The Top 10 Highlights of My Summer | 2016

2016
Summer break is officially over for me, and today was the first day back to school. I am a junior in high school, and it feels like summer went by soo fast! I honestly wouldn't have remembered to wake up for school today if it wasn't for my trusty planner and my annoying alarm clock. Today I am going to be sharing with you a recap of my summer break. I was super busy this summer with working, but also found time for myself.

I worked at a resale clothing store this summer, and it was my first job- besides babysitting and house sitting. I've wanted a real job for a long time, because in the summer I'm always extremely bored and just sitting around the house all day when I have nothing to do. I really like being busy and having a purpose for my day. Working really got me out of my bed and pajamas. I'm still working as a sales associate at this store, and will try to balance school with my part time job. 

Another one of my favorite things this summer was volunteering at Camp Invention at an elementary school near my house. Camp Invention is a camp all about thinking and learning. I worked mostly with the 2nd-3rd graders and I absolutely loved it! The kids were so sweet and the counselors all got to think of fun activities and games for the kids. I volunteered as a camp counselor for a week and was sad when the camp ended. I hope I have time to volunteer next year with these kids!

I really enjoyed watching the movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople! If you are looking for something super funny to watch, then definitely go watch this! You will definitely have more than a few laughs.

This summer I have tried to blog more. I got to work with my first company at the beginning of the summer which was super cool! It was such a great experience! I have also tried to better my photography and editing skills!

Practicing yoga was another highlight of my summer break. I practice with my mom and her friend, who is a yoga instructor. I also watch videos on YouTube and practice by myself in my room. I like to watch Yoga with Adrienne, because she's really great at guiding you through the poses with her voice. I hate when I have to keep looking over at my screen to see what the instructor is doing. I took a yoga class at a studio near me as well, which I also found very rejuvenating and awakening. Stretching is so great for you, and I think that yoga is great not only for the body, but also for the mind.

Since I got my license in May, I got to drive by myself this summer. I got to hang out with a lot of my friends which was super fun. We went to the pool and went shopping a lot (there really isn't much else to do where I live).

A small highlight was reading the Mortal Instruments book series. I love these kinds of books that take you into a whole new world where the unimaginable is real!

I watched Grey's Anatomy this summer as well, which I would definitely classify as a highlight. I have watched all the seasons on Netflix, and I'm waiting for the next season to come out on Netflix. I'm watching the sister show called Private Practice, which is all about Addison Montgomery instead of Meredith Grey.

I also went to the beach for a week near the end of the summer. You can read more about my beach vacation here. My family and I stayed at Caswell Beach on Oak Island. It's super close to a bunch of other beaches in North Carolina. The beach trip was a super relaxing way to end my summer!

A week ago, I went to the Gay Pride Parade in Charlotte. I marched with the Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety Group. The parade was packed which was so awesome! There were a lot of other organizations supporting their causes and the parade lasted a few hours. There were some really cool floats, and I also saw my first drag queen!

Thanks for reading!

Thea :)

Summer Waterproof Makeup Routine for the Beach or Pool ♡

beach
Hey guys! I recently went to the beach a few weeks ago (click here to read about my beach trip). The makeup that I wore on my trip obviously needed to be waterproof, or else it would come off while I was in the ocean or swimming in the pool. Today I am going to be sharing with you my waterproof makeup routine that I do when I'm at the pool with friends or catching waves at the beach! I Sometimes I skip steps in this routine when I don't want to wear as much makeup.



Face
I first start with the Andalou Naturals moisturizer in 1000 Roses. This moisturizer is great because it has SPF 18 in it, which will protect your face from the sun. Next up, I use the Laura Mercier primer in Mineral which will make sure that my face makeup will stay in place and apply smoother. It will also make your face makeup more long lasting! Instead of wearing foundation, I like to wear a BB cream or tinted moisturizer in the summer. I've been using the Body Shop BB Cream in 04 which is actually on sale right now! I use the darkest shade because I get extremely tan in the summer. This BB cream makes your skin look very glowy and dewy because it is so moisturizing. When I have acne or any dark spots I want to cover up, I will use my Maybelline FitMe concealer in the shade Deep. To apply this concealer as well as my BB cream, I use my Swissco blending sponge that I picked up in my Ulta mini haul post in May. This blending sponge is a great alternative for the Beauty Blender, because it is half the cost! To set everything, I use my Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in Translucent. Lastly, I will pack the product on to this fluffy brush from Sonia Kashuk and concentrate it on my under-eyes to bake.

