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

Twilly Gucci Starfish Earring J.Crew Headband Amazon Hat Revolve Sunglasses Forever21

Note: The starfish earring from J.Crew is not a set which is kind of a pet peeve of mine, but also they are too cut not to share.

Dress Chelsea28 (currently on clearance) Shoes H&M Headband Target

Banana Republic  has 75% off everything

Target has tons of deals on basically everything.  The sale includes 25% off patio items.

Williams Sonoma  always has great holiday sales.  This year it includes 20% off the Williams Sonoma collection in addition to other sales across the site.

Sephora sales usually don’t impress me but this sale is amazing!  It includes a Natasha Denona palette that is 50% off.

Gap is having a 50% off everything sale when you use the code “warm”.

Revolve has an extra 20% off select items.

Pottery Barn has 25% off $1,500 or more, 20% off $500 or more, 15% off $250 or more, and 10% off $100 or more.

Old Navy has 50% off tanks, tees, shorts, and swim.

Nordstrom is having a clearance sale.

Tory Burch has 25% off select items.

Cole Haan has up to 70% off sale items.

Nordstrom Rack has up to 60% off activewear and Steve Madden.

 

 

A few months ago I finally upgraded my facial cleansing tool to the PMD Clean Pro Rose Quartz  facial cleansing device.  Prior to this I was using the Clarisonic Mia 2 which I don’t think is even sold anymore, so that tells you how long I was using it. While I liked using the Clarisonic device, you have to switch out the brush head regularly, which I was horrible at. When I decided it was time to get a new cleansing device my top priority was something that I didn’t have to change out a brush head, and something that is antibacterial. This led me to the PMD cleansing tools.  Now that I’ve been using it for a few months, below are my thoughts on it.

• It cleanses the skin better than any other device. This devices cleanses through vibration at 7,000 pulses per minute.  This not only gives you a deep cleanse (which I truly feel) but the pulses also firm and tone skin. I haven’t noticed much firming and toning but I definitely notice how well it cleanses my skin.
• It has 4 different settings for skin concerns.  The 1st setting is a gentle vibration (I use this in the mornings).  The 2nd setting is a more intense vibration (I use this in the evenings).  The 3rd setting is a gentle pulsation for anti-aging (I should be using this).  The 4th setting is a more intense pulsation that is again for anti-aging.
• The charge last FOREVER. Okay not literally forever, but I haven’t had to charge it since I got it.
• I love and hate the design.  I love that it is truly waterproof.  Water deposits don’t build up in any crevasse which I found happens in a lot of waterproof devices and that I had to regularly clean the device.  The base is thinner than the handle which makes it feel a bit top heavy.
• I have yet to use the rose quartz.  One side has silicon bristles for cleaning and the other side has rose quartz that warms.  This is supposed to help your skin absorb products like serums.  Unfortunately since the product is a little top heavy, when I set it down on the counter a week ago it fell over and cracked the rose quartz.  It’s not completely broken, it just has a crack running through it. I can still use the rose quartz if I want to.

I love knowing what other people are currently reading and what is on their reading list.  I’m really not one to go pick up a book unless it is recommend to me, whether that’s by an actual person or Amazon.  Below is my summer reading list.  It’s not lengthy, and they are all easy reads.  This is partly because I just prefer easy reads in the summer, and partly because I’m supposed to have a wedding to plan and not much time on my hands.  Everyone at the resort I’m getting married at is currently furloughed so I can’t do wedding planning, and this social distancing has given me a lot of time on my hands so I may add to it later in the season.

Love & Gelato I’m not really into “romance” novels but this one has great reviews and it takes place in Florence Italy.  I spent a semester studying abroad in Florence so I’m sure this will be nostalgic on some level which is why I bought it.

Fielld’s Guide to Pharohs This book was just recently released in March and there was a lot of hype surrounding the release so I’m going to give it a go.  The author is known for her murder mystery books so I don’t expect it to be dull and when it comes down to it, I’m really just looking to be entertained.

Where The Crawdads Sing This book is a New York Time Bestseller and it was part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club, that really tells you enough. I fell like last summer EVERYONE was reading it but I never got around to it, so I’m making is a priority this summer. Plus, it sounds like the type of book I would love.

The Women I Wanted to Be If I find that I lacked interest in all the other books, I know I’ll love this one.  First of all, I’m a huge fan of Diane von Furstenburg.  Secondly, I love an autobiography.

Sarong Party Girls This is one I started reading, and to be honest I don’t recommend it.  I do find it interesting reading about a women I’m close in age with, but comes from a vastly different culture.  The main character is a gold-digger which makes the book cringey at times.