Style Lush

Cute Maternity Swimsuits

It is already reaching 80 degrees here on a (far too) regular basis, and I have a strong feeling that I'll be spending a significant proportion of the rest of this pregnancy floating on a couple of pool noodles, wishing there was a margarita (rocks, no salt, please) in my hand. 

Of course, those plans require shopping, specifically swimsuit shopping, as I am not nearly secure enough to parade this belly around in a regular old bikini. It turns out that while there are a lot of maternity suits available, there aren't a ton of options that aren't also either of questionable taste or super pricey. That said, after an exhaustive search, here are a few of the best ones I found:

This Sweetheart Swimsuit from Old Navy is adorable, slightly retro, available in taupe and black, and looks like something you can actually swim in, not just lounge around on a pool chair -- though if that's what you're interested in, it's plenty cute for that, too. Removable straps make it a little versatile, too.

The Ruched Halter Swimsuit, also from Old Navy is super cute in this bright grape color and has the bonus of an adjustable tie halter top, so in addition to being adorable, it's a little more adjustable than something with regular straps.

Gap's Halter Tankini is sweetly retro in a polkadot print, and the side ruching hopefully keeps it from riding up or floating up and away every time you get in the water. 

Motherhood Maternity's Paisley Print Maternity Swimsuit is a steal on sale at $24.99, and the print is cute without being ovewhelming. The accented halter neckline also draws at least a little bit of attention away from your belly.

Where did you find cute maternity suits -- or were you brave enough to bare it all?

Currently Coveting: Eyelet Everything

By Kate

Oh, I am so glad it's spring. Not that it hasn't been in the 80s for a while, and certainly warm and sunny enough to pull out the bright colors and sandals, but it's still nice that the calendar finally matches the things I'd like to wear.

High on my list this spring: eyelet. Everywhere. It seems to be back in a big way this year, and the silhouettes are modern and close-fitting enough to keep it safely in the realm of being sweet and adult-appropriate, not saccharine or childish, while still easy to dress up or down. Here are a few pieces I wouldn't mind magically appearing in my closet:

Eyelet Tee, Lands End Canvas ($60)

Only Have Eyelet For You Dress, Modcloth ($88)

Eyelet Shell, J Crew ($98) (I am more than a little in love with this chili red; it's also available in white.)

Eyelet Mini, GAP ($50) Both the coral and the navy, please. I would wear the heck out of both.

What about you? Eyelet everything for you too?

Colored Jeans: Yay or Nay?

By Kate

Colored jeans seem to be everywhere this spring, and I am tempted to think that they're adorable. That said, it seems like it would be almost obscenely easy to cross the line from kicky and colorful to "Aw, I didn't know they still made Garanimals for adults."

 

{photo credits, l-r: Nordstrom, Gap, Nordstrom}

I just like them. They're springy and fun, but is there any way to really wear them beyond adding a white shirt and neutral sandals? What say you, Style Lushers?

Birchbox Alternatives

By Kate

Birchbox is undoubtedly one of the many universally-loved things here at StyleLush and on the internet in general. Who doesn't love getting awesome samples in the mail each month? Obviously not many people, as Birchbox is sadly sold out of subscriptions, leaving lots who are interested in a bit of a lurch.  

Thankfully, there are a few awesome alternatives that might pique your interest:

BeautyArmy sends the same high quality deluxe samples as Birchbox, with a twist -- there are nine samples available each month, and you can have your pick of up to six of them. Subscriptions are $12/month or $132/year.  {Photo Credit: BeautyArmy}

Blissmobox focuses more on healthy and earth-friendly snacks, but also includes cleansers, skin care, and other goodies from companies like Method, Yesto, Kaia Foods, and CleanWell. Pricier than some at $19/month, each shipment contains $20-$50 worth of goodies and you have the option of picking your own box. Don't like that month's options? Skip it, and get two boxes next month.  {Photo Credit: Blissmobox} 

