Since summer officially started this week, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite things for summer.



1. First up is my summer skin care faves. I'm sure you would agree that summer is tough on the skin. Lots of sun, lots of chlorine and sweating. So we must take great care of our skin. No one wants to wear a heavy face of makeup in the summer so I recommend Nars' tinted moisturizer. It has broad spectrum SPF 30 in it and it has great coverage without feeling heavy for those hot summer days. They offer over ten different shades, so you should be able to find one that works for you.

My night time routine is a simple wash with CeraVe cleanser and my Nerium Age Defying Treatment. Nerium is like liquid gold. If you haven't tried it out yet, I highly recommend it. We are lucky enough to have a Nerium rep in our Mrs. Colorado family! Talk to Shalon if you are interested. (P.S. she didn't put me up to this, I really LOVE Nerium!)

2. A great beach bag. I'm a handbag lover, so not just any beach bag will do. Try finding one that doubles as a fashionable tote. I love bright prints for summer, tribal prints are huge this season. I love the little tassel on this bag. Target is a great place to find inexpensive fashion-forward bags.

3. The Waterlogged app. Hydration is key for beautiful summer skin, from keeping your face clear to helping your tan look better. I know that most days I don't drink enough water, so I downloaded this app to help me keep track. It's super easy to log you water intake and it even rewards you for reaching your goals. I've never been so excited to drink water!

4. Bright colorful accessories. Being a girl with short hair, I love a great pair of earrings. The more colorful the better! One of my favorite things about accessories are they can be pretty inexpensive and extremely fabulous. I usually scope out stores like Francesca's, Forever21 and Charming Charlie's for great finds.

5. A nice big hat. Sometimes I wish it were the early 1900's when everyone wore hats all the time. I love hats and hats are essential for summer. Keeping your face out of the sun will aid in keeping those wrinkles at bay, not to mention hats are a fun accessory! Floppy hats, baseball hats, fedoras...whatever your flavor, rock a great hat this summer.

6. I love the smells of summer. Coconut, sun screen, fresh cut grass...they all bring back wonderful memories. My favorite fragrance of the summer is Bath and Body Works' aptly named "Endless Summer." I love when I find a fragrance that comes in body wash, lotion and spray so it lasts all day, even if I sweat a little.

7. A long flowy maxi dress. They are so versatile! Dress them up or down, wear them day or night. I just love them. I'm especially loving the illusion bottom that is trending this summer. I found this navy maxi with illusion bottom at Target.

8. And finally, a great pair of boat shoes. I love my flip flops, but sometimes I just want something different. I usually pair them with some cute shorts or crop pants. Old Navy has great boat shoes in an array of colors, at a great price.

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. I would love to know what some of your favorite summer essentials are!