Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Sunday Lately, 83

Sunday Lately is a weekly link up brought to you by the Blogger Tribe. Link up and see what's been happening lately!Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (which is being fearlessly lead by Meghan, Nicole, Katy, and myself). We e-hang out every Sunday, sharing a small glimpse into the last week of life in our own worlds. We’d love if you could join us!
This week’s themes: Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving

 

I went to Juju in Pittsburgh for an intuitive tarot reading and omg was it so amazing. Highly recommend if you’re in the area.

Juju shop and boutique in Point Breeze in Pittsburgh. A MUST visit!

This week has been……awkward and awesome. Find out why.

Creating

Awkward: I still feel so awkward about AngelicaRoss.co and I know I shouldn’t write about that here because I’m pretty open about one being connected to the other and I don’t want to thrash my credibility…but transparency time… I feel so awkward creating in that space because I’m like “Ahhhhhh I have to be this big authority.” I had no problem blogging about blogging here last summer. So why can’t I do it there? I should be on Impostercast, I swear.

Finding

Awesome: I’m finding it hard to write this because I’m at Grist House and there are adorable dogs all over. I call this awesome because, hello, dogs. So of course I had to go on Animal Friend’s website and get distracted and heart broken over all the adorable pups that are there. I miss Clipper. I should have dognapped him when I had the chance.

Switching

Awkward: It was so hot in Virginia. Like 100+ degrees. And I’m starting to wear dresses/shorts more often. I’ve done it so much, my father is has commented on it. And my mother. And my step-father. This is coming from the person who would wear jeans 365 days a year, so I guess it’s a little weird to embrace shorts so much. But it’s hot, yo.

Awesome: I’m wearing dresses a lot more. Because no pants. And that is awesome just by itself.

Forgetting

Awesome: I forgot how awesome it was to go somewhere and just be alone. I’m not going to pretend like I didn’t ask people to meet up with me tonight, but I’m kinda glad it didn’t work so I had the chance to just focus 100% on what I wanted to.

Craving

Awkward: I have been wanting a physical change. But I don’t want to cut my hair any shorter than it is. And I really don’t want to dye it.. #virginhair. I’d get a new piercing, but I have to let me ear heal (update from last week: the end was embedded in my ear! But Six16 knew exactly what to do and, good news, I still have my ear. #winning). So what to do…

Maybe you missed…

  • My new mantra: be the fluff
  • Beach essentials that no one thinks about bringing with them to the beach. You know. If I ever went to a beach. Let’s pretend the garden is the beach because that’s mainly where my sunburns come from.

Also, Katy and I are co-hosting an August Photo a Day linkup with the Blogger Tribe. It starts tomorrow! Join in!

BLOGGER TRIBE Photo a Day Challenge August 2016

What have you been up to lately? Link up with us and share!


Beach Essentials No One Thinks About

I’ve been digging into some heavy subjects (and will continue to do so as part of my new Monday Musings / Good Question series) so I wanted to lighten things up a bit and talk about some of my favorite items for summer. Adore Me asked me to round up some beach essentials. And I’m not a beach person, but I do spend a lot of time outside in the summer in Pittsburgh, because when you’re rainier than Seattle, you have to soak up all the sun you can get. I thought I’d pass along some summer things that no one thinks about but are still essential to happy day of sun, wherever the beach may be for you.

Great list of things you probably forgot to take to the beach. This is a much better list than just sunscreen and a good book!

Soothe Your Summer Skin

I’ve written about skincare before and my tastes haven’t changed much, but since then, I have found Una Biologicals. And holy sweet potatoes if it isn’t the best thing ever. All natural products made in Pittsburgh. I recently picked up the Blemish Buster roll on because I am oilier than a frying pan in the summer (which means my face is bumpier than a corn cob – is it just me or are you getting hungry, too?) and wanted something that I could keep in my purse for easy application.

Seriously, within three hours of using this and their citrus face wash oil, inflammation was reduced and so was the redness. You could barely tell I had a massive honking zit the size of Rhode Island on my jaw.