For our Canadian friends, check out Loose Button's Luxe Box, available -- for now -- only to those in the Great White North starting at $12/month. Similar to Birchbox in both the brands they offer as well as their setup (products are chosen based on a beauty profile you fill out), Loose Button also allows you to request certain products you've been dying to try. {Photo Credit: Loose Button}

  

Also exclusive to Canada (for now), Glymm sends 4-5 deluxe beauty samples to your door each month from brands like Butter London, Caudalie, Principessa and Ahava for $10/month. They have a loyalty program similar to Birchbox where you earn points to use towards future purchases and give you the option of buying full-sized products online. Glymm also offers boxes targeted to men! {Photo Credit: Glymm}

 

Sweet Valentine's Day Printables

By Kate

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, not only because of our tradition of homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast (though I'll admit, that helps), but because it's just plain fun to celebrate those you love and decorate the house with pink and red and hearts all over. (And bowls of candy. Those are fun, too.)

Here are some fun free Valentine's Day printables from around the web, many of which are making an appearance in my house this year. 

15 sweet prints, most of them available in a variety of colors from Sprik Space

DIY Valentine Treat bags, plus tutorial from Twig & Thistle

A classic lyric, modernized with pink chevrons, courtesy of Evelyn Kate Designs

Gift tags and a 5x7 print from Simple as That

Subway art in multiple colorways from The Bonjour Family

A modern twist on the Valentine's Day card, with customizable coupons from Love vs Design

An adorable set of 5 pink prints from Pizzazerie

{All photos credited to the individually linked blogs.}

Found: My Holy Grail Hair Product, Resurrected

By Kate

I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to achieve just the right beachy waves look for my hair. Easily tousled, with a little bit of volume and some wave -- but not too much! And lo, it has been harder than I'd like. 

When John Frieda discontinued their much-loved Sea Spray for hair, I was, well, sad doesn't even begin to cover it. That was the perfect hair product -- not heavy, but gave your hair perfect piecey, wavy, beachy texture without being sticky and had a light salty coconut-y smell. It even worked on my stick-straight, super baby fine hair. All this, and it was CHEAP to boot. It was truly my holy grail hair product.

I have long searched for a replacement with no luck. Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray had the right smell, but the wrong texture (and was uber pricey.). Garnier's sea spray didn't do anything at all. John Frieda briefly revived something sort of similar, but formulated differently with lots of silicones and consequently all wrong. Other, pricier replacements also just fell flat. Most of them literally.

Y'all, I have finally found it. The perfect replacement. At WalMart, of all places. It's Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, and it is amazing. Just a little bit gives your hair a touchable wave that lasts, and best of all, it is less than $5. 

What is your holy grail hair product?

{photo credit: NYMBrands}

Good Stuff: Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser

By Kate

I have been a Boscia devotee for a while now; their preservative-free skincare line is generally awesome and not filled with ingredients I can't pronounce. Everything smells good, feels good, and most importantly, works.

However. Between the weird winter weather we've had this year in Florida and these blessed pregnancy hormones, my normally decent skin has not exactly been spectactular lately, and my usual routine is doing nothing more than I suspect splashing water on my face and calling it a day might. After trying nearly everything in the drugstore with no results, I went to Sephora, cried for help, and picked up Boscia's new detoxifying black cleanser.

Cue soft lights from above and angels singing. This stuff? Is amazing. It's a warming gel cleanser with all kinds of good (and no questionable/risky) stuff in it and after just a week of use, I'm starting to look less like a 14-year-old. At $28 for a 5 ounce bottle, it's a little pricey, but a little goes a long way and again: miraculous. Totally worth the splurge. If you're cursed with suddenly stubborn skin or just need to brighten things up and slough off some of the winter blah, I highly recommend it. 

