Summer Trend: Palm Fun-Day

Palm Fun-Day by elbonner featuring H&M

A new summer trend is afoot and I couldn't be anymore excited about it! Palm trees are all over everything this summer and it's about damn time! The most majestic and tropicool of all trees are everywhere and they make me want nothing more than to be lounged under one, drinking too many rum punches, probably super close to total dehydration. If that happened and I had a coconut palm nearby, I could just drunkenly crack open a coconut (probably with my phone or a stray snorkel) and rehydrate with some life-giving coconut water! God bless the humble palm tree! I have collected some of my favorite palm-themed items to make your home and wardrobe a little slice of paradise!

For The Home

Beach Towel- H&M

Throw Pillow- Williams Sonoma

Duvet Cover- H&M

Men's Clothing

Balki Shirt- Rip Curl

Sundays Boardshort- Billabong

C&F Era 59 Shoe- Vans

Ladies Clothing & Accessories

Maili Clutch- Samudra

Grey Palms Classics Shoes- Toms

August Salt Palm Tank - Piperlime

Playa De Palm Sock- Stance Socks

Knee-Length Print Dress- H&M

So if you're hankering for a tropical vacation every day of the week, plaster yourself in palm trees and consider yourself on permanent island time. Palm it up!!

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The Swimwear Spiciness Chart

Spicy Swimwear Chart by elbonner featuring a swimsuits two piece

The thing I love about beach style is that it comes in so many different shapes, forms, cuts, colors, and designs. There are so many ways to look beachy! It's also another outlet for you to be able to show off your own fashion prowess which works in two ways: 1.) makes you look really good at a place where people normally don't take the time = instant bad ass, and 2.) inspires other to experiment with beach fashion. It doesn't have to be big t-shirts and  Soffe shorts, people!

The Mild Look- Classy, elegant, screams "I own a beach mansion and you don't". By mild I don't mean boring, I mean put-together, muted, and simply elegant. Go for pastel-toned, beautifully made suits, paired with flowy kaftans and dresses for a super relaxed feel. You should exude an "I haven't had a real job in years" vibe and wait by your infinity pool for someone to bring you a mimosa.

Bikini- Tori Praver
Kaftan- Jenn's Pirate Booty
Sandals- Havaianas

Medium- Everyday fun is what this look personifies. You're out with your friends, you need something that stays on whilst playing frisbee, but still looks cute when you inevitably fall asleep on the beach with possible snoring. PRO-TIP: A cute suit will probably detract from the snoring.  Pair with a trendy t-shirt and some cut-offs from a post-beach taco and margarita emergency session and you're good to go!

Bikini Top- Roxy
Bottoms- Billabong
Shirt- Wildfox
Shorts- PacSun

Hot- You're one of those people who doesn't leave behind fashion for anything, even at the beach. You love making bright, bold statements and peacocking whenever you get the chance. People may make snide comments about your outfit, but secretly wish they had the balls to pull off something like that! Go for bright prints and interesting cuts to stand out in a sea of solids! Pair with an equally bright cover-up and some super bright shorts to take your look from walking the sand to dancing the night away at a cool beach club! Take the plunge and work some prints, honey!

Bikini- Maaji
Kaftan- Mara Hoffman
Shorts- Calypso St. Barth

I've got beach fashion on the brain as I start packing for Oahu. Less than a week and I will be sandy, relaxed, and full of spicy ahi poke and I can't friggin' wait! Beach fashion doesn't need to be laborious, just have fun and try something new every once and a while! Happy Sunday!

Sun Savers: UPF Clothing

Sun Savers: UPF Clothing by elbonner featuring beach hats

To continue our sun safety series right before this ever-so-sacred Memorial Day weekend, I'm featuring something that you may not think about when working on your fitness outdoors. Not all clothing is created equal, sun protection-wise, so here are some really cute and functional pieces to keep you from becoming a wrankley old hag in your late 20s. 

Patagonia Draft Shirt- with a UPF 15 rating, you can wear this light, sweat-wicking, super shirt on even the sweatiest/stankiest runs. You won't come home with sunburned shoulders and also works for warm-weather hiking in the beautiful sunshine.

Roxy Up Wind Neoprene Capri- These capris have a UPF 50 rating and are super cute,as well as being amphibious. Like a hovercraft! Guaranteed to make your butt look good. 

