June and July hurried-scurried out so fast. Skedaddled, some might say. August is hastily following suit. (What’s the rush?) Summer is determined to leave so quickly, and yet, I haven’t written all I’ve wanted to say.

So let’s start with this blog.

One of my favorite synth-pop and electronic duo, Magdalena Bay is releasing new music and an album this month! I saw them last year when they performed all of their songs from their mini mixes in LA. Listening to their new singles has reignited my love for their mini mixes and album Mercurial World.

Here’s one of their songs I love from mini mix vol. 1, “U Wanna Dance?" Their entire mini mix albums are worth listening to if you love upbeat dancey pop songs and electronic hits.

Rizos Curl Defining Cream

I’ve recently come to realize that the reason why my hair is so frizzy all the time is because it’s curly! Omg! Why didn’t anyone tell me earlier? With a little effort and TLC, my curls (and frizz!) can be managed. After researching online, I found that Rizos Curls is a great brand for Latina hair (it’s Latina-owned!), so I thought to give their Curl Defining Cream a try.

This product works amazing! It keeps my curls and waves intact for hours. It gives a bit of a wet look but otherwise helps my curls maintain their natural shape while substantially reducing frizz. I like to put on a small dime-sized dollop through wet hair, scrunching, and playing with my strands to help my curls achieve a natural look.

I found that the curls last for hours, however, they seem to “deflate” by the end of the day, looking a bit more like loose waves. Trial and error. I’m still a newbie at hair products, especially for curly and wavy hair, but I am excited to experiment with different products and routines!

Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Skin Nourishing Sunscreen Powder Brush - SPF 30

I wanted to try out a new sunscreen to add to my rotation and took a chance with this sunscreen powder by Hawaiian Tropic. It works well and is incredibly easy to apply. You pat the product on your face with the brush and the powder comes out on its own. The powder gives a matte finish, making it a multi-use product for the summer. and is an easy way to reapply sunscreen over makeup. I love that it’s small, portable, and is such an easy way to reapply sunscreen over makeup. It also smells a bit like coconut!

I’ve read online that powder sunscreens aren’t as effective as cream sunscreen, and thus shouldn’t be used as primary sunscreens. When I use this product, I make sure it’s only for sunscreen reapplication (typically in the middle of the day and over makeup).

Burst Expanding Floss

If you’ve read my April Favorites blog, you might remember that I tried out a new floss brand, Cocofloss. My Cocofloss finally ran out, but that gave me the opportunity to try out a new brand— Burst! This floss is unique because it expands after coming into contact with teeth and gums. This makes the floss much more effective in cleaning and grabbing all the plaque and debris between your teeth. Plus, the black-colored thread makes it easier to see all the plaque you’re taking out (gross but also satisfying). All of these benefits make brushing and flossing feel much more luxurious.

I appreciate that Burst is half the price of Cocofloss at CVS Pharmacy, $5.99 a pack (36.5 m). This is a product I’d definitely consider purchasing again

Compression Socks

I came across an article that stated the many benefits of compression socks, including reducing swelling of the legs and feet, increasing blood flow, and preventing varicose veins. These socks are especially helpful during long periods of sitting or standing, such as long flights and work days in the office. I decided to get these socks from Target when I realized I sit all day at my desk during work.

It’s tough to assess how well these compression socks work since I won’t be able to tell the long-term effects right away. I can say, however, that they are way more comfortable than I thought they would be. I also feel good knowing that I am receiving health benefits simply by wearing socks; that alone makes this purchase worth it. (It’s also worth noting that the socks aren’t too warm for me to wear during the summer because I live near the beach— I do avoid wearing them on excessively hot days, though).

Trader Joe’s Garlicky Noodles

I love trying new TJ’s meals and items. This season, I tried their garlicky noodles and wow, they’re great! I love that this feels like a complete meal without me having to do any work. I can eat them alone, or with a side salad and bread.

Like many meals, I often eat them too fast to snag a photo for the blog. Please forgive me.

Trader Joe’s Mango Black Tea

I love a cup (or two!) of hot tea in the morning; it really brightens my day. I tried TJ’s newest tea recently— their Mango Black Tea. It tastes really good! The mango flavor is subtle but provides an added tropical note to a typical black tea. I enjoy mine with a small spoonful of sugar and a splash of oat milk.

Journaling

With all of life’s stressors, its twists and turns, its turbulence, and its smooth sailing, I like to take a few minutes each day to journal my thoughts. I don’t give myself any rules or requirements; I just journal for as long as I need to and as often as I need to. This has helped my mental health immensely, and given me a healthy outlet for channeling my thoughts.

I have several journals for several purposes, and I use all of them to various extents. If you ever see me buying a new journal at the store, rest assured that it will be put to use.

Deleting Social Media Apps

Earlier in the summer, I decided to delete some of my social media apps from my phone. I kept some to make sure I didn’t miss out on important news and information but deleted the ones I’d scroll on endlessly (looking directly at you, TikTok). I found that after I deleted the apps, I had much more free time, my mind felt less “busy,” and my thoughts could finally slow down.

I’m working toward deleting more apps, but I fear losing touch with my friends and family (does anyone else feel this way?). In the meantime, I will try to set more time limits to reduce my screen time and give myself grace for those days I find myself scrolling for hours.

Ditching the Apple Watch

In a similar vein to social apps, I’ve been using my Apple Watch less and less, freeing myself from the endless torment of notifications, buzzes, and vibrations. I still use it during workouts, walks, and while sleeping (I slept through my morning phone alarm one time, so I feel I must rely on the watch’s buzz for extra assistance), but make an effort to not wear it when I’m at home and have no reason to.

It’s awesome when I close all my rings and reach my step goals for each day, however, I want to become less reliant on my watch. All my fitness progress and achievements won’t disappear because I didn’t close my rings or track each step I took.

In a world full of screens and technology, one less blue light display makes all the difference in having a lighter, less stressful day.

We’ve made it through my favorites for the summer! Yay! What are you excited to try out?

If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for reading! I know we all have so much going on in our lives so it means a lot that you’ve decided to spend a small percentage of your day reading my bloggie.

I’ve had a rocky, busy, heavy summer. From trying to balance work and my social life, staying active and healthy, scheduling unexpected trips home to support my loved ones, and managing my personal goals and endeavors, it’s been a lot. I’m trying to get better at balancing everything, trying to reach 8 hours of sleep each night (one day, one day…), and trying to extend patience and love to myself for not achieving the former two.

Thank you everyone for your endless patience and support.

Aug 14 Summer Favorites 2024