Hi, friends! I know, I know…the April Edit is going out a little lot later than expected. But as a PhD student, school takes precedence (and final projects this semester are no joke). But do not worry, today’s post covers all the favorite things I was loving in April! From fashion to beauty to all the movies and books I can’t stop talking about, I can’t wait for you to read more about each of them!
I’m starting first with fashion and then moving right into my new favorite beauty finds. And finally ending with lifestyle things that I’ve been loving–like new finds for home, trips to the Zoo, and Netflix series we can’t get enough of! So without further ado, let’s get right into it!
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Fashion
1. Sedona Necklace | You may remember this necklace from my Spring 10×10 Recap. It is indeed my favorite piece that has come out of 31Bits–a company that supports women workers all over the world. The colors are so gorgeous in person and can brighten up any outfit. Plus, it’s made of recycled paper, which is eco-friendly. This is an older style (on sale!) that won’t last much longer if you’ve had your eye on it!
2. Pink Birkenstocks | My favorite purchase of last year would probably have to be my Birkenstock Gizeh sandals (styled here). They are so, so comfy and are the perfect summertime sandal. This year, I wanted to get another pair in a less practical, more fun color so I decided to try out the Arizona style in a bright magenta pink color. They are so fun and comfy and I can’t wait to get lots of wear out of them this summer! P.S. – They also come in tons of other great colors if pink isn’t your thing!
3. Striped Tshirt Dress | I ordered this dress right before our spring break trip to San Francisco and am so glad that I did! It was the perfect outfit for walking around the bay town and exploring all the sights and sounds. I paired it with the perfect denim jacket (below) for the chilly morning. I always order up a size in cotton tshirt pieces to keep them from shrinking too much in the wash. I love the oversized fit for a casual look. I styled it with tennis shoes in San Fran, but it could just as easily be paired with sandals in the summer!
4. Lavender Floral Scarf | If you didn’t know, my favorite color is purple. So with lavender being so prevalent in trends this spring, I have been finding delight in acquiring as many of the pretty lavender finds as I can! This lavender and pink floral scarf is the perfect spring accessory for chilly days when you just want it to be warm weather again already! It looks pretty wrapped around your neck with a classic white tee or tucked underneath a great denim jacket (below).
5. Denim Jacket | I have always been a huge fan of girls who can pull off a great, casual denim jacket. I even tried it once or twice. But I never quite felt at home in the style–there was always something just a little bit off. I combated this with going with a slightly lighter wash than normal, which somehow felt a bit more feminine. That is until I found the perfect denim jacket. My issue with denim jackets in the past has been the bulkiness of them. They tend to make me look thicker and more boxy than I actual am–read: not very flattering. But this denim jacket has a slightly tailored fit, which includes a slightly higher cut back that is incredibly flattering on. The price is a little higher than I’m used to paying (it’s hard to beat Old Navy’s prices), but the number of wears I have gotten out of it has greatly been worth the higher price.
6. Pink Purse | I recently found this purse on clearance at Target and can’t get enough of it. The pink color is even more gorgeous in person and the quilted structure emulates Gucci bags at a fraction of the cost. It is the perfect statement bag for a casual date night or a girls weekend brunch out, and adds a bright pop of spring color to any look.
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Beauty
7. Fresh Lip Tint in Blossom | I have been on the hunt for the perfect everyday lip tint–one that is both moisturizing and adds a pretty pink shimmer. And this is the one. I’ve actually tried a couple of the Lip Tints from Fresh (everyone seems to love them!), but many of them tend to be too sheer for my liking. Because my lips are so often chapped, I like a little color to cover up the discoloration. The Blossom pink color is perfect because it has a substantial amount of pigment while still remaining fairly neutral (not too bright) for everyday wear. And the formula is incredibly smooth and moisturizing. If you invest in one new lip tint this spring, let it be this one!
8. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter | In the past I have loved using Bath & Body Works Body Cream after showering to moisturize my legs. But since leaning more into natural beauty products (and trying to get away from fragrances), I have been looking for a better alternative. Some people don’t like heavier creams and instead prefer lighter lotions, but I’m the type of girl who lives for a thicker cream to lather on. So after reading tons of amazing reviews on Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter, I decided to give it a try. I’m not a huge fan of coconut scents, but this one definitely grew on me and I came to look forward to putting it on after my showers in the evenings. It feels incredibly silky and luxurious. It’s a little pricier than I’m used to paying for a body lotion (and the 8oz only lasted me a month or so), so I will likely keep trying out new body products. But if you are looking to try something different this month, consider giving this one a shot!
