August was so relaxing. Since I don’t go back to school until September, I get some extra time to relax with my family and see my little brother off to his senior year of high school. This month, I spent a lot of time relaxing, traveling, and discovering new things.
My favorites were things I could enjoy anywhere; in fact, I brought most of this stuff with my on my trip to New Jersey and New York. (Tip: Chocolate is a great treat on a plane when you’ve just ugly cried during Inside Out.)
Here are seven new things I discovered in the month of August
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1. Reusable Metal Straws
Reusable metal straws were a big favorite this month. I want to reduce my waste and this is great way to start. I carry mine around in a little cloth bag and refuse straws at restaurants, which is the biggest place that I find them.
Next, I need to start carrying around reusable coffee mugs everywhere so I don’t use so many coffee cups and lids. It makes me feel good to pull out one of these instead of using a plastic straw. They make reusable straws in bamboo, silicone, and one-time use compostable paper straws, if you have the ability to use them.
This pack from Amazon comes with eight stainless steel straws and two pipe cleaners, which is ideal if you’re a big smoothie drinker.
2. Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
I went back East to visit family this month and we went into New York City several times, because obviously we would go to NYC.
We went to The Met and their most recent exhibit, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, was amazing. As written on their website, the exhibit “features a dialogue between fashion and medieval art from The Met collection to examine fashion’s ongoing engagement with the devotional practices and traditions of Catholicism.”
It featured statues, stained glass, and paintings from Medieval and Byzantine time periods, pounding, dramatic orchestral music, and outfits from designers like Versace, Dolce and Gabana, and others.
Downstairs was a select collection of items donated by the Vatican, which also was beautiful and mind-blowing. If you have the time and ability to do so, I highly recommend seeing the exhibit, which is interesting for people both of Catholic faith and those who identify, or not, with other faiths.
3. Flower Beauty Light Illusion Foundation
Flower Beauty’s Light Illusion Foundation has been making my skin glow all. summer. long.
This brand (founded by Drew Barrymore!) is sold exclusively at Walmart and Ultra stores, but you can also buy it online. It’s cruelty free and has SPF 18.
The only downside is, like most drugstore foundation ranges, it has a mediocre shade range. If it comes in your shade however, it gives a glowy light-to-medium coverage, and lasts a decently long time. It’s not the most long-wearing foundation ever, but it’s not marketed to be that way. I love how fresh-faced it makes my skin look.
Bonus dupe alert! Youtuber Jessica Braun (Jambeauty89) says it’s extremely similar to the pricey Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation.
4. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
I only ended up getting this Fenty lipgloss at the very end of the month, but I love it so much. It smells like something from my childhood, although I can’t put my finger on what! On me, the shade is just a bit darker than my natural lip color and has a gorgeous sparkle.
I like wearing this with dramatic eyes, or on my more natural days when I want my look to be more low-key. It looks good on its own, over a lipstick or lipliner, and lasts for about three or four hours before you need to reapply.
5. Coffee-Flavored Chocolate
Like beauty, I also have two foodie favorites this month. This coffee-flavored chocolate is so rich and creamy and tastes amazing.
It’s from the brand TCHO and you can search on their website by zip code to see if any stores near you carry the brand. If you’re a chocolate fan and a coffee fan, this is the chocolate for you.
6. Kombucha
Kombucha is one of those things you either love or hate. I like it, but the flavors can take some getting used to. I discovered Brew Dr on a trip to Costco with my family. It has great flavors and doesn’t taste as fermented as some of the others I’ve tried.
If you want to get into kombucha, I think this is a great brand to start out with. The Clear Mind flavor is my favorite–a mix of rosemary, mint, sage, and green tea.
7. The Cutest Gingham Blouse
I thrifted an adorable gingham top at my local thrift store. It looks super-cute with white shorts and a red lip, but could work just as well in fall with jeans and some booties.
Although I recommend scouring your local Goodwill to see if they have something similar, Madewell makes this cute gingham blouse with flare sleeves and lace detailing.
What were you loving in August?
Who else is obsessed with Fenty Beauty? Do we have any favorites in common? Let me know what you were loving in August in the comments below.