These muffins are delicious at any point of the summer, but they feel particularly festive for the 4th of July!

Triple Berry Muffins

makes about 20-24 muffins , 25 minutes bake time

3 cups flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/4 cup whole milk

2 large eggs, beaten

2 sticks creamery unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

2 cups granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients (except the sugar). In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the well. Stir to combine. The batter may be thick.

Add berries and stir gently. The final step is to add the sugar, stirring to combine without over mixing. Adding the sugar in at the last minute doesn’t give it much time to break down so you’re left with a nice sweet crust on the muffin tops!

Scoop into a muffin pan that has been lined with cups and sprayed with non-stick spray. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

One. This is one of the more conservative ones. It has great coverage at the bum, and the side strap provides nice chest coverage without feeling overly matronly

Two. I love the colors on this suit! It feels fun and fresh. I also like the change up from the typical straps since this is designed as more of a halter top style.

Three. Extremely flattering and makes me feel fantastic. The ruching is forgiving and the plunge makes it a bit sexy without feeling like you’re on display.

Four. I absolutely love the colors of this suit, and the straps are removable!

Five. This is a nice combo between a simple black suit with full bum coverage, but a little less coverage in the bust. It’s a bit on the lower cut side, but not so much that I wouldn’t wear it swimming with my kids.

Six. I had a tan line from straps so this strapless suit has been on repeat lately.

Seven. Spanx suits hold me in and are extremely durable. I have this suit in black from a few summers ago and it still looks good as new.

I post a Question Box on my stories nearly every Monday and take a bit of time to answer a handful of them as I kick off the work week.

One question I got recently was “How have WE influenced YOU?”

It stopped me in my scroll immediately, and I knew I wanted to draft a blog post as a reply.

You have influenced me in immeasurable ways. The ability to communicate with so many people through an app, e-mail, or comments on the blog, is so unique. I remember when “chat rooms” started in the early 2000s. And AOL instant messenger became a thing too. We were able to communicate with strangers online, but that has only grown since and gotten more personal.

There are downsides to this, of which I’m very personally aware, but overwhelmingly I feel grateful to have gotten the ability to connect with so many of you online.

I started this website and this idea of sharing beauty tutorials with the goal of just sharing what I knew with other people. I wanted to help, and I’m naturally a “sharer” of information. I used to do it behind the chair, I do it with my friends in real life, and have built an entire business around sharing helpful information, reviews, tutorials, and more.

You, the reader, have influenced me directly by sharing with me what you like to read about or watch. But beyond the content creation part of my job, you’ve opened my mind to so many notions and ideas that I may not have otherwise discovered. I know this is a bit vague, and it’s hard to type out what I mean here.

I wouldn’t have had the access to learn and engage with such a wide variety of people from so many parts of the world would it not have been for this site. People have shared incredibly personal things with me over the years, from incredible triumphs to deep heartbreak. It has been a blessing and a huge responsibility that I have never taken lightly that some of you have felt safe and comfortable enough to share personal things with me, even though we have never met.

In 2013 I met a woman named Kari. Her friends reached out to me and told me that she was in the hospital with cancer. She was a blog follower and they asked if I could come to the hospital to meet her, and give her a cute haircut before she lost it all from the cancer treatments. Kari was a wife and a mom of 3 young girls.

I went and met Kari, cut her hair, and enjoyed chatting with her for some time. She passed away 4 years later. I think of her often, and the impact she left on me. Had I never started this blog, I would have never gotten the opportunity to meet her, and be deeply moved by her spirit and positivity despite knowing the cancer she had was certainly going to end her life sooner than she wanted it to.

This is the kind of experience that will stick with me forever.

I’ve had the opportunity to partner with dream brands and achieved goals I set for myself in business. And there is value to both of those things, but they pale in comparison to the stories and connections I’ve made with the people reading and interacting with me through the blog.

You’ve shared heartbreaking stories of damaged self-esteem, of feeling lost after having a baby, and how you learned something from the blog that helped heal that. You’ve shared joyful news of new jobs and nailing interviews because you felt confident in what you were wearing, or really rocking your hairstyle that day.

Those wins are more gratifying to me than I’ll ever be able to express.

