June Favorites
Just my favorite things from the month of June
Welcome to the June 2023 installment of my monthly series highlighting favorite things that I am loving and overall obsessed with. There is no scientific method (or really any method or process to speak of) that I use to select the pieces that I highlight — just things I really liked and used a lot in the past month. This originally started as a sporadic series in 2022 — you can read all the 2022 editions here: vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4, & 5. And you can check out March, April, and May 2023.
June was a freaking WHIRLWIND!
Most notably, I had a baby! A baby girl! You can read her birth story here (it was a very positive birth experience!) We have been loving on her, adjusting to life as a family of five, enjoying summer, and surviving on sleep in short bursts and whenever we can find it. I honestly can’t believe she is already a month old. The biggest cliche in the book, but it really does go by in the blink of an eye. The newborn phase can be challenging and trying, but I am doing my best to soak it up — there truly is no feeling like that of a baby sleeping on you!
My favorite things from this past month are all over the place — reflective of where I am at this phase in life I guess. My shopping habits are erratic, and I am highly influenceable - nothing like finding something you absolutely cannot live without, a couple weeks postpartum, in the middle of the night when you’re scrolling your phone - right? I have a made..shall we say…a lot of returns, ha! But, I’ve also found some goodies, and relied on a few good old faithfuls to help get through some of the early postpartum days!
Merit Instant Glow Serum: Over the past year I have become a huge fan of Merit beauty, specifically their foundation stick, mascara and eyebrow wand. This serum is constantly out of stock, but had been on my wishlist for awhile. My sister ended up finding it for me and surprised me with it a few weeks ago. It has a very thin consistency, which is really nice for summertime, and I LOVE IT. I don’t wear much makeup on my face, especially in the heat, so I appreciate all the glow-adding skincare products I can get!
T.TAIO Soap Sponge: If you’re not reading
“Things I Buy as a Civilian,” you need to be. I’m obsessed with all her recommendations and end up making a lot of purchases based on her recommendations! Most recently, I am following her Feng Shui tips for $. She does a monthly Amazon round-up and I discovered this scrubber via that newsletter. It is the perfect level of “scrub” to exfoliate, especially summer skin that gets grimy with sweat and sunscreen and sand. As I understand it, it’s pretty similar to Soft Services Buffing Bar, which is on my radar, but I’ve never tried. But, it’s at a much better price point. And I love the fruity smell!Compression Socks: A true postpartum essential - I put these on as soon as I moved out of my Labor & Delivery room, and continued to wear them for a few hours every day until all the swelling from pregnancy/fluids/medications/postpartum/etc. finally went away. They really do the trick! Also - you can definitely go for a fancy brand but this amazon set really does the trick just fine!
Bluetooth Sleep Headphones: I recently shared about this on instagram - this audio eye mask has been one of my best all-time purchases, but especially served me well this past month! I packed it in my hospital bag and used it to listen to an audio book or white noise in the hospital to fall asleep and drown out the many noises around me. At home, I’m using it to fall asleep at night - especially helpful when I’m going to bed really early to make sure I get as much sleep as I can. I just turn on an old audio book and it helps me relax and fall back asleep. I also use it after middle-of-the-night feeds to fall back asleep if I am feeling especially awake, or if the sun is starting to come out. So great for making it easy and relaxing to fall asleep or back asleep, and get some light and sound blocking support!
Big Buckle Birkenstocks - I posted on instagram a few weeks ago that I had been hemming and hawing over these leather big-buckle Birkenstocks and the number of DMs I got telling me to buy them immediately was impressive. So, I did what I was told and after a heavy application of the best leather protector, I have basically worn them everyday. They are as good as everyone says and I love how they add a little weight and balance to more feminine dresses, and an alternative to sneakers with my athleisure-heavy daily looks
Freedom Moses Slides - On the subject of shoes, I have also been leaning heavy on my Freedom Moses slides. My pair has held up for several seasons, and they are just my no-brainer choice for pool/pond/beach. I like having a dedicated pair of shoes for those activities (and I expect it will extend the life of my Birkenstocks!)
Old Navy Shorts - Another item I have raved about on instagram! But, I needed a couple pairs of shorts to get me through the summer months while I am still in between sizes. I wanted a high-waisted, breezy pair of black linen shorts and this pair from Old Navy fits the bill perfectly. I am loving them equally with a simple tee shirt or tank, or with a dressier blouse or button down. Plus, you simply cannot beat the price ($14!!!)
Align Bike Shorts - Most days, my postpartum uniform consists of bike shorts, a tee-shirt or tank, and an oversized button-down. I recently upgraded my bike shorts to the Lululemon Align shorts and they are INCREDIBLE. I think a lot of lulu items are priced pretty high, but I find these to be pretty reasonable, especially compared to other “designer” bike shorts on the market. They are soft, flattering, hold you in without being tight compression, and so far they wash well. I sized up & have the 6” rise (I plan to try the 8 next!)