Happy Halloween || LUSH Haul

Happy Halloween!!!

For the past few years I have always been too late to the game to get the holiday products from LUSH. By the time I remember that there are special holiday goodies I bop into the store only to be disappointed by the empty boxes where the bath bombs and bubble bars used to be stacked. 
This year I made sure I did not miss out on the goodies and as soon as I saw the announcement that the Fall products were released I headed to the mall to pick up a little collection. I knew for sure that I had to get Boo the bath melt because he was way too cute. I also had to get the Monster's Ball bath bomb because of it's bright colors and the Pumpkin bath bomb because it smelled so delicious. Wrapping up my mini haul was the Sparkly Pumpkin bubble bar because everyone deserves a bit of sparkle in the bath. I definitely regret not getting the Lord of Misrule bath bomb because all of the pictures I have seen of it look incredible!

Boo || Luxury Bath Melt

Pumpkin || Bath Bomb

Monster's Ball || Bath Bomb

Sparkly Pumpkin || Bubble Bar

I decided that Sunday night would be the perfect time to use one of my bath bombs in order to recover from the long weekend that was full of Halloween celebrations. I went for the Monster's Ball because the citrusy smell was bright and fresh and I knew the color would be amazing. I ran my bath and set up my laptop to watch an episode of Penny Dreadful on Netflix (perfect for a Halloween mood) and set in for a nice relaxing end to my weekend. 

What is your favorite Fall LUSH product?

Day Trip || Stormy Garibaldi

There's nothing quite like spending a stormy Fall day on the Oregon Coast. The gray skies, the misty rain, the salty air and the sounds of buoy bells in the distance. My parents and aunt and uncle spent the weekend in Garibaldi fishing and crabbing and I decided to drive my Nuna (grandma) down for the day to reap the benefits of their hard work. My mom sent me a picture of the 44 crab they caught the day before and I assumed they would need help putting a dent in it. Who can resist fresh caught dungeness crab.

The house was located across the street from the Coast Guard station and although it was a little dated it had an amazing view of the Tillamook Bay where we could watch the fishing boats and kayakers. After having some crab for lunch I was able to cozy up in the sunroom and indulge in a little quiet reading time followed by a quick power nap. 

It was a hasty but rejuvenating trip and was just what I needed to kick off the Fall season. The drive home was a little less rejuvenating and I had some white knuckle moments in the dark and pouring rain. Especially the moment when I saw a spider crawling up the windshield and I had to quickly pull over on the side of the road. As the cars rushed past me and I stood drenched by the rain I lost the spider and then had to get back in the car to continue driving. It was anxiety inducing. Needless to say I was happy to make it back home safe and sound. I look forward to the next beach trip that doesn't require night driving. 

What are your favorite ways to cozy up in the Fall?

threesome || black and white striped dress

Wahoo! I finally managed to organize and get photos for my first fashion post. I've had this idea of taking an item from my closet and styling it three different ways for awhile and it feels great to see it actually happen. I had so much fun doing this shoot. I have never had photos taken of me like this and I felt pretty awkward at first. I needed to warm up, but having my friends as the photographer and assistant certainly helped. Major shout out to Jason (Hattery Images) for taking the photos and to Madi for assisting.

The centerpiece for this shoot was my black and white striped dress that I purchased 

from Old Navy 2 or 3 years ago [similar here, here and here]. 

The first style is ultra casual, zero fuss. This is something I can quickly throw on and still look like I put effort into my outfit on the weekends when I'm shopping around or meeting friends for lunch. 

Shoes || Perforated Vans slip-ons
Bag || Canvas tote [No Fotos Por Favor]
Bracelet || gift from a friend [etsy]

All business! It is so easy to throw on a blazer and heels to make this dress work for work. I've worn this exact outfit while going on interviews and it helps my confidence go through the roof. 

Shoes || Calvin Klein black Kasey mid pump
Blazer || Old Navy [similar]
Bracelet || Gold bangle from Nordstrom Rack [similar]
Necklace || Gold from Nordstrom Rack [similar]

Party time. For the final look I dug down and found my inner rockstar for a night out on the town. If I decide to wear a dress out to the bars this is a pretty typical way for me to style it.

