August Favorites
A Post Featuring My August Favorites...
Hello and Goodbye, August. This has been a whirlwind of a month, no doubt. But, I'm really excited for September for a couple of reasons: a) fall is vastly approaching and b) Sarah and I have a new apartment to cherish. Going back to the idea of fall, don't you just love every aspect about it? — How the leaves turn a golden-amber color, how it's acceptable to add a sprinkle of pumpkin spice to anything, how the air is crisp and chilling? And let us not forget, it means new home and wardrobe additions! Today I'm sharing some bits I picked up throughout August with the notion in mind of them embracing fall color palettes.
Area Rug
To being with, I would be shammed not to point out the surface I took these pictures on — our new Lulu & Georgia rug. We never had a rug in our first apartment for a couple reasons: 1. We didn't bring any furniture with us apart from table lamps and a lightweight end table, so once we bought the couch and had it delivered, it would have been a lot of effort for us to lift it up ourselves and slide a rug under it. 2. Rugs are an investment, meaning it took some searching to find the perfect one. I'm a bit biased, but I think we found the right one.
I am a sucker for earth-toned pieces, as they pair perfectly with virtually anything. This rug was no exception — it features a plush white base, which makes walking on it feel luxurious. Geometrical zig-zags and diamond shapes add a lovely finish. Essentially, it's one of those pieces I can't stop blushing at.
Shoes
If the shoe fits...
As for fashion, I discovered a pair of blush slides that provide ultimate comfort and style. One of the reasons blush is my go-to color is because it's subtle enough to style in any season — it's optimal for spring when cherry blossoms are in season, and it's a perfect everyday summer shoe to pine around shopping. From there, it serves as a great transition piece. The light, earthy tone with a pop of color takes us into fall while still capturing a barely there hue, toning down summer's saturated color palette. Not only are these shoes comfortable, they pair lovely with virtually anything — from wide-leg trousers, to dresses of any length, and skinny jeans. While I believe they're sold-out, these are the same style and brand, featuring a warm, golden color, which may even be better suited for fall, as the color screams fall palette in my mind. At any rate, blush slides can be found in an array of stores and online.
Hair Care
Frizzy hair, don't care...
Next, I picked up a bottle of anti-static and frizz spray from IGK on a whim. While I personally had yet to test out their products, I'd heard through the grapevine an overwhelming amount of raving reviews about their products. I bought this for Sarah's birthday, but honestly, I've been using this here and there. How could I not when the bottle embraces creative branding with a bolt of lightening paired with a saturated pink hue? But on a serious review note, this spray works wonders. I can tell how soft, tame, and subtle her curls are; They take on a beach-wave look, opposed to spiral curls, and I think it's absolutely perfect.
Makeup
Now, moving on to a couple make-up items to mute our skin tone as we welcome fall weather. My preference on foundation is one that: a) offers medium to full coverage b) yet feels weightless, meaning it's practical for all-day wear and c) doesn't provoke acne — Personally, I am one that only wears makeup only on occasion, so when I spend time on it, I want to ~wear it~. For several years, I steered clear of NARS in spite of the overwhelming positive reviews because I thought "sheer glow" meant it would be a minimal coverage foundation. That was hardly the case. I have an inclination this may be my go-to foundation for the rest of time.
On the bronzer end of the spectrum, I came across Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer. Along the same lines of NARS, it a) provides a buildable deep, golden shade of matte bronze, b) feels light and airy, and c) smells like coconuts! It's the perfect bronzer to take you into fall, as you can smell the summery coconut on your face while embracing a new, toned down, golden-glow.
Cooking
If you follow me on social media, you'll know how passionate I am about health and cooking wholesome meals. Though that has been my persona for years now, I am always intrigued by innovate dishes from food bloggers. Since the release of Power Plates by Gena Hamshaw, I have been eating up, literally, every single recipe. Each one has turned out matchless in terms of taste, nutrition, and aesthetic. Gena is a recipe curating genius — she couldn't conjure up a failed recipe if she tried! One of my favorites is the cheesy broccoli soup, which I've made approximately 20 times already. Look at my pictures below to get a glimpse into Gena's cookbook.
Flower Vessels
To wrap up this post, I want to shoutout my friends over at SYG Design once again. For the past two weeks, they have been showcasing their lovely arrangements in vessels hand-crafted by a local Charlestonian potter. You can read more about flower vases and how to arrange them here.
My favorite part about these vessels is how petite they appear, yet capacity they offer. For Sarah's birthday, the team arranged an all-encompassing bouquet of flowers the solid white vessel (shown here, right) with an assortment of vibrant greenery and earth-toned peonies without making the arrangement appear overbearing in the vase.
I love how these vessels in particular have been creatively design with a wide base, subtle ridges on the body, and are finished off with a narrow neck. These brazen vases with earth-toned hues will be perfect to showcase both on the kitchen counter atop a stack of cookbooks as the morning autumn sunlight glimmers in and on our rustic West Elm coffee table in our sweet living room. So many options really!
It is my hope that this post gave you some fall-based inspiration in terms of homeware and beauty items. I'm always on the lookout for tried and true favorites, so please let me know some of your favorite items in the comments below!
