Goooooood morning! Ya know…I can’t remember the last time I actually surfed — like, got on a board and paddled out into the ocean. It’s been years!
I would like to remedy that situation soon, ideally in a warm body of water.
I realized looking at my calendar this morning that June is a little over two months away. Can you believe it?? That means summer is getting close, and yay, warm weather! Yay, no more oppressive pants and socks!
Last year I didn’t shop ahead of time and ended up getting a last-minute new swimsuit that was pretty cute, but it wasn’t my favorite, so this year I’m starting early, and this isn’t just something I’m doing with swimsuits. I’m trying to be better about not saving tasks for the last minute.
So, I’ve been researching swimsuits, and my main criteria are that 1) they can withstand active toddler grabby hands, 2) are mom-body friendly, and 3) are modest but not matronly. Sometimes I see tankinis and one-pieces, and I feel like they cover a little too much. Like, I don’t mind a bit o’ booty cheek hanging out, ya know? Anyway, I’ve been looking around a lot and asking friends for suggestions, and these are the ones I’m currently deciding among…
The first is this blue and white tankini by Athleta. They do lots of sporty suits, and I’m feeling this blousy top. It has ties on the sides that you can loosen to make the top extend downward, and then the suit looks almost like a mini dress.
Super cute, right? I would pair it with the matching reversible bottoms.
I also like this cherry print one-piece halter by Esther Williams.
It’s so vintage retro surfer girl. (It also looks like it holds everything in.) And even though it covers up a lot, it doesn’t look stuffy.
I really love the colors in this one-piece by Maaji. I also love the mixed prints and the ties on the sides and the back, but I’m afraid everything would hang out, ya know? I kinda need help keeping everything in place, LOL!
We have a pool in our complex, and I really want to take advantage of it this summer. I also want Connor to enjoy it, so I’m going to enroll her in toddler swim classes in April.
No, Tabs will not be the instructor. 🙂
Anywho…while I go entertain more deep thoughts about swimsuits (do you have one you really like?), here are some articles that caught my eye this week.
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Best beauty-related article I read this week: this one in The Atlantic on skin care. It talks about how for many of us, our faces have become an at-home science experiment. We gather data both in person and online about products, and then endure trial-and-error experiments with cleansers, toners, moisturizers and serums, all in the pursuit of perfect skin.
“Cosmetics are innocent until proven guilty,” the article states. “Their ingredients don’t have to be proven safe, or effective. Even if a particular ingredient has some evidence behind it, cosmetic manufacturers aren’t required to prove that the ingredient works in that product’s specific formulation, or at that particular concentration. Often, the only way to figure out if something works is to try it. The skin-care landscape is vast, overwhelming, and shimmering with mirages. But more and more people are trying to navigate it.”
Yup.
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An 11-day manicure sounds like a DREAM to me. I currently use a combo of Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat and Dior Gel Coat topcoat and get about a week’s worth of wear with them, which is fantastic for me, but 11 days sounds better!
Anyone want to go to Ulta? Right now? LOL!
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Speaking of nails, the nail scene in New York is the place to go if you want some seriously bejeweled, bedazzled and bespoke talons. Clients travel from as far away as Australia to visit Jenny Bui, who’s known as the “Queen of Bling” and for her signature stiletto nails that are studded with elaborate designs and Swarovski crystals.
I could never regularly wear nails like this because the instant my fingernails start to feel like they’re getting long I’m rendered non-functional. I like my nails short, short, SHORT, but I’d love to do the crystal talons in the top pic just once for fun.
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I guess it isn’t surprising that New York is a major hotbed for boundary-pushing nail art, since the first U.S. nail salon opened in Manhattan in 1878 (!).
That’s just one thing I learned from this post about the history of well-manicured nails in America during the turn of the century.
“Things were changing during the turn of the century, when the bourgeoisie was no longer an exclusive, card-carriers-only club. ‘Fake it ’til you make it’ was a real option now, and with the help of makeup, anyone could change their identity and rise above their station. Hands revealed where you fell in the social hierarchy, and not looking like you were a second-generation washer woman with cracked skin and chipped nails could allow you to climb the social ladder. It would help you apply for better apartments, answer notices for more middle-class jobs, and even date wealthier men — the kind who would introduce you to the right people over Champagne and send boxes of couture to your door.”
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I’m obsessing a little (OK, a lot) over the looks of this new clean beauty makeup line by Ever Skin. I’m digging the rose gold packaging and the everyday colors in the cheek and eye palettes (but why are they $68, though?!). The line’s whittled down to the essentials, which the brand defines as mascara, gloss, a brown pencil, a palette with blush and eyeshadow, and three brushes.
This is exactly the kind of makeup I love to do and wear — easy, fast, elegant.
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In case you were wondering, Actor Daniel Kaluuya, who starred in Get Out and Black Panther, wore Fenty Beauty to the Oscars, and for some reason this just makes me really happy. 🙂 Ri-ri’s Pro Filt’r Foundation was giving his skin LIFE.
