June 2018 Monthly Obsessions

Happy FRI-YAYYYYY. I am pretty excited because 1) it’s time for another monthly obsessions and 2) IT’S ALMOST THE FOURTH OF JULY! I love the fourth of July – it’s one of my husband and I’s favorite holidays! We love backyard BBQs, red white and blue, fireworks and America. Plus, June just seemed like a long month and I’m glad to be moving out of it, tbh. If this is your first monthly obsessions here at B&A, here’s how it works: every month, I pick 10 things I’m LOOOOOVING and share them with the fam here. It doesn’t have to be fashion or beauty (though it totally can be) – it can be music, books, places, foods, people, movies, etc. Anything is fair game when it comes to Monthly Obsessions and that is what makes them SO much fun. Let’s jump into this.

June 2018 Monthly Obsessions

Statement Earrings

If you’ve been around here the last few weeks – you’ll remember my EPIC statement earring round up, so it probably isn’t a surprise that these ended up on my monthly obsessions post. I have been LIVING for these and I for real can’t get enough of how well they totally pull an outfit together. I’m not a big statement necklace girl – but earrings have my heart. Shop ALL my favorite statement earrings (for under $35) here.

Pineapple Slides

If you read last month’s monthly obsessions post – you’ll remember that I was obsessed with all things pineapple and that apparently hasn’t slowed down at all this month. HOWEVER: I moved on from the sunnies and the earrings and latched pretty hard onto these ADORABLE pineapple slides. They’re only $40 and pretty much the cutest things I’ve ever owned for summer in my life. They are neutral enough to throw on with a bunch of outfits, crazy comfortable (zero blisters) and #pineapplesforever.

Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Y’ALLLLLLLL. I have a full sized version of this somewhere – but this deluxe size came in my BoxyCharm this month and reminded me HOW MUCH I needed this back in my life. First of all – it smells like beach in lotion form (super reminiscent of the Physician’s Formula butter collection). Second of all – it’s SUPER hydrating. Third of all – it has firming properties that will literally lift and tighten your skin. This is how you live your best life.

Jurassic World: A Fallen Kingdom (+ just everything Jurassic Park, tbh)

I don’t know about you guys – but Jurassic Park is both one of my favorite movies of all time AND the only book I’d bring with me if I had to bring one thing on a deserted island. Michael Crichten is a literary genius and if you haven’t read the book – you are wrong. Go read it asap. Anyways – the hubs and I saw the 5th installment of Jurassic Park this last week and if I’m being completely honest, it is one of my favorites in the whole series. Chris Pratt is an absolute SNACK and I loved the special effects and plot line. A+ job.

Paul Mitchell Smoothing Serum

Ok so, my friends at ULTA sent this to me a little while back because I was struggling with baby hairs and not being able to tame them in the humidity. I talked about this product in particular in my “Best Frizzy Hair Fixer” post because it does SUCH an amazing job. This product has really stayed with me the last month because I had some heat damage due to straightening my bangs every day (ugh – literally the ONLY downside of having bangs). I use it every day after my shower and I really feel like it seals in split ends and softens my hair, while also making it shiny and workable. I love the way my hair feels after being airdried with this product. It’s SO silky and soft I can hardly stop touching it!

Downeast Basics

This is a big one this month for me!! I am an ambassador for Downeast, so I definitely love them already, but this month, they really had some of my FAVORITE new arrivals in the online store. My personal favorites are my red ruffle dress and the floral kimono top in this post. It’s SO darling on and I just feel like they make dressing modestly a complete breeze, which is super important to me. 

Thomas Rhett’s “Life Changes” Album

I’m a big country music fan, if you didn’t already know, and Thomas Rhett is a new love for me! I pretty much adore his wife Lauren and how sweet and selfless she is, so their love story makes me swoon. Read about it here if you’re curious. This is his newest album and I love all the songs on it – ESPECIALLY the album-titled song “Life Changes”. It’s a great reminder that we can make all the plans we want – but the man upstairs is calling the shots and some times although things don’t go exactly as we planned, they always go exactly as HE plans.

Virgin Mojitos

Guys. GUUUUUUUYSSS. So, most of you know that I don’t drink alcohol, but I do love yummy drinks. In particular, yummy drinks with mint and lime. Aka. Virgin mojitos. I had a bartender show me how to make this last fall when I wasn’t ordering alcohol and I’ve tweaked it myself now to how I like it. Here’s the recipe:

1/2 of a fresh lime

4 sprigs of fresh mint leafs (+ stem)

Sprite OR Club Soda

I like to use a glass mason jar for this because it’s the perfect size – but I sometimes use copper mugs, too. Basically all you do is muddle the mint at the bottom of the glass, squeeze the lime over top and then muddle again. Toss in the lime shells and then pour your sprite or club soda over top of it. Voila! Virgin mojito. It’s the perfect summer drink and oh so yummy.

Escape Rooms

Ok. So. Full disclosure. I’ve never been to an escape room prior to going when Amanda was here visiting. Now I’m addicted. We are probably going back to another one this weekend with some friends of ours because we honestly can’t get enough. It’s so much fun and really challenges your mind. We did a White House themed one before and now we want to try the jail cell and murder mystery ones. BRING IT ON.

Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer

If you saw my instagram story on Tuesday – I hinted to this being on this month’s Monthly Obsessions list! I have mentioned this at LEAST a hundred times already. I use this in combination with my Fenty Pro Fil’r primer on my face prior to foundation. I like to use the Fenty primer first and then use this primer on just my t-zone. I use it on my forehead to smooth out those lines, on my chin, under my eyes and on my cheeks by my nose where I tend to get oily. It works like a charm when it comes to smoothing lines and filling pores. I’ve NEVER been so happy with a primer.

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

You guys know how much I love doing Monthly Obsessions – it’s one of my very favorite parts of the month! I spend all month looking for the best things to include and it’s made discovering favorite things that much more exciting.

Let me know if any of MY monthly favorites are some of YOUR favorite things, too! I’d love to hear what you are loving this month in the comments below.