I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
End of summer always finds me with a renewed desire to give my skin and hair a little TLC after months of sun rays, humidity and what-have-you. Today’s list of products includes some of my favorite hydrating, detoxifying, clarifying and all around MVP products worth giving a whirl this time of year.
We recently introduced Herbivore Botanicals into the shoppe. And I’m already such a huge fan; the Phoenix Facial Oil, Blue Tansy gel mask and the Detox and Calm bath salts are already some of my favorites in my entire beauty routine. I’m finding that the Blue Tansy mask is the perfect soothing, cooling gel that my skin is craving right now.
As for hair: I’m really digging Aveda’s line right now. Made without parabens, sulfates and phthalates, the collection of products bring moisture, nutrients and body back into my strands, and at a relatively affordable price point too. I’m sticking to the Damage Remedy conditioner to help repair dry, brittle ends. Have you tried any of their products lately? I’d love to know your go-to’s and favorites!
Read on about the rest of the products below, and like always, chime in with must-try brands and products I should know about! Truly, MKR
P.S. Discover more of my favorite all natural products HERE. xo
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I’m all about the cooling nature of this resurfacing clarity mask. The blue gel gently exfoliates, smoothes, and resurfaces skin’s texture, leaving it feeling and looking rejuvenated. Perfect for end-of-summer skin!
Young Living, my go-to for essential oils and nontoxic home products, just came out with an all natural makeup line! I know, I know; great news. I bee-lined to try this lipstick and I am such a fan. It offers plenty of shine, plus nice and natural looking color, and it’s made of natural ingredients. Since I basically eat lipstick, finding a nontoxic option is really important to me. It’s been formulated without parabens, phthalates, fragrances, etc. Added bonus: it moisturizes lips and is anything but dry; the creamy texture glides on so smoothly, and stays on for hours!
If you’re interested in joining the team over at The Well Code, aka receiving major discounts on YL products and learning about all natural skincare and nontoxic household must-haves, click HERE.
As I mention above, Young Living’s new natural makeup line is incredible. I also tried out the new lipgloss, and it does not disappoint. Like the lipstick, itt’s been formulated without parabens, phthalates, fragrances, etc. It gives me sheer coverage that looks great alone during the day or on top of lipstick.
If you’re interested in joining the team over at The Well Code, aka receiving major discounts on YL products and learning about all natural skincare and nontoxic household must-haves, click HERE.
Quinoa in haircare?! Yes, yes. This conditioner includes a quinoa protein to bring life back to damaged hair. It’s suitable for all hair types, and I’ve found that it helps to majorly detangle my hair. Like all Aveda hair products, I’m super impressed.
I like to apply this thickening tonic post-shower to towel dried hair. It’s a great nontoxic formula, 97% naturally derived in fact) that’s paraben free, sulfate free and phthalate free. I feel it gives my hair a little more ooph during a good blow-dry!
Bath time has become some sort of a ritual for me; it’s my time to relax, unwind and detox. These are my favorite bath salts to do just that; the blend of lavender, eucalyptus and Cambrian blue clay works together to detox impurities and clear my mind.
I’ve heard a lot of hype about these face masks so I just had to try them. The pair acts as a hydrating peel-off mask duo that promises to soothe, cool the skin and brighten your entire complexion.
My verdict? The mask feels amazing, and it packs results you can literally see immediately. Though a splurge, I’ll be masking up with these when I need a whole lot of hydrating TLC!
Getting my hair, skin and mind right in the post-summer haze is important to me. I’ve been mixing in a tablespoon of Brain Dust to my morning coffee and/or afternoon tea. It includes an special blend of adaptogens that help promote clarity, creativity, alertness and the capacity to handle whatever stresses come my way. Seriously, a must-try!
Here’s another current favorite from Herbivore Botanicals: Phoenix Facial Oil. Not only do I feel a bit magical as I use this, I love the all natural ingredients and the luxe blend of botanical oils. It packs some SERIOUS moisture back into my skin, dramatically rehydrating and rejuvenating it at a cellular level. As a result, my skin feels silky and smooth. If you’re looking for some concentrated moisture after a summer full of sun, this is your oil.
The Blue Clay Spot Treatment Mask is another favorite of mine when I need some quick spot treatment on blemishes or if I’ve feeling like pollution or other factors may have taken a toll on my skin. It does the trick and diminishes breakouts almost overnight. It is a bit drying, so I always follow it with an ultra-moisturizing cream or facial oil.
Another favorite blend of bath salts, this calming blend is incredibly soothing. It has ylang ylang, natural vanilla and Himalayan pink salt crystals for ultimate relaxation and flora, mood boosting effects. Love the idea of gifting these to a friend along with a candle or dry brush!
I’ve written on here about the Fascia Blaster before; it’s a wonder tool to help “knead” the fascia, as it appears as cellulite, on the body. This mini version has a convenient shape with a handle, 1 claw, and a nugget tip that allows for easy transitioning between FasciaBlasting and pressure point therapy for hard-to-reach areas in your traps, neck, upper back, deltoids, lower leg, and inner thighs.
I always find myself needing to give my feet a little extra TLC this time of year, and I’ve turned to our Healing Foot Butter from the shoppe. It’s made of essential oils like grapefruit, patchouli and lemongrass, and works to soothe and soften dry and tired feet. Paired with a Merben dry brush, it has the perfect healing effect.
