JUNE FAVORITES

Somehow this month felt like the longest and the shortest all year. Some pretty cool things happened this month: Sean and I went up to a wedding in the Catskills and stayed at this stunning lodge — Urban Cowboy, we got to see John Oliver do standup as a surprise guest at a comedy club on the west side, and perhaps the biggest change of all: I finally got verified on Instagram!!! Full disclosure, I’ll be the first to say it wasn’t easy — I actually applied four times throughout the course of this past year. I’m guessing an algorithm actually approves you (doubt an actual person is behind the scenes there unless you’re a viral internet sensation or celeb), so I switched up my application this last time in a few places and I think that helped me pass ‘the test.’ Want to be clear though: verification is cool, but I definitely accredit it to the small following I’ve built over the years and my work in writing and editing. It’s no easy feat and I’m really proud of my accomplishments that have helped me get here and finally get that little blue tick. It’s just a testament to never give up — keep going, keep applying, it’ll find you when you’re ready for it (whatever that it is). Here, I’m sharing some favorites of this past month!

fashion

Amazon Fashion Rosette Set — Rosette details aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I picked up this super cute set from Amazon to keep the trend alive in my wardrobe this summer! It comes in a ton of shades but I opted for this chocolate brown, and I’m obsessed with the fit, quality and price.

DIY Rosette Bikini — If you follow my Instagram stories, you’ll recognize this DIY rosette bikini. Long story short, I was actually contemplating splurging on a rosette bikini top for this summer until I saw the price of one I liked from SAME. I opted to, instead, order this Flower Clip Set from Amazon and tacked it on to this basic black bikini. Nailing the trend, but for wayyyyy less.

accessories

Aten Pink Chunky Gold Hoop Earrings — So I’ve been in search for new chunky earrings (a la Teardrop Bottega), but didn’t want anything too bulky or any shape that would make my ear droop. I found this half-moon set that kind of gives you the look of the Bottega earrings but curves up in more of a hoop style, which personally, I prefer! Love these, and they’re on sale for $5 right now. Not kidding.

8 Pack Flower Claw Clips — Another fun accessory I picked up this month is this claw clip pack! I have a lot of long hair, and finding a clip that really holds it up can be tricky, but these are super sturdy and really cute. I of course got the neutral-browns pack but they have a ton of options including pastels and brights if you want more poppy options.

Vintage Fan — When I head upstate, I always like to head to the nearest thrift or antique store to see if I can snag any cool finds (like the Koi candlesticks from this blog post). This time when we were up in the Catskills we checked out a few places including Cloudspinner Antiques and a local thrift market. I got this gorgeous lace fan for a few bucks, and I’m definitely bringing it with me on our upcoming summer travels!

“Love’s stories written in love’s richest books; To fan the moonbeam from his sleeping eyes,”

[Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.6]

Happy Summer! Cheers, xx - A.Martine

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