We all want beautiful lashes, don’t we?! I’m not one to spend the time or money on eyelash extensions. I wouldn’t want to glue false eyelashes on every day either. I found a better solution for me and I’m excited to tell you all about it! Today I’m sharing how you can grow longer, thicker lashes* with Rory.

Thank you to Rory for sponsoring this blog post. Click here to read my full disclosure policy and here for my privacy & cookies policy. All opinions are my own.

Have you heard of the Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%, the only FDA-approved prescription treatment for eyelash growth? After applying Latisse to your upper eyelid lash line every night for at least four weeks you can start to see new growth of YOUR OWN LASHES and by 16 weeks you can really see the full results of thicker, fuller, darker eyelashes. Clinical results show that 78% of participants had 25% longer, 106% fuller, and 18% darker eyelashes at week 16. Ummmm…. Yes please!!!

Why order through Rory?

When you order Latisse through HelloRory.com, there’s no waiting in a doctor’s office. Instead, you get connected with a U.S.-licensed doctor and go over your health information from the comfort of your home. It’s incredibly cost effective to get it through HelloRory.com and you get free 2-day shipping.

When your Latisse drops arrive from HelloRory.com, it comes in this cute pink pouch and you receive a new disposable brush for each night’s application.  I love that!

It’s super easy to apply. Each night, after you wash and moisturize your face, you just put a drop of Latisse on the brush and then apply it along your upper lash line, from the inside to the outside. Don’t apply to the lower lashes and don’t get it in your eyes. It’s simple and takes less than 30 seconds. You just apply it once a day (each night).

So, here’s your chance to join me in getting thicker, longer lashes! With Rory’s subscription service, you can order your Latisse and make sure that it arrives on time and you never run out.  Click HERE to get started and receive $20 OFF your drops!

Aren’t you excited?!  I know I am!!

The post Grow Longer, Thicker Lashes With Rory appeared first on Summer Adams.

Hello gorgeous!  I’m back today with another edition of Current Crushes!  I love to post these regularly, although this is a new series.  But I’ve also got a page called “Current Crushes” that is always on the home page of my website and these items can be found there.  That page gets updated every week or so and is a fun place to shop fun finds that I’ve curated.

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.
Click here to read my full disclosure policy.  All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite things to wear, when it’s weather-appropriate, is a boyfriend style button-up shirt. It’s nice and baggy and super comfy and perfect with a pair of good jeans.  I’ll even put on a great pair of sandals or flip-flops or baseball cap and run my kids around or run errands. It’s a comfortable outfit but not frumpy and it’s better than sweats, ha!  This shirt is definitely one of my current crushes and I have them in a few different colors.

That candle you see on the right finally arrived, after being delivered to the wrong address.  The Sugared Blossom is a new scent and WOW it is to die for!!! It has luscious fragrance notes of sugared jasmine petals, Italian citron and creamy Tahitian vanilla bean.  I mean…it’s the perfect spring and summer candle!  And it’s pretty!

The other day it was chilly but the rain stopped and then sun was out and it was bright!  I’ve always been a “hat girl” so I absolutely adore this blush panama hat I recently purchased.  I already had my blush tennies so I thought it would be fun to pair them with this blue shirt and the blush hat.  I’m crushing on that combo lately, if you’ve seen all my recent blog posts.  It’s been my “theme” for spring.

This cute blush ruffle clutch is another current crush and I just adore it.  So it was also a part of my outfit the other day.  It goes with so many other things.  I can dress it up or down and it comes in a pretty blue color as well.

Did you catch our “Loveliest Looks of Spring Tour” yesterday?  I shared this fabulous new striped ruffle skirt that I just bought and adore.  It’s so light and flowy and comfy. And the price point is fabulous!  I’ll share some others I love as well that are similar.

Here are other things that I’m crushing on and I’ll break them down for you in categories… Home and Fashion & Beauty. Click on items to shop and on arrows to scroll right and left.

Things for the home

Fashion & Beauty

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you found some things to crush on as well.

I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and hear about digital printables & freebies, as well as sales or new items in My Online Shoppe.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

The post Some Of My Current Crushes appeared first on Summer Adams.

It’s that time of year!  Yes, one of my favorite {shopping} days ever!
It’s the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2017 and it begins TODAY with Early Access exclusively for Nordstrom Cardholders. Grab something to drink, grab your laptop, and let’s shop!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2017 – Early Access

This is when I splurge save on booties, sweaters, scarves, beauty must-haves, home accents and more!  If you’re a Nordstrom Cardholder, you get this early access privilege.  If not, no worries!  The sale is open to the public on July 21 – August 6.  To apply for a Nordstrom Card, click HERE and start enjoying all the benefits like rewards notes and early access shopping.

I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts, hear about digital printables & freebies, and also hear about sales or new items in My Online Shoppe.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

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The post Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – Early Access appeared first on Summer Adams.

