EiR NYC's Summertime Sun Care

I am so pumped to introduce you all to something I am completely obsessed with: EiR NYC's sun care line. I know, I'm really excitable when it comes to sun protection but you guys, it's so important (we'll thank ourselves when we're older) and trust me this stuff is GREAT.

The line is based in Brooklyn (so obvi I love it already), is all natural, and if that wasn't enough I'm head over heels for the actual products. I ordered the poolside lounge kit last year before our honeymoon and some cooling butter too, because honestly Doug and I are not the most tan people and I knew that we might want (need) something to help with sun recovery, even though we were super diligent about wearing sunscreen. I thought that the travel sizes would be perfect to tote across the world, enjoy thoroughly and then recycle before we flew home. I didn't realize that I would refuse to part with even a drop of these oils and would therefore fly nearly empty bottles back home to NYC.

This story has a happy ending, because I have now stocked the full size of both EiR's surf mud body oil and the sunset oil. I use the surf mud body oil daily for a bit of sun protection when I'm out and about in the city. It's SPF 15ish thanks to chocolate and zinc, so I'm careful to let it dry before putting on white clothing but haven't had a problem. If I'm going to be out in direct sun for an extended period (i.e. more than just incidental exposure) I apply the surf mud body oil, let it sink in, and then a mineral sunscreen. I'm a delicate flower when it comes to sunburns and this combo has proved super effective for me while the body oil keeps my skin moisturized.

If I want to transport myself back to tropical paradise all I need to do is apply the sunset oil. The scent is super subtle but I find it totally intoxicating. I've started wearing it instead of perfume and have gotten raving compliments about it (but its soft enough that you have to lean in close to discover it). The skin on my body has truly never been happier than when we came back from our honeymoon. As someone who has had dry, sensitive, irritated skin for much of my life that is not a claim I make lightly. Granted, I had the luxury of time to leisurely apply body oils morning and night, but these two products completely won me over by keeping my skin soothed and moisturized through nearly two weeks of sun, sand, and salt water.  

Editor's notes: My poolside lounge kit is currently missing its surf mud. It's been MIA since we went to Bermuda (insert grimace emoji here). If I don't find it soon I'm going to have to restock before our next beach getaway.  My favorite is the surf mud pro, in stick form - it's perfect for the backs of knees, shoulders, and other awkward burn-y places.  

If you're curious to try EiR you can check out their stockists and if you're in Brooklyn, I spotted their goods at the new Feed shop / cafe in Dumbo's Empire Stores. You can find my beach / picnic blanket pictured above (a Tunisian fouta, which has endless possible uses) here. 

Summer of Stripes

{Madewell Blouse and White Jeans; Kayu Clutch (similar), J.Crew Earrings, The Ropes Bracelets, Soludos Espadrilles}

This summer, in my life, is the summer of stripes. I noticed a strong tying theme running through my recent purchases, as evidenced here and here, and I'm not mad about it. I always love stripes, and consequently they're an enduring part of my wardrobe. While I love classic pieces, I'm not one to chase after trends because I have a hard time justifying spending money on things that will quickly feel dated, but I also shy away from fast fashion (more on that another day). I love the off-the-shoulder and cold-shoulder blouses that have been everywhere recently, but I waited until it was clearly not just a proverbial flash in the pan to commit to it.

I was also thrilled to find this Madewell blouse (which is currently $40) because I love the neckline, the color, and (of course!) the stripes. This blouse is a cotton and linen, which makes it a perfect choice in the summer heat. I've been wearing it on repeat, and like it so much that I wore this exact outfit to my high school reunion last week (hiiiii to all my UA readers). That's a pretty good test that I feel comfortable and confident in it!  

Soooo I cut about five inches (maybe six?) off my hair recently. I call this the "married lady chop",  a phenomenon I noticed with various girlfriends who grew their hair out leading up to the wedding only to cut it dramatically shorter soon thereafter (in one case getting a pixie cut!!). I enjoyed having my hair longer and kept it through the winter thanks to lower average humidity. Once summer hit, I was itching to do something different and I'm loving the change. It's fun and swingy and feels so much lighter for summer.  

This shot is just me gratuitously playing with my newly-shorter hair. Have a great week! 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating everything you hold dear about our great country.

In honor of the holiday I'm taking today off. While the current political climate has been the most divisive I've witnessed in my lifetime, I remain so grateful to be American. I want to spend today reflecting on the people, institutions and values that make the U.S. distinctive. I'll be back next week with regularly scheduled content. In the meantime, God bless America, land that I love. 