This work as an Influencer is a 2-way street. If no one is listening or learning, it doesn’t work. Your involvement, support, feedback, and interaction are an essential part of this, and I’m so humbled to be able to get to know you, even if it’s just for a brief interaction online.

I go for function > form when it comes to my poolside beauty routine. I need sun protection and maybe a *hint* of color on my face, whether it be through a wash of cream blush or a lip stain. More often than not, I’m at the pool with my kids, so I skip any makeup that could run, smear, or smudge.

I’ve stocked up on a few new things from Sephora and thought I’d break down a couple of the summertime essentials here on this post!

I fell in love with the Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm with SPF 30 a few months ago and it has become my holy grail lip SPF. It didn’t take much convincing for me to try the Isle Glow Body Lotion with SPF 45 from Cay Skin, and I’m glad I did because it’s a very nice body lotion! I love that the scent is mild and light too.

I gave the Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen a go for my face and was instantly impressed. There was zero greasy residue, and it added a natural-looking sheen to my skin. It has a naturally derived tint that blends in with any skin tone, and it’s Reef-safe for anyone doing at traveling soon that needs a Reef-safe SPF product!

A few other summertime and poolside beauty favorites are the Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain in Mai Type. A lip stain is kind of the perfect lip product for outdoor activities if you ask me. It’ll look vibrant when it’s applied but slowly fade away leaving a beautiful stain of color on your lips.

I hope they continue to expand the shade range of the collection because they are already getting rave reviews.

We’re officially in summer mode now with the summer solstice behind us, and if you haven’t found an SPF that you love, perhaps you’ll be inspired to try one of these. But promise me that you’ll sign up to be a beauty insider at Sephora before you shop, okay? It’s completely free, you earn points, get clued in on upcoming promotions, and more!

Can you believe the above dress is from Amazon? I got a shoulder tie one last year that I loved, and I’m really into the one-shoulder style for this year!

We’re still figuring out a bit of a routine for our summer, and one thing I did recently purchase was a template from Etsy for the kids to earn screen time.

It’s easier to limit screen time during the school year since they are occupied, but we want to continue a healthy routine in the summertime with the kids as well.

Etsy has so many inexpensive and cute templates you can edit to personalize for yourself.

I’ve been loving a few of the beauty products from Wander Beauty. I love their double-ended blush + highlight stick for travel (or even just a convenient option at home!). I just purchased their new lip product that looks pretty close to perfect.

If you’re looking for a summer fragrance that smells like vacation, Dirty Coconut may be it.

My sister-in-law asked me for some foundation recommendations and I told her about Urban Decay Stay Naked. I really love this foundation, even though I don’t talk about it much. It’s a sheer-medium buildable coverage (based on how you apply) and is a great option for summer because it won’t add extra shine to your face if you live in a humid climate.

I just watched Andreea Ali’s video all about makeup tips for hot/humid weather. You can watch it here!

Spanx made the *cutest* and most flattering/comfortable jumpsuit!

The gold necklace I wear often is the London by Miranda Frye. It’s simple faceted beads but somehow manages to sparkle so well!

Amazon Storefront (ADD PHOTO OF ONE ARM DRESS)

And here are a few things I mentioned on Instagram Stories recently that you may have missed:

Bluffton Lemonade – see my recipe and how I created the drink here!

K18 Leave-In Hair Mask

Hatch for sleep

Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Naked Broad SPF 45

Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Serum

Skin Ceuticals Phyto Corrective Mask – one of my favorite calming masks.

J. Crew V Neck Swimsuit – incredibly flattering.

J. Crew Portofino Swimsuit

Straw Beach Bag from Amazon

Amazon Funky Monkey Slides – I wear these so often, but I’ve ripped through two pairs already!

Amazon Mesh Packing Bags

Baby Foot Foot Peel – will reveal brand new skin on your feet!

Birkenstock Slides

Persil ProClean – the only laundry detergent I use!

The Easy Maxi Dress from Amazon

Panama Hat on Amazon

Pretty Summer Earrings from Amazon

@estheticsbysheila – the best esthetician in all the land

Clare V. grande fann

You’re Always Enough – A children’s book by Emily Ley

Sweet Traditions

Blush CoWork – such an incredible co-working space in Cary, NC.