(This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.)

As a mom, as a woman, as a blogger, and as a black-belt shopper (wink), I am constantly looking for new products or apparel I love.  I try a LOT of new products and some I agree to share as a blogger because I love them, and some I just don’t care for and so I politely to decline to work with a company or brand.  From the beginning of my blogging journey a few years ago, I committed to only share things I honestly love and would use or have used.  I figured that you, my readers, would enjoy this too and it inspired another new series where I share my favorite things list each month.  Like my best friend, Heather, and I joke…..a true friend shares a good find (or a good sale). I love knowing what other people love and I hope you do too. So here is my list for April 2017.

Paris In Bloom

This gorgeous book by my sweet friend Georgianna Lane was recently released and I was so excited when it arrived!

Not only is this the perfect “coffee table book” because it’s lovely on the outside but wow….you open the book and each photograph that Georgianna has captured of Paris in the Spring time is absolutely magical.

There’s nothing better than grabbing a cup of tea and sipping it while flipping through the breathtaking images and just imagine that I’m sitting at a Parisian café near the Eiffel Tower.  Of course, after tea time I would be off to the flower market on my bike and then doing some antique shopping, followed by a stop at the patisserie for some macarons.  Sounds dreamy, don’t you think?!

Trust me, this book is a must-have and also makes the most perfect gift!  I highly recommend following Georgianna Lane on her Instagram feed HERE and also at A Parisian Moment.

Agape Candles

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you know it’s no secret that my favorite candles lately are the Agape Candles.  Well, now Rachel (the creator, artisan and also my friend), has come out with another scent that I had to try.  It’s called Blush and I love it.  I featured this candle last month in my Easter Parade Blog Hop and it looked so pretty on my coffee table.

Silly confession:  I wanted to try it because of the name and my affinity for blush pink.  But the truth?  It’s absolutely dreamy and delightful!  It has a clean, soft, fresh and feminine scent.  I don’t know how Rachel does it but she manages to create the most amazing scents without being obnoxiously strong or fake smelling.  They are all so yummy!  I recently tried the Belgian Linen and Fresh Pompelmo and they are also to die for.  Everyone that’s tried them has fallen in love with them.  You can shop Agape Candles HERE and also follow Agape Candles HERE on Instagram.

Golden Plant Mister

That’s right, a plant mister.  Hear me out on this one….I have preserved boxwood wreaths and plants in my home and always have fresh flowers.  The boxwood need to be sprayed a couple of times a week and I hated my ugly spray bottle that sprayed such a wide area at a time and then the kids would leave it out.  When I saw this mister, I fell in love!  Ok, when I type that, it sounds weird haha but my husband is okay with my love for this mister!  {LOL}  It can even be left out “accidentally” or used as decor and reminds me to mist my plants and flowers.  If you get it, you’ll use it.  Your thumb will be “greener” and your plants will love you for it!

French Cottage Sign

This brass cast iron sign was too cute not to pick up for my new kitchen at “Tall Trees Lane” (the nickname we gave to the home we are currently building).  My all-white kitchen and brass hardware and accents will have more of a contemporary feel to it but I will always have an affection for all things French.  So, with a french cottage/contemporary style, I think this adorable “La Cuisine” sign will be the cutest addition somewhere in my kitchen.  I love fun little things like this.

Ceramic Initial Necklace

Can I tell you how much I love finding good shops on Etsy?  There are so many talented artisans, men and women, sharing their talents and creations and that is where I happened upon this gorgeous Single Initial Charm Necklace from Susan Gordon Pottery.

This pretty little fire-glazed charm has a 22k gold luster over-glaze on the top and comes with a lovely gold chain, in your choice of length.  I chose the blush “S” charm (I know, shocking haha) and recently layered it with a longer blush and pearl necklace.  I received so many compliments on it and how it was layered together.  It was so pretty on my neck.

I was so impressed with Susan and the quality and the detail she put into this dainty little charm.  Wouldn’t this make the perfect Mothers’ Day gift?  It could have the mother’s initial on it or even all her children’s initials on it. It would be a great gift for any occasion.

2 New Favorite Water Bottles

Yes, water bottles!  Cute water bottles are an important accessory.  I’m obsessed with this 12 oz glass bottle by Ted Baker London.  The blush sleeve with bows says “drink me” and keeps condensation off your hand or anything else.  I fill it up on my way out the door and put it in my purse.  If I’m thirsty or need to take my meds while I’m out with a client or a friend and shopping, I have it ready to go.  It’s the perfect size (the size of a plastic water bottle) and you can purchase it HERE.

I also fell in love with this Glitter Bomb Water Bottle that I take with me to the gym.  It’s pink and sparkly (yay and yay) with glitter that rolls around the inner wall (no liquid in that).  I like that it has a built-in straw with a silicone mouthpiece that flips open and closed so that I can sip it while I’m on a treadmill or other machine, which is just so much easier. It doesn’t leak water and I can just grab it with my finger and go.  Another plus…since it has a double wall, you don’t have to deal with the mess of condensation. It’ll be perfect for hiking all those waterfalls this summer in the Pacific Northwest. You can buy it HERE or HERE.

