My Favorite Things for April

My April has been a whirlwind so far! New opportunities are popping up like daises, and I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. On top of that I'm transitioning my closet from winter to summer. Here are my favorite things, both old and new for April.

1. J. Crew // Anya Ballet Flat

These flats are so comfortable! They actually have a sole, unlike many other flats I own, so they offer more support. I bought my first pair at J. Crew Factory last spring and they are so affordable I can't wait to add another pair to my collection.

2. J. Crew // Two Pocket Chambray Shirt

At the same time I purchased my Anya flats I also bought this chambray shirt. At first I wan't sure what to wear it with, but I found that I ended up with colored denim, chino shorts, skirts, leggings etc. If you don't own a chambray or denim shirt I highly recommend picking one up this spring! There are cuts and washes for everyone.

3. Yurbuds // Boston Special Edition

Yurbuds are great headphones for running or just everyday. In support of the survivors of the events at the 2013 Boston Marathon, they are donating 10% of the proceeds from their Boston Special edition headphones to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been helping those injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings "through events, run clinics, grants for adaptive equipment." 

4. Mission // Blister Armour

New shoes sometimes mean new blisters. I have terrible feet, probably from years of sport. I find that Mission Blister Armour prevents them especially on my heels. If I do get a blister, putting a little of this on top of the bandaid keeps the shoe from catching on it.

5. Essie // Butler Please

I love to wear this color in the summer when I'm tan. Its a bright, warm royal blue that can be edgy or preppy. It is on my toes right now! I can't wait to try it out with a matte top coat.

How I Got Though My Haircut: Poducts and Tools

So I already did a post last week I wrote about the tutorials I used to get though having shorter hair. These are the tools I'm using until my hair grows out. I actually had a lot of these already, but I had to change how I used them, like my hot rollers. On my long hair hot rollers gave me natural looking curls, waves and body; on my short hair hot rollers and tap shoes turned my into Shirley Temple.

1. Heat Protectant Spray // Blow Pro: The Heat is On - Smells lovely, works well and doesn't weight my hair down.
2. Volumizing Mousse // Aussie: Real Volume Styling Mousse - The best mousse for the touchability, hold and smell. I've tried the Root Pump from Big Sexy Hair which is works well, but I could't get over the smell.
3. Round Brush // Cricket: 2" Friction Free Thermal Round Brush- This works well, although the handle is grippy and my hair gets stuck sometimes. The ceramic base holds heat well which is nice for when I'm working on my bangs.
4. Hair Dryer // Remington: TI Studio Pearl Ceramic Hair Dryer - This hair dryer is like rock n' roll --hot and fast and loud. I love it. It has 3 heat settings and 2 speed settings and a button that does a cool blast. I use it with the angled nozzle which is nice when I'm drying my roots.
5. Curling Iron // Conair: InfinitiPro 1-1/2" Nano Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron - I use my curling iron to make pin curls using clips (6) or to add shape to my hair before I put it in rollers.
6. Pin Curl Clips // Salon Care: Double Prong Curl Clips - I use these to set my pin curls, to hold my hair on my velcro rollers and to hold my hair away from my face when I do my makeup.
7. Pin Tail Comb // Ulta - I use this comb to section my hair. Parts better than a normal comb or a mechanical pencil, which is what I was using to part my hair before I got it.
8. Velcro Rollers // Hot Tools 2" & 2-1/2" Velcro Rollers - These are necessary if you want voluptuous curves and have stick straight hair without even trying. Depending on how curvy I want my hair I will either curl my hair with my iron and then transfer the curl directly to the roller or roll my hair and blast it with my hair dryer on high for a few minutes.

How I Got Through My Haircut: The Tutorials

I have had long long hair for the majority of my life. A month ago, in a moment of clarity or insanity, I chopped it off. It hung about and inch off of my shoulders and I was hanging at the end of my rope. With no idea how to style (tame) my new short style I turned to the internet in hopes of salvation.

This video is great for learning how to blow dry your side bangs. It's super quick (less than 90 seconds) which I appreciate. It also has instructions written out as captions so you can read what you should be doing while you have your hairdryer on.

