Top 5 Tuesday: Summer Beauty Essentials

Hey y'all,

I am once again linking up with Rachel for Top 5 Tuesday! This week's theme is your Top 5 Summer Beauty Essentials. I am a pretty laid back person about beauty during the summer. I mainly want to protect my skin and then hydrate my frizzy hair. I mean humidity is not fun and with curly hair I just try to make it presentable and do not even attempt to place a flat iron near it.

Let's get started:

top 5 tuesday by postgradprep featuring a leave in conditioner

1. SUNSCREEN! I am of the fair skin variety thanks to my Irish heritage but I also have had members of my family have to have surgery due to skin cancer so I take protection of the body's largest organ seriously. I love a good spray on sunscreen, I tend to go towards SPF 50 and higher. I know that anything above 50 tends to be the same but it helps if I forget to reapply every 2 hours to have that extra bit of protection. Do not forget to rub in the sunscreen and let it sit for a minute before exposure. I also would invest in a nice facial sunscreen if your moisturizer does not already have some sun protection. I love Neutrogena's line of sunscreens for my face since I know it won't irritate or clog my pores.

2. Lip Balm. I tend to go with minimalist make-up during the summer but we all know that lip balm is essential year round. The eos lip balms are perfect for summer since they come in the best flavors and are the perfect summer colors. Do you have a favorite lip balm?

3. Hair Masque. I typically do a deep conditioning treatment monthly during the year but during the summer with the heat and humidity I tend to up it to twice a month or even weekly depending on how fried and dry my hair is. The Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque treatment smells amazing and really treats my hair. I also love the 3 Minute Miracle Collection from Aussie. If you are swimming a lot during the summer, I would invest in a good masque to combat all the chemicals you are exposing your hair to.

4. Moisturizer. I always use the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel from Clinique during the summer. It is so light weight that it does not add to oily skin and a little goes a long way. You always want to have hydrated skin!

5. Leave in Conditioner. I love the It's a 10 Miracle leave in conditioner. I love to use leave-in conditioner throughout the summer to tame my hair as well as protect it. I always have a bottle in my beach and pool bag. For a less pricey option check out the Aussie Hair Insurance.

What are your essentials?

Five on Friday {J.Crew Factory Arrivals}

Hey y'all,

So we are officially one week away from my 24th birthday! So next week's posts will center around birthday celebrations and shenanigans but in the mean time, it is currently freezing here in North Carolina. I mean, when it is 11 degrees outside but feels like 2, the walk from the parking deck to the office is brutal. Hence why I am currently loving on these beautiful summer like clothes from the J.Crew Factory new arrivals section. Here are my Top 5 picks:

{one}

Factory Printed Draped Tank in Violet Fuchsia.

I think this tank would look great tucked into a pencil skirt with a light cardigan, perfect work a day at work. I think I am just drawn to the pattern since it looks like a less defined and muted version of Lilly Pulitzer's First Impression print.

{two}

Factory Always Cardigan in Colorblock Navy Soft Mint

This cardigan comes in the navy and mint colors separately but I love the two combined on this piece. I think this would be the perfect comfy cardigan for running around town doing some errands or throwing on some jeans and riding boots for a casual Friday at the office.

{three}

Factory 5" Printed Stretch Chino Short in Neon Pink.

I love J.Crew Chino Shorts and for some reason I am being drawn to this pattern. I keep thinking these with a chambray top and jacks would be the perfect summer uniform. The pattern also comes in the Factory Printed Tissue Scarf, if you are afraid the bottoms are too much.

{four}

Factory Colorblock Weekend Tote in Stripe(Navy Brilliant Flame)

How perfect would this be as a beach bag? I think this would also be a great everyday bag in the summer since it is made of cotton canvas with a full zipper on top. Here's to dreaming of a week at the beach.

{five}

Factory Scalloped Shift Dress

I couldn't make a top 5 and forget the dress that everyone raved about last year! I even tried on the dress in yellow, back when I went to the Factory in Lynchburg over the summer but we all know that yellow is not meant for the pale Irish skinned girl writing this blog. I am currently lusting after the navy and bright poppy colors. I mean for under $70 we all know this dress will be gone soon!

{honorable mention}

Factory Ponte Peplum Top in Sunwashed Aqua

And I am also loving this necklace and all of the critter  & polka dot socks.

Are you dreaming about summer? Any J.Crew Factory items you are coveting?