Life is short….buy cute water bottles!  These happen to be perfectly practical and necessary as well so it’s a win-win for me!

Face Cream and Pressed Foundation

If you don’t already know, I LOVE skin care and cosmetics!  Once upon a time, I was a makeup artist and worked for several well-known brands.  I’ve tried a LOT of different products and, as I’ve aged and had children and aged some more, have had several different skin issues so I know what works for me and what doesn’t.  I’m a big fan of IT Cosmetics and recently they sent me a kit with more of their Confidence In A Cream, which I’ve tried and talked about before on my Instagram stories.  I love it!  It’s so good for your skin and I love the anti-aging benefits.  My skin just soaks it right up and there is no greasy or oily feeling.

And then, they sent me their new Confidence In A Compact that I’ve been very anxious to try.   I’m always skeptical about a pressed foundation BUT….it won my heart!  If I didn’t love it, I would not be writing this review. It would just go unmentioned.  Ladies, this gave me fabulous coverage, has SPF 50 which is really important, didn’t settle into my creases, felt light, and covered my discoloration from sun damage. Woohoo!  I especially love the brush (my new favorite!!!) that you use to just swirl and then dab it all over your face.  When I read about it, I was so happy to know that it was developed with plastic surgeons and is the first-ever solid serum foundation.  It’s also anti-aging so that’s another bonus.  It’s definitely a bonus and I highly recommend trying it!  Let me know what you think, I’d love to hear your feedback.  Send me an email or leave a comment below.  I just received another fun box from IT Cosmetics as well and I’m so excited to try the products and maybe get to share it with you next month as well if I love it!  So far, I’ve loved everything from them.  Shop more of their products HERE.

Pajama Pants

I pretty much love pajamas as much as I love my other apparel because when I put them on, it means that I finally get to relax for the evening.  I’m not the kind of girl who will wear any old t-shirt or old pair of sweats to bed or around the house.  Nope.  I just adore pretty pajamas and might have a bit of an obsession with buying them.

I found these adorable Rose Ruffle Bedhead pajamas at Target and had to have them.  They’re light and comfy and soooo cute! I love the floral print, the bright summer colors, and the adorable ruffle.  However, I will tell you that they run really big.  I grabbed a medium because I like pj’s to be bigger and roomy but I could’ve easily gotten the small, so I’m exchanging them.  They have a tall waist.  But put on a tank top or t-shirt and no one will know you look like PeeWee Herman underneath hahaha!  Seriously though, I love them.

So there you have it….My Favorite Things List for April 2017!  What did you think?  What are you wanting to try or purchase?  Have you tried any of these things or already have them and have an opinion?  Or….maybe you have some favorite things you’d like to share with me.  PLEASE DO!! Remember, a good friend shares a good find and a good sale, so don’t hold out on me!  Leave a comment below.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I would love it if you subscribed at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest posts and hear about your next month’s calendar and freebies.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

The post My Favorite Things List April 2017 appeared first on Summer Adams.

If you’re like me and feel like you run a marathon every day, you also feel like sometimes you just need a break!  Sandy beaches and somewhere tropical sound like the perfect way to relax and recharge.  But let’s be honest, that is not a practical solution every month or week.  That’s why it’s always important to make “me time” or “mommy time“.  Sometimes that means getting together with girlfriends or even taking a whole an afternoon and evening and going places by myself and doing whatever I want, like shopping or going to the spa for a facial and massage.  But sometimes that is not always an option either.  Maybe you’re a single mom or woman with a tight budget. Or maybe going out even requires too much energy and not the peace and quiet or R&R you need.  So here’s my solution for you.  Join me right now for a Pajama Party!  Stay in and relax.  Here’s what FUN {for a party of ONE} looks like!

Take a bath, a hot bath.  Do a little detox and get rid of all of the toxins.  First, you need to grab a large water to replenish your fluids as you sit in the tub.  To detox in the bath I like to use epsom salts.  The magnesium is so good for you and your muscles and it draws out the toxins.  If you just want a nice bubble bath, that’s a fabulous idea as well.  Here are my most favorite epsom salts, bubble baths and bath bombs for you to shop below.

Don’t forget to light a candle, below are also some of my favorites, and grab a bath tray and some fabulous bath towels.  Remember Enya?  I still love that and other soothing music when I take a relaxing bath.  I have a bath playlist that I love and ask my family to not come in and talk to me while I take a bath and I don’t answer my phone.

