Amazon It List

 {Top to Bottom; Right to Left: 

Dress, Earrings, Lace Swim Cover Up, Headbands, Bamboo Purse, Pink Crocodile Clips, Marble Tray, Sunscreen, Hair Clips, Workout Leggings, Stripe Shirt, White Slides, Swimsuit}

  My Amazon IT list of what I'm feeling and loving right now. That prime gets me everytime. Here are the fashion, accessory and other random items I recommend:
Cute totes and purses for summer are great to find for cheaper on Amazon! I love this round wicker purse for under $30, this popular bamboo tote and this black/white stripe beach tote for under $25.
All the things you need for summer at the pool or beach are on Amazon! My favorite sunscreen, this cute and flattering strapless swimsuit, these birkenstock knock-off and waterproof slip on sandals, and a lace swimsuit coverup that can double as a summer layer to an outfit (worn here).

I get a lot of my everyday hair tools and products, as well as fun trendy pieces from Amazon. I have been using this hot tools curling iron for 10+ years. It's inexpensive and works like a charm.  And I use these crocodile clips to keep pieces of hair back while I style my hair.
I am loving the fun hair clip trend and have picked up these pearl ones (seen on Nora and I above) and geometric/tortoise shell ones. Nora and I share these clips - she still thinks it's fun to match. :)  I've also just ordered these knot headbands for under $15.

My closet isn't hurting either - I love Amazon's workout pants (worn above) for workout classes or shorter/cooler workouts (they just don't breath as well as more expensive versions, but at $25 and a ton of fun colors - worth it!). I also love stocking up on summer dresses - like this stripe short-sleeve dress.
And what's a closet without a million stripe shirts? This one is under $18, and I love how it's longer in the back - perfect for wearing with leggings.
Some of my current favorite shoes I've scored recently are these cream sneakers and these white slides:

A light weight and fun earring to add to your summer rotation are these tortoise shell hoops.
And probably one of the most popular buys from previous Amazon posts over on my Like2Know.it account, and that I also love myself is this faux-marble tray that I use as a sink caddy for my soaps and, another favorite item, this soap dispenser that suds up in the dish with the brush.

SHOP IT ALL HERE:

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Favorite Modest Swimsuits

   Swimsuits are so much fun these days - and I never would have thought I'd ever say that, even back in the day when I was in way better swimsuit shape.  Their are SO many styles, prints, patterns, and with modest styles being the preferred (for sun-safety number one) and most in-style option of them all.  I love how swimsuits are now an extension of summer outfits, and some you can even easily wear as a top with the appropriate bottoms.
My long-time favorite one piece is this strapless and ruched number that comes in many colors and sizes (regular, long-torso, D and DD cup).
Love this strapless, ruche one-piece with a fun design and pattern (I can see it being a really cute top for pool/beach to happy hour wear).
This stripe with solid side one-piece comes in lots of different patterns, and I love the feminine and flirty cut with the sliming structure and patterns.
If it's stripe you're looking for, I love this stripe + mesh version that draws the eye up!
If you are moving into a one-piece from two-piece territory for the first time, you might try a cute cut-out one that is sort of the best of both worlds!
I love the bold colors and geo-design of this one piece suit - and have it in my cart right now (do I really need another suit?!?). I saw Rebecca from Mommy in Heels trying it on in her IG Stories and loved it right away.
A site I love for two-pieces (yes, TWO!) is Lime Rickie - they have high-waisted and cute peplum tops for a look that still covers you up!   Even more suits I love can be found below!  Happy swimming...

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National Stripes Day - Your Strip Must Haves!

 

    Leave it to J.Crew to create National Stripes Day - but how in the world has this not happened already?!?  Either way, I think it's brilliant. My closet is certainly thinks so, too. I could literally exist in stripes.  So, for this very important holiday, I've compiled some of my favorite striped pieces to get you freshened up for Spring/Summer!
Some of my favorite striped pieces, from J.Crew to Target:
1. The Red Stripe Look - this whole thing is perfection, but definitely digging the red-stripe skirt.
2. You can even add stripes to your athleisure look with this sporty stripe top.
3. Loving these spring-y striped flats!
4. Stripes for work - loving this striped button down top.
5. You can even dress up stripes for a summer wedding with this colorful striped dress.
6. I will definitely take my fashion-dose of stripes served up on a swimsuit, especially this white with black striped one!
7. Love this multi-print, summer-loving top with a surprise stripe back!
8. I love my own striped overnight/weekender bag, but this multi-striped one is great!
Here are even more stripe-loving pieces for spring/summer:

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Pool Nights & Picnics Dreams