This week’s discount codes:

AERA: Use my code Kate20 for 20% off diffusers

Loopy Cases: code smallthings10 for 10% off

Ongoing promo codes:

amika: Use code SMALLTHINGS10 for 10% off your purchase

Spanx: Use code “KateXSpanx” for 10% off plus free shipping!

Bagging Rights: KATE10 gives you 10% off any items at BaggingRights.com

ABLE: KATEB15 will get you 15% off

Rifle Paper Co. x Summersalt: KATEB will get you 20% off your purchase at Rifle Paper Co and $10 toward your next order over $95+ at Summersalt

Miranda Frye: “Smallthings10” will get you 10% off and free shipping!

London Bracelet, Meggan Bracelet + Ansley Studs from Miranda Frye.

Sydney Bracelet, MF Ring + London Necklace from Miranda Frye.

I mix and match my jewelry every day, but more often than not I’m wearing at least one piece from Miranda Frye. The style of the jewelry is really perfect for my casual and classic wardrobe, and they are durable to handle my day-to-day life. I feel like I’m hard on my jewelry, so I like to find pieces that I know will last, will not tarnish, and will be special enough to stand out.

P.S. If you are looking for a way to organize your jewelry, I may be able to help with this round-up of pretty organization options!

You may know by now how much I love my Aera Diffuser. It’s such a simple and effortless touch that adds warmth and coziness to my home. I’m not the type to remember to always burn a candle, and there are some rooms, like our playroom on the second floor, where candles aren’t a good option. So the Aera Diffuser allows me to have a non-toxic, safe for pets and kids, no water required, home-scenting option. And, *bonus*, each capsule lasts up to 800 hours!

I have my Aera Diffusers set up on schedules, so they turn on and off automatically based on how my family and I use the rooms in our home. And the Aera Mini Smart Diffuser has been the perfect addition to our laundry room, which is also where we store the cat’s litter box and food. This is vital because the doorway to enter the house is *right* by the laundry room so it’s important to me that it smells nice!

I received the new Destinations Collection from Aera and it has completely disrupted my solid list of top 5 fragrances from the brand. While Apple Harvest is still #1 for me (because I helped develop it!) I thought White Tea was definitely in the #2 spot. But that was until I smelled Hawaii. I was transported to a tropical paradise in my head.

Hawaii is composed of limes, tropical fruits, hibiscus, and passionflower. It smells fruity and somehow bright.

Paris is delicate, floral, and smells refined. There are notes of champagne and macarons, which feel very appropriate.

Amalfi Coast is lemony and fresh, with a nice depth thanks to the berry notes of blood orange.

I have the mini fragrance capsules, as well as the standard size, and while they are each unique in their scents, they somehow also work together quite nicely!

If you’re looking to bring some vacation vibes home this season, be sure to check out the Destinations Collection from Aera! And make sure to use code KATE20 for 20% off a diffuser!

Just a few of the summertime *essentials* that I love and use often!

The thought process behind this post was imagining that I was sitting poolside with a friend and telling her all the things I love and use in the summer. So, without further adieu, here are my summertime essentials!

Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45 – I use this so often and never have a single bit of evidence of sun through it.

Straw Hat – It took me a little while to gain confidence to wear a hat like this but now I can barely go to the pool without it.

Sun Bun Scalp and Hair Mist – nothing is worse than a burnt scalp right where you part your hair!

A woven belt for flowy dresses – I’ve worn mine a few times already on different dresses.

SPF 30 lip balm – this applies so nicely and I love that it protects my lips.

Cloud Sandals – whether it’s by the water or with your favorite casual outfit, nothing beats the comfort of these slides.

Loving Tan 2 HR Express Self Tanning Mousse in Medium – the *best* color for pink/cool undertones! There isn’t even a hint of orange color with this tanner!

Nest Seville Orange Perfume Oil – I love a fruity fragrance, and this one is truly summer in a bottle. You can see more about my favorite perfumes here.

I feel like everyone knows by now how important SPF is for our skin, but I’m not so sure the same sun protection measures are being taken on our hair!