Shoes || Izaac Mizrahi New York Shandy Chelsea Boot [similar]
Jacket || Faux leather moto jacket from Macy's [similar]
Necklace || Gold Natasha statement from Nordstrom Rack [similar]
Clutch || Hobo brand cut out handle clutch [similar]

What is your favorite way to wear a striped dress?

Best Products for Sun Protection

I have always been a sun worshipper. I love having a tan and I love laying out on a hot day next to a body of water. However, now that I am getting older I am beginning to realize that all that sun is just going to cause more skin damage than I would like to deal with. I figure that it is time for me to start taking sun protection seriously. With that being said, I do not like all of the crazy chemicals that can be found in most sunscreens so I gravitate towards items that seem healthier (ie. more expensive). This Summer I stumbled upon some new faves that I never left home without. 

Sun Bum

I first tried Sun Bum when I had to buy sunscreen in Hawaii a few years ago. The product is gluten free and vegan, but best of all it smells amazing, just like coconut. I am obsessed with the smell which is helpful in reminding me to reapply throughout the day. It is paraben free, oil/PABA free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, retinyl palmitate free, propylene glycol free, and cruelty free. I typically don't like to use the spray sunscreen because it can be bad to inhale, but I purchased this one so that I can spray it on my back when I am home alone working in my yard (that seems to be the time I burn my back the most).  I purchased all of these products from Target and have seen them at Ulta as well. 

Bare Republic

Next up is my favorite for my face. This is what I would put on under my moisturizer when I knew I would be in direct sun all day. This product was perfect for my face. It is a cream texture, but it felt like putting on a dry oil. It was thin and absorbed quickly. It has a nice smell and does not clog pores. I actually ended up liking this better than my daily moisturizer with SPF. This product is free of chemical actives, paraben free, retinyl palmitate free, has no synthetic fragrances and is cruelty free. A major plus is that it has 40 minutes of water resistance for those days you are floating in the pool. I purchased this product at Target.

Coola

I stumbled upon this product while browsing through Ulta one day. I was familiar with the brand because I had received a sample of their SPF moisturizer in one of my Birchboxes. What I liked about this product was that it was a makeup setting spray that you could put on after you did your makeup and you could add throughout the day. I used this while at an all day concert in 99 degree heat and direct sunlight and I did not burn one bit, not even a pink nose. The product is 70% certified organic and cruelty free. It has green tea, cucumber and aloe extracts that cool and sooth your skin. I have fairly sensitive skin and this product did not irritate it or cause any breakouts. 

Peter Thomas Roth

There is something magical about a powder that can also provide SPF. This all in one product is the perfect for on the go protection. Just pop the lid off and give it a little shake to release some powder and brush all over your face. I loved using this product when I wanted to make sure I didn't look oily or sweaty. It is compact enough to throw in your purse or clutch and therefore works great when attending an outdoor event. I found this product at Ulta but have also seen it at Sephora. 

All of these products can help keep your skin safe, but it is important to remember some other staples of sun protection. Don't forget to wear your sun hat, sunglasses and stay hydrated! 

Monthly Reads: June

June inadvertently was a month of intense reads. This could be partially due to the fact that there was only one young adult novel in the mix which is less than my average. And even that one YA book that was included was not a light hearted read. Even with all of the intensity I enjoyed the books I read this month and would recommend all of them. 

Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk

The first book I picked up in June was Doomed. This is the sequel to Chuck Palahniuk's book, Damned which I read in May. I was hesitant to read Doomed after experiencing the graphic gruesomeness of Damned, but I also can't handle leaving a story unfinished. Since Damned was a bit of a cliff hanger I had to read Doomed to find out what happened. It was definitely a different tone since the main character, Madison Spencer, is out of hell and back on Earth as a ghost. More details of her past are filled in throughout the story and you discover the way that her destiny and the potential end of the world are connected. Although this story does not deal with the gory images of hell it is still pretty graphic and some content could be considered offensive. Without giving away the end I will warn that I read this story because of my desire to find out the rest of the story and I was disappointed at the end to find out that this is actually a trilogy, a trilogy that has not been completed. So I am now left unsatisfied until Chuck decides to publish the third book. 

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Coincidentally the next book I chose to read was also the second book in a trilogy. Hollow City is part of the Miss Peregrine's series and continues following the peculiar children as they try to save Miss Peregrine, find other peculiars and escape the grasp of the Hollows all against the backdrop of war torn England. I look forward to picking up the third story in the series next April when it comes out in paperback. 