After your bath, slip into something light and feminine, like a pretty bath robe and slippers.  You’ll feel like a queen!  Don’t you deserve that?  I think so!  In a recent post called Advice For My Daughter, I shared my favorite robes that both Brooklyn and I wore from Plum Pretty Sugar.  They’re divine and you need one!  Trust me, you’ll thank me later!
 You can shop for them here:

Next, treat yourself to some luxurious, rich foot cream and body cream.  I love that my body feels like silk after a bath and I feel so relaxed.  Don’t forget…..keep drinking LOTS of water!!

Deodorant goes on next but have you tried my very favorite?  Donna Karan Cashmere Mist is absolutely FABULOUS and smells like a dream!  It’s been my favorite for years!  Treat your hair to some leave-in hair beautifier.  This one is my favorite and I’ve been using it for the last couple of years for my brittle color-treated hair. Are you feeling fabulous yet?  I bet you are!  Top it off with some light, pretty body spray!

Alright, it’s time to put on some fabulous pajamas.  Now, it’s starting to cool down at night so there’s nothing skimpy here.  Especially after a bath, I want to stay cozy and warm.  Here are a bunch of fabulous pj’s I think you’ll just love.  I splurge on pajamas.  I am at home a lot, working from home and being at home with my family so I love pretty and comfortable pajamas and slippers.

Ok, we’re clean and relaxed and comfortably dressed.  Let’s make a drink.  Now, if you’re looking for something alcoholic, sorry!  I can’t help you there because I don’t drink.  BUT, grab something warm like hot chocolate or tea or whatever you drink and run back here and join me.  I am going to make my very favorite thing ever….a Dirty Diet Coke!  What’s that you ask?  Click HERE for the recipe.  Ohhhhh it is just fabulous!  Every time I drink one, I feel like I’m on vacation. And don’t forget to pin it!

image via Honey Bear Lane since I enjoyed mine so quickly and forgot to take a pic ha!

First off, CHEERS!  I hope whatever you’re drinking is yummy and hitting the spot!  What’s next on my list?  Let’s paint our toenails!  I get my pedicures once a month but in between I try to give them a little TLC and also give them a fresh paint job.  I love bright colors in the summer, sometimes darker colors in the winter, but I really really love that soft pink-polished look all year-round.  Here are some of my favorite colors.

At any pajama party or slumber party, you know what ALWAYS happens….face masks!  Borghese is officially my favorite line of face masks. I was invited to try these last year and I’ve been hooked ever since! Especially the purple firming mask.  It tightens your face so much in 10 minutes and I feel like I’ve had a facelift after washing it off and feel and look like a few years have washed off with it.  I’m obsessed!!

Well, I’m hungry.  Should we make a snack?

If you love pink http://www.cialisgeneriquefr24.com/cialis-generique-professional/ and you love cupcakes, THIS is my favorite Pink Velvet Cupcake (or cake) Recipe.

via Blahnik Baker

They are divine!  The perfect treat to indulge on!  We are NOT counting calories at this slumber party so go right on ahead!

This is the perfect time for a fun movie…..all by myself! Or, sometimes, at this point, I’ll invite a few girlfriends over to watch one of our favorite shows or a fun flick.  If you prefer to stay alone, lock your bedroom door and tell everyone you’re still taking some “me time”.  Put on the show you’re going to watch and grab some BIG comfortable pillows for your bed and the perfect fuzzy blanket.  There’s nothing better!

If you have a hard time watching a movie or TV and sitting still like I do, grab your iPad or laptop and do some online shopping at the same time.  This is my FAVORITE thing to do and the best way to shop AND relax at the same time.  I just received the cutest iPad cover……and I know we all love marble right now.

 Isn’t this gold and marble case adorable? It’s cute AND protects my iPad.  Here is the laptop cover. I love the felt cases for them as well.  The pockets are great and the quality is fantastic!

Such a fabulous accessory.  Wouldn’t it be a great Christmas gift idea too?  Just grab your brand and model and place an order HERE for the laptop cover or HERE for the iPad cover.

I’m also including a fabulous and oh-so-pretty selection of eye masks because if you’re having tadalafil apomorphine this pajama party during the day while you’re kids are at school, why not block out the sun and take a little nap? Go ahead, recharge your battery! You deserve it!

Wasn’t that fun?!  I hope you had the BEST time ever and feel relaxed!  Don’t forget to come back often and do it again and again because we ladies need to pamper ourselves and recharge our batteries!  Thanks for hanging out with me!

{{{HUGS}}}

*This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

The post Pajama Party! appeared first on Summer Adams.

As I sit and write this blog post, my oldest child (and only daughter), Brooklyn, is 10 1/2 years old.  And going on 16.  It happens so darn fast.  I remember every detail of the day she was born like it was yesterday.  Between then and now, we have done so many things that my pre-motherhood self dreamed of doing with a daughter one day.  There are so many events and milestones to come and memories to be made.  I’m in no way rushing it, not one bit.  But there are so many things that I want to tell her and things I want to teach her.  Many of these things are very deep or spiritual or personal and so those will be written down somewhere else.  But the advice for my daughter that I share here, I hope someone else can also benefit from.