Summer To Do List

Hey y'all,


Every summer I begin a list of things to do to break me from my normal routine. This is my first summer without a large break (postgrad life) and I am taking a week off in August in order to move so in the mean time I am trying to put a list together of activities that are not terribly expensive to accomplish this summer. Here we go:

Visit the Duke Gardens

Watch Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters
Visit the NC Botanical Gardens

Attend a Durham Bulls baseball game

Visit the Duke Lemur Center

Watch Monsters University

Eat ice cream from Mapleview Farms

Spend a day at Jordan Lake

Watch Man of Steel

Read and watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Go to the Carolina Tiger Rescue with kDi (baby sis)

Go to the Morehead Planetarium

Watch Planes

Go berry picking at Jean's Berry Patch

Go to the Carolina Inn for Fridays on the Front Porch

Get a biscuit at Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen

Watch the Heat

Go to Ikea

Go see Despicable Me 2

Go to Wrightsville Beach for a weekend

Go to the new Lilly Pulitzer store in Durham

Watch Wolverine

& 

the adventure of today: 

a road trip to the J.Crew Clearance Center with friends

What does your summer hold? Am I missing any important events?

Summer Study....

Hey y'all,

This summer has been filled with a lot of spiritual growth. My church has just finished their series called "First Love" that was filled with discussion of relationships looking through Ephesians 5:21-32 and we began a series called "Something Better" focusing on the fact that God is the only true and real God. We have been focusing on 1 Kings 17 so far and I am loving the reassurance the series brings.

Along with growth in the church, I am beginning a new 8-week study through the blog Good Morning Girls using the book Anything: The Prayer that Unlocked My God and My Soul by Jennie Allen. GMG is similar to She Read's Truth, another online community for bible studies but it has more of a structure to it rather than just daily blog posts which I love.The book is described on GoodReads as:

Safe. Comfortable. Happy. 
Words we all love. Feelings we want. Even crave. We may love God, but being that he's invisible, words like "comfortable" seem to feel better faster. 
We are all chasing something. Our hearts were made to run hard and fast after things that move us. But as a generation we are all beginning to stir and wake up, identifying that these words don't satisfy for long, especially when compared to God. If God is real, and we are going to live with Him forever, shouldn't He be everything? 
Caught in this familiar haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie Allen and her husband Zac prayed a courageous prayer of abandonment that took them on an adventure God had written for them. 
"God, we will do anything. " "Anything"

I just started the study and I am a week behind the start date but upon opening the book and reading the audacious prayer of "anything" I felt at peace. My Sunday School kids were told to pray bold prayers a few weeks ago while we were going over Joshua's prayer to have the sun stand still (Joshua 10) and it prompted a reflection on the fact that we often pray for small miracles when we can truly pray to God for anything and will be willing to do anything for Him.

So here is the schedule of readings in the bible for week one as well as the verse for the week.

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Jessica at Proverbs Living wrote a wonderful post of tips on organizing your GMG studies and I am in love with her blog after just finding it this morning.

 Are you going to follow along with the GMG study this summer? 

Summer Splurge Wishlist

Hey y'all,

So instead of doing a summer wish-list I thought I would share some of my upcoming splurges. I am already planning to purchase some of these things, like an iPhone so I can actually join this century as well as a couch for my new place but if I am a good saver this summer I might find some arm candy or a NC State Murfee in my possession.

summer splurges by janeaustenprepster featuring david yurman bangle

Do you have a summer wishlist? Any splurges in your future?

Lusting Over Lilly....

Hey y'all,

I don't know about you but Spring and Summer has me wanting to put on a sundress each morning and with the new Lilly Pulitzer collection out for summer I thought I would share some of the items I would love to have in my closet but they are current dreams since my bank account needs some love. However, if you are off to the races or just a Derby themed party this weekend I think these dresses would do the trick. I guess I will just have to wait for the Endless Summer Sale to stock up!

Lusting After Lilly P by janeaustenprepster featuring dresses

What items are currently on your wishlist from the Summer line? 


ps. Don't forget to enter my blog-o-versary giveaway!

Off to the beach....

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Hey y'all,

I am officially off to the beach until Thursday afternoon. I didn't pre-plan any posts, I'm sorry but feel free to keep entering my Back to School Swap. I am off to visit one of my closest high school friends and my grandlittle, sGc!

I hope you have a wonderful first few days!

By noon today I will be here!

Peace and Blessings & toes in the sand,
jDl

Flip Flop Swap Reveal!

Hey y'all,

I'm excited to post about the beautiful gift I recieved from Leanna of OMG I'm Back in D.C. We were partners in Leslie, Olivia, and Sarah's Flip Flop Swap. It was really great to find a new blog and I love hearing about her adventures in a city I know well. My older sister and best friend both live in the DC area, and I even took a day trip up there my last semester of college for my Monuments & Memory class (in April) so I know the area well. 

Now onto the beautiful gift. 

All of the goodies! 

Two pairs of flip flops. A pink pair and a gold-ish pair!

Glamour, Hairties, Headbands and Pink Nail Polish=Pool Essentials.