Vans Blackout Spot Snapback- Hats are always a good idea whether out for a run or just sitting on the beach like a lump. Get a cute one that is fun to wear and not a chore, then you're more likely to protect your delicate scalp.

Sun Guard Laundry Treatment- When used in on cotton garments, Sun Guard ups the sun protection to UPF 30 instead of almost nothing. If you want to wear something and feel sun-protected, add this stuff to the wash before you wear it and baby, you got a stew going!

Zinka Nose Coat- I've talked about this stuff before. Slap on some zinc oxide before outdoor activities (especially on the thin skin on your nose) and rest assured that your nose skin won't peel off and leave you looking like the Crypt Keeper. 

Roxy Stand Up Shoes- Water shoes take the fear factor out of walking around in water you can't see clear to the bottom. These shoes keep you from screaming like a bitch, and also from burning your little feets! Made for stand-up paddle boarding, these shoes protect you from sun damage on a place we always tend to forget.

Roxy Dawn Run Shirt- This shirt, paired with some running shorts, makes for a great early morning, summer run outfit. It's a fun color, super flattering, and an excuse to buy new workout clothes. I need the sun protection damnit! I want cancer-free arms!

Roxy High Seas Spring Suit- Protect your body from the sun and a terrible jacked-hideous wax rash with a cute spring suit whilst out on the water. Wear it when you surf, jet ski, paddle board, just swim around. Spring suits are fun because they're not as restricting as a full wetsuits, but cover you enough to do raucous activities without the fear of flashing beach goers.

Billabong Wander Fedora- If you're not a baseball cap person, or don't want a hat for outdoor exercise, don't forgo one at all. Get a fun woven hat for the beach that is a little breathable so you don't suffer from head sweat which ruins everyone's day!

Hope this helps you make some smart outdoor clothing choice during this sunny season. You don't need fear the sun, just don't be a dumb ass about it! Happy Memorial Day!

Dream Beach Bag

Dream Beach Bag by elbonner featuring billabong handbags

All this warm weather and promise of a tropical vacation has put me in the mood to SHOP! If I didn't spend everything on food and bills, this ensemble would totally be in my closet by now. Even as an obvious not-svelte person, I really enjoy looking at and buying swimwear. Just mix and match different pieces that fit and the number one, important thing is to not care. Unless someone is a total jagweed and goes out of their way to tell you that you look bad, it's almost a guarantee  that no one is going to say anything to you about your swimwear choice. 

It's also toenail polish color explosion with lots of neon and brights in summer nail collections. Not to mention lots of new sunscreen formulas and new products. Bah, I'm o excited!! I love the warm weather. I started Insanity (it's awesome); if you like HIIT workouts then Insanity is for you. I get bored and find myself really liking interval workouts to keep me entertained. I'm slapping on my vitamin C serum and pumicing my crusty feet (sorry). Get ready for the sun, baby!

Outfit Inspiration: Beach Evenings

Beach Evenings by elbonner featuring t-bar shoes

I have given the whole "maxi" trend a lot of grief that it really doesn't deserve. When I first started seeing people out and about in maxi dresses, it was usually followed by some sort of snide comment along the lines of "who thought prom was at Walgreens? AmIright?!". I can now honestly admit that I was a jerk and have jumped on the maxi bandwagon, especially with the maxi skirts that have been surfacing recently. The fold-over ones are my favorites, combining the comfort and laziness of yoga pants with something that looks better than going out in pajamas. Like the title insinuates, this is a great llok for maybe evening bonfires on the beach or sunset boardwalk strolls. Pair with a flowy tank, a bandeau and two thing that will never go out of style: hoop earrings, and gladiator sandals. They've been around for 2000+ years, they are not going away any time soon. My favorite are Ancient Greek Sandals. Though they are on the pricey side, they are simple, elegant and very unique. I bought myself a pair as a graduation present last year and though they have the hardest soles of any shoe I've ever owned, I love them to death and always get a lot of compliments. Thrown on a fringe bag and a beachy fragrance and you're good to go for a carefree summer. Hell, you could even wear this to something like oh, I don't know, Coachella maybe? Or is it too feather-free? Either way, I think the way to go with most outfits is to keep it simple and not overthink things and this outfit makes you look cool without even really trying. Get comfortable Y'all!