Because I Can: Beach Treasures

Beach Treasures by elbonner featuring aqua home decor

Holy crap, do I have the beach on my mind! It's been warm, it's been sunny, I've shaved more than I have in the past 6 months; that time of year is here! If it wasn't already stupid-obvious, the beach is my favorite entity on the face of the earth and I try to spend as much time there as I can. If all was right with the world, I'd have a little beach cottage where I could look out upon the ocean every day, but that's kind of a pipe dream right now. What I can do is surround myself with beachy stuff to keep me happy between sweet, salty, sandy release!

Body (R)

L'Aromarine Oceane perfume- Fresh and cool, like a good day by the ocean! Not a sweet or sunscreen-scented fragrance, but an earthy aquatic scent.

Earth Tu Sea Salt Scrub- Made with all organic oils and no preservatives; this scrub is effective without being harsh and a chemical-laden mess!

Sachajuan Ocean Mist Hair Spray- The super hip beach spray of the moment. I love the simplicity of the packaging and the turquoise color. Reminds me of Waimea Bay!

Bobbi Brown Beach Body Lotion- This lotion is a part of Bobbi Brown's hugely successful "Beach" line, which makes sense because the beach is awesome. Why would you not want to smell like it all the time? Kosmo Kramer does!

Malie Organics Plumeria Beauty Oil- Want to smell like a Hawaiian vacation whilst nourishing your skin with rich tropical oils? This company has all sorts of scents to keep you on island time, all the time!

Clothing (L)

Raen Optics Underwood Glasses- A more modern take on the Ray-Ban Clubmaster; these shades are cooler than cool. Good quality that won't make you cancel your Netflix subscription, Raen makes some pretty cool from for sun and prescription glasses wearers. Can't go wrong with these!

Wildfox Couture "Born On The Beach" Shirt- Do I really need to say more? It's like they made it for me! Soft cotton and the word BEACH plastered all over it; two thumbs up!

Roxy Mystic Beach Bag- Now I can finally bring my love for shibori tot he beach with this cute bag from Roxy. Simple, but fun, just like the beach!

J. Crew Chambray Shorts- Denim shorts without all the stiffness your usual cutoffs can have. No more doing the "shimmy stiff shorts over my sandy butt" dance with these. Elasticated waists aren't just for ill-fitting sweatpants anymore!

Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet- The pinnacle of beach jewelry. It's not overdoing it, but still really pretty and they come in all the colors of the rainbow!

Reef Swing II Flip Flop- Everyone needs a pair of decent, leather (or leather-like) flip flops for the summer. They hold up better than rubber ones and look nice enough to be worn at a restaurant! They are the ultimate multi-tasker!

If you're lucky enough to have the ocean close by you, spend some quality time with it this summer. If you crave it during the week like I do, inject some beachy fun into your wardrobe and beauty products! Happy Tuesday, everyone; hang ten!

Raen Optics - Lenox Glasses

Raen Optics - Lennox Glasses by elbonner featuring tortoiseshell sunglasses

Can I get a hallelujah for the "Lenox" glasses by Raen Optics?! These things are friggin' gorgeous and I'm seriously debating whether I should bite the bullet and buy them or if I should try and get some poor sucker to get them for my birthday (16 days left, people!). Either way, Raen Optics makes beautiful sun wear and prescription glasses that are superbly crafted, yet affordable priced. If you don't want to shell out $300 for a pair of prestige-designer glasses, but want a quality pair, give Raen a look. They have really cool beachy/surfy/trendy styles that can all be made into prescription pairs if the need arises! I love the Lenox glasses because they have a classic Wayfarer style, but are chunkier and a bit more modern-looking. One thing I will attest to is that good quality sunglasses are a must. I've got the fair blue eyes of a cave-dwelling albino with a history of macular degeneration, so good sunglasses that have good UVA protection are a matter of being able to see anything in 40 years. Open your eyes to the beautiful styles by Raen and get out in the sun!