I’m also a fan of their body butters (life saver if you’ve been burned, which you shouldn’t be because you’re responsible and put on sun block that hasn’t expired, unlike me, right?) and I was recently introduced to all-natural insect repellent and deodorant. She also have poison ivy spray, after sun care, Wound Wonder healing salve and all the things you want to help recover after a day outside (you can find all of that here). I could seriously drop rent+utilities at Una Biologicals and still walk away happy.

Have a Cool Drink of Water

Of course, if you’re anything like me, you think about the drinks first. Julia Child said, “A party without cake is just a meeting.” Angelica Ross says, “A summer isn’t complete without at least one porch drinking night.” We totally have the same spirit, Julia and I.

But even though there’s nothing greater than drinking near, on, or in a body of water during the summer, you have to remember to stay hydrated with actual water. Trust me, this one has taken me down before. I seriously hate drinking plain water (I mean, it’s just so boring) so I like to keep a pitcher filled with cucumbers, lemons, limes, berries, and other stuff that tricks you into thinking you’re drinking something other than plain water.

And since woman cannot survive on plain water alone (no good story ever started with, “So we were drinking our sparkling water…”) here’s an awesome recipe for Sparkling Rose Blueberry Floats. It’s basically fruit salad in a glass. So you’re being healthy. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

If you’re looking for other ways to drink more water, Melyssa Griffin has a really smart idea.

Don’t Be a Beached Whale

Wait, stop, don’t throw tomatoes at me yet. What I mean is Don’t just sit there, do something! Everyone thinks, “Oh, it’s a day at the beach. I’m going to sit my ass in the sand and not move.” Blessings to you, but I know I can’t sit around and eat and drink like a fish without puffing up like a fish, too, so I need to make sure I’m doing something.

I don’t want to be bouncing around the beach with little to no insurance for keeping things in place, if you know what I’m saying. I want to run around and play and for that, I need something that keeps things together. Adore Me has a great line of swimwear that is cute but it flattering for all body types, whether you want to cover up a bit more, show off your curves, run in the sand, and everything in between.

What are your beach essentials (or sunny day necessities)?

**Adore Me asked me to write about my beach essentials, but they have in no way influenced this list or provided compensation for the post. Plus, I thought it was an interesting prompt!

New Mantra: Be The Fluff

A few months ago, I had a quarter life crisis conversation. I was on the phone with my mom (yes, more stories about conversations with my mom. What can I say, she’s very wise) and I was whining about my job. I was all salty because I was going to be 26 and at the time, I worked at an entry level position.

It definitely wasn’t where I thought I’d be at 26.

So there I am, getting all frustrated and angry and I said to her, “What the hell have I been doing wrong for these past four years since I graduated?? I have two (very expensive) pieces of paper that are doing me absolutely no good! I’m basically in the same job I was in when I graduated, except now I have benefits. What happened to this alumni network that supposedly could get me into my dream position anywhere I wanted?”

Granted, I know it isn’t that easy, but I had had a bad day and I was feeling overworked and way undervalued. And like I should be a few levels up by that point.

“You haven’t learned to be the fluff,” she said to me. “Learn to be the fluff.”

Okay…. “The fluff. What’s the fluff?”

Here's your new mantra: Be the fluff! Love it! Great reminder to enjoy life, have fun, and relax a little.

You know that classic scene: three people are standing around watching the fourth person do all the hard work?

The “fluff” are the three people who stand around and smile and are talkative and chipper and happy because they aren’t the ones banging their heads against the wall trying to get everything done. They’re watching the other person run around and hold everything together.

Basically the fluff is the fun person to be around. It’s the foam in the latte.

Everyone likes the foam; that’s the best part of a latte, but everyone knows they aren’t drinking the latte for the foam, they’re really drinking the latte for the caffeine. That’s my problem. I’m the caffeine, not the foam.

Now, I’m not saying to chuck your work ethic out the door. I’m saying learn to be the fun part. Shake that chip off your shoulder. It probably wants to be with guacamole anyway (no offense).

In other words… Create space to let happiness and joy radiate from you. Marvel at the infinite possibilities of the universe. Never lose your childish sense of wonder. Other inspirational cliches here.

In other words: chill for a hot minute.