9. Moon Fruit Face Treatment | On most nights, I simply cleanse and moisturize my face with a simple cream. But on nights I’m feeling super luxurious, I like to put on a mask after cleansing and then moisturize with something a little more fun. I was introduced to the natural beauty company Herbivore Botanicals by Elsie of A Beautiful Mess (you can read her review here). One of the first products I decided to try from them was this Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment partly because I had heard great things about it and partly because I was intrigued by its beautiful blue color. Plus, the moon packaging alone made the inner space nerd in me excited to try it out. It’s super hydtrating and melts into your skin like butter. It’s on the pricier side, but I don’t use this every night. And when I do use it, a little goes a long way! It’s a fun little treat for your face when you want to give yourself a little more pampering at night.
10. Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick | I typically wear pretty minimal makeup during the day. A little swipe of my favorite cheek stain and luminizer (both featured here) and a little mascara are all I need. But after hearing how much Emily loves here Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick, I wanted to give it a try. Emily swears by the color Burnished Bronze, but I wanted something a little less dramatic for everyday, so I tried out the Rose Gold color. The stick glides on really smooth and creamy and is incredibly satisfying to put on. And while I’m sure you are supposed to cover your entire eyelid with the product, I tend to just put a thick line above my eyelashes (similar to eyeliner). I love how it adds the perfect amount of shimmery highlight above my eyes without looking like I’m wearing tons of eye shadow–perfect for every day!
11. Fresh Vitamin Nectar Face Mask | I talked about my all-time favorite Rose Mask in this post, but my next favorite mask (especially in the summertime) is this Vitamin Nectar Face Mask by the same company. It has real bits of orange inside and smells absolutely incredible to wear–like fresh oranges and clementines in the morning. The mask adds a nice burst of vitamin C and vibrancy to your skin while smoothing and increasing radiance. This is one I would highly recommend.
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Lifestyle
12. Spring Zoo Visit | It’s become somewhat of a tradition for me and Allen to go to the Denver Zoo as soon as warmer spring weather hits (see 2016 and 2017 posts). And this year was no exception. We love making the trip out to the Zoo a day-long experience since it’s a little bit of a drive to Denver from Boulder–going out for donuts in the morning, spending the afternoon walking around the Zoo, and then ending the day with Biker Jim’s hot dogs in downtown. It’s a great way to get outside and enjoying the beautiful sunny weather and blooming flowers. Plus, seeing baby Whimsie and baby Dobby are always a highlight.
13. Florida Girl Painting | Since hanging up a beloved painting Allen and I got on our trip to Guatemala, I have dreamed of creating a colorful gallery wall in our living room. I want it to be filled only with things that we love, so it’s taking a little time to plan it out and find pieces that fit with our aesthetic, but I can’t wait to show you how it turns out! This painting by Janet Hill is so beautiful and interesting that I knew this sassy Florida Girl had to be apart of our picture wall. I had the painting printed by Artfully Walls, a new-to-me website that prints out framable art to hang. From this first experience, I would definitely recommend them as the quality of print and price is the best I’ve found. To save money, we will be framing it ourselves, but I’m hoping to find a pretty gold frame to put it in. I love all of Janet Hill’s paintings because they are so bright, colorful, and full of intriguing subjects. Besides Florida Girl, these are some of my other favorites–Lost in Miami, South Seas Serpent, The Supreme Seymour Sister, and Freckle Face.
14. Woven Decor Bowl | I also want to add interesting pieces of art (not just paintings) to the gallery wall in our living room. So when I found this handmade woven bowl from The Little Market–a fair trade shop that empowers women across the world–I knew it would make the perfect colorful addition. The pinks, purples, oranges, and blues are even more stunning in person. And I love that this piece comes from a company whose mission is just as beautiful as the piece itself.
15. Modern Plant Stand | As our plant collection has slowly quickly grown, we have found an increasing need for more space to put them. On a recent trip to IKEA, we found the perfect plant stand solution. This modern-looking piece is both functional and asthetically pleasing. And it allows all your plants to get the sunlight they need (instead of having to switch out who gets to be directly in front of the window). We actually ended up getting two and putting them on either side of a folding wooden t.v. tray that has larger plants on it.