To keep from writing a novel instead of a blog post, I decided to choose just 10 (of the 500+ things I could tell her) to share here. I hope she takes these bits of advice to heart as she grows into a woman and marries and has a family of her own.

1- Make dinner time your sacred family time!  When kids come home from school, it’s snack time, homework, maybe a short break and then either dance, sports, scouts, cheer, church activities or play dates.  We are a very close family and I want it to stay way. I don’t just mean that I want us to get along but that I want more.  I want us to be connected! Dinner time is sometimes crazy or quick and even an occasional frozen pizza on paper plates.  But we make a habit of sitting and blessing the food and eating dinner together.  I love it.  Every single time I think to myself, “THIS is what it’s all about.”  You will get this one day.

This pic was taken for our Back To School Party dinner….see more HERE.

Occasionally I’ll set the table in a special way or throw a surprise themed dinner and I feel like a cross between June Cleaver and Martha Stewart. And then there are the times that dinner is whatever I can throw together quickly or order and grabbing the paper plates and I feel more like Peg Bundy ha!  But that time is still sacred!  Many times, you kids will share something you didn’t feel like sharing earlier or forgot about.  It’s time to resolve problems or talk about goals and plans. It’s time to be a family!!! I love it.  Every dinner. For one day my babies will be gone and I will miss those conversations and cooking for both of you.

This was a fun night!  See more of Our Luau At Home dinner HERE.

2- Fall in love with homemaking!  Whether you live on your own one day or have a house full of children, your home is your castle. Make it yours! Beautify it and make it comfortable and a place you long to go to at the end of the day.  Find your own unique style and don’t listen to everyone else telling you how you should decorate (unless you ask for opinions).

Take pride in keeping a beautiful, clean home.  Learn how to find a look or style for less.  Always be learning new things and find some DIY projects you love that can add a special touch to your home or be useful.

My DIY bathroom shelving tutorial found HERE.  You can also search on my blog for other DIY projects that I know you’ll just love!

Keep up your love of baking and make sure you learn to cook, too!  I love that you love to make “healthy choices” and I’m also so glad you love to bake things with me like macarons and cookies and cupcakes and cakes.

These Lemon Cream Cupcakes (recipe HERE) were sooooo fun to make with you!  Our new frosting bulb was hilarious to figure out and make it look like this.  But you catch on quickly.  You’re a natural!  Baked goods are even more fun when they’re shared!  So always do what I do (your kids will probably complain about this like you guys do) and give some away!  It brightens someone else’s day when you show up with baked goods at their doorstep for no good reason.

3- Take care of your skin and body!  I’m currently 38 years old and oh how I wish I would have listened to my mother and grandmother and taken care of my skin!   They said to wear sunscreen, even on my face. I did not. They said wash your face each night.  I am not always good at this, eek.  But you need to wash off that pollution and everything that your face endured that day.

They said wear moisturizer early and eye cream when you’re older.  I just started doing this the last couple of years.

Ugh, I cringe and wish I would’ve listened. I see the sunspots now and I am starting to see the fine lines.  NOW I’m listening.

And treat yourself to a face mask!  It is so so good for your skin and feels amazing.  Now that was one I enjoyed, even at your age, with my girlfriends when we had sleepovers. Ok, we mostly liked the pictures that came from it and jumping out to scare our brothers with green and brown faces but still…so fun!

Trust me….you’ll be so grateful for this advice 30 years from now.

These gorgeous robes were sent to us by our sweet friends at Plum Pretty Sugar and they are dreamy!   Shop below!

4- Don’t compare yourself to others!  This might sound impossible because, especially as women, we tend to do it. BUT DON’T!  I don’t see you struggle with this now and I’m grateful.  But you’ve not hit your teenage years and everyone is trying to figure out “how to be cool” and “who they are” and “what they should wear or look like” during that time.  Just be you. You’re fabulous.  You’re gorgeous.  You have the funniest and best attitude I know and the biggest heart! Don’t forget that quote we love, “She knew WHO she was and WHOSE she was.”

More on Brooklyn’s Pursebox (lunch box) HERE.

I wish I had half of your self-worth and confidence at your age that you have.  I’ve tried hard to instill that in you.  It wasn’t until, maybe the last 4 or 5 years, that I just didn’t care anymore.  I realized I was beautiful, at any size, and I knew I was talented and smart and funny and had a pure heart.  I’m not perfect, but I LOVE MYSELF! I want that for you, now and always!  You’ll always be content when you realize that you are uniquely you and NO ONE can be YOU!  That’s your superpower, girl!  You’re everything I could’ve hoped for in a daughter and I’m very proud.

I think I would have enjoyed my teenage and young adult years so much more, had I known “who” I was.  Meaning, I wish wish wish I knew my value! But I do now!  I love sharing that with you!

