Summer Favourites - 2021
With the exponential growth of thebrokeblonde this past quarter, I have been struggling to make time for my blog posts! I am working on getting help and a routine back in place so I don’t find myself 3 months behind on blog post content. As we’re rapidly wrapping up July (yikes!) I thought I would simply do a summary of all things I have been loving this summer.
I am not going to lie, since mid-may my workouts have become more of a weekly event rather than a daily occurrence but I am still very much in love with my Tone It Up App and programs, finding the motivation during a moving season seems to be more of the challenge than anything else. I have, however, been working on increasing my water intake. I love having a straw in my large Starbucks cup and would recommend it to anyone who finds themselves dangerously dehydrated like yours truly especially during a heatwave!
With everything opening up, I have been much more social than I have been in the last 18 - 24 months, I have been spending many nights out enjoying Calgary’s restaurant scene including Chakalaka, the Orchard, the Wednesday Room, Annabelle’s Kitchen, and a few new ones that are on my waitlist: Major Toms, Sensei Bar, and Fonda Fora if you know anyone who could get me in…you know where to find me!
If you’ve been following for long enough, you are familiar with my current battle to find a solid sleep routine, well once again I have let it slide to a slightly unhealthy state, although not as bad as last year, I have been using my Saje Sleep Well and Sheet Spray to help me stay relatively on track. As for supplements I am still loving Collagen and my Beauty Powder from Aura. I thought I’d change up my Coconut Collagen from Aura to Bend and while the taste is great I still prefer a liquid formula, I find it blends easier into my coffee. USE the Code HOLLY10 to save on your Aura Order!
At the beginning of the Summer, I managed to sneak away for a couple of days to Kelowna, one of my favourite spots in Canada. While the weather wasn’t fantastic we did manage to catch some rays, drink more than enough wine, find some time to get out on the water, and hike up Knox Mountain! If you ever need some suggestions on what to do in Kelowna, I’m your girl!
Over the past few months, I have made a few changes to my skincare routine, nothing drastic just a couple of alternates and additions to the team. To begin with, I still use my BeautyCounter Skin Twin Foundation, coming up on a year and still loving it. Mascara's favourite is still Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes, and I can’t see it being swapped anytime soon. I am still using my ColourPop eyeshadow palette daily however I have enjoyed playing around with Too Faced Let’s Play mini palette. As for the changes in the lineup, Dermalogica recently launched a new serum called the Smart Response Serum this serum is design to treat just what your skin needs whether its hydration, brightness, soothe, or appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I have now been using this since May and have been loving it, it is a little bit on the higher price point but if you’re looking to splurge this would be one I would recommend. However, with that being said there are a few more skincare items I have also been loving including ZO’s Vitamin C, Daily Power Defense, and Growth Factor serum, as I am staring down the tunnel to 30 I want to keep my skin as young-looking and healthy as possible. ZO is medical-grade skincare designed to help to keep your skin tight and bright. If you are in Calgary you can visit Phi Medical Aesthetic to pick up these products. I have in the past used Dermalogica’s Vitamin C, so if you were to only pick one product to start with from the ZO line I would suggest the Growth Factor Serum.
I don’t know about you but when it comes to sunny weather I find parts of my body tan faster than others, I have been using Isle of Paradise Tanning Drops in my face lotion about once a week since May to help keep my face in the same colour tone as the rest of me without basking in the sun for hours on end. This product goes far! One drop added into your typical face moisturizer amount is plenty, even half a droplet would be a good place to start, but the glow is real and gorgeous. To keep my skin hydrated and glowy I have been enjoying is BeautyCounter’s NEW Luminous Hydration Body Oil in Citrus Rosemary.
And that sums up the past few months of things I have been loving and using, I am currently reading Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, and Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach.
Let me know what products I should try out next, or any books I should add to my never-ending reading list!