16. Woven Elephant Planter | I love finding unique pieces that add tons of character to your home, and this woven elephant planter from the new Opalhouse collection at Traget was too neat not to get. The basket has a lid so that you can keep goodies inside, but we ended up taking the lid off and putting a potted plant (Mother in Law’s Tongue/Snake Plant) inside.
17. Calathea Plant | On a recent trip to our favorite plant shop, Allen and I stumbled upon the most interesting plant–a Pinstripe Calathea. It has the prettiest pale pink stripes running through the leaves! So we ended up taking one home with us–surprise, surprise! It requires lots of light, so we potted it in a pale pink pot to match its stripes and placed in in the window of our living room.
18. Minimalism Book | This book is the epitome of a minimalist book. It is straight and to the point (no frills or verbose-ness here) but provides such incredible insight into why you might want to start implementing more minimalist ideals into your everyday life. This book covers the lives of Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus and why they made a 180 degree turn in their life from earning six-figures in “the American Dream” to one which turned out to be much slower and less lucrative, yet held so much more meaning and intention for them. This book is actually the one that got me running and exercising again–which is a profound thing to say that a book could do that! At any rate, it’s a powerful story that makes the case for creating a healthy, intentional life you love. It’s a quick read but is meant to be resource you can turn to time and time again. And something you can work through as you are making your change into living more simply.
19. You Can Buy Happiness & It’s Cheap Book | This is, hands down, my favorite minimalism book to date. Tammy is such an incredible writer and story teller. I cannot get enough of her writing. In fact, it’s the only book I’ve starting re-reading (despite having a huge stack of books I want to get through), if you can believe that. It’s just so good! Tammy tells the story of her downsizing and moving into a tiny house with her husband and cat. But even more than her personal story, she writes about all the journeys of friends she’s met along the way. Everyone’s story is different and everyone’s version of minimalism looks different. But through her writing you find that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what your specific version looks like. All that matters is that you get back to living the life you were meant to live and finding purpose in the everyday things we do.
20. Wild Wild Country Docuseries | This is an incredible six-part documentary series that will keep you coming back for more. It follows the growth and development of the Rajneeshpuram community in Wasco County, Oregon in the 1980s–a group that followed the Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho). It starts out innocently enough and the first few episodes leave you feeling like this community could be a great place to live and work. However, things quickly make a violent turn and leave you feeling like you never could have seen what happens next coming. I won’t ruin anything for you here, but just know this is a must-see!
21. Extraordinary Homes Show | If you love traveling around the world and seeing incredible, awe-inspiring sights, this show is for you! The homes showcased in this series are truly extraordinary–from ones built out of airplane wings to ones built into the sides of hills–you won’t believe some of the amazing architectural achievements of them! Caroline Quentin can get a tad annoying with her screeching laughs, and Piers Taylor’s sketches border on child-like, but that is exactly what gives this show so much character! In fact, it’s one of the reasons Allen and I kept coming back for more! I promise their dynamic duo of hosting will grow on you. For me and Allen, no other home show can compete now without them.
22. Ready Player One Movie | An incredible movie if you love sci-fi, suspense, and adventure! This movie follows an orphaned teenage, Wade Watts, on his mission to save the OASIS, a virtual reality game that has become more reality than game in the year 2045, from an oppressive company who seeks to own it and destroy it as it is known. It’s a fantastic story of fighting for what is right and finding love along the way. Definitely a great movie to see!
23. Isle of Dogs Movie | This was not a movie I had my eye on after seeing its trailer in theaters. But Allen was adamant that we go and see it (he is a HUGE fan of both stop motion movies and Wes Anderson films), so I obliged. And guess what?! I LOVED it! It follows the journey of a young Japanese boy in search of his dog after the complete banishment of all dogs to an island due to an outbreak of canine-flu. Its slow pace is surprisingly refreshing and I love how blunt and not overdone the whole plot line is. It’s such a simple premise, but it totally works! Some parts are truly hilarious too, somehow. It’s a unique style of comedy that is hard to explain–I’m probably doing a terrible job! Haha. But it is one that I would highly recommend and was so glad that I saw!
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