5- You CAN have a stylish AND comfortable home while raising a family!  Except for baby-proofing cupboards with poisons and outlets with covers, I didn’t ever “baby proof” anything.  I taught you and Beckham how to wash your hands, not leave the kitchen with food, grab a tissue to wipe your nose and not wipe it on my nice sofas or curtains.  I taught you to not knock over or touch my floor pillar candlesticks or pick at my beaded pillows.  And you didn’t.

People told me “you can’t have nice things when you have kids” or “you can’t have white bedding when you have kids”…

…and especially “you can’t have white sofas when you have kids”.

Well I always have and they are all still in good shape.  It’s up to you!  If you take time to teach your kids, then hopefully they’ll listen and obey.  Consistency is key and there must be consequences if rules are broken.  That being said, some of our little ones come to this earth with stubborn little personalities (haha) and if it’s too much of a battle, it’s not worth it.  Use good judgment.

See more details on this look-alike Restoration Hardware Balustrade Coffee Table HERE.

And ALWAYS remember that you can have a beautiful home on any budget!  Find joy and thrill in getting the same look for less!  It brings a great sense of accomplishment and that is how you can also give support to your family’s finances.  If you are smart with your money and live within your means and stay on a budget, you might be able to stay home and continue enjoying your role as a homemaker.

6- Organization is your key to sanity!  You see me run around like a crazy person but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I wear a lot of hats and you probably would too.  Between our family activities and my personal commitments and all that you children have going on…there is no way on this earth we’d be able to do it all without organization.  It’s 2016 and thank goodness for cell phone alarms and alerts and calendars to keep me straight and remind me of all we have to do and places we have to be.

See more HERE on my office space and DIY Framed Wallpaper Panels.  Office reveal coming soon!

I make lists weekly and daily. Not to pressure myself or feel this award-winning sense of accomplishment (although there are many days I do a happy dance and feel a trophy is deserved for checking everything off hahaha) but I make these lists to keep me focused and driven and remember what tasks have the higher priorities and are essential in keeping our family and household (and my business) running smoothly.  I see you with your planner now.  Keep that up!  It’s a good habit to be in, to keep a planner.

Organization applies to your home!  Your closets and cupboards and pantries and even your fridge can be organized and tidy kept in order.  Not everyone values this advice and that’s fine.  To each their own.  Not to say I don’t have that junk drawer (a necessary evil) in the kitchen or that small little secret “Monica closet” (Friends reference haha…i need to clean that and organize that thing) but you will feel greater peace and a sense of order and pride in a home that is organized and neat and clean.

You won’t have a meltdown when someone announces they are coming to stay with you as they are passing through town.  You’ll be ready and it will be a joy to have them.

7- Create your own special occasions for no reason at all!  It doesn’t need to be a birthday or holiday to create something special.  You can serve and present things in a way that make people feel special and enjoy what you’ve made even more.

Celebrate the fact that it’s cold outside….finally! (We’re in Texas so we wait longer for the fall and winter seasons.)  Remember the time it was freezing and you and Beckham came home from school to this fun little Hot Chocolate Bar I put together for you and your friends?  You loved walking in the door, shivering and cold, to find this.  Y’all got soooo excited!

We also “celebrated” our first time making macarons together and then made them over and over and shared them with guests so beautifully.

Fresh-baked cookies is always a “special” occasion ha!  I love that you kids appreciate how I put them out for you.  We even did this for our movers and they felt so special.

The first day of school is always special but last year you and Beckham didn’t want anything heavy or fancy.  You wanted muffins and juice.  That’s it.  Well, that left me with the need to get creative to make it feel a little more fun.  So I did.  My muffins weren’t very big and fluffy but they were delicious and I loved seeing the look on your faces when you came downstairs.

Last year you kids walked in from school and saw this…..

“What’s the occasion?  What’s this for?”, you asked.  No occasion.  It was just Friday, the end of a long school week, and I had just bought fresh pink peonies (our favorite).  Do you see now?  Everyday is a good day to make it a special day.

8- ALWAYS have a grateful heart and have an attitude of gratitude!  Count your blessings and tell people “thank you”.  A hand-written note is becoming a lost art and it makes me sad.  Sit and tell someone you appreciate them.

One of my favorite quotes….”When you look at life through eyes of gratitude, the world becomes a magical place!” ~Jennifer Gayle

See blessings and miracles tender mercies in each and every day!  The more you focus on your blessings and what you’ve been given, the happier you are and you will have room to receive more and more of the good things in your life.  God wants to bless you and He loves when His children are grateful.  Go to Him and tell him “thank you”.  This will keep you happy and optimistic and it will continue to be 2nd nature for you to find joy and beauty in each day.