The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel

I can't remember if this book was recommended to me or if I stumbled upon it on a shelf in Powell's, but either way it was worth my time. The Forgotten Girls is a mystery that takes place in a small town in Denmark. The main character, Louise Rick, takes over the new missing persons department of the local police station and is quickly thrown into the case of a young woman found in the woods. The mystery of the young woman crosses paths with other crimes that are taking place in the town and Louise is tasked to figure out what is going on. As I looked into this book more on Goodreads it appears that there is a series of books starring Louise Rick, and based on my impressions of this book I would consider reading more in the series. 

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews

Finally, I ended the month on an oddly sad yet funny story. All My Puny Sorrows is about Yoli, a woman dealing with her sister's unending desire to die. Elf is a world-renowned pianist who can think of nothing else but her need to die and Yoli is her mess of a sister that can't decide between fighting to keep her sister alive or giving into her sisters wish of going to Switzerland to commit suicide. Yoli's narrative bounces between depressing and hilarious. It really made me reflect on the way that we function when dealing with tragedy and how we continue moving through the monotony of life. I would say that this book may need a trigger warning for anyone having dealt with suicide in some form. 

Hiking in Forest Park

I love going on day hikes, and living in Portland offers plenty of places to explore. A few weekends ago a few friends from Levé decided to go on a hike in Forest Park to enjoy the outdoors and catch up on life. We started the day by meeting at St. Honoré Boulangerie on NW Thurman Street. 

After grabbing a quick bite and a coffee we started our adventure. We had a vague idea of where we were going but figured we would work out the details as we went. We approached the bridge and decided to take the stairs down to Macleay Park. 

We started along the Lower Macleay Trail and followed along the creek until we reached what locals call 'Witches'. It is known on the map as Witches Castle and many believe that it has a haunted past. Not to spoil anyone's fun, but the creepy stone building was actually a ranger station and restroom before it was abandoned. 

None the less, it is a great place for a photo opportunity.

We continued along the trail, commenting on the citrusy floral smell that was emanating from the woods and our curiosity was confirmed by some strangers that passed by discussing the same smell. A short way past 'Witches' the trail split and we walked along the Wildwood trail for a bit. Wildwood winds through all of Forest Park and is much more than we were looking to take on for the day so when we came upon another split we chose the Aspen Trail and headed back into the nearby civilization. 

Winding through the old northwest homes we talked about which houses were our favorites and where we imagined living some day. My favorite part of the whole hike was stumbling upon a Dinosaur National Park. It was such a fun surprise to see and so creative. 

The hike lasted a little over 3 miles and took us just over an hour (and the rain held off until I reached my car). It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning and I look forward to the next day hike in or around Portland. 

Tomato Shrimp Linguine

I've always loved cooking and when I have the time I enjoy making extravagant dishes. However, lately my time is limited and I'm always looking for quick and easy ideas. An added difficulty to these meals is my vast amount of food allergies. Most of the items on my list of allergies are easy to get around, but the trickiest (and the things I miss the most) are eggs, dairy and sesame. 
After watching a video of Anna, from Vivianna Does Makeup, making a shrimp pasta dish I was inspired to create my own. I headed to the store and picked up some ingredients to throw together. The outcome was simple and pretty great. 

Ingredients:
2 tbsp - Olive Oil
2 tsp - Chopped Garlic
2 tsp - Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
3 to 4 cups - Tomatoes
1 box - Linguine
12 - Peeled Shrimp (frozen or fresh)
Sprinkle - Nutritional yeast or parmigiano-reggiano

Something to know about my style of cooking is that I tend to estimate when adding ingredients. I only measure when following a recipe, but for the sake of this blog I will do my best to give measurements although they will be approximate and you should feel free to adjust to your liking. 

Warm olive oil in a large pan

Add garlic stirring often to prevent burning

Stir in crushed garlic

Boil water in large pot

Cook linguine

Add sliced tomatoes to the garlic pepper mixture

Add shrimp and cover until shrimp turns pink

Mix into the pasta and enjoy

This would be the point where I would add a ton of parmigiano-reggiano in the old days (before I knew about my allergies). This time I decided to sprinkle a little bit of nutritional yeast on top to add a slight cheesy flavor. This was the perfect dish to enjoy with a sauteed vegetable or garden salad. I packed it up in containers to take as my lunch for the week.