Sun, pollution, humidity, salt water, chlorine, and anything else that comes with summertime activities, can all be rough on hair. I have to be extremely mindful of how I care for my hair in the summertime because I have a lot working against me.

I heat style regularly, I wash often, I color my hair, I have well water, and we have a pool in the backyard. So if I don’t baby my hair in the summertime (frankly, year-round), it’ll simply break off at the ends.

I always wash my hair after I get out of the pool. Sometimes immediately after, and other times it’ll be a few hours after depending on what we have going on. I typically apply a hair mask or at the very least I’ll add in a leave-in conditioner and let my hair air dry.

But before all of this, before I get in the sun, I take a few steps to take care of my hair. More often than not I’ll wear a hat. And I just bought a few scarves on amazon to try this summer to cover my hair when I’m out by the pool. As far as hair products go, I love the Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil UV protection line. I’ve been using the primer for months, and really love the hyaluronic acid leave-in treatment too. I also rounded up a few other UV protection hair products to pack in your pool or beach bag this summer and included a recommendation for what to apply afterward too.

Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer. Moroccan Oil Protect & Prevent Spray. Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil. Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil UV Protective Dry Oil Finishing Spray. Rahua Hydration Detangler UV Barrier. Sugargoop! Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder. Sun Bum Revitalizing 3 in 1 Leave-In Conditioner Spray Detangler. Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray.

We’re officially in summer mode! School is out, trips are planned, camps are scheduled, and I’m looking very forward to the summer with the kids!

Someone recently asked about what pool floats we like. We’ve purchased pool floats from Target, Aldi, Walmart, Academy, Costco, FunBoy, and probably other places I’ve forgotten about.

The longest-lasting floats are FunBoy and Aldi!

I tried the Amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum this week and really loved it. The flat iron made my hair feel quite dry, especially on the ends, so I applied a bit of this thick serum to my ends before I went to sleep on the day I used that iron. The next morning I wanted to restyle just a few of the sections with a curling wand, so I applied a bit more, focusing on the really dry spots. It really hydrated my ends and I felt good knowing I was doubling up on heat protection! Use code “SMALLTHINGS10” for 10% off your purchase at Amika.com

And here are a few things I mentioned on Instagram Stories recently that you may have missed:

Honeysuckle Gelato

Rust Orange Tank

Heal a Heel Cups

Created Colorful

A’Verde Cocina and Tequila Library

Braided Block Heel Shoes

Yummly Smart Thermometer

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Urban Decay Setting Spray

Cream Contour Stick

Cream Bronzer

Spanx Pants Jumpsuit + Spanx Shorts Jumpsuit – use code KateXSpanx for 10% off and free shipping

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

@book_club_at_kelseys

Thigh Society Cooling Shorts

Strawberry Mint Charged Lemonade at Panera

Ashley Brooke’s collection with @sunshinetiendashop

Dress from EVEREVE

Athleta at Fenton – below are some of my favorites!

Pace Yourself Running Co in Holly Springs

Asics Cumulus Running Shoes

CND Shellac in “Charm”

This week’s discount codes:

Tommy John: You can use my code KATEBRYAN25 for 25% off for a limited time

Ongoing promo codes:

amika: Use code SMALLTHINGS10 for 10% off your purchase

Miranda Frye: “Smallthings10” will get you 10% off and free shipping!

Spanx: Use code “KateXSpanx” for 10% off plus free shipping!

Bagging Rights: KATE10 gives you 10% off any items at BaggingRights.com

ABLE: KATEB15 will get you 15% off

Rifle Paper Co. x Summersalt: KATEB will get you 20% off your purchase at Rifle Paper Co and $10 toward your next order over $95+

There are a few brushes that I’ve added into my routine in the past few months that are working SO well that I wanted to dedicate an entire post to them.

And I threw a makeup routine in here as well because I wanted to demonstrate them in action. This is been my go-to routine as of late!

Makeup by Mario EF 1 is really ideal for cream + powder eyeshadow. It could also be PERFECT for concealer and setting powder. There are a lot of options!

I’ve been using my Morphe M439 deluxe buffer for foundation and it works like a dream. It’s also very easy to clean!

