How I Keep My Blonde Hair Healthy and Cool Toned

If you have color treated hair, you already know the struggle of keeping it healthy. I've tried many products over the years, and had lots of recommendations from different hairstylists. Todays post is all about the products that made the cut for me. The ones that actually work, and keep my blonde hair not only feeling healthy, but looking healthy. I love a cool toned blonde, so I also have a great purple shampoo for that! 

Step 1. Olaplex No 3. Before washing, I always use my Olaplex. This is a leave on treatment for at least 10 minutes. I do not wash my hair daily, but if you do, then you can use as much as you feel necessary for your level of damage. This is a bond builder, not a shampoo, so you will shampoo and condition as you normally would after this! I swear by this to keep my color treated hair damage free.


Step 2. (when needed, I do about once a month) Redken Color Extend Blondage color-depositing shampoo. This is the best purple shampoo I've ever tried. My magic in a bottle to get rid of that brassiness! It works so well that I only leave in for about 30-60 seconds and use once a month!



Step 2. Redken Extreme shampoo. I had an incredible stylist use this and the conditioner on me when I went really blonde for the first time. 4 years later, I've never strayed away. I find Redken products to work really well for my hair, and this particular line is created specifically to fortify distressed hair. While cleansing, strengthening, and repairing your hair, this shampoo also prevents future breakage.


Step 3. Redken Extreme conditioner. Again, love this product and find that using both shampoo and conditioner is a game changer for my routine. They are created to work with each other, so I stick with both.



Step 4. Briogeo Rosarco Milk reparative leave-in conditioning spray. While I didn't love their super moisture shampoo, or the deep conditioning mask, I do LOVE this leave-in conditioner. This protects your hair, and helps seal in moisture. We all know color treated hair, especially blondes need that moisture! This always leaves my hair smooth, soft, and shiny! I especially love that this helps with the way that my hair air drys, and when I am blowing out my hair with heat. I'm on my second bottle of this and will continue to repurchase! (Quick PSA: The brand must have re-marketed this with an added name of "Farewell Frizz" since my last purchase!)

Thats it! I hope this post was helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions :) 

xoxo

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Summer Wear for Kids

Maddy and Kai were so excited to help me share the cutest pieces for littles this summer! Thank you to Nordstrom for partnering with us on this post. 

We are headed to the beach for a week vacation for my birthday, so this was the perfect time to partner with our favorite place to find cute kids stuff. I've said it before, and I'll always say it again, Nordstrom is the best place to shop for the whole family. I love their selection for the kids, and I was able to order everything we need all from one place. Clothes, swimsuits, sunscreen, shoes, and cute accessories. Including fun stuff for the 5 hour car ride. Free shipping and Free returns also takes away that annoying feeling of "what if it doesn't work??". 

I'm obsessed with how their outfits coordinate but aren't too matchy matchy. Madelyn's Mini Boden dress is the perfect amount of girly for her personality, but function for us moms. It's lightweight for the summer, adjustable straps to make the length perfect, and fit for a longer period of time, and the fabric doesn't need to be steamed. Kai's shorts are the cutest ever. I love the blue and white stripes, the length, the fit, functional pockets, and the adjustable waist. They come in toddler and little boy sizes! We also love a comfy graphic tee for summers, so I couldn't pass up this adorable one from Vineyard Vines. The colors are great with his entire wardrobe. Kai is 3 and wearing a 3T in the shorts, and a 4T in the top (to help incase I throw in the dryer. We don't like our shirts tight!)


I'm always asked about their shoes whenever they wear their Natives. Hands down the best purchase for spring and summer. Super durable, lightweight, and waterproof. Great for splash pads, the beach and the lake! We always size up one size in these! Maddy has the sparkly style natives in the color "lantern pink" and I LOVE when she wears them and moms and their little girls come up to ask where we got them! Pro tip: use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser to make them brand new again if they get dirty.. or just some good ole soap and water :)


Madelyn is wearing her favorite gold, glitter Sam Edelman sandals. How precious?! I have the adult version so we can match (except mine are the brown.). These run TTS and are perfect from casual outfits, to something dressy in the summertime! I actually originally ordered these for Easter Sunday, so they really are great for all occasions and only $34.

If you haven't tried Shade Critters swimwear yet, you and your littles are missing out! If you've got a little girl, OMG. Madelyn is obsessed with the fact that the suits come with a cute little matching skirt. Plus, they are amazing quality and have sun protection built into the fabric!! I would say this runs TTS with a little bit of room for growth, which I like, especially for the price. Maddy is 5 and wearing the 5T.

Lastly, I found Maddy this adorable coverup dress for the beach and pool. Its that cozy Terry fabric and completely zips down with a hood and cute high-low style. She's also wearing a 5 in this!

I'm going to link more pieces I ordered and love below, just click on the images to shop. 

xoxo!

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3 Dresses for Your Summer Wardrobe

Hi, fiends!! Today I'm partnering with my #1 place to shop, Nordstrom. You all know this already though, as I'm frequently sharing all of my amazing finds from there! I'm often asked how I'll know if something looks good in person, if the online photo doesn't do it much justice? My answer is easy, first of all, if you know your personal style, you'll get a nudge for the piece in question! Second, Nordstrom has free shipping and free returns. They make it easy to try whatever you want without the hassle of paying for the potential return if it doesn't work out! 

I found these 3 dresses, and was so excited to share with you all. I'm sure you've seen my Instagram posts and stories all about them, but let this be the "official" post where you can always go back for sizing info, etc! 

