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We’re really in the dog days of summer. And I kind of don’t even want to talk about fall looming over our heads, but alas, we’re here. I had a lovely July- with my visits out to Connecticut I indulged in a plethora of thrift shopping which left me with some incredible finds to share with you all.
Between a blissful week on the lake, an unfortunate root canal, to a whimsy themed birthday party, I collected some fun things this July.
Let’s get into some of my favorites from the month:
Statement necklaces
I really hit the jackpot at the thrift store and found these insane statement necklaces a few weeks back. Something about a bare, tan chest with a stand out piece of jewelry on it just feels so summer to me.
Going out of your comfort zone with vintage buys
I already know I love any of the cotton-antique-edwardian type of vintage. But why not… step out of my comfort zone a bit? I usually would not gravitate towards buying these vintage beaded pants but my best friend had a childlike wonder, whimsy themed birthday party so I was on the Depop hunt for something special. In the end, it was a great specialty buy that I can also dress casually for days in the office. Thrifting and buying vintage is such a great opportunity to try something new and a bit different without the hefty price tag attached.
My best friend Izzy’s slow mornings playlist
Izzy has impeccable music taste- if I ever need recommendations or something new and fun to listen to, she’s my go to. I love listening to other people’s curated playlists because it’s a good mix of songs I know, and songs I’ve never even encountered. My favorite song on this playlist is America by Simon and Garfunkel- it’s been on repeat all of July.
My thrifted woven bag
Another absolutely incredible thrift find from the month. I am obsessed with my new-old woven bag, the colors are perfect and it’s the perfect amount of beachy (but I can still wear it to the office). I added one of my vintage wooden bead necklaces to it for some charm.
My Havianas + toe rings
I was a tried and true $2 Old Navy flip flop girl for years. I was like… why would I spent $30 on flip flops when I can get a pair for $2? Yeah, I was totally wrong. The Havianas are absolutely worth the money- I can walk for miles in them (I walked 16,000 steps in them the other day!!!!) and my feet are in great shape.
Look closely and you’ll see my vintage toe rings I snagged at the flea market a few weeks back- my current summer staple. Hot tip: if you’re at a vintage market and see a booth with lots of jewelry, ask if they have toe rings. Most people are not looking for them, and the vendor will usually sell them for pretty cheap (mine were both sterling silver for $10). It’s a toe ring summer.
Mixing prints!!!
I have been having so much fun mixing prints this summer- I am usually not a print heavy person within my closet, but when I am wearing a bold print, adding in a playfully printed accessory is huge win. Always obsessed with pairing my favorite realisation par dress to my mom’s vintage striped purse.
My travel watercolor kit!
I snagged this Kuretake travel watercolor set while at a Topdrawer in New York City a few weeks back and it has been life changing. That paired with my watercolor paper book from Paper Republic has brought so much joy to my life - I love that I can just sit on my mom’s front porch, or lay at the park and paint something that comes to mind. It’s such a freeing feeling.
Making a birthday banner
Yeah, whatever. I did spell Birthday wrong while hand sewing each one of these letters down. I was distracted, clearly. But the sentiment is still there! And if anything, I think it adds a bit of charm to the banner.
Merit Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
I was sent Merit’s “The Uniform” sunscreen back in June and have been obsessed with it since- it’s similar to a skin tint with the light coverage, but has 45 SPF which is obviously a big love over here. I get so many compliments on my skin when I wear it, it’s super lightweight and it evens out my skin tone well. Obsessed with this!
Summer dishes I cooked and loved this month
I think as my frontal lobe continues to develop (25 is right around the corner for me…), I have a little more patience when it comes to cooking. And dare I say I enjoy cooking some days…?
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With my weekly trips to the farmers market, I love snagging any of the fruits and veggies that are in season. This summer corn and zucchini pesto pasta is genuinely perfect for a warm summer night- I think to some these ingredients seem counterintuitive but they work perfectly together (especially with a glass of white wine to go with).
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I am absolutely obsessed with this girl Paige’s recipes on tiktok- as someone who is not a chef but loves a little bit of a challenge (nothing too crazy though), her recipes are perfectly digestible. I made her baked peaches and vanilla ice cream using fresh peaches from the farmers market for some friends a few weeks back and it was a huge hit!!!
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Another win from one of Paige’s recipes- her twist on an ice cream sandwich. Graham crackers with lemon curd, homemade strawberry ice cream, toasted coconut flakes and cashew butter was the perfect summer desert. I made these for my mom and her best friends while staying at a lake house and everyone was begging for more.
Last but certainly not least, getting your annual skin cancer check!!! Especially if you’re one of my fellow white people who burn easily, I can’t express enough how important it is to start getting your yearly skin checks done early. I get so much peace of mind whenever I go- and you should too!
And don’t forget your sunscreen.
Thank you for being here and for reading! Lot’s of fun stuff to come in August.
-Izabela
Omg yes, the thrifted woven bag + vintage necklaces combo is giving me life 😍