Sometimes I can hardly believe I’ve been blogging about food for over five years. In that time, the community has exploded. You can’t turn around on the internet without bumping into a food blog, and it’s kind of wonderful and inspiring. There are so many creative, smart, and funny people in the world! This week, I want to highlight some of my favorite recipes from the web.
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It’s summer, and I know you don’t want to be wearing a bunch of heavy crap on your face. These are the days for light make up, not to mention a beauty routine that minimizes your time in front of the mirror. In general, I’m a proponent of bare bare bare skin with just a touch of something-something. When I see someone with serious heavy make up, it freaks me out a little to realize I’m not looking at her actual skin. Of course, to each his or her own in the make-up department. It’s all about making yourself happy, after all.

I can be a beauty product junky, but over the years I’ve found some goodies that I love and heartily recommend. Everyone’s face is different, so what works for me might make your skin freak the heck out. But if you’re also looking to pare down this summer, and are searching for your perfect warm weather routine, here are some of my favorites.

I tend to eschew heavy face make up. I will usually wear one of three things, depending on how much coverage I think I need on a given day. If it’s a happy skin day, and I’m not going anywhere special, I stick with a sheer moisturizer with sunscreen. I’ve been using 1. Clinique City Block Sheer this summer. I bought it because I was looking for a mineral sunscreen, and it is ok although I will admit it’s not my favorite. It has the barest amount of tint, which I can take or leave. But it does make me feel protected from sun damage, and that’s what we’re looking for here.

If I feel the need for a little more protection from the world’s gaze, i.e. my face is having an off day, I’ll use something with more oomph in the coverage department. I’ve been using 2. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer for years and it works great. It’s also got sunscreen, and it’s still very light, so I don’t feel like I’m slathering my face with paint. It just evens out my skin tone a bit. Supposedly it has some skin treatment stuff in it, but I don’t even know about that.

On the days that are somewhere in between, like if I’m feeling lovely but I’m going out somewhere special or just want to feel a little more polished, a light dust of powder works for me. I’ve been using 3. Origins Brighter by Nature and I think it’s swell. It also has sunscreen in it so I feel fine wearing it on its own. It’s not too heavy and offers decent coverage for a powder.

Once the skin is taken care of, I keep it super minimal in the summer: mascara and some kind of lip balm. I’ve been using 4. Benefit Bad Gal Lash for years and it is superb. It doesn’t clump, it makes my lashes look all long but not too think and fakey. I recently tried out one of their newer mascaras and it just re-confirmed how much I love this one.

I’m not a big lipstick person. I have pretty thin lips, so lipstick tends to disappear, or just look weird. I usually wear basic chap stick or nothing at all, but a few months ago I got these lovely little lip balms. 5. fresh nyc Sugar Lip Treatment balms smell amazing, like sweet lemonade, and they make my lips feel super smooth. One is lightly tinted and one is clear. I have been wearing one or the other every single day this summer, and that is saying a lot for me and lip stuff.

I love having a routine that takes me less than five minutes, so I certainly fall into the minimalist camp. Do you find yourself wearing less make up in the hot summer months? What are your tried and true beauty favorites?

This week I want to celebrate a few of my favorite summer beverages. When I dream about summer afternoons I always imagine myself sitting somewhere in the sun with a cold drink in my hand. These are some of the things I’m loving this summer.

Blue Print Cleanse Gold. BPC started selling their juices at the Whole Foods down the street. This made me super happy. This didn’t make my wallet super happy, but their beyond-refreshing Pineapple Apple Mint juice is worth it. I crave this juice. It has just the right amount of sweetness and tartness, and the mint wakes you up and cools you down and you find yourself wondering how they got so much good stuff in one bottle.

Lemonade. I got into lemonade this summer, and especially love the flavored varieties. The Cherry Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade from Santa Cruz Organics are superb. I had a Rose Lemonade that was intriguing, but I think it could be better than the variety I tried. Lavender lemonade? Thyme lemonade? I want them all. Lemonade makes me feel like a carefree kid again, and if summer isn’t the time for that, I don’t know what is.

Rosé. Some people think Rosé is best enjoyed in spring, but I love it all summer long. It’s festive and elegant and light and refreshing. It’s pink. It makes me smile. It makes me feel French. Bring on the rosé.

Sparkling water, preferably with a splash of bitters. This makes me feel like I’m having a cocktail even when I’m not having a cocktail. I’m not brand loyal, but I like glass bottles. I prefer bigger bubbles to smaller, fizzier bubbles. I totally want one of those Sodastream machines so I can have fizzy water at the push of a button.

Deschutes Brewery Twilight Summer Ale. This is quickly becoming my favorite beer this summer. It’s light and easy to drink, but still full of flavor and body. I’m not a beer connoisseur, and I can’t talk to you about balance and hops and malts and bitter body whatever. But I like this beer, especially if I’m sitting outside and maybe just about to eat a hot dog.

What libations are you enjoying this summer?