A beauty blender has been my top choice for blending concealer in under my eyes, and on spots as well. It does a beautiful job of pressing the product in without brushing it off. Just make sure it’s a bit damp before you use it.

Products used:

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 5.25

Nars Creamy Concealer in Creme Brulee

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening for Under Eyes Powder – I NEVER skip this step!

MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork

Hourglass Eyeshadow in doe (crease/outer corners only!)

NYX Epic Eyeliner in Nude Haze

Lancome Lash Idole Mascara

Hourglass Unlocked Mascara – this is a great for adding length to your lashes!

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Taupe

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Cream Bronzer in Fair

Wander Beauty On-The-Glow Blush and Illuminator in Coral Rose

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

Bobbi Brown Nude Pink Lipstick – a very easy to wear pinky nude! I find that shades named “nude” can look a bit too brown on me, but this one really is a great color!

Brushes:

Sigma Smudge Brush – to soften eyeliner

Beauty Blender – for blending in concealer

Morphe M439 Brush – to buff in liquid foundation

Makeup By Mario EF1 – for cream and powder eyeshadow

Similar blush brush – to apply cream blush

Sonia Kashuk Large Buffing Brush – to apply cream bronzer

Similar powder brush – to apply powder highlighter

I’m back to shoulder length hair, and couldn’t be happier about it!

Here are a few images of my hair styled straight (learn how I did it here!)

And here are a few photos of it curled with a flat iron.

A few years ago, after being deeply inspired by Caralyn Mirand Koch, I went to Nordstrom and had a bra fitting appointment. You can read all about my experience here.

I’ve since learned so much about band sizing in relation to cup sizes, what sister sizing is, what to look for in an improperly fitting bra, and more. I feel so much more educated when it comes to buying bras for myself now!

I’ve been a big fan of Natori bras for years, especially since I started buying them in my correct size! I recently found myself looking for a new strapless bra, something a bit softer than the one I had, and I found it!

This Minimal Contour Underwire Strapless Bra from Natori is extremely soft. It has foam contour cups, which I really appreciate in a strapless bra, and fits perfectly. The band is wide enough for good support but doesn’t feel like too much fabric.

I tried the Spanx strapless bra and really disliked it. The concept was good, but I found it to be uncomfortable.

The other bra I tried and loved is the Revelation Contour Underwire bra. It’s a little more low profile than the other Natori bra that I love, and I appreciate the smaller straps too.

A bra should be something you don’t think about after it’s on, and these two new additions are comfortable, easy, supportive, and make me feel great.

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, you might like the one featuring some other bras I like!

It was so fun to attend a few of the Fenton grand opening events this week. Fenton is a new mixed use development that just opened in Cary, North Carolina. There are so many great restaurants going in, as well as incredible retail (from Madewell to Athleta to Sephora and more!).

I shared on Instagram that week that I’m hosting a meet + greet at the brand new Athleta at Fenton. It’s at 6:30pm Wednesday June 8th, and I would love for you to come! We’ll be doing an in-store giveaway right at 7:00p (you must be present to enter to win) and we’ll hang out until about 8:00p!

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, find my recaps of books I’ve read in the last few years on my Good Reads account!

And here are a few things I mentioned on Instagram Stories recently that you may have missed:

One-shoulder Amazon dress **amazing**

ICONIC London Radiance Booster

Wander Beauty On-The-Glow Illuminator in Pink Petal

RaleighUAV – Justin’s drone business

Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Tinted SPF – my top choice these days for a subtle tint with SPF built-in!

Megababe Thigh Rescue -essential to give a bit of glide when you’re wearing a dress!

Spanx Swimsuit with great booty coverage

Green Amazon Sandals

Barcelone Wine Bar

Lovely Cream Tie Shoulder Top from Walmart – so beautiful!

Blue Mercury – beauty and skincare store is having a sale

Amazon Fun Retro Sunglasses

Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka – my favorite to create the Bluffton Lemonade

Ongoing promo codes:

amika: Use code SMALLTHINGS10 for 10% off your purchase

Miranda Frye: “Smallthings10” will get you 10% off and free shipping!

Spanx: Use code “KateXSpanx” for 10% off plus free shipping!