Thanks so much to Leslie, Liv and Sarah for hosting the swap but especially to Leanna for getting me amazing goodies. I am headed to the beach in just over a week and I know that everything she gave me will be put to good use. 

THANKS AGAIN!

Peace and Blessings,

jDl

Southern Summer Staples: The Porch

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Hey y'all,

I think one thing that is a Southern Staple, is to spend some time on the porch. Whether enjoying a nice conversation, sipping some tea, or reading a good book, I think the porch is one place everyone in south agrees upon is a gathering place during nice weather is the porch.

Now current temperatures are over 100, the porch is only available for evening time with the fans going or I would melt in the heat. While I love our porch at home, I do love looking at Pinterest for some beautiful porch inspirations. Wherever I end up later in life, a porch filled with rockers, fans, and a couch are required. I will of course teach my children the beauty of slowing down and enjoying the small joys of listening to the neighborhood's quietness or having a chat over some sweet tea.

Here are some of my favorite porch pins.

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Do you love your front porch? What do you do on your porch? What is your Southern Summer Staple?

ps. I completely believe that Air Conditioning is a Southern Summer Staple, but couldn't think of anything cute about A/C that would make it it's own post. :)

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

WILW {June 20}

Hey y'all,

On this first day of summer I'm loving....

....spending time by the pool. It was the perfect day to lounge on a pool bed and read during the afternoon.

...that I bit the bullet and ordered the Erin Condren life planner. Now to wait until it arrives. I think it might kill me to wait that long.

...the Lifeguard Press Lilly Pulitzer stickers. This would have been perfect if I was still in school so I am going to buy some of the sorority sheets and some of the academic ones and send them up to my sorority family to use in their planners. SO CUTE! There is even a family themed one here.

Lilly Pulitzer Academic Sticker Set

Lilly Pulitzer Greek Sticker Set

....while on the Lifeguard Press website I  rediscovered my love of these Jonathan Adler Die-cut notepads. The second I get a job and desk to decorate these guys are going into my cart for purchase. They are so cute and a great way to jot down a note and decorate a desk.

crab

whale

elephant

fish

also look at these adorable magnets. They are perfect for my Lilly magnet board.

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...that Disney/Pixar's new movie Brave comes out THIS FRIDAY! As a Disney lover, a girl with some Irish heritage and the fact that I studied Celtic Art, this is the PERFECT movie for me.

....SWAPS. I love the blog swaps I am participating in as well as looking for the perfect gift for my partners. Its a great way to find new blog reads and have lots of fun creating mini gift baskets. I'm thinking about hosting a school supply swap. I personally love finding cute school supplies and I think it would be great to host one in July/August so people could have an adorable "first day of school" gift filled with cute and useful items. Thoughts? Anyone want to co-host?

What are you loving this week?

Peace and Blessings,

jDl

5 Summer Goals.

Hey y'all,

I am an obsessive list maker so I figured why not post my current goals as a reminder/accountability for my summer goals.

1. Read more. Every summer I spend more and more time reading for fun since I am not worried about reading on a deadline like I had to for the past four years as an English major. I went to one of the local libraries yesterday to look for a book my Mom wanted. Well, I didn't find hers but I found eight books for me. YAY for summer reading time. My goal is at least 20 books by the end of August.

Look at my finds. To see what I am reading on GoodReads click here.

2. Save money. This one will be difficult for me since I am a shopaholic but I need to save up for a down payment on a car since the one I currently drive I share with my baby sister and since I have now graduated she needs the car up at NCState in the fall. I am excited to eventually get my very own car, not so much about the monthly payment but it is another step of being a post-grad.

3. Find a Full Time job. I am blessed that my parents allowed me back in their home and I go back to my summer retail job on Sunday but I know that I don't want to stay in my hometown for very long. I have a long list of deadlines for resumes and cover letters to finish up before Sunday. I will of course keep searching so any good thoughts/prayers/karma for the job hunt will be appreciated!

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4. Learn to love running. I hate to run but I know I should add it to my exercise regime since it is a great way to get healthy. Now without any major papers or deadlines I am going to focus on my health and getting fit not only for the summer but for life. The stress of college had a toll on my health but I am committing to add lots of fruits and veggies and cutting out all that food I would eat at night while I was studying.

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5. This is the most important to me but I want to work on my relationship with God. I am a Christian girl and my relationship with God is very important to me and it is something that takes effort and I am focusing on a devotional daily, a journal and some other sources. Pinterest is another great way to remind myself of God's promises in the amount of verses posted. My sorority sisters are also great inspiration with their journeys. If you have any great inspirational book selections post them below!

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Do you have any goals for the summer? What is your ultimate goal for this summer?

Peace and Blessings,
jDl