{friday fun} summer lovin'...had me a blast.

it's the end of august. temps are getting cooler, days are getting shorter, and my desire for all things PUMPKIN is increasingly getting stronger. yes, fall is right around the corner and i'm looking forward to it. it's not that i don't like summer. i love a good beach vacation, a lazy day by the pool, bbqs, and outdoor concerts. but this summer was SO busy. hence why i haven't updated this blog since april. haha. whoopsies.

i'm on a boat. summer 2013.

between the real estate market going bonkers and stella & dot trunk shows coming out of the yin-yang, i barely had time to do much else. however- i did make one thing a priority. yes, friends, i online dated my summer away. i mean, what better time than when i am tan?! fact: everyone looks better tan.

now let me preface this post with providing you background on my romantical past. so i'm putting this out there- i've had 2 long-term boyfriends. one in high school and one in college. after college it's honestly been one hot mess after another. HA. if i've been out with any of you in the past 8 years and you're reading this, my bad. but obviously it didn't workout for whatever reason. as my brother said recently: 'there should be a reality show based on your dates.' and if i get ONE MORE message that just says, 'you so sexy,' i am going to scream. if you can't type a full sentence using proper english, do not contact me. lol. anyway, for your reading pleasure, here are 4 of the funniest/most absurd/craziest dates i've been on in the past 8 years:

date #1: we've all been to those restaurants where they cram people into every nook and cranny to maximize their space. how this isn't a fire hazard is beyond me. i mean, when you have to move the table next to you to get into your seat, we've got probs. i digress. anyway, when we leave we discuss our neighbors that we basically ate dinner with. ha. the couple to our right was fighting the entire time. the couple to the left was on their cells the entire time. as we're trying to decide which i worse, i say 'i never take my cell out when i'm on a date. it's just rude.' his response (spoiler- there's interesting language ahead): 'i always do. mainly because i'm afraid of the radiation on my penis, balls, dick area.' VERBATIM. i kid you not. i wish i could have seen the look on my face.

date #2: this one started off well. reservations at a good restaurant: check. well-dressed: check. looked like his picture: check. and then the conversation started. this guy was definitely looking for a wifey. i asked a very simple question: 'what are you doing this weekend?' his response: 'well i'm going to my niece's birthday party with my entire family. i'm the only single person. my sister and her husband will be there. my brother and his wife. my other brother and his wife. my parents. my cousin and her fiance. my dog and his partner. they call me uncle single.' now i may have added the dog part, but you get my drift. he was so focused on getting married that he was missing the whole point of dating- getting to know one another. his next stop: mail-order bride.

date #3: he fell asleep. on our date. at the bar. i have no other explanation. i asked if he was ok. i should have asked if he had narcolepsy. lol.

date #4: tall, tan, and australian. i thought i hit a home run with this one. turns out his visa is active for 2 years, but his work contract is up this november so he wasn't sure what was going to happen. awesome. pretty sure he was looking for a green-card wedding. it wasn't as awesome though as the movie. ha.

here's the deal though- i actually have grown to like going on dates. like A LOT. it's fun to meet someone new and also have awesome stories after the fact. most of my friends are attached so i am constantly told they are living vicariously through me. so glad i can go on horrendous dates to provide comic relief to everyone out there. lol. plus i feel like it's a numbers game- i am in sales after all. the more first dates i go on, the higher the chance that i'll meet someone i actually want to go on a second date with. and at the end of the day that's all i'm really looking for. someone who's company i actually enjoy having around and can have fun with.

as kip moore says: 'life's a long and winding ride. better have the right one by your side.'

xoxo lauren

{beauty} gimme that summer glow...now.

it's about this time of year that i realize how pale i am. seriously- it's scary. apparently the 50% greek in me hibernates all winter long, leaving only the german/scottish/irish/french portion in it's place. and holy heysus- it's bad. just like everyone else i start craving that vitamin d and the aftereffects. ya know, the glow you have after laying out all day long or working in the garden for a few hours. heck, you can even get it while skiing the slopes in the winter! haha.

while i love a day spent at the beach or the pool, it's not the healthiest way to get your tan on. there's a fine line between getting the essential nutrients your body needs from the sun and looking like a lobster. so to give into myself and get my pre-pool summer tan on, i look to those faux products.