Bagging Rights: KATE10 gives you 10% off any items at BaggingRights.com

ABLE: KATEB15 will get you 15% off

Rifle Paper Co. x Summersalt: KATEB will get you 20% off your purchase at Rifle Paper Co and $10 toward your next order over $95+

Listen.

Shorts can be hard, I get it. And they can feel especially hard if your thighs touch or you generally have a curvy butt/leg body type.

Nothing, NOTHING, is worse than living your life and having uncomfortable shorts riding up when you walk. It’s equivalent to a no-show sock falling down in your shoe. Everything may look fine from the outside, but inside you’re cringing at every step!

I live in a hot and humid climate, so denim shorts have to be 10/10 in order for me to wear them. Otherwise, I will choose a lightweight dress, athletic shorts, or anything linen to wear in place of bad denim shorts.

I did a bunch of shopping and found 7 pairs of denim shorts that I feel comfortable in and would recommend. You can watch the try-on on my Instagram or gather the quick stats right here on this post.

If you like a bit of distressing, that is easy to find with Abercombie denim. Some washes and styles from the brand can feel bulky in the fly area, but these mom shorts lay flat and feel great.

I’ve already worn these a handful of times and really love them. They have extra room in the thigh, so no issues with them riding up, and have a decent amount of stretch without bagging out.

These are the shortest but stretchiest of the bunch! They would be great to wear over a swimsuit for a casual outfit at the beach, but would also look great with a casual tank and sandals.

I love the longer length on these! I do not like a Bermuda short on me, so this is about as long as I like to go with denim shorts. These feel stiff/tight at first, but soften with wear. It’s one of those jean shorts that get better with age, which is good because the price point makes them a pair that I hope to have for years and years to come.

These are stretchy, high-waisted, with a longer inseam. Of the group, they are probably my least favorite BUT I like them for looser, blousy tops or with a crop top. You can also fold up the bottom to shorten the inseam.

These were a great find at Old Navy. I love the a-line cut, it kicks out at the thigh in a really flattering spot. I’ve found myself reaching for these more often than not if I’m wearing denim shorts.

Every other pair of denim is a raw hem, so it’s nice to have one roll cuff pair in the mix! A roll cuff can be a very flattering style on athletic legs, and I like that they have a clean, sophisticated look to them for any day I’m dressing up jean shorts a bit!

p.s. if you enjoyed this post, you may like my white t-shirt comparison blog post!

We took the kids to DISNEY WORLD in May and I’ve never felt such a great feeling of accomplishment than what I felt getting on the airplane to come home.

We had a great time, and really designed this trip to align with things we knew we would care about.

Justin and I invited my parents to come along, not only for an extra set of hands but also to experience Disney with the kids. I’m so glad they joined us and made these memories with us!

We stayed at an AirBNB about 12/15 minutes from the parks. I cannot express how pleased we were with this decision. I waffled between staying on property in a suite, and staying in an airBNB, and I can say, hands down, that the choice to stay off-property in an AirBNB was right for us. Not only did it save us many thousands of dollars, it gave each child their own bed, as well as a private room for Justin and myself, as well as my parents. The house we stayed in had a pool in the lanai, and that felt fantastic after long days at the parks.

The thing about visiting Disney is that there are almost a crippling amount of choices to make, but if you’re looking for the push to stay off property — this is it.

We planned to visit 3 parks, 1 park a day (aka no Park Hopper). We planned to eat all breakfasts at home, which we did, and grab lunch at whatever park we were at that day. We ate dinner either at home, ordering carry-out or popping in to a casual restaurant.

All of this meal planning went swimmingly, and I’m very glad I didn’t feel rushed at a park to get to a pre-made reservation. If there is one thing about visiting Disney, it’s that you must be flexible! It worked for us to keep the goal reasonable (and that goal being to visit the parks) and let everything else just happen as it did.

We rented a 7 passenger van which allowed our whole crew to pile into one vehicle for parking. Parking is well organized and easy.

We rented a stroller for each day we visited a park and that was essential. Not only did it stash our stuff, but Emily was pretty weary from all the walking around. We used Genie+ to pre-plan a few rides we wanted to make sure we hit and while it took a pretty good deal of prep work to try to understand the system, it ended up working fine. Disney Cast Members were incredibly helpful and kind whenever we had questions about anything on the My Disney Experience app or with Genie+.

