STYLE

It’s beach time guys! If you haven’t made the trip yet, I’m sure it’s coming soon. I’m all about preparation and the Beach is no exception. The Blazing hot sun, sand in between my toes and the potential for dehydration will not get me! I’ve got plenty for it all!

SUNSCREEN: Did you think I was going to start with something else? Well you thought wrong. This is my number one, always. I make countless mention of using sunscreen all year round, but at the BEACH you better come correct! You can use one of my favorites from Aveeno. Anything less than SPF 30 doesn’t count in my opinion. Protected skin stays healthy. Do yourself a favor and keep it in the beach bag, the handbag, the weekend bag; EVERY BAG!

SPECS: Sunglasses provide protection to your eyes. The eyes are sensitive. Not only do they keep your eyes safe but you also look bad ass. The bigger the better. Sometimes it’s all about the look too, let’s be honest.

LIP CARE: Last months obsession was the Aquaphor Lip Therapy Treatment. Guess what, there’s a version with SPF. Hello! Enough said.

AGUA: A cooler filled with bottles of water is a must. Staying hydrated while you’re out in the sun is crucial! The sun rays will get you dehydrated so quickly. Always remember to replenish. The way I keep the water flowing is to infuse it with strawberries, cucumber, lemon or my favorite, mint!

FRUITS: At the beach I like to have my Summer favorites like, grapes, watermelon, pineapple. Washing and pre-cutting in advance makes life easy and helps keep the day low-hassle.

SUMMER READING: A few hours at the beach make for great reading time. If a novel doesn’t interest you, try short stories or write in a journal. My new must have and awesome gift for friends is Kiss The Sky: Reflections of Becoming your Best Self by Carline Dumerlin-Folks. It’s a journal as well as a reference point that is sure to keep you motivated.

There it is. No big deal. You don’t need many things but you DO need a few essentials to make your trip to the sand fun and worthwhile. These are just to name a few; all in addition to your flip flops, beach chair, towel and bucket of fried chicken lol. What things do you feel you can’t go to the beach without?

xo IKA

Guys, I literally don’t need a thing when it comes to beauty, fashion and all materialistic items! I get overwhelmed by my own thoughts sometimes because I love every package, print, color, shape, texture of so many different things all year round. But when does it become too much? I think there is definetly a point when you need to seperate your wants and your needs. It’s about having balance in life.
STREET STYLE
WANT: Something you would like to have
NEED: Something you have to have

Here’s the truth. In actuality, you only need a few things to survive in this life right?

-Enough food and water to maintain your health
-Shelter
-Health care and hygiene products (just the basics, i.e. soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc.)
-Clothing (not the way we may often think, but just the things that keep you comfortable and appropriate)

Everything outside of the above i.e., name brands, expensive cuisine and drinks, a big house, and new car, is a WANT!

So what does this mean? Should we only buy the things that we need and nothing else? NO! We’re not here to just survive, we’re here to live! While keeping life in perspective, every now and then it’s rewarding to ourselves to get a treat; something that makes us smile. Don’t get me wrong, some of my treats are probably more than just a treat, but you should know me by now! I can’t help it! lol

The point I’m trying to make is, regardless of what you have or what you want to have; life is about PERSPECTIVE. I have a loving family and amazing friends who make life worth living. That’s a blessing! Every now and then I take a moment to figure out what it is I want and what it is I need. At the end of it all, I’m happy. Before you realize that time has passed you by, make the best of your situation. Ask someone how they’re doing. Take a friend out for a drink. Buy your mom a present. Be kind. Life is too short. Live it the way you WANT!

xo IKA

Coach Leather Weekender – J’ADORE

Let’s be clear, I’m not going anywhere special for the long Memorial Day weekend! 🙁 I’ll be entertaining guests at home. But for those of you taking a quick trip, here is a little guide for long weekend essentials. I’d say you’d be good to go with a bag full of must-haves 😉

1. Personal Items: If you’re going to a hotel, you won’t need to bring items like soap and shampoo unless you can’t live without your favs. But there are a few things that should always be in your weekend bag so that you don’t need to make an extra trip to the drugstore.
-Basic Toiletres such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturizer, facial cleanser, makeup remover, hairbrush
-Feminine products shouldn’t be left behind. Even if Aunt flow isn’t joining you on your trip, keep one or two light days in the bag just in case!
-Over-the-counter medications. You can fit all of the necessities into one box. Allergy pills, Aleeve, Vitamins, etc

2. Clothing: Here’s where it gets tricky. It’s hard not to over pack because you feel like there might be a reason for an extra stiletto. But for a quick weekend getaway, these items should be sufficient and make the cut for a medium sized bag.
-Underwear quantity should be double the days. That’s my personal opinion. I don’t know guys…I feel like you could never have enough panties! lol Underwear doesn’t take up too much space so we’re safe here.
-Shoes are important. It’s just a few days; we really only need one pair of shoes right? WRONG! 😉 Listen, how do you know if your feet are not going to be too tired for heels? Keep two pairs of heels as an option for evenings and a comfortable flat just in case this mini vacay calls for mostly being on your feet. One pair of flip-flops works for beach get-a-ways, and a pair of sneakers works if you plan on working out while enjoying your time off!
-Sweaters or Cardigans help! I personally like to choose one basic cardigan or sweater that can go with everything. You may not use it but it’s nice to have in case the evenings are chilly or you end up with an overly air-conditioned room. Try something in heather grey, or navy blue. Yellow even! We don’t always have to bring black!
-Sleepwear is super essential. I’m a one light weight and one heavy weight PJ kind of gal. You never know what the temperature will have you feeling like so it’s important to pack both in my opinion. I’m a sucker for pajama sets. You don’t have to be. Wear what’s comfortable for you 😉

3. Accessories: These are always in my travel bags. I’m that girl with jewelry options. A few pairs of earrings, rings and bracelets are kind of a need for me. Pick a moderately sized pouch that can fit a few pieces and you’re set. A key piece of mine would be a statement necklace. Some funky bracelets would be a bonus. And let’s not forget a bold ring!

4. Makeup: Makeup is on me wherever I go. But for a long weekend, I would add one or two fun eye-shadow colors and definitely a few bold colored lipsticks to jazz up one or two or ALL of my outfits. Try a blue or green eyeliner on your lower lid for a different effect! Don’t forget a pair of false eyelashes!

I hope these packing tips help. Here’s a site I found that gets into more detail about ways to perfectly pack for getaways: The Minimalist Packing List Check it out and let me know what you think! What will be in your bag this weekend?

xo IKA

Cute as a button! 😉

HOUNDSTOOTH! You either love it or hate it. It has been popping out in crowds on outerwear and sneaking in there at times on a small dainty clutch or scarf; even nail designs. Either way, Ika and herownskin.com say YES YES YES!

DO wear a houndstooth Winter coat with a bold bright Winter scarf. Gasp!

DO add a chic houndstooth skirt paired with your favorite leather boots or pumps!

DON’T over-do it! The last thing you want to do is go head-to-toe with one pattern by wearing a houndstooth skirt with a houndstooth top and a houndstooth jacket. MY EYES!!! Take a breath…

DO wear it with a smile. After all, just like all of your pieces, your houndstooth must be worn with confidence!

DON’T be afraid of texture. Create variety and depth in your wardrobe every day!

I’d love to hear how you style yours! Drop me a line with some of your favorite ways to wear houndstooth. What are your Do’s and Don’ts?

Xo IKA

HEROWNSKIN.COM

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