Eyes
While I am waiting for the powder to bake under my eyes, I do my eye makeup. I start with my ELF Smudge Pot in Cruisin' Chic and apply this to my eyelid with my finger. Since this is a cream product, it acts as a eyeshadow base/primer for my powder eyeshadows. It is also waterproof, so it won't come off in water. Sometimes I will just use this to act as my eyeshadow, or I will go in with my Covergirl TruNaked Nudes palette with the double sided eyeshadow brush from this kit. I use the shadow fawn as a transition shade, mink on the lid, buff in the inner corner, and cocoa on the outer v. Then I use the ELF cream eyeliner in black with the gel eyeliner brush from this brush set. I love this cream eyeliner because it is extremely easy to use, very black and doesn't come off! I will also use the brow pencil from this Essence kit as an eyeliner and tightline around my eyes. After this is done, I curl my eyelashes with this amazing eyelash curler from Revlon and swipe on a few coats of this Maybelline waterproof mascara.

Brows
I start my brows by brushing out the hairs with the brow comb from this Sonia Kashuk set. Then I use the brow brush from the Essence kit and fill in my brows with the shade cocoa from the Covergirl TruNaked Nudes palette. To make this powder stay on my brows, I apply this brow gel from Maybelline in the shade Translucent. This sets my brows and makes them stay in place even when I'm swimming!

Face (again)
Once I have finished my eyes and brows, I go back to my face. I use my powder brush from the Sonia Kashuk brush set again and dust away any excess loose setting powder. Then I will contour my face a little with this ProFusion contour palette. If you want to know more about how I contour and highlight, check out this post. I use the blush brush in the Sonia Kashuk brush set to give a less defined contour. If I want a more defined contour, I use the contour brush. I use my Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in the Bronze compact to highlight my face and bronze it up a little bit. I also use my blush brush for this. It gives a beautiful shimmer and glow to the face!

Lips
When my lips are chapped or rough, I like to use this ELF lip exfoliator on them. There are a bunch of great and nourishing oils in this exfoliator that leave your lips feeling smooth and moisturized! When I'm at the beach or pool, my lips get dried out so I like to finish this makeup look of by wear ing this chapstick to keep them hydrated. This chapstick also leaves a nice berry colored stain on my lips. 

Here's a picture of me at the beach!

And this one is of me and my friends at the pool together!

Thanks so much for reading! What are your favorite waterproof makeup products?

Thea ♡

Week In My Life: Beach Vacation at Oak Island ♡

beach
Hey everyone! I just got back from the beach with my family on Sunday and wanted to share some of the fun things we did! I stayed at Caswell Beach on Oak Island for a week (from July 31-August 7).   My aunt stayed with my mom, sister and I from Sunday to Wednesday and then my dad came and joined us on Thursday. We rented a condo with a great beach view and access. Oak Island is an old fashioned little beach town on the coast of North Carolina. It's also close to a bunch of other beaches like Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle and Myrtle Beach. It's also about a 15 minute drive away from Southport, which is a great town for shopping and eating. 

The drive from Charlotte to Oak Island was about 4 hours. We stopped along the highway at a produce stand that was selling delicious peach ice cream. 


While walking along the beach, we saw many turtle nesting spots. We noticed that at this spot there were a bunch of cracked and opened eggs, some with yolk inside. The people from turtle rescue told us that many of the turtles had already gone to sea and that a dog must have come at night and eaten the rest. A majority of them did find there way to the ocean which was great news!

Typical hair at the beach was either a messy bun or a ponytail. I hate when my hair gets all sticky and gross from the humidity so I like to keep it up and out of my face. I'm wearing a blue sports bra from Lululemon and a grey tank top from Champion.

