Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Julie
Hello friends. Happy Spring!
I love the sun and going to the beach each summer. I have always loved the beach and so did my mom. Growing up, my mom would pack up the car with my siblings and me and we'd go to the beach for the day and all summer long. We all learned how to swim and took swimming lessons on the beach.
We eventually moved to a new neighborhood where it took only minutes to walk to the beach. I would spend every summer at the beach with my cousins. It was so much fun, and we all loved it. I remember my mom just wearing on her skin baby oil and iodine and baking in the sun. I think the highest SPF we would wear was 4. I remember getting so many sunburns from being on the beach for hours.
Well, now I'm very cautious in the sun, and I get regular yearly skin checkups from my Dermatologist.
Over the years I've had so many biopsies done and they've all come out negative except for this year. I had a biopsy done back in March and it came out positive. My dermatologist found a small spot on my leg which I hadn't noticed before and I thought maybe it was a freckle. I was going to be referred to another doctor but they weren't available. My doctor said that she would cut the outside of the area and send it in again to be tested and I said ok. She did the procedure and it came back negative. I am so glad that it was the early stages of skin cancer and that it was caught early. I have to go every three months to the dermatologist for the next year for checkups.
Now when I go to the beach I wear at least 30 to 50 SPF suntan lotion and a special lotion for my face. I even keep my lips protected from the sun. I wear sunglasses and sometimes I will wear a hat.
Here I am at the beach at the Jersey Shore. One of my favorite places during the summer. 😎
After sunning and swimming in the water, I like to stay under an umbrella.
During the spring and summer I like to wear this facial sunscreen on my face and I will put it on my arms, neck, and hands. This Trader Joe's facial sunscreen is a dupe for Supergoop. I like it because it goes on clearly and blends in easily.
If I'm going to be in the sun and want to wear a little bit of makeup then I will wear this lightweight foundation. It's a favorite of mine and I have been wearing it for years. I like that it's SPF 50.
So don't forget to stay protected from the sun this spring and summer!
How do you stay protected from the sun?
Wishing everyone a wonderful week and a happy Memorial Day!
Happy May friends.
I'm joining Jenn for her Currently link-up. It's held on the first Wednesday of each month and lasts about two weeks. This month, we are sharing what we are loving, looking forward to, leaving behind, letting go of, and looking at.
LOVING: I love my walks with Lucy in the neighborhood and looking at the spring flowers blooming.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: We have a few birthday celebrations this month that I'm looking forward to attending.
LEAVING BEHIND: I'm happy to finally leave behind our scarves and winter coats. I am enjoying the warmer weather and wearing spring clothes.
LETTING GO OF: We are still organizing different rooms in our house. We are cleaning our office and hoping to find a new work desk. It is an ongoing process for us since we are living in our home for 30 years.
LOOKING AT: We just saw Pirates The Penzance Musical. It was such a great musical starring Ramin Karimloo, Jinkx Monsoon, and David Hyde Pierce. The singing and dancing is amazing and the show is playing from April 4th - July 27th.
We are members of Roundabout Theatre Company. We see shows almost every month. We just finished seeing shows for this season. One of the benefits of being a member is that we can get our tickets to shows early and get to pick out great seats in the theater.
What have you been up to and is currently new with you?
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Julie
Hello friends and happy May!
I'd love to share with you the books I've read in March and April.
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. That is until an unbearable tragedy strikes.
New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.
The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.
New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.
The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.
I've loved every book that I read by Fiona Davis. This was such an interesting story and it kept me on my toes. I look forward to reading the next book by Fiona Davis.
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel has a problem: the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted by decades of profligate spending, and behind all the magazine covers and Instagram stories manors and yachts lies nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister’s wedding at a luxury eco-resort, a veritable who’s-who of sultans, barons, and oligarchs, and seduce a woman with money.
Should he marry Solène de Courcy, a French hotel heiress with honey blond tresses and a royal bloodline? Should he pursue Martha Dung, the tattooed venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or should he follow his heart, betray his family, squander his legacy, and finally confess his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong? When a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans—and their reputation—go up in flames.
