How To Treat Post Festival Hair

Festival season is here! While dancing your heart out to the music of your dreams in the desert are great for a good time, the elements are hard on your hair. This time of year also means busy season for me in terms of work, and a few of the most tell-tale signs of damage that come along with creating that perfect look include dryness, tangled hair, and loss of shine. Womp, womp. It's no secret that rehabbing the health of my hair is something I've been working on for a while now, so I'm excited to share Pantene's limited-edition Festival Hair Kit with you! 

Pantene is the proud sponsor of festivals like Coachella, Stagecoach, and Firefly in 2019. With that said, they've put 5 products into a portable kit to treat your hair before, during, and after festival! 

What's in the Festival Hair Kit?

Pre/during festival Pantene products:

• Dry Shampoo // Refreshes hair without washing it, for a fresh and clean look. This also smells amazing. Just spray, rub in and brush at the roots or wherever refreshment is needed most for a fresh and clean look, even on the second or third day!
• On-the-Go Frizz Iron // Controls frizz or fly aways without heat or water. Essential if you are traveling somewhere (aka a festival) with tons of humidity as frizz is bound to happen! Apply directly to your hair, like a traditional flat iron (but without the heat.) Close the Frizz Iron around your hair and glide from top to bottom. It straightens, smooths and moisturizes any hair type!
• Airspray // locks out humidity mentioned above, and controls shine for a strong hold and lasting frizz control. This is Pantene's alcohol-free hairspray. It creates a brushable, silky, controlled light-weight finish. Perfect to lock in your festival hair!

Post-Festival Pantene Products:

• Intense Rescue Shots // Noticeably repairs extreme damage to hair in one use. This is currently the #1 best selling NEW treatment item across the haircare category. After washing hair with a shampoo, dispense the treatment into your hand and apply onto damp hair, massaging from root to tip, targeting areas that see the most damage! Leave in for 30 seconds, rinse for 30 seconds.
• Nourishing Mask Sachets // Two Nourishing Mask sachets are included and they deliver a nourishing boost to dry or parched hair, delivering an instant hydration boost and visibly healthier, shinier and stronger hair! While in the shower, after shampooing, comb mask into your hair from mid-shaft to ends. Leave on for 5-7 minutes or longer if desired. Rinse thoroughly after use!

I love that the Pantene Festival Hair Kit is so easy to pack. It comes in a pretty iridescent bag that's perfect for matching your festival gear, and it's available on Amazon with Prime shipping. Couldn't be any easier!

This content is sponsored by Pantene. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

SHOP THE KIT:

Spring Outfit Inspiration under $30

Peplum Top // Distressed Skinny Jeans // Straw Panama Hat // Wedges 

 One of my goals this year was to take it upon myself to be better at finding deals for you guys. While I love a good splurge, I realize that it's not realistic for everybody. So here we are! Everything in this outfit is from Walmart and each featured piece is under $30 (the wedges, jeans, top, and hat). I guess what makes me even more excited about this post, is the fact that they are also great quality pieces. I'm a big believer in quality over quantity so I did a ton of research on best sellers, read reviews, tried on over 40 items, and was most impressed with this head to toe Walmart fashion look! They have really stepped up their game in the fashion department, and I'm here for it.

The top is soft, stretchy, and comes in several colors (its also only $12)! I'm wearing a size small and would say it runs relatively true to size (it's a roomier top). The jeans are a total win! Sizing runs kind of funky, and I ended up sizing up two sizes so I'm wearing an 8 (normally a size 4), but they are insanely good for the price! I love the high-waisted fit, the darker wash, and they have Lycra in them which is essential for comfort in my opinion. My wedges are an under $20 find, and a dupe for a designer pair I own. I actually loved this because it gave me the opportunity to compare, and I honestly cannot tell a major difference between the two. The images of these shoes online look like a darker brown color leather, but the color pictured is the true color of the shoe (a cognac leather). 

I ended up wearing this out to happy hour at La Crema with Katie while we were in 30A last week! It's absolutely perfect for the spring time temperatures, and for carrying you from day to night. You could pair it with sandals during the day, and swap for the wedges at night for a more elevated look. 

