Another day, another drama (name that Britney song circa 2007, I’ll wait…) – another month, another round of cool sh*t I lovelovelove. 🙂 I’m on the fence of whether or not this year is flying by or cruising slowly. It’s been drama after drama with enough crap being flung at all of us for a lifetime, and then again…the 4th of July is this weekend. Wasn’t it just Easter a minute ago? At any rate, it’s time for some Monthly Favorites. We’ve got everything from wine to swimsuits, Hair Food to Isle of Paradise self-tanners. Collecting my favorite things over the course of a month to share with you is one of my very favorite things, so cheers to the almost-weekend and to you hopefully finding a new favorite, too!
THE Leith dress! (on sale!!!)
I’m not sure what happened…did I just black out for a few years and forget to ever included this dress in Cool Sh*t I Lovelovelove?
Apparently.
BUT WE HERE and the time is now, because Lord knows this shoutout is loooooong overdue. Granted, if you follow me on literally any other platform, chances are, you’ve seen this dress. But we’ll shout it out again for good measure, because baby it’s worth it.
OK WAIT HOLD UP — I just had the good sense to dig through the ol’ archives juuuuust to make SURE I hadn’t included it previously because I really think I’d have screwed up royally if that were truly the case. And turns out – it was a Thing I Love back in September of 2017. I know past E wouldn’t have let ya down. 😉 SO, peep that post if you’re new around here and haven’t previously heard my rant on this dress.
Also peep this post where it’s styled 3 ways! Woo!
To quickly recap, it’s the best. It’s comfy, flattering, and easy. It dresses up for date night or down for a T-ball game, and it’s on sale for 50% off right now!!!!! I literally own six colors in the sleeveless cut because it’s just that dang good. And I own 4 of the long-sleeve version, too! 100% worth adding to your wardrobe. Thank me later. 😉
I binged this book like I’ve never binged a book before. You guys…I have a thing for psychological thrillers. They quite literally thrill me. If you suddenly can’t find me for a solid three days, I’m probably holed up somewhere with a really good book like this one.
It lived up to every single ounce of hype on the inner cover, which, I think, is rare.
It’s a true page turner that you literally CANNOT predict. All the way through to the epilogue. Actual brilliance. I gasped when I finished Part One. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
Spring 2020 was like the era of the egg chair. And the era ain’t over anytime soon! I had my eye on this one for MONTHS but couldn’t pull the trigger on the price tag – and then I found mine for a few hundred bucks less! #BlessUp. It looks just about identical but is obviously more affordable, so I was so stoked to add it to our “morning room” space.
Makes for the perfect little nook to read or sip a coffee, especially as the sun rises!
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As seen in our modern farmhouse dining room reveal! Woo woo! This was one of the first things in our entire HOUSE, namely because I’ve had it planned out in my head for months. I’m just Type A like that. 😉 I’ve always loveloveloved the look of black-and-white gallery walls and thought something like this would be a fabulous way to highlight some favorite family photos + moments in the space dedicated to coming together as a family! The frames are considerably affordable (comes down to about $6/frame!) and are simple yet chic, which was exactly what I was going for in the room.
Black mesh one piece swimsuit + Out of Office pool days!
Summertime means OOO! Liv + I have been taking advantage of the warmer weather to hit up my parents’ backyard every Wednessday, namely because they’ve got a little above ground pool that’s just GREAT for soaking up some sun. 🙂 I loveloveloved this swimmy the second I put it on – it’s so comfortable, stays in place, and is full coverage while still feeling sexy/chic! So into it that I wore it three Pool Days in a row. Which is a BIG DEAL for me, because I’m admittedly a swimsuit hoarder. 😉 It’s got cups up top + adjustable straps (two musts for me!), and it’s fuller coverage in the booty, too. Definitely a great one for mamas chasing kiddos, or just anyone wanting a more modest swimmy without sacrificing style!
Liv is the BIGGEST FAN of Pool Days, and the girl’s got a pretty enviable swimmy collection started herself. 😉 I’ve gotten most of her suits from Target because they’ve just got the dang CUTEST collection to choose from at good prices. She’s got everything from a high-waisted seersucker bikini (I die) to a long-sleeve rainbow one-piece with SPF protection. Definitely recommend this line if you’ve got littles!
Josh Cellars Cabernet
We’re big wine people in our household (who’s surprised? No one? Cool cool. 😉 ). Lately, J + I have been trying to pinpoint a few favorites, especially since we often host family + friends for Italian-themed “Spaghetti Sundays” and have a solid stock of Cabernet on deck. This one was on sale as the “Chairman’s Advantage” deal at our state store so we gave it a go – and oh MAN. Best Cab Sav we’ve had in awhile. It’s SO smooth. We’ve since bought, oh I don’t know, 12 bottles? One we always have ready to go anymore, especially for guests!
Hair Food shampoo/conditioner duo
This affordable shampoo/conditioner duo is no stranger to CUR – in fact, you might’ve caught it just last week on the blog! Hollah! Back at it again with a shoutout because it’s just that good, yo. I’ve been using it for probably two months now and am only about halfway done with the jugs (I wash my hair about twice a week max, for perspective). I lovelovelove this duo in particular because they’re CLEAN, meaning no sulfates, parabens, dyes, mineral oils, etc, but aren’t the price point that cleaner products typically run. I mean, many truly color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos are either at Sephora or the salon – not Sam’s Club or Walmart! It’s a truly affordable set that’s GOOD for your hair, and it smells amaaaaazing.
The second I saw this piece on my Instagram feed, I gasped and knew I HAD to have it in our forever home. It spoke to my soul, quite literally. Such an unbelievably stunning portrayal of Jesus walking on water – it so beautifully represents FAITH. And miracles! It’s the first thing people see when they enter our home, which is exactly the kind of message I hope people always remember – that GOD CAN DO ANYTHING! That Jesus walked on water! That miracles happen! Have hope, keep the faith, and never give up.
Isle of Paradise self-tanning butter
Up until a few months ago, my sole experience with self-tanner was an old (and probably expired) bottle of L’Oreal something or other that left me looking two shades short of an Oompa Loompa. It was…not a good look. And it was splotchy to boot, so clearly I looked great. 😉 I’d been seeing every blogger and her mother rave about this Isle of Paradise duo so I gave it a go, hoping I could now manage the art of self-tanning as a somewhat more sophisticated 20-something instead of the 15-year-old experimentation that had happened before. And sure enough…loveloveloved. The Isle of Paradise butter is great because it feels just like putting on your body lotion and does NOT smell gross like many self-tanners do! It gives you a gradual glow over 4-6 hours, and you can continue reapplying to get to your preferred gradient. The Isle of Paradise drops I reserve for my face; I just put one drop in with my moisturizer at nighttime once a week or so.
HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OF MY MONTHLY FAVORITES YET?
And what have been YOUR Monthly Favorites? Would lovelovelove to know!
P.S. ICYMI and wanna get caught up on or last month’s favorites, just click here!