Can the once-great dukedom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for two decades, reveal a shocking twist?
In a globetrotting tale that takes us from the black sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Los Angeles to the inner sanctums of England’s oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan unfurls a juicy, hilarious, sophisticated and thrillingly plotted story of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all.
Should he marry Solène de Courcy, a French hotel heiress with honey blond tresses and a royal bloodline? Should he pursue Martha Dung, the tattooed venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or should he follow his heart, betray his family, squander his legacy, and finally confess his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong? When a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans—and their reputation—go up in flames.
Can the once-great dukedom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for two decades, reveal a shocking twist?
In a globetrotting tale that takes us from the black sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Los Angeles to the inner sanctums of England’s oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan unfurls a juicy, hilarious, sophisticated and thrillingly plotted story of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all.
I've read all of the books from The Crazy Rich Asians series and loved them. This is another fun read that takes place in Hawaii, California, and England. It's full of drama and rich people problems.
Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats.
Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…
Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.
When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.
Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats.
It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.
Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…
Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.
When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.
Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats.
It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.
This is my first time reading a book by Lucy Score and I enjoyed this book. The only problem I had is that the book is 581 pages. It took me a long time to read. I feel like some books don't have to be almost 600 pages long!
Just For The Summer by Abbey Jimenez
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.
Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
I enjoyed this books and if you like summer reads than this book is for you. I can't wait to read more books by this author.
The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden
It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.
It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…
That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.
Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…
It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…
That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.
Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…
I read the first book in this series The Housemaid and loved it. This is the second book in the series and just as good. I'm looking forward to reading more Frieda McFadden books.
Have you read any good books lately?
I will share this post at the monthly book link-up party Share Your Shelf. It's held on the first Thursday of each month. It's run by these bloggers:
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Hello friends and happy May!
I bought some random items from Amazon and I'd love to share them with you.
I'm joining Andrea from Living on Cloud Nine and Doused in Pink for their Amazon Prime link-up.
HERE ARE MY PRIME PURCHASES:
WHOLE EARTH Monk Fruit Sweetener with Erythritol, Plant-Based Sugar Alternative, 12 Ounce Pouch
I used to be able to buy this sugar alternative at Costco but it's not available anymore at our store. I've been purchasing it here on repeat.
Utopia Bedding 4 Pack Waterproof Pillow Protectors with Zipper Standard Size (White), Bed Bug and Dust Mite Proof Pillow case Covers, Moisture Wicking Pillow Encasements 20 x 26 Inches
I needed some new pillow protectors and these are working out great.
Native Shampoo and Conditioner Set | Sulfate, Paraben, and Dye Free, with Naturally Derived Clean Ingredients| 16.5 oz (Coconut & Vanilla, Moisturizing), 2, 1.3 ounces
Last year we stayed at a house at the Jersey Shore and this shampoo and conditioner was in our shower. We all commented on how much we liked these shampoos. We've all been using this shampoo, conditioner, and even the body wash. It's also available at Target and Walmart.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil, Golden Olive
I have been ordering this favorite eyeliner here since I can no longer order it from Ulta.
Gold Zipper Pull, Zipper Pull Replacement, Detachable Metal Zipper Puller Zip Slider Extender Handle Mend Fixer for Suitcase Luggage Backpack Jacket Fasteners
The zipper pull on one of my handbags broke so I ordered this one. It's working out great and looks nice too.
GOLDTOE Women's Anklets Turncuff Socks 3 Pack
I needed some new dress socks and I ordered these comfortable socks.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser, 4% Benzoyl Peroxide Face Wash With Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide & Ceramides, Gentle Daily Acne Treatment For Face
I sometimes get back acne and blackheads. My dermatologists suggested that I use this for washing my back.
Dr. Scholl's Ball of Foot Cushions for High Heels (One Size) // Relieve and Prevent Ball of Foot Pain with Discreet Cushions That Absorb Shock and Make High Heels More Comfortable
My daughter ordered these high heel cushions for her shoes. She said they worked great and made the heels feel more comfortable to wear.
HERE IS THE SCHEDULE FOR EACH MONTH:
Have you bought anything lately from Amazon?
Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.
Julie
Julie
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