All in all, this entire look runs you around $65 total with free shipping. Not bad if you ask me! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about these posts!

SHOP THE POST:

*In partnership with Walmart. As always, all opinions are my own.

Striped One Piece Swimsuit in Panama City Beach

Striped Halter One Piece

*Thank you to Zappos for sponsoring today's post. As always, all opinions are my own. 

It's officially* bathing suit season, and as many of you know I just recently paid a visit to Panama City Beach, Florida. With spring break, summer, and lots of vacation time on the horizon - I am thinking many of you may be in the market for a new swimsuit. I have recently had such good luck with Zappos, so today I'm telling you about my latest find.

I took this black and white one piece from Polo Ralph Lauren at Zappos with me to Florida and got tons of compliments on it! I like that it's more conservative, yet still trendy and unique. I was on the hunt for a good one piece, read tons of reviews, and this one seemed to be the winner in all categories. It has a smooth stretch fabric unlike any other swimsuit I've owned, and the belted detail adds an area of interest around the waist that's super flattering on various body types. It also includes soft removable cups for extra support and shape should you need it, and an open back with moderate coverage across the bum. I added a simple white cover up and a couple monochromatic accessories for a complete beach ready look!

I've mentioned this before, but I absolutely love Zappos shipping policy! This arrived to me in 1 business day and shipping was free. Perfect for last minute shoppers like myself. I actually ordered the suit in two different sizes since I was unsure of how sizing ran with Polo Ralph Lauren, knowing I can return the unused size for up to one year. I would recommend sizing up one size in this (I am wearing a Medium). 

A Locals Guide To Asheville, NC

MY PERFECT DAY

What to do in a place like this if you only have 24 hours?

My perfect day in Asheville would start with a cup of coffee from my very own Nespresso machine located in my room at The Foundry hotel before throwing on my sneakers for a sunrise hike through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Frying Pan Mountain Trail is located just a short 40 minute drive via the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway from downtown Asheville, and boasts some of the most stunning panoramic views the NC mountains has to offer. Alternatively, Craggy Gardens would also make for a great hike if you're seeking something slightly closer. After your hike, head over to Spa Theology for a hot stone massage to relax and unwind from the mornings activities (ask for Nani, she's amazing). Spa Theology is just a 5 minute walk from The Workshop Lounge where you can experience a taste of Appalachian cooking for lunch - the Big ALL-DAY Salad is a must. Grab the hotel's house car for a quick ride over to the Grove Arcade to checkout some local shopping and live music near Wall Street. If arts and culture are more your thing, you could also head over to the River Arts district to check out a diverse selection of local art studios. From here, I would head over to my favorite spot for sunset - The Montford. Grab a craft cocktail here for happy hour, watch the sunset, and then round out your day with dinner at Limones just across the way from the hotel, a local favorite for dinner. If you're not too worn out, venture over to French Broad Chocolates for dessert - the carrot cake and milk and cookies ice cream are worth the calories! 

MY FAVORITES

Workshop Lounge // Lunch and Happy Hour (great craft cocktails)

French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe // Dessert + coffee

Limones // Dinner

Curate // Dinner

The Grove Arcade // Shopping

Sierra Nevada Brewing // Brewery

Frying Pan Mountain Trail // Activity 

Spa Theology // Activity 

WHERE TO STAY

My Impression

One of my favorite things about The Foundry is the old world meets new world vibe. The hotel is an old restored steel factory turned into a luxurious retreat perfect for all travelers. Natural light pours through the windows throughout the hotel, and the decor is executed perfectly making you feel warm and welcomed from the start while still paying subtle homage to it's roots. The Foundry is tucked away in it's own little corner of downtown so it feels like a secluded private retreat, even though you're just steps away from Asheville's most sought after attractions. Perhaps what stood out to me the most is the great pride in genuine and warm hospitality throughout the staff. Be sure to grab a drink at The Workshop and ask for Jeremy, one of the most talented, helpful and friendly bartenders I've ever met! 

