Summer Sandals That’ll Blow Your Mind

After that long, long, long (did I say long?)… never-ending (well it seemed that way) winter— I know your feet were begging (and pleading and possibly crying) for a break from all those winter boots. Am I right? Those poor feet, SO I’ve made up a list of some MUSt have shoes you’ll definitely want to be sporting all summer long. Let those babies have some wriggle room!

Whether you’ll be walking on the beach, sightseeing, or dancing—there’s a pair waiting for you! (and most are under $100). Go on and splurge a little! You aren’t breaking the bank here! If you are interested in a certain pair, the pictures are clickable!

*Edgy

If you love wearing sundresses, but don’t want to seem too girly you can always dress it down with a edgy pair of sandals! There have been plenty that have caught my eye, but these were at the top. These sandals would also look good with a pair of distressed capris or shorts and a retro tee!

Between the studs, chains, and braids on these sandals—I’d rock any of these with pride. I love the simple yet rebellious statement that these shoes make! Let your shoes do the talking!

Country Music Superstar Miranda Lambert just launched her very own Miranda Lambert shoe line, as if I WOULDN’T love it right? All pairs of her summer shoes say edgy with feisty and sexy wrapped into one!

 

*Color

Add a little flair to that one tone dress. You don’t have to go all one tone. I mean, it’s SUMMER.. spice it up! Adding color and flair with an amazing pair of shoes? YES! You’ll definitely be seeing brightly colored sandals all over the walkways where ever you are, this is the IN right now!

 

These would even look good with a pair of skinny jeans! Choose a darker color such as blue or black and pair it with colored sandals & shirt. I love all the above and the gladiator style shoes are definitely something I like.

 

*Animal Print

Animal Print is something I don’t think will ever go out of style. I love seeing animal print mixed randomly in outfits. And randomly I mean JUST one print per outfit. Mixing more than one print is just too much.

Mixing an animal print shoe (or bag) with a little black dress for an outdoor summer event is definitely a YES! Or add some spice to those skinny jeans!

The python print has always been a favorite of mine, although any print looks good.

 

*Chunky Wedge

 

I am soooo loving the chunky wedge style. It pairs basically with anything in your summer wardrobe. Whether you’d like to rock a skirt, shorts, skinny jeans, capris, and even jeans a wedge spices it up.

These shoes are super sexy and you can NEVER go wrong with a wedge! Right? Right! I am loving even more that there are bright colors as well as animal prints now in wedge as well! Rock it sister!

What is your favorite summer go-to sandal?

Which style above do you like best?

 

XoXo

-Jess♥

 

4 fun and easy recipes for summer skincare

Everyone knows a superfood smoothie is great for your skin but what about other skincare treatments and exfoliants that can be whipped up in your home kitchen?

Here are 4 fun and easy recipes for summer skincare, exfoliation, and hydration that can help keep skin fresh and dewy all summer long (as well as protect you from that summer sun!) and, best of all, can be quickly made in your blender.

Nina Curtis, a beauty expert with Blendtec, has developed recipes—both edible and topical—that are perfect for healthy skin. Recipes include: Skin “Glow” Smoothie, Organic Oatmeal Cleansing Exfoliator, and Pineapple Papaya Skin Smoother.

All ingredients should be organic as much as possible.

 

1. Skin ‘Glow’ Smoothie

Glowing skin begins from the inside out…Enjoy this smoothie three times a week.

Yield: approximately 4 cups

2 cups young Thai coconut water

1 handful organic spinach

3 stalks (single ribs) celery

1 organic apple, cored and chopped

1 ripe organic pear, cored and chopped

1 ripe organic frozen banana

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Pinch of Pink Himalayan salt, re-mineralizes the body with minerals and trace elements essential to our health and wellbeing.

Add liquid first into the Blendtec Wildside vessel, then combine all remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Place any remaining smoothie in a glass jar and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.

2. Organic Oatmeal Cleansing Exfoliator

The Blendtec ‘Twister’ Vessel is ideal for making all kinds of skincare products and it’s just the right size.

Gentle exfoliation is a great to remove built up dead skin cells and simulate circulation which will leave your skin smooth and vibrant.