The most popular rides had long lines, as expected, but we found that the top of the morning was the best time for shorter lines. We’re all early risers so it made the most sense to visit the parks in the mornings and stay until we were tapped out. There was a notable change in crowds and heat by about 2:00pm each day, and that was just around the same time that we had exhausted ourselves and were ready to leave.

The only thing we skipped out on was returning to Magic Kingdom for the fireworks at night. We were all exhausted and I truly didn’t think my kids cared enough about fireworks to make it such a late night for them. Not to mention the crowds would be enormous and trying to access the parking lot at the close of the park sounded a little stressful.

Beyond that, we had a great time and I was truly blown away by how great my kids did. It was *hot* and sunny, and we did a ton of walking around. All 3 of the kids rolled with whatever was happening, and had a really great time. I’m so grateful for that.

To be honest, I thought that I would leave this trip being ready to plan our next visit back to Disney but I’m surprisingly feeling very satisfied with this trip and would be happy to call it a day with Disney trips. Of course, things change and as the kids get older their interest in visiting Disney may grow, so we’ll just cross that bridge when we get there.

Quick Notes about the things I’m glad we did:

-Genie+ is very helpful for reserving rides

-Memory Maker package is nice because you can rely on the pro’s to capture images throughout all the parks.

-Dress for a work out. Athletic shorts and tank tops. Sneakers. Minimal or no makeup. Disney is a mission, and I am *so* glad I didn’t have to fuss with running mascara or uncomfortable denim shorts on the water rides.

I hope you’re able to take time to get outside, rest, and process your emotions after an extremely difficult week.

I have a few links and things to share with you on this post today, find them below.

Did you catch my blog post yesterday? I featured a new product from Charlotte Tilbury that is perfect for summer. Read the post here.

This eyelet drawstring button up is so pretty. It looks incredible with white denim or even classic blue!

Speaking of Madewell, you have a few more days to take advantage of their 25% off promo. See more info below.

And here are a few things I mentioned on Instagram Stories recently that you may have missed:

Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 – feels so great on the lips, and prevents sunburn too.

T3 Airebrush Duo

Soma Bralette

TooFaced Chocolate Bronzer – if you like powder bronzer, this goes on very smoothly.

Weave Pattern Summer Bag

Eyeshadow Brush

Bluey Kids TV Show – a very tolerable kids show!

Tennis Bracelet from Miranda Frye – it sparkles like nothing else!

Olive and June Cuticle Serum

Ongoing promo codes:

amika: Use code SMALLTHINGS10 for 10% off your purchase

Miranda Frye: “Smallthings10” will get you 10% off and free shipping!

Spanx: Use code “KateXSpanx” for 10% off plus free shipping!

Bagging Rights: KATE10 gives you 10% off any items at BaggingRights.com

Rifle Paper Co. x Summersalt: KATEB will get you 20% off your purchase at Rifle Paper Co and $10 toward your next order over $95+

It’s hard to remember the last time I wanted a full coverage, matte, set with powder, flawless finish makeup look. These days, more than ever, I’m opting for medium, flexible coverage that still allows my freckles to show through, looks like skin, and honestly– if the humidity gets out of control, it doesn’t fully destroy my makeup look that day. I just feel like medium coverage, natural or radiant finish foundations are more forgiving than matte full coverage foundations. Do you agree?

My routine has been medium coverage foundation, often Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk in 5.25, a liquid or cream blush, and then some pressed powder bronzer. I’ve been really enjoying the Too Faced Chocolate Bronzers, in both milk chocolate and chocolate depending on if I’m wearing self-tanner or not.

But then I saw Charlotte Tilbury was releasing a new *cream* bronzer and I was desperate to try it. It makes sense, knowing how much I love cream products, that this type of bronzer would fit in flawlessly with my routine. I had used one or two cream bronzers in the past, which were fine, but I ended up moving back to my powder bronzers after a while for a better match. As a cool/pink-toned, light-skinned person, it’s hard to find bronzers that aren’t too orange/warm.