9- There is always room for one more!  This has been repeated over and over to you since you could understand it but please don’t ever forget it.  Do NOT belong to a clique.  Do NOT have a name for yourselves or publicly announce that you are a “tribe” or “club” or “squad” or give yourself some title.  That is exclusive and hurtful to others.  Do NOT limit yourself to just one group of friends.  Be friends with EVERYONE!  You are no better than anyone else.  I have always wanted to be friends with everyone and it has brought me so much joy!  I have met the most amazing women! You might be missing out on very dear friendships and the blessing of getting know others.  Some, of which, might desperately need your friendship.  Some of my closes friends are women I never thought I had anything in common with, until we got to know each other.

That being said…know who your true friends are and in whom you can trust.  Stay away from the “mean girls”.  Forgive, but move on.  Do not put yourself back in a position to constantly be hurt over and over.  Remember our favorite saying that, painfully, we’ve had to learn over the last few years?  “Invest in people that invest in you!”

This advice doesn’t come from a bitter place.  It comes from a grateful heart.  You will find so much joy in this principle as you grieve friendships that are not healthy or in friendships with those that don’t make an effort with you, as you do them.  You open your heart to those that God will put in your path and can become great friendships.  Also, and this is huge, make sure that you are kind to everyone but in no way do you need to hang out or be friends with those that make choices that do not live up to your standards.  If they constantly participate in behavior that is not in accordance with your standards, the standards we’ve set as a family, and if they are not kind to others.  Walk away.  Be kind, but walk away from them. (I know you’ve done this already.) They will not bring out the best in you or uplift you.  They will not encourage you to be the best you can be and attain your full potential.

10- Stand up and be counted!  Never follow what everyone else is doing.  Think about it.  Be a leader. Do what is right, no matter how hard it is.  You are special and not sent here to fail.  You’ll make mistakes, but I see how you pick yourself up and get right back to it. You’re a go-getter.  That’s my girl!  I love how you stand for what is right even though {at an early age} some have given you grief for it.

There was a poster I saw hanging in my Life Skills Class in high school and it said…“What’s popular is not always right and what’s right is not always popular.”  You might stand alone in certain choices or opinions or beliefs.  That’s okay.  God is with you and He is there for you.  He will strengthen you and bless you for your courage and right choices. Don’t forget…You ALWAYS have me!!!  And your dad and Beckham and all your loving family members.  But I’m always here and you can talk to me about anything and everything.  You’re already doing that and I love it.  I love our talks. I love pillow talk and I love our obsession with Audrey Hepburn and Anne of Green Gables and pink and baking.  We have the best time.

BONUS tip- Find what brings you JOY!  Yes, life is hard and we are here to learn and grow.  But we are also meant to have joy.  Find joy in the big things, eternal things, important things.  Find joy in the little things like….a butterfly landing on your arm, a dance party while we make dinner (or in our robes in my bathroom just before bed, haha), finding a good sale on our shopping outings, and putting on your rain boots and dancing in the rain!  Life is so good.

Excuse our selfie but we wanted to remember this hilarious dance party we were having!

You’re like looking into a mirror.  You look like me and you act like me and, as Dad says, you even cry like me.  Not because you’re not your own person, but because you are a part of me.  You’re also much better at some things than I ever was (i.e. being on time).  Take pride in that all!  You have so much ahead of you and I’m loving watching you grow into this beautiful young lady.  If I had picked out everything I wanted in a daughter and ordered you online, you’d be exactly what you are now.  You made my dreams come true the day you were born and every day since.  Even on your worst days, I have been proud of you.  You’re learning and growing and trying your best.  Keep it up, sweet girl!  I love you more than Diet Coke, Disneyland, Creme Brûlée and Christmas all put together!

Love, Mom

The post Advice For My Daughter appeared first on Summer Adams.

It’s here, it’s here!  The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, or the #NSale, is open today to the public!  I have been able to get Early Access with my Nordstrom Card and have been shopping away this last week!  I’m sharing my favorites with you today.  So get comfy and grab a drink and shop from the comfort of your own home!  I’ve broken my picks into categories for your convenience.  >>>Just keep clicking on the arrows to go back and forth.<<<

Wasn’t that fun?!  I hope you found lots of goodies!  The best part for me was sitting in my pajamas, drinking a Diet Coke, all snuggled on my chaise lounge and not having to fight any crowds!

xoxo, Summer

*This post contains affiliate links.*

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I totally missed November’s Favorite Things….EEK!!!!! So, let’s not waste any time and get right to December’s!

I was looking for some fun, new, warm, flannel pj’s last week while in Nordstrom Rack and “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!” (that is the sound of angels singing haha)  There they were!  An adorable set of grey flannel pajamas with hot pink lips and piping and buttons by PJ Salvage!  Oh, and they were the last ones AND in my size!  Meant to be?  I think so!  They are hard to find online but definitely try your local Nordstrom Rack.  There are these on eBay and elsewhere also if you’re looking for these exact ones.  They run true to size and I wear the size small.  Love love love them!!