Using organic steel cut oatmeal, blend ½ cup of the oatmeal in the Blendtec Twister Vessel until it becomes flourlike. Combine equal parts water to create a thick paste or use the guide below to customize the appropriate recipe for your specific skin condition.

Customize: with approximately equal parts to make a thick paste.

Normal Skin~ mix with water or rose, chamomile or peppermint tea infusion

Oily Skin~ mix with goat milk yogurt and a ¼ teaspoon organic lemon juice

Dry Skin~ mix with raw, organic honey

Sensitive Skin~ mix with a ripe banana

Massage this oatmeal paste gently onto your skin, using upward and outward motions. Leave for five to ten minutes, rinse with tepid water, pat gently and apply moisturizer.

 

3. Pineapple Papaya Skin Smoother

(for the face, body and feet)

1 ripe papaya

1 teaspoon papaya seeds

1 cup pineapple

1 tablespoon raw organic honey

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Put all of the ingredients into the Blendtec Twister Vessel and blend until smooth. It takes a powerful blender like Blendtec to pulverize the papaya seeds into powder like particles that gently yet thoroughly exfoliate the skin. This skin smoother contains enzymes and physical particles for maximum exfoliation, to smooth, brighten and even out skin tone. If your skin is easily sensitized or sensitive use the Organic Oatmeal Cleansing Exfoliator.

This is an ideal skin smoother for the face, body and feet.

Apply to dampened facial skin and gently massage all over the face for about 30 seconds, paying special attention to the t-zone area of the face. Leave on the skin for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse. Apply your favorite moisturizer.

For the body, step into your shower and apply all over the body paying special attention to areas where the skin is dryer and or thicker, like the elbows and knees. Vigorously massage the thighs, buttocks and back of the arms to exfoliate thoroughly and stimulate blood circulation. Finish with your favorite body cream.

For the feet, apply onto feet and wrap with saran wrap and cover each foot with a hand towel for 10- 15 minutes. Remove saran wrap, massage feet well and rinse off. Complete with your favorite foot cream.

4. The Hand Smoother

Ever notice how people ask your age and then look at your hands? Well you don’t have to

give it away. During fall and winter our overall skin condition can look and feel drier and our hands tend to suffer the most. Gentle hand exfoliation is great to do on a regular basis to improve skin texture, tone and smoothness. Follow with your favorite hand cream.

Ingredients~

4oz. ground almonds or almond meal

4 tsp almond oil

4tsp lemon juice

1 ½-2 oz organic goat milk yogurt

Put all of the ingredients into the Blendtec Twister Vessel and blend until smooth, to a thick consistency. Use about the size of a walnut and rub over both hands as if you were using soap, for one to two minutes, rinse off and apply hand cream….Voila!

Store remaining product in a glass container, label and keep in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Use daily or two to three times a week depending on skin condition.

 

Guest Post Author: Nina Curtis with Blendtec

 

Thanks for Stopping by,

(Don’t forget to follow on FB & Twitter!)

 

-Jessica

5 Cocktails to Celebrate the First Day of Summer

This Saturday, why not celebrate the first day of summer with some low-calorie cocktails? Easy to make - with minimal ingredients required - these first day of summer cocktails are great for toasting to warm weather, poolside parties and fun summer adventures ahead.

Mango Sunrise

Ingredients:

3 oz.  Mango Lemonade Sparkling ICE

1.5 oz. Tequila

Splash of Grenadine syrup

Lemon slices and mint for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Using a tall Collins glass, pour tequila, then Mango Lemonade Sparkling ICE over ice.  Stir gently to mix.

Top with a splash of Grenadine syrup.

Garnish with lime slices and mint sprigs. 

Summer Lovin'

Ingredients:

4 ounces of VOGA Italia Premium Sparkling

1 ounce of vanilla flavored vodka

A splash of pomegranate juice

Lime for garnish

Directions:

Add vodka and pomegranate juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake gently. Strain into a chilled martini glass and top off with VOGA Italia Premium Sparkling. Garnish with a lime. 

 

Teeny Bikini Coffee Martini

Ingredients:

3 oz. RealBeanz Diet Cappuccino

1 oz. vanilla vodka

½ oz sugar syrup

Coffee beans to garnish

Directions:

Combine all ingredients together with cubed ice in a Boston and shake. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with coffee beans.

