5 Summer Favorites

Happy Summer! I honestly don’t care if today is officially summer or not. As far as I’m concerned, if school is out, it’s full on summer! Whether you’re a teacher/student or not, our yearly rhythms often begin to slow down as summer kicks off. This is a season devoted to recreation, so if you’re anything like me, you’re looking to catch up on those little things that have fallen to the wayside throughout the busy year, spend some time away, and maybe pamper yourself a little bit with a good read or a good facial, or whatever it is that means relaxation for you.

In the spirit of a summer of full of fun and more than a little downtime, but also in the spirit of not having to spend a ton of money to find some things that spark joy -- here are five perfect and budget summer picks and products. HAPPY START OF SUMMER!

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1. Cotz Tinted Sunscreen

As I am now firmly in my mid-twenties (gasp) I’ve been starting to take skin care a little more seriously. One thing you will hear about a million times when you start to look into skincare is that you should NEVER leave the house without sunscreen on your face, and you should definitely not forget sunscreen when the sun is out on a clear day. I don’t normally need more than a light tint of coverage so this tinted sunscreen gives me perfect amount. My favorite part is the matte texture that keeps my skin from feeling oily! On a day of running errands or laying at the pool, this is all the makeup you’ll need. ​

Sunscreen Link

2. Where the Crawdads Sing

If you haven’t seen this book cover, you might be living under a rock. This has been THE book of the year so far. The thing that makes a good novel, in my opinion, is the sense of being transported to a different place and time. When an author writes about a hot summer day and I start craving an iced tea or when she describes a sleepy small town in the south and I want to start planning a vacation, I know it’s going to be the book for me. This particular novel has it all: gorgeous depictions of nature, an engaging plot with a little bit of mystery, and a romance to boot. Order this for your beach read. You will not regret it.

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Book Link

3. New Insta Follow

I usually wait a while to recommend Instagram follows because I tend to really like accounts like this, then get annoyed about all the ads or promos or extra-long stories and inevitably unfollow. But this account has stood the test of time and also provided me so many great finds. I have bought makeup, Amazon gadgets, hair accessories, and more at the recommendation of this account and have LOVED each and everyone, all without having to watch even one ad. If you like a solid product recommendation that stays in a reasonable budget, you’ll love this account.

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Instagram Link

4. Sunnies under $15

I don’t and shouldn’t buy expensive sunglasses. I cannot be trusted not to lose, break, or stretch them out by pushing them up on my head for hours and forgetting about them. So what do I need? Really high quality knock-offs that are cheap enough to be bought again and again. I think I am on my third pair of these and I will never stop loving them. They are pretty universally flattering and feel and look expensive in person. Not to mention that if you have Prime, you can have them in your hand by the end of the week. You’re welcome. ​

Sunglasses Link

5. The BEST Microwaved Popcorn

That title above - that was how this popcorn was recommended to me. I couldn’t imagine that it could actually be true, but popcorn is a bit of an obsession for me so I had to give it a shot. I can’t lie to you, this is the actual the best. I will not share it, because it is unreasonably expensive for microwaved popcorn, but no regrets -- this kills for when you need a bougie snack that is ready in five minutes.

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​And that’s all folks! If you try out these recommendations, tell me what you think! And of course if you know of summer product I need to try, tell me all about it in the comments below!

Popcorn Link