If you spend any time around the StyleBlueprint offices, you’ll quickly pick up on the fact that we’re a group who loves to share a fun find – in fact, that’s one of the reasons the site was created! In our new monthly column, the SB Hot List, StyleBlueprint staffers share the hottest thing (or things!) on their radar right now. From our go-to summer recipes to the beauty products that keep our hair tame in the heat, here is this month’s Hot List!
Spontaneous Summer Treats
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, because July is the month of spur-of-the-moment ice cream as far as I’m concerned!
– Jesse Gillenwalters, SB Digital Marketing Analyst
Peter Thomas Roth 24k Lift & Firm Prism Cream
This is my absolute FAVE in the summer. It makes your skin look amazing with or without makeup. It gives you a hint of color but makes your skin look dewy and fresh! I wear it daily.
– Amanda Stanfill, SB Memphis Account Executive
Wyndy
I am LOVING the Wyndy app! This mobile app connects parents to college babysitters with the goal of making it simple to find, book and pay trusted college students. As a working mom and single parent, this app is a lifesaver, and my children have loved the babysitters. It’s easy to use, and I can even connect with the babysitters any of my Facebook friends have used as well.
– Ashley Bentley, SB Birmingham Account Executive
Grilled Romaine Salad
Grilled romaine salad is my absolute obsession right now. I crave it constantly. It’s quick, easy, fresh and tasty! The toppings you can use are endless, but I like to add diced tomatoes, red onion, garlic, avocado, salt and pepper. With a little olive oil and a squeeze of lemon over the top to finish it off, this salad is perfect for summer grilling and will surely impress your guests. The link to my inspiration: vindulge.com.
– Lauren Uebele, SB Business Coordinator
Chicken Avocado Lime Soup
This recipe is so quick and easy to make, not to mention, it’s totally delicious. I love that it’s filling, but still light enough to enjoy in the heat of summer. The health and spice levels are scalable depending on your love of cheese, sour cream or jalapeño seeds. I typically go for a little of all three.
– Lacy Green, SB Traffic Manager
Connie n’ Jack jewelry
Every piece is made by Atlanta-based Alyssa Cassatto, and she is a master at the art of layering. I met the uber-talented Alyssa at Porter Flea, and she is the ultimate cool girlfriend everyone needs in life. In addition to creating beautiful jewelry, she is an interior designer and an artist … a talent trifecta.
– Connie Prince, SB Nashville Account Executive
Recidex
I discovered a website last week called recidex.com, and it’s amazing — it’s truly a Rolodex for recipes. You can gather recipes from top food blogs, import recipes from blogs that aren’t on their site, etc. You can search by diet or ingredient, you can create a shopping list automatically with the click of a button — it’s just a really cool site. The only thing that could make it better is if it was available as an app. Regardless, it’s awesome.
– Ashley Haugen, SB Managing Editor
Revlon Kiss Line
I am loving the Revlon Kiss line. They have a bundled offering with an exfoliating sugar scrub, which tastes like a sugar cookie and makes your lips so smooth, paired with a lightly colored lip balm available in several shades. Sun protection is in the lip balm but not the sugar scrub – don’t make the mistake I did and use the wrong one while at the beach. Burnt lips hurt!
– Tracy Oswald, SB Louisville Account Executive
Simple Delights
This book, this wine and pizza made on the grill. The makings of a perfect summer evening!
– Megan Casey, SB Director of Marketing
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum (and a podcast!)
Recently, I have been LOVING the Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum. After about a month of use, it has brightened my overall complexion, reduced the look of dark spots and discoloration and given my skin extra luminosity. I apply a small amount before bed each night and under makeup each morning and have definitely noticed a difference. Plus, it’s cruelty-free, vegan and free of sulfates, parabens, pthalates, fragrance, gluten and soy. Also, for any Bravo lovers, I just recently found the Watch What Crappens podcast, and it is hilarious. They do episode recaps and basically say everything we’re all thinking – it’s amazing!
– Bailey Torkelson, SB Birmingham Client Success Representative
Kusco-Murphy Lavender Hair Creme and Agadir Argan Oil Shampoo
Especially in the summer, I HAVE to have these two hair products to tame my frizzy curls: Kusco-Murphy Lavender Hair Creme and Agadir Argan Oil Shampoo. I can only get the Kusco-Murphy hair creme from Amazon, but my hairdresser has the shampoo. Bye, bye frizzies!
– Cindy Acuff, SB Nashville Account Executive
Delicious Dinner
What I love during summer – simple tomato sauce.
– Elizabeth Fox, SB Cofounder
Away Carry-On Suitcase
I am currently obsessed with my Away carry-on suitcase (in the new sky blue). This little bag is super lightweight, has bullet proof wheels and zippers and an ejectable battery. But the most amazing thing is how much you can pack in it! It has the best compartments and zippers ever. I’m always amazed when it zips up, and I feel very smug breezing past everyone waiting at the baggage carousel. 😜 I have the Carry-On ($225) which is approved for every airline overhead compartment. My daughter has the Bigger Carry-On ($245) which fits into all Southwest planes and most domestic carriers. Both are approved for the tiny trunk of my VW Beetle.
– Linda Reeve, SB Social Media Director
Apple Cider Vinegar Face Wash
I’m in love with using diluted apple cider vinegar as a face wash. It’s just one part apple cider vinegar and two parts water. I only have to wash my face once a day or once every other day, and my skin stays super clear!
– Wesley Ware, SB Louisville Client Success Representative
SUMMER (and summer reading)
We are four weeks into summer (gasp), and I am enjoying it as much today as I did on June 21 and as much as I will on September 22. Every time I walk outside I melt like a popsicle, and that is a-okay by me. Being smacked in the face by a hot summer day is the best way to wake up, and a day coated in sunscreen, in a swimsuit, by the water is a day well spent. I am spending this summer with a book in hand. I have already ticked Crazy Rich Asians (plus the other two in the trilogy) by Kevin Kwan and The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker. Next up, Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette. #lovesummerhateeverythingelse
– Alex Hendrickson, SB Nashville Lead Writer
Flip Phones
Yes, really! I traded in my iPhone for a flip phone, and I haven’t looked back. Goodbye mindless scrolling, helloooo present summer nights. (You can hear more about the decision and experience in our last podcast episode on anxiety!)
– Annie Reeves, SB Associate Editor and Marketing Assistant
Trader Joe’s Hot Sauce
I live by this Trader Joe’s hot sauce. It’s the perfect kick to add to any dish and has such a tasty flavor. A bottle is even housed in the StyleBlueprint fridge. ;)
– Peyton Haecker, SB Nashville Client Success Representative
Phillips Airfryer
I bought this airfryer for my husband for Father’s Day, and we’ve been using non-stop ever since. For our first recipe, we cut up a ton of okra and then rolled the pieces in cornmeal with seasoning and placed in the airfryer for 20 minutes. We sprayed oil to coat the okra and probably used a total of a teaspoon for the whole batch. It was delicious and gave all the flavor of fried okra with just a teeny bit of oil! Since then, we’ve fried chicken bites, cauliflower and other vegetables.
Why this Phillips airfryer? I had been toying with buying this one as it was so highly rated and had so many reviews. Then, Laura Lea of LL Balanced wrote a review on it and it convinced me to buy it. It still took about six months to pull the trigger, but just for the fried okra, it was worth it!
– Liza Graves, SB Cofounder
See last month’s edition of the Hot List here!
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