Beach Breeze

Ingredients:

3 oz. VOGA Italia Sparkling

.75 oz. Strawberry Liqueur

2 oz. Strawberry Puree

0.5 oz Lemon Juice

1.5 Tsp. Sugar

Mint leaves for garnish

Directions:

Combine VOGA Italia Sparkling, strawberry liqueur, strawberry puree, lemon juice and sugar in a glass. Stir and garnish with mint.

Pool Party

Ingredients:

3 oz. Lemonade Sparkling ICE

1 oz. white rum

Mint leaves

Lime

Directions:

Muddle mint leaves with rum.

Strain and pour over ice.

Top with Lemonade Sparkling ICE.

Garnish with a fresh lime and mint leaves. 

 

Have any more drinks that is perfect for summer? Leave them below! Have fun!

 

-Jessica

Educational Insights Design & Drill Socket to Me Review & Giveaway #ToyReview

Design a boat, robot, race car, or rocket with a real, working socket wrench and rugged bolts – then play with your creations! Endless construction fun for preschoolers.


Preschoolers love designing, building, banging, and using their imagination. The Design & Drill Socket to Me Play Set lets them do all the above. I love the fact that every toy that is on the Educational Insights website teaches while they play.


Play isn’t all fun it games, it’s very beneficial for kids and their growing minds. When preschoolers play and design with small pieces it teaches hand-eye coordination as well as problem solving and creativity. Adisyn couldn’t wait to get started after the box came in the mail. She even put them all in a certain tote so she could keep up with all the pieces after she was done.



The set comes with 4 different hands-on pieces which include a boat, a race car, a rocket, and a robot. The socket wrench actually works like normal and makes the clicking sounds as well. They use the socket wrench to attach different colored bolts to the pieces. She had tons of fun “building” her creations. She thought she was miss fix it all after this, lol.

This doesn’t require any batteries at all, so it makes it the perfect take along toy. You can throw this in your beach bag for a day at the beach, or in your kids backpack for long doctor waits.

Win your OWN!
Good Luck!

-Jessica

Sangria Sunday with [Yellow Tail] #SangriaSunday

Thank you to Deutsch Family Spirits for my sample used in this review.  Opinions when given are honest. Never forget to drink responsibility.

Sangria Sunday is about taking time out for yourself. Time to do whatever it is you want to do, even if it may be doing absolutely NOTHING. This time is for you to regroup from the week and relax. A cold bottle of Sangria by Yellow Tail and nothing but you time!

There was no denying my excitement over getting to experience the Sangria Sunday Care package. It came with a bottle of Sangria wine, a cute polka dot tote bag, a bottle of sangria red nail polish, and a little booklet.

I had been meaning to catch up on DIY books and their reviews. I have been super busy and needed a small break. I had been meaning to go through the books at all the amazing ideas and thinking about what to write on their reviews and my favorite projects.

“Sangria is a delicious mix of citrus and red wine. The aroma is perfumed and enticing with orange rind and red berry notes that splashes onto the palette with a soft, sweet-citrus flavor and hints of spirit.”

It felt nice to kick back, relax, and look through such inspiring books. The wine was delicious. Nice, fruity taste but yet not too sweet. It was tasty, refreshing, and went great with an amazingly productive Sangria Sunday.

I’m definitely looking forward to having a spa Sangria Sunday soon, as well. I found an amazing list of do-it-yourself hair and face masks that I think my friends would love. A couple bottles of Yellow Tail Sangria, and it’s a girls night in!

75+ beauty recipes

What will you do with your Sangria Sunday?

Post below with your twitter handle and we’ll tweet your comment along with #SangriaSunday and @YellowTail_Usa

or like and tag Yellowtail on Facebook with #SangriaSunday ideas and/or pictures!

 

-Jessica

Aqua Spa Bath & Body Collection Review #AquaSpa

Experience the spa at home and indulge your stressed out skin with benefit-rich minerals found in pure ocean waters. The Aqua Spa products give you the beauty boost that your skin is needing about now. Escape to the spa without leaving home! Give yourself a little me time and relax!

I love the fact that they are made in America and are chemical free. You won’t find any parabens or formaldehyde in these. The natural ingredients overpower the man-made ingredients, which is AMAZING!