While at the Sprint Store and upgrading my iPhone a while ago, I found this adorable Kate Spade Bow iPhone lightning charger!!  Pink, bow, Kate Spade, purposeful…..enough said.  It’s the perfect gift.

Bath & Body Works is always a great go-to for fun creams and scents.  I loved this Twisted Peppermint Ultra Shea Buttercream right away NOT ONLY because it is pink, but because it has a nice mixture of peppermint, vanilla, balsam and light musk.  And I don’t normally like anything musky.  But I LOVE this!!

Every girl needs a great makeup bag!!!  I bought this extra large one (pictured above) at Home Goods one day in the checkout aisle and don’t see it online anywhere.  But there are some other really cute ones I love HERE, HERE and HERE!  Soooooo fun!!!  I love changing out my makeup bags like I do my purses!

This might seem silly to some, but this photography backdrop (below) that comes with a stand is just AWESOME for taking product pics and own a small business. Or, maybe you just want to take some fun pics for your instagram or other social media outlets. It even fits on a tabletop. Brilliant!

And lastly….all this sun-in-my-eyes before I want to wake up is NOT going over well with me!  Not at all.  Especially now that soccer season has ended and I just wanna sleep in a little on a Saturday morning!  I love my Victoria Secret soft pink sleep mask (pictured above) but you can find really cute ones HERE or at Victoria Secret!

So there are just a FEW fun ideas for you!  I have several different gift collections I’m going to be sharing over the next week or two!  Stay tuned!!

xoxo, Summer

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I love August!  My skin is tanner and while I don’t bake out in the sun with baby oil (stupid stupid stupid) like my teenage years, my skin looks sun-kissed and I feel like putting on bold and bright colors.  I love this fun “Barbie Pink” color, as I call it.  I put this shirt on and headed to San Francisco for a couple of days with my kiddos to show them the city that I loved to play in as a kid.  Soooo many great memories!  Wearing a few of my new favorite things so I thought I’d share!

I purchased the shirt from Old Navy and it’s the perfect light-weight cotton button-up shirt so that I could keep cool.  The lipstick is one of my all-time faves by MAC called “St. Germain”.  I only wear it in the summer when I have some color  My earrings were gifted to me by Heather, my very best friend, and are the Kate Spade Multi-color Irradescant Faceted Square Stud Earrings.  Ummm…can I tell you how obsessed I am with them?!!!  They are soooo sparkly, which you don’t see in the picture, and look fabulous with so many of my bright shirts.    Of course, I still love my Juicy Couture Crown Gold Chain Necklace from my friends as a going away gift when we left Texas.  I have the matching bracelet and they are such a fun staple in my wardrobe.  This Dutch Braid across my forehead was the perfect way to keep my hair out of my face in that windy city, while riding bikes cable cars up and down the steep roads.

As for the rest of my makeup…I have found some new favorites that have been life-changing!! I’m not exaggerating.  While the summer allows me the chance to be more bronzed, my white spots on my face come out of hibernation and are noticable.  Sun damage.  It’s an ugly thing. And turning 37 this summer has introduced some new fine lines.  Fun stuff {insert sarcasm}.  But my sister convinced me, after working for Shiseido many years, that the Japanese know skin care better than anyone and I needed to try their products.  So I finally I purchased their water-resistant foundation and WOW!  I was already sold after that.  But it gets better…. Then I applied the pressed powder and I looked almost flawless. Make sure to use the wedges to apply the powder because it s you the best coverage when applied.  Dab it on. Their new concealer is like a magic wand!  I dab it on the white spots on my face where I’ve lost  The melanin in my skin where I have lost my melanin.   I follow it up with dad being the foundation sponge just over those spots again, as to not caking on too much powder.   I’m telling you… It’s like magic!  The best coverage I’ve had in a long time!

Now,  their skin care is out of this world and worth every penny so I highly recommending starting with that. They also introduced a new ice year and just recently that has made all the difference for me. Between my age and moving to Las Vegas last year where it is very dry, I feel like my eyes  are full of fine lines that I have not seen before and need the moisture so badly. I have not found an eye serum or cream that I have loved until now.  There eye serum feels like velvet and just hydrates and feels heavenly.   Their facial serum is also to die for.   Again, worth every penny!   Even if you love what you are using now, it’s probably not that great for your skin. Just because it has good coverage doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin. But Shiseido is a product that will give you both good skin and good coverage.  (NOTE:   Shiseido is not sponsoring or paying me to write this article. It is totally written from heart and because of my own experience with it.)

My all-time favorite eyebrow kit is the Anastasia Dip Brow (blonde) with the brow powder.  Love it!!  Especially since my eyebrows no longer grow and I have to fill them in and create the shape each day.

What are your favorite things you’ve found lately? I wanna hear them!   We usually don’t find our favorite things on accident… It’s because someone has told them  about their new obsession. I want to know what I’m missing out on! Share, share, share!  

Xoxo,

Summer

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