Monthly Favorites | July 2017

Oh, was July a month to remember! We packed it full of everything summer is made of - swimming lessons, family gatherings, fireworks, cookouts and a family vacation to Gatlinburg, TN. I'm seriously exhausted just thinking about it.

With July ending and August on the horizon, I thought I would do something new. I've been blogging on and off since 2012, one thing I love reading from other bloggers is a monthly recap. Some recap their favorite projects, books they have read, things they have done or their empties (products they have emptied). I've always loved reading these, so I decided to bring that fun over here to Twenty63!

1. Gatlinburg, TN

We spent a few days in Gatlinburg, TN for a mini family vacation in the beginning of July and it was wonderful. All of my family lives in Virginia, where I was born and raised, so we don't get to see each other very often. This year we decided to meet somewhere that was an equal distance from Indianapolis, IN and Richmond, VA - Gatlinburg, TN is where we landed.

My husband and I have been here several times but it was a first for my brother and his family. We rented a cabin and had such an amazing time. Gatlinburg really has so much to offer, no matter how many times you go. I mean seriously, I could wake up and go to sleep to these views year round. Now, getting to that cabin in the woods in the dead of winter would be another story! Look out for a full blog post on our vacation in the near future, I'm consistently behind in these things - don't act surprised.

2. Stone Mountain Quilted Lockport Crossbody Bag

Next up is this Stone Mountain Quilted Lockport Crossbody Bag. A few days before vacation my crossbody purse I normally use broke, so I found myself wandering around Carson's on my lunch break one day looking for a quick replacement. I stumbled across this cute lightweight crossbody and fell in love with the price and the print. It is normally $30.00 but it was on sale for $16.99, I had an additional coupon which brought my final price down to $13.00. It's still on sale at Carson's and they have several different prints and even solids here.

I'm normally not a huge fan of prints like this but the color scheme mutes it slightly. Even though it is small and lightweight, it has great storage. I am able to hold my keys, wallet, a diaper, wipes, and my Glock 26 Gen 4 easily. I still have free space for my phone and little odds and ends.  If we are out and about and I don't need my huge purse or a full diaper bag, this has been my go-to all month.

3. Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara

I am a member of Influenster and frequently receive full size products for free in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This month I was part of the Lancome Monsieur Big VoxBox and received this mascara, along with some other Lancome products, to try for free. If you follow me on Instagram, you have already seen all about this mascara. If you don't follow me, ummm - what are you waiting for? You can find my full review on this amazing mascara here.

I've been using this mascara all month and I absolutely love it! I will be purchasing this once I run out. I found it on Sephora for $25.00 and if you have Ebates you will receive 4% cash back.

4. 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) and The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

I was so torn between these two that I just had to include them both. I won't go into a lot of detail because seriously we would be here for days. Both of these had me on the edge of my seat. 13 Reasons Why, I literally binge-watched in two and a half days. All 13 episodes. Yep, I gave up some good sleep two nights in a row. My husband thought I was crazy, but I was fully invested in Hannah's list. I couldn't let go.

I had so many friends tell me about The Handmaid's Tale that when Groupon offered up a 45-day free trail for zero dollars, I jumped on it just so I could watch this. It did not disappoint! With a season two in the works, I'm sure I'll be back to Hulu soon.

I am currently looking for another great Netflix series, feel free to leave me some suggestions in the comment section below.

5. Jergens Natural Glow 

Last but not least, Jergens Natural Glow has made my July favorites! I'm super pale. Like my veins make a road map pale. And my skin is super sensitive, so I don't tan - I burn. No matter what I use or how long I stay out in the sun. I burn. I tried to fix this paleness two different ways this summer - the first way was a spray tan. Let's just say I won't be the first person to ever recommend a spray tan. It wasn't horrible but it was bad enough that I will never do that again. Streaks, orange hands, the works. I am NOT a poster child for spray tan machines.

A few of my friends then recommended I try Jergens Natural Glow, I found mine at Walmart for roughly $9.00. I started with fair to medium and after a few days I had a beautiful natural glow. I didn't experience any streaks or any uneven skin tones. I didn't notice any weird smell either. I think I read a few reviews that mentioned the smell was strong, but I didn't notice anything. Once it dried I applied my normal lotion over it and never had any problems. This has become a staple in my daily routine.

What were some of your favorites this month? Did you try a new product, go on any fun adventures or fall in love with some old products all over again?