We went to the Provision Company at Southport which had great seafood! If you are ever near Southport then you have to go to this restaurant. Don't be scared off if there's a really long line of people waiting, because they turn the tables over extremely fast. 

I got a new bikini top at Evita Swimwear Boutique! It's a white crochet halter top and I love it. It was only $15! The blue bikini bottoms went with a matching top but I thought it looked really cute with this new top too. 

Here's a picture of me in the bikini out on the balcony of the condo we were staying at. You can see the beautiful ocean view in the background! I was scared that this top wouldn't hold up in the water but it did! It withstood the rough waves like a champ.




This was the beautiful view from the Fish House restaurant that we ate dinner at. 



We kayaked around marshes and the intracoastal waterway. We also kayaked near Holden Beach which was really fun and great exercise. There were also other people paddle boarding around us and sailing around.

We ate lunch one day at the Flying Fish Cafe and we had a great view of the beach and the pier. The food was excellent and it was so nice to see everyone having fun out on the beach.


Here are all the bikinis I wore while I was at the beach. I bought the top left floral bikini top from a brand called Yamamay in Italy while shopping in Positano. The white bottoms, blue floral bikini top, light blue bikini set (top & bottoms) and pink striped bikini set (top & bottoms) are all from Target. I got the crochet bikini top from Evita's and the blue bikini bottoms from a brand called Cupsay. 

My trip to Oak Island was a nice, relaxing little getaway before heading back to school on August 29th :( I had a great time and thought the island was very charming and sweet! 

Thanks for reading!

Thea ♡

How to Pack for a Summer Beach Trip | Beach Essentials ♡

beach
Hey friends! I'm going to the beach tomorrow for a week, so I thought it would be appropriate to share my beach essentials. I'm also going to share the things that I think you should  to pack in your suitcase for a summer beach trip. I hope you guys find this post useful :) Also click here to check out a similar post I wrote about spring break essentials for the beach.

summer beach essentials
Detangling hair brush | sunscreen | dry shampoo | suitcase | maxi dress | playing cards | sunglass strap (different color) | bikini | hat | striped dress | sandals | camera | earbuds | tote bag | water bottle | towel | sunglasses (different color) | makeup bag | book | mascara | phone case | hair ties | sports bra | shirt | shorts | sneakers | flip flops

Hairbrush/ Hair ties
Both are definitely essentials! You should definitely have a hairbrush in your beach tote bag, in case your hair gets tangled while swimming in the ocean. You should also always carry around hair ties with you, because if you're like me they will just disappear.
Here are some of my favorite hairbrushes for detangling and smoothing my hair:
-Tangle Teezer // http://bit.ly/2alznyT
-Wet Brush // http://bit.ly/2al3EDP
-Conair // http://bit.ly/2aoVyVP
Here are hair ties that I really like:
-Ribband // http://bit.ly/2al68SJ

Sunscreen
This is pretty obvious. Sunscreen is very important if you want to keep your skin protected, which I'm pretty sure everyone wants to do.
-Sun Bum // http://bit.ly/2aADSdk
-Banana Boat // http://bit.ly/2aFl9yG

Dry Shampoo
Your hair can get pretty hot, smelly and gross in the beach humidity. You should bring a bottle of dry shampoo to spritz in your hair when it gets greasy.
-Drybar // http://bit.ly/2aHjV2u

Suitcase
Well duh... if you're packing your suitcase you need to have a suitcase. I like these ones listed down below because they are super cute and roomy!
-River Island // http://bit.ly/2aoZSqO
-Tommy Hilfiger // http://bit.ly/2aztPUk
-Northfield // http://bit.ly/2aFm02b

Dressses
I love wearing dresses around when I'm on vacation. The dress serves as your whole outfit, which saves room in your suitcase. They are also a lot cooler than wearing pants and a shirt.
-C&A Yessica // http://bit.ly/2aFlqS0
-John Lewis // http://bit.ly/2aDz9XV
-Urban Outfitters // http://bit.ly/2aFzN8B

