7 Summer Beach Bag Essentials $25 and under

Since the Summer temps are almost upon us, and I just got back from a tropical Hawaii vacation, I thought I'd share some of my must-have beach bag finds all for $25 and under!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4a / 4b / 5 / 6 / 7 

1. Fekkai "Summer Hair" Beach Waves Spray - $25
This tropical smelling spray gives your locks the perfect tousled, "spent all day in the ocean" look. Fekkai has never let me down. 

2. Maybelline Baby Lips w/ SPF 20 - $2.99
I've already touted about my love for this lip balm here and I'm back again to swear it is a "must have".

3. Clinique Lash Power Mascara - $15
Clinique makes one of my favorite mascaras and this version "lasts through rain, sweat, humidity, tears".  My blonde lashes need this in their lives.

4a. Neutrogena Ultra-Dry Sheer Touch Sunblock - $9.99
This dry-touch sheer formula is perfect for your facebecause it's not overly greasy.  I never wear anything else on my face!

4b. Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock - $8.99
It gets HOTTTTTTT in Texas and I mean hot. I love that this sunblock cools as it protects.

5. Xhilaration Pink Wayfarer Sunglasses - $12.99
I got a pair of pink sunglasses identical to these, but from Francesca's a few weeks ago. Every time I put them on, I am automatically in a better mood.  Put on a pair of pink sunnies and tell me you don't instantly feel summery

6. Merona Woven Black Floppy Hat - $14.99
I wore this to float the river last year and after I had a slight tumble down a mini water fall, it had a sad death. I immediately went to Target and got a new one. I can't layout without this floppy hat shielding my face from the harmful sun.

7. Marley Lilly Monogram Wine Koozie - $19.99
I don't own this, but I need to.  How cute is this?  And monogrammed?  I spy a birthday gift.

And that makes seven. What are your summer beach bag essentials?  Tell me in the comments!

My skin story and pre-makeup skincare routine

Every time I receive a compliment on my skin, I think to myself, "if only you knew."  Then it hit me. You would know if I shared my skin story, so here we are.

Even to this day, my skin is FAR from perfect, but with a little self-tanner and make-up, it won't haunt you in your sleep.  However, there was a period of time when it might have.  Not really. I'm being dramatic.  But there was a time when I was REALLY self conscience about my skin.  Ahhh, the middle school awkward years, I don't miss you at all.

In case you are wondering, yes, that is a jean skort.

I started seeing a dermatologist on the reg at around 10-years-old.  I have been on almost every antibiotic pill there is for your skin, used every topical treatment, tried Proactive, given over the counter products a whirl and finally, my most extreme measure was going on Accutane in the 9th grade.

Prior to going on Accutane, I had several sessions of "acne surgery".  Basically this witch of a woman aka my dermatologist would clean my skin with this horrific tool.  I had tears streaming down my face the entire time because it hurt so bad and she would snarl, "Calm down, I didn't tell you this wasn't going to hurt."  OK mam, but I'm allowed to cry if it feels like someone is taking an ice pick to my face.  I hated her and switched dermatologists shortly after.

Accutane has some severe side effects, but it was the final measure after exhausting all other options and I was willing to do whatever it took. Accutane worked, but the results didn't last forever. I still suffered from breakouts all throughout college and almost went on Accutane again. I discontinued using prescription medicine for my skin a few years ago because it seems as though I've finally outgrown my acne days.  Knock on wood.

Don't get my wrong, I get breakouts from time to time.  However, I have to be very dillgent about how I care for my skin, and this is what I swear by. 

I've mentioned this before, but I use Johnson & Johnson's Purpose Cleansing Wash to wash my face every day and night without exception NO MATTER HOW TIRED I AM.  I force myself.

I love it because it is soap-free so it does not dry your face and it won't ever sting your eyes, so it's ideal for removing your eye make-up. I rarely ever have to use eye make-up remover.  Seriously, I have not used any other face wash since middle school and I refuse to waiver.  You can find it at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc.

I don't religiously use toner, and I definitely try to lay off of it in the winter.  When I do use it, I love Clinique Clarifying Lotion in Level 4 for very oily skin or Level 3 for oily skin.  I use Level 4 during the day because it's stronger and helps control oil longer.  My skin is VERY oily so I like toner for helping to control the shine.  I really don't think toner is a skincare necessity, but I'm no expert.  Just my opinion.

For the longest I used Purpose Lotion too, but it was too heavy and greasy for my skin, so about a year ago I made the switch to Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and I've never looked back.  This stuff is amazing.