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Does he like cream or liquid concealer? What are his thoughts on Instagram brows? I really wanna know what Pharrell Williams (a.k.a. the dude who sings the Happy song) knows about makeup, since we might be seeing a new line of cosmetics from him soon.
Signs also point to him releasing a line of women’s clothing, lingerie and jewelry, too.
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Trend watchers are predicting that lavender will be the new blush pink…
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I gotta say, Reese is rocking that green lip really hard. She looks legit!
Why is blue such a rare color in the plant and animal kingdoms?
Science says that your body language can help you become more successful, which is why I just started doing this thing called a “power pose.” It sounds silly…and it feels a little silly when I do it, but who knows? It just might help! 🙂 It only takes two minutes, and you are literally just standing there, so why not?
Nobody puts Baby in a corner! Yup, Dirty Dancing is on Hulu now, and it took me literally two days to re-watch it in 15-minute increments (#momlife) this week.
Talk to you soon, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Such cute swimsuits! I’ve worked as a swim instructor (mostly for baby and toddler classes) for almost 10 years as a part time job, so my instructor uniform and rashguard used to be the only swimsuits I owned. I do have an Athleta tankini top and swim shorts that I bought last year, but I’ve never actually worn them — working at a pool for so long, I’m not really excited to be at one during my free time.
With a toddler, definitely do not wear a halter style — those grabby hands will get it undone in no time.
Hi Ali,
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for the info! I didn’t even think of her being able to undo the back tie around the neck, LOL!
May I ask you a question? What can I do to get Connor to feel comfortable around the water?
Bear with me here, since I’ve got a few things that I find really important when it comes to becoming comfortable around water, ha ha. If you ever have any questions, just let me know!
The biggest things are consistency and frequency with being around the water — since you’re in California, that should be pretty easy. I’m in Chicago, so most of us only go swimming during the summer. I work at an indoor pool, and I’ve noticed that those who take swim lessons year-round are generally more comfortable in the water than those who only do so during the summer. It’s fantastic that you’re starting Connor with swim lessons at her age, since earliest is really best.
A lot of kids love bath time, but of course pools (or open bodies of water) are colder and much deeper, so it can be scary for them. Two important things to focus on — getting Connor used to getting her head/eyes wet, and practicing floating on her back. Quite a few of the babies/toddlers that I teach who hate submerging their face in the water have a pretty hard time learning how to swim later on since they don’t want to put their face in. Pouring water on the head with a toy bucket, especially with a counting cue (1-2-3, so that on “3” her head gets wet, which allows her to anticipate what’s going to happen) really helps. Also, wearing goggles when actually swimming! So many parents forget to send their kids in with a pair.
For floating on the back, a lot of kids (heck, even adults) don’t like it because of the insecurity and the feeling of water getting into their ears. Start off with having Connor’s head on your shoulder, and her body extended out and relaxed. Make sure her ears are getting wet. With my baby classes, I like to sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” when doing that. When she becomes more independent, you can just support her under her shoulder blades, with her stretched out so that she looks like a starfish. Back floats can easily be practiced in the bath tub, too.
Practicing climbing out (if you’re at a pool), jumping in, and blowing bubbles are all really good things to do as well. (Fun tip: When she gets to the point that she needs to blow bubbles through her nose, an easy way to do it is closing the mouth and humming underwater. It forces the water right out of the nose.) Using different pool toys as well can also make it pretty exciting. As long as you cheer her on and make it a fun thing to do, Connor should be just fine!
Pharrell making makeup? I hope it will be better than that GIRL fragrance he collaborated on with Comme des Garçons 🙂
LOL, who knows? Maybe it might be good depending on who he collaborates with.
Lol just last night I was wondering what to do with my bottle I got in gratis. I hate to waste things but GIRL is literally garbage.
I haven’t smelled it and now I’m so curious! I wonder who the perfumer is.
I loveee that blue tankini! I need a new suit this year
I gained around 10 lbs since I moved from Miami in 2012 and it may sound like a little but in swimsuits it looks like a lot. The upside: I have a booty now and tend to wear skimpier bottoms preferably with a higher waist. Downside: those strappy back suits or just suits with a lot of straps in general are a NO for me now ?. Everything went to my butt and belly and apparently my back – so much roley poley going on but I’m working on it. I also cannot imagine Pharrell having a cosmetics line although Fenty has changed my mind about celebrity branded cosmetics. I heard Rihanna may come out with a lingerie line as well!
This suit is cute: https://m.macys.com/shop/product/lauren-ralph-lauren-beach-club-high-neck-tummy-control-one-piece-swimsuit?ID=4638779&CategoryID=8699
I just bought this one in black I love it!
https://m.macys.com/shop/product/kenneth-cole-stompin-in-stilettos-illusion-striped-swimsuit?ID=2719546&CategoryID=8699
Love the blue Athleta suit! And that color and pattern is really “in” right now. I have switched from wearing skimpy bikinis to tankinis after gaining some weight. I like the Merona suits at Target, seem to fit okay and pretty reasonably priced. For how often I wear a swimsuit I don’t want to spend too much! And BTW I love Dirty Dancing, favorite movie of all time!
