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RING AROUND THE ROSIE

Photos: Daniel Gurton, Txema Yeste post designed by lauren conrad

When I was a little girl I used to make flower crowns by stringing daisies together. I’d wear them all day long until they wilted and then it was time to make another.  I was in love with those pretty little daisy crowns, so you can imagine how pleased I was when I started noticing their comeback.  I have seen countless versions of these beautiful floral wreaths adorning the heads of so many lovely ladies and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  For a summer time wedding or an afternoon picnic, this trend will have you playing dress up all over again.

XO Lauren

inspirations

ON THAT NOTE

photo: pinterest.com/pin/25596197 post designed by kristin ess

Dear everyone,

It’s the weekend. We hope you’re going to be doing something fun and exciting. Know what’s not fun and exciting? The fact that bacteria collects on the surface of your phone while in your purse. That bacteria makes it’s way to your face and causes blackheads, blemishes + sometimes full breakouts. It’s like rubbing your face in the bottom of your handbag! Ew. Interestingly, skin care experts + dermatologists can usually tell which side you use most when talking on the phone. Take a quick minute to wipe it down with a dab rubbing alcohol on a cloth! It will kill the bacteria and save you a lot of time in the long run!

XO Lauren, Kristin + Amy Nadine

inspirations

KITCHEN BEAUTICIAN

 

post designed by kristin ess

Splish splash! One of the nicest things you can do for yourself is just relax. I’ve been traveling this week and always need a minute of down time when I get home. Taking a milk bath is one of the oldest tricks in the book. In fact, it’s claimed to be a favorite of Cleopatra + Queen Elizabeth… and we all know how glamourous they were! Milk baths are amazing for a few of reasons. First, milk contains lactic acids + alpha hydroxy acids. These break-up the “glue” that keeps dead skin on your body. Soaking in a milk bath followed by a quick rinse in the shower can eliminate a lot of dead skin with very little effort. Second, it contains vitamins A + D which are skin softening. And last but not least, you can switch it up and use any kind- soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, or goats milk which are all beneficial to your skin’s health in different ways.

It’s easy to create your own version of this ancient favorite. Here’s my favorite…

Pour one half gallon of Vitamin D milk into your drawn bath water. Fill a fabric satchel or pouch with chamomile tea and lavender pieces and tie it up tight. Let that soak with water. It’s like a big tea bag. Last, for an amazing fragrance, float a couple of gardenias on the surface. The steam will bring out the scent. You can add bubbles if you want. But most important, relax + enjoy.

XO Lauren

inspirations

ON THAT NOTE

photo: http://petite-lapine.tumblr.com post designed by kristin ess

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! We each decided to compile short lists of little things that make us really happy. Just simple things that make us feel good. What’s on your lists? We’d love to hear. Tweet them or facebook them and most importantly, DO them!

Lauren

  • go for a bike ride
  • laugh so hard that I cry
  • have a movie night with girlfriends
  • go for a swim in the ocean and then air dry in the sun
  • order dessert and eat the whole thing

Kristin

  • paint a room a new random color
  • make a bubble bath and stay in it until all the bubbles are gone
  • research amazing vacation destinations, even if I’m not going to go
  • break open lavender + gardenias
  • putting peonies all over my house for the 2.5 months they’re in season

Amy Nadine

  • read a book on a hammock
  • take my cousin to Disneyland
  • run through sprinklers
  • sit outside at dusk and watch lightning bugs
  • make popcorn and watch Gone with the Wind

XO Lauren, Kristin + Amy Nadine

inspirations

ALOE-HA

photos: 16.media.tumblr.com/realsimple.com/hgtv post designed by kristin ess

I hope that everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend! And if your weekend was anything like mine, then you spent plenty of time in the sunshine. While those early summer days are oh-so-enjoyable, they can sometime leave you with an unwanted souvenir… a sunburn! I was able to avoid the burn this time around (mostly because the majority of my time was spent hiding under a giant floppy hat + umbrella while reapplying sunscreen hourly), but for the less protected, I’ve provided some suggestions for after the damage has been done:

Here are a few tips on how to deal with those less than desirable sunburns…

  • Take Vitamin E to reduce inflammation from your sunburn.
  • Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
  • Eat foods high in vitamin c (citrus fruits, strawberries, spinach), beta-carotene (chili peppers, kale, carrots), vitamin E (nuts, olives) or flax seed oil.
  • Sliced cucumbers or cold wet tea bags help soothe and extract the sting.
  • Take a cool shower.
  • Avoid using any harsh soaps + perfumes on sunburned area.
  • Keep skin moisturized. Try using a lotion with shea butter or palm oils for extra moisture.

Here are my favorite “Kitchen Beautician” remedies for a mild sunburn…

  • Mix lavender oil and water together in a small spray bottle and keep it in your refrigerator.  Mist your skin throughout the day to soothe the burn.
  • Aloe vera can relive the pain of a sunburn.  Try filling an ice tray with aloe vera and freezing it.  Rub the frozen cubes onto the burn area.
  • Mix baking soda into your bath and soak for about 15 minutes. Let skin air dry instead of drying off with a towel.
  • Witch hazel has been known to reduce inflammation.  It can be applied to a burn with a cotton ball or added to a bath.

XO Lauren