below which is my favorite salad during the summer.

Ingredients

Romaine Lettuce

Strawberries

Blue Cheese

Shredded Rotisserie Chicken

Red Onion

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

Rosé Dressing

Instructions

1. Cut the red onion into slices and place in a bowl with ice water.  Let them soak for about 20 minutes. After they have soaked, remove the onions from the bowl and pat dry with a towel.

2. Rinse and chop the romaine lettuce.

3. Rinse and slice the strawberries.

4. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, or for a prettier looking salad, plate them.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Casual White Dress Rattan Handbag La Blanca Swimsuit Lack of Color Hat Chelsea28 Top

While I have not visited all 50 states, I have been to most places worth visiting in the US.  I, like most people, am pretty sad that we can’t travel internationally for the foreseen future.  This has changed mine and my fiancé’s honeymoon plans. We are now considering taking a trip within the US in the upcoming months.  Below are some of my favorite vacations in the US and some that are on my wish-list of places to visit.

1. California PCH Road Trip

I grew up living in southern California and one of the most beautiful road trips you can do is driving from San Diego up to Red Woods National and State Parks. Along the way I recommend stopping in Laguna Beach, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco, ending the trip in the Red Woods  This trip is perfect because you can make it as long or as short as you want.  You can stop for a quick lunch or an entire day at each of the places mentioned above.

2. Vail and Aspen Colorado 

Being a Coloradan, I can’t create a list like this without urging you to visit the most underrated destinations in the US. Vail and Aspen are about 2 hours apart which makes visiting both convenient.  Both offer something unique and have different atmospheres. Vail and Aspen are beautiful year-round and offer something unique each season.  My favorite time of year to visit them is actually in the off season during Summer and during peak foliage time in late September. The food is phenomenal, there is great hiking, amazing spas, and luxury boutique shopping.

3. New England Road Trip

Left photo from Martha Murray Vacation Rentals right photo from Acadia National Park

Not only is New England absolutely beautiful in the Summer but it is full of history.  This is also one of those trips that you can make as long or as short is you want.  I recommend starting in Cape Cod, stopping in Plymouth, Salem, Portland, Freeport, and ending in Bar Harbor.  I went to school in Maine and the people of Maine are the nicest people in North American. They are so sweet they make Canadians look mean. Fall is also a beautiful time in New England but it is also only a couple weeks long, and you don’t want to risk being there in the Winter which is why I recommend the Summer.  Plus New England boasts some of the most beautiful beaches that you can’t miss.

4. Hawaii

Photo from Forbes

Well it’s not a best trips in America list without mentioning Hawaii. While you certainly can see all the islands in one trip I suggest narrowing it down to 2 or 3 since they are all full of history and beauty.  Do some research before choosing the islands you want to see.  Maui is popular because it offers a little bit of everything, the Big Islands is perfect for adventure seekers, Lanai and Kauai are perfect for those seeking to relax and take in the sights. O’ahu is generally overly touristy but you can also find great vacation package deals.

5. New Orleans

Photo from Condé Nast Traveler

This is one of the destinations I have not personally been to but I want to go.  New Orleans is full of history and I’ve heard it has some of the best food in the world. I didn’t clump this in the destinations below because I feel it deserves it own trip but you could certainly include it in a road trip through the south.

6. Road Trip through the South

Photo from Visit Savannah

This is a dream of mine because I love history, sweet tea, and fried chicken. I would start the trip in Charlotte, make my way to Charleston, then stop in Savannah, and end in Atlanta. I’d plan my trip to be full of history tours, museums, and food tours.

7. New York

Left photo from Lake Placid Crowne Plaza Right photo from Business Insider

I seriously considered not including New York because New York City had the worst outbreak in the US, so please be careful if you do plan a trip there.  I have a bucket-list of restaurants I want to eat at and a few of them are in NYC including the Blue Box Cafe, Peter Luger, and Katz’s Deli.  A trip to New York City wouldn’t be complete without shopping, sightseeing, and museums. Most people would only go to New York City but the state of New York offers so much more.  I would want to end the trip in Lake Placid for some relaxing time.

8. Vermont

Photo from Cappex

My dream is to spending a relaxing weekend in Vermont during peak foliage.  Yes, I am aware that’s basic and there is not much to do in Vermont.  I’d want to stay at a boutique hotel, go apple picking, hike, and drink tons of fresh apple cider.

 

 

 

1. A New Day Slides 2. Tory Burch Sandals 3. Mango Interwoven Sandals 4. Tory Burch Espadrilles 5. Steve Madden Loafers