Aqua Spa products are spa quality and have aromatherapy benefits. There is 4 different bath/body products and 3 different scents. Aqua Spa send me a variety of the scents. I love the top quality of the products yet they keep them affordable. You aren’t going to see huge prices stuck to these products… each is only $10-$15

• Formulated to help stimulate cell renewal, enhance skin elasticity, strengthen skin, boost collagen, and keep skin hydrated

• No parabens or formaldehyde donors

• Not tested on animals

• Proudly made in the USA

 

The Soothe Bath Soak

Tired, achy muscles? This bath soak is made with Eucalyptus and Mint to make those tired muscles feel better. This Soothe bath soak is perfect when you’ve had a long day and your body has had enough. Those days you just want to slip into something more comfortable and kick back.

It is a gently foaming, replenishing soak that brings those tired muscles back to normal. This bath soak is nothing short of absolutely amazing. I had been doing cartwheels outside with the kids and pulled my leg muscle (uhhh.. next time I’ll remember I’m not so limber anymore haha). I had a huge bruise and could barely lift my leg.

This was the perfect opportunity to use this. The bath salts look like tinted Epsom salt yet bubble and foam when you add it to bath water. I thought that was pretty amazing. I wasn’t expecting that. It not only felt great to sit there and soak but the mint/eucalyptus blend melts the senses! It is so invigorating yet relaxing. love it!

• Formulated to help stimulate cell renewal, enhance skin elasticity, strengthen skin, boost collagen, and keep skin hydrated

 

The Energize Body Cleanser

Envelope your skin with an ultra nourishing body wash that washes away impurities without stripping or over drying your skin. Start your day with the amazing Energize Body Cleanser that will sharpen your senses and your skin!

The Body Cleanser is a clear, liquid soap with a sweet yet bold scent of ginger & citrus. This is the perfect mixture to get your senses awake and moving because it’s light and fresh! This is blended very well. It doesn’t have an overpowering citrus scent (which always make me think of furniture polish). You can sense the ginger over the citrus which makes the perfectly sweet yet invigorating scent it has!

It doesn’t generate a giant amount of foam like you’d get from a body wash. It isn’t creamy but it is just silky enough to spread very easily onto the skin, It has a pump action top which is always appreciated with bath products! I love how each color represents the scent. The orange bottle makes you think energy and awake, doesn’t it?

Although there isn’t as many bubbles, this still leaves my skin squeaky clean yet soft. I love that isn’t so much a soap as it is a gel. Soaps leave your skin dried out, but this body cleanser adds nourishment back into your skin! I love how hydrated my skin feels

 

The Relax Bath Oil

Pamper your skin with the intensely hydrating Relax bath oil. It helps to replenish moisture to your skin that has been lost.

The aroma of the Lavender and chamomile has such a calming, relaxing, soothing scent. I absolutely love it! I have always loved these two scents mixed and try to get it as often as possible. I love the fact that they offer an entire collection of each scent! Would make a perfect gift basket!

The oil is a beautiful pale purple color that lightly tints the water as it gently foams. It has a sweet floral scent with an added undertone of light pine or something. It smells amazing! After soaking in the bath with the bath oil added my skin felt so smooth, silky, and hydrated.

The scent lingers throughout the bathroom after I get out, and I notice it still on my skin a while later. I love it. This is perfect for weekend soaks or having a hard “mom” day when you just need a second to yourself while the kids are sleeping.

I love the fact that my skin feels hydrated but it doesn’t feel oily afterward. It doesn’t feel baby oil or anything like that. It’s more of a lightly coating oil that doesn’t clog pores, which I love. Using this is like having my own personal getaway in the bathroom!

You can add this to your skin after the bath as well, as a skin oil.

 

The Relax Body Crème

Spoil yourself with the lavishly rich and creamy Relax Body Crème. Thicker than a lotion yet not as rich as a body butter, this is the perfect consistency for dry skin! This is the perfect way to top off a long day. The soothing, calming scent of the lavender and chamomile is just perfect before bed.

Although this is thicker than a lotion, it absorbs like one. It absorbs very quickly without any oily residue left on my skin or hands! This is definitely on my top of favorite moisturizers. My skin can get on the dry side when I go to the tanning bed and this definitely helps! I love it!

Connect with Aqua Spa Online:

Facebook, G+,Twitter, and Instagram 

 

XOXO

Jessica