Summer evenings are best spent at the pool... just as the sun is beginning to set and is not so bright (or damaging), and the pool is a bit less crowded (or super empty after a kid poops in the pool - not mine, I swear!).  After a long day spent at the office, it's the perfect way to spend a hot day/evening.  And by 5:30pm or so, with SwimZip suits for the kids, we don't have to worry as much about sunscreen either (we still apply it - especially to the face), because SwimZip is super sun-safe for the kids, and easy as a zip to put on those wiggly bodies.  You can see our last SwimZip suits here (slow down time...).
The kids always get so excited when we pick them up from school and announce - we're headed to the pool!  We typically hurry down dinner before going, but last week, Liam asked if we could have a pool picnic instead.  When I agreed with him, announcing that was a great idea - he was ecstatic (mom of the year!).  Then he picked PB&J, applesauce and raisins, Nora demanded the addition of Snapea Crisps (our family's new addiction) and we were set for a super nutritious pool dinner.
And pretty much had the pool to ourselves due to said poop.  Don't worry, they shocked the pool and we got there after it was safe to get in - but it really cleared out the pool, that's for sure.

{SwimZip sent to us these swimsuits & beach towel, but we're already fans and no compensation or requirement to post was made - round towel, Liam's suit and Nora's suit}

Post-pool must for my little blondies: SoCozy leave-in conditioner & detangle (and then we use this 3-n-1 back home in the bath!).  I love this kid's hair brand (we also have their line for curly hair!), and you can see all the different types of products for different kid needs here!

What are your hot summer night family activities?

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Our Family's Summer Vacation

Just a few weeks ago (but feels like months ago), my little family and I went on our summer vacation.  We road tripped down to Destin, Florida.  Final destination is about 15 hours away, but we took our time and spent 24 hours in Memphis (which I shared here!) on the way down.
We arrived in Destin super late at night.  We rented a condo in the Islander, and they had 24-hour desk services, so we were able to get in to our condo no matter how late!  We stayed in a 2-bedroom condo, with a full kitchen, kitchen table, living room, 2 full bathrooms, TVs in each room, a balcony with a lounge chair and table and chairs - it all!  It was really nice, and the two bedrooms - one for the kids, so we could keep some sort of routine.  We were in a row with 5 other friends that were also down with their own families. It was nice to have us all in a next to each other!
The location of our condo was right near the beach.  We just walked past a pool and then over the boardwalk to the white sugary-fine sand and ocean. With our condo rental also came with an umbrella and two beach lounge chairs, which someone set up for us each day.  We brought a pop up tent that we also used, since Nora actually loved staying in the shade, this was a good thing!
Oh how I loved this beach! The ocean was a teal-turquoise color. So beautiful. No one got stung by a jelly fish or anything else.  The sand was so soft and powdery.  This was Nora's first (warm) beach trip and Liam's last one was when he was a baby, so essentially his, too. Throughout the trip, the got more comfortable with the sand and ocean waves.  Here are some ocean photos:

Our condo building had two pools (and hot tubs).  We basically bounced back and forth between the beach and the pool each day, but then almost every night we did some night pool-swimming, too.  The kids got tons more comfortable in the pool, which was great.  We brought a bunch of fun pool floats which I think helped.  The kid-sized donut float was perfect for Nora to kick around in (alternating between that and her puddle jumper).

{Liam & Nora loved their hoodie downs by Just Born - Nora's had little whales, and Liam's had anchors, so they always knew whose towel was whose, and who had lost theirs, haha.}

 We also ate at a couple of good restaurants - that ended up being doable with the kids and a group of people, too!  For amazing fish, we headed to Harbor Docks.  We got there early enough (5ish) to beat the rush and actually got a back room all to ourselves.  The loud kids (we went with one other family) didn't disturb anyone after the staff came and shut the doors... haha.  Hint taken.

All 6 families ventured out for dinner one night - went to Pompano Joe's! It was such a fun place.  It was situated right on the beach, which the patio/outdoor space overlooked.  They had a band playing on the beach-level, where their was also a bar, picnic tables and a whole beach to let the littles run!  Again, we got their early (5ish!) to avoid a long wait, but we hung around after to play at the beach a bit.

 {All the mamas!}

 Our last night in Destin was pretty laid back. We were the last family standing (everyone else left the day before).  So we explored some other areas of the town by day, and spent sunset on the beach.  This ended being one of my favorite nights. The beach was cleared of all the chairs and umbrellas, not as many people and the sunset was gorgeous. I wish we had done this every night.

Shop some of our beach must-haves, swim suits & clothing as seen in this post here:

Few other things:  My deep-v one-piece suit is old from Old Navy, but super similar here and here. My rashguard top from Old Navy (this season, but now sold out) Nora's white windowpane top + skirt outfit from Old Navy (but sold out). Liam's trunks + rashguard c/o Sunuva. Nora's blue stripe suit from Target this year (but now sold out).
Where have been some of your favorite places to go on family vacation (especially with YOUNG kids!)?

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