#BeachDayMusts.

Alright alright alright... here's a fun tidbit of information you may not know about me: I LIVE for cute lingerie and swimsuits. As in, if I ever decided to open a business, you best believe it would be the cutest lingerie and swimsuit boutique in town.  With that in mind, is it surprising that I jumped at the opportunity to share my beach essentials with y'all as part of Adore Me's #BeachDayMusts hashtag? Nah, not really!  We all know that sunscreen and a bright, beachy towel are showstoppers (one literal, one figurative), but what else makes for a fun, stress free summer day? Well, I can think of a few things... -THE SWIMSUIT- Everybody is a bikini body! Just add a bikini (or a hella cute one piece) + water! My little number is a Nanette Lepore which I've had the luck of thrifting (brand new) at Crossroads Trading Co. for a fraction of its original price. Feeling the cut but not the monochromatic look? Check out this printed beauty by Adore Me. 

 -THE SANDALS- Of course a pair of flip flops from the dollar store are highly recommended for uncontrolled spaces (the beach. a waterpark. ) where you're likely to lose things or become a thief magnet. For a more intimate gathering, however, why not bust out some cute sandals? These babies are Kathryn Amberleigh (also thrifted from Crossroads) and they definitely elevate any summer look. Add these Warby Parker sunnies and you're the walking definition of cool (mine are prescription).  -THE BEAUTY ITEM- The beach is a no-makeup zone for me, but one thing I don't want to deal with is chapped lips. I love the EOS Vanilla Bean stick, although I've heard the horror stories about burns and rashes. It just hasn't been an issue for me, so fingers crossed the product continues to work!  -THE ENTERTAINMENT- When I know I'm about to spend a day lounging around, I gots to have some options! Enter the fantastic three - good music, good magazine, good book. Nothing can make my day brighter than some bouncy reggaeton, fashion inspration, and literature escapism (or a good self-help book).  -THE MEMORY CATCHER- I'm that kid - the one whose motto is "pics or it didn't happen." It's not necessarily a social media thing - it just extends the fun! Bummed that the day is over? Looking at the candids that came out of it is a perfect evening activity.  -THE REFRESHING SNACK-  ...and of course a hefty refillable water bottle! You could go for the massive ice cream cone...but who can resist a cooling slice of watermelon? 'Tis the season to be jolly and love on those colorful fruits.  Now go out there and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine. Thanks for stopping by!

Backless Dress + Green Bag.

Photos by Aidan Bradbury-Aranda

earrings: gifted from Portugal

necklace: Icing

dress: street vendor in Mexico

shawl: grandmother's

bag: Crossroads Trading Co. (orig. DKNY)

sandals: Crossroads Trading Co. (orig. Kathryn Amberleigh)

Back by popular demand one comment left on last week's post, this look features the lovely DKNY bag I snagged from Crossroads before my Eurotrip. One area of fashion that I've always been picky about is bags- I find them all to be such a commitment! Getting a decent bag is expensive and one of those things that you need to love before purchasing. While clothes come and go, a bag is a recurring star in one's look. That being said, this bag is currently one of the most cherished items in my wardrobe. We shot this look on the winding streets of Venice, a surprisingly quiet and relaxing town given its international popularity. The patterned dress mixed right in with the Venetian landscape, and the clashing shawl was perfect in keeping me warm and decent within all the basilicas we visited. This was by far my favorite look from the trip - I will never lot like an outfit created with this dress! Thank you so much for stopping by! 

Flowy Summer Top + Simple Shorts.

Photos by Aidan Bradbury-Aranda

sunglasses: Warby Parker

necklace: handmade by my cousin

top: Zara

shorts: H&M

bag: Crossroads Trading Co. (originally DKNY)

shoes: Crossroads Trading Co. (originally Nike)

It's been about 3 days since I arrived back to the land of the free and the air conditioning (#blessed), and I'm still too jet lagged for proper functioning. It was a good excuse to avoid real life for a while, but I figured I should start somewhere. That somewhere is getting back to blogging.  We took these photos in gorgeous Budapest, the first destination where the weather was on our side. After wearing a linty top spelling out "Cat-a-strophe" next to a pair of whiskers for 2 weeks straight, wearing normal summer clothes was much appreciated. I purchased this top during sale season last winter and finally got to take it for a test drive - it's a lovely hue and material - I just wouldn't recommend it braless on a windy day.  Thanks for stopping by!