My Favorite Summer Lip Colors

summer lip colors by haleympettit featuring Revlon

In the summer months, I love to pull out my bright lipsticks. From almost-neon corals to rich berry shades, I love the simplicity and statement of a bright lip.

The Revlon Colorburst Balm Stains are a great option for summer days because they feel like a balm but fade to a stain. If you're like me, you don't like to reapply your lipstick multiple times throughout the day. These Balm Stains are perfect for days when you want to throw on a bright pop of color and then not think too much about it. They fade to a subtle stain that isn't streaky or patchy. The shade Rendezvous is a bright coral-orange shade, and Lovesick is a gorgeous pink-purple, both great shades for adding a pop of color to an otherwise neutral makeup look or outfit.

The Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart is also a great product for summer. It is very moisturizing, and adds a sheer wash of color to the lips. Sweet Tart is a peppy pink shade that can be layered and built up to a richer, hot pink color.

E.l.f.'s Lip Balm in Berry is a lovely shade for summer nights. It can be built up to a rich berry tone, or lightly applied for a natural your-lips-but-better shade. It also smells amazing - I can't quite describe it, but it's somewhere between coconut and vanilla. Yum!

What are your favorite summer lip colors? Or do you prefer to go natural?

XOXO

My Favorite Beach Reads

There's something about the beach that just calls for a fun, romantic book. Whether you're lounging in the sun and sipping on a cool drink, or curled up in towels behind a wind screen, a good book is a necessity. These are just a few books that I think would be great beach reads:

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

This book has everything you'd want from a beach read: romance, humor, heart, and a good deal of self discovery. This book is the first in the series about Belly and her relationship with Conrad and Jeremy - two very different brothers. You can probably guess that there's a bit of a love triangle, but Jenny Han also writes beautifully about family relationships and coming of age. Also, the setting is a seaside town, so the beach parties and sunrises will fit right in with your own surroundings.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

This book is a beautiful story of - you guessed it - second chances. Set in a lakeside town, this book has all the charm of a small town, plus all the inevitable drama. One thing I love about this book is that it is partly told through flashback, as the main character relives her past summers. Although there is a sad element to this book, Morgan Matson also draws out the hope and sense of belonging that comes from family relationships and close friendships.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

This book is for beach readers looking for something with a little drama and mystery - it had my jaw open in shock! This book also takes place in a small beach community, and explores the relationships between families and friends. Along with the engrossing plot, the characters are richly portrayed and the language is beautiful. If you love the YA genre but want something a little different,  I think you'll love this suspenseful read.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Now, this book doesn't exactly take place at a beach, or during the summer, but it will have you laughing out loud. This is the first in the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series, a series I read over one summer and thoroughly enjoyed. Georgia Nicolson is a hilarious teen who never fails to get herself into embarrassing situations. Written in a diary format, these books are perfect for traveling and beach reading because there are many places to stop, and easy places to pick it back up. If you love anything British and everything girly, you'll love this series. 

What are your favorite beach reads? Are there any series you can't put down?

XOXO

*cover images are from each publisher's website, linked to the title

Ikea Magazine Storage

 Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I have a bit of an obsession with magazines. I just love them! I love the essays, the photos, the illustration, the typography, the page design, the features... the list goes on! I also have a bit of a problem - I can't bear to throw them away! Not right now anyway. So I had to come up with a storage solution that helped to conceal some of my magazine boxes and shield some dust.

I went into Ikea on a mission: I knew I wanted three of their cheap Lack Tables. These side tables sell for $8-$10 so they're definitely not the highest quality furniture out there. But they work for me! I chose the faux-birch effect because I already have a lot of white furniture in my room, and I knew I would be placing them by my white dressing table and underneath a mounted white shelf.

I had already purchased the white & birch crates from Target to hold my records, so I love the way everything ties together. The tables don't hold very much weight - I think up to 50lbs or so - so I've kept the decor light: I placed my record player on one, and on another I've put a crate with library books and a vase of flowers.

I love the way that these small tables took an empty space and turned it into a functional place. As you can see, I can fit two rows of magazine boxes underneath! (Yes. That's how many magazines I've collected. Guilty.) It was a quick & inexpensive solution that I am continuing to enjoy as I switch up the decor.

How do you store/organize your magazines? Or do you tear out your favorite pages?

XOXO