Bermuda

Ah, Bermuda. It felt like a tropical dream, with turquoise waters, beautiful sunsets, pastel homes, and boats everywhere you look. And yet, as we discovered, it's less than a two hour flight from the East Coast. Take your passport and a short flight and you'll find yourself a world away, with plentiful rum cocktails awaiting your arrival. As you may have guessed already, I highly recommend Bermuda!   

Towering bougainvillea and other flowering bushes line the sidewalks and parks in Hamilton, the largest town in Bermuda. I wish I'd gotten a picture with me in it for scale, because I swear these things were 20 feet tall! 

As you see below, the buildings all have distinctive white roofs, which are covered in a lime wash and designed to both withstand hurricanes and collect rainwater. It's an ingenious solution for precious resource. I was completely smitten with the pastel colors, which seem so happy and set off beautifully against the blues from the sky and the water. 

See that little purple shiny object, half covered in sand in the photo above? That's a Man o' War. Stay far, far away!!

Our trip fell just before the start of the America's Cup sailing race in Bermuda, and we got to see the teams practicing in their crazy-fast catamarans. We got a great view of the America's Cup course and teams practicing on the ferry from Hamilton to the Royal Dockyard, and you can see the Emirates New Zealand boat above. The ferry service is an excellent way to get around the island: it's efficient, economical, and offers a great chance to be on the water! The photo below was taken at the Royal Dockyard, which we found to be surprisingly charming (despite being the spot where cruise ships drop off masses of people). 

We managed to fit a round of golf into our quick trip and were treated to stunning views from the Port Royal Golf Course.  

I was struck by the friendliness of everyone we met, and their kind advice to help us have the best trip possible. Upon arrival, our taxi driver reminded us that the buses and ferries were a great way to get around since visitors can't rent cars on Bermuda (sage advice which my brother and sister-in-law had passed along beforehand too). Taxis are plentiful but expensive and we didn't want to deal with the hassle of renting a scooter, which is an option for visitors. We took the buses to St. George's, seen above and below, which was terribly quaint and made a great afternoon excursion.

Our wonderfully informative taxi driver also gave us a recommendation for what turned out to be our favorite meal of the trip, at the Village Pantry in Flatts Village. I didn't take a single picture, but it was a delicious, memorable meal that I think of so fondly. The food was great, the setting was cute, we ate outdoors, and it was so fun and relaxing - in short everything I hope for on vacation! 

After getting our first taste of Bermuda (along with a few Rum Swizzles and Dark n' Stormies), we have vowed to go back - and sooner rather than later!

p.s. here's the outfit I wore for sunset cocktails in Bermuda and my travel uniform for any flight

Summer in the City: 2017

Tomorrow marks the first official day of summer (YAY!), today is my birthday, and last night was the first proper thunderstorm of the season. A good storm always reminds me of summers growing up in Ohio since the Midwest gets serious thunderstorms rolling through. There's really no contest, summer is my favorite season thanks to long days, time spent outdoors, beach getaways, fireflies, the above-mentioned birthday., and fresh berries and stone fruits.

This year, I have the luxury of free time as we're not traveling to any weddings let alone planning our own wedding. Here are a few of the ways I hope to take advantage of this summer: 

1. Take Foster on her first hike, probably north of NYC along the Hudson River 
2. Spend a non-holiday weekend in Ohio, catching up with family and friends and grilling out (Ohio sweet corn is THE BEST)
3. Take the new NYC Ferry to Rockaway Beach (I'm more than willing to brave the lines on the new ferry service in return for avoiding summer traffic)
4. Host an outdoor dinner party 
5. Escape the city to Long Island or New England beaches for a long weekend
6. Go stand up paddle boarding on Long Island Sound 
7. Make homemade margaritas (which I've never attempted before and for some reason am slightly intimidated by)
8. A Celebrate Brooklyn concert (I went to two last year, and they were definitely among my summer highlights)
9. Take the Backyard Grilling class at The Brooklyn Kitchen's new location in Industry City (we don't have a grill, or even hope to have one in the near future, but I am undeterred!) 
10. Catch Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge park, picnicking with my new raspberry pink fouta (think Tunisian sarong / towel / beach blanket) as seen here

p.s. you can find last year's summer to-do list here, and the 2015 version here

above: wine tasting on Long Island last summer // top photo: Wellfleet