I love the colors and print in the Maaji suit, even if it looks a bit complicated to get into. When did swimsuits get to be so expensive? I guess since I don’t actually own a swimsuit that fits and have no desire to purchase one, I don’t really know how much they cost. One of my trainers is taking swim lessons at the pool across the street from my house and she asked if I wanted to join her. I just looked at her like she’s crazy. When it comes to water sports, I like my water frozen.
An 11-day manicure? I would get bored with the color and start picking at it. I’m super happy with the results I get when I wear the Essie Gel Couture top coat over any of my indie nail colors. I get about 6 to 7 days and that’s about how long I can stand one color anyway. I get about one manicure every three months or so. Any more than that and my nails get really weak and start peeling.
Hi Tatiana,
Me too! My current suit has complicated ties like the Maaji one and it can be challenging to get into sometimes, LOL! I do like how the criss cross ties add a lot to the suit though.
You and I are exact opposites; I’d rather be in a pool (preferably a warm one) rather than on a frozen body of water. 🙂
I prefer cold to being sweaty and sticky. I always feel so exposed in shorts and swimsuits. Give me sweaters that cover me up any day. Never learned to swim as a kid and I’m not comfortable in water. I do like the feeling of freedom and the speed of it when I’m skating. I miss having a true winter. It never really gets cold here. Although I can’t say I miss shoveling snow all that much.
It’s hard enough trying to find a good bathing suit for a grown-up; try finding one for an 11 year old who wears a Misses size small. It took us the better part of a day to find something appropriate. A lot of the suits I saw were literally just enough coverage to keep the wearer from being arrested and nothing more.
I hadn’t seen that video from Amy Cuddy, but I really liked her TED Talk on power posing. I realized that my dad has been doing basically that same thing all my life- he was a law enforcement officer for about 30 years. A lot of officers do it.
Hi Suzanne,
The video is about just that — Power Posing! I tried it a few times this week. 🙂
Yess so excited about the makeup (and everything, really) in A Wrinkle in Time. I wore green lipstick to see it today and I totally felt like I fit in with the Mrs.’s. 🙂
Hi SJ!
How did you like the movie? I hope it was good!
Loved it. It was my favorite book growing up, and it was great to see it in movie form the way they did it.
Love the Athleta one! I also really like high waisted bottoms, ASOS and aerie have some cute ones.
Literally just bought that nail polish and put it on to see if it works. Initial thoughts, thicker than regular nail polish, and it is harder to clean up the edges in the shower than regular nail polish. Almost three days going strong…I’m hoping for 8 days, since I don’t think 11 is feasible.
You’ll have to let me know how it goes! I hope it makes it to 11! I would love even 8. I do put my nails through a lot and 8 days would be great.
Agreed — Athleta tankini FTW! So many options for wear, pretty colors!
Karen, I just started to read this Saturday’s surfing post but I had to stop to tell you—I purchased a two piece reversible Maaji swimsuit with coordinating long sleeve rash guard (for the sun protection) a couple of years ago and still love it! All three prices have been to many a beach and plenty of pools and hot tubs but still look brand new. The fabric is thick in a supportive but not uncomfortable way, and the bottoms are cut to provide more fuller coverage but still enhance your curves (no double bubble butt action here—where the suit cuts into your booty). I had always stuck with more boring basic colors and patterns for swim wear but I haven’t gone back since I fell in love with Maaji!! Good luck with the bathing suit search!
The fabric on the ester williams ones isn’t as good as I want it to be, not stiff enough.
The print on the athlete one is so cute. I think unless it fits really well, it could get all caddywompus in the water. Maybe the Athlete ones are designed better than the one I had so YMMV. Something to think about though. I think the Maaji one is pretty but all of those ties would drive me batty. I have a strappy bikini top like that–multiple string bands on the back that I wore last summer in Hawaii. I STILL have weird tan lines on my back from that! Good luck with the suits!
Oh my, I would love a lavender blush! I like purple blushes. I don’t know why, obvs it’s not natural LOL. Nothing cray cray, but I do have that squishy Maybelline blush in a pinkish-purple, and Benefit’s Lollitint! Love those. They’re not over the top, but still fun 😀
PS I think the first bathing suit is the best. It’s very functional and yet unique and cute. The second one, I just don’t like the bottom. I hate bottoms that cover your entire butt! LOL. It’s just never flattering 🙁
A swimsuit label I really like but never see talked about is Jolyn. The quality is excellent and they have a ton of cute prints!
https://jolynclothing.com/collections/all-swimsuits
I’m always looking for a cross-back style so the straps don’t fall down and they have lots of cross-back options, plus with the halters the straps have a similar design to the Patagonia ones, where the straps pull all the way through the neck/sides so you can really adjust it. In other words you can tighten and loosen with more specificity than if it just tied at the back. However, I’m not sure how that would fare with toddler hands.
They are designed for the smaller-bosomed though. I had to size up (normally a 34B) Maybe worth checking out for those with daughters, as mentioned above? They are sporty and cute designs but plenty with fuller coverage, and onesies styles too.