{photo credit: Boscia}

 

Knot-free Traveling with Jewelry

By Kate

I usually travel with jewelry, and while it's nice to have once I get to my destination, packing it can be a pain. I've tried every jewelry roll and box on the market and this gold beauty from Z Gallerie's Everglades collection is my current favorite:

Travel boxes like this one (on the lower left) are great for earrings and rings, but in these and most jewelry rolls, necklaces still manage to get tangled and knotted and generally turn into a huge mess.

Enter Real Simple, via Pinterest:

Take drinking straw. Insert necklace. Clasp it together. Done. Easy, pretty much free, fits in a jewelry roll (or heck, even a ziploc bag, which I have used plenty of times) and no tangles. I'm still kicking myself for not having thought of it on my own. 

{Photo Credit: Z Gallerie, Real Simple}

4 Stocking Stuffers For Around $10

By Kate

Once all the Christmas presents are bought (or at least bookmarked), it’s time to relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Until you remember that something is going to have to fill those lovely stockings on your mantle. Our stockings always include the classics – clementines, Lip Smackers, a book of Life Savers, and some fun little treasures. Here are a few I'd love to receive, and you might, too. 

Rifle Paper Co. Journals

Anna Bond is an amazingly talented Orlando-area illustrator and designer, and she’s partnered with Paper Source for this adorable set of 3 journals – give all three to someone extra lucky, or split them up to share the wealth. ($12.95 for set of three)

Umbra Perch Bottle Opener

 

You can never have too many bottle openers – at least in our house, where they seem to disappear at will. Umbra makes solid, well-designed products, and this is no exception. Pair it with a fun bottle of beer or cider – but make sure your stocking is well-secured first. Don’t ask how I know this is a good idea. ($7.95)

Instant Snow

Maybe this is less appealing if you live someplace where it actually snows, but for those of us who typically wear flip-flops in December, this stuff is super entertaining. Just add water and magically, you have snow! It’s also reusable – once it dries out, simply add more water and enjoy your science-y winter wonderland all over again.  ($2.99 - $11.99, depending on size)

Magic 8 Ball Pen

The same wisdom you’d find in the classic toy, only now office-appropriate, a multitasker, and stocking-sized. ($7.00)

{Photo Credits: Paper Source, Amazon, ThinkGeek, SpoonSisters}

 

Cute Collars for Giant Dogs (and smaller ones, too)

by Kate

While I love looking cute, I also like for my pets to be as adorable as possible. Luckily, most of that is inherent, but accessorizing always helps. There are many, many things to love about our English Mastiff, from her constantly wagging tail to her pendulous jowls. She’s a great dog. One thing I don’t love about caring for a giant breed, however, is the challenge of finding cute dog stuff that’s actually large enough to fit her. Sure, there are lots of cute collars and leashes at our local pet superstores, but 99% of them are about 10 inches too short for her massive neck.

 

One place I’ve fallen in love with is Pattern and Paw, where you can not only get adorable collars and leashes in a variety of colors and patterns, but you can add all kinds of fancy upgrades – colored webbing, metal buckles, and even a matching key fob for yourself. Or, join their collar of the month club and get a surprise sent to your mailbox each month. The gear is all high quality and (trust me on this) washes up well after a particularly muddy and messy day at the dog park.

   
Dress up your dog for the BCS National Championship in Tiger or Houndstooth

 

Collars2Switch gives you the option of switching out multiple designs without ever actually having to change the collar or move tags – always an appealing option!

Adorable winter-themed collars you can easily switch whenever you feel like!

 

CreatureCollars not only has adorable collar and leash choices, including themed fabric and gorgeous modern options (including my big weakness, Amy Butler) but also gives you the option of adding a sweet flower (the size of your choice) to whatever you order.

 

So stinkin’ cute I can hardly stand it.

Of course, these are available in all different sizes, sure to fit not only my behemoth, but your normal sized dog as well.

{Photo Credits: Pattern & Paw, Collars2Switch, and Creature Collars}