This gel is designed to balance moisture in the cheeks but control oil in the t-zone.  The only downfall to this lotion is that it contains no SPF, but I use foundation with SPF instead.

If I know I'm going to be out in the sun for any prolonged period of time, I apply sunscreen because my skin is so, so, so fair.  During the summer I am psychotic about staying in the shade if I'm ever by a pool and I always wear a big floppy hat and a towel over my face if there is no shade available.  

I swear I've been burnt through a car window on a car trip before, but people tell me that's impossible.  I see your side-eye too, but I promise it happened!

My favorite sunscreen for the face is Neutrogena's Age Shield Face Sunblock in 110 SPF.  Yes, 110.  I am petrified of wrinkles and skin cancer.  I've found this sunscreen is the most lightweight formula with the best protection.    

That is my pre-makeup skin routine!  All the products I use are very affordable and my skin stays in fairly decent shape.  Please let me know if you have any questions or skin care secrets that you swear by.

I will share my face make-up and nightly skin care routine in upcoming posts.

To: Lindsey ... Love, Santa

This is not a "omg come fawn over what I got for Christmas because I am so awesome and privileged post" (valley girl voice).  Trust. I am not that girl and y'all should know this by now.  I use $5 shampoo and drink gas station wine like it's going out of style. I want to know what YOU got for Christmas, so I figured your pretty little faces might want to see what old St. Nick left for me under the tree.

All right, now that we got that settled, shall we take a look at my goods?

First up is the now infamous cat hat, which was quite a hit in yesterday's post.  If you'd like to embrace your inner feline, you can get your own at your local Target.  Target has it all, but we already knew this.

And to those of you saying I look like a Victoria's Secret model in the first pic: bless you.  You are blind ... i mean kind.

You might be a wine-o if ...

You get three bottles of wine, wine stoppers, a high heeled wine holder, a wine opener, magnetic wine charms, wine tissues, wine napkins and four more of your favorite wine glasses from your family for Christmas. *hangs head in shame*

I don't think I can continue on with this post any longer without showing you my new beloved.  The Michael Kors Gansevoort Large Tote in Teak. It was love at first sight and I've been coddling her like a baby ever since.

My mom and I found this Jewelry Armoire from the Cottage Collection at Target for half off, which matches my new room perfectly . Obvs i had to have.  While we're on the subject, I hope to do a tour of my room soon.  It's almost complete!

Looks like so when opened:

My grandma got me a few new gadgets for the kitchen.  A legit Paula Deen colander because my previous ones from my college days were tiny, plastic and deformed.  Look ma, I'm all grown-up with a big girl colander.

A mashed potato masher because I didn't own one and "every body knows" (Phaedra Parks) a good Southern girl needs to know about to properly mash a tater:

And because I'm obsessed with Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton and they got married on Don Strange Ranch like I want to some day, my Grandma got me this book filled with Don Strange's famous recipes as well as  personal anecdotes by the blog's author and his wife of 48 years.  

I've only had a chance to skim, but I already love it and want to try out so many of his recipes like yesterday.

Speaking of Miranda and Blake,  I also got her latest CD, Four the Record.  I cannot stop listening.  Every girl needs this CD because her songwriting is just beyond.  "The Same Old You" goes out to Lucifer, the ex.

I'm now the owner of this 10-piece baking set perfect for cooking and storing in the same dish. Loves.

Now for the beauty items.  Another new prized possession: a CHI BLOW DRYER!!  This Chi dryer dries my hair so much faster and makes it so much smoother than my old Revlon blow dryer. You don't even know.

When you have ridiculously thick and Amish length hair like me, you need this in your life.

I also got a baby curling iron to match my regular one:

My cousin got me this Fekkai Glossing Starter Kit, which I used for the first time yesterday.  I can't remember the last time my hair felt this soft, so needless to say, I'm now a believer in hair glossing.

I got a much needed refill on my face lotion, the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturing Gel.  The best for oily skin IMHO.  I don't know how I ever went without this every day.

I didn't take pictures of all of my stuff, but I also got a new set of chocolate brown sheets for my bed, all the clothes I asked for on my wish list, jewelry, VS lip gloss and pj bottoms, Starbucks gift cards, e.l.f. make-up, Clinique make-up, scarves and gloves, etc.

I am blessed beyond belief and my family did way too much.  Santa must have put me on top of his nice list this year, but really ... do you blame the guy?  KIDDING.