I bought the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-kissed Glow Bronzer in 2 Medium. I wanted to purchase the lightest shade, Fair, but it sold out so fast. When the bronzer arrived, and I opened it up, I thought it would be way too dark. As it turns out, it’s really an ideal bronze shade for my skin tone. I’m actually glad I bought shade “medium” instead of “fair” because I wonder if “fair” would end up having enough of an impact?

Just after I made this purchase, I saw that NARS launched a cream bronzer range as well, with a variety of tones (warm and neutral) and a few different levels of darkness. If I hadn’t bought this Charlotte Tilbury bronzer, I would have picked up the NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream in 02.

Here is a ‘before’ photo of my face, this is with everything except bronzer/blush/highlight/lip.

And here is the ‘after’!

I wish I had a sunny day with natural light to really show you the impact, but it was cloudy and rainy on the day I shot this. I must say, even in poor natural light, the bronze color adds such a natural-looking warmth to my face.

I found that my favorite way to apply this cream bronzer is after foundation but before blush. I really love my blush to pop, so adding the warmth to the face first with a bronzer gives me the look I want. If you aren’t as much of a blush user as I am, you can swap the order or just skip the blush altogether!

I used a blush brush to stipple it onto the face, dotting the product on instead of swiping it against the skin. I didn’t want to lift up or disturb the foundation base, so stippling the bronzer was the best way for me to get the maximum color payoff with a smooth, even finish.

I finished the summery look with the best lip SPF that I’ve ever used. It’s the Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm in SPF 30. It’s extremely effective, even in the southern sun and heat, and I love the glossy finish. I’ve used lip SPF products in the past that are similar to a waxy stick, and always feel unpleasant to apply, but this lip SPF feels so hydrating and smooth.

For maximum lash impact, I used my go-to Lancome Lash Idole, of which a trial size is included in the Sephora Mini Mascara Lashstash to go. It also includes one of my other favorites, the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. Not only is this kit perfect for experimenting with some new mascaras, but it’s also great to have for any travel you may have in the near future. I’ve heard good things about the Rare Beauty Mascara so I was happy to see it included in this kit!

If you end up doing some shopping at Sephora, whether it’s in-store or online, make sure you’re signed up to be a Beauty Insider first! It’s an effortless way to earn points that you can use toward free luxury-sized samples or even money off your order. Click here to sign up.

Sephora is one of my favorite places to shop for all things beauty, as you likely know already because they are always adding new brands and products to try! It’s my go-to spot to discover new releases and stock up on my long-time favorites.

This post was sponsored by Sephora.

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Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that this 25% off promo that Madewell is doing (now through 5/30) is just too good. There are too many summer dresses, CUTE bags, and new footwear to choose from!!

I’ve shared a few of my top picks on Instagram but wanted to round up a few other things here on the blog as well.

I was elated to see the Sydney Cross Body bag in a new linen-cotton version. It’s the *perfect* summer bag.

I bought the white perfect vintage straight jean (they are stretchy!! they are flattering!! they are NOT see-through!!) and found them to run a bit big. I’d recommend sizing down, especially if you’re between sizes!

Have you shopped the sale yet?! What did you get?!

If you’re looking for just a “wash of color” in a lip product, I have 5 easy to wear pinks to recommend for you! These all feel like a balm or a gloss, and add a sheer pink flush to the lips.

Number One: Nars Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm

This is the most bubble gum of the bunch and extremely hydrating. I’ve had one of these tubes in my purse for years!

Number Two: Lancome L’Absolu Mademoiselle Lip Balm in Plump Pink

Hydrating with a cooling sensation.

Number Three: L’Oreal Glow Paradise in 110 Mulberry Bliss

Feels very balmy and light on the lips, and the pink is bright!

Number Four: YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm in 44

Has the most color payoff of the bunch, but is still very effortless to apply and wear. These taste/smell fantastic.

Number Five: MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum in Apricot Glow

This actually does feel like it plumps my lips up a bit, without being painful like some lip plumping products. The color payoff is minimal.

I really like all of these lip colors, especially on a light makeup day! These are also a great way to add shine or hydration on top of a lipstick that may feel a bit dry, so don’t hesitate to play around with ways to wear them!