By now you know how fair my skin is, and that I probably don’t wear self tanner a lot. Until I discovered this one. It has a blend of organic virgin coconut oil and a hint of self tan, so it’s a deeply hydrating formula that gives a nice subtle glow.
Not to mention, it smells amazing. Most self-tanners smell like garbage but this one is all coconuts!
Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha
You know I love a good getaway. But with the blog, the shoppe and everything that comes with them plus a growing staff, I usually don’t find enough time for a proper escape. And I’m not just talking about a little R&R; I’m talking about a trip full of relaxation AND the leisurely exploring the sights and to-do’s. So when Buick recently invited me on a weekend road trip to Asheville, the hubs and I packed the Lacrosse and away we went.
There’s something so freeing about getting in a car and hitting the open road. Especially when that road is full of mountains and gorgeous scenery. The glory in a trip like this is not only in reaching the destination but in the journey itself! And the great thing about Asheville is that it’s truly an easy road trip from Atlanta, clocking in just under four hours. Which was made even easier because of our Buick Lacrosse, which proved to be the perfect road trip friendly sedan offering plenty of room for my 3+ suitcases, picnic basket, blankets, pile of hats and whatever Anthony decided to bring. Yes I’m aware I’m an overpacker.
In heading to Asheville I highly suggest adding in extra time for the drive itself. The route is full of must-stops; think cool mountain towns, really great antique shops, and of course Goats on the Roof. The name says it all; there are literally adorable goats on the roof you can hang with and feed. The possibilities for stops are virtually endless though, especially while passing through Greenville, too. Greenville always tempts me to pop into Grits & Groceries for some good ole comfort food, or even crowd favorite Caviar & Bananas for a gourmet snack.
I was so grateful that we gave ourselves plenty of time to pull over and stop along the way. And by the time we reached Asheville, I was officially in OOO-mode. I had only been to Asheville once before; last time I didn’t get the time to explore at all. Instead I was checking into the Omni Grove Park Inn for some serious unplugging time. So with this visit, I was eager to really take in all that I could, and that meant I had my list of suggestions via Instagram from you all with me!
We stayed, again, at the Omni, which served as a great “home base” for all of our to-do’s. And I think one of my favorite things during the whole trip was actually driving along the Blueridge Parkway; we packed a picnic, stopping off at the lookouts along the way, and reveling in the views and the picture-perfect weather. We literally couldn’t have asked for better weather for the long weekend, I’m telling you. It was sunny and mild during the day, and a brisk chill to the air at night. #swoon
We also visited the Biltmore, which was seriously mind-blowing. I knew it would be impressive, but it was truly gorgeous and awe-inspiring. The landscaping, the gardens, the biking paths, the sunflower field…the 11-mile long estate and all 8,000 acres is the epitome of grandeur and it’s maintained in the most tasteful way. After experiencing it for myself, I realized that you really need an entire day to explore it all. It’s breathtaking.
The Admiral, for dinner, was a much-mentioned recommendation, and it did not disappoint! The vibes were great, and the food was even better. We also hit up Wicked Weed, a beloved brewery where the hubs fell in love with sour beers.
On our last day, we went downtown and enjoyed seeing the farmers market and a local art show. I feel like we ate, and ate, and ate, we made our way to Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar. This was worth all the hype; inside there are thousands of books for perusing while you sip on wine or Champagne. I mean all of my favorite things! And finally, we made it to the Beach Boys concert at the Biltmore. Which, if you’ve been to the estate, you’ll be able to imagine just how magical this was. Overlooking the insanely beautiful grounds and mountains, along with a view of the sunset…it was something special.
Asheville, you were a dream. It was time much-needed, and an escape that was easy, enjoyable, and one that’ll have us back again soon. We found ourselves actually spending a lot of time in the car on this trip, but the car itself was just as beautiful as the scenery. I’ve never enjoyed sipping on coffee and cruising along the parkway as much as I did this weekend. And a place like Asheville offers sights around every bend and corner. A big thank you to Buick for helping to make this idyllic long weekend getaway a reality! Truly, MKR
Photography, Haley Sheffield for Waiting on Martha | This post is in collaboration with Buick, a brand we love and adore. All opinions are 100% our own.
My husband, the avid golfer that he is, was actually the first one who introduced me to the Transfusion cocktail. All golfers probably know about this one; you’re sure to find it at the gold club house or on the fairway itself. And ever since the hubs had me try one at home, I’ve been on team-Transfusion to make it more widely known and enjoyed.
This cocktail packs a nice, fizzy, refreshing punch. And what’s also refreshing is that the ingredient list doesn’t involve anything too crazy; it’s made vodka, ginger ale and grape juice. Mixing it is easy too. Simply combine equal parts of each ingredient over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with fruit of choice; I placed blueberries and orange on bamboo skewers for a balanced tang that screams summer.
So whether you’re enjoying this on the back nine, at the clubhouse or at home on the sofa, savor a little taste of summer with this easy cocktail that gives a nod to manicured lawns and sunshine. Truly, MKR
P.S. For more cocktails for golf lovers, check out our John Daly and the entire Recipe Index. xo
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