Cards
Every time I go on vacation I always end up wanting to play cards. I always end up having to buy new cards, so now I've probably got 10 packs sitting in a shelf in my room. I think cards are great things to pack when going on vacation, because you can play fun games with them when you're bored.
-Bicycle // http://amzn.to/2alD7Af

 Sunglasses/ Sunglass strap
I love wearing sunglasses, not just at the beach but whenever it's sunny outside. Click here to check out my post on inexpensive vs. exensive sunglass dupes. Sunglass straps or croakies are also nice to have so you don't lose your sunglasses. They very conveniently hang around your neck.
Here are some cute sunglasses:
-Betsey Johnson // http://bit.ly/2aqmVP8
-Quay // http://bit.ly/2acHwpE
Here are some cute sunglass straps:
-Kate Spade // http://bit.ly/2aoYF0g
-Lilly Pulitzer // http://bit.ly/2aik2AR

Bikinis
I absolutely love shopping for and wearing bikinis at the beach. You can find really cool and unique ones out there. There are a bunch of different styles that work great for different body shapes. Click here to read my post on bikini and swimwear trends. Here are some of my favorites:
-VipMe // http://bit.ly/2ap3lW5
-Frankies // http://bit.ly/2aSVUVp
-Bikini Lab // http://bit.ly/2aqnMPz

Hats
Hats will protect your face from the sun. They are also something cute to add when you hair is a mess- shhh... no one will know.
-Chic Nova // http://bit.ly/2azx2Da
-Robert Graham // http://bit.ly/2aikxei

Shoes
I think that shoes can totally change an outfit and add a bit of fun to it. I think flip flops, sneakers and wedges are must haves when going to the beach.
Flip flops:
-Havaianas // http://bit.ly/2a8nsJc
-BP // http://bit.ly/2aDDDhe
Sneakers:
-New Balance // http://bit.ly/2aqpwIT
Wedges:
-Dorothy Perkins // http://bit.ly/2aAKNmY

Camera/ Case
Did you really go to the beach if you didn't post a picture on Instagram or at least take some pics?? You can bring a regular camera to the beach or a cute polaroid to take those beachy pics. You can also just use your phone- iPhones actually take amazing pictures. If you do bring your phone with you while your at the beach, you should have a waterproof case on it so it won't get wet from your fingers or the ocean.
-Fujifilm // http://bit.ly/2ap2Zwz
-Apple // http://apple.co/2alHwU1
-LifeProof // http://bit.ly/2ap3FBP

Earbuds
Jam out to your fave Spotify playlist with some earbuds!
-Happy Plugs // http://bit.ly/2a8oMMc

 Tote Bag
You definitely need a tote bag or some sort of bag for the beach to carry your towel, sunscreen and other essentials. I really like this one:
-Very Straw // http://bit.ly/2a9gq73

Water Bottle
Stay hydrated with a cute water bottle! I tend to drink more water when I have a cute and fun water bottle.
-S'well // http://bit.ly/2aIrXZ5

Towel
Lay out in the sun and catch up on a good book with these towels:
-Hunkemoller // http://bit.ly/2aGxxOa
-Gilt // http://bit.ly/2aEum8A
-Gilt // http://bit.ly/2aGrw4G

Makeup Bag/ Makeup
I think having a waterproof bag that you can put your makeup, cash and phone in is a great idea. That way, you can keep your stuff safe from pool or ocean water. I also think waterproof mascara is essential!
-New Chic // http://bit.ly/2a9h6t3
-Maybelline // http://bit.ly/2aqznPi (my all time fave waterproof mascara!!!)

Books
Catch up on your reading for school or for fun! Here are some of my fave books:
-B&N // http://bit.ly/2aEvJEe
-B&N // http://bit.ly/2aIuKBe
-B&N // http://bit.ly/2anvHQt

Athletic Clothes
I really like wearing athletic clothes (like t-shirt and shorts) around the beach. You can throw them over your bathing suit when riding bikes or going into shops which is nice.
-Calvin Klein // http://bit.ly/2anvn3W
-Etsy // http://etsy.me/2aCnZDc
-H&M // http://bit.ly/2aGydn2

I hope you enjoyed this post! What are your beach essentials?