I know, I know. I can say this, but am I actually doing it? I’m not qualified to be a therapist and I’m sure as hell not a motivational speaker, but I am qualified to write words and string them into a fairly convincing sentence (that’s what one of the very expensive pieces of paper says anyway). And that’s all well and good, but it doesn’t do anything unless I actually live it.

Well, that was a few months ago and I still haven’t embraced the fluff persona. I’m still the caffeine, probably because I drink enough of it, my body is actually mostly coffee instead of water. But I’m trying.

I could sit at my computer and agonize over the clients I don’t have, the money I need, the work I should be completing. But that’s not doing any good. Instead, I’m trying to be the fluff. If I feel like going for a run at 3 in the afternoon just to get away from my desk, I do. Emails can wait. That post won’t get written any better if I force it out in a creative slump. As long as the work gets done, I’m choosing to do it the way I want to do it.

Maybe you don’t have that luxury. That’s okay. Just do something today that feels “fluffy” to you. What could that be?

  • Eating dinner in the living room in front of the TV instead of at the dining room table. Sometimes it feels good to do that, even though it isn’t the best practice for you.
  • Going for a walk at lunch instead of answering emails. Like I said, they can wait.
  • Having a latte instead of your normal house cup. Treat yo’self to some literal fluff.

Basically anything that feels like you’re giving yourself a little break.

When life gets you so stressed out t0 the point where your shoulders are up around your ears and you’re ready to snap, just remember your new mantra: be the fluff.

How are you going to be the fluff today?

Sunday Lately, 82

Sunday Lately is a weekly link up brought to you by the Blogger Tribe. Link up and see what's been happening lately!Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (which is being fearlessly lead by Meghan, Nicole, Katy, and myself). We e-hang out every Sunday, sharing a small glimpse into the last week of life in our own worlds. We’d love if you could join us!
This week’s themes: Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting

Gorgeous flowers in a garden in Colonial Williamsburg.

Colonial Williamsburg has the best flower gardens. There were marbled and spotted cockscomb and I’ve only ever seen solid colors!

Doing

I did a lot of driving this week. There were meetings and events and such and then I drove all the way to Virginia to see my mom. It’s a long drive, so I like to put on podcasts (usually that’s when I listen to Nicole Antoinette’s podcast, which is fantastically insightful if not a little long) and at least it feels like someone else is there talking to me so I don’t zone out.

Appreciating

I’m very much appreciating social media right now. I got a second forward helix piercing (it’s like the picture below, but now I have two). I went to Six16 in Lawrenceville and had the best experience. No pain, no redness, looked wonderful. Last night, I noticed it was a little swollen. This morning, it’s gone. I can’t see it. Not like it’s so swollen, I can’t see it, but it isn’t there. I can feel it, but I can’t see it. So thankfully I can DM a picture to Nick, the awesome dude who runs the place and be like, “WTF do I do??”

Designing

Finally, I think I’m getting around to making some shirts I purchased from Patterns for Pirates (cough) last year. I can’t wait to see how much of my sewing skills I still have.

Humming

Last night, we went to an organ recital – just about an hour of organ music, which is oddly nice. I’ve been to these in Williamsburg before and it almost always puts me to sleep. Last night, though, was a little more lively, which was a nice change, and a few runs are still stuck in my head.

Expecting

I’m not sure what to expect. I expect this week will be busy. There.

What have you been up to lately? Link up with us and share!


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Get your glow on with The Estee Edit

I’m going to start this by saying I’m not a fan of glowing makeup and excessive highlighter. Why? Because I usually have so much oil on my face within about 10 minutes of applying makeup that adding additional shiny stuff is basically redundant. Also, most highlighter has some color or glitter to it and I’m not about looking like a disco ball.

Okay, now that I’ve said that, I love the Estee Edit makeup I was sent by Influenster to try out. It has a primer/face color stick, lipstick/balm, and two highlighting products. I’ve been using it for about two weeks and I really like the results. The highlighting products I received aren’t glittery (mostly) and they really aren’t tinted, so they look natural and work with the rest of my makeup instead of against it.

Highlighter junkies, rejoice! The Estee Edit has amazing products to get your glow on any time of the year. These products are so flattering for summer, though! Can't wait to try them!