I had no idea how to get curl or volume with my short hair. I found that what I normally did for volume on my long hair, now made me look like Shirley Temple. This tutorial was helpful to give my hair some lift without the spiral curls.

This article helped me avoid the Shirley Temple look as well. I do vary my styling to curl the ends so if I have to put my hair up my ponytail has a nice flip to it.

Things I Can't Wait to Wear this Spring

Last weekend in Boston we had a mini heatwave. Temps above freezing had my hopes up. Then the mercury dropped and I had to dig my coat out of my closet. I can't wait until the 70 degree days start in Boston. I already know what I'm going to wear.

Spring Scarves

1. Lilly Pulitzer- Murfree Scarf

I can't wait to swap out my heavy wool scarf for my Murfree. I bought mine last summer and I can't wait to wear it this spring. The silk/cashmere blend and the classic Lilly patterns are perfect for spring in New England. 

Sunglasses

2. Spy Optic- Beachwood

It's been overcast in Boston for far too long. I like Spy Optic sunglasses as opposed to a high fashion brand because they are designed for a rugged lifestyle. I am not a very delicate person so these can hold up for me.

Shorts

3. J. Crew- 3" Chino Shorts

Pants are overrated. Shorts are where it's at. I cannot wait until I can wear mine. J.Crew 3" chino shorts are the best. The fit is great and they come in a rainbow of colors and patterns. I have 10 or so pairs and I can't wait to add more!

Sandals

4. Jack Rogers- Navajo

I love my Jacks. They are the longest lasting flip flop I've ever owned. The first pair I bought 5 years ago is still going strong. Like the J. Crew shorts these also come in a rainbow of colors and you can even customize your own.

Turquoise Jewelry

5. Target- Turquoise Inlay Earrings

I subscribe to certain personal guidelines when it comes to fashion. One of those guidelines is that turquoise should only be worn in the summer. My mom brought me back a bunch of turquoise jewelry from a trip she took to New Mexico in January that I have been itching to wear.

New Neutral Nail Polish

6. Essie- Cocktails and Coconuts & 7. Essie- Resort Fling

I'm over the drab and boring winter nail polish colors. I'm ready to try out these two colors from Essie's resort '14 collection. It's hard to see but Cocktails and Coconuts has a subtle shimmer to it, which should look great under the summer sun.

Bobbi Brown Beach

8. Bobbi Brown- Beach Perfume

This is my absolute favorite smell, although its not quite right for the colder months. Its equal parts beach sand, sunblock and coconut. Its the exact smell I grew up with on the beaches of New England. It's hard to capture the exact smell of an environment but Bobbi Brown did and I love her for that. This perfume just makes me happy.

Favorite Things: February

Here are some of my favorite things for February:

Clockwise from top left:

• A Cut Above from Essie & Theodora You from OPI - I like to layer the pink glitter polish from Essie over the pale pink polish from OPI. The glitter adds a nice sparkle without being gaudy. Great for Valentine's day!
• Rabbit Fur Pom Beanie from City Hunter - Although this hat isn't especially warm it's cute and can be worn folded up and slouchy. I wore it on a walk around the city last week and received quite a few compliments.
• Wicked Good Clog from L.L.Bean - BEST SLIPPERS EVER! Their shearling liner makes them fluffy and warm. They have a cork and rubber outer sole so you don't need to change shoes to take out the dog or to make a quick trip to the store. I've had mine for more than 3 years and they are still holding up great!
• Daron Terry Cardigan from Jack by BB Dakota - This is a great sweatshirt for tall girls with long arms. The back of the sweatshirt is longer in the back (covers my bum) so I can wear it with leggings. 
• Sweet Pea & Pomegranate Candle from DW Home - I love the way this candle smells. It's sweet, but not over bearing. I have the neon pink version of this candle from T.J.Maxx and the combination of the bright color and warm weather smell is a nice pick me up on overcast winter days.
• Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion from Queen Helene - This is my skin saver in the winter. It doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It's incredibly inexpensive (usually around $5 for 32 oz.) and can be bought from the drugstore. It also smells like summertime.