Somehow, this hot and dreadful month of August has slipped from between my fingers… it’s now the end of the month and I’ve been “pedal-to-the-metal” for the past several weeks trying desperately to get myself caught up on all of this editing! There have been so many fabulous weddings this summer (many of which I have to share with you yet!), but I’ve so enjoyed going through all of them, remembering all the great times that were had for each one! Our little family of three will be heading to the beach next week for a much-needed vacation together, but I can’t help but wish fall was upon us. My yoga pants and loungy sweaters are waiting in my closet, begging me to put them on! Camden helped me make homemade banana bread the other day and the house smelled glorious! But alas, there are still a couple more days left in this summer and I’ll be happy to spend them with my toes in the sand!

This month’s “Loving Lately” is so much fun and I’m happy to share it with you! As before in this new series of mine, I’m sharing with you some of my most-loved items that I’ve just started using, or have been using for a little while now. My hope is to share the goodness with you! Next month’s Loving Lately Volume, I will be featuring products and accessories that YOU have used and loved!!! So as a little challenge to you, please PLEASE leave me a comment and share just one of your favorite things (ok, TWO if you really can’t decide!) to be featured next month! I know I’m not the only consumer of miscellaneous items out there, so please…share your best secrets!

And for now, here’s August’s Volume of Loving Lately…

 

1. Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner. I consider myself a connoisseur of salon-brand hair products. I love to try new things (obviously) and I especially love finding the best products for my hair. I have thinner hair which has a terribly unruly wave if I don’t blow-dry and straighten/curl! But, no matter which way I choose to style my hair, this shampoo and conditioner have been the BEST in making my hair smooth and super, super soft without weighing it down or making it sticky or straw-like. I’ve been around the block, so to speak, with other brands that are much more expensive, but I always come back to Redken All Soft. It smells great too, and you can find it at any grocery store (although I recommend buying it from Amazon.com as they always have the best price and free PRIME shipping!).

2. Kate Spade Make-Up Caddy. It’s no secret that I love Kate Spade. Her products and styles are so cute and feminine, but some of the smaller things are not terribly priced. Her outlet stores always have good deals, with a good variety of products! I don’t have this exact caddy, but I have my eye on it because of the pattern! I do have one that it exactly this shape and I’ve had it for a while now! I’ve tried all sorts of other styles, but love this top-carrier style. I am on the go a LOT, and this fits perfectly into my new Longchamp or suitcase, plus I like that my make up is spread out and I can see what’s in there to easily grab it. It’s also big enough to hold all sorts of brushes and mascara, as well as some other items (make-up remover, a razor, etc) that I might need to cram in there! Go Kate on another awesome (and adorable) product!

3. ASOS Envelope Clutch. Have you discovered ASOS yet?? It’s a British company, but they sell the most adorable things (at mostly reasonable prices!)! Their dresses in particular are adorable, but they also have some killer accessories. Think grown up Forever 21 with a European flair. It’s amazing. I bought this clutch to take with me to Paris, but it didn’t arrive in time… however, I love it’s stylish look, and it’s actually quite roomy inside. Sometimes a girl needs to carry more than lipstick and a cell phone!

4. Bath & Body Works Mentha Lip Gloss. I am seriously addicted to this stuff. I have one for each of my bags (camera bag, purse, make-up caddy, etc). I discovered it in middle school, and after running out last year, I went back to see if they still carried it! Although I haven’t stepped foot in a Bath & Body Works, I was surprised to see they did still have it! I consume a LOT of lip gloss, and this is wonderful because it has just a hint of neutral color, some shine, and a delightful peppermint smell/taste that not only makes your lips a little more pleasantly plump, but also freshens your breath a bit! It’s fabulous, and I really don’t use another brand now. And for $7.50 a tube (which lasts a long time), I consider this to be a total score!

5. Anchor Earrings. My sweet friend (and super-duper shooting assistant), Kari found something similar to these at a store in Annapolis Mall (Francesca’s is the store) with an enamel color on them. However, I found these beauties on Etsy for a steal, and they are the perfect homage to my Annapolis roots! Pair them with a striped shirt and you’ll be the image of nautical perfection. Mine have not arrived in the mail yet, but I can’t wait to get them! (They also carry them in silver)

6. Instagram Magnets. A company called StickyGram has entered my scene (and kitchen) and graced my refrigerator with lots of adorable magnets! There’s really nothing I hate more than a cluttered fridge front, but these InstaGram pictures are the perfect cure. They are the perfect size to fit your InstaGram pics, and they come in equal sized squares so they can be arranged nicely and evenly without overtaking your fridge with mix-matched pictures! And yes, I might be a bit OCD when it comes to this. They are inexpensive AND a great gift to share with family members who may want some adorable candids of your life or little ones!

7. Sam Edelman Sandals. No lie, these are the most comfortable sandals ever. Many sandals in this style are just completely flat with no padding whatsoever. Not these dogs… a nice cushion goes a long way. They are not cheap ($65 for this style), but when you wear them for 8-12 hours at a time like I do for weddings, you need that extra comfort! They also make thong flip flops, and the variety of colors you can choose from is incredible. A bit of a warning – they are a little narrow, so I’d recommend buying them a half-size UP from what you’d normally wear. Walk on, sweet friends.

That’s all for now! Don’t forget to leave a comment with YOUR favorite products and accessories to be featured on next month’s volume of Loving Lately!