Pore Vanishing Stick

The Pore Vanishing Stick is possibly one of my favorite items I received in the Estee Edit box. This is a miracle stick (heh heh, dirty) with a color core and mattifying primer ring that blurs the look of pores and minimizes oil and shine. While they recommend using this as a primer, solo as your face color, or over makeup, I prefer it as a primer. It really does provide a nice, matte base that allows the rest of the illuminating products to do their job without extra help from oil on my face. I pay special attention to places I want to stay matte when I use this and not worry about even coverage since I put foundation over top.

The Estee Edit Pore Vanishing Stick is a miracle worker! It keeps you matte all day and provides an aweome primer base for makeup.

Beam Team Hydrate + Glow

The Estee Edit says Beam Team Hydrate + Glow is an illuminating, hydrating lotion with a touch-on shimmer concentrate. They recommend using it any time of day for an extra glow boost. Usually, I’ll mix the lotion into my foundation to make it more like a BB cream. Even though they say it can be worn alone for a healthy glow, it’s very sheer and doesn’t provide coverage. The “color payoff” is slightly golden; I mostly notice that it gives me a nice, vibrant beam and not color.

The glow boost in the cap is a little different. I thought I could just swipe it on from the container, but the cap gets in the way. I felt very smart the first time I tried to do that. This part does have some glitter in it, so I usually don’t reach for it daily, but I’ll bring this into the game if I want a bit of an extra highlight.

The Estee Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow is a beautiful hydrating lotion that illuminates and comes with a concentrated highlighter in the cap for spotlight highlighting!

The Estee Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow is a beautiful hydrating lotion that illuminates and comes with a concentrated highlighter in the cap for spotlight highlighting!

The Estee Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow is a beautiful hydrating lotion that illuminates and comes with a concentrated highlighter in the cap for spotlight highlighting!

Flash Illuminator

The Flash Illuminator is another illuminating product (no shit) and claims to be “your best light in a bottle.” The Estee Edit says it’s a high-impact highlighting cream that instantly illuminates skin and provides hyaluronic acid and other skincare ingredients. There are five shades ranging from Spotlight (the one I have here) to Night Light, a darker golden brown shade.

Again, I like to mix this in with my foundation if I haven’t already added the Beam Team hydrating lotion. I’ll also use this as a highlighting cream on my cheekbones (what little of them I have) and down the bridge of my nose.

The Estee Edit Flash Illuminator packs so much glow! It's great on its own or mixed into foundation for a beautiful, vibrant glow. So pretty for summer!

The Estee Edit Flash Illuminator packs so much glow! It's great on its own or mixed into foundation for a beautiful, vibrant glow. So pretty for summer!

The Estee Edit Flash Illuminator packs so much glow! It's great on its own or mixed into foundation for a beautiful, vibrant glow. So pretty for summer!

The Barest Lip Color

No surprises here, the The Barest Lip Color lipstick is my favorite item from this box. It’s a lipstick/lip balm hybrid that uses muru muru butter and real flower petal waxes for softness and shine. You can apply this sheer or layer it up if you like to live in full color. There are a range of shades, like the Flash Illuminator, though they’re all pretty much brown-nudes with a hint of pink. I have In the Buff, a nude mauve shade that’s rosy when sheered out.

I love the scent of this lipstick (true Estee Lauder lipstick that reminds me of the 90s and my grandma) and how it wears. It feels really nice, too, and moves with your lips; not that it travels, but that it doesn’t just cake onto your lips and then crack when you try to talk. Ugh, that’s the worst feeling.

The Estee Edit The Barest Lipcolor in In The Buff is a super hydrating lipstick/lip balm hybrid. What a gorgeous dusty mauve shade for summer! Definitely a switch from my bright pinks!

The Estee Edit The Barest Lipcolor in In The Buff is a super hydrating lipstick/lip balm hybrid. What a gorgeous dusty mauve shade for summer! Definitely a switch from my bright pinks!

I’m pleasantly surprised by this box of goodies from the Estee Edit. I’m actually using everything provided, even though two of the items are highlighting/illuminating products. Like I said before, while I’m not about that game, I am so about the vibrant glow they give me.

What’s your favorite way to glow?

**These products were provided complimentary by The Estee Edit and Influenster, but the opinions are my own forever and always.

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