All three dresses run true to size. My first dress is $98, and comes in 4 different color options. The straps are removable so you can wear this strapless if you'd like!

Second dress is absolutely stunning in person and can be unbuttoned completely to be worn as an additional piece over your swimsuit! This is not a sheer dress, but I would recommend nude undergarments. I love pairing this dress with my lace bralettes ($39), and I'm wearing the "nude" color with this dress! 

My third dress is a stunning option if you want to add a little color into your spring and summer wardrobe. I LOVE this red color, it's vibrant without being tacky and can be worn over and over each year. Also comes in two other color options that are more neutral! (Would also be super cute for Cinco De Mayo parties, and baby showers) This dress runs TTS for me, but I would size up one size if you are concerned for length, granted this dress is considered a "minidress" so keep that in mind. It's always good to have different dress length options in your closet. For me, I would wear this one for date night and any time I'm not chasing my toddlers. The previous two dresses work wonderfully for mothers, as the length is longer. 

Thank you to Nordstrom for partnering on this post. My thoughts and opinions are ALWAYS my own.

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The Cutest Spring Styles 2019

Today is pretty exciting as I'm sharing a fun collaboration with Mud Pie that I was overjoyed to have been able to shoot with my Madelyn! You guys, she was SO excited to help mommy. My heart seriously exploded!

I have never had the chance to shop at Mud Pie, but when they reached out and I took a look at their styles and products offered I was truly blown away that I had never shopped here before. For example, my dress and tassel coverup will be a closet staple this summer. I already plan on packing both when we go on our beach trip. 

Mud Pie not only has items for us women, but they also offer kids and baby, home decor, and gifts. Apologies in advance for the mass amount of items I'm going to link and recommend to y'all. I was impressed with the selection and fair pricing. 

If you're a mama, I'm obsessed with all of the baby and kids clothing, accessories, and decor. I actually ordered Madelyn this fun dress and matching popsicle swimsuit (outside of this sponsored collaboration with my own money) once I saw it hit the new arrivals section. She will love it this summer! I'll be sure to share the big order I placed once it gets here, because the new arrivals really got me, LOL.

How precious is this wall art? I love the quote and think it would look so cute in a nursery! I found a lot of things for the baby, and of course I didn't forget about my Kai. How stinking cute are these swim trunks???

Use code "SPRING10" for 10% off your purchase! 

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Long-wearing Makeup Routine for Spring

Hi, Friends! This post has all of the links, and information on the products I use when I want a full coverage, long-wearing makeup look. All of the color names for each product are included as well as my favorite brushes that I use for application.

Thank you so much for reading! xoxo

1. Prime with First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie 

2. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion foundation - I use shade 2N2 Linen when I'm not wearing self tanner, and shade 3C1 Dune when I am. I use a beauty blender for application. 

3. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion concealer - I always use shade 1C because I like a bright under eye concealer that works for cool undertones for my dark blue circles! 

4. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder - I use this under my eyes to set my concealer.

5. Laura Mercier Translucent Glow Setting Powder - I use this all over my face very lightly to set my foundation. I use this finishing brush to apply my powder, and I also use this to gently blend out my blush, bronzer, and highlighter to mix it all together so there are no harsh spots.  

6. Bronze and/or contour with Hoola Matte Bronzer in "natural bronze". I like to bounce from that one to my other favorites from Hourglass in "luminous bronze light" , and Tom Ford in shade "terra" .

I use this Laura Mercier brush for my bronzer


7. MAC blush in "dainty" - This is my favorite color for spring! I use this Sigma brush for my blush.

8. Highlight with Hourglass ambient lighting palette. I use this Sigma brush for my highlighting.

9. Fill in brows with Anastasia Brow Definer -I use shade "taupe"

10. My favorite go-to eye looks - Lightly buff your bronzer into your crease for an easy way to tie your eyes into the rest of your makeup look, or use the Laura Mercier  eye shadow stick in my absolute favorite nude color "Au Naturel" This is such a great everyday lid color if you love neutrals!! Another great option if you love a neutral eye like I do, is the Nars Skin Deep palette.


11.  Marc Jacobs mascara - This is the one I have been raving about!

12. My top lip colors lately - Beautycounter gloss in "Bellini" , and Charlotte Tilbury "Pillow Talk" is always my favorite no matter the season, and Marc Jacobs in "slow burn"

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The Best Dresses for Prom 2019

Today I am so excited to be partnering with Nordstrom to share all of my favorite dress options for the upcoming Prom season! Ah, I remember shopping for my prom dresses like it was just yesterday. My FAVORITE time of the year when I was in high school! I remember my mom always being overwhelmed, so I basically shopped all over online by myself and found what I liked and then we would order a few options. Depending upon where you live, it can be really hard to find a store close to you that sells a good variety of prom dresses. 

It's not a secret that I love Nordstrom for many reasons, but one of them being the fact that they have free shipping and returns. So, order whatever you want, try it all on in the comfort of your own home, then send back whatever didn't work! 

Granted, I'm a pregnant mother of two, so I won't be attending prom myself LOL, but I'm hoping that this post can be helpful for any parents that may read my blog that have daughters attending this year, and anyone attending prom that stumbles upon this post. I've found a lot of gorgeous pieces from all price points! 

PS: If you're pregnant, the dress I'm wearing in these photos is perfect for a stunning maternity session! I went up from an xs to a small. You can actually buy this dress for prom and then later wear it to a wedding, any formal function, a party, baby shower.. the possibilities are endless! Plus, it's only $84!!

- More options below -

1 \\ 2 \\ 3 \\ 4 \\ 5 \\ 6 \\ 

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