Available at Zappos, Amazon, Nordstrom, and the Raen Optics website

Surrendering To Fall: OK, I give up

Fall Things by elbonner featuring fall placemats

After a weekend at a beach house, I have come to the tough realization that plagues my life every year: SUMMER IS OVER. I am still holding out for a few more days I can eek out another sun-filled beach trip, but let's face it, the leaves are falling and everyone is drinking/eating pumpkin spice everything. When the weather cools, I don my usual outfit: t-shirt, sweater, army jacket, boots, and scarves. They are a good go-to because they seem to never go out of style and ooze coolness like the filling of a jelly donut (also a fall favorite). Fall is a time to appreciate hot coffee again, get some reading done, and moisturize compulsively. 

Now before everyone jumps on me for wearing hipster fox sweaters, I've been wearing fox-themed clothing items since I was a first grader, although my fox-wear was decidedly less cool than what is available today and a lot more like this:

To complete this look, pair with black stretch pants, fanny pack, and a crimped side-pony.

I hate putting on more layers, but I'm convinced fall was created to make me appreciate the warmth more. You might as well make the best of the cooler weather by wearing some cute stuff before everyone's enthusiasm for life is destroyed by winter, because really, fuck winter.

Fox Sweater- Markus Lupfer
Skinny Jeans- Rag & Bone
Army Jacket- Madewell
Combat Boots- Nasty Gal
Sunglasses- Raen
Scarf- Lucky Brand
CrossBody Bag- Target
Almost Lipstick "Black Honey"- Clinique
Shea Butter Hand Cream- L'Occitane En Provence

Autumn Wants: More Summer!!

Autumn Wants: More Summer!! by elbonner featuring a brown purse

Sometimes you just want to be straight forward with what you want. For me, this is one of those days. I spent a lovely weekend outside, in swimming pools, running beachy trails, and soaking up the last precious days of summer and all I can say is I'm not ready for it to end! The ocean is my ultimate love and the winter time makes it cold, gray, and hard to deal with. I'll still make a few trips to just sit and eat a sandwich between running errands, but all I want to do is jump in. Even with a wetsuit on, these nips could chisel diamonds on a winter beach trip. To replace one vice with another, I've made a little collage of stuff I want that seems as though designed by the big man himself to keep summer going on a little longer.

Raen Optics "Lenox" Sunglasses: Yes, I already have Wayfarers, but these are just so cool! They are a lot chunkier than traditional Wayfarers which is what I'm feeling at the moment. A vintage shape, with some modern heft!

Penny Skateboards Pastel Collection: Yes, I'm fully into adulthood and yes, I still want to cruise down the street like a Venice beach rat! I mean, just look at that thing! Too cute to pass up. If I wasn't such a chicken, I'd buy that bad boy and skate everywhere my almost 30 year-old heart desired!

Baggu Surf Sling: I NEED this thing. My arm is just long enough for my tiny, fat fingers to grip the edge of my fat longboard for dear life whilst simultaneously walking it to my car and giving my carpal tunnel. This sling would make it waaaaaay easier for me to get from point A to point Beach.

Rip Curl Beach Glass Sweater: If I'm going to have to wear sweaters, at least let is look like this! Viva la ombre!!

Free People Dreamweaver Crossbody: For when I get into my overly tribal-printed, super fringy stage of fall, this bag would really complete the look!

VOYA Lazy Days: It's Irish seaweed, cut right off the coast of Sligo, freeze dried within a few hours, and packaged into the coolest bath treatment known to man. This literal netted bag of seaweed is meant to rehydrate in a tub of hot water which you then submerge yourself in for a silky smooth, mineral-rich bath of awesomeness. It can be used at least three times as long as you let it dry out between uses. If you crave the sea, but can't stand the cold water, opt for a little seaweed fun in you own tub!

Toms Tiger Print Classics: After watching Katy Perry's Roar video, I saw these shoes and immediately wanted them. Animal prints work so well with almost any outfit or print and I love tiger stripes because they are pretty rare (move over, leopard!). 

Surf 80's by Jeff Divine: Sometimes, it's just nice to sit and look at pretty pictures, especially if you're having a hardcore, neon-encrusted beach craving. I love looking at picture books like this whilst curled up on the sofa with my softest blankey during a rainy day so I can escape the 57 degree hell I know is just outside my window.

I hope you liked the list of crap I want at the moment. Maybe it's similar to some crap that you want at the moment, let us revel in the crap that we want! Happy week-beginning!!