My Experience

The food, live music, art, and outdoors here are incredible! I get more smitten about this place with each visit, and I can truly attribute a large portion of that to the people. The people in Asheville are not only prideful of their city and their local craft, but they are some of the most genuine, open, honest, and kind souls I have ever met. It's truly a breathe of fresh air! It can't go without mention that the food is outstanding! Asheville's food scene has truly stepped up to the plate over the last few years with small local businesses thriving and truly providing an authentic experience. Asheville is one of the only cities left in the country where you can find things, you can't find anywhere else - part of what makes it so charming. 

SHOP THE POST:

5 Fun Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend In The Perfect Swimsuit

Tommy Bahama Beach Glass Striped Bikini Top // Tommy Bahama Striped High-Waisted Bikini Bottoms

* Thank you to Zappos for sponsoring today's post. As always, all opinions are my own.

When I worked at my corporate job, Memorial Day Weekend was always the holiday we all looked forward too being that it's the first major holiday since New Years Day that employers typically allow off. Even though I'm not at that job anymore, every time I look at this Tommy Bahama bathing suit from Zappos it reminds me of MDW! Well, that and the fact that we are already in April and everything we like to do for MDW always requires some advance planning so it's been the topic of conversation amongst hubby and I and our friends these last couple weeks. So, in honor of the blue and white stripes and the fact that summer is only a little over a month away, I am sharing 5 fun things you can do Memorial Day weekend - in this swimsuit.

1. RENT A BOAT 

I'm a water baby! If you didn't already know, now you know. If we don't want to travel, my all time favorite thing to do is rent a boat up on Lake Norman. Sure, it can be kind of expensive but it's less expensive than traveling and we've actually found a pretty economical way to do this on a regular basis. Most boats hold around 12 passengers, so we always gather a group of 8-10 friends and split the cost of the boat. This typically ends up running us $50 a person with gas. Grab a cooler, your favorite snacks, and friends and you're all set for a day of fun on the water. 

2. HEAD TO THE BEACH 

We love a good beach weekend! It's the perfect time to relax, unwind, and celebrate the start of summer with family and friends. We typically rent a house in Charleston or on Kiawah Island and split up the cost of the house with our friends. This is also great for saving money on eating out as you have the ability to grab groceries and cook at home. Additionally, it is a super kid friendly option for those traveling with little ones. 

3. NEIGHBORHOOD POOL DAY 

If you don't have a pool in your neighborhood (we don't), chances are you have a friend who does! This is a great way to spend some time outdoors, enjoy the nice weather, and entertain little ones if you have them at a cost friendly price point (almost free). 

4.  SET UP A PICNIC

What a fun non-traditional way to celebrate a new season of being outdoors. We actually set up a breakfast picnic at the beach in the Bahamas, which is what inspired this idea for MDW. We grabbed a basket, some croissants and jam, a bottle of champagne, and a little OJ along with a blanket, and found a quiet spot on the beach to enjoy the view! If you aren't near a beach, you can easily set this up in a park, at the lake, or even your backyard! It's also a great activity for families with kids!

5. FLOAT DOWN THE RIVER IN A TUBE

Is there any other greater American summertime activity than floating down the river in a giant rubber donut, soaking up the sun, with a cooler in tow? Unless you are totally against having a good time, the answer is no. This is something that's been on my bucket list for years, and an activity perfect for all ages around the country. 

A patriotic swimsuit is must for one of America's biggest celebrations, and with MDW being the unofficial start of summer it's time to start getting beach ready for all these sun and water activities with the perfect swimsuit. For those of us who appreciate a fuller coverage bikini, the one pictured above is perfect for the occasion. It's nice that it pays subtle homage to the American flag, without actually wearing the flag, meaning you can wear this year round! The high-waisted bottoms also serve a great tummy control purpose, because let's be honest - you can't have Memorial Day weekend without snacks. In terms of sizing, I do recommend sizing down at least one size. I am wearing an XS in both the top and bottoms, and do not have a a busty chest.

Overall, this is a great quality swimsuit worth investing in -- and it doesn't hurt that it's comes with free expedited shipping, and a one year return policy. I actually purchase a ton of my clothes from Zappos for this exact reason! They always have items I'm searching for fully in stock, the customer service is on par, I like the rewards program (you can earn rewards dollars towards your purchases), and I know I can rely on it arriving when it says it's scheduled to arrive. So what are you waiting for!? Time to get planning and purchasing!