Thea ♡







Spring Break 2016: Bikini/Swimwear Trends ♡

2016

Spring Break officially starts today for me! I am not going to the beach over Spring Break, because I am going college touring. I know a lot of people go to the beach over break, so I made a list of all the different swimwear trends for Spring and Summer! I love buying swimsuits, because there are so many fun prints, patterns and styles. I really think that there is a swimsuit for everyone and every body shape. I hope you guys have a great Spring Break and that you find some inspiration from this post. Check out my Pinterest bikini board to see more bathing suits that I'm loving for the Spring and Summer! ♡

Light Blue Bikini Top- TopShop
Maroon Wrap Top- Suboo 
Halter Coral Bikini Top- Mikoh
Strappy Black and White Top- Mikoh
Black Crochet Halter- Style Moi
Triangle Bikini- Look Book Store
Blue Tie Die Halter- Beautiful Halo
Bralette Bikini- Rip Curl
Crochet Trimmed Bikini- Kiini
Pink One Piece- Tart
Black and White One Piece- Etro

Strappy Backs-
Lately I have been loving bathing suits with really intricate straps on the back! They look really  cool and fun, and they also form really pretty designs. Fun strappy backs add a nice touch to an otherwise plain bikini top. 

High-Neck Lines-
High neck lines are extremely popular right now, and swimwear companies are finally adopting this trend! It gives good coverage while also looking super cute and stylish.

Crochet-
Crochet has also come into style, and there are some crochet bikini tops that can also be worn as barrettes and crop tops! Crochet bikini tops are perfect for the Spring and Summer and are always made in pretty designs. 

Bralettes-
These are super comfortable and really cute. They give a sporty and athletic look and offer good support.

One Pieces-
One pieces are back in style! There are some really cute one pieces with cute straps and fun prints. One pieces also give you a lot more coverage and won't slip off you if you are doing a lot of swimming and water sports.

Stores-
Here are some of my favorite swimwear stores! Some are more pricier, and some are more cheaper.

L. Space- www.lspace.com
Victoria's Secret- www.victoriassecret.com
Athleta- www.athleta.com
Pac Sun- www.pacsun.com
Mikoh- www.mikoh.com
Acacia- www.acaciaswimwear.com
Lookbook Store- www.lookbookstore.co
Target- www.target.com
Triangl- www.triangl.com
Stone Fox- www.stonefoxswim.com
Moana- www.moanabikini.com
Forever 21- www.forever21.com

Thanks for reading my post! I hope these trends have helped you in picking out your swimsuits for this Spring and Summer ♡

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are mine :)


Spring Break Beach Essentials + What to Bring in Your Beach Tote ♡

2016
Spring Break is on its way, and I know a bunch of people who are going to the beach! Here is a list of things that I think are must haves for going to the beach and bringing in your beach bag. I hope everyone has a fun Spring Break and gets a nice, relaxing break from work or school! If you haven't already, please take my survey for a school project I'm doing on cosmetic animal cruelty (click here). Thanks and enjoy! ♡




Towel (John Robshaw)- 
Definitely don't forget a towel when you go to the beach! This one is really cute, because it has fun little tassles and patterns on it. You will need a towel to dry yourself off with if you go swimming obviously, or to just lie on the beach with. 

Hair Ties (Emi-Jay)- 
Bring extra hair ties in your makeup bag, because you may want to put your hair up if it's really hot. Also if you don't want to get your hair wet then you'll want to put your hair in a bun. I like the cloth hair ties, because they don't leave creases in your hair, and they come in pretty colors and patterns.

Lip Balm (EOS)- 
Chapstick is great to have at the beach, because the heat can dry your lips out, so it's important to moisturize them. Also, some chapstick has SPF in it, which will protect your lips from getting chapped and burned.

Tote (Lilly Pulitzer)- 
You should bring a big tote or beach bag with you, so you can fit your towel in it, as well as all your other essentials. This one from Lilly Pulitzer is really beachy and vibrant!