now trust- i have done it all. the worst story i have is reminiscent of the friends episode where ross gets it done. you all know what i'm talking about. but instead of the nation laughing right along with me, i spent the first day of my california vaca holed up in our hotel room scrubbing the reminents of the fake tan off. i was not trying to look like an oompa loompa.

so here are a few options that i've had pretty good results from. keep in mind everyone's skin reacts differently to each product, so do a test first!!! there, i warned you. ;-)

versaspa
you've spent a ton of money on your upcoming vacation and you don't want to scare the locals away with your casper the ghost complexion. this is by far my FAVE for vacations and events. it's quick, not expensive,  looks natural (i swear), and lasts for days. you can find it at your local tanning salon, but make sure you ask for this one. the other 'ethereal' system (yes, i busted out the thesaurus for that one) is what oompa loompa-fied me. enough said. and while it may not be super de duper all natural, their website claims they do limit the amount of DHA in their mixture to prevent too much from being ingested. there you have it.
$25-35 per session, depending on location

josie maran self-tanner
any of my blog readers know my love for josie maran products. in fact, my entire beauty routine is now josie maran. so it's not a shocker that i'd give her sunless tanner a try. and it's amazeballs. yup- i just used that word. i have been using it every few days for about 2 weeks now and it's perfect. it doesn't smell, doesn't streak, and gives me just enough color that it doesn't look fake. looks like california-girl josie got something right again! it's great for when you just need a little sheen of color. and, p.s., it also hasn't rubbed off on my white 400-count. seriously the best.
$32, josiemarancosmetics.com

josie maran argan bronzing oil + josie maran brightening bronzer sun spot corrector
i like to limit the bronzing on my face to what i can easily adjust according to the rest of my makeup. so these two products are awesome to giving that sunkissed look to my cheeks, forehead, and nose. afterall, these are the spots that the sun hits first, so when applying, keep that in mind. it's called contouring people. get with the program. the bronzing oil is awesome for moisturizing and the sun spot corrector helps to even out those pesky freckles i tend to get after some actual sun. they're a match made in heaven. all-natural, organic, argan heaven. ha.
$52 + $32, josiemarancosmetics.com

get your sun on in a healthy way. you'll thank me in 30 years. ;-)

xoxo Lauren

{style} tote-ally in love.

it's no shocker that this week's post is all about Stella & Dot's new summer line! i'm mildly obsessed- or completely obsessed. either way, it's ah-may-zing and i'm so excited to share actually images from my order that just arrived yesterday!!! eeeeeekkkkk!!!! check out this video for the complete line. yay!

let's break it down piece by piece, starting with the smallest items. drumroll, please.

pouf

~we all need to be more organized. so throw in your makeup, your tech accessories, your kids toys- whatever it is you're carting around in that purse of yours. loooove mine in the elephant print.~

bring it jewelry roll

~i used to travel frequently for work. and how did i pack my jewelry? in a plastic baggie. ha. you've invested in your bling- why not treat it right?! and do it in style, with red ikat.~

hang on travel case

~my dad always had his dopp kit. my mom had- again a plastic baggie. must be a riner thing. so prevent your unmentionables from getting doused in perfume and toothpaste by packing it all away nicely.~

how does she do it tote

~i'll tell you how- by looking adorable. ever had a crappy day that can be turned around by someone just complementing your outfit and how you look? i forsee this happening- with my new navy ikat tote.~

the switch handbag

~i've always been a proponent for making wise fashion investments that aren't going to go out of style, but also ones that you can wear year-round. i present the switch. end of story.~

the getaway tote

~i used to travel in sweats. hello, it was comfy. now i may still wear my flip-flops or uggs, but i prefer to be a bit more put together than look like a homeless person while traveling. my getaway in multistripe will do it.~

the best part about this whole collection is the amount of time, detail, and thought that have been put into each piece. our design team has been working hard both out in san fran and in nyc for the past 2 years perfecting each item and, as a kate spade devotee, they've done a hell of a job. think marc jacobs quality at vera bradley prices- but WAY cuter.

visit my site for the whole line and shop away!!!

xoxo Lauren