Mini Photo-Diary: Lazy Life

I'm not that lazy. I did wash and vacuum my car (half-assedly) and I grilled up a really awesome lunch of salmon and veggies, but I did spend the majority of my day laying in the backyard. I wasn't really feeling up to doing a lot today, so I did one thing for an hour and let is count for the other 23! Being lazy for a day is fine as long as that day doesn't extend into like 8; but summer is made for lazing!

I started my morning off with a Pitaya (dragon fruit) smoothie with some granola for added crunchiness. I like Pitaya (available here) because it tastes like a strawberry mixed with a pineapple and it makes everything freakishly hot pink; just how I like it!

I loaded up my cooler bag with all sorts of drinks, fruits, snacks, and even my thermal water spray. I love this Foodland bag. My mom and I were kicking ourselves for not bringing some back when we went on our trip because they were all over the place and so cute. I actually found this one and another one at an Asian grocery store here in VA. Don't know how they got there, but thanks anyways! And no, I didn't steal them from under someone's shopping cart!  I'm also obsessed with Vita Coco's Coconut Water Lemonade. It's coconut water and lemon puree and it is sooo good. I've been on a huge lemonade kick lately and this made my summer even better.

Speaking of thermal water, a friend told me this La Roche Posay thermal water was available at Target ($12), so I hauled ass over there and got the biggest can I could find. Thermal water may just be mineral water in a can, but the mister on these things are stuff of legends. I stick this in the fridge, transfer to the cooler, and mist myself like some sort of Beverly Hills trophy wife whenever I get a little parched. I love it, darling!

Sorry for my nasty feet, but I love my new polish (which you can't see very well) from Sally Hansen called Make Waves. I think it's from their triple shine line and it's a rich turquoise with a lime green shimmer. Soooooo beautiful; it reminds me of the color of the water in Hawaii. I also like my hot pink, plastic Adirondack chairs. They're all over the place here in the southeast and I think they're great!

It was pretty warm today, and I'm also forcing myself to drink more during the day so I invested in a really nice water bottle.My boyfriend actually got one of these first and it has been a lifesaver on our backpacking and beach trips. This bottle from Klean Kanteen in insulated and can keep drinks cold for up to 24 HOURS. There's nothing better than taking a icy-cold sip of water after a long day backpacking when your Camel Back water is like drinking water that's been sitting in your car all afternoon. I highly recommend this bottle for anyone who like things to stay cold. It keeps warm drink warm for up to 6 hours. It says you can even keep soup and spaghetti in it. Hell yeah, spaghetti on the go! Today, I filled my bottle with ice cubes and some pink grapefruit flavored Perrier. Mineral water is good when you're out in the sun, because it helps replace any minerals you sweat out throughout the day. Plus, it's almost like a soda due to the fizz, but no calories!

And finally, you can't have an outside day without a good magazine. This one was all about moving to tropical island and was basically written for me. 

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and get some time outside! Bon weekend!

Instagram @e_bythesea

Pinterest @ebythesea86

Mineral Water: Ingestible and Investable!

Mineral Water: Ingestible and Investable! by elbonner featuring ahava

Wan to know something that is good for your skin, body, and all-around well being that requires little-to-no effort? Well the answer is WATER! For real dummies, water is so freaking important and you can definitely tell when you're not getting enough of it; you feel tired and bitchy,your skin looks wratched, and your pee is straight-up orange. NOT GOOD. Now,some people hate drinking water because it has no taste and isn't fun like fizzy drinks. My solution for you is sparkling mineral water. It can be an acquired taste, but add some citrus juice and it's so damn refreshing on a hot day! You can also get is flat if the fizzy stuff isn't for you, but make sure it's the good stuff! I've recently gotten into mineral water because of the skin and health benefits you get from drinking naturally mineralized water. When you drink normal tap water, most of the minerals have been filtered out at the water treatment plant, whereas a mineral water bottled from a spring has things like calcium, magnesium, and silica that make your water even more beneficial. Europeans are already all over mineral water, but it seems to be stuck in the realm of the snooty here in the states. My advice is try some out and reap the benefits!

Mineral/thermal water needn't only be ingestable, but is found in a ton of great skin care products that can benefit everyone! My favorite way to give my skin some thermal water love is to use a thermal water spray. I know what you're thinking, "Emily, you want me to pay to spray water all over my face? Have you lost your damn mind?". First of all, I'm not telling you to do anything, I'm not the boss of you! Second, thermal water sprays are sooo good for calming down burned, chapped, red, and sensitive skin. Aestheticians use thermal water sprays after harsh skin treatments and see reductions in redness upon contact. I like using this to wet my face before cleansing because it feels luxurious and just better than splashing with tap water (my city water suuuuucks). My second favorite way is to throw a bottle in my cooler and spray myself down at the beach/pool when I get hot and red. Anywho, I've talked too much, onto the products!

Ingest 
 San Pellegrino (Italy)- A little fizzy and widely available, I like getting this with lunch as a special treat.These can be purchased in big bottles, small bottles, and by the case at your local grocer! Has a decent mineral content and is used in some delicious citrus sodas made by the same company!

Gerolsteiner (Germany)- Has one of the highest mineral contents of any mineral water and I haven't had any trouble finding it at the grocery store. Fizzy and fun!

Apollinaris (Germany)- Probably my new favorite, this stuff has little bubbles of champagne and has the highest mineral content amongst the easily available mineral waters. I've only ever been able to buy litre bottles, but I mix it with a wedge of lemon squeezed in it and it's awesome!

Fiji Water (Fiji)- This water is special because it contains more silica than other mineral waters. Silica helps your skin regulate oil production and a bunch of other stuff. Don't know if that's true or just a bunch of nonsense, but this water is super smooth. 

Invest
Avene: Thermal Water Spray- My favorite of the thermal waters, this stuff calms my skin down after a good scrub or after a day in the sun. Comes in different sizes and even though it's not readily available in US drugstores, it's easily available on the internet (thanks, Amazon!).

La Roche Posay Thermal Water- Like the Avene spray, but available at CVS! La Roche Posay products are all good, ALL OF THEM and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I like using this at the pool or when I go backpacking and get sweaty and gross. Calms your face down after a hot run too!

Avene: Relief Concentrate for Redness- The corner stone of Avene's skincare line is its thermal spring and everything it makes contains it, which makes their products insanely good for people with sensitive skin or skin that's prone to redness. This serum is made to take the red out and is so gentle!

Ahava: Time To Clear All-in-One Toning Cleanser- Ahava uses the minerals from the Dead Sea to soothe upset skin and it does it beautifully. This cleanser goes on like a lotion and removes dirt, makeup, and oil to leave your face clean and soft. It can be tissued off for people with super dry skin or rinsed if you prefer. 

Avene: Thermal Water Soothing Serum- this serum soothes angry skin, removes redness, and makes you feel like you're blanketed in softness and security! Again, all Avene products are great for sensitive folk!

Ahava Honey-Herbal Mineral Bath Salts- Since most of us don't live near a mineral-rich hot spring, you can recreate one in your tub with these bath salts from Ahava. Harvested from the Dead Sea, they make bath time super relaxing. The best thing is you can usually find them at TJ Maxx for super cheap. I LOVE THESE BATH SALTS (I'm not the Miami Zombie)

Mineral water is good for you inside and out, and if you don't prefer the taste, you can still reap it's benefits from these great products! Get hydrated people! 

Instagram @e_bythesea