Dry Shampoo (Batiste)- 
If your hair gets greasy or sweaty, you can spray some dry shampoo on your hair. This will make your hair smell good, and will also make it look fresh and clean.

Water Bottle (Kate Spade)- 
It is extremely important to hydrate yourself when you're at the beach, because you lose a lot of water when you sweat. Water has many important functions, and it's important to drink half your body weight in ounces every day. 

Flip Flops (Aeropostale)- 
You want to bring shoes that you can easily slip on and slip off, so that you don't have to worry about a bunch of straps when quickly taking your shoes off at the beach. You also don't want to bring expensive shoes, because your shoes will get dirty and sandy when you walk on the beach.

Hair Brush (Tangle Teezer)- 
When your hair gets wet, you want to use a comb or a brush specifically for wet hair when brushing it. Wet hair breaks a lot easier than dry hair, so you want to be careful about the brush you use. The Tangle Teezer brush is great at untangling your hair, and the bristles aren't very rigid, so they won't pull out your hair.

Mascara (Maybelline)- 
If you wear makeup while at the beach, make sure it's water proof! Even if you don't go swimming in the ocean, wear waterproof makeup, because you don't want it to sweat off. 

Magazine- 
Bring a book or a magazine to read while you lay out in the sun, so you have something to do! The beach is a great place to catch up on some reading.

Phone Case (Lifeproof)- 
If you bring your phone to the beach, put a waterproof phone case on it to protect it from getting damaged if you accidentally get it wet. You can also bring a plastic sandwich bag, slip your phone inside and seal it, which will keep your phone dry if your fingers are wet. Don't try this when you go into the ocean though, because water will diffuse through the seal into the bag. 

Sunglasses (Steve Madden)- 
Sunglasses are a stylish way to protect your eyes from the sun. There are a bunch of different styles to choose from, and there are certain frame shapes that will flatter certain face shapes. I like mirrored aviators personally!

Sunglasses Case (Madewell)- 
Bring a structured sunglasses case, to keep your sunglasses from getting smushed or breaking in your beach bag.

Sunglasses Strap (Lilly Pulitzer)- 
Use a sunglasses strap to keep your sunglasses always on you. This will prevent you from losing them, and you won't have to carry them everywhere if you don't feel like wearing them on your head all the time.

Makeup Bag (Pour la Beaute)- 
Bring a makeup bag or a small cosmetic bag in order to store things like makeup and hair items. You may want to bring a plastic one, which won't get damaged if it gets wet and water won't sink through.

Nail Polish (Dior)-
 If you get bored at the beach you can also paint your nails. While they're drying you can read your magazine or book.

Sunscreen (Banana Boat)-
 Sunscreen is a must if you're going anywhere sunny! It's important to get a sunscreen with a high SPF.

Bronzer (NARS)-
 If you want to bronze your face a little, then you can brush on some powder bronzer, which will give you a healthy glow. 

Shirt (Billabong)- 
Bring a loose fitted tank top or t-shirt, so you can easily slip it on and off of your swimsuit. You don't want to bring a tight shirt, because it will feel uncomfortable if the swimsuit your wearing under it is still a little damp.

Highlighter (Benefit)- 
Bring a highlighter if you want a little shimmer and glow on your face!

Bikini (Beautiful Halo)- 
Of course you need a swimsuit if you are going to the beach! I really like this blue high neck bikini!

Shorts (Nike)-
Bring athletic shorts to slip over your swimsuit. Jean shorts will be uncomfortable to put on after you've been in the ocean.

Sea Salt Spray (OGX)- 
To add texture and volume to your hair, spray in some sea salt spray. This makes your hair look perfectly tousled and beachy.

Baseball Cap (Roxy Go Live)-
Bring a hat to cover your face, which will prevent your face from getting burned. There are some really cute caps from Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters!

Other-
Playing cards, frisbees, beach balls, volleyballs and soccer balls are perfect things to bring for a fun day at the beach. 

Thanks for reading! I